Which
breed is best for your family?
Before making that crucial decision on which breed of dog
is best suited for your family take time to learn a little
about the different dog breeds. There are so many to choose
from, and so many points to consider.
-
Are your children
old enough to appreciate and behave responsibly with a
new puppy?
-
If you have
children, then which breeds are most tolerant of the close
attention of little ones?
-
Do you have
the time required to care, exercise and train a dog?
-
Are you ready
for that life long commitment to pet ownership? Because
different breeds have different characteristics, it's
a good idea first to decide exactly what you want in a
dog.
-
Do you want
a large dog or would a smaller breed be more suitable?
-
Do you want
the dog to hunt with you?
-
Are you looking
for a good guard dog or an intelligent breed that can
take part in obedience work, agility or flyball competitions?
-
If you do
have children, what age are they? A breed of dog that
has a tendency to be very lively may not be the best choice
with very small children as the dog might cause injury
if it jumps up and play bites. However older children
might prefer an active outgoing playmate.
-
How much spare
time do you have to devote to grooming? Some breeds really
are high maintenance when it comes to grooming. Some dogs
don't shed hair and others do it almost constantly.
-
What about
noise if you have neighbours close by? Some dogs have
a habit of being rather yappy or territorial while others
are much more laid back and hardly bark at all.
So let’s have a brief look
at some of the different breed types out there
1)
Sporting or Gundog Breeds
In this group you’ll find such breeds as Pointers, Labrador
Retriever, Golden Retriever, Springer Spaniel and Weimeraners.
These breeds have been developed in the past as pointers and
retrievers to accompany their owner on the hunt. Because of
this they need a lot of staying power and generally these
are dogs with lots of energy to use up.
This means that if they aren't given enough work or exercise,
there is the possibility that they can become a little annoying
around the home! If you have a swimming pool and own a Labrador
Retriever, that’s probably be where you’ll find
him! Some sporting breeds can be noisy, others not so. Be
sure to check.
2)
Working Breeds
Some of the more well known working breeds are the Great Dane,
Boxer, Doberman, Rottweiler and Giant Schnauzer.
These tend to be fairly large dogs originally bred as guard
or rescue dogs, and to assist their owner in his work. They
are generally less active than dogs of the sporting breeds
and are not so quick to bark. Due to their size, these breeds
are probably not well suited to living in apartments or flats
unless sufficient exercise can be given. Working breeds are
generally easily trained and friendly, loyal to their owners
and thrive as family dogs.
3)
Hounds
These come in all shapes and sizes, from the tallest of all
the breeds, the Irish Wolfhound to the shortest, the Dachshund;
and the quickest, the Greyhound all the way to the slowest,
the Basset Hound.
Hounds have been bred to chase a quarry by sight or smell,
or a combination of both senses. Sighthounds have exceptional
eyesight, combined with the speed and stamina necessary to
catch the intended prey once seen, typical examples being
the Greyhound and the Whippet. Hounds which rely strongly
on the sense of smell to follow the trail of a prey, such
as the Bloodhound, quite literally follow their noses, speed
and eyesight is of less importance.
Any dogs and puppies belonging to the Hound breeds require
a significant amount of exercise as they have high stamina
levels suitable for hunting quarry.
4)
Terriers
Some of the better known terriers are the Border Terriers,
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Westies and Jack Russells. Generally
speaking these are, for the most part, extremely active dogs.
The word, Terrier, comes from the Latin ‘Terre’
meaning ‘earth’ as these dogs were bred to 'go
to earth' to flush out rats, rabbits and other small creatures.
They are fiercely loyal and very brave.
Terriers aren't always suited to multiple dog families and
it's a good idea to ask lots of questions regarding each breed.
5)
Toy Breeds
The Toy Poodle, Papillon, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Miniature
Pinscher, Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier are some of the
more common toy breeds. Most are under 5 kilos in weight and
are bred to be pets and companions.
Because they require little room and don't eat much, they
are ideal in a small living area, but do be warned that these
dogs can often be very yappy!
6)
Then there’s the Utility breeds
Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, Keeshonden, Poodle and the
Chinese Shar-Pei are some of the breeds that make up this
group. Although most of the breeds in this group have been
bred to do a certain job, they didn't fit into any other group
so ended up here. Get advice from the breeder or other owners
about specific breeds as they all have their own particular
characteristics.
7)
Pastoral breeds
German Shepherd Dog, Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Pembroke
and Cardigan Welsh Corgis, and Bouvier de Flanders are a few
of this group that was developed to herd livestock.
Properly trained, these dogs get on well with most other animals.
They CAN, however, be a nuisance if not properly trained,
giving vent to their instinct to herd those who don’t
want to be herded! They can be a very active breed needing
proper outlets for their considerable energy. Few breeds are
more loyal to their families and people than these dogs.
MAKING
YOUR CHOICE
First and foremost make sure you are making the right choice
for your family and lifestyle. Don’t decide on a Dalmatian
simply after seeing the Disney film and all those puppies,
find out about the breed and its requirements first. Apparently,
the number of abandoned Dalmatians in pounds increased by
about 80% after Disney's 101 Dalmatians finished its run,
and puppy farmers and unscrupulous breeders had a field day.
It's important to keep in mind
that breeds that have been bred as guard dogs, for instance,
are going to be more protective than other breeds. You cannot
expect to own one of these breeds and have it be as happy
to see every stranger that enters your home as would a Golden
Retriever. With training they can make wonderful pets, but
as someone has said ‘You wouldn't buy a gun and not
learn how to use it, so why own a guard breed if you aren't
willing to learn how to handle it?’
Then there are the breeds that
have been abused. Take the Staffordshire Bull Terrier for
example, a breed that was originally bred in the 18th Century
for fighting and bull baiting. With the introduction of the
Humane Act in 1835, baiting sports and dog fighting became
unlawful and a group of men in the Staffordshire area endeavoured
to preserve their breed by introducing them to the show world
with many of these aggressive traits bred out making him into
a loyal family member and guard dog.
Then along come those who still
want fighting dogs, and proceed to undo all the good that
reputable breeders had accomplished. The resulting dogs from
these breedings have caused great damage to the reputation
of this breed.
Don't purchase a long haired
breed if you can't stand hair in the house. Don't get a toy
dog if constant yapping drives you nuts. Don't buy a giant
breed if you can't afford the feed and upkeep.
In conclusion, a little bit of objective research can pay
off handsomely when it comes to choosing the breed to suit
your particular situation.
Picking a pup should not be an
impulse buy!
FEEDING
 Correct
feeding is vital - Burns MiniBites
have been developed using holistic principles to ensure that
requirements for energy, muscle and bone development are met
but not exceeded.
MiniBites are also free of colours,
flavourings and artificial preservatives and contains non-caged
chicken meat and the goodness of brown rice. Good health -
naturally!
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