In the course of my write-ups, I often get asked questions like “what would you recommend as a first dog” or “What was your first dog” or Should I go for a small breed or a larger dog breed? This is why in this article I would be looking at how to choose the right dog breed for you.
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Should I Get A Small Dog?
A common concern is if to get the prospective dog owner should get a small dog or a larger dog.
The issue is people wonder if some sort of experience is needed to own a larger dog such as a Siberian Husky.
The truth is small dogs and large dogs are going to require pretty much the same amount of care and they both will require you to put in the same amount of work.
My first recommendation is always to do your research and get a dog breed that fits your needs.
You need to ask yourself some hard questions here.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A DOG?
Are you looking for a protective dog?
If you’re looking for a protective dog. A very good breed would be a Rottweiler, a Doberman or a German Shepherd.
Are you looking for an obedient dog?
Small dogs are capable of being obedient and in most cases, you won’t have a problem there.
However, as far as protection wise, Their size offers a disadvantage and they can easily be handled or moved if they get aggressive. Consequently, they don’t offer protection that much.
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Therefore, if you’re looking for a protective dog, a larger dog breed is a must.
Do you mind your dog pulling you everywhere?
I cannot overemphasize the need to do your research first and not jump at the first cute and cuddly puppy you find.
If you want a dog to pull you everywhere, the Siberian Husky is a way to go.
Bigger dogs like those have a higher amount of strength so you will need to invest in the right dog training to ensure you can keep them under control.
How much money do you have to feed the dog?
Another really big factor that dog owners usually fail to consider is the cost of feeding.
The costs of feeding will vary by dog size. See our post on how to choose the best dog food for large breed of dogs if you are looking to get a big dog.
You will also have to purchase various accessories like dog bowls and more for your new dog.
It will cost you more to maintain larger dog breeds as they will most definitely eat way more than smaller dogs and their food weighs more during shipping.
What about other maintenance costs?
In general, when it comes to other maintenance costs, it doesn’t matter if you’re planning to get a large dog breed or a small dog breed.
Both dogs require a lot of maintenance, a lot of dedication, and a lot of training if you are planning to raise them right.
So, just because you have a small dog it doesn’t mean you don’t have to exercise them.
Both of these dogs require the same amount of time to keep nice and healthy don’t think that a smaller dog breed is less work.
What about General Health And Dangers?
Smaller dogs are great for so many reasons. However smaller dog breeds are more fragile to everything. It is advisable to learn how to do a physical exam on a dog so as to check for health hazards regularly. This is applicable to all dogs, not just small dogs.
However, If you live in a more dangerous environment I would recommend owning a bigger dog breed.
However, some large dog breeds can also be dangerous. Check our list of the top 10 dangerous dogs in the world here.
Do you want a fluffy dog with lots of hair or a less hairy breed?
Fluffy dogs such as the American Eskimo, the Pomeranian, and the Poodle are adorable to look at and fun to stroke.
However, the fun goes away when they start to shed. It can be very frustrating when you find larger balls of hair all over the house on your clothes and practically everywhere.
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You need to understand that all dogs shed to some extent but some shed a whole lot more than others.
Shedding can be caused by a lot of reasons such as hormones, nervousness, comfort, and many other reasons.
If you don’t mind the shedding, there are many anti-shed tools here that you can get to help with the shedding to reduce and manage it.
On the other hand, if this is going to be a major problem for you, you may wish to consider a less hairy dog breed like Chinese crested, Basenji, Italian Greyhound, Whippet, and more.
Will it be a dog that stays mostly indoors or outdoors?
Smaller indoor dogs are obviously easier to manage than big indoor dogs. In my opinion, bigger dogs will enjoy being outdoors more. ass no space constraints.
Don’t buy a husky to keep him indoor
He could pull you everywhere, that’s what these dogs are meant to do
You can get great dog cages for bigger dogs here.
It is important to note that just like humans, every dog breed has different characteristics.
Choose A Dog That Matches Your Personality
It doesn’t matter if they’re large or small. All dogs have very different personalities.
Make sure you find a dog that fits your personality.
In this case, it will be best if you don’t just do research on it from home but go out there and spend some time with various breeds that interest you.
You should also try and adopt a dog.
There are plenty of dogs that need to be saved.
If you know someone that has a dog that you’re looking at, ask him if you could spend time with the dog.
You might change your mind when you’re in person with a dog because let me tell you, they have very distinct personalities.
From my experience, I’m going to tell you what I have experienced with some dog breeds I’ve encountered and their characteristics I have observed.
I mentioned earlier that larger dog breeds require more space than smaller dog breeds.
Well, there are people that believe you shouldn’t keep a Siberian Husky outdoor because of their extremely wanting to explore personality making it almost certain for them to escape.
This is true but that doesn’t mean you should keep your dog indoors. You can consider purchasing a pet fence here to keep him from escaping but don’t deny him being outdoors.
So that’s the bottom line on the answer to the question of how to choose the right dog breed. As you can see there are a lot of considerations that you need to decide on before making the decision.
Do not rush into it or be pressured, take the time to make the right decision. Your dog is going to be with you for many years.
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