Breed Group Descriptions

PetSmart - PetSmart
April 24, 2009

Companion Dogs
Dogs in the companion group are intensely devoted to their human family and crave first and foremost their owner's attention; social isolation is the worst punishment they can endure.

Most are diminutive, but a few are medium-size to large. Certain early companion dogs were probably bred from species "dwarfs," typically characterized by broad, rounded back skulls; thickened joints; long bodies; and squat legs.

The Pekingese (one of the oldest breeds), Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu, Japanese Chin, and Tibetan Spaniel retain such characteristics.

Some breeds, on the other hand, are miniaturizations of larger breeds, with no evidence of dwarfism. Examples include the French Bulldog and the Toy Poodle.

Among the most ancient companion breeds, Bichons, including the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Havanese, Bolognese, and Coton de Tulear, were brought to the Mediterranean region 2,000 years ago by the Phoenicians.

They all have a silhouette that is longer than it is tall, a tail that curls over the back, and a sweet social temperament, traits inherited from their common ancestors.

Toy-size Terriers are represented in the category by Silky, Boston and Yorkshire Terriers; Brussels Griffons; Miniature Pinschers and Affenpinschers. Most of these pint-size watchdogs are quick to sound an alarm and quite willing to challenge larger dogs over territory.

They are also playful, active, humorous dogs and a training challenge because of their self-possessed stubbornness.

Brains and beauty can be found in a more manageable package in the English Toy Spaniel, King Charles Spaniel and Papillon.

These easygoing, cooperative dogs excel in obedience and agility, especially the Papillon.

The country of origin for both the Chihuahua and Chinese Crested may be in dispute, but their roles as bedwarmers and close confidants are not. Several larger breeds fall into the companion-dog category: the Tibetan Terrier (once used for herding), the Firehouse Dalmatian, and the water-retrieving Standard Poodle.

These household companions have higher energy levels and are much more demanding than their smaller group mates.

Guardian Dogs
Many dogs are naturally protective of their family and their home territory, but none are more so than the guardian breeds, which can be divided into four categories: flock protectors, bull breeds, mastiffs and other guard breeds.

Flock protectors were among the first canine workers. They probably originated thousands of years ago in the mountainous areas around what is now known as Iran and Iraq, and then in different regions developed into the distinct breeds now known as the Bernese Mountain Dog, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Great Pyrenees, Komondor and Kuvasz.

Their imposing size and formidable strength made them effective protectors, while their thick coats shielded them from the elements and from attack by animals seeking to prey on their flocks.

To this day, flock protectors are known for their quiet, intense loyalty. But they are also independent workers that don't readily take direction.

Mastiffs are descended from ancient dogs known as Molossians, which probably originated in Asia and were spread throughout Europe by Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.). Back then, such dogs were used as bodyguards and war dogs, jobs for which their massive bulk, powerful jaws and thick skin served them well.

Like the flock protectors, mastiffs were interbred with local dogs in different regions. Temperaments among today's Mastiff breeds range from laid-back to sharply aggressive.

The Mastiff breeds described in the following pages are the Bullmastiff, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff and Tibetan Mastiff.

All bear the Mastiff physique: a massive, blocky skull and tremendous jaw, a thick and powerful neck, and an immense and muscular body that is slightly longer than it is tall.

Mastiffs can be stubborn and need intensive obedience training early on, since they are invariably stronger than their owners.

The Bull breeds may have originated as early as the 1200s. These breeds were created by crossing Mastiffs with Terriers, and were used for bullbaiting, a sport in which dogs were set upon a chained or confined bull.

Bulldogs were therefore bred to be strong, tenacious and impervious to pain. After bullbaiting was outlawed in England in 1835, Bulldog breeders began to breed out the aggressive traits. The Bull breeds of today, the American Bulldog, English Bulldog and Boxer, all make enjoyable family companions. They remain somewhat protective but are much easier to handle than their Mastiff brethren.

Other breeds classified here as guardians are the Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Rottweiler and Saint Bernard. These dogs share many traits with the Mastiff breeds.

They are intensely loyal to their families and generally range from aloof to wary with strangers, except for the Newfoundland and the Saint Bernard, which have outgoing dispositions.

Herding Dogs
When humans began to raise sheep and cattle, they needed help keeping their herds together and driving them to market. Herding dogs were bred and trained to perform both these tasks.

Some breeds were developed to herd sheep, others specifically to work cattle, while others herded both or herded other animals. These strong, active, medium-to-large dogs played a crucial role in community economies, rounding up strays and keeping loss of stock to a minimum.

The breeds known as cattle drovers move large animals by nipping at the backs of their legs and heels, while other breeds herd by staring down their charges and barking.

Having a herding dog as a pet demands ingenuity and a commitment to aerobic-level exercise, lest the dog become destructive. The owner must understand that the dog's instinct to herd may extend to humans.

However, because these dogs are genetically programmed to work closely with human shepherds, most of the breeds take to training quickly. They shine in agility contests, herding trials, Flyball and obedience competition.

Just keep in mind that raising a herding dog is like raising a gifted child: you must always keep one step ahead of her. The oldest known cattle-herding breeds still active today are the long, low-slung Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

These foxy-faced canines have been driving cattle for more than a thousand years. Other cattle herders include the Giant Schnauzer and the Bouvier des Flandres, now often used as guard dogs, and the Australian Kelpie and Australian Cattle Dog, which herded both cattle and sheep.

Among the breeds developed to herd sheep are the Belgian Sheepdog, Briard, Puli, Polish Owczarek Nizinny, Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Canaan Dog, Old English Sheepdog, Shetland Sheepdog, Rough- and Smooth-coated Collies, German Shepherd and the American-bred Australian Shepherd.

Northern Breeds
No group has a more wolfish appearance than the northern or spitz-type breeds: prick ears, sharp muzzle, broad chest, thick double coat, strong well-muscled body and bushy tail curled over the back.

These confident, vigorous dogs come alive in cool, crisp weather; taking part in winter sports with their families is what they live for.

Most of the northern breeds were developed in cold, Arctic regions hundreds of years ago and since then have served most often as draft or sled dogs.

Alaskan Malamutes pulled heavy supply sledges, while lighter Siberian Huskies transported people at a swifter pace. Samoyeds, seen today in recreational sled racing, originally herded reindeer.

The massive fore-assembly that makes these breeds function so admirably as sled dogs can also make them a challenge to walk on-leash without proper training.

Some northern breeds were used in hunting. The Finnish Spitz and Shiba Inu went after small game, while the Norwegian Elkhound ran down lynx, wolves and elk.

A number of northern hunters, including the Finnish Spitz and the Elkhound, used their voices to alert the hunter to the presence of game. This vocalism was passed on to smaller northern breeds, such as the American Eskimo Dog, Keeshond, Pomeranian and Schipperke, that were developed primarily as watchdogs.

The larger Asiatic northern breeds include the Akita, developed as a fighting dog and later used to hunt large game; the Chow Chow, once a source of food and fur as well as a carting and guard dog; and the Chinese Shar-pei, first used in the dogfighting ring and then in hunting and herding.

Their fighting and guarding backgrounds make these Asian breeds more reserved and at times more aggressive with strangers than other breeds in the northern group.

Scent Hounds
Scent Hounds are gentle if not terribly obedient dogs that are driven by their noses. Their long earflaps and pendulous lips work to gather in scent, making these dogs very effective trackers.

With its nose to the ground a scent hound catches and then follows the odor of its prey, howling out an alert to the hunter. Unlike Terriers, scent hounds rarely kill prey, but rather hold the prey at bay for the hunter.

Exceptional tracking ability can get these dogs into trouble, as it leads them into garbage or off to chase wildlife if they are not on a leash or confined to a well-secured area.

Scent Hounds were developed to hunt in braces (twos) or packs, so they are generally friendly with other dogs. Long-bodied, slow-moving, dwarf Scent Hound breeds (Basset Hound, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen) were developed for tracking rabbits and hares.

Unlike other scent hounds, the long, low Dachshund boasts a feisty, terrier-like personality and can dive down a hole to chase out prey or catch and kill it underground.

The small, well-proportioned Beagle, one of the oldest Scent Hounds (dating to the fourteenth century), can use its nose and speed to circle a rabbit back toward a hunter.

Slightly predating the Beagle, the swift, sturdy harrier is used to hunt both hare and fox. The leggier English and American Foxhounds were developed to hunt fox in large packs.

The Otter Hound and the Bloodhound are the largest of the trailing hounds. They are similar in build, but the Otter Hound has webbed feet and a rough, water-resistant coat ideal for hunting otter in the water, while the bloodhound trails animals and humans on land.

The Black-and-tan Coonhound, a distant relative of both, was developed for its ability to hunt raccoon and opossum.

Sight Hounds
Sight Hounds, dogs that traditionally hunt mainly by sight, are believed to share a common ancestor, the Phoenician Hound.

All bear a similar silhouette: long jaw, refined head, lean muscular body, deep chest, fairly long neck, thin powerful legs and hare feet, which have elongated middle toes that make the foot appear longer overall.

Many of the Sight Hound breeds can be traced back to antiquity and originated in the Middle East and Southwest Asia.

Breeds that were refined in Africa and the Mediterranean region, such as the Saluki, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Italian Greyhound and Greyhound, have short smooth coats, whereas those developed in harsher climates such as Afghanistan (Afghan Hound), Russia (Borzoi) and the northern United Kingdom (Scottish Deerhound, Irish Wolfhound), bear longer, rougher, weather-resistant coats.

The short-haired Whippet is the Johnny-come-lately of the Sight Hounds, developed in nineteenth-century England by crossing the Greyhound, the Italian Geyhound and a now-extinct English Terrier.

lmost all of the dogs in this group hunt primarily by sight, taking off in hot pursuit of game at the detection of the slightest movement.

The fastest dogs in the canine kingdom, they are used today in dog racing and lure coursing and are nearly impossible to catch if they get away.

Their desire to capture and kill prey is paramount, thus many of them need to be carefully supervised around cats and other small mammals, especially when outdoors. With people, the larger sight hound breeds (Afghan, Saluki, Ibizan Hound and Pharaoh Hound) and the Basengi are gentle but not particularly demonstrative.

Italian Greyhounds were bred to be companions and thin-skinned bed warmers, so they are more outwardly affectionate.

Sporting Dogs
Historically, hunter's companion was one of the most important canine jobs. Most of the hunting (or sporting) breeds were developed between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries for different types of game and terrain.

Pointers and setters, the earliest sporting dogs, were bred to sniff out game and then freeze into a "point" or "set" position, alerting the hunter to the exact location of the prey.

Pointers (German Shorthaired and Wirehaired Pointers, Pointer, Spinone Italiano, Vizsla, Weimaraner and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon) stiffen their bodies, stretch their necks forward, and raise a forepaw.

Setters crouch down. The control these dogs display on the job gives no hint of the high-strung behavior they often exhibit when not working.

The development of Spaniels and Retrievers began in the 1700s, when firearms were introduced into hunting. Spaniels could flush birds up into the air or out from beneath dense underbrush; retrievers could bring downed birds back to the hunter from land or water.

To this day these breeds are among the most cooperative in obedience training and are generally friendly and outgoing. Nearly all sporting dogs are high energy. Without several hours of aerobic-level exercise daily, they may become destructive in the home.

Once regarded essentially as country dogs, the sporting breeds actually adapt well to life in urban environments.

Terriers
Terra, the Latin word for "earth," is the basis for the name "terrier," given to a group of dogs bred to tunnel into the earth, or "go to ground," to exterminate vermin.

Most Terriers recognized today were developed in the British Isles, some as long ago as the fifteenth century.

These were working dogs, bred for their abilities rather than for consistent looks, and the majority of them weren't recognized as purebreds until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when The Kennel Club in Great Britain began to set breed standards for them.

Physical characteristics of Terrier breeds differ based on the county in which they were developed and the attributes that were needed to capture native vermin.

The smallest, Short-legged Terriers, cairn, Norfolk, Norwich, West Highland White, Australian, toy fox, Manchester and Miniature Schnauzer, were bred to be excellent "ratters" in fields and on farms.

The slightly leggier Terriers, Border, Fox and Jack Russell, accompanied fox hunters on horseback. Vocal and alert, they also served as watchdogs.

The bulkier Terriers, Kerry Blue, Lakeland, Scottish, Skye, Dandie Dinmont and Bedlington, were used to hunt badgers and otters, while the tallest of Terriers, Airedale, Soft-coated Wheaten and Standard Schnauzer, made excellent watchdogs and family guardians.

The Bull and Terrier dogs, American Staffordshire, American Pit Bull, Staffordshire Bull, Bull and Miniature Bull, are descendants of a long-ago cross between Terrier and bullbaiting breeds, and were created primarily as dog-versus-dog pit fighters.

Early Terriers were bred to fight to the death, to never back down even in the face of a physically superior competitor. These traits are still evident in the scrappy, high-energy Terriers of today.

As a group, Terriers are the most difficult dogs to obedience train, and they require daily aerobic exercise.

Many Terriers do not shed but need to be hand-stripped or clipped in order to rid them of dead hair. Often this makes them a good choice for people who have mild canine allergies.

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