Knowing about dog breeds will help you when you choose a pet dog. Purebred dogs are bred over many generations to look alike. Mixed-breed dogs are a combination of different breeds.

Herding Dogs

Herding dogs are best known for herding sheep and cattle. They are intelligent, easy to train and have lots of energy. As pets they may get bored and restless if they don't have enough to do. - Collie, Old English Sheepdog, German Shepard, Samoyed.

Utility Dogs

Utility dogs have been bred over the years for different purposes. They include a wide variety of breeds that don't fit into any of the other groups. - Dalmatian, Poodle, Bulldog.

Terriers are small, tough and lively. They were originally bred for hunting rats and mice. Their lively personalities make them appealing as pets, though they can sometimes be aggressive. - Jack Russell,Border Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier

Gun Dogs

Gun dogs were originally bred to help hunters retrieve shot down game. Many of them are co-operative and make great family pets, as long as they get plenty of exercise. - Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Irish Setter.

Hounds were bred to chase and hunt animals. These medium to large dogs are usually very friendly, but they need a lot of exercise. - Beagle, Greyhound, Afghan Hound

Toy dogs are small dogs bred to be people's companions. They have strong characters and are often noisy, but they don't need as much exercise as the bigger breeds. - Pug, Chihuahua, Bichon Frise.

Working dogs

Working dogs are traditional guard and rescue dogs. Although loyal and intelligent, they do not make ideal first pets as they are often large and strong and be over-protective. - Great Dane, St Bernard, Boxer, Doberman.

Mixed Breeds

Mixed-breed of dogs (Mongrels) are mixtures of two or more breeds. They tend to be healthier than purebreds. They are also cheaper to buy and generally make good pets, however it is often difficult to predict their final size and temperament.