How Much Do You Know About Dog Breeds?

If you listen to any animal welfare groups or humane societies they will tell you that if you want a dog that the best way to go is to get a stray from an animal shelter or a dog that has been abused by its former owner. I know a lady who runs a halfway house for Greyhounds that can no longer race. She keeps trying to get me to adopt one, but I'm just not in the position to have a pet right now.

I have owned a few dogs and cats in my life and have usually kept them their entire lives. I prefer small dogs to large dogs, mainly because of space considerations. If I had a farm I would definitely have a large dog though. A friend says that he would only have a small dog because he wouldn't want to stay in the same house with something that could eat him while he's sleeping.

They say that a lot of pet owners resemble their owners. I'm not so sure of that. I like Chihuahuas but I don't think that I look like one. At least my head is not apple shaped. Anyway, some people just have to have a certain breed of dog be it a German Shepard or a Shih Tzu.

If you own a pure breed, just how much do you know about them. According to WebMD, here's a few facts that you may not know about the various dog breeds:

Did you know that statues of Mastiffs appeared on Egyptian monuments as many as 5,000 years ago? Although they need space and have a tendency to drool, these dogs are loyal, gentle companions. They need moderate exercise or they have a tendency to gain too much weight.

Lhasa Apso's were used as guard dogs in the ancient Buddhist monasteries. They are active, feisty dogs that like to romp around and play. Be prepared to give them a lot of attention and frequent grooming for their long coat.

These dogs were originally used as hunting dogs in Scotland and have a waterproof coat. They are energetic and very social and make an ideal pet for families. They are also very easily trained. We're talking about the Golden Retriever, of course.

Sometimes called lion dogs, these stately little pooches were treated as royalty some 1,000 years ago. They can sometimes be stubborn but they are also very loving. They must be groomed regularly and kept cool because they sometimes can have breathing problems. It's the Pekingese.

Dachshunds were first breed in Germany to be used to ferret small creatures out of their holes. They are called wiener dogs because of their elongated shape. Resist the temptation to put them between two slices of bread and eat them. Because of the shape they can develop back problems when they get older. Their instinct is to dig so those of you who have gardens, watch out.

French Poodle. The poodle is the national dog of France and was renowned for its duck hunting and water capabilities. They were also used as military or guard dogs.

Most people know that Labrador Retrievers were used to retrieve game out of the water, but did you know they were also used to catch fish and retrieve nets? They are very social and tolerant of kids. That's why they have become America's most popular breed.

That's what pure breed dogs are all about: Genetic engineering. They were often bred to do a specific job or purpose. Me, I still like mixed breeds because they are mongrels just like me.

Source: http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-breed-rm-quiz