You have decided you are ready to make the commitment to be totally responsible for the health and happiness of a lifetime companion. Now you need to look more closely at your lifestyle and which dog is right for you.

DO YOU WANT A PUREBRED OR MIXED BREED DOG?
All dogs are a mixture of heredity, environment and chance. The advantage that purebreds have as a group overall is the predictability that selective breeding gives them. By breeding like dogs to like dogs, each breed has developed a certain look and temperament. But even with selective breeding, each dog is an individual. Mixed breed dogs do not have the predictability of heredity. If the breeds of the parents are known, an idea of what the mature dog will look and be like is possible, but there is no way to predict which parent’s genes will dominate. We have all seen littermates who look totally different due to the dominant genes. Today’s designer dogs, such as, labradoodles and puggles are good examples of this – they are in reality mixed breed dogs. Many people will own nothing but mixed breeds. There are always puppies available for rescue that are the result of irresponsible owners. There is no right or wrong choice.

Financial considerations may play a role in your decision. If you spend the money on a purebred dog, does your budget also give you the option of providing the needed veterinary care that a puppy requires? There will be extra expenses during the first year of your puppy’s life. There will be multiple vaccinations needed to prevent illness and spaying or neutering in that first year. Shortchanging preventive medical procedures in the first year can create lifelong health problems and a dog that does not thrive.

GENERAL BREED INFORMATION
It is important to learn as much information as you can about any breed of dog you are considering. There are many good resources available with breed specific information. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has assigned the breeds it recognizes to groups of dogs: sporting group, working group, terrier group, toy group, herding group, hound group, non-sporting group and miscellaneous group. All but the last two groups are made up of breeds bred for similar uses and thus within a group share some basic characteristics.

Sporting Group
Some breeds included in this group are: Setters, Pointers, Spaniels, Retrievers, Weimaraner, Viszla. Sporting dogs were bred to hunt and many will not hesitate to follow their noses if they pick up a scent they like. A secure fence is needed. Their personalities range from mild to hard-headed and most can be suitable family pets for an active household if chosen carefully. Most of these breeds need regular, vigorous exercise. Some generalities to keep in mind for specific breeds follow. Cocker Spaniels, if poorly bred (puppy mills), do not tolerate rough handling or teasing so they may not be good around boisterous children. Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are usually very tolerant with children – these breeds themselves often seem to be perpetually puppylike. Setters are very high-energy dogs and can do well with lots of exercise. Two breeds that can be very domineering and need to learn their place in the family early are Weimaraners and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

Working Group
Some breeds included in this group are: Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Boxer, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Siberian Husky. Working dogs were bred for such jobs as guarding property, pulling sleds and performing water rescues. They are often independent, aloof with strangers and difficult to manage. They need to be around children from an early age because a child’s staring, quick and unpredictable movements and high-pitched voice can trigger the prey drive in poorly socialized adults. Most of these breeds are only suitable for owners with a commitment to formal obedience training and a willingness to establish and maintain control from the minute the puppy is acquired. Many working dogs are prone to degenerative joint disease, especially, hip dysplasia, and should only be purchased from breeders who test their dogs before breeding.

Terrier Group
Some breeds included in this group are: Airedale Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier (Scottie), West Highland White Terrier (Westie), Wirehaired Fox Terrier. Terriers were bred to burrow after vermin so it is not a surprise to find holes dug in the yard and garden. The terriers have a distinctive personality that is feisty and energetic. They can be very independent and tough to train because their idea of how to enjoy life and how the world works can be very different from the owner’s. They typically have little tolerance for other animals, including dogs. Few will back down from a confrontation with another dog of any size. Terriers can be yappy. They can be very excitable and in vigorous play can become nippy.

Toy Group
Some breeds included in this group are: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Italian Greyhound, Maltese, Miniature Pinscher, Papillion, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Poodle, Pug, Shih Tzu, Toy Fox Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier. The toys have been bred to be pets and lap dogs. Because of their tiny size, some breeds will not do as well with children – they can be easily injured and they may resort to biting out of self defense. Some of these breeds despite their small size are quite sturdy. Most of these breeds are easy-care and are ideal for small living spaces. However, some are very energetic and will require more exercise than larger breeds to keep out of mischief.

Herding Group
Some breeds included in this group are: Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Collie, Old English Sheepdog, Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie), Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Pembroke Welsh Corgi. These breeds were bred to herd sheep, cattle and other livestock. They are active, intelligent and determined. They are very focused and need to be kept busy. For some, like the Border Collie, just walks for exercise is not enough – they need to fetch or herd something or climb over, under or around something. Because of the herding instinct, many breeds like to herd children and other animals in the household. If everyone is herded together in one place, the job is done. Most are relatively easy to train and make excellent companion and family pets. The German Shepherd can have temperament problems due to overbreeding. Herding breeds are prone to hip dysplasia and should be purchased only from breeders who test their dogs.

Hound Group
Hounds come in two basic types: scent hounds and sight hounds.
Some breeds included in the scent hounds are: Basset Hound, Beagle, Bloodhound, Dachshund, Norwegian Elkhound.
Some breeds included in the sight hounds are: Afghan Hound, Greyhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Whippet.
The hounds were bred to hunt game by scent or sight.
Scent hounds – who follow their noses – can range from lethargic to those who become frenzied to find and follow a trail. It is important that they have a secure, enclosed area. They can all be difficult to train due to being distracted by all the smells assaulting their noses. They are almost always friendly dogs – they are trained to work with their handlers in the field.
Sight hounds – who watch for movement – tend to be independent and aloof with strangers. They are generally obedient but their intelligence can lead them to become bored with the repetition of obedience training.

Non-sporting group
Some breeds included in this group are: Boston Terrier, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Schipperke, Bichon Frise, Dalmatian, Keeshond, Standard Poodle, Shiba Inu, Chow Chow.
These are breeds that don’t fit into the other groups and have been bred to do a variety of jobs. This group is too diverse to make any generalizations. The following breed characteristics will give you an idea of how diverse this group is. The Schipperke is usually playful with children and eager to protect the family. Dalmatians are independent and athletic and may be too active for small children; they require a firm hand and consistent obedience training. The fuzzy, teddy bear look of the Chow Chow can be deceiving; they tend to be fierce fighters when provoked and are usually recommended for households with older, mature children.

Miscellaneous group
This group consists of: Boykin Spaniel, Dogue de Bordeaux, Irish Red and White Setter, Norwegian Buhund, Pyrenean Shepherd and Redbone Coonhound.
These are all breeds that are recognized by other registries but are awaiting full AKC recognition.

HOW DO I CHOOSE BETWEEN SO MANY BREEDS?
There are many excellent resources available to help narrow down your search. There are questionnaires listing traits that are important to consider to find the right fit and how a breed rates. Some of the traits to consider are: size; haircoat; amount of shedding; need for grooming; activity level – inside and outside; sociability with children and strangers; aggression towards other animals; amount of barking; ease of training; ease of housetraining; and, experienced owner required. If possible, go to dog shows or kennels and visit with breeders of the breeds that interest you. Visit with owners of those breeds.

WHERE DO I PURCHASE A PUPPY?
If you have decided on a purebred puppy, there are many sources, including, good breeders, poor breeders, pet shops, animal shelters and rescue leagues.

• Good breeders love the breed they have and only breed to improve that breed. They are aware of any potential genetic problems with the breed so they x-ray and test the parents to eliminate the problems. They will let you see their kennel and meet both parents if they are both on premise. They carefully choose dogs to mate that represent the best of the breed for looks, temperament and health. Their dogs are home-raised and well-socialized. They have puppies vet checked and begin preventive vaccinations and parasite prevention. They will ask you many questions to make sure the breed is the right fit for you and they will also help you pick the individual puppy from the litter that is right for you.
• Poor breeders do not go through all this trouble. They have a dog they love and want puppies. They find a male of the same breed and let nature take its course. They may want to show the kids the miracle of birth or be out to make a few dollars. There is little concern over the quality of the puppies produced. Poor breeders often run puppy mills that supply puppies to pet shops. They often will not let you come look at the puppies, the parents or the kennel but will want to meet you somewhere with a puppy. Beware.
• Pet stores may or may not have a relationship with the breeders. If not, the store has no way of knowing what type of environment or breeding the puppies come from. Pet stores are a good place for puppy mill breeders to dump their puppies. The person selling you a puppy at a pet store may have little knowledge about breeds and probably will not question you much to see if you and the puppy are a good fit.
• Animal shelters often have purebred dogs that have been left there for a variety of reasons. If you are looking for an adult purebred, you can look there. Depending on the shelter, they may or may not really spend the time with you to help you find the right dog. Some shelters are very good at training the dogs left there and really working with them to make them great companions.
• Rescue groups also take in abandoned animals. Many breeds have rescue groups for only that breed. These people are very particular about placing their dogs. They feel that the dog has lost one home already, so they work very hard to find a suitable home. They will question you thoroughly.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SAY MY DOG IS AKC REGISTERED OR HAS PAPERS?
All this really means is that paperwork has been sent in saying this dog is bred from these adults who are purebred and AKC registered. The AKC is a registry organization that deals only with paperwork; there is no contact with the dogs involved. The registration process is a paper process that works on the honor system. Being registered says nothing about the quality of the breeding dogs or the puppies that result. Quality means the dog has a sound temperament, does not have (or carry) congenital medical disorders and meets the standard for that breed. The standard states what the adult dog should look like and how it should act according to the characteristics that would enable it to do the work for which it was bred. These are important points because that is what you are looking at to decide if a breed is suitable for your lifestyle. So do not make your decision based on a puppy having papers or being registered. A dog can be purebred without being registered. It can also be registered and not be purebred if falsified papers are filled out by an unscrupulous breeder who does not list the correct adults as the breeding pair.