I’m planning on adding specific profiles for many dog breeds to this blog, but I thought before I started I would give a general overview of dog breeds. Knowing some general information about a specific breed can help you get a better understanding of why your dog acts the way he does. It can also be helpful in deciding which breed of dog would best suit your lifestyle. For instance, if you’re a couch potato, a dog like a Labrador Retriever which is usually very energetic may not be the best choice for you. It can also help you if you to choose a dog for a specific job such as herding farm animals, guarding a business, etc.
The American Kennel Club categorizes dog breeds into several different groups – sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting, and herding. The dogs in each group may have completely different appearances, but there are a number of character traits that they have in common. For instance dogs in the Sporting Group, such as the Labrador Retriever and the English Springer Spaniel, are energetic, often like to swim, and do well at field work or hunting.
Knowing something about a dog’s breed also gives you some information about its health. There are a number of conditions which are genetically linked to specific breeds of dogs. For example, German Shepherds are predisposed to hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism. Knowing this may help you to catch illnesses earlier. If you’re are purchasing a German Shepherd, you can ask the breeder appropriate questions about the health screenings they do.
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