SALUKI HISTORY

The Saluki is the "Persian Greyhound" and widely regarded as the oldest purebred dog in all of history. This dog breed is closely related to the Afghan Hound and Arabian Greyhound. The Saluki has long been coveted by Arabs for its ability in hunting, especially gazelles, and its ability in following horses. It is thought that the Celts have introduced this breed into Europe.

While Salukis were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1929, they have been around since the days of ancient dynastic Egypt and perhaps even farther back in time. Depictions of the Saluki, and their mummified bodies, have been found in Egyptian tombs. And, carvings depicting what seem likely to be Salukis have been found in the ruins of the ancient Sumerian civilization from nearly 6000 years ago.

APPEARANCE

The Saluki resembles the Greyhound–slim and sleek, with a powerful hind-part. The average Saluki will be 23-29 inches in length and 30 to 66 pounds in weight.

In color they range from black to tri-color, and may also be tan, reddish, brownish, tan, or even white. They don't shed overly much and don't have that "dog" smell. These dogs have "feathers" of silky fur on their ears, legs, and tail. Their tail also curls.

TEMPERAMENT AND CHARACTER

While the Saluki is related to the Afghan Hound, it is more graceful and symmetrical. It's explosively powerful rear and hocks are low to the ground, giving it great leaping and turning ability. The Saluki can get to speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Its carriage is regal and graceful.

Salukis are considered to be gentled with children, especially with well-behaved children. However, because they are extremely responsive to sudden movements, and since children are prone to making rash movements, it is advised that if you own a Saluki you should not leave him alone with young children.

Salukis are obedient, but also independent. If you try to call your Saluki to you it will come…unless it gets distracted by some kind of movement, in which case its hunter instincts kick in and it goes all-out for the pursuit.

Salukis are very loyal and protective, but many say that they are also not overly affectionate. They can be easily trained into certain "dog tricks", but their high intelligence causes them to become bored with them after a short play time. They can be very well trained in dog behavior and don't need to be overly scolded. But they can be stubborn when first being trained to sit, stay, lie down, etc, so patience is required at first.

GROOMING AND HEALTH

The Saluki should be regularly brushed. The dog's fur is not overly fluffy so this is not too difficult, and Salukis enjoy being brushed anyway. This is also a way of emotionally bonding with, and keeping tabs on, the dog.

The toenails should be clipped; and remember, the back toenails grow more quickly than those on the front paws.

Check and clean the dog's ears once per week. However, do not use water or fluids to clean them out. Pick out hairballs, wax, etc from the ears. You should also brush your Saluki's teeth with a special canine toothpaste twice per week.

Salukis are prone to a few congenital diseases: easily sunburned noses; eye degeneration; and cancer. Get your Saluki the usual types of shots and fairly frequent vet check-ups if it is less than one year old. Between age one and six, an annual vet check-up is just fine; after that, semi-annual vet check-ups should be the practice. You can expect your Saluki to live to be 12 to 14 years old with proper care.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Energy level - 2 (out of 5)
Affection level - 3
Friendliness towards other pets - 3
Friendliness towards strangers - 1
Cold tolerance - 2
Heat tolerance - 3

An Introduction to the Keeshond

The Keeshond (plural is Keeshonden) is an extremely affectionate dog that tends to get along wonderfully with people and with other pets in the household. They are a medium sized dog, weighing about thirty-five to forty-five pounds and stand at seventeen to eighteen inches tall.

The Keeshond History – Dog of the Patriots

The world almost didn’t get to enjoy this great companion dog, though. It was in the late 1700s that the breed almost disappeared. The people of Holland dared to stand up to the royalists at about the same time the colonists in the New World were preparing to fight King George of England.

The Dutch commoners chose as their mascot a medium-sized dog that had served for centuries as the guard dog on barges and as a household companion. The leader of the Patriots had one of these dogs that followed him everywhere. The dog’s name was Kees.

The Patriots were not victorious and people were afraid to be seen with a dog that had stood for the rebellion, so these great dogs almost disappeared. Then in 1920 Baroness van Hardenbroek found a few of these dogs that had been kept in low profile by farmers and river boatmen. She used the fine individuals to bring the breed back.

The Baroness fought the attempt to change the name of the dog to German Spitz, and in 1925 the breed was officially changed to Keeshond (after the dog Kees, mentioned above, and the Dutch word for dog, “hond”). It is now the national dog of Holland.

The Keeshond’s Temperament

The Keeshond is very smart and such a great companion that it’s a bit of a mystery why it is not more popular in the United States. In 2006 they were ranked 93rd most popular dog by the AKC.

Like many dogs they want to be inside with their family instead of locked outdoors. They make great housedogs: playful, attentive, loving, content to take it easy, and yet ready for adventure. A daily walk and a play time is all they need each day to satisfy its needs for exercise.

They are also easily trained, friendly to everyone but yet an alert watchdog, and an excellent companion for children and adults. With their thick fur they can tolerate cold temperatures but cannot tolerate heat.

Like dogs such as Border Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs, the Keeshond has a double coat to keep them warm. This coat requires brushing once or twice a week and more often when shedding.

Unlike herding and hunting dogs the Keeshond is a general, all-purpose dog. An excellent watchdog, friendly and affectionate, they are a wonderful pet for any family who is looking for a dog to share their home.

Some interesting facts:

Energy level - 3 (out of 5)

Playfulness - 3

Affection level - 5

Friendliness towards strangers and household pets - 4

Ease of training - 3

Cold tolerance - 4

Heat tolerance - 1

If you are looking for a dog that marches to the beat of its own drummer, loves to round up the kids for dinnertime and has a happy go lucky attitude, then you may want to take a look at the Bearded Collie.

This breed, which has been seen as far back as 1514 in Scotland, is a direct descendent of the Polish Sheepdog. It is fairly likely that the Bearded Collie is also related to the Old English sheepdog because of the obvious similarities.

Some of the Beardie's talents are tracking, herding and performing tricks. The Bearded Collie was used in Scotland as a herder of both sheep and cattle. Since collie is the Scottish word for herding dog, it makes sense that the breed eventually became known as the Bearded Collie.

This breed, which is still fairly rare in the U.S., is registered with AKC as a member of the Herding group. It is the 101st most popular dog in the United States according to the AKC.

The Beardie is a robust, hardy and active dog. This medium to large sized dog weighs in at a solid 40-60 pounds with a height of 20-22 inches.

The Beardie has a shaggy coat all over his body, including under the chin, which makes him look as if he is sporting a beard. That is why lovers of this breed refer to it as Beardie.

The Bearded Collie is not recommended for apartment life. These dogs are fairly active, even indoors, and will do best with at least an average-sized yard.

This is a dog that needs lots of exercise, preferably running free. Beardies do not like to be confined and your dog should have a place to run off of its lead.

Obedience training is important for this breed because although they are intelligent, these dogs can be very headstrong. Since it was bred to be an independent thinker, the Beardie may resist training.

The Beardie is a natural herder of people and animals. They are noisy barkers, but most Beardies do not make good watchdogs.

Grooming for the Bearded Collie involves daily brushing of its long, shaggy coat. If you don't maintain your dog's coat, it will become so matted that you will have to have the dog shaved to remove the matts.

You should use a brush to thoroughly groom your dog's coat once a day. A fine mist of water will help to tease out any matts. A spray on conditioner can also be helpful. Pay extra attention to the coat when the dog is shedding. Grooming can help gather up all of that loose hair before it hits the ground.

You might want to consider having your dog professionally groomed every few months. A daily check of the eyes, ears and paws is also a good idea.

Bathe your dog or use a dry shampoo when necessary. Check regularly for ticks on the thick undercoat.

Overall, Beardies are a sturdy breed that enjoys good health. However, problems do occur within the breed.

These include allergies, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, auto-immune disease and some eye problems. Also, the breed's dense coat may conceal external parasite infestation.

If you're looking for a dog that is a good family companion that has a tail that is almost constantly wagging, then the Beardie may just be the perfect breed for you and your family.

Some helpful facts:

Energy level - 4 (out of 5)

Exercise requirements - 4
Playfulness - 4
Affection level - 4

Friendliness towards other pets - 3

Grooming requirements - 4

Cold tolerance - 4

Heat tolerance - 3

The Bearded Collie can live outdoors in cool climates but much prefers to be indoors with the family.

The Australian Cattle Dog has more aliases than most wanted felons. This breed is also known as the Heeler, Red Heeler, Blue Heeler and Queensland Heeler. The Australian Cattle Dog is the 'official' AKC breed name for this member of the Herding group.

These dogs are called heelers because they were developed in Australia for controlling cattle. They were trained to herd by nipping and biting at the heels of cattle and horses in order to control the movement of the herd.

The origins of The Australian Cattle Dog are not known, but we do know that the ancestors of the Australian Cattle Dog are Collies, Dalmatians and the native Australian Dingo.

The resulting Australian Cattle Dog is heavier and more muscular than the Border Collie and has good herding ability. These dogs have been working on Australian ranches since early in this century.

The Australian Cattle Dog is a sturdy, compact herding dog, with well-developed muscles. The breed is very powerful, strong and agile. These dogs are medium sized, weighing in at 32-35 pounds, with a height of 17-20 inches.

Since the breed was bred to withstand extreme temperatures and develop the resourcefulness to forage to feed itself like a wild dog, it is no wonder that the Australian Cattle Dog makes a very independent pet. If you are looking for a cuddler that idolizes you, you will be disappointed.

Still, Australian Cattle Dogs are good with children because they are naturally protective. However, this breed tends to frighten small children with its tendency to 'herd' them like cattle by nipping at their hands and feet.

The Cattle Dog is loyal, very protective, alert and is absolutely obedient to its master, but it is something of a one-person dog. The Australian Cattle Dog is not suitable for apartment life, as they have far too much energy. Like the Border Collie and Australian Shepherd, the Australian Cattle dog needs lots of room to run.

They do best in a large open yard. Also, the Australian Cattle Dog is a noisy animal and barks at any change in their environment, which would annoy your neighbors.

The Australian Cattle Dog requires a lot of daily attention. A bored dog will find something to keep him busy, which will result in destructive behaviors.

To keep your dog happy, you will have to spend time giving it regular exercise and training with positive reinforcement. The Australian Cattle Dogs are very quick to learn and extremely eager to please. Firm training from the start will produce a happy, obedient companion. Of course, you should allow the puppy time to adjust to new surroundings before serious training begins.

This breed has a double coat that is resistant to the elements. The top coat is smooth. These dogs shed constantly and require regular brushing. You should also brush your dog's teeth and trim its nails.

The Australian Cattle Dog does have some genetic health problems. These problems include deafness, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia and temperament abnormalities. Attention deficit disorders are also common in this breed, which can make ownership extremely frustrating for anyone who has limited patience.

However, with all the breed's faults, few Cattle Dog owners complain of loneliness or lack of companionship. The Australian Cattle Dog will follow you wherever you go, including the restroom, bedroom and kitchen. It just won't spend its time fawning over you.

This breed is a brave and trustworthy guard dog and a good choice for a best friend.

Energy level - 5 (out of 5)

Exercise requirements - 5

Affection level - 4

Friendliness towards other dogs - 3

Friendliness towards other pets - 2

Ease of training - 5

Watchdog ability - 5

Cold tolerance - 3

Heat tolerance - 3