Are you thinking about getting a dog, but don’t know what to go for? Deciding what dog would suit you comes down to less what your personal preference and cuteness level of the breed, but more about how they will fit into your lifestyle. If you’re looking for suggestions, take a look at our picks for common lifestyles and see a list of dog breeds that might fit into your life.

City chic

Ironically, life in the city can be pretty isolating, but when you’re packed into studio apartments on top of each other, there’s no room for a dog. Right?

Well, no. There are breeds you can go for to make it easier on both the dog and yourself, but you can absolutely raise a dog in the city. As you might imagine, the easiest dogs to raise would be smaller or mid-sized, simply to make room. But there are exceptions.

For example, people often point to the greyhound, a very large, lanky dog as a good apartment dog. Why? Because they are so lazy. They’re not about to bother barking while the neighbor’s moving around upstairs. If you like the idea of that but want something smaller, you can look into the Italian greyhound, which is about 1/6 of the size.

As for smaller options, you can look into a Bichon Frise, French bulldogs, pugs, bulldogs, shih tzus, Boston terriers, a Maltese, or a German Spitz.

These options are all low energy and calm, so they would also do well for someone looking for a more peaceful living situation, like a retiree.

Nature lover

Nature is an important part of the environment for dogs. City living is best for dogs when they are close to somewhere where they can be close to nature, with the freedom to roam, like a park or field. And you know what? Some of us humans feel the same way. Nature helps with mental and physical health, whereas city life feels so cold.

If you’re someone who likes to take advantage of everything nature has to offer with outdoor activities, you’ll be an energetic dog’s best friend. Cycle, swim, hike and more with your furry buddy, knowing you’re pushing them as much as they’re pushing you.

Bigger dogs would be apt here, as they would have the energy to follow you in all your ventures. The top 10 most energetic dogs are made up of border collies, Australian shepherds, Bernese Mountain dogs, Jack Russell terriers, Australian cattle dogs, poodles, Siberian huskies, Belgian Malinois, cocker spaniels, and Labradors.

Remember that all dogs can get ill. Tetanus in particular is something you should think about when looking after your dog. Check Native Pet’s guide to tetanus in dogs to see what you need to do should you be met with tetanus.

Family guy

If you’ve got the little ones at home and you’re wondering how they would react to a furry new addition to the home, that’s great. Dogs are good for a child’s development. It teaches them compassion, improvement in self-esteem and responsibility. But you’ll need to make sure you’ve got a breed that has the temperament to deal with kids, or something nasty might happen.

There are a range of breeds that get along with just about anyone, however. So you can’t go wrong with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Bernese Mountain dog, a husky, a Boston terrier, a Labrador, a golden retriever, a bulldog, a pug, or a beagle.

Loner

Dogs need a lot of attention, which means it’s not the best idea to get a dog if you live alone and have a full-time job, but it’s doable. No one should be deprived of the love of a dog, and it will make the home life substantially less lonely, so as long as you’re willing to put in the work, you should be fine.

When looking for a dog to join you in your party of one, you want to make sure that they don’t develop separation anxiety. If you’re intending to get a rescue, that might require some training, which would be easier when they are a pup. It’s not impossible, and it depends on the severity of the situation, but it will be necessary if you’re looking to leave your dog alone for something as simple as the workday.

There are various ways you can go about this. There is predeparture training, by often picking up your keys, putting on your coat and all the other things you do to leave and then undo it all to let your fur baby know that doing all that doesn’t mean you’re leaving. And then there are long absences, which might have to be built up. The aim is to plan your time away to be shorter than the amount of time it takes your dog to get upset. You can also see about treatments like counterconditioning, which should turn negative reactions into positive ones.

Dog breeds that are most likely to suffer from separation anxiety include, Labradors, border collies, cavalier King Charles spaniels, Jack Russell terriers, German shepherds, Australian shepherds, vizslas, German shorthaired pointers and toy poodles.

Clean freak

If the main thing putting you off getting a dog is the shedding, you’re in luck. There are a lot of dog breeds that don’t shed, and a lot that shed only a little. It’s a great help if there is someone in the family that has an allergy to dogs. And often it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice going for the fluffiest breed. Some fur just likes to stay in place more than others.

So put the hoover away, and instead consider looking into Affenpinschers, basenjis, a Bichon Frise, schnauzers, poodles, Scottish terriers, West Highland white terriers, Yorkshire terriers, shih tzus, Maltese, greyhounds, and salukis.

And remember, a mutt with a combination of any of these breeds would be the perfect fit. Talk to your local dog rescue center and see what they have. They could be hiding some new furry friend that is perfect for your home.

This is a contributed post.. ☺