Selecting the Right Dog For Your Family

It's true, dog is man's best friend. Or at least most of the time.  It's very important to take the time to research dog types, personalities and traits before adopting a pet.  Getting the wrong dog can be a disaster.  Not just for you, but for the dog too.  For instance what if you bring a dog home, fall in love and then find out someone in your family is allergic to the dog.  What happens to the dog then?

For many people selecting a doors hair type can be an important choice.  For instance some dogs shed much more than others which can make keeping your home, car and clothing hair free a real chore.  Some dogs hair is more likely to cause allergies that other dogs. For those living in hot climates getting a dog with long hair may be a bad idea because the heat will make the dog miserable.  The important thing is that you take the time to think about the affect of the dogs hair on your life and that you also consider the affect of your lifestyle on the dogs.

When choosing the size of a dog for your family you need to take into consideration all of your household family members ages, sizes and activity level.  Just as important is that if you move a lot that many places will not allow large dogs.

Small dogs are cute and can be carried around but they also have a better chance of being stepped on or injured by being mishandled. Also, little dogs can be more sensitive to cold temperatures.

Large dogs need more space to move around and dogs with long whip-like tails need space for them to whip their tails around without injuring themselves or breaking household objects.

Expense is another thing to take into consideration. The bigger the dog the more it eats the more expensive it will be to feed that dog.

The personality of a dog is very important to remember when choosing a dog. An active person will want an active dog while a lazy person would be more suited for a dog that does not require much exercise. A friendly dog would be more suited for a touchy-feely person while a dog that doesn't shed or bark much would be more suited for a tightly-wound person.

Below is a small list of certain breeds with certain personalities:

Intelligent dogs

• Poodle
• German Shepherd
• Australian Sheepdog
• Belgian Sheepdog
• Keeshond

Dogs that don't require much exercise

• Dachshund
• Brussels Griffon
• French Bulldog
• Manchester Terrier
• toy breeds (such as a Chihuahua or Pekingese)

Good with kids

• Pug
• English Cocker Spaniel
• Beagle
• Basset Hound
• Brittany Spaniel
• Old English Sheepdog

Quiet dogs

• Basenji
• Borzoi
• Chesapeake Bay Retriever
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Whippet

Friendly dogs

• Brittany Spaniel
• Bichon Frise
• Old English Sheepdog
• Bearded Collie
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever

Most of the time when choosing between a female or male dog it is based on personal preference. There are certain characteristics that differ between the two sexes and should also be taken into consideration when choosing a dog for your family.

Some of the characteristics of a female dog are:

• Independence - Female dogs want to be in control of the situation at all times.

• Stubbornness - Female dogs are usually the Alpha dog in a pack and are generally more stubborn than male dogs.

• Territorial - Male and female dogs mark in the same way. A female dog that has been spayed may mark for her entire life while male dogs will usually cease this behavior after they are neutered.

• Reserved - Female dogs are less affectionate than male dogs.

• Mood Swings - Female dogs can be very moody while they are in heat if they are not spayed.

Some of the characteristics of a male dog are:

• Affectionate - Male dogs are much more affectionate to their owners than female dogs.

• Motivated by Food - Male dogs are extremely motivated by food which comes in handy when you are trying to train a dog and you use treats as a reward

• Attentive - Always want to be close to their owners and are more eager to please than female dogs.

• More Aggressive Behaviors - male dogs that have not been neutered may be more aggressive with other male and female dogs.

There is only one true way to find out if you or a member of your family will be allergic to a specific breed is to spend time with that breed. People are allergic to different thing. Some are allergic to the dog's saliva, some are allergic to the dog's hair and others are allergic to the dog's dander.

There are no "real" hypoallergenic dogs but some dogs are thought to be more hypoallergenic than others. Small dogs, dogs with short hair or no hair and dogs with non-shedding hair are considered to be more suited for individuals with allergies to dogs.

Humane Society - Information on selecting dogs