1. Boykin Spaniel
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Calm, even-tempered, and loyal, the Boykin Spaniel is an energetic, affectionate pup with an overall gentle and sweet nature. However, these pups react to your tone and mood in the same way a kid would. You have to be positive and kind, especially during training sessions, to keep your purebred compliant, obedient, and eager to please. The best training methods for the Boykin Spaniel involves patience, determination, and plenty of praise.
Learn more about the Boykin Spaniel.
2. Brittany
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Brittany pups, once known as Brittany Spaniels, are curious, sweet, friendly dogs who were bred to be hunters of birds and other small animals. This is why your pup might take off after the nearest squirrel or pigeon. You can, of course, train them to suppress this urge, but it will always be on the surface. Instead of chasing down the small animal though, they may just stare at it intently until it passes.
Learn more about the Brittany.
3. Pointer
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The Pointer is a wonderful family dog that is brave and loyal. You will find that your Pointer has an even temper and you can depend on him or her to work well and play even better. You need to provide a place for your pup to run around and expel his or her energy. This breed will not do well simply sitting on the couch in your home.
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4. Flat-Coated Retriever
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The Flat-Coated Retriever is an affectionate pup who will show you a lot of love over the years. This pup is known to do well with children, but this breed prefers older children whom he or she can run around and play outside with.Since this breed is high energy, it is important that you have a yard for him or her to run around in. If you are an outdoorsy and active person, this is the breed for you. You will find that your Flat-Coated Retriever is ready to head out the door and jump into the car, head to the pool, or catch a Frisbee.
Learn more about the Flat-Coated Retriever.
5. Golden Retriever
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The Golden was developed to be a “gentleman’s hunting companion”, and still retains the many highly desired qualities of a great family dog that have made it so popular. Friendly, sweet, calm and tolerant, Goldens are highly social and very affectionate. They typically are good with children, other dogs and strangers. Their high sociability means they need to be included in family activities; they are members of the family and are not well suited to spending long periods alone. They want to go along camping, hiking, or on a family evening walk
Learn more about the Golden Retriever.
6. Gordon Setter
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The Gordon Setter is a bold, confident, and energetic breed. They are also affectionate, loyal, and gentle. Bred as bird dogs, they are extremely active and love to hunt, swim, and play.
Any Gordon Setter owner must be prepared to meet his dog’s exercise needs. A one-hour minimum of walking, running, or playing is required daily. A home with a large yard would be best for a Gordon Setter, and they should not live in apartments. A home in the countryside with plenty of room to run would be the Gordon Setter’s ideal home, as they love the outdoors.
Learn more about the Gordon Setter.
7. Weimaraner
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Weimaraners are an elegant looking but demanding breed. Originally bred to hunt big game, they were eventually used primarily for small game. Intense and high strung, Weims (an affectionate nickname) can make good family dogs with older, active children; they are too rambunctious for toddlers. Just as your dog will need careful socialization to learn appropriate behavior around children, your children must be taught how to properly interact with your Weim.
Learn more about the Weimaraner.
8. English Setter
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Bred to be a hunting and instinct-driven purebred, the English Setter is an energetic pup with an overall calm exterior that melts away when small animals are in sight. Socialization is important for the English Setter from a young age because these dogs often look at smaller pups as inferior and larger dogs as challengers. They also have a low tolerance for the rowdiness of younger children. You can train these kinds of responses out of them by exposing them, during the puppy phase, to other dogs and small children.
Learn more about the English Setter.
9. Irish Setter
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Irish Setters are perhaps the best purebreds for families, especially ones with children. These pups are lively, boisterous, and friendly. They have lots of energy and zest for life, so all they want to do is bounce, romp, and play with their loved ones. The breed overall is even-tempered and naturally curious, but they may have a touch of intolerance towards chaos, too much rowdiness, and lots of noise.
Learn more about the Irish Setter.
10. Bluetick Coonhound
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The Bluetick Coonhound is often referred to as a pup who is devoted to his or her family. You will find that your pup grows closely to you and becomes a companion. Your pup will love going on family adventures with you and will seek out attention from you when you are around. You will find that this breed is good with children and becomes a friend to them. This breed can be a bit energetic and needs to be monitored around small children as he or she may accidentally knock them down.
Learn more about the Bluetick Coonhound.
11. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
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Also known as Chessies, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a headstrong and powerful dog with an overall friendly, even-tempered nature. However, these pups can be intolerant of small children and yappy little dogs. Both kids and small pups are rambunctious and loud, which most Chesapeake Bay Retrievers find annoying and unacceptable. Your small dogs should already be trained to be less noisy and more obedient. Your children, however, should be taught how to play with your Chesapeake Bay Retriever respectfully. No roughhousing or sudden, harsh loudness.
Learn more about the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
12. Labrador Retriever
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Originally developed in Newfoundland, the Labrador Retriever has become as American as apple pie. One of the most popular breeds in the U.S. and the U.K., a well-bred lab is a steady, affectionate family dog, if given adequate exercise and stimulation. Most will require an hour of hard exercise every day; some will be good with a 45-minute walk. The good news is that playing fetch can be used to fulfill some of their exercise needs.
Learn more about the Labrador Retriever.