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Perfect Puppies! Choose the Best Breed for Your Personality & Lifestyle

first puppy puppies

Dogs are incredible creatures. Of all the pet options out there, dogs remain the most popular. They are loyal, intuitive, and committed to being your companion and helper for life!  But just like people, dogs have needs, preferences, and distinct personalities. Some dogs love to lounge around the house and engage in long snuggle sessions […]

Dogs are incredible creatures. Of all the pet options out there, dogs remain the most popular. They are loyal, intuitive, and committed to being your companion and helper for life! 

But just like people, dogs have needs, preferences, and distinct personalities. Some dogs love to lounge around the house and engage in long snuggle sessions on the couch. Other dogs love to conquer the great outdoors, go on adventures, and overcome wilderness obstacles. Still, other dogs are happy with daily jogs, fetching your slippers, and keeping an eye on the home. 

What’s so amazing about this intelligent, domesticated animal is that you can find a dog breed that matches your personality and lifestyle. It takes a little research, but there is a puppy out there that belongs to the best dog breed for you! 

And Petland Texas is going to help you find him! 

Whether you’re the outdoorsy type, live a cosmopolitan life, are athletic, a homebody, anxious, or the kind of socialite that likes to host a lot of parties at home, we’ve got the breeds that will not only fit into your world, but make it so much better than you could’ve imagined!

WOODSY

Do you live in a rural area and appreciate going on hikes? If you’re woodsy and like to take advantage of the great outdoors by going fishing, camping, and even snowshoeing, then you need to choose a dog breed that will relish every adventurous moment with you. 

You’re also going to want to find an intelligent breed that has excellent instincts. This dog will need to have the smarts and self-control to obey you at all times since he will be off leash the majority of the time when you’re out there in nature. 

You’ll need to commit to thoroughly training your dog as a puppy so that when you do get out into the woods, your dog will come back when you call him and also heed your commands when you encounter other nature lovers on the trail.

The best dog breeds for people who love the outdoors are:

  • Siberian Husky
  • Bernese Mountain Dog
  • Vizsla 
  • Australian Shepherd
  • Collie
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback

Bear in mind that outdoorsy dogs will also need frequent bathing, as well as trips to the vet to make sure their health is holding up. You’ll want to give your furry friend the “once over” when you’ve returned home after a trip and remove ticks, burs, and debris.

COSMOPOLITAN

If you live in a city, then you know the hustle and bustle has palpable energy. You love your cosmopolitan lifestyle that comes packed with places to go and people to see. Your city isn’t “noisy,” it’s lively. It’s not “crowded,” it’s bursting with people from all walks of life! And that’s why you love living there!

You need to choose a breed of dog that feels the same way you do. This is easier said than done. There are a lot of breeds out there that will feel cramped and restricted by city life and may even get overwhelmed from exposure to too many strangers every time they leave the apartment. 

You’re also going to want to find a dog breed that will be satisfied with only a walk around the block twice a day without much more outdoor time. Having a dog park nearby could be great, but if that’s not a resource you have, then your pup needs to be okay indoors for the most part. 

The best dog breeds for city dwellers include: 

  • Boston Terrier
  • Shih Tzu
  • Bichon Frise
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Brussels Griffon
  • Poodle

The recommended breeds we’ve listed above aren’t known for barking or whining when their owners are gone and they’re left all alone. But each individual dog will have his own needs and personality. If you’re someone who has a busy schedule, we suggest that you hire a dog walker or have a trusted friend stop by daily when you’re gone. Having someone come by to walk your dog and give him attention can do wonders for their overall health and sense of wellbeing.

ATHLETIC

You jog. You go for long walks. You’re on recreational sports teams, and yet, you can never get enough exercise! You like to live life with your heart rate up. You know you want a dog, yet you know you need a furry workout buddy. Let’s put it this way, you’re an athlete, which means the dog breeds that will complement your lifestyle are going to have to be athletic, as well.

The good news is that there are a lot of seriously high-energy dog breeds out there who will give you one heck of a run for your money. The breeds we’ve listed below all share three things in common. They’re highly intelligent, they need a good deal of daily exercise, and best of all, they’re loyal, cuddly, and eager to please…

…Okay, we admit that was more than three things…

The great thing about these breeds is that they will feel comfortable whether you live in a rural area or a highly populated city. Either way, as long as you’re actively exercising with them, they’ll be happy! In no particular order, here are the best dog breed options for high-energy athletes:   

  • Border Collie
  • Brittany 
  • Dalmatian 
  • Doberman Pinscher 
  • German Shorthaired Pointer
  • Redbone Coonhound

Similar to the outdoorsy breeds, these athletic dogs will need substantial training throughout puppyhood so that they learn more complex commands. Chances are, your dog will be either off leash or on a very loose, long leash when you’re going for jogs or otherwise getting your heart rate up together. Your dog will need to understand how to behave when encountering strangers and other dogs. 

HOMEBODY

Who was it that said paradise is a soft couch, a warm cup of tea, and a good book? Whoever they were, one thing is for certain. They must have been a homebody! If your picture of paradise looks a lot like your cozy living room and if your favorite Friday night involves Netflix, microwave popcorn, and maybe a friend or two, then we’ve got the best dog breeds for you. 

Most breeds of dogs feel agitated when they have to stay indoors for the majority of the day, day after day. But luckily,  there are a number of breeds that actually prefer to lounge around at home. 

A good rule of thumb, which is a bit of a fun fact, is that dogs with flat faces require almost no significant exercise, and they love the comfy, indoor life. This is due to the respiratory difficulties they experience whenever they start exercising.

Without further ado, here are the homebodies just like you: 

  • Bulldog
  • Pug
  • Chihuahua
  • Maltese 
  • Papillon
  • Bolognese

There are actually more breeds that we could’ve included on this list, such as all the “cousins” of the bulldog, like the English bulldog, French bulldog, American bulldog… you get the idea. Likewise for the Pug and Papillon. But don’t assume that just because a dog breed is small or “toy sized” they’re automatically a homebody breed. 

ANXIOUS

Out of all the domestic animals, dogs are the only ones that can become certified service, therapy, and emotional support animals. While many other animals can serve the purpose of providing emotional support, such as cats, rabbits, and even potbellied pigs, only emotional support dogs are accepted in public areas and private businesses. 

The point we’re trying to make is that dogs are special creatures whose nature is inextricably tied to ensuring that you’re doing good and feeling happy. Dogs can sense when their owners feel down, depressed, or anxious. A dog’s response to this will be to comfort you. In fact, they’re hard wired to sympathize. 

You don’t have to have a clinical anxiety diagnosis to experience anxiety. Some people are a bit more anxious than others. If this describes you, you might find that a furry companion can help you relax and get through those rocky patches of life that tend to rattle you deep down.

These are the dog breeds with the greatest ability to perceive anxiety and the most likely to comfort you during those anxious moments by leaning against you, lying on you, or otherwise offering physical comfort for the purposes of soothing your nervousness: 

  • Golden Retriever
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Great Pyrenees
  • Great Dane
  • Yorkshire Terrier
  •  Pembroke Welsh Corgi

We should add a little disclaimer: if you’re experiencing anxiety that goes beyond what your puppy can soothe and even rises to the level of “chronic,” it’s important that you tell your doctor and seek professional help.  

Has reading this article inspired you to pick up your perfect puppy? Petland Texas offers just about every breed under the sun. Use our breed finder to find your lifelong fur-mate!