New Dog

Choosing a new dog for your family

So you've decided to get a new dog and your whole family is excited, but you're finding that choosing a dog breed isn't as easy as it sounds. To ensure you make the right choice, you'll need to consider a long list of factors including your lifestyle, the age of any children you have in your family, your living situation and, of course, your budget.

How to Choose a Dog Breed

Your lifestyle is an extremely important consideration to make when choosing a dog. If you're active and outdoorsy, an energetic breed such as the Boston terrier or chihuahua might make a good choice. Dogs in the American Kennel Club's hound group make excellent hunting companions, and retriever dogs love to run, play and fetch – in fact, they may well outlast you.

On the other hand, if you lead a less energetic lifestyle, or if you're an older person who's not as active as you once were, there are many dog breeds, both large and small, with lower activity levels. Bulldogs, for example, are perfectly happy to lounge around the house despite their large size, and husky dogs are less active than you might think, likely because they were bred to work and developed a tendency to store their energy for intense periods of sustained exercise.

If you've got young children, you'll have even more to consider when choosing a dog for your family – certain breeds patiently tolerate the prodding, poking and curiosity of children with gentle good nature, while others are less likely to put up with the annoyance. The last thing you want is your new dog snarling at your toddler, so talk to dog breeders about the disposition of any particular breed you're interested in. Cocker spaniels, for example, are known for being moody and surly, and don't make a good choice for homes with children; golden retrievers, on the other hand, are among the friendliest and gentlest breeds on the planet, and make very good additions to households with young kids.

How to choose a dog breed also has a lot to do with where you live, both in terms of the climate and the size of your home. In general, dogs with thick coats aren't as comfortable in hot and humid climates, and dogs with very thin coats, like boxers, don't deal well with cold weather. Also, if you live in a smaller urban apartment or condo, you'll want to choose a dog that doesn't need a lot of room. This is particularly important for energetic dogs, which will get a good deal of their exercise by bounding around in the house. There are exceptions, though; boxers, for example, tend to be sedentary and can be quite content living in an apartment despite their relatively large size.

Budget Considerations for Your New Dog

Remember that there's a lot more to the cost your new dog than its initial price tag; you'll have to pay for canine vaccinations, vet checkups, toys, food and dog products like leashes, collars and ID tags. Obviously, smaller dogs eat less food, so this can help you measure your budget to a certain extent, but the only way for you to estimate your up-front and monthly pet maintenance expenses accurately is to do your due diligence before you settle on a particular breed.

Finally, bear in mind that most of the dogs sold in pet stores were bred under inhumane conditions at puppy farms and come with no guarantee of health or genetic superiority. While the puppies available for sale through dog breeders are generally more expensive, you can rest assured that they're healthy, of good parentage and have been raised in a comfortable, clean and safe environment.