What is the difference between terriers and hounds

These dogs are listed in order of the number of puppies registered in and a position on the list does not imply quality or health. There are 23 breeds of toy dog recognised by the UK Kennel Club. You can find a complete list and further information here: Kennel Club Toy Breed information. Classification of breeds varies slightly from country to country. And that inside each of these little dogs lies a personality every bit as big as their larger cousins.

Healthy Toy Dogs can be trained to be obedient, and even useful, and if properly bred, raised and socialised are no more snappy or grumpy than any other type of dog. There are definitely advantages to owning a smaller dog.

Both in terms of general care, and also for control reasons. It is much easier to manage a boisterous puppy that weighs four pounds, than one that weighs forty pounds.

Some toy breeds have been bred with excessively long coats and may need quite a bit of clipping or grooming, so you need to factor that in to your considerations.

And very small dogs are vulnerable to injury especially in a home where there are lots of young children tearing about. Good health and temperament is just as important in these small breeds as it is in larger ones and should not be neglected. Unfortunately to some extent it has been. If you want to see a future where all toy dog breeds are healthy and happy, it is important to avoid encouraging the breeding of extremes in size, leg length, skull shape, etc.

And to check out the health issues carefully for any breed that interests you. Remember that at the time of writing health issues associated with conformation seem not be listed on KC breed health information pages. Make sure the temperament of the parents of your prospective puppy is sound. No matter how small a dog is, he should be happy and friendly, even if inclined to bark.

It boasts not only some beautiful and distinctive dogs, but also some of the most intelligent ones too. This breed group includes those dogs which you would be familiar with as working on farms. Primarily used for herding livestock, but also for guarding it.

They are most commonly thought of in association with sheep, but are also used today for herding other breeds, including cattle and even reindeer in some parts of the world. In order to work co-operatively with their handlers they have by necessity been bred with intelligence as a priority.

Collies in particular are popularly considered to be one of the most intelligent breeds of dog, with impressive memories for commands, quick learning speeds and they use these skills to win copious prices at agility, flyball and other obedience events. Worked all year round even in very cold or wet conditions, their coats are generally thick, warm and waterproof to deal with the most extreme climates.

Border Collies bred for the show ring are starting to have a slightly different appearance to their working companions, but the difference in the German Shepherd for example is stark. Working German Shepherds retain most of the conformation of their ancestors, but show bred examples have very sadly suffered at the hands of exaggeration through selective breeding. Their hips ride much lower than their front legs, and they have a high occurrence of back and hip problems as a result.

Members of the Herding group of dogs can make fantastic pets for active outdoorsy families. They are full of energy and willing to accompany you wherever you want to go. As a group, they do not tend to be overly pushy with other people or animals to. This can be very beneficial if you are not looking for a dog who will want to greet everyone and everything he sees when out on a walk. The downside of this loyalty is that it can cause misplaced hostility to strangers.

This is particularly noted in the German Shepherd breed, who have been bred over generations to protect herds of sheep in isolated areas. Their guarding tendencies are innate, and without proper socialisation can prove troublesome for friends of their families. The other potential shorter term issue that can arise with a pastoral dog as a family pet, is related to their herding instincts. It has been anecdotally suggested by numerous people that sheepdogs can mistakenly express their herding instincts around children.

Circling them and gently nipping to try and manipulate them like they would livestock. If you see this behavior from your puppy it can be reduced and managed by immediately removing the puppy from the situation. Pop him into his crate for a couple of minutes, and let him out again. You will need to be vigilant in the same way that you would with toilet training. Whenever your pup is around kids, watch him like a hawk and gently remove him straight away any time he starts to behave in this unwanted fashion.

However, with proper socialisation from an early age and correct attention to positive training, there is no reason why a correctly managed pastoral dog cannot prove a welcome addition to a family. As well as a loyal friend and companion. As they have been bred primarily over the years as working dogs, the pastoral group tend to enjoy very good health. There are however some health problems which you should take note of within specific breed groups. There are also some breed specific issues you will need to research if you want a certain pastoral type: for example those related to the Blue Merle gene in Border Collies, or hip problems in German Shepherds.

The risk of these conditions can be reduced to an extent by making sure you only buy a puppy from parents who have good hip scores and have recent clear eye tests. Overall though, the Pastoral enjoy excellent health and should make a long lasting companion for their families. The Pastoral Group is not the largest, but it does contain some of the biggest characters of the dog world! Perhaps the most popular are the following:. Most of the breeds within this group are no longer worked as sheepdogs but are now bred purely as pets.

The cleverness and co-operative temperament of the sheepdog breeds makes them fairly easy to train. They are usually highly intelligent and often biddable which makes them a popular choice with obedience trainers. It includes breeds as diverse as the Dalmation, the Poodles originally retrievers and the Shih Tzu originally indoor pets to the Chinese ruling families.

The origins of each group have affected not only the appearance, but the temperament of the dogs within it. This is particularly important when it comes to the way in which the dogs relate to people, because it affects the ease with which they can be trained, and controlled. Some groups of dog, the herding and gundog groups in particular, have been bred for hundreds of years to work in close partnership with people.

This has made them more co-operative and interested in working with a human partner than some of the more independent breeds. You might not think that this matters at the moment, but you will when you are stood in the rain with an empty lead in your hand whilst the butt end of your dog disappears over the horizon.

Whilst all dogs are individuals, and all dogs can be trained, the kinds of problems that people have with dogs can sometimes be related to the group that they belong to. Because hounds generally are quite independent dogs, some people find them a little more challenging to train than other dogs. Nipping or ankle biting problems can be more common in some herding dogs, and some of our guarding and fighting breeds, may be inherently less sociable and therefore more anxious around strangers.

This is not an issue if the dog is thoroughly and effectively socialised, but it is something you might want to consider. Chasing wildlife is more common in hunting dogs such as hounds and gundogs, and chasing moving objects including joggers and cyclists can be a problem in sight hounds and herding dogs. This is something to consider if you live on the edge of a pheasant shoot, or want to exercise your dog in a park with a busy cycle path through the middle.

This is a common issue for gun dog owners, whose young dogs tend to want to run off and play with or jump all over, any passing strange dog or child. In addition gun dogs, whilst being generally very easy to train, may suffer from anxiety if left alone for long periods as they are naturally sociable dogs. This is not an exhaustive examination of all the different groups of dog, and you will find more information in the links provided. The idea is to give you a flavour of some of the attributes of each group, to help you think about what might suit you and your family.

As you can see there is no perfect solution. No one group of dogs is trouble free. Indeed, with the right socialisation and training, almost any puppy can be raised to be a good citizen. There is no harm, however, in smoothing your path a little. No-one wants to be just like everyone else. Picking an unusual or rare breed can be very appealing. And sometimes this works well. Their unwavering loyalty and remarkable trainability have helped them become some of the most popular dog breeds for families.

Athletic and active, they are known for their good nature and enthusiastic attitude. However, these types of dog breeds need plenty of exercise to stay occupied. Popular sporting dog breeds include:.

Developed to burrow in the earth to chase and catch vermin such as rats, foxes, badgers, weasels, and otters, terriers were selectively bred for centuries as determined and tenacious dogs. Some terriers have distinctive double coats, consisting of soft undercoats and wiry jackets that require special grooming. Some coats are plucked or stripped by hand, which is a time-consuming process that gives these dogs a unique appearance.

Popular terrier dog breeds include:. Toy breeds pack a lot of character in a small package. These types of dog breeds have such spirit and strong personalities that often dominate larger dogs, and in some cases, people, if not properly trained.

Many toy breeds have descended from larger breeds of terriers or spaniels and still retain those inherent instincts. Others ruled the roost as prized lapdogs and royal companions. Despite their small size, they are vocal defenders of their homes and ideal dogs for apartments and other small spaces.

Popular toy dog breeds include:. All domestic dogs were once bred with the purpose of serving humankind, with several Working Group breeds originally performing specific tasks for their masters. The medium to very large breeds that make up the Working Group are well known for their athleticism, strength, courage, and loyalty.

Popular working dog breeds include:. Each of these dog breed groups features an intriguing range of furry friends. Be sure to keep this A to Z dog breeds guide handy whenever you want to learn more about your favorite pooches!

An example of a common herding dog breed is a Border Collie. Hound dogs are traditionally hunters with a heightened sense smell or sight that can enable them to track and capture prey. These dogs come in all shapes and sizes, from extremely quick sight hounds like greyhounds, to perceptive scent-hounds like bloodhounds. Whilst energetic, loyal and fun to have as pets, hounds do not usually enjoy taking instruction.

An example of a common hound dog breed is the hunting Whippet. Hybrid dogs are the result of a specific and intentional choice to breed two different purebreds to achieve an exact mix of physical and behavioral traits.

An example of this is the Labradoodle , the hybrid of a Labrador and a Poodle. Whilst technically a mixed breed dog, this hybrid is anything but an accident. Mixed breed dogs can be any combination of breeds, with any number of variations in their lineage. Sporting dogs are used as aids in human sports such as game shooting, where they are used to find, chase and retrieve game birds. Typically small-medium, they are highly obedient and trainable, energetic and naturally alert, as well as excellent swimmers.