Dogs bring so much joy to families, but they also teach kids essential life skills, like responsibility and how to care for others. While welcoming a perfect family dog into your home can be exciting, ensuring your four-legged friend fits your lifestyle and family personality is vital.
Choosing the perfect family dog is not a decision to be taken lightly.
Here are some things to consider when choosing your family’s new best friend.
For infants and young children: A calm demeanor
If you have young children or an infant, look for dogs with calm demeanors. An excitable, high-energy dog may be too much for young children.
Calm dogs will also be more tolerant of behaviors other dogs may not tolerate, such as ear-pulling, tail-pulling, sitting near food bowls, or hugging.
While teaching children appropriate behavior around dogs is essential, it can be difficult for young children to understand and comprehend these rules.
A calm, tolerant dog will put up with these behaviors, reducing the risk of an aggressive response.
Popular calm dog breeds include:
- Newfoundland
- King Charles Spaniel
- Golden retriever
- Great Dane
- English Bulldog
- Scottish Deerhound
- Pug
- Collie
- Shih Tzu
- Labrador Retriever
- Bernese Mountain Dog
For older kids: A more energetic breed
If your kids are a little older, at least eight, you may want to go with a more energetic breed.
A high-energy breed keeps the kids busy, and vice versa.
They can play in the yard together and tire each other out.
Some breeds are more energetic than others, and choosing a level that suits your lifestyle and environment is essential.
If you have acres of land where your perfect family dog can run freely, you can select any high-energy breed you wish. But if you have a smaller fenced-in yard, you may need a dog with a medium-high energy level.
Some breeds, like the Australian Shepherd, never seem to tire and require a vigorous amount of exercise.
If you can’t satisfy the dog’s energy needs, he’ll find other ways – usually destructive – to release that pent-up energy.
Herding breeds like Australian Shepherds are better choices for older kids since they are prone to herding behavior, which can lead to nipping with younger children.
Popular high-energy dog breeds include:
- Australian Shepherd
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Border Collie
- Siberian Husky
- Weimaraner
- Airedale Terrier
- Jack Russel Terrier
- Boston Terrier
Consider local laws, insurance, and registration
When choosing a new dog for your family, consider any potential laws, insurance, or registration requirements.
If you choose a dangerous breed in Texas and many other states, you may have to register your dog with Animal Control.
Consult local laws or call an animal shelter to learn about dangerous breeds’ registration requirements.
Registration requirements vary between municipalities. Some cities, like Houston, require registration regardless of the dog’s breed. Dallas has a mandatory microchipping law. Check your local laws to make sure that you comply.
Dangerous breeds may also have additional insurance requirements. You’ll need to check with your homeowner’s insurance company to determine if there are extra fees or policies for dangerous dog breeds.
Another critical thing to consider is the local driving laws. Currently, no laws in Texas require dogs to be harnessed or in a crate when traveling in a vehicle.
However, unrestrained dogs are distracting and can cause accidents. No matter how small, having a dog on your lap can make even the simplest maneuvers more difficult.
If you plan on taking your new family dog on car rides and road trips, a crate is the best option. Make sure that your vehicle can accommodate an appropriately sized crate.
If you have a small sedan, you may consider a smaller breed that’s easy to transport in almost any vehicle.
Training and socialization
Training and socialization are crucial in ensuring your family dog integrates smoothly into your household.
Proper training helps establish good behavior and strengthens the bond between your dog and family.
Build good manners: Training helps teach your dog basic commands, such as sit, stay, come, and leash etiquette.
These commands are essential for everyday safety and interaction. A well-trained dog is less likely to engage in undesirable behaviors, such as jumping on guests, excessive barking, or chewing furniture.
Enhance safety: A trained dog is a safer companion. Understanding commands can prevent potentially dangerous situations, such as running into traffic or encountering aggressive dogs.
For families with young children, teaching a dog to be gentle and calm around kids reduces the risk of accidents and enhances overall safety.
Encourage social skills: Socialization is the process of exposing your dog to different environments, people, and other animals in a positive way.
This exposure helps dogs develop confidence and adaptability, making them more comfortable in various settings.
A well-socialized dog is typically more relaxed when encountering new experiences, reducing the chances of fear-based reactions, such as aggression or anxiety.
Develop stronger bonds: Training sessions provide an excellent opportunity for bonding between the dog and family members.
Engaging in training together reinforces trust and communication, creating a more cohesive family unit.
As you work through training exercises, you’ll learn to understand your dog’s needs and behaviors, which fosters a deeper connection.
Lifelong learning: Dogs thrive on mental stimulation, and training provides an outlet for their intelligence.
Ongoing training keeps their minds active and can prevent boredom-related issues, such as destructive behavior or excessive barking.
Introducing new commands, tricks, or activities strengthens your bond and promotes a healthier dog.
Use a reputable breeder or shelter
When searching for a perfect family dog, it’s essential to start with reputable breeders or adoption centers to ensure that you are welcoming a healthy, well-adjusted pet into your home.
Here are some steps to help you find trustworthy sources:
Research: Search online for breeders and rescue organizations in your area.
Look for facilities with positive reviews from previous customers and a good reputation in the community. Websites like the American Kennel Club or local animal shelters can be excellent starting points.
Check credentials: Reputable breeders should be registered with recognized kennel clubs and adhere to ethical breeding practices.
For breeders, verify their credentials and memberships in breed-specific clubs.
For adoption centers, ensure they follow adoption protocols and have a transparent history of their animals.
Visit: If possible, visit the breeders or adoption centers.
A responsible breeder will allow you to see the living conditions of the puppies and their parents, while a good adoption center will let you meet the animals and observe how they are cared for.
Look for cleanliness, spacious environments, and healthy animal behavior.
Ask questions: Prepare a list of questions for both breeders and adoption centers.
Inquire about the puppy’s health history, socialization, and temperament.
Good breeders will provide health clearances for the parents and may ask you about your lifestyle to ensure a good fit.
Adoption centers should be transparent about the dog’s background, behavior, and health concerns.
Meet the parents: For breeders, meeting the puppy’s parents can give you insight into the temperament and behavior traits your future dog might inherit.
Look for dogs that are well-cared-for and exhibit friendly and stable behavior.
Trust your instincts: Pay attention to your gut feelings about the breeding or adoption environment.
A breeder or center that seems more interested in selling animals than finding them good homes may not be a suitable choice.
Get recommendations: Talk to friends, family, or veterinarians about reputable breeders or shelters.
Personal experiences can guide you toward trustworthy sources.
Consider adoption: Many wonderful dogs await homes in shelters and foster programs.
Adoption can be a rewarding experience, giving a dog a second chance at life.
Look for local rescue groups or shelters and find one that aligns with your values and mission.
Final thoughts on choosing the perfect family dog
Choosing the best family dog breed is no easy task.
Along with selecting potential breeds, meeting the dog in person is vital to ensure its demeanor and personality are a good fit for your family.
Bring the kids to the meeting to see how the dog behaves with your little ones.
Meeting the dog and its parents is essential, even if you’re buying a puppy from a breeder.
The parents’ demeanor will give you a good idea of the puppy’s future personality.
Whether you consider small dog breeds, medium-sized dogs, or large dog breeds, ultimately, choosing the best dog breeds is a personal choice.
Find a dog with a loving personality that you want to make part of your family.