Dog Breeds Archives - the purebred life

The Top 10 Things You Need to Know About German Shepherds

The German Shepherd is one of the most recognizable and respected dog breeds in the world. Known for their intelligence, loyalty, courage, and versatility, German Shepherds serve as police dogs, military working dogs, search-and-rescue specialists, service animals, and devoted family companions. Their impressive abilities have earned them a reputation as one of the most dependable breeds available.

However, owning a German Shepherd isn't the right choice for everyone. They are energetic, highly intelligent dogs that require consistent training, daily exercise, and a committed owner who understands their needs. Without proper care and guidance, they can become bored, anxious, or develop unwanted behaviors.

If you're considering bringing a German Shepherd into your family—or already have one—here are ten important things you should know.

1. German Shepherds Have Loyal, Protective Personalities

One of the biggest reasons people love German Shep…

Getting A Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier, more commonly known as the Yorkie, is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States today. Their small size makes them perfect for apartments or smaller homes and their general temperament makes them ideal for people who don’t have a lot of time to devote to walking or training their dog on a daily basis. However, there are some things you should know before buying your own Yorkshire Terrier that you may not be aware of if you aren’t experienced with the breed. Here are some things to consider first before making the decision to buy your own Yorkie.

Commitment

Because these dogs can live up to 18 years, you need to consider how much time and attention you’re willing or able to give one. Yorkies are definitely not for everyone—and that includes families with children or people who work long hours. Their big personalities and super-high energy levels mean they require lots of interaction—both physical (daily walks) and mental (tra…

Terrier Group

Terrier dogs were originally bred by farmers to hunt and kill common farm pests such as moles, gophers, and badgers. All of the breeds that compose the American Kennel Club's hail from the United Kingdom or one of their colonies. Typically, terriers are known for being small but strong, active, and fierce. The American Kennel Club's Terrier Group contains 31 breeds. There are relatively the small breeds like the Norfolk, Cairn or West Highland White Terrier, to the much larger Airedale Terrier.

All Personality

Terriers have a very distinct personality. While they are very energetic and have very little patience. They do not like to interact with other animals, including fellow dogs. While some terriers are still kept as working dogs, many are pets. They also excellent guard dogs because of these behaviors. Because terriers typically have a wiry coat, they do require a fair amount of regular grooming. This is need to keep their characteristic terrier appearanc…

Hound Group

The AKC Hound Group is generally classified as dog breeds who have an ancestral heritage of hunting. The diversity of breeds in this group make them truly unique and a gem to find. These hunting dogs include the Whippet, the Bloodhound and the Dachshund.

Endurance

The main trait of a hound is that they have an immense about of endurance. Other characteristics of this group include a wide variety of personalities and sizes, but most tend to be friendly, alert, and great family dogs. They also tend to be very boisterous and insistent. A select few hounds share the ability to make a sound known as baying. This sound is characterized by a long, deep howl and is used especially when hounds are on the scent during a hunt.

Sporting Group

The dogs in the American Kennel Club's Sporting group include some of the most popular breeds such as setters, retrievers, spaniels, and pointers. Historically, dogs in the Sporting group were used by hunters to find and retrieve a variety of fish and game. While these breeds are still used for hunting today, their personalities have made them known for being great family dogs and great service dogs as well.

Activity Aplenty

The breeds in the Sporting Group are known for being active and intelligent. According to the American Kennel Club, Sporting dogs are the easiest to train. Because these breeds are very active, they must be given plenty of attention or exercise. Given that their original purpose was for hunting, Sporting breeds have a hereditary love for nature and the outdoors. These breeds also need companionship and lots of positive reinforcement in order to be the happiest they can be. If this breed does not have enough activity and attention, they can …

Working Group

Classified as working group dog, they are bred to work. Working dogs can perform a variety of tasks. Proper training helps to enable them to do tasks specific to their capabilities. There are many breeds that are bred solely for working purposes. These dogs can be dutiful working companion that possess a high level of stamina. Their genetics makes them ideal for working, as many of the working group dogs come from strong breeds.

Working dogs are generally very active by nature. They are also very attentive and alert to their surroundings, which makes them ideal for guarding and protecting. Tasks that a working dog will execute well are search and rescue, service and hunting, just to name a few. Each breed of working dog displays their own unique personalities. In many of the breeds you can find that they are smart, loyal, calm and overall, good-natured.

Great Companions

Dogs you’ll consistently find as working dogs include Bernese Mountain Dog, Black …

Non Sporting Group

"Non-Sporting" is a very diverse American Kennel Club breed distinction category. The Non-Sporting group is distinctly different from other American Kennel Club categories because the breeds in this group do not have a common ancestry or common purpose. The non-sporting group includes nineteen different breeds with various personalities, coats, and overall appearances.

The American Kennel Club Non-Sporting category includes larger sized dogs such as the Chow Chow, smaller sized dogs such as Bichon Frise, and a multitude of sizes in between. The coats of the dog in this category can be curly, such as the coat of the Poodle, or sleek, such as the coat of the Dalmatian. While the category does include trendy dogs like Lhasa Apsa and French Bulldog, it also includes some more obscure breeds like Schipperke and Xoloitzcuintli.

Lots of Personality

The personalities of the dogs in the Non-Sporting category also run the gamut, so it is hard to make a univ…