The Australian Shepherd isn't really Australian. There is evidence that they came from Europe with people called "Basque". These people first settled in Australia with their dogs and sheep, and then relocated to the Western United States, again bringing along their dogs and sheep. The shepherds already here in the United States gave them the name Australian Shepherd.

Working sheep in the harshness of Australia and the Southwestern United States developed a breed of dog that has a lot of stamina and is bold, loving, alert, confident, independent, smart and responsive.

If your Australian Shepherd doesn't get a chance to exercise physically and mentally he can get frustrated and be hard to live with. But with proper exercise and training he is a loyal, obedient, and utterly devoted companion.

Requirements to keeping your Australian Shepherd happy therefore include a good workout every day that provides physical and mental challenges. He also wants and needs to be with you. He has such a great need for human companionship that he will be very unhappy if stuck outside in the yard.

These dogs excel at a variety of activities including conformation, obedience, herding, and agility competition.

Many breeders, trainers, and owners have found that Australian Shepherds are great with children. The only caution is that these dogs are extremely playfull and might overwhelm small children with their size and energy. Otherwise, they make great family pets.

When breeding Australian Shepherds they warn not to breed two dogs that have a natural bobtail as the offspring can be born with serious spinal defects. Breeding two merle colored Australian Shepherds together can result in deafness and blindness.

Some basic information:

Energy level - high

Exercise - needs a lot

Playfulness - very playful

Affectionate - very

Easily trained

Great watchdog

Very protective

Weight - 50-65lbs male and 40-55lbs female

Here is a video that gives a lot of interesting information about this great dog.

The English Springer Spaniel is cheerful, affectionate, and are generally good with children and so make great family dogs. Most make excellent house pets. Some are very active and others are more laid back, depending on the individual dog.
We had some friends who had an English Springer Spaniel named Duchess. She was beatiful, but what I remember most was her energy. These dogs were bred for endurance and agility to be able to keep going on long hunts over the British countryside.

Springer Spaniels are great sporting dogs whose one purpose is to hunt and find game. He is built to cover rough ground with ease so breeders are to keep these spaniels to a certain size: 20 inches high at the shoulder for males and 19 inches for females.

If you want a dog for show they must not be more or less than one inch from that required height. They also must be the right color. Lemon, red and orange are not allowed to place.
A medium dog breed the males weigh about 50 pounds and the females weigh about 40 pounds.

English Springer Spaniels make friends with everyone, so they are not guard dogs. They want to be with you at all times and are very unhappy when left alone. For this reason, if your house sits empty all day while you are at work and the kids at school, they might not be the dog for you.

Springer Spaniels were bred to be companion dogs. These dogs thrive on socialization and positive training and without it they can become pushy and obnoxious. The typical Springer Spaniel is friendly, quick to learn and willing to obey.

They require a certain amount of weekly grooming and trimming to control shedding and keep their coats free from mats. Their ears need regular ear care, like all breeds with ears that hang down. We have an ear wash from our vet that we use on our Cocker Spaniel to keep his ears clean and healthy.

We had a Cocker Spaniel named Tiger. He was my brother's dog, adopted from my aunt whose two Cockers were allowed to have one litter. She still has Tiger's parents, Danny Boy and Katie. But Tiger died suddenly about 1 1/2 years ago. We still miss him.

Tiger, like his parents and other Cocker Spaniels, was a lot of fun. They love to play. One of Tiger's favorite games was playing catch with a tennis ball.

Cocker Spaniels usually want to be wherever their favorite family member is, or with whoever is at home. Every night Tiger slept in my brother's room. But if James was gone, Tiger hated to be in there alone and had to sleep with my parents.

Katie is the same way. She has to sleep with someone, and her first choice is my aunt. So if you want a Cocker Spaniel, be prepared to share your bed, or at least your bedroom, at night.

Cocker Spaniels need regular clipping, preferably from a professional. My aunt bought a very nice clipper and grooms her dogs herself very nicely, but she would prefer to take them to a groomer. She says it's a lot of work getting the cut just right.

Their beautiful coat needs to be brushed almost every day to keep from getting matted.

Cocker Spaniels weigh about 25-27 pounds and would be conisidered a medium dog breed.

Cocker Spaniels tend to bark at everything. They are also very excitable. One problem my aunt has is that Katie gets so excited when my aunt gets home that Katie cannot control her bladder. So my aunt has to be sure to get Katie outside right away so she doesn't wet on the floor.

They are listed in a top ten breeds for families list so make a great family dog. Some Cockers are a bit nippy, but overall the ones I know get along fine with young children. Tiger was especially good with any child and never growled or snapped at anyone.
But Cocker Spaniels are not for everyone. Before you get one make sure you want a dog that needs you, that wants to be with you, and that requires regular grooming.

The Corgi dog breed, which includes the Cardigan Welsh Corgi and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, originated in Wales.

The Pembroke is more outgoing, more restless and more easily excited than the Cardigan. The Pembroke also has smaller ears, a shorter body and usually either a docked tail or no tail.

The Cardigan and Pembroke both learn very quickly, are very alert watchdogs, and are by nature guard dogs. They will attack intruders, but because of their small size some have died doing so.

They are active, including indoors, and need a moderate amount of exercise. They make excellent apartment dogs for someone who enjoys a lively dog.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi are both keenly intelligent, obedient, devoted, protective, hardy and have a no-bother coat.

They are fine with considerate children and so can make great family dogs.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi grow to about 33 pounds and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi gets to 28-30 pounds and would be considered a medium dog breed.

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