Picking the Right Breed for Your Lifestyle

Before you bring home your next dog, it’s a good idea to do some research on the various breeds you think you’re interested in.  While not every dog within a breed group are alike, there are some common characteristics and tendencies you should know about.

I once spoke with a dear lady who said her dog was destroying her yard, digging, chewing and jumping all over them any time they went in the backyard.  I asked how much attention and exercise the dog was receiving, and the answer was very little.  In this case, her and her husband worked long hours and couldn’t devote enough time to their Boxer.  I instantly thought this is a good example of how important it is to know your dog, their needs, and whether or not you can meet those needs.  If you work a lot of hours and don’t have an active lifestyle it would be a good idea to steer clear of dogs that require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation.

Let’s say you’re interested in one of my favorite breeds, the Border Collie!  Of course the Border Collie is a part of the Herding Breed Group.  They tend to have a high prey and chase drive. If you have small children that would be something you’d want to be aware of, as this characteristic can make it difficult for these dogs to become desensitized to a child’s normal activities like biking or skating.  It’s not uncommon for these dogs to bark and nip when they are aroused. They need daily exercise and mental stimulation, and when they don’t get it, undesirable behaviors tend to pop up like barking, tail chasing, digging or pacing.  The Border Collie typically is easy to train, as they were bred to work closely with humans.  They also have a high  desire to please, so they can become overly attached to their owner.

A year ago we decided to adopt a Weimaraner.  They’re apart of the Sporting group.  Believe me a walk around the block isn’t sufficient for these dogs.  If I didn’t commit to daily exercise with her, problem behaviors would surface.  I know a little bit of Stella’s history, and she was turned into the local SPCA because the owners said she was destructive and they couldn’t exercise her enough.  Had they known the needs of the Weimaraner beforehand, they probably would have gone another route. Sadly many owners fail to do their research, they bring home a dog they know little about, and before long the dog winds up in a shelter like Stella did.   I encourage you, next time you’re ready to get another dog take a good hard look at the common characteristics of the breed.  You just might find, it’s not a good fit for you and your situation.