Favorite Dog Breeds of Each AKC Group

Sporting

NUMBER ONE: GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER -

Originated from Germany as a versitile gun dog capable of high preformance in field and water. Medium sized dog, weighing 55 - 70 pounds for males, and 45 - 60 for females. Height is 23 - 25 inches for males, and 21 - 23 inches for females. Lifespan is 10 - 12 years. Short and flat coat, water resistant, as it is protected by stiff guard hairs. Color can be shades of speckled brown. Tail is docked to reach standard. It is intellegent, bold, boisterous and eccentric. Prone to health issues such as hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis dissecans, pannus, progressive retinal atrophy, epilepsy, skin disorders and cancerous lesions in the mouth, on the skin and other areas of the body.

NUMBER TWO: WEIMARANER - 

Originated from Germany, excellent at hunting, tracking, pointing and retrieving both on land and in water. Medium to large dog, males weigh 70 - 90 pounds, females 55 - 75. Males can reach heights from 25 - 27 inches, females 23 - 25 inches. Lifespan is 10 - 13 years. Low-maintenance coat that is short, hard and smooth. Color may range from charcoal-blue to mouse-grey, silver-grey and blue-grey. Tail is docked to reach standard. Energetic dog, requires frequent exercise. Prone to health issues such as cryptorchidism, elbow dysplasia, distichiasis, von willebrands disease, entropion, hypothyroidism, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, pituitary dwarfism, hypomyelinogenesis, renal dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy.

NUMBER THREE: VIZSLA -

Originated from Hungary as a natural hunter capable of hunting in fields, forests, or bodies of water. A medium sized breed, males weigh 55 - 60 pounds, females at 44 - 55. Males reach heights of 22 - 24 inches, and females reach heights from 21 - 23 inches. Lifespan is 12 - 14 years. Short, smooth, dense and close-lying coat. Golden-rust colored in several shadings. Tail is docked to reach standard. Gentle-mannered, high energy, loyal, caring and highly affectionate dogs. Prone to health issues such as epilepsy, cancer (mast cell tumors, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma) and sebaceous adenitis.

NUMBER FOUR: FLAT-COATED RETRIEVER -

Originated from The United Kingdom as a retriever both on land and in the water. A medium sized breed, weighing 60 - 70 pounds. Height for males is 22 - 24.5 inches and for females 22 - 23.5. Lifespan is 8 - 10 years. Thick, flat lying coat, legs and tail are well feathered. Most commonly black, but can also be a dark liver color. Proud carriage and responsive attitude. Can be prone to health issues such as hip dysplasia, deafness, eye conditions, hemangiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma and malignant histiocytosis.

NUMBER FIVE: BRITTANY

Originated in Brittany and France, despite being called a spaniel, it is actually a pointer bred primarily for bird hunting. It is a small - medium sized breed, weighing around 30 - 40 pounds, and reaching heights from 17.5 - 20.5 inches. It's lifespan is 12 - 14 years. Medium length, flowing coat. Can come in a variety of colors including orange and white, liver and white, black and white (not universally accepted), tricolor, orange roan, liver roan and black roan. They are normally born with natural bobbed tails, but those who are rarely born with tails have them docked to reach standard. Easy to train, sweet natured, eager to please and friendly. Can be prone to health issues such as hip dysplasia, canine discoid lupus erythematosus and epilepsy.