Which dog breed is best for me?

That's a good question! A good source of dog breed information can put you on the right track, and picking the right breed is definitely the first step towards a long and happy relationship between you and your dog.

Now, you may be able to rule out some of the options right away if you have size, space, exercise or time restrictions.

For example, if you don't want to spend time grooming your dog every day or two, choose a dog breed with a wash-and-wear type coat rather than full coated Shetland Sheepdog or a Komondor with those fantastic dreadlocks.

Same goes for size, although this is a little more flexible than the grooming issue. Some large dog breeds, such as the English Mastiff are very big but do not require a huge amount of space or exercise as they are not overly active. Then you have the Jack Russell Terrier, generally a canine whirlwind of energy and spunk - he may be more than your tiny living room can handle!

Breed Categories

Each individual dog breed was developed with a particular purpose in mind and has the characteristics necessary to fulfill that role. Purebred dogs are divided up into certain groups depending on their original purpose. These groups can vary slightly for each registering body, but according to the AKC (American Kennel club) they are as follows:-

• Sporting
• Hound
• Working
• Terrier
• Toy
• Non-sporting
• Herding
• Miscellaneous

Some of these are self-explanatory but for others you may want to check the complete breed list for each group. You can find tons more dog breed information (and learn about the dogs in each group) in our Dog Breed Directory.

Breed Characteristics

Overall, each dog breed within a group will have some characteristics in common - although remember, dogs are as individual as people are. No two are the same, even litter mates can be at totally opposite ends of the spectrum (if you have children you'll have no problem understanding this!), so once you've decided on a breed it's still important to research dog breed information to make sure you pick the right puppy.

You can find a detailed description of each group and a list of the breeds within each group here, but for now, I'll give you a brief overview of one or two categories.

• Sporting Group
  Dogs in this breed group usually love to be active. They are the ones that love to go hunting with their owners, they're often very comfortable in water and require a good deal of exercise on a daily basis. They're often jolly, likeable dogs but can occasionally be a bit over-energetic and highly strung. Examples include Pointers, Retrievers and Spaniels.
• Toy Group
  When considering dog breed information, it's interesting to know that this particular group was bred to be delightful companions, (not exactly work but that's okay). Dog breeds in this group may be small on size but they're usually BIG on personality and are much tougher than they look. They make great lapdogs but are not always docile companions, and sometimes have a tendency to be a bit 'snappy' or 'yappy'.

  The size of the toy breeds makes them ideal for small living spaces and popular with the elderly. Other benefits of their size include smaller 'messes' and lower cost of care (buying something in the size 'small' is always going to be less expensive than the 'giant' size whether it's food, a crate or even a toy). They are obviously easier to control than a 70lb or 100lb dog so that's something else to consider if you're older or slightly built. Examples include the Papillon, Chihuahua and Pug.

For more dog breed information and to get more details on individual breeds see our Breed Groups page.

What about a mix breed puppy?

It's important to realize though, that it can be a bit more difficult to estimate the adult size, temperament and looks of a puppy with a mixed heritage. Even if you know exactly how Fifi's parents looked, you don't know what their parents looked like! Both her parents could weigh less than 40lbs but if her grandmother was a Great Dane, little Fifi could grow MUCH bigger than you expect.

Here's an old tip, but in my experience it's reasonably effective and better than a wild guess - Look at the size of your puppy's paws. If they are very large, and she also has big knobbly knees then she has the potential to be a large dog as her bone structure is big. Small paws and bones lead to a more delicately framed dog but that doesn't mean she won't be tall!

On the plus side, mix breed dogs tend to be healthier overall than the average purebred. This is mostly due to the fact that the dogs within each individual dog breed are descended from the same ancestors - and a fair amount of inbreeding was usually involved. As a result there can be genetic weaknesses and a most dog breeds have a pre-disposition to certain hereditary problems. (Although if you buy from a reputable breeder you will be much less likely to get a puppy with significant problems - more about that later).

Where should I get my puppy?

If you're not familiar with the world of dogs, it's easy to be taken in by claims of 'champion lines' and 'great pedigree' in advertisements. In theory a dog needs to be a great example of it's breed and conform closely to it's 'breed standard' in order to become a Champion.

Now although this isn't always the case, you definitely stand a better chance of getting a healthy puppy who will grow up to look the way he should if he has champions in his pedigree. The thing to look for is where in his pedigree the champion dogs are (if they're more than 5 generations back) they'll have little influence on Fido now.

It is also entirely possible to find a healthy, good looking puppy of a particular breed from parents who do not have champion titles if the dog breeder is not involved in showing their dogs. But it's very important to look carefully at the breeding stock, conditions the dogs are kept in and the health care they receive to make sure you are not buying from a backyard breeder.

If you're looking for a mix breed puppy you have a few options. You can check out the local classified listings, ask around (it's very likely that someone you know, knows someone with a litter of puppies available) or visit your local City Pound or Animal Shelters. For advice on adopting the perfect pound puppy see our Adopt a Puppy page.Animal shelters are full of homeless and unwanted dogs and puppies, all of whom are anxiously waiting for their new family.

You may even find a purebred puppy here (without papers usually) but most are mix breeds. There are also many wonderful purebreed rescues who have dogs available for adoption year round.

Expect to be asked questions about why you want to adopt a puppy, your home environment etc. as these shelters are only interested in placing their puppies in loving, permanent homes. It can be very rewarding to adopt a rescued puppy or dog, (you can read about our personal experience in the story of George & Candy). The website Petfinder lists dogs and puppies available throughout the US.

Why you shouldn't buy from a Pet Shop?

A sad fact but true nonetheless.

If you need more convincing please take a look at THIS. Be warned though.... this is not enjoyable viewing but if it helps prevent the suffering of just one more puppy it'll be worth it.

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