11,828 answers about dogs
From a puppy’s first feeding schedule to a senior dog’s comfort care, dog owners ask it all — this page gathers the dog library of KinsLe Answers in one place. Browse by topic below, from feeding and training to health, grooming, safety and travel. Every answer is original, written by KinsLe, and tied to a real KinsLe feature.
2,117 answers in Choosing & Adopting — page 53 of 89
A Bichon Frise makes a cheerful alarm, not a guard dog, and that distinction matters for this small white companion breed. Bichons are alert, people-focused, and quick to bark at a knock, a delivery, or footsteps outside, so you will usually hear about a visitor before you see one. What they will not do is deter…
Yes, Bichon Frises are very well suited to people who work from home, because a companion breed's favourite place is within sight of its person. A typical Bichon settles on a cushion near your desk, follows you to the kitchen, and treats your breaks as the highlights of his day. The work is in the boundaries: a Bichon…
Bichon Frises are not good running partners and are only light-duty hiking companions, because a Bichon is a small companion breed with short legs who can enjoy a gentle walk of a mile or two on easy ground, with rests, but sustained running or long, rough trails risk exhaustion, overheating, and sore joints. Many…
Yes, Bichon Frises are one of the most popular choices for older owners, combining a small, manageable size with a cheerful, affectionate nature and moderate exercise needs, so a Bichon is light enough to lift safely, happy with a couple of gentle walks a day, and devoted company around the home. The commitment to…
Yes, Bichon Frises are among the most naturally friendly breeds with strangers, bred for centuries as cheerful companions who expect every new person to be a potential friend, and a typical Bichon greets visitors with a wagging tail, bright eyes, and an invitation to play or fuss over him. That openness makes the…
No, Bernese Mountain Dogs are not high-energy dogs, and adults are best described as moderate: they enjoy a good walk, a play session, and time outdoors, then settle indoors for long, calm stretches. Puppies and adolescents are livelier and need patient handling, but even a young Berner lacks the relentless drive of…
Bernese Mountain Dogs are usually good with cats, especially when they are raised together or introduced carefully, because the breed is gentle, tolerant, and not strongly driven to chase, so most Berners accept a household cat as family and will share space, beds, and sunny spots peacefully. The size gap still…
Bernese Mountain Dogs are good watchdogs in the alert sense — most will notice strangers, bark with a deep, carrying voice, and look imposing enough to make an intruder think twice. They are not guard dogs, though, and a typical Berner who has barked at the door will greet the person who enters with a wagging tail. If…
Bernese Mountain Dogs are often an excellent match for people who work from home, because being near their person all day is exactly what this devoted breed wants. A Berner will typically settle in the room where you work, stir for a lunchtime walk, and doze through meetings without demanding constant entertainment,…
Bernese Mountain Dogs make willing hiking companions on moderate, cooler-weather trails, but they are not natural running partners, because their heavy build and thick coat overheat quickly and sustained running on hard ground is hard on a giant breed's joints. A Berner will happily manage a steady few miles of…
Bernese Mountain Dogs can suit older owners who love their calm, devoted nature, but the match depends far more on strength and support than on temperament. A Berner is a giant breed, and lifting, steadying, or restraining a dog of that size during vet visits or on slippery ground is a real physical demand. Their…
Bernese Mountain Dogs are generally gentle and good-natured with strangers, though many are politely reserved rather than instantly affectionate with people they have just met. A well-socialised Berner will usually accept a visitor calmly once he sees his owner is relaxed, and he may lean in for attention after a…
Yes, Belgian Malinois are exceptionally high-energy dogs, bred for demanding work that keeps both body and mind busy for hours. A short walk around the block will not tire one out, and an under-exercised Malinois often invents jobs such as pacing, barking, or chewing furniture. Plan on structured training, scent…
A Belgian Malinois can live with a cat, but this is a high-management pairing and not one to attempt casually. Malinois have intense chase and grab instincts, lightning reactions, and a drive to control movement, so a running cat is at real risk with an under-trained dog. Success stories involve early raising…
Yes, a Belgian Malinois is an outstanding watchdog, arguably too committed to the role for some homes, because this breed combines sharp detection, natural protectiveness, and the physical presence to back up its warning. A Malinois notices strangers early, announces them, and positions himself between his people and…
Yes, for serious runners and hikers a Belgian Malinois is close to the perfect partner, because few breeds match this dog's stamina, athleticism, and enthusiasm for hard work outdoors. A conditioned adult Malinois can handle long trail runs, mountain hikes, and bike outings that would exhaust most breeds, and he will…
For most older owners, a Belgian Malinois is a poor match, and saying so plainly protects both the person and the dog. This breed needs one to two hours or more of intense physical and mental work daily, is strong and fast on the lead, and becomes destructive or difficult when under-stimulated, which is a heavy load…
No, a Belgian Malinois is not naturally friendly with strangers in the way a retriever is, and that reserve is part of the breed's working design. A well-bred, well-socialized Malinois is typically neutral and watchful around new people, polite under control but not seeking their attention, while an under-socialized…
Yes, Beagles are high-energy dogs, especially in their first few years, though their energy arrives in scent-driven bursts rather than constant bouncing. A young Beagle needs a good hour or more of walking, sniffing, and play each day, and an under-exercised one channels the surplus into baying, digging, chewing, and…
Beagles are excellent at announcing visitors and genuinely poor at doing anything beyond that announcement, which makes them useful watchdogs and hopeless guard dogs. A Beagle hears a footstep, a car door, or a gate latch early and bays about it at impressive volume, so few callers arrive unheralded. The same dog will…
For many older owners a Beagle is a genuinely good match, provided the exercise and voice are honestly accounted for. This is a sturdy, medium-sized dog who is affectionate without being fragile, friendly with visiting family, and content with a couple of good daily walks rather than athletic feats. The trade-offs are…
Yes, friendliness with strangers is one of the Beagle's defining traits, and most Beagles greet new people with a wagging tail and genuine delight. Bred to hunt cooperatively in large packs and handled by many different people, the breed is sociable almost to a fault, which makes a Beagle a poor guard dog but a…
Yes, a Basenji is a high-energy dog in a compact, quiet package, and new owners often underestimate how much activity that body needs. Expect a dog who wants a long daily walk, chances to run in a secure area, and puzzles or scent games indoors, and who invents his own entertainment, usually destructive, when those…
Some Basenjis live peacefully with cats, but this is one of the riskier breed-and-cat pairings and it depends heavily on the individual dog and the cat. Basenjis hunted by sight, and a cat who runs can switch on a chase instinct that no amount of scolding reliably switches off. A calm indoor cat raised alongside a…
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