What Dog Breed is Best For Me?

Are you thinking of joining the ranks of the more than 48 million people in the US who share their lives with at least one dog? You’re in good company. America’s love affair is growing deeper and more profound every year.

More than 38% of US households have one or more dogs chasing sticks, doing tricks for treats, snuggling on the couch, and otherwise bringing joy to the people they live with. In the first year of the global pandemic, dog adoptions doubled, leaving pet shelters short of canine companions and purebred dog breeders scrambling to meet the demand for puppies. Puppy finder websites—some of them puppy breeder scams offering dogs for sale that didn’t exist—were flooded with traffic.

Given the limited supply of available dogs, some new pet parents jumped at the chance to bring any dog home and found a mixed-breed at the local shelter to shower with love. But others took the time to ask themselves, “What’s the best dog breed for me?”

Veterinarians, who understand better than anyone that dog ownership is a tremendous commitment, usually recommend a more studied approach…