How to Choose the Ideal Dog for Your Family?

Choosing a dog to be a part of your family is an important and exciting decision. However, it also comes with responsibilities and challenges. Before adopting a dog, it is essential to keep in mind that they are living beings with their own needs and behaviors that are specific to their species. Therefore, it is important to understand the process of domestication and evolution of dogs.

According to Coppinger & Coppinger (2002), the dog is a domesticated species that evolved from the wolf. Domestication is the process of hereditary reorganization of wild animals into domestic forms according to people's interests. This process began about 12,000 to 15,000 years ago when dogs emerged from wolves. However, dog domestication only established itself in the early Neolithic era when agricultural communities were established.

The process of domestication is responsible for the behavioral, physiological, and anatomical changes that occur in animals. Coppinger & Coppinger (2002) state that dogs are social animals and do not have the group structure of wolves. Although they can cooperate, they do not work together to ensure the survival of the group. Therefore, it is important to understand that a dog is a dog and will have specific behaviors and needs, regardless of breed.

When choosing a dog breed for the family, it is essential to take into account the purpose for which it was created and the typical behavior of each breed. For example, a family with two young children and a busy routine may have problems dealing with dog breeds that are very energetic and require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. In these cases, it is recommended to choose calmer and more independent breeds that can adapt better to the family's routine.

In addition, it is important to keep in mind that each dog is unique and may have its own personality and individual needs. Therefore, it is essential to dedicate time and attention to training your dog and seek the help of a professional trainer if necessary.

In general, choosing a dog for the family is a decision that should be made with care and information. Understanding the origin and evolution of dogs, choosing a breed that suits the family's lifestyle, and dedicating time to training and socializing the animal are essential to ensure that it becomes a beloved and valuable member of the household for many years.

Currently, there are many different types of dogs, each with its own innate characteristics and abilities. Some were bred for herding, others for hunting, and others for companionship. In this article, we will analyze three different dog breeds and discuss whether they are still suitable for their original purposes, the difficulties that may arise in a busy domestic environment, and how to stimulate and reinforce acceptable behaviors.

Starting with the Belgian Malinois breed, we can see that it is a herding dog, originally bred to herd sheep. As such, it is still perfectly suited for this purpose. However, these dogs are very versatile and excel in many other areas. They are often used as police dogs for protection, in military activities such as scent detection, and in humanitarian crisis scenarios, searching for and rescuing people. Malinois dogs are considered very hardworking and excellent guard dogs.

However, there may be problems with these dogs in busy domestic environments, especially with young children. As herding dogs, they have a strong instinct to chase and may sometimes even bite. It is important that they are socialized and trained properly to avoid dangerous situations. Interactive games that stimulate their natural behaviors can be useful to channel their energy, but it is crucial that they are taught to play in an educated manner.



The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed is a companion dog, bred to be a loyal friend. They are suitable for domestic environments, especially for families that do not have much space or time for prolonged outdoor activities.

However, these dogs do not handle loneliness well and may have training problems to do their business in the right place. It is important that they are supervised around small children and other pets, as they still have a hunting instinct.


If you are thinking of having a Border Terrier as a pet, it is important to know that these dogs were originally bred to hunt and kill foxes. Although they can still be used for sport hunting, they are not ideal for a busy domestic environment. They have a strong instinct to dig and hunt, which can lead to problems with neighbors and other pets. They also need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to avoid destructive and escape behaviors.

How to Choose the Ideal Dog for Your Family?

Começando com a raça Belgian Malinois, podemos ver que é um cão pastor, originalmente criado para pastorear ovelhas. Como tal, ainda é perfeitamente adequado para esse propósito. No entanto, esses cães são muito versáteis e destacam-se em muitas outras áreas. Eles são frequentemente usados como cães polícias para proteção, em atividades militares como detecção de cheiros e em cenários de crises humanitárias, procurando e resgatando pessoas. Os Malinois são considerados cães muito trabalhadores e excelentes cães de guarda.


No entanto, pode haver problemas com estes cães em ambientes domésticos movimentados, especialmente com crianças pequenas. Como cães de pastoreio, eles têm um forte instinto de perseguir e, às vezes, podem até morder. É importante que sejam socializados e treinados adequadamente para evitar situações perigosas. Jogos interativos que estimulem os seus comportamentos naturais podem ser úteis para canalizar sua energia, mas é crucial que sejam ensinados a brincar de maneira educada.


A raça Cavalier King Charles Spaniel é um cão de companhia, criado para ser um amigo leal. Eles são adequados para ambientes domésticos, especialmente para famílias que não têm muito espaço ou tempo para atividades ao ar livre prolongadas.



No entanto, estes cães não lidam bem com a solidão e podem apresentar problemas de treino para fazer as suas necessidades no lugar certo. É importante que eles sejam supervisionados em torno de crianças pequenas e outros animais de estimação, pois eles ainda têm um instinto de caça.

Se está a pensar em ter um Border Terrier como animal de estimação, é importante saber que estes cães foram originalmente criados para caçar e matar raposas. Embora ainda possam ser usados para caça desportiva, eles não são ideais para um ambiente doméstico movimentado. Têm um forte instinto de cavar e caçar, o que pode levar a problemas com a vizinhança e outros animais de estimação. Eles também precisam de muito estímulo mental e físico para evitar comportamentos destrutivos e de fuga.

How to Choose the Ideal Dog for Your Family?

In general, it is important to remember that each breed of dog has its own innate characteristics and needs. It is important to choose a dog that adapts well to your family situation and that you have the time and resources to care for properly. Additionally, proper training and socialization are essential to ensure that your dog becomes a safe and happy pet.

At Dog Aware, we are available to assist both in choosing and training your dog, always with personalized and conscientious attention, but also in a fun way.

How to Choose the Ideal Dog for Your Family?

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