Choosing A Dog Breed: The Seven Main Groups

by Bailey Coldwell

I have recently been doing my own research on what type of dog I want to bring into my home next. Now is a good opportunity to share some information about choosing a dog breed. A previously posted blog post discusses what to consider when deciding to get a dog. Such as determining whether to adopt or buy from a breeder, and the questions to ask yourself based on your home and lifestyle. You can find that post here: https://www.baxterandbella.com/post/i-ve-decided-to-become-a-dog-owner-now-what

Today, we are going to dive a bit deeper into this topic and talk about the seven recognized AKC (American Kennel Club) dog groups, what to know about their personalities and health, and the common breeds in each group. In addition, we are going to talk about the different types of doodles (poodles mixed with another dog breed). 

Working Group: 

These large dogs were originally bred to assist humans with tasks such as guarding property and flocks or pulling sleds. Some common breeds include boxers, great pyrenees, bernese mountain dogs, great danes, and huskies. The common names you will see for doodles that have genetics in the working dog group may include Bernedoodles, Newfypoos, Pyredoodles, and Schnoodles. 

What to know: 

• Can be suspicious of strangers 

• Devoted to their families 

• Can be territorial 

• Typically, they do better when left alone than breeds from other groups

• Some may shed heavily and/or require a lot of grooming

Health concerns:

• Ligament injuries

• Hip and elbow dysplasia and arthritis 

• Ear infections 

• Bloat 

• Cancer 

Sporting Group: 

These are dogs who were originally bred to assist hunters in capturing and retrieving feathered game. There are four types of dogs within the sporting group: retrievers, setters, pointers, and spaniels. Some common breeds are Labrador retrievers, German shorthaired pointers, cocker spaniels, and English setters. Some of the common names you will see for doodles that have genetics in the sporting group are labradoodles, goldendoodles, and cockapoos.

What to know: 

• Athletic and require regular exercise

• Intelligent and eager to please, making them highly trainable

• Coat usually involves moderate shedding or grooming 

Health concerns:

• Hip dysplasia

• Osteoarthritis 

• Ear infections 

• Gastrointestinal issues

• Cruciate ligament injuries

Hound Group: 

They were bred to hunt. The hound group consists of both scenthounds and sighthounds. Known for speed, sense of smell, and/or sense of sight. Common breeds are beagles, bassethounds, greyhounds, and dachshunds. One name you might see for a doodle with hound genetics could be a doxiepoo. 

What to know: 

• They don’t mind as well as other groups, due to “listening” to their noses

• Very vocal 

• Smart 

• Low maintenance for grooming 

• Needs a job to be happy 

• Often friendly with family 

Health concerns:

• Allergies

• Ear infections due to large and floppy ears

• Hip and elbow dysplasia 

• Bloat 

• Obesity 

Toy Group: 

Originally bred for companionship for the wealthy, and were associated with royalty. Some common toy group breeds are Cavalier King Charles spaniel, chihuahua, havanese, maltese, pug, shih tzu, and Yorkshire terrier. Some of the common names you will see for doodles that have genetics in the toy group include maltipoo, cavapoo, havapoo, shih-poo, and yorkipoo. 

What to know: 

• Affectionate and loyal, but sensitive and demanding for attention

• Small size can make them a good fit for apartments or cities

• Often best with adults or older children

• Some tend to be more vocal than other breeds

Health concerns:

• Dental issues due to crowded mouths

• Patellar rotation, the knee cap gets displaced         

• Intervertebral disc disease

• Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome- due to “smushed faces”

• Mitral valve disease 

Terrier Group:

Originally bred to hunt and kill vermin. Some common breeds include American Staffordshire terrier, bull terrier, miniature schnauzer, Jack Russell terrier, and West Highland white terrier. Some common names for doodles with terrier genetics include whoodle and westiepoo. 

What to know: 

• Independent, lively, and feisty 

• Highly intelligent 

• Prey drive and digging

• Vocal

• Confident, don’t fear easily

• They don’t need to be glued to your side, yet can be loyal to family

Health concerns:

• Hip dysplasia

• Luxating patella 

• Craniomandibular osteopathy (excessive bone growth in the lower jaw and skull) 

• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease

• Atopic dermatitis

Herding Group: 

Bred to control the movement of animals. Gather, herd, and protect livestock. 

Some common breeds are Australian shepherd, Australian cattle dog, Belgian malinois, border collie, German shepherd dog, Pembroke welsh corgi, and old english sheepdog.  Some of the common names you will see for doodles that have genetics in the herding group include aussiedoodle, sheepadoodle, bordoodle, and shepadoodle. 

What to know:

• Intelligent. Very responsive to good training 

• Laser focused 

• The highest energy of all the dog groups. Need high-energy outlets for their high work ethic

• Herding tendencies

• Destructive and anxious if they haven’t received proper stimulation 

Common health issues:

• Hip dysplasia

• Degenerative myelopathy 

• Epilepsy

• Multiple eye diseases 

• Bloat 

Non-Sporting Group: 

This is a group without a clear category. They could have been bred for reasons no longer relevant. Ex. Bull dogs and their connection to bull baiting. Some common dog breeds include French bulldogs, bichon frise, Boston terriers, shih tzu, dalmatians, and poodles. All doodles in this category have genetics due to poodles being in the non-sporting group. Due to the drastic differences between these breeds, research the specific breed to learn more about temperament and health (especially poodles, if you plan to get a doodle). 

More About Doodles:  

Doodles tend to display traits that align with the groups from which their genetics are derived. Oftentimes, doodles tend to be advertised as having the best traits of poodles and the best characteristics of the other breed they are mixed with. Keep in mind that you will get some of the good genetics and some of the not-so-good genetics of the breeds that the doodle is made up of. 

Here are a few popular types of doodles and what to expect:

Aussiedoodle: high energy and needing outlets for this energy, intelligent, loyal (wanting to be with their handlers), potential for herding instincts. 

Bernedoodle: companion-oriented and wants to be with their people, energetic, and can be sensitive to strangers. 

Cavapoo: not ideal for being left alone regularly for long periods of time (but they should still learn to be okay with being without you!), affectionate, and eager to please. 

Goldendoodle: moderate to high energy levels, trainable, struggles with being away from people if not trained to be content with this.  

Labradoodle: Usually more independent than other “velcro” dogs, more reserved but loyal, moderate energy outlets required, smart. 

Sheepadoodle: Moderate exercise requirements, enjoys having a “job” to do, can be a bit less eager to please than other breeds, loves attention without being too needy. 

Doodles are currently super popular! A big attraction is low shedding (many still shed some). Keep in mind that the cost of this is grooming- and a LOT of grooming. A full groom is needed every 1-2 months, along with daily brushing. This gets very expensive and very time-consuming. It is also essential to know that no dog is truly hypoallergenic. A person is undoubtedly less likely to be allergic to doodles, but it is still possible. It is less predictable the further you get from a poodle, due to the mixing of other breeds. 

“Less Fancy” Mixes:

I give so much praise and acknowledgement to those who are looking to rescue a dog from a shelter. This feel-good approach is life-changing for the handler and dog. Keep in mind, however, that when rescuing, you will not know the dog’s genetic or behavioral background. You can guess what breeds the dog is made of, but handlers are often shocked after a DNA test to discover what actually makes up the dog. Therefore, adopting from a shelter is sometimes like one of those “mystery grab bags”. You may need a bit more patience and flexibility with the final exercise requirements or the dog's overall personality.  

I hope this article helps you dive deeper into dog breeds as you decide which dog to add to your family. I have enjoyed creating this post myself, as I have learned more about the history and expectations of dog groups and breeds. All dogs have a place in someone’s home, but not every dog fits into everyone’s home and lifestyle.