The German Shephered Dogs

The German Shepherd
Dog

The German Shepherd Dog (GSD, also known as an Alsatian), (German: Deutscher Schäferhund) is a breed of large-sized dog that originates from Germany. German Shepherds are a fairly new breed of dog, with their origins only dating back to 1899. Part of the herding group, shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding sheep. Their strength, intelligence and obedience often sees them employed in police and military roles in forces around the world. Due to their loyal and protective nature the breed is among the most registered.

History

Origins
In Europe, during the 1800s, dog breeds were beginning to be standardized.
The dogs were bred to preserve traits that assisted in their job of herding sheep and protecting flocks from predators.
In Germany this was practiced within local communities, with the shepherds selecting and breeding dogs together that they believed had good traits, such as intelligence, strength, and keen senses of smell.
The results were dogs that were able to perform admirably in their task, but that differed significantly, both in appearance and ability, from one locality to another.
To combat these differences, the Phylax Society was formed in 1891 with the intention of creating standardised dog breeds in Germany.
The society disbanded after only three years due to an ongoing, internal conflict regarding the traits that the society should promote; some members believed dogs should be bred solely for working purposes, while others believed dogs also should be bred for appearance.
While unsuccessful in their goal, the Phylax Society had inspired people to pursue standardising dog breeds independently.
Max von Stephanitz, an ex-cavalry captain and former student of the Berlin Veterinary College, was one such ex-member.
He believed strongly that dogs should be bred for working.
In 1899, Von Stephanitz was attending a show when he was shown a dog named Hektor Linksrhein.
Hektor was the product of many generations of selective breeding and completely fulfilled what Von Stephanitz believed a working dog should be.
He was pleased with the strength of the dog and was so taken by the animal's intelligence and loyalty, that he purchased it immediately.
After purchasing the dog he changed its name to Horand von Grafrath and Von Stephanitz founded the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (Society for the German Shepherd Dog).
Horand was declared to be the first German Shepherd Dog and was the first dog added to the society's breed register.
Horand became the centre-point of the society's breeding programs and was bred with dogs belonging to other society members that displayed desirable traits. Although fathering many pups, Horand's most successful was Hektor von Schwaben. Hektor was inbred with another of Horand's offspring and produced Beowulf, who later fathered a total of eighty-four pups, mostly through being inbred with Hektor's other offspring.
Beowulf's progeny also were inbred and it is from these pups that all German Shepherds draw a genetic link.
It is believed the society accomplished its goal mostly due to Von Stephanitz's strong, uncompromising leadership and he is therefore, credited with being the creator of the German Shepherd Dog.

Popularity
When the UK Kennel Club first accepted registrations for the breed in 1919, fifty-four dogs were registered, and by 1926 this number had grown to over 8,000. The breed first gained international recognition at the decline of World War I after returning soldiers spoke highly of the breed, and animal actors Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart popularised the breed further.
The first German Shepherd Dog registered in the United States was Queen of Switzerland; however, her offspring suffered from defects as the result of poor breeding, which caused the breed to suffer a decline in popularity during the late 1920s.
Popularity increased again after the German Shepherd Sieger Pfeffer von Bern became the 1937 and 1938 Grand Victor in American Kennel club dog shows, only to suffer another decline at the conclusion of World War II, due to anti-German sentiment of the time.
As time progressed, their popularity increased gradually until 1993, when they became the third most popular breed in the United States, a position the breed still holds.
Additionally, the breed is typically among the most popular in other registries.


Name
The breed was named Deutscher Schäferhund by Von Stephanitz, literally translating to "German Shepherd Dog".
The breed was so named due its original purpose of assisting shepherds in herding and protecting sheep. At the time, all other herding dogs in Germany were referred to by this name; they thus became known as Altdeutsche Schäferhunde or Old German Shepherd Dogs.
Shepherds were first exported to Britain in 1908, and the UK Kennel Club began to recognise the breed in 1919.
The direct translation of the name was adopted for use in the official breed registry; however, at the conclusion of World War I, it was believed that the inclusion of the word "German" would harm the breed's popularity, due to the anti-German sentiment of the era.
The breed was officially renamed by the UK Kennel Club to "Alsatian Wolf Dog" which was also adopted by many other international kennel clubs. Eventually, the appendage "wolf dog" was dropped.
The name Alsatian remained for five decades, until 1977, when successful campaigns by dog enthusiasts pressured the British kennel clubs to allow the breed to be registered again as German Shepherd Dogs.


Modern breed
The modern German Shepherd is criticised for straying away from von Stephanitz's original ideology for the breed: that German Shepherds should be bred primarily as working dogs, and that breeding should be strictly controlled to eliminate defects quickly.
Critics believe that careless breeding has promoted disease and other defects.
Under the breeding programs overseen by von Stephanitz, defects were quickly bred out; however, in modern times without regulation on breeding, genetic problems such as colour-paling, hip dysplasia, monorchidism, weakness of temperament, and missing teeth are common.

Description

German Shepherds are a large-breed dog which generally are between 55 and 65 centimetres (22 and 26 in) at thewithers and weigh between 22 and 40 kilograms (49 and 88 lb). The ideal height is 63 centimetres (25 in), according to Kennel Club standards. They have a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle and a black nose. The jaws are strong, with a scissor-like bite. The eyes are medium-sized and brown with a lively, intelligent, and self-assured look. The ears are large and stand erect, open at the front and parallel, but they often are pulled back during movement. They have a long neck, which is raised when excited and lowered when moving at a fast pace. The tail is bushy and reaches to the hock.

Colours Of The German Shepherds In Simple Pictures

Note:-
all-white, liver and blue varieties. The all-black variety is acceptable; however, the blue and liver are considered to be serious faults and the all-white is grounds for instant disqualification in some standards. This is because the white coat is more visible, making the dog a poor guard dog, and harder to see in conditions such as snow or when herding sheep.
German Shepherds sport a double coat. The outer coat, which is shed all year round, is close and dense with a thick undercoat. The coat is accepted in two variants; medium and long. The long-hair gene is recessive, making the long-hair variety rarer. Treatment of the long-hair variation differs across standards; they are accepted under the German and UK Kennel Clubs but are considered a fault in the American Kennel Club.

Intelligence
Shepherds were bred specifically for their intelligence, a trait for which they are now renowned. They are considered to be the third most intelligent breed of dog, behind Border Collies and Poodles. In the book The Intelligence of Dogs, author Stanley Coren ranked the breed third for intelligence. He found that they had the ability to learn simple tasks after only five repetitions and obeyed the first command given 95% of the time.[2] Coupled with their strength, this trait makes the breed desirable as police, guard, and rescue dogs, as they are able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.

Temperament

German Shepherds are highly active dogs, and described in breed standards as self-assured. The breed is marked by a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose. Shepherds have a loyal nature and bond well with people they know. However, they can become over-protective of their family and territory, especially if not socialised correctly. An aloof personality makes them approachable, but not inclined to become immediate friends with strangers. German Shepherds are highly obedient and not easily distracted, but due to their strong self-will must be trained by "a firm hand".

Health

Many common ailments of the German Shepherds are a result of the inbreeding required early in the breed's creation. One such common issue is hip and elbow dysplasia which may lead to the dog experiencing pain in later life, and may cause arthritis. Due to the large and open nature of their ears, Shepherds also are prone to ear infections. German Shepherds, like all large bodied dogs, also are prone to bloat. The average lifespan of a German Shepherd is 7-10 years, which is normal for a dog of their size.

Use as working dogs

German Shepherds are a very popular selection for use as working dogs. They are especially well known for their police work, being used for tracking criminals, patrolling troubled areas, and detection and holding of suspects. Additionally thousands of German Shepherds have been used by the military. Usually trained forscout duty, they are used to warn soldiers to the presence of enemies or of booby traps or other hazards. German Shepherds also have been trained by military groups to parachute from aircraft.
The German Shepherd Dog is one of the most widely-used breeds in a wide variety of scent-work roles. These include search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerantdetection, and mine detection dog, amongst others. They are suited for these lines of work because of their keen sense of smell and their ability to work regardless of distractions.

In popular culture

German Shepherds have featured in a range of media. Strongheart the German Shepherd was one of the earliest canine film stars and was followed by Rin Tin Tin, who is now acclaimed as being the most famous German Shepherd. Both are credited with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

German Shepherds have played central parts in a number of recent films, including The Hills Have Eyes andI am Legend. Blondi, Adolf Hitler's German Shepherd, has been featured in a number of documentaries and films about the dictator, such as Downfall.
Batman's dog Ace the Bat-Hound appeared in the Batman comic books, initially in 1955, through 1964. Between 1964 and 1977, his appearances were sporadi

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Siberian Husky

siberian husky

The Siberian Husky (Russian: Сибирский хаски, Sibirskiy Haski) is a medium-size, dense-coat working dog breed that originated in eastern Siberia.
The breed belongs to the Spitz genetic family.
It is recognizable by its thickly-furred double coat, sickle tail, erect triangular ears and distinctive markings.
An active, energetic and resilient breed whose ancestors came from the extremely cold and harsh environment of the Siberian Arctic and were bred by the Chukchi of Northeastern Asia, it was imported into Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush and spread from there into the United States and Canada, initially as a sled dog. It rapidly acquired the status of a family pet and a show-dog.

History

The Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Alaskan Malamute are all breeds directly descended from the original "sled dog." Recent DNA analysis confirms that this is one of the oldest breeds of dog as can be seen with the Alaskan Malamute.
In this breed of canine, the word "husky" is a corruption of the derogative term "Eskie" which was also shared by the Inuit tribes discovered by Europeans who made early expeditions into their lands.
By standard, Huskies are not burly, thick, fat, or overweight. The word "Siberian" in this breed's name is derived from Siberia itself, because it is thought that Eskimo or sled dogs were used to cross the land bridge of the Bering Straight on the way into, or out of, Alaska, though this theory is continuously disputed by scholars.
Breeds descending from the Eskimo dog were once found throughout the Northern Hemisphere from Siberia to Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Labrador, and Baffin Island.
With the help of Siberian Huskies, entire tribes of peoples were able to not only survive, but push forth into terra incognita.
Admiral Robert Peary of the United States Navy was aided by this breed during his expeditions in search of the North Pole.
The Siberian Husky's role in this feat cannot be over estimated.
Dogs from the Anadyr River and surrounding regions were imported into Alaska from 1908 (and for the next two decades) during the gold rush for use as sled dogs, especially in the "All-Alaska Sweepstakes", a 408 mile (657 km) distance dog sled race from Nome to Candle and back.
Smaller, faster and more enduring than the 100 to 120 pound (45 to 54 kg) freighting dogs then in general use, they immediately dominated the Nome Sweepstakes.
Leonhard Seppala, the foremost breeder of Siberian Huskies of the time, participated in competitions from 1909 to the mid 1920s.
On February 2, 1925 Gunnar Kaasen was first in the 1925 serum run to Nome whom delivered diphtheria serum from Nenana over 600 miles to Nome.
This was a group effort comprised of several sled dog teams and mushers. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race commemorates this famous delivery.
The event is also loosely depicted in the 1995 animated film Balto, as the name of Gunnar Kaasen's lead dog in his sled team was named Balto.
In honor of this lead dog a bronze statue was erected at Central Park in New York City.
The epitaph upon it is inscribed with
Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin six hundred miles over rough ice, across treacherous waters, through Arctic blizzards from Nenana to the relief of a stricken Nome in the winter of 1925. Endurance--fidelity--intelligence
In 1930 the last Siberians were exported as the Soviet government closed the borders of Siberia to external trade.
The same year saw recognition of the Siberian Husky by the American Kennel Club.
Nine years later the breed was first registered in Canada.
Today’s Siberian Huskies registered in North America are largely the descendants of the 1930 Siberia imports and of Leonhard Seppala’s dogs. Seppala owned a kennel in Nenana before moving to New England.
Arthur Walden, owner of Chinook Kennels of Wonalancet, New Hampshire, was by far the most prominent breeder of Siberian Huskies.
The foundation of his kennel stock came directly from Alaska, and Seppala's kennel.
Only beginning to come to prominence, in 1933 Navy Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd brought with him around 50 Siberian Huskies, many of which were assembled and trained at Chinook Kennels in New Hampshire, during an expedition in which Byrd hoped to journey around the 16,000-mile coast of Antarctica. Called Operation Highjump, this historic trek proved the worth of the Siberian Husky due to its compact size and greater speeds.
Siberian Huskies also served in the United States Army's Arctic Search and Rescue Unit of the Air Transport Command during World War II.

Appearance

Siberian Huskies share many outward similarities with the Alaskan Malamute as well as many other Spitz breeds such as the Samoyed, which has a comparable history to the Huskies.
Siberians have a thicker coat than most other breeds of dog.
They come in a variety of colors and patterns, usually with white paws and legs, facial markings, and tail tip.
The most common colors are black and white,copper-red and white, grey and white, reddish-brown and white, and pure white, though many individuals have blondish, or piebald spotting. Striking masks, spectacles, and other facial markings occur in wide variety.
They tend to have a wolf-like appearance.

Eyes
The eyes of a Siberian Husky are bright blue, amber or brown.
In some individual dogs, one eye may be brown and the other blue (complete heterochromia), or one or both eyes may be "parti-colored," that is, half brown and half blue (partial heterochromia).
All of these eye color combinations are considered to be acceptable by the American Kennel Club, which also states that the eyes are "an almond shape, moderately spaced and set slightly obliquely." Blue eyes are more light sensitive than any other color.

Coat
The Siberian Husky's coat is thicker than most breeds of dogs, comprising two layers: a dense undercoat and a longer topcoat of short, straight guard hairs.
It protects the dogs effectively against harsh Arctic winters, but the coat also reflects heat in the summer.
It is able to withstand temperatures as low as −58 °F to −76 °F (−50 °C to −60 °C). The absence of the undercoat is often present during shedding.
Their thick coats require weekly grooming Long guard hair is not desirable and is considered a fault.

Nose
In some instances, Siberian Huskies can exhibit what is called "snow nose" or "winter nose". This condition is called hypopigmentation in animals.
Show-quality dogs are preferred to have neither pointed or square noses in shape.
The nose is black in gray, tan and black dogs, liver in copper-colored dogs, and may be flesh-colored in white dogs. "Snow nose" is acceptable in the show ring.

Size
• Male
o Height: 21 to 23.5 inches (53 to 60 cm) at the withers.
o Weight: 45 to 60 pounds (20 to 27 kg)
• Female
o Height: 20 to 22 inches (51 to 56 cm) at the withers.
o Weight: 35 to 50 pounds (16 to 23 kg)

Temperament

The characteristic temperament of the Siberian Husky is friendly and gentle, but also alert and outgoing.
He does not display the possessive qualities of the guard dog, nor is he overly suspicious of strangers or aggressive with other dogs.
Some measure of reserve and dignity may be expected in the mature dog.
His intelligence, tractability, and eager disposition make him an agreeable companion and willing worker.

Health

Huskies are relatively free of breed-specific problems, apart from hip dysplasia and occasional eye problems (such as juvenile cataracts, PRA (eyes) primarily in male dogs, corneal dystrophy, crystalline corneal opacities and ectopy (displacement) of the urethra).
Also, they sometimes have zinc responsive dermatitis (a skin condition which improves by giving a zinc supplements).
Breeders can get hip screenings from the OFA and eye screenings yearly from a canine opthamologist (AVCO) and register the exam through CERF and SHOR)... I can provide more information if you'd like.

They are not usually recommended for apartments, however they can live in apartments if well trained and properly exercised.
Siberian Huskies are very active indoors and do best with a fenced-in large yard.
Because of their heavy coats, these dogs prefer cool climates.
One has to use common sense with respect to maintaining them in the heat by providing adequate shade and air conditioning. This breed prefers to live in packs.

Siberian Huskies need a fair amount of exercise, including a daily walk or jog, but should not be excessively exercised in warm weather.
They need a large yard with a high fence, but bury the wire at the base of the fence because they are likely to dig their way out and go off hunting.
Live to About 12-15 years.

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Belgian Malinois

Belgian Malinois

The Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) is a breed of dog, sometimes classified as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog rather than as a separate breed.
The Malinois is recognized in the United States under the name Belgian Malinois.
Its name is the French word for Mechlinian, which is in Dutch either 'Mechelse' (from Mechelen) or 'Mechelaar' (one from Mechelen).
In Belgium, their country of origin, they are known by their Flemish name Mechelaars.

History

Near the end of 1891 a Belgian veterinarian by the name of Adolphe Reul, gathered more than one hundred Belgian Shepherds (also known as the Chien de Berger Belge) and their owners.
He had decided to establish a breed standard for the Belgian breed.
When the dogs were brought together he found them to be ununified in type.
He advised the owners to breed their dogs only to other dogs of the same coat type regardless of their color.
Most of the breeders agreed and a standard was drawn up. The following May the first specialty show took place and the Belgian Shepherd started its long track to uniformity.
In the early 1900's the Belgian Shepherd was recognized by the Societie Royal St. Hubert, as one breed with four varieties.
In 1914 World War I broke out and the efforts of the breeders and the number of breeding dogs were diminished. Movements were made to save the breed from extinction.
Breeding regulations were linnet and any dogs of quality of was recognized regardless of color.
All the dogs were allowed to breed regardless of their coat color or type.
As a result different variety pups were born in the litters.
The Societie Royal St. Hubert registered the pups as the variety they were born and not the variety of the parents.
To date this is the desired practice for determining the variety.
Around twenty years later as the breed finally started to flourish once more, war broke out once more again losing valuable breeding stock. Thankfully the loss was not as great as the first war.
Many of the dogs, thousands, were brought into military service.
They were used as messengers, scouts, border patrol, and Red Cross dogs.
There are four varieties of Belgian Shepherds: the Laekenois, the rough coated fawn, named for the area they were mainly developed, the Chateau de Laeken, were Queen Marie-Henriette named them her favorite; the Groenendael, the long haired black, named from the Chateau de Groenendael, were the two forbears of the variety lived, Piccard d'Uccle and a bitch named Petite; Piccard and Petite were also the forbears of the third variety, the Tervuren, the long haired fawn with black mask and points.
Their black son, Duc du Groenendael, was mated to a fawn bitch, Miss, and produced the famous Milsart, the first Tervuren champion; The last variety was the Malinois, short haired fawn with black mask and points. The malinois Tomy is considered the foundation of the variety.
The malinois acquired its name from the city of Malines.
In 1911 the Belgian Shepherds gained recognition by the American Kennel Club. Later in 1959 the AKC decided to split the Belgian Shepherd into separate breeds. The malinois and tervuren kept their original names, but the groenendael changed theirs to the sheepdog, and the laekenois was dropped from recognition.
From 1950 to 1965 the malinois was placed into the Miscellaneous class.
In 1965 the AKC gave the malinois full AKC recognition and placed them into the Working group. In 1983 they were moved into the Herding group were they reside today.
Today the topic of recombination is still in the works.
There are those that oppose it and those that accept it.
AKC is the ONLY registry to recognize the Belgians as separate breeds, and excludes the laekenois.

Appearance

Like all Belgian Shepherds, the Malinois is a medium-sized, hard-working, square-proportioned dog in the sheepdog family.
The Malinois is recognized by its short brownish yellow coat and its black ears that stick straight up, cheeks, and muzzle.
It resembles a smaller German Shepherd.

Coat and color
Due to their history as a working dog (i.e. being bred for function over form) Malinois can vary greatly in appearance.
The acceptable colors of pure-bred Malinois are a base color fawn to mahogany with a black mask and ears, and with some degree of black tipping on the hairs, giving an overlay appearance.
The color tends to be lighter with less black agouti or overlay on the dog's underside, breeching, and inside the legs.
There used to be also grey and black shorthairs but nowadays they are no longer accepted in the breed standards.
The other varieties of Belgian Shepherd are distinguished by their coat & color: the Tervuren is the same color as the Malinois but grey is also possible with long hair, the Laekenois is the same color, only it may lack the black mask & ears, and has wirehair, the Groenendael (registered as Belgian Sheepdog by the American Kennel Club) has long hair and is solid black.
There are (occasionally and historically) solid black, black-and-tan (as in a Doberman or as in a German Shepherd Dog), or other colored short-haired Belgian Shepherds, but these are not technically Malinois.
If a dog represented as a Malinios is brindle (clear stripes of different colored hair) it is probably a Dutch Shepherd Dog or a mixed breed, although the possibility exists that it is a "throwback" to a common continental shepherd ancestor.

Size
Male Malinois are about 24-26 in.
(61-66 cm), while females are about 22-24 in. (56-61 cm) at the withers.
Female Malinois are said to average 25-30 kg (55-65 lb), while males are heavier at 29-34 kg (65-75 lb). to slender, but are always squarely built.

Temperament

Correct temperament is essential to the working character of the Belgian Malinois. The breed is confident, exhibiting neither shyness nor aggressiveness in new situations.
The dog may be reserved with strangers but is affectionate with his own people.
He is naturally protective of his owner's person and property without being overly aggressive. The Belgian Malinois possesses a strong desire to work and is quick and responsive to commands from his owner.
Faulty temperament is strongly penalized.
Working Dog
In Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia, the Malinois is bred primarily as a working dog for personal protection, detection, police work, search and rescue, and sport work (Belgian Ring, Schutzhund, French Ring, Mondio Ring).
The United States Secret Service & Royal Australian Air Force[1] exclusively uses the breed.
The dog is also used extensively by Unit Oketz of the Israel Defense Forces.
Oketz favors the more slight build of the Malinois to the German Shepherd and Rottweiler, which were employed formerly.

Health

The lifespan of the Belgian Malinois is 10-14 years, and there are a number of health problems and disorders that are associated with the breed.
This includes cataracts, epilepsy, thyroid problems, PRA, HD, and pannus. Though these problems rarely come up due to extensive breeding to eliminate such issues.

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Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever

Health care , History , Appearance , Temprament

History

The Golden Retriever breed was originally developed in Scotland and England at "Guisachan" near Glen Affric, the highland estate of Sir Dudley Marjoribanks (pronounced "Marʒbanks"), later Baron Tweedmouth. For many years, there was controversy over which breeds were originally crossed.
In 1952, the publication of Majoribanks' breeding records from 1835 to 1890 dispelled the myth concerning the purchase of a whole troupe of Russian sheepdogs from a visiting circus.
Improvements in guns during the 1800s resulted in more fowl being downed during hunts at greater distances and over increasingly difficult terrain.
This led to more birds being lost in the field.
Because of this improvement in firearms, a need for a specialist retriever arose as training setter and pointer breeds in retrieval was found to be ineffective.
Thus work began on the breeding of the Golden Retriever to fill this role.
The original cross was of a yellow-coloured Retriever, Nous, with a Tweed Water Spaniel female dog, Belle.
The Tweed Water Spaniel is now extinct but was then common in the border country.
Majoribanks had purchased Nous in 1865 from an unregistered litter of otherwise black wavy-coated retriever pups.
In 1868, this cross produced a litter that included four pups; these four became the basis of a breeding program which included the Irish Setter, the sandy-colored Bloodhound, the St. John's Water Dog of Newfoundland, and two more wavy-coated black Retrievers.
The bloodline was also inbred and selected for trueness to Majoribanks' idea of the ultimate hunting dog.
His vision included a more vigorous and powerful dog than previous retrievers, one that would still be gentle and trainable.
Russian sheepdogs are not mentioned in these records, nor are any other working dog breeds. The ancestry of the Golden Retriever is all sporting dogs, in line with Majoribanks' goals.
Golden Retrievers were first accepted for registration by the The Kennel Club of England in 1903, as Flat Coats - Golden.
They were first exhibited in 1908, and in 1911 were recognized as a breed described as Retriever (Golden and Yellow). In 1913, the Golden Retriever Club was founded.
The breed name was officially changed to Golden Retriever in 1920.
The Honorable Archie Majoribanks took a Golden Retriever to Canada in 1881, and registered Lady with the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1894. These are the first records of the breed in these two countries.
The breed was first registered in Canada in 1927, and the Golden Retriever Club of Ontario, now the Golden Retriever Club of Canada, was formed in 1958. The co-founders of the GRCC were Cliff Drysdale an Englishman who had brought over an English Golden and Jutta Baker, daughter in law of Louis Baker who owned Northland Kennels, possibly Canada's first kennel dedicated to Goldens. The AKC recognized the breed in 1925, and in 1938 the Golden Retriever Club of America was formed.

Appearance

British type
Some variations do exist between the British type Golden Retrievers prevalent throughout Europe and Australia, and those of American lines and these differences are reflected in the breed standards. This type is bigger-boned, shorter, with a more square head and or muzzle and are generally slightly heavier.
Males should be between 56–61 cm (22–24 inch) at the withers and females slightly shorter at between 51–56 cm (20–22 inch).
Their weight, however, is not specified in the UK standard. The KC standard calls for a level topline and straight hindquarters without the slight rear angulation found in American lines.
The eyes of American line dogs tend to be set further apart than those of British lines and can appear to be slanted and triangular in shape by comparison.
A Golden Retriever of British breeding can have a coat color of any shade of gold or cream,(jack doggie) however, red or mahogany are not permissible colors. Originally cream was not an acceptable color in the UK standard, however, by 1936 the standard was revised to include cream.
It was felt this exclusion was a mistake as the original "yellow" retrievers of the 19th century were lighter in color than the then current standard permitted. As with America lines white is an unacceptable colour in the show ring.
The British KC standard is used in all countries with the exceptions of the US and Canada. Some breeders of this type in America may import their dogs to improve bloodlines.
The incidence of Cancer among English bloodlines is significantly less than is seen in the American lines.

American type
An American Golden is less stocky and lankier than a British Type.
A male should stand from 22–24 inch (58–61 cm) in height at the shoulders, and females should be 21.5–22.5 inch (55–57 cm) at the shoulders.
The males weigh 65–75 lb and the females weigh 55–65 lb. The Golden Retriever is a dog with a variety of colors for the coats.
The coat is dense and water repellent, in various shades of lustrous gold, with moderate feathering.
The gait should be free, smooth, powerful, and well-coordinated.
They originated in Scotland during the late nineteenth century and were a mix of the Tweed Water Spaniel, which is now extinct, the red setter and the Wavy-Coated Retriever.
Canadian type
The Canadian golden retriever is a newer type of golden. Appearance is meant to be similar to the American in height and weight, with a light coat color.
Color is described as not as light as a British type, and not as dark as an American type.
Field line Golden Retrievers tend to be smaller and have a less dense coat than their conformation line counterparts.
And usually, they are darker in color.

Temperament

These are lovable, well-mannered, intelligent dogs with a great charm.
They are easily trained, and always patient and gentle with children. Loyal, confident, sweet and eager to please. It is active, loving and an outstanding family dog.
Golden Retrievers enjoy pleasing their masters, so obedience training can be fun. They excel in obedience competitions. Friendly with everyone, including other dogs, the Golden Retriever has very little, if any, guarding instincts. While unlikely to attack, Goldens make good watchdogs, loudly signaling a stranger's approach.
This breed needs to be around people who display leadership to be happy.
The Golden Retriever may become mischievous and/or high-strung, over-exuberant and distractible if he is lacking in daily mental and physical exercise.
Be sure to remain this dogs firm, but calm, confident, consistent pack leader to avoid behavioral issues. Some of the Golden's talents are hunting, tracking, retrieving, narcotics detection, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks.
These dogs also love to swim.

Care

Golden Retrievers are very active dogs, and require a reasonable amount of exercise each day, although exercise needs may vary depending on the individual dog and its age. They are a breed that is prone to obesity, and as such the average Golden Retriever should never be treated like a sedentary small dog. Some dogs may be too active to be easily exercised by elderly owners. Should be taken on walks daily.
Goldens should be groomed at least once a week, and every day during heavy shedding. Their coats shed somewhat during the year, but are known to "blow coat" twice a year when they shed profusely. They also need to have their ears cleaned regularly, or otherwise an ear infection might occur. While shedding is unavoidable with Golden Retrievers, frequent brushing (daily to weekly) lessens the amount of hair shed by the animal. Severe shedding resulting in bald patches can be indicative of stress or sickness in a Golden Retriever.
Golden Retrievers are very attached to their owners. They are highly social house dogs, seek to sleep in the same room as their owners, and should not be put into kennels for protracted periods. Leaving them alone in a room can cause the dog to become anxious and distressed. The dogs like to have something in their mouth and carry things around and should for this reason be provided with a copious supply of favorite toys — the particular obsession of which depends upon the individual animal.

Health Problems

Prone to hip dysplasia and congenital eye defects. OFA and CERF certification are important from both parents. Parents should also be checked for Von Willebrand's disease and heart problems. Skin allergies are common in Golden Retrievers and require immediate veterinary attention.
The median life span for Golden Retrievers is approximately 10 to 12 years

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Rough Collie

Rough Collie

The Rough Collie is a breed of dog developed originally for herding in Scotland. It is also well known because of the works of author Albert Payson Terhune, and was popularized in later generations by the Lassie novel, movies, and television shows. There is also a smooth-coated variety; some breed organizations consider the smooth-coat and rough-coat dogs to be variations of the same breed.

History

For centuries the Rough Coated Collie was hardly known outside Scotland, but it is now one of the world's most popular breeds. Descended from generations of hard- working herding dogs, it is a conscientious creature of immense intelligence.
They are used as water rescue dogs and have served man as sheepdogs for centuries, guarding and herding flocks.
The breed's name probably comes from its charge; the Scottish black-faced sheep called the Colley.
Early Rough Collies were smaller, with broader heads and shorter muzzles.
The Collie is so intelligent that he has been trained for many purposes, as a rescue dog, guide for the blind, movie star, and as a guard dog.
Queen Victoria kept Collies at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and her interest launched the breed's subsequent popularity. J.P. Morgan and other members of the upper class have owned Collies.
At this point Collies were mixed with the Borzoi, and *ALL* show dogs had to have the Borzoi influence for them to win in the show ring.
The working dogs separated, branched out and became the different breeds (with the Scotch Collie remaining) and the show type became what we see now, the large dogs with flatter faces.
The Collies great beauty has made them a favorite show dog and family companion.
The Smooth Collie is more popular as a companion dog in Great Britain than in the United States, though he is gaining popularity in the U.S. today.
The Smooth Collie is the same as the Rough Collie, but without the long coat.
The AKC considers the Rough and Smooth Collies as varieties of the same breed.
They are judged by the same standard with the exception of the coat. The first Collie was presented at a dog show in 1860.

Appearance

A lovely, active, and agile, long-coated sheepdog made famous by the movie star, Lassie. The lean, blunted, wedge-shaped head gives an impression of lightness. The top of the head is flat.
The face is chiseled. The long, smooth, well-rounded, blunt muzzle tapers to a black nose.
The ears are 3/4 erect with the tips folding forward.
The eyes are almond-shaped and dark except in the case of blue merles that may have blue or merle eyes.
The trim, but muscular, body is slightly longer than it is tall. The chest is strong and fairly wide.
The tailbone hangs down to the dog's hocks. In the Rough variety, an abundant double coat forms a mane around the neck and chest.
The coat needs regular weekly grooming to look its best.
The Smooth variety has a one-inch coat that needs very little grooming.
With both varieties the hair on the head and legs is short and smooth. They both come in sable and white, tri-color (black, white & tan), blue merle or predominantly white with sable, tri-color or blue merle markings.
Three different Collie colours (from left to right): blue merle, pale sable and black tricolour
Height, Weight
Height :Dogs 24-26 inches (61-66cm.) Bitches 22-24 inches (56-61cm.)
Weight:Dogs 60-75 pounds (27-34kg.) Bitches 50-65 pounds (23-29kg.)

Temperament

A noble, highly intelligent dog.
Sensitive, sweet, kind, easy to train and loyal. Usually good with other pets and friendly with other dogs.
Very devoted to and protective of his loved ones. One Collie travelled 2000 miles to find his family after he became lost.
Collies have received the Ken-L-Ration Hero Dog award 5 times. An excellent children's companion, playful and gentle. Without a firm, but calm, confident and consistent owner who sets the rules and sticks to them, they can become willful, stubborn and indolent.
This breed should be trained gently, but with an air of authority or he will refuse to cooperate.
Some exhibit herding behavior as puppies, nipping at people's heels and need to be taught not to herd humans.
Adult dogs generally outgrow this behavior if you are consistant with them.
Collie puppies house train quickly, generally in about a week (after about 10-12 weeks old).
They are good-natured, friendly, dogs. They are energetic outdoors. Socialize them well to prevent them from becoming wary of strangers. It has a fairly good sense of protectiveness for its master, especially for children. They are not aggressive, but they do tend to be suspicious of people they do not like.
Daily pack walks are important.

Health

While Rough Collies are generally resilient and healthy, there are some health issues that can affect the breed.
Collie eye anomaly (CEA), a genetic disease which causes improper development of the eye and possible blindness, is a common ailment in the breed. More rarely, Collies can be affected by Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), another genetic disease in which bilateral degeneration of the retina results in progressive vision loss culminating in blindness.
Through genetic testing and careful screening program it would be theoretically possible to eradicate both of these problems in purebred lines, however, certainly in the UK, the Kennel Club does not require these tests to be done either for registration or showing.
Some people claim that the problem is made worse with the less rigid breeding standards of home breeders and puppy mill breeders.
Collie puppies should be screened at an early age by a certified veterinary ophthalmologist to check for both of these problems.
Note, the UK Kennel Club "Accredited Breeder Scheme" requires eye tests and recommends the genetic test for this class of members, however, a very small proportion of UK registered puppies are bred under this scheme.
Canine cyclic neutropenia is a cyclic blood disorder that is usually fatal to affected puppies.
The disease is also referred to as "gray collie syndrome," due to affected puppies having a pale gray, pinkish/gray or beige coloring, none of which are normal Collie colors.
Puppies that survive through adulthood are plagued with immune disorders throughout their lives and rarely live more than a three years.
DNA testing can help detect carriers of the recessive gene that causes the disease.
Hip dysplasia: As with most of the larger breeds, hip dysplasia is a potential concern for Rough Collies.
Although this disease appears to be "multigene", careful selection by many breeders is reducing this problem.
The UK Kennel Club "Accredited Breeder Scheme" requires hip-scores this class of members, however, a very small proportion of UK registered puppies are bred under this scheme.
Collies may carry a mutant Mdr1 gene that results in a sensitivity to Ivermectin and related drugs. A screening test is used to determine if alternative medications are required. Overdoses from the proscribed medications can result in neurological imparement or even death. This faulty gene is present in several breeds, but is well known among collies.
Living Conditions
The Collie will dog okay in an apartment as long as they are sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and do best with at least an average-sized yard. Sensitive to the heat.
Provide plenty of shade and fresh water in warm weather.
Life Expectancy:- About 14-16 years
Famous Rough Collies

• Lad, the main hero of Albert Payson Terhune's early 20th century novels about his Sunnybank Collies.

• Lassie, a line of Collies originally owned by Rudd Weatherwax that have starred in numerous films, multiple television series, a radio program, and has been the subject of various novels and non-fiction works. One of the few animal actors to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

• Pal, the first Collie to portray Lassie and from whom the Lassie line is descended.
• Ch. Laund Loyalty of Bellhaven, a nine-month-old Rough Collie who is the youngest dog to ever win the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
• Reveille VII, the mascot of Texas A&M University.
• Colleen, a collie from London (voiced by Tress MacNeille) on Road Rovers.
• Wilson, a Collie who appears in the Japanese manga series Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin.
• The helpful Collie, from 101 Dalmatians. He leads Pongo, Perdita and the puppies into the safety of a dairy farm somewhere in Hertfordshire county.
• Sam, Martin Riggs' dog who appears in every movie from the Lethal Weapon franchise.
• Rob Roy and Prudence Prim, famous snow white Collies owned by President Calvin and First Lady Gracie Coolidge.
• Laddie a parody of Lassie on The Simpsons episode Canine Mutiny

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