All dogs are different, just like humans. Each dog has a different personality, different needs, and different habits, and each person has a dog that is right for them. Caring for a dog is a full time job, and it is important that before adopting one, you realize your limitations and get a dog that fits your needs. Most of all, you want to be sure that you can give your dog the proper care that it needs.

Dog breeds can be categorized into seven groups; sporting, hounds, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting, and herding. Each group has different characteristics, looks, needs, and personalities. Once you find a group that fits what you want in a dog, you can narrow it down even more by finding different dogs that you want in that group. The first group, sporting dogs, consists of dogs such as golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, and cocker spaniels. These dogs were used for hunting, and are built for swimming and catching different animals. Naturally, this means that these dogs are very energetic and need exercise, so it is important that you live a somewhat active lifestyle and are home often to take proper care of these dogs. Since these dogs originally hunted with humans, they are generally easy to train and are great family pets, as they are also quite sturdy, so they do well around young kids.

Hounds are known for their great sense of smell, and they can commonly be seen being used as police dogs. Some common breeds that fit into the hound category are beagles, bloodhounds, and dachshunds. Hounds were also generally bred for hunting, due to their sense of smell and good eyesight. Hounds are generally pretty laid back and good with kids, and they don’t need as much exercise as the sporting breeds – but they still do need walks once in a while! Working breeds can generally be seen working jobs such as pulling sleds and guarding property, and they are very intelligent and alert. Some common dogs that go into this category are siberian huskies, great danes, and doberman pinschers. These dogs are hardwired to be protective, so they may need to be trained to behave properly in social situations. These dogs are best for people who have had experience taking care of dogs before.

Terriers are known for being very energetic and they were bred to hunt. They come in many different sizes, and they can be somewhat stubborn, so people looking to adopt terriers should be prepared to spend time training them. They have very high energy levels, and grooming is very important when it comes to terriers. Overall, terriers are great pets for second-time dog owners. Some common terriers are border terriers, bull terriers, and russell terriers. Grace Barnhart (9) has a bull terrier mix. “[My dog] is a mix of a few different types of dog breeds. He is a staffordshire bull terrier mixed with dachshund and maybe some beagle. He is about 35 pounds. [He] has a longer body than some other dogs and has short legs; he’s very energetic during the day.” Toy breeds, on the other hand, can be a good choice for a first-time dog owner. They easily adapt to different places, and they are good dogs to have in smaller living spaces, since they don’t need that much room. They can be somewhat protective and might require some training, but overall are a good choice for a family pet. Some examples are pomeranians, chihuahuas, and pugs.  

The non-sporting group is the most diverse group, and it encompasses dogs of many different sizes and shapes. There aren’t many commonalities throughout this group since there are so many different dogs covered in it, but some dogs that fall into the category are french bulldogs, dalmatians, and chow chows. Lastly, the herding group originated in order to gather and herd animals. These animals are known to be very intelligent and are easy to train, making them great for families. Some common herding breeds are german shepherds, australian sheepdogs, and border collies.   

Overall, picking a dog is a big deal. You need to take into account all aspects of your life and how they will affect your ability to take care of a dog. Some of these things can be location, your amount of free time, people in your family, allergies, etc. Dogs are great companions, and everyone should be able to have the experience of having a pet. Although picking breeds of dogs to fit your personality is a good thing, the best thing you can do is adopt a dog that needs a home.