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Dog Breed Help
Size of Dog
The size of a dog is figured as follows
Size
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
Very Small:
10 inches and under
15 lbs and under
Small:
9-15
inches
15-35
lbs.
Medium:
12-24 inches
30-55 lbs.
Large:
22-27
inches
50-115
lbs.
Very Large:
25 inches and up
110 lbs. and up
Look of Dog
Some representative dogs for the various looks
Mastiff,
Bulldog:
Bulldog,
Boxer, Mastiff, Great Dane
Spitz, Nordic:
Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute
Terrier:
Airedale
Terrier, Fox Terrier, Cairn Terrier
Scent Hound:
Beagle, Basset Hound, Bloodhound
Setter, Retriever, Pointer:
Irish Setter, Golden Retriever, Pointer
Toy, Miniature:
Chihuahua, Pug, Japanese Chin
Spaniel:
Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel
Herding dog:
German Shepherd, Collie
Sighthound:
Afghan Hound, Borzoi, Saluki
Mountain Dog, Stock Guard:
Great Pyrennes, St. Bernard
Setter, Retriever, Pointer:
Poodle, Bichon
Examples of Coat Types
Short:
Dalmatian
Curly:
Poodle
Wiry:
Airedale Terrier
Medium:
German Shepherd
Feathered:
Golden
Retriever
Fluffy:
Chow Chow
Long:
Collie
Training
Manners:
Well-behaved around the house.
Basic Obedience:
Sit, down, come, stand, stay, heel, and house manners.
Advanced�Obedience:
Formal obedience training including heeling off leash, retrieving, jumping, and other off-leash work.
Exercise
Some breeds need extensive exercise to be happy and healthy. Others are basically couch potatoes.
Grooming
Grooming includes brushing the coat, clipping the nails, brushing the teeth, and cleaning the ears.
Short haired breeds require much less coat grooming than long haired breeds.
Professional Grooming
Cost for professional grooming may range anywhere from about $18 to $100 depending on how much work your dog's coat needs.
Some groomers include 2 shampoos and a creme rinse, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and anal sac expression in their grooming package.
Independence
Some dogs are very people-oriented. If left by themselves for long periods of time, they can become bored, lonely and sometimes destructive.
Other dogs are very self-sufficient. They can get along just fine on their own for quite a while.
Friendliness
Refers to how the dog will respond to strangers who come into the dog's territory.
Very Wary:
Friendly with the family, but confrontational with strangers.
Reserved:
Friendly with the family, but cautious with strangers.
Friendly:
Likes most people (but may still be a good watchdog).
Dominance
A dominant person is someone who is firm, commanding, in charge.
A less dominant person will be more easy going, gentle, mellow; someone who "goes with the flow".
People
Some breeds are too rambunctious to be around small children (8 or younger) or elderly persons.
Other Pets
Some breeds get along well with cats, but may treat small rodents and birds as prey.
Some breeds do better in a household without cats, and some do better without other dogs.
Dog Talents
Agility Competition:
Dogs negotiate a series of obstacles and jumps.
Companion Dog:
Good with people.
Competitive Obedience:
Programs with specific obedience skill requirements.
Guarding:
Protecting family and property.
Guide for the Blind:
Leading blind people safely in public places.
Handicapped Assistance:
Helping hearing impaired, or physically or emotionally impaired people.
Herding:
Moving livestock.
Hunting:
General gun dog.
Jogging:
Constant running for 20 or more minutes.
Lure Coursing:
Sighthounds chase plastic lures pulled through a field.
Performing Tricks:
"Shake hands", "speak", balancing a ball on the nose, playing basketball, etc.
Pointing:
Indicating the location of game by freezing into a "pointing" position.
Retrieving:
Bringing sticks, balls, downed birds or other things back to the owner.
Schutzhund:
A dog sport that includes tracking, obedience and protection.
Search & Rescue:
Seeking survivors at disaster sites; finding lost people.
Sighting:
Some breeds, like salukis and afghans, hunt by sight.
Snow Sled Pulling:
For racing or just for fun.
Tracking:
Following a scent trail.
Watchdog:
Barking to indicate the presence of an intruder.
Water Rescue:
Rescuing people from water.
Weight Pulling:
A competitive sport where the dog pulls increasing amounts of weight. Carting is also fun�this is where the dog pulls passengers riding in a cart.
