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

Choosing the right dog breed for you and your family can be an
exhausting task. It can take days to trawl through all of the
information necessary to narrow your options down to a few breeds to
choose from. That is, assuming you know where to start when choosing
the right dog breed for you and your family in the first place. It can
be difficult to know where to start, but with these tips, you will
have a definitive starting point and a quick and simple task to
complete!

1. Assess your home and family - You must start from the very
beginning when choosing the right dog breed for you and your family,
and your own home is as good a place as any to start. How big is it?
How big is the yard? Do you have children? Are you out of the home
quite a lot? All of these questions need answering and only then can
you begin our search for the perfect dog breed.

2. Ask what you are looking for in a dog - It is essential that you
know what you are looking for when choosing the right dog breed for
you and your family. Do you want a gentle family pet? Would you be
willing to go to a shelter? Do you want a playful breed or a more
sedate one? Pair this information up with the answers to your first
question and you can then begin to look at breeds.

3. Look on a comprehensive dog website - You do not need to go to many
different resources until you have basic information on one or two
breeds. Use a comprehensive site to cross-reference your answers to
the above two points and list three or four breeds. Then you can look
into the breeds in depth but get a good idea of where you are going
when choosing the right dog breed for you and your family first!

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 recognised by the English Kennel Club at
this time.

Not all dogs are officially recognised 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
http://www.bestdogbreeds.org/Dog%20Breeds%20A-Z.htm for guidance in
finding the right dog for your family.

Please visit http://www.bestdogbreeds.org




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Werner Pretorius said in
rec.pets.dogs.health:

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'

You're sort of right, spammer.

Some working sheep dogs are often referred to as Border Collies
(no scary quotes required): these would be the Border Collies.
Some working sheep dogs are often referred to as Australian
Shepherds: these would be the Australian Shepherds.

Do you see a pattern developing?

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

Rocky wrote:
Werner Pretorius said in
rec.pets.dogs.health:

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'

You're sort of right, spammer.

Some working sheep dogs are often referred to as Border Collies
(no scary quotes required): these would be the Border Collies.
Some working sheep dogs are often referred to as Australian
Shepherds: these would be the Australian Shepherds.

Do you see a pattern developing?


Then of course there's the actual Sheepdog.
Known as Sheepdogs (English variety :-)

"Tara Green" wrote in message
...
Rocky wrote:
Werner Pretorius said in
rec.pets.dogs.health:
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'

You're sort of right, spammer.

Some working sheep dogs are often referred to as Border Collies (no
scary quotes required): these would be the Border Collies. Some working
sheep dogs are often referred to as Australian Shepherds: these would be
the Australian Shepherds.

Do you see a pattern developing?


Then of course there's the actual Sheepdog. Known as Sheepdogs (English
variety :-)

But the best of all is the Heinz 57 American Mutt, also known as Muttley...

Paul and the best of all dogs

"Tara Green" wrote in message
...
Rocky wrote:
Werner Pretorius said in
rec.pets.dogs.health:
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'

You're sort of right, spammer.

Some working sheep dogs are often referred to as Border Collies (no scary
quotes required): these would be the Border Collies. Some working sheep
dogs are often referred to as Australian Shepherds: these would be the
Australian Shepherds.

Do you see a pattern developing?


Then of course there's the actual Sheepdog. Known as Sheepdogs (English
variety :-)


FYI, folks:
In the U.K., where this post originated, "Working Sheepdog" DOES refer to
a specific type of dog - it's a common and well-understood term there. And
since many Working Sheepdogs are identical in appearance and behaviour to
Border Collies, they may also be labeled "Border Collie" when sold or
offered for adoption. Others are closer in appearance and function to U.S.
English Shepherds or Australian Shepherds, or UK Welsh Sheepdogs etc.
But any way you look at it, sorry, but y'all are off base in slamming the
post in this regard...