Most of you reading this post are not "First Time Dog Adopters". However, you may have someone in your life planning to adopt their first dog and they may ask for some of your recommendations. While they may ask about things like dog food recommendations, potty training, and all of your favorite toys, it doesn't hurt to make sure they are starting with the right dog for them.
Popular movies have recently depicted some dogs that may seem really appealing on the big screen, but will likely have disasterous result in the home of a first time owner.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Before getting into our 5 Favorite First Time Dogs, lets start with our "NOT RECOMMENDED" for first time owners list.
The Belgian Malinois / Dutch Shepherd
Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherds are so similar that we can essentially lump them together as the same dog at the top of our "Not for first time owners" list. These dogs are as smart as they are high energy and driven. While intelligence definitely does help them when it comes to learning new skills, idle paws become the devil's playthings.
These dogs are born and bred to be fast, fierce, fearless, and to have a tank that never run empty. Owners of these dogs must be prepared to dedicate an exceptional amount of time and resources to fulfilling their mental and physical needs as well as creating management routines to prevent them from learning new bad habits.
Cattle Dog / Blue or Red Heeler
Cattle Dogs are also know as heelers, and just like the name implies, they were bred to move cattle and bulls. Cattle dogs are courageous enough to face a bull 100x their size and tell it to "back the hell up!"
Cattle dogs move cattle by chasing, barking, and biting the massive animals. These behaviors are genetic and instinctual, and in a home with a lack a cattle, these behaviors could quickly become problems for family members or other pets in the home.
German Shepherd
One of the most common breeds, has also unfortunately become one of the most problematic. The German Shepherd's popularity in recent decades has led to its overbreeding by unethical backyard breeders.
Irresponsible breeding of the German Shepherd has led to many of today's German Shepherd dogs to struggle with anxiety, fear, and general nervousness. Combined with the German Shepherd's genetically bred purpose as a herding dog, guard dog, and protector as well as its roles as a military and police working dog, has made this once steadfast guardian into a household liability.
Mastiffs
The category of dog breeds known as the mastiffs includes many of the most impressive looking dog breeds, however their temperaments are bred to match. Mastiffs were bred to be property guard dogs and perform sentry-like protective behaviors over their owner's property.
Mastiffs are bred to work independently and to be fearless against any intruding threat to their territory. This however does not bode well for the modern home who may want to welcome guests on a regular basis.
Rottweiler
The Rottweiler was originally bred from mastiffs and used along side of the Roman Legion Soldiers across modern day Europe. As the need for these dogs among the ranks declined, they were then used to help pull carts and move heavy loads. These origins have lead the Rottweiler's genetic inclinations for being fierce, headstrong, and determined as well a built to be strong and immoveable.
Their strength and size, paired with their steadfast stubborness, independence, and territorial nature can make these dog's a significant challenge for even many experience dog owners to handle.
Choosing The Right Breed for Your First Dog
Now that's we've at least crossed a few breeds off our recommendations list for our first time owners, let's look at the qualities that make certain breeds easier than other for new or inexperienced dog owners.
Low Energy and Drive
While energy and drive are not exactly the same thing, they can often appear with similar characteristics. Dogs with a lot of energy or a lot of drive require much more involvement by their owners to provide outlets for their physical as well as their mental needs.
Dog's with lower energy requirements may be completely content spending many days just relaxing around the house. All dogs require some regular exercise to keep them healthy and to ensure a long happy life, some dogs need much less than others.
Low Maintenance
We have all seen the beatiful coats of the Afghan hounds, the Poodles, and the Alaskan Malamutes, but we seldom think about the amount of effort it takes to maintain that beauty. Dog's with short coats are much easier to maintain with occassional bathing or brusthing. Be aware that its not just the length of the coat that makes a dog low maintenance. Dog's with wrinkly and folded skin like bulldogs and shar peis also require daily special care to keep their folds clean and free of infections.
Genetically Healthy
Each individual dog's health can be dependent on many factors, however knowing which breeds are more prone to health conditions can help cross off a few more breeds from our recommended list. Bernese moutain dogs are notoriously susceptable to a long list of genetic conditions. Other breeds are structurally built to have health issues like many of the Bracheacyphalic breeds (Flat face breeds) as well as breeds with unusual body shapes like the Daschund and the German Shepherd. Many breeds that are victims of "hyper-type" breeding that over accentuates a signature trait of the breed, like the prominant rounded nose bridge of the Bull Terrier. The hyper-type traits often lead to associated health defects.
Size Does Matter
While size is not the most important factor, it can become an important detail especially when the cute adorable puppy is now well over 100lbs in some cases. The larger the dog the more expensive all of their health, grooming, and equipment becomes. Large dogs inherently eat larger quantities of food, and therefore have exponentially higher food costs. Most grooming facilities will base many grooming costs on the weight of the dog among other factors. Larger sized crates, kennels, and beds often cost must more than the smaller versions. Many veterinary and health procedures, medications, and services are more expensive for large dogs as well.
In addition to expense, larger dogs simply take up more space. You are unlikely to be able to share a queen bed with your spouse and a large or giant breed dog. Forget sharing a three-seat sofa with a great dane!
Generally Tolerant Temperament
Each breed of dog is genetically bred to have specific temperament traits. A dog's temperament is generally its personality. Some dogs are bred to be fairly stubborn, while other are bred to be very biddable and enjoy working with their owners. The temperaments that make for great first time dogs are those that are very sound and touch tolerant, meaning they aren't overly sensative to noises or being handles. Additionally, we want dogs that are biddable, meaning that they are easy to work with but not to the extend that they need to be working all of the time.
Top 5 Recommended Breeds for First Time Dog Owners
The Greyhound
The Greyhound is undoubtedly the easiest dog to own and live with no matter how busy your lifestyle may be. They are a fairly tall breed, but their lean and slender build keeps their weight generally between 45-65lbs. Greyhounds are the world's fastest dog breed but they also hold the record for the worlds laziest couch potatoes. These dogs are happy to spend the day lounging on the couch and watching movies, or to take nice short leisurely walks around the neighborhood.
Greyhounds are not exactly easy to train, due to their independent natures, but they hardly make the effort to leave the comfort of the couch let alone find ways to get into any trouble when left to their own decisions. Greyhounds are easy to live with and easy to walk on a leash, however a leash is always highly recommended for your greyhound as their desire to chase small animals will easily trump any recall command.
Most greyhounds have very short coats that required minimal brushing to keep maintained. The occasional bath helps keep their skin clean and healthy, but is seldom needed.
Greyhounds as well as the other hunting dogs are bred to chase and track animals through the wood and brush, so they are very touch tolerant. This means that they are generally very tolerant to being handled and often enjoy getting affection from their owners as well as strangers. They are also very noise tolerant meaning they are less likely to become nuisance barkers at the sound of the doorbell, delivery trucks, or guests entering your home.
The most notable benefit of the greyhound breed is actually associated with the sport of greyhound racing. Many professional greyhound racers will retire racing greyhounds at a fairly young age of 3-4 years old. These adult greyhound are usually very well cared for, potty trained, crate trained, and been socialized to the other dogs, strangers, and countless novel sights and sounds making them especially tolerant to any new experiences that you may have waiting for them. Rescuing an adult dog can also be far less expensive than getting a puppy from a reputable breeder.
The Smooth Collie
The Collie is available in two types: Smooth Coat and Rough Coat. The Rough Coat Collie is the famous Lassie dog that we all recognize and adore. However, for a first-time dog owner, that large fluffy coat might seem intimidating. Fortunately, the smooth-coated collie is the same dog with a shorter coat, making grooming easier to manage.
The collie is a playful and relaxed herding breed that is no longer widely used as a working herding dog on farms. As border collies have generally taken their place, collies are more often bred for their appearance and their gentle nature as beloved family members.
Collies are a bit more active than our first pick, the greyhound, but would still be happy spending the occasional rainy day on the couch watching movies. Collies are a wonderful choice for those who maybe have a busy work schedule monday through friday, but still want to include their dog on their weekend adventures. Collies can be lighthearted, playful, and social members of the party, as well as your couch buddy when you just want to have a chill relaxing day.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The King Charles Spaniel belongs to the sporting group and has a long tradition of being used for hunting. Hunting dogs, such as the aforementioned greyhound, are tolerant of noise and touch, making them excellent companions for homes that can be occasionally chaotic. These dogs are typically quiet and friendly, making them a wonderful addition to family gatherings.
The Cavalier enjoys cuddling and is often considered the ideal lap dog. While these dogs tend to great noisily, Cavaliers are typically not protective of their home or territory making them welcoming to guests and strangers.
The Golden Retriever
The quintessential American Family Dog is the golden retriever. This breed, which ranges from medium to large size and typically weighs between 50-70 pounds, has a moderate energy level, making them a lively and loving addition to a family that enjoys fun. Hunting dogs are often tolerant of touch and sound, which makes them well-suited for families with children.
Golden Retrievers are generally social and eager to meet new people and friends. They can make excellent house pets, and with proper training and conditioning, they can also relax and enjoy quiet time. Some golden retrievers are bred to be high-energy hunting dogs, so it's important to consult with the breeder or rescue organization before choosing your dog.
The Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a small, gentle, affection, and comfortable dog in most homes. The shih tzu does require regular grooming to keep their coats well trimmed and maintained and free of matting, but their size makes this a fairly easy task for any professional groomer.
Weighing between 9 to 16 pounds and standing 8 to 11 inches tall, these dogs are surprisingly sturdy for their size. Their coat, available in various colors, is worth the grooming effort—few dogs are as stunning as a well-groomed Shih Tzu. Being adorable is a lifestyle for this lively charmer. The Shih Tzu is particularly affectionate with children. As a small dog bred to spend most of their time inside royal palaces, they are an excellent pet for apartment living or homes without large backyards. While some dogs enjoy digging holes and chasing cats, a Shih Tzu prefers sitting on your lap, being adorable while you watch TV.
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