When looking to adopt a dog, it is important not to do so blindly. There is a place for going with your instincts or feelings, but there is also a place for being intentional and taking into consideration your needs and your environment.
Also, there are a lot of resources to guide you in your search.
There are attributes and characteristics of a dog that would be ideal and desirable for many prospective dog owners.
Size: Dogs can be small, mid-sized or large and depending on how big or small they are may either require a big space or a small space. It is important to consider the available space in your home.
Depending on the square footage of their home individuals living in smaller houses may want to get a smaller size dog. It is not advisable to have small dogs in a small area especially when you have small kids though.
Smaller dogs that run around and have a lot of energy tend to overturn things in the house and are not safe around little children.
Larger dogs, on the other hand, may be slower and in as long as you will be able to take the big dog out for walks, even a big dog may be okay even in limited spaces.
The upkeep required for bigger dogs is higher than for smaller dogs. If considering a small sized dog (7-35 pounds) you may consider getting a Yorkshire Terrier, English Cocker Spaniel, Maltese, Beagle, Boston Terrier and so on. Midsized dogs (40-60 pounds) include the American Water Spaniel, Airedale Terrier, and the American Staffordshire Terrier. The large dog (at least 50-100 pounds) breeds include the Alaskan Malamute, the Bloodhound, the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog.
Temperament/Personality: You may be the kind of person who likes the outdoors, athleticism and socializing. Or you may be the kind of person who enjoys being at peace in a quiet, serene environment?
If you are athletic and you enjoy physical fitness, it would be best to get a dog that is agile, has a lot of stamina and is also athletic to be able to keep up with you. Encourage your dog to go for walks and runs if they are the active type so that they can release all the pent up energy.
On the other hand, for less active and peaceful dogs a brisk walk will do. Athletic dogs include the Greyhound, the Siberian Husky, the German Shepherd, and the Labrador Retriever. Quieter serene dogs include the Maltese, the Pomeranian, Brussels Griffon, the Chow Chow, the Cocker Spaniel, the English Bulldog, and the Clumber Spaniel.
Intelligence: Everyone would appreciate having a smart pet? Smart dogs are easy to train because they are able to get a command after a few repetitions and remember even after not being exposed to the commands regularly.
Smarter dogs are good for everyone but are even better for impatient people who get frustrated easily and do not have enough time to train their dogs.
Some dog breeds are known to be more intelligent than others. The dogs known for being smart include the Border Collie, The Poodle, The German Shephard, the Golden Retriever, the Labrador Retriever, and the Doberman Pinscher.
Function: Dogs are great companions and can also be great playmates and this could be the main reason why you are looking to adopt a dog. Or you could be seeking a guard dog for security.
Other dogs can be used as guides for people with various disabilities like blindness or deafness, whereas some are used for work, such as police dogs in airports and in investigations.
It is therefore important when choosing a dog, to take into consideration the purpose that they will serve. The dogs that make the best companion include the Italian Greyhound, the Bullmastiff, the Basset Hound.
The dogs that are good at security are the Akita, the Bullmastiff, the German Shepherd. The Labrador Retriever, the German Shepherd, and the Golden Retriever make awesome guides.
Just like human beings, dogs have different temperaments even those of the same breed can possess different personalities.
When adopting a dog, choose characteristics and traits that will work for you and your current situation.
Are you athletic and love to work out a lot and will you want your dog to accompany you during the workout?
Do you have kids?
Is your home restricted in regards to space?
Is the dog easy to train or does your dog need you to dedicate more time in dog training?
Are you getting a dog for a specific purpose?
Take all these things into consideration when you decide that you want to adopt a dog. It is important to note though that even if you do not get all the characteristics you are looking for in one dog, you can still adopt a dog and make the necessary adjustments to accommodate both your dog and your needs.
