So you want to add a dog to your family. Where do you start?
Breeds
The very first thing you need to do is figure out what breed you want- or if you don't need a purebred dog.
If you want: a working dog; a dog for obedience, agility, or other activities; a dog that has specific qualities such as being good with small children, being naturally quiet, or not shedding; a dog that looks a particular way, etc., then you want a purebred dog. Purebred dogs allow you to have the most accurate guess as to the size, shape, intelligence, temperament, etc., of the dog you are bringing home.
If you want: a lovable family pet; to rescue a dog that might not have a chance; an adult dog who has been tested with children and other pets; to pick out a dog that really seems to bond with you, then you want to rescue a mixed breed (or un-pedigreed purebred, in some cases). Choosing an adult dog from a rescue allows you to see exactly what you're getting out of an adult. Rescues usually evaluate dogs in terms of their compatibility with children and other animals, you can see the size and coat they will have the rest of their lives, and so forth.
Rescues will be addressed more in part 2- this section will focus on choosing the right breed for you.
Types of Dogs
Kennel clubs have broken dog breeds up into a number of groups based on their original purpose. Knowing what these groups are will help you narrow down your breed choice. (The groups are given different names by the AKC/UKC, AKC is listed first below. The groups don't line up precisely so there may be some overlap.)
Sporting/Gundogs
These dogs were bred to hunt with human partners. They find and indicate game, retrieve birds and other game after it has been shot, "flush" birds and other animals out into the open for hunters, etc. These dogs are highly affectionate and trainable, very loyal to their owners, typically great with families, and many have what is called a "soft mouth", a natural tendency not to bite down hard on anything. It was meant to keep them from ruining game birds, but it makes them less "mouthy" than some other breeds.
Ideal For: Active families, families with children, outdoorsy types.
Not Great For: People who live in apartments or don't have large yards, anyone without adequate time to exercise them properly every day.
Includes: Setters, Spaniels, Pointers, Retrievers
Working/Guardian
While "working" is slightly ambiguous, "guardian" more closely typifies these breeds. These are dogs that were bred to protect people and property. Working breeds are medium to large breed dogs, with a strong work ethic, intense loyalty, and a courageous and fearless demeanor. These dogs are not advised for inexperienced handlers, as their protective instinct and strong work ethic must be carefully managed to avoid aggression issues. Some of these breeds may have trouble adapting to new additions to the household, and all tend to be wary of strangers.
Ideal For: Adult households or those with children over 13, working homes, military and police work, owners with strong training knowledge.
Not Great For: First time dog owners, owners without the time or energy to train and exercise the dogs properly, apartments, owners that have difficulty disciplining their dogs.
Includes: Dobermans, Boxers, Mastiffs, Rottweilers, Great Danes
Herding/Herding
Breeds that were developed to assist with livestock, anywhere from geese and chickens up to cattle and horses. Athletic, highly intelligent and trainable dogs with a strong desire to please. This group includes some of the most intelligent breeds on the planet. Their natures allow them to excel in many activities such as agility, obedience, rally, and more. Many of these dogs have heavy double coats to protect them from the weather, this should always be taken into consideration.
Ideal For: Owners with a lot of land, families with respectful children, anyone interested in an activity such as obedience or agility, anyone looking for a medium to large breed with a solid personality and desire to please.
Not Great For: Apartments, being outdoor dogs in very hot climates, owners with no desire to train or exercise.
Includes: Shepherds, Corgis, Collies, Sheepdogs
Toy/Companion
As the names suggest, breeds developed solely as companions for humans. These are all small breeds, the largest weighing no more than 20lbs. Many have gorgeous coats and come in varieties of colors. These are ideal companions for apartment and city dwellers. Their size and natures mean they do not require extensive amounts of exercise, and while training is always advisable, these breeds will not be offended if you don't want to participate in an activity or job with them. They just want to be with you! The downsides of these breeds include grooming, as many are long-haired and require a lot of maintenance; also they do not do well with families that include small children. Most toy dogs are naturally skittish of children due to their unpredictable and loud behaviors, and their tiny fragile bodies can be easily injured by a child who doesn't know better.
Ideal For: Adults, any elderly or handicapped owners who want a pet but cannot exercise them much, apartment and city life.
Not Great For: Small children, busy households, outdoor living.
Includes: Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Shih Tzus, Pomeranians
Hounds/Scenthounds/Sighthounds
Breeds developed to use eyes and noses to track game. Unlike gun dogs, these dogs were driven solely by their desire to hunt, and did not work closely with human handlers- they chased the game, and the hunters chased the dogs. These breeds are notorious for getting lost because they'll start to chase game and forget to stop until they get lost! They can be a challenge to train, but they have gentle natures and are great with children. Most hounds are short-coated and easy to groom.
Ideal For: Hunters/trackers, families with moderate activity levels
Not Great For: City living (sight hounds; they like to run); homes without a sturdy fenced yard (they tend to run/wander), owners who want a highly trainable and obedient dog (they are frequently independent and stubborn).
Includes: Hounds, Beagles, Harriers, Whippets
Terriers/Terriers
Ah, the terrier. Ranging in size from small to quite large, terriers are hardy, bold, tenacious creatures. Bred to control vermin indoors and out, these dogs are quite fearless. Training can be challenging, and teaching them to be gentle is highly important as those strong jaws and sharp teeth can make for a very painful bite. Most terriers have a wiry coat which makes them look "scruffy", but keeps water and dirt off their skin. They do require grooming.
Ideal For: Farm life, places with room to run, some agility/obedience activities (they're very smart in spite of their stubborn streak), families with respectful older children. Small terriers do well in apartments and city life.
Not Great For: Neat freaks (they tend towards destructive habits!), small children, owners with no inclination to train or groom their dogs, owners looking for an easily trainable dog.
Includes: Jack Russells, Cairn Terriers, Scotties, Wheatons, Bull Terriers, Airedale Terriers.
Non-Sporting/Companion
The Non-Sporting Group includes dogs from UKC's Companion & Northern groups. These are dogs which either have been bred away from their original purpose, or served a purpose outside hunting and guarding. This is a varied group in all ways. Dogs in this category typically have no strong working drive or unusual habits. Depending on their original function, they may or may not be suited to family life. Because this class is a bit of a catch-all, you should research breeds carefully to determine where they came from and whether they will be right for you.
Includes: Dalmations, Chow Chows, Lhasa Apsos, Poodles, Bichons, American Eskimos
Northern Breeds
A UKC group, in AKC these breeds are mixed into Working and Non-Sporting. As it suggests, these are the dogs that were bred for snowy climates. Many were sled-pullers. They are muscular, athletic dogs with heavy double coats to keep warm. These breeds are energetic, driven, and typically hardy. They can be independent and frequently have a high "prey drive" or desire to chase small creatures around, so be careful introducing cats and small animals. They are usually not the best choice for small children. People living in hot climates should pay extra attention to keeping them well groomed and giving them places to cool off.
Ideal For: Active adult homes, country living, can excel at many types of activities with a dedicated trainer.
Not Great For: Small children, people who don't want a shedding dog, extremely hot climates, apartment life, submissive handlers.
Includes: Huskies, Samoyed, Malamutes, Shiba Inus, Keeshonds, Akitas
Remember that each breed has it's own personality, you should research breeds that interest you in detail. Groups just serve as a guide to start you in the right direction.
NEVER buy a puppy just because it's cute or your friend has one! There are people who believe any dog can be raised to be what you want it to be- this is not the case. Nurture can do a great deal, but we developed dog breeds for a reason, and each breed is born with certain traits and tendencies that cannot be overcome. No matter how cute or pretty you find a particular breed, if it's personality directly contrasts what you want in a dog, it's not fair to yourself or the dog to push ahead and get one anyway.
Stay tuned for Part 2- Choosing Breeders & Rescues!
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