How to Select the Right Dog for Your Family

Every parent knows that it is just a matter of time before their child comes home with a stray dog asking, “Can we keep him Mom, huh, can we?” If it isn’t a stray then we will inevitably come across a box of puppies somewhere with the words, “Free to a Good Home” plastered across it in big bold letters. Let’s face it, children love dogs and America has gone to the dogs. According to the United States Humane society 40% of all households in the US own a dog. So in a country where dogs are more popular than ever, how can we be sure that we are selecting the right dog for our family?

Perhaps we should begin by looking at the factors we should not use to make our selection. Parents often make the mistake of choosing a small breed dog as their family pet because they assume that a small dog is a safe choice for their children. This is often not the case. Just because a dog is small does not mean that it has the proper temperament to mesh well with an active child. Breeds such as Chihuahuas, Miniature Pinchers and Rat Terriers are small and easy to care for; however, they need lots of attention and can be possessive of their owners and jealous when children receive more attention than they do. They are great dogs for single people, but probably not the best choice for the family pet.

Another factor to avoid when selecting the family pet is current trends. When Paris Hilton began sporting her Chihuahua Tinkerbell as a fashion accessory the popularity of the breed skyrocketed and before long they were seen on the arms of celebrities across the country. This can also be said for the increase in popularity of the Dalmatian after Glenn Close reprised the role of Cruella de Vil in the 1996 release of 101 Dalmatians. Shortly thereafter shelters were full of abandoned Dalmatians because people did not do their homework and selected a breed based on popularity alone.

With size and popularity nixed as a criterion, what can we use to select our family dog? Temperament, disposition and energy level are all excellent traits to use when selecting the best dog for your family. Temperaments are best described as personality traits for dogs. Some dogs are good natured and even tempered while others are dominant and high strung just like some people. Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Beagles and Pugs are all known for their even tempers. Thankfully there are other factors to consider for those of us who are not ready for committing to owning a dog as big as a Great Dane.

Disposition is also an important criteria. Disposition is the prevailing tendency or mood of the pooch in question. There are two major dispositions to consider, aggressive and submissive. A good way to tell which of the two you are dealing with is to roll the dog on its back and gently hold it there for a few seconds. If the dog bites or tries to wriggle out of your grasp then you are dealing with a dog with dominant tendencies. If the dog lies there willingly and fails to make eye contact then you have a submissive dog on your hands. The best choice for a family with children is the dog who is somewhere in between the two and seems only mildly uncomfortable and whines rather than nips.

Perhaps one of the most important characteristics to consider is energy level! Some of us do not have the time to provide the proper amount of exercise for certain dog breeds despite the fact that they meet all of our other requirements. If you have younger children who are not able to help with the exercise routine then Bull Dogs, Great Danes and Greyhounds are perfect choices. If you have older and more active children you might consider the Labrador, Golden Retriever or Irish Setter. All of these are great with kids and will enjoy participating in a variety of outdoor activities.

While these tips may be helpful it is important to remember that no amount of research is a substitute for the proper training and socializing of a dog. Remember that certain breeds do have stereotypical characteristics, but there are no guarantees in dog ownership and often times pound puppies of mixed breeds can be just as good or better family dogs than their purebred counterparts.