Selecting a dog - Types Of Dogs

The easiest way to start considering the various types of dogs is to generalize the characteristics that one can expect of the various groups. Each group will be presented in the discussion with general information as well as a brief description of the popular breeds that are found within the group. Keep in mind that dogs are a lot like people, each one has their own unique traits and characteristics, and not all dogs within a breed or group will be identical.

Dogs in the hound group require regular, substantial exercise although they do not need constant exercise. A good long walk in the morning and evening will usually suffice if play and runs in the garden are provided in between. They can be kept in smaller living arrangements such as apartments provided they have the regular outings, although the larger breeds may not be appropriate for small spaces. Since they will naturally “hit” on a scent trail or when they see the neighbour’s cat, it is important to keep these dogs either on a leash or in a fenced garden to prevent them from roaming off after quarry. Some of the hound breeds such as Greyhounds, Saluki or Whippets love to run and will benefit from large gardens or free run areas.

Hound breeds are generally easy to train although they do require firm and consistent training to avoid problems and non-compliance issues. They can be headstrong and stubborn and as adolescent dogs are often rambunctious and prone to testing the owner’s patience. Hound breeds can be taught to either hunt by sight or smell, depending on the breed, from a very early age. They love to compete and there are many different trials and events they can be entered into at a local, national or even international level.

Some of the common dogs found in the hound dog group include:

• Afghan Hounds
• Bloodhounds
• Bassett Hounds
• Basenji
• Beagles
• Dachshund
• Greyhounds
• Irish Wolfhounds
• Norwegian Elkhound
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Saluki
• Scottish Deerhound
• Whippet
  

There are three basic types of dogs in the gundog group, setters, pointer and retrievers. Setters were initially trained and bred to have the ability to locate quarry and then crouch in front of it, preventing escape. The hunter was then able to come up on the bird and capture it, usually in a net. These dogs have incredible self-control as they do not chase or attempt to capture the bird his or herself, rather they crouch and freeze.

Pointers are similar to setters in that they were bred to help hunters locate game. Different from setters, however, a pointer uses its muzzle and rigid body to “point” out the birds to the hunter. A pointer usually lifts one front foot as well and maintains this position until released by verbal command by the hunter.

Retrievers are dogs that have been developed to bring the birds back to the hunter once they have been shot. A retriever may be used to retrieve birds from the water or they may retrieve birds shot over land. Many retrievers are used for both water and land retrievals. Retrievers must not damage the carcass of the bird when they are returning it to the hunter and therefore have special “soft mouths” that prevent damage. In addition many retrievers have highly water-resistant coats and webbed toes to help them in swimming out to retrieve downed geese, ducks and other waterfowl.

All the dogs in the sporting group use air scent and vision rather than scent trails left on the ground to locate quarry. They will naturally point, set and retrieve and make excellent family pets. Generally they are very well tempered and love being around people. As a group they do not do well with long periods of isolation or being left alone. They are good with children provided that children understand how to interact with dogs. They are usually not as possessive of food or toys as some other breeds. They love to run and romp and do require regular, stimulating exercise.

As a group gundogs are considered to be the most intelligent of the groups, generally being very easy to train. They tend to exhibit little desire to be dominant in the family and will work well with all members of the family. They are naturally protective and make good watchdogs although they are not effective as guard dogs. Gundogs generally take well to other pets in the family provided they are introduced and socialised at an early age.

Some of the most popular breeds of gundogs include:

• Spaniels – Brittany, American Cocker, English Cocker, Irish Water, English Springer
• Retrievers – Labrador, Chesapeake Bay, Golden, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling, Curly-Coated, Flat-Coated
• Pointer
• Setter – Irish, English, Gordon
• Weimaranar
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
  

Terriers may also be stubborn with training. They are very intelligent but tend to use their intelligence to try to outwit their owners, rather than simply following the expectations. They can be prone to digging out under fences and kennels and may be challenging to work with on the lead until properly trained. Obedience training and early socialisation is highly recommended for all the breeds in this group. Terriers are prone to boredom with routines, especially in training, so constantly providing new experiences keeps them engaged and on-task.

Terriers are independent little dogs that tend to think they are much larger than they really are. Many terriers are possessive and very good watchdogs, although they may not know when to back down from larger dogs. Terriers require a good fenced garden and to be kept on a lead when outside of the yard. Their natural hunting instincts are very strong and they are prone to darting after squirrels, birds and cats without listening to owner’s frantic calls.

Terriers, when raised from a puppy with other pets and children, can be highly interactive and social. Older terriers introduced to children and other pets may have difficulty in accepting either, and may be snappish or even aggressive towards both children and pets. Adult male terriers that are not neutered can be very aggressive towards other male dogs and generally do not due well with companion dogs unless they are neutered.

Terriers often have very low maintenance coats and can either be clipped or stripped, depending on the breed. Various clipping and grooming strategies will be discussed in the section on hair clipping and grooming. They can tolerate moderately cold climates and have a naturally water-resistant coat. They are generally very healthy and strong little dogs that tend to have few health problems provided they are purchased from reputable breeders.

Terriers are known for they loyalty and energy. They bond very strongly with a family and love to be with people at all times. They are wonderful for active people and love to travel, go new places, and investigate new areas.

Some popular breeds of terriers include:

• Airedale
• American Staffordshire
• Cairn
• Dandie Dinmont
• Jack Russell
• Kerry Blue
• Bull Terriers
• Scottish
• Sealyham
• Fox
• Welsh
• West Highland White

The dogs in the utility group of the Kennel Club are some of the most diverse breeds possible. They range from the huge Akita to the tiny Toy Poodle and sometimes seem to defy grouping. The utility group represents a collection of dogs that were bred for specific purposes not contained in the other groups. They may have been bred for guarding right through to companionship. Most of the dogs in the utilities group belong to the oldest known breeds of dogs originating in Asia.

The dogs in the utility group are so diverse that there are few generalizations that can be made about the group. Some of the dogs in the group, such as the Mexican Hairless, are truly remarkable for their physical appearance. The Shar Pei, better know as the wrinkle dog, also has an amazing appearance in addition to their wonderful and loving personalities.

Since the utilities group is so diverse a listing of the most common breeds and a brief description is provided below:

Akita – originally a guard and hunting dog, the huge Akita was originally owned by Japanese nobility. Mature Akitas may be up to 71 cm at the withers. They are often very dominant and not always good with other dogs. They are however, excellent with children.

Bulldogs – very loyal, dependable and solid the bulldog is a wonderful pet for families with children. They require only moderate exercise and have a short and easy to care for coat.

Dalmatian – originally bred as a carriage dog this breed is very athletic and requires a lot of space and exercise. They are excellent dogs with older children when properly socialised. Their distinctive white and black spotted coats make them easily recognizable.

Miniature Schnauzer – this distinctive small dog is a great companion pet that loves to go with the family. They are very solid small dogs that require considerable amounts of exercise. The tail is usually docked on this breed.

Poodles (Standard, Miniature and Toy) – often considered the most intelligent dog, poodles have been used as hunting dogs, guard dogs and even as guide dogs. They are very adaptable, sociable, and are generally good with children, with the exception of the toy variety which may be snappy.

Shih Tzu – this regal dog with its beautifully flowing coat is easy to identify. They are a good family dog although their coat requires constant care and grooming to stay in top condition.

The dogs in the working group have been bred over many centuries to assist people in various aspects of their lives including pulling carts, carrying items, protecting the land and livestock, hunting and performing rescues. Since these tasks require a dog that is large, this group contains the largest of the dog breeds, often hreferred to as the giant breeds. The sheer size of some of these dogs makes them impractical for small apartments and living accommodations. These dogs are very loyal, dependable and intelligent and they also tend to be calm and loving dogs that enjoy human companionship. While they do not require huge gardens or areas to run they do need moderate levels of exercise and regular daily walks to ensure that they stay healthy and fit.

Dogs in the working group are naturally protective of their territory and may not be suited for houses with lots of other pets. Proper socialisation as puppies and lots of work on obedience and interacting with other animals and dogs can alleviate this issue. Most of the working group are excellent with children although their size may make them frightening to some children. Proper supervision and teaching the children how to work with the large dogs can often correct this issue.

The working dogs tend to go through a rather awkward stage as the transition from puppy hood into dog adolescence. They tend to become very uncoordinated and somewhat boisterous and need a firm and consistent hand when it comes to training. Generally very intelligent dogs they are often easy to train but can be stubborn and somewhat dominant. Teenage males tend to the be most dominant and neutering is highly recommended for this group to prevent any potential aggression problems. Obedience training is also recommended for dogs in this group to prevent any problems as the dog gains maturity and size.

The most common working group breeds include:

• Newfoundland
• Great Dane
• St. Bernard
• Rottweiler
• Alaskan Malamute
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Dobermann
• Giant Schnauzer
• Mastiff
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Siberian Husky
  

Dogs found in the pastoral group have been bred to protect and assist with the movement of livestock. These dogs have a natural ability to herd or guard and are highly intelligent. These dogs love to be outdoors and generally do best in a large fenced area where they can move about. They can live in towns or cities provided they are given lots of regular exercise and daily walks.

Dogs in the pastoral group range from the very short legged herding dogs used for sheep through to the extra large dogs used for protecting flocks of sheep, cattle or even reindeer from wolves and other natural predators. The temperament of the pastoral group ranges from very friendly and relaxed to rather energetic and intense, depending on the breed. Typically the herding dogs such as the collies, heelers and cattle dogs tend to be more intense, athletic and energetic whereas the guarding dogs such as sheepdogs and shepherds tend to be more relaxed and sedate until they are in the role of guard dog.

Most of the dogs in the pastoral group need to have firm and consistent training and to constantly be involved in doing things for and with the family. Often these dogs will herd anything that moves including children and other pets. They need to be both mentally and physically active to prevent them from engaging in potentially problematic behaviours such as chewing, barking and destroying things.

These dogs have been bred to work closely with humans and do require a lot of attention and interaction. They do not generally do well left alone for long periods of time. With proper socialization they do very well with other pets and dogs, although males can be somewhat aggressive to other males. Neutering usually prevents this problem. The pastoral group tends to be excellent family dogs and are naturally protective of children.

Dogs in the pastoral group include:

• Anatolian Shepherd
• Australian Cattle Dog
• Border Collie
• Belgian Shepherds
• Collies – Smooth and Rough coated
• Komondor
• Old English Sheepdog
• Samoyed
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Welsh Corgi – Pembroke and Cardigan

The toy group is the smallest of all the breeds. These dogs have been specially bred as companion dogs, originally designed to sit in the laps of lords and ladies and nobility at various courts around the world.

These cute and endearing dogs are often the most problematic when it comes to both training and health issues. Buying from a reputable breeder is essential when getting a toy breed puppy. Training should begin as soon as possible and these dogs should also be highly socialised to prevent issues with aggression in many of the breeds as they mature. A well-socialised toy breed will be affectionate and loving and will enjoy being held and petted.

Toy dogs are ideal for people with small living areas or people that are not able to get outside much. Most of the dogs in this breed are active and will self-exercise, which makes them perfect for those that don’t have large gardens. They do need to be carefully monitored when outside as they are small enough to slip out though small holes in fences.

Toy breeds often have very remarkable personalities and are very independent small dogs. They need firm and consistent expectations as well as lots of attention from their family. Most of the toy breeds are good with older children provided they have been socialised as puppies. Generally toy breeds do not do well with smaller children, as they are often nervous when smaller children grab or try to pet them.

Depending on the breed they require light to moderate regular grooming and are often clipped or trimmed to keep upkeep on the coat to a minimum.

Some of the most popular of the toy breed include:

• Bichon Friese
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chihuahua
• Italian Greyhound
• Japanese Chin
• Miniature Pinscher
• Maltese
• Papillion
• Pekingese
• Pomeranian
• Pug
• Yorkshire Terrier
  

In addition to the purebred dogs there are also various cross breeds or mongrels. These are dogs that have parents from two or more different breeds and potentially from two different groups. Mongrels can make excellent dogs although it is more challenging to try to predict the traits and behaviours of the puppy based on the mixing of two types of dogs. The section on pedigree or non-pedigree will further discuss cross breed dogs.