Before adopting a pet you should research the different dog breeds to make sure you get a puppy that will be compatible with your family, other pets and lifestyle.
Here we have outlined some common dog breeds to help you with your decision.
Saint Bernard The Saint Bernard, also called the St.
Bernhardshund and the Alpine Mastiff, is a large working group dog that developed in Switzerland.
They were originally used by monks to locate missing travelers.
Today this breed is used for search and rescue as well as for pets.
The Saint Bernard is a large dog that stands between 24 and 28 inches tall and weighs between 110 and 200 pounds.
You may best remember the St.
Bernard as the type of dog Cujo was.
They have a short to medium long coat that comes in multi-color patterns of orange, brindle, red, white, and black.
English Cocker Spaniel The English Cocker Spaniel is a Welsh gun dog.
Like the American Cocker Spaniel, the English Cocker Spaniel descends from a Spanish Spaniel.
They were developed as a hunting dog that could flush fowl from hiding.
Today they are still used as a hunting dog, however, they are also a popular family dog.
To care for this breed you will need to brush their coat at least three times a week.
It is also a good idea to brush their coat after a hunting or training excursion.
This will help to remove brambles, burrs, and insects that may have become entangled in their fur.
They have long floppy ears so you will need to check and clean them regularly to reduce the chances that they will develop an ear infection.
Shih Tzu The Shih Tzu, also called the Chrysanthemum Dog, is a toy breed that originated in Tibet.
This breed most likely developed from crossing the Pekingese with the Tibetan Mountain Dog.
They are a small dog that only stands between 8 and 11 inches tall and that weighs between 8 and 15 pounds.
They have a long and silky coat including a long mustache and beard.
They come in a variety of color variations and combinations.
The Shih Tzu is a gentle and loyal pet that works well for families with kids as well as people living on their own.
German Shepherd Dog The German Shepherd Dog, also referred to as the Alsatian or the Deutscher Schaferhund, is a German breed that was bred as a military service dog.
This breed most likely descends from mountain sheepdogs.
Today these dogs are used as family pets, guard dogs, service dogs, and watch dogs.
This breed is one of the most well known breeds in the world.
They are a large dog breed.
The males are slight larger than the females.
They stand between 24 and 26 inches and the females stand between 22 and 24 inches tall.
The weight limit for this breed ranges between 75 and 95 pounds.
They have a medium length coat that comes in colors of gold, white, black, tan, and gray.
Black masking and overlays on the back are common markings on this breed.
Cairn Terrier The Cairn Terrier is a small British dog breed.
This is the type of dog that was used to play Toto in the Wizard of Oz.
The Cairn Terrier most likely resulted from the crossing of the White Terrier and the Black and Tan Terrier.
It stands between 10 and 12 inches tall and it usually weighs in between 13 and 16 pounds.
It has a medium to long outercoat and a soft dense undercoat.
They come in shades of black, grey, red, brown, wheaten, and cream.
To care for the Cairn Terrier you will want to brush or wipe down their coat on a weekly basis.
You don't want to cut their coat.
However, you will need to cut their nails and brush their teeth.
To keep this dog happy and out of trouble you may want to set up a dig box or a dig area that they can exercise their digging instinct in.
This strategy, coupled with training, will help to limit the damage that they cause digging in your yard.
This dog breed doesn't need a lot of exercise, but they enjoy lots of free time playing in a fenced yard and going for walks with you in the park.
Norwich Terrier The Norwich Terrier, is an English breed, that was once grouped with the Norfolk Terrier.
You can tell the difference between these two similar breeds by their ears.
The Norwich Terrier's ears stand up and the Norfolk Terrier's ears are flopped over.
This breed belongs to the Terrier group and it is used today as a hunter of burrowing animals and as a family pet.
The Norwich Terrier is a cute little dog that stands about 10 inches tall.
It should weigh between 11 and 12 pounds.
Its coat is hard, straight and short to medium length.
This dog comes in similar coat colors as the Norfolk Terrier including red, black, tan, wheaten and grizzle.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is British terrier that developed by crossing the Smooth-Coated Terrier with the Old English Bulldog and maybe the Black and Tan Terrier.
They were originally developed as a bull baiter, and some of their fighting instincts still remain, making them prone to fight with other dogs.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a little dog that stands between 14 and 16 inches tall and that weighs between 24 and 38 pounds.
They have a short smooth coat that comes in shades of fawn, black, gray, red, and white.
Some of the health issues that this breed has include breathing problems, cataracts, and overheating issues.