Archive for the ‘Dog Breeds’ Category
Characteristics of Companion Dog Breeds
Companion Dog - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Every breed was created for a reason, and the companion dogs are no exception. Their job is to keep people company, perhaps the most important work a dog can do.
Some are miniaturized versions of working dogs, and some were created solely as beautiful lap dogs–but without exception, they are all dog. The tiniest of them have no idea that they aren’t as big or strong as other dogs, and they have the heart and courage of a Mastiff concealed in their small bodies.
That’s an endearing quality, but it also means they need to be protected from themselves. Often they’ll take on bigger dogs or even human intruders and can easily be injured or killed for their trouble. This is where it is sometimes necessary to use a remote dog training collar.
In size they range from tiny four-pounders to sturdier 20- to 40-pounders. As a group, they’re housedogs, unsuited to living outdoors. Their main goal in life is to be with their people, and they’ll wilt if left to themselves for long hours day after day.
Characteristics of Sporting Dogs
German Shorthaired Pointer
Many of them are multitaskers, but in general, Pointers find and silently point game; Retrievers bring back downed game from land or water; Setters find, point, and sometimes flush–bring out of hiding–game; and Spaniels find and flush game. Sporting dogs have been bred to work closely with people and are highly trainable and generally friendly. The use of dog training collars with this goup can be very useful with these breeds These breeds enjoy long walks or runs and playing fetch. The water dogs among them can’t get enough of swimming.
Sporting dogs have dense, water-repellent coats, which can be short, medium length, straight, curly, or wiry, to protect them in all types of brush and weather conditions. They love people and are well suited to being family dogs if given the necessary amount of exercise.
Characteristics of Herding Dogs
The dogs in this category were developed to control large flocks of sheep or herds of cattle. They still retain that ability today, even though most of them never lay eyes on a Merino or Longhorn. Energetic, smart, and serious, they’re big proponents of family togetherness and like nothing better than to see the whole family in the same room so they can keep an eye on them.
Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. They have a tendency to nip at or bump people, not because they’re mean but because that’s how they’re wired to herd. I remember an Australian Shepherd I had when I lived on a ranch in Colorado; she learned by simple observation that I did not want our cattle in the hayfield. As a result, all I had to do was yell “cow” and she would race to the hayfield to chase them out. Ultimately, the cattle learned too – when they heard the word “cow” they high-tailed it out of the hayfield before the dog would even come!
With firm, consistent training, frequently with the use of dog training collars, these breeds of dogs can learn to behave in a more appropriate fashion. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.
Herding Dog Breeds:
Appenzeller Sennenhundle
Collie
Australian Cattle Dog
Entiebucher Mountain Dog
Australian Shepherd
Finnish Lapphund
Bearded Collie
German Shepherd
Belgian Malnois
Icelandic Sheepdog
Belgian Sheepdog
Lancashire Heeler
Belgian Teruven
Norwegian Buhund
Berger Picard
Old English Sheepdog
Border Collie
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Bouvier des Flandres
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Briard
Puli
Canaan Dog
Pyrenean Shepherd
Catahoula Leopard Dog
Shetland Sheepdog