Choosing a dog: Before choosing a dog, ask yourself why you want one. Is it for companionship, protection, exercise or for the sake of your children?
If you choose a cross-breed (mongrel), you may have difficulty predicting the hereditary physical and behavioural characteristics, but cross-breeds can make supremely reliable, friendly, healthy and long – lived pets. If however you are looking for dependable characteristics, choose a pedigree breed. Don’t pick one on the basis of appearance alone – find out as much as you can about the different breeds and choose one that will fit in with your particular lifestyle. Some breeds are not suitable for living in a flat. Many need daily grooming. Big dogs have big appetites, so you will face large food bills. Some are not suited for first – time owners – weigh all the factors, then decide. A dog will not only make changes in a families everyday life – it will also, at times, cause problems. A dog is a living creature that needs its owner’s presence and care -it’s owner must accept responsibility for it on a permanent basis – in return the dog will provide much joy as a loyal, affectionate and faithful companion. You must determine whether you are in a position to cater to the animal’s various needs for as long as it lives – which is generally from 10-15 years. You must also consider the other expenses involved apart from the purchase price – food, grooming, veterinary care. Your life – style, your activities and your age should influence your choice of a dog. You must also decide what you intend the dog to be: a pet, guard dog, hunting dog or companion. City dwellers are advised to choose a medium – size animal, since a big dog is likely to become frustrated and unhappy and cause damage! On the other hand, even small dogs can make poor urban pets – any type of dog that has been bred to hunt whether for rodents, birds or foxes – needs to run regularly. An owner’s presence is also vital to a dogs psychological well- being, therefore one should not acquire a puppy if it needs to stay alone all day. The age and disposition of a pet owner should also be taken into account.
Breed information concerning choice of dog.
|
Size of dog |
Suitable for first-time owners |
Living space |
Good with children |
Amount of grooming |
Amount of exercise |
Noisiness/Barking |
Trainability |
Aggression |
Playfulness/ Boisterousness |
Excitability |
|
| GREAT DANE |
5 |
No |
5 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
| AKITA |
5 |
No |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
| ENGLISH/IRISH SETTER |
5 |
Yes |
4 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
| DOBERMAN PINCHER |
5 |
No |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
| ROTTWEILER |
5 |
No |
4 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
| WEIMARAINAR |
5 |
No |
5 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
| GERMAN SHEPHERD |
5 |
No |
5 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
| BOXER |
4 |
Yes |
5 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
| GOLDEN RETRIEVER |
4 |
Yes |
3 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
| DALMATION |
4 |
No |
4 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
| ROUGH COLLIE |
4 |
Yes |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| SIBERIAN HUSKY |
4 |
No |
3 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| LABRADOR |
4 |
Yes |
4 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
| BORDER COLLIE |
4 |
No |
3 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
| CHOW CHOW |
3 |
No |
3 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| BRITTANY |
3 |
Yes |
4 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
| ENG. SPRING. SPANIEL |
3 |
No |
5 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| SHAR PEI |
3 |
No |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
| BOSTON TERRIER |
3 |
Yes |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| STAFF. BULL TERRIER |
3 |
No |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
| COCKER SPANIEL |
3 |
Yes |
2 |
3 |
3* |
2 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| BEAGLE |
3 |
Yes |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| BASSETT |
3 |
Yes |
2 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| POODLE |
3-1 |
Yes |
4-1 |
3 |
5** |
5 |
5-3 |
5 |
3-2 |
5 |
4 |
| SHETLAND SHEEPDOG |
2 |
Yes |
1 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| CAV. K. CHARLES SPAN |
2 |
Yes |
1 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
| MINIATURE SCHNAUZER |
2 |
Yes |
2 |
3 |
1** |
4 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
| JACK RUSSEL TERRIER |
2 |
Yes |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
| MINIATURE PINSCHER |
2 |
No |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
| W. HIGHLAND TERRIER |
2 |
Yes |
2 |
4 |
2** |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
| POMERANIAN |
1 |
Yes |
2 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
| SHIH TZU |
1 |
Yes |
2 |
4 |
4* |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
| MALTESE |
1 |
Yes |
2 |
4 |
5* |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
| PEKINGESE |
1 |
No |
2 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
| DACHSHUND |
1 |
Yes |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
| YORKSHIRE TERRIER |
1 |
No |
1 |
2 |
3* |
1 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
| CHIHUAHUA |
1 |
No |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
This table shows the chief characteristics of some of the most popular dog breeds. Decide which are most important to you, then use the table to find the breed (or breeds) that suits you best, bearing in mind that the behaviour of any adult dog depends as much on the way it was educated as a puppy as it does on it’s genetic inheritance.
Notes
5—1 = Highest level to lowest level of characteristics.
Size of dog
Adult height at the withers.
5 = more than 64cm (25in)
1 = less than 25cm (10in)
Poodles straddle three categories: Standard, miniature, toy.
Amount of grooming
* Indicates that professional grooming is optional for these breeds.
** Indicates that professional grooming is advisable for these breeds.
Trainability
Responsiveness to training
for obedience, agility trials
and work.
Excitability
Reactivity stimuli such as noise, crowds, etc.