Dogs are often referred to as “a man's best friend” because dogs do everything

they can to protect, be loyal, and love their owners until their last breath. After a long

day, seeing your dog when you get home is one of the best feelings because they are

always so happy to see you and they are adorable. Dogs can help people who have

experienced some sort of trauma or help people with mental illnesses. Having a dog is

linked to lowering stress and depression and making someone calmer. Dogs are better

than cats because dogs are not solitary animals so it is really easy to form a strong

relationship between you and your dog. I have had my dog most of my life and we have

an extremely strong connection because we got to grow up together. There are about 340

different breeds of dogs all over the world.

Humans have been breeding dogs since prehistoric times. Humans did this

because they needed a way to protect themselves, help hunt, and help herd other animals.

Different breeds of dogs were used to help accomplish various tasks. There are about

340 breeds of dogs in the world currently. This is a difficult number to classify because

some specific breeds may not be recognized by different registration groups. Different

types of dogs have different color and texture of fur. Different breeds also behave

differently and are friendlier than some other breeds. Different breeds also have different

heights and weight averages and different life expectancies. There are many different

breeds that have a good instinct to guard their family or owner some examples are Akita,

Australian Shepard, Beauceron, Belgian Laekenois and so on. All dogs are pretty smart
however there are some breeds that are significantly smarter than others such as the

American Leopard Hound, Australian Cattle Dog, Barbet, Azawakh, Border Collie and a

few more. Different breeds of dogs each have their strengths and weaknesses kind of like

how humans each have our own strengths and weaknesses. My favorite breed is

American Eskimos because they are adorable and incredibly smart.

An American Eskimo is a breed of dog. This dog was bred specifically to be a

guard dog for families. The American Eskimo is a good family dog because they play

well with children and are extremely protective of their family members. One of my

neighbors has an aggressive dog who likes to wander. During the summer I was picking

raspberries in my backyard with my siblings and the neighbors dog tried to chase us, but

my American Eskimo came out of nowhere and chased the dog away from us.

Supposedly, the American Eskimo breed was descended from a variety of different

breeds.

The American Eskimo is mostly known for their extremely thick, white, fluffy

coat. I have an American Eskimo and her name is Snowball because of her thick, white

coat. Their coats will protect them from rough environments. In the book ​American

Eskimo Dog​ by Richard G. Beauchamp the author states, “these dogs maintained the

traits that protected them from the rugged environment of northern Europe.

Weather-resistant coats protected from rain and cold. They had long, coarse outer coats,

which shed snow and rain, and dense undercoats, which insulated against sub-zero
temperatures”(Beauchamp, pg.9-10). This breed also has an plumped tail which is meant

to cover the nose and mouth in case the dog ever had to sleep in the snow.

In the beginning of the 20th century some large, white dogs found their way to

America through German settlers. They were known as “spitz”. In the early 1900s Mr.

and Mrs. James Hall were extremely passionate about breeding spitz and eventually bred

the American Eskimo. There is still question as to why the breed became known as the

American Eskimos but most people think it’s because hall did not like the word “spitz”

since it was German and at the time, everyone hated Germany from World War I. The

name does describe some arctic dogs but has nothing to do with this German breed. Hall

knew that America hated Germany at the time because all of this was occuring during

World War I so, Hall put “America” in their name to give them a good, patriotic

reputation.

While every dog is different this specific breed generally has most of the same

traits. Most American Eskimos are generally pretty dependant on their owners. Most of

these dogs can be very mischievous especially when they are bored. For Christmas one

year my uncle got me a huge kit-kat so I left it on my desk to eat after I took a shower.

When I got out of the shower the kit-kat was gone and all that was left was the ripped up

rapper. I went downstairs and found her in the living room with her ears down and the

guiltiest look on her face. I tried to be mad at her for awhile but I got over it pretty

quickly. American Eskimos are said to be the most athletic of the smaller breeds of dogs.
The American Eskimo breed is also known to be extremely intelligent. This breed is very

easy to train because they try their best to understand exactly what you are saying. Most

American Eskimos are smart enough to know what you are saying just by the tone of

your voice. American Eskimos loved to be talked to and praised by their owner. To

make your American Eskimo happy all you really need to do is give him or her your

attention as much as possible. One year we brought my dog on vacation and during the

day I would play in the sand with her and run around the beach. Everynight I would take

her on walks on the beach and race her back to the house which made both of us really

happy. American Eskimos are a very non-aggressive breed however if they see a

stranger passing by they may act aggressive towards that stranger. This is probably

because they were bred to be household guardians. American Eskimos are the best type

of dog you can get because they are not aggressive and extremely adorable. The second

best breed is the Australian Shepherd for similar reasons.

The Australian Shepherd is a medium sized dog with a mottled pattern on their

fur. These dogs usually have white, brown, black and sometimes a little bit of grey in

their coat. These dogs are made to herd. They will herd just about anything they can.

The American Kennel Club states, “​Aussies exhibit an irresistible impulse to herd,

anything: birds, dogs, kids”(AKC). Australian Shepherds are ranch dogs and are known

to be the closest breed associated with the cowboy life.

 This specific breed can be prone to becoming overweight so you should watch

your dogs calorie intake and weight. When training a dog, treats can be very helpful

however if you give your dog too many treats, they will be less useful when training your

dog and your dog is more likely to become obese. Australian Shepherds should mostly

eat dog food however there are some human foods you can give your Australian

Shepherd but most foods you should avoid giving to your dog. The American Kennel

Club says, “​The Australian Shepherd should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether

commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and

approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some

dogs are prone to getting overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and

weight level. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause

obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not”(AKC).

Australian Shepherds should basically consume a normal dog diet.

You should expose your dog to obedience training and socialization at an early

age. This breed can be very overprotective and territorial of their owners and property.

They can also be extremely destructive if they are left alone for a long period of time.

Fortunately, Australian Shepherds are extremely intelligent therefore training them will

not be difficult. This specific breed needs about one to two hours of exercise daily. They

will probably need a fenced in yard or you can walk with your dog which will be a great
way to bond with them. Australian Shepherds also will like other physical activities such

as hiking or jogging.

The Australian Shepherds were descended from a line of European herders. They

were first found in the Pyrenees Mountains which gave them their first name-Pyrenean

Shepherd. Eventually they made their way to Australia but shortly after, ended up in

California. California ranchers assumed that they were originally from Australia so they

gave them the misleading name they have t​oday-Australian Shepherd. The American

Kennel Club stated, “California ranchers admired the Basques’ herding dogs and

assumed they were an Australian breed—thus the misleading name Australian Shepherd.

Aussies, further refined and perfected in America, have been an iconic part of cowboy

culture ever since. Many are still happily herding in the American West, others earn their

feed as rodeo performers, and still others of this exuberantly versatile breed work as

therapy dogs, drug detectors, service dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs”(AKC). In

Australia, the Australian Shepherd is not a registered native breed because they are not

technically Australian.

Australian Shepherds are very smart dogs and have a very nice coat of fur. They

are good with kids and protective of the family. They are also easy to train. All of these

very good personality traits make this breed one of the best family dogs. Understanding

your dog's personality is important to being a good dog owner.

 Researchers at Michigan State University have recently discovered that dogs

have personalities which can be shaped and changed based on their environments, just

like humans. In the article ​New Research Finds Dogs Have Their Own Personalities and

Mood Swings, and Owners Affect Both ​by Kelli Bender, the author says, “​New research,

published in ​Journal of Research in Personality​, out the East Lansing, Michigan, school

has found that canines have personalities, which are gradually shaped, for better or for

worse, by how their owners treat them”. Dogs have a personality that is mostly based on

their owner’s behavior. The article also says “a dog’s personality often mimic their

human’s. Extroverted people usually raised excitable and active dogs, while more

pessimistic owners raised canines that tended to be more anxious and fearful. Overall, the

more agreeable the owner, the less aggressive their dog appeared to be”. Research has

found that dogs will act the same way that their owners do. How humans act around their

dogs will have an influence on the dogs personality, and mood.

Dogs are very good at paying attention to what their owners do or how they act.

According to Maya Wei-Haas at National Geographic, “Dogs can read facial expressions,

communicate jealousy, display empathy, and even watch TV, studies have shown.

They've picked up these people-like traits during their evolution from wolves to

domesticated pets, which occurred between 11,000 and 16,000 years ago, experts

say.”(Wei-Haas 2015). Dogs pay attention to how their owner feels and what they are

doing. Dogs can pick up on some of their owners body language. In the article “7
Things Dogs and Humans Have in Common” the author, Katie Finlay said, “Dogs are

very intelligent animals. Recent studies support evidence that the average dog is as smart

as the average two-year-old child. This means their minds and range of emotions are just

as complex as that of a human child. Dogs have been shown to have relatively notable

emotional intelligence, problem solving skills and even demonstrate a theory of

mind.”(Finlay). Dogs are really intelligent compared to most animals. Dogs are about

as intelligent as a 2 year old child. Dogs can pick up on a lot of body language and tone

which is why dogs are able to be trained. My dog hates going in the water more than

anything however, one day me and my brother were kayaking in a lake and my dog

thought we were drowning. Without hesitation she was in the water swimming over to

us, trying to save us. Dogs can also feel emotion. Dogs can be depressed or really

happy. This is usually based off of how their owners treat them or act around them.

Dogs bark to show how they are feeling.

While it may seem that your dog barks just to annoy you and your neighbors, there

are actually many different reasons for dogs to bark. Different dog breeds will bark more

than other breeds. Some breeds were even bred to bark more than other dogs. People

wanted dogs that bark so they can scare away other animals or scare prey out of hiding

for hunters. Some other reasons for dogs to bark are warnings or to alert the owner about

a possible danger. Most dogs bark when they see a stranger pass the house. Another

reason dogs will bark is because they are anxious or want attention. When dogs want
attention they will usually almost “whine” like a child. Most dogs will also bark when

they are playing. This is especially common in puppies. When dogs get excited they will

bark or when they are playing with other dogs. If a dog knows you are about to play with

them or take them for a walk or car ride, they will get excited and bark. Dogs will also

respond to other dogs by barking or just bark out of boredom sometimes. Barking is just

a dogs way of communicating with you so next time your dog is barking instead of letting

your dog bark, try to figure out what he/she is trying to tell you. This is an important part

of being a dog owner.

The first step to being a dog owner is finding the breed that suits you the best.

While all dogs are adorable, different breeds have different traits that you may either love

or hate, so the best thing to do is research which type of dog breed fits you best or go to a

shelter and try to bond with one of the mutts there. If you have kids, you should consider

how well the dog will get along with them. Step two is buying the supplies you will need

to keep your dog functioning. These items may include food, water bowl, grooming

supplies, toys, a place for him/her to sleep, and treats. The treats can be very helpful with

training your dog. You will also need a collar and leash. On the collar, you should put

the the name that the dog responds to and a way to contact you in case your dog ever gets

lost. Step three is finding a vet for your dog. You should get your new pet to puppy to

the vet as soon as possible to make sure they are free of health issues or birth defects.

You should also set up a plan with the vet to get your dog vaccinated to prevent your dog
from becoming sick. Next, you should establish some sort of bathroom routine with your

puppy. You should train your puppy to go to the bathroom outside in a place that is

difficult or inaccessible for other animals to get to to prevent diseases from spreading.

When your dog does go to the bathroom outside you should praise him/her so they know

to do that again. Some good bathroom times would be when you wake up, before you go

to bed, or a little bit after you feed him/her. A very important part in owning a dog is

knowing what to feed your dog. Pretty much every dog is going to beg you for your food

while you are eating. It is okay to give your dog some leftovers however it’s important to

make sure your dogs diet stays well balanced. This includes having a feeding schedule

for your dog. Do not just feed him/her when they tell you they are hungry because your

dog will become obese. Make sure the portions you are giving to your dog are a good

size. This will depend on your dog so you may want to ask your vet how much food and

what kind of food is best. These are only a few steps to knowing how to take care of

your dog but with plenty of research you can become a pro at being a dog owner whether

you have a dog because you wanted one or you need one to use as an aid dog. Aid dogs

are for people who need assistance doing regular day activities.

There are two types of assistance dogs. They can either be service dogs or therapy

dogs. The difference is that the different dogs do different tasks or jobs for their owners.

Service dogs are used to help people who have disabilities who can’t do some tasks on

their own. In an article called “A Therapy Dog is not a Service Dog” by the American
Kennel Club they state “​A service dog helps individuals perform tasks they cannot do for

themselves because of a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act governs the use

of service dogs in public places. A service dog will often wear a vest with the wording

‘please do not pet,’ indicating that the dog is working. Persons with disabilities are

allowed to take their service dogs into public places normally prohibited to dogs, such as

on public transportation, and in public buildings, stores, and restaurants​”(American

Kennel Club). Service dogs are extremely important to people with disabilities therefore

businesses are not allowed to reject dogs from being in a public building because the

owner of the dog needs the dog to help him or her. An example of this would be a blind

person using a service dog to help them walk or guide them throughout the day. Therapy

dogs are different because they are not legally permitted to be in all public buildings. In

the same article it states, “​Therapy dogs do not have federally granted legal access to the

types of public areas afforded to service dogs. A therapy dog is there to be petted and

provide comfort and affection to individuals at various places that request its visits. A

therapy dog and his handler visit facilities such as hospitals, retirement homes, nursing

homes, and schools. They might also visit people who have experienced a trauma in a

disaster area. Therapy dogs even serve to help relieve stress in passengers at some

airports and for college students taking finals at some universities. These dogs will often

wear a vest or bandanna inscribed with the name of a therapy dog

organization.”(American Kennel Club). Basically therapy dogs are there for moral
support to individuals who are emotionally unstable while service dogs are there to help

people with disabilities complete regular tasks.

Dogs are really good to have for many reasons. Dogs make us happier. After

every long school day, I get to go home and see my dog sitting at the top of the driveway,

waiting for me to come home. She always has the biggest smile on her face the moment

we see each other and gets so excited that she runs around the yard a few times before she

greets me. Dogs are good for kids to have because they teach the kids responsibility and

love to play with kids. One of my first memories is when we picked up my dog from a

breeder in Virginia on the way home from vacation. Another good reason for kids to

have a dog is because when the dog dies it is very sad however it will teach the kid how

to deal with loss. It is proven that dogs will reduce stress and make you happier. I know

my dog and I have had a very big impact on each others life because we have both loved

each other the day we picked her up from the breeder. Ever since then we have watched

each other grow up and go through different milestones and make new memories every

day together.
 Works Cited

Akc. “Service Dog Vs. Therapy Dog: What's the Difference?” ​American Kennel Club,​ 13

Apr. 2017,

www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/a-therapy-dog-is-not-a-service-dog/​.

Beauchamp, Richard. “American Eskimo Dog” Kennel Club Books, Inc., 2006.

Bender, Kelli. “New Research Finds Dogs Have Their Own Personalities and Mood

Swings, And Owners Affect Both.” ​PEOPLE.com,​

people.com/pets/research-dogs-have-their-own-personalities-mood-swings/.

​“Dog Training Archives | Training Tips & Tricks.” ​Cesar's Way,​

www.cesarsway.com/dog-behavior/innocuous-behaviors/10-facts-about-dogs​.

Finlay, Katie. “7 Things Dogs And Humans Have In Common.” ​IHeartDogs.com,​ 30

Aug. 2016, iheartdogs.com/7-things-dogs-and-humans-have-in-common/.

​Latimer, Matt. “Australian Shepherd Dog Breed Information.” ​American Kennel Club,​ 6

Nov. 2017, ​www.akc.org/dog-breeds/australian-shepherd/​.

Stregowski, Jenna. “Why Do Dogs Bark?” ​The Spruce Pets,​ TheSprucePets, 23 Jan.

2019, ​www.thesprucepets.com/why-do-dogs-bark-1118266​.

Wei-Haas, Maya. “Dogs Are Even More Like Us Than We Thought.” ​National

Geographic​, National Geographic Society, 20 July 2015,

news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/150720-dogs-animals-science-pets-evoluti

on-intelligence/.