Let's say you've decided to take on the responsibility of owning a dog.
You would like to have a pure bred dog and are wondering which of the many breeds would be the one to suit you and your lifestyle.
Well, this article will give you some tips and pointers to help you in your choice.
In the UK, the Kennel Club has divided all the recognized breeds into 10 groups and we will briefly look at one or two breeds in each group.
Working In this group are some of the big breeds like the St.
Bernard and the Rottweiler which has become increasingly popular and a bit maligned as a result.
This is not so much a fault with the breed as with the owner.
The Rottweiler needs to be owned and trained by an experienced handler.
The Rottweiler has a guarding instinct which needs to be carefully managed otherwise this instinct can be dangerous if misapplied.
This is emphatically not a breed to choose if you are a novice owner.
Hounds Some of the oldest breeds of dog are grouped here of all sizes ranging from the Irish Wolfhound to the Miniature Dachshund.
It's true that some of the hounds can make excellent pets but others are a bit too independent for a family dog.
One safe bet is the Dachshund which originally came from Germany where it was bred for badger hunting.
They are easily trained and make faithful companions and great house pets.
The Irish Wolfhound is a huge dog and very gentle with lots of character but is way too big to comfortably share an average-sized home.
Gundogs Here we have the Setters and Spaniels that have an instinct to track game by scent.
They can be a good choice of dog breed but make sure that as young dogs they are not given the chance to develop their tracking behavior.
Both the Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever can make outstanding house pets and are very popular because they are friendly, trainable and dependable.
Terriers These dogs were originally bred small and bold enough to follow game underground and chase it back out again.
The Jack Russell terrier is a good example that has a lively, inquisitive character that is equally happy to spend the day at home or exploring outdoors.
It is very trainable but don't buy a puppy from working parents with strong hunting instincts, your pup could grow to be a bit sharp towards cats and will delight in disappearing down rabbit holes.
Pastoral Pastoral dogs are a sub-division of working dogs and includes dogs bred for shepherding work.
A Border Collie makes a good house pet; it is intelligent and responds well to almost any form of training.
They do require quite a lot of activity as part of their daily routine and prefer to be kept occupied.
If your Collie is going to share a less active lifestyle then look at an adult dog to judge if it is one of the quieter collie types before buying it.
Toys These are the smaller breeds of dog that were the first to be bred as human companions are were probably the original house pets.
Be aware that some breeds may have potential health problems caused by bad selective breeding for shape and size to suit human tastes, but most of these breeds make excellent companions.
The smallest breed is the Chihuahua who is entertaining and fun and acts like a big dog in a 2.
5 kg body.
Also small is the ever popular Yorkshire Terrier who embodies the typical liveliness,feistiness and intelligence of a terrier in a pocket-sized edition.
Utility Without doubt the Poodle is the most popular breed of dog in this group which also includes the Shih Tzu and Dalmatian.
The largest Poodle is called a Standard, then there is the smaller Miniature and the smallest size is the Toy.
The Poodle is a star performer in American Obedience Trials because it is highly intelligent and learns new commands very quickly.
It makes a good house pet and does not shed hair on the carpet or furnishings because it has a coat of wool.