Dog Type
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Whether you&#;re looking for a specific breed or a mixed breed, every dog has their own personality and individual needs. It&#;s important to think carefully about what type of dog will best suit you and your lifestyle and whether you can provide them with the necessary care. To help get you thinking about what type of dog will fit well with your family ask yourself the following.
Am I looking for:
A very active, moderately active, or less active dog? (remembering less active dogs still need daily exercise)
A dog that is already well trained? A dog that needs minimal training? Or a dog that needs me to start with the most basic training?
A dog that is good with children? Good with strangers?
A quiet, calm dog? Or a more playful, outgoing dog?
A dog that can already be walked easily on a lead? Or a dog that needs me to teach it how to walk on a lead?
A small, medium or large-sized dog?
A dog with high, moderate or low grooming requirements?
While every dog is its own unique personality, there are some general behavioural traits associated with different breed types. Thinking about these traits can help you choose the right type of dog for you:
Terrier or Terrier Cross: e.g. Jack Russell Terriers, Fox Terriers, Australian Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers (Staffies).
Terrier-type dogs were originally bred for chasing rats and mice on farms, so they love to chase, dig and bark. They are often fearless towards other dogs and need lots of stimulation and exercise. They can be skilled escapers who can squeeze through small gaps. Staffie-type dogs tend to be less independent than other terriers and often don&#;t cope alone.
Working Dogs: e.g. Heelers, Kelpies, Border Collies, Collies.
Originally bred to work with sheep and cattle, working dogs love to round things up (sometimes children!). They are intelligent and easy to train but they need lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation. These dogs are not generally suited to a suburban backyard lifestyle.
Sight Hounds: e.g. Greyhounds, Whippets
Originally bred for racing, these dog types are very fast and like short bursts of exercise. They have a thin coat and skin making it difficult for them to regulate their body temperature, which means they need warmth in the cooler weather. They love to be with people and will be couch potatoes if given the chance.
If you are planning to adopt or have already adopted a greyhound, we recommend downloading our Greyhound Adoption Booklet.
Toy/lapdogs: e.g. Shitzus, Chihuahuas, Papillions, Pomeranians, Poodles, Maltese, Silky Terriers.
These are small, light dogs specifically bred for companionship, so they like to be with people most of the time. They are best suited as an indoor (on your lap) dog and may become anxious and bark if left outside alone. Many of these breeds have high maintenance grooming requirements.
Guarding Breeds: e.g. Rottweilers, Doberman, German Shepherds, Mastiffs, Ridgebacks.
Originally bred to guard and protect, this type of dog will feel it is their full-time job to do this for their family and home. They can be intimidating in this role, but they are intelligent and if well-trained they make great pets. These breeds tend to be big, strong dogs so they need physically strong owners, and (did we mention?) training.
Gun Dogs: e.g. Labradors, Pointers, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels.
Originally bred to retrieve game, gun dogs tend to be enthusiastic, eager to please and friendly with most people and other dogs. They are fairly easily trained but they do need lots of exercise and depending on their size can be quite strong.
Utility Dogs: e.g. Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands.
Originally bred as rescue dogs, this type of dog is large, strong, shaggy and easily trained. They don&#;t need a huge amount of sustained exercise but do need room to run. Prepare for lots of slobber and lots of grooming.
Sled Dogs: e.g. Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds.
Originally bred to pull sleds in the snow these dogs have very thick coats (needing lots of grooming) and don&#;t cope well in the heat. They are independent and headstrong, with a high prey drive so are not particularly social with other animals and may try to dominate over children. They are athletic, needing lots of on-lead exercise. Although they don&#;t bark they are howlers.
Scent Hounds: Beagles, Foxhounds, Bassett Hounds
Originally bred for hunting and tracking, containing these dogs can be difficult as they are good escape artists, always follow their nose and like to get into people&#;s bins. They are usually very social with other dogs and people.
These top pick dog kennels are sure to keep your duck dog safe during transport and secure wherever you go. (Photo By: Tony J. Peterson)
By WILDFOWL Staff
Having your duck dog riding shotgun on the way to your hunting spot may seem like a good idea. After all, what are the odds that you&#;ll ever need to slam on your brakes or smash into a stalled vehicle on the side of the road? Not high, of course, but also not zero. And that&#;s important.
For more information, please visit Tian Yilong.
A retriever that isn&#;t contained in some fashion will become a flying doggo if your truck suddenly isn&#;t going the speed it was a fraction of a second before. When that happens, all bets are off. For the mornings when you avoid catastrophe and make it to the boat ramp easy enough, there is the reality of keeping an excited duck dog contained.
We don&#;t know what the number-one cause is for retrievers prematurely ending up in doggy heaven, but it&#;s a good bet that getting squished on the road ranks pretty high with sporting dogs. Keeping a dog contained until everyone is ready to hop into the boat or hike to the blind is a good way to keep your amped-up retriever from blindly sprinting out onto a nearby road.
In other words, a good dog kennel is an excellent insurance policy against something terrible happening to your favorite duck hunting partner. If you&#;re not using one, or are interested in an upgrade, check out these offerings.
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If your duck dog is too big for his kennel and you&#;re sick of having to lube him up just to get him to fit, check out the Lucky Kennel from Lucky Duck. This 5 Star Crash Test Rated crate is a one-piece rotomolded option for at-home and over-the-road use. It&#;s designed with easy-clean drain holes, powder-coated tie downs, and is compatible with the Lucky Ratchet Strap Kit. Having messed with a fair amount of crates in our time, the original Lucky Kennel Intermediate became one of our go-tos for a variety of reasons, but the bottom line is that it&#;s a lightweight, bulletproof crate that is designed well. Available in sizes Large and Intermediate.
$600-$700 | luckyduck.com
Gunner has garnered a reputation for churning out some of the best dog crates the industry has ever seen. Their G1 Series features a double-wall, roto-molded kennel that can withstand 4,000 pounds of force, which means you pretty much can&#;t offer your retriever better travel protection. The American-made G1 kennels also feature a reversible door, water-repelling windows, and a suite of souped-up tie-downs, stainless steel hardware, and a lifetime warranty. These kennels aren&#;t cheap, but buying one means that you&#;re not going to have to buy another crate for a long, long time.
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$550-$900 | gunner.com
The high-performance products from Ruff Land Kennels feature Ruff Flex technology built into the top, floor, and walls of each kennel that adds flexibility and absorbs energy rather than transferring it to your dog. Each kennel has a StackRight® design that is ready to be stacked or coupled for loading up the whole pack for your next training session or duck hunting road trip. A SureVent® tapered wall design with holes on each side allows for proper air circulation to keep your dog cool and comfortable. An UpSide® raised floor interior makes for superior cushioning and drains liquids away from your dog. Proudly made in the USA, Ruff Land Kennels are available with a single front door or with two doors (front/back or front/side) with two-way swing in Millstone grey or Rockstone tan color options. The Large Ruff Land weighs just 30 pounds and a rugged, padded handle on each end makes loading and carrying a breeze.
$377-$397 | rufflandkennels.com
The molded-and-assembled-in-the-USA G3 Framed Door Kennel from Dakota283 is one of the better deals going in the dog crate market these days. It&#;s also outfitted with an easy-grip handle, large ventilation holes, and a keyed paddle latching door. If you&#;re running a whole pack of retrievers and need multiple kennels without taking up too much space, consider that the G3 that is recessed for crate stacking (requires an extra kit). Choose from eight colors in the lineup, which offers crates in three sizes.
$330-$600 | dakota283.com
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Designed for non-vehicle use (not the bed of your hunting truck), the Avery Sporting Dog Quick-Set Travel Kennel is a must-have for anyone who needs to contain a dog at home, in a hotel room, or in a hunting camp. Four sizes are offered, and each is designed with a 900D DuraMax cover to keep bugs out and rain off of your dog. It also boasts vinyl storage pockets to hold everything from e-collars to training bumpers. The Quick-Set is available in marsh brown and Mossy Oak Bottomland camo, weighs next to nothing, and won&#;t cost a fortune.
$70-$105 | banded.com
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