by Emma Riley Sutton

Created on: June 06, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2008

Deciding what dog is best for you is a difficult decision and one that should not be taken lightly. As a responsible pet owner, you must know what the dog requires and how you will meet those needs. To make this decision a bit easier, dogs have been grouped together by similar traits, needs, and abilities. Those dog groups are as follows: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. By examining these groups, it will you narrow down your search for a dog. Once you decide on which group will be best for you, you can then choose a specific breed from that group.

The sporting group consists of the hunting and retrieving dogs. They are usually larger dogs. They require a lot of exercise and, in some cases, space. They can be happy in an apartment, but daily exercise (more than just a quick walk) will be necessary. They generally do well with children and other pets, but that is dependant upon the individual dog. These dogs are highly trainable. Animal behaviorists and obedience trainers are often quoted saying, "They have few thoughts in their head unless someone puts them there." Other than thinking about eating, drinking, sleeping and playing, these dogs do not do a lot of thinking on their own. They can be quite destructive if their owners do not put the right thoughts in their heads. Because of this, they need to be taught right from wrong at a young age and their owners need to be consistent. If not, they will want to play with their owner's shoes and sleep wherever they happen to find themselves when they get tired.

My personal favorite breeds in the sporting group are the Clumber spaniel, Irish setter and Weimaraner. They tend to work best in all sorts of homes, although they would prefer a large, fenced yard. They are great with children and do not require as much time and attention as other dogs in their group. They still require time and attention, but they usually do not become destructive or aggressive without it. These three breeds tend to be more consistent in their behavior and are easily trained.

The hound group consists of both sight and scent dogs that are used as hunters. They range in size from the small dachshund (less than fifteen pounds) to the tallest of all dog breeds, the Irish wolfhound. These dogs, generally, are good with children and other pets. They are very intelligent dogs, highly trainable and eager to please. Not only do they require physical exercise, but their minds need to be exercised as well. A bored hound

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