Category — Best Dog Breed

In my continuing series, “What Dog Breed Is Best For Me?” we’re going to talk about a large dog breed that is popular, highly intelligent, and can be a devoted companion - if it is trained properly.

This is one dog breed that needs strong leadership and discipline from its owner.

This breed is not for everyone. In fact, some dog trainers advise against - and do not recommend - it as a family dog because it is assertive and has a strong protective instinct that must be controlled and channeled early to prevent serious or fatal accidents.

It comes in various colors including black, white, gray, and sable.

German Shepherd - Brave Working Dog

When you think of the German Shepherd, you might immediately think of a guard or protection dog.

With early and proper German Shepherd Dog Training the German Shepherd can make a fine pet that is loyal and protective.

Because it is a large and active dog, it is only suitable for larger homes where there is plenty of space for exercise and needs an owner who can devote time to firm dog behavior training.

The German Shepherd is an athletic dog that needs plenty of exercise. Long, fast-paced walks and activity are necessary to burn off excess energy in this agile dog.

The German Shepherd was originally a herding dog which means it’s a “working” dog - it needs a job or a challenge to keep it occupied and happy.

German Shepherd Training

The German Shepherd is a breed that trains well. It can, however, display temperament problems which can lead to dog behavior problems.

The German Shepherd is a smart dog breed which bonds closely with its owner.

Dog behavior problems with the German Shepherd can include separation anxiety, fear biting, destructiveness, and aggressiveness towards strangers.

If you happen to be considering acquiring one through a “free German Shepherd to a good home” advertisement, do your due diligence - especially about health, temperament, and early socialization - and be sure to check out our suggestion for German Shepherd Dog Training.

Training a German Shepherd puppy early is highly recommended since an out-of-control or inactive German Shepherd can lead to serious dog behavior problems including dog aggression, dog biting, dog chewing, dog barking excessively, fear biting, and more.

You might be wondering how effective this German Shepherd Training program is.

Well, Adam G. K. - a professional dog trainer - tells the story of one German Shepherd dog owner who came to him for help because her 160 pound German Shepherd was barking, lunging, and pulling at its leash.

With proper direction from the trainer, the dog owner was able to quickly control her German Shepherd simply by learning how to communicate with it properly.

Of course, the dog owner had two advantages - she had individualized training with the dog trainer and she was already familiar with this dog trainer’s methods from his dog behavior training program. So she was able to understand and implement his instructions quickly to get the results she wanted.

But obviously his training worked since she couldn’t believe it was the same dog after using his dog training techniques.

The German Shepherd has a life span of up to 13 years and can suffer from several medical conditions including hip malformation, skin problems, eye problems, and allergies.

Intelligence, athletic ability, low grooming requirements are a plus. Strong protective instinct, size, health concerns, and need for exercise and to be kept occupied could be a minus.

Buy from a reputable breeder and socialize and train this dog breed early. Ensure your lifestyle and commitment to owning this breed are compatible with the dog’s specific needs.

If you’re thinking of getting a German Shepherd, be sure to request our FREE List of Cool, Clever, Popular, and Unique Puppy and Dog Names.

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In your search for finding what dog breed is best for you, you may not have considered this next breed which is another great family dog breed.

This dog comes in standard (large dog) size and also in toy and miniature sizes.

But whatever size you choose, you’ll find an intelligent, loving, easy-to-train dog to keep you and your family company for many years.

Toy Poodle - The Fun Loving Dog

When you think of a Poodle, you might think of a white coated dog breed. But Toy Poodles have coats in several colors including black, brown, cream, and even apricot!

The Toy Poodle is the smallest member of the Poodle breed, and can weigh up to eight pounds and stand eleven inches in height. (The Miniature Poodle, on the other hand, can be as much as four inches taller than the Toy Poodle and can weigh up to eighteen pounds - quite a difference in size.)

What the Toy Poodle is noted for is its intelligence, playfulness, and ability to adapt to living situations ranging from an apartment to a large house. Toy Poodles make excellent indoor and city dogs because of their small size.

It’s an excitable breed that fits in well when included as a member of the family. It gets along well with children and other pets which makes it an ideal family pet.

Toy Poodle Training

As with any dog breed, dog behavior training is important with Poodles otherwise you will encounter dog behavior problems.

One dog behavior problem you may encounter with the Toy Poodle (and Miniature Poodle, too) is jumping up on people which should be discouraged early and can be corrected with Toy Poodle Training. The Poodle can also bark excessively and display dominant behavior if not trained properly.

Poodles and Toy Poodles are intelligent dogs that learn quickly and respond well to Poodle and Toy Poodle Training.

You can expect a healthy Toy Poodle to live up to 14 years. It sheds very little which could be a consideration for someone with dog allergies.

The Toy Poodle is one dog breed you want to be sure to buy from a reputable breeder to reduce the chances of poor temperament and potential health problems which can include joint, heart, and eye problems.

Intelligence, playfulness, and life-span are a plus. Frequent grooming and high excitability could be a minus.

Properly trained, any type of Poodle - Toy, Miniature, or Standard - would make a well-behaved, obedient dog for your family.

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When considering what dog breed is best for you, a small or toy dog may fit into your lifestyle or living situation.

Here’s another dog breed you might be interested in if you’re trying to find the right dog for yourself or your family.

Havanese - The Affectionate Companion

The Havanese is a friendly toy dog that not only makes a wonderful family pet, it’s also an affectionate companion for those who have time spend with their dog.

The Havanese is noted for its beautiful long, silky coat which needs daily attention and comes in several colors including gold, cream, and black.

But, it’s not only its silky coat that makes the Havanese stand out as a good candidate for a loyal pet. It’s also a playful small dog breed that fits in well with children, adults, and other pets and is adaptable in virtually any living situation - from an apartment or a condo to a large home.

It also makes a good watchdog by warning its owners of anyone who approaches.

Havanese Dog Training

The Havanese is very bright and is easy to train. Like other dog breeds, it will display dog behavior problems including biting and separation anxiety if not trained properly. It’s a quick learner that responds quickly to positive Havanese Dog Training.

One of the endearing traits that makes the Havanese so likable is that it needs constant companionship and is perfectly suited for people who stay at home a lot.

Because of its sociable nature, the Havanese is not a dog breed that can be on its own for extended periods of time. It’s likely to suffer dog behavior problems including dog separation anxiety if left alone, which should be taken into consideration if you work outside of your home and there is no one home during the day to keep it company.

The Havanese is a long-lived dog breed with a life span ranging from 12 - 14 years which makes it an ideal pet for a family with growing children.

It’s also quite flexible when it comes to exercise - it burns off energy from playing (which is another reason why it’s a good choice if you have children) but, like most dogs, does benefit from regular exercise - even if it’s just a short walk around the neighborhood.

Buy from a reputable breeder and check for knee, eye, thyroid, and liver problems in particular.

Affectionate, devoted, playful, with a friendly temperament are a plus. Frequent grooming and possible medical conditions - some of which could be inherited - could be a minus.

With proper training, the Havanese can be one of the best, well-behaved dogs to own.

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Here are two more things you should consider when asking the question, “What Dog Breed Is Best For Me?”

1. Dog Breed Traits

Do you want a dog that has a high, medium, or low energy level?

Consider your own energy level. Do you like going for long walks and are you active outdoors year round? If so, a dog that likes lots of exercise might be a good fit.

A Border Collie is very active and needs a lot of exercise. The Golden Retriever is an active dog, too. A Maltese or a Chihuahua, on the other hand, are less active.

The higher your dog’s energy level, the more you have to ensure it gets lots of exercise and is kept busy otherwise it will get bored and could develop dog behavior problems.

2. Dog Training

Not only is it helpful to know how quickly a dog will respond to training, you should ask yourself how much time you want to devote to training.

Also consider whether you have the patience for training a puppy or dog, especially if it has dog behavior problems like chewing or barking.

The Golden Retriever, responds well to Golden Retriever Training and is easy to train.

The Chihuahua and Pekingese, are two dog breeds that train quickly.

Some dog breeds, like the Bichon Frise, take a little longer to train because it doesn’t take much to distract them.

If you have an adorable Bichon Frise, take a look at Bichon Frise Training for specialized training of this breed.

Also keep in mind your own time constraints. If your day is busy and you don’t have much spare time, you don’t want a puppy or dog that takes a lot of time and attention to train.

In the next part of the series, “What Dog Breed Is Best For Me” I’ll discuss another dog breed which might make a good pet for you.

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In part two of my series, “What Dog Breed Is Best For Me”
I discussed the Golden Labrador, an amiable family dog.

In this article, I’ll talk about a toy dog, the Bichon Frise.

Bichon Frise - The Lively Toy Dog

Cute and fluffy are the first things that come to mind when you see a Bichon Frise because of its small size and gorgeous white coat. If that’s not enough to fall in love with, then its affectionate personality will win you over.

The Bichon Frise is another good family pet that likes to be involved in family activities.

It’s a happy, lively, extroverted, sometimes noisy toy dog breed that demands lots of attention, likes to be the center of attention, and gets along well with people and other pets.

The Bichon Frise is a higher maintenance breed than some other dog breeds and needs frequent grooming. Its beautiful white silky coat, which is its distinguishing characteristic, needs regular attention with brushing, combing, and bathing to maintain its color and natural curliness. And a trip to the pet groomer or home clipping is required at least every several weeks, if not more frequently.

Because of its size and temperament, the Bichon Frise makes an ideal pet for a wide range of living situations - from small living quarters, such as an apartment or condo, to a house.

The Bichon Frise is a high energy dog that responds well to frequent exercise. Although regular exercise is recommended for most - if not all - dogs, the Bichon Frise can adapt to a less intense exercise schedule.

The Bichon Frise has a life span ranging from 12 - 15 years (slightly longer than that of the Golden Retriever). It’s a pretty hardy breed although it’s prone to heart and eye problems and hip malformation.

Bichon Frise Dog Obedience Training

The Bichon Frise is very intelligent. Because of its lively personality it’s slower to housetrain but does respond well to dog obedience training.

Temperament, intelligence, adaptability, and trainability are a plus. Grooming and need for lots of attention could be a minus depending upon your budget and schedule.

As always, do your due diligence before buying or getting a puppy or dog and buy from a reputable dog breeder.

My List of Cool, Clever, Popular, Unique Puppy and Dog Names has many suggestions for naming a Bichon Frise puppy or dog.

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In my first part of the “What Dog Breed Is Best For Me” series, I provided you with a number of things to consider when you ask yourself what the best breed of dog is for you.

In this segment and future segments, I’ll give you general information about dog breeds for you to consider as well as information about some of the best family dog breeds.

Selecting a dog breed that is best for you is a personal choice based on a number of considerations some of which we discussed in What Dog Breed Is Best For Me - Part I.

It’s also recommended you do any necessary due diligence about a specific dog or dog breed you are considering before buying or getting a puppy or dog.

Golden Retriever - The Amiable Family Dog

The Golden Retriever has a lot going for it as a family pet and amiable companion.

With its gentle disposition and friendly, outgoing attitude it makes a wonderful dog for a family.

The Golden Retriever is a rambunctious large dog with an easy-going temperament who needs a lot of exercise (year round) and room to run around to burn off energy. It’s the perfect dog if you like to go for long walks every day.

It’s a sociable dog, willing to please, and good with children (although you should always keep an eye on young children around any dog). It’s the type of dog that needs to be included in your family activities. That means that if you’re going somewhere, it will want to go with you.

The Goldie needs regular grooming - its coat picks up soil, mud, twigs, and other debris from the outdoors. A word of caution if you have allergies - it will leave hair on your clothes and carpet since it sheds quite a lot.

Golden Retriever Training

The Golden Retriever is intelligent, learns quickly, and responds very well to Golden Retriever obedience training which should be started early. It gets along well with other pets and has few dog behavior problems.

The Goldie has a life span ranging from 10-13 years so your children will have a loyal, playful, and affectionate companion for many years. It’s prone to hip malformation (known as hip dysplasia in dogs), cataracts (common problem with this breed), skin allergies, and other ailments which will result in veterinarian bills.

Temperament, intelligence, and trainability are a plus. Shedding (if you have dog allergies) and potential medical issues are a minus. Buy from a reputable breeder to ensure a good temperament and check for hip and eye problems.

My FREE List of Cool, Popular, Unique Puppy and Dog Names will give you ideas on what to name your Golden Retriever.

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If you’re considering getting a puppy or dog, then you’re probably asking yourself, “What dog breed is best for me?”

In this three part series, we’ll discuss how to determine what is the best breed of dog for you as well as the best family dog breeds.

In determining what the best dog breed is for you, here are 7 things to consider:

(1) What is your schedule like?

Do you have the time to devote to your puppy or dog for exercise and dog obedience training?

Remember also, dogs are very sociable and they need human interaction. So it’s important that you’re around your dog quite a lot - particularly when you first bring it home.

Also keep in mind that puppies will need lots of bathroom breaks in the beginning.

So it’s wise to be around to train it to “go” outside otherwise you’ll be investing in a lot of dog urine removers .

(2) Does your household already have other pets?

If your household has other pets, will a new puppy or dog fit in well with them?

(3) What is your budget?

A new puppy or dog requires care which costs money.

You’ll have to provide shelter, food, medical attention, and grooming.

Do you have the budget to cover those costs, especially if you had an expensive veterinarian bill from an emergency?

(4) What are your living arrangements?

Do you live alone, with your spouse or partner, with roommates, or with your family?

Do you live in a house, a condo, a townhouse, or an apartment?

If you’re allowed to have pets in your condo, townhouse, or apartment, are there any restrictions on the size of dog you can have? Small dogs are usually a better choice for a condo or an apartment.

(5) Are you an outdoors type of person?

Dogs need exercise. So consider whether you like to get out and exercise and go for walks.

(6) What’s your personality like?

Puppies and dogs require housetraining and dog behavior training.

That means you have to have patience, compassion, and good judgment.

7. What age are your children, if you’re considering a puppy or dog for your children? Some dogs are good with children. Others aren’t. And some dog breeds tolerate smaller children better.

Here are some other considerations as you ask yourself, “What dog breed is best for me.”

1. Do you have a preference for a toy, small, or large dog?
2. Are you looking for a dog that is a loyal, loving house companion or do you want a watchdog?
3. Are you looking for a dog that doesn’t require a lot of professional grooming?
4. Are you looking for a dog that interacts well with children of all ages?
5. Are you looking for a dog that barks a lot or only occasionally?
6. Are you looking for a dog that is good natured and has a gentle temperament?
7. Are you looking for a dog that trains quickly and will respond well to dog obedience training?
8. Are you looking for a dog that will live a relatively long time?
9. Are you looking for a dog that has few medical problems?
10. Do you have allergies?

As you can see, when you ask, “What dog breed is best for me?” there are a number of considerations before choosing your puppy or dog.

If you’re considering getting a puppy or dog, be sure to pick up my FREE List of Cool, Clever, Popular, Unique Puppy and Dog Names.

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