DETROIT – Picking the right dog can mean the difference between a happy, fullfilling pet experience and one that can mean chaos and confusion.
An article printed by the Evansville Courier & Press may help you pick the right pet for your family, especially if you're considering getting a puppy for Christmas.
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Holly, a Doberman pinscher, won't bark at the dozens of golfers that pass her home, which sits on a golf course. She won't even bark if the door bell rings. But as soon as someone grabs the front door knob, she goes off.
"She's very intelligent," said Valery Kessens, 58. "We couldn't have a dog that was constantly yapping every time they'd see someone in the backyard."
Kessens was one of several dog owners that discussed breeds to an audience at the Evansville Obedience Club Sunday, speaking about traits, temperament and tendencies as part of the club's annual "Meet the Breeds" day.
"This time of year a lot of families want a new pet for Christmas," said coordinator Karen Sorensen. "And they just want to know what type of dog they're getting and what type of breed they might enjoy."
The club is an American Kennel Club-sanctioned organization that has been "training people to train their dogs" since 1971, officials said.
At least 30 dogs were present, from small Pomeranians to Great Pyreneeses, which can weigh about 14 times more.
While a bloodhound lay with its floppy ears on the ground on one side of the room, an energetic basset hound puppy on the other side wouldn't keep still.
The seven dog breeds, as designated by the American Kennel Club, were all represented, from toy dogs, such as some poodles, to sporting dogs, such as pointers. Presenters — all Obedience Club members — suggested which dogs fit which living circumstances.
The hairy, white Great Pyrenees, for example, is good for both children and elderly people. Weighing between 75 and 100 pounds, it's docile, so it won't jump on small children and possibly hurt them. But it's not so nice that it won't bark at unwelcome visitors.
This dog also is very sturdy: Older people can substitute their canes with the canine in certain situations.
"You press down, and they'll never move," said owner Carolyn Epperson, 68, demonstrating rising from a chair as she leaned on her dog.
Pointers may not be for toddlers and seniors, however. They are high-energy dogs that are bred to do just about anything, an owner said, and they'll create their own activities if owners don't take them out.
In addition to suggesting living conditions for certain dog breeds, presenters also shared some historical details about their dogs. Kessens, the Doberman owner, said the breed was used during World War II for transmitting messages.
The name bloodhound, said Terry Vonell, possibly dates to the feudal period, as only people with royal bloodlines were permitted to own them. The petite Portuguese Podengo Paqueno, which isn't too common in the U.S., has a sight span of about 270 degrees, owner Suzanne Farney said, while most dogs' range is about 180 degrees.
And the short but long dachshund might seem like a cute toy dog, said Patsy Leonberger, but it's a keen hunting dog that's a voracious digger.
"My fence is buried six inches. These guys can dig," she Leonberger said. "So you do need to have a secure yard."
The event was useful for couples such as the Armstrongs, who were looking to get a second dog to keep their Westie company.
"We were just looking at some other options and some of their training courses," Pam Armstrong said. "It was helpful."