How To Guide

Origin

The Cretan Hound can be traced to the Greek Island of Crete with writings dating back 3500 years. Some believe the ancestors of the Cretan Hound may have been from Africa but this is more than likely the oldest dog breed in Europe. The Cretan people had many enemies trying to take over their land; they became very suspicious of strangers. The people were proud and were not very happy to share any of the unique species of animals found on their island. The Cretan Hound was often hidden away from the eyes of strangers. The dogs of course were discovered and are now considered not only awesome hunting dogs but great family pets as well.

Height and Weight

The Cretan Hound males stand around 27 inches and weigh around 44 to 66 pounds. Females stand around 19 inches and weigh about the same as the males.

Colors and Coat

The coat is fine, short, and close to the body. Coat colors include pure white, cream, sandy, fawn, grey, black or brindle, bi-colored or tri-colored.

Temperament and Living Environment… Read More

Origin

The Bergamasco Sheepdog has ancestors dating back 2000 years, which were home all along the Alpine chain. These dogs lived in the cold climate in the Vallese region of the Alps, described as coats that were thick, long, and shabby. As far as anyone knows, the ancestors were shepherds and cattle dogs that were home not only in the Alps but also from the Orient to the Western world. The dogs in most cases when the stock of sheep was sold, the dog went with the herd.

Height and Weight

The male Bergamasco Shepherd at adulthood, stands at 23 ½ inches and weighs around 70 to 84 pounds. Females on average are about 22 inches tall as adults and weigh around 59 to 71 pounds.

Colors and Coat

This breed of dog is considered to be of medium size. The unique appearance is the coat, which is thick, full, and forms mats or flocks. The matts or flocks begin at the spine and go down the flanks. Each year these matts or flocks grow longer until they reach the… Read More

Origin

The Barbet is believed to be the beginning of many different water dog breeds including the American Water Spaniel, the Poodle, and the Portuguese Water Dog, to name a few. The actual origin is not known but in most cases began with the corded herding breed. Barbet comes from the French and means beard. Throughout history, you can find the Barbet working in various occupations, but mainly as an assistant to sailors. It is known most for its retrieval talents. The bloodline of the Barbet can be found as far back as 1891 in various publications.

Height and Weight

The Barbet male stands at 20 ½ to 25 ½ inches tall and weighing between 35 and 60 pounds. Female Barbet’s weigh the same but are about just a bit smaller.

Colors and Coat

The coat on the Barbet is long, wooly, curly and of course made for water. The accepted colors include solid black, brown, fawn, grey, pale fawn, white or more or less pied. Red fawn and pale fawn are also seen. Grey and white are… Read More

Origin

The Affenpinscher is a breed of dog with a history as far back as the 17th century. The breed’s ancestors include the Griffon Bruxellois and the Miniature Schnauzer. The name is derived from the German Affe meaning monkey dog.

Even though there is no exact lineage or data that proves their history; however, the first mention of a dog of this type was during the 1600’s. The dogs at that time were much larger and were used as ratters on farms throughout Germany. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the breed was miniaturized and became house pets. Today, even though the Affenpinscher is an excellent hunter they are mostly companion dogs.

Height and Weight

The Affenpinscher male and females both are around 10 to 15 inches tall and weighs 7 to 8 pounds.

Colors and Coat

This breed is known for the unique shaggy and wire coat with the hair on the face longer than the rest of the body. The color of the coat is black or dark gray in most cases, but can come in lighter gray,… Read More

The very first thing someone notices about the Shar Pei is his wrinkled hippopotamus shaped head. For a large breed dog, he is truly kind hearted and enjoys affection from his family. As for his origin, his family tree is not certain. He may be a descendant of Chow Chow, however, it is a fact that the purple-tongued dogs from China are at the top of his family tree.

Colors and coat

Both the male and female Shar Pei at adulthood will stand 18 to 20 inches tall and weigh around 40 to 55 pounds.

Temperament and living environment

This breed of dog is very loyal to their human family. They enjoy being playful and active. They do not really shy away or threaten strangers but are a bit reserved. They are normally very easy going and do well with children in the family as long as their introduced while they are still in puppyhood. The same goes for cats or other pets in the family.

The Shar Pei does quite well living in an apartment as long… Read More

That great looking breed of dog with his hair always in his eyes often draws many admirers. He is a sweet and adorable breed that is often choosing by many families as the new addition to their family.

The Old English Sheepdog has an origin that is clouded in mystery with some believing his ancestors are the Barbone and the Deerhound, while others believe he is related to the Bergamasco and the Briard, and then there is still another group that thinks he descended from the Owtchar, a hairy Russian dog. All that is truly known is that by the 19th century he was widely used in Europe by farmers, cattle herders, and sheepherders.

Height and weight

The Old English Sheepdog males at adulthood are 22 to 24 inches tall and weigh 6- to 100 pounds. Females are 20 to 22 inches tall and weigh 60 to 70 pounds.

Colors and coat

The Old English Sheepdog has an abundance of fur that makes him look like he is overweight. He has a double coat with the undercoat being… Read More

The Carolina Dog is one that you may not see around much as he is a rare breed. When you first see the Carolina Dog, you may think he is just a dingo as his appearance is similar.

The Carolina Dog was discovered in Georgia by Dr. Michael Valenzuela. The Carolina Dog is still not fully domesticated but can make a great family dog.

Height and weight

Both male and female Carolina Dog’s at adulthood are 17 to 24 inches tall and weigh 30 to 44 pounds.

Colors and coat

The coat on the Carolina Dog is short and straight with a thick dense undercoat. The color of the coat include with spots such as tan, beige, desert sand, yellow, orange, ginger red, and red sable.

Temperament and living environment

The Carolina Dog is use to being on their own but with training, they are great family pets. They are gentle, kind, and devoted. He is very good around children and does well with other pets in the family as long as they are introduced while they are… Read More

The Australian Cattle Dog also known as the Australian Heeler, Hall’s Heeler, Queensland Heeler, Blue Heeler, Australian Cattledog, and Australischer Treibhund is an excellent breed for the farm. He is well known for his working abilities as well as his loyalty to his human family and the protection of those in his care.

The origin of the Australian Cattle Dog is where you might expect, Australia. This breed was developed during the 19th century to herd large herds of cattle. The mixture of breeds used to develop this breed includes the blue speckled Collie, wild Australian dingoes, the Australian Kelpie, Dalmatian, and the Blue Terrier.

Height and Weight

Male Australian Cattle Dogs at adulthood are 17 to 20 inches tall and weigh between 32 and 35 pounds. The females are 17 to 19 inches tall and weigh 30 to 35 pounds.

Colors and Coat

The Australian Cattle Dog has a double coat. The outer coat is smooth with an undercoat that is dense. The hair on the outer coat is flat and hard creating a type of raincoat for the… Read More

The Komondor also known as the Hungarian Komondor and the Hungarian Sheepdog has a distinctive look that has everyone falling in love with them at first sights. Their long corded coat is one that attracts attention, which makes them look like a cuddly toy; however, their size does just the opposite.

The Komondor is actually a descendant of the Tibetan dogs or possibly, from the Cumans, which were brought to Hungary to guard flocks of sheep.

Height and Weight

The male Komondor will stand at 27 ½ inches from the withers and weigh between 100 to 125 pounds. Females are 25 ½ inches tall and weigh around 80 to 100 pounds.

Colors and Coat

As a puppy, the Komondor will have a soft furry coat, but as he grows, his fur will begin to create cords short at first and then falling to the ground with growth. The Komondor does have a soft woolly undercoat that resembles his puppy fur. The corded fur will cover his body including his head and legs.

The color of the coat is white with… Read More

The Smooth Fox Terrier is a loving dog that was actually bred for hunting. From his beginnings in England with the cross breeding of the ancient dachshunds, the Fox Hounds, the Beagle and the English Hound, the Fox Terrier came into existence.

Height and Weight

The male Smooth Fox Terrier will grow to around 14 to 16 inches tall and weigh around 15 to 20 pounds. The female at adulthood will stand at 13 to 15 inches tall and weigh around 13 to 18 pounds.

Colors and Coat

The coat on the Smooth Fox Terrier should be smooth as his name implies in colors with white as the predominate color and brindle, liver, or red as the lesser colors.

Temperament and Living Environment

The Smooth Fox Terrier is a lovable family dog that does very well with children. He is devoted to his family, but does have a hunting instinct and may kill other animals. Due to his hunting nature, he must be watched, as he will wander off after any prey if he catches their scent.… Read More

The Jack Russell Terrier is a devoted breed that enjoys playful antics, toys, and is normally great with families with children. The Jack Russell Terrier was developed by clergyman Jack Russell during the 19th century in England trained both to be a fox hunter and good companion.

Height and Weight

Both male and female Jack Russell Terrier are 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh about 14 to 18 pounds.

Colors and Coat

Their coat is smooth and short with the predominate coloring of white with black, brown, or tan markings.

Temperament and Living Environment

This terrier is a loving, obedient, and spirited breed. Does well with children that do not tease as they can become a bit annoyed when treated badly. They are very intelligent and enjoy being a part of the family, showing off their talents when given the chance.

Apartment living is fine for the Jack Russell Terrier, however, he does not like being alone. He will need to have room to run and play. A small to medium sized yard is the… Read More

The feathery silky long coat of the Irish Setter is the first thing everyone notices when they set their eyes on this gentle breed. The Irish Setter is a great show dog, but is also known as a great gundog. The Irish Setter as the name implies originated in Ireland. The Irish Setter came to be with the cross breeding of spaniels, pointers, and setters.

Height and Weight

The Irish Setter males are around 26 to 28 inches tall and weighs around 65 to 75 pounds, whereas females are 24 to 26 inches tall and weigh 55 to 65 pounds.

Colors and Coat

The coat of the Irish Setter is short on the head and the forelegs. The rest of the body is covered with long flat hair with feathering on the ears, the back of the forelegs, and the thighs. The Irish Setter’s fur is straight with the feathering and should not be wavy or curly. The coat color is chestnut red or mahogany.

Temperament and Living Environment

The Irish Setter is known for his… Read More

The Great Dane is a large breed dog that is very gentle. The breed is one of the tallest domestic dogs on record. He has a noble and regal appearance that makes everyone stop and stare. The Great Dane is often referred to as the “Apollo of all dogs” originating in either Germany.

Height and Weight

On average, the Great Dane males are 30 to 34 inches tall and weigh around 120 to 200 pounds. The females are 28 to 32 inches and 100 to 130 pounds.

Colors and Coat

The Great Dane coat is short, thick, smooth and has a glossy appearance. The colors of the fur can be black, blue, brindle, fawn, harlequin, mantle, and merle.

Temperament and Living Environment

The Great Dane loves everyone and is especially great with children. He is gentle, sweet, and affectionate. He must be around people to truly be happy. Even though he is not big on barking, he is a good watchdog and will bark when it is necessary.

Apartment life can be fine for the… Read More

The English Cocker Spaniel is a family dog even though they were bred to be gun dogs. They are two types of English Cocker Spaniels known as the working cocker and the show cocker. The Spaniel descended from the Spaniels in Spain; however, most are commonly known to be from England, where they were used for gun dogs. The English Cocker Spaniel should not be mistaken for the American Cocker, which has similarities, but are different breeds. The English Cocker Spaniel is often referred to as the Merry Cocker due to their disposition and always wagging tail.

Height and Weight

The female English Cocker Spaniel is 14 to inches tall and weighs around 26 to 32 pounds, whereas the male is 15 to 17 inches tall and weighs between 28 and 34 pounds.

Colors and Coat

The coat of the English Cocker Spaniel is one to be admired that is well feathered and often almost touching the ground and can be flat for wavy and silky. The English Cocker Spaniel coat colors are known as parti-colors or in a few… Read More

The Dalmatian breed may bring to mind the Disney movie, “Hundred and One Dalmatians”, and all the antics of the puppies as well as the loyalty of the Dalmatian’s parents to find their puppies. The Dalmatian is the only spotted breed with an origin in the historical region of Croatia, however, throughout history there have been spotted dogs in Africa, Asia, and Europe so many nations wish to claim the Dalmatian as its native country.

The Dalmatian is known for all kinds of work related tasks such as ratter, draft dog, dog of war, firehouse mascot, retriever, and bird dog to name a few.

Height and Weight

The Dalmatian male is between 22 and 24 inches tall and weighs around 55 pounds, the female’s weight is close to the same, but they are only 20 to 22 inches in height.

Colors and Coat

The Dalmatian has a short dense coat that is sleek and glossy in appearance. The color of the coat is what is so appealing with an all white background and black or liver spots. The spots are… Read More

The Dachshund is the short legged long dog that has nicknames such as Doxie, Dackel, wiener dog, hotdog, sausage dog, Weenie Dog, to name a few.

The origin of the Dachshund is Germany where the dog received his name from the word for badger “Dachs” which was the small dog hunted at the time. The small legs enabled the dachshund to hunt the badgers all the way into their burrows.

Height and Weight

The dachshund has two size standards – the standard and the miniature. In Europe, a toy dachshund is also recognized.

The standard dachshund will be around 14 to 18 inches tall and weigh just a bit over 11 pounds. The miniature dachshund will grow to 14 inches in height and weigh 11 pounds. The toy dachshund will grow to 12 inches in height and weigh 8 pounds.

Colors and Coat

The Dachshund is recognized in three varieties which are the shorthaired, the wired haired, and the longhaired. Solid colors of the dachshund include black, red, chocolate, Isabella, crème, blue, and with the wirehaired, a crème… Read More

The Chow Chow that has the structure of the oldest dog remains found which date back million’s of years ago. The Emperor of China, were the Chow Chow originated, was said to own 2500 pairs of Chow’s. The Chow Chow was mainly found to be a work dog used as a boat guard, cart puller, and hunter.

Height and Weight

The average weight for a male Chow Chow is 55 to 70 pounds and they are around 19 to 22 inches tall. The average female Chow Chow stands at 18 to 20 inches in height and weighs between 45 to 60 pounds.

Colors and Coat

The Chow Chow is known for two different types of coat – rough and smooth. Both of the coats have double coats. Colors of Chows include red, black, blue, cinnamon, and cream with lighters shadings of the same color on their tail, ruff, and featherings.

All Chow Chow’s are known for their blue/black tongue.

Temperament and Living Environment

Even though the Chow Chow is a large breed dog, they can do… Read More

Everyone recognizes the Bassett Hound at first sight with his or her short legs, long ears, and heavy body.

The Basset Hound originated as far as any can tell from genetic dwarf dogs in France. They became popular during a Paris Dog Show and from that time forward have been known for their great hunting skills as well as for companions.

Height and Weight

The male Basset Hound weighs in at 50 to 65 pounds and is between 12 to 15 inches tall. The female Basset Hound is a bit smaller weighing 45 to 60 pounds and is 11 to 14 inches tall.

Colors and Coat

They have a smooth short coat that is great for all kinds of weather. The color of the Basset Hound is the standard colors seen with all hounds, which includes black & tan, blue/gray, red & white, tri-color, and lemon & white.

Temperament and Living Environment

The Basset Hound is one of the sweetest and most gentle dog breeds. They are truly devoted to their family and well mannered. They… Read More

The American Akita is a breed of dog known as a northern breed with an appearance that signifies cold weather. They are a large breed with a heavy bone structure that carries their tail over their back.

The American Akita originated in Japan are ancestors of the Matagi dog which is one of the oldest native dogs of Japan mainly found in the northernmost region of the island of Honshu. The Akita is the largest breed of dog originating in Japan.

Height and Weight

Male American Akita’s height on average is 26 to 28 inches at the withers while female’s height is around 24 to 26 inches. The males weigh in between 100 to 130 pounds and females between 70 to 100 pounds.

Colors and Coat

The American Akita comes in all colors with well-balanced markings. Akita’s can have a mask or blaze except for white Akita’s which have no mask. The underground may be a different color than the outer coat. Their eyes are deep set and triangular in shape and all have dark brown eyes.

Temperament and Living… Read More