When you research several breeds
of dogs, you may be surprised by the fact that the description
of one dog may not agree with what you have experienced. For
example, Labradors are known for their high energy and a love
for various activities. But some owners of this breed of dog
may find that their Labradors are actually laid back and seemed
satisfied lying on the carpet all the time. Such inconsistencies
are due to that fact that the description of dog breeds refers
to their general characteristics. Thus, when a Collie is described
as a highly intelligent dog, this means that most members of
this breed are intelligent. With this in mind, a future dog
owner will still benefit by reading such general descriptions
of dog breeds. The purpose of getting such general knowledge
is to increase the chances of finding the right dog breed for
a particular owned. Thus, we hope that our short descriptions
here will help you.
Sporting dogs, such as Pointers, Retrievers
(Golden and Labradors), Setters, and Spaniels, are dogs that
are endowed with high energy. They even earned the reputation
of being “hyper”. Thus, the owner must see to it that these
dogs get enough exercise. These dogs were bred for work and
hunting, but sometimes they exhibit an independent streak. In
obedience training, the owner must convince the dogs that the
training activity is fun. These dogs most likely obey owners
who are firm and even-tempered.
Hounds, such as the Beagles, Bloodhounds, Greyhounds,
Dachshund, Afghan hounds, and Irish wolfhounds, were bred for
centuries to track and hunt. This means that if an owner chooses
to teach this type of dog to do something else, like agility
training, the hound will have a difficult time learning. This
is why some owners think that hounds are stupid. In reality,
their genes simply evolved so that they will be excellent only
in tracking and similar activities.
Terriers, such as Jack Russell, Airedales,
and Kerry Blues, are tough hunting dogs that are strong willed.
This implies that a person wanting to own a terrier must already
have previous dog training experience. Training a terrier is
quite a challenge, but a fair, fun, and firm owner will eventually
have a loyal terrier who is able to think for himself. Terriers
should also be taught to socialize.
Working dogs, such as the Dobermans and Mastiffs,
are bred to work closely with humans. But some, like the Great
Pyrenees prefer to work alone. Each breed of working dog can
be trained to do one or more specific tasks. Rottweilers can
guard farms and drive cattle. Newfoundlands help sailors in
hauling ropes. And Siberian huskies haul sleds across long distances.
There are more dog breeds out there. If the
dog you are considering is not found here, we suggest that you
check out its personality in several helpful books.
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