Dogs are great, but some dogs can be too rambunctious to live in a household with children or other pets.
If you’re looking to add a dog to your family, make sure you pick one that will be calm and happy living with everyone else in your home.
Here is how to pick a calm dog for your family:
Pick An Active Dog
If you’re looking for a great companion that will keep you active, choose an active breed.
They’ll keep you moving. Because these breeds are so much fun and have high energy levels, they can be difficult to live with if they don’t get enough exercise.
Before bringing home an athletic pooch, be sure there’s someone around most of the time who can play with him or her—and in more ways than one.
Dogs that don’t get enough mental stimulation may become destructive.
These breeds want to stay busy and on the go their entire lives; it’s up to you as their owner to make sure they’re getting what they need!
So before you bring home an energetic dog, figure out how many hours per day he or she needs for exercise.
Then decide how much space is available for exercising (without disrupting your life).
A high-energy dog might not be the best fit if you live in a small apartment with no yard and go to work all day.
Choose a low-key pup instead if that sounds like your situation.
Low-key dogs love nothing more than lounging around the house, cuddling with you, and taking some long walks.
Low-key dogs also require less attention from you but still want to spend plenty of time bonding with their human companions.
Here are some low-maintenance pups worth considering: Basset Hounds, Beagles, Bichon Frises, Cocker Spaniels, Corgis
Identify Traits For A Calm Dog
One great way to start is by assessing your home situation, lifestyle, and needs.
For example, if you live in an apartment or condo, getting a high-energy breed that loves to run and play might not be ideal.
The key is finding a breed that will fit into your specific environment and household.
Research breeds that have traits like they are social and friendly with other dogs, people and kidss.
They are less active outside of their house.
They are good with other pets (cats) and they love to cuddle on the couch.
Ask yourself what type of energy level would suit your lifestyle best? Is it hyperactive, energetic, or mellow?
Once you know what type of pup suits your home situation the best, head to a local shelter or rescue group where there’s likely more variety than at pet stores.
Consider The Children
There’s no sense in picking a dog you can’t take care of.
The Humane Society suggests considering how much time you have available and whether or not you have children at home.
It’s impossible to know exactly how much time will be spent walking, grooming, and playing with your new pet—but those are all things that need doing regularly.
It might be best to consider an adult dog with some training already under its belt (which is often easier than training a puppy) so that time spent bonding won’t get in the way of housebreaking and obedience classes.
Think About The Energy Levels
When you think about getting a new pet, one of your biggest concerns is probably whether or not you have enough time to commit.
That’s fair.
You must take into account both how much time and energy are required to care for any animal you bring into your home.
When it comes down to it, you want to be able to provide them with an environment in which they can thrive.
Dogs that need more exercise and attention are not as ideal as dogs that are more independent and friendly towards strangers.
If you don’t have much free time at all, it may be better if you stick with pets that require less maintenance.
Caring for animals is never easy, but some breeds will prove to be easier than others.
Take this quiz from The Humane Society to find out what type of dog might work best for you!
Don’t Mind The Shedding
If you’re ready to have a pet around but don’t want one that will destroy everything you own, then you might want to consider adopting an older dog.
Older dogs make great pets because they tend to be calmer and more easily trained than younger ones.
What’s more, they are usually housebroken already, which means less work and training on your part.
Before adopting any animal or having any work done on them (such as spaying or neutering), check with local shelters or rescue groups in your area about age requirements.
Some won’t take in animals under a certain age limit and others may not put senior pets up for adoption at all.
But don’t let this deter you from visiting your local shelter!
They often are a ton of information available about the benefits of adopting an older pet .
And can also point you in the direction of other resources like regional breed rescues that specialize in helping older dogs find homes.