Listed below are five of the most popular breeds of dogs according to the American Kennel Club (2014) top ten, but they are by no means the only ones you should choose from. There are numerous other breeds that would make excellent pets, ones that may fit your family’s wants and needs much better. Do a little research into finding the best breed for you.
Dachshund – This is a breed of dog that looks to be elongated, with short little legs. There are three sizes of Dachshund – Toy, with a height of up to 12 inches and weighing about 8 lbs., Miniature, with a height of up to 14 inches and weighing about 9 lbs., and Standard, with a height between 14-18 inches and weighing about 20 lbs. There are also three different varieties in the length of their coat, short-haired, wired-haired and long-haired. Their life expectancy is about 12-15 years.
Dachshunds are lively, affectionate, mischievous dog which are bold, willful, playful, fun and often humorous. They are clever dogs, but tend to be harder to train. They are also very devoted. They do tend to have a louder bark, which makes them good as a watchdog. Dachshunds also crave the companionship of their owners and do not like to be left alone. But, they also tend not to like strangers. Not all Dachshunds are known to be good with children.
Boxer – This is another medium-large dog, standing about 22-25 inches in height and weighing about 60-70 lbs. They have a shiny, close-fitting coat and they have a life expectancy of about 11-14 years.
These dogs are happy, high-spirited, playful, curious and energetic. They are intelligent, eager and quick to learn, but they can also tend to be stubborn at times. They are a loyal and affectionate dog.
Although boxers are patient and tend to be good with children and are not an aggressive or vicious breed, they tend to need careful socialization with other dogs sometimes exhibiting protective, territorial and dominant behavior. These dogs are active and need plenty of exercise.
Poodle – Poodles come in three varieties, the Toy with a height of up to 10 inches and weighing 6-9 lbs., the Miniature with a height of 11-15 inches and weighing approximately 15-17 lbs. and the Standard with a height of 15 inches or more and a weight of 45-70 lbs. Their coat is profuse and very curly when groomed and clipped. Their life expectancy is between 12-15 years.
Poodles are sensitive, highly intelligent, perky dogs. Some may tend to be high-strung and timid. They are generally good-natured and very trainable. Poodles can get bored easily and as a result get into mischief. Poodles also tend to have a reputation for being people-orientated dogs and do well in the family atmosphere.
Shih Tzu – This breed of dog stands p to about 11 inches tall and weighs about 9-16 lbs. They are extraordinarily cute with an abundance of long hair lined with a woolly undercoat. They have a life expectancy of about 15 years.
These dogs are fairly active. They are alert, spunky, sometimes arrogant, loyal, obstinate, clever and playful. Because of their long coats, they need to be brushed and groomed a bit more than may be required of other breeds.
Miniature Schnauzer – The Miniature Schnauzer is a smaller dog with a general height of about 12-14 inches and a weight of about 10-15 lbs. They have a harsh outer coat, with a soft undercoat. Their life expectancy is about 15 years.
The Miniature Schnauzer tends to be a fairly active dog with a high learning rate. They are very perky, loving, intelligent, affectionate, playful and obedient, but their temperament can be quite variable. They make ideal guard dogs and will defend their home both verbally and physically.
These dogs are generally good with children and can recognize the need for gentle play within a family environment. They do, however, tend to need a lot of attention and affection from their owners or their mental health can suffer.
One of the main advantages of owning a purebred breed of dog is that you will be able to get a hint of what to expect that particular breed to be like.