1. Dogs

2. Introduction I decided to do my final project in primary school on dogs because I love them and I think they are loving, caring animals and they are also very friendly and loyal and that is why they are considered a “man’s best friend”. By doing this project, I hope to learn a lot more about dogs because I will find it very interesting.

3. Fun Facts There is around 400 million dogs in the world. There are hundreds of breeds of dogs. A dog has been the most popular animal companion throughout human history. The most popular breed of dog is the Labrador. A dog’s nickname is a “Man’s Best Friend”. A dog’s hearing is four times better than a human’s. The average life span of a dog is 10-14 years. Dogs are omnivores. Dogs live in every four of ten houses.

4. Companion Dogs A companion dog is a dog that doesn’t work and is just a companion to its owner. Most toy dogs are companion dogs. Toy dogs are small dogs. Examples of companion dogs are: Bichon Frisé, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Poodle and a Pekingese.

5. Guard Dogs A guard dog is used to guard against unwanted people or animals and mark its territory. The dog barks to alert their owner of an intruder’s presence and to scare away the intruder. Most guard dogs weigh 100-200 lbs so they are big enough to defend themselves from an intruder. Examples of guard dogs are: German Shepherd, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Boerboel, Argentinean Mastiff, Cane Corso and Caucasian Shepherd.

6. Hunting Dogs A Hunting Dog is a canine that hunts for food or people with or for humans. There are several types of hunting dogs for various tasks depending on their skills and intelligence. Examples of hunting dogs are: Labrador, Beagle, Golden Retriever, English Springer Spaniel, Coonhound, English Setter, German Shorthaired Pointer, Irish Setter and a Cocker Spaniel.

7. Herding Dogs A Herding Dog is a dog that is used to herd livestock. They react to the sound of a whistle or a word of command. They are often referred to as sheepdogs or cattle-dogs. They herd animals like sheep or cattle by barking loudly, eye contact and frantic running. Examples of herding dogs are: German Shepherd, Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Australian Cattle-Dog and Welsh Corgi.

8. Working Dogs A Working Dog is a canine animal that is merely not a pet but just performs tasks for its owners or assists them. There are rescue dogs, search dogs, sled dogs, tracking dogs, detection dogs, fire dogs, guide dogs and police dogs. Examples of working dogs are: Boxer, Giant Schnauzer, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Great Pyrenees and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

9. Hound Dogs A Hound Dog can be any several breed of dog typically with large drooping ears and they are mostly used for hunting. Examples of Hound Dogs are: Beagle, Dachshund, Bassett Hound, Bloodhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Whippet, Basenji, Irish Wolfhound, Borzoi, Afghan Hound.

10. Terrier Dogs A Terrier Dog was originally used to hunt vermin like mice, rats, rabbits, otters, stoats and weasels. They would even have to squirm down small holes to succeed sometimes. The word terrier comes from the Latin “terra” which means earth. Examples of Terrier Dogs are: Airedale, American Staffordshire, Bull Terrier, Irish Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Norfolk Terrier and Cairn Terrier.

11. Mixed-Breed Dogs A Mixed-Breed Dog is a dog that has two or even three breeds of dog mixed together to make one unique dog. They are often referred to as a “Crossbreed” but they are never referred to as a “Purebred” dog. Examples of Mixed-Breed Dogs are: Cockapoo, Maltipoo, Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, Maltese Shih Tzu, Puggle, Schnoodle, Peekapoo, Yorkipoo and a Goldador.

12. Dog World Records The tallest dog ever is a 3 year-old Great Dane called Zeus from Otsego, Michigan, USA. He measures 111.8cm (44 inches) which makes him the height of an average donkey. The smallest dog ever is a long haired female Chihuahua called Boo Boo from Raceland, Kentucky, USA. She measures 10.16cm (4 inches) The heaviest dog ever was a 8 feet, 3 inch, 343-pound English Mastiff called Zorba. The lightest dog ever is a Chihuahua called Dancer who weighs 18 ounces which is about the size of a double cheeseburger. The oldest dog ever was an Australian Cattle Dog called Bluey who died at the age of 29 years and 5 months in 1939. The dog with the longest ears ever is a bloodhound called Tigger who’s ears measure 34.9cm each. REALLY?

14. Conclusion I really enjoyed doing this project because I love dogs and I learned a lot like the different dog groups and breeds. I also learned about the dog world records and someday I might even have a career with dogs! I hope you enjoyed my project too – By Claire Yourell