Collie dogs

The Collie is also known as: Scottish Collie

Fast Facts
Group classification: Herding Country of origin: Scotland Date of origin: 19th century
Weight (M): 60 - 75 lb Height (M): 24 - 26" Life expectancy: 9 - 12 years
Weight (F): 50 - 65 lb Height (F): 22 - 24"

1.General Description of the Collie

Lithe and agile, the Collie is a dog of effortless grace. The head is light and wedge shaped, with a slight stop and flat skull. Small ears are carried semi-erect when alert, with the top portion tipping forward. Eyes are dark, medium sized and almond shaped with an expression of intelligence and curiosity, and are not prominent on the head. The neck is long and arched, accentuating the frill, and the body is muscular and athletic. Feet are small and oval shaped. The tail is long and carried low. The Collie’s coat may be either rough or smooth, with the rough being more common. The rough outer coat is harsh and abundant everywhere except on the legs and head; the undercoat is furry, soft and thick. Smooth Collies have a short and dense outer coat with abundant undercoat. Coloring can be sable and white, blue merle, tri-color, or white; white Collies typically have tan shading or other markings.

2.Collie Temperament

The Collie has made the transition from rugged working dog to sweet house pet and companion with the characteristic grace it is renowned for. Collies are playful yet gentle, and display an exceptional kindness toward children. This dog is friendly toward strangers, pets and other dogs, and almost never displays aggression. Collies thrive on human contact, and can become depressed or lonely if left alone without the company of people or other dogs. This breed is also known to exhibit “furry shadow syndrome,” and loves to follow you around this house, no matter how mundane your tasks may be. Highly vocal, this dog is a superb watchdog, and is also able to provide a modest amount of personal protection. Collies may nip at the heels of children while playing.

3.Caring for a Collie

The Collie needs a lot of exercise, and should have a long walk every day at the minimum. If possible, allow your Collie a chance to herd, as this is by far its favorite exercise. While physically capable of living outdoors, the Collie should nonetheless be an inside dog with access to a yard, since family contact is so important. Grooming requirements for the smooth Collie are minimal, but the more common rough Collie needs to be brushed at least twice a week, and may need professional grooming performed every few months. A generally healthy breed, the Collie may develop Collie eye anomaly, bloat (gastric torsion), progressive retinal atrophy, demodicosis and dermatomyositis.

Cocker Spaniel dogs

The Cocker Spaniel is also known as: American Cocker Spaniel

Fast Facts

Group classification: Sporting Country of origin: United States Date of origin: 19th century

Weight (M): 24 - 28 lb Height (M): 14.5 - 15.5" Life expectancy: 12 - 15 years

Weight (F): 24 - 28 lb Height (F): 13.5 - 14.5"

1.General Description of the Cocker Spaniel

The smallest dog in the Sporting Group, the Cocker Spaniel (or American Cocker Spaniel as it is sometimes called) has an efficient and serviceable-looking body, with straight forequarters and a spine that slopes gently to powerful, moderately bent hindquarters, and a docked tail. The Cocker's head is fine and well developed, with a rounded skull and very long, luxuriantly feathered ears, all covered by a posh coat. The Cocker Spaniel's face features noticeable eyebrows and stop, clean cheeks, large nose and a square jaw. The eyes are soft and kind. The Cocker Spaniel's coat can be flat, silky or wavy. The coat is short and fine on the head, medium length with some undercoat along the ribs and back, and long on the rest of the body. The coat can be any solid color, including black, or particolored.

2.Cocker Spaniel Temperament

The Cocker Spaniel has a delightful personality with a mischievous side that reflects a mind of its own. Typically described as jolly, sweet, smart, sociable and eager to please, the Cocker has a spirited curiosity and makes an ideal companion. These dog get along fantastically with strangers, dogs, children and other pets; aggression or timidity is extremely rare. Cocker Spaniels are rather sensitive, so owners need to be gentle and show patience with these dogs. Adaptable to either country or city living, Cockers are a bit demanding of their owner’s time. Owners who are new to the breed will benefit from getting advice from an expert before adopting a Cocker Spaniel. Unlike other spaniels, the Cocker has only a modest instinctual drive to hunt.

3.Caring for a Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels enjoy being inside the house but they need attention and patience on their owner's part. Their persuasive expression and irresistible desire to snack can easily cause the American Cocker to overindulge. Watch their weight – obesity is not only unhealthy but uncomfortable for your dog. Routine exercise is required to help maintain their overall health and fitness. A romp in the park or game of fetch will satisfy their exercise requirements. In full coat, the American Cocker Spaniel is a pleasure to behold; the long and silky coat requires daily visits from the brush and comb. At the very least a once a week thorough combing is necessary, taking care around the ear canal to keep this area free of hair and to provide exposure to air. Avoid pulling out the long silky coat-hairs when brushing. Habitual appointments with a groomer will help maintain their general well-kept appearance. Often owners will clip their Cocker Spaniel, especially in the early summer, to make the dog feel cooler and to allow for easier swimming. American Cocker Spaniels are average shedders. Known health issues in the Cocker Spaniel include progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, patellar luxation and cataracts. Sometimes, one will also see canine hip dysplasia, ectropion, entropion, allergies, otitis externa, kidney stones and liver disease.

Clumber Spaniel dogs

Fast Facts

Group classification: Sporting Country of origin: England Date of origin: 18th century

Weight (M): 70 - 85 lb Height (M): 19 - 20" Life expectancy: 11 - 12 years

Weight (F): 55 - 70 lb Height (F): 17 - 19"

1.General Description of the Clumber Spaniel

A long, low, substantial dog, the Clumber Spaniel’s heavy brow, deep chest, straight forequarters, powerful hindquarters, massive bone, and large feet combine to give it the power and endurance to move through dense underbrush in pursuit of game. Soft to the touch, dense, straight and weather resistant, the coat is pure white with lemon or orange markings; such colors improve the dog's visibility to hunters. Rectangular in shape, the Clumber has the appearance of great power. They have a massive head with a marked stop and heavy brow, and a broad and deep muzzle with a large square nose; the large eyes are dark amber in color and have a soft expression, and the ears are low set. A Clumber moves easily and freely with a comfortable gait that can be maintained at a steady trot for a day of work without exhaustion.

2.Clumber Spaniel Temperament

Gentle, loyal and affectionate with a fundamental desire to please, the Clumber Spaniel is an intelligent and independent thinker. They demonstrate determination and a strong sense of purpose while at work. Clumber Spaniels are called “dogs of dignity,” meaning they may sometimes seem aloof with strangers but should never be timid or hostile. Among the most low-key and easygoing of the hunting breeds, these dogs are very affectionate and playful. Clumbers are well mannered and not very active when mature, and are usually trustworthy with the family children. Clumber Spaniels will tolerate other pets, especially when raised with them. They tend to be a one-person dog and a bit willful. Used as hunting dogs, Clumber Spaniels prefer to hunt for pheasant and partridges, take naturally to retrieving, and are good water dogs.

3.Caring for a Clumber Spaniel

Extremely active as puppies, Clumber Spaniels grow very fast and slow down considerably when mature. Clumbers love to play fetch and adults only require ten to twenty minutes of strenuous physical activity every day, so exercising them is easy. People who like to walk regularly will enjoy a Clumber; however, do not jog with this dog in hot weather. Without enough exercise, the Clumber Spaniel tends to gain weight very easily. This is a gentle person's dog; it does not take well to heavy-handed discipline and will simply not respond to it. Fortunately, this dog’s eagerness to please usually makes tough discipline unnecessary. Clumbers suffer from gassiness (flatulence); those who are fed a natural diet of real meat and other fresh foods have much less trouble with this. They also slobber and drool especially after eating or drinking. Groom the coat with a comb and brush regularly; some careful trimming is also required from time to time. The eyes and ears need examination and cleaning often. This breed is a HEAVY shedder. Make sure to have good chew toys for them to satisfy their urge to chew. Clumber Spaniels are big time chewers when they are bored or do not get enough exercise. Known health conditions in the breed include intervertebral disk disease, ectropion, entropion and otitis externa.

Chow Chow dogs

Fast Facts

Group classification: Non-Sporting Country of origin: China Date of origin: Antiquity

Weight (M): 50 - 70 lb Height (M): 18 - 20" Life expectancy: 8 - 12 years

Weight (F): 45 - 65 lb Height (F): 17 - 19"

1.General Description of the Chow Chow

The Chow Chow is a firm, powerful, squarely-built dog of medium size. Heavy bones and solid muscles endow the breed with its characteristic working appearance. The Chow Chow can have black, cinnamon, red, blue and cream coloring, and its appearance reflects northern roots and capability of enduring extremely cold temperatures. The breed’s wide-set, triangular ears are carried erectly with a slight forward incline and rest on a short, small and flat skull. The Chow Chow’s medium-sized, deep set, dark brown eyes are well separated and have an almond shape. It is possible for the breed to have two different coat-types; smooth or coarse, both of which are double-layered. The coarse-coated Chow Chow has a wooly, dense undercoat and a straight, extended outer-coat that forms a teeming ruff encircling the head and neck. The smooth-coated Chow Chow lacks the off-standing outer-coat but is otherwise identical. The tongue is blue-black and the inside of the mouth is black.

2.Chow Chow Temperament

The Chow Chow is an independent, dignified and intelligent breed—characteristics some say cause the breed to come across as detached, or cold. The breed is notoriously reserved and cautious in the presence of strangers but is not aggressive toward people. Although most Chows will work hard to dominate other dogs, the breed is usually quite good with children. The Chow’s compatibility with other pets depends on its exposure and socialization early in life, but is usually not good. Because of the breed’s determined and often over protective personality, it is crucial that obedience training begin at a young age to assure a well-adjusted adult dog.

3.Caring for a Chow Chow

The Chow Chow is a heavy shedder that, regardless of coat type, will require extensive grooming and needs to be shampooed on a regular basis. Owners should use a steel-toothed comb and devote special attention to the areas behind the ears and beneath the legs, as knots can form quite quickly in these regions. The Chow Chow has the potential to do well in an apartment, but it should receive adequate exercise in order to prevent excess weight gain. A daily walk will likely suffice. It is vital for owners to remember that the Chow Chow originated under very cold conditions and watch carefully for signs of over-heating, particularly in humid environments. Major health concerns for the Chow Chow include canine hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and entropion. Other concerns include distichiasis, cataracts, persistent papillary membrane, elongated palate, glaucoma, gastric torsion and stenotic nares.

Chinese Shar-Pei dogs

The Chinese Shar-Pei is also known as: Chinese Fighting Dog

Fast Facts

Group classification: Non-Sporting Country of origin: China Date of origin: Antiquity

Weight (M): 50 - 60 lb Height (M): 19 - 20" Life expectancy: 9 - 10 years

Weight (F): 45 - 50 lb Height (F): 18 - 19"

1.General Description of the Chinese Shar-Pei

A unique and intelligent dog that most often is recognized for its wrinkles, the Chinese Shar-Pei initially was developed as an all-purpose Chinese farm dog: a medium sized, square and compact dog, close coupled with a large yet handsome head. The Chinese Shar-Pei has a unique look all their own, wrinkled loose skin — with a short bristled coat — that covers the body and head, small ears, a “hippopotamus” muzzle, and a high set tail. The dog’s wrinkles are more pronounced in a puppy than in an adult. Shar-Pei commonly have two coat types, either “horse,” short; or “brush,” up to an inch long. A third rare coat-type, which is not recognized by the AKC, is the “bear” that is longer than one-inch. The large head has dark, small, sunken, almond-shaped eyes that lend a scowling expression; the extremely small ears lie flat on the skull and are set high and forward; the muzzle sports a large and wide nose, and a blue-black tongue. The coat can be of any solid color, and is absolutely straight and off-standing on the main trunk of the body but generally lies flat on the limbs.

2.Chinese Shar-Pei Temperament

The Chinese Shar-Pei takes itself seriously, and demands that others do likewise. The dog’s ever present scowl is indicative of its attitude toward strangers or anything else it sees as a threat to its family, including other dogs. This is not to say the dog cannot be socialized – quite the contrary, in fact – but its first instinct toward outsiders is definitely suspicion. Once the newcomer has been brought into the fold, however, he will have a proud, loyal and devoted friend. The Shar-Pei’s independent nature can make training a chore, as the dog is unlikely to obey anyone it sees as weak or not in control. Though not a particularly playful breed, the Shar-Pei gets along well with children and other pets. Take care when training your Shar-Pei that it does not become antisocial or too much of an “alpha dog.”

3.Caring for a Chinese Shar-Pei

Training a Shar-Pei requires a firm hand and plenty of patience. Establish dominance over the dog, and do not let it display aggressive behavior in front of strangers, pets or children. Make sure the dog is thoroughly socialized as a puppy with other dogs to avoid problems in adulthood. As a working breed, the Chinese Shar-Pei needs plenty of exercise, and should have an opportunity every day to go on a long walk or play off the leash in a dog-friendly park. The most common health conditions seen in the breed are fever, amyloidosis, canine hip dysplasia and eye entropion; other concerns include patellar luxation, hypothyroidism, allergies and skin fold pyodermas.