What are good breeds for families with young children?
Small Breed
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Havanese
- Bichon Frise
Large Breed
- English Labrador
- Light Golden or English Cream Golden Retrievers
Giant Breed
- Black Newfoundland
- Bernese Mountain Dog
Does coat color matter?
In some breeds, coat color can indicate a particular breed and temperament, so choosing the right one for your lifestyle is important. For example, Red Golden Retrievers have been bred for hunting purposes. They tend to have more athletic builds and slightly higher energy levels than yellow or white Golden Retrievers.
What dog breed is hardest to train?
No particular breed is the hardest to train overall. However, when you review the dog breed’s original purpose, you’ll be able to determine what will be the easiest or most difficult to train for your lifestyle.
Dogs bred to work closely with their handler tend to enjoy training more often. For example, Labrador Retrievers were bred to hunt with their owner. On the other hand, some dogs bred with a specific work purpose may not enjoy training in other areas. For example, Huskies are excellent sled dogs, able to run for long distances in freezing weather. However, they may also not be as apt to attend to general house training. A Basset or Bloodhound may be great at following their nose, but they may also be very difficult to teach recall or boundary training, given the original breed purpose.
What to look for when buying or adopting a dog?
Consider your lifestyle when looking for a new dog. Adopting an adult dog may be perfect for an owner who does not have time to potty train. If your dog may be left home quite a bit, steer away from breeds prone to separation anxiety (e.g. German Shorthaired Pointer, Weimaraner). For people who lead an active lifestyle, a Boxer or Australian Shepherd may be more appropriate.
Keep in mind that adopting a dog with certain breed characteristics does not guarantee a particular personality. Dogs and puppies, no matter the breed, need proper socialization and training from a young age.
