Dogs

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TOY BREEDS

This is the lap dog group and dogs in this group are best suited to older people who want a dog to be with them all the time. They are suitable for apartment living simply because they are so small and they don't need much exercise. Small dogs tend to be fussy eaters. Compared to the other groups they are more prone to congestive heart failure and patella problems. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the best small dog for young children.

• Miniature poodle
• Pomeranian
• Pug
• Chihuahua
• Italian Greyhound
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

SIGHT HOUNDS

Dogs in this group tend to be very placid. Surprisingly they are better suited to living in small areas than say a lab or a terrier. They do need to be walked though and this should be a long walk. All of this group tend to chase small animals such as rabbits, cats and small dogs and this is most developed in the greyhound. Most of the dogs I have met in this group are real couch potatoes and totally adorable. They tend to be athletic in build so have few skeletal faults.

• Irish Wolfhound
• Greyhound
• Whippet
• Borzoi

SCENT HOUNDS

As a group these dogs rarely come into Lort Smith. The only exception is the Beagle. Owners report this breed is good at escaping, and once they have their head down to a scent they are oblivious to all else. We have the occasional one come in as a stray. They don't appear to be a popular breed in Melbourne .

• Beagle
• Fox Hound
• Basset Hound

UTILITY BREEDS (large working dogs)

This group has too many different breeds to make a general comment. The guard dogs can be aggressive and care must be taken with small children. The Rottweiler has been voted the most untrustworthy dog in the veterinary surgery situation, as they tend to bite when they feel threatened. The sleigh dogs need a lot of exercise. The St Bernard is the heaviest of all dogs and is usually placid. The big dogs have more trouble with their hips and are more prone to cancer of the long bones than small dogs. Many clubs are trying to decrease hip dysplasia. Hip Dysplasia is a common condition attacking the hip joints in large breeds of dogs.

• German Shepherd
• Doberman
• Rottweiler
• St Bernard
• Siberian Husky
• Malamute
• Boxer
• Alaskan Malamute
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Newfoundland

TERRIERS

These dogs as a group tend to be active and into everything. They are also the group most likely to have skin complaints. They suit older children and people with an active lifestyle. Some of the smaller terriers are good housedogs however some can also be snappy.

• Maltese Terrier
• Jack Russell Terrier
• Fox Terrier
• Scottish Terrier
• West Highland White Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

SHEEP AND CATTLE DOGS

These dogs need a lot of exercise and are probably not suited to living their life in a city backyard. They tend to be overweight as pets and get bored and are very destructive if left alone too long. They are not a group where there are a lot of medical faults, perhaps because this has been bred out by farmers, who need healthy dogs for working their farms.

• Border Collie
• Blue Heeler
• Kelpie
• Rough Collie

GUN DOGS

These are again working dogs and do tend towards obesity if care is not taken. They also tend to get bored and destructive however aren't as bad as the above group. The Labrador and the Golden Retriever are the best large dog if you are selecting a pet with children in mind, but individual dogs can still be aggressive and care should always be taken. Genetic faults are breed specific.

• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• German Short-Haired Pointer
• English Pointer

If you have decided on a pedigree dog you can contact that breed's club and they will put you onto a registered breeder. The advantage of buying a pup through a registered breeder is that a pup has come from a show quality dam and sire, and your pup will be what you pay for. Also you have more recourse if a problem does arise. Some clubs are actively involved in removing inherited faults from their dogs and so the pup is less likely to develop these faults in later life. This is especially true of hip dysplasia found in many of the large breeds of dogs. Remember most dog breeds do have some diseases common to that particular breed. Some are inherited, some are size related and they vary in how common they are. Being aware of the common faults is a good idea but no breed is perfect so chose the one most suited to you and your life style.

Some people choose to buy a pup from a "backyard breeder". Some of these pups are fine and most grow into great dogs, but we do have more veterinary problems with these pups. Often they have had no medical care such as worming and vaccinations and sometimes don't grow to look anything like the dog they are supposed to be. Sometimes they are just as expensive as a pedigree dog. More care must be taken in buying a pup under these circumstances.

And after all that you may decide you want to buy a crossbreed, "Heinz" variety or rescue a dog from a shelter or a pound. Since we have pups and adult dogs come in and need to be adopted Lort Smith loves this idea. We do admit there are problems. Often we don't know the history of the dog. Breeds are often guessed. Certainly some pups we have sold have ended up larger or smaller than expected. One litter of pups, which looked German Shepherd in origin, was more German Shepherd cross Daschund once fully grown. Rescued dogs usually come with their first year's vaccinations and desexing included in the purchase price and, at least at Lort Smith, these prices are heavily discounted to increase the chance of sale.

Several years ago the RSPCA brought out the slogan "A dog is for life ... not just for Christmas". Whatever you chose to buy remember this new animal will look to you for love, food, health and exercise and this commitment should last many, many years. Be careful in your choice. Pets are not a throwaway item but a living, breathing creature that is a responsibility for their entire life.

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