So, after being pestered for months on end you have finally given in and decided to buy your child and new pup, but you’re a little bit confused about the whole process and don’t quite know what breed of dog would suit your family household? 

Never fear I have got 3 Top Tips for Buying a new family dog that should make selecting the right dog for your family home a piece of cake. 

Buying a dog can be a frustrating process, there is just too much choice out there and you have make sure your new companion is perfect for you and your family.

Tip 1 - Size Matters

It’s important you take your child’s age and size into consideration, giant breed dogs such as the English Mastiff or Great Dane can be great with children but due to their enormous size they can quite easily hurt a very young child by accidentally knocking them over or being over zealous. 

Small to medium dogs are often a great choice for households with smaller children, whereas a household with older children and teens could quite happily house a much larger breed of dog.

Tip 2 - Companion or Protector?

Another point to consider is will your dogs sole purpose be as a companion animal or do you want the dog to be a protector of you, your family and your home. 

This is a really important factor, some dog breeds are bred specifically to have natural guarding instincts and although they also make a great companion if they do not have a strict, persistent leader they can display negative and sometimes aggressive behavior. 

Having a large dog who will naturally be aggressive can be very dangerous, with children the dog is not familiar with playing with your child could potentially be a bad situation and it could kick off the dogs natural defensive behavior.

Tip 3 - Exercise is Essential

Making sure your dog’s exercise requirements are met is essential to a happy pup. Giant breeds tend to need less exercise due to their low energy and prolonged walks or running can have a negative impact on their joints. 

Working breeds have extremely high energy levels and require at least 2 hours exercise or walking a day, if they do not receive adequate exercise, working dog breeds can become destructive and show other negative behaviors such as barking etc. 

It is also important that you are able to dedicate enough time to walking your dog, although your child may be willing to walk your new pup at first, this often falls by the wayside and the responsibility will be left up to you. 

I hope this small guide helps you in your decision to buy a family dog, and I wish you the best of luck in selecting the right breed.

If you would like to read more dog product guide and product reviews check out heelboyheel.com to get more great information.