Dog breeds are certain types of dogs which have distinctive looks and
temperament. Dog breeds can reveal a lot about the size, appearance, and
personality of a canine. Doing research to find out which dog breed will suit
your personality and lifestyle is essential. Dog breeds are plentiful and you
can always find a reputable dog breeder, but it is important that you
understand the dog breed you are interested in before going to the dog
breeder.
Size should be a factor when deciding on which type of breed would be best
for you. Naturally, if you live in a small house or apartment, a smaller dog
would be better, where as a larger dog would be better suited with a large
yard or out in the country.
There are different dog breed groupings consisting of: The Sporting Dogs …
The Hound Dogs … The Working Dogs … The Terriers … The Toy Group … The Non-
Sporting Dogs.
The Sporting dogs were developed as bird dogs. These include the Pointers,
Retrievers, Setters, Spaniels and others.
The Hound dogs were developed to hunt using sight (sight hounds) or scent (
scent hounds). These include the Beagle, Coonhound, Bloodhound and others.
The Working dogs were developed for a variety of jobs, including guarding
property, guarding livestock, or pulling carts. These include the Alaskan
Malamute, Siberian Husky, Bernese Mountain Dogs and others.
The Terrier dogs were mainly developed to hunt vermin and rodents and to dig
them from their burrows or dens. These come in various sizes, from the small
Cairn Terrier to the large Airedale Terrier.
The Toy dogs are small companion breeds that include the Toy Poodles,
Chihuahua, Toy Spaniels, Miniature Pinscher and others. The Toy Group make up
for their small size with their big personality.These are well suited for
older or disabled people, because they are easier to look after, as they eat
less and need less exercise. Usually, small dog breeds are just ten inches or
less tall at the shoulder. In most breeds, the male is slightly larger than
the female, but the difference is generally small.This is referred to as
breeding true.
The Non-Sporting dogs that do not fit into any of the other groups, are
usually larger than Toy dogs. These include the Miniature Poodles, Boston
Terrier, Bichon Frises and others.
For those who suffer from allergies, a Hypoallergenic dog is a breed that
may enable them to have a pet in their home. Some dog breeds have been
considered as hypoallergenic, such as the Yorkshire Terrier and the Afghan
Hound who is the same pH as human hair, therefore, creating no threat. Some
other good breed choices for those who have allergies are the Soft-Coated
Wheaten Terrier … Bichon Frisé … Shih Tzu … Bolognese … Poodle … Barbet …
Portuguese Water Dogs … Schnauzer … Maltese. These dogs shed very little of
their hair. However, they do produce dander, but the amount is so small that
very few people experience allergy symptoms when in contact with these breeds.
However, no canine is known to be completely 100% non allergenic.
Hypoallergenic dog breeds are usually single-coated, non-shedding (or low-
shedding), and generally smaller dogs.
The top 5 dogs registered for 2007 with the AKC are:
* Labrador Retriever
* Yorkshire Terrier
* German Shepherd
* Golden Retriever
* Beagle
Breed types include Hounds, which are bred to hunt and work with humans; Toys,
which are great adult companions; and Terriers, which are excellent dogs for
training.
From cute to tough breeds, toy dogs to working dogs – there are many
different dog breeds for you to choose from.