CHOOSING A DOG ISN’T JUST ABOUT CUTE EARS AND FLOPPY PAWS – IT’S ABOUT FINDING A FURRY BEST FRIEND WHO FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE, PERSONALITY, AND HOME. AT CHEF, WE KNOW THAT THE RIGHT MATCH MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. SO HERE’S YOUR NO-NONSENSE, WOOF-TASTIC GUIDE TO PICKING THE PERFECT BREED.

1. KNOW YOUR ENERGY LEVEL

IF YOU’RE A COUCH POTATO, A HIGH-ENERGY BREED LIKE A BORDER COLLIE MIGHT DRIVE YOU BONKERS.
IF YOU’RE AN EARLY-MORNING RUNNER, A LAZY BASSET HOUND MIGHT JUST STARE AT YOU FROM THE SOFA.
MATCH YOUR ENERGY TO THEIRS – THAT’S RULE NUMBER ONE.

✅ HIGH ENERGY? TRY A VIZSLA, LABRADOR, OR JACK RUSSELL
✅ LAID-BACK LIFESTYLE? THINK FRENCH BULLDOG, SHIH TZU, OR CAVALIER KING CHARLES

2. SIZE REALLY DOES MATTER

LIVING IN A FLAT? THINK SMALLER BREEDS WITH CHILL VIBES.
GOT A HOUSE WITH A GARDEN? YOU’VE GOT OPTIONS – FROM MID-SIZED TO MASSIVE.

🐾 SMALL SPACES = CHIHUAHUA, MINIATURE DACHSHUND, PUG
🐾 BIG YARDS = GOLDEN RETRIEVER, GERMAN SHEPHERD, BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG

3. CONSIDER ALLERGIES & GROOMING

DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN A SNOWSTORM OF DOG HAIR? CHOOSE LOW-SHEDDERS OR HYPOALLERGENIC BREEDS.
HATE GROOMING? SKIP THE LONG-HAIRED BEAUTIES UNLESS YOU LOVE BRUSHING LIKE A MADPERSON.

🧼 LOW SHEDDERS = POODLES, MALTESE, SCHNAUZERS
🧼 HIGH MAINTENANCE = AFGHAN HOUND, SAMOYED, ROUGH COLLIE

4. FAMILY, FLATMATES & LITTLE HUMANS

SOME BREEDS ARE GREAT WITH KIDS – SOME, NOT SO MUCH.
ALWAYS CHECK A BREED’S TEMPERAMENT AND HISTORY AROUND SMALL CHILDREN OR OTHER PETS.

👶 GREAT WITH KIDS = LABRADOR, BEAGLE, BOXER
🚫 LESS IDEAL FOR KIDS = CHOW CHOW, DALMATIAN (CAN BE NIPPY OR STUBBORN)

5. FIRST-TIME DOG PARENT? KEEP IT SIMPLE

IF YOU’VE NEVER OWNED A DOG, CHOOSE A BREED KNOWN FOR BEING EASYGOING AND EASY TO TRAIN.

👍 BEGINNER-FRIENDLY BREEDS = CAVALIER KING CHARLES, COCKER SPANIEL, GOLDEN RETRIEVER
⚠️ HIGH-MAINTENANCE BREEDS FOR EXPERIENCED OWNERS = AKITA, BELGIAN MALINOIS, SHIBA INU

6. THINK ABOUT TIME COMMITMENT

SOME DOGS NEED CONSTANT ATTENTION, EXERCISE, TRAINING AND SNUGGLES. OTHERS? A WALK AND A NAP AND THEY’RE GOOD.
HONESTLY ASSESS HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE TO GIVE – AND BE REAL.

⏰ NEEDY BREEDS = BORDER COLLIE, WEIMARANER, AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
⏰ MORE INDEPENDENT = BASENJI, GREYHOUND, CHINESE CRESTED

7. CHECK YOUR VIBE

ARE YOU ADVENTUROUS? LAID-BACK? OBSESSED WITH CLEANING?
YOUR PERSONALITY AND PRIORITIES SHOULD SHAPE YOUR PICK.

🧭 ADVENTURE DOGS = HUSKY, POINTER, TERRIER
📚 CHILL COMPANIONS = BULLDOG, WHIPPET, BICHON FRISE

8. ADOPT DON’T SHOP – BUT KNOW WHAT TO ASK

CONSIDERING A RESCUE? AMAZING. BUT STILL ASK QUESTIONS:
ENERGY LEVEL? TEMPERAMENT? ANY HISTORY OF TRAUMA OR MEDICAL ISSUES?

RESCUE DOGS ARE INCREDIBLE – BUT THEY DESERVE AN OWNER WHO UNDERSTANDS THEM.

THE BOTTOM LINE

THE PERFECT DOG ISN’T THE ONE THAT LOOKS BEST ON YOUR INSTA FEED – IT’S THE ONE THAT FITS YOUR LIFE.
KNOW YOURSELF. RESEARCH THE BREEDS. ASK QUESTIONS. AND THEN GET READY FOR YEARS OF LOYALTY, SLURPY KISSES, AND CHEWED SLIPPERS.

BECAUSE THE RIGHT DOG DOESN’T JUST CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE – THEY CHANGE YOUR WHOLE WORLD.