Choosing a dog breed is a very big decision. After all, you will be committing to care for this puppy for the rest of its life. Every dog deserves the right loving home. Therefor, you need to choose a breed that will fit into your family’s’s lifestyle. Do your research. The American Kennel Club has quizzes online that are a good starting point. Sometimes these quizzes will suggest a breed you not have considered.
Choosing the perfect fit for you family, will lead to much love and joy for your family and your dog.
Size
Consider the age of your children. Small or toy breeds are not good it you have children under sever years of age. These dogs are too fragile Your child may accidentally hurt the dog. Large dogs may be too rough for babies or small children.
Also, consider the size of your home. Do you have a backyard? If you do, do you have a fence around your yard to ensure the dog is secure.
Temperament and Personalty
What temperate and personalty traits does the breed have. Some breeds both small and large are not good with children. It is important to research 
the breed’s temperament and personalty. Just as important, you need to ask the breeder or the person you are getting the dog from about the dog’s interaction with children and people, in general.
If you have small children, you need to get a puppy or dog that will tolerate getting its tail pulled, being hugged to tight, getting its ears pulled and other uncomfortable actions.
Also, if you get a puppy, all puppies tend to bite and scratch. Another consideration is you have small children.
There are many breeds that are loving, loyal and great with children.
Some breeds that make great family pets are:
- Golden Retrievers
- Labrador Retrievers
- Pugs
- Bassett Hounds
- Beagles
- Shelties
- Shih Tzus
- German Shepard
- Poodles
Exercise
Larger dogs need plenty of exercise. Breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and German Shepard need to be exercised every day for at
least about thirty minutes. If you want a larger breed, you need to commit to long walks or time at the park or dog run daily.
If you are not able to commit to the exercise, a smaller breed that doesn’t require much exercise may be good for you.
Grooming
There are many breeds with long beautiful coats. In order to keep them looking that way, they need to be groomed often. If you don’t want to spend money on a groomer or spend the time doing it yourself, then you should consider a breed with short-haired coat
Also, long-haired breeds shed. If you don’t mind dealing with the shedding, there are many beautiful long-haired breeds.
Do your research on the breeds that do not shed a lot or those breeds that do not shed at all.
Allergic Potential
For people who are allergic to dog fur, dogs with hypoallergenic coats are an option. There are many resources to help you research the different breeds with hypoallergenic coats.
Lifespan
Another consideration is the lifespan of the breed. Smaller breeds live longer than larger breeds. There is no guarantee on how long your dog will live, but you may not want a breed with a shorter lifespan. Some breeds live 8 to 10 years. Other live 12 to 15 years. There are smaller dogs that live as long as 18 years.
Lovable Shelter Dogs
Another consideration would be a lovable shelter dog. Shelters are filled with dogs just waiting for a loving home. Don’t forget you will be saving a life.
Most shelters test the dogs for their temperaments. They are tested to determine if they are aggressive.
Staff members could tell you which dogs are good with children and which would be a perfect fit for your family.
Shelters are very particular about whom they give their dogs to. You will have to fill out a questionnaire to see if you qualify for one of their dogs.
Health Issues
Every breed is prone to certain diseases that can be inherited. It doesn’t mean that all dogs in the breed get these diseases. You should be aware of possibilities.
The Commitment
So you want to get a puppy for your family. Just know it’s not all fun and games. You will have to train your puppy not to chew everything in sight.
You also have to housebreak your puppy. These two factors can be breaking points for some people. You should know this going in.
As I said, puppies bite and scratch, that is another issue.
Then here is obedient training. That could be fun.
Please remember, dogs are animals. If you have small children, always be aware of interactions between your children and your puppy or dog. We don’t want anyone to get hurt.
Once you get through the hard parts, having a puppy or dog is very rewarding. The love and loyalty you get from a dog is unconditional.
I have one more comment. Please never give up your puppy or dog. Your family becomes its family. Being given up by its family would be devastating.