What's the right breed for you?

Anything you do with friends, you can do with a dog!

If you have an active lifestyle and spend lots of time outside you need a dog with an active temperament but if you lead a sedentary life you need a couch potato of a dog.

Some things to think about as you select the right breed for you are:

Where do you spend your time? Do you spend most of your time outdoors or indoors? Do you live in the city or in the country?

Breeds with sporting or working backgrounds are best for active people who live in the country or suburbs who can provide an active lifestyle for these dogs in order to prevent behavioral issues many city dwellers experience with active dogs such as escape artists, constant anxious behaviors at doors or windows, constant howling, tearing up furniture or belongings etc.

Some sporting or working background breeds are

Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever      Curly-coated Retriever               Golden Retriever                                                                                   Cocker Spaniel                                      Springer Spaniel                          Australian Shepard                                       Pointers                                                 Setters                                        Healers                                                                                           
Coon hounds                                          Rottweilers                                 Boxers
Schnauzers                                            Beauceron                                  Collies
German Shepherds                                  Norwegian Buhund                    Welsh Sheepdogs
Welsh Sheepdogs                                  Samoyed                                    Siberian Husky                                     
Alaskan Husky                                      Alaskan Malamute                      Great Dane
Bull Mastiff                                             Weimaraner                                Belgian Malinois
Finnish Lapphund                                    Great Pyrenees                        
Great Pyrenees
American Staffordshired Terrier AKA American Pit Bull Terrier


These dogs love to run, herd, swim and scout. They will be perfect companions for someone who never stops and is always on the move or an active family who loves to play outdoors for hours on end. 


However, if you have a more sedentary lifestyle or are a city dweller you might want to think about a breed that enjoys the same type of lifestyle. 


Some breed that do not need as much exercise as the larger sporting or working breeds are:


terriers (do research there are some terriers that fall into an active lifestyle breed)
poodles                                      French Bulldog                        Pug
Boston Terrier                            King George Cavalier              Basset Hounds
Chinese Crested                         Chihuahua                               Havanese
Maltese                                      Pomeranian                             Shih Tzu
Yorkshire Terrier                        Bichon Frise                           Chinese Shar-Pei
Chow-Chow                              Keeshond

Another thing to keep in mind when trying to choose a dog is the climate in which you live. For example a RESPONSIBLE dog owner who lives in Texas does not want to have an Alaskan Malamute, St Bernard, or  Siberian Husky because of their double coats and the heat creating potential for breathing problems in these breeds. Also, a RESPONSIBLE dog owner living in Alaska wouldn't want to take a hairless dog such as a Chinese Crested or a short haired dog such as an American Pitt Bull Terrier to live without proper gear.

While you are trying to decide what breed is best for you, your family, your lifestyle, and living environment go to your local animal shelter such as the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center in Brownwood Texas and spend time with the various breeds in the shelter before deciding which breed is best to adopt for you!

http://www.ctsanimalcenter.org/