Choosing A Dog For The Family

This article is about picking the best family dog for your family. The top ten family dogs are all going to be breeds that are very patient with children and enjoy playing with them. Choosing a good family dog needs to be a serious and well thought out plan because the dog will be a family member for many years to come.
Choosing a family dog is the only chance you will get to pick a family member! There are a number of considerations you need to look at. Does the dog like playing with children? Are there other pets in the household and if so does the new dog get along with them? Does the new dogs personality fit in well with the family’s likes and dislikes? There are many more questions that need to be considered when deciding on the type of dog you would like for your family.
You need to look at purebred, designer mixes or mutts. Purebred dogs can be very expensive and it is important to meet the parents of the litter. Mixed breed dogs can be a good option and are more affordable. It is very important to spend time with the mixed breed puppy before you commit to taking it home to get a real good feel for it's personality and traits. The local animal shelter usually has a number of puppies and you can usually find purebred dogs there if you are patient. You should also speak with your local vet about breeders and puppies he might be aware of.
Large versus small is major question. If you live in a small home or apartment you need to consider space and exercise. Can you physically handle a large dog? Are you gone for long periods of time when the dog will be confined? In some cases it is better to consider an older dog if you have trouble or don’t want to train a puppy.
Make sure your whole family spends plenty of time with the new family dog before you take it home! When you get your new family dog home make sure your have food there with the proper nutritional values for your new dog. Also be prepared to do additional dog training to insure you have the perfect family dog. Good luck and enjoy the best family dog ever!