German Shepherd

The German Shepherd Dog is a large-sized breed belonging to the herding group of working dogs. Intelligent as it is versatile, this breed was originally developed in Germany to guard and herd a shepherd's flocks. The German Shepherd requires an active lifestyle, and makes for an ideal companion and protector.

Physical Characteristics

The German Shepherd has a double coat, which is comprised of a thick undercoat and a dense, slightly wavy or straight outer coat. Its hair, usually tan and black, or red and black in color, is medium in length and is shed all year round. Other rarer color variations include all-Black, all-White, liver and blue.
The German Shepherd's body is long -- generally between 22 and 26 inches -- in proportion to its height. This gives the dog strength, agility, elasticity and long, elegant strides.

Personality and Temperament

The German Shepherd is very protective and devoted to its family and home, maintaining a suspicious and aloof demeanor around strangers. It can be dominating and assertive towards dogs, though it is normally friendly with other pets in the home. The German Shepherd is an immensely versatile dog, displaying a keen intelligence while dutifully performing its tasks.

Care

The German Shepherd can live outdoors in cool or temperate climates, but enjoys living indoors too. Frequent training or exercise sessions are essential for keeping its mind and body active, and because the German Shepherd sheds throughout the year, its coat should be brushed once or twice a week to encourage turnover as well as to minimize buildup in the home.

Health

The German Shepherd has an average lifespan of between 10 to 12 years. It is, however, susceptible to some serious health conditions like elbow dysplasia and canine hip dysplasia (CHD), as well as minor problems like cardiomyopathy, hemangiosarcoma, panosteitis, von Willebrand's Disease (vWD), degenerative myelopathy, cauda equina, malignant neoplasms, pannus, hot spots, skin allergies, gastric torsion, cataract, and perianal fistulas. This breed is also prone to a fatal fungal infection due to the Aspergillus mold. Because of these susceptibilities German Shepherds, like most other dogs, need to be seen by a veterinarian for routine checkups. There they will undergo hip, elbow blood, eye and other tests.

 

History and Background

The German Shepherd over the years has served in many different capacities: police dog, guide dog, guard dog, war dog, explosives- and narcotics-detecting dog, search-and-rescue dog, show dog, and most notably as a shepherding dog. Developed primarily for the purpose of guarding and herding a shepherd's flocks, there have been few other breeds with such a versatile repertoire.
Max von Stephanitz, the first official breeder of German Shepherd Dogs, was attracted to the shepherding dogs used by Germans and, noting that there were many different types of shepherd dogs, concluded that a breed standard needed to be introduced. He was most fond of the shepherd dogs that had a wolfish appearance, with the strong upper body and prick ears, and that also had sharp minds and a willingness to work. In 1889 he bought a shepherd dog that met his ideal, changed the dog's name from Hektor Linkrshein to Horand von Grafrath (named for the nearby town of Grafrath), registered the dog under a new breed registry, and set about creating a standard, with Horand as the genetic basis for the breed. In that same year, the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (roughly translated into the Society for the German Shepherd Dog) was formed by Stephanitz and Artur Meyer to advance the German Shepherd Dog's breed standard.
There is some debate as to how much wolf is actually a part of the German Shepherd breed. It was said that Horan was part wolf, and that Stephanitz used wolves in the crossbreeding. In Stephanitz's stud book there are four entires for wolf crosses at different points in the breed's development. However, some point out that at the time, many breeders use the term "wolf" to generically describe a pattern that is currently referred to as "sable." Other accounts suggest that if Stephanitz did use pure wolf genes, he was able to aquire the genetic input from wolves that were housed in a zoo. In any case, in 1923 when Stephanitz wrote his book, The German Shepherd in Word and Picture, he strongly advised against using wolves for crossbreeding.
Stephanitz focused on strength, intelligence and an ability to work well with people throughout, and succeeded so well that the German Shepherd Dog grew steadily in popularity. During World War I, the breed was selected as a war sentry by various countries. At the same time, the American Kennel Club (AKC) chose to alter the name of the breed from German Sheepdog to Shepherd Dog, while Britain renamed it the Alsatian Wolfdog -- both in an attempt to separate the breed from its German roots.
In 1931, the AKC reverted the dog back to its original name: the German Shepherd Dog. Since then, popular German Shepherds have been on the silver screen, including movie stars Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. The Shepherd has become a mainstay in the American home -- maintaining a position as one of the ten most popular dogs in the U.S., and even ranking at number one in many American cities.
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Field Spaniel

The Field Spaniel is known for its level-headedness and perseverance. It is one of the rarest spaniel breeds, but one of the most recognized gundog breeds.
 

Physical Characteristics

The medium-sized Field Spaniel possesses a sturdy physique and a noble carriage. Additionally, Field Spaniels commonly have bodies that are longer in size than tall, all of which enables the breed to hunt through dense bushes.
Its flat or slight wavy coat, which is usually black, liver, or golden liver in color, is of medium length. It is possible, however, to encounter a Field Spaniel with tan points or white markings.
Its facial expression is heavy and gentle. Its pace, meanwhile, is long and low. Always alert, a Field Spaniel's tail rarely stops wagging, though it does not stand high.

Personality and Temperament

Generally cheerful, the Field Spaniel can prove to be a gentle and sensitive family pet. And though it loves its independence, it is fully devoted to its human master. Additionally, many Field Spaniels shy away from strangers.

Care

The Field Spaniel should be brushed and combed at least once or twice a week. Show dogs, meanwhile, must be trimmed and clipped on a regular basis to prevent outgrowth. A Field Spaniel's ear should be protected against the accumulation of dirt. Moreover, the inner ear hair and footpad hair should be clipped regularly.
Regular exercise and training is recommended for the Field Spaniel. The breed should be allows to live inside the home, with access to the outdoors. But beware, some Field Spaniels are prone to snoring.

Health

The Field Spaniel, which has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years, may be prone to minor health issues such as hypothyroidism and otitis externa, as well as seizures, heart murmurs, canine hip dysplasia, and patellar luxation. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend heart, hip, thyroid, elbow, eye, and patella exams for this breed of dog.

History and Background

Although it is considered an excellent hunter of medium size today, the breed went through various changes, which culminated in the modern day Field Spaniel. According to the experts, the breed was originally larger, deriving its traits from the English Water, Sussex, and Cocker Spaniels, and weighing in at over 25 pounds.
On the verge of extinction, breeders began to cross the Field Spaniel with the English Springer Spaniel, of which four Field Spaniels are commonly attributed to the progentiors of the modern breed: Elmbury Morwena of Rhiwlas, Ronayne Regal, Colombina of Teffont, and Gormac Teal. These Field Spaniels proved to be excellent hunters.
The breed was originally introduced to America in the late 1800s. And though they have lost much of their popularity and are considered one of the rares breed in the United States today, the Field Spaniel's hunting abilities are irrefutable.

Estrela Mountain

The Estrela Mountain Dog, or Cão de Serra da Estrela, is an intelligent and independent dog from Portugal. Though playful and extremely loyal, it is not the ideal pet for first-time dog owners. The Estrela has tendency to bark and protect its territory fiercely, and will typically only obey a strong-willed person.

Physical Characteristics

The Estrela Mountain Dog is a fairly large dog (66-110 pounds, on average) with an athletic build. It comes in two coat types: short and long. The long-haired Estrela has a thick, slightly coarse outer coat that may be flat or slightly waved, and a dense undercoat which is typically light in color than the outer coat. The short-haired Estrela has a similar outer and undercoat, but it is comparably shorter.

The coloring of the coat is commonly fawn, wolf gray, and yellow, with or without brindling. There may also be white markings or shadings of black throughout the coat. Blue coloration is sometimes found but is considered undesirable. The Estrela has droopy ears and a long, bushy tail.

Personality and Temperament

The Estrela Mountain Dog is calm but will not hesitate to come to the defense of those it loves, making it an exceptional guard dog. Because of this it is also often distrusting of strangers and will require proper training and socialization as a puppy.

The Estrela Mountain Dog, though dominant, can get along well with other pets. However, it may take some time for it to get accustomed to another dog in the home.

Care

The Estrela's rough hair will not tangle easily, though it may mat behind the ears. Typically the coat requires just one deep brushing every week.

Due to its nature, the Estrela will tend to roam far if not placed in a large, fenced yard. Nevertheless, it can flourish in a smaller area (though ideally not an apartment) as long as it is taken out to exercise frequently.

Health

The Estrela Mountain Dog, with an average lifespan of 12 to 16 years, is a hardy and healthy breed. However, as with many other large dogs, it has a tendency to suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia.

History and Background

Considered one of the oldest breeds in Portugal, the Estrela Mountain Dog has been protecting flocks of sheep for many centuries. A brave and intelligent dog, shepherds depended on their ability to identify and scare off wolves and other hungry predators. Eventually their skills were used to guard large estates by local aristocrats, and by the 19th century the number of Estrelas used by local shepherds had begun to fall. However, it was these new larger estate dogs that would eventually become the base for the modern breed of Estrelas.

The first Estrela was entered into the show ring in 1908, but because of the Portuguese peoples' admiration of foreign breeds and their insistence on castrating the Estrelas to prevent them from leaving their flocks to mate, the number of Estrelas began to diminish.

From 1908 to 1919, special shows called concursos were held to promote and preserve the Estrela breed in the region. By 1933, the first official breed standard was established.

Prior to World War II, the Estrela breeders were still primarily the shepherds and farmers of the region. But by the early 1950s, interest in the breed returned, and the annual concursos were reinstated with the intent of stimulating interest among the Serra residents and to encourage them to adhere to the official standard.

Although the long-haired variety was most popular at shows during this period, these so-called "show dogs" represented only a small portion of the Estrela population in Portugal. Today the same holds true — many of the working Estrela dogs are short-haired.

The interest in Estrellas declined again in the early 1970s; there was even some concern about the degeneration and even possible extinction of the breed. However, the Portguese revolution of 1974 led to several changes in Portugal, including a resurgence in the use of native breeds in dog shows.

In 1972, the United Kingdom became the first country to establish the Estrela Mountain Dog outside of Portugal. It can now be found in several countries around the world.

English Toy Spaniel

The English Toy Spaniel is a compact toy dog with of a short-nosed, domed head, a merry, affectionate demeanor and a silky coat. Also called the King Charles Spaniel, they differ from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in their expression: the King Charles’s mouth turns down, while the Cavalier appears -- like its namesake painting -- to be laughing.

  

Physical Characteristics

The expression and head of the breed are the English Toy’s hallmark. It has shiny dark eyes, a well-padded face and a domed head, all of which create an appealing and soft expression.

The English Toy Spaniel, with a square-proportioned and compact body, is abundantly covered with a flowing, silky coat. This coat is either slightly wavy or straight. It has long tufts of hair on its feet and heavy fringing on its body.

Personality and Temperament

The English Toy Spaniel is a calm, quiet, gentle, and friendly but attentive lapdog. It shows utmost dedication to its family and is reserved towards strangers. Additionally, some English Toy Spaniels have been known to display a stubborn side.

Care

Even though the English Toy Spaniel is not very active, it enjoys a fun indoor or outdoor game or a good on-leash walk. Hot weather does not suit it and, by nature, it cannot live outdoors, away from the comfort of its family. It has a long coat that requires combing twice a week.

Health

The English Toy Spaniel, which has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, is susceptible to major health conditions like patellar luxation, and minor issues like early tooth loss, and "lazy tongue," a condition which causes the tongue to protrude from the mouth. A veterinarian may recommend regular knee tests for the dog.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), hydrocephalus, and fused toes are also seen in some English Toy Spaniels, as well as a soft spot in the dog's skull due to an incomplete fontanel closure. Some English Toy Spaniels react adversely to anesthesia.

History and Background

The early histories of the English Toy Spaniel and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are said to be identical. In fact, both breeds initially began as one single breed, a result of interbreeding between Oriental toy dogs and small spaniels. There is also evidence that indicates Mary I, Queen of Scotland in the mid-16th century, carried the first toy spaniels with her from France to Scotland.

Sometimes referred to as the comforter spaniel, this breed gained a great deal of popularity among the wealthy, where they functioned as lap- and foot-warmers and pleasant companions.

During the rule of King Charles II, in the 17th Century, the dogs reached the zenith of their popularity. As the king adored the dogs, the breed became known as the King Charles Spaniel.

All these early dogs featured black and tan coats, but other colors were introduced later when the first Duke of Marlborough developed the red and white Blenheims. Crosses made with Chinese Cocker Spaniels also resulted in the red and white coats.

These spaniels were favorites among woodcock hunters. However, most breeders preferred a showy lapdog to a hunting dog. In the following centuries, a concerted effort was made to develop a smaller King Charles Spaniel with a flatter nose and rounder head.

This breed In the United States, the English Toy Spaniel is displayed as two strains: the Prince Charles variety and the King Charles variety. These fun-loving and aristocratic lapdogs are sometimes known as "Charlies" and "E.T.s."

English Setter

The English Setter is a graceful, elegant gundog. Its beautiful, feathered coat is white with an intermingling of darker hairs resulting in markings called "belton."

Physical Characteristics

The English Setter has a very stylish and sophisticated appearance with an athletic physique and distinct marks on its body. Extra fur is commonly allowed to grow along the dog's back, tail, legs, and on the underside of its thighs.

Two of the more popular English Setter varieties are the Llewllins (which is a pure strain with bloodlines tracing back to the 19th century breeding program of sportsman R. L. Purcell Llewellin) and Laveracks (also named for one of the developers of the breeding program, Edward Laverack). Generally, the Llewellins possess a thin coat and are small and fast, while the Laverack Setters possess a thicker coat and are larger.

Personality and Temperament

The English Setter should be exercised regularly to keep it calm and gentle; running and hunting are its favorite activities. An affable and pleasing breed, the English Setter is friendly with children and other dogs.

Care

The English Setter should be kept inside with access to the outdoors. To rid its coat of dead hair, comb it once every two or three days. Its daily exercise routine should be about one hour in length.

Health

The English Setter, which has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, is prone to major health issues such as elbow dysplasia, deafness, hypothyroidism, and canine hip dysplasia (CHD). It is also prone to epilepsy, Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD) and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend thyroid, hearing, elbow, hip, and eye exams for the dog.

History and Background

The breed, according to the experts, originated in England over 400 years ago. An excellent bird dog, it was used in moorland to point the target and retrieve it. Further evidence points to the Water Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, and Spanish Pointer as the breeds used to develop the English Setter. The term English Setter, however, was used later on when Edward Laverack started breeding them in 1825.

Purcell Llewellin, another breeder, crossed the Laveracks with English Setters that gave birth to excellent field dogs. Laveracks proved to be excellent show setters and the Llewellin turned out to be marvelous field setters. Regardless of the type, the English Setter can be found throughout the United States, many of which are field dogs.

English Foxhound

When thinking of the English Foxhound, the breed may conjure up images of James Bond or similar English gentlemen who go off for an afternoon hunt on horse or by foot. These loyal, obedient companions are tireless and able to run in the countryside for up to six hours with little or no rest.

Physical Characteristics

The English Foxhound is highly regarded for its powerful yet bony build. The size of it's ankle bone and the straight measurements of each stifle, meanwhile, provide the dog great stamina.

The English Foxhound can be seen black, tan, and white, or any combination of these three colors. The dog’s deep and rich voice is excellent for hunting. And many English Foxhounds have "rounded ears," so named because 1 1/2 inches are surgically removed from the ear’s end.

 

Personality and Temperament

This zealous trailer and sniffer is shy around strangers, known to have bouts of baying, and isn't considered a typical city dog. However, it is friendly, gentle and tolerant, and it gets along with children, horses, dogs, and other pets. A traditional pack hound, the English Foxhound makes an excellent house dog, especially if it offered both canine and human companionship.

Care

The carefree Foxhound requires plenty of exercise. Easily covering several miles during a run, the English Foxhound can also function as a hiking companion or a jogging companion, but remember to keep it on a leash or in an enclosed area, as it is capable of running away.

The English Foxhound's coat requires the occasional brushing to get rid of dead hair. The breed can also survive temperate climates and live outdoors, but only if it has good bedding, warm shelter, and the company of other Foxhounds.

Health

The English Foxhound, which has an average lifespan of 10 to 13 years, suffers from canine hip dysplasia (CHD) and renal disease. And though it does not have a propensity to any major or minor health concerns, hip tests are recommended for this breed of dog.

History and Background

The history of the English Foxhound dates back to 16th century Great Britain, the records of which have been meticulously maintained through English stud books. And while its exact origin is not known, it is widely accepted that the hounds gained much of their reputation in the mid-1700s through the sport of fox hunting.

The function of the hound was to pick up the scent of the fox while on the trail, leading the hunters, many of which were English gentry on horseback, to their prey. During a hunt, the master of foxhounds would organize and lead the activities. Afterwards, he would maintain the kennels and raise money for the hunt club.

As the sport grew in popularity, it was ensured that only the dogs of the best quality were produced. The pack members often shared identical coat coloration, the usual color being black saddle on a tan body. By the end of the 19th century, 140 packs of hounds were registered in England.

The English Foxhound was introduced to the United States during the 18th century, where it was crossed with other hound types to form the American Foxhound, which is thinner than its British counterpart. However, neither of these two foxhound types are considered a popular show dog or pet. Instead, many of those of whom choose the English Foxhound, do so because of its ability to lead a traditional hunting group to the game.

Englisht Cocker Spaniel

The English Cocker Spaniel is an incredibly energetic, enthusiastic companion, especially when working. Despite its soft, gentle expression, the Cocker, as it is most commonly referred to, is an active sporting dog that makes for an excellent family dog, particularly because the English Cocker Spaniel is easily trained and rarely stops wagging its tail.

Physical Characteristics

For a Spaniel, the English Cocker is fairly tall. Its compact shape and short legs, however, help it move quickly through dense bushes, while its broad muzzle assist the dog during retrieving. The English Cocker's coat -- which can be found in various colors, including black, liver, red, and tan -- is of medium length, wavy or flat, and silky in texture. Its gait is ground-covering and powerful, and its facial expression is soft and pleasant. In addition, the English Cocker typically keeps its tail wagging when on the move.

Personality and Temperament

The English Cocker Spaniel is social in nature, and most often in a cheerful or playful mood. It loves to spend time with humans and is very obedient, carrying out an owner's instructions devotedly. Faithfulness to its master, in fact, is one of the English Cocker's most recognizable characteristic. With a strong hunting instinct, the breed is always keen to learn new things.

Care

The English Cocker Spaniel should be taken on long walks, preferably for hours. This will give it the necessary daily exercise. Running and playing will be good physical exercise for the breed as well. Although the English Cocker Spaniel can survive outside in temperate weather, it is best to keep the dog at home with access to a yard.

One should check its ears regularly to remove dirt, while its coat should be combed and brushed two to three times a week. Trimming the fur at the tail and feet is necessary every two months, and head and ears are to be clipped properly at regular intervals.

Health

The English Cocker Spaniel generally has a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Care should be taken to prevent some serious health-related problems such aspatellar luxation and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). This breed is also prone to some minor problems like hypothyroidism, canine hip dysplasia (CHD), cataract, and kidney disease. The parti-colors are prone to deafness. The English Cocker Spaniel must have its knees, ears, hips, eyes, and thyroid tested.Cardiomyopathy can also occasionally be seen in the breed.

History and Background

The English Cocker Spaniel belongs to the family of land spaniels that are extremely competent at hunting. The breed received the recognition of a distinctive variety only in 1936, with the formation of the English Cocker Spaniel Club of America.

However, the crossing of the American and English Cockers was not encouraged by the English Cocker Spaniel Club, which resulted in the separation of the English Cocker and the American Cocker in 1946. The English Cocker Spaniel is also known as just the Cocker Spaniel. American Cockers are popular only in their homeland, but the English Cocker Spaniel is recognized all over the world.