Find Your Best Fit

Far too often people choose a dog or puppy because it’s cute and don’t look much further than that. Sometimes it works out, but like all things, dogs are more than their appearance. Personality, temperament, energy level, biddability, sociability varies from dog to dog. Genetics from the breed makeup certainly informs this information, but there can also be outliers. To welcome the best fit dog to your home, be honest with yourself and don’t be afraid to walk away from a dog that won’t fit your lifestyle.

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • This is probably the answer most people lie to themselves about. People often answer this question as in where they would like to be, but that’s not fair to the dog or yourself. If you have a busy schedule or enjoy your TV time, then be honest about that.

    If you end up with a dog that has high energy, you will end up miserable, as will your dog. On the flip side, if you’re an avid adventurer, but you end up with a couch potato, it’s going to feel like you're lugging a rock around at the end of your lead (which again, won’t be fun for either of you!).

  • Your goal might be a house buddy, running partner or to go hiking. Perhaps you have an interest in dog sports (check out the Dog Sports section for more information on this).

    You don’t necessarily have to anticipate everything at this point, but again, be honest. If you want a mellow, family dog, then a high-drive German Shepherd is not going to be a good choice.

  • This question is probably more preferential than necessity, but size should still be considered. If you are not very strong, then a giant breed is probably not the best fit for you. If you live in a small apartment, then again a smaller dog might make your living situation easier.

    Big dogs require a lot more food, so if you’re on a budget, going smaller might make more sense.

    Don’t let the bias of small dogs or big dogs hold you back from a good fit if your situation allows for it.

  • Different breeds have been bred to show different levels of affability. Every puppy still needs socialization (this does not mean saying “hi” to every dog or person it meets), but even with good socialization some dogs will be more friendly than others.

    If you have people coming and going all the time, then looking for a friendly dog with adaptability will be a good choice.

  • This question is probably forgotten more often than not. Those who don’t care for grooming might prefer a short-coated dog, while those who enjoy grooming will go for a dog with intense grooming needs.

    Some dogs may be less likely to shed, but require more grooming. Others might have a shorter coat, but shed more. Ask yourself if you’re prepared for the coat care or cleaning a shedding dog requires. If you want a long coated dog, but don’t want to groom them yourself, are you prepared for the costs of a professional groomer? Do your research!

  • Dogs bark, whine, howl and make other kinds of noises. If you want an alert dog, then finding a vocal dog is probably acceptable to you. However, if you’re in an apartment or have close neighbors, then a husky or coonhound will not be a good fit. Your environment should come into play when considering a dog.

Answering the above questions will get you started on understanding the right fit for your family but keep the below in mind as well.

  • Write down anything that might be relevant to a life with your new addition.

  • Ensure that you and your partner are on the same page.

    • If you want different things, then find points you can agree on.

    • Or consider making a plan to add more than one dog to the family - one for each of you. (It’s not recommended to add two dogs at the same time, and you would still want to ensure the dogs fit your family lifestyle). 

  • Do you want a puppy or an adult?

  • Do you want to rescue (which will more likely be a mixed breed of some kind)?

  • Do you want a specific breed from a reputable breeder?

Do not be in a hurry. If you rush through this, it’s less likely you’ll be impartial about what you’re looking for and possibly bring in a dog that won’t compliment your lifestyle well.

Rescue or Breeder?

Rescue


There is more information about rescues on the Rescues tab. 

Get to know the individual dog.

When a dog is a mixed breed, they might show traits from the breeds they look like or they might not. There are a lot of unknown genetics at play. This means getting to know that individual dog (since you won't have a family tree to compare him/her against). Read the dog’s description on the website. If it seems like it might work for your family, reach out to the rescue with some questions prepared. You can apply this to both puppies and adult dogs. 

A thought on puppies:

Some rescues (even reputable rescues) think all puppies are the same. This is not true. Ask questions about personality, energy and aptitude toward training (if there has been any). Even at a young age, you can see glimpses of their adult self.

Breeder


There is more information on breeders on the Breeders tab. 

What breed interests you?

Before seeking out a breeder, determine which breed you are looking for. Look at the breed traits to find which breed checks your boxes as a whole. You can find Facebook groups, follow the Breed club and look at different organizations to learn more. 

Be prepared to answer questions about your lifestyle and goals.

Once you have narrowed down your breed search, reach out to reputable breeders. Many breeders have a waiting list and will pick out the puppy for you based on what you’re looking for. This helps to determine the best fit overall.

Resources for Research

  • Sorting through lists via the kennel clubs’ websites can be helpful, but once you narrow down the search to within a couple of breeds, it’s worth looking at the breed parent club. Use your search engine to look up “[breed] [region] club” (for example, “Pug USA Club” would return the Pug Club of America).

    Many of the parent breed sites have listed breeders or rescues (it’s still important to do your due diligence when reaching out to people).

  • Purebred Snobs

    Purebred Primitives

  • List of registerable dogs in the Canadian Kennel Club:

    • https://www.ckc.ca/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed

    List of registerable dogs in the United Kennel Club:

    • https://www.ukcdogs.com/breed-standards

    List of registerable dogs in the American Kennel Club:

    • https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/

    *These are not the only kennel clubs out there.

  • There are various kinds of rescue operations. You can find local rescues through a search engine or other means. Read the dog’s description and be prepared to ask questions. More on this in the Rescues tab.