Breed Characteristics

• Companion Dogs- Within this group of dogs, you´ll find the typical family pet: friendly, tempered, and typically small. This article introduces the common companion dog and then it describes what you can expect from such an affable breed.
  
• Terrier Dogs- Terrier dogs are the canines originally bred to chase after and catch vermin. From rats to rabbits, terriers are experts at the job and their predatory nature passes on to each generation. This characteristic is why owners must be careful to leash them in new environments. They’re small, they’re feisty, and they’re fast! But that’s what makes them fun.
  
• List of Dogs Breeds By Activity-

  In our article about choosing a dog by activity level, we introduced a short list of dog breeds with high, moderate, and low activity lifestyles. Here’s a longer list of popular dog breeds and the activity level of each.

• Dog Breeds by Origin-

  Have you ever been out walking your dog, and found yourself at a loss of words when someone asks, "Where in the world does that dog come from?" If so, you can use the following chart to locate the origin of your dog, and proudly state the birthplace of its breed.

• Herding Dogs- Herding dogs are bred as farm animal ‘guard dogs’ even though you’ll find them in all parts of society. They’re extremely smart and energetic, which means if you’re thinking about adopting one, you’ll need to be energetic yourself! Check out our articles about popular dog sports and everyday dog activities to find some fantastic activities for these types of dogs. These canines will demand a companion who’s just as much a thrill seeker that they are!
• Northern Dogs- Northern dogs are named so due to their geological origin. If you can imagine the typical husky, then you’re picturing the typical northern dog since many of them share similar body characteristics: tall alert ears, thick coats, and curled tails.
  
• The Tiny Toy Poodle-

  The tiny toy poodle may be referred to as the teacup poodle, but there really isn’t enough ‘recognized’ difference between it and the toy poodle other than size. By ‘recognize,’ we mean authorized by the AKC (American Kennel Club). Toy poodles in general fall under 10 pounds and 10 inches tall. But so do tiny poodles. Unlike with the standard, miniature, or toy poodle, there isn’t a definitive weight or height limit that separates the tiny poodle from the toy poodle.
  

• About the Teacup Poodle- Just like the tiny poodle, the teacup poodle is recognized by the AKC as a toy poodle. There really isn’t enough ‘recognized’ difference between it and the toy poodle other than height and weight. And by ‘recognize,’ we mean authorized by the AKC (American Kennel Club). Teacup poodles are therefore, acknowledged as toy poodles.
• Great Watchdogs-

  Looking for a great watch dog? The following list describes dog breeds that are naturally cautious of strangers. The intensity of that caution varies across a spectrum of simple barking to outright aggression, so if you have children in the home, read our article about the best dogs for children to find a watchdog in this list that won’t display aggression towards the kids!

• Dogs Breeds by Environment-

  The following is a reference chart that lists dog breeds according to their most suitable environment. You may find this information handy if you’re interested in adopting a dog, but discover that your living space or lifestyle is inappropriate for the type of dog that you want to own.

  Dog Breeds That Will Flourish In A Rural Environment

• Dog Breeds by Height-

  The following is a reference chart that lists dog breeds by height (in ascending order). You may find this information handy if you’re interested in adopting a dog, but discover that your living space or lifestyle restricts the height of the type of dog you may own. Note that the heights listed below describe the potential heights of the following dog breeds. That is, they describe the utmost number of inches that a particular breed may grow to reach, rather than an exact height.

  Dog Breeds Under 10 Inches

• Dog Breeds by Size-

  The following is a reference chart that lists dog breeds by size (in descending order). You may find this information handy if you’re interested in adopting a dog, but discover that your living space or lifestyle restricts the size of the type of dog you may own. We’ve organized these dogs according to the assumption that small weigh between 15 - 25 lbs, medium dogs weigh between 25 - 50 lbs, and large dogs weigh over 50 lbs. Size categories from other references and your vet may differ from what we offer below.

• Dog Breeds Ordered By Weight-

  The following is a reference chart that lists dog breeds by weight (in ascending order). You may find this information handy if you’re interested in adopting a dog, but discover that your living space or lifestyle restricts the weight of the type of dog you may own. Note that the weights listed below describe the potential weights of the following dog breeds. That is, they describe the utmost number of pounds that a particular breed may grow to weigh, rather than an exact weight.

• Hound Dogs-

  Hound dogs, also known as scenthounds or sighthounds, have a misleading appearance that gives many people the wrong impression. At first sight, they look like somber, lethargic little things when in reality, they're quite active. The scenthounds for example, are the hound dogs that seemingly live and breath with their noses wedged into the ground. It’s a position that they’ve been bred to crave as hunting companions, and if they’re not secured by a leash or with a fence, they’ll follow a scent for days.

• Standard Poodle Specifications and Qualities- There are three different types of poodles which really only differ in size. There’s the toy poodle, the miniature poodle, and the standard poodle. Being the larger of the three, the standard poodle lives a long 12 – 14 years. This article describes standard poodles and what differentiates them from their smaller counterparts.
• Miniature Poodle Specifications and Qualities- Of the three available poodle sizes, the miniature poodle sits right in the middle and it’s the most popular as well. It’s bigger than the toy poodle, but smaller than the standard poodle. This article looks at miniature poodle characteristics, and explains how they differ from the standard and toy poodle.
• Gun Dogs (Hunting Dogs)- Also known as 'sporting dogs,' gun dogs make excellent family pets. Some would go so far as to say that they make the perfect family pet, which is a hard point to argue considering the fact that they're naturally loyal, sociable, and affectionate. Yet knowing their history, you might not have ever suspected such. A gun dog is also known as a hunting dog!
• Guard Dogs- Also known as guardian dogs, this group of canines accompanies an important warning. The natural predisposition of guard dogs makes them extremely wary of strangers in a way that could be dangerous if they aren’t properly trained and socialized. We bet if we name just a few of the dogs that belong in this group, you’ll immediately know what we’re talking about. Would you like to try it? How about the Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, or Pitt Bull?
  
• Drawbacks of the Poodle Dog Breed-

  With all this talk about Poodles, it’s easy for anyone to think that they’re gifts from heaven. Of course those who actually own Poodles and/or take care of them every day have a very different perspective. Poodles are terrific dogs and they’re even better companions. But they’re not perfect. This article describes some of the drawbacks of the Poodle dog breed.

• Poodle Hybrid Dogs- As you may not know, part of a breeder’s job is to improve the characteristics of the dog it raises. He does this through careful parental selection, special diet, and careful record keeping. A breeder may seek to improve a dog’s temperament for example, and take care to breed only the most obedient of dogs. Or a breeder may try to improve a dog’s show quality and breed dogs with a history of specific talents. The poodle hybrid is the mark of such breeding, and it aims to produce a “new and improved” canine through poodle hybrid puppies.
  
• Parti Poodles- No, we’re not talking about Poodles that like to party, although that would certainly be interesting to watch! Parti Poodles are partially colored Poodles instead – and they display more than one color – certainly a justifiable reason for the name. (Just think of how the pattern on speckled Poodles resembles party confetti).
  
• Toy Poodle Specifications and Qualities-

  A Poodle's Size = A Poodle's Life Span

  
  The life span of a poodle may well depend on its size, but not in the way that you might think. The toy poodle -- measuring under ten inches at the withers and weighing only five to ten pounds -- surprisingly outlives 23 - 28 inch high standard poodles that weigh between 40 and 55 pounds -- and 10 - 15 inch high miniature poodles that weigh between 12 - 15 pounds!
• “Toy” Yorkies Fall into The Toy Dog Group- In general, toy dogs are very small canine companions. They're purposefully bred at a small weight and height, and their appearances hardly differ from their larger counterparts (if they even exist). The Yorkshire Terrier (a.k.a. Yorkie) for example, is the smaller version of the larger terrier. It's so small in fact, people often carry their Yorkies around in a purse or large pocket (better known as a dog carrier). Because they belong to the toy dog group, Yorkshire Terriers are therefore sometimes referred to as toy Yorkies.