Breed 101
Name: Golden Retriever
Personality: One of the nicest breed you'll ever encounter: family-friendly, eager to please, calm, kind, confident, loyal to owners yet amiable towards strangers. Golden retrievers are also highly intelligent and love to work, even if that work requires hours of stillness and patience, which a hunting dog was bred to endure. Yet they also love physical activity.
Grooming: Though the golden retriever sports a double coat, it is not as notorious a shedder as some other double-coated breeds. Brushing a few times a week using a bristle brush and an undercoat rake in tandem is the best way to control shedding. Other than that, golden do not usually require high-maintenance grooming. Bathe the dog weekly or monthly, depending on how dirty it gets, and follow up with a gentle ear cleaning. Nails should also be clipped frequently enough to prevent the paws from splaying.
Common Health Issues: Cancer is the most common killer of golden retrievers. Cataracts are also prevalent in the breed. Less common but still a health risk are hip and elbow dysplasia, joint diseases, and skin allergies. Goldens also are more allergic to fleas than the average dog.
Training Tips: Friendly, energetic, and large, golden retrievers can be a handful at all stages of life. Curing your puppy of its propensity to jump up on visitors will likely be high on your obedience to-do list. As goldens originally were bred to carry game in their mouths, chewing is often a problem. Introduce your dog to safe chew toys as soon as possible. Goldens are smart and aim to please, so reinforcing good behaviors with verbal praise and physical affection should prove an easy and effective training method.
Best For: People who, like golden retrievers themselves, love weekend activities that incorporate healthy competition. These dogs enjoy and excel at obedience, agilit,y and flyball contests, although any sort of physical activity will do a golden good. Goldens are also one of the most family-friendly breeds and should be on the top of the list for any mom and dad thinking about bringing home a pooch.
Dog Breed: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Personality: The Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America (PWCCA) describes the breed's personality as "outgoing, alert, active, and very people-oriented," stressing the corgi's need to be "involved with your family or in some kind of work."
Like other dogs bred for herding livestock, the Pembroke Welsh corgi is very "intelligent and trainable, but they are also easily bored and do not do well if confined in the backyard with little human contact." The American Kennel Club (AKC) notes that the Pembroke Welsh corgi "responds well to training," making the breed "an avid competitor in many dog sports, including conformation, herding and obedience."
Grooming: These hardy dogs have a medium-length double coat that consists of a short, water-resistant undercoat and a longer outer coat.
Common Health Issues: As a true achondroplastic (dwarf) breed, according to the PWCCA, the Pembroke Welsh corgi is built like normal-sized dogs and thus avoids some of the health issues present in other small breeds. A study conducted by the PWCCA found that the most common issues to look out for in corgis are hip dysplasia, cancer, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy.
Training Tips: Pembroke Welsh corgis are known for their ability to learn quickly. However, training a well-behaved corgi takes a certain capacity for laying down the ground rules and sticking to them. "The breed is extremely food motivated, easy to housebreak, and needs to know their place in the pack.
Best For: The AKC notes that the Pembroke Welsh corgi "can adapt to a variety of living situations if given regular exercise." This breed is very adaptable, but not recommend a corgi as a yard dog,as they are too smart and will get bored and get into trouble. They need to be with people."
Overall, the breed is "very friendly toward people and other dogs. As for cats, it depends on the individual dog
Name: Cocker Spaniel
Personality: This perennially popular breed is well-known for it's boundless energy. Cocker Spaniels are known recognized for their loyalty.
Grooming:Its beautiful, silky, medium long coat is actually rather low-maintenance.Regular brushing and a trim every few months helps keep the coat free of mats.
Common Health Issues: Cockers enjoy a longer-than-average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.Some major concern in American Cocker Spaniels are cataracts, glaucoma and patellar luxation, in addition to the usual canine health hazards such as hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, allergies, cardiomyopathy and liver disease. For this breed, be particularly aware of IMHA (immune mediated hemolytic anemia), which "is relatively common in Cockers, and almost always fatal. It's a fast-acting, silent killer."
Training Tips: Good news! A Cocker Spaniel is respectful of its master's authority," claims the Dog Breed Info Center. These dogs are fairly easy to train, but like almost all breeds, should be well-socialized as a puppy in order to produce a well-adjusted adult. And while Cockers are generally eager to learn, they're also notorious for having difficulty adjusting to potty training.
Dog Breed: Maltese
Personality: The Maltese is a sweet, loving little dog, who wants to be wherever its owner is. If Maltese cannot be with you, they want to know why. They are affectionate and intelligent almost to a fault.Overall Maltese is a gentle-mannered and affectionate, known for being lively, playful and fearless.
Grooming: Because of the Maltese's coat -- which is naturally long, flowing and snowy-white, a gorgeous trait that ranks the Maltese as an aristocrat of the canine world for over 28 centuries. Most Maltese owners will keep their dogs' coats maintained in some kind of puppy cut. A visit to the groomer every six to eight weeks is important, and grooming in between visits is a must."
Common Health Issues: The biggest problem for this toy breed is periodontal disease.Owners often overlook the oral problem, but in fact, it leads to the majority of deaths in one way or another thus yearly dental cleanings are a must.
Training Tips:Maltese are very fast learners if they feel sufficiently rewarded,however house-training can prove problematic, though not because the breed isn't bright enough. It's because "they're so small that it's often difficult to catch them in the act of something inappropriate. As with most breeds, positive enforcement and reward are the best training tools, and especially with Maltese.A Maltese owner also must train himself or herself not to fall for the pup's inherent cuteness. Be firm!
Best Owner/Animal Match: A good Maltese owner is one who has a lot of time to share. They particularly love bonding time on a walk or on the couch. While the AKC states on its website that they are "great family dogs.
Personality: A delightfully affectionate, playful, intelligent little dog that repays his owner's care and attention with an endearing devotion. Always seeming to be wagging their tails. Outgoing and supportive. These fearless little lively dogs are eager and willing to please
Grooming: The Cavaliers are relatively clean and easy to groom, they do shed. Cavalier King Charles is an average shedder thus we recommends that the owner comb or brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe or dry shampoo as necessary. The tiny tufts of fur located between the pads of the feet and around the ears should be trimmed as needed to prevent matting.
Common Health Issues: The Cavalier tends to suffer from more than its fair share of inherited ailments, including syringomyelia, hereditary eye disease, dislocating kneecaps, back troubles, ear infections, early onset of deafness or hearing trouble. Particularly notes the breed's predilection for "mitral valve disease, a serious genetic heart problem, which can cause early death. Therefore we recommends examining a purebred's genetic history as far back as possible. Cavaliers can be screened for all these health concerns, and the majority live comfortably into double digits as long as the breed is pure. One more thing to note is that, as a small breed, the Cavalier can gain weight easily, so practice sensible portion control throughout the dog's life.
Training Tips: These spaniels are intelligent enough to understand what you want and therefore are usually easy to train and respond well to gentle obedience training. A Cavalier can develop Small Dog Syndrome, which in other words, Cavaliers are just so darn cute that many owners let them get away with everything, then wonder why they've got a poorly behaved dog on their hands.
Best Animal/Owner Match: Cavaliers may be a good choice for those looking for "lap dogs" and "wonderful companions. Retirees and empty nesters find the companionship, temperament, small size, and easy maintenance of Cavaliers ideal. Since the dog's been bred for close contact, be warns that "Cavaliers are not kennel dogs.Because Cavaliers never become 'streetwise' [i.e. aware of dangerous traffic], some Cavalier breeders require a fenced yard as a prerequisite to Cavalier ownership. Cavalier puppies are so small, many breeders will not sell young puppies to families with children under the age of five. An older puppy or adult dog will be more suitable for such families. Cavaliers are "good for apartment life," and are known for getting along well with other pets, dogs and non-dogs alike.
Name: Poodle
Personality: Thanks to their stylish appearance, poodles get a bum rap for being vain and self-centered. In fact, Poodles -- whether toy, miniature or standard -- are one of the people-friendliest of all breeds. They love to please their owners and they are great with children. Originally bred as hunting dogs, they enjoy vigorous play and making mischief. Believe it or not, scientific studies have posited that the poodle is the smartest of all breeds!
Grooming: One look at the poodle's striking, full coat, and you assume that this pooch requires extensive grooming, right? Well, not entirely. A poodle's coat is made up of a single layer of hair-like fur that doesn't shed too badly. Because of this, poodles are considered a relatively hypoallergenic breed of dog. Though poodles that are kept for showing may require hours of maintenance per week, a pet poodle only needs to be groomed every six to eight weeks. Either way, poodles do customarily require a "clip" (basically, a haircut) to prevent matting and clumps of unsanitary hair. Clips can be administered by a professional groomer, although with practice, any pet owner can master the basics.
Common Health Issues: Unfortunately, there are several diseases and ailments that occur more frequently in poodles than other breeds. One of the most common poodle problems is Addison's Disease, an endocrine disorder that can often be successfully treated with medication. Standard poodles are particularly susceptible to gastric bloating that leads to a twisting of the stomach, known as gastric dilatation volvulus, an acute condition that requires immediate medical care. Statistics have shown that standard poodles have a higher rate of cancer deaths than toy or miniature poodles, both of which enjoy longer lifespans and a greater likelihood of death due to old age.
Training Tips: Good news! Poodles are considered one of the easiest pups to potty train. In fact, a poodle should enjoy all types of training, including learning obedience and being taught tricks, as it allows them to make use of their sharp intelligence. Sometimes poodles do not take well to leash training, but otherwise, you should have an eager student on your hands, always willing to learn more. (Still, it's important not to overtax the dog by trying to teach it numerous commands in one training session. Slow and steady!)
Best For: People with allergies, who are likely to fare better with a poodle's single, low-shedding coat. A poodle is considered one of the best dogs for families. It also loves keeping active, and would prove an especially fun companion to those who enjoy hunting and swimming.
Personality: Thanks to their stylish appearance, poodles get a bum rap for being vain and self-centered. In fact, Poodles -- whether toy, miniature or standard -- are one of the people-friendliest of all breeds. They love to please their owners and they are great with children. Originally bred as hunting dogs, they enjoy vigorous play and making mischief. Believe it or not, scientific studies have posited that the poodle is the smartest of all breeds!
Grooming: One look at the poodle's striking, full coat, and you assume that this pooch requires extensive grooming, right? Well, not entirely. A poodle's coat is made up of a single layer of hair-like fur that doesn't shed too badly. Because of this, poodles are considered a relatively hypoallergenic breed of dog. Though poodles that are kept for showing may require hours of maintenance per week, a pet poodle only needs to be groomed every six to eight weeks. Either way, poodles do customarily require a "clip" (basically, a haircut) to prevent matting and clumps of unsanitary hair. Clips can be administered by a professional groomer, although with practice, any pet owner can master the basics.
Common Health Issues: Unfortunately, there are several diseases and ailments that occur more frequently in poodles than other breeds. One of the most common poodle problems is Addison's Disease, an endocrine disorder that can often be successfully treated with medication. Standard poodles are particularly susceptible to gastric bloating that leads to a twisting of the stomach, known as gastric dilatation volvulus, an acute condition that requires immediate medical care. Statistics have shown that standard poodles have a higher rate of cancer deaths than toy or miniature poodles, both of which enjoy longer lifespans and a greater likelihood of death due to old age.
Training Tips: Good news! Poodles are considered one of the easiest pups to potty train. In fact, a poodle should enjoy all types of training, including learning obedience and being taught tricks, as it allows them to make use of their sharp intelligence. Sometimes poodles do not take well to leash training, but otherwise, you should have an eager student on your hands, always willing to learn more. (Still, it's important not to overtax the dog by trying to teach it numerous commands in one training session. Slow and steady!)
Best For: People with allergies, who are likely to fare better with a poodle's single, low-shedding coat. A poodle is considered one of the best dogs for families. It also loves keeping active, and would prove an especially fun companion to those who enjoy hunting and swimming.
Name: West Highland White Terrier
Personality: Although they are clever, affectionate, playful, and highly intelligent, Westies are a high-energy, tenacious, and strong-minded breed.They are big dogs in small packages.
Personality: Although they are clever, affectionate, playful, and highly intelligent, Westies are a high-energy, tenacious, and strong-minded breed.They are big dogs in small packages.
Grooming: Because its coat consists of hair, not fur, a Westie does not shed. However, as with humans, they will lose some hair on a daily basis. Because of this normal occurrence, Westies, as with all dogs, benefit from daily brushing which keeps them cleaner and their hair and skin healthier. Without daily brushing, a Westie will quickly develop mats and clumped hair.Unless your Westie is a show dog, bathing need only take place every three to four months. Similarly, whereas the coats of many Westies who compete in show rings or act in TV commercials are maintained through regular hand stripping and plucking, this is also not essential for Westies. (It's also a hard process to learn and an expensive one to pay for professionall)
Lastly, keeping a Westie's toenails short and consistent brushing of their teeth is very important to maintaining a healthy, well-kept Westie.
Common Health Issues: Most West Highland white terriers are healthy and suffer few serious anomalies. However, as with most other breeds, there are certain health issues that are common to Westies. Some of these include atopic dermatitis, luxating patella, inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary fibrosis, Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease, and craniomandibular osteopathy. Purchasing a Westie from responsible breeders who breed for good health, temperament, and proper conformation in their lines is the foundational prevention measure to insure a healthy longevity.
Lastly, keeping a Westie's toenails short and consistent brushing of their teeth is very important to maintaining a healthy, well-kept Westie.
Common Health Issues: Most West Highland white terriers are healthy and suffer few serious anomalies. However, as with most other breeds, there are certain health issues that are common to Westies. Some of these include atopic dermatitis, luxating patella, inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary fibrosis, Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease, and craniomandibular osteopathy. Purchasing a Westie from responsible breeders who breed for good health, temperament, and proper conformation in their lines is the foundational prevention measure to insure a healthy longevity.
Training Tips: Most definitely a Westie needs structure and guidelines as this breed's intelligence and cleverness allow the Westie to learn quickly. These traits will also cause the Westie to become bored with the same training techniques repeated over and over again. Varying one's training methods and using positive reinforcement will provide interesting stimulation and fun for both the Highlander and owner.
Best For: Many [new] Westie owners, who are not prepared for what it means to own a Westie pup or young adult, will ask, 'Are they ever still, except when they sleep?'"The best answer to that would be, 'You mean yours sleeps?'" Westies are among the most gregarious breeds, which means they are not predisposed to entertaining themselves. They will want and demand to interact with their owners almost constantly.
Personality: Yorkies, as Yorkshire Terriers are commonly known, are generally loyal and affectionate towards their owners, and often hostile towards other dogs. They're intelligent, active, brave, and most often described as being "bold." Yorkies carry themselves with a regal carriage and a sometimes haughty air. Although comparable in size to lapdogs, Yorkies do not share the same low-key temperament.
Grooming: The coat of a Yorkshire Terrier can be striking when well-maintained. Yorkies are known to have either long, straight, shiny "silk" coats, or shorter "soft" coats. With both types, because it is a single coat (without an undercoat) it is not known to shed. In fact, the hairs of a Yorkie are similar to human hairs! They should therefore be treated similarly: daily combing or brushing, with regular baths. Soft coats may need more care, including professional trims.
Common Health Issues: A number of inherited genetic disorders can plague the Yorkshire Terrier. Distichiae is a condition that causes eyelashes to grow from abnormal spots along the eyelid, which can lead to corneal abrasions and ulcers. Legg-Calve-Perthes syndrome causes degeneration in the femur and can present as early as five months of age. It often requires surgery to correct. Portosystemic shunt, a congenital defect involving blood supply to the liver, can also be resolved through surgery. As with toy dogs, a Yorkie may experience a collapsing of the trachea, especially as it gets older. For this reason, it is advised that Yorkies be leashed with harnesses rather than neck collars. Like many breeds, a trick knee (also known as luxating patella) may become a problem later in life.
Training Tips: Yorkies respond very well to training, as it allows them to exercise their intelligence and spend time with their owners. As people often complain that Yorkshire puppies are difficult to potty-train, be sure to devote plenty of time to this part of your Yorkie's upbringing. By sticking to a strict housebreaking schedule, your Yorkie's potty training should be a success.
Best For: Yorkies are a good match for people with allergies; since the Yorkshire's coat is similar to human hair, it is considered hypoallergenic. Also keep in mind that if you're thinking of having more children, a Yorkie might actually react negatively to a new person in the house that he protects so dearly.
