Dog Breeds 101

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Mon, 23 Sep 2013 - 12:38 GMT

BY

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 - 12:38 GMT

Just deciding to bring a dog into your life is a serious commitment on its own, so you want to make sure you pick a breed that best fits your lifestyle.
By Rana Kamaly
 Dogs make great, loyal, devoted and playful companions. But for you and your dog to be as happy as can be, you must make sure you have the right type of dog for your own personality, home, weather, and the time and energy you are able to devote. You also need to know exactly what to expect out of this dog; you won't make a guard dog out of a playful Labrador any more than you can convince your Great Dane to fetch the birds you just shot.This is a decision that will affect your life for an average of eight happy years to come, so you need to know exactly what you’re doing. So here is a quick guide to help you choose the right dog for your family.Active Companions: If you like running, long walks and lead a generally active lifestyle, consider an energetic dog to keep up with you. Energetic dogs need to have long walks and get fair amounts of exercise daily to keep them from becoming too hyperactive — and thus too destructive. It's best to have a garden, but if you exercise enough and are able take your dog along, you will be fine with an energetic dog. If you do have a yard or nearby garden for the dog to play in, your dog will still want you involved in playtime. After all, he can't throw that ball he wants to fetch for you. Just note that not all friendly active dogs can fit into families with children. The Border Collie is a breed known to be energy time bombs waiting to explode at your command. So you have to keep him busy or he will find himself something to do — such as tearing your favorite couch apart. Border Collies are very intelligent and obedient, but this breed will chase any other breathing thing and could be overly protective of their friends in the presence of strangers. Proper training is crucial. The Dalmatian has high endurance, are alert, intelligent and playful, but are aggressive toward other dogs; just be careful not to bring another dog home if you have a Dalmatian. They are, however, friendly with other animals, especially horses. If you have children, make sure you don’t get a deaf Dalmatian, as they are quick to snap when startled. Pointers are very athletic, powerful, alert and kind. They are true hunters, so they need lots of exercise or they can become destructive. This means they may be too active for children. Pointers good for those who spend time in the country side and need a hunting companion; this is a working breed and so keeping them working is crucial to keep them well behaved. Labradors are known for their playfulness and energy. They are fun dogs who enjoy being around and interacting with people. They need their daily exercise as well as they daily play time or else they really do become hurricanes in the house. Labradors also need early training to tame their excess energy, but they are eager to please and obedient which makes the training process easy. Family Dogs: Some dogs can be loyal and intelligent but still be a terrible match for families with children the breed is too energetic, or maybe just too clumsy. Among the breeds that are good with youngsters are The Beagle is calm, kind, extremely understanding dog that makes a perfect companion to your children. are Always ready to play and explore, Beagles are also good with other dogs and make very good hunters. The Boxer is a watchdog, playful, curious, helpful, caring, devoted and friendly; it is the perfect choice for an active family. A good watchdog, it is not very good with other dogs but is usually good with other pets. The Collie is the ultimate family dog; we all know that already from the popular TV series Lassie. They are energetic, strong, attentive and smart dogs. Easy to train and gentle with kids, collies make good friends to humans as well as other animals. The Great Dane, despite its huge size, is kind, loving, laid-back, sensitive, powerful, easily trained and good with children. Dubbed the gentle giant, the Danes are not only good with babies and people, they are usually also good with other dogs and pets. The Golden Retriever is everybody’s friend; it’s an energetic dog who is competent, loyal, loving and obedient. Be aware, however, they need to always be included and surrounded by their family. These are not dogs to be left out in the backyard, despite their size. Labradors are very good with kids, other dogs and pets — just as long as they get enough exercise as mentioned earlier. Labs and Golden Retrievers make great companions on the beach; they love to fetch the ball, jump right into the water and seem to be in their natural elements by the sea. First Time Owners: Any dog is trainable, but some breeds are more stubborn or less intelligent than others. If you have never owned a dog before, you need a intelligent, obedient and eager-to-please breed that is easy to train, so you don’t end up swearing dogs off for good. Golden Retrievers are one of the easiest of the lot to train, followed by their fellow Labradors and Pugs. The Neat Freaks: If you are a neat freak, avoid breeds that shed heavily or you will end up spending your whole day cleaning. Dogs like the Golden Retrievers, Pugs, Beagles and Collies have double coats and shed constantly; so they require constant grooming to keep your couch from getting a furry makeover. So unless you can maintain a regular grooming schedule, opt for something like the Yorkshire Terrier or the Toy Poodle. A Guarding Friend: Watchdogs are double-edged swords; they can save their owners’ lives, but they can also be overprotective and aggressive towards strangers. So you must train them well, or else they might attack if they thinks your neighbor’s hug is too threatening. If you never owned a pet before, do not start with a guard dog; you will not be able to train it properly and the dog might end up harming even those closest to you. The Rottweiler is a known protector, even dangerously protective if he feels that his family is in any type of danger. It’s very powerful and needs regular training, exercise and socialization. It’s a faithful guardian and a reliable bodyguard for any family. The German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent breeds. It is loving, caring, trustworthy, and faithful but very aloof and suspicious around strangers, as it’s very protective of its family and home. The Laidback Friend: It’s alright to prefer the couch over the gym; just make sure your dog is similarly laid back or you will have to change your ways. The Mastiff and Bulldog are both laid back, friendly and good with kids, although the Bulldog can be violent with other dogs. For personalized advice, the Animal Planet website also offers a questionnaire that can help you identify your best breed. Now before you run out and buy an overly priced pet, visit any nearby shelter, you might find out that the perfect dog lost its way home and is looking for a new one. An adopted dog never forgets that you saved them from the streets. Check out my article Earn Your Wings: Adopt a Stray for more information on pet adoption.

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