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Choosing The Right Dog Breed For Your Family

Written by Colleen Sedgwick. Posted in Health and Safety.

My husband and I have known we wanted to bring a dog into the family, especially for our four-year old son who has yet to have a sibling! We are a young family and recently moved into our first house and although it is small, there is an abundance of room in the backyard, perfect for a dog. We didn’t want to just get any breed, it is a thoughtful process. We took a quiz to see what breed would best fit in with our family lifestyle. Here are a few things to consider:

Daisyree Bakker on Flickr

 

  • Age of Your Kids

The age of your kids can determine the size and temperament of the breed you choose. We wanted an active puppy that can keep up and play with our young son, but not a breed known to be aggressive. (Top ten dogs good with kids: bulldogs, german shepherd, brittany spaniel, miniature schnauzer, cavalier king charles spaniel, Vizsla, Pembrooke Welsh Corgie, poodle, labrador retriever, and golden retriever).

  • Housing/Yard Space
We have a backyard large enough for almost any dog, but our house is small. This was another reason we wanted a smaller breed because winters in Iowa are harsh with a lot time being cooped up inside. A quiet, non-aggressive, or high-energy dogs may not be best for apartments. (Here are a few top dogs for apartments: Boston Terrier, Cavachon, English Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Miniature Schnauzer, and Pug)
  • Allergies
Allergies are extremely common so many look for non-shedding breeds. This was another item on our list when looking for a dog because both my husband and son have allergies. There are dogs that are more compatible with people with allergies (American Hairless Terrier, Border Terrier, Maltese, Poodles, and Yorkshire Terrier).
  • Past Pets

Our choice of dog breed was partly because of our past experiences. Both of our families had several different pets growing up and we have had fond memories of Shelties and remember them as good family pets.

How did you choose your family pet? (or how did it choose you?)