Dogs of different breeds behave differently and have different physical characteristics. It is therefore advised that different breeds of dogs should get different exercise routines so that they do not get over exhausted or obese. Selecting the right exercise regime for your dog depending on the breed is therefore essential.

Breeds and their exercises
Based on the different classes of breeds, a set of exercises can be determined.

1. Terriers- This class of dog includes breeds such as the Jack Russell Terrier, Irish Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Welsh Terrier and the famous American Pit Bull Terrier. They are highly intelligent and full of energy and can thus manage mind and body games such as obstacle courses and Frisbee. Chasing games are also good for this class of dogs.

2. Companion Dogs/ Toy Dogs- These are generally dogs, which are bred for companionship rather than utility such as Chihuahua, Pug, English bulldog and Shih Tzu. They require only minimal exercises such as walking. However, some breeds, which are also for companionship like the Dalmations and the Yorkshire terriers, need walks that are more vigorous.

3. Hounds- The hounds can be sub classified into two more subtypes: the scent hounds (which are bred to search on the basis of scent e.g. Harrier, Coonhound and Dachshund) and the sight hounds (which are bred to search on the basis of sight e.g. Greyhound, Irish wolfhound and Basenji). They have tendency to switch between work and play and therefore are recommended for walks, runs and hikes.

4. Guardian Dogs- These include breeds like the Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Great Pyrenee, Doberman Pinscher and the Rottweiler. These are strong dogs that can be quite active, however behaviorally they tend to start taking the play quite seriously, which could be problematic. It is therefore recommended that these dogs should be given exercise in the form of runs and obstacle courses but within limits.

5. Northern Dogs- This class includes dogs from breeds like the Chinook, Siberian husky, Malamute and Chow Chow. They are highly active and should be exercised a lot with hiking, runs, games (like sledding) to keep them active.

6. Gun/ Sporting Dogs- This class includes breeds like the Irish Settler, Labrador Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel and the Standard Poodle. Being bred for sports and hunting, these dogs have a lot of stamina and require a lot of exercise. Long walks, hiking and running activities are good. In addition, games like fetch can be played to keep the activity up.

7. Herding Dogs- Breeds, which come under this class, include the English Sheepdog, Welsh Corgi, Collie, Border Collie, German Shepherd, and the Schnauzer. These breeds generally have a moderate to high energy level and are therefore suited to a variety of exercises. Almost any games and sports are good for the dogs, especially runs, walks and challenging hikes.

Thus, depending on which class of breed your dog falls into, you should select an appropriate exercise regime for it. You must also determine the personality of your dog to best choose games and activities, which it can do for its wellbeing.

Your dog will become a great companion to you, but, your dog can also be a lot of work for you. There is no such a dog that requires no work from you, but choosing the right dog for you can keep your problems to a minimum.

So how do you know what is the easiest dog for you?

There really is no such thing as a very best dog breed everyone looks for something different in their pets depending on their own situation at the time. One example is, when my husband and I worked, we had two miniature long haired dachshunds, when my husband became disability retired and stayed home all day, we got a black lab and a golden retriever. The time was right!

Some breeds are better if you require a low maintenance dog. For example: Hounds, such as greyhounds and whippets, generally love to be a couch-potato, despite their talent for speed. They are also very mellow dogs, and great for adoption. Standard poodles have a great personality, are very smart and have a calm demeanor. Bonus! They do not shed. Hence, the fairly new breed of Doodle dogs, like a Labradoodle, or a Goldendoodle. Both these are crosses between the poodle and another breed, making them low maintenance in the grooming department.

Also low maintenance: pug, Shih Tzu, English cocker spaniel, but, be careful, some of these dogs need training to keep them from barking your neighbors into oblivion.

Keep away from breeds such as hunting breeds, herding breeds, or any working dog breed. Unless you are an active person, these dogs are not for you. They need lots of exercise and even mental stimulation. They are after all working dogs.

One way to have fewer problems is to adopt an adult dog that already comes housetrained, and even trained for many other activities. A dog that is two or three years old probably is already housebroken and no longer teething. That is what we did, we adopted a 3 year old black lab.

An older dog is also calmer than a puppy. And, Female dogs are easier to handle most of the time.

Where To Find A Dog

Go to your local Rescue Shelter, or Animal Shelter. These institutions work hard to match you with the right dog, and, they also look after their dog to make sure it goes to a good home. Adopting a dog is not for saving money; it’s about saving a dog.

Another tip: Talk to breeders and to dog owners once you have decided what breed you want. People are more than happy to tell you about their pets.

Enjoy your journey with your new canine friend. A dog is a companion for life, especially if you put thought into the process before you acquire your dog.

Dogs are wildly popular pets; in 2006, there were more than sixty one million dogs in the United States alone. While dogs have utilitarian uses, such as hunting, security, or aiding the handicapped, most people have them as pets simply because they provide companionship. Dogs do make good companions, and they are loyal and attentive pets. They are not suitable for everyone, however.

Prior to adopting a dog, there are a few things you may wish to consider ahead of time:

Maintenance issues. Dogs require a lot of maintenance. Unlike cats, they will need to go outside from time to time. If you don’t have a fenced yard where the animal can run unattended, you will have to personally walk your pet several times a day. You could hire that job out, but either way, you will have to provide either money or time in order to tend to your pet’s outside needs.

Suitability issues. If you have young children, you should choose your pet carefully. It’s not uncommon for parents of small children to choose a “puppy” for a pet without considering what sort of puppy they are adopting. While a young Dachshund and a young Labrador Retriever may be similar in size, they will not be the same size in six months or a year. Your dog will grow much faster than your children, so you should keep the pet’s future size in mind if adopting a puppy.

Expense issues. Owning a pet of any type can be expensive, and dogs are no exception. Pets need to be fed daily, and the cost of food can add up quickly, particularly if you have a larger animal. In addition, there will be occasional visits to the veterinarian, along with vaccinations and even licenses, depending on where you live.

Responsibility issues. Owning a pet comes with great responsibility. Dogs need to be regularly fed. They need time outside the house. They need to see a vet from time to time, and they need attention. Pet ownership comes with an obligation on the part of the owner to see to it that all of the pet’s needs are met. If you are an adult and you are buying a pet for your child, keep in mind that these responsibilities ultimately become yours.

Owning a pet in general, and a dog in particular, can be a rewarding experience. Prospective owners need to be aware of all that is involved in owning a pet prior to adopting one. The better you understand what you will need to do ahead of time, the better off you and your dog will be.

When you’ve finally made the decision to get a dog (one that my wife resisted all the way up to the end!), you have to ensure that you know how to properly stop dog training problems. Of course, the best weapon is prevention, not the cure, so why not learn how to pre-empt those pesky problems by finding a good dog training solution?

I’m not talking about expensive dog trainers or rip-off courses. Nope, just a nice, easy course I found online, complete with a free personalised consultation. Its name: Sit Stay Fetch.

Perhaps you’ve heard of it. If you haven’t, it’s certainly worth looking into. Here’s why:

This interactive e-course is extremely easy to read, and features not only PDF books but also audio components and, if you choose to pay a little extra, even video segments (which are VERY good).

What do you learn? You get everything from house-training information that works, to proper corrective and obedience training info.

Even better, Sit Stay Fetch doesn’t teach you rules that only apply to one kind of dog; in fact, they cover specific techniques for handling all kinds of breeds and specific dogs. Which is great for me, because information about dachshunds isn’t going to necessarily help me, with my labrador retriever!

Surprisingly, it doesn’t cost all that much for this, and there are a lot of free extras. On top of that, there’s a two-month money-back-guarantee, and I know there are no questions asked, so you won’t have a problem (but hopefully you don’t need to resort to this measure!).

The service, as well, is top-notch. For no extra cost, I got an e-mail reply personalised to my two long, detailed question about our dog problem. Within a day of each, we got an EXCELLENT reply, with thorough information that was actually specific to our Lab. The Support Team seemed genuinely sympathetic, and gave great informaton that solved our dog’s problem pretty quickly.

For that reason alone, we highly recommend SitStayFetch. Your dog–and your family–will thank you.

FINAL RATING? Strong Buy It recommendation. Fun, intersting information (particularly about alpha dog training–a whole bonus section), and very affordable.

The holidays are close at hand, so it’s time to start thinking of gifts to give your loved ones and friends. Finding unique gifts can present a challenge, and most people never consider giving pet-related gifts. Since the chances are good that more than one person on your holiday gift list has a pet that he or she adores, why not give a distinctive gift that your recipient will treasure? Here are five great gift ideas to get you started:

1. Fine Art Animal Prints

Dogs may come in many shapes and sizes, but each has a personality all its own. One of the most delightful gifts you can give to a pet lover is a fine art print of his or her breed. One of the most notable artists offering fine art animal prints is Lorena Pugh. Her print, “Princess,” for example, depicts a white toy poodle laying atop a stack of twelve colorful pillows, while “Angel Face” showcases a gorgeous pug who has just snagged a cluster of grapes off of a dining room table. In “Chocolate Craving,” she realistically captures the yearning of a chocolate lab as he reaches for a tennis ball against a beautiful background of blue sky. These limited edition animal prints are sure to be treasured, as each comes with a consecutively numbered dog tag to match the tag in the print.

2. Crystal Animal Statues

Whether your gift recipient has a dog, cat, horse, or rabbit, he or she is sure to enjoy an elegant crystal animal statue. Typically made from 24 percent lead crystal, hand-finished animal statues are beautiful yet whimsical. Crystal animal statues can depict a wide variety of pets, from a sitting cat to a dog with a bone; from a turtle to a frog; from a horse to a mouse; and from a duck to a dove.

3. Stone Animal Statues

Who wouldn’t love a playful stone animal statue depicting their beloved pet? Animal garden statues are perfect gifts, as are stone animal statues for the home and office. While some statues – like a sleeping spaniel puppy or an eager dachshund – make you feel warm inside, others – like a cat holding a pair of binoculars up to his eyes, ever watchful for a bird – make you chuckle. Stone animal statues are available for virtually any type of pet, and are certain to be cherished.

4. Animal Posters

If you’ve ever owned a pet, you know how funny they can be. Animal posters depict pets in a variety of outlandish situations (remember the cat in “Hang in There”?), and are eminently affordable. An animal poster is sure to bring a smile to your recipient’s face.

5. Entertainment

When it comes to gifts for pet lovers, there’s nothing more unique that pet-related entertainment. There is actually a music company that creates music for animals, so consider giving a gift of music about and for cats, dogs, or birds. Another great gift idea is to buy a DVD or video that is designed to entertain your recipient’s dog or cat. Your friend or loved one can play the DVD or video while he or she is at work or out running errands – guilt free!

It’s both original and thoughtful to give a gift that acknowledges your recipient’s pet as a central part of his or her life. Pet lovers will appreciate and treasure your gift, whether it’s a fine art animal print or an entertaining DVD.