Deciding to get a dog is always a very thoughtful choice. And when all the pros and cons are weighed, it’s time to think about the breed. This topic is especially important for beginners who have never had dogs. What breed is best for first-time owners? Today we will answer this big question in detail and discuss all the intricacies of choosing the perfect pet for a beginner.
Basic selection criteria
First, you need to decide on the most basic characteristics of the desired breed.
Size
Small dogs require slightly less care, they feel good in small apartments, do not need long active walks and can even go to the toilet in a tray. Large breeds will be cramped in an apartment, they need long walks and physical exercise, as well as more care. Medium-sized dogs occupy an intermediate place in the number of requirements for a comfortable life.
Temperament
It is important to consider the “default settings” in the characters of different breeds. If you like to sit at home, you should choose among lazy homebodies who will not require long active walks. If you love long walks, playing sports in the fresh air and are often outdoors, you can confidently consider active breeds with natural curiosity and a thirst for adventure.
Ability to learn
It’s no secret that different dogs have different levels of intelligence. Some breeds grasp everything on the fly, while others may take a long time to understand what you want from them.
Amount of wool
This selection criterion can be critical, although at first it does not seem so important. The longer the dog’s fur, the more care it needs. Not to mention that you will have to vacuum the house much more often. The pet will need not only to be combed, but also washed often, especially in slushy weather.
Health
Some breeds have congenital anomalies or genetic predispositions to various diseases. Such dogs have an increased likelihood of developing various diseases, so they need more careful care.
Tolerance towards other animals and children
This characteristic is very important for owners of several different pets, as well as for families with children. If the breed does not tolerate “competitors,” living together with such a dog can be not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous. Education will help reduce the likelihood of trouble, but this can be very difficult for beginners.
prone to aggression
This criterion should be considered from the point of view of aggression towards the owner, and not towards other people and animals. Because an aggressive dog in the hands of a novice is a weapon that is dangerous first of all for the owner himself and his family members.
Noisiness
Some breeds have a tendency to bark loudly and frequently, while others bark very rarely. This criterion must be taken into account for your own convenience and for the comfort of your neighbors if you live in an apartment building.
Service qualities
This characteristic is important to evaluate if the dog is to become not only a companion, but also a guard or protector.
Finance
This is far from the last criterion that beginners often forget about. The larger the breed, the more food it will eat. The more predisposition the dog has to diseases, the more expensive its care will be. A pet is not a toy, so it is important to consider whether you can provide it with a comfortable life.
Best Dog Breeds for Beginners
There is a short list of breeds that are considered the best for first-time owners. Depending on the main selection criteria, this list can be divided into several main categories.
Small Dog Breeds with Long Hair
Pekingese
Small, peaceful dogs weighing no more than 5 kg. Pekingese are not very active, they only need about 15-20 minutes of walking per day. They tolerate loneliness calmly and do not require much attention from the owner. The breed is quite smart, but at the same time stubborn and very cunning. It is not difficult to train Pekingese, but the process will require patience.
The coat requires constant care. Due to the peculiarities of the skull structure, Pekingese are prone to constantly snort and grunt, and can snore loudly in their sleep. However, they are not prone to barking at all. They get along well with other animals and children, but are not known as “nannies.” They prefer to stay away from small children and active kids.
Papillon
Small, energetic and cheerful dogs weighing up to 5 kg with long hair that requires careful grooming. Papillons are active and need half-hour walks twice a day. The breed requires a lot of attention from the owner, gets along well with other animals and children, loves to play and communicate a lot. Dogs are prone to frequent barking. Training a papillon can be problematic due to its activity and stubbornness, at the same time they are very smart and quickly learn the basic rules of behavior.
Yorkshire Terrier
Small dogs weighing up to 4 kg with long beautiful hair that requires careful grooming. This is a cheerful and quite active breed that loves games, communication and walks. Yorkshire Terriers are easy to train, although they tend to get distracted during training due to their natural curiosity.
Dogs get along well with other animals and children. Despite their small stature and friendliness, terriers may try to protect their owner and property. They bark quite often and annoyingly. Yorkshire terriers can be very picky about food and refuse food that they do not like.
Small Dog Breeds with Short Hair
Pug
A small breed weighing up to 8 kg with short hair. Pugs are sociable and friendly, but can be very lazy, which is why they are prone to gaining excess weight. These dogs are easy to train, but can be very stubborn. But it is easy to negotiate with them using treats. Almost all pugs are partial to treats. This breed needs one half-hour walk a day. The breed gets along well with other animals and children. Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the skull, pugs sniff, grunt and snore very loudly, but they bark very rarely.
Jack Russell Terrier
Small dogs weighing 5-6 kg with short hair and a cheerful character. This is a very active breed that will not let the owner get bored. Jack Russell needs full daily walks with good physical activity for at least two hours a day. If there are no walks, the dog can splash out its energy at home and become a destroyer of home comfort.
Jack Russells can get along with other animals and children, but only if they grow up with them. An adult dog may not accept a new pet or family member. The breed has high intelligence, but due to hyperactivity and cunning, training the pet will require patience. Jack Russells are very noisy and love to bark loudly, and can also become good protectors and guards, despite their small stature.
Medium Dog Breeds for Beginners
Welsh Corgi Pembroke
Medium-sized dogs weighing up to 13 kg with thick fur. These are friendly, cheerful dogs that are not at all prone to aggression. Corgis are very active, they need long walks, games and communication. The breed is very smart, learns quickly and follows all the rules of conduct. Corgis get along well with other animals and especially with children. These dogs are considered to be one of the best “nannies” who can tolerate any children’s fun and not fight back.
Despite the fact that the Corgi has very thick fur, it does not require too much care, as it has water-repellent properties. The breed can bark loudly, but with proper training will behave quietly. Although the dogs are active, they love to eat and are prone to gaining excess weight. Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the body and limbs, Corgis can get injured, so you need to protect them from jumping from heights.
French Bulldog
Dogs weighing up to 13 kg with short hair. These are not very active dogs, for which two half-hour walks per day are enough. They are friendly and very sociable, strongly attached to the owner and do not tolerate loneliness well. Bulldogs are easy to train, but their training requires patience, as the breed is very stubborn, and it is also difficult to interest it. Dogs get along well with other animals and children. French bulldogs almost never bark, but they grunt, sniffle, and snore loudly. They also have increased salivation.
Large Dog Breeds for Beginners
Golden retriever
These are large dogs weighing up to 35 kg with long thick hair and an incredibly friendly character. This breed is considered the best companion, it gets along well with other animals and children, earning the title of a real “nanny”.
Golden retrievers are very active, they need long walks and exercise. Dogs are very easy to train. Golden retrievers require good daily grooming. The breed is not prone to barking, many of its representatives almost do not bark at all. Retrievers can really become an ideal pet for a beginner, but only if they are given daily active walks and proper training. If the dog is not trained, it can turn into an uncontrollable destroyer of the home. Fortunately, retrievers are absolutely not prone to aggression.
Labrador retriever
Large dogs weighing up to 35 kg with thick short hair that does not require much care. They are active and cheerful companions, not at all prone to aggression. Labradors absolutely need active walks lasting at least two hours. Like golden retrievers, Labradors can become destructive if their energy is not directed in the right direction.
The breed is very easy to train, gets along well with other animals and children. Dogs do not tolerate loneliness and require a lot of attention from the owner. Labradors have water-repellent fur, so it is easy to care for. The breed is not prone to loud barking, but if not trained, it can bark and drive your neighbors crazy while you are not home. Labradors love to eat, so they are prone to gaining excess weight.
