Breed Group or Breed

[Linds]

I'm sitting at work bored and musing and thought this might make an interesting thread.

When you are deciding (or when you decided) on a breed of dog to get did you first pick a group (Herding, sighthound, retriever etc.) and from there narrow down a breed or did you have a breed picked out first without regard to the group type?

If you picked out type first, what made you decide on that grouping of dogs and what made you narrow it down to the breed you got?

And in the same vain, are you with future dogs going to stay within the same breed group or venture out to other groups?

 

[nikkiluvsu15]

I've always loved the sporting group, just because we tend to get along well. I love the goofy personalities and energy.

Harleigh, whatever she may be, is the perfect match for me. Though she could be a little less stubborn haha

As far as future dogs, I'll probably stay in the sporting group (Labs and Vizslas probably, lol). Though there are other breeds that I've looked into

 

[Beanie]

Breed first. As it happens most of the breeds I like are in the herding group though. =P

 

[Laurelin]

Paps no. I just like them.
Nextdog I wanted a herder/collie family first. I love that group.

 

[sassafras]

Honestly, although there are groups and breeds I tend to gravitate towards (generally working and sporting groups), I tend to fall in love with random individual dogs. Although I have tentative plans for Alaskans in the future, I suspect I'll follow my pattern mostly.

 

[AmandaNola]

Breed first. Although I'm 99% sure I'll never own a toy or non-sporting dog. There are some groups I like more breeds from than others, but it still goes by breed.

 

[Southpaw]

We fell into boxers, there was definitely no thought put into it. Working breeds are some of my favorites though, obviously I love boxers but I adore dobes and rotties too.

However no, I never look at group when looking at dogs. Honestly I usually go by looks first and then research to see if it's a breed I should be interested in.

 

[Finkie_Mom]

Breed first for me. Seeing as my guys are Non-Sporting in the US but they are bred for hunting as gundogs (and are used for water retrieves as well), the group doesn't really mean anything. And in FCI they are Nordic Hunting Dogs and in the Canadian Kennel Club they are in the Hound group. In terms of future different breeds, I would probably either gravitate towards an individual dog (I've become a BIT enamored with some Shelties I've met lately.......) or maybe another type of Northern/Spitz breed since I prefer that look (like Buhunds).

 

[Fran101]

Breeder first honestly lol wasn't that into aussies and am not, typically, into the herding group personality type.

But usually breed first! The group to me doesn't mean much..

 

[Shai]

When you are deciding (or when you decided) on a breed of dog to get did you first pick a group (Herding, sighthound, retriever etc.) and from there narrow down a breed or did you have a breed picked out first without regard to the group type?

Personality/body type first for me. Which tends to narrow it down to certain breeds pretty quickly. I don't care what group the breed happens to fall in, though they tend to be mostly gundogs and herders with the occasional terrier.

If you picked out type first, what made you decide on that grouping of dogs and what made you narrow it down to the breed you got?

I like dogs who are both people and work-oriented, mentally stable and focused, with a moderate size and type whose athleticism is suited for an active life and especially for a long sound agility career. Intelligent, engaged, busy dogs.

Are you with future dogs going to stay within the same breed group or venture out to other groups?

Well I already have at least three "groups"-ish. Terrier, herder, retriever...and one could easily make the case that Kim comes out more on the pariah type end of the spectrum as well. I anticipate always having at least two breeds/types -- some sort of retriever, and some sort of herder.

Variety is the spice of life

 

[Kootenay]

Breed first, for me. But there are definitely certain groups I tend to like more (working and herding) and others I could never see myself owning (sporting, toy etc).

 

[Fran101]

Come to think of it, there isn't a single group (other than terriers) that I wouldn't have a dog from or that doesn't contain a breed I've actively sought out at one point in my life.

A few years working with dogs has taught me that terriers are not my niche and my frustrations with them is found in the very core of what makes them "terriers" lol so I tend to stay away.. but other than that, the groups don't mean much to me, it's about individual breeds in there.

especially when it comes to working/non-working I feel like there is so many different types present

 

[JacksonsMom]

Ummm, I mean, I definitely have groups that I like a lot of dogs in, and then groups I'd probably never own a dog from. I know I'll never desire to own a dog from the hound group. Me and hound dogs just... don't mesh. And I don't even know why specifically, we just don't. And basically none out of sporting except maybe a Golden Retriever someday. No desire for any non-sporting either.

The only groups I am really interested in would be toy, herding and terrier. But only a specific few out of each. So I'd say I choose breed first, between those 3 groups? lol.

 

[*blackrose]

I've really always just considered breed - BUT, I do know that most hounds and terriers are not my cup of tea. I'm more of a sporting/working type person.

That being said, I've grown up with Retrievers (and mixes thereof) and know the generic retriever personality/traits. And I know that I really like a good Retriever. So, when I was looking at potential breeds, I waffled back and forth between a few different types, but in the end I gravitated back to the Retrievers because that is what I grew up with.

I would one day love to confuse the heck out of people and have a chocolate Lab, a brown Chessie, and a liver Curlie. (And why Labs are chocolate, Chessies are brown, and Curlies are liver when they are all the same shade, I have no idea.)

I have similar tastes in dogs as my vet. We like Retrievers, a few other sporting dogs (some spaniels/pointers), and big ol' dopey knuklehead Rottie/Bully/Mastiff-y type dogs. Why those seem to mix well together, I have no idea. LOL

 

[Red.Apricot]

I like herding dogs a lot. There's a few breeds outside the herding group I'd be interested in, and a lot of individual dogs, but I'd be happy with the right dog from almost any herding breed.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Breed. Then I started exploring type.

 

[CharlieDog]

I would one day love to confuse the heck out of people and have a chocolate Lab, a brown Chessie, and a liver Curlie. (And why Labs are chocolate, Chessies are brown, and Curlies are liver when they are all the same shade, I have no idea.)

I would totally die laughing if I saw that out and about. You should add in a liver Flatcoat too.

And I'd totally do the same thing if I was really a retriever person.

I chose breed first. Then discovered I do mesh better with breeds from the same group as the first breed I chose. (GSDs) I like the herderbrains. I don't mind having a good retriever around either. They tend to make the herderbeasts take themselves a little less seriously.

 

[*blackrose]

I would totally die laughing if I saw that out and about. You should add in a liver Flatcoat too.

I can just picture people thinking that the Lab and the Curly had a baby, and it was the Chessie. (Although I shudder to think the breed guesses the Curly would get. Abrams gets mistaken for a Labradoodle, I can't imagine what would happen with a Curly.)

 

[AmberH]

Breed first. Terriers are definitely my favorite group in general. I love their personalities and that's what I look for in a dog. I love so many different breeds though, it's hard for me to say one way or another on a whole group. And even within that group, the dogs can vary so much.

My 3 favorite breeds are in the terrier, working, and herding groups. I'll likely stick with these breeds (APBT, Great Dane, Kelpie [hopefully]) throughout my life unless the random shelter dog happens in there somewhere. Then again, I do love having a small dog, even though I didn't think I would.

 

[Sit Stay]

Breed is definitely what I look at first. I just so happens that 90% of the breeds I'm interested in are in the herding group, though. I've only ever had one non-herder from an entire childhood with multi-dogs and foster dogs.

There are certain non-herders that I'm interested in though. If I ever get up to 3 dogs, I would like my third to be a little easier going. I'm considering Whippets, Cavs, or a shelter mutt I would also, in the future, consider a JRT again or perhaps a Papillon.