Quick Guide on Dog Breeds

Quick Guide on Dog Breeds - Wiggles.in

Dogs are wonderful creatures, probably the best till date. No offense to cat lovers, but one look at those puppy faces, tilted heads, furry coats and warm cuddles, how can anyone possibly ignore them. They are the best, free of cost, 24x7 available stress busters anyone can get. Though you are free to bring home any breed you like, it is good to know their characteristics, temperament, physiology etc beforehand. This prepares you to adapt to a new family member because trust us, they can only bark & tell.

Due to rampant urbanization, we live in apartments & have busy schedules. It can be quite difficult to manage these purrfect little fellas. If you are wondering what type of breed to adopt, then this may help. Having a brief guide about their breed characteristics will help you to choose the ideal one for you.  

Here is a list of most popular & commonly sought after breeds in India. Their characteristics will help to choose THE ONE for you!

1.Indian Desi Breed or Indies

Indian Desi breed dogs also known as Desi dogs can be easily spotted roaming on the streets of Indian cities & towns. These are mostly crossbred either between street dogs or one street and one breed dog. Since desi dogs are easily found in the streets, you can adopt them easily & add love & joy to your life free of cost! One of the most mind-blowing facts about Desi Dogs or Indies (as they are popularly called) is that they have high immunity against many diseases. And if you end up befriending one, you will have a friend for life! 


BREED CHARACTERISTICS 

NAME: Indian Desi Breed (Street Dog)

ORIGIN: India

BREED SIZE: medium

WEIGHT: 22 - 30 kg

HEIGHT: 50- 58 cm

LIFE EXPECTANCY:  12-13 years

COLOR:  varies 

PRONE TO DISEASE CONDITION:  Not known.

2.Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever, Labrador, Labs you can call them by any name. Labs rank 1st in the most popular dogs breed as stated by the American Kennel Club. And this stands true even in India. They are one of the most famous breeds in the world. They are loving, caring, children-friendly dogs with added huggable benefits. Labs are also used for therapies as guide dogs (Seeing Eye) to help blind people. Labradors are intelligent dogs hence they are also employed by the police during search operations. And if you are looking forward to an athletic dog, then Labs are your go to dogs!


BREED CHARACTERISTICS 

NAME: Labrador Retriever  

ORIGIN: Canada

BREED SIZE: Medium 

WEIGHT: 24- 35 kg

HEIGHT: 54- 60 cm

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10- 12 years

COLOR: Fawn, Black and White

PRONE TO DISEASE CONDITION: Obesity 

  1. German Shepherd

The name “Shepherd” has its own meaning. German Shepherds were originally used to guard and protect sheep, hence the name “Shepherd.” But in the present world, this breed is predominantly used as a guard dog, guide dog, as a tracker and is mostly used by police as sniffer dogs in bomb diffusing teams. With proper training and outdoor activity German Shepherds are very good companions with added benefits of guarding.


BREED CHARACTERISTICS 

NAME:  German Shepherd

ORIGIN:  Germany

BREED SIZE: Large 

WEIGHT: 22- 40 kg

HEIGHT: 58- 63 cm

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Over 10 years

COLOR: Sable, Black + Tan, Black + Grey

PRONE TO DISEASE CONDITION:  Hip Dysplasia

  1. Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are cheerful, happy go lucky dogs. Goldens are good with children and other companion animals. They are considered as even tempered and playful dogs. Their long coat, happy smile and slurpy kisses will act as a stress buster in your life. Goldens are very friendly dogs hence they do not become good guard dogs.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS 

NAME:Golden Retriever  

ORIGIN:  UK

BREED SIZE:Large

WEIGHT: 24- 35 kg

HEIGHT: 50- 60 cm

LIFE EXPECTANCY:  12-13 years

COLOR:  Cream, Light Golden, Dark Golden 

PRONE TO DISEASE CONDITION:  Cataract, hypothyroidism, hip and elbow dysplasia.

  1. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are known as Tibetan Lion Dogs. According to popular belief, Shih Tzus were bred by a Tibetan Monk and were gifted to royalty. Shih Tzu comes under the toy breed category and although they are an active breed, they need a minimum amount of exercise. They are also known to be stubborn in nature and are also considered as jealous dogs. Did you know that by the 1930s, only 14 Shih Tzu pups were walking this planet? To know more such fascinating facts, click here!

BREED CHARACTERISTICS 

NAME:Shih Tzu

ORIGIN:  China

BREED SIZE: Small

WEIGHT: 5-8 kg

HEIGHT: 25- 30 cm

LIFE EXPECTANCY:  12-15 years

COLOR: Black and White, Grey and White

PRONE TO DISEASE CONDITION: Snoring and wheezing, kidney problem, eye problem.

  1. Siberian Husky

Huskies are intelligent dog breeds with great endurance and high tolerance for extreme cold. They are basically a working dog breed but over the years huskies have developed themselves as loving, kid-friendly, affectionate animals. Their blue eyes and attractive personality have made them popular in India.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS 

NAME:  Siberian Husky

ORIGIN: Siberia

BREED SIZE: Medium 

WEIGHT: 16 - 27 kg

HEIGHT: 50 - 60 cm

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 13 years

COLOR: Black + Brown + White combination

PRONE TO DISEASE CONDITION: Cataract, corneal dystrophy

  1. Beagle

Beagles are sturdy compact dogs perfect for family as they are amiable, happy go lucky friendly breeds. The Beagle belongs to the scent hound family, friendly with children and has a loud bark. They are easy to train, as before they used to be hunter dogs but over the years, we now use them as companion dog breeds.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS

NAME:  Beagle

ORIGIN: UK

BREED SIZE: small

WEIGHT: 14-18 kg

HEIGHT: 33- 40 cm

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 years

COLOR: White and Black, Brown and White, Tricolor (White + Black + Brown)

PRONE TO DISEASE CONDITION:  Epilepsy, Hip Dysplasia, Glaucoma.

  1. Dachshund

Dachshunds are scent hound dogs, excellent family dogs, show purpose breed. These have three varieties: short-haired, wirehaired and long-haired. Dachshunds are considered as hard working therapy dogs. Dachshunds are the perfect breed for apartment dwellers.

NAME:  Dachshund

ORIGIN: Germany

BREED SIZE: Small

WEIGHT: 9 - 12 kg

HEIGHT: 20- 23 cm

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 - 15 years

COLOR: Black, Brown and Dark Brown

PRONE TO DISEASE CONDITION: Intervertebral Disc Disease

Each dog breed has something unique to offer! While we love to have a life-long companion, we must remember that they also need equal amounts of love & care. Vet Visits are a must & getting them vaccinated adds to their immunity. Let us know if this information was helpful & we will be back with more! If you need any kind of assistance, don’t forget to call us on +91 8431620000. 

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