Choosing your first family dog is an exhilarating experience, but it requires careful consideration and research to ensure the breed aligns with your lifestyle and family dynamics. It’s crucial to be prepared for the training and daily walks that a dog will require.
Once you’ve committed to this responsibility, the next step is selecting the right breed. Dog trainer Ingrid, known as @ingrid.pups on TikTok, has shared her top five dog breeds for “first-time owners”.
Topping her list is the Golden Retriever, a breed she praises for being “just wonderful family dogs” if they’re “well bred”.
The PDSA echoes this sentiment, stating that Golden Retrievers can be an excellent choice for active families due to their high energy levels, calm demeanour, and intelligence. They are also easy to train, making them suitable for new dog owners, provided they are ready to handle a larger breed.
The Bernese Mountain Dog is another breed recommended by Ingrid. While potential owners need to be prepared for their size, slobber, and shedding, she describes these dogs as “happy-go-lucky, very friendly, easy-going,” with moderate exercise needs.
She even refers to them as a “big couch potato type dog,” making them a “really good option” for first-time dog owners.
The PSDA describes Bernese Mountain Dogs as “known for their sweet, gentle personalities and loyalty to their families. This is why they are a popular choice for a lot of families; however, due to their size, they need to live in a home with plenty of space.”
Ingrid then suggested considering a Wheaton Terrier, but warned potential owners to “be prepared to take on a dog with a terrier-type temperament,” which she characterised as “relatively high drive, high energy”. However, if you lead an “active lifestyle” and desire a “want a mid-size dog”, this breed could be an ideal first-time pet. Their ‘hypoallergenic’ fur can also be a boon for certain households.
According to the PSDA, Wheaton Terriers are “affectionate, gentle and playful. They generally like to please their owners but can occasionally be a little stubborn and headstrong. They are friendly, trustworthy dogs that generally get on well with everyone and make great family pets, given the right socialisation as puppies.”
Lastly, Ingrid recommended poodles for those who are “ready to take on a high energy, high-drive dog”. She praised them for their variety, stating they “come in three different sizes, a bunch of different colours, and they’re really, really good dogs”.
The PDSA describes poodles as “playful and adventurous. They generally get on well with other pets and children, given the right socialisation as puppies, as with all breeds. They need daily grooming to keep their coat in tip-top condition and will often also require clipping and shaping by a professional groomer periodically throughout the year.”
Ingrid, an expert in the field, suggests that the Labrador Retriever is a predictable choice for a family pet, but advises against choosing a working line Labrador Retriever. She explains that the only way to ensure this is by sourcing from an “ethical breeder”.
These breeders often have puppies destined for roles as service or therapy dogs, but not all are suitable for such work, making them excellent family pets instead.
The PDSA characterises Labradors as “devoted, affectionate, loving dogs that will happily get along with everyone. They’re obedient, quick to learn and eager to please, so training should be fairly easy.”
However, they also caution: “Labrador Retrievers are amongst a group of breeds classed as ‘Category Two’ by The Kennel Club. These are breeds of dog that have been highlighted as having ‘points of concern’ visible features which, if exaggerated, might potentially affect the breed in the future and cause health and welfare concerns.”
Ingrid emphasised that for those new to dog ownership, an ethical breeder might be a safer choice as shelter dogs can often be “unpredictable” and carry a greater “responsibility”. While she firmly believes in the importance of providing all dogs with loving homes and clearing shelters, she noted that the unknown history of shelter dogs could pose challenges for first-time owners.
Ethical breeders, on the other hand, typically include a clause in their contracts stating that if the owner needs to relinquish the dog “for whatever reason,” the breeder will take it back, thereby not contributing to the shelter issue.
Ingrid stressed the importance of thorough research when choosing a dog breed to ensure it fits your lifestyle before welcoming them into your family. After all, a dog is a lifelong commitment.
