Perfect Dogs for First-Timers
In this article you will find out which dog breeds are best for inexperienced dog owners.
Which dogs are especially perfect for first-timers? These particularly include dogs that are very gentle, even-tempered, happy and friendly. For brand new dog owners (or wannabe dog owners), it’s important that the dog breed is particularly calm and patient. After all, they need to find their feet in their role as master.
A stubborn personality can be difficult for inexperienced owners, and this situation often ends up with the dog being left at a shelter. For people with jobs (parents), it’s also important that dogs are easy to look after.
Perfect Dog Breeds for First-Timers
Dog breeds that meet these needs are Golden Retriever, Havanese, Maltese, Papillons and Bichon Frises. There is a complete list at the end of the article.
By the way: Any dog can be a loving, loyal partner for life, no matter what breed they are. As long as it’s properly disciplined and trained, and learns to deal with other dogs as a puppy. Which brings us to ...
Training
If you’ve never trained a dog before, you’re in for a challenge. As they say: “There are no bad dogs, just bad owners.” And in 95% of cases, this is right on the money. It’s not even about the “easy” things, like potty training or making sure that your dog doesn’t jump up onto the couch. It also covers how your pet reacts to other/new people and dogs. This can be a lot of work, and be pretty stressful.
But: some breed-specific characteristics simply can’t be “trained out”. These include:
• Hunting instinct and temperament
Purebred dogs bred for the hunt have a strong urge to hunt, and often limitless energy that can be overwhelming. Other breeds have been bred especially for protection and guarding. This is also an instinct that is impossible or very hard to train out. These breeds can be great family dogs, but the master must occupy and entertain these urges. Not exactly a cakewalk for first-timers.
• Shedding
Yes, even this can be a problem. Before you get a dog, you might not have a clear idea of what this means for your home. It might have been clean and tidy before, but a heavily shedding dog can really have an effect on how you feel in your own home. Breeds that shed very heavily can be such a big deal for first-time owners that they give away their dogs after just a short time.
Dogs That Aren’t Too Much Work
Of course, the question is now: is having a dog a lot of work? After all, you don’t want to overwhelm yourself. What most people consider to be work is lots of exercise, lots of grooming, lots of cleaning up after them in the home, and lots of training. A dog isn’t a stuffed animal, so you need to consider your expectations at the very beginning. If you’re already worried about the “work”, you should opt for another pet.
Conclusion: Make sure you opt for a dog breed that suits your experience. Please note that the dogs described here are “usually” suitable for “standard” first-time owners. Each dog has its own personality and has had its own experiences in life. By the way: we only cover dogs here that are suitable for children.