How To Choose The Right Dog Breed If You’re Living Alone

Living alone comes with many benefits. This setup works best if you enjoy having the space as you please, and more so, by yourself. But aside from having personal space, there’s also that undeniable perk of privacy. Despite this, one can’t deny the loneliness sneaking up on you. And for that reason, getting a roommate easily comes to mind. And what better idea than to have a furry friend as your roomie! 

Getting A Dog

Considering how people are social by nature, searching for companionship is nearly instinctual. But admittedly, companionship can also be found from the least likely sources. Because other than fellow humans, most can claim they’ve forged a deeper bond with their beloved pets. 

However, much like nurturing a child – or even tending to plant life – getting a pet takes serious commitment and dedication. With this in mind, you need to tread carefully when considering getting a pet, a dog in particular.

It’d be worth noting, too, that not all dogs are the same. And while they all seem carefree and easygoing, each of them has their own personality, making them unique from each other. And more so, their varying needs and the care and affection they should be given. 

So, if you’re looking into getting a dog as a companion and roommate, consider skimming through this list of dog breeds to guide you in making your pick. Furthermore, this article features some tips to help you choose the right dog breed for you. 

• Assess Your Lifestyle

Most of the time, dogs are presented as creatures brimming with too much energy in their bodies. But as mentioned earlier, this kind of vibe and personality wholly depends on its breed. After all, with different breeds come different traits, energy, and persona. 

Among these traits is the dog’s activeness. While there are breeds that play the role of a happy-go-lucky fur ball, some are content in lazing around and lounging on their favorite dog bed. As such, a key tip when looking for the right dog breed is to assess your lifestyle. 

Are you the type who generally leads an active and busy life? Do you have the time and means to take your furry friend to the park for a walk or run? Or would the space in your home be enough for them to run around? Do you prefer the outdoors more, or do you feel content staying in the comfort of your home? How much space do you have? 

By asking such questions, you’re more or less able to narrow down your options according to your lifestyle and preference. And since getting a dog is a long-term commitment, it’s only important that your lifestyle can accommodate every need and care requirement of your beloved furry friend.

• Check Your Budget

Taking care of a pet is almost like having your own child. They both demand a lot of your time and can be costly. After all, considering how they’re living beings, nurturing either of them is guaranteed to be a huge responsibility. But they easily make up for it with their adorable charm.

As mentioned, each dog breed has varying care needs and requirements. Their grooming habits, for instance. If you’re on a tight budget, a dog breed that has thick and long hair may not be the right one for you. This is because, ideally, they have to be groomed once a month to maintain their hair’s shine and glow. Buying their grooming kit and products is another thing, too!

In addition, it’d be worth noting too that much like humans, dogs can be prone to health complications, too. And as such, you may have to prepare a budget for their medical needs. One way to do this is by searching for the common ailments in the dog breed you’re looking into getting. 

For instance, if you’re interested in large dogs with deep and narrow chests like Great Danes, know that they’re at greater risk of bloating, wherein their stomach twists itself and gets filled with gas. If not treated, this can be fatal for your furry friend. And as for smaller dogs with compact skulls, such as pugs, they tend to be susceptible to eye and breathing problems.

By knowing their grooming needs and possible health complications, you’ll be in a better position to not just choose the right dog for you but also to enable you to save up to give your beloved furry friend the life and comfort they deserve.

• Know Your Health Conditions

Dogs are known to be man’s best friend for many reasons. For one, they’re a great companion that can give us comfort when we’re down. In fact, in pet therapy, dogs are among the animals being utilized to offer people support and help them recover from their health conditions and improve mental well-being. 

While it’s no doubt that dogs bring us so much joy and love, in some cases, they may also bring trouble. This is especially true when, as the dog parent, you have allergies or other respiratory problems. Breathing problems and allergies are easily triggered by your dog’s fur or dandruff. So, you need to inquire breeders thoroughly about breeds that aren’t heavy shedders.

Your health condition can be an indicator to help you further narrow down your option. After all, you wouldn’t want to get a dog that could trigger your condition. 

Takeaway

Living alone teaches you to be independent. But at some point, living by yourself can be a bit monotonous, even a little lonely. And as such, if you’re looking for something to help you de-stress, having a furry companion might be just for you. However, before you can charge right into the first pet store you see, you need to be aware of certain factors that you need to consider to ensure both your and your dog’s overall wellness.