Dog Breed Characteristics

Want to know which dogs are least likely to drool? How about what breeds might be easiest to train? Check out our Best Breeds/Worst Breeds lists in the categories most often considered when adopting a new pup.

• Adapt well to apartment living

  Contrary to popular belief, small size doesn't necessarily an apartment dog make -- plenty of small dogs are too high-energy and yappy for life in...

• Affectionate with family

  Some breeds are independent and aloof, even if they've been raised by the same person since puppyhood; others bond closely to one person and are...

• Amount of shedding

  If you're going to share your home with a dog, you'll need to deal with some level of dog hair on your clothes and in your house. However, shedding...

• Dog friendly

  Friendliness toward dogs and friendliness toward humans are two completely different things. Some dogs may attack or try to dominate other dogs...

• Drooling Potential

  Drool-prone dogs may drape ropes of slobber on your arm and leave big, wet spots on your clothes when they come over to say hello. If you've got a...

• Easy to groom

  Some breeds are brush-and-go dogs; others require regular bathing, clipping, and other grooming just to stay clean and healthy. Consider whether...

• Easy to train

  Easy to train dogs are more adept at forming an association between a prompt (such as the word "sit"), an action (sitting), and a consequence...

• Energy level

  High-energy dogs are always ready and waiting for action. Originally bred to perform a canine job of some sort, such as retrieving game for hunters...

• Exercise needs

  Some breeds do fine with a slow evening stroll around the block. Others need daily, vigorous exercise -- especially those that were originally bred...

• Friendly toward strangers

  Stranger-friendly dogs will greet guests with a wagging tail and a nuzzle; others are shy, indifferent, or even aggressive. However, no matter what...

• General health

  Due to poor breeding practices, some breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, such as hip dysplasia. This doesn't mean that every dog...

• Good for novice owners

  Some dogs are simply easier than others: they take to training better and are fairly easygoing. They're also resilient enough to bounce back from...

• Intelligence

  Dogs who were bred for jobs that require decision making, intelligence, and concentration, such as herding livestock, need to exercise their...

• Intensity

  A vigorous dog may or may not be high-energy, but everything he does, he does with vigor: he strains on the leash (until you train him not to),...

• Kid friendly

  Being gentle with children, sturdy enough to handle the heavy-handed pets and hugs they can dish out, and having a blasé attitude toward...

• Potential for mouthiness

  Common in most breeds during puppyhood and in retriever breeds at all ages, mouthiness means a tendency to nip, chew, and play-bite (a soft, fairly...

• Potential for playfulness

  Some dogs are perpetual puppies -- always begging for a game -- while others are more serious and sedate. Although a playful pup sounds endearing,...

• Potential for weight gain

  Some breeds have hearty appetites and tend to put on weight easily. As in humans, being overweight can cause health problems in dogs. If you pick a...

• Prey drive

  Dogs that were bred to hunt, such as terriers, have an inborn desire to chase and sometimes kill other animals. Anything whizzing by -- cats,...

• Sensitivity level

  Some dogs will let a stern reprimand roll off their backs, while others take even a dirty look to heart. Low-sensitivity dogs, also called...

• Tendency to bark or howl

  Some breeds sound off more often than others. When choosing a breed, think about how the dog vocalizes -- with barks or howls -- and how often. If...

• Tolerates being alone

  Some breeds bond very closely with their family and are more prone to worry or even panic when left alone by their owner. An anxious dog can be...

• Tolerates cold weather

  Breeds with very short coats and little or no undercoat or body fat, such as Greyhounds, are vulnerable to the cold. Dogs with a low cold tolerance...

• Tolerates hot weather

  Dogs with thick, double coats are more vulnerable to overheating. So are breeds with short noses, like bulldogs or pugs, since they can't pant as...

• Wanderlust potential

  Some breeds are more free-spirited than others. Nordic dogs such as Siberian Huskies were bred to range long distances, and given the chance,...