Instinct is a very powerful force. Here's an example. Whippets were bred to course (chase and kill) rabbits and hares by sight rather than scent. Though most of them are no longer used for this purpose, the instinct is in nearly all of them. They are very sensitive to movement and will take off like a shot after a blowing piece of paper, a squirrel, or a cat. They run up to 35 miles an hour and can be out of your sight in practically no time at all. This is not a good breed for you if you have outside cats or other small animals, or if you want a dog to take jogging with you off-lead.

It may be possible to train a whippet not to chase, but through its entire life, the dog will be struggling against his basic nature and being disciplined for doing what he was born to do. Not a very happy way to live. Or you can find a whippet without this "prey drive," but you'll be looking for an exception rather than a whippet with normal breed instinct. And you never know when that instinct might emerge. There are many stories of whippets who were perfectly trustworthy off-lead for years and then one day bolted after deer or cats and were lost forever. Why not start with a breed or mix that is suited to your lifestyle? You'll save yourself years of frustration and your dog years of confusion and unhappiness at not being able to please you.

Whether you are planning to get a purebred or a mutt, choosing the breed or mix of breeds is a critical part of the process of getting a dog. Though you won't be able to walk into a shelter and say, "I'd like a dog that's half Bernese Mountain Dog, one quarter German Shepherd, and one quarter Collie," you will have some idea of the type of mixes you prefer if you do some studying beforehand. Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide by Michele Welton (Owl Books, 2000) should be required reading before getting any dog--purebred or not! The Right Dog for You by Daniel F. Tortora, PhD (Simon & Schuster, 1980) is also excellent.

Ask people who own dogs about problems they have had, how their dogs fit into their families, the amount of time it takes to care for and about behavior and expenses. When you meet a dog you really like, find out where it came from; if it's a purebred, that just might be the breeder for you to contact. If it's a mixed breed, that may be the mix you're looking for.

The American Kennel Club recognizes 148 breeds, the British kennel club (The Kennel Club) recognizes 195, but there are probably over 400 breeds worldwide. Dog breeds are divided into groups by their origins and functions. Again, these divisions vary. We're using our own unofficial divisions here--borrowed from various sources--that are useful in characterizing dogs as companions. Many of the divisions are blurry and not entirely satisfactory, but it's a start. The characteristics of each group are very general--there are exceptions to every rule--but they may help you in narrowing down your selection.

Next ~ The Petdogs-L Breed Chart