How to Choose the Right Dog Breed - Part 1

So you are interested in getting a Dog. Sure, I don't blame you. Dogs are fun, free spirited pets that will love and adore their owners. When you enter the house, these four legged family members will wag their tails in joy and hug you

That's if you get the right dog breed.

Yes, finding the right dog breed is just like dating. Just because a guy meets a girl, it does not mean they are going to hit it off. Even if they did, there is no guarantee that they're going to have long term happy relationship. To avoid any prolonged pain, you have to invest your time and effort initially to find the right "one" which will give you long term relationship stability.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before hitting the dog shelter:

1. How big a dog do I want?

Some like big dogs, some don't - it's a matter of personal preference that no one can answer except yourself. If you have small children, it might be wise to look into smaller dogs as some, prior to training, might not be most obedient.

2. How smart is the dog?

Dogs, just like people, have varying levels of intelligence. As common sense would dictate, smarter dogs are easier and faster to train. There is no correlation between size and intelligence, but there is a strong correlation between dog breed and its intelligence.

3. How much energy can I handle?

Some dogs are like kids, bouncing off of walls all day, and some are like older folks who take quite a few naps throughout the day. With higher energy dogs, you will find yourself spending more time with them than you'd like to.

4. How much time commitment do I have?

Yes, dogs need love and attention just as much as your family members do. They need your time for bonding and playing their owners. But with anything, different breeds have different degree of need for attention.

5. How much grooming do I need to do?

Unfortunately, there are no dogs that need zero grooming. All dogs have fur that shed, nails that grow, and teeth that need cleaning. Some dog breeds have almost zero maintenance, and some require weekly trip to the local groomer.

TaeWoo Kim is an internet entrepreneur, a dog lover, and the founder of http://PawshPal.com/, a site for dog owners to make crazy whacky fun pet pictures. You can follow him at http://blog.pawshpal.com/