Before You Explore

Finding the Right Dog Starts With Understanding Your Life

Breed groups and breed standards are valuable tools for understanding what is commonly expected from different types of dogs. They help set realistic expectations, but they are not guarantees of how any individual dog will behave or develop. Dogs are individuals. Genetics, responsible breeding, early development, health, environment, training, lifestyle, and personality all influence the dog you bring home. While many dogs enjoy the type of work and lifestyle they were developed for, many also adapt successfully to very different homes when their needs are understood and met. Use these guides to understand tendencies, not to predict certainty. The best way to know any dog is to learn the individual in front of you.

• •Breed standards describe commonly expected characteristics.
• •Breed tendencies are useful starting points, not guarantees.
• •Every dog is an individual.
• •Genetics, breeding lines, health, early development, environment, training, and lifestyle influence the dog in front of you.
• •Many dogs adapt well to lifestyles different from the work they were originally bred to perform.
• •A typically high-energy breed may produce a relaxed individual.
• •A typically lower-energy breed may produce a highly active individual.
• •People seeking very specific traits should research responsible breeders or rescue organizations carefully.
• •The Academy helps people explore and compare. It never chooses a breed for them.

These results use commonly expected breed characteristics to help you begin your research. Individual dogs may differ significantly.