Before I start off, I would like you to answer a simple question: Do expressions like “perfect” or “perfect-match” exist outside the dictionary? Stop telling yourself unbelievable fairytales, and stop complaining about “What’s wrong with the ‘wrong’ dog?”

The New York Times published Huberty’s opinion about her rescue dog Nina, who was called The Wrong Dog–as the title says. She calls Nina to be unbefitting for living among humans because of her protective-possessive attitude.

In Psychology Today, Mark Derr analyses Huberty’s opinion. He mentions Marc Bekoff’s view of The Wrong Dog:

“Living with a dog is a two-way street and assigning unilateral blame gets us nowhere and once again leaves the dog out in the cold…”

Mar Derr remarks that Huberty never sought professional help from dog behaviorists and veterinarian-at least there was no mention of it. She merely depended on her self-made assumptions.

Here’s how to get the “best dog” for you so NOTHING GOES WRONG AGAIN:

Consider The Seven Dog Groups:

According to AKC dog shows, dogs have been categorized into seven groups.

  1. Hound Group:

Hound breeds have a strong sense of smell and swift manner of chasing their prey.  They were the perfect-fit dog breed for hunters in the past. The common breeds included in hound group are Dachshund, Greyhound, Beagle, and Whippet.

Best Traits: They have great determination and amazing stamina to hunt down their prey.

  1. Supporting Group

Supporting breed-also known as gun dogs-have been divided into three types based on their hunting skills: retrievers, pointing breeds, and flushing dogs. The common breeds included in the group are Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, and Labrador Retriever.

Best Traits: They are active, alert, and friendly family dogs. They have high exercise needs.

  1. Non-supporting Group:

They are among the oldest dog breeds. The common dog breeds included in the group are French Bulldog, Dalmatian, and Poodles.

Best Traits: The group includes a variety of personalities, appearances and hereditary traits.

  1. Terrier Group:

With British and Irish origins, they are good at hunting the rodents. The common breeds included in the group are Jack Russell, Bull Terrier, and West Highland White Terrier.

Best Traits: Terriers are small, active, self-confident, and brave dogs.

  1. Herding Group:

They were used historically for herding sheep-commonly kept by shepherds. The common breeds included in the herding group are Sheepdogs, Corgis, Collies.

Best Traits: Herding dogs are highly trainable. They are good at herding their owners and their children in a definite place.

  1. Working Group

They are good as service, war, guard, and farm dogs.  The common breeds included in the working group are Rottweiler, Boxer, and Great Dane.

Best Traits: Working dogs are intelligent, sturdy, active and highly trainable dogs.

  1. Toy Group

Toy dogs are cute and small “working dogs.” The common breeds included in toy group are Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, and Pug.

Best Traits: They are affectionate, friendly, and alert dogs. They are ideal choices for city-dwellers living in small apartments.

 

Consider the Basic Necessities:

It’s recommended to contemplate the basic needs of dog breed, and your expectations. They have to match at many points to make the “wrong” a right dog for you.

Food: Hyperactive dogs require food more often than the cuddling pooches. Calculate a rough estimate of how much you’ll be investing on the dog. Home-made foods and BARF diets are suitable for supporting group and hound groups.

Exercise: Large-breed dogs usually require a lot of exercise other than a daily walk. If you live in an apartment, toy breeds are the perfect options. Your kids can enjoy the little cuddle balls too.

Mental Stimulation: Intelligent dog breeds like the working dogs need a lot of mental stimulation. Invest in interactive toys, and get the time out to keep them engaged. If they get bored, you might have to face behavior repercussions.

 

Consider the Veterinary And Training Requirements:

Genetic Traits: Keep in mind genetic behavior traits. Best dogs for introverts include Basset Hound, Pug, etc. Some genetically aggressive dog breeds include Chihuahua, Dachshund, German Shepherd (there are miniature German shepherds too), etc.

Sociability: Toy breeds are commonly good with kids. Dogs like Labrador Retriever are responsible dogs around children. The supporting dog breeds are also prone to separation anxiety.

Possible Health Issues: Toy breeds are cute and attractive for children to have. But, they are prone to a huge range of diseases and behavior issues. Can you manage all the costs?

Intelligence Levels: Working dogs are no doubt intelligent, but it signifies greater mental stimulation needs. Hyperactive dogs are smart dog breeds. They include Dalmatian, Border Collie, Siberian Husky, etc.

Do some in-depth research in all these categories to get the RIGHT DOG!