The Canine Information Library does not follow the usual breed group classification system used by most canine websites and reference books. Instead, within our on-line dog encyclopedia dog breeds are grouped based on criteria that are most likely to be helpful to prospective dog owners, such as child-compatibility, size, temperament, resistance, and function, when this is a defining characteristic of the breed.
Indeed, when choosing the type of dog best you want, you need to consider your family's specific needs and lifestyle, the space you have, available time (grooming and exercise) and your activity level. The traditional breed groups are not always coherent and may contain individual dog breeds with varying characteristics, which is often misleading for prospective buyers.
Our first intention was, therefore, not to include all dog breeds, but rather to create sub-sections based on criteria that are most likely to be helpful to prospective dog owners to find the dog breed that best suits their family.
Of course, these criteria are not always mutually exclusive. That is why some dog breeds will be present in more than one subsection.
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Small molossers (or molossians) combine the characteristics of their taller cousins, courage, tenacity
