Size

The first thing to think about is the size of your new dog.  If you live in a small apartment with very little outdoor space, then most likely you will not want to get a large dog.  The opposite is not necessarily true however, because in most cases a small dog can live anywhere.  Yard space is a bigger factor than indoor living space for bigger dogs, and if you don’t have a large yard but you do live near a dog-friendly park, a larger breed might actually be a good choice for you.

Your Available Time

Time may not seem like a major consideration when selecting a dog breed, but quite honestly some dogs really do require continuous attention for many different reasons.  Active dogs require a tremendous amount of exercise to stay healthy; sometimes several hours of walking and running are necessary every day.  Long-haired dogs require a significant amount of grooming, which can mean a large time investment on your part if you are not willing or able to have your dog professionally groomed.

Activities

When you are trying to decide what type of dog breed would work best for you, consider the things that you would like to do with your new pet.  Do you plan to play Frisbee and run on the beach? Or, would you prefer a dog that is content to sit near your feet while you work or read?  Or, do you intend to become involved in dog shows?  Each of these activities is best suited for a particular breed of dog. For example, a German Shepard or Labrador Retriever would make an excellent running or Frisbee partner.  On the other hand, a poodle will have little interest in becoming your jogging partner but would enjoy being shown frequently.  A Jack Russell Terrier is never going to be a lap dog, but a cocker spaniel would relish the idea of sitting near the fire for hours on end.

Is this Your First Dog?

If you are looking for the right breed, and you are a first time dog owner, you will definitely want to select a breed that is better for first-time dog owners.  Something like an Akita, German Shepard, Boxer or a Dalmatian may seem like a great idea – at first.  But, be aware that if you don’t have experience with dogs, you are in for quite a challenge.  A better choice might be a Greyhound, a Boston Terrier, a Golden Retriever or a Bull Terrier.

Do You Have, or Plan to Have Children?

A common misconception is that many breeds just simply should not mix with children. Actually, any dog will be a good match for a family with children if he or she has been properly trained by one of the household adults.  If you are planning to adopt an older dog, you should be very cautious about mixing the dog with your children until you have a good idea of how the dog is going to behave.  And, never leave your children alone with the dog until it has been living in your home for quite some time.

Overall, selecting a dog breed is truly a personal decision. You should take into consideration the items above, to rule out breeds that just might not work for you.  And, you should also consider any mitigating circumstances – like extended travel, etc. that might have an effect on the type of dog that you decide to get.

If you have any suggestions on how to choose a dog breed please let us know in the comments of this post.

Some people prefer to give their pets names that have classically been known as dog names, like Max, Sam, Buddy, Spike and Jake. Most people tend to stay with names that are positive and that portray the dog in a positive light to all who meet him/her. For example, if you name your dog Killer, some people will be afraid based solely on the name of your pet. Therefore, try to avoid names that have a negative connotation.

Food is often the inspiration for naming dogs. Some of the foods that dogs are often named after include cookies, Oreos, Peanut, Pepper and Cinnamon. You’ll notice that these foods tend to be sweet or spicy, and that you won’t see too many dogs named after vegetables or cuts of beef.

Before you consider giving your dog a humorous name that pokes fun at them, either by naming a Great Dane “Baby”, or by naming a Toy Poodle “Monster”… ask yourself how your dog would like it if they knew what you were doing and ask yourself what your friends will think when you tell them the name of your new pet.

You should choose a name that is one or two syllables at most, because when you are training the dog, you don’t want to be standing in the street yelling “Hippocrates, come here” or “Zanzibar, sit”. You’ll have a much easier time with “Sit, Tiger” or “Heal, Pepper”. If you must select a name that is multi-syllabic, try to come up with a nickname for the dog that will be commonly used particularly while the dog is undergoing training.

If you have a family of pets, you might want to stick with a particular theme. This could be movie characters, cartoon characters or book characters. You might also want to give your dog a first, middle and last name as well. Many people do this – however again you will want to make sure to establish a nickname for training purposes.

Consider a name that is of the same nationality as your dog’s breed. For example, an English Spaniel might be called Charles, Elizabeth or Philip and a French Poodle might be called Fi-Fi.

Overall, you need to select a name for your dog that fits both his personality and his breed. And, remember also that while humans attach a great deal of pride and significance to their names, animals do not. They do not use names to get each other’s attention and they do not have issues with people who mispronounce or misspell their names. The reason that you are naming you pet is to identify the animal, and so that it will learn to come to you when you utter a specific word. Therefore, you can really name your dog anything you want – with no need to follow any specific convention.

If you intend to show your dog, keep this in mind when naming the pet. Show dogs really need to have names that set them apart from competitors. The names selected by owners who intend to raise show dogs are often quite official sounding and would actually make good names for political figures!