Pets HealthWhat Are The Available Dog Breeds?

What Are The Available Dog Breeds?

Dogs are the most owned domestic animals. They are loveable and friendly creatures and in addition to this, they are useful in a variety of ways. While most humans own them primarily for companionship, some use them for work. This can be in form of security or maybe on a farm.

Some of the characteristics that stand them out are their friendliness, intelligence, empathy, usefulness and loyalty. They are the only animal that possesses this combination of characteristics. That is, they can be friendly and loyal and at the same time, fierce and dangerous if they need to be. You will find some good reasons to own a dog here.

Different characteristics define different kinds of dogs and this is often down to their breed. Some breeds are gentle and suitable for certain uses like family dogs. Others are aggressive and suitable for other purposes.

These different characteristics of dogs are what make them attractive to humans. To this end, people own dogs for a variety of reasons depending on their needs. While some pet parents own one dog, others have more than one and may even have two or more different breeds.

What Are Dog Breeds?

The breed of an animal is what determines its particular features as well as properties. These include its physical features and behavioral characteristics. In other words, a dog’s breed determines its color, size, appearance, strain, behavior and temperament.

There are at least 400 different types of dog breeds and each breed has unique features and characteristics that set them apart. These breeds typically come about by the action of breeders. More often than not, they combine two or more different stains to create a new one.

This is not to say there are no pure breeds. These types of dogs still exist but most breeds are a cross of different dog strains. The good thing about dogs is that despite these many breeds, they still have the enviable characteristics of being friendly and loyal. You can also count on them to give you their best all the time.

Typically, most breeds can be classified under the 7 groups below. These groups are:

The Working Group

As their name suggests, these strains of dogs are useful for work. They were bred originally to perform practical duties like watchdogs, pulling sleds, driving animals on the farm, etc. The working group has an assortment of appearance and task orientation. They are typically strong, fearless, aggressive and intelligent. Examples of this group include:

  • Great Danes
  • Rottweilers
  • Huskies
  • Akitas
  • Doberman Pinschers
  • Giant Schnauzer
  • Kuvasz and so on

The Toy Group

This group of dogs is mainly used as pets. They may be small and portable and found on their owner’s laps but this does not make them necessarily weak. They are cuddly and often live indoors rather than outdoors. They are also sociable, affectionate, intelligent ad full of energy. Examples of this group include:

  • Pugs
  • Havanese
  • Miniature Schnauzers
  • Maltese
  • Chihuahuas
  • Pomeranians
  • Silky Terriers, etc.

The Terrier Group

These dogs were originally bred to kill vermin and guard the home. Most of them originated on the British Isles and their duties were determined by features of their locality and terrain. However, in recent times, they have evolved to be family pets.

These types of dogs are usually short-legged. They are bold, intelligent and have very good instincts. Some common breeds of these dogs are:

  • Australian Terriers
  • American Staffordshire
  • Airedale Terriers
  • Bull Terriers
  • Scottish Terriers
  • Jack Russel Terriers, etc.

The not-so-common ones include Wire Fox Terriers, Bedlington Terriers and Lakeland Terriers. You can see more about this group here https://www.britannica.com/animal/dog/Terriers.

The Hound Group

Hounds were purposed initially as game hunters. They are sleek, strong and powerfully built making them fast and powerful in their operation. They are also very focused and intelligent with a heightened sense of smell and sight that can detect prey from a distance.

The hound group is a hardworking lot. They are strong-willed and their unique features set them apart as guards and security dogs. For this reason, you will always find them used in law enforcement. Examples of the hound group include:

  • Greyhounds
  • Salukis
  • American Foxhounds
  • Basset Hounds
  • Bloodhounds
  • Beagle
  • Whippets
  • Irish Wolfhounds
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback, etc.

The Sporting Group

The sporting group of dogs is high-energy canines who are fond of the outdoors. This breed of dogs was created to provide support for hunters during game hunting. They typically have physical features that help to protect their body in the wild. These include things such as webbed toes as well as thick and water-repellent coats. Examples of this group include:

  • English Setters
  • Irish Setters
  • American Water Spaniels
  • English Springer Spaniels
  • Golden Retrievers
  • Clumber Spaniels

The Non-sporting Group

The non-sporting group is not classified based on their purpose or any features. They typically do not fit into other types of groups but have a diverse range of traits. Examples of these include:

  • Bulldogs
  • Dalmatians
  • Chow Chows
  • French Bulldogs
  • Poodles
  • Finnish Spitz, etc.

The Herding Group

These groups of canines are best known for herding livestock. They are energetic, smart and can corral other animals. They also possess a sense of duty and are pack-oriented which makes them ideal for work on the farm. Examples include:

  • Border Collies
  • German Shepherds
  • Australian Shepherds
  • Shetland Sheepdogs
  • Belgian Malinois, etc.

Which Is The Best Breed To Choose?

When looking to buy a dog, you may be wondering which type of breed to buy with the sheer number available. The best to buy is dependent on a variety of factors. Chief of this is the reason you are buying the dog.

This will help you narrow down your options. You should also look at your available resources including time and money. While some dog breeds require plenty of time and attention, some do not. So consider all of these when selecting a dog breed.

One thing you can be certain of is no matter the breed, you will always find them to be loving, affectionate and loyal. You can learn more about each dog breed from the online resources.

Conclusion

It is a given that a lot of people like dogs. Nevertheless, choosing the right type of dog for your household as well as the reason you need one is important. You should therefore use this article as a guide in choosing one that will be the most ideal for you.

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