GENERAL FUNCTION AND TEMPERAMENT BY GROUP
HOUNDS
As hounds are pack animals, they prefer not to live alone - humans are good
substitutes for other dogs in this respect! The hounds can be loosely divided
into two types, sight hounds and scent hounds, referring to their original use.
Sight hounds love lots
of space to run around in, but if their run areas are very open, they can get
rather noisy if they can see to far, e.g. a cat strolling by. Greyhounds and
Whippets are two members of this subgroup, and love to go hunting for hours -
unfortunately they often forget to look out for obstacles when they are chasing
and may occasionally leave bits and pieces of their skin behind on the fences.
They are affectionate pets, making good house dogs and will get on well with
cats and other pets if they have not been taught to 'chase'.
Scent hounds, while not
quite as noisy have a habit of putting their nose to the ground and disappearing
- if not recalled they can go for kilometres before they lift their heads!
Popular members of this select group include the Basset and the Beagle. They are
very independent dogs particularly in relation to 'rules and regulations', and
may gently but firmly, resist attempts to control them. Be braver and firmer in
your resolve than they are, and you may eventually have an obedient dog.
Another hound
seen frequently is the Dachshund - in all its sizes and coat types. These little
dogs were developed as badger hunters and love to go investigating, preferably
down rabbit holes. Unfortunately once they are down there they may wish to stay
there for a while or, if they are lucky enough to get a rabbit, they often
cannot fit through the tunnels on the way out. My family owned one and we
regularly had to dig our dog out of deep tunnels in the most inaccessible
countryside. We always travelled with a shovel!
Hounds are,
as a rule, very exuberant individuals and love to be taken out (on a lead for
safety) for walks and social trips. This group does not, on the whole, make good
obedience dogs, as their minds (or noses and eyes) are far away and they will
often refuse to concentrate for any great length of time.
The hound
breeds make good pets with children as long as they (the children) are old
enough to be 'pounced’ on, as hounds love to play and out of sheer exuberance
they may throw their whole weight on top of you!
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GUN
DOGS
Gun dogs as a rule are affectionate, almost too much so. For people who have an active lifestyle, plenty of room in the backyard and lots of patience while the dog becomes more mature, this could be the dog.
They also love to swim - you do not even need to have a river as a pool or even a puddle will do! Several of the breeds, e.g. Golden Retrievers and Labradors, make good obedience dogs, provided you can make them 'sit' in one spot for long enough.
Most of the group make excellent pets particularly for older children. One of the most popular of these is the Golden Retriever, which is reasonably quiet and not over active, yet is good with children and is obedient. The Labrador retriever is another such breed, but it can be very boisterous and may take several years to sober up and behave like an adult (usually around four years). Labradors are often attracted by washing hanging on the clothes line as a source of games.
The Setters - Irish, English and Gordon, Springers and Cocker Spaniels, are all very good family pets, but they adore getting out to go hunting, particularly the Springers as they 'spring' over many fences.
Good fencing is a must with all dogs, but particularly so with this group as, of they do get out, they are apt to be feathered-brained when on the roads.
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WORKING DOGS - This group is another active one, although not as boisterous generally as the gun dogs. The various breeds within this grouping have been developed mainly as herding and protective animals. Many of the breeds are of dual function 'working' the herd and guarding against predators.
They need a reasonable amount of room, but will tolerate small areas provided they get out regularly. Some, e.g. Cattle Dogs, are prone to boredom if they have nothing to do and they may round up the washing off the line, or guard the chickens , preventing them from grazing. I have seen one bored Cattle Dog round up a pile of stones and then scatter them for the sheer activity of it!
Working dogs especially the bitches cope well with children and are good at guarding them from harm. This can even extend to pulling a child out of water (much to the child's disgust) when all the child wants to do is go swimming. Several of the breeds excel in obedience, e.g. German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds, Briards and Border Collies. Those that cannot concentrate for long periods e.g. Bearded Collies, although they make excellent children's pets, are not the greatest at remembering where they are and what they are doing, particularly in the middle of an obedience trial.
Collies and Shelties make wonderful children's pets as they are very gentle and easily handled - rarely if ever will one bit, even under more than reasonable provocation.
The Border Collie is a born agility dog. They are so quick, both on their feet and mentally. They excel in this area, while occasionally overkeen, they move like greased lightening through an agility course, and they love it!
The Corgi's are the smallest members of this group and are probably the least likely to be seen in the agility staked. Despite this, they are very active little dogs and, like the other breeds in this group, were developed as a working dog to work, believe it or not, with cattle! Rarely seen with the said cows nowadays, the Corgi is one of the more popular pet dogs in homes all around the world.
Some working dogs are 'all rounders', e.g. German Shepherds, who are good at numerous tasks including obedience, guarding and tracking, while being good pets with all children of all ages. Cattle Dogs in addition to working animals, if required, make very good guard dogs and would almost be the most popular household guard dog in Australia, after the German Shepherd.
Kelpies, on the other hand, make excellent sheep dogs, but are too 'soft' in temperament to make good guard dogs (on the whole), as they love to turn upside down to say 'hello' to everyone they meet!
Any animal that is used for guarding purposes (this also applies to other guarding breeds in other groups), should be well socialised, as 'vicious' guard dogs are predominantly man-made to suit their owners needs. People who are wary of dogs should not go for breeds (particularly male dogs) that may become over protective. More is said further on in this chapter in the section on Temperament. When buying a puppy for a family pet and a guard dog - e.g. German Shepherd, Cattle Dog, Rottweiler - good temperament is essential in both the dogs parents and offspring.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A LIST OF WORKING DOGS
Terriers were bred and selected to be aggressive hunters and killers of vermin, e.g. mice, rats and other terriers. These days, in the minds of the terriers at least, the 'vermin' come in all sizes, including the Great Dane down the road. Ad terriers generally come in a smaller size range they do not always win!
The terrier temperament is, for the most part very affectionate, particularly towards humans. Their friendliness does not, however extend to other dogs (especially the same sex), and cats! Equal fervour is put into the fighting as into the affection given to their human(s). To these little dogs, fighting is as natural as breathing; some, I am sure, live for it.
Most of the breeds make very good pets for children and adults, however, they do not like to be crossed. They are very stubborn when it comes to having something 'nasty' that needs to be done to them e/g/ injections at the veterinary surgeon or nail cuts; their reactions can be a nightmare (especially to the vet's delicate ears) and many a docile terrier temporarily turns into a friend.
For this reason, I feel that terriers are not the best breed to have near very young children, particularly the child that likes to pull and prod at eyes and ears, or clasp the dog around the neck in a death grip! It is often necessary to be very firm with your terrier for under that loving exterior lies a great deal of stubbornness.
Probably the most popular breed of this group today is the Bull Terrier. It is said by may to have the ugliest head of any dog, a fact that devoted owners hotly refute. 'Bullies' are very affectionate, amusing dogs with the quaint habit of staring at things that only they can see, e.g. 'fairies under bushes' for 5-10 minutes at a time! They are sudden death to any strange animal intruder. They rarely attack humans as they are fond of them and many will tolerate cats they have grown up with, and defend them through thick and thin. They seem to have heads made out of concrete - it takes time for the bright ideas to emerge! They are not the best pet for a young child, as they are too boisterous and may consider the child to be below them n the 'pecking' order.
For slightly older children (medium sized upwards), a terrier can be an excellent pet - I have never seen a better dog for exhausting overactive children than an Australian Terrier! The 'Aussie' is a very good pet for smaller backyards as they do not take up much room and are invaluable mouser - much better than cats! Another excellent mouser in the field s the Jack Russell is a very popular 'activity' dog, they are in on any activity going and would even go mountaineering if someone could keep them from wanting to lead the way.
Terriers come in many shapes and sizes. Among the rarer ones is the Dandie Dinmont and it is often hard to find a local breeder. This is one of the gentlest Terriers, devoted to becoming your lap dog and permanent bedfellow. They have enormous eyes and prefer to spend their life looking soulfully up to you - from a distance of 20cm, that is, from your lap!
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UTILITY DOGS - The dogs that make up this group are not as similar in origin and purpose as the preceding groups. They are primarily working dogs, which in many countries are probably still listed within the group.
The include Dobermanns, Rottweilers and Boxers; dogs that have been bred for working purposes with the emphasis on guarding and/or defense work. While all are naturally protective, they do differ in temperament to a certain extent.
Some within the group, e.g. Bernese Mountain Dogs and St Bernards, were developed primarily as working dogs and secondarily for defense. Many, such as the Samoyed and the Husky, are from colder climates and mountainous terrain and have thick coats. Some of the mountainous breeds, particularly the Samoyed, are used to roaming over the hills and dales are so find of wandering that good fences are needed,
Boxers are a very active breed and never appear to get tired, while Saint Bernards have varying energy levels. Dobermanns and Rottweilers can be very protective, occasionally too much so. Dobermanns and Rottweilers also have a temperament that is very easy to train for guard work - but they can be very hard to train out of a bad habit.
Generally breeds within the group can be stubborn, and may 'resist' training - at least this is how it can appear to the novice owner!
Stubborn dogs should not be spoilt or left untrained, especially the male dogs and members of the larger breeds, as control is often lost with increasing size - particularly from the veterinarians point of view!
Many utility dogs make excellent companions for all sorts of activities and circumstances, especially the bitches. I would stress, however, that if you are about to become a first dog owner, choose a female puppy with which to get used to the breed. Females are still naturally defensive, but lack the dominating type of aggression occasionally seen in the males.
Most of the breeds within this group have lovely temperaments and, if handled properly, make very good dual purpose pets.
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NON-SPORTING DOGS - This is a rather mixed group. This group contains some terriers, but also some working breeds e.g. the Dutch Barge Dog (Keeshond). Sizes vary from large breeds, such as Great Danes, to the small breeds, such as the Shih Tzu. The breeds within this group are not particularly specialised as far as guarding or purpose of use,
Origins vary greatly across the group for example, Dalmatians were developed as carriage dogs and Shih Tzu's were originally temple guard dogs. Dalmatians as a breed love lots of exercise and can be a little boisterous - they are not particularly known as intellectual heavyweights, more as 'featherweights'.
Dalmatians love to get out and about and for long excursions. They are also the 'smiliest' breed in dogdom, and you very quickly get used to wrinkled, crinkled lips.
Shih Tzu's, on the other hand, prefer a sedentary lifestyle (going outside is occasionally a chore), but are good barkers when there are visitors or when the telephone rings (you obviously couldn't hear it, so they have to get your attention somehow). The Shih Tzu' breed is among the smaller end of the group and these little dogs make delightful house pets. They are affectionate, rarely if ever dream of being nasty, and are ideal dogs to have around children and older people.
Apart from the Poodles, few breeds of this group are regularly used for obedience. Poodles ( all three sizes) are very intelligent and are quick to learn. While not necessarily the most courageous breed, Poodles have worldwide popularity as intelligent and happy dogs. As this breed was originally developed as a water retriever, not only are they natural retrievers but they also have a very dense waterproof coat. As they do not drop or shed coat (it is actually more like wool than hair), there is a lot of coat care associated with this breed. On the plus side, they are suitable for most people who are allergic to normal dog hair.
The Great Dane is a breed that was developed mainly for guarding, but not all are particularly brave (occasionally you can get extremes of aggression and shyness). Good temperaments is most important in all breeds, more so in the giant breeds. As these are very bog dogs, they do need a fair amount of living space, but they are rather lazy, and will cope with smallish backyards as long as they get out occasionally.
If you wish to own a Great Dane, be prepared to buy a bigger car and a separate lounge (for the dog of course). They love to 'lean' on objects, particularly legs - human, table, chair.....Buy sturdy furniture!
CLICK HERE TO SEE A LIST OF NON-SPORTING DOGS
TOY DOGS - This term covers a hotch potch of breeds that includes some of the smaller terriers and a mixture (in origin at least) of little breeds. Today the breeds within this group are bred and kept as affectionate house pets, and make ideal lap dogs.
Most of the group have very good temperaments and are terrific children's pets, especially the Cavaliers. Those breeds in this group with terrier in them do not mix well with very small children.
The other major consideration with this group is that they are, on the whole, very small and consequently very fragile (e.g. Chihuahuas and Italian Greyhounds) and fractures can occur easily. These fragile dogs are more suited to people with slightly older children. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, are more robust, have been bred for centuries as lap dogs and are still excellent at their work. Cavaliers are particularly good dogs for the older person as they are big enough to see easily, require very little coat care and love to be nursed (and don't weigh too much), so they get my vote of ten out of ten for the top sedentary lifestyle dog.
For people with apartments or limited backyards, toy dogs are ideal sized pets. All dogs in the group love to be held and cuddled - not by the vet however! They are loyal to their owners and most prefer not to be held by strangers. Several breeds are rather highly strung (mildly neurotic, the uncharitable vet may mutter), in particular the Miniature Pinschers and the occasional Silky Terrier and Chihuahua.
Mostly this is a result of insufficient socialisation with other humans, apart from the owners, and unfortunately a lack of discipline given by the owners. Well-socialized and disciplined toy dogs, even if nervous of strange surroundings, make for a far nicer dog which is easily handled by strangers if the need arises.
Many toy breeds end up rather fat due to overindulgent owners, and often develop weight and heart problems in later life, so care should be taken not to overfeed. Often they have bad breath from excessive soft diets and need to be given hard biscuits to keep the teeth clean.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A LIST OF TOY DOGS
Information contained from - "The New Dog Owner's Manual" - Written by Dr Karen Hedberg