15 Best Dog Breeds for First Time Owners

In this article we will take a look at the 15 best dog breeds for first time owners. You can skip our detailed analysis of these dog breeds, and go directly to the 5 Best Dog Breeds for First Time Owners.

Although some dog breeds are typically considered to be good for new dog owners, there is a range of specifications that must be thoroughly considered before a future dog owner purchases or adopts a dog. A dog’s specifications as a breed must complement the lifestyle of its owner for the owner and pet to co-exist peacefully and happily. People who have not kept dogs as pets in the past must consider their lifestyle and the typical specifications of each breed that they are interested in. For instance, basic lifestyle and behavioral specifications would include whether the new owner has any children or other pets such as cats, birds, or fish in their homes. Moreover, the living space of the new owner must be taken into consideration as some breeds of dogs need more space than others.

In addition, the new owner must decide the extent of shedding that is tolerable as well as drooling, barking, and farting. The owner’s own daily routine is also an important factor while choosing a breed of dog, as different breeds need different levels of exercise. Moreover, the energy level of the pet owner must match that of the pet; otherwise, either the dog or its owner would quickly become frustrated. It is absolutely necessary for dogs to be walked or given proper exercise for them to lead healthy lives. If dogs do not get enough exercise, they may make their owners’ lives difficult by wrecking chaos inside their homes.

Taking care of your pets is becoming easier by the day, thanks to online and app-based services. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) offers a huge collection of products for dog owners. Since people can read the reviews and ratings of the products before making their purchase from Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), new dog owners can easily find out the products that would help them with their pets. Ranges of items such as dog treats, nutritious food, dog pads for training, and bags to help with the disposal of the feces are all easily available on Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) at competitive prices. Moreover, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) also offers leashes and water bowls for dogs, which would make shopping easier for first-time dog owners.

Companies such as Dogness (International) Corporation (NASDAQ: DOGZ), Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) offer wide varieties of dog food in various levels of nutrition as well as at different price points to cater to the requirements of dog owners.

Dogness (International) Corporation (NASDAQ: DOGZ) provides its customers with a wide variety of products that would make their transition to pet owners much easier. Other than retractable leashes and GPS trackers especially designed for pets, Dogness (International) Corporation (NASDAQ: DOGZ) also makes many smart devices for pet owners. Some interesting products offered by Dogness (International) Corporation (NASDAQ: DOGZ) that incorporate technology into their use include automatic pet feeders that can be controlled remotely by using a mobile app.

Florida-based Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) allows its customers to purchase pet food online. Other options for dog owners that are offered by Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) include dogs treats and even dog beds that first-time owners can easily purchase. Moreover, Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) offers dog toys, premium dog food, and even medicines for dogs. Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) also has different specialized supplements to provide extra nutrition for the dogs that are involved in sports or similar activities.

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENTA) also provides a lot of assistance to new dog owners through its services. Along with garden supplies, Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENTA) offers its customers different pets such as dogs, cats, and birds. Moreover, Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENTA) also provides its customers with food products for their pets, according to their customers’ preferences. In addition, Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENTA) also sells animal health products such as medicines and first aid supplies to their clientele.

Moreover, the insurance company MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) offers insurance for pets based on their owners’ requirements. Dog owners usually purchase pet insurance from MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) in cases where the dog species is expensive and is threatened by robbery. In addition, people also purchase insurance for their dogs from MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) if the pets are either ailing or at high risk of diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Some dog owners also purchase MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) pet insurance to avoid the cost of accidental injuries.

Our Methodology

We took into account important characteristics like size, energy, appearance, shedding, playfulness, ease of training, and intelligence while creating this list.

With this context in mind, let’s now discuss the 15 best dog breeds for first time owners.

Best Dog Breeds for First Time Owners

15. Golden Retriever

The 15th breed in the list of 15 best dog breeds for first time owners is the golden retriever. The dogs are known to be energetic, affectionate, and gentle. Golden retrievers make good pets for almost every household as they get along with adults and children alike, and even with other pets.

Their playful and inquisitive attitude coupled with their ability to learn makes them easy to train for first time owners. However, golden retrievers require a great deal of exercise due to their high energy levels. Moreover, they shed significant amounts of hair, which might become annoying for some first time owners.

14. Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise is the 14th of the 15 best dog breeds for first time owners is due to its irresistible beauty and charm. The breed is known to be playful and pleasant, and hence get along well with children and other dogs too. The dogs of this breed are shorter as their height is typically less than one foot. Their rounded head hair coupled with their black nose and mouth makes them a beautiful breed. The coats of the Bichon Frise are hypoallergenic, which means that they do not cause or worsen allergies The Bichon Frise are energetic enough to require walks and participate in any activities that their owners want. The breed is generally shy around strangers and thus requires early socialization.

As pet culture grows around the world, companies like Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENTA), Dogness (International) Corporation (NASDAQ: DOGZ), Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) are seeing a huge demand of pet supplies, pet food and pet medicines.

 13. Poodle

Poodles are good dogs for beginner pet owners, and hence stand 13th in the list of 15 best dog breeds for first time owners. In addition to their cuteness, they are affectionate, friendly, and playful. Poodles are good with children and elders alike, and they display their affection by cuddling with their owners.

Moreover, they are an intelligent breed and need mental stimulation along with physical exercise, hence any activities designed for poodles must be creative. The easy-going temperaments of poodles make them easy to train for first time owners. All kinds of poodles, namely, toy poodles, miniature poodles, Teacup poodles, Klein poodles, and standard poodles share the same characteristics.

12. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Like poodles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels love to show their affection by cuddling with their owners. The breed is the 19th most popular in the US, and the 12th in the 15 best dog breeds for first time owners. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are typically calm, which makes them easy to handle and train by first time owners.

They do not need much exercise, as their energy levels are much lower than other dogs such as golden retrievers. Moreover, they do not bark much, which means that new owners would not be worried about their pets making much noise. However, dogs of this breed are expensive due to them being a relatively uncommon breed with certain health issues such as breathing problems.

11. French Bulldog

The French Bulldog is known to be a highly domesticated dog, bred for this specific purpose. The breed is a mix between local ratters from France and Toy Bulldogs native to England. They are small-sized yet sturdy and are typically very playful and affectionate. Due to their smaller size, they are a good choice for new owners as they can happily live in apartments or small homes.

The intelligence level of the French Bulldog is high, and it has a pleasant temperament due to which it thrives with families and other pets too. The French Bulldog stands at 11th place in the list of 15 best dog breeds for first time owners because of its sweet personality and the low maintenance that it requires.

As pet culture grows around the world, companies like Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENTA), Dogness (International) Corporation (NASDAQ: DOGZ), Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) are seeing a huge demand of pet supplies, pet food and pet medicines.

10. Papillon

Although the Papillion is small in size, it acts like a larger dog. Also known as the Continental Toy Spaniel, the Papillions are energetic, curious, and friendly dogs. Papillion is not overly affectionate and would rather run around than sit in laps to cuddle. They typically need more exercise than other dogs their size, such as poodles. The dogs of this breed are highly intelligent and get along well with children. Moreover, they love to please their owners and the people around them, hence they are easy to train. Due to their easygoing nature and their easy training, Papillion stand 10th in the list of 15 best dog breeds for first time owners.

9. Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is known for its playfulness and hyperactivity. A super friendly breed, the Labrador Retriever is intelligent, loving, and sincerely loyal to its owners. Being one of the bigger breeds of dogs, the Labrador Retriever needs plenty of exercise and hence requires walks or runs to stay healthy and happy.

They are the kind of dogs who become great friends with their owners and would go to any lengths to receive their owner’s love and attention. Moreover, they are easy to train and easily get along with children and adults alike. However, the dogs have huge appetites and therefore a tendency to become overweight, so first time owners might be taken aback by the cost of their food. Furthermore, the Labrador Retriever typically sheds a lot of hair, making it difficult for their owners to manage their shedding. Overall, the breed is good for new pet owners and hence is 9th on the list of 15 best dog breeds for first time owners.

8. Mixed Breed

For new owners, mixed breeds are a good option to adopt or purchase. Although mixed breed dogs might require more training than do pure-breed dogs, they are usually moderately active and highly intelligent, making them a highly desirable breed especially for people who have not owned any pets in the past.

Rottweiler and Great Dane mixes, and German Shephard mixes are popular in this regard. While considering a mixed breed dog, it is better to opt for an older dog that is already trained and has pleasant behavior. Moreover, dogs of mixed breeds are rarely aggressive, instead they tend to get along well with humans and other animals. Mixed breed dogs are therefore awarded the number 8 in our list of 15 best dog breeds for first time owners.

7. Greyhound

The greyhound is specially bred for sports such as greyhound racing or coursing games. In addition to their athleticism and high intellect, the breed is known to be very calm and affectionate. Contrary to the habits of other energetic dogs such as golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers, greyhounds enjoy relaxing as much as they enjoy exercising.

However, due to their natural instinct to hunt, they do not get along well with other pets such as cats or smaller animals. Therefore, instead of young dogs, retired greyhounds are good for new owners as they become docile and loving in nature. Greyhounds are in 7th place in our list of 15 best dog breeds for first time owners.

As pet culture grows around the world, companies like Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENTA), Dogness (International) Corporation (NASDAQ: DOGZ), Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) are seeing a huge demand of pet supplies, pet food and pet medicines.

6. Maltese

The Maltese are sixth in the list of 15 best dog breeds for first time owners. The Maltese are small dogs similar to Bichon Frise as their coats are hypoallergenic. Their appearance gives Maltese a haughty and superior look, but the dogs are sweet-tempered and affectionate towards their owners. Even in public, the Maltese are known to be friendly and easygoing.

They are intelligent and responsive, making them easy to train. Due to the happy and playful nature of the Maltese, they get along well with children and adults. Although dogs of this breed are lively, the Maltese do not need too much exercise as they prefer to relax and cuddle.

As pet culture grows around the world, companies like Dogness (International) Corporation (NASDAQ: DOGZ), Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY), Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENTA), Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) are seeing a huge demand of pet supplies, pet food and pet medicines.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Best Dog Breeds for First Time Owners is originally published on Insider Monkey.