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Smooth Fox Terrier

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This piece of taxidermy was purchased in a sale sometime around 1960. The dog was once the property of the late Lord Lonsdale, the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, also known as 'Lordy' or the 'Yellow Earl'.

The specimen is the earliest known example of a Smooth Fox Terrier, as distinct from the wire haired variety. Both breeds were recognised with the advent of the Kennel Club of which Lord Lonsdale was a founder member.

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15 Wire-Haired Dog Breeds To Make Part Of Your Family

Wire-haired dogs account for some of the world's most popular dog breeds. And while we love their crinkly coats and distinctive features, such as bushy eyebrows, beards and mustaches, these working dogs weren't bred for beauty contests—most of them were used for hunting rodents or larger prey. In fact, their wiry coats made them more resistant to the thorns and branches they encountered when chasing their quarry through the underbrush, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

To take a look at some of the most popular wire-haired dogs, plus a few you may be less familiar with, we spoke to Laura Giangreco, salon curriculum project manager with PetSmart, and veterinarians Rebecca Tremble, DVM, and Lisa Neuman, DVM. From energetic wire fox terriers to kid-friendly otterhounds, there's a wire-haired pup waiting for you. (And remember, when it's time to add a new wire-haired pet to your family, don't forget to check your local animal shelters or breed-specific rescue groups for a pup waiting to be adopted.)

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About the experts

Laura Giangreco is the salon quality and education manager with PetSmart.

Lisa Neuman, DVM, earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She began practicing in 1997 and founded Bayshore Animal Hospital in North Fort Myers, Florida, in 2006.

Rebecca Tremble, DVM, is a veterinarian and the U.S. Director of professional partnerships and strategy at Hill's Pet Nutrition. After nearly a decade of private veterinary practice, she now serves as a nutrition educator with Hill's.

Reviewed for accuracy by: Caroline Coile, PhD, an award-winning journalist specializing in canine breeds, health and science. She's the author of 34 books, including Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.

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1. Wire fox terrier

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The more common breed of fox terrier (the other is the smooth fox terrier), wires were bred to be tireless hunters, and they remain an energetic, feisty breed. Like most terriers, they're intelligent, curious and bore easily if they're not kept engaged. According to veterinarian Lisa Neuman, DVM, they are very energetic and fun family pets, for whom regular walks, games of fetch and other play activities are essential. Because of their strong prey instinct, you need to keep them out of run-ins with rodents, cats and the family gerbil. With that in mind, wire fox terriers are great pets for kids—playful and full of energy just like they are. Plus, their rough coat requires minimal grooming, says Dr. Neuman, and brushing about once a week should be plenty for these low-shedders.

Breed overview Height: 15.5 inches Weight: 15 to 18 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years 2. German wire-haired pointer

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Their expressive facial hair and playful nature make these pups among the most popular German dog breeds. These bird dogs were bred for hunting and have a rough, wiry waterproof coat that made them perfect for chasing game into ponds or dense, thorny bushes. "I love this breed!" says Dr. Neuman. "They need a lot of activity, but they are loyal and funny pups."

They're still very capable hunting dogs, she adds, but this energetic breed also makes great family dogs, especially when active kids or adults are around. And if outdoor activities like hiking are among your hobbies, your German wire-haired pointer will be an avid companion on the trail. Just don't leave them alone for too long or let them get bored, or all of their energy might be channeled into destroying the lawn—or the couch. And good news about grooming: German wire-haired pointers are modest shedders and have no special grooming needs—a weekly brushing should do it.

Breed overview Height:  22 to 26 inches Weight: 50 to 70 pounds Life expectancy: 14 to 16 years 3. Jack Russell terrier

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Surprisingly, this popular breed is not registered with the AKC, though its close cousins, the Russell terrier and the Parson Russell terrier, are. Jack Russells developed in England in the early 1800s as the perfect fox-hunting dog—swift, smart, fearless and small enough and fast enough to chase a fox out of its den. The coat can be smooth, rough or broken. The rough coat has wiry hair a couple of inches long, and the broken coat has a wiry short coat that's in between smooth and rough. Neither needs much grooming except for being stripped or plucked to stay tidy.

If you're looking for a dog that just might outsmart you, look no further. These friendly, happy, willful dogs need lots of attention and time devoted to them, or else they can turn into a really destructive handful. According to the Jack Russell Club of America, owners must be the dominant member of the household, because if not, your pup will happily and stubbornly assume the role of pack leader.

Breed overview Height: 10 to 12 inches Weight: 9 to 15 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 14 years 4. Schnauzer

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Schnauzers come in three different sizes—miniature, standard and giant. While they're actually three different breeds, they have a lot in common, especially their dense, wiry coats. Those wiry hairs need to be hand-stripped a few times a year. If you trim instead of hand-strip a Schnauzer, its coat will soften but shed more. Dr. Neuman calls Schnauzers fantastic, loyal and smart. These intelligent, sometimes hard-headed pups need early socialization with kids and other pets and could do with some obedience training. Breed experts say that Schnauzers sense weakness like a shark can smell blood—so they might not be the best breed for novice first time dog owners.

Breed overview Height: 12 to 27.5 inches Weight: 11 to 85 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 16 years 5. Wire-haired dachshund

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Their smooth-coated kin is more popular in the United States, but wire-haired dachshunds have that same big doxy personality tucked into a small, elongated package—complete with short legs. Wire-haired varieties have short, thick, double coats with a soft undercoat and a wiry topcoat that needs to be hand-stripped a few times a year to retain its color and luster. These low-riders, a favorite long-nosed breed, were bred to hunt badgers and still have a strong "kill" instinct, so watch them around pet birds or other small animals. Friendly, playful and sweet-natured, dachshunds do well in apartments and need a moderate amount of exercise. The Dachshund Club of America cautions that all varieties are ravenous eaters, so they shouldn't be free-fed, especially since excess weight can lead to back trouble for this unique breed.

Breed overview Height:  8 to 9 inches Weight: 16 to 32 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 16 years 6. Border terrier

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With their squarish heads, relatively flat faces and alert expressions, border terriers are cute, playful canine companions. Bred in the Scottish borderlands, they are one of the most popular breeds in the UK today and still have a strong drive to chase small animals. Plus, they aren't afraid of much, even when they should be. The UK-based Border Terrier Club cautions prospective owners that unless well-trained or kept on a leash when out on walks, these prey-driven pups will pursue anything small, including the neighbor's cat. Their wiry topcoats need to be hand-stripped about twice a year in order to reduce shedding. Border terriers are great companion dogs that are anxious to please, and their petite size makes them easy lapdogs. Members of this extra-cute dog breed are easily trained, happy to accompany you on walks and love nothing more than a big, open field to run around in.

Breed overview Height: 11 to 16 inches Weight: 11.5 to 15.5 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years 7. Airedale terrier

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All dogs require a commitment of time, love and care from their owners—Airedale terriers more than most. This smart, sensitive breed may stare at you incessantly until you agree to throw its ball, pretend to not hear you when you call or give it orders, or bolt like a deer when it sees something worth chasing—a trait that makes it a great guard dog. The AKC says that while Airedales will bond with their humans and are easy to train, that doesn't mean you can get lazy with training. They require consistent obedience training and varied agility tasks and challenges to keep them engaged and out of trouble.

Their wiry topcoats and soft undercoats don't do too much shedding, though this curly-haired dog breed can start looking rather scruffy without regular trimming and stripping a few times a year. And aside from needing mental stimulation, Dr. Neuman says that Airedales also need regular exercise, as they are prone to obesity without it.

Breed overview Height:  23 inches Weight: 50 to 70 pounds Life expectancy: 11 to 14 years 8. Irish wolfhound

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The tallest dog breed, these graceful giants can usually rest their paws on the shoulders of their human companions and look them right in the eye. Known in ancient history as fierce hunters and war dogs, today's Irish wolfhounds don't inspire fear so much as they do wonder—they're simply spectacular-looking dogs with long, lean good looks and warm, friendly expressions.

Their wiry coats shed a fair amount and need weekly brushing and the occasional trimming and stripping. These wire-haired dogs also need a lot of space, both in a home and outdoors, as well as frequent walks and a fenced-in area to run. Irish wolfhounds require early socialization in order to learn to be around smaller dogs and cats. Dr. Tremble says that giant breeds, like Irish wolfhounds, "should be fed large-breed diets. These puppies have unique nutritional needs due to their rapidly growing bones and must be fed an appropriate large-breed puppy food."

Breed overview Height: 32 to 34 inches Weight: 105 to 120 pounds Life expectancy: 6 to 10 years 9. Otterhound

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The otterhound's fortunes started to wane after otter-hunting was outlawed in England in the 1970s. Today, there are fewer than 1,000 otterhounds around the world, with most of them still in the UK. Their long, wiry topcoat and thick undercoat create a naturally disheveled look, and this breed doesn't require much more than regular brushing. If you're looking for a big, goofy, kid-friendly dog with lots of energy, this rare breed might be the one for you—the AKC says they're great family dogs that love praise and treats. Because they're rare, you may have to search for an occasional litter, but the parent club will be glad to help. When you buy a rare breed you help save it from extinction.

Breed overview Height: 24 to 27 inches Weight: 80 to 115 pounds Life expectancy: 10 to 13 years 10. Wire-haired Vizsla

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A distinct breed from their short-haired brethren, the wire-haired Vizslas were bred in Hungary as hunting dogs. Today, they are just as happy accompanying you on long walks or for movie night on the couch. This is a sweet family medium dog breed, but it may be a little too bouncy for houses with very young children. Their wiry coat will shed twice a year, during which time you'll want to hand-strip and brush more frequently. Otherwise, a weekly brushing will do the trick. Keep these smart, loyal dogs active, and don't leave them on their own for too much time, lest they get anxious and destructive.

Breed overview Height:  21.5 to 25 inches Weight: 45 to 65 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 14 years

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This comical toy dog breed has a lot of nicknames, including "monkey dog," "ape terrier" and even "Ewok." But Affenpinschers apparently take all this derision in stride and happily entertain their owners with their antics and almost human-like personalities. These German wire-haired dogs have been around since at least the 1600s and were originally used as ratters before working their way into peoples' hearts and laps.

Their wiry coat, usually black, is thick and dense, and while they don't shed much, they do need to be brushed a couple of times a week. Their dimensions make them great for apartment living, but they need a couple of brisk walks and some play time every day. The Affenpinscher Club of America cautions that feisty, fearless Affens may be too confident for their own good, calling them "Rottweiler wannabes!"

Breed overview Height:  9 to 11.5 inches Weight: 7 to 10 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years 12. Brussels Griffon

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These sporty little chaps, which Dr. Neuman calls "fun and portable house pets," are known for their black masks and distinctive beards, as well as their big personalities. Brussels Griffons have led dual lives in their native Belgium, both as stable dogs and pets of the noble class. But their fortunes took a turn for the worse during both World Wars, when the breed nearly vanished. They were mixed with pugs and Cavalier King Charles spaniels to attain their pug-like faces and stout yet petite builds. The wire-haired varieties don't shed, but in order to keep their short coat and gentlemanly beard, they need regular trips to the groomer.

Breed overview Height: 7 to 10 inches Weight: 8 to 10 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years 13. Chesapeake Bay retriever

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The Chessie's hair isn't really the same kind of wiry coat as the other dogs in this list. Notice that unlike the other dogs, the Chessie has a smooth face and legs. But it's still a harsh crinkly coat, so the Chessie gets to be an honorary wire-haired dog here. Water slides right off a Chessie like it does a duck's back. In fact, the breed is famous for its uniquely wavy, wiry coat, which contains enough oil to make it practically impermeable.

These legendary duck hunters will jump into just about any kind of water to retrieve their fowl, and they will even use their large chests to break through ice to get to a bird. Their yellow eyes (a by-product of their liver pigment) and tendency to "smile" with bared teeth when happy are two more distinctive breed calling cards. If you adopt a Chessie and don't plan to take it hunting, experts say you need to find other ways to keep it busy and engaged—these smart, energetic pups take well to agility and obedience training.

Breed overview Height: 21 to 26 inches Weight: 55 to 80 pounds Life expectancy: 10 to 13 years 14. Portuguese podengo pequeno

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Portuguese podengo pequeno—say that three times fast!—is pronounced pee-KAY-no. With its wiry coat and lanky build, this funny-looking dog with a funny name looks a little like a mixed-breed mutt. But in reality, the podengo, an ancient breed, was once a much sought-after hunting breed known for its relentless pursuit of large and small game. Today, these wire-haired dogs come in three sizes—small (pequeno), medium (medio) and large (grande), each a separate breed. The pequeno is the only one currently fully AKC-recognized. They are medium-shedders, and the wiry type, especially, need to be brushed every couple of weeks to clear out dead hair, which they'll lose in sections.

Breed overview Height: 8 to 12 inches Weight: 9 to 13 pounds Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years 15. Spinone Italiano

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Beloved by Italian hunters for its ability to give chase to wild boar, Italian Spinoni (that's the plural of Spinone) are also sweet, calm dogs happy to curl up at your feet and relax. These wire-haired dogs have dense and wiry coats, and while they don't need too much in the way of grooming, they should be hand-stripped from time to time to get rid of dead hair. The Spinone Club of America warns of "the dreaded Spinone slime"—the accumulated water, food, dirt and gunk that can collect in the breed's ample beards. But slimy or not, in a Spinone, you'll find a loyal and chilled-out Italian dog breed who will take its cues from you: Go for a walk, and they're in. Sit by the fireplace on a chilly night, and they'll be splayed out nearby.

Breed overview Height: 22 to 27 inches Weight: 62 to 86 pounds Life expectancy: 10 to 12 years FAQs Do wire-haired dogs shed a lot?

"Wire-haired breeds typically shed less than their smooth or long-haired counterparts," says Giangreco. "The wiry texture of their coat traps loose hair, which reduces the amount of hair that falls out."

Are wire-coat dogs hypoallergenic?

While they may not be 100% allergy-proof for allergy sufferers, many wire-haired breeds are considered hypoallergenic. However, the jury is still out. They are generally low-shedders and don't give off much dander, but they'll still require regular grooming to keep their coats healthy and tangle-free.

How do you know if a wire-haired breed is right for you?

Because most of these breeds were originally developed to chase after prey, a high amount of energy seems to be coded into their DNA. Unless you adopt an older dog, you should expect that your wire-haired pup is going to need to burn off that energy with daily walks, games of fetch or other activities that exercise its body and mind. Energy levels, effort involved to train and potential to wreak havoc if not well-trained vary from breed to breed, but broadly speaking, if you want a lazy dog breed, it might be better to look elsewhere.

How do you groom wire-haired dogs

Giangreco offers the following grooming tips for wire-haired breeds.

Brush regularly. "Wire-haired breeds typically have a coarse and wiry coat that benefits from regular brushing," says Giangreco. "I recommend using a slicker brush and a comb to prevent matting."

Use a hand-stripping technique. "Some wire-haired breeds can benefit from hand-stripping, a grooming technique that removes dead hair by plucking it out. While this helps to maintain the proper texture of the coat, hand-stripping does require more frequent grooming, so I'd recommend pet parents consult a professional pet stylist to learn more and to see if it's the right fit for their pet."

Give regular baths. "It's essential to regularly bathe pets with products that are specifically tailored for their needs to keep their skin and coat both clean and healthy," says Giangreco.

Trim their coat to keep it healthy. A wire-haired dogs should have neatly trimmed coats to maintain a well-groomed appearance. "Don't forget to trim around the face, ears and paws," adds Giangreco.

Why trust us

At Reader's Digest, we're committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece, Elizabeth Heath tapped her experience writing about dog breeds, and then Caroline Coile, PhD, an award-winning journalist specializing in canine breeds, health and science, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

Six Health Problems Your Child May Inherit From You

While tucking our sons into bed the other night, I was struck by how many of their physical attributes they've inherited from my husband and me. Eleven-year-old Nate has my heart-shaped face, large eyes, and cowlicky hair, along with my husband's mouth and freckles. Six-year-old Nicky, on the other hand, has the same green eyes and dirty-blond hair that I do, but my husband's nose and chin.

Nearsightedness, color blindness, and lazy eye are often inherited, according to a pediatric ophthalmologist.

But those aren't the only things we've passed on: Nate has acquired my propensity for headaches and hay fever, and Nicky got my husband's eczema in a bad way. Of course, many chronic conditions run in families, but family history alone doesn't guarantee that a child will develop one of them. Instead, it signals increased risk.

"Usually, it's a combination of genetics and environmental influences that triggers a condition," says Jennifer Shu, M.D., a pediatrician in Atlanta, Georgia, and coauthor of "Heading Home With Your Newborn." You can't change your kid's genes, but you can get familiar with a few of the most common health problems that affect families and learn how to protect yours. Parenting.Com: From asthma to whooping cough, identify childhood illnesses with our symptom checker

Vision Problems

Will the kids get them? Your child's view of the world could be quite similar to yours -- literally. Nearsightedness, color blindness, and lazy eye (amblyopia) are often inherited, says Stuart Dankner, M.D., a pediatric ophthalmologist in Baltimore, Maryland. If both parents are nearsighted, a child has a 25 to 50 percent chance. "Only females carry and transmit the gene for color blindness, but usually only males have the condition," Dankner explains. If the mother is a carrier of the gene, there's a 50 percent chance her son will have it.

Signs they got nabbed: If your child complains of headaches, or often squints or tears up, especially with reading, watching TV, or at the end of the school day, it's worth having her vision checked.

Children may not complain about nearsightedness until they're school-age, but it can be detected as early as age 3, says Dankner. That's when Crystal Smith's son, Cameron, began squinting to see things. "I knew there was a strong chance he'd have vision problems because my grandmother, aunts, mother, and I all wear glasses, but I didn't expect it to happen so young," says Smith, of Plainfield, New Jersey.

Lazy eye can emerge during the first year, but it can be difficult to catch unless the pediatrician screens for it. Don't worry too much if your infant's eyes cross now and then -- almost all kids' do in the first couple of months; if you notice crossing along with a difference in pupil size after that, schedule an exam. As for color blindness, you'll usually know by age 5.

What you can do: If eye problems run in your family (and actually, even if they don't), it's smart to start regular eye exams with a pediatric optometrist or ophthalmologist by age 1. This is especially important if your family history includes needing glasses at a young age or if you suspect lazy eye at any time. Early detection and correction of vision problems can help a child feel and function at her best -- and, in the case of lazy eye, which can lead to severely impaired vision if untreated, it could even save her sight.

Eczema

Will the kids get it? The odds are about fifty-fifty, the same as for allergies. That makes sense given that eczema is actually a type of allergic reaction. The condition can take parents by surprise, though, especially when neither parent actually has it. "The tendency or predisposition to allergic conditions is what's inherited, not the specific allergies," says Howard Saal, M.D., director of clinical genetics at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Ohio.

However, eczema does have a couple of specific triggers: cold, dry environments can bring it on, as can highly allergenic foods such as dairy and eggs, says Shu. Stress can play a role as well: when young children's parents divorced or separated, the kids experienced a threefold increased risk of eczema during the next two years, according to research from the Technical University in Munich, Germany. Parenting.Com: Guide to skin and respiratory allergies

Signs they got nabbed: Eczema is pretty hard to miss. The dry, itchy skin or red, rough patches usually form on the cheeks, insides of the elbows, and backs of the knees. And when it's severe (or when the child scratches and scratches), little pus-filled sacs can develop. Of the allergic conditions, this one is most likely to make its debut first, even during infancy.

What you can do: See your doctor to confirm your suspicions and to develop a maintenance routine to help prevent more breakouts. Usually, staying on top of moisturizing (opt for one that's fragrance- and dye-free) can go far in keeping the condition in check; to ease the itching and inflammation of a flare-up, your doc may prescribe a topical steroid cream. If despite your best efforts your child scratches so much that an infection develops, antibiotics are usually in order.

Migraines

Will the kids get them? These debilitating headaches are often passed on: your child has as much as a 50 percent chance of developing them if one parent gets them, and an even higher chance if both do.

Signs they got nabbed: Symptoms often include some combination of throbbing pain (usually in the front or sides of the head), nausea or vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. Migraines typically show up around age 8, but some kids get them much sooner; in young children especially, the head pain is often associated with motion sickness.

What you can do: Do your best to identify your child's particular triggers (it can help to keep a log of what he was doing and eating, as well as how he was generally feeling, around the time the pain began). Common ones in kids include fatigue, overexertion, changes in routine, certain foods (aged cheese and processed foods like hot dogs and lunch meats are biggies), and caffeine.

Fortunately, kids' headaches are often relieved by going to sleep or taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If the strategies provided by your pediatrician don't bring relief, she may suggest seeking out a pediatric neurologist, says Saal. After all, unrelenting pain can have a powerful ripple effect on nearly every aspect of your child's life. In fact, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that children with frequent or severe headaches that go untreated have higher levels of emotional, conduct, and peer problems than their headache-free classmates. No wonder: Being a kid is hard enough without having to deal with pain. Parenting.Com: 5 common health conditions your pediatrician might miss

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Will the kids get it? There's a good chance. People who suffer from IBS are more than twice as likely to have a first-degree relative with the same symptoms, according to research from the University of Sydney in Australia. "It's very common to see colicky infants whose parents have IBS or reflux," says Dan Levy, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "They may have a lower pain threshold than other babies."

Signs they got nabbed: The classic symptoms are frequent crampy abdominal pain or alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea. IBS usually appears during the school years, but precursors, like colic, may be apparent earlier in a child's life. "There's also a big emotional component," says Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., author of "Mommy Calls." Flare-ups are common during challenging transitions in a child's life, such as going to school or even just attending a party he doesn't want to go to, Levy says.

What you can do: If you suspect your child has IBS, have him checked out by your pediatrician. "IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion," Altmann says. "We want to rule out the possibility that something more serious is going on, like inflammatory bowel disease." If the problem turns out to be IBS, it can usually be managed with lifestyle changes. That may mean avoiding certain foods that might be triggers, adding probiotics (the healthy bacteria found in yogurt), and/or teaching kids some stress-management techniques, such as relaxation exercises or yoga.

Allergies

Will the kids get them? There's about a fifty-fifty chance they will if you or your spouse suffers; if you both have allergies, there's an even greater chance the kiddos will, too, says Saal. But don't expect them to be sensitive to the same things you are. Remember, we pass on only the susceptibility to allergies, which can manifest in myriad ways.

Signs they got nabbed: Frequent colds, sinus or ear infections, or a constantly runny, stuffy, or itchy nose can point to allergies. Same goes for itchy eyes, rashes, or hives. And wheezing or a chronic cough -- telltale signs of asthma -- may be the biggest tip-off that your child is destined to develop allergies because the two conditions so often go hand in hand. Parenting.Com: Great recipes for kids (and grownups!) with food allergies

What you can do: If any of these symptoms appear -- as they often do between the ages of 3 and 5 -- tell your pediatrician. For mild cases, he may suggest medications such as antihistamines (wait for the okay before giving one) and/or prescription nose drops, which may provide ample relief; if they don't, or if your child has severe symptoms such as trouble breathing, your doctor will want to pinpoint the problem with allergy tests -- either the skin-prick or blood-test type. If needed, other medications and immunotherapy (allergy shots) are available and can bring tremendous relief.

But sometimes it's a matter of finding the right approach for your family. "I have pretty bad allergies, and a few years ago, I started noticing that my then six-year-old son had circles under his eyes and seemed tired and snuffly all the time," recalls Diane Umansky, a mom of three in New York City. "The pediatrician recommended antihistamines, but the two we tried made him really hyper and interfered with his sleep in a major way. He finally got relief after we got allergy-proof bedding covers and began vacuuming religiously." In other words, do what works! Parenting.Com: Are we overmedicating our kids?

Emotions run deep

It's not just physical vulnerabilities that your child can inherit from you. Certain psychological and emotional issues can also be a family affair. In particular, there's a strong genetic component to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as to several mood and anxiety disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

While it may feel harder to reveal a history of mental health problems to your pediatrician, it's important that you do. That way, if your child develops certain warning signs, such as unusual sadness, irritability, anxiety, inattention, or a change in appetite, sleep, or ability to enjoy things, the doctor may be able to zero in on the cause -- and get your child help -- a lot sooner.

To learn more, check out:

• American Academy of Pediatrics: Parenting Corner Click on "behavioral health" in the topics menu.

• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Use the search tool to find a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

• National Institute of Mental Health Click on "mental health topics" for links to info on ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, and more.

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Copyright 2009 The Parenting Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Stacey Colino lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

All About Eyesight and Eye Health • Eczema • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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