Over the years, dogs with certain characteristics have been carefully bred until the offspring are almost identical to their parents in appearance and behaviour. This is how the various dog breeds were developed.
There are now several hundred recognised breeds of dog in the world, and they vary in size, shape and temperament. They are grouped into categories based on their size and function, for example herding dogs, toy dogs, and gun dogs. The number of dog breeds is always changing, as by crossing two individuals of different breeds, you may create a new type of dog with the best features of both parents. This is not failsafe, because the resulting pups could also have the worst characteristics of the parent breeds!
If you’re looking for a new dog to join your family, there are a lot of breeds to choose from! Where do you start?
This is where Doggiemart’s alphabetical listing of dog breeds is so useful.
Look at Your Lifestyle
Your first step is to work out what you want from your new dog. Do you have time to brush and trim a long coat? If not, narrow your choice down to those breeds with a short, low maintenance coat. What about exercise – are you an active person or do you prefer cuddling up on the couch? If you prefer a sedentary lifestyle, don’t choose a herding breed or you’ll both be miserable.
When you have made a list of your ideal dog’s characteristics, go to Doggiemart’s breed listings and read through the information on each breed. If a particular breed sounds like it might be a good fit for your lifestyle, make a note of it, and keep reading. You’ll ultimately create a list of several breeds that would be a good choice for your family.
When you have your list, you can then head over to Doggiemart’s list of dog breeders, and look for breeders of those dogs on your list. These breeders have complied with Doggiemart’s breeder listing standards and you can be comfortable knowing that they take good care of their dogs, and of their puppy buyers.
Choosing Your Next Dog
Make sure you contact at least one of the breeders listed for each of the dogs you have listed. Chat to them about their breed’s temperament, and give them information about your lifestyle. They will then be able to help you decide if their breed is in fact a good choice for you. These breeders are very knowledgeable, so do take their advice into consideration. If they suggest that their breed may not be ideal for you, there will be a good reason for it.
By now, your list of breeds will be smaller. It’s time now to revisit Doggiemart’s dog breed pages, and again read through the characteristics of those breeds that are left on your list. At this point, you may find it easy to choose your next dog but if not, that’s okay. If you still need help to decide which breed is for you, see if any of the breeders listed are close to where you live. They may be willing to have you visit to meet their dogs in the flesh.
Choosing your next family dog can be a long drawn out process, but it is worthwhile going to all that trouble. By doing so, you’ll end up choosing a dog that is a good fit for your family and lifestyle. That’s good for both of you!