What kind of dog is better to have in an apartment and a private house?
Many people dream of having a dog, but before making a positive decision and purchasing a pet, you have to think about a lot of questions. Haste in this matter is not allowed, since a dog is not a toy that can be thrown out on the street or replaced with a new one. All family members should take part in the discussion of the appearance of a four-footed friend and express their opinion. It is important to pay attention to where the family lives - in an apartment or in a private house, because the choice of the breed of the future pet largely depends on this.
Suitable breeds for an apartment
Many city apartment owners decide to keep pets, giving preference to dogs. This is due to the fact that this type of animal is considered the most loyal, and, returning home, you can always count on a "warm meeting" of a friend. For those who are going to have a dog in their apartment for the first time, you need to consider several important nuances.
- Compliance of the size of the pet with the dimensions of the housing. If the apartment is small, then it will be difficult to keep a huge dog in it.
- No barking. When choosing a particular breed, you need to ask in advance if its representatives are not inclined to constant and loud barking. If this is not done, then neighbors will constantly receive complaints to law enforcement agencies.
- The owner's readiness for the pet to have to be taught to live together in an apartment. For this you need to conduct training.
If all of the above issues are resolved, then you can safely choose the breed that suits you from the following recommended list.
- Boxer. This dog will have a warm relationship with all family members (especially with children), and is also characterized by excellent guarding qualities.
- Yorkshire Terrier. This four-legged handsome man will not leave anyone indifferent. Silky long hair, decorated with ribbons, bold character, constant activity and living with children make the representatives of this breed the most desirable favorites in every home.
- Rottweiler. It is advisable to acquire such a dog at a very early age, this will allow it to be properly raised. Then the little puppy will turn into a devoted friend and fearless protector.
- Canne Corso. This breed of dog is usually chosen by families with small children. These are animals that are quite affectionate to their owner, which are distinguished by their quick-wittedness and kind character.
In apartments with a limited area, you cannot have large animals, as this will create many problems.
During walks, a child or elderly family members will not be able to cope with an active and large pet.
In this case, it is recommended to choose dogs of decorative breeds, the most popular of which include the following.
- Bichon. It is a small adorable dog with thick and soft fur. Pets of this breed have a lively and sweet character, love to be in the company of people, love to play with children and are very affectionate to the owner.
- Lapdog. This cutie is distinguished by exquisite manners. Lapdogs are characterized by mobility, energy.
- Toy fox terrier. Dogs of this breed have a smooth short coat, are active and intelligent. In addition, the animal has a playful character and a fearless disposition.
All of the above dog breeds are ideal for keeping in an apartment, but before you take a pet, you need to carefully study the characteristics of the breed, its behavior, feeding and caring for the pet.
If the owner does not have free time to spend with the dog and take care of it, then it is better to abandon the idea of having such a pet.
What to choose for a private house?
For those who live in the village or in the country, the dog must perform not only play and decorative functions, but also be a reliable protector who guards the house.
Experts recommend choosing those breeds of dogs that combine the function of protection, protection, get along well with all family members (especially with children) and are distinguished by devotion.
The most popular breeds of dogs intended for keeping in a private home are such.
- German Shepherd. This intelligent animal is easy to train and quickly learns to obey the owner. At the same time, shepherd dogs are very fond of babies and are considered excellent protectors.
- Giant Schnauzer. Dogs of this breed are distinguished by unpretentious care, incredible courage and quickly learn the main commands.
- Caucasian Shepherd Dog. Its representatives are one of the largest dogs that are tolerant of the pranks of children and are completely devoted to the owner. The Caucasian is rightfully considered a loyal friend and the best defender of private property.
Dogs for specific purposes
When purchasing a dog, it is important not only to discuss the responsibility for its maintenance in the family circle, but also to determine in advance the purpose of the pet. So, for example, when the owner likes to lead an active lifestyle, prefers to play sports, often go out into the countryside and go hiking, then he should not buy a lapdog, dogue de bordeaux, English bulldog or chow-chow. These dogs mainly like to spend their time on the rug, complementing the interior of the house. For people full of vitality, it is best to purchase terriers, spaniels, setters, labradors or retrievers.
In the event that it is planned to just have a pet for the soul, then it is advisable to choose small breeds.
For owners who are considered avid hunters, you should select pets with speed and search skills. Usually, greyhounds and hounds are bought for this, dachshunds are usually bought for burrowing hunting.
Most of the four-legged friends help people by carrying out a certain type of service. So, for example, Labradors, European and German Shepherds, Russian Spaniels, Rottweilers are used in search work, in the search for drugs and explosives, and are on guard duty.
People living in the north have special sled dogs as a draft.
These dogs perfectly withstand the harsh conditions of the local climate and help not only to move goods over considerable distances, but also reliably protect livestock. Sled breeds include the Siberian Husky, Eastern Laika and Alaskan Malamute.
For protection
To reliably protect a country house, apartment or other structures, you need to choose special breeds of dogs. For these purposes, hunting breeds are not suitable, since their representatives will be constantly distracted by domestic animals. Fighting breeds such as bull terriers and pit bull terriers are also unsuitable for sentry purposes. They are aggressive towards other animals and are designed to take part in dog fights.
Dogs that do not have an undercoat (they will freeze in winter), as well as rescue dogs, will not be able to perform well the duties of a house guard, since they do not have anger towards people.
Experts recommend choosing four-legged friends of such breeds for protection, which are characterized by high intelligence, unpretentiousness to living conditions and the ability to learn quickly. So, for example, German, Caucasian and Central Asian shepherds become ideal watchdogs. Rottweilers have also shown themselves well, as they are distrustful and very vigilant. You can also get a Giant Schnauzer, which is an active and energetic dog that is easy to train. The pet treats its owners faithfully, but is always ready to protect them from strangers and uninvited guests.
For kids
According to psychologists, a family with children must necessarily have a dog, since fidgets growing with it will acquire a sense of empathy and responsibility. In addition, children have more opportunities to spend their free time in the fresh air, walking the pet, and not sit at home at the computer. The following breeds are best suited for children.
- Labrador Retriever. It is the most popular family dog in the world. He is distinguished by calmness, intelligence, friendliness and quick learning. Despite the fact that the pet has a huge size, it is very mobile and loves active games with children in the fresh air. In addition, dogs make an excellent swimming companion.
- Golden Retriever. It is considered an ideal choice for young children. Representatives of this breed are faithful, kind, love babies. In addition, retrievers are always prepared for stick play and swimming. These pets are especially suitable for schoolchildren (from about 9 years old).
- Collie. Such a dog is best purchased by families whose members love an active life. Collies love to play with children, run and walk. Such a four-legged friend will take part in all the activities of the owner.
- Beagle. These are medium-sized animals that have an affectionate and sociable character, they quickly find contact with all family members. With children, a beagle can spend almost the whole day and will be not only a devoted friend to him, but also a reliable protector.
- Poodle. This breed is perfect for a girl. Its representatives love to be in the spotlight, agreeable and loyal. Every child can take care of such a pet.
The following breeds can also be distinguished separately: American Bulldog, Shar Pei, Fox Terrier and Dalmatian.
Such dogs are easy to train and always obedient.
For teenagers, experts recommend buying dachshunds, miniature pinschers, French bulldogs and greyhounds.
For seniors
Some retirees have to live alone, so in order not to get bored and spend time with a good friend, they have dogs. Before deciding on the breed of dog, older people should understand that all animals are different and differ in temperament, habits and character. Therefore, energetic old women and old people need to acquire mobile pets, and calm elderly people, on the contrary, give preference to medium-sized breeds.
So, a pug is perfect for retirees. This is a small dog that loves the attention of its owners.
Scotch Terrier, Shih Tzu, Cocker Spaniel, Laika and Pekingese are also good options. Before making a choice in favor of a particular breed, psychologists recommend that pensioners pass special tests to determine which animal a person resembles in character. In addition, before taking a pet into the house, it is necessary to decide who will take care of it in case of the owner's illness. If no one has the opportunity to walk with a four-legged friend, then it is better to refuse such an acquisition.
A working person
When choosing a dog breed, you should not only take into account your personal preferences, but also consider the availability of free time for walking and caring for the animal. If the future owner of the dog works all day, then he needs to think about buying a pet several times. So, for example, it is not recommended for working people to choose such breeds as the Border Collie, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever. The above dogs are not adapted to life in confinement and like to actively spend time in the fresh air.
In addition, you need to know that certain breeds are too demanding for communication and the animal, being alone for a long time, will become depressed and get sick.
For busy people, the following dog breeds are ideal and can be left alone at home.
- Basset Hound. Its representatives are sedentary, have a modest size and love to explore everything inside the house. Leaving your pet at home in splendid isolation, you do not have to worry, because it will sleep until the owner arrives.
- Chihuahua. Representatives of this breed weigh up to 3 kg and never show aggression. They are usually purchased by those who wish to have an "inactive" friend.
- French Bulldog. These dogs do not like long walks and when the owner leaves the house they will not become very bored - they will immediately fall asleep.
Greyhound, lapdog, Shar Pei and Whippet also deserve special attention. They are perfectly adapted to living conditions in an apartment and spend most of their time sleeping.
Despite the fact that all of the above dogs can be alone for a long time, this does not mean that they do not need to be paid attention.
Selection recommendations
Today, dog handlers have more than 400 different breeds of dogs, so you can get any four-legged friend. The only thing is that if this is done for the first time, you need to pass a test for readiness for responsibility and compatibility of the character of the future owner with the temperament of the dog. After that, you should decide on the reassignment of the pet, since the dogs can be shepherds, sentries, decorative and hunting dogs.
If you plan to walk with the dog in the fields and forests for a long time, then it will need endurance.
In the event that you plan to make an original gift and present a fluffy adorable to your grandmother, you need to choose a small calm dog.
For families with small children, it is advisable to purchase animals whose fur does not cause allergic reactions. For protection, you will need a dog, which is genetically based on the qualities of a watchman and protector. In addition, experts recommend purchasing purebred representatives of the breed, since you can expect anything from mongrels.
What breed to choose, see below.