Happy Mother’s Day from Petland Miami

May 1, 2023

From all of us at Petland Miami, we wish all the mothers out there a very special Mother’s Day! 

Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday May 14th. Instead of giving your mom flowers, chocolates, or a thoughtful present, why not give her the gift of a soft, loving puppy?

Puppies are wonderful gifts, but only if you’re sure that the recipient wants a puppy and is prepared to care for a dog long term. 

We’ve put this little article together to help you make sure that your mom is prepared to love and care for a puppy this Mother’s Day! 

IS A PUPPY THE RIGHT MOTHER’S DAY GIFT FOR YOUR MOM?

Puppies make wonderful, heart-melting gifts! But only if the recipient has expressed that they want a puppy and are prepared to care for a dog long term. In addition to making sure that the potential recipient of the puppy is ready to care for a dog, you should also make sure that the other members of the household are on board. 

When it comes to your mother, before you buy her a puppy for Mother’s Day, be sure that the answers to all the following questions are “yes”:  

• Your mother has recently expressed that she would like a puppy
• Your mother had the financial means to provide care for a new puppy, including but not limited to food and vet expenses
• Everyone who lives in the same household as your mother will be on board to care for, train, and live with a new puppy

So long as you’ve answered “yes” to those questions, you can confidently get your mother a puppy as a Mother’s Day gift! Now comes the fun part! Which breed will best fit your mother’s lifestyle? Read on to find out!

WHICH DOG BREED SHOULD YOU GET YOUR MOM THIS MOTHER’S DAY?

Should you get your mother a cuddly, tender-hearted Mini Goldendoodle or a noble, protective German Shepherd? Perhaps a cute Pug will be the breed that brings joy into her life every day? Or maybe it’s a giant, clomping Saint Bernard that will warm her heart for the next 10 – 15 years?

The trick to deciding which dog breed will make the best gift for your mom this Mother’s Day is to discover the dog breed personalities that will compliment your mom’s personal lifestyle and how much time she has to dedicate each day to providing the adequate level of exercise to the puppy as he grows into a mature dog. 

The Nature Lover 

Does your mom live in a rural area and appreciate going on hikes? If she’s woodsy and likes to take advantage of the great outdoors, even if it’s just to spend hours in her garden, then you need to choose a dog breed that will relish every adventurous moment with her. 

The best dog breeds for mothers who love the outdoors are:

• Siberian Husky
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Australian Shepherd
• Collie
• Boxer
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever

Bear in mind that outdoorsy dogs will also need frequent bathing, as well as trips to the vet to make sure their health is holding up. You’ll want to make sure that your mom will be willing to put in the extra effort and give her new furry friend the “once over” when she’s returned home from a trip to remove ticks, burs, and debris. 

The Cosmopolitan Mom

If your mother lives in a city, then she’s aware that the hustle and bustle has palpable energy. She loves her cosmopolitan lifestyle because it comes packed with places to go and people to see. To your mom, her city isn’t “noisy,” it’s lively. It’s not “crowded,” it’s bursting with people from all walks of life! And that’s why she loves living there!

You need to choose a breed of dog that feels the same way that she does and will fit in with the energetic city lifestyle that she’s living. This is easier said than done. There are a lot of breeds out there that will feel cramped and restricted by city life and may even get overwhelmed from exposure to too many strangers every time they leave the apartment. 

You’re also going to want to find your mom a dog breed that will be satisfied with only a walk around the block twice a day without much more outdoor time. Having a dog park nearby could be great, but if that’s not a resource she has, then your pup needs to be okay indoors for the most part. 

The best dog breeds for city dwelling moms include: 

• Boston Terrier
• Shih Tzu
• Bichon Frise
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Brussels Griffon
• Poodle

The recommended breeds we’ve listed above aren’t known for barking or whining when their owners are gone and they’re left all alone. But each individual dog will have his own needs and personality. If your mother is someone who has a busy schedule, we suggest that you make sure she’ll be willing to hire a dog walker or have a trusted friend stop by daily when she’s gone. Maybe that person should be you! Having someone come by to walk the dog and give him attention can do wonders for the dog’s overall health and sense of wellbeing.

The Sporty Mother 

Your mom jogs. She goes for long walks. She’s on recreational sports teams, and yet, she can never get enough exercise! She’s running on pure mom love, and it looks a lot like she’s consumed ten cups of coffee! She likes to live life with her heart rate up, and her doctor is okay with that! You know she wants a dog, and you know she needs a furry workout buddy. Let’s put it this way, she’s an athlete, which means the dog breeds that will complement her lifestyle are going to have to be athletic, as well.

The good news is that there are a lot of seriously high-energy dog breeds out there who will give your mother one heck of a run for her money, and yours since you’re the one buying the puppy as a gift! The breeds listed below all share things in common. They’re highly intelligent, they need a good deal of daily exercise, and best of all, they’re loyal, cuddly, and eager to please.

The great thing about these breeds is that they will feel comfortable whether your mom lives in a rural area or a highly populated city. Either way, as long as she’s actively exercising with the new dog, the dog will be happy! In no particular order, here are the best dog breed options for high-energy, athletic mothers:   

• Border Collie
• Brittany 
• Dalmatian 
• Doberman Pinscher 
• German Shorthaired Pointer
• Redbone Coonhound

Similar to the outdoorsy breeds, these athletic dogs will need substantial training throughout puppyhood so that they learn more complex commands. Chances are, if you get one of these breeds for your mom this Mother’s Day, the dog will be either off leash or on a very loose, long leash when your mom is going for jogs or otherwise getting her heart rate up. Your dog will need to understand how to behave when encountering strangers and other dogs. 

The Homebody Mom

Who was it that said paradise is a soft couch, a warm cup of tea, and a good book? Oh, that’s right. Your mom! If your mother’s picture of paradise looks a lot like her cozy living room and if her favorite Friday night involves Netflix, microwave popcorn, and maybe a friend or two, then we’ve got the best dog breeds for her. 

Most breeds of dogs feel agitated when they have to stay indoors for the majority of the day, day after day. But luckily,  there are a number of breeds that actually prefer to lounge around at home. 

A good rule of thumb, which is a bit of a fun fact, is that dogs with flat faces require almost no significant exercise, and they love the comfy, indoor life. This is due to the respiratory difficulties they experience whenever they start exercising.

Without further ado, here are the homebodies just like your mother: 

• Bulldog
• Pug
• Chihuahua
• Maltese 
• Papillon
• Bolognese

There are actually more breeds that we could’ve included on this list for your mom, such as all the “cousins” of the bulldog, like the English bulldog, French bulldog, and American bulldog. Likewise for the Pug and Papillon. But don’t assume that just because a dog breed is small or “toy sized” they’re automatically a homebody breed. 

Has reading this article inspired you to pick up the perfect puppy for your mom this Mother’s Day? Petland Miami offers just about every breed under the sun. Use our breed finder to find your mom’s lifelong fur-mate!

✓ This article has been reviewed by Petland Miami’s expert team to ensure accuracy and reliable pet care guidance.