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From: Norma Bennett Woolf
Generally, a large dog is not suitable for an apartment, for elderly owners, or for mild-mannered women. However, some large, agile dogs adapt well to apartment or condo living as long as they get a daily walk, and some are gentle enough that anyone with a firm voice and manner can easily handle them. Small dogs may be unsuitable for families with active children or elderly or infirm relatives who could trip over a small, bouncy critter.
Long-coated and double-coated dogs shed, shed, and shed some more, leaving tufts of hair to float about the house and land everywhere. Meticulous housekeepers and folks with little or no time for grooming will be happier with dogs that don't accessorize the living room with dog hair dust bunnies a couple of times a year.
Brushing is needed to remove the dead hair from wire-coated terriers and poodles, and professional grooming is necessary to maintain texture and color in wirehaired terriers. These breeds are generally better than heavily shedding breeds for owners with allergies.
Dogs with oily outer coats can develop a doggy odor that can be unpleasant, and dogs with short coats may not do well in northern climates.
Large and medium breeds are subject to several joint problems, including hip and elbow dysplasia and loose kneecaps. Many breeds have eye problems, skin diseases, and inherent health problems (such as breathing problems in pug-faced dogs). Dalmatians are susceptible to kidney problems, several breeds carry a bleeding disorder, and Newfoundlands are vulnerable to certain heart defects. Giant breeds tend to be short-lived.
Some breeds are fairly easy to train, and some are quite difficult. The breeds that were designed to work independently of man require lots of persistence and firmness for training while those that work closely with their owners are easier to teach.
If you lack time and patience to deal with a dog that is difficult to train, then an older dog from a rescue service may fit your bill as well as a pup of a breed that is traditionally easier to train. Intelligence is not necessarily an indicator of trainability; smart dogs often have their own agenda and require firmness of purpose on the part of their owners.
As a rule, terriers, hounds, and northern dogs are tough to train because of their intelligence and independent natures, and sporting and herding dogs are easier to train. The sharpest-working obedience breeds are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Shetland Sheepdogs, those that traditionally work well with humans.
Some dogs are lethargic and others are very energetic. Active families would be happier with a pet that can jog, hike, and play ball, and more sedate folks would most likely prefer a quieter animal. Cute as they are, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and Corgis are not jogging companions, and Airedales, German Shepherds, and Border Collies are not typical couch potatoes.
Breed and group temperament can be described, but there is latitude within that description for individuality. Thus Akitas are declared to be tough animals, loyal, aloof, dominant, aggressive to other animals, and often challenging. However, many Akitas are sweet and cuddly, love small critters, will climb in laps if allowed, and are anything but aloof and dominant.
Terriers are scrappy, yappy, tough, and independent, but Airedale Terriers bond very closely to their humans and are somewhat protective. Hounds follow their eyes or noses and are often oblivious to human presence, but Dachshunds bond closely with their families and Greyhounds and Whippets are sweet, gentle pets.
Deciding on a breed of dog is at least as important as deciding on the right wardrobe for business, the right car, the right school for the kids. A dog is a part of the family for a dozen or more years; the commitment to feed, shelter, and nurture a family friend for that amount of time should be based on rigorous analysis of an appropriate breed for the family circumstances.