The Ten Most Popular Dog Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever

• Personality: Gentle and friendly, though very energetic when young
• Exercise: Needs vigorous daily exercise
• Grooming: Weekly brushing
• Trainability: Easy
• Compatibility: Great with children and other pets

2. Golden Retriever

• Personality: Playful, devoted, even-tempered
• Exercise: Needs vigorous daily exercise
• Grooming: Twice-weekly brushing; sheds in summer
• Trainability: Easy
• Compatibility: Great with children and other pets

3. German Shepherd

• Personality: Smart, obedient, great work/guide dog
• Exercise: Needs vigorous daily exercise
• Grooming: Twice-weekly brushing
• Trainability: Easy
• Compatibility: Can be aggressive with other dogs

4. Beagle

• Personality: Sociable, needs companionship
• Exercise: Needs a long walk daily
• Grooming: Weekly brushing
• Trainability: Challenging
• Compatibility: Gentle with children and other pets

5. Boston Terrier

• Personality: Lovable, outgoing
• Exercise: Needs short walks daily
• Grooming: Daily brushing, regular clipping
• Trainability: Easy
• Compatibility: Good with children and other pets, though may be aggressive toward unknown dogs

6. Dachshund

• Personality: Curious, adventurous, brave, loyal
• Exercise: Needs a long walk daily
• Grooming: Smooth-coated need little grooming; long-haired, twice-weekly combing; wire-haired, weekly combing, professional grooming twice a year
• Trainability: Challenging
• Compatibility: Good with children in its own family; okay with other dogs/pets

7. Boxer

• Personality: Playful, outgoing, and devoted
• Exercise: Needs vigorous daily exercise
• Grooming: Occasional brushing
• Trainability: May be challenging
• Compatibility: Okay with other pets, though often aggressive toward unknown dogs

8. Poodle

• Personality: Playful, demands frequent interaction
• Exercise: Needs several brisk walks daily
• Grooming: Daily brushing, clipping every 4–6 weeks
• Trainability: Easy
• Compatibility: Good with children, other dogs/pets

9. Shih Tzu

• Personality: Affectionate lapdog
• Exercise: Needs minimal exercise
• Grooming: Daily brushing or combing
• Trainability: Challenging
• Compatibility: Good with children, other dogs/pets

10. Chihuahua

• Personality: Develops strong devotion to one person
• Exercise: Needs short walks daily
• Grooming: Weekly brushing
• Trainability: Can be challenging; early socialization with dogs and people especially important
• Compatibility: May be aggressive with children and other pets

How to Research Other Breeds

• Individual dog breed profiles online at www.quamut.com
• Breed-specific magazines in pet stores and bookstores
• Dog trainers, vets, and animal shelter staff