Dogs are also classed as pure-bred or mixed-breed. A pure-bred is a dog whose ancestors are all of the same breed, while a mixed breed dog has parents of different breeds.

The breed of your dog determines many things such as size, appearance and even personality. Spend time picking the right breed for you and your family.

Toy Breeds
Examples: Chihuahua, Pug and Yorkshire Terrier
Description:
Toy dogs are usually small and live for a relatively long time. They have been bred as human companions, and as such make great pets. In general they require the least amount of exercise of any of the main groups.

Sport Breeds
Examples: Labrador and Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel
Description:
These dogs were originally bred for use in hunting or sports (as the name suggests). Because of this they require a lot of exercise – but are also very intelligent.

Terrier Breeds
Examples: Scottish Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer
Description:
Terriers were originally bred for hunting small animals. Because of this they are lively dogs. Sometimes a little too lively for owners to cope with!

Hound Breeds
Examples: Beagle, Basset Hound, Greyhound
Description:
The hound group of dogs have been bred to hunt – either by site, scent or both. All require reasonable amounts of exercise. They are generally good natured and affectionate.

Herding Breeds
Examples: German Shepherd, Collie
Description:
These dogs were originally used on farms to herd livestock so are intelligent and easily trained. They are often friendly dogs (although there are exceptions). They require a lot of daily exercise.

Working Breeds
Examples: Boxer, Rottweiler
Description:
Working dogs are exceptionally strong, powerful and clever. They usually make fantastic and loyal pets, but do require experience. They are not a good choice for a young family pet because of their size. They need a lot of exercise.

Non-Sporting Breeds
Examples: Poodle, Bulldog
Description:
These are dogs that don’t specifically fit into the other groups. Because of this there is a wide range of personalities, sizes, appearance and behaviours associated with this group. If you do decide to go with a non-sporting dog then make sure you research your particular breed thoroughly.

Puppy house training is definitely not difficult, but it is something that requires time and perseverance. You have to be patient with the puppy and understand that the animal is young, and therefore might feel scared and insecure at times. After all, puppies are like young children and so can’t be expected to pick things up right away. Some dogs can be house trained very quickly, while others take longer.

Before commencing the puppy housebreaking process, you must keep the two golden rules of puppy house training in mind. They are:

1. Never yell at or reprimand the puppy for going to the toilet inside the house.

2. Always praise the puppy for going to the toilet outside.

They’re that simple!

The reason for rule number one is that if you tell off your puppy, it is only going to associate the telling off with going to the toilet in front of you. The reason for number two is that if you never praise your puppy, it won’t know when it has done the right thing,

The most important part of house training a puppy is to be patient. There will nearly always be accidents, but don’t think of them as the puppies fault. Instead, take responsibility yourself and remember that the puppy is like a small child.