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Are you Fit Enough for the Dog Breed of your Choice?

Dogs need exercise. The younger and/or larger the dog, generally speaking the more exercise they need, and the more energy their owner is going to need! If you are considering adding a dog to your family then you need to assess how much spare energy you have and choose a breed of dog that matches!

If you are someone who loves being outdoors and have an abundance of energy, then you’ll be fine with a larger breed dog. Even those that are high maintenance in the grooming department shouldn’t be too stressful for you – although you need to take into account how much grooming time you have available as even though you’ve got plenty of energy, you may be short on the amount of time you have for brushing your dog and keeping his coat healthy. You also need to think about how you would lift a full size dog of this breed if you needed to – if he were sick for example.

For someone who hasn’t much energy, a smaller dog is a much better choice – better still, a smaller older dog that is already past its puppy exuberance stage and is now settled into a more sedate middle age! This kind of dog will allow you to get out and exercise, but won’t turn each walk into a cardiovascular workout! A short haired dog needs to be brushed, but nowhere near as vigorously as a longer haired breed and so again is easier on your physical energy. Smaller, shorter haired dogs are usually a better choice for anyone with a busy schedule also, as they are much lower maintenance all round – shorter walks, less grooming, etc – although they do need as much affection as their higher maintenance larger friends!

When considering which breed you want to buy, don’t be lured by a pair of sad brown eyes, or a cute fluffy fur-ball – check out what size the breed usually grows to, and what kind of coat it has as an adult (fur-balls don’t always stay that way!), and then seriously consider if he’s going to fit into your lifestyle, and just as importantly, if you are fit enough for his!

This entry was submitted by Alex Thomson. Alex also regularly contributes to the Webmasters Desk and has started to become a authority on the topic of horse liability.