JAck Russell Terrier

Breeds of dogs all differ, just as owners Differ. Housing your dog depends on many factors, such as your lifestyle, your dog breed and the amount of room you have to spare.

For those who dont know me, my name is Sue Walton, and I am a professionaly accredited Dog trainer and coach. This article shares with you some of my top dog housing tips, but for my best secrets and heaps more info, you need to visit my site on dog training tips, which has a huge section on choosing and siting a great kennel/dog house. 

We should start by assessing what breed you have. Housing your dog largely depends on its requirements to stay safe warm and dry.

Toy varities, by the virtue of their petite size, make brilliant house pets. Many owners of small dogs such as terriers, shitzu or bichon are happy all the time, provided they are trained well!

These small breeds respond well to the house environment, providing they know their place in the home! You’ll probly find that a matt or a doggy bed aroun the size of a cat bed will suffice for these small breeds.

Keeping them in garage or washhouse could be ideal, given that the dog feels safe and it has a little area of its own. Dogs after all are known to be territorial.

As for larger dogs, such as medum sized spaniels, boxers/terriers, you will find that having them inside becomes tedious and irritating. Not only for you as owner, but for your dog too.

They need spacious areas that the outdoors gives them.

In addition, you need to think about the size and space you have for housing your dog.

If your garage is well ventilated, cosy and there is not to much clutter, it might be a great area for your dog to live, if however its full of clutter and your dog has to live in a small area where it cannot make its own space, it will quickly become fustrated.

For those of us that live in areas like apartments and duplex houses (or attatched units) you have to be very cautious of how your dog will be exposed to the neighours. For many breeds, being housed where people can fustrate them and irritate them.

Youve also got to consider what sort of breed requires what sort of housing to live in.

The breeder will have sussed you out before selling a dog, to see if your home suits that breed, however some people often come across dogs in other circumstances. Always do lots of research into your breeds living habits. A lazy bulldog will surely be happy with a corner of the yard and not much space, but you try and keep a livly breed like a pointer in a small yard, and you’ll drive the poor dog insane. Working breeds are active and require room to run and spacious kennels.

If your in this situation, and have a yard space for your dog to be housed and run around in, at all costs ensure that the fence you put up or have, is in good order and is very secure. Consider that your dog should not get out, but also think if anything else can get into the area. Cats, other dogs & children are known for getting into places where they shouldnt be, and this can lead to trouble!

Housing a your dog also has situational requirements. Think about your climate and where you are going to site the kennel. will your pet be cold? Windy? Directly sunny? Consider all these reasons when pacing a dog house in your chosen space. Kennel insulation will be required if the area is prone to frosts or snowfall.

Obviously, in this circumstance a saint bernard will be happier than a greyhound, so exercise common thought about the breed your dealing with. Pay attention to areas that get very hot, as this can affect the dog quickly.

Black paint on that kennel might suit your house, but will it cook your dog….? As far as getting a kennel goes, now days there are great off the shelf items that suit many lifestyles and designs. Moulded ones are popular but watch out if your pet is a chewer!

Avoid fibreglass kennels at all costs, as the glass can mean pain and discomfort for your pet. Wood is ever popular, and looks good and is very dog friendly. If your budget allows, go for a wood kennel!
My best dog housing tips, and some great examples of kennels and enclosure designs can be found at my dog resource page on housing your dog. Check it out, and the rest of my site www.dog-hobbyist.com

Having a dog as a pet|Owning a dog] brings a lot of benefits. Dogs provide great companionship, they can significantly reduce your stress levels, benefit your blood pressure, provide unconditional love, lift your mood, and provide an excellent incentive to exercise more. If you want to meet more people, nothing beats a dog for a conversation opener when you’re at the park, particularly fellow dog lovers. And if you’ve got kids, dogs can provide someone to play with and nurture.

One of the first questions you should think about if you want to buy a new puppy is, what type of dog should you get – large or small?

Obviously, if you don’t have a big yard or live in a condo, you may not have a lot of choice. But even if you have a large backyard, there are distinct benefits to getting a small dog that are very relevant in some circumstances.

Smaller dogs won’t seem as intimidating to young children or cats. Certainly, if you’d like your children to take an active role in caring for the dog, then a small dog will be a lot easier for them to handle. There are always exceptions to the rule, however. Some [large dog breeds do make great family pets, even better than some small ones. Breeds like the Tibetan Spaniel dog breed, chihuahuas, miniature poodles, and maltese, and similar breeds, are not really suited to families with children who aren’t old enough to know how to moderate their behaviour around dogs.

For older people, a small dog is a more realistic choice. The same is true for those people who are sick or frail, or not particularly strong. Large dogs will be tougher to handle physically, a situation which may occur during those moments when he doesn’t obey commands. For example, walking an excited, large dog on a leash might be near impossible if your dog has a stubborn moment when he wants to chase something, like a car or another dog. As well, there will be times when you may need to pick up your canine friend. If no-one is around to help you, this could become a issue, particularly when your dog ages. Will you be able to check your dog’s teeth regularly, and be able to establish yourself as ‘top dog’ when training your dog.

Another factor to think about is that large dogs generally need more exercise, although a few smaller breeds also need a lot of exercise as well. This is very true for working dogs, no matter whether they are large or small, such as the border collie dog breed. Border collies are very high energy, smart and active dogs. They have been – and still are – used to herd sheep and cattle, and as a result have very high stamina and endurance. As pets, they need physical and mental exercise. A couple of hours a day is a guide, although if you mentally stimulate them during that time, that will wear them out faster. So, if you’re a particularly busy person, and therefore unable to devote the time to your dog, a border collie or similar would be an inappropriate pet.

Small dog breeds that are recommended for families with kids include {Kerry Blue Terriers, boston terriers, border terriers, English Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Australian Bulldogs, Miniature English Bulldogs, Miniature Australian Shepherds, and bichon frise}. And small dogs like the French bulldog, whose temperament is easygoing and happy, and who love spending a lot of time with their owners, and don’t need a lot of exercise, are recommended for the elderly.

To the everyday person who loves dogs, the rules and regulations of some national dog registry associations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) can strike one as problematic. Whilst you would expect a puppy registered by the American Kennel Club to be a healthy, high quality purebred, this is not always the case. You can only be certain of getting a puppy with a recognized pedigree. The American Kennel Club does not make sure the puppy’s parents are free from health problems that may be latent but genetic. Neither does it regulate the standards of breeders and their establishments. To many people, this can be a shock. It’s natural to expect that a registry such as the AKC would be interested in breeding out genetic illnesses, and making sure dogs who are constitutionally strong and healthy are bred. And it demonstrates why some breed clubs, such as those for the Australian kelpie dog breed, have decided not to finish the requirements for American Kennel Club registration. This means they’re not eligible for recognition by the AKC as a distinct breed, and these dogs may not compete in the numerous American Kennel Club sponsored dog shows. It does, however, protect the breed’s health.

What the American Kennel Club wanted breeders of the Australian kelpie to do was in effect limit the natural genetic variability of their dogs. Dogs in American Kennel Club recognized breeds, and with an American Kennel Club issued pedigree, have been bred for show, according to fairly limiting characteristics. The net effect is that a lot of these dogs can no longer do a lot of things the breed was once known for, such as hunt. It has also resulted in a lot of genetic health problems, the consequence of too much inbreeding to keep the lines ‘pure’. Dogs are bred back to their grandparents and parents, simply because it creates dogs that help do well in dog shows. The University of Wisconsin:

“First, the AKC defines quality in a dog primarily on the basis of appearance, paying scant heed to such other canine characteristics as health, temperament, and habits of work. Over the years this policy has led to destructive forms of inbreeding that have created dogs capable only of conforming to human standards of beauty. Many can no longer perform their traditional tasks–herding, tracking, hunting–while more than a few cannot live outside a human-controlled environment.” (Source)

Of course, this may not be the only reason why a breed isn’t listed by the American Kennel Club. Some of the smaller breeds are not recognized as they are smaller versions of larger dogs, and the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize the distinction. This is the case with dogs like the small German spitz and the toy Manchester terrier.

Ultimately, unless you plan to show your dog, registration by the American Kennel Club is not as important as getting a good quality dog from a breeder who breeds with the health of the dogs in mind, as well as to preserve the dog’s natural abilities. Breeders who breed mostly for show are more likely to follow breeding practices that create genetic defects. And it could result in dogs that have personalities that might prove difficult to live with. Whilst this might not be true across the board, for all breeders, in the long run, sustained inbreeding can only result in long term problems for a breed.

Part 2 of this article on small dog breeds covers small dogs in the toy, herding, terrier, and non-sporting groups.

Terrier Dogs

Terriers were bred to hunt – rats, foxes, rabbits, and even otters, river rats, and badgers. Rather than the hunters of old, most terriers today are bought as pets. And with their loyal and affectionate temperament, they make lovely pets. However, they are dogs with a strong personality, and they need similarly strong and persistent owners. This is just as true for the small, toy terriers – they don’t see themselves as small dogs. Terriers also have an abundance of energy, so will need their exercise. They have wiry coats, and to keep the characteristic wiriness of their coats you’ll need to learn a special grooming technique called stripping.

There are many small breeds in the terrier grouping. They are: the Irish Terrier, Border Terrier, Australian Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Norwich Terrier and Norfolk Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Bedlington Terrier dog breed, Scottish Terrier and Sealyham Terrier.

Toy Dogs

Toy dogs are a very recognizable small dog type, due to their popularity with celebrities and people alike. Because many toy dogs are large breeds bred down to size, you’ll find toy breeds in many of the other groups as well.

Toy dogs are friendly, though they can be angry and fierce as well. But they are great lap dogs, and often a cherished member of the family. Toy dogs include: Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Poodle, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, the Papillon, and the Pomeranian dog breed.

Non-Sporting Dogs

Non-sporting dogs is a general term for those breeds the AKC recognizes, that don’t fall into any of the other categories. They have different ancestry, temperaments, coats, sizes, and colors. Small breed dogs in the non-sporting group include: the bichon frise, Tibetan Spaniel, Boston Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Lhasa Apso, French Bulldog, and the Schipperke.

Herding Dogs

Herding dogs are a relatively new classification in the American Kennel Club. The dogs in this category used to be part of the working group. In fact, a number of breed registries globally, they still are a sub-catgory of the working group. The dogs registered by the American Kennel Club are usually kept as pets, although working (and herding) dogs are still used worldwide on cattle stations and farms because of their abilities to herd livestock. They can be trained to respond to specific commands and whistles, and perform a variety of herding related tasks particularly well. In families as pets, herding dogs will often try and good naturedly herd their human family, particularly the children.

Small dog breeds in the herding group are the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Shetland Sheepdog, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and the Border Collie. 

Miscellaneous Dogs

The miscellaneous category covers breeds not fully recognized by he AKC. There are no small dogs here.

Unless you have a favorite dog, it isn’t easy deciding which breed to buy. What you need to do first is think about the size of the dog is most suitable to your needs and environment. Is your house big enough for a large dog? Or is your house small? Small dogs can be a great source of company. And there is a lot of variety in the temperament and look of a small dog. You probably know about toy dogs, however there are others that are similar to their larger canine siblings.

I’ll run through 3 breeds in this article – brussels griffons, whippets, and welsh terriers.

Brussels Griffon Information

The soulful eyes of the brussels griffon are thought to have been part of what led George Lucas, of Star Wars fame, to create the Ewoks. And looking at pictures of them, you can see the kinship.

Brussels griffons are particularly sensitive and devoted dogs who will bond with one person in particular. They need to be socialized when they are very young. Their sensitivity and one-person nature mean they aren’t suited for families.

Brussels griffon get along well with other animals, particularly cats. You may need to keep an eye out on how they interact with bigger dogs, however. They can challenge for dominance, not really aware of their small size.

Welsh Terrier Information

Welsh terriers are relatively calm – that is, they are calm when compared to other terriers, but perhaps not so compared to other dogs! They have a sturdy look, and lots of personality, especially the males. Welsh terriers are affectionate, joyous, without fear, extroverted, and inquisitive.

Used to keep the rat and vermin population down, and as a result welsh terriers love to chase things – including cats. Consequently, if you have cats, this probably isn’t the best pet for your family.

Excellent with children,  welsh terriers really need a ‘dog proof’ yard as they do love to dig, and could thus escape. When walking a welsh terrier, make sure he stays on the leash, as his road sense when distracted by fun is not good at all.

Welsh terriers require quite a commitment from their owners. They have to have grooming regularly, and get bored when home alone for too long. They probably suit someone with a part time job rather than a full time job. When they’re bored, they can be destructive around the house.  

The Whippet Dog Breed

Whippets belong to the family of dogs known as sighthounds, which are known as that because they hunt using sight and speed instead of smell. These elegant looking dogs are small, ranging in height from 18.5 to 20 inches for male whippets, or 17.5 to 18.5 inches for female whippets. And the whippet dog breed look just like miniature greyhounds!

Whippets have been described as being like toy dogs in temperament, liking nothing better than curling up on your lap. These are very loyal dogs, bonding with their owner strongly, though still good natured around strangers and children. The whippet dog breed are very gentle, and as such they have been used in aged care homes.

These dogs need to be kept indoors. With such thin coats, they will be too cold outside, and they don’t like to be away from their owners for such a long period of time. They make great apartment dogs if you are willing to exercise them regularly.