Dog Breed Comparison - Finding The Right Dog For You And Your Family

Dog Breed Comparison - Finding The Right Dog For You And Your Family

Adopting a new pet is exciting, but it is important to make sure you find a dog that will be compatible with your family and your lifestyle. Here we have compared some popular dog breeds to help you find the pet that is right for you.

Boston Terrier

The Boston Terrier is an American breed that was created by crossing the French Bulldog and the White English Terrier. This breed originally developed as a fighting dog, however, this breed is not aggressive towards people.

The Boston Terrier is a small dog that only stands between 10 and 16 inches tall. Its weight usually stays between 11 and 24 pounds. Their coats are short and silky. This breed comes in two color varieties: a black coat with white markings or a brindle coat with white markings. Some of the health issues that this breed is susceptible to are cataracts, breathing problems, and whelping difficulties.

Mastiff

The Mastiff, also referred to as the English Mastiff, is a large working breed that originated in Great Britain. This breed descended from large breeds prized by the Babylonians 4000 years ago. Stories about this breed's ancestors have been found on Egyptian monuments and mentioned in historical pieces of literature. Today this dog is still used as a watch dog and guard dog, however, they are also used as hunting dogs and family pets.

While their large size may be intimidating to some pet owners, the Mastiff is a loyal and gentle animal to its family. They even get along with kids. However, they are very aggressive towards strangers and they are usually dog and food aggressive. In order to produce a loving and safe animal fit for family life they need early human and animal socialization as well as obedience training.

Chow Chow

The Chow Chow is a Chinese breed that developed for guarding temples. Their name, Chow Chow, comes from a Cantonese word that means food. They most likely originated from a crossing of Mastiff-like dogs and primitive spitz.

The Chow Chow is characterized by their lion-like mane and black tongues. They are a medium sized dog that stands between 18 and 22 inches tall and they weigh between 45 and 75 pounds. Their coat is thick and course and comes in shades of cream, red, fawn, black, and blue. This dog has a tendency to be aggressive, especially around other dogs and animals. They are best suited for families with older kids and no other pets. Some of the health concerns that are associated with this breed include hip dysplasia and entropion.

Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog, also called the Sheltie, is a British herding dog that looks a lot like a small Collie. They stand between 13 and 16 inches tall and they weigh between 14 and 16 pounds. They have a long outer coat and a short dense undercoat. Their coat colors come in tri-colored, sable, black and white, black and tan, and blue merle color variations. This dog is smart, active, and affectionate. They make a great pet for families with older kids.

Dachshund

The Dachshund also referred to as a Weiner Dog, Teckel, or Zwergteckel, is a German breed that was breed for hunting badgers. Their long low bodies were perfect for burrowing for badgers and running through tunnels to flush out badgers and other pests. Today this high energy dog is used primarily as a family dog and show dog.

The Dachshund comes in several varieties. First of all they come in two size varieties, standard and miniature. The standard version of this breed stands about 8 inches tall and weighs between 16 and 32 pounds. The miniature version stands about 6 inches tall and weighs, at the most, 11 pounds. In addition to having two size variations this breed also comes in three coat variations. They are the Smooth-Haired Dachshund, the Long-Haired Dachshund, and the Wire-Haired Dachshund.

Welsh Springer Spaniel

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a sporting dog that originated in Wales. They are a medium sized dog that stands between 18 and 19 inches and that weigh between 35 and 45 pounds. They have a straight silky coat that is red and white. Freckling on the muzzle is also possible and common. Like other spaniels they are friendly, active, and generally loving. They make a great family dog.

French Bulldog

The French Bulldog, also referred to as the Bouledogue Francais, is either a French or a Spanish breed. They are a small dog that only stands about 12 inches tall and it weighs between 22 and 28 pounds. They have short smooth coats that come in fawn, brindle or pied colors.

To care for this breed you will need to rub down their coats with a rough cloth on a daily basis to keep it shiny and clean. Their teeth need to be cleaned regularly and their toenails will need to be trimmed as needed. This little dog doesn't need a lot of exercise. You should be able to keep them healthy by playing chase games and fetch in the park, inside, or in your yard.