DOG BREED CHARACTERISTICS

WHEN TRYING TO DECIDE if a particular dog breed is right for you, it helps to know a little bit about the care the animal will require. This information was designed to give you a general idea of how a dog will behave as an adult. Not all dogs will conform to these guidelines (theres an exception to every rule), but usually a dog follows some basic breed characteristics. Dogs generally do not view a human under the age of thirteen as being a leader (dominant pack member) and usually do not take commands from a young person for this reason. Do not get a dog for a child and expect the child to train the dog. A child and dog should be allowed to play together as peers, but the training should be the adults responsibility. The following is a list of codes for adult dog size, exercise requirements, coat care and temperament characteristics to help you decide if a particular breed is right for you. Size Giant: 100 lbs. and up Large: 50 lbs. up to 99 lbs Medium: 20 lbs. up to 49 lbs Small: 19 lbs. and under

Exercise: Walks, Games, Trips to Dog Park and any activity with a human Extreme: Maximum: Moderate: Minimum: More than an hour a day spent running free in a fenced area. At least an hour a day, half of which should be spent running free in a fenced area. Half an hour a day, some of which should be a fast game of fetch in a fenced area. All dogs need some exercise, fresh air and a change of scenery, but these dogs can manage with just a daily game with their owners in a fenced area.

Coat Care: Brushing and Combing Maximum: Moderate: Minimum: Shedding: Groom at least 20 minutes each day; professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks Groom at least 30 minutes twice a week and professional grooming every 6 months Grooming once a week to keep skin and coat healthy, bath no more than once every four months (E) Extreme shedding, (S) Seasonal extreme shedding, (H) Heavy shedding (M) Moderate shedding, (L) Light shedding, (N) No shedding.

Behavior Characteristics Friendly: Social: Greets everyone as a friend; can rapidly bond with anyone who is friendly and may even bond with people who dislike dogs; good in large crowds and accepts a lot of handling Usually a one family dog; bonds well with family members; can accept a family friend after some playful interaction; comfortable in medium-sized crowds, but learns to avoid people who dont like dogs

AHS: Dog Breed Characteristics Rev. October 1, 2007

Tolerant:

Solitary:

A small family dog that is usually described as accepting of attention; slow to accept family friends, but will form a weak bond after many pleasant experiences; uncomfortable in crowds greater than five and will ignore strangers or sniff them and walk away Usually a one-family dog; shy with most strangers and can become a fear-biter if not properly socialized when young; will form a permanent bond with its owner, but will avoid most small children children: Very good dogs: (G) Good, cats: (G) Good, small pets: (G) Good, with children, more so than adults (M) Moderately (P) Poor (M) Moderately (P) Poor (M) Moderately (P) Poor

Good Good Good Good

with with with with

Trainability: Barks/Digs:

(VT) Very Trainable, (T) Trainable, (DT) Difficult to train (B) Tends to Bark, (D) Tends to Dig

Good w/ small pets

Good w/ children

Good w/ dogs

Good w/ cats

Breed Affenpinscher Afghan Hound Airedale Terrier Akita Alaskan Malamute Am/Eng Foxhound Am/Eng Staffordshire Bull Terrier Am Water Spaniel Australian Kelpie Australian Shepherd Australian Terrier Basenji Basset Hound Beagle Bearded Collie Bedlington Terrier Belgian Malinois Belgian Tervuren Bernese Mtn. Dog Bichon Frise Blk/Tan Coonhound Bloodhound Border Collie
AHS: Dog Breed Characteristics Rev. October 1, 2007

Size

Exercise

Coat Care L L L H S H H M L H M L H M E M N H M H N H H M

Behavioral Characteristics M M M T M M M DT P M P G P M G M M P M G M M M M M G M M M P M P M P G P M M P M G M P M M G G M G P P M P M P G P M M P M G M P M M G G M G P T T DT DT DT T VT VT T DT DT DT T DT VT VT VT VT DT DT VT

BD B

Barks / Digs B B B D B B B B

Trainability

Maximum

Maximum

Shedding

Moderate

Moderate

Minimum

Minimum

Sociable

Tolerant

Extreme

Friendly

Medium

Solitary

Large

Small

Giant

Good w/ small pets

Good w/ children

Good w/ dogs

Good w/ cats

Breed Border Terrier Borzoi Boston Terrier Bouvier de Flandres Boxer Briard Brittany Spaniel Brussels Griffon Bullmastiff Bull Terrier Cairn Terrier Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chihuahua Chinese Crested Dog Chow Chow Clumber Spaniel Cocker Spaniel, Am Cocker Spaniel, Eng. Corgi, Cardigan Welsh (tail) Corgi, Pembroke Welsh (no tail) Collie, Smooth Coat Collie Rough Coat Curly-coated Retriever Dachshund (all) Dalmatian Dandie Dinmont Terrier Doberman Pinscher Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff) English Bulldog English Setter Eng. Springer Spaniel English Toy Spaniel
AHS: Dog Breed Characteristics Rev. October 1, 2007

Size

Exercise

Coat Care L M M H M M M M L L M M M M L H M M M L L L M M L L M L M M M M M

Behavioral Characteristics M P P VT M M M T G G G T M M M T M M M T P M M DT M M M VT M M M T P G G DT P M M DT M P P DT P M M T M M P G P M G G P M G M M G G M M M G M M G G M M M M G M M M M M M M G G T DT T DT T VT VT T T T T T T T DT VT T DT T VT T

BD BD

BD

M M M M M M M M M M M M M M

BD D

P M M M P M M M M G G G

Barks / Digs B B B B B B B

Trainability

Maximum

Maximum

Shedding

Moderate

Moderate

Minimum

Minimum

Sociable

Tolerant

Extreme

Friendly

Medium

Solitary

Large

Small

Giant

Good w/ small pets

Good w/ children

Good w/ dogs

Good w/ cats

Breed Field Spaniel Flat-coated Retriever Fox Terrier (smooth) Fox Terrier (wire) French Bulldog German Shepherd German Shorthaired Pointer German Wirehaired Pointer Golden Retriever Gordon Setter Great Dane Great Pyrenees Mtn. Dog Greyhound Harrier Ibizan Hound Irish Setter Irish Terrier Irish Water Spaniel Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Jack Russell Terrier Japanese Chin Keeshond Kerry Blue Terrier Komondor Kuvasz Labrador Retriever Lakeland Terrier Lhasa Apso Maltese Manchester Terrier Mastiff Miniature Pinscher Newfoundland Norwegian Elkhound
AHS: Dog Breed Characteristics Rev. October 1, 2007

Size

Exercise

Coat Care M M L M L H L L M M L H L L L M L L M L L M H L M H M L M M L M L H H

Behavioral Characteristics M G G VT M G G VT M P P VT M P P VT M G G T P M M VT M P P T M G P M M M G G G P M M G P G M P P P G P M M M M P G P P G M M M P M P M P M M G P G G P M M G P M M P G P G P P G M M M M M M M P M M G P G G P M M G P M M P G P G P T VT T VT DT T DT DT T DT T DT T T T T DT T DT VT DT DT T T T DT T DT

BD BD

BD

Barks / Digs B B B B B B D B

Trainability

Maximum

Maximum

Shedding

Moderate

Moderate

Minimum

Minimum

Sociable

Tolerant

Extreme

Friendly

Medium

Solitary

Large

Small

Giant

Good w/ small pets

Good w/ children

Good w/ dogs

Good w/ cats

Breed Norwich Terrier (ears up) Norfolk Terrier (ears down) Old English Sheepdog Otter Hound Papillon Pekingese Petit Basset Griffon Pharaoh Hound Pomeranian Poodle, Toy/Mini. Poodle, Standard Pug Puli Redbone Coonhound Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler Saint Bernard Saluki Samoyed Schipperke Scottish Deerhound Scottish Terrier Schnauzer, Mini Schnauzer, Standard Schnauzer, Giant Sealyham Terrier Shar Pei Shetland Sheepdog Shih Tzu Siberian Husky Silky Terrier Skye Terrier Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier Sussex Spaniel Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier
AHS: Dog Breed Characteristics Rev. October 1, 2007

Size

Exercise

Coat Care M M H M M M M L M N N L N H L L M M S H M M L L L M L M M S M M M M M M

Behavioral Characteristics M M M T M M M T M M G M G G P M M M P M P P M M M M G M M P P M P G G M M P M G M G M M M M M M M P M P P M M M M M M M M P M P G G M M P M G M G M M M M M M M P M P P M M M M M M M M P M P G G M M P M M G M DT DT VT DT DT T DT VT VT T DT DT T T T T DT DT DT DT T T T DT DT VT T DT T T T T T T

BD B B

BD B

BD B BD B D B

M M G G M M

Barks / Digs B B

Trainability

Maximum

Maximum

Shedding

Moderate

Moderate

Minimum

Minimum

Sociable

Tolerant

Extreme

Friendly

Medium

Solitary

Large

Small

Giant

Good w/ small pets

Good w/ children

Good w/ dogs

Good w/ cats

Breed Toy Manchester Terrier Vizsla Weimaraner Welsh Springer Spaniel Welsh Terrier West Highland White Terrier Whippet Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Yorkshire Terrier

Size

Exercise

Coat Care L L L M L M L M M

Behavioral Characteristics P P P DT M M P P M M M M P P M P M P P G M P T DT T DT VT T T DT B BD BD

G G M M P P

For more information, please visit

www.azhumane.org
2006 Arizona Humane Society

AHS: Dog Breed Characteristics Rev. October 1, 2007

Barks / Digs

Trainability

Maximum

Maximum

Shedding

Moderate

Moderate

Minimum

Minimum

Sociable

Tolerant

Extreme

Friendly

Medium

Solitary

Large

Small

Giant