How to Pick a Dog Breed

Look at a Puppy Breed's Attributes Before Selecting a Purebred Puppy

Dec 23, 2008

How do you pick the right breed of dog for your family and lifestyle? Learn how to find the best dog breed based on breed temperament, dog breed attributes.

"How to I pick a dog breed?" "What's the best breed of dog for a family?" "What dog breeds are good for people with allergies?"

These are some of the most common questions that arise when a dog lover decides to adopt a new dog, but can't decide on what breed of dog to bring home.

Future dog owners must keep an open mind when they're trying to find the perfect dog breed for their lifestyle and personality. Many dog owners make the mistake of going by looks alone, forgetting the age-old saying "You can't judge a book by its cover."

Learn About the AKC's Breed Groups When Trying to Pick a Dog Breed

The first step to picking a dog breed involves looking at the eight breed groups, as established by the American Kennel Club: Toy, Sporting, Non-Sporting, Working, Terrier, Hound, Herding and Miscellaneous. The dog breeds in each group are similar in terms of form and function.

Learn about the AKC's eight breed groups and rule out any groups that do not fit the bill in terms of breed characteristics and temperament. Consider factors like size, exercise requirements, energy level, temperament and breed function and create a list of dog breeds that are still under consideration.

"If you're looking for a dog breed with minimal exercise requirements, and a breed that's cuddly and people oriented, you'd want to look at the Toy Group. And in the process, you'd exclude other groups, like the Working Group, since these dogs tend to be high-energy, with a very active mind that must be occupied if the dog is to stay mentally healthy," explained Alison Scheble, who has been helping people pick the right dog breed for the past 27 years through her work with New England rescues and shelters.

Look at the Remaining Dog Breeds and Eliminate Breeds Based on Size, Care Requirements, Allergy-Friendliness, Etc.

Continue the search for the best dog breed by narrowing it down by size. If large dogs are not desirable, cross all of the large dog breeds off the list.

Next, look at the remaining dog breeds and consider care requirements like grooming and exercise requirements and eliminate any dogs that are too high-maintenance or high-energy dogs that won't fit well with a more sedentary person's lifestyle. Some dogs are more allergy-friendly than others, so dogs who tend to cause problems for individuals with dog allergies can be crossed off the list.

Picking a Dog Breed

By this point in the dog breed selection process, the number of dog breeds still under consideration should be down to a more reasonable number. It's at this process of picking a dog breed that future owners should start really researching the personality and temperament of each dog breed. Future dog owners will have to ask themselves "What do I want in a dog? A hyper jogging partner? A lap dog? A family dog?" Keep the desired dog personality and breed temperament in mind when researching each dog breed.

The goal should be to narrow it down to between three and five dog breeds. Once this is accomplished, the next step is to get out and actually meet some dogs. Contact breeders, local animal shelters and a breed-specific rescue organization and schedule visits. Meeting dogs will help immensely with the breed selection process and by the end, future dog owners will usually know what dog breed is best for their lifestyle and personality.

Other factors to consider? Each breed is prone to certain health problems and diseases. Consider the overall health of a particular breed. Also, some home insurance companies will not insure owners of certain dog breeds and even some cities and towns have dog breed restrictions. Also remember that some dog breeds are extremely expensive and rare, while others are less expensive and easier to find. And don't rule out mixed breed dogs. Mixed breed dogs are often healthier than purebred dogs, with many of the same physical features, attributes and temperament.