Dog Breeds

Man’s best friend. Hey, watch it. Woman’s best friend too. Let’s be clear, dogs don’t discriminate, they love men and women, adults and kids. Heck, they even get along rather well with most other pets. Your loyal scribe has a dog and two guinea pigs and no issues for the moment. For the moment …

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. There is literally a great option for everyone, no matter your taste or odd peculiarities. However, and we do mean HOWEVER, you need to understand what type of dog breed you’re getting yourself into. Some breeds are much more active than others. Others are more solitary, while even some are downright lazy. When thinking about the different breeds though the first thing you should think about is how you would define your lifestyle. For example, are you a bit of a homebody and live in a small apartment in the city? If so, a dog that doesn’t require much exercise and is not overly loud (lots of neighbors) is the best route to take.

On the other extreme, if you live in the suburbs with a backyard and like to run 4 times a week, an active canine is more your thing. It is useless to think about dog breeds prior to defining your own “breed.” Dogs have been bred for thousands of years. Inbreeding was common early on which has resulted in a giant variety of breeds out there. Because of this, dog breeds are normally categorized into functional types. We have hunting dogs, herding dogs, companion dogs, guard dogs and working dogs. There are then numerous breeds in each category, some more common than others and some where new breeds are being introduced yearly. Working dogs are those that are used for practical tasks. Mastiffs, pinschers and sled dogs are some of the most common. Working dogs engage in great things, serving as search and rescue complements to paramedics, patrolling the airports in search of contraband and working on farms, helping to herd animals.

Companion dogs get a bit of a bad rap, as they tend to be referred to as toy dogs. Breeds like the chihuahua, collie, Boston terrier, beagle or bulldog are quite common. These are small dogs that are great for laying around with. Low maintenance, they don’t need much exercise and will follow you around the house loyally for your entire life. Guard dogs are understandably the fiercest, bred and trained for the most part to guard something (a building, person, etc). Dobermans and German Shepherds are the most well-known, but even the West Highland White Terrier, a small dog, has a loud bark and one that keeps criminals away. Herding dogs work on farms and are excellent companions to their owners. Breeds like the Briard, Old English Sheepdog, Australian Cattle Dog or Rottweilers are popular herding dogs. And finally, hunting dogs. Like herding dogs these pups help their masters hunt and retrieve their kills. Hounds are great for this because of their sense of smell, and the Dachtshund for example is perfectly bred to scent, chase and flush out badgers.

An exhaustive list but anyone considering a dog should again figure out their own breed first. Then make sure you buy a breed that matches with you. That’s the best advice we can give!