“Which dog breed is the best for me?” We are sure you must have wondered about getting a puppy home. But how do you know which dog breed is right for you? What do you need to know before you can bring home your forever four-legged companion? Have you consulted a fellow pet parent? And more importantly, are you ready to get a dog home?
Yes, when you google, you will find results like ‘Which dog breed is the best for me quiz’ but don’t let a robot and algorithm decide the fate for you and your dog. Because we are here to help you with it!
There are so many dog breeds, it’s confusing to choose the one
Let’s do some self-reflection!
Grab a pen and paper. And start asking yourself these questions.
Do you really want a dog or are you just excited about bringing home a puppy? While we totally agree that nothing in this world is cuter than them, they will eventually grow to be your loyal dogs. Therefore, decide to bring home a puppy only when you are ready to shoulder the responsibility of a dog
Some other questions you need to ask yourself are -
- How do you live?
Are you a bachelor, a student or do you live with your family? In any case, some points to remember are -
- You will have to take care of your dog by being responsible for their needs like regular walks, basic training, veterinary care etc
- Think and plan about how you will manage once you leave for college or office
- Identify someone who can be there with your dog in your absence
- Is your family comfortable with a dog in the house?
- And generally, how much time do you have to devote to them?
Such questions might seem harsh but this clarity will help you and your furry companion in the long run.
Pro tip - If you have a family with kids, a furry buddy will be the perfect sibling for them! It’s also scientifically believed that if you have babies, they will have great immunity if they grow up with pets.
Our recommendations
For students and pet lovers living with family, we would suggest a lap dog or a toy dog like -
- Pug
- French bulldog
- Shihtzu
- Maltese
- Bichon Frise
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Chihuahua
- Toy Pomeranian
- Poodle
- Pekinese
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Havanese
- Boston Terrier
- Chow Chow
- Indian Spitz
Their exercise requirements are minimum and the cost for maintaining them is low too. A good morning walk of around 20-25 minutes and a bit of playtime will leave them exhausted for the day. They will be happy to doze off until their next playtime session with you! Meanwhile, you can get busy with college or work.
- How is your lifestyle?
Do you like to step out or do you enjoy indoors more than outdoors? Will you be able to look forward to a 20 to 25 minutes walk, twice a day? While a puppy might not need a lot of exercise, a dog will.
According to trainers, having a dog will lead to an increase in the amount of exercise you get. Who knew dogs held the key to our fitness too!
For example - People find breeds like Golden Retrievers and Beagles cute but did you know that they are working and hunting dogs that need loads of outdoor activities? A lack of it leads to obesity, aggression and behavioral issues.
Golden Retrievers need an ample amount of mental and physical exercise
Our recommendations
People who have an active lifestyle can opt for the following breeds depending on the space they have in their house -
Small-sized active dogs
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Miniature Pinscher
- Papillon
Medium-sized active dogs
- Beagle,
- Cocker Spaniel
- Shiba Inu
- Welsh Corgi
- Bull Terrier
- Border Collie
- Pitbull
- Pandikona
Large-sized active dogs
- Belgian Malinois
- German Shepherd
- Doberman
- German Shorthair Pointer
- English Pointer
- Mudhol Hound
- Rajapalayam
- How much space do you have?
Do you live in a studio apartment, a 2BHK or a place with gardens and lawns? Does your society allow pets? And if you travel frequently, do you have good dog boardings in your area? Where you live also plays an important role in deciding the right breed of dog. Medium and above-sized dogs need more space to thrive. While smaller-sized dogs can easily live in a relatively smaller space.
But regardless of the space constraints, a trainer will always recommend crate training. It is important for puppies to have their own space where they feel protected. This will be their ‘chill zone’ and will also allow you to leave them behind for a few hours without stressing about their well-being.
Our recommendations
For city life small/toy breeds and medium-sized dogs are apt.
And people who have a farmhouse, backyard or enclosed playground can opt for large-sized working dogs.
- How hectic is your job?
Another important question you need to ask yourself is about your job. Does your job leave you time to engage with your dog? Is it an 8-hour job or a 12-hour job? Do you get off on weekends or do you work 7 days a week? Since you are a pet parent (and it takes an equal amount of love and care to raise them right), will your employer be considerate?
A pet-friendly workplace will be a winner in such a scenario. This will allow you to bring your fluffy friend to the office and will brighten everyone’s day as well!
These will help you determine which kind of breed is best suited to your current as well as future employment.
- What do you expect from the dog?
As a to-be pet parent, what is it that you are looking forward to from your dog? Are you seeking companionship, guarding the house or someone who will protect you? Different dog breeds fulfill different needs and hence the decision should be based on these criteria too. Whatever your expectations be, you can choose from the following -
Our recommendations
For companionship
- Shihtzu
- Lhasa Apso
- Maltese
- Bichon Frise
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Siberian Husky
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Indie
For guarding and protection
- Rottweiler
- Boxers
- German Shepherd
- Belgian Malinois
- Doberman
The Doberman makes an ideal guard dog
- Are you ready for extra expenses?
The most commonly overlooked factor is money. It goes without saying that once you get a dog, your expenses will rise. You will be required to spend on their vaccinations, deworming, food, vet visits, grooming, training etc. There are bound to be some miscellaneous expenses too. Ask yourself about your economic and financial condition. What’s your in-hand income? How much do you save? How much can you invest in your dog? Do you have debts?
Always consider the financial aspect of your life before making this decision.
Once you’re done asking these questions and you have measured the pros and cons, here are a few dog breeds that are most preferred in India -
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Shihtzu
- Siberian Husky
- Beagle
- Maltese
- Indian Pariah (Indian breed)
- Indian Spitz
- Daschund
- Lhasa Apso
German Shepherd, Labrador or a Pug, which one is right for you?
What to do next?
Once you have your priorities in place, consult a dog trainer or canine behaviorist. Let them know about your lifestyle, expectations, family, income. They will further pose more questions to know you better. While some questions will be to know you better, some questions might seem crude. But it’s an essential step in the whole process. It will give the trainer and behaviorist insights to suggest you the most suitable breed of dog.
Based on the interaction, it’s also quite possible that the trainer may feel that you are not ready yet. But don’t be heartbroken. If not at home, you can always serve dogs at shelter homes. They will be grateful for your love, care and kindness!
But how to know that you’re ready for this furry responsibility?
Kushal Chipkar, Manager - Dog Training, our in-house trainer and dog behavior expert has a unique solution to this problem. He says, “For a to-be pet parent, I give them an exercise to adopt any one stray dog in their area and treat them as their own dog. The only difference is just that they won’t get them home. They are going to feed them regularly as they would with their own dog, go out for regular 30 to 45 minutes of walk, 2-3 times a day (even if the dog doesn't come along they have to complete the walk as they actually would with their own dog.)
This is going to help them get a rough estimate on the monthly expenses, how much time they can actually spare and is it actually possible to get a puppy home. And you never know they might end up adopting them and they will end up in a loving home.”
Another way is to visit a dog shelter or your nearest NGO to understand the sufferings of abandoned dogs. This will open your heart and soul to their problems. Tell yourself, if you are not able to take care of your dog, they might end up behind those cages, abandoned.
Additionally, talk to fellow pet parents. Absorb their experiences, stories and hurdles they have faced. Join the online community of pet parents like Wiggles Tribe on Facebook and talk to thousands of pet parents directly.
And always remember to adopt and not shop. You never know your loyal stray who always wags his tail when you come back can end up becoming your forever pal.
Still have questions? Don’t worry! Contact our in-house experts at +91 8431620000 to have an in-depth understanding or better, join our puppy intro plan. The plan will give you a dive-down understanding of what it means to get a puppy home.
So next time when you find yourself googling “Which dog breed is right for me”, remember to talk to us first!
*Disclaimer: This blog is vet-approved and includes original content which is compiled after thorough research and authenticity by our in-house team of vets and content experts. It is always advisable to consult a veterinarian before you try any products, pet food or any kind of treatment/medicines on your pets, as each pet is unique and will respond differently.
