Contents
Should You Get a Puppy?
How to Choose a Breed of Puppy
The 20 Most Popular Puppy Breeds
Where to Get Your Puppy
How to Choose a Puppy
How to Find a Veterinarian
Puppy Supplies
How to Set Up a Puppy-Proof Area
Your Puppy’s First Days at Home
Your Duties as a New Dog Owner
How to Crate Train Your Puppy
How to Housetrain Your Puppy
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The 20 Most Popular Puppy Breeds
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes a list of the most popular dog breeds. The following list, from 2006, contains photos and brief descriptions of the 20 most popular breeds. If you’re shopping for your first puppy, it’s a good idea to consider one of the popular breeds first: you’ll find it easier to locate breeders and veterinarians with plenty of experience caring for your specific breed. The breeds are listed in descending order of popularity:
Labrador Retriever
- Personality: Obedient, devoted
- Exercise: High
- Trainability: Easy
- With children: Very friendly
- Grooming: Brush weekly
- Size: Medium to large (55–80 lbs, 21.5–24.5" tall)
Yorkshire Terrier
- Personality: Curious, determined
- Exercise: Low
- Trainability: Can be challenging
- With children: Not recommended for households with small children
- Grooming: Brush every 1–2 days
- Size: Small (3–7 lbs, 8–9" tall)
German Shepherd
- Personality: Intelligent, capable
- Exercise: High
- Trainability: Easy
- With children: Loyal, protective
- Grooming: Brush 1–2 times weekly
- Size: Large (75–95 lbs, 22–26" tall)
Golden Retriever
- Personality: Playful, devoted, even-tempered
- Exercise: High
- Trainability: Easy
- With children: Very friendly
- Grooming: Twice-weekly brushing; sheds in summer
- Size: Medium to large (55–75 lbs, 21.5–24" tall)
Beagle
- Personality: Sociable, needs companionship
- Exercise: Moderate
- Trainability: Challenging
- With children: Gentle, playful, tolerant
- Grooming: Brush weekly
- Size: Small to medium (18–30 lbs, 13–15" tall)
Dachshund
- Personality: Curious, adventurous, brave, loyal
- Exercise: Moderate
- Trainability: Challenging
- With children: Good with children in family, but may snap at other children
- Grooming: Smooth: brush weekly; wire-haired: brush 1–2 times weekly; long-haired: brush every other day
- Size: Small to medium (miniature: 9–10 lbs, 5–6" tall; standard: 16–32 lbs, 8–9" tall)
Boxer
- Personality: Playful, outgoing, devoted
- Exercise: High
- Trainability: Moderate
- With children: Attentive, loyal
- Grooming: Brush occasionally
- Size: Medium to large (55–80 lbs, 21–25" tall)
Standard Poodle
- Personality: Playful, demands frequent interaction
- Exercise: High
- Trainability: Easy
- With children: Friendly, loyal
- Grooming: Brush every 1–2 days; clip monthly
- Size: Medium to large (45–70 lbs, 22–27" tall)
Shih Tzu
- Personality: Cheerful, sweet, affectionate
- Exercise: Low
- Trainability: Can be challenging
- With children: Playful, affectionate
- Grooming: Brush every 1–2 days
- Size: Small (9–16 lbs, 9–10.5" tall)
Miniature Schnauzer
- Personality: Lively, amiable
- Exercise: Moderate
- Trainability: Moderate
- With children: Friendly, playful
- Grooming: Brush 1–2 times weekly; scissor and shape every 2 months; clean beard daily
- Size: Small (13–15 lbs, 12–14" tall)
Chihuahua
- Personality: Lively, temperamental, deeply devoted to one person in the household
- Exercise: Low
- Trainability: Can be challenging
- With children: Not recommended for households with young children
- Grooming: Smooth coat: brush on occasion; long coat: brush 2–3 times weekly
- Size: Small (3–6 lbs, 6–9" tall)
Bulldog
- Personality: Easygoing, responsive
- Exercise: Low
- Trainability: Can be challenging
- With children: Friendly
- Grooming: Brush weekly; clean wrinkles daily
- Size: Medium (40–50 lbs, 12–15" tall)
Pug
- Personality: Loyal, confident
- Exercise: Moderate
- Trainability: Moderate
- With children: Affectionate, playful
- Grooming: Brush weekly; clean wrinkles daily
- Size: Small (14–18 lbs, 10–10.5" tall)
Pomeranian
- Personality: Confident, adventurous
- Exercise: Low
- Trainability: Challenging
- With children: Not recommended for households with young children
- Grooming: Brush 2 times weekly; trim every 3 months
- Size: Small (4–5 lbs, 8–11" tall)
Boston Terrier
- Personality: Intelligent, playful
- Exercise needs: Low
- Trainability: Moderate
- With children: Sensitive, patient
- Grooming: Brush occasionally
- Size: Small (10–25 lbs, 15–17" tall)
Cocker Spaniel
- Personality: Happy, curious
- Exercise: Moderate
- Trainability: Easy
- With children: Friendly, very loyal
- Grooming: Brush 2–3 times weekly; clip every 2 months
- Size: Medium (24–28 lbs, 13.5–15.5" tall)
Rottweiler
- Personality: Alert, poised, not for inexperienced dog owners
- Exercise: Moderate
- Trainability: Moderate
- With children: Protective
- Grooming: Brush weekly
- Size: Large (80–135 lbs, 22–27" tall)
Maltese
- Personality: Bold, companionable
- Exercise: Low
- Trainability: Moderate
- With children: Not recommended for households with young children
- Grooming: Brush every 1–2 days
- Size: Small (4–7 lbs, 9–10" tall)
German Shorthaired Pointer
- Personality: Active, hardworking
- Exercise: High
- Trainability: Can be challenging
- With children: Friendly but rowdy
- Grooming: Brush occasionally
- Size: Medium to large (45–70 lbs, 21–25" tall)
Shetland Sheepdog
- Personality: Loyal, intelligent
- Exercise: Moderate
- Trainability: Easy
- With children: Playful and gentle, but may nip at times
- Grooming: Brush daily; trim every 3 months
- Size: Small (14–20 lbs, 13–16" tall)
How to Research Other Breeds
The American Kennel Club publishes breed standards for more than 150 different dogs, and its website (www.akc.org) is the best place to begin your research into all of them. Other helpful sources for breed-specific info include:
- The Quamut guide to Dog Breeds
- Breed-specific magazines in pet stores and bookstores
- Dog trainers, vets, and animal-shelter staff
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