husbandry- dog breed groups, cat behaviour

7 dog breed groups

sporting

non-sporting

herding

working

hounds

terriers

toy

sporting group (7)

• Cocker spaniel

• English cocker spaniel

• Golden retriever  

• Labrador retriever  

• Nova scotia duck tolling retriever  

• Vizsla  

• Weimaraner

Sporting breeds behaviour

Versatile, intelligent, strong instincts for water work, retrieving, well balanced temperament, love outdoors, eager to please, excellent working dogs and companions

Sporting breed health concerns

Ear infections, hip and elbow dysplasia, PRA, dental disease, entropion

Sporting breed physical characteristics

Athletic, medium to large, strong legs, broad chest, thick coats

Black, liver, golden, red, cream, white, bi color, tri color,

roan, ticking, parti

Sporting breed life span

10-15 years

Sporting breed purpose

Work with hunters to locate and retrieve prey like birds

working breeds (8)

• Alaskan malamute  

• Bernese mountain dog  

• Boxer  

• Doberman pinscher  

• Great Dane  

• Newfoundland  

• Rottweiler  

• Siberian husky  

Working breed behaviour

Strong instincts to protect and work, quick to learn, intelligent, capable

Working breed health concerns

Hip and elbow dysplasia, cardiac disease, eye disease, thyroid disease, degenerative myelopathy, bloat/GDV in large deep chested, inherited neurologic or metabolic disorders in some

Working breed physical characteristics

Medium to large, powerful, water resistant coats

Black, liver, golden, red, cream, white, bi color, tri color,

roan, ticking, parti

Working breed life span

10-15

Working breed purpose

Guard, pull sleds, water rescue, police work, search and rescue, service roles

toy breeds (9)

• Cavalier king Charles spaniel  

• Chihuahua  

• Miniature pinscher  

• Pekingese  

• Pomeranian  

• Pug  

• Papillon  

• Shih tzu  

• Yorkshire terrier  

Toy breed behaviours

Strong protective instincts, energetic, perky, playful, and cuddlesome. Some lively and upbeat  

Require moderate physical exercise and lots of mental stimulation

toy breed physical characteristics

Under 15 Lb

Cream, white, black, tan, red, blue, chocolate, bi color, tri color,

parti, sable

Toy breed health concerns

luxating patella, dental disease, tracheal collapse, mitral valve heart disease, hypoglycaemia, eye disorders, BOAS in pug, Pekingese and Shih Tzu

Monitor on anesthesia- small airways and low body fat

Toy breed life span

11-18 years

Toy breed purpose

Companionship, ideal apartment dogs 

Status symbol, having a dog with no "purpose" showed wealth

Terrier breed (7)

• American Staffordshire terrier

• Bull terrier

• Miniature terrier

• Smooth fox terrier

• Staffordshire bull terrier

• West highland white terrier

• Wire fox terrier

Terrier breed behaviours

Feisty, energetic, little tolerance for other animals,

Terrier breed physical characteristics

Wiry coats that need special grooming, compact, muscular

Black, white, brown, tan, red, blue, bi color, tri color,

brindle, saddle, piebald

Terrier breed health concerns

Skin allergies, luxating patella, eye conditions like primary lens luxation

Terrier breed life span

12-16 years

Terrier breed purpose

Hunt and kill vermin

herding breeds (7)

• Aussi shepherds  

• Belgian Malinois  

• Border collie  

• Cardigan Welsh corgi 

• Collie 

• German Shepheard  

• Shetland   

Herding breed behaviour

Herd owners and children

Intelligent, excellent companions, respond well to training  

Need structured work and mental stimulation games

Herding breed physical characteristics

Medium size, athletic, agile, weather resistant coats

Bi color, tri color,

Merle, piebald, saddle, sable

Herding breed health concerns

MDR1 mutation 70% collies 50% other

Herding breed life span

10-15 years

Herding breed purpose

ability to control the movement of other animal, cattle and other livestock

non sporting (9)

• Bichon Frise  

• Boston terrier  

• Bulldog  

• Chinese shar-pei  

• Chow chow  

• Dalmatian  

• French bulldog  

• Poodle  

• Shiba Inu  

Non sporting breed behaviour

Adaptable, steady temperament, moderate energy some more independent, some need more grooming and exercise

Non sporting breed physical characteristics

Sturdy, variety of types, broad chests, strongholds, distinct coat colors

Black, white, cream, red, fawn, blue, chocolate, bi color, tri color,

brindle, parti, spotted

Non sporting breed health concerns

Big variety

Non sporting life span

8-18 years

Non sporting breed purpose

Versatile, bred for companionship, guarding, or other specialized tasks

hound breeds (6)

• Basset hound

• Beagle

• Bloodhound  

• Dachshund  

• Greyhound  

• Rhodesian ridgeback

Hound breed behaviour

Independent, gentle, strong hunting instincts

Hound breed physical characteristics

Floppy ears, lean, deep chest, long muzzle

Black, tan, red, brown, white, blue & tri color,

brindle, saddle

Hound breed health concerns

Ear infections, anesthesia sensitivity, hypothyroidism, POAG(primary open angle glaucoma), luxating patella, epilepsy, cherry eye, GDV, obesity

Hound breed life span

10-16 years

Hound breed purpose

Hunting dogs, acute smell, sight and stamina

Sighthounds- rely on keen vision and speed to chase prey, doliocephalic

Scenthounds- highly developed scent for tracking long distances and challenging terrain

Abyssinian

Medium size, social, curious

15 years

American bobtail

Medium to large, athletic, muscular, powerful, gentle, loving, interactive

13-18 years

American shorthair

Medium size, sturdy, working cat

15-20 years

Balinese

Medium size, graceful, vocal, affectionate, social, active, intelligent

12-20 years

Bengal

Medium to large, muscular, energetic, powerful, playful, intelligent, need mental and physical stimulation

12-16 years

British shorthair

Medium to large, stocky, sturdy, plush, quite, social, broad chest

15-20 years

Burmese

Medium size, muscular, affectionate, playful, bond strong

12-16 years

Cornish Rex

Small to medium, wavy coat, large ears, active, alert, Velcro kitties, need physical contact

12-15 years

Devon Rex

Small to medium, curly coat, large ears, slender, playful, affectionate

10-15 years

Himalayan

Medium size, short and thick, round head and eyes, calm, cross bred b/t Persian and Siamese

10-15 years

Maine coon

Large, gentle, social, loyal, intelligent, independent, need lots of human interaction

13-15 years

Manx

Medium size, round, no tail, short and heavy, affectionate, patient, tolerant, intelligent, bond with 1 or 2 family members

8-12 years, Manx syndrome

Norwegian forest cat

large cat, stocky, heavy coat, semi-long hair, double coat, friendly, independent, adventurous

12-15 years

oriental

medium size, elegant, fine boned, muscular, intelligent, vocal, people centered, needy

12-15 years

Persian

medium-large, solid, broad chest, muscular, playful, easy-going, mellow, love affection from their humans, need lots of grooming

12-17 years

ragdoll

large size, heavy boned, long tail, plush coat, calm, peaceful, docile, have color point gene

12-15 years

Russian blue

medium size, elegant silver grey color, dense short coat, green eyes, intelligent, gentle, charming

15-20 years

Scottish fold

medium size, round head, folded ears, comfortable, charming, quiet, not placid, playful

12-14 years

Siamese

medium size, long, muscular, elegant, triangular shaped head, pointed pattern, intelligent, vocal, affectionate, requires dedication

13-15 years

sphynx

medium size, hairless, large ears, sleek, muscular, dense, energetic, acrobatic, love attention, friendly, loving, curious, intelligent

8-14 years