Do you want a new dog? Have you
really thought about it? Why are you thinking about adding a new
dog companion to your family in the first place? Do you have any
idea what you're looking for in a new dog companion? What are you
real needs in a dog? And your wants? There are many things to
consider first before bringing home that new bundle of joy.
It is very important, first, to
match your new dogs overall personality, exercise requirements and
needs to you and your family as closely as possible. With luck
you're choosing an animal that is likely to be with you for 10
years or longer so put forth a little research time in the
beginning and you'll be rewarded for your efforts for years to
come.
Were you aware that the common
dog comes in more than 400 different breed types world wide? There
is much more variation among our friend the family dog than in any
other species of mammal known today. The selection of available
dog types to choose from is truly amazing. They come in more
sizes, shapes, colors, coat types, abilities and personalities
than you could shake a bone at.
Your job, should you choose to
accept it, is to find the right dog breed to fit your personality
as well as your current lifestyle. Dogs, just like people, have
many different jobs and most were bred for very specific
activities. This is probably one of the most important things you
need to know before you get the wrong dog for you. Example: If you
are a couch potato you don't want to bring home a dog breed with
extreme energy - and a need to express that - or if you are a
triathlete, you don't want to bring home a new exercise partner
with tremendously low exercise requirements.
Here I will list each of the
major AKC dog groups, briefly describe their overall purpose and
what the dogs were originally bred to do, list many of the jobs
dogs in each particular group currently perform, as well listing
as a few members of each group.
- The Herding Group
Bred for stamina, these super
intelligent herding dog breeds work with their owners all day long
out in the fields moving livestock. Overall, these energetic,
intelligent herding dog breeds make excellent pets and work
extremely well with different kinds of training such as agility,
flyball, Schutzhund, search and rescue and obedience. Keep in
mind, since these dogs were bred to do a particular job (herding),
they do better when they have lots of exercise.
A few members of the AKC
herding group are the German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Border
Collie and Bouvier des Flandres.
- The Working Group
The dogs of the working group
were bred to help man in many various jobs - from pulling sleds,
guarding a home or tracking, to pulling carts, water rescues, and
more. These particular dog breeds have been bred for several
generations for very definite purposes and they need jobs to fill
their days. They have very active minds, and are very trainable
and willing to work - it is also true that these working dog
breeds also require a lot of training.
Overall, the larger size, power
and strength of many of the members of this group may make them
unsuitable for most families, however they thrive with the right
companions. Remember, since most were bred to work, they do best
with lots of exercise and a specific task to do.
A few members of the AKC
working group are the Boxer, Alaskan Malamute, Great Dane, Saint
Bernard, and Rottweiler.
- The Hound Group
The members of the AKC hound
group were bred to help man while hunting. Divided into 2 separate
groups, the hounds track their prey using their wonderful senses
of sight (called sight hounds) or smell (called scent hounds). The
hound dog group has some of the oldest dog breeds known to man
today.
Many of these dogs are quite
vocal based on their hunting background so it would be a good idea
to hear their vocalizations before you decide to get a hound of
your own. Also, it is also a good idea to keep these dogs on a
leash at all times since they can easily be led by their nose, or
eyes, into situations that may get them into trouble.
A few members of the AKC hound
group are the Basset Hound, Beagle, Bloodhound, Greyhound and
Rhodesian Ridgeback.
- The Terrier Group
The fiesty and energetic
terrier group dog breed members were bred to hunt vermin both
above and below ground and are often described as the "pest
controllers" of the dog world. Typically these tenacious little
dogs have little to no tolerance for any small fast moving
animals, the postman, other dogs, etc. They are well known for
their tenacious, fiesty and independent nature.
Terriers can make great pets in
the right home but need a determined owner who matches their dogs'
spirited personality.
A few members of the AKC
terrier group are the Airedale Terrier, Bull Terrier, Miniature
Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier and the American Staffordshire
Terrier.
- The Toy Group
The toy group dog breeds were
developed simply to be our companions. Their main job is to make
their owners happy. The only things the members of this dog group
have in common really is their petit size. The toy dogs are also
called "lap dogs" sometimes because this is where many of these
toy breeds prefer to stay, in their masters lap.
It is very true that the name
"toy" is very misleading. Many of the toy dogs are as tough as
nails. Toy dogs are especially popular with people that live in
apartments or people without a lot of living space.
A few members of the AKC toy
group are the Pomeranian, Chihuahua, Pug, Yorkshire Terrier and
the Havanese.
- Non-sporting Group
The different purebred dog
breeds in the non-sporting group are a wide collection of dogs in
all different types of shapes, sizes, coat types, jobs types,
personalities and overall appearances. Many people call this the
AKC "catch-all" dog group. The diverse membership of the
non-sporting group contains a little bit of everything - big dogs,
little dogs, hairy dogs, bald dog breeds and some of the finest
companion dogs you might possibly ever own.
A few members of the AKC
non-sporting group are the Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Dalmatian, Boston
Terrier, French Bulldog, and Keeshond.
- The Sporting Group
Well known for their incredible
instincts in both the water and woods, many of the members of this
AKC sporting dog group continue to actively participate in hunting
and other field trials today, actively retrieving and hunting
feathered or furred game for their masters. The sporting dog
breeds are well known also for their easy going temperaments.
Included in this group you'll
find the pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels. Keep in mind
that the sporting dogs do need regular exercise, frequently.
A few members of the AKC
sporting group are the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Irish
Setter, Pointer and the Cocker Spaniel.
- Miscellaneous Dog Group
The many different dog breeds
included in the AKC Miscellaneous Group are awaiting final breed
recognition by the AKC. All dog breeds that are in this group can
compete and earn titles in AKC Obedience, Tracking and Agility
events.
Many of these dog breeds are
ones that you may not see everyday but can make great pets in the
right homes. Research each of these breeds one by one since they
have different working backgrounds such as hunting, herding or
guarding.
As of the writing of this
article, the current members of the AKC Miscellaneous Group are
the Pyrenean Shepherd, Beauceron, Redbone Coonhound, Dogue de
Bordeaux, Norwegian Buhund and the Swedish Vallhund.
If you're like most people you
probably have many unanswered questions about dogs in general.
Hopefully armed with the information above you will have a better
idea of what various dog breeds were originally bred to do and
will better understand whether or not they will fit your needs.
Finding the right dog breed for you is truly a very important
process. The best way to do that is when armed with the knowledge
to make a decision based totally on fact, not fiction or hear say.
Copyright 2007. Debbie Ray. All
Rights Reserved.
