The Chihuahua, a member of the toy dog group, is a popular favorite among dog enthusiasts. This spicy little character of a dog is extremely devoted and loyal to its owner. Although reserved with strangers and a little aggressive towards other dogs, the Chihuahua can get along great with other indoor pets that you may have.

Not all Chihuahuas have the same bold temperament. Some are very intense and will have an attitude as if they can take on the world while others may be extremely shy and timid. Either way, all Chihuahuas are very protective of their owners and families.

Taking Care of Your Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is a very excitable dog that requires a bit of daily exercise. But the good news is that these little guys can get all of the vigorous physical activity they need from running room to room in a house or even a small apartment.  However, it is still important to include outdoor walks and play time. The Chihuahua loves to roam outside and explore.

In terms of living arrangements, the Chihuahua is an indoor dog and should not be kept outside. There is nothing wrong with having him explore the yard a couple of hours each day, but this should only be temporary. Chihuahuas absolutely hate cold temperatures and will run to seek out warmth and comfort.

The Rottweiler is a physically imposing and intimidating looking dog that ranks at the top of the charts for being an excellent watchdog and a family protector. This dog breed has a history that is said to have stemmed from the Romans, used as drover dogs, herding large stocks of cattle over great distances, and into many countries.

Rottweilers are said to have entered the United States sometime in nearly 1930s which then gained recognition by the AKC. Having become nearly extinct years earlier due to lack of functioning use by people, the Rottweiler has become one of the most popular dog breeds in today’s households, making its mark in the top 10 most popular registered dogs of the American kennel club.

This animal is extremely bold, confident, and alert. In fact, the Rottweiler is a top pick for anyone who is looking for a watchdog that has extensive protection abilities. However, when a dog is as courageous and aggressively confident as the Rottweiler is, sometimes stubbornness comes with the territory in terms of training ability. However, it is worth putting in the extra time and patience when making this dog breed a household pet.

Taking Care of Your Rottweiler

Like most large dogs, the Rottweiler must have physical activity on a daily basis. Mental play and obedience lessons should also be a part of the daily regimen. Vigorous games and long walks on the leash through safe areas would make an ideal day for the Rottweiler.

Cocker Spaniels (the American version) were derived from English Cocker Spaniels after they found their way to the United States in the late 1800s. Americans preferred to breed a smaller sized Spaniel that would be ideal to hunt quail in various other small birds. Although the exact practice and decision to which the American version was created is not entirely known, we do know that the first true American Cocker Spaniel was recorded to be born sometime in the 1880s and his name was the dog Obo 2nd.

At that time, both the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel were considered to be the same breed by the American kennel club. However, in 1935 the AKC decided to finally separate the two as different breeds. The Cocker Spaniel then rose to popularity and was considered the most popular dog breed for a large number of years. It was then divided into three color types: black, particolor, and ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black).

This dog breed is extremely cheerful, playful, and always willing to please. They are great family dogs which are wonderful with little children. If there was a scorecard to rate the Cocker Spaniel on its affection level and friendliness towards animals and people, it would rate at the highest score. This dog is also easy to train and is considered to be a moderate watchdog.

Taking Care of Your Cocker Spaniel

Keeping up with the Cocker Spaniel in terms of grooming takes a little work on a daily basis. They have extremely long hair with heavy fur growing from head to toe. Even their ears and its long hair will need a brushing on a daily basis. Professional clipping should be taken into consideration at least once per month in order to maintain a decent coat.

The Siberian Husky was originally developed in Northeast Asia by the Chukchi people, and at that time was named the Chukchi Husky. Although its ancestry is not known, this dog is definitely related to the Spitz family. Way back during the Alaskan Gold Rush, these dogs were extremely important to life in the Arctic regions. It was at that time that dog racing became an enjoyable pastime as a standard source of entertainment.

The popular Alaska Sweepstakes Race, which covered over 400 miles in the distance from Nome all the way to Candle, became an entrance for the Chukchi Huskies in 1909. These dogs did not really fare well in popularity at that time, however, there was one racer that was impressed with these animals and imported 70 of them to train for winning the 1910 race. Amazingly enough, his three teams of Huskies did indeed win first, second, and fourth-place. As you can probably guess, this immediately set the stage for the Siberian Husky to become the dominating winner for future races.

In 1925 the Siberian Husky started to show up in Canada and then soon after the United States. The AKC recognized this dog as an official breed in 1930. In World War II, a fair amount of Huskies served with soldiers for the US Army’s search and rescue missions. This further helped its popularity among dog enthusiasts. Eventually it became a common household pet and of course remains the most popular of any Arctic dog breed in existence today.

The German Shepherd is currently listed as the third most popular dog breed registered with the AKC. This dog resembles that of its ancestor, the Wolf, and was originally bred to be the ideal hurting Shepherd and guard dog.

Although this breed went through several name changes during World War I, mainly due to its German heritage, it was officially renamed the German Shepherd and recognized by the AKC in 1931. And while its popularity ranking is down just a bit, it has been a top choice as a family companion for generations.

German Shepherds score very high in terms of protection ability, watchdog status, and training adaptability. Although playfulness and affection does not rank as high as other dog breeds, the German Shepherd is actually a perfect choice for a family pet.

This dog is extremely protective of its home, as well as members of the family. He is considered aloof and a bit suspicious towards strange people and other animals. However, they can be tamed and gentle around children and other house pets.

Taking Care of Your German Shepherd

As far as upkeep is concerned, German Shepherds need mental and physical challenges on a daily basis. With the ability to learn new tricks and obedience lessons, this dog is extremely intelligent. Physical activity must also be a part of this dog’s daily life. Long walks and running outside is ideal.

The Pug is a member of the toy dog group whose name is derived from the Latin word Pugness, which means “fist”. This perfectly describes their facial features as it can be said to look like a clenched up fist. This dog breed has been recognized by the AKC since the year 1886 and has become an extremely popular house pet and show dog ever since.

The Pug dog breed is extremely amiable, displays a confident personality, and is abundantly playful. It can also be a bit headstrong and stubborn to train, but mostly the Pug is a pleasant dog who enjoys pleasing its owner, especially if given the chance to show off.

Taking Care of Your Pug

As with all toy dog breeds, the Pug needs to have plenty of exercise on a daily basis. A brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes would be ideal, or a fun physical activity which centers around a dog game would do nicely.

The Pug is not the type of dog that should be kept outdoors for an ongoing period of time. This animal is meant to be indoors and cannot stand hot temperatures and humid weather. Of course there is nothing wrong with keeping your Pug in the yard for a few hours each day, but always ensure that he has plenty of shaded areas to retreat to when the weather is hot.

An adorable member of the toy dog group, the Yorkshire Terrier is a mixture of England’s finest terriers, made up of the Clydesdale terrier, English black and tan terrier, waterside terrier, and the Paisley terrier.

By the late 1800s, Yorkies had made their way to America but because there were so many variety of sizes, the Yorkshire Terrier did not make its exclusive name until the early 1900s. It was at this point that the majority of dog enthusiasts deemed the smaller sized Yorkshire Terrier was preferable.

The temperament of this dog breed is that of a bold, confident, and courageous animal. And the Yorkshire Terrier seems to be oblivious to its small stature. Always eager for fun and adventure, this dog can be a bit aggressive towards other small animals and strange canines. It definitely maintains that old rough-edged terrier spirit.

Taking Care of Your Yorkshire Terrier

Like other toy dog breeds, the Yorkshire Terrier needs plenty of exercise but can get all of the physical activity it needs by running from room to room inside of the house or small apartment. Of course this does not mean that the Yorkie should not be outside. In fact, they love to take a brisk walk with their owner at any chance possible. Just be sure to keep your dog on leash to avoid problems with other small animals.

Always an amazing sight to see, the Great Dane is a very large dog that is said to be the breed of the Greyhound and the ancient Molossus war dog. These ancestors helped the Great Dane to become a fearless hunter of big game. By the 14th century, these dogs were widely known for their agility and strength to hunt down wild boar. They proved to have the speed, courage, strength, and stamina to take down these tough, large animals.

Eventually the Great Dane became very popular with the landed gentry because of their hunting ability, combined with its graceful, yet intimidating appearance. These were noble dogs that made the perfect addition to any upper-class family.

The early name for this dog was actually referred to as “German Boarhounds” by the local British people. When and why the name Great Dane came to define these dogs is unknown and remains a mystery.

Interestingly enough, one would assume that the dog’s homeland would be Danish due to its name. However, it is actually a German breed which, in 1880, the German authorities tried to officially name the Deutsche Dogge. However, this name did not stick and by the time these dogs arrived in America during the late 1800s, the name “Great Dane” became official.

The Golden Retriever is extremely popular among dog owners, especially in the United States. This dog breed is currently listed as the number two most popular registered dog with the AKC. This is not surprising, however, due to the fact that the Golden Retriever maintains the following qualities: high affection levels, friendliness towards strange people and other foreign animals, very easy to train, and always playful.

Golden Retrievers were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in the year 1927. Initially valued for its hunting abilities, it soon became an extremely popular household pet, obedience competitor, and show dog winner.

Personality

This dog is known as “everyone’s friend” and is widely appreciated for its companionship towards family. Golden Retrievers are highly physical animals and have been known to lead towards behavior problems when there is a lack of activity. In fact, poor breeding practices have produced Golden Retrievers who are overly boisterous and excitable when left in house. However, a properly bred Retriever is one that will remain calm when trained, yet energetic when given the opportunity to play outside.

Long before shotguns were used to kill birds when hunting, nets were used to catch the foul, assisted by dogs that were trained to crouch whenever they pointed game. “Setters” as these dogs were called, were the foundation of today’s English Setter.

The English Setter is the oldest dog known from these “Setters.” In fact, it is theorized that they date back well before the 15th century. Their function was to locate game and then remain still, practically frozen, until the game was taken away by hunters.

The English Setter’s ancestors were most likely the Large Water Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, and the Spanish Pointer. Beginning around the year 1825, specific breeding for the production of the English Setter was started by a man named Edward Laverack. He continued to breed his Setters for well over 30 years. In fact, these are the dogs that created the base-line of all English Setters of today.

Other breeders continued to produce English Setters, but with specific emphasis on other functions. One such person was named Purcell Llewellin. He started with Setters that came straight from Edward Laverack and based his breeding entirely on field ability.

Mr. Llewellin mixed his Laverack Setters with outside English Setters which created some of the most outstanding field dogs of his time. Eventually these dogs were imported to the United States and have enjoyed steady growth as a popular household pet ever since.