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What's The Best Dog Breed For You?

Just like humans, dogs come in all shapes and sizes with different activity levels as well. It's important to consider the breed that fits more with your personality and lifestyle.

Here's a list of things to consider:

What's your lifestyle?
If you live alone in a small, third-floor apartment, for instance, adopting a large, active retriever-mix might not be the best choice … but then, if you're a runner and want a partner for your jogs, or you have a large family of kids who will play with the dog all the time, it could be fine! A dog's size, exercise requirements, friendliness, assertiveness and compatibility with children should all figure into your decision. Remember, you're not just getting a dog; your new dog is getting a family!

Purebred or magical mix?
How do you find out which dogs have the qualities you're looking for? Information is the key: learn about the personalities of various breeds, visit with animals at the shelter and speak with an adoption counselor for guidance.

Dogs fall into one of two categories: purebreds or mixed breeds. Most animal shelters have plenty of both. The only significant difference between the two is that purebreds, because their parents and other ancestors are all members of the same breed, are similar to a specific "breed standard." This doesn't always tell you much about a dog's good health or how she'll behave, but it will help give you an idea of how big she's likely to get and whether her ears will be adorably droopy or sharp and perky (and other such physical traits). With mixes, you'll get a unique, never-seen-before blend.

More about mixed breeds
Of course, the size, appearance and temperament of most mixed breed dogs can be predicted as well. After all, mixed breeds are simply combinations of different breeds. So if you know the ancestry of a particular mixed-breed puppy or can identify what type of dog he is (e.g., terrier mix), you have a good chance of knowing how he'll turn out, too.
Mixed breeds are also more likely to be free of genetic defects common to certain purebred dogs because of overbreeding.

Choose a pal for life
Shelter animals deserve lifelong homes. If you're looking for your perfect pal, check out The Shelter Pet Project's website, which can help you with your search. After all, you're choosing a pal likely to be with you 10 to 15 years—or even longer. There's a dog out there who will love being part of your family!

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