Let’s start by demystifying the myth that a dog’s breed will entail how your dog will behave. Although german shepherds tend to have a hunting instinct, they can also be as harmless as a pug. And although spanish water dogs are renowned to love swimming, they can also avoid water like the plague.
It’s not to say however, that breeds do not tend to come with certain genetic tendencies that are good for you to be aware of, and to do your research about before embarking on the journey of dog parenthood.
For example, Border Collies are absolutely beautiful dogs and perhaps the most intelligent breed there is, which makes everyone want to get one. However, only a few households nowadays have all the time, space, and patience for a border collie, and many have one with behavioral problems. This is because border collies were bred on the rolling hills of the countryside, ready to serve and herd sheep. Finding themselves constrained in an apartment without being able to fulfill its purpose will result in them acting up, and finding ways to entertain themselves and use their pent-up energy. In a sense, it’s a little bit like putting a human in a little home, providing them all the necessities of food, water, and games, but not allowing them to roam free. It works for some but it drives others nuts.
Another very typical case is the German Shepherds. German shepherds have historically used as police dogs to sniff out drugs at the airport, or used as guard dogs. They desperately need a purpose, and if you don’t give them one in the confinements of a little home, they will find their own purpose, whether that’s your couch, furniture, shoes, or worse.
When trying to decide which breed is right for you, it’s good to think logivally and practically, rather than follow the crowd and get the cutest looking dog breed or the most trending dog breed. Below, are the
Top 5 questions that you need to ask yourself before getting yourself specific dog breed :
Can I deal with dog hair all over my house and clothes?
Answer this completely truthfully, and not whilst looking at that picture of that adorable puppy. If the answer is no, it doesn’t mean that you cannot get yourself a dog, it just means that you should make sure that you go for a dog that doesn’t shed any (or very little) hair. Yes ! They exist. I’ve got a Spanish water dog and his hair is just like human’s which means that I’ll only find a clump of hair on the odd occasion. Having said that, he needs to be shaved at least twice a year.. so no shedding doesn’t mean no grooming !
On the same level of importance, we have, Do I have enough time for my dog ?
If you’re in the office 8 hours a day, 5 times a week, and often times have other activities to top it off, then I’d suggest a cat would be a better option for companionship than a dog. Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason. They need you to spend time with them, which can vary from 2/3hrs a day or more, depending on the dog personality, grooming requirements etc. If you will realistically most times leave your dog behind at home, DO NOT get a dog ! If you miss the company of a dog, offer your time at local shelters or offer to dog sit your friends or families dog.
On a similar note, how often do you travel ?
Unless you’re planning to get yourself a service dog and live in the US, taking your dog with you on a flight is defintely not a walk in the park. If you travel often by plane, it’s good to check if your local courriers accept pets in cabin. This option is a relatively straightforward one and doesn’t break the bank, however your dog of choice needs to be below 8-10 kgs depending on the local rules. Checking in your pet adds expenses, complications, and white hairs. I know, I can tell you from experience that it doesn’t feel good to see your dog go into the unknown without being able to explain to him what’s happening. If you travel by train, it’s good to check what their pet laws are. If you don’t travel that often but realistically go to a few holidays per year, it’s good to keep in mind that you’ll need a trusted person to look after your dog whilst you’re away, whether that’s family or friends or a paid service, which will be an added expense that you need to consider.
Just as importantly, how active are you ?
If you’re not active at all but are willing to throw the ball for a good 1 hr, you might manage to get by with having a medium level active dog, but you need to have atleast the will power to get up from the couch after a day’s work ! If you’re the kind of person who prefers to spend their weekends chilled out at home, you need to get a dog that matches your same energy, such as a pug, who unfortunately doesn’t have a respiratory tract that will enable it to be active even if it wanted to. On the other hand, if you’re the active, sportsy kind of person, it’s good to think about whether your dog can join you on those activities, and if yes, it would make sense to get an active breed to keep up with you.
Can I afford the expenses that come with dog parenthood ?
Even though getting a dog is not as expensive as having a kid, it can still be relatively expensive ! Dog parents can spend an average of 1k a year on their dog, and this depends greatly on the location, how much they spoil their dog, and above all, how healthy their dog is. Especially if you’re planning on getting a particular breed, it’s ideal to check the family history of the dog to avoid the chance of hereditary diseases. Pure breeds tend to have more health issues than mixed breed dogs, because responsible breeding is not so common and most people just want to make money off litters, but not to make sure that they produce the healthy litters.
Bonus question : Can you handle barking ? Some dog breeds are more prone to barking than others. For example, german shepherds tend to bark alot whilst the benji’s are declared as the “barkless” dogs. If you enjoy your peace, go for a breed that tends to bark less.
If you’ve made it through to the end and answered these questions positively, you’re probably quite ready to have a dog !
What should I do next ?
Get reading up on different dog breeds and their tendencies on the American Kennel Club Website. This website gives a really good overview of each and every breed, their history, their general needs and specifically related to grooming as well as their barking and energy levels etc.
Consider visiting your local shelter for options, who knows, you might fall in love with one of them and could avoid the expenses of buying one ! You can read up more on the pros of adopting a dog rather than buying on here.
If you’re absolutely set on getting a particular breed, make sure that you get it from a reputable breeder that is able to show you the parents and give you details of their family tree, along with a certificate of the breed. This is to prevent potential issues that can come up later due to in-breeding, and kennel breeding which you can read more about here.
If you’ve made it to this point, I’d like to thank you for your commitment to aspiring to be a good dog parent, and we wish you the best of luck on this beautiful journey. Once you get your new member of the family, don’t forget to vaccinate them and get them socialised using our WagsUnite app !
If you’d like to share your story with us or be featured on our instagram page and our following, feel free to drop us an e-mail on hello@wagsunite.com.
If you have any questions to the community, also feel free to ask here !
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