| The Non-Sporting Group includes dog breeds that don't | | | | of the nicest, most amusing and amiable of all dog |
| seem to fit well in any other group. The name doesn't | | | | breeds. The Frenchie is a perfect apartment dog that |
| really fit the group and they would better named | | | | is clean, easy to groom and sheds very little. This |
| "Specialty Dogs" as the group includes some of the | | | | Bulldog is easy to train and doesn't require a lot of |
| most interesting and exotic breeds. The breeds in this | | | | exercise. Frenchies like to be the centre of attention |
| diverse group have a wide variety of sizes, coats, | | | | but do make good family pets and will tolerate children. |
| personalities and appearances and range from the | | | | These Bulldogs will do best with an older couple |
| miniature dog breeds like the tiny Bichon Frise to the | | | | without children or other pets to compete for their |
| large Chow Chow and even include the elegant | | | | affection. French Bulldogs can even adapt to being left |
| Dalmatian and the popular Poodle, Bulldog and Boston | | | | alone during the day if they receive lots of attention |
| Terrier. The top 10 most popular Non-Sporting dog | | | | before and after work. |
| breeds in the US according to the American Kennel | | | | 6. Lhasa Apso |
| Club 2005 registrations are described below and their | | | | The Lhasa Apso (#39) is a small dog with a lot of |
| registration rank is included in brackets. | | | | personality that looks like a lap dog but behaves like |
| 1. Poodle | | | | the Lion Dog of Tibet. Lhasas are one of the toughest |
| The Poodles (#8) included in this group are the | | | | and strongest willed of all the small dog breeds. The |
| Standard and the Miniature. The following comments | | | | Lhasa is an intelligent, very self-confident and lively dog |
| apply to the Standard Poodle as the Miniature is more | | | | that dislikes strangers. The Lhasa can be jealous of |
| difficult to train and doesn't do as well with toddlers | | | | other animals. The Lhasa doesn't do well around small |
| and young children. The Poodle is one of the smartest | | | | children because it doesn't like being handled roughly. |
| and most trainable of all dog breeds. The Poodle is | | | | The Tibetan Lhasa must have lots of early obedience |
| lively, good natured, friendly, proud, athletic, affectionate, | | | | training and socialization while a puppy and this must |
| extremely loyal and will become very attached to its | | | | be continued through adolescence. You must take |
| family. Poodles that are socialized early do very well | | | | control of this dog or the Lhasa will rule your household |
| with children, other pets and strangers although | | | | like the emperor he thinks he is. Not to be too negative, |
| adolescent dogs are exuberant and should be | | | | Lhasas are really enjoyable and playful dogs who love |
| supervised carefully to avoid toddler knockdown. | | | | their families and will accept obedience training fairly |
| Poodles will announce visitors with a bark and make | | | | readily. |
| good watchdogs. Poodles do not shed their hair and | | | | 7. Chinese Shar-Pei |
| are often called 'hypoallergenic' because they are | | | | The Chinese Shar-Pei (#45) is serious, calm, dignified, |
| good for people with allergies. | | | | quiet, confident and independent medium-sized exotic |
| 2. Bulldog | | | | looking dog. Shar Peis are very clean and easy to |
| The Bulldog (#13) is a friendly and loveable dog that | | | | house train but because of their strong-willed manner |
| adores its family. The downside to the breed is that | | | | they are difficult to obedience train. The Shar Pei |
| the life expectancy of the Bulldog is only about 8 | | | | needs a lot of early socialization and training starting |
| years because of health problems. Puppies are playful | | | | when it's a puppy. Training must be firm and |
| and high-spirited but grow up to be calm and dignified | | | | reward-based to control any aggressive tendencies |
| adult dogs. The breed is very good with children and | | | | and ensure household rules are followed. The Shar Pei |
| usually peaceful with other pets. Bulldogs don't need a | | | | is good with older children and also does fine if raised |
| lot of exercise but do need a lot of attention. Puppies | | | | with younger children from a puppy. However this |
| should have early socialization and obedience training | | | | breed may not get along well with other household |
| and they can best be trained with food motivation. | | | | cats and dogs. The Shar Pei does best in a fenced |
| Bulldogs can snore very loudly and the breed can | | | | yard and being walked on a leash where it can't chase |
| swallow a lot of air which can lead to flatulence and | | | | after other animals. Shar Peis tend to mind their own |
| unpleasant smells in an enclosed area. Bulldogs love to | | | | business unless provoked into aggressive behavior. |
| eat and don't share well - so they should be fed | | | | 8. Chow Chow |
| separately from other pets. | | | | The Chow Chow (#64) is an aloof and stubborn |
| 3. Boston Terrier | | | | large-sized dog that is difficult to socialize and train. |
| The Boston Terrier (#17) is a delightful little dog which | | | | The Chow, while loyal and devoted to its master, is not |
| despite its name is not one of the terrier dog breeds. | | | | very affectionate and doesn't like to play games. |
| Bostons are affectionate and lively house pets and | | | | Chows are not very good dogs with children and can |
| good companions. This breed is very intelligent and | | | | be very aggressive toward strange animals. This |
| loves to learn new tricks. Early socialization and | | | | breed needs very early and lots of socialization and |
| obedience training will ensure this dog will develop good | | | | obedience training while still a puppy and this should be |
| manners. These dogs seem to do especially well with | | | | continued into adulthood. Chows that aren't thoroughly |
| older people. This breed makes good pets for older | | | | socialized in the first year may turn out to be |
| children who can appreciate their sense of humor and | | | | aggressive and anti-social. Chows are naturally clean |
| funny antics. Bostons like to learn and are easy to train, | | | | and therefore quite easy to housebreak. Once you |
| although house training may be difficult. Boston Terriers | | | | gain a Chow's respect by constantly enforcing rules |
| make good watch dogs without excessive barking. | | | | and training, you will have a polite and well-mannered |
| Boston Terriers are very low-shedding dogs and some | | | | dog. Chows have a well defined sense of territory and |
| people say they are good for people with allergies. | | | | make good watch dogs and guard dogs. |
| 4. Bichon Frise | | | | 9. Shiba Innu |
| The Bichon Frise (#26) is a white puff-ball of a small | | | | The Shiba Innu (#66) is a fearless, bold, high-spirited, |
| dog that is cheerful, lively, playful and affectionate. This | | | | smart, vigilant, loyal, charming but somewhat |
| dog breed barks very little and makes a charming | | | | manipulative and stubborn small dog. The Shiba is very |
| companion dog that is easy to live with. The Bichon | | | | clean and fairly quiet indoors but is definitely not a lap |
| adapts well to families and children but doesn't like the | | | | dog. The Shiba has retained a high prey drive and |
| rough handling that small children display towards pets. | | | | should be kept on a leash or in a yard with very high |
| Bichons are easy to train for obedience and to do | | | | fences as it can jump and climb over most fences. |
| tricks although they are like all toy breeds and are | | | | The Shiba doesn't like to be chased and hugged by |
| resistant to housebreaking. They are social dogs and | | | | small children but does fine with older considerate |
| get along well with strangers and other pets but will | | | | children. Shibas are very smart but are somewhat |
| make good watch dogs. Bichons shed almost no hair | | | | mischievous and independent and can be difficult to |
| and are good pets for those people who suffer from | | | | train. The breed must be thoroughly socialized and |
| allergies and some people call them 'hypoallergenic'. | | | | obedience trained to limit its aggression toward other |
| The Bichon has few common health problems and | | | | dogs. However once the Shiba is trained and learns to |
| should probably live for at least 15 years. | | | | trust its owner, it can become a loving and obedient |
| 5. French Bulldog | | | | companion. Shibas are aloof and cautious around |
| The French Bulldog (#38) is a small, muscular and fairly | | | | strangers and make great watch dogs. |
| active member of the bulldog breed. Frenchies are one | | | | 10. |