which is the best breed of dog to buy ?
2006-11-06 01:24:33 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
It depends on what you want out of a dog. That's why there are so many different breeds, because each one is "best" for a particular type of owner.
2006-11-06 01:41:41 · answer #1 · answered by DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can't see how anyone can answer this question without knowing what YOU want from a dog.
The best breed to buy is the one that YOU like best or the one that suits YOUR purpose.
There are loads of breeds I could suggest for elderly people who want a really nice companion that will not need too much exercise and there are numerous dogs that would suit a very active person, or dogs that would suit families with children and so on.
If you want a dog to do agility, flyball or Obedience competition then the Border Collie is the one. What about Working Trials? German Shepherds are super for that. Field Trials - numerous gundogs are suitable.
I had a Lurcher capable of all the above and I owned a Heinz 57 which was a superb, intelligent companion.
Sorry I could just go on and on!
2006-11-06 04:59:04 · answer #2 · answered by DogDoc 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends what you are looking for in a dog and what your lifestyle and family situation is. If you're a very active person and have a lot of time to devote to a dog then maybe an active dog like a collie or labrador would be a good option. However if you have less time to spend with a dog then very active breeds are more likely to become destructive due to inactivity. If you have young children in the house be careful which breed you chose, and whichever type of dog you end up with make sure they are well trained and socialised.
Every breed and type of dog has its own characteristics, talk to dog owners to get an idea of which type of dog may suit you. Personally, I'm a terrier person, I have one rescue adult and one dog I bought from a very good breeder as a young puppy. Terriers in general have great characters, and are always happy to go out walking; however they can be stubborn, may bark and may make it their mission to rid your garden of plants!
Money needs to be considered as well - the bigger your dog is the more costs you will have for food and insurance, and the bigger your vets bills will be. Insurance these days is pretty essential to make sure that you can provide the best health care for your dog. If you spend several hundred pounds on a pedigree dog but then can't afford to get it vaccinated or to pay for decent food or veterinary care, you may as well have rescued a dog from a homing centre and saved the money for vaccinations etc.
Whichever type of dog you go for, do your research and make sure that type of breed is suitable for you - although bear in mind that not all dogs of a particular breed will be exactly alike! Be careful where you get your dog/puppy from - if you get a dog from a rescue centre they may already have behaviour problems or may be a stray with no history at all. If you get a puppy from a breeder make sure you can see the mother with all the puppies and make sure that you are satisfied with how they are being brought up. Lastly, sometimes where you get the dog from can affect how it behaves. For example, collies from a farm are more likely to be from a working strain so will need a lot more activity and mental stimulation than one from a show or pet strain.
2006-11-06 10:19:22 · answer #3 · answered by Mollymoo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm assuming you mean performance in the field. Consider the following:
Herding - Border Collie, Australian Shepherd
Police work - Malinois, German Shepherd
Hunting, aggressive game - Argentine Dogo (not recognized by AKC)
Hunting, passive game - Foxhound
Tracking - Bloodhound
Protective - Dobermann Pinscher
The fastest and most athletic dog is the greyhound. The most intelligent is the Border Collie. The bravest breed is the Karelian Hound, known in Scandinavia and northern Russia as "the bear dog."
2006-11-06 07:24:23 · answer #4 · answered by Super G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best answer you have gotten so far is from Fenlandfowl. There is no "best" breed. You need to research the breeds that appeal to you, to see which one fits you best.
Many posters say golden retriever, but they don't tell you that goldens are not born 6 years old. In other words, a 3 year old golden is still as naughty as a 9 month old, especially if you do no have the time to put into a lot of training.
Also, by performance, do you mean, conformation (show?), field trial, obedience, agility, or actual working?
Does your lifestyle fit with a big dog or a little dog? Do you want a dog with lots of hair or a short hair? A goofy face? An easy to train dog or one that give you a challenge?
If you are interested in a purebred dog and want one for conformation, start with the Amercian Kennel Club's website for good info:
http://www.akc.org
For field trials or work, the United Kennel club is my recommendation:
http://www.ukcdogs.com
If your heart is not set on a purebred, check out your local animal shelter or a rescue society. Mixed breed dogs are welcomed in agility, obedience, Flyball, Rally and other great dog sports which can bring lots of enjoyment.
Please, please, please do NOT buy a dog from a pet store. They get their puppies from puppy mills, which can raise their dogs under conditions of great cruelty, and with very little oversight by specialists.
Sorry if my answer is too long. I just love dogs!
2006-11-06 01:45:23 · answer #5 · answered by yossk1 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It does really depend on what is best for you & exactly what you mean by overall performance!
Do you mean the fastest? The one that runs on the lowest amount of dog food per day?
It almost sounds like a game of Top Trumps trying to figure all that out. Hmm .... I wonder .... yep, thought so ... you can buy Top Trumps The Dog at Woolworths!
http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50707029
Otherwise why not try this quiz & see what it suggests ?
http://www.selectsmart.com/DOG/
2006-11-06 01:42:50 · answer #6 · answered by Solow 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
how long is a piece of string?
The dog which is best for you may not be the best for me. There is no 'best breed'. You choose a breed acording to your lifestyle and experience.
If I say that pugs are the best breed, but you prefer large aggressive dogs, then my answer would not be correct would it?
If I said that Rottweilers or giant schnauzers were the best but you only have a small apartment or flat and don't like walking, then again the answer would be wrong.
2006-11-06 01:30:06 · answer #7 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'd go with Dalmatian. In my family we have owned yorkshire terriers, Lhasa Apsos, Cavalier King Charles', Red setters and dalmatians. The best has definately been the Dallies. They (well, mine) is affectionate, easy to train, looks good, they draw lots of attention to you, and are just generally lovely dogs to have. They are known to be aggressive apparently but none of ours ever have been (we've had 2 and sold 6 puppies, and they weren't either).
2006-11-06 05:01:22 · answer #8 · answered by Trina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greyhound without question! Docile, good with kids and contrary to popular belief they can be trained to be good with small animals. They need little exercise and are truly devoted doggies :) I have had 5 of my own ex-racers over the years (I have 2 at the moment) and fostered tens of others for adoption groups, sadly saying goodbye to them when they went to their forever homes. I have only ever had one who wasn't true to the breed type and he had severe separation anxiety which was eventually dealt with and even he became a good and much loved pet :)
2006-11-06 02:00:19 · answer #9 · answered by huggz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of performance are you talking about?
Show dog?
Guard dog?
Family pet?
There are different breeds with different personality qualities that work better for different situations.'
2006-11-06 01:33:01 · answer #10 · answered by Bluealt 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋