What Size Dog Is Right For You?

The dog is the most popular domesticated animal on earth. Humans originally kept dogs to help them hunt. Domesticated from the gray wolf about fifteen thousand years ago, dogs played an important role in early human settlements. In addition to hunting, they helped pull heavy loads and were expert herders. It wasn't until they became a companion animal that buying a pet dog became popular.

According to a recent estimate there are over 400 million dogs on earth and over 75 million dog owners in America. �Man's best friend� edged out the house cat as the most popular domesticated animal in the United States.

The popularity of the domesticated dog has encouraged cross breeding. Though the American Kennel Club only recognizes 157 distinct dog breeds, there are several thousand if we include mixed breeds. As you might expect, this can make selecting the right dog a chore.

Selecting a dog may depend, to a great extent, on who the owner of the dog is and their family composition. A person living alone may prefer a bigger and furious dog, while those with young family members may want a tamed and kid friendly dog that would not cause any harm to the kids.

Dogs such as Rottweiler, Pi Bulls and German Sheppard are not recommended for houses with kids as they are more aggressive and not very kid friendly. On the other hand, small sized dogs such as Cocker Spaniels, Beagles and Golden Retrievers are in the category of friendly dogs and are suitable for families with kids.

Some dogs require more maintenance than others. The Poodle, for example, requires almost daily grooming. Its coat must be brushed for at least twenty minutes each day, especially if the dog is allowed outdoors. Other dogs like the Siberian Husky are prone to nonstop shedding in the spring and summer months. So, if you can't handle daily grooming or big white clumps of fur, it's best to steer clear of these breeds.

Diet also needs to be considered as the bigger the dog, the more it will eat. A St. Bernard or a Great Dane requires an enormous amount of food to keep their big bodies going. Feeding a larger dog can be very expensive compared to a smaller breed.

Intelligence is extremely important when buying a pet dog. A smarter animal is much easier to train and may be better with children. The two most intelligent dog breeds are Border Collies and Poodles with each being easy to housebreak and they make great family pets.

Most kids love dogs, but they rarely enjoy walking them. For many children, walking the family pet is a chore. As a general rule, the more energetic a dog is, the more it must be walked or let out. According the experts, pugs, bulldogs, and French bulldogs have noticeably lower activity levels than other breeds. They also happen to be great with kids.