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.

1. Word Of Mouth

Ask around your friends and relatives to see what they’ve thought of the trainers they’ve used. If you can get a recommendation from someone you trust it is worth 100 times more than any other source, so ask everyone you know who has a dog which trainer they used.

2. Research Reputation

If you can’t get any recommendations from people you know personally, try people who are in the pet care business. That means your local vet, dog societies and breeder clubs. They will often be able to point you towards to most reputable dog trainers.

3. Find Out What Methods They Use

The best dog trainers know how to train dogs without resorting to outdated, aggressive methods. Ask about how they train their dogs and whether they ever used abusive handling techniques. If they do you should probably keep looking for a different trainer.

4. Are They Up To Date?

Like any profession, the best dog trainers keep up to date on what is going on in their industry. Try to find out whether they spend time researching the latest techniques.

5. Do they genuinely care for dogs?

If you are going to trust someone with your pet, you need to be sure that they have a genuine love of dogs and will care for yours properly.

6. Extensive Experience

Just because a dog trainer has been in the business for a long time doesn’t mean they will be the best, but often experience can count for a lot.

It’s important to remember that it is very easy for people to call themselves dog trainers. While they might have the best intentions in mind if they don’t have the right skills you shouldn’t entrust your dog training to them.

In general when trying to choose the right dog trainer you should only go with someone who has been recommended to you by at least one trustworthy source.