Some are small and stubborn while others are large and laid back. All are stars of the doggie world in their own right. Get to know some of the breeds featured in Dogs 101!
KomondorAKC Ranking: 147
Family: livestock dog, sheepdog, flockguard
Area of Origin: Hungary
Date of Origin: ancient times
Original Function: sheep guardian
Today's Function: sheep guardian
Average Size of Male: Height: 27.5 inches; Weight: 80 pounds
AverageSize of Female: Height: 25.5 inches; Weight: 70 pounds
Other Name: none
Temperament
Bred as an independent protector of livestock, the komondor is true to its heritage. It is an independent thinker and can be stubborn or domineering. It is not for meek owners who can be dominated; socialization is essential. It is reserved with strangers and possibly aggressive toward strange dogs. It is good with other pets and especially livestock. In fact, it is happiest when it has something or someone to watch over. Although usually calm and quiet, it is utterly fearless when the need arises. As a natural guardian, it is protective of children in its own family, but it may at times misunderstand rough-and-tumble games of visiting children.
Upkeep
The komondor needs daily exercise in the form of long walks or short romps. Swimming is not a good idea because of the time it takes the coat to dry. It may also be difficult to keep the coat clean in some areas. This breed does not like warm weather. It can live outdoors in temperate to cool weather. The komondor is nonshedding, but not carefree. Its cords must be regularly separated or they will look like flat mats, and its coat tends to hold dirt; bathing is time-consuming and drying takes as much as a day. Care of the coat in nonshow dogs is far less extensive. Pets can be clipped but then lose part of the breed's unique appeal. Note that it may take a dog up to 2 years of age before cords form.
Health
Major concerns: CHD, gastric torsion
Minor concerns: otitis externa, acute moist dermatitis
Occasionally seen: entropion
Suggested tests: hip
Life span: 10 to 12 years
Form and Function
The komondor is a large, muscular dog, with plenty of bone and substance; it is slightly longer than tall. Its gait is light and leisurely, with long strides. Its hallmark coat is double, consisting of a dense wooly undercoat and a coarser outer coat that is wavy or curly. The undercoat is trapped in the outer coat so that it forms strong, felty, tassel-like cords. This coat helped protect the dog from the elements as well as the teeth of tough adversaries. It also helped the dog to blend in with its flock.
For more on the Komondor, check out our Dog Breed Selector.
Image Credit: CALLALLOO Canis - Fotolia.com DCL iStockpho
Irish Water SpanielAKC Ranking: 130
Family: gundog, spaniel
Area of Origin: Ireland
Date of Origin: 1800s
Original Function: water retrieving
Today's Function: water retrieving, retriever field trials
AverageSize of Male: Height: 22 to 24 inches; Weight: 55 to 65 pounds
Average Size of Female: Height: 21 to 23 inches; Weight: 45 to 58 pounds
Other Name: none
Temperament
The Irish water spaniel goes at everything in life with gusto and enthusiasm. It loves to swim, run, hunt and play and needs a lot of exercise. A clown at heart, it can be stubborn and independent, so it needs to be trained with patience, firmness and a sense of humor. It tends to be reserved with strangers. It is generally good with children, though some can be timid.
Upkeep
This active, athletic, inquisitive breed needs lots of mental and physical exertion to keep it from becoming frustrated or bored. An hour of free running or strenuous playing a day is necessary to
satisfy its needs. Obedience work can also be helpful in giving it the mental challenges it enjoys. The curly coat needs brushing and combing two to three times a week, plus scissoring every few months. Like all dogs, it loses its coat periodically; however, the hairs tend to become trapped in the other hairs rather than fall off. If not combed out, they will form mats and cords.
Health
Major concerns: CHD
Minor concerns: none
Occasionally seen: none
Suggested tests: hip
Life span: 10 to 12 years
Form and Function
The Irish water spaniel is built like no other spaniel, being much taller and racier. The body is of medium length, the whole dog being slightly rectangular in appearance. The general appearance suggests both dash and endurance. The gait is smooth and ground-covering. The coat is one of the breed's distinctive features. The body is covered with a double coat consisting of crisp ringlets. This combination imparts water, weather and thorn resistance to the dog, enabling it to hunt in the harshest of conditions. The Irish water spaniel's expression says it all: alert, intelligent and quizzical.
For more on the Irish Water Spaniel, check out our Dog Breed Selector.
Image Credit: CALLALLOO Canis - Fotolia.com DCL iStockpho
SamoyedAKC Ranking: 67
Family: spitz, Northern (herding)
Area of Origin: Russia (Siberia)
Date of Origin: ancient times
Original Function: herding reindeer, guardian, draft
Today's Function: sled pulling, herding trials
Average Size of Male: Height: 21 to 23.5 inches; Weight: 45 to 65 pounds
Average Size of Female: Height: 19 to 21 inches; Weight: 35 to 50 pounds
Other Name: Samoyedskaya
Temperament
Gentle and playful, the Samoyed makes a good companion for a child or person of any age. It is a closely bonded family dog. It is amiable with strangers, other pets and usually, other dogs. It is calm indoors, but this clever, sometimes mischievous breed needs daily physical and mental exercise. If allowed to become bored, it will dig and bark. It is independent and often stubborn, but it is willing to please and is responsive to its owner's wishes. It may tend to herd children.
Upkeep
The Samoyed is active and needs a good workout every day, either in the form of a long walk or jog or a vigorous play session. It likes to pull and herd, and it loves cold weather. It can live outdoors in temperate to cold climates, but it much prefers to live indoors with its human family. Its thick coat needs brushing and combing two to three times a week, daily when shedding.
Health
Major concerns: CHD
Minor concerns: gastric torsion
Occasionally seen: PRA
Suggested tests: hip, (eye)
Life span: 10 to 12 years
Form and Function
The Samoyed combines strength, agility, dignity and grace in a general spitz outline. Slightly longer than it is tall, it is nonetheless compact. It has a strong, muscular body that is able to combine power, speed, agility and endurance. It has a quick, agile stride with good reach and drive. Its double coat is heavy and weather resistant. The undercoat is soft and thick, whereas the outer coat is straight and harsh, standing straight out from the body, and glistening with a silver sheen. Its expression is animated, with the characteristic "Samoyed smile" created by the upturned corners of its mouth.
For more on the Samoyed, check out our Dog Breed Selector.
Image Credit: CALLALLOO Canis - Fotolia.com DCL iStockpho
Shiba InuAKC Ranking: 62
Family: spitz, Northern (companion)
Area of Origin: Japan
Date of Origin: ancient times
Original Function: hunting and flushing small game
Today's Function: companion
Average Size of Male: Height: 14.5 to 16.5 inches; Weight: 23 pounds
Average Size of Female: Height: 13.5 to 15.5 inches; Weight: 17 pounds
Other Name: brushwood dog, Japanese small-size dog
Temperament
Bold, independent and headstrong, the shiba is brimming with self-confidence. It is lively outdoors, yet calm indoors, as long as it gets daily exercise. It may be aggressive with strange dogs of the same sex and may chase small animals. It is a hardy breed, ready for adventure. Some tend to be headstrong and domineering. It is territorial, alert and reserved with strangers — ingredients making for an excellent watchdog. It is quite vocal; some bark a lot.
Upkeep
The shiba needs a daily workout, either in the form of a vigorous game in the yard, a long walk or a good run in a safe area. It can live outdoors in temperate or cool climates, given warm shelter, but it does best when allowed to divide its time between inside and out. Its double coat needs brushing one or two times weekly, more when shedding.
Health
Major concerns: none
Minor concerns: patellar luxation
Occasionally seen: none
Suggested tests: knee
Life span: 12 to 15 years
Form and Function
The shiba inu is moderately compact, being slightly longer than it is tall. It has typical traits of dogs from Northern heritage: small erect ears, thick fur, powerful body and curled tail. Its expression is bold, spirited and good-natured. The gait is light, quick and agile, with an effortless, smooth stride. The double coat consists of a strong straight outer coat with a soft undercoat, imparting great insulation. These traits enabled the shiba to hunt small game through dense cover.
For more on the Shiba Inu, check out our Dog Breed Selector.
Image Credit: CALLALLOO Canis - Fotolia.com DCL iStockpho
GreyhoundAKC Ranking: 131
Family: sighthound, Southern (sighthound)
Area of Origin: Great Britain
Date of Origin: ancient times
Original Function: coursing hares
Today's Function: racing, lure coursing, open-field coursing
Average Size of Male: Height: 27 to 30 inches; Weight: 65 to 70 pounds
Average Size of Female: Height: 27 to 30 inches; Weight: 60 to 65 pounds
Other Name: none
Temperament
Known as "the world's fastest couch potato," the greyhound is quiet, calm and extremely well-mannered indoors. They are good with other dogs, and with other pets if raised with them; outdoors, they tend to chase any small thing that moves. They are reserved with strangers, very sensitive and sometimes timid. Despite their independent nature, they are eager to please.
Upkeep
The greyhound needs daily exercise, but it is a sprinter, not an endurance runner. Its needs can thus be met with a chance to run, or by a longer walk on leash. It loves to run and chase outdoors, and can easily run into danger at great speed unless exercised in a safe area. It is not generally amenable to living outdoors. Greyhounds relish creature comforts and must have soft bedding and warmth. The coat is extremely easy to care for, needing only occasional brushing to remove dead hair.
Health
Major concerns: none
Minor concerns: esophageal achalasia, gastric torsion, osteosarcoma
Occasionally seen: none
Suggested tests: none
Life span: 10 to 13 years
Note: Racing injuries — especially toe, hock and muscle injuries — are common in retired NGA dogs. Both NGA and AKC greyhounds are sensitive to anesthesia and are prone to lacerations and tail-tip injuries.
Form and Function
The ultimate running dog, the greyhound is built for speed. Its long legs and arched back enable it to contract and stretch maximally while executing the double-suspension gallop. It has tremendous muscle mass and light legs, further enhancing speed. The feet are long and narrow, giving maximum leverage. The long tail serves as a rudder and brake when running at high speed. The coat is short and smooth. Two types of greyhounds are available: AKC (show) and NGA (racing). Retired NGA greyhounds are smaller, sturdier and faster than show dogs and may be more inclined to chase small animals.
For more on the Greyhound, check out our Dog Breed Selector.
Image Credit: CALLALLOO Canis - Fotolia.com DCL iStockpho
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