Dog Breeds
Profiles and photos of more than 150 dog breeds! You can have a look at our complete no-nonsense description about each dog breeds to select the most suitable breed for yourself.
Dog Breeds
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How to Choose Your Dog Breeds
The selection of a dog breed should be a well-thought-out decision. Be sure you are ready for a dog before you start the process. It is also essential that you understand the cost of dog ownership.
A dog breed must be selected taking into consideration lifestyle habits, family situation, availability of time and financial means. Too often, however, people choose a breed because they like the way it looks, which is a very wrong criterion.
Let us give you some tips for selecting a perfect dog breed for you.
Size
Remember that you may have to pick-up, transport, and carry around your dog. So size becomes an important factor. Some dogs like the Chihuahua are very small and can be carried around in a basket too. But big dogs like Staffordshire Bull Terrier can cause problems as they are tall and long.
Trainability
Every dog breed can be taught different commands; however, their speed of learning differs greatly depending on the breed they belong to. While a slower learning breed requires more patience and time to train; the faster one can grasp everything very fast.
If you want an obedient dog but don’t have much patience or time to train him you will want to pick an easy to train breed. (Choose a breed with 8 stars or more for “Trainability”.)
Shedding
Dog hair is a major issue. Some dogs shed virtually no hair. These low-shedders shed so little that you’ll struggle to find one hair in your home. If you hate dog hair and don’t have time for extra vacuuming, then one of these breeds is right for you (choose a breed with less than 2 stars for “Shedding”).
Some dogs shed a few hairs and they would not be that much a nuisance if you clean your house every week. But if hair doesn’t bother you, then you can choose a dog with any shedding level and you have the widest selection of breeds to choose from. (The super-high shedders are the ones rated 8 to 10 stars for “Shedding”. Definitely avoid these if you hate pet hair or have allergies to pet dander.)
Low Maintenance
Maintaining a dog is not a joke. Maintenance majorly comes down to two things: brushing and vacuuming. Some breeds are almost maintenance-free and only require an occasional brushing and don’t drop virtually any hair so you don’t have to vacuum.
You may need to get some equipment specially for the dog’s cleaning activities. Also, his shelter and other habits also need a lot of attention. Some dogs shed a lot of hair so cleaning also becomes a major issue.
Children
Most dogs bond well with children when they grow up as a puppy with them.
Actually, any child who is excessively rough or unintentionally teases a dog is at risk of being bitten. If you tease a dog, push him, pull him, poke him, pull his ears, etc then his natural instinct is to defend himself and he will probably give a few warning nips and growls and if it continues he may bite.
So, if you have very young children and decide to bring a dog into your home it’s your responsibility to supervise your children around the dog and teach them to respect him and be gentle with him. Then the chances of your child being bitten are virtually none. You may want to have a look at dogs which are very child friendly.
Watchdog
Most dog breeds make good little watchdogs; they will all make some sort of commotion (growling or barking) when a stranger enters their turf. But some breeds are better at this job than others. A few are highly alert and will bark unrelentingly if a stranger is on “their” property. (Choose a breed rated 8 to 10 stars for “Watchdog if you want one the top watch dog breeds.)
Allergies – How to know if your Dog is Allergic?
Dogs are vulnerable to a wide range of environmental irritants. Dog allergies are at the root of a great deal of the habitual scratching, fidgeting, sneezing, and rubbing that many of us are accustomed to seeing in our dear dogs.
Many dogs can be allergic to different kinds of foods. If your pet presents with digestive trouble, loose stools, and has trouble keeping down the doggie treats, the likeliest culprit is that big 50-pound bag you lugged home from the pet store. Commercial dog foods often contain a hodgepodge of grains and meats, and many pets are at least mildly allergic to an ingredient in their standard fare.
Some dogs are very allergic to fleas and bacteria, and they may cause a lot of problems for your little buddy.
Sometimes, a dogs gets some allergies after visiting a breeders home. So you must select a clean breeder’s home for them to avoid further issues. Take action before it is too late for your doggie!!