Why does one race attract one person more than another? Why do some of us love the size, appearance, and temperament of a Great Dane and others would never own anything but a toy poodle?
Each breed has its pros and cons. As a prospective puppy buyer / dog owner, you need to know the traits, both good and bad, of the breed you are considering. Many pet owners own their breed due to an impulsive purchase. Sometimes this works well and other times dog owners find out, too late, that this is not such a wonderful breed (for them) after all. Sadly, it is the innocent dog that suffers when he is placed in a new home, returned to the breeder, or worst of all, taken to the kennel!
Each breed was developed with a definite purpose in mind. Every breed (or most anyway) has breed-specific temperament or health issues that you should be aware of. Some breeds have coats that take hours of grooming to keep the dog in good shape. Some breeds shed more hair than others. Some breeds are very active and hyperactive, while others are calm and sedentary.
Because different breeds have different characteristics, it is a good idea to first define exactly what traits you want in a dog. Do you want a large, medium or small dog? What is the main purpose of having the dog, other than company? Do you want the dog to hunt with you? Do you want a dog that makes a good watchdog? What about the children? If you have them, you want to be sure that the breed you choose will get along well with children. And if you have children, how old are they? A breed of dog that tends to be very hyperactive and aggressive would not be a good choice with very young children, as the dog will likely do harm if it jumps on the child and plays bite. However, children ages 10 and up would likely enjoy an active, outgoing playmate a lot.
And the grooming? How much time are you willing to dedicate to this task? What about the move? Some dogs shed nothing and others shed almost constantly. How much noise are you willing to take? What about training ability? Some breeds are notoriously difficult to tame and / or train, while others are practically self-disciplined. If your interest is obedience, look for those breeds that stand out in the field. If you are a hunter and you have visions of autumn days in the ducks blind with your faithful dog, you would not go out and buy a Chinese Crested. If you expect to have a dog that will be between 15 and 16 years old, do not buy a large breed.
