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

Are you a fan of royalty? The Afghan Hound, often called the king of the dog world, is known for its beauty and elegance.

The Afghan Hound has keen eyesight and was originally bred to hunt game as a sight hound. However, because of the nomadic life of the Afghan and Pakistan tribes that created the Afghan breed, it continued to evolve until it became a multi-purpose helper. The Afghan is one of the few dog breeds that can hunt game, herd sheep and protect its home with equal skill.

Today, this member of the American Kennel Club's hound group excels in obedience, as well. The Afghan Hound weighs fifty to sixty pounds and stands between twenty four and twenty eight inches high.

These dogs have a long coat on the lower half of their bodies and a shorter coat on their chest and back. They are known for their elegant topknots.

This breed can come in any color or combination of colors, but white markings are considered unfavorable. The Afghan has long ears covered in sleek hair.

This breed's dark eyes have an Oriental appearance. Afghan Hounds are graceful and regal, but they are also powerful, energetic dogs, bred to endure rigorous conditions.

This breed needs quite a bit of exercise, so it is not ideal for an apartment. Be sure that you only exercise your dog in a fenced yard or on a lead. These dogs are much too fast for humans to catch them easily if they decide to run off.

If you do allow your Afghan to romp in your yard, be sure that the fence is substantially high. The Afghan has the ability to soar easily over fences that would contain the average dog.

If you are looking for a pet that does well with small children, you may not want to choose an Afghan. These dogs are very attached to family and friends, so much that they do not adjust well to being placed in a new home once they are adults.

However, they are very independent and are not overly tolerant of rough handling and toddler games. Because of this independence, Afghan Hounds are occasionally hard to train. However, this breed is extremely intelligent and can really do well in obedience if it becomes interested in the training.

You may want to consider taking your dog to puppy obedience classes to learn the basics, but be sure you find a trainer that doesn't believe in forcing obedience. Clicker training is a good choice for this breed.

When feeding Afghan Hounds, you should keep a few special considerations in mind. These dogs are prone to bloat, so if you are feeding a dry food diet, you should soak the food in water for five or ten minutes before you give it to your dog.

You should also be sure you don't let your dog out to run for at least an hour after he eats. Don't allow him to guzzle water and always be sure the water is room temperature.

The Afghan is a fairly healthy breed overall. Besides bloat, this breed is prone to cancer and allergies. If your Afghan needs surgery or goes in for dental cleaning or grooming, be sure you remind your vet that this breed has problems with anesthesia.

Because of its thick, silky coat, the Afghan does need to be groomed regularly. Brush your dog's coat thoroughly at least twice a week. You will need to clip its toenails once a month and should consider brushing its teeth daily.

If you want a dog that is dependent on you, then an Afghan Hound is not right for you and your family. However, if you don't mind having a dog that is independent and likes to think for himself, then this may be the perfect choice for you.

From the following scale you can see that these dogs rate high (4 out of 5) for grooming needs, and low in affection.

Energy Level - 2

Exercise requirements - 3

Playfulness - 3

Affection level - 1

Friendliness toward other dogs - 3

Friendliness toward other pets - 3

Friendliness towards strangers - 1

Ease of training - 2

Wathdog ability - 3

Protection ability - 1

Grooming requirements - 4

Heat tolerance - 3

If you ever make it to Guam be sure to visit the war dog cemetary at the U.S. Naval base in Orote Point. There you will see the life-size bronze statue of the dog Always Faithful who symbolizes all the Dobermans who gave their lives in World War II while serving with the U.S. Marines.

The statue is a special tribute to the 25 Dobermans who gave their lives liberating Guam in 1944. They served as sentries, messengers and scouts and were used to explore caves and detect mines and booby traps. It's a very touching story.

Some of these dogs might have been beloved pets donated to the war effort since many families gave their pets to the military to help win the war. Their sacrifices did help. The dogs saved the lives of hundreds of our soldiers.

In foreign wars, as police dogs and as family pets the properly bred and trained Doberman has proved itself to be a great friend and guardian. They posses a keen intelligence that helps them absorb and retain training.

They are very alert watchdogs and are guarddogs by nature. Stubborn and bold, they respond well to firmness, affection and praise and respond badly to impatience, anger and fear.

If chosen carefully, a well-trained Doberman is a good family dog - handsome, playful, and properly protective - if it has been with children from puppyhood. They tend to be one-family dogs, and a few are found to be one-man dogs.

Doberman Pinschers require a lot of outdoor exercise or they will become restless indoors.

They are a large dog breed. Males grow to weigh 70-75 pounds, females to 60-65 pounds.

Their short, smooth coat makes them sensitive to cold.

If you want to read more about the war dog memorial on Guam visit: Doberman Wardog Memorial

Here is a great video that gives you lots of information about Doberman Pinschers.

The Dalmatian (careful that you spell it with an "a" and no "o") has been around for centuries. While he has been used for a sentinal in war, a draft dog, a shepherd, a firehouse mascot, a bird dog, trail hound, a favorite circus dog because of his amazing memory, and a vermin hunter, most important of his accomplishments is his use as a coach dog.

Without any previous training a young dalmatian will fall in line perfectly behind a horse and cart. He is physically fitted for road work; speed and endurance blended perfectly in his make-up.

Dalmatians look different than any other breed and are born ready for the show ring as they need no docking, cropping, or anything else done to them.

The breed is listed by the AKC as being a distinctively spotted dog, poised and alert, strong, muscular and active. They are supposed to be free of shyness.

Intelligent and capable of great endurance, combined with fair amount of speed, they were the perfect dog for following and guarding the coach. They are very active, even indoors, and so need a lot of outdoor exercise.

A large dog breed, they stand 19-24 inches at the shoulder and weigh 45-55 for a female and 55-65 for a male.

Daily brushing should control the daily shedding.

Dalmatians tend to be one-family dogs and make a suitable family pet but can be a bit excitable for younger children. They are devoted, playful, and responsive to training.