Guides

Straight answers to the things people wonder about before getting a dog.

Seven things people ask us most often, answered the way we'd answer a friend — no hedging, no sales pitch.

• Good dogs for families with children

  Kids and dogs can be wonderful together — as long as the dog suits your family's actual week, and the kids learn a few simple rules.

  • Look for a steady, forgiving temperament first. A dog who shrugs off a clumsy pat is far more important than the breed's reputation alone.
  • Size cuts both ways: a huge dog can knock a toddler over by accident, and a tiny one can get hurt by rough play. Medium and steady is often easiest.
  • Puppies and toddlers together is two jobs at once. Many families have a calmer start with a dog who's a year or two old.
  • The rules matter more than the breed: no bothering a dog who's eating, sleeping or in its bed — and an adult always in the room with young children.

  Labrador, golden retriever, cavalier King Charles spaniel and many gentle crossbreeds do well here — the quiz weighs family life in every match.

  Read the full guide to the best dog breeds for families

• Dogs that do well in a flat

  Space matters less than you'd think. Noise, exercise and how they cope alone matter far more.

  • Barking is the thing that ends up mattering most. A dog who announces every footstep in the stairwell is hard work in a block of flats, however small they are.
  • Two proper walks a day beats a garden. A garden is somewhere to potter; the walk is where a dog empties its head.
  • Lifts and stairs are part of the deal. A big dog you may one day have to carry, and a puppy who shouldn't do stairs for months, are both worth thinking about now.
  • Being left alone is learned, not given. Start with minutes, not hours, and build it slowly in the first weeks.

  Greyhounds, many spaniels and plenty of small terriers live happily in flats. Loud, watchful breeds usually find it harder.

  Read the full guide to the best apartment dogs

• Choosing your first dog

  Everyone makes mistakes in the first year. Some dogs forgive them more easily than others.

  • Pick forgiving over impressive. A dog who shrugs off your inconsistency will teach you more than one who punishes it.
  • Ask for medium energy, not low. Very low-energy dogs are often older or brachycephalic; very high-energy dogs need a job you may not have.
  • Meet the parents if you can, or the adult dog itself if you're rehoming. Temperament shows up in the family, not the photo.
  • Book the first vet visit, the first training class and a fortnight of quiet at home before the dog arrives.

  If you're unsure, take the quiz — it tells you which dogs suit your week, and shows the reasoning behind every score.

  Read the full guide for first-time owners

• Shedding, and living with allergies

  What lower-shedding actually means, and how to think it through if someone at home reacts to dogs.

  • No dog is hypoallergenic. The trigger is a protein in saliva, skin flakes and urine — not the hair itself.
  • Lower-shedding coats hold that dander instead of dropping it, which helps some people and does nothing for others.
  • Low shedding usually means more grooming: a poodle-coated dog needs professional clipping every 6-8 weeks, all its life.
  • Test before you commit. Spend a few hours with adult dogs of that breed, more than once, and talk to a doctor before deciding.

  We show shedding and coat upkeep on every breed page, and the quiz asks about allergies at home so results can take it into account.

  Read the honest guide to low-shedding dogs and allergies

• Calm dogs for quieter homes

  A quiet dog still needs plenty from you. Here's how to spot one that's genuinely easy-going.

  • Look for a low startle response — a dog who lifts its head at a noise rather than launching at the door.
  • Calm indoors and calm outdoors are different traits. Many sighthounds sleep all day and still need a hard run.
  • Age helps more than breed. A four-year-old rescue tells you exactly who they are; a puppy is a guess for two years.
  • Give the dog somewhere to switch off — a bed away from the front door does more for calm than any amount of training.

  Greyhound, cavalier King Charles spaniel, bernese mountain dog and older rescues of many breeds all fit quieter homes well.

  Read the honest guide to dogs and time alone

• A calmer companion, for daily walks

  You want a kind, steady dog to walk beside, and a home that stays easy — not sport, not status. Here's how to find one.

  • 'Not too big' is about handling: can you hold the lead on a slippery pavement and lift your dog into the car?
  • 'Easy' means trainable — a calm dog that ignores you isn't easy.
  • Small isn't the same as easy: many small breeds struggle with being alone and need regular grooming.

  Seven breeds worth meeting, each with the honest catch — and why we left flat-faced breeds off the list.

  Read the guide to a calmer companion

• Dogs for people who like to move

  Be honest about the week you actually have, not the one you'd like to have.

  • Count your worst week, not your best. Rain, deadlines and illness are when a high-energy dog gets difficult.
  • Mental work tires a dog faster than distance. Twenty minutes of scent games beats another kilometre most evenings.
  • Joints need protecting. No long runs on hard ground until growth plates close — usually 12-18 months, later for big breeds.
  • Heat is the real limit. Flat-faced breeds and thick double coats struggle long before you do.

  Border collie, vizsla, labrador and many working crossbreeds thrive here — as long as the week is real.

• What a dog really costs in a year

  Food, insurance, the vet, the groomer — and the bits almost everyone forgets to budget for.

  • Food scales with size: a small dog might cost €25 a month, a large one three times that.
  • Insurance rises with age and varies hugely by breed. Get a real quote for the breed you want before you commit.
  • Routine vet care — vaccination, worming, flea treatment, a dental check — is a predictable yearly line, not a surprise.
  • The forgotten costs: grooming, boarding or a sitter for holidays, training classes, and a fund for the year something goes wrong.

  The breed cost pages show a yearly range for each breed, split into food, health, grooming and everything else.

  Read the full guide to what a dog really costs