So, you are thinking of getting a dog, huh? Well, good for you! That is a perfect decision and I have no doubts in my mind that you will enjoy the company of your brand new puppy just as much as it will enjoy yours. The only thing that’s left, though, is for you to choose the perfect breed for you and, as you can see here, there are some secrets and tricks on how to do that.
Let me give you one trick right away. Close your eyes and start picturing yourself with a new puppy. Now, try to focus as much as possible on the way that puppy looks. Is it fluffy with a long coat, or does it have short hair? Is it big or small and do you see it as a protective guard animal, or as a cuddly little creature that will never leave your lap?
When you picture things clearly, the right breed will just appear in front of your eyes once you open them. If you are wondering whether I am joking with you right now, let me make things easier for you and tell you that I most definitely am. I mean, come on, people, did you really think that the right breed would just appear in front of your eyes out of nowhere? That’s not going to happen and you’ll have to do some more work in order to choose the perfect one for you.
What about the questions I have mentioned above, though? Those seem legit enough, so, should you really pose them to yourself? The answer is yes. Those questions are legit and you should think about them, but the truth is that they only really play one part in this overall decision on which dog to get. Basically, they give you a better idea about what it is that you precisely want in a dog, which is definitely important, but isn’t the only factor to consider.
Speaking of factors to consider, you might find some great ones here: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-choose-the-right-dog-breed
So, if you don’t have any particular breed in mind, but you would absolutely love to get a dog, let me give you a piece of advice. Don’t do it until you have done some research and figured out precisely which dog would be perfect for you. In case you aren’t sure how to do that and how to make this decision, I suggest you keep on reading, because I will give you some tips on that below.
Think About Your Living Arrangements
Among the important things to consider in this process, your living arrangements are certainly high on the priority list. Sure, it probably isn’t the most significant factor, as you will learn about some more important ones below, but the simple fact is that you should never get a dog without first taking into account your living arrangements and then checking if the breed you have in mind would be able to adapt there.
For example, if you live in an apartment, you need to think carefully about whether the dog you are thinking of raising would be happy in a smaller and more confined space. Sure, we can all argue that every dog will adapt to those conditions and that might be correct, but we cannot forget the fact that certain canines simply won’t be happy enough in an apartment. And, I am completely certain that you want your future puppy to be happy. The same goes for the temperatures in your area, so don’t forget to check those conditions as well.
Research The Breeds’ Characters In Details
Whether your dog will be happy in a certain area and in specific living conditions depends on their particular characters and personalities. That is only one of the reasons why you need to do your research on the personalities on those breeds that you are considering. Other reasons include the fact that you want to check if you’ll be able to train the canine properly, as well as whether it will get along well with other people in your family, including your friends and other pets. All in all, reading up on the personality of the canines you are thinking of getting is extremely important, which is why I suggest you find out all about dogs that you would like to raise and check if that’s a good idea or not.
Don’t Forget To Consider The Size
The size is one of those factors that really aren’t that significant in certain instances, but can be in others. For example, if you are a tiny person and you get a large dog that is, on top of all that, rather stubborn and extremely difficult to train, then you might find yourself in a pickle. Anyway, you should certainly think about the size of your potential new pet and determine what you would be comfortable with.
Your Experience With Dogs Matters Too
Perhaps the thing that matters the most is your actual experience with dogs in general. If this is your first puppy, then I say you should get a breed that is less demanding and that is easily trained and quick to learn and pick things up. If you are an experienced dog owner, though, then you can choose based solely on your own preferences and the factors mentioned above, since you’ll surely be able to keep every canine in check.