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• Size. One major factor to consider is your living space. Do you have enough space for a large dog? For example, If you live in an apartment then a St. Bernard or Great Dane may not be a good choice. A smaller Breed may be the way to go. Will you need to walk the dog each time you take it out, or do you have a fenced in back yard? Leash training is a must if you need to walk your dog
• Schedule. Be sure you choose a Breed that is going to work with your schedule. For example, if you choose a high energy breed but you are gone for long hours you may need to make arrangements. Such as driving home from work to exercise them, or hiring someone who can walk the dog. If you are gone for long periods you may want to consider a Breed that is basically a couch potato and doesn’t require too much activity. Do you have the patience to train a puppy? These are all things to consider.
• Activity level. If you tend to be a low-energy person with not much activity, then you may not want a high energy dog. And vice versa; if you are a very active person and want to include your dog in your activity (for example, running) then a couch potato may not be a good choice for you. The best match for you will be a dog whose needs are similar to yours.
• Breed. You need to consider the inherent traits with each Breed. Do your due diligence on this so you fully understand their personalities and behaviors. Research the different classes of dogs: Working, Herding, Hound, Sporting, Non-Sporting, Toy, and Terrier. they each have their own traits to consider. Also, consider whether you want a Purebred or a Mixed Breed. An example is this; a herdiing dog may run with children as they are playing and nipping at their clothes. This is not necessarily an aggressive behavior but their herding instinct coming into play.
• Age. Puppy-hood, adolescence, adulthood, senior — As dogs mature their personalities change. Puppies, of course, need a lot of time and patience to house train them, in addition to leash training and obedience training. Adult dogs tend to calm down, and senior dogs can tend to not want to be bothered with another pet sharing their space. In Addition, senior dogs may also not want any part of small children being around them. So you must consider all aspects of your life to choose the right Breed for you family.
• History. Try to learn as much of the history of the dog you are considering. If you’re considering adopting, the history might be vague. You will have to ask if the dog was abused, neglected, or abamdoned. Getting a dog from a Breeder will have history of the parents and more on expected traits. Getting as much history as possible will help you decide if the dog will be a good fit for you.

Take A Look At These Breeds That Have Gotten A Bad Name:

The Following Are Only Four Breeds That Have Gotten A Bad Name:

Rottweilers: Rottweilers are in the “Working Class” of dogs. They are Loyal, Loving, and Confident Guardians. Descendants of the Mastiff Breed, their build is very robust. In Addition, they have incredible strength. When Rottweilers are Bred Properly and Raised Properly, they are a very confident dog. They are sometimes aloof so people don’t realize they can be very playful, and also have silly personality. Furthermore, they don’t know their size so they sometimes think they are a lap dog. We researched not only the Breed in-depth, but also the facility where ours was bred. Our Rottweiler was incredibly calm and gentle around our children, and always laid near them for protection. The picture to the right is my personal picture of our Rottweiler (Taz) with my two boys. He will be forever missed.

German Sheperds: German Shepherds are another breed in the “Working Class”. They are Courageous, Confident, and Very Smart. In Addition, they’re Extremely Loyal and will put their life on the line for their loved ones, are highly intelligent and love to learn. Their trainability is outstanding. German Shepherds are large and powerful, however they are also very gentle. This Breed makes a wonderful addition to the family. As with any Breed you must due your research to make sure they are a good fit for your family.

Dobermans: Dobermans are another larger breed with a lot of strength. This Breed is a very energetic Breed, and therefore do not like to be left alone in the back yard for too long as they love the company of their family. They are highly intelligent and very trainable, however they are naturally protective guard dogs so need special training for that. Just know they can be stubborn and want their own way. Don’t mistake this for them being aggressive. You just have to be consistent in your training and follow through with the command you give them. Don’t let them get the upper hand.

Pitt Bulls: There are many types of Pit Bulls so it’s important to do your research prior to getting one. I used to be afraid of them because of all the hype. It can be a great concern when you don’t know how they were bred, and don’t have information on the blood line of the breed.

At first I was a bit leary of owning a Pitbull however our female pitbull seemed to have a really great personality when she was a puppy. Furthermore, I gave her the unconditional love she gave me and she has become MY Furbaby. That’s right! I fell in love with her and she is now mine. She gets so much love and attention and she just loves people and other animals, however she does not realize her strength. Again, Pit Bulls are a bigger breed and are very strong and robust so you must do your research prior to owning one. However, Personally, my girl is a lap dog and I love it!