Favorite Dog Breeds of Each AKC Group

Hounds

(As you can probably tell, I am more of a fan of the sighthounds.)

NUMBER ONE: RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK

Originated in Southern Africa as a sighthound, but also has traits of a scenthound and even mastiff. A large dog breed, with weights for males averaging 85 pounds, and females 70, males are 25 - 27 inches tall, and females are 24 - 26 inches tall. Lifespan is ~10 years. Short, dense coat, sleek and glossy with the distinguishable line of fur running up it's back the opposite direction as the rest of the coat. Colors range from light wheaten to red wheaten. Loyal, intelligent and aloof towards strangers. Prone to health issues such as dermoid sinus, degenerative myelopathy, hypothyroid and gastric dilatation volvulus.

NUMBER TWO: BORZOI

Originated in Russia as a wolfhound type sighthound. A large dog breed, weighing 75 - 105 pounds for males, and 60 - 85 pounds for females, he reaches heights 28 inches and up, and she reaches heights 26 inches and up. It's lifespan is 9 - 14 years. Medium length, silky and wavy coat. Can come in any color variation. Gentle, sensitive, independent and reserved dogs. Like most sighthounds of this body shape, it is fairly healthy, but this dog can be prone to health issues such as gastric dilatation volvulus, cancer and cardiac problems.

NUMBER THREE: SALUKI

Originated in the Fertile Crescent as a sighthound. A large, but skinny breed as it weighs about 40 - 65 pounds, and reaches heights from 23 - 28 inches for males, females being considerably smaller. Lifespan is 10 - 17 years. They come in two coat types, smooth and feathered, fur on both types is silky. They come in a variety of colors including white, cream, fawn, red, grizzle/tan, black/tan, and tri-color (white, black and tan). Quiet, calm, aloof and often hard to train. Prone to health issues such as liver cancer, lymphoma, cardiomyopathy heart murmur, dermatitis and alopecia.

NUMBER FOUR: AZAWAKH

Bred in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso as a sighthound and livestock guardian. It is extremely skinny, but tall and elegant. It weighs 44 - 55 pounds for males, and 33 - 44 for females. It reaches heights from 25 - 29 inches for males, and 23.5 - 27.5 for females. Lifespan is 12 - 15 years. Short, fine coat. Comes in variations of fawn to a darker red coloring blue, black and brown. It has a range of temperaments from lap dog - to quite fierce. Prone to health issues such as epilepsy and wobbler disease.

NUMBER FIVE: IRISH WOLFHOUND

Originated in Ireland as a sighthound and guardian dog. This is the largest breed on average, with weights reaching 120 pounds for males, and 105 for females, height is a 32 inch minimum for males, and a 30 inch minimum for females. Lifespan is 6 - 8 years. He has a rough, wiry coat. Comes in colors such as grey, brindle, red, black, fawn and wheaten. It is calm, dignified and kindly. Prone to health issues such as dilated cardiomyopathy, gastric torsion, portosystemic shunt and bone cancer, which is most common is castrated males.