Which Dog Breed Is Best For A Best Friend in Dallas, TX?

Deciding which dog breed to get can be a tough choice. It is important to consider both your needs as well as your dog’s needs.

Find out more about which best friend would be best for you, and the dog breeds with the characteristics you are looking for by reading our Dallas, TX, animal hospital‘s article below.

What To Consider When Choosing A Dog

There are a number of things to consider when choosing the best breed for your best friend. You will need to consider everything from the size to temperament.

Size

Size is a big consideration for several reasons. Larger dogs tend to live shorter lives, whereas smaller dogs tend to live longer lives.

Size is also important to consider because larger dogs need more space and more exercise. If you live in an apartment or small house, a small or medium dog is best. If you have a standard size or larger house and a large yard, any dog breed size will have plenty of space.

Physical Characteristics

When choosing a dog, you also want to consider their physical characteristics, beyond just size. For instance, some dogs have longer or thicker fur and others have shorter or thinner fur. One of the reasons to consider a dog’s fur coat is because some dogs will need professional grooming while others may be able to be groomed at home.

Other things to consider are physical characteristics that lead to health problems later in life. For instance, dogs with shorter snouts are more likely to have breathing problems or snoring problems. Dogs with short legs but longer bodies may have back problems.

Personality

There are a lot of things to consider when looking at dog personalities. Questions to ask yourself include:

• Are you looking for a protective dog?
• Are you looking for a loyal dog?
• Are you looking for a friendly dog?
• Are you looking for a playful dog?
• Are you looking for an intelligent dog?

When choosing a dog, whether purebred or mixed, take a look at the personality characteristics of the breed. It is also a good idea to get to know a dog before agreeing to adopt them.

Temperament

Temperament is similar to personality. The key difference is that personality has many more facets than temperament. Temperament can be sorted into three main groups: assertive or aggressive, neutral, and passive.

Most dogs will be on a spectrum from passive to assertive. Each dog breed has a basic temperament that can be affected by personality as well as training.

Genetic Predispositions

Some dogs have a genetic predisposition towards certain health problems. Check with a vet or online to find out what potential health problems may be in your dog’s future. This is important when considering the amount of money, you may need to spend on your dog.

Some common health problems are:

• Short noses: leads to everything from snoring to sleep apnea
• Long, floppy ears: ear infections
• Large, heavy dog breeds: may have arthritis when they are older
• Long backs/spines: these dogs may have back problems as they age
• Hairless: these dogs may suffer from the cold
• Thick, layered coats: these dogs may suffer from heat
• Folded or wrinkled skin: these dogs may suffer from itching and skin rashes

Schedule

When choosing a dog, it is important to consider your own daily schedule. Most dogs prefer a stable home schedule. Additionally, most dogs will need to be let out during the day.

If you work from home this will be less of an issue. However, if you leave the house for work and are going to be gone for 8 or more hours, you will need a way to let your dog out. No matter what breed you pick, they need at least one good walk a day and most dogs can get bladder infections if they are consistently having to hold it in until you get home.

Home Environment Needs

Different dog breeds have different home environment needs. This category is interwoven with all of the others. If you are considering a big dog, you will want to think about how much space they need and how much space they will take up.

If you have a small or tight space, a big dog will feel cramped. They may not get enough exercise, or they may knock things over or break things.

When choosing a puppy, investigate how big they might grow. It is important to choose a dog that fits into the space you have.

Dog Breed Characteristics

In the following section, dog breeds are listed by popular personality traits. When choosing a dog using these lists, start with your number one most desired trait. From there look at what other traits each dog has. Many of these breeds are on more than one list.

Top 10 Most Friendly Dogs

This list is the top ten friendliest dog breeds. If friendliness is what you are looking for, adopt a dog from one of these breeds.

1. Beagle 
2. Poodle
3. Labrador Retriever
4. Boxer
5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
6. Irish Setter
7. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
8. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
9. Boston Terrier
10. Border Collie

Top 10 Most Loyal Dogs

This list is the top ten most loyal dog breeds. If loyalty is what you are interested in, adopt a dog from one of these breeds.

1. Boxer 
2. Rottweiler
3. Mastiff
4. German Shepherd
5. Great Pyrenees
6. Border Collie
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Beagle
9. Akita
10. Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Top 10 Most Playful Dogs

This list is the top ten most playful dog breeds. If playfulness is what you are interested in, adopt a dog from one of these breeds.

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Boxer
3. Golden Retriever
4. Pomeranian
5. Australian Shepherd
6. English Springer Spaniel
7. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
8. Jack Russell Terrier
9. French Bulldog
10. Portuguese Water Dog

Top 10 Most Protective Dogs

This list is the top ten most protective dog breeds that also make great family dogs. If protectiveness is what you are interested in, adopt a dog from one of these breeds.

1. Akita
2. Australian Shepherd
3. Bullmastiff
4. Doberman Pinscher
5. German Shepherd
6. Giant Schnauzer
7. Rottweiler
8. Staffordshire Terrier
9. Belgian Malinois
10. Great Dane

Top 10 Most Intelligent Dogs

This list is the top ten most Intelligent dog breeds. If intelligence is what you are interested in, adopt a dog from one of these breeds.

1. Border Collie
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden and Labrador Retrievers
5. Doberman Pinscher
6. Papillion
7. Rottweiler
8. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
9. Schnauzer
10. Springer Spaniel

Our Dallas, TX, Vets Can’t Wait to Meet Your New Best Friend

Make sure you choose the dog that will be the best companion possible by meeting and getting to know a dog before adoption. When looking for a combination of factors, you might find that a mixed breed dog may be best. Good luck and may you find the perfect puppy for you and your household.

To schedule your new best friend’s first exam with our animal hospital in Dallas, TX, give us a call at (214) 826-4166.