Dogs
Back to Guide to responsible dog ownership
Choosing the right dog
Introduction
Whether your dog is a pure breed or a mixture of various breeds, its genetic
material will influence its character.
As your dog may be a member of your family for 15 or more years, it is
important to match your dog with your family's needs, and not to select only by
looks.
If you want an affectionate 'inside' dog you should choose a different breed
from if you want a protective 'outside' dog. Talk with owners, breeders, vets,
and check your library and the internet for information. Many breed clubs
rigorously defend their breed against negative comments; you may want to check
the advice with your vet or dog breeders. As the information in this site is
from a variety of sources (including British, American and Australian sources),
it may not be completely accurate for New Zealand dogs as breeding in other
countries may have created slightly different characteristics.
Consider how much time you can spend with the dog, how much exercise the dog
will need, whether it will be suitable for young children (or elderly people),
the size of your property, and its grooming needs. If you are a first time
owner, you should avoid the more aggressive breeds. Check if the breed you're
interested in has a tendency to develop particular health problems.
Most breeds were bred for specific purposes. The main categories are
sporting, hound, terrier, toy, working and herding, as well as a catch all
category called "utility". Every group has its good and bad points.
However, as well as genetic tendencies to certain behaviours, dogs can be
considerably influenced by experience and training from the owner, especially if
owned as a puppy.
Some dogs are listed in more than one category, as there are various opinions
about their classifications.
Breed categories
Sporting dogs/gun dogs
These dogs were bred to hunt and work closely with people. They have been
bred to hunt but not to kill and are responsive, intelligent and like to be
around people. The UK Kennel Club website says, "They make good companions,
their temperament making them ideal all-round family dogs. It is said that they
are perhaps the most intelligent of the breeds, resulting in their wide variety
of uses and their ease of training. They are active dogs requiring plenty of
exercise and attention". If they are trained and active, they will be
happy. If they are untrained, they can chew and chase.
Includes:
- bracco italiano
- hungarian vizsla
- italian spinone
- large munsterlander
- pointers (german shorthaired, german wirehaired)
- retrievers (chesapeake bay, curly-coated, flat-coated, golden,
labrador, duck tolling)
|
- setters (english, gordon, irish red setter, irish red and white)
- spaniels (american cocker, american water, brittany, clumber,
cocker, english cocker, english springer, field, irish water, sussex,
welsh springer)
- vizsla
- weimaraner, and
- wirehaired pointing griffon.
|
Hounds
Hounds are probably the oldest category of dog. They were bred to pursue game
and will chase but not kill, possessing inhibited aggression. They can be
friendly and sociable, especially if exercised and trained. Some hounds bay - a
noise that is an acquired taste. If not trained well, they can be howlers and
hard to house-train. The UK Kennel Club says, "They require a significant
amount of exercise and can be described as dignified, aloof but trustworthy
companions."
Includes:
- afghan hound
- american foxhound
- basset griffon vendeen (grand and petit)
- basenji
- basset hound
- beagle
- bloodhound
- borzoi
- coonhound (black and tan)
- dachshund (miniature and standard)
- deerhound
- elkhound
|
- english foxhound
- finnish
spitz
- greyhound
- harrier
- ibizan hound
- irish wolfhound
- norwegian elkhound
- otterhound
- pharaoh hound
- rhodesian ridgeback
- saluki
- scottish
deerhound and whippet
|
Terriers
Terriers were bred for purposes such as hunting and killing vermin and are
small, tenacious, lively and fearless. Terriers typically have little tolerance
for other animals, including other dogs. Out of control they can be aggressive,
problem barkers, disobedient, and nippers.
Includes:
- airedale terrier
- american staffordshire terrier
- australian terrier
- bedlington terrier
- border terrier
- bull terrier (miniature and standard)
- cairn terrier
- dandie dinmont terrier
- fox terrier (smooth and wire)
- irish terrier
- kerry blue terrier
- lakeland terrier
|
- manchester terrier
- miniature schnauzer
- norfolk terrier
- norwich terrier
- scottish terrier
- sealyham terrier
- skye terrier
- soft-coated wheaten terrier
- staffordshire bull terrier
- welsh terrier
- west highland white terrier
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Toy/companion dogs
These dogs were bred to be companions. They can be sweet, gentle,
smart and devoted but may be snappy if untrained. They are intelligent
companions but spoiled dogs can be over-protective of their owners. Toys are
suitable for people with limited living space. These dogs tend to have lower
activity levels and therefore lower exercise needs.
Includes:
- affenpinscher
- australian
silky terrier
- bichon
frisé
- brussels griffon
- cavalier king charles spaniel
- chihuahua
- chinese
crested dog
- china english toy
- griffon
bruxellois
- havanese
- italian greyhound
- japanese chin
|
- lowchen
(little lion dog)
- maltese
- mexican hairless
- miniature pinscher
- papillon
-
pekingese
- pomeranian
- poodle (toy)
- pug; shih tzu
- silky terrier
- yorkshire
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Working dogs
Working dogs are intelligent and trainable. They were trained for a variety
of tasks, from pulling sledges, to guarding property and livestock. With good
direction and enough activity, they are excellent companions. Otherwise, they
can be aggressive and disobedient. This category of dog is most likely to be
"tough", territorial and more suitable for an experienced dog owner as
they have a higher level of genetic potential for aggression than other
categories.
The American Kennel Club website says, "Their considerable dimensions
and strength alone make many working dogs unsuitable as pets for average
families. And again, by virtue of their size alone, these dogs must be properly
trained."
Includes:
- akita
- alaskan malamute
- bernese mountain dog
- bouvier
de flanders
- boxer
- bullmastiff
- canadian eskimo
- dalmatian
- doberman pinscher
- dogue
de bordeaux
- eurasier
- giant schnauzer
- great dane
- great pyrenees
- greater
swiss mountain dog
- greenland dog
|
- hovawart
- leonberger
-
komondor hungary
- kuvasz
- mastiff
- neapolitan mastiff'
- newfoundland
-
norwegian buhundt
- pinscher
-
portuguese water dog
- rottweiler
- st bernard
- samoyed
- schnauzer (giant and standard)
- siberian husky
- tibetan
mastiff
|
Herding or pastoral dogs
These dogs are similar to working dogs. They were bred to
control livestock, usually sheep and cattle, but also deer and even birds. They
have been bred to stalk and herd but not kill, possessing inhibited aggression.
In general, these intelligent dogs make excellent companions and respond well to
training exercises. They have a tendency to shyness and nipping if not trained
and active. Guarding herd dogs were bred to guard and protect, like the German
Shepherd.
Includes:
- anatolian
shepherd dog
- australian cattle dog
- australian shepherd
- bearded collie
-
belgian malinois
- belgian sheepdog
- belgian tervuren
- bouvier des flandres
- briard
|
- border collie
- collie (smooth and rough)
- german shepherd
- hungarian
puli
- old english sheepdog
- pyrenean
mountain dog
- samoyed
-
shetland sheepdog
- welsh corgi (cardigan and pembroke)
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The non-sporting or utility group
This group is a catch-all category for those breeds
that do not strictly fit into any other group and consists of an extremely mixed
and varied bunch (some breeds could arguably be in other groups). These breeds
are of small to medium build with sturdy and balanced frames, often square-like.
In general, they are alert and lively.
Includes:
- boston terrier
- bulldog
- canaan dog
- chinese shar-pei
- chow chow
- dalmation
- finnish spitz
- french bulldog
- german spitz (klein and mittel)
-
japanese akita
- japanese shiba inu
|
- japanese spitz
- keeshond
- lhasa apso lowche
-
poodle (miniature, toy and standard)
- rottweiler
- schipperke
- schnauzer
(standard and miniature)
- shiba inu
- shi tzu
- tibetan spaniel
- tibetan terrier
|
Behavioural research
The results of a US study of the 56 most popular breeds of dogs were
published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
in 1985. The study assessed dog breeds' temperament rather than the original
breeding purpose. However, these behavioural groups closely match the
conventional groupings. They assessed:
- Reactivity: excitability, general activity, snapping at children,
excessive barking, demand for affection
- Aggression: territorial defence, watchdog barking, aggression with
other dogs, dominance over owner
- Trainability: obedience training, housebreaking ease etc.
Results of the survey
The results of the survey in the following tables have been modified to note
more recent research from the United Kingdom. These modifications are noted in
brackets.
- Group 1 - high reactivity | medium
aggression | low trainability
- Group 2 - very low reactivity | very low aggression | low
trainability
- Group 3 - low reactivity | high aggression | low
trainability
- Group 4 - very high trainability | high reactivity |
medium aggression
- Group 5 - low aggression | high trainability | low
reactivity
- Group 6 - very high aggression | very high trainability |
very low reactivity
- Group 7 - very high aggression | high reactivity | medium trainability
Group 1 - high reactivity | low trainability | medium
aggression
| Characteristics |
Breeds |
- more likely to be snappy (eg with children)
- to bark excessively
- may be difficult to train
- likely to be an average watchdog
- likely to have average desire to be dominant (ie be "the
boss").
|
- lhasa apso
- pomeranian
- maltese terrier
- cocker spaniel
- boston terrier
- pekinese
- beagle (rated as having "medium or low reactivity" in the
UK)
- yorkshire terrier
- weimaraner
- pug
- irish setter (rated as having "low aggression" in the UK)
|
Group 2 - very low reactivity | very low aggression | low
trainability
| Characteristics |
Breeds |
- highly unlikely to be snappy
- highly unlikely to bark excessively
- likely to be a poor watchdog
- lacks tendency to dominate
- may be somewhat difficult to train.
|
- english bulldog
- norwegian elkhound
- bloodhound
- bassett hound
|
Group 3 - low reactivity | high aggression | low
trainability
| Characteristics |
Breeds |
- unlikely to be snappy
- unlikely to bark excessively
- likely to be a good watchdog / protector
- likely to be dominant
- may be somewhat difficult to train.
|
- samoyed (rated as having "medium reactivity" in the UK)
- alaskan malamute
- Siberian husky
- saint bernard
- afghan hound
- boxer (rated as having "medium reactivity" in the UK)
- dalmatian
- great dane
- chow
- old english sheepdog (rated as having "high aggression" in
the UK)
|
Group 4 - very high trainability | high reactivity | medium
aggression
| Characteristics |
Breeds |
- likely to be significantly easier to train
- more likely to be snappy
- more likely to bark excessively
- likely to be an average watchdog
- an average desire to be dominant.
|
- Shetland sheepdog
- Shi tzuShih Tzu
- miniature poodle
- toy poodle
- bichon frise
- standard poodle (rated as having "medium or low
"reactivity" in the UK)
- english springer spaniel
- welsh corgi (rated as having "high aggression" in the UK)
- west highland white terrier
|
Group 5 - low aggression | high trainability | low
reactivity
| Characteristics |
Breeds |
- less likely to be a good watchdog
- less likely to want to be dominant
- likely to be easier to train
- unlikely to be snappy
- unlikely to bark excessively.
|
- labrador retriever
- hungarian viszla
- brittany spaniel
- german shorthaired pointer
- newfoundland
- chesapeake bay retriever
- keeshound
- collie
- golden retriever
- australian shepherd
|
Group 6 - very high aggression | very high trainability |
very low reactivity
| Characteristics |
Breeds |
- highly likely to be a good watchdog
- highly likely to want to be dominant
- likely to be significantly easier to train
- highly unlikely to be snappy
- highly unlikely to bark excessively.
|
- german shepherd
- akita
- dobermann
- rottweiler
|
Group 7 - very high aggression | high reactivity | medium trainability
| Characteristics |
Breeds |
- highly likely to be a good watchdog
- highly likely to want to be dominant
- more likely to be snappy
- more likely to bark excessively
- likely to have average difficulty with training.
|
- cairn terrier
- chihuahua
- fox terrier
- scottish terrier
- dachshund
- west highland white terrier
- miniature schnauzer
- silky terrier
- airedale terrier (rated as having "medium or low
"reactivity" in the UK)
|
Menacing breeds and types
Under the Dog Control Act 1996 dogs which belong wholly or mainly to one of
three breeds and one "type" are classified as "menacing".
They must be muzzled in public and may be required to be neutered. They are
- brazilian fila
- japanese tosa
- dogo argentino and
- american pit bull terrier.
Click here for more information.
Useful links
www.canismajor.com/dog - has
down-to-earth summaries of the pros and cons of various breeds.
www.petnet.com.au - has
an on-line questionnaire covering your lifestyle and preferences in a dog to
give you a list of suggested breeds.
www.nzkc.org.nz - the New
Zealand Kennel website - has profiles of various breeds, and a "profile
page" where breeders talk about their dogs.
www.akc.org - the American Kennel
Club website - has lots of information about dog breeds.
www.the-kennel-club.org.uk
- the United Kingdom Kennel Club website has a range of information, including
the likely lifespan of the various breeds and their grooming requirements.
www.doglinks.co.nz - has
links to a lot of other sites and generally useful information.
