How to Choose the Right Dog for Your Family

There are many factors that should be taken into account when choosing a family dog. While a single person or couple has more leeway in choosing dogs that are older, disabled or difficult to train, families may have greater roadblocks preventing them from choosing certain breeds. It’s better to consider these facts when you’re still in the planning stage, rather than realizing you’ve chosen the wrong dog once it’s already in your home. Consider the following factors and you should be able to make an informed decision about your new furry friend:

Training:

Some dog breeds are easier to train than others, and these are automatically going to be more appropriate for families with small children. Larger breeds with gentle characteristics are often the easiest to train, such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, Standard Poodles, English Setters and various breeds of terriers. Small dogs such as Jack Russell Terriers, however, can often be the most difficult to train.

Size:

Large dogs are often the easiest to train, but they also take up more space, shed more fur, eat more food and make bigger messes. On the other hand, small dogs are typically weaker and more vulnerable, so they require more attention. This aspect of your decision will have to depend on how much space you have, how much time you have for maintenance, and how much time you’re willing to spend training your dog.

Maintenance:

Some dogs are easier to maintain than others. This factor typically comes down to the dog’s fur or hair. This is also an allergy-related issue – more fur equals more allergies. If someone in your family has particularly bad allergies, a hypoallergenic dog will be your best bet.

Dogs with long hair will typically need regular grooming to keep their fur from getting messy and causing the dog pain from knotting or overheating. Dogs with short, smooth hair, on the other hand, tend to shed more than longhaired varieties, so they require more cleaning up. And if your dog has long, floppy ears, you should be prepared to spend more time and money dealing with ear infections. Some dogs are even prone to drooling. These are all things you’ll want to learn about before taking a new pooch home.

Activity:

Last but not least, consider the activity level of the breed. Some dogs need more activity than others, and if your family isn’t prepared for daily walks (or jogs), it may be more work than it’s worth.