Best Pet Articles
Search

Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 3 of 3

Web Search

Are there so many great dog breeds out there that you just can't decide where to begin? If so, let's break it down and sort through all the options. In Part 3, the final article in this three part series, we'll continue looking at the seven Groups of dogs that are acknowledged by the American Kennel Club. We'll learn what it is that brings various breeds together to form a Group. Learning about each Group will narrow down our search for the best Breed(s) for us.

How to Use this Guide: Highlight each piece of information that is most important to you and compare the number of highlighted traits when you have finished reading about each Group.

Group: Herding

Group Traits: Self-thinkers; anticipatory; fast moving, visually stimulated, high stamina

Likes: Need a job

Dislikes: Harsh reprimands; boredom

Behavior Indoors: Moderate to active

Behavior Outdoors: Active

Physicality: Moderate

Territoriality: High

Relations with Children: Good to very good

Relations with Strangers: Moderate to very good

Relations with Dogs: Moderate

Relations with Other Animals: May chase or herd

Guard dog inclinations: Low to moderate

Vocalizations: Moderate to high

Group: Non-Sporting

Group Traits: wide ranging and varied

Likes: this and that

Dislikes: a few here and there

Behavior Indoors: Inactive to active

Behavior Outdoors: Moderate to active

Physicality: wide ranging

Territoriality: wide ranging

Relations with Children: moderate to good

Relations with Strangers: moderate to good

Relations with Dogs: wide ranging

Relations with Other Animals: wide ranging

Guard dog inclinations: low to moderate

Vocalization: Low to high

You may feel that you know no more now about the Non-Sporting Group than you did before you read this. If so, you are correct. This poorly labeled Group of miscellaneous dog breeds must be researched one breed at a time, until the day that each dog is redistributed into a category that best suits its strongest attributes. If you have the opportunity, do the research, as there are some wonderful breeds in this vague category.

*Note: Use this information as a general guide at best. The most we can hope to offer is a stereotypical overview of what you might be able to expect, or what you may want to look for, in dogs in each Group. Breeds and individual dogs in each Group can vary greatly in traits and personalities.

Now that you have completed your introduction to each Dog Group, use your new found knowledge to read more about some of the individual breeds in the Groups that fit your family criteria the closest. Remember to consider blended (mixed) breeds from your favorite Group, as there are many homeless young and old dogs in shelters that could fill all of your wildest puppy dreams!

To ad-lib, remember to make the journey as much fun as the destination--it is well worth the leg work!

The author has worked with dogs and dog people for two decades, advocating for smart selections before a new dog is brought into a home and always stressing responsible selection and ownership for the good of the dog, the family and the community. She also makes dog and cat art available to the companion animal industry and to animal lovers at http://www.GreatandSmallGallery.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

CBBC Newsround

Nearly Half of Americans Won't Flee Without Fido
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
With Hurricanes Hanna, Ike and Josephine moving towards the US coast, residents and officials should begin properly planning for their pets' care during an ...
Tropical storm and disaster preparedness for pets Tri Parish Times
Keeping Your Pets Safe Before, During & After The Storm Local10.com
Some Gustav Pets Left Behind KSAT.com
Detroit Free Press - Cay Compass
all 391 news articles


City mulls making it law to spay, neuter pets
Houston Chronicle, United States - 7 hours ago
Won't my pet become overweight? Get answers. Readers debate the benefits of holding off on neutering for a couple of years. Join the discussion. ...


Pets of the Week
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 2 hours ago
Visit the Utah Animal Adoption Center, 1955 N. Redwood Road, or visit www.utahanimaladoptioncenter.org. For more information, call 801-355-PETS.


Pets' Corner: I don't have time for my dogs
Independent, UK - 1 hour ago
The number of pets being put into rescue centres has soared over the past year. Most animal charities were struggling, but now they are completely ...


PetStyle Establishes One-Stop Natural Disaster Preparedness ...
MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
The site is interactive and offers a call to action with stories from people undergoing evacuations with pets, and much more! ...


Pets of the Week
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 2 hours ago
Smokey is a smart and energetic 9-month-old Australian Shepherd. He is neutered, up to date on his shots and housebroken. He loves children and other dogs ...


Retail's next big thing - pets
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 22 hours ago
The imminent opening of pet superstore Pets at Home at Melbourne's retail mecca, Chadstone shopping centre, is a significant milestone in the life of the ...


Tails of Bakersfield: $14000 raised for unwanted pets, thanks to you
Bakersfield Californian (subscription), CA - 37 minutes ago
It was a concerned neighbor who spotted Stubby and alerted the pet’s owner. ALPHA was called to come get him. “He’s been a month without food,” Stewart ...


The Flint Journal - MLive.com

New poll: Pets owners like McCain
The Flint Journal - MLive.com, MI - 5 hours ago
And finally, a new poll shows pet owners prefer McCain to Obama, which is odd, I think, because McCain looks like the old who sits on his porch and yells at ...


Ag department: Prepare pets for disasters
Daily Citizen, GA - 6 hours ago
Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is reminding Georgians not to forget their pets when making disaster plans. “The needs of your companion animals should ...

Pets - Google News

home | site map | SubArticle
© 2008