Written By : M Samy

how to choose the right dog breed , Gender and Age

How to choose your dog?

When u finish reading this article, you will be able to choose the right dog breed for you, your family and friends, for your kids… Etc

how to pick the right dog for me

If you are reading this article, it’s because you may be about to adopt or buy a dog or a puppy and you want to know everything about this faithful companion before buying one, how to make the best choice, concerning the breed, age and sex of the dog and especially to know what you will expect once your dog arrives at home, such as for example:

You did well to read this article and my first advice is never to choose your dog on a crush, because he is cute or beautiful only, because many people make this mistake and a few months later, they end up with an adult dog, but it is hardly what they expected:

The dog may be too restless for them, too big, his breed requires more care, time and money than they expected… etc.

To prevent your dream of having a dog from becoming a nightmare, am gonna tell you everything about this adorable pet, the breeds and behaviors, the needs of each breed and its habits and everything you need to know before going to adopt or buy your puppy or dog.

Let’s dive in…

 

Questions to ask yourself before you even think about owning a dog

  • My family, is it ready to welcome a new member (think about the Budget, space, availability, neighbors, …etc)
  • Am I sure I want a dog forever or is it just because I’m suddenly lonely?
  • Aren’t I just giving in to my kids’ whims even though I know we can’t have a dog?
  • Do I really have the patience, the time and the means to take good care of a dog?
  • Am I ready to take responsibility and change my lifestyle if the well being of my dog depends on it?
  • Why do I suddenly feel like having a dog? 
  • A dog always plays a role in a family, so what would be the role and purpose of this dog?
  • Who will take care of the dog if you can’t do it yourself for one reason or another?

If you still want to have a dog after you have answered these questions, then we go to the next step which is:

 

Choosing a puppy, a young dog or rather an adult dog ?

 

This was probably the next question you will ask yourself after you have decided to have a dog, it is very important to answer this question because the needs of a dog are also linked to its age, so let’s see is it better for you to have a puppy, a young dog under one year old or rather an adult dog of one year and more?

 

1-What to expect if you choose a puppy (more than 4 weeks old)

A lot of people are seduced by this little ball of hair, very cute, but a puppy is not only that, it’s also like a little baby that will depend entirely on its owner, so here’s what to expect when you choose to adopt a puppy less than a month old:

Unlike an adult dog, a puppy is an insatiable animal that needs to be fed up to five times a day, and as soon as you take him outside and wait for him to relieve himself.

A puppy is like a baby, it will probably wake you up during the night, and not just once, you can’t leave your puppy alone and unattended for more than two or three hours, so be prepared for that.

A puppy is a clumsy being who can break everything in his path, chew your shoes, your electric wires … etc, so you must think about preparing a pet-friendly house and a crate and especially be ready to clean behind him all day.

A puppy has not yet had access to his mother’s training, it would be up to you to train him, socialize him and teach him good manners, dangerous foods, good behavior, etc….

A puppy will need a lot of exercise, so would you have some free time for that?

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All these elements are to be considered with a lot of seriousness, I myself had the bitter experience of losing a puppy, it took a second of inattention for my puppy (Layka) to swallow a small lithium battery, I hadn’t noticed anything during the day and in the evening, while I was sleeping, she was gone and I couldn’t save her and it was really hard ! peace to her soul, I really have tears in my eyes as I tell you about this sad event.

To sum up, puppies need intensive training at home, to socialize them instead of their mother, to teach them obedience which requires a lot of patience and expect frequent visits to the vet.

Now that we’ve seen the disadvantages of choosing a puppy, let’s see what to expect with a slightly older dog.

 

2- Choose a young dog under one year old

Here is what to expect if you choose a young dog, aged between 4 months and a year:

A dog of this age would be cleaner and will have acquired some good habits from his former owner but he is still receptive and ready to learn new things.

A young dog requires less maintenance and supervision than a puppy, he is more independent even if he would still expect a lot from his master because he has not yet acquired the ability to make all his decisions alone as an adult dog could do in the absence of his master.

A young dog over the age of one month already understands the basic commands you are giving him, unlike a puppy who is unable to learn quickly enough what you are trying to teach him. 

It’s easier to choose a young, healthy dog when it’s harder to detect disease and some deformities in a puppy. 

on the other hand a young dog, will surely cost you more than a puppy, it would also be more difficult for you to make him forget a bad habit that he would have acquired from his first master especially if this dog is of a breed that matures faster than average, make sure then that his first master or the dog breeder has a good reputation if you choose a young dog (between 6 months and 1 year).

 

3-Choose or adopt an adult dog, over a year old

You can choose an adult dog if you want a dog for a specific purpose such as a guard dog for example and you don’t want to wait a whole year for your dog to be operational.

Choosing an adult dog is also the assurance of having a less fragile pet, which has already acquired a certain training, which requires less maintenance, less attention, therefore less presence on your part.

Nevertheless, an adult dog also has its disadvantages, because in general, they are already emotionally attached to their first master, do not expect much from them.

An adult dog would surely have acquired some habits that will not suit you and that you will not be able to change as easily, such as his daily outings, his behaviour in the presence of other dogs, will he tolerate your cat? His eating habits …etc

When you choose an adult dog, you must have as much information as possible about him, his behavior, his habits, his training ...etc. and this is not always possible especially if you adopt a dog from a pet home, so be prepared for some good and some bad surprises as well …

Once you’ve decided on the age of the dog you want to have, it’s time to find out if it’s better for you to have a male or female dog. 

 

What should I choose, a male or female dog?

If you just want a pet dog, docile and easy to dominate, I would rather advise you to buy a female, spay or neuter her to avoid surprise pregnancies. 

Females are more affectionate than male dogs, but they are to be watched closely because they contract diseases much more easily than a male dog (genitals) but this is not a certainty either.

If you rather want a guard dog, opt for a male, they are more adapted to this role and stronger and sturdier too, but expect more efforts to dominate him, especially if it is a pitbull, a rodvailer or a doberman …

It is also known that male dogs tend to run away when there is a female in heat in your surroundings, whereas a female dog will attract much more attention from other dogs when you bring her back

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You can adopt a couple of the same dog breed, but the sterilization is obligatory if you do not intend to make a dog breeding. 

Concerning the adoption of two or more male dogs, expect to manage the fights for who will be the dominant male and those for the territory and the best piece of meat too…

Once you have a clear idea about the gender, age and number of dogs you want to have, it’s time to try to see which breed of dog would be best for you, your family, your budget, your home and environment, your availability … etc….

 

Which breed of dog to choose?

Many factors and criteria come into play when it comes to choosing the breed of your dog and before making a list of the best breeds of dogs to adopt when it’s your first dog, I will draw your attention to the criteria to be taken into consideration to determine the breed of dog that would suit you best:

You will have to make a list of the physical and behavioural characteristics you would like to find in your new dog. Here are the essential points to check:

 

1-The physical characteristics to check

You will especially have to choose the size of the dog you will adopt, a big dog needs more space, food, accessories and care are more expensive, so the more the dog is of a big breed, the more expensive it will be to maintain …

Then you will have to decide about the fur, long haired dogs need more care, grooming and preventive treatment against fleas …etc…and moreover they tend to moult and leave hair everywhere when it happens to them … you might prefer a short haired breed !!!

 

2-The innate behavior of the dog 

Dogs are pack animals, you must first of all choose a dog of breed, size and behavior that you can dominate once your dog has become an adult, do not choose for example a PitBull if you are rather calm, tender and sentimental, it will not respect you and hello trouble …etc.

You will also have to question the seller about the innate behaviors of the breed of dog, once you become an adult so you will choose the breed that will adapt to your lifestyle and your availability, do you want a dog rather calm or playful and with high energy even once you become an adult dog ? his behavior with children, in the presence of other dogs, …etc…

You have to think about the neighborhood too, can you have a breed of guard dogs that will bark too much at night !!! Or a breed of dog too dynamic that will run around and even dig holes in the neighbor’s lawn … etc…

 

Help yourself from the experience of dog breeding

Once you have made an idea of the age , gender, size behavior of the dog or puppy that you want to adopt or buy you will then need the experience of the breeder or the person in charge of the shelter to also help you to choose the best dog and this by giving him the following information:

  • Do you live in a spacious apartment or house?
  • Do you have a garden or backyard?
  • Is your house close to a public park?
  • Do you have children, how old are they, what are their characters?…
  • Is a family member or a friend of yours allergic to hair ? 
  • Do you travel often ? Do you travel ?…
  • What is your budget for the dog ? …etc

By giving this information to the dog seller or breeder or the person in charge of the dog shelter or the volunteers, they will be able to help you choose the best dog for you, your family and your lifestyle.

Also take advantage of the conversation with the breeder to ask him to see the puppy’s parents after you have chosen him, make sure they are healthy and have a good behaviour too.

Ask about the results of the parents if you want to buy a competition, show or racing dog, this will give you an idea of the aptitudes and abilities of the breed and the family of the puppy in question.

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What to bring back with the puppy?

Once you’ve chosen the puppy, ask the breeder for some of his usual food and something from the puppy’s crate, such as a bunk, so that you can bring back the smell your puppy has grown accustomed to, so that your puppy will be less stressed in your home and will be able to change his living environment more easily.

 

Which dog breeds are recommended for beginners?

If this is the first dog you are going to have, you should know that some breeds of dog are more recommended than others, they are not very demanding, easy to maintain and do not require a great deal of experience on the part of their owners.

Here are the breeds of dogs that I advise you if this is the first time you adopt a dog and this based on the experience of dog owners and on the opinions of dog breeding specialists:

 

The breeds of dogs recommended if this is your first family dog

  • The Golden Retriever
  • The Labrador Retriever
  • The Boxer
  • The Bichon Frise
  • The Greyhound
  • The Boxer
  • The Yorkshire Terrier
  • The Poodle
  • The Butterfly
  • The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • The Pug

 

Recommended dog breeds for children ( kids-friendly dog breeds) 

For the children, it will be necessary rather to choose races of dogs which like the company of the human ones, nice, calm and which will not put your child in danger, the best companions for your children will be thus:

  • The Labrador Retriever.
  • The Shetland Sheepdog
  • The Vizsla
  • The German Shepherd
  • The Poodle
  • The Newfoundland
  • The Collie
  • The Boxer
  • The Beagle
  • The Dachshund
  • The Havanese
  • The Pug
  • The French Bulldog
  • The Butterfly
  • The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

 

The breeds of dogs recommended to keep company to a Senior

You will rather need a calm, obedient, attentive and intelligent dog to keep company with a senior, these breeds are the most adapted to this role:

  • The Bichon Frise
  • The Maltese
  • The Scottish Terrier
  • The Pug
  • The Chihuahua
  • The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • The Otterhound
  • The Pomeranian
  • The Pembroke Welsh Corgi 
  • The Poodle 
  • The Labrador Retriever
  • The Boston Terrier

 

Recommended dog breeds if you already have a cat ( the best cat-friendly dogs ) 

 

  • The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • The Labrador Retriever
  • The Cocker Spaniel
  • The German Shepherd
  • The Poodle 
  • The Golden Retriever
  • The Beagle
  • The Collie
  • The Basset hound
  • The Maltese Dog
  • The Pomeranian
  • The Bichon Frise
  • The Boxer
  • The Dachshund

 

Dog breeds recommended for apartments and small houses

pics of the best dog breeds when you live in an apartment

The best breeds of dogs for apartments and houses in lack of space should be calm, small in size, do not bark too much and do not make a mess, I recommend these breeds:

  • The Chihuahua
  • The French Bulldog
  • The Poodle
  • The Maltese 
  • The Dachshund
  • The Greyhound
  • The Bichon Frise
  • The Havanese Dog
  • The Japanese Chin
  • Pomeranian
  • The Yorkshire Terrier 
  • The Cavalier King Charles
  • Boston Terrier
  • Basenji
  • The Bulldog
  • The Chinese Crested

 

Conclusion

Having a dog at home is a pleasure but above all a responsibility, if you choose a puppy, you will have to make more effort but you will be rewarded when he will be a little older, because he will become completely integrated into your family and you will be able to train him so that he is completely adapted to your lifestyle.

M Samy pet blogger and author at famillypet

About Author

Hey! Samy here , Welcome to my Blog I'm an animal lover, especially pets and Really concerned about their well being ; I've been around and caring for all my life and Now ; a full-time Pet blogger at your service . My motto here at Famillypet is: "Pets First" ... Read More

2 thoughts on “how to choose the right dog breed , Gender and Age”

  1. Yes very much informational and important every aspect to decide to own a Pet or Dog, Learned the Life in both ways accordingly to enjoy and Fun continue Safe Living and or prepared other millions activities as knowledge the Key. Thank you so much as very Useful.

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