Now that you’ve finally decided to get a dog you may want to know first that not all breeds are great for first-time owners. There are plenty of reasons why this is so as some breeds may need more training and some are just not suited for first time owners who have yet to learn how to assert dominance properly over their pets.
Listed below are three of the best and worst dogs for first-time owners, as well as the reasons why they’re classified as such.
Best Breeds For First Time Owners
1. Golden Retrievers
Golden retrievers are a classic. They’re gentle, well-mannered and generally easy to please. They’re also very playful which naturally makes them great with kids and their fur while thick and beautiful require little maintenance.
2. Greyhounds
These dogs are perfect for those living in smaller spaces as they LOVE to sleep. In fact they rarely move around at all. Once they do though they make for great running companions. As far as maintenance goes they’re one of the lowest maintenance breeds out there.
3. Poodles
Poodles are small, affable and very playful. It’s these three qualities that make this breed one of the best for first time owners. Though be warned, their curly coats make them a bit more cumbersome to maintain compared to the other two dog breeds on this list.
Honorable Mentions: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Pug.
Worst Breeds For First Time Owners
1. Border Collie
This breed of dogs is considered as some of the most energetic of the dog world. They love to run around and almost always need something to do. That and their exercise requires you to actually jog for a couple of laps or else risk them developing behavioral issues make this particular breed one of the worst for first time owners.
2. Skye Terrier
Skye Terriers are a very sensitive and very stubborn. It can be hard to force them to exercise and go outside because they’re known to be perfectly content to stay indoors. With their large hair growing to cover their faces and eyes this breed requires regular grooming that may be too much for first time owners.
3. Cane Corso
Large and strong-willed, this breed of dogs was historically trained to either be wild boar hunters or property watchdogs in Italy. Thus they can be very protective of their owners. However this breed has to be put in a household where the owners know how to establish themselves as the leader of the pack which is particularly difficult for first-time owners.
Honorable Mentions: Akita, Shiba Inu, Rottweiler, Miniature Pincher, Bloodhound.
While it is true that no one is stopping you from choosing any breed you like, it pays to take note of which breeds are best suited for first time owners such as yourself. This way, you don’t end up choosing a breed that may be too much for you to handle.