Your dog is a specific breed and that breed has certain expectations. Few dogs were originally bred to sit around the living room and play with a rubber ball. They are workers – hunting, herding, running. As animals, it is their duty to work for food and water and as dogs, they need the social interaction that was bred into them.

So, you will need to ensure you have the time and the energy to keep up with the breed you brought home. There are multiple different kinds of breeds, each with its own expectations in a household. Here is a short breakdown of each:

1. Sporting Dogs – Sporting dogs are those descended from hunting dogs – trained to located and retrieve game. These dogs were adapted and bred to use their innate hunting instincts to track animals and find game, but not to kill that game – a very important distinction. For these animals, games like fetch, swimming, and Frisbee are all very popular because they allow them to utilize those tracking and finding instincts. Keep in mind that not all sporting dogs are high energy, but they will track toward having high energy. Spending time with your dog will help establish those pack sensibilities while playing. One trick you might find useful is to get your sporting dog a backpack – a small weighted pack that straps to their back to add some weight to their workload. Just be sure to see a vet first before using this to keep from causing any unwanted health or back problems.
2. Hounds – Hounds are trained to hunt their pray – often small mammals – and to go ahead of hunters to trace out the quarry. There are scent hounds like bassets, beagles, bloodhounds and dachshunds that are bred to hold a scent longer and to ignore noises (hence the big floppy ears). Keeping these dogs busy involves putting those noses to work. Burying items, putting treats into toys and letting them dig them out, or going hunting are all good ways to engage your hound.
3. Working Dogs – Working dogs are those that guard, rescue, or pull. This includes malamutes, mastiffs, akitas, great danes, Dobermans, rottweilers, and others. Basically, dogs that are bred and set to a specific task are working dogs. To keep these dogs happy, they need to be given work. To some, it seems cruel, but in reality, they are eager to be kept busy. Strength oriented activities are important here, like pulling or carrying weight.
4. Terriers – Terriers are bred to hunt down and kill vermin such as mice, rats, moles, and groundhogs – actually digging into the earth to get them in some instances. These dogs have a lot of energy and are often quite intelligent, making them a handful to deal with. Play with them often, get them off the leash outside if possible, and put their brains to work. Trick toys, special commands, and other things like that will help them to stay busy.
5. Toy Dogs – Toy breeds like shitzu were bred originally as companions and only companions. The result is a subset of dogs that is very cute, and as such, can manipulate its owner. You will need to be just as strict with a toy dog as you would with a pitbull or Rottweiler. They need to be shown that their behaviour cannot be allowed. Things like biting, barking, or destroying items are the same negative behaviors performed by big dogs, and  yet many people tend to overlook them in toy breeds.

The breed of your dog is important in determining how they might act. It’s like your genes. If your grandfather was diabetic, there is a chance you could carry the gene for diabetes. You’ll need to watch your diet as you age and get your blood checked often. However, you may never get diabetes, because it is not guaranteed that a gene will transfer between generations.

The same is true for dogs. The breed does not make the dog. And in some cases, the physical abilities and appearance of a breed can harm them more than anything, as is the case with Pitbulls or Rottweilers, which have a reputation for being vicious, but are generally only vicious when their owners train them to be so, or neglect them. In reality, they can be some of the sweetest, best trained dogs around.

Remember, when thinking about the breed of your dog, it has an effect on how they might act, but it should never be an excuse for behaviors. Any dog can be a good dog, regardless of natural energy levels or aggressiveness.