Translated by Nick R
When you think of the ideal companion, many notions come to your mind. Whether it’s a cuddly one, a big one, or maybe a playful one. Luckily, here I’ll tell you which one is ideal for you based on the factors that influence you or your family’s life.
Table of Contents
What is your purpose for getting a dog?
There are many reasons why a person would want a dog. Keep in mind the purpose why you are looking for your pet. This first notion will get you closer to your desired canine.
Protection
If you’re looking for a dog that can take care of you, your family, and your home, clearly you need a dog with a specific personality.
Entertainment or High-performance companion
On the other hand, if you want a dog to distract you, to have fun, and that you can always play with, you are looking for a canine with lots of energy. Also, if it’s not just for fun, but for company during your days of physical activity, you need a high-performance dog.
Company
Some people just need someone to accompany them. Someone who is there for them at all times and who they can count on for their companionship. If this is what you need from a furry friend, choose one that does not require a lot of physical activity and has the habit of staying with his master at all times.
Guidance and Assistance
For people with general health limitations that prevent them from doing normal activities or that have some kind of functional diversity, a guide dog is ideal. They are mainly used for visual diversity. These canines are usually trained so that they can fulfill not only their companion duty but also their assistance work for their owners.
If you want to know more about this type of canine, I invite you to read your ideal assistance or working dog.
Things to take into account
Time
Consider how much time you have available to take care of your pet. If you are a very busy person, try to choose a canine that does not require a lot of care or attention. If you spend most of your time at home, on the other hand, you can choose one that likes to be around for long periods of time.
Space
Once your dog is at home, you need to modify the place so that it is comfortable for all of you. Every dog fits a different space. Also, take into account the number of people living with you. This is to avoid bothering someone with your pet.
Budget
Before anything else, check your finances and make a budget of what you will spend on care and food for your pet. Then, according to the estimated amount (30% to 50% of your budget) that you have, choose between a dog that requires little care or one with more care than usual.
That percentage depends on your income, whether you have one dog or more, and the type of dog, as other factors will determine the actual percentage you will spend on your pet. In my case, I spend between 30% and 50% of my family’s total budget since we have 4 dogs.
Personality
Each breed has its own personality traits that differentiate it from other breeds. Choose a dog that is compatible with your personality. For example, if you are a very active person, very cheerful, and always on the move, the ideal dog for you should have the same traits.
Otherwise, a puppy with little activity and who is there for company without a lot of interaction is perfect for calm people.
Male or Female
Male or female? It is a question that not many people give importance to. Other people think a lot about this aspect because of the care that each sex requires or they are inclined because they feel better with one than the other.
Male
If you decide to choose a puppy, there will be habits that just for being a male he will do. One of them is to lift his paw to urinate. While you are getting him used to peeing outside, he is likely to pee inside your house, so be prepared to clean up.
Another aspect of dogs is when they get a little territorial or aggressive with other dogs due to the scent of estrus that the dogs give off. So at this time, it is best to keep him from approaching canines and in case it smells, holds it tight until it leaves the area.
You must take into account if you want your dog to breed or not. This is a time limit for spaying and neutering. It is important that, if you decide not to have pups, you have him neutered soon to avoid future health problems with his prostate.
Female
It is said that female dogs are more affectionate than males, but it depends on different factors such as breed, education, etc. For female dog, you must take into account these three main cares.
The heat
A female dog goes into heat approximately every 6 months. It lasts between 2 and 4 weeks depending on the physical conditions of your pet, so you must be aware of it.
You should keep her away from other dogs to avoid them bothering her and if you don’t want them to mount her. You should groom her constantly, as she will expel blood. In addition, she will be restless and playful, which will make her want to get together with the males.
Pregnancy
If you decide that you want your dog to have a baby, you must be aware of her health condition before, during, and after this stage. You must keep her hydrated and with the appropriate diet determined by the veterinarian since the gestation period demands more nutrients for the formation of her puppies.
For first-time mothers, you must assist her or take her to the veterinarian. This will ensure that the litter is born in good conditions and puppies won’t die.
Sterilization
You can avoid the care of estrus and pregnancy by sterilizing your canine from the beginning. That is, if you have her since puppyhood and you spay her at 6 months before the first heat.
If you acquire your pet at an older age, it is recommended to follow the care of estrus. On the other hand, the sterilization process is important so that your dog does not have any more heat events and therefore, she cannot get pregnant.
Although this is a procedure that requires certain post-operative care, there are clinics where you have to pay for the process or you can opt for free sterilization days that are performed by the district, according to the place where you live.
Puppy or Adult dogs
It is important that you think about whether you want a puppy or an adult pet. Puppies require more attention and basic training. At their primary age, they would want to explore and know the environment, so you must have the patience to keep an eye on them and be consistent with basic training.
For adult canines is different since they have had a previous development with the environment. In addition, some of them have more social skills with people as well as with other dogs. In this case, being attentive to them is not so important because they have already adapted certain behavior.
However, if you are going to adopt or pick up an adult dog from the street, you must take into account that some of them may have been mistreated and, therefore, may have developed violent behavior. In these cases, you must be careful not to get hurt and have the patience to teach them again to socialize with people and other dogs.
Which group do you belong to? Discover your ideal dog
Below, you will be able to see which group you most identify with so that you have a close idea of what kind of dog fits you.
You live alone
There are several aspects to analyze if you live alone and want to have a pet. Here they are.
Small space + At home + Homey
If you live in a small apartment, you spend more time there and in your free time you like to be in peace and quiet and you are a homebody, a Basset Hound or a Pug is for you.
BASSET HOUND
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium | 18 Kg to 27 Kg | Sociable and Calm |
The Basset Hound is a medium-sized canine that is perfect for any space you live in. It is a loving, sociable, and calm breed ideal for companionship. It requires about an hour of exercise a day, but they tend to be lazy, so you need to take care of their physical condition.
Their care is little, so you could do a brief weekly brushing due to their coat’s short nature. Also, you need to check their ears frequently to detect or avoid possible infections.
CARLINO OR PUG
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 6,3 Kg to 8,1 Kg | Cheerful and Sociable |
On the other hand, Pugs are also sociable and happy with their owners. They are small in size and like to be in company. It requires very little physical activity, so half an hour would be fine. Like the Basset Hound, it is a low-care dog and needs its weekly brushing.
Small space + Outdoors + Homebody
On the contrary, if you present similar characteristics to the previous ones, but you spend less time in your apartment, the English Toy Terrier is the ideal companion for you.
ENGLISH TOY TERRIER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| SMALL | 2,7 Kg to 3,6 Kg | Loving and Close to the family |
The English Toy Terrier is small and can spend up to three hours alone. Besides, this canine is very friendly and loves his masters fondly. It is mostly a healthy breed but is prone to health problems typical of small breeds such as patellar luxation.
Ample space + At home + Physical activity
If you have a larger space such as a balcony or terrace and want a companion for long walks or training, there are five options for you. You can choose between the Canaan Dog, the Pinscher (German), the Beagle, the Podenco Ibicenco, or the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
CANAAN DOG
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium | 18 kg to 25 kg | Independent and protector |
PINSCHER (ALÉMAN)
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium | 11 Kg to 16 Kg | Energetic and loyal |
BEAGLE
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium – Small | 10 Kg to 11 Kg | Protector and playful |
PODENCO IBICENCO (IBIZAN HOUND)
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium – Small | 19 Kg to 25 Kg | Loving, sensitive and loyal |
STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium | 11 Kg to 17 Kg | Loving and loyal |
The complexions of these breeds allow them to exercise for a long time, being a minimum time of one hour. All of them are medium-sized and some of them can bear long periods without their owners, such as the Beagle and the English Toy Terrier. These canines in general are loving and very active, but you should help them to socialize with other dogs or people.
You live with another person
There are several options if you live with someone else. If they spend more time outside and live in a small apartment or on the contrary live in a house and spend more time at home, there will be a furry one that suits their needs.
Small space + At home/Away from home + Homebodies
If you and your partner or significant other live in a small apartment, enjoy having company, and spend more time there, several breeds are ideal for you. Options include the Basenji, Boston Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, and Dachshund.
However, these canines can be potential companions if both people are away from home for longer. They are small and ideal for confined spaces.
BASENJI
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 9,5 Kg to 11 Kg | Loving and independent |
In addition, among its general characteristics, you can see that the Basenji is very affectionate with its masters and is the independent type of dog that is aloof with strangers.
BOSTON TERRIER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 6,8 Kg to 11,5 Kg | Cheerful and playful |
On the other hand, the Boston Terrier is a very happy canine and loves to play. This canine enjoys being with its family and is a bit noisy.
MINIATURE BULL TERRIER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 6,8 Kg to 11,5 Kg | Cheerful and playful |
Being energetic and very lively represent the Miniature Bull Terrier, but keep in mind that this and the Boston Terrier should be socialized at an early age to avoid mishaps with other people or dogs.
DACHSHUND
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 4,5 Kg to 5 Kg | Kind and close to the family |
Lastly, the Dachshund is friendly and very attached to its family, and indifferent to strangers. It is also a good protector of your home when you are away.
These breeds are perfect for companionship and even the Pug and Basset Hound are recommended as well.
Small space + At home + Walking
If both of you or your partner(s) stay most of the time in your apartment and like the idea of sharing as a family and going for walks, the Miniature Pinscher is the ideal furry companion.
MINIATURE PINSCHER
| SIZE | EIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| SMALL | 4 Kg to 6 Kg | Courageous and active |
The Miniature Pinscher is an excellent walker, so it can handle a half hour or a little more if you want to. It is also an excellent companion to protect your home while you are away. This is because of the characteristics of a guard dog, such as being active and courageous, that its breed has.
Ample space + At home + Walking
If you live in a spacious place like a house, both of you spend a lot of time there and you like to share together and walk, we have for you four other perfect dogs.
We have the Dogue de Bordeaux, the Lancashire Heeler, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, and the Hungarian Wirehaired Pointer for you. They come in a variety of sizes and are excellent for walking.
THE DOGUE DE BORDEAUX
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Gigantic | 45 Kg to 50 Kg | Protector and close to the family |
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a very large dog, is very attached to its family, and can walk up to an hour, either spread out during the day or on a long walk.
LANCASHIRE HEELER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 3 Kg to 6 Kg | Friendly and nervous (sometimes) |
A small-sized companion like the Lancashire Heeler will be friendly with its owners but should be helped to socialize with other dogs because at first, it won’t get along well with them.
Lancashire Heeler also loves exercise and walking, and is very active, so it will enjoy every time you go out with him, but BEWARE! You must watch out for it if you don’t want it wandering around your neighbour’s gardens.
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Large | 30 Kg to 39 Kg | Strong and determined |
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is not for beginners, as it is a very determined and above all strong canine because of its large size. Likewise, it feels good and confident at home. He is a perfect walker, so he can last up to two hours on these walks.
It should wear a collar most of the time because its great hunting instinct can make it ignore you, so training is necessary.
HUNGARIAN WIREHAIRED BRACO
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium | 20 Kg to 30 Kg | loving, protector and loyal |
The Hungarian Wirehaired Braco is a medium-sized breed, which is characterized by how loyal and affectionate it is with its masters. It loves to be with its family and have fun, making it a perfect companion for walks. This canine can have an endurance of up to more than two hours in walking or exercise and is excited about sports.
Ample space + Outdoors + Protection
On the other hand, if your spouse or both spend more time outside and are looking for a furry friend to protect the home, there are two breeds that are ideal for you. As a first choice, you have the aforementioned Dachshund with its protective canine trait. The other ideal companion is the Japanese Akita.
JAPANESE AKITA
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Large | 34 Kg to 50 Kg | Loyal, protector and courageous |
The Japanese Akita is a large, strong-willed, and very strong breed, so this is not a canine for first-time dog owners either. It is a little furry dog that looks brave and is very loyal to its owners.
Besides, it is an excellent protector thanks to its character, but as soon as you have a long time to share with it, you have to make the most of it and help it to use up that energy.
Small space + At home + Physical activity
If you spend most of your time at your apartment with your partner and you like to have a very active lifestyle with regular walks and workouts, then you have two perfect companions which are the Affenpinscher and the Miniature Pinscher, also ideal for a home. In addition, the latter is also an ideal canine as already mentioned because it is active and good on walks.
AFFENPINSCHER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 3 Kg to 4 Kg | Loving and courageous |
As for the Affenpinscher, its small size is ideal for small spaces, it is cheerful and shows a lot of affection to its masters. A breed that is very active and likes games, so you can enjoy up to 40 minutes with him for walks and training.
Ample space + At home + Physical activity
Now you must consider the previous characteristics, but with the difference that both live in a house. For this space, you have three other furries as an option. There are canines such as the Beagle, the Weimar, and the Foxhound.
The Beagle, is a breed well known for its high energy and hunting instinct. Small to medium size, playful, but with guardian instinct. It is a canine that is excellent with exercise, so it can exercise, train or walk for two hours or even more.
WEIMAR BRACO
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Large | 22,5 Kg to 27 Kg | Affectionate and energetic |
The large breed Weimar Braco canine loves to be with its family and is affectionate with them. It is a dog with guardian instinct and strong, so it requires training, and should not be chosen by people who have never owned dogs before.
They love long walks and are usually very active, this makes them perfect for long training routines and if it involves swimming, they will enjoy it very much. Just like the Beagle, this is a breed that can endure more than two hours of physical activity.
FOXHOUND
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Large | 29 Kg to 32 Kg | Friendly and sociable |
The Foxhound is a large dog that is friendly with its owners. It is sociable, but it takes patience to adapt it to life at home; it enjoys running the most. It is an excellent companion for long-distance training, for which it can resist more than two hours.
You live in a family of 3 or more
Regarding home life, all following breeds are very compatible for coexistence with any family. However, some canines are more recommended for certain types of people, whether children or for seniors. So let’s take a look at them.
Family with adult members
Small space + At home + Homebody
If your family lives in an apartment, spends more time there, and loves company, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the perfect companion for you.
CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 5,5 Kg to 8 Kg | Affectionate and calm |
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a canine that, besides being small, is very affectionate and gets along well with older people. They live well with other dogs as well as with other people.
Small space + Outdoors + Protection
On the other hand, if you don’t spend much time in your apartment and you want a friendly but protective furry dog, you can choose between the Miniature Schnauzer or the Beagle.
MINIATURE SCHNAUZER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 7 Kg to 8 Kg | Energetic and protector |
The Miniature Schnauzer is characterized by being a very cheerful and playful dog with its masters. Although they need training to be sociable, they are excellent guardians that will take good care of your home.
Also, they can spend a lot of time alone and when they have time to enjoy with it, it will require an hour of walking.
As mentioned before, the Beagle is a friendly canine that can spend long periods alone and above all, it has a protective instinct.
Ample Space + At Home + Homebody
If you live in a big house and you spend most of the time there, you want a furry dog for company that is affectionate, the Hungarian Braco is your perfect canine.
HUNGARIAN BRACO
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium | 20 Kg to 30 Kg | Cheerful, fun and sensitive |
The Hungarian Braco is medium-sized, affectionate with its family, and loves attention. It is also a good choice to protect your home and enjoy long walks.
Ample space + Outdoors + Homebody + Homebody
Likewise, if you spend less time at home, but would like a canine that enjoys companionship, we have the Bernese Mountain Dog and St. Bernard for you. Both of them can spend some time alone.
BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Gigantic | 40 Kg to 44 Kg | Loving and patient |
The Bernese Mountain Dog is affectionate and likes to spend a lot of time with its family. This canine usually needs a maximum of one hour of walking.
ST. BERNARD
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Gigantic | 68 Kg to 91 Kg | Affectionate and loyal |
On the other hand, the Saint Bernard is a large-sized dog, very friendly with its owners and calm. Exercise can vary between half an hour and an hour.
Family with large children
Generally, families with older children spend more time at home, so a furry dog that loves company, walks and playing is perfect for you.
Ample space + At home + Physical activity
If you live in a house and need an active canine to share time with your child and be sociable with him/her, we have two ideal candidates for you. Among the options are the Samoyed and the German Shepherd.
SAMOYED
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium – Large | 23 Kg to 30 Kg | Extroverted and loyal |
The Samoyed is a medium to large-sized canine that is loyal, affectionate, and sociable with its family. It is a very active dog, so it can play or walk with your child for a long time. In addition, it is a little noisy if you do not pay enough attention to it, that is, it will enjoy long days of exercise that will help to release all its energy.
GERMAN SHEEPDOG
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Large | 30 Kg to 36 Kg | Loyal and close to the family |
The German Shepherd is another of the most popular breeds for family life. It is a large dog that loves to spend most of its time with its owners and is very loyal. It is a very intelligent breed, so it is recommended that it be trained and is good for walks of up to two hours in length.
Small space + At home + Physical activity
On the other hand, if you are living in an apartment and are looking for the same characteristics mentioned above, you have two options as companions. Among them are the Shih Tzu and the English Cocker Spaniel, perfect for small spaces.
SHIH TZU
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 4,5 Kg to 7,5 Kg | Playful and loving |
The Shih Tzu is a small breed canine, affectionate, but above all playful. It is perfect to share with children as it is very active and will enjoy short walks.
ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium | 13 Kg to 14,5 Kg | Friendly and energetic |
The English Cocker Spaniel breed is medium-sized, friendly with its owners, and a very active dog. Ideal for socializing with children and even other dogs. Since they have so much energy thanks to their hunting instinct, they require long walks of an hour or more.
Families with babies and small children
The following breeds have a great affinity with small children and babies, so you can choose from various sizes depending on the type of space you live in, be it a house or apartment.
Ample space + At home + Companionship
For families living in a house, the ideal canines for the company of babies and children are the Labrador Retriever, Boxer, and Beagle.
LABRADOR RETRIEVER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Large | 28 Kg to 30 Kg | Loving and Social |
The Labrador Retriever is a large, sociable, and very friendly dog. Besides enjoying the company of children, it watches out for strangers.
BOXER
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium-large | 25 Kg to 32 Kg | Brave, loyal and energetic |
Likewise, the Boxer although active and a little noisy, if trained correctly, is a great companion that likes to spend time with children or babies. It is a dog that will benefit from the energy of children when they are growing up; it loves running.
Finally, there is the Beagle, a breed that loves children and is very affectionate and protective.
Small space + At home + Companionship
If you’re a family that lives in a small space, such as an apartment, but your goal is still to have a baby companion dog, there are two companions for you. There are the Bichon Frisé and the Bulldog.
BICHON FRISÉ
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 3 Kg to 6 Kg | Cheerful, social, and family close |
The Bichon Frisé breed is small, loves to share with the family, and socialize a lot with them. It is not such an active dog, so short walks are ideal for it.
BULLDOG
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Medium | 23 Kg to 25 Kg | Calm and friendly |
The Bulldog, medium-sized, is a very friendly dog and loves to share with children. Also like the Bichon Frisé, it is good for exercise or short walks.
Older people
For seniors, we have the French Bulldog, the Maltese, and the Pug. These canines are good companions for these groups of people, due to their small size they facilitate short walks and their care is minimal. Besides being mainly companion canines.
FRENCH BULLDOG
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 11 Kg to 12,5 Kg | Brave, energetic and loving |
French Bulldogs are characterized by their affectionate and active nature. Besides being brave, this breed doesn’t require a lot of physical activity and the care that should be given is very minimal.
MALTESE
| SIZE | WEIGHT | PERSONALITY |
| Small | 1,8 Kg to 2,7 Kg | Loving and protector |
Others, like the Maltese, are sweet with their owners and are attentive to their environment. It is a perfect companion for walks of half an hour.
Finally, the Pug, besides being small, is a very sociable and cheerful canine with its owner.
Other options
Besides choosing based on the breed’s behavior, you can also pick mongrels, which are known as “mixed” or non-pedigree canines. There are varieties of mixed breeds and each one is unique.
You can also look for a specific breed, without paying attention to its behavior, but you must consider the care it requires. Another option to choose from is abandoned dogs on the street or from shelters. They tend to be even more grateful and faithful canines due to their raising and the life they have had.
In my experience, we have had both purebred and mongrel dogs in my home. All of the different sizes; a medium Schnauzer that was given to us as a puppy, and a small Schnauzer picked up from the street, both of which have passed away.
At the present time, our family has four furries, a Galge, a Beagle, a Criollita (we still don’t know if she belongs to any breed), and one with a crossbreed of Schnauzer and another breed. We picked them up from the street regardless of whether they were mixed or purebreds, it just came from our hearts to give them a home with lots of love.
What happens after choosing the ideal furry dog for you or your family?
Things will change as soon as you are in the company of your canine. Pets like dogs bring a joyful atmosphere to the home. In addition, thanks to their cuddling and playfulness they will help you reduce stress and will always be there for you. They not only keep you company but they are also excellent partners for changing your habits, being more active, and taking care of your health.
