Choosing the Right Dog Breed

Choosing the right dog breed is one of the most important decisions you'll make before bringing home a puppy. Every breed was originally developed for a purpose, and those inherited characteristics can influence puppy behaviour, puppy training, exercise requirements, recall training, loose lead walking, socialisation, puppy biting, chewing and life inside the family home. This lesson helps you understand which dog breed is right for you by looking beyond appearance and considering what different dogs were actually bred to do. From Labradors and other gundogs to Dachshunds, herding breeds, bull breeds, livestock guardians, small dogs, giant breeds and protection breeds such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers, you'll discover how genetics can influence trainability, sociability, energy levels, independence and everyday behaviour. Choosing the best puppy breed for your lifestyle can make puppy trainingconsiderably easier, while choosing a breed whose natural needs conflict with your lifestyle can mean substantially more work. This science-based puppy course helps prospective puppy owners consider children, other dogs, cats, exercise, training commitment, home environment and family life before choosing a puppy. Whether you're searching for the best dog breed for families, best dog breed for children, easiest dog breed to train, best puppy for first-time owners, choosing a puppy, puppy training or the best puppy training course, this lesson from How Not To F*ck Your Puppy Up and the Institute of Applied Canine Science helps you make an informed decision before bringing your new puppy home.

What is the best dog breed for a family with children?
Discover how breed characteristics, temperament, sociability, exercise requirements and puppy training needs can help you choose the best family dog inside How Not To F*ck Your Puppy Up.

Which dog breed is easiest to train for a first-time owner?
Learn why intelligence isn't always the same as easy trainability and compare different breeds based on puppy behaviour, recall training, sociability, lifestyle and everyday management with the Institute of Applied Canine Science.

How do I choose the right puppy breed for my lifestyle?
Use our science-based puppy course and practical breed-selection resources to consider exercise, children, other pets, socialisation, training requirements and the behaviours different breeds were originally developed to perform.