GENERAL BREED TRAITS
GENERAL BREED TRAITS
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* Remember that all breeds can come in all different kinds of temperaments. The descriptions below are generalities or major trends seen in purebred dogs as the result of selective breeding.
| BREED TYPE | EXAMPLES | BRED TO DO | GENERALITIES * | LINKS |
Sporting Dogs |
Pointers, Retrievers, Setters, Spaniels, Vizsla, Weimaraner | To work closely with humans. To point, flush out, or retrieve game. Bred to be able to run all day in a field and swim through water without tiring | Tend to be high energy, alert, like to be outdoors, need a lot of exercise. Willing to be trained, loyal, some like to carry things in their mouths, some like to swim. Intelligent, but without training, discipline, and attention from humans, can be destructive. Although they like to be outdoors, some (especially retrievers) do not make good "outdoor only" pets because of their intense desire to be with human beings. | |
Hounds
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Afghan, Basenji, Basset, Beagle, Bloodhound, Coonhound, Borzoi, Dachshund, Foxhound, Greyhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Saluki, Whippet | To work closely with humans. To sight or scent game and chase or track it down. Bred to be able to run all day in a field without tiring. | Tend to be easily lured off by moving objects or scents, some are hard to keep in a fenced-in yard. Some are adaptable dogs that are good with children (Basset and Beagle) and some are delicate dogs that require especially sensitive owners (Greyhound, Whippet). Most are full of personality. Some can be very stubborn (Basset, Beagle, Dachshund) and some are more challenging to train (Afghan, Basenji). | |
Working Dogs
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Akita, Malamute, Boxer, Doberman, Great Dane, Pyrenees, Kuvasz, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Bernese Mountain Dog | Bred to perform a specific task like pulling sleds or carts, and guarding. | Tend to be physically tough dogs that require firm discipline. Stubborn, strong, willing to work at a task. Some very gentle (Newfoundland, Boxer, Great Dane), some tend to be very independent (Akita, Malamute, Husky). A few do not always get along with other dogs, especially those of the same sex (Akita and Malamute). | |
Terriers
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Airedale, Bull Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Fox Terrier, Manchester Terrier, WheatenTerrier, West Highland Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Minature Schnauzer | Bred to dig out, chase, bark at, and control small rodents. | Tend to be very high energy dogs that do not calm down as much as other breeds do when they reach maturity. Love to bark and to dig. Very intelligent and trainable. Tend to exhibit dominance to strange dogs. | |
Toys
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Chihuahua, Italian Greyhound, Maltese, Papillon, Pekinese, Pomeranian, Pug, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle | Bred to be companions for humans. | Tend to be delicate dogs that are often not good companions for small children, but are excellent companions for adults and older, considerate children. Most have a much lower energy level than the dogs in other categories. | |
| Non-Sporting Dogs
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Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, Spitz, Keeshond, Lhasa Apso, Poodle, Schipperke | Each bred for very different purposes. | This category is hard to generalize. It is best to research these breeds individually. | |
Herding Dogs |
Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Belgians, Bouvier, Briard, Collies, German Shepherd, Old English Sheepdog, Shetland Sheepdog, Corgis. | Bred to herd sheep and cattle. | Tend to like to bark, chase, and round things up into groups. Very sensitive to "territory". Usually intelligent, however, without training and discipline, can be destructive. Need to be given tasks to perform that make them think or they will devise games for themselves that you may not like. Some are especially good with children (collies) and most are excellent watchdogs. |
If you don't see your breed listed above, here are some other great online references:
This page was last updated on 07/17/03.
The Choosing the Perfect Dog Web site is based upon a class designed by Michele Godlevski in 1994. This class was featured in the AKC Gazette in 1995.
Black & white drawings by Jane Finneran.
None of the images on this page may be
used without permission.
Site and text written by Michele Godlevski.
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