The first decision to getting a dog should be thought out first. Getting a dog can be a happy occasion that bring joy to a persons life, if they find the right dog suited for them.

The first thing is to look at different dog breeds. There are over 400 different popular dog breeds in the US, from the small puppy breed to the large breeds of dogs. The best choice, leading to the most suitable relationship for pet owners is the one that matches their personality and lifestyle. You want a dog you can have fun with and one that you will enjoy. If you choose a dog breed with a temperament that matches your personality type and lifestyle, you will have great fun with your pet dog and the dog will have great fun with you.

When considering a dog choice, an impulsive decision can easily result in your owning a dog that doesn’t fit your personality and lifestyle. Also with so many choices it may be hard in choosing a breed. One way is by appearance. This may come about in two ways. You may have seen one in books about dogs, or on the street that caught your eye. If you succeed in matching a dogs temperament characteristics to your lifestyle, you are less likely to experience irrational behavior problems and chaos that usually arise out of a mis-match. Also consider how different types of dogs interact with family members and/or familiar people… with other strange dogs. Would you prefer an active dog or a non-active dog?

A good way to start the selection process is to begin with a range of possibilities and reduce them down to the ideal match. Start first with physical traits. There are 4 physical characteristics that are the most important to consider in choosing a puppy breed or an older dog to fit your lifestyle. Coat quality, height, weight, and strength.

Coat Quality: Dog shedding and grooming for dogs. Some dogs shed excessively all year round. Some dogs shed moderately… some dogs shed seasonally and others shed very little. The amount of shedding should be considered when choosing a family dog. According to your desire for cleanliness, your desire for a clean living space and your desire to brushing, combing and grooming a dog. It’s not possible to keep a home completely free of small amounts of dog fur that accumulate under furniture and in corners when you live with a excessive shedding dog like a Dalmatian or German Shepherd. There will be some shedding dog hair around the home no matter how much you clean.

Breeds that shed most
*Alaskan Malamute — Heavy seasonal shedder.
* Belgian Malinois, Sheepdog and Tervuren — Very heavy once-a-year shedders
* Collie — Sheds heavily for 3 weeks twice a year.
* Chow Chow — Heavy shedder.
* Curly-Coated Retriever — Sheds once a year. Sheds less than other retrievers the rest of the year.
* Dalmatian — Heavy daily shedder.
* German Shepherd — Constant shedder.
* Great Pyrenees — Heavy shedder twice a year.
* Keeshond — Sheds coat twice a year requiring several hours of combing at these times.
* Newfoundland — Heavy seasonal shedder.
* Pomeranian — Heavy shedder.
* St. Bernard — Heavy shedder.
* Samoyed — Heavy seasonal shedder.
* Shetland Sheepdog — Sheds heavily for 3 weeks twice a year.
* Siberian Husky — Heavy shedder.