How to Learn about Dog Breeds from Actual Dog Owners

One of the best ways to learn about a specific dog breed is from dog owners of that breed. But if you don’t know many dog owners, how do you get that information? Many people research online and read articles that compare one dog to another in terms of friendliness, energy, lifespan, etc. But not every article will address your specific question. And you may not get a statistically significant answer either.

But that’s where social media comes in. As a Bernese Mountain Dog owner who doesn’t have any Berner owner friends, I use social media frequently to learn more about Bernese. Specifically, I use Facebook, and I fully recommend it to other dog owners who want tips, advice, and to research whether a specific dog works for them.

How do I use Facebook for learning about dog breeds?

The best way to use Facebook is to search for groups that are devoted to the dog breed you are interested in. Some of them are public and you can join immediately. Others are private and require you to read the rules and respond to their questions. The admins will review your answers and approve or deny of your request to join their group.

Once you are in the group, you’ll begin seeing posts in your feed from other members of the group. Those can include cute photos of their dogs or sharing their experience to get advice. If you have a specific question about your dog or the breed in general, you can search within the group to see if it’s been asked before. If it has, you can read through the conversation to see if it’s helpful. If not, you can post your own question or request for advice. Members from the group will respond.

While public groups are great too, private groups generally have people who have an interest in the breed beyond thinking it’s a cute dog. Most often, the members of private groups have or had that dog breed, or they are considering adding that dog breed to their pack. This means that if you have breed specific questions, private groups will likely be able to address your questions better.

It is worth noting that each group has some different rules. For example, a majority of groups do not allow posting puppies to sell or asking where to buy a puppy. You may get kicked out of the group if you disobey the rules. It is good practice to review the rules prior to posting to avoid negative consequences.

List of Facebook groups by breed

These are the groups I was able to find in Fall of 2022. A majority of them are private groups, but not all. Group activity may change over time, including pausing member posts temporarily or closing indefinitely. New groups can establish over time as well. I recommend doing your own search in addition to reviewing the ones I’m posting below to ensure you are joining the latest and greatest groups.

Afghan Hound

Akita

Alaskan Malamute

Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Azawakh

Beauceron

Belgian Laekenois

Love Belgian Shepherds Fun Group(Tervuren, Groenendael, Malinois, Laekenois

Belgian Malinois

Belgian Sheepdog

Belgian sheepdog people

Belgian Tervuren

Berger Picard

Bernese Mountain Dogs

Black and Tan Coonhound

Black Russian Terrier

Bouvier des Flandres

Bloodhound

Boerboel

Borzoi

Boxer

Bracco Italiano

Briard

Bullmastiff

Cane Corso

Catahoula Leopard Dog

Caucasian Shepherd Dog

Central Asian Shepherd Dog

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Chinook

Curly-Coated Retriever

Dalmations

Doberman Pinscher

Dogo Argentino

Dogue de Bordeaux

Estrela Mountain Dog

German Shepherd

German Shorthaired Pointer

Golden Retriever

Gordon Setter

Great Dane

Great Pyrenees

Greyhound

Hanoverian Scenthound

Hanoverian Scenthounds Of America

Hovawart

Ibizan Hound

Ibizan Hound Community Forum

Irish Wolfhound

Komondor

Kuvasz

Labrador Retriever

Leonberger

Mastiffs

Neapolitan Mastiff

Newfoundland

Old English Sheepdog

Otterhound

Perro de Presa Canario

Pitbull

Pointer

Pyrenean Mastiff

Redbone Coonhound

Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog

Mioritic shepherd dogs

Rottweiler

Saint Bernard

Scottish Deerhound

Siberian Husky

Sloughi

Sloughis!!!!!!

Spanish Mastiff

Spanish Mastiffs in the USA

Tibetan Mastiff

Tornjak

Tornjaks N. American Connection

Weimaraner

Conclusion

The best way to learn which dog breed matches your lifestyle is to talk to people with firsthand experience. If you don’t have any friends that own the dog you want, the next best place to learn is Facebook. Facebook groups can have a wealth of information in them, and have a community of like-minded individuals that will gladly answer any burning question or provide advice to help you identify and raise a puppy from a specific dog breed.