With Over 700 Different Dog Breeds, Which One is Best for You?

If you really want to drive yourself crazy - quick, pick out the top 3 dog breeds that you would pick today if you purchased a puppy. With over 700 pure breed dogs, some in the categories of toy, small, large, sporting and countless thousands of “mutts” to choose from, which dog is right for you and your family?

Anyone who has gone to a humane shelter or pet store and looked into the eyes of those cute dogs, you know the choice is not easy to make.

However, before you take the plunge into dog ownership, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself and your family to help you make it easier to pick the right dog.

Let’s say you’re picking your “dream dog.” Let’s take a look at the following:

Size of Dog

Do you want a...

Very Small Dog
Small Dog
Medium Sized Dog
Large Dog
Very Large Dog
Or do you have No Preference at all

Coat of your new Dog

How about a...

Short Haired Dog
Curly/Wiry Coat
Medium Length Coat
Feathered Coat
Fluffy Coat
Long Coated Dog
Or again, do you have No Preference

How much Training do you plan to give your dog?

None
Manners Only
Basic Obedience
Advanced Obedience

Exercise: How much time could you spend exercising your dog?

Whatever the dog needs
Less than 20 minutes a day
20 to 30 minutes a day
More than an hour a day

Grooming: How much time would you be willing to spend grooming your dog?

Whatever the dog needs
Once a week for a few minutes
A few times a week, 10 minutes each time
Twice a week, 30 minutes each time

Professional Grooming: Would you be willing to provide professional grooming your dog? (Our favorite question ;-)

No
Yes, one or twice a year
Yes, every three months or more
Yes, every month
Yes, twice a month
Yes, every week

Independence – Approximately how much time will your dog spend alone?

Less than 4 hours a day
4 to 8 hours a day
More than 8 hours a day

Friendliness – This question refers to how the dog will react to strangers who come into his territory.

Very wary of strangers
Reserved with strangers
Friendly with strangers

People – The dog will be living with (or will have as regular visitors)

Small Children
Older Children
Elderly Persons

Other Pets – The dog will be living with (or will have as regular visitors)

Other dogs
Cats
Other Non-Canines

Where will the dog be living?

No outdoor yard
Outdoor Yard
Large Outdoor Yard
ApartmentCondo

Select any activities that you plan to do with your dog.

Don’t Care – Desired – Important – Very Important

Jogging
Companion dog
Competitive Obedience
Herding
Retrieving
Watchdog
Agility Competition
Hunting
Performing Tricks
Tracking
Search & Rescue
Guarding
Weight Pulling
Water Rescue
Snow Sled Pulling
Pointing
Assistance/Guide Sighting for the Blind

As you can see, there are a lot more decisions and answers to questions than just going down to the local pet store/shelter and picking out the cutest puppy or older dog. You must begin to take into consideration your lifestyle, not only now, but where will you be in the next year, or 5 years or even 10 years. Remember, in most cases, your dog will be your companion for the next decade and you want to make sure that you pick the right dog breed for how you live today and tomorrow.

There are countless choices to be made. You can pick from many in the Toy dog breeds category small dog breeds, large dog breeds, sporting dog breeds or the show dog breeds. If you are looking for a pure breed, your local chapter of the American Kennel Club (AKC) has a listing of all akc dog breeds for you to choose from.

Another consideration is do you or anyone in your family have allergies…if you do, there are certain dog breeds that have single-layer coats or hairless that would be better for you to have…for a list of those dog breeds, click on the Dog Facts page in this website.

At Country Waggin’, we’ll help you pick out that right dog or best dog breed if you haven’t already made that decision. We are experts at letting you know the traits of each dog breeds. If you have any questions, please give us a call at (909) 989-9982 or (951) 734-9925.

Complete List of AKC Recognized Breeds

Affenpinscher Afghan Hound Airedale Terrier Akita Alaskan Malamute American Eskimo Dog American Foxhound American Staffordshire Terrier American Water Spaniel Anatolian Shepherd Dog Australian Cattle Dog Australian Shepherd Australian Terrier Basenji Basset Hound Beagle Bearded Collie Beauceron Bedlington Terrier Belgian Malinois Belgian Sheepdog Belgian Tervuren Bernese Mountain Dog Bichon Frise Black and Tan Coonhound Black Russian Terrier Bloodhound Border Collie Border Terrier Borzoi Boston Terrier Bouvier des Flandres Boxer Briard Brittany Brussels Griffon Bull Terrier Bulldog Bullmastiff Cairn Terrier Canaan Dog Cardigan Welsh Corgi Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Chesapeake Bay Retriever Chihuahua Chinese Crested Chinese Shar-Pei Chow Chow Clumber Spaniel Cocker Spaniel Collie Curly-Coated Retriever Dachshund Dalmatian Dandie Dinmont Terrier Doberman Pinscher Dogue de Bordeaux English Cocker Spaniel English Foxhound English Setter English Springer Spaniel English Toy Spaniel Field Spaniel Finnish Spitz Flat-Coated Retriever French Bulldog German Pinscher German Shepherd Dog German Shorthaired Pointer German Wirehaired Pointer Giant Schnauzer Glen of Imaal Terrier Golden Retriever Gordon Setter Great Dane Great Pyrenees Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Greyhound Harrier Havanese

Ibizan Hound Irish Red and White Setter Irish Setter Irish Terrier Irish Water Spaniel Irish Wolfhound Italian Greyhound Japanese Chin Keeshond Kerry Blue Terrier Komondor Kuvasz Labrador Retriever Lakeland Terrier Lhasa ApsoLöwchen Maltes Manchester Terrier Mastiff Miniature Bull Terrier Miniature Pinscher Miniature Schnauzer Neapolitan Mastiff Newfoundland Norfolk Terrier Norwegian Buhund Norwegian Elkhound Norwich Terrier Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Old English Sheepdog Otterhound Papillon Parson Russell Terrier Pekingese Pembroke Welsh Corgi Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Pharaoh Hound Plott Pointer Polish Lowland Sheepdog Pomeranian Poodle Portuguese Water Dog Pug Puli Pyrenean Shepherd Rhodesian Ridgeback Rottweiler Saint Bernard Saluki Samoyed Schipperke Scottish Deerhound Scottish Terrier Sealyham Terrier Shetland Sheepdog Shiba Inu Shih Tzu Siberian Husky Silky Terrier Skye Terrier Smooth Fox Terrier Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Spinone Italiano Staffordshire Bull Terrier Standard Schnauzer Sussex Spaniel Swedish Vallhund Tibetan Mastiff Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier Toy Fox Terrier Vizsla Weimaraner Welsh Springer Spaniel Welsh Terrier West Highland White Terrier Whippet Wire Fox Terrier Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Yorkshire Terrier

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