Getting a dog for the first time may be both joyful and quite overwhelming because there are so many factors to take into account. Picking a dog breed from among the hundreds that are available might be challenging for novice owners. Here are some things to think about before adopting the first adorable puppy you see, and lucky for you, some dog breeds have predictable energy levels, appearances, sizes, and grooming requirements.
Many of distinct breed traits such as a dog’s trainability, prey drive and aggression towards strangers can be deeply rooted into a dog’s genes, however each individual dog is different despite of this. In some cases, nurturing and behavioral training can be the solution to these sometimes negative traits, but it is crucial to remember that a dog’s breed cannot predict with absolute accuracy how well a dog will act in situations.
Different breed characteristics
First and foremost, before you decide what breed you want, you should look at yourself and your characteristics, as you need to pick a breed that will generally match your attention and energy level. So, if you want a dog that can accompany you on your morning run, you should opt for an athletic dog breed with high endurance. Here’s how to choose the perfect dog for your lifestyle.
Avoid high energy and high maintenance dog breeds if you prefer to spend the majority of your time at home. If so, you might want to consider foster dogs from a rescue shelter since they are already house-trained and have an acceptable degree of socialization. This is a better choice because puppies can be a challenge for inexperienced dog owners. They require a lot of attention, training and socialization.
Without further delay, here are the 10 dog breeds we’ve selected that are great entry level dogs for first time owners.
Best Dog Breeds For First Time Owners
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Bichon Frise
This is one of the friendliest dog breeds available and one of the greatest pets for first-time owners. They’re ideal for families with children or solitary apartment dwellers. Who wouldn’t be delighted to see a giant cotton ball frolicking towards them? Bichons are one of the best all-around breeds since they are easy to teach, adapt to your lifestyle, and require only modest exercise to stay healthy and happy.
They do, however, require frequent grooming due to the special needs of their coat, so you will need to devote some extra time and money to that. make your bichon’s coat short and plain to make them low-maintenance.
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Boxer
Unlike our previous breed, the boxer is a lot bigger and has higher energy. The playful boxer is a loyal family dog that you will definitely form close bonds with. For those with more active lifestyles the boxer is the perfect breed to choose since they do need a lot of exercise and a pretty strong foundation of training.
Boxer traits
When they are younger, they tend to be hyperactive, but despite that they are trainable and enjoy the attention given during training. After they are properly trained and socialize the boxers will generally thrive in active households and frequently get along swell with children. As they are guardians by nature, they will instinctively protect their family, especially the kids. Their grooming needs are pretty low maintenance and simple so that is another pro.
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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the perfectly affectionate and sweet small dog with an eternal puppy appearance. They are pretty adaptive and thrive in any and all kinds of households while also getting along with kids of all ages. Although this is a small breed it is not tiny and has a pretty gentle demeanor.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel traits
Generally quiet and not a barker, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is both elegant and attentive. They have a moderate energy level which means they need a basic daily exercise to maintain their health. Responds well with basic training and their grooming needs are pretty simple despite their medium length coat. However, regular brushing is a necessity as to avoid tangles in their hair.
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Golden Retriever
This perhaps may be the staple family dog and one of the most popular breeds ever, many will say it’s the best dog breed for first time owners, and we can see why though. They are eager to please, get along perfectly with kids of all ages, they are also the perfect size for a family dog.
Golden retriever traits
As well as being really happy, loyal and affectionate, this breed is highly intelligent and adapts to any and all households. However, they also need a good amount of exercise to keep them in good physical shape and to prevent boredom.
Training this breed is crucial, but not really difficult in fact. Since they are highly intelligent, they love to learn and you can train them to do all kinds of stuff. One con is that they have a lot of hair which needs to be brushed regularly to reduce shed, mats and tangles.
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Labrador Retriever
Like the golden retriever, the Labrador is a very popular medium to large sized dog that’s perfect for any setting. Labradors adapt to most environment with ease and are excellent with kids of all ages. Similar to the golden retriever, they are extremely loyal and affectionate companions that will form a close bond with their families.
Labrador retriever traits
Labs are loyal, active and really intelligent dogs. Because of that they thrive in active households that can provide them with a lot of training and exercise. This breed love to learn new tricks and can be taught to do plenty of stuff. Unlike the golden retriever, the Labrador doesn’t need high maintenance grooming due to it’s short coat, but it does need regular brushing to reduce shed.
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Papillon
Papillon traits
Despite this breed’s small stature, they are a happy, friendly and fairly adaptable dog that can thrive in most households. The papillon dog also gets along pretty well with kids, however they have to be gentle and respectable.
They also enjoy a moderately active lifestyle, but can also function pretty well as a lap dog. While not needing a lot of exercise to begin with, they do enjoy the chance to run around and play. The papillon requires only moderate grooming and is pretty easy to train.
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Pomeranian
Another popular choice, the Pomeranian is a pretty and sweet small lap dog. While they prefer to bond the most with a single owner, they can still do well in family settings. They can adapt to any situation, but works best with older kids rather than younger ones.
Pomeranian traits
The Pomeranian only needs basic exercise to keep them in good health, but need good training to provide boundaries and structure. With lack of training the Pomeranians stubborn and feisty side can come out pretty quick.
However, luckily with consistent and positive training that can be avoided. One of the many striking things about this breed is their big and fluffy coat. Despite its appearance it is not that difficult to maintain, just some regular brushing will keep your Pomeranian happy and looking good.
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Poodle
Another popular and versatile choice of breed too consider is none other but the poodle. They make a great companion that is pretty adaptable to any environment and does well in various different household including ones with children of all ages. Poodles come in three sizes: standard, miniature and toy.
Poodles traits
No matter the size, all of the poodles are highly intelligent and respond really well to training since they are energetic dogs that need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation as well. Grooming is the difficult part though since their coat needs to be maintained regularly to keep it looking good.
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Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers, or adorably shortened to just yorkies are a great pick for beginners who just want a lap dog.
Yorkie traits
Yorkies are an affectionate breed that may even act protective of their owners when around strangers. They have a moderate energy level and don’t need intense training; the basics will suffice.
Daily walks are essential for this breed, but also a solid foundation for training. With lack of structure, yorkies can become fairly stubborn and vocal, so train them as you would train a big dog and it will help to strengthen the bond between dog and owner and also set boundaries.
Additionally, yorkies have special grooming needs that require your utmost attentiveness, their continuously growing hair needs to be brushed and trimmed regularly, but if you have time and money for regular groomer visits it is pretty simple then to maintain your dog.
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Mixed breeds
While purebred dogs are the popular choice when considering to adopt a dog, you shouldn’t keep mixed breed dogs out of the question. Mixed dog breeds can be the best dog breed for first time owners and make the excellent companion, and if you have trouble picking a breed you can simply visit your local shelter and get to know and play with some adorable mutts!
Every shelter has rescue workers that can easily match you up with a dog that exhibits all of the traits you want. As with any dog, training, grooming and exercise are a necessity and you will need to research your dog’s needs based on the mixed breeds.
For first time dog owners there are some breeds you should avoid. You might want to skip on typically independent and stubborn breeds or breeds that have an unpredictable disposition as they regularly require quite the intense behavioral and socialization training and close supervision around strangers. Those types of breeds are Akitas, Australian cattle dogs and Airedale terriers – to name a few.
