Minnesota Valley Humane Society

Mixed Breeds: Seventy-five percent of dogs at MVHS are mixed breeds. In general, a mixed breed will act most like the type of dog it looks like. But, as in the case of purebreds, this isn’t always true. All dogs are individuals. We can give expected characteristics, but at times dogs’ experiences outweigh their genetics when classifying behavior.

The AKC (American Kennel Club) divides dogs into different groups depending on what they were bred to do. These groups can tell us a lot about a dog. The AKC breed groups are:

• Sporting Dogs
• Hounds
• Working Breeds
• Terriers
• Toys
• Non-Sporting Dogs
• Herding Breeds
• Miscellaneous and Rare Breeds (not covered here)

SPORTING BREEDS
* more common at MVHS

• Brittany *
• Pointer
• German Shorthaired Pointer *
• German Wirehaired Pointer
• Chesapeake Bay Retriever *
• Curly-Coated Retriever
• Flat-Coated Retriever
• Golden Retriever *
• Labrador Retriever *
• English Setter
• Gordon Setter
• Irish Setter
• American Water Spaniel
• Clumber Spaniel
• Cocker Spaniel (American) *
• English Cocker Spaniel
• English Springer Spaniel *
• Field Spaniel
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Sussex Spaniel
• Welsh Springer Spaniel
• Viszla
• Weimaraner *
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• High energy
• Friendly
• Focused
• Fun-loving
• Non-territorial and low protection
• Strong desire to please
• Often natural retrievers

NEEDS

• Fencing or other confinement
• Outlet for high energy
• Obedience training

PERECT MATCH
This is a good dog for the active person or family that can provide the dog with an outlet for their energy and their desire to please.

CONCERNS

• Many Cocker Spaniels are not good with children.
• Most young retrievers have a high energy level, and although they can be eager to learn, they require a large amount of exercise. They can retain their youthful exuberance until the age of three or even older.

HOUNDS
Hounds can also be divided into Scenthounds and Sighthounds. We see mainly Scenthounds at MVHS.
* more common at MVHS

• Afghan Hound
• Basenji
• Basset Hound *
• Beagle *
• Black & Tan Coonhound *
• Bloodhound
• Borzoi
• Dachshund *
• American Foxhound
• English Foxhound
• Greyhound
• Harrier
• Ibizan Harrier
• Irish Wolfhound
• Norwegian Elkhound
• Otterhound
• Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (PBGV)
• Pharaoh Hound
• Rhodesian Ridgbeack
• Saluki
• Scottish Deerhound
• Whippet

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Independent
• Excellent senses
• Focused
• Non-territorial
• Not dominant
• Strong chase instinct
• Scenthounds: adaptable, accepting, social, bold; often bay and raise their voices in song
• Sighthounds: quiet, placid, aloof; alarm bark only

NEEDS

• Happier with instinct outlet
• Fencing or other confinement
• Obedience training

PERECT MATCH
Bred to hunt without commands, hounds are not for people who want an instant response or robot dogs. Although they have plenty of stamina, they’re not as wired as the Sporting Breeds.

CONCERNS

• Due to their long backs, Basset Hounds and Dachshunds have a high incidence of back injuries. Stairs can be difficult for them to routinely maneuver.
• Can be more difficult to train and will not be as reliable as other breeds.

WORKING BREEDS
* more common at MVHS

• Akita *
• Alaskan Malamute *
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Boxer
• Bullmastiff
• Doberman Pinscher *
• Giant Schnauzer
• Great Dane *
• Great Pyrenees *
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Komondor
• Kuvasz
• Mastiff
• Newfoundland
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Rottweiler *
• Saint Bernard
• Samoyed *
• Siberian Husky *
• Standard Schanuzer

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Alert
• Courageous
• Loyal
• Hardy
• Confident
• Territorial
• Protective
• Persistent
• Dominant
• Take jobs seriously and are more content with work
• Good alarm dogs
• The Northern breeds (Huskys, Malamutes, Samoyeds) tend to howl and yak among themselves. They are also more social, less territorial, and free-spirited.

NEEDS

• An experienced family
• A fenced yard
• Obedience training

PERECT MATCH
A good dog for the experienced person or family who is looking for a loyal and protective dog.

CONCERNS

• The northern breeds (Huskys, Malamutes, Samoyeds) love to run and definitely need a fenced yard.
• Huskys cannot be trusted with farm animals and small domestic animals. Cats and Huskys mean flying fur!

TERRIERS
* more common at MVHS

• Airdale Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier *
• Australian Terrier
• Bedlington Terrier
• Border Terrier
• Bull Terrier
• Cairn Terrier
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier
• Smooth Fox Terrier
• Wire Fox Terrier
• Irish Terrier
• Jack Russell Terrier *
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• Lakeland Terrier
• Standard Manchester Terrier
• Miniature Bull Terrier
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Norfolk Terrier
• Rat Terrier *
• Scottish Terrier
• Sealyham terrier
• Skye Terrier
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Welsh Terrier
• West Highland White Terrier

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Feisty
• Confident
• Busy
• Curious
• Courageous
• Tenacious
• Dominant
• Strong Prey Instinct

NEEDS

• Obedience training
• Outlet appropriate for their energy level

PERECT MATCH
A good dog for the person or family that wants a sturdy, fearless dog without much bulk. Busy and curious, terriers do not demand constant attention but do have a feisty personality. Very good for people who live alone, as they are great watchdogs.

CONCERNS

• Usually playful and outgoing with people, they may fight with other dogs.
• Jack Russells and Rat Terriers are very high energy and require appropriate “jobs” to do, such as various dog sports.
• AmStaffs are commonly known as Pit Bulls.
• Not always trusted with small animals (hamsters, guinea pigs, etc.)

TOYS
* more common at MVHS

• Affenpinscher
• Brussels Griffon
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chihuahua *
• Chinese Crested
• English Toy Spaniel
• Italian Greyhound
• Japanese Chin
• Maltese
• Toy Manchester Terrier
• Miniature Pinscher *
• Papillon
• Pekingnese *
• Pomeranian *
• Toy Poodle *
• Pug *
• Shih Tzu *
• Silky Terrier *
• Yorkshire Terrier *

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Loving
• Spunky
• Playful
• Homebodies
• Devoted to Owners

NEEDS

• A dedicated companion
• Obedience training

PERECT MATCH
Toy breeds are designed to be companions. Their personalities vary, but most would be ideal for the less-active person. These dogs are not a good choice for families with young children.

CONCERNS

• Families with young children are better off getting larger dogs, as children’s rough handling may be too much for the small dogs.
• Some breeds need a relatively large amount of grooming.

NON-SPORTING DOGS
* more common at MVHS

• American Eskimo *
• Bichon Frise *
• Boston Terrier
• Bulldog
• Chinese Shar-Pei
• Chow Chow *
• Dalmatian *
• Finnish Spitz
• French Bulldog
• Keeshond *
• Lhasa Apso *
• Miniature Poodle *
• Standard Poodle
• Schipperke
• Shiba Inu
• Tibetan Spaniel
• Tibetan Terrier

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Because they were developed for so many reasons, dogs in this group have varying instincts and do not share characteristics.

NEEDS

• Obedience training

PERECT MATCH
Depends on the breed

CONCERNS

• Dalmatians are very high energy.
• Chows, American Eskimos, and Lhasa Apsos can have a “terrier” personality.
• Bichons are notoriously hard to housetrain

HERDING DOGS
* more common at MVHS

• Australian Cattle Dog
• Australian Shepherd *
• Bearded Collie
• Beligian Malinois
• Belgian Sheepdog
• Belgian Tervuren
• Border Collie *
• Bouvier des Flandres
• Briard
• Collie *
• German Shepherd Dog *
• Old English Sheepdog
• Puli
• Shetland Sheepdog *
• Cardigan Welsh Corgi
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Peppy
• Loyal
• Problem-Solvers
• Territorial

NEEDS

• Requires adequate instinct outlet
• Obedience training

PERECT MATCH
Herding dogs tend to bond closely with their people. They require a family that will stimulate their intelligence and give them a job to do.

CONCERNS

• Border Collies are highly intelligent and require a high amount of stimulation or they can become destructive.
• German Shepherds can be protective, but can also be fearful and timid.
• Some people are uncomfortable with their herding styles (staring, nipping)

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