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Medium Breed DogsSmall breed dogs, too little? Large breed dogs, too big? How about medium breed dogs; they might be just right. If your looking for an average size dog with lots of personality, there are numerous medium sized dogs. They have a lifespan of 12 ti 15 years. Some of the more well known breeds include the Beagle, the Border Collie the Boxer, the Dalmatian, and the Irish Setter. As you can see, these dogs are diverse in looks and character. To show the versatility of medium breed dogs, let's describe some of these breeds and compare them based on the following traits: Affection, Energy, Playfulness, Sociability with dogs, Sociability with other pets, Sociability with Strangers, Trainability, Exercise needs, Grooming needs, Suitability to cold, Suitability to heat, Watch dog capability, and Guard dog capability.
The Boxer
The Boxer is part of the Working Group in the medium breed dogs' category. With its full face and wrinkly forehead, it has a strong build with an energetic and intelligent personality. He retains his puppy-like personality until two-and-a-half to three years of age. This dog needs lots of exercise. His short coat makes him easy to groom, and a particularly nice trait is that they tend not to smell!
The BeagleThe Beagle is in the Hound Group category. This cute dog was bred for hunting. It is friendly and gentle, perfect for families with children. This easy to groom, short-haired dog has a distinct bark/howl for hunting purposes, so keep that in mind if you have fussy neighbors!
The Border CollieThe Border Collie was bred for herding and is in the, what else? - Herding Group category of the medium breed dogs. It comes in multiple colors, with a dense undercoat. Because of his natural instinct for herding you may find him herding cars and other animals! He's highly energetic, needing daily intense exercise. He is a good family dog, although may be reserved with strangers.
The DalmatianThe Dalmatian is part of the Non-Sporting classification of medium breed dogs. Who hasn't seen these adorable dogs in "101 Dalmatians"? They are athletic, strong, sturdy, energetic, and very playful. They have a short dense coat, and of course black or silver spots. I lived with a male Dalmatian for several months once, and although a good family dog, he was quite rambunctious, so you'll need to plan on providing some consistent and firm training. He was extremely protective; he would place himself in front of me when I answered the door and visitors who didn't know better, would be quite intimidated. This silly 60 pound dog named Rescue would get up on the couch with me and sit on my lap! He grew up with two little boys and was very tolerant. Dalmatians maintain their puppy-like behavior well into adulthood.
The Irish SetterThe Irish Setter is classified as a Sporting dog in the medium breed dogs' category. A sturdy and graceful dog, with beautiful mahogany or chestnut red coat. An energetic and friendly family dog, the Irish Setter needs room to run every day.
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