By Mickie Repecka

So you've decided to get a canine companion to share your activities. Great!

Running, hiking, endurance, skijoring, hunting, boating: the number of outdoor activities that dogs can share with us is huge. So, which dog breed should you get that will be suited to keep up with you? Of course, that depends. There are several things to consider.

Some dogs are just bred to run, pull, swim, point, etc.  It is important to know a bit of history about each breed you are considering.  Dog breeds came about because of the specialization of the species to do certain jobs.  It is important to know which breeds were bred for which characteristics.

Weather

Where will you do the majority or your sporting? What are the temperature extremes as well as the average temperatures. Will the dog be staying inside with you or in a kennel? If you live in an area with cold or windy weather, your pet should have a nice thick coat to protect himself. A short-haired dog will be fine in a cold climate as long as they stay in sheltered housing and can wear protective boots and coat in the winter months.

In a warm climate that has mild winters, a short haired dog or silky haired dog will be a good choice since they can cool themselves easily and are less likely to overheat during exercise.

Endurance

Can your pup keep up? (or can you keep up with your pup?) Big-boned, thick-bodied, and short-legged dogs will have trouble doing endurance activities that require long periods of running. Look at body type as well as the breed history to determine the dog's probability of being a good partner for you.

Will the dog be swimming? Some dogs are natural swimmers, others are not comfortable in the water and may panic.

Personality/Temperament

Dogs are people too.  Well, sort-of.  The specialization of the canine has also produced personality differences in the breeds. Some dogs are very active and are sensitive about human needs and desires.  They look for behavioral queues from their masters at all times.  Others are very independent and may not be good candidates for activities requiring excellent discipline.  Personality is not ALL breed-dependent.  Individual dogs, even litter mates, have different personalities. It is best to interview the dog-puppy at least twice at different times to get an idea of their disposition. Many breeders perform personality tests on the puppies before 10 weeks of age to get a rough determination of personality types. Make sure you ask about this.

Variations within the Breed

 It is very obvious what careful breeding has done to change the look, size, and shape of dogs. However, the same thing is happening WITHIN a breed.  For instance, the Australian Shepherd is an AKC recognized breed.  These dogs are bred by some breeders for CONFORMATION.  Conformation is how well the dog conforms to the breed's formal description. Body, size, shape, coloring, etc are all judged.  These dogs are bred for the show ring. Other breeders breed to get the best WORKING dogs for herding or agility. These dogs are more active and less "pretty". Their personalities will be very different than the show dog. Know your breeder. What is their specialty?

Longevity

Small dogs live longer.  It's just a fact we have to live with.  The larger the dog, the lower the lifespan.

Health

Some breeds of dogs are more susceptible to certain diseases. Seizures, hip dysplasia, eye abnormalities are all types of problems that may be associate more with a certain breed.  After you have narrowed your search, focus in on the breeds to see which ailments to watch for.  Many puppies are screened for the common inherited diseases before they are sold are allowed to breed by the registration body.

Summary

Hopefully, these points will give you some food for thought when beginning your journey for the perfect trial mate, road partner, or hunting companion.

One of the best breed info pages to start on the internet is the puppy finder.