- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
I once lived in an apartment in New York City next to a family that had a Siberian Husky. Every day, the dog was left alone for ten hours or more. And all day into the evening, that poor dog cried and howled, hour after hour after hour.
I knocked on the door one evening and offered to walk the dog, but I was turned down. Even on weekends, the dog would get a short walk and then be left alone inside for the rest of the day. Listening to that dog, I heard suffering, frustration, and eventually, I heard this terrible, high-pitched keening—the sound of hopelessness. It broke my heart.
When I did some quick online research, I read that Huskies are bred to pull sleds, running for hours and hours every day. According to the American Kennel Club, the Husky was “developed to work in packs, pulling light loads at moderate speeds over vast frozen expanses.” They are pack dogs, who “enjoy family life and get on well with other dogs,” and are so energetic that securing a place for the dog to run “is a must.”
The Husky howling in distress was not a bad dog—but he was the wrong breed for that family’s lifestyle.
While there is no foolproof way to know for certain that the dog you are considering bringing home will be compatible with you, a successful match mostly depends on you, and your willingness to:
- Do the necessary breed research and learn about dog behavior, body language, and innate traits and needs
- Be adaptable if your dog isn’t “perfect” or develops traits you weren’t expecting
- Be honest with yourself about your lifestyle and ability to meet your dog’s needs (such as a Border Collie’s need for lots of exercise)
Here’s how to narrow down your search for your dream dog for the best possible chance of mutual happiness.
Set Yourself (and Your Dog) Up for Success With Research
To increase your chances of a successful adoption, research dog care, training, and breeds before you go to pick out your new best friend. The more you can learn about dog body language, nutrition, and canine behavior—including behavior that’s genetic—the better you will be able to discern what a dog in the shelter environment might be like when you bring them home.
If you decide to buy a puppy from a breeder, look at breeds that will fit your lifestyle. Puppies are adorable, but keep in mind that the appearance of the dog is pretty much the last factor that will influence how compatible they are for you and your family. Instead, consider factors such as typical behavioral traits, potential genetic health issues for that breed, and the financial aspect of veterinary care across the life of that breed.
All dogs are individuals. Breed is a good starting point for predicting what a dog might be like, but you need to be ready to let go of that preconception pretty quickly.
“It is best to set yourself up for success by choosing a dog breed that will likely align with your planned lifestyle,” says Dr. Emma K. Grigg, a Lecturer and Research Associate at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. She recommends weighing factors such as the size of the dog as an adult, potential genetic behavior traits, and the amount of exercise, grooming, and training the dog will need.
“Choosing a dog that doesn’t fit your lifestyle often results in dissatisfaction with the relationship and can lead to stress and behavioral issues in the dog,” Grigg says.
If you’re thinking of adopting from your local Humane Society, specific breed information can be a little harder to come by. However, some shelters and rescues such as the more than 100 organizations that partner with dog genetic test company, DNA My Dog, may have it available to prospective adopters, and you can ask your local shelter if they offer those types of services.
Understand Each Dog Is Unique Regardless of Breed
Regardless of what you are able to find out about or already know a dog’s genetic makeup, Grigg notes that responsible adopters should be prepared for their dog to have their own unique personality that will develop as they grow.
“Breed is a good starting point for predicting what a dog might be like, but you need to be ready to let go of that preconception pretty quickly, because all dogs are individuals!”
A dog’s breed is not a guarantee of what their behavior will be like.
Evan MacLean, Director of the Arizona Canine Cognition Center at the University of Arizona, underscores this point. “There is a range of behaviors that on average, will differ across breeds. But the key thing to know here is that a dog’s breed is not a guarantee of what their behavior will be like,” MacLean says.
So, if you want a dog who lives for a game of fetch, some breeds, like Retrievers, are more likely, to love chasing a ball. “You can think of choosing a dog from a given breed as increasing or decreasing the likelihood that the dog will be predisposed to engage in those behaviors, not a guarantee that this will be the case.
“If you’re looking for a dog with a relaxed temperament who will be happy being a couch potato, a high-energy Border Collie is unlikely to be a good fit. There will always be exceptions to these broad patterns, but prospective pet owners can make reasonably informed decisions by looking at the scientific data on what breed-average behavior tends to be like,” says MacLean.
Behavior becomes harder to predict in mixed or designer breeds, where genes interact.
“If you cross a Golden Retriever with a Labrador Retriever and a Flat-Coated Retriever, you’re probably going to get dog who likes to retrieve,” explains says Elaine A. Ostrander, Distinguished Investigator at the Cancer Genetics and Comparative Genomics Branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, you may or may not get a dog who wants everyone to love them like the Golden Retriever, or a dog who lives to swim like the Labrador Retriever, or a dog who needs tons of exercise like the Flat-Coated Retriever.
A lot of designer crosses are with Poodles because of the reduced allergenicity. Poodles are smart, but does that mean you’re going to get a smart dog? Not necessarily. It depends on what genetic variants come up in the combination.
“A lot of designer crosses are with Poodles because of the [supposed] reduced allergenicity,” says Ostrander. “Poodles are smart, but does that mean you’re going to get a smart dog? Not necessarily. It depends on what genetic variants come up in the combination.”
For potential pet parents who are seeking specific traits for their own lifestyle, these variants may affect their relationship with the dog. It’s important to remember this aspect of variability when adopting some breeds.
Be Honest With Yourself About Your Lifestyle
“I tell people, start with being really honest with yourself, about your physical constraints, your home, kids, work,” Ostrander says. “Think about how well a dog matches your family, environment, fence, yard, and activity level.”
Ostrander suggests asking and answering a series of questions before adopting, such as:
- Do you want a lap dog and snuggle buddy?
- Are you looking for a running partner, or really active dog to go swimming or hiking with you?
- Are you looking for protection, or a dog to do a particular job?
Think about how well a dog matches your family, environment, fence, yard, kids, activity level.
“If you’re retired, or you have physical problems, that’s a very different dog than someone who’s working from home writing a book,” she says. “I think you can get down to a pretty narrow list if you can be really honest about those things.”
“When I got my Border Collie, I already knew that having a Border Collie in an urban setting was going to take a lot of work on my part because she had to be able to go out every day and run at full speed,” says Ostrander. “And I don’t mean in a straight line. Run, turn, chase, all at full speed. Walking around the block was not going to do it for this dog.”
A Fulfilling Adventure Awaits, If You Are Up for It
Above all else, notes Rover Pet People Panelist and Dog Researcher Philip Tedeschi, a successful, lasting, and satisfying relationship with a dog results when a dog is adopted based on lots of research and realistic expectations—not because of a dog’s looks or breed.
“Even within breeds, we need to recognize that each dog is an individual, first and foremost, and that for persons to specifically select a breed because they think it’s going to be a particular type of dog is probably often the cause of either disappointment and in some cases, reasons for an animal being relinquished,” he says. “Human-dog relationships are complex. Fortunately, for us, dogs are very patient with us.”