What do you know about your favorite breed?

[BORDER COLLIE LOVER]

as for the Border Collie......

Cali pretty much said it all!!

[Suki Wingy]

The DALMATIAN

CLICK for Exeptional pictures worthy of representing this great breed


BIS Am. Can. Ch. Merry go Round XKE~ one of my favorite dals

The History of The Dalmatian (I wrote this for my website)

The history of the Dalmatian is ancient and very jumbled. Different sources will send you through a new story each time. In writing this piece, I have used as many versions as I could get my hands on. I am most keen to beleive those individuals who have done the most research, including travels to personally talk with locals and historians of the regions key to the development of the breed.
There is evidence of pointer shaped, spotted dogs throughout Europe before and especially during the middle ages. They have a strong tie to the gypsies, who were quick to grab the flashy animals as an addition to their street performances. Since the gypsies were nomadic, the dal was quickly dispersed throughout eastern and western Europe. When the keeping of dogs regained popularity they were used as sight hounds, scent hounds, bird dogs, and guard dogs for the carriages and horses from roadmen and thieves. Whatever they were used for, they have always had an affinity with horses. Type varied greatly throughout this time, and there is usually no mention of color. They were known first as the “Bengal Harrier” and were said to have come out of India from cross between a tiger and a dog. At that time, (16th and 17th centuries) spotted dogs used for hunting were quite common. Wether the dal originated from setters and spaniels of roan or belton marking is not yet verified, however, evidence points toward it. The first use of the name Dalmatian is in a 1700s translation of the French book Natural History. Liver, black, and tricolor were all prominent.
Although many people still try to connect the breed to the Dalmatian coast of Yugoslavia, there is no information whatever of spotted dogs of any kind being indigenous to the region. One 17th century traveler to the region wrote of the mastiff and molloser dogs used for pulling carts, guarding, and sport, but he did not mention any spotted dogs. One would think if there were any spotted dogs such as a Dalmatian prototype, he would have commented on such an eccentric dog. It is unknown how it gained its name, perhaps by chance or by mistake. A man in Serbia, although originally from Dalmatia, who was known as Jurij Dalmatin imported some dogs and bred them, although no mention of color or spots is mentioned.
Dalmatians were used as a symbol of the Roman Catholic church for years, so there is proof that the breed was already established in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries.
In its early years as a recognized and bred breed of dog it much resembled a pointer, although acted more like a flusher. In the 1700s, English gentlemen coming back from their tours of Europe that were so common around the time discoverd and brought them home. Most people tried to train them as pointers, and most dogs did poorly. It became fashionable to have one or usually two of these flashy dogs running underneath your coach just after the first axel. They made excelent guard dogs of the coach and luggage carried in it. In those days it was tradition to crop the entire leather of the ears. England is the birthplace of the current type of the Dalmatian as we know them today.

Dals have been in the United States as long as the time of General and President George Washington, who kept them himself. They were also kept by the fire departments as mascotts and to run out in front of the horses and act as a modern day siren might, clearing the way, and also to calm and ease the horses during all the chaos.
As automobiles were created, they went on to become circus performers, and companions, but their connections to the fire department remained.
Copyright 2006

Temperament
Since historically the breed was used as a guard dog, they should technically be slightly reserved around new people, but quickly warm up to them when introduced by the owner as a welcome person. There is a big difference between being reserved and shyness, shyness is a major fault. This is becuase of a 20th century study of inherited coaching ability carried out using a large kennel that trained dogs for coaching. It was found that those indeviduals not suited for coaching were also majorly hand shy.
Nowadays, many breeders are interperating the phrase, "Shyness is a major fault" to mean the dog should always be outgoing and welcome to any new people. IN my oppinion, a dal should be a good guard dog, not becomming overly exhuberant with a new person without first being introduced by a trusted human.

Grooming/Shedding
Do dals shed a lot? You bet! All year round. Even after daily brushing and sometimes even vaccuming their fur they will still shed a considerable amount so if you don't like hair, the dal is NOT for you. Each hair has a small barb on the end that seems to make sure it gets stuck in everything. Vaccuming a hairy surface won't always remove all the hair. If you have a labrador, expect a dal to shed more.
Dalmatians have a fine, smooth coat. Daily grooming with a flea comb followed by a good rub down with a damp cloth should help ease the shedding. Dals do not need to be clipped, some are even shown unclipped. For show, if they have a bit of hair sticking out that is noticable in their profile it is usually trimmed off, and whiskers are shaved for show. Dew claws are almost always removed because dals have been known to repedily get them caught on things and rip them open. They will need their nails clipped regularly to keep them nice and short, promoting nice round and compact 'catlike' feet essential to good movement.

Excersize/ Homelife
Dals were bred to run 12-25 miles a day, therefore, they are capible of great endurance. My dal could run a few miles at a quick pace in the summer and come back barley panting. If you do not plan on running, biking, or riding a few miles a day then a dal is not for you. My neighbors have a John Deere AMT that they excersize their vizslas with at their farm in WI and I think that would be a great way for a dal to get excerize also. Many dals still train for and compete in Road Dog trials where a dog runs at hock to a horse for 12 or 25 miles over a day.
Dals need to be inside dogs. If they are not a part of the family and being mentally stimulated they will easily become ditructive. They are very smart, but may not always want to please you. The also don't tollerate the cold well and may need a jacket in the winter.

Health
Dalmatians are generally a healthy breed. Most good breeders will x-ray for hip dysplasia and get a rating, although it is rarely a problem in dals.
Deafness is a major problem, because before about 1987, there was no scientific way to test for deafness, so Dalmatians with hearing in only one ear (unilateral hearing) were often bred, carrying deafness to their offspring. Now, we have Brain stem Auditory Evoked Response testing, or BAER. Puppies are usually tested at 5-8 weeks old.
The other major problem is bladder or urinary stones. Dals are the only breed that can not process purines which leads to high uridic acid levels, which leads to the formation of stones. Foods such as liver, beef, and anchovies are high in purines and should be moderately feed to dals.
Since I know little about health, if you want more info, go to the Dal Club of America's website

[Lori Jordan]

Australian Shepherd

Origin: Contrary to its name, the Australian Shepherd had its beginnings in Spain and Andorra, where it worked with the Basque shepherds. When the Basques followed the sheep-herding movement to Australia, the faithful dogs went along. Then, when Australian sheep were imported into the western U.S., once more the Basque herders and their dogs, now renamed as Australian Shepherds, made the trip. The breed has been popular with livestock people in North America for over a century.

Temperament: Eager to please, loyal and responsive, the Aussie may be reserved toward strangers. Though a deliberate guardian, he is never hostile. Alert and quick to learn, he is easily trained. High-spirited, he can be tough with recalcitrant livestock but immediately soften to the tone of his owner's voice.

Activity level: As might be imagined from his working background, this breed thrives on activity and needs regular outdoor exercise, as well as challenging tasks.

Height/Weight: A medium-sized dog, the preferred height at the withers for an adult male is 20-23 in (51-58 cm). Females will be somewhat smaller.

Coat: The coat is of medium texture, straight to slightly wavy and of moderate length. The breed carries a soft undercoat but the amount varies with the climate. Hair is short and smooth on the head, the front of the forelegs and below the hocks on the hind legs. There's a moderate mane and frill.

Colour: This breed sports a rich variety of attractive colours. The Australian Shepherd may be blue merle, red merle, black, red - all with or without white markings and/or tan points.

Grooming: The ideal coat is one of low maintenance but it's not maintenance free. Depending on the surroundings (burrs, mud, snow and other irritating conditions), it should be able to keep neat with regular brushing and the occasional bath.

Border Collie
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Origin: The craft of tending flocks of sheep was introduced to the British by the Romans and it wasn't long before Celtic clans developed their own types of sheepdogs to tend to these tasks. One of these, the Border Collie, is recognized as the finest sheep-herding dog in the world. While appearance has been a major concern in many breeds, the working ability has always been the prime criterion in this breed.

Temperament: Intelligence and trainability are a hallmark of the Border Collie. Alert and eager, the breed can display a single-mindedness for the task at hand. Affectionate with friends, the Border Collie may be reserved toward strangers. Instances of extreme shyness or aggressiveness are virtually unknown.

Activity level: 'Highly active' only begins to describe the Border Collie. Swift, agile, tireless and with an incredible desire to work, the Border Collie is not for the couch-potato. This high-energy dog needs to work and if there are no sheep handy, it will thrive on such activities as flyball, agility, Frisbee-catching and advanced obedience.

Height/Weight: A medium-sized dog, the height at the withers varies from 18-22 in (46-56 cm). The breed has strong but not excessive bone and should always have muscle and substance without appearing heavy.

Coat: There are two varieties of coat in the Border Collie. The smooth coat is short over the entire body with some feathering on the forelegs and chest. The rough coat is medium to long and may be flat or slightly wavy. Both varieties carry a soft undercoat beneath the weather-resistant outer coat.

Colour: The Border Collie comes in many colours and colour combinations. The most common is black with white markings on the collar, blaze, stockings and tail tip. However, dogs may be a solid colour (with the exception of all white), bi-colour, tri-colour, merle or sable.

Grooming: Both coats are easy care and may be maintained with regular brushing.

Newfoundland
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Origin: There are differing opinions on how the Newfoundland breed came about. Some believe the breed's progenitor was the Tibetan Mastiff, which may have migrated to both Newfoundland and Scandinavia. There are those who theorize Leif Ericsson brought the Viking 'bear dogs' with him when he arrived in Newfoundland in AD 1001 and they mated with the dogs of the Maritime Indians. There, the giant black dogs evolved in comparative isolation. During the 19th century, the breed became a European status symbol and at one time, Newfies were the most popular import to Great Britain. The breed was used to re-establish the Alpine rescue dogs at the Hospice of St. Bernard after their numbers were decimated by a distemper epidemic. In Britain, the black-and-white variety became known as the "Landseer" after the famous artist who featured the breed in his painting, A Distinguished Member of the Humane Society.

Temperament: The Newfoundland's temperament is reflected in his soft expression. The breed is benevolent, intelligent and dignified but capable of fun. He is known for his gentleness and serenity. Generations of children have taken their first toddling steps holding on to this fantastic family dog.

Activity level: The Newfoundland is an excellent swimmer with a strong life-saving instinct. There are hundreds of documented water rescues performed by this breed. The Newf has also been used as a draught dog and fisherman's helper. This easygoing dog loves the outdoors and country living, especially if he has access to water.

Height/Weight: The average height for adults is 26-28 in (66-71 cm) and weight may be in the vicinity of 120-150 lb (54-67.5 kg).

Coat: The Newf's coat was designed to aid him in water work. It is flat, dense and water-resistant, being somewhat oily. The outer coat is moderately long and straight. It may have a slight wave but no curl. The hair on the head, muzzle and ears is short and fine. There is a soft, dense undercoat.

Colour: The traditional colour is black. White markings on the chest, toes and tip of tail are allowed. In the Landseer variety, the base colour is white with black markings. The preferred pattern is a black head, saddle, rump and upper tail.

Grooming: The thick coat needs regular raking and brushing, especially during seasonal shedding.

[Suki Wingy]

I finished my post

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

My favorite breed!!

My two cuties:

(Sorry I just love the fluff-butt shot )

According to their breed standard with the AKC, they should be between 10-12" at the withers, and weigh no more than 30 lbs.

They come from Wales (hence the name) and are probably related to the Sedish Valhund. They think that Vikings brought the original dogs they are descended from to the UK, where they were bred to herd cattle. Corgis may go as far back as 600 BC. According to most sources, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi are 2 seperate, unrelated breeds, although they were interbred in the early part of the 20th century before a breed standard was accepted.

They are very intelligent and love to work (and play!). They make great family dogs and are good with kids if their tendency to nip is controlled. Good training usually does the trick, although they can still be a bit nippy.

The average lifespan for corgis is 12-14 years, but they are the best darn 12-14 years you will ever share with a dog!! It's really been a treat to have my corgis, I know I will always have one, they are fun, lovable dogs!

[jesse_3]

Another essay is coming right up!! I would do two, but that is a lot of typing for one night!!

Alaskan Huskies:

The appearance of an Alaskan Husky does not have any set standards. Their coat can be any type, their eyes can be hazel, brown, or blue. The most common color of eyes is brown. Their ears can be pointed, or flappy, and they can be stalky or lean.
Their temperment of this breed is typically gentle and playful, but they can also be mischievious. The Alaskan Husky is a working dog, and they would prefer to be out in the freezing cold, than be curled up by a nice warm fire. The have more endurance than a Siberian Husky when it comes to racing. They do have a lot of energy, and they are very fond of their family.
They do not need to be groomed very much, but they do have two shedding seasons, that can create a lot of fur around the home.
The Alaskan Husky is not recognized by the AKC or CKC because they are not considered to be a pure-bred dog.

[zoomer]

Great job everyone