|
Check out the information below, which gives general descriptions of the different dog groups, breeds, and common breed mixes.
Includes: Australian Cattle dog, Australian Shepherd, Border collie, and German Shepherds.
These dogs need work and crave work. They need to live in an active family, to jog, participate in agility, competitive obedience, learning tricks, or playing fly ball, etc. These are not dogs that you can leave home all day and expect them to hang out by the couch at night and be okay. They tend to develop their own forms of entertainment which can consist of spinning in circles while barking, herding kids, animals, everyone, or eating items in your house. These are great dogs that are willing to do anything for their people, but they do not tolerate boredom well.
Border Collie mix – Brilliant, hyper, intense, restless. Border collie genes boost the energy level of anything they mix with. When they lack serious work or activity, they find their own work like herding almost anything that moves. A mix of Border collie may be a bit calmer than a purebred, but expect to have a dog that is too much for the average household to handle, especially when the dog is young.
Their motto would be: you only herd the ones you love.
Collie / Shepherd mix – In the best of both worlds these are superior dogs of intelligence, devotion, trainability, and protectiveness. (Lassie meets Rin Tin Tin). At worst they can combine the silly nature of modern collies with the sometimes-neurotic qualities of some shepherds.
Includes: Vizsla, Weimaraner, And German Shorthair Pointer
Strong-minded dogs who think for themselves. While not uncaring about your desires, their instincts often take precedence. This is an athletic dog that needs at minimum an hour of exercise a day, especially when young, or they may redirect their energy into activities such as chewing, hyperactivity, or jumping.
Includes: Labrador retriever, Golden Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Curly-Coated Retriever, and Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
These dogs are usually very trainable. At their best, these are some of the best brains and biggest hearts in the dog world. At their worst, because of their popularity, they have developed widespread health and aggression problems. With a mix, the likelihood of these problems decreases. Normally these are happy, loving dogs who are athletic, exuberant, kind, and goofy. Most love to play fetch or ball and in general like to put things in their mouth. Retriever mixes tend to chew for the first year or two of life. They can be overenthusiastic with things like leaping up to slay hello or dragging you down the street to say hello to another dog. A crate and sturdy toys are their (and your) best friend until they are older and wiser. Obedience training gives them the direction and manners their enthusiastic personalities need. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are an exception to the retriever group and are usually one-person dogs that can be very territorial.
Includes: Irish setter, Gordon setter, and English setter. These three have very different personalities.
Irish Setter – Has a high activity level and small attention span. Needs patience with training and LOTS of exercise.
Gordon Setter – Handsome, friendly and goofy. A fairly rare breed, so you will not see many of these mixes.
English Setter – Usually not too hyper, smart, gentle, loving, and generally really nice dogs.
Includes: American Cocker Spaniel, English Cocker Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, and Brittany Spaniel.
The best of these are sweet, adorable, charming, devoted, and loving dogs. A properly socialized spaniel is usually a friend to everyone and can be a wonderful family pet. Common issues with these dogs are submissive urination, chronic ear problems, and some aggression. Aggression problems are seen especially in American Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels, mostly due to popularity and over breeding.
Includes: Bassett Hound, Beagle, Bloodhound, Coonhound, and Foxhound, Dachshund
Friendly, usually good-natured. Single minded when it comes to smells. Their smell obsession can often lead to garbage eating. They must be properly fenced or their nose will lead them astray. Easiest way to train these breeds is to use the nose to follow treats. Common issues are that they can be barky when bored, excited, frustrated, or left alone. They are also sometimes difficult to housetrain.
Dachshund – A feisty dog. They have energy, bark, and tenacity. These dogs were built to go down tunnels and chase game. This can lead to a dog that likes to dig and likes to chase small animals.
Includes: Bernese Mountain Dog, Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, and Great Pyrenees
Normally pleasant and fit into many families. Usually tolerant with kids, but need training early because of their size. Even common misbehaviors such as jumping can be dangerous if a 100 lb + dog is does them. Some drool a lot, mixes are less likely to drool as much. Lots of hair and shedding with these mostly longhaired dogs. Keep in mind that the bigger the dog, the shorter the lifespan.
Includes: Malamute, Siberian husky, Samoyed, American Eskimo
Active, playful, strong willed, good sense of humor. Shed heavily twice yearly and moderately throughout the year. Crate training is a good idea because when bored, these breeds can be destructive and have a tendency toward escaping from your home or yard. Many have a high prey drive and are not safe around smaller animals. Early socialization and training can moderate this behavior.
Includes: Cairn Terrier, West Highland White Terrier (Westie), Norwich Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, Jack Russell Terriers, Parsons Terriers, Scottish Terriers (Scottie), Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie), and Fox Terrier.
Can be fun, impulsive, opinionated, charming, tough dog. Should be socialized and trained to interact with other animals. Can be very predatory and many times will try to fight with other dogs or chase small animals. Some tend to be barky and like to dig.
Includes: Maltese, Papillion, Pekinese, Pug, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apsa, Chihuahua, and some from the small terrier group will fit in this group as well.
Charming, bossy, demanding, intelligent, and usually very cute. Toy and small breed problems are usually caused by their owners. These issues often include trouble house training, aggression, barking, demanding attention, finicky eating, and refusing to walk on lead. Treating them like real dogs instead of little playthings will eliminate most of these issues.
Includes: Akita, Doberman, Great Dane, Giant Schnauzer, and Rottweiler
Have a lot of drive, focus, and commitment. They want to be with you all the time preferably doing some kind of work. The key to these breeds is continuous training and constant supervision. When training, keep the words leadership and partnership in mind. These dogs were selected over centuries for a willingness to respond to aggression with aggression. This could even be directed at people if they use incorrect training methods such as yelling, hitting, or intimidation. Larger breeds are also susceptible to a condition called bloat; which is when their stomach twists and they require immediate surgery to correct it.
Akita – This breed can be aloof, sometimes aggressive. They need a lot of training plus early and consistent socialization. A mix with a more passive breed can soften these tendencies. A mix with another guarding breed is a dog to be wary of and careful with.
Includes: “Pit Bulls”, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bulldog
The term “Pit Bull” is a generic term to describe many different breeds based on common physical characteristics. Pit bulls have superior mental and physical characteristics that make them perfect for RESPONSIBLE, active, and caring owners. Most pit bulls are very responsive to training and eager to please. They must have positive outlets for their energy, which is at a pretty high level until they are around 3 years old. Most pit bulls are extremely people friendly. These dogs were actually known as the “nanny” dog of the first half of the 20th century, similar to the lab or golden retriever of today. Obedience training and socialization with people and other animals is key to owning a pit bull type dog. This is a strong dog both physically and mentally and is certainly not recommended for inexperienced dog owners. Common problems with pit bulls are animal aggression that can surface at any age, so they must be properly and consistently socialized at a young age and always supervised around other animals. The public often fears these breeds and the dog and owner can have problems because of this. Many areas have also introduced legislation to ban these pit bull types so moving to other areas can be difficult. Many homeowners insurance companies have black listed the breed and will terminate a pit bull owner’s coverage or refuse to insure them. Finding places to rent with a pit bull type dog is also very difficult as people are afraid of these dogs and property owners also have insurance problems.
Includes: English Mastiff, Cane Corso, Presa Canario, Fila Brasilerio, French Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, and Bullmastiff
English Mastiff, French Mastiff, Bullmastiff and Neapolitan Mastiffs are similar in temperament and can be gentle giants with proper socialization as puppies. They are sensitive to the reactions of their people. They can also be quite stubborn. These dogs are normally clean and quiet with the exception of large amounts of drool. Mastiffs growth rate must be watched closely until they are approximately 3 years old and they must have their health and joints monitored throughout their lives.
Presa Canario, Cane Corso, and Fila Brasilerio are also large mastiff types, but have a differing temperament. They are usually very loyal and willing to please with their owners. They are working dogs who need experienced dog owners due to their strong will and large size. They are guarding dogs that are very suspicious of strangers and can be aggressive with them as well as other dogs. Lots of training and socialization is highly recommended.
Large breeds are also very susceptible to bloat; this is a medical condition where their stomach twists and they require immediate surgery.
Chow Chow – Due to indiscriminate breeding there is an increase in chows and chow mixes. Unfortunately some chows have developed aggressive tendencies with people and other animals. They can be quite unpredictable. Be careful when selecting a chow or chow mix. Chows also have long thick coats that need daily maintenance. These are very loyal, protective dogs with their families, but need strangers to be kept at a safe distance.
Dalmatians – Can be a nice, high-energy dog. These dogs can be loyal and friendly and much like the lab, but much of this depends on their owner and breeding. They need TONS of exercise and training and can be more than a handful in many homes. More than a few of these dogs can be unpredictable or have aggressive tendencies.
Shar Pei – Another breed that tends to be unpredictable and sometimes aggressive. Certainly not meant for many people to own. They also can have many health problems that make them costly to maintain. Shar Pei’s have oil they secrete that some people are allergic to, so make sure you are not one of them before getting this breed.
English Bulldog – Can be a wonderful, goofy dog with some stubbornness thrown in. Aggression is not usually a problem with these dogs. They can have many health issues that extend from head to toe, expect to spend a lot of money and time on medical issues.
Are you ready for a cat?
Here are some things to consider before deciding to add a cat to your home.
-Do you know if you or anyone in your household is allergic to cats?
-Are you prepared for hair on just about everything?
-Are you prepared to scoop the litter box daily and do a full cleaning and change weekly?
-Are you prepared for your cat to want to play at 3 a.m.? (They are quite nocturnal animals.)
-Will you be able to afford regular vet care?
-If you want a kitten, are you prepared for LOTS of playtime and socialization?
-Are you prepared to deal with training your cat to use a scratching post or trimming its nails?
First time cat owners
-Stay away from what is known as the ‘excessive cats’ –excessively shy, aggressive, demanding, or needy as these cats may be too challenging for your first experience.
-Choose a cat that is friendly and outgoing. A cat that doesn’t seem too stressed at the shelter usually means it will adapt well to the home environment and would be ideal for a first time cat owner.
How to choose the right cat for you
-Consider your needs and expectations, what do you want from a cat as a pet?
-Consider the cat or kittens needs and expectations, what do they need and what can you provide for them?
-If you live in a full time working household it’s recommended you stay away from the kittens or adolescents (under 18 months), it will be quite difficult to meet their needs for attention and playtime. Sometimes having 2 cats of the same age group will make it possible to have a younger cat.
-An adult cat that seems outgoing and friendly is always the best bet, especially for homes with young children.
-Also consider the different types of coat cats have. Shorthaired cats can shed as much as longhaired cats. Medium to long coated cats need almost daily brushing and some may need to see a groomer regularly. Shorthaired cats should be brushed every few days to remove excess hair. The longer the hair, the more maintenance you will need to provide.
-Cats can live to be 20 + years old if properly cared for, so keep this in mind when looking for your new companion. Will you be able to give this pet a permanent, forever home?
The Humane
League of Lancaster County is an independent non-profit organization
for the prevention of cruelty
to animals and the care of stray and unwanted animals. We
are a 501(c)3 IRS Approved Charity.
2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 393- 6551 | Fax (717) 295-1391 | E-mail: info@humaneleague.com
Shelter Hours | Privacy
Statement | Terms
of Use | E-mail: Webmaster
Copyright © 2005 Humane League of Lancaster County, All
Rights Reserved.
|
