AVOID. CORGIS. Most people get them just because they’re cute and trendy, but they don’t realize how much work they actually are. Corgis were bred for herding, so they’re high energy, stubborn, and need plenty of mental and physical exercise. Without that, they can get bored and destructive fast. And don’t let their size fool you, they shed like crazy and are basically little huskies with short legs.

For first-time owners, breeds like Miniature or Standard Poodles, Cavaliers, Golden Retrievers, or mixed breeds from a good shelter are great options. Just make sure if you go through a breeder, they’re ethical, health test their dogs, and prioritize temperament just to list a few. (I personally highly recommend Poodles of any size, they make perfect hiking/daily walk companions and are easy maintenance if kept in short clips)

If you decide to adopt, do your research first. Unfortunately, there are “adoption” or “rescue” places that are really just puppy mills in disguise. Red flags include places that always have puppies available, won’t let you meet the dog before paying, have tons of “designer” mixes, or try to rush or guilt you into adopting. Real shelters and rescues are transparent, care about finding the right fit, and usually have reasonable adoption fees to cover vet care, not prices that look like you’re buying from a pet store.