3. DOG BREEDS 4 - 2
4. Dachshund - 50,772
How can anyone not love the little wiener dog? They make great apartment dogs, the short hairs require minimal grooming, and are endlessly entertaining to look at. And they don't eat a lot, to be sure. A great companion dog, the Dachsund is intelligent, active, and fiercely loyal to its owner, sometimes focussing in on one person to the exclusion of all others. This makes them the ideal pet for a single or terribly insecure person.
The breed was originally developed in Germany over 300 years ago, and the name is actually German for "badger hound." They are fiercely courageous, even to the point of foolhardiness, and their small stature allowed them to quickly jump into badger holes and flush out badgers on badger hunts. Who knew that Germany had so many badgers running around?
3. German Shepherd - 57,256
This is another breed developed, no surprise, in Germany, where they seem to do little else but make big dogs. The German Shepherd is an extremely intelligent dog, often used as a guide dog, police dog, herder, and all around great family pet. Their SAT scores are unbelievable. They are curious, faithful, and obedient, and love to be in on all activities.
While they make great housedogs, they are not recommended for apartments unless you are willing to take it outside for hours and hours of exercise. And they eat their weight in kibble every two and a half days.
2. Golden Retriever - 62,652
The Golden Retriever is another highly intelligent breed, useful as a guide dog for the blind. They are also hunters, family pets, and show dogs. Goldies tend to be friendly and good-natured, not known for hostility towards people or animals, or even obnoxious screamy children. This even temperament makes them a great family dog, especially with youngins around the place.
The Golden Retriever is a big dog with a big appetite, so it will need a lot of exercise, especially if confined to an apartment all day. They also shed TONS in the summer, so get ready to have dog hair cover your clothes, food, and everything in your entire house. Records on the breed's development date back to 1835 in Scotland, thanks to scrupulous gamekeepers in Scotland.
