INTRODUCTION

 

A guide to understanding your dog.

 

A dog is man's best friend, but are we a best friend to the dog?? We are dog owners, probably dog lovers, but how well do we understand them? Some people feel that their dog understands every word they say, but how many of us have made the same effort to understand what our dogs are saying to us?

 

Our dogs today bear little resemblance to their ancestors, the wolves. Man has intervened and produced the wide variety of breeds of dog we have today. The popularity of pets means that many dogs are wanted as companions. But being a pet requires a huge range of skills and the ability to adapt and learn are more than working dogs. When we take on our new puppy or dog, it is likely that we want him to be a family pet, who will share our lives for perhaps 12 or 15 years. Therefore, we must put effort into ensuring that this is the case, and invest time now to enable us to enjoy our dog more fully in the yeas to come.

 

Preparing him for life is vital, and this includes socializing and teaching him what if we want. So many aspects of our lives are now focused on work that we often forget the importance of fun and games. However, these are at least as important to our dog as they are to us.

 

CHOOSING A DOG

 

Amazingly, when you ask people how and why they chose a particular dog or breed of dog. most confess it was a random choice. Maybe their kids had been pestering them for a while, and one day they just decided to get one; maybe someone down the street had a dog who had puppies and they took one; maybe they were passing a pet shop and fell in love with a fuzzy face in the window. Although these can all be ways to bring a wonderful dog into one's life, they can also be recipes for disaster - for the people and the dogs.

 

Golden Retriever Profile Information Friendly, affectionate, and faithful – these are characteristics a Golden Retriever has making them one of the most loved pets in the world. Their strong, confident, and versatile behavior makes them useful in many roles: search and rescue, drugs detection, hunting, and guard dogs. Their loyalty and intelligence have been proven and tested for many years in many important events. Read more...

Great Dane Profile Information It seems a little ironic that a big dog like the Great Dane, once used in battle and hunting, is actually a gentle giant. That's just what the Great Dane is: a gentle giant. The nickname rings so true with this breed. Its size and height may be intimidating, but its personality is certainly not.    Read more...

Find below a few tips when choosing the right dog breed.

Are you ready?

 

There are several things that you need to consider before you even think of getting a dog. Choosing the best dog breed for your family has to have a lot of thought put into it. Please have a look at some very good pointers that will clear that last doubt in your mind if you should get a dog for your family.

Before plunging into pet ownership, ask yourself WHY you wish to get a dog.  Is it because...

• Your child wants a dog and he/she will be the primary caretaker.

• Your dog appears to be lonely and needs canine company.

• You simply can't resist the adorable doggie in the window.

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, avoid getting a dog.  Here's why:

• It is unrealistic to expect your child to take full responsibility for a dog.

While it is wonderful to involve children in caring for a pet, it is unlikely and unfair to expect a child to make such a commitment. Once the novelty wears off, the responsibility will be put on the adults.

• Dogs don't "need" another canine companion.

While most dogs enjoy the companionship of other dogs, they don't require it. And, if you don't have enough time for one dog, you won't have time for two! There is also no guarantee that they WILL get along.

• Getting a dog on impulse is risky.

If you feel sorry for the dog, didn't plan on stopping at the pet store or simply couldn't resist, you may be off to a bad start.  Make your decision carefully, as a dog is a commitment that lasts a lifetime.

Different Breeds of Dogs

Through our long association with the dog, we have initiated almost every change imaginable. Some of these changes have been selected through necessity, such as to help man with certain type of work, others purely in the interest of fashion and style. Some are of benefit to the dog, some are certainly not. The English Kennel Club has divided dogs into several different groups.

The Pastoral Group - This includes the herding dogs, bred to help man control and look after stock. These dogs are generally active, playful, like to chase and are relatively easy to train for the work they are asked to undertake. Some examples - German Shepherd 

The Gundog Group - Originally bred to find and retrieve game, this group includes the retrievers, setters and spaniels. They are bred to work closely with man to be sociable and, usually, to have a good retrieving instinct. Some examples - Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever

The Terrier Group - These dogs were originally bred to do a job that normally involved killing. Therefore, they are often more independent, and extremely brave and tough. When a dog is down a hole he has to make his own decisions, not wait to be told. Selective breeding has meant that most terriers are good pets with strong characters. Some examples - Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier

The Toy Dog Group - Most dogs in this group were bred to be companions or lap dogs. They are generally friendly and make affectionate pets. Some examples - Yorkshire Terrier

The Working Group - Many of these dogs were originally bred to guard and search, perhaps developed to protect man or livestock. There are also dogs developed to pull carts, boats or sleighs, as to search and rescue. Some examples - Boxer, Rottweiler, Doberman

The Hound Group - This includes the dogs who hunt by sight and those who use their sense of smell. Many of these dogs have been bred to hunt in packs, and these breeds in particular are very independent and often like to run and do their own thing. Some examples - English Foxhound

The Utility Group - These are breeds that do not fit into any of the other categories. All have been bred for some other purpose, but these vary considerably and therefore the dogs within this group are extremely varied. These groups don't cover all dogs. There are other types that are not officially recognized by the English Kennel Club at this time.

Not all dogs are officially recognized by the Kennel Club.

These dogs include:

Jack Russell Terriers - These dogs have been bred for their working abilities for many generations. Their appearance can vary, and this includes size, coat texture, shape and temperament.

 

Working Sheepdogs - This term is used to describe the type of dog often seen working on farms and kept by many as pets. They often referred to as 'Border Collies' They are likely to have strong working instincts, and be energetic and active, requiring a great deal of exercise.

 

Lurchers - Originally, a Greyhound/Border Collie mix. Traditionally bred by gypsies or poachers, with the aim of producing a dog with the speed of a Greyhound and the trainability of a Border Collie to catch and retrieve rabbits. Nowadays, a lurcher is a type of dog, and may have many different breeds in his genetic make-up.

 

First Cross - This is a dog whose parents were both pedigrees, with know parentage, but of different breeds.

 

Crossbreed - Technically, this is a dog with known parents, although each parent may contain a variety of breeds.

 

Mongrel - Technically, a mongrel is a dog of know parentage. Although this is often used as a directory term by many people and breeders, mongrels from a large part of the dog population and there are many wonderful, unique characters among them.

 

 

 

If you are sure that you do want a dog and that you just don't know which dog breed is right for your family, please have a look at the Dog Breeds List a-z for guidance in finding the right dog for your family.

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