Size
What class of breed will your puppy belong to? Will it be a toy breed, medium breed or a large breed? Ask how big your puppy is going to get once he is all grown up. You need to ask these questions in order to know if your house will be comfortable enough for your new BFF.
Some dogs such as toy breeds can do well in small apartments.But if you have a big house , then its a problem solved. A lot of Nigerians prefer large breeds and its always a surprise to them when they see an adult toy breed looking small. You keep hearing questions like "Is this really an adult breed or is it still a puppy? Will it grow bigger than this ? "
So, conduct your research properly and decide the size of dog you prefer.
I believe that every dog is adorable, no matter the breed or size.
The energy level
Can you cope with a high energy breed ? Are you a person that loves to sit down on the couch and watch TV ? Are you an active person who loves to work out and go for jogs in the morning ?
If you are the "indoorsy " type, then a low energy or laid - back breed may be more suitable for you. Check out this link to see a list of breeds that require
little exercise.
These breeds require little exercise and are okay just sitting on your lap and watching TV with you.
But if you are an energetic person with a lot of time on your hands , then a high energy level breed may be ideal for you . It will be a great time bonding while going for long walks with your pet and doing lots of fun exercises together.
Note that high energy level breeds get bored easily and may become aggressive if left idle for too long.
Shedding level
Heavy shedder or not ? Seasonal shedder or not ? Truth is every breed sheds but some shed more than others. This shouldn't make you upset though. You can set up measures to tackle this and
minimise the amount of hair that is shed.
Suitability to your climatic location
Do you live in the tropics? Is your country as hot as Nigeria ?
Or is it cold like Siberia ?
Breeds like the Alaskan Malamute will do well in cold regions.
This is because they originated from the temperate regions.
So also, brachycephalic (short - faced breeds) such as the English Bull dog , the pug etc. will be very comfortable in the cold regions.
The presence of a thick coat of fur and long hairs coupled with short faces in the Yorkshire Terrier , the Lhasa Apso, the shi tzu , make living in the tropics a bit stressful for these breeds.
Breeds that do well in the tropics include short-haired breeds like the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) , the Rottweiler, the chihuahua and others. Click here to read more about the best
hot weather breeds.
Temperament
Busy, stubborn, intelligent, mellow, friendly, gentle, people - pleasing, attention - seeking, docile , happy , playful , snobbish , stubborn , goofy , etc.
Find out the temperament of your soon- to - be BFF, from experienced breeders or people who own your preferred breed.
Health related conditions
Some breeds are more susceptible to particular diseases. It is better to know early, so you can prevent it or minimize its occurrence.
For example, large dog breeds and the Dachshund breed are prone to hip dysplasia. The chances of occurrence can be reduced by regulating the weight of your pet, monitoring your pet's diet and feeding low calorie diets.
In conclusion
Note that none of these points highlighted above is given to scare or discourage you.
Don't be decieved by anyone that there is a "perfect" breed . Nothing like that exists.
Providing the right environment together with love , tenderness, care and proper training will eventually turn your puppy into the perfect dog, irrespective of the breed.
So, its up to you to make out time or money for training sessions, so that your puppy gets the right training that he /she needs.
Once you find out any "not-so-pleasing" information about your preferred breed , you may be tempted to give up and choose another breed.
The truth is the next breed will definitely have its own .
What you need to do is, relax and find a way to solve or reduce the problem.
For example, if your breed is a cold - weather breed, then get an A.C. installed in the house. If they are high energy ,then get a dog walker.If they are stubborn and difficult to train, then get a professional dog trainer.
There are a lot of Nigerians who have breeds that can't stand our hot climate like the Lhasa Apso , Samoyed, the English Bull dog , the Terrier etc., yet they make them comfortable by installing air conditioners in the house.
The good thing is you found out early which gives you more than enough time to fully prepare for the arrival of your new puppy.
Have a wonderful time with your lovely pet. Remember , let's fall in love with them all over again.
