Top dog breeds for first time pet owners

So you’re about to get your first dog? 

First of all, congrats! 

You’re about to meet your new best friend and experience a bond that frankly, no human can really give you. 

Although getting a dog is exciting, happy & wholesome, it’s important to remember that the category of dog is quite versatile.

Based on your lifestyle, habits & living space - some breeds may be a better fit for you than others. 

That said, if you’re looking for a safe bet for a fury sidekick, this piece lists out top breeds to consider for a first time dog owner. 

Preface💡: The following information has been compiled from veterinary feedback, social forums & scholarly articles/research papers conducted on dog breed differences. 

Ok. Lets jump right in.

The Labrador

Consistently voted the highest among online blogs and self-reported experience, the Labrador Retriever makes for a loving, intelligent and often goofy companion for you and your family.

Some highlights include that they are often reported as being extremely friendly to people & children, adaptable to various living environments, loyal to their family, outgoing in nature and only moderate shedders.

Additionally, Labs are extremely food motivated, making treat-based training simple and easy.

Although a Labrador will make it’s home wherever you are, be it in a house or apartment, they are a bigger breed and therefore require walks & play to keep them healthy and prevent boredom.

That said, you can almost guarantee that after a long day at the dog park, your lab will want to cuddle up with you for a nap.

The Golden Retriever

Similar to labs, these dogs have been bred to love and care for their families. An incredibly intelligent breed that has been reported by most to be patient and gentle with children and a companion like no other to their owners.

They have an eagerness to please and do quite well in obedience training (start younger for better results). They’ll greet you with excitement at the door when you come in from a day at work or school and make for an excellent cuddle partner on a rainy weekend.

Unfortunately the life expectancy of Golden Retrievers has decreased from an average of 16 years (reported in the 1970s) to roughly 12 years old. This is due mostly to improper breeding techniques which have caught up to the breed as a whole. Certain cancer causing genes are now heavily prominent in the breed with studies showing that roughly 60% of Golden deaths are cancer related.

That said, additional studies have revealed that European Golden Retrievers were not nearly as susceptible to cancers as American Goldens were, localising the breeding malpractices to North America. Additionally, certain lifestyle choices implemented on your pup may decrease the odds of these cancer causing genes from being expressed, giving your animal companion a full, healthy and loving life!

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Small in size but with big personalities, Cavaliers are perfect for those who wanted a bigger dog but don’t have the outdoor space or are living in an apartment. Affectionate, gentle, and thriving on human companionship, these Spaniels are suited for a king!

Quite literally named after Charles II of Great Britain who reportedly loved his Spaniels so much that it was said he paid more attention to them than ruling the country. It was also reported that at the time of his death, he had over a dozen Cavalier Spaniels surrounding him by his bedside.

The name Cavalier was also given to them to represent their loyalty in honour of the Cavaliers who supported King Charles I during the English revolution. So yes, these small pups are fiercely loyal to their owners.

Aside from being slightly on the higher side regarding maintenance (they require consistent grooming to keep their silky long coats healthy), the only real downside to this breed is yet again improper breeding. Heart disease and syringomyelia unfortunately affect this breed but lifestyle choices paired with understanding your dog’s behaviour can help prevent and identify signs early on .

The Poodle (Giant, Standard, Miniature, or Toy)

A highly intelligent breed that comes in all sizes! While giant poodles may suit those who love taking longer walks, the mini or tea-cup poodle might be just what you were looking for if you wanted a companion to sit on your lap with you while sipping your coffee (obviously be careful with hot drinks around your dog - said it here so the haters didn’t have to).

A major pro for the poodle is their hypoallergenic coats, allowing for the sneeziest of people to be dog owners too! They are easily trainable and love to be in your presence. That said, they have also been reported to be less clingy, giving you space to do you while they do them.

They do require regular grooming to keep their curls healthy and like many bigger purebred dogs, are unfortunately prone to hip dysplasia once again due to poor breeding.

If you plan on getting a dog from a breeder, be sure to do your research to reduce the odds of any genetic mishaps being passed on to your first pup. 

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Now I’d like to take a minute to address that I am well aware that ending each blurb with “as amazing as this dog is, they are prone to this and that and this” is pretty morbid. 

This is not at all meant to deter you from looking into this breed. 

In fact, it’s to ensure you ask the right questions and take the right steps to prepare for the lifestyle commitments & choices you make for your soon to be best friend. 

Every dog deserves love and care, doing so to the fullest really is breed dependent. Which brings me to my last pick…

Mixed Breeds (Rescue Dog)

When rescuing a mixed breed (or any dog for that matter) be sure to ask the shelter about the dogs temperament, why they ended up at the shelter, if they get along with people or other animals and about any injuries or ailments that you’d need to be aware of. 

Now that that’s out of the way, a good ol’ mut or a mixed breed is a must and here’s why!

First and foremost, research and reports from long-time dog owners seem to indicate that mixed breeds will carry forward favourable traits from their crossed breeds and lose the unfavourable ones.

In terms of genetics, this usually means that biological or physiological risks that usually come with the purebred are far less likely to occur in your pup.

But it gets better!

Alongside a stronger (more versatile and therefore less dangerous) genotype being passed to the mixed breed, behaviourally, these dogs also tend to keep the ones that are more favourable as well!

For example, say you adopt a German Shepherd x Golden Retriever mix (Golden Shepherd), this dog is likely to be less prone to hip dysplasia than a pure Shepherd, less prone to cancer than a pure Golden, more sociable than the average Shepherd (attribute from the Golden) and more driven to work/please (from the Shepherd). *Note that this is just an example of some people’s reports of their own dogs.

Of course when it comes down to a dog’s behaviour and temperament, most of it comes from you. That said, it’s nice to hear so many reports of mixed breeds basically bringing the best of both worlds from the purebreds into one beautiful doggo. 

And of course, rescuing is extremely important & highly encouraged. There are unfortunately too many unhoused dogs in shelters who need love and affection.

A rescue dog forms a bond with you like no other. It’s a beautiful experience to receive gratitude from a being that cannot talk or write. Though the first few days may be slightly more challenging, the inevitable connection formed once they learn that they can trust you is strongly felt each and every day.

If you have information about local ethical shelters in your city, please reach out! Our team would love to do what we can to promote them and get every last dog adopted to a great home like yours (making an assumption here but if you took the time to read all of this, I’m guessing you care quite deeply about dogs and their needs).  

Notable Mentions

Bichon Frise - Small in size, big at heart with a playful demeanour

Shih Tzu - Low maintenance gems that are beyond affectionate

Shetland Sheepdog - Wildly intelligent, beautiful dogs with big hearts

Beagle - Curious & playful and get along with pretty much everyone

French Bulldog - Laid back (with the exception of zoomies!) and affectionate little piglets

German Shepherd - Intelligent, loyal and a charming personality

Bernese Mountain dogs - Devotion is an understatement, these guys love you more than you love them

Boxers - Energetically playful breed that’ll form the cutest bond with your kids

Great Danes - The gentlest of giants with funny and loving personalities

Maltese - Content just spending time relaxing on your lap 

Feel free to reach out with any other breeds that we may have skipped over. Additionally, if you have any questions and want to chat, feel free to reach out as well!

At the end of the day, the characteristics of the dog you welcome in your home will be largely dependent on how you care for them. Keep an eye out on more companimal content to help prep your home and habits for your new furry friend.