When you’ve decided you’re ready for a puppy, one of the breeds listed below might be ideal for you and your family if you’re looking for your first dog. Ensure you speak with ethical breeders to determine whether the breed is a good fit for you.
From young children to the elderly, this gentle, loving Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is well known for being adaptable and good with all types of people. The Cav is very trainable and open with strangers. They are generally a low-maintenance breed, though they do require regular grooming and an average amount of exercise.
The Boxer enjoys being with his people despite their natural instinct to serve as guardians. The breed’s desire for human affection, especially from children, is one of its most notable traits. Being both protective and patient with children makes them a popular choice for families. The Boxer requires little grooming, but needs daily exercise.
The English Springer Spaniel exhibits the typical “eager to please” temperament of spaniels. Springers are happy and loving dogs who adore their families and prefer to remain close to their owners. They make wonderful house pets, but need daily exercise, routine brushing, and regular trimming to keep their coats tidy and mat-free.
A small, amiable toy dog with a fine-boned structure, the Papillon is friendly. They are reputed to be cheerful, observant, and non-aggressive little dogs. No matter where they live—in an apartment, the country, or somewhere in between—Papillons are a content breed. Although they enjoy playing outside, they can also easily be amused and exercised inside.
Poodles are an exceptionally intelligent breed that performs well in all types of dog sports. Poodles come in three sizes, which may help explain why it’s one of the most well-liked breeds. The Poodle can accommodate nearly any size living quarters. Their nearly hypoallergenic coat may lessen allergic reactions, but maintaining it requires grooming expertise.
The Shih Tzu is a lively and amiable companion that makes a wonderful house pet. Their long, luxurious coat can be kept in a “puppy cut” to make maintenance easier, and they only need minimal exercise.
The Wheaten Terrier is a medium-sized breed that is content, steady, self-assured, and aware of his surroundings. Although they are true terriers and will be more active than many other breeds, wheatens tend to be less aggressive than other terriers and will benefit from daily exercise. They are good with kids, and they can live anywhere—in the city, the country, or the suburbs. The Wheaten has a single coat and sheds very little, but regular grooming is necessary to prevent mats from forming in it.
Whippets enjoy running, but they generally make great house dogs. They are quiet when relaxing in the living room at home, frequently sleeping for the majority of the day. They are happiest when kept as house pets because of their innate affinity for people. The breed gets along well with people and well-behaved kids!
The Lab has long been the breed of choice in the U S. This extremely devoted and affectionate breed has been around for 30 years running for a reason, and they are excellent with children, very trainable, and friendly with strangers. The Labrador Retriever thrives in a busy household where they can play and cuddle together.
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Labradors Are Hopeless Guard Dogs
Although they may bark when someone knocks on the door, most Labradors are happy to see everyone, even strangers.
Intruders are more likely to be licked to death by them because they are a friendly and trusting breed, and if they see an intruder carrying food, they’ll probably lead him to the safe.
While the Lab was trained to retrieve objects, good guarding breeds are typically those that were originally bred to protect livestock. They were less aggressive and more amiable because they did not need to be aggressive.
Although most Labs are unlikely to participate in the threat, Labs can make good watchdogs if they are properly trained to bark to warn you of any threat.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a guard dog, you should look at the powerful German Shepherd instead of this breed.
Are Labradors Good for First Time Owners?
When determining whether a Labrador will make a good first dog for you, it’s crucial to take into account both the breed’s characteristics and personality.
Keep in mind that not everyone will find all of these qualities to be favorable. However, they will enable you to ascertain whether you believe you can manage a Lab as a first-time owner and what to anticipate when you get a Labrador Retriever.
Okay, so let’s get right into the things to know.
Labs Can Live an Average of 12 Years
You should choose a breed for your first dog that will live a long and healthy life free of any serious health problems. Your Labrador should live for about 12 years on average if you exercise and feed them properly.
Of course, many dogs will live longer than this, especially if you’ve cared for them really well. This study showed that 89.7% of a cohort of 39 Labradors that maintained lean body mass and reduced accumulation of body fat lived to either meet or exceed the typical life span.
Another long study of 48 dogs evaluated from puppyhood over two decades showed the importance of keeping your Lab in a lean body condition. The average life span of lean-fed dogs was extended by an average of 1.8 years (15%)!
Additionally, it was found that preserving good physical health can delay the onset and lessen the severity of osteoarthritis. Other chronic and age-related diseases were also delayed.
So, what’s the bottom line?
Your dog will have a better chance of living a longer and healthier life if you take care of him and feed him the right kind of food.
FAQ
Which dog is best for first-time owners?
- first puppy.
- boxer.
- labrador retriever.
- poodle.
- cavalier king charles spaniel.
- papillon.
- soft coated wheaten terrier.
- english springer spaniel.
What is the best age to get a Labrador puppy?
What Is The Best Age To Bring A Labrador Puppy Home? 8 weeks old is the ideal age to bring your puppy home; ideally, no earlier than the previous week. You might want to bring your puppy home before 8 weeks, but for all the reasons listed above, you should completely avoid doing so.
Are Labrador easy to take care of?
Fortunately for us, taking care of a Labrador Retriever doesn’t require as much work as taking care of many other breeds. Well-bred Labradors are relatively low maintenance, fit and healthy dogs. But you are solely responsible for your Labrador’s continued health and wellbeing.
Is it better to get a male or female lab?
Female Labrador Retrievers typically stick close to their owners, are gentle around children, and are quicker to train and housebreak. In contrast, male Labrador Retrievers are more playful and silly, more needy, and more sociable around other animals and people.