Your dog’s behavior and personality traits mostly depend on what breed it belongs to. There are dogs more suited to protection such as Akita, Doberman Pinscher, Mastiff, shepherds and Great Dane which were originally bred to be herding dogs or guards of flocks. Today, they are used for guarding homes, sports or policing. These dogs are dominant and have the ability to bond with human beings.
Often, the size of a dog determines its behavior. If you want to have control over your dog, or want a dog for a child, you should choose a small sized dog so you can take it out on leashed walks. However, size is not the only factor that determines whether or not you can handle the dog. There are many large dogs that are docile or obedient. It is important to research breeds and dog profiles before you get one, so you can take good care of it. Large dogs require greater training time, for both you and the dog. Large dogs can be more aggressive, especially during adolescence and can suffer from separation-related anxiety. A large dog that requires exclusive grooming, means more fur to comb.
Grooming
The coat makes a difference in terms of behavior and grooming. A poodle, for instance, needs a lot of professional care and grooming, so a lot of people choose not to get one. Dogs that are not groomed well with coats that are not well-maintained tend to develop behavioral problems. The matted fur can cause sores, and attract maggots. When you pet such a dog, it becomes either defensive or overly aggressive.
Dogs with long coats can stay warmer than short-coated dogs, in turn affecting behavioral traits. Short-coated ones want to nuzzle up to you because they need heat. Long-coated dogs have a lot of fur and their skin is more sensitive, so you should groom them regularly before too many mats develop. Combing often will allow your dog to become use to the grooming routine and help the skin to be less sensitive.
Dogs that have constantly growing fur need haircuts often, at least bi-monthly. Dogs with big ears and long hair have more ear problems. Making sure the ears are clean and trimmed of excess hair will help. You can give your dog a monthly bath with a detergent-free shampoo or soap. Make sure the shampoo you use will maintain the ph balance in animals.
Easy to train
Some dogs are easier to train than others; trainability is all about what the breed was originally intended to do. A retriever for instance loves to fetch back prey to the den. It is an ideal choice if you want to teach your dog to fetch a ball or a Frisbee, and is easy to train to fetch. There are also dogs that are used for policing or guarding homes because they are conventionally bred for herding purposes.
