You want to get a dog, but you don’t know which breed to choose or which size suits your situation best. There are a few things you need to consider, where you live, who you live with, aka household size, and do you have the time required to take care of a dog? First, you can look at where you live and who you live with to decide which size dog best suits you.
Dog Sizes
There are many sizes, and some dog breeds come in multiple sizes. For example, poodles can be a toy, mini, medium, or standard. The standard size is just a little bigger than the medium size. Each size dog has its different benefits and detriments, pros and cons. There are many health benefits of each size and different health defects that come from it. The most common sizes for dogs are,
- Toy
- Mini
- Medium
- Large
- Giant
Small
The small dog breeds weigh around 30lbs or less, with the toy group being less than ten pounds. Small dogs have fewer health defects when it comes to joints because they don’t have much weight for their body to support. Some of the most common health diseases for small dogs include,
- Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome.
- Dental Disease.
- Hypoglycemia.
- Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD)
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease.
- Pancreatitis.
- Patellar Luxation.
- Tracheal Collapse.
Most people get smaller dogs because they don’t have much room in their apartment-sized houses. You can take your dog to many places because of the size. Many people love these small creatures because they are dogs that will “stay puppies forever.” They are so small and cute and can curl up in your lap without it being uncomfortable. Small dogs do tend to live longer than larger dogs.
You might choose not to get a small dog because they are delicate. If you have kids that don’t know how to handle a small dog, they could get hurt or hurt the dog. Small dogs are still great family pets, but you might wait until your baby is a little older. Once your child and dog create a connection, your dog will become your child’s shadow.
Some of the toy dog breeds are,
- Chihuahua
- Papillon
- Russian Toy Terrier
- Shih Tzu
- Toy Poodle
Some of the small dog breeds are,
- Italian Greyhound
- Maltese
- Pomeranian
- Pug
- Whoodle
Medium
Mediums sized dogs come in a very wide range of sizes from 30-50lbs. This is the standard size of most dog breeds. Some of the common health issues with medium dogs are,
- Hip dysplasia (Dogs on the larger end)
- Elbow dysplasia (Dogs on the larger end)
- Patellar luxation (Dogs on the smaller end)
- Cherry eye
- Cataracts
- Entropion
- Allergies
- Mange
- Skin infections
Medium size dogs are great; they are right in the middle. Not too big but not too small. They are great family pets and don’t have the risk of knocking you over. You will still want to train your dog not to jump because they are big enough to knock a child over. These dogs have a wide enough range of sizes that you can still pick if you want a bigger medium size dog or a smaller medium-sized dog.
Some of the medium-sized dog breeds are,
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Australian Shepherd
- Beagle
- Border Collie
- Boykin Spaniel
- Dalmatian
- Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
- Whippet
Large
Large dog breeds weigh 50+ pounds, while giant breeds weigh 100+ pounds. These dogs have a higher risk of getting health diseases around the joints and limbs. Some of the common health conditions with large dogs are,
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Arthritis
- Wobbler syndrome
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypothyroidism
- Bloat
- Entropion
The common thought of larger dogs is that they are mean and dangerous, but they are often bit teddy bears that only want to cuddle. They can’t curl up in your lap like a small dog but will cuddle by your side when they can.
You might wait to get a bigger dog because of its overall size. The puppies will be cute and cuddly, but these dogs can be massive when they grow up. Some dogs are even bigger than their human caretaker. If you have the time to train your dog, you are set, but if you don’t, your dog will likely knock you over when they come to greet you.
Some of the large dog breeds are,
- Alaskan Malamute
- American Bulldog
- Belgian Sheepdog
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Greyhound
- Siberian Husky
Some of the giant dog breeds are,
- Akita
- Anatolian Shepherd Dog
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Bullmastiff
- The Great Pyrenees
- St. Bernard
Size isn’t everything you need to look for in a dog, but it does help. If you know you can’t have a dog over a specific size; you can look for dogs in that range. I hope this has helped you decide which dog breed best suits you.
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