Choosing the Right Breed for You and Your Family

Bringing a dog into your life is a major decision that requires plenty of thought. It’s easy to see a dog advertised and think “oh, how cute, I think we could give her a good home”. But some breeds of dogs will remain in your life and become part of your everyday routines for upwards of 18 years! A lot can change in 18 years.

The most important thing to consider when thinking about the type of dog you would like, is breed. There are hundreds of breeds to choose from, so how do you know if you are choosing the right one for you and your family’s circumstances?

Let’s talk Breed

There are so many types of dogs to choose from. Hunting/gun dogs, companion breeds, herding or working dogs, retrieving dogs, hound dogs (sight or scent), terriers and toys. Many people choose a dog breed based on its looks, but that can lead to challenges if their energy level or needs don’t match your lifestyle.

Do you currently live a very active, outdoor life? If the answer is yes, then a working dog or hunting breed might be the dog for you.

If you have said you “want to be” an active person who lives an active life - maybe rethink getting an active dog. Because, let’s face it - how many people have bought a treadmill or gym membership with all good intentions, not to use them! (Myself included!) If you are a time-poor, busy parent running to all the after school activities or are currently living a slower or less active, outdoor lifestyle, consider a companion breed or a less active dog.

Remember, all dogs need a daily walk for their mental health - but how much time do you have to invest each day?

Kids

If you have children, maybe you might like to consider the type of dog you want to bring into your home. Consider the age of your children. Will they be easily pushed over by a young, boisterous, medium or large dog?

As a parent, have you learnt all there is to know about dog body language and the often subtle signs of stress in dogs? Could your kids recognise these things? Dogs and kids always have to be actively supervised and when they are not actively supervised, managed or separated. In Albany, we are lucky to have a local kids and dogs expert - Thea from Dogs At Heart. She has helped many families with choosing the right dog for their home, from breeder or shelter, right through to helping the kids before the dog arrives and with training and integration into the home.

If you were thinking you might get the kids to walk the dog, remember, Children are not physically or mentally capable of walking dogs on their own. How would they manage an aggressive dog situation? What would they do if their dog was attacked?

It is also unlikely kids will take on all the responsibilities of caring for a dog, so be ready to manage most of that yourself.

What age of dog do you want?

Do you want a puppy?

Puppies are so cute! But there’s toilet training, mouthing, and a LOT of work to gently expose your puppy positively to everyday things in the world. You'll need to take your puppy to classes and work with them daily to help them adapt to the world around them. There is a tonne of training and socialisation required when raising a puppy and it doesn’t stop at puppy hood, it continues into adolescence and through the rest of their life.

What about two puppies? Well, besides having to look after the needs of two puppies which is sooooooooo much work - there is also a thing called Littermate Syndrome. This is something best avoided. Most breeders or shelters will not home two puppies from the same litter or of similar age to the same home - and for good reason!

Do you want an adolescent?

The basic puppy training like puppy mouthing and toilet training is usually complete by adolescence.

However, statistics tell us dogs are most often given up as adolescents as they are starting to become “problems”. This is often because their people haven’t put in the consistent training and time needed to help their dog navigate the human world and the dogs have not been taught basic behaviours like having self-control, walking nicely on a lead, greeting people politely - just to name a few.

If you take on an adolescent, know there will likely be some consistent training needed and just like teenagers, these dogs might be overly excitable and testing boundaries.

Do you want an older dog?

A dog older than 4 years, is often more settled and often requires less training and socialisation. Sometimes a dog over 4 is trying to find a new home through no fault of their own. Sometimes these dogs can be easier to rehome into your life as they might require less exercise and less training. But of course, this is not always the case. Sometimes they have rehearsed bad behaviours for longer! You still might have to get the help of a trainer.

An elderly dog.

Who doesn’t love a sugar face? Rehoming an elderly dog to rest out their days in comfort with you is pure bliss. They don’t require as much exercise and they are generally pretty chill dogs who have “been there, done that”. However, an older dog might need more medication, medical care, or might have needs that a young dog does not which can be an added expense.

Of course, before taking on an elderly dog, we need to understand we might be grieving their loss sooner rather than later.

Grooming

Maybe you’re looking for a low maintenance coat, a “wash and wear” type of dog that requires minimal brushing or grooming. No worries about mud sticking to a thick coat, or prickles getting picked up in curly fur.

Maybe shedding or allergies are a problem for you? Maybe you need to consider hypoallergenic breeds. Most of these dogs require daily brushing and regular grooming. You will need to brush and groom between visits to the groomer. Or maybe you will buy the equipment to clip or strip your dogs’ coat yourself. Who will teach you how to do that and do you have the time to do this?

If you get a large hypoallergenic breed of dog - will the local groomers even take them? Many groomers don’t take large breeds of dogs that require clipping or coat stripping. So you can see why this is so important to consider this prior to getting your dog.

Size

Size of the dog is really important. Are all the members of the household going to be able to walk this dog or will that be left to one person in the family who is the strongest? What happens if that person is not capable of taking the dog for a walk for any reason, what then? When training large dogs to walk politely on a leash, remember they'll still be strong, energetic adolescents. Can you handle their strength? Does anyone in the family have physical limitations that might make walking them difficult?

Big dogs cost more. Their bedding, food, collars, harnesses, coats, medical costs are all going to be more expensive. We need to train all sizes of dogs to be polite members of society and to cope with everything our human world throws at them.

Health and Longevity

Some breeds of dogs have very little health concerns, but some have a long list of known health issues common within their breed. Do your research with your breeds. Knowing what health concerns are within the breed of dog you are thinking about can help you ask the right questions of a breeder or Vet. Some breeds of dogs are known to have a long lifespan. Some are known for their shorter lifespan. Knowing this before you buy can be very important in making your decision.

Basic needs.

All dogs will need food, exercise, mental enrichment, warmth in winter, cool in summer, vet and medical care, as well as grooming and training. It is honestly a major decision to take on a dog. What will you do when you go on holidays? Will the dog travel with you? What about when you go overseas?

Medical Bills. Will you pay monthly for medical insurance for your dog, or will you have money put aside in a separate account for medical emergencies for your pet? No-one wants to be forced to make a decision on their pet’s life or health based on money. There is no medicare for pets, so we need to plan for their health care, both scheduled and planned as well as the emergencies.

Do you work a lot or spend a lot of time away from the home?

Dogs need a lot of attention and love, as well as care from their family members. A dog who is home most of the time alone is often a very sad dog. However, many people get around the issue of working long hours by hiring a dog walker or using a dog day care. Some people might have a neighbour, friend or relative who is home a lot and who can have the dog visit their house or who can spend time in the dog’s home with them. If you travel a lot for work, or work very long hours, maybe a dog is not for you right now. You might consider a different pet, or holding off getting a pet for now.

Adoption Vs a Breeder

Adopting a dog from a shelter gives that dog a second chance. Often times, de-sexing, vaccinations, worming and micro-chipping is already done for you. The best part is often the cost of the dog is around the cost of having all that work done! However, the breed(s), age of the dog, background etc are all important factors to consider. Your shelter should be temperament testing and vet checking the dogs in their care.

Most shelters will always try to match the right dog with the right home, but, at the end of the day, it’s up to you to do your research. If the dog doesn’t have a lot of known history, you will be taking on a dog that might need help with training and you will need to give these dogs time to decompress and get used to your home and lifestyle. That can take from 3 months to a year or more for some dogs.

If you had your heart set on a specific breed of dog, you can often find breed-specific rescue organisations in your state.

Breeder

If you are looking for a breeder it is important you do your research on your breed. What are the common breed health issues for your breed? Have they checked the parents for these known breed health concerns, have they got reports from the Vet showing the parents are clear of these ailments? Do your research! Go to dog shows, meet their dogs. Chat to different breeders. Join breed specific social media pages, go to breed catch up days. Do your best to really get to know your breed before you decide if they are for you.

It is important you are aware of the health issues prominent in your breed and you know your breeder has done all they can to breed with healthy dogs free of those known breed health issues. For example, if the breed of dog you are looking at commonly has hip dysplaysia in their breed, ask your breeder for hip score test results from both parents. If you’re not sure what to ask for, or what a good test vs bad test is, you can always speak with your Vet.

Does the breeder breed a lot? It’s important you are not supporting a “puppy farmer”. Not all breeders are trying to improve their breed. Some are truly just trying to line their pockets.

Meet the parents. It’s important you meet the dogs before making your decision. This should be done before there is a cute litter of puppies in front of you! If the parents aren’t friendly or are wary, frightened, or acting aggressively, it might be best to go to another breeder. Remember, genetics play a huge part in how your puppy will be as an adult.

Good breeders have a waiting list for puppies. They don’t have puppies all the time, so expect to wait, sometimes up to two years or more! Also, expect them to ask you a lot of questions. They should be extremely picky about where their dogs go.

Social Deprivation

Social deprivation occurs when a dog has been kept in social deprivation it’s whole life, like a backyard dog who is never taken on adventures or walks.

Sometimes a breeder will rehome one of their breeding stock and the dog may not have left the breeders’ property much.

Social deprivation can also occur with puppy farms and racing dogs (Greyhounds). It can also occur in cases where the dog has had little to no social interactions with new people and new environments, or may have lived a kennel life.

These dogs can take quite a lot of time and patience to get them used to the everyday world or even just the inside of a house! If you happen to adopt a dog who has lived a life like this, it is important you engage a positive reinforcement trainer straight away to help you with your journey.

Conclusion

Choosing the right breed of dog is a deeply personal decision that requires thoughtful consideration of your lifestyle, preferences, work hours, commitment and living situation. Take your time to research and, if possible, meet with different breeds to see which one feels like the best fit. In the end, the right dog will not only compliment your life but also bring endless joy, love, and companionship.