The dog is considered man’s best friend. However, are all dogs compatible with your lifestyle, your family composition, your hobbies? Which breed of dog to choose for a perfect match?
Around 340 dog breeds are officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Suffice to say that the choice is vast. However, does breed really have an influence on a dog’s behavior? No, according to a study published in April 2022 in the journal Science. “Our results invalidate the hypothesis that some breeds are more aggressive, more obedient or more affectionate than others,” write researchers Elinor Karlsson and Kathleen Yates of the Broad Institute at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), authors of the study. A meta-analysis published in 2015 had already reached the same conclusion. On the other hand, various environmental and social factors can influence the behavior of dogs.
How to choose your dog?
To choose a breed of dog adapted to its way of life, it is therefore necessary above all to be interested in the conditions in which the dog was raised: is he used to staying alone? Does he need to take long walks? Is he a runaway? With children, adopting a puppy can be wise, because it will be accustomed to children from an early age. The size of the dog is also a criterion to be taken into account. A person who travels often will be able to transport a small dog more easily. With a large dog, it will be necessary to plan an additional budget to keep it. Certain breeds such as the Great Dane and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are also known to be more fragile in terms of health, which implies higher veterinary costs: to be taken into account, therefore, if you have a small budget.
What breeds of dogs are regulated in France?
Accidents involving a pit bull and a child are frequently reported in the media. However, pitbull-type dogs have been banned in France since 1999. Law No. 99-5 of January 6, 1999 relating to dangerous and stray animals and the protection of animals regulates the detention of potentially dangerous dogs which are divided into two categories : attack dogs and guard and defense dogs. The first category concerns dogs comparable to pit bulls, mastiffs and Tosas. They are prohibited from importation and reproduction. The second category concerns Pitbull, Tosa and Rottweiler dogs. To own a dog of one of these breeds, you must have a license, muzzle the dog, have it sterilized, and not take public transport with it.
