When looking for your new family member, you need to ask yourself a few questions that will help you to narrow down which breed and even which specific dog is for you. An important thing to remember is to answer these questions based on what your life is like now- not what you hope it will be like. It sounds a great idea to get a dog to get you running but if the novelty of running wears off for you will you still be able to spend all their energy?
Size
Starting simply, you need to be sensible about the size of dog you are able to control in an emergency. Big dogs are great but if the worst happens you are responsible for keeping them under control in public. If you aren't strong enough to control a Great Dane or Bull Mastiff you should look for a smaller alternative, but with the traits you like about them. The larger the dog, the higher the costs will be each month too- everything is bigger, so everything costs more. Things like requiring higher doses of medications can catch you off guard if you aren't prepared financially.
Need help deciding which dog is for you?
You can't just switch off thousands of years of selective breeding- every dog has a drive or desire to work because of this, but some have more than others because of the types of jobs they were selected for. Breeds like the Border Collie or Belgian Malinois have a strong desire to work and can become behavioural nightmares if their energy is left to build. But the humble Spaniel is also a working dog that requires daily walks with plenty of mental stimulation until they are tired enough to settle. Research the history of your dog's breed (or breeds, if a mix) as understanding their drive will help you to aim it in your training.
Understanding drive
Our viewpoint is that mixed beats pure every day but there are a few exceptions to the rule. Not every mixed breed dog will be healthier than every pure breed dog. Conker is a perfect example of this- because both of his parent breeds, Boxer and English bulldog, are susceptible to epilepsy he still has it. However, he doesn't suffer any of the breathing issues that are in the English bulldog due to him having a longer nose thanks to the greater genetic diversity a mixed breed will naturally have. Not all mixes are viable so this isn't a free license to find the German Shepard x Dachshund of your dreams.
Pure breed or Mixed?
It's the unfortunate truth that some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions.
Short faced dogs like bulldogs especially French and English bulldogs, as well as Cavalier Spaniels and Pugs are more likely to have breathing issues such as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). This can be corrected with surgery but this can come with risks depending on age and breed. If you are rescuing a short faced dog, we encourage you to speak to your vet about it even if you think they are okay.
Beagles are prone to epilepsy and hypothyroidism, and far too many breeds get hip dysplasia including the ever popular Labrador, Golden Retriever and German Shepard.
These can not only lower the life expectancy and quality of life for your dog but also lead to some expensive trips to the vets.
Do your research before deciding if a breed is right for you and we recommend outright avoiding a problematic puppy such as French bulldogs as human intervention in the breed has left them living substandard lives where surgery is a must. If you are able to rescue one of these dogs who is already with us, and can get them the medical help they need to live a full life, we encourage you to do so.
Health Risks
Rescuing is always going to be the preference in 99% of situations we come across. We shouldn't be supporting more puppies coming into the world while there are so many dogs needing to be rescued. Rehoming a dog can be a very rewarding process, as you help your new friend learn that they are now in a safe and loving environment. That being said in rare cases puppies are more suitable, although the work involved in training a puppy is 10x more than most people realise. So make sure you are ready and willing to put that much time in. Rescues still need training but usually being older means they can take on the concepts more quickly- it is a total myth that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
