My Ideal Dog

Some of the oldest dog breeds in the world are amongst the hound group, e.g. some evidence can be found in Egypt in the tomb of the pharaohs.  Most hounds were originally used for their hunting instincts either by sight or scent.  Beyond this, it is difficult to find generalisations amongst the breed as there are quite a mix of sizes (from the giant Irish Wolfhound to the small Dachshund), coat types and attitudes.

The Hound Group can be divided in two groups:

– The Sight Hound group i.e. Saluki, Afghan, Borzoi, Pharaoh Hounds, Basenji, Deerhound, Otterhound, Whippet and Elkhound which are believed to date back to 5000 BC.

Saluki

Sight Hounds possess a lean, powerfull body with a deep chest and long legs which give them both speed and a phenomenal gift of stamina.  They also have exceptional eyesight, this combined with the speed and stamina are what make them so efficient at catching the intended prey once spotted.  Typical examples of sight hounds are the Whippet and Greyhound.  Using these strong characteristics they can be used for racing or hare coursing.  Others in the group can be described as proud and aloof nevertheless they can make trustworthy companions.  They all will require a significant amount of exercise.

–  Scent Hound group i.e. Bloodhound, Dachshund, Beagles, Foxhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback and various Basset Hounds.

Scent Hounds rely strongly on the sense of smell to follow the trail of a prey, such as the Bloodhound, quite literally follow their noses.  Eyesight and speed is of less importance.

Only second to the Bloodhound, the Basset Hounds are specially good at scent tracking, and due to this very strong instinct could easily wander off following their nose if they are left unattended in an open space.  Early training of walking on the lead is strongly recommended as they can have a one track mind when following an interesting scent, and will pull you in all directions.
Scent Hounds are friendly and social; many have been bred to hunt in packs and therefore enjoy the company of other dogs.

Basset Hounds

After many thousands of years of breeding, and valued for their independence of thought, the breed is generally not the easiest to train; the Afghan which a very independent spirit being the most challenging with the Ridgeback being the most obedient in the group.  Nevertheless they can make good family dogs and can get along with other family pets, however some might be tempted to chase the neighbour’s cat.

Sporting dogs, also known as gundogs (UK) were originally bred and trained to find live game and/or retrieve game that had been shot on land as well as in water and  are instinctively good swimmers. Even without any special training they will be happy to retrieve things from water however they will need to be taught what needs to be retrieved.

They are known for their intelligent and good temperament and make excellent hunting companions as well as ideal all-round family dogs. Due to their high level of intelligence, they are easy to train.  They are active dogs with an inherent natural love for running and swimming and will require plenty of exercise and attention.  If you are looking to train the puppy for gundog work  look  for parents from working stock as puppies inherit their hunting abilities from their parents; this will give him a head over others.

The breed can be divided into four groups, retrievers (retrieve game once shot), Spaniels (flush game), Pointers and Setters (who use their excellent scent to find game, then stay motionless pointing their body towards the game)however many of the breeds are very capable of doing the same work as the others in the group.

There are over 30 different breeds within the sporting dog group to choose from, the Labrador retriever being the most popular breed of all.  The American Cocker Spaniel  and Cocker Spaniel breeds also have a lot of followers.

Cocker Spaniels

Now the time has come for you to choose a dog, your ideal dog. However, what is the perfect breed for you with so many breeds to choose from? You should never buy a puppy on impulse and really think it all through. You ought to find out if the breed is suitable for you and your family before making a final decision. A dog is likely to live for 12 to 15 years and he will rely on you for his every need so finding your ideal dog is a must.

Before you make the final decision you must ask yourself the following:

• Who will be the prime carer?
Who in your family will be responsible for looking after the dog, e.g. who will feed, walk, groom and teach him the basic obedience exercises. Of course everyone in the family should be involved with the puppy care but someone will have to be the prime carer. The puppy will need to be taken to training classes, to the vet and taken out on a regular basis, and you must not expect the children to be responsible for these very important tasks.

• Is your home suitable?
Are you living in an apartment? in a house? have a small yard? a large yard? is the yard safely secured? Is your home in the countryside or in town? Each breed has different needs, characteristics and energy levels. Some breeds will grow up into a very large canine whilst others will require a large area in order to use up excess energy. So before your decide on a specific breed it is important that you consider if your home is a suitable environment for the animal.

• How much time do you have to dedicate to the puppy/dog?
The first year of owing a puppy is very time consuming and you must be prepared to socialise him, to take him to training classes and to walk him on a regular basis. Some breeds will need to be taken out for long walks, do you have enough time for that type of canine, whereas certain dogs, like the toy breed, will require less exercise, so this type of breed might be your ideal dog if time is an issue.

• Do you have any children? Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies?
Some breeds are more suitable for families with children, retrievers are well known to be a gentle breed; also a small dog might be more suitable. Herding breeds like the Border Collie could be troublesome for a family with young children as his instincts to round up live stock is very strong and he could well try to round up your children instead. Is your child allergic to dog hair? You could still own a canine and a breed that does not shed any hair, such as a Poodle could be your ideal breed.

Border Collie

Do your research; check all the pro and cons of each breed. Narrow your choices down to three or four breeds which are suited to your circumstances, get as much information as possible then choose your ideal dog.

In the following weeks I will update you with the characteristics of the most popular pedigree breeds, as one of the advantages of a pure bred canine is that the characteristics i.e. size, coat, temperament are predictable, as they are passed down from generation to generation.

Please bear in mind that crossbreeds can also make wonderful pets but you will never truly know what the dog will look like until he is fully grown. It is quite possible that one of the parents is small. However the puppy could turn out to be a very large canine once fully grown which might not be the ideal dog for your family.