Dog Breeds

To some, dog breeding is not all that interesting, but to a geneticist, dog breeding can be fascinating. There are many different breeds of dogs today that range from very small dog breeds to very large dog breeds. People have been breeding dogs for centuries but it wasn’t until Mendel and Darwin’s fantastic discoveries that we started to understand the science behind what was happening. People would selectively breed dogs for certain characteristics that would make them better hunting dogs or better at herding sheep. Others bred guard dogs to protect their community form intruders. Charles Darwin had a dog that he often referred to when discussing his revolutionary new theory of evolution. Today, we see can se how dog breeding is simply a form of evolution in which people, rather than nature, decide which dogs will survive to reproduce. All dog breeds can be traces back to the wolf, which makes the great array of different dog breeds all the more impressive.

Small Dog Breeds

Small dog breeds were usually obtained by choosing the smallest dogs of a litter for breeding. However, some breeds are created by crossing small dogs of other dog breeds with a larger dog breed, but this is unusual. Many large dog breeds have small dog breed spin-offs because more people today keep dogs as pets instead of working dogs. One must be careful not to create a dog breed that’s too small because this can cause serious health problems for the dog. If its body becomes too compact, things may not function as they should. A prime example of a small dog breed that suffers because its breeders cared more about its size than its health or quality of life is the pug. The pug is a small dog breed with a lot of respiratory problems because its face and chest are so compact. Many small dogs suffer from these problems, especially toy dogs. For the extreme animal abuser, some breeders will breed ‘teacup dogs’, which are the smallest of the small dogs. These dogs are tiny and suffer from severe health problems. Breeders who breed teacup dogs are cruel and irresponsible. So why would any dog lover want a teacup dog? It’s usually not dog lovers who buy teacup dogs but people who want a dog to use as a clothing accessory, and teacup dogs are perfect for this purpose because they fit right in your purse.

Large Dog Breeds

On the other end of the spectrum are the large dog breeds, such as the Great Dane, German Shepherd, Chow Chow, and the Bloodhound. Many large dog breeds are used as working dogs. German shepherds are widely used as police dogs as well as guard dogs and guide dogs.

Rare Dog Breeds

Some people prefer rare dog breeds that stand out from the crowd. If you have a dog that’s a good specimen of a rare dog breed, you should enter it into some dog shows. Dog shows like rare dog breeds because they’re new and interesting and you don’t see a lot of them. Your dog will often be the only one representing its rare dog breed.

Toy Dog Breeds

Toy dog breeds make great pets, especially for people who don’t own a large property and want a dog that will do well in an apartment or house in the suburbs or city. Toy dogs are usually quite small when fully grown and are less active than other dog breeds. A lot of toy dogs are also very pretty. Toy dog breeds are also good family pets but can be injured by small children because they tend to be very delicate. You generally don’t need to worry about toy dog breeds harming your children, or anyone, because they’re usually very gentle non-threatening dogs. However, any dog that isn’t properly trained, or is neglected or abused, can become aggressive. Many people who’ve never owned a toy dog think that all toy dog breeds are small and yappy and annoying, when in fact, some toy dog breeds are very quiet and content to nap on their owner’s lap for a large part of the day. If a toy dog breed is overly aggressive or hyperactive, it’s because their owner has not trained it or the dog is being neglected. As is the case with most dog breeds, toy dogs don’t usually like to be left alone and need a lot attention from their owners. If you don’t think you’ll have a lot of time to spend with a dog, it’s probably not a good idea to get a dog because it will ultimately cause a lot of trouble for both parties. A dog caves attention and a person generally doesn’t appreciate a lonely bored dog taking out their frustration on their furniture. Another reason for training your toy dog from an early age is because they become harder to train as they get older. You shouldn’t wait until your toy dog has settled into bad habits before attempting to train it. This will not only be a nuisance for you, but also a danger to your dog. Many toy dogs are very inquisitive and curious and will get into all sorts of trouble if you don’t train them. You’ll have to teach your toy dog not to run into traffic or get under your feet when you’re walking because they can get hurt so easily due to their size. It’s worth noting that all small dog breeds are not necessarily toy dogs. Many small dogs are used as working dogs, such as the terriers. There is still some debate over which terriers should be classified as toy dogs and which belong in the working dog group. Since there is not set standard for determining whether a dog qualifies as a toy dog, except for some very loose height restrictions, most Kennel Clubs use their own discretion when it comes to classifying toy dogs.