Dog Breeds
Dogs:
Different Breeds
By
Michael Russell
Although there are approximately 400 breeds of dogs recognized in
the world, the American Kennel Club (AKC) only recognizes 146
breeds. These breeds are subdivided into seven groups: Sporting,
Hound, Working, Herding, Non-Sporting, Terrier and Toy. The dogs in
each group share similar characteristics but can be quite diverse
and therefore each group has distinctive subgroups.
The Sporting Group were bred to assist man in hunting, especially
in retrieving birds from water or fields. These are very active dogs
that are loyal and intelligent. They need lots of exercise and do
not like to be left alone. Excellent family dogs who love
interaction, these dogs can play fetch for hours and absolutely love
it. Subgroups in this category include retrievers, pointers, setters
and spaniels.
The Hound Group are also favored for hunting because of their
instinct to follow fast-moving game like rabbits and foxes. They are
renowned for their keen sense of smell and sharp eyesight and tend
to be great pets due to their gentle, easy to get along with nature.
Subgroups include sight hounds such as greyhounds, whippets and
Irish wolfhounds; scent hounds like basset hounds, beagles and
dachshunds; and large game hounds such as the beautiful Rhodesian
Ridgeback.
Dogs that make up the Working Group were historically bred to
perform specific tasks for people. This group includes sled dogs
that love cold weather, living outside and need plenty of exercise.
Guard dogs such as mastiffs, rottweilers and Great Danes were bred
for protection and are thus alert, courageous, intelligent and
independent. These dogs can be territorial and require strong
leadership and structured training.
Other breeds that make up the Working Group include personal
protection dogs like boxers and Dobermans that are very loyal and
strong-willed and rescue dogs such as the friendly Saint Bernard.
Rescue dogs can be terrific with children if they are raised with
them and tend to be quiet and unassuming.
The dogs of the Herding Group do just that, herd livestock. This
group can be broken down into sheep herders like shepherds and
collies and cattle herders such as bouviers and corgis. They love to
work, exercise and play. Extremely agile and easy to train, these
dogs also tend to be fabulous family pets.

The Terrier Group consists of breeds that are determined and very
competitive. Two types of terriers are fighting breeds and vermin
hunters. Fighters such as pit bulls and bull terriers are courageous
yet perhaps somewhat cocky but fortunately most of their aggression
has been bred down. They can make excellent pets but need early
socialization to ensure that they can be comfortable around other
people and animals.
Vermin hunters were originally bred to hunt vermin on farms and
hence are very alert, lively, agile and independent. These dogs
include just about every breed of terrier that you can think of and
make great pets if you like spirited dogs that require patience,
training and attention.
The majority of the dogs that comprise the Non-Sporting Group
were bred to perform specific jobs that now have become obsolete so
the animals have become companions. The personalities of the dogs
that make up this breed group have very wide variations so it makes
sense to consult breed-specific information sources before selecting
one of these dogs as a pet. Some of the breeds in this group include
the Dalmatian, Bichon Frise, Lhasa apso and the poodle.
The final breed group is the Toy Group. They are mainly miniature
versions of hunting or working dogs and tend to be adorable,
affectionate pets that are ideal for the elderly or apartment
dwellers. These dogs need attention and exercise and will benefit
tremendously from training to prevent them from constant barking and
nipping.
Many people prefer mixed breeds but the advantage of choosing a
purebred is predictability of behavior. For example, if you want a
dog that will retrieve, you know you will get that with a retriever.
The main point is that all dogs should make excellent pets if given
proper attention including exercise, discipline and affection.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to
Dogs
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