If you've ever gotten a chance to play with an Old English Sheepdog, you already know that their fluffy, soft fur matches their sweet demeanor and their intelligent personalities.

Although these dogs are known to be very hard workers, they have adjusted very well to lives as family pets. Sheepdogs are very friendly and when given the proper love and attention, and they provide excellent companionship to their human families. Take a look at some information for this sweet-tempered breed, and you can easily see why they are so popular both in the country and in the cities.

Old English Sheepdog History:

They were developed in western England during the early part of the 1900's. As the name states, this dog was bred for the herding and protection of sheep. It can be seen that the breeders succeed, having created a dog that intelligent, hardy, and protective of its charges.

Old English Sheepdog Temperament:

Due to their hardy ancestry and their working roots, they need plenty of exercise, both in terms of being able to run around outside as well as being stimulated mentally. When they are in high gear, they are extremely playful and sweet, and they are excellent companions for children and other dogs. Given the fact that they are quite intelligent, you can also expect that they can sometimes be a little bit headstrong and stubborn about things.

Old English Sheepdog Care:

Because they were originally intended to herd and protect sheep, these are dogs that are quite dependent on having something to take care of and be with. They have naturally loving temperaments, but they will suffer if they are neglected. Old English Sheepdogs thrive and do their best when they are surrounded by loving attention, so make sure that you are ready to give it the care it needs

Old English Sheepdog Grooming:

Despite their long, fluffy fur, taking care of this dog breed’s coat is not much more difficult than taking care of a dog with a shorter coat. When they are young, the puppies should be brushed regularly to help them get used to this action. When they are adults, they will need a thorough weekly brushing. Because this can take upwards of an hour, many people simply clip their Sheepdog's fur down to half an inch and let it grow back in for winter.

Overall, this is a great family dog if you have a large yard or have plenty of time to give this dog the exercise they need.

Some people take one look at the fluffy, immaculately groomed Standard Poodles in the show ring and discount them as silly, shallow dogs. However, the Standard Poodle is considered by many people to be the most intelligent breed in the world, with the reasoning ability of a three year old child.

These dogs may look like lightweights in the show ring, but they were originally bred to work hard in the water. The Standard Poodle spent hours retrieving water fowl for hunters and the breed's dense coat helped protect it from the cold, damp working conditions.

Because the breed is not commonly used as a working dog today, The American Kennel Club classifies the Standard Poodle as part of the Non-Sporting Group. These dogs weigh 45 to 70 pounds and stand over 15 inches tall.

The Standard Poodle has a muscular body under all of that hair. Its ears are long and fold over close to the head and its eyes are dark brown and filled with intelligence. This dog's tail is docked and stands erect. The tail should not curve over the dog's back.

The Standard Poodle comes in a wide range of colors, including apricot, black, cream, red, blue, gray, silver, brown, parti-color, and white. Overall, the white and cream colored Standard Poodles seem to be a bit more high strung and nervous than other colors, while black Standard Poodles seem calmer.

The Standard Poodle does best in family settings and is extremely devoted to its family's children. This breed also is an excellent choice for families with more than one dog, as the Standard Poodle rarely meets a dog it doesn't like. If you have a cat, be prepared for your dog to rampage through the house as he gives chase, although when he finally catches up to the cat, he will just want to play.

If you live in an apartment, your dog will need to take a long walk or go for a romp in the park every day. These dogs can live in apartments, but do much better in a home with a fenced yard.

Because of its high intelligence, this breed enjoys learning and should attend puppy obedience classes. In addition, Standard Poodles need to be socialized as puppies, or their natural aloofness with strangers can turn to fear.

Your puppy will work hard during classes, because he will want to please you. If he can't figure out what you want him to do, he will wrinkle his brow and try again. If he still can't figure it out, he may start to get depressed and frustrated.

If this happens, give him a command that he already knows and after he joyously obeys he will be ready to try to learn the new command again. Many Standard Poodles and their owners go on to take advanced classes so that they can compete in obedience and agility trials.

The Standard Poodle breed has several common health problems. Addison's disease, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy problems are prevalent enough that many breeders actually screen their parent dogs to be sure they don't carry these genetic faults. Your dog could also suffer from renal disease, bloat, and skin problems.

Standard Poodles are big dogs and have big appetites. If you've never had a big dog before, be prepared for a noticeable increase in the grocery budget.

These dogs also should receive a daily vitamin. In addition, ask your veterinarian about giving your poodle a daily vitamin C tablet, which many veterinarians say can help decrease the chance of hip dysplasia.

If you do not want to spend time grooming a dog, don't buy a Standard Poodle. These dogs need to be brushed daily, and, with their large size, it can take an hour or more to thoroughly brush out a Standard Poodle's coat. Also, you will have to learn to cut your poodle's hair or you will need to take him to a professional groomer every six weeks.

The Standard Poodle is a fun loving, intelligent dog. If you don't mind brushing your dog instead of watching the news, this may be the breed for you.

Some more facts about the Standard Poodle:

Energy level - 3 (out of 5)

Exercise requirements - 4

Playfullness - 4

Friendliness towards other pets - 4

Ease of training - 5

Watchdog ability - 5

Protection ability - 4

Miniature and Standard Poodles need a lot of interaction with people. Like herding dogs, they also need mental challenges. They really enjoy a daily walk and a daily brief, but challenging, obedience or play session.

Poodles, both miniature and standard, are ranked 8th favorite dog breed in the United States (as of 2003), and are good with children.

We have a Rottweiler that lives across the street. He is huge, but we have never feared him as he is well trained and very gentle. He wanders around his front yard much of the time. He gets along great with all the neighborhood dogs and with his owners' grandkids.

I've never had any fear that he would attack any child. He doesn't even attack the mail carrier.

This dog can be trusted because he was consistently trained and socialized as a puppy. That's the only way you can have a Rottweiler in the family. If you do not have the time or the temperment to train a large dog, this is not the dog for you.

The Rottweiler is by nature a watchdog and protector of his family. They guard their homes and families, excel in agility training, and think that they are tiny lapdogs when they are with their owners.

In the 1800s they were a popular breed with cattlemen who used them to drove and guard the cattle. Around the middle of the 19th century, however, cattle driving was outlawed and by the end of the century Rottweilers were close to extinction.

Just in time, some dog fanciers got together and worked to resurrect the breed. Happily, they succeeded and today the Rottweiler is among the top 20 favorite dog breeds in the United States.

The Rottweiler is fairly large and very muscular. These powerful dogs weigh between 85 to 130 pounds and stand 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder. A Rottweiler has a sleek black and brown coat and deep, soulful brown eyes.

The Rottweiler is a part of the American Kennel Club's Working Group. These powerful dogs are often used as guard dogs.

Unfortunately, some Rottweiler owners have mistreated their dogs in an attempt to make them more aggressive. These abused Rottweilers have given the breed an undeserved reputation as a dangerous breed.

Rottweilers that are bred and raised properly actually make a good family dog. They can be extremely loving family pets.

Rottweilers are not the best breed for an apartment. These dogs are big and powerful and they need room to run. Ideally, Rottweiler owners should own a home with a fenced yard. If you do not have a fenced yard, you should be prepared to take your dog for frequent runs in the park to burn off excess energy.

The Rottweiler is an extremely intelligent dog and this breed does best when it has something to do. Give your Rottweiler a job, such as keeping pests out of the garden, and you will have a happy dog.

It is important to begin training a Rottweiler puppy at a young age, as these dogs quickly grow into large, powerful animals. Also, puppy obedience classes are a wonderful opportunity for you to provide your Rottweiler with plenty of socialization at a young age.

Luckily, this breed enjoys learning, as long as the trainer uses love and patience. These dogs respond eagerly to new challenges, which is why the Rottweiler does well in agility trials.

Because of their size and strength, Rottweilers may not be the best choice for a family with a toddler. A six month old puppy may not realize his own strength and could accidentally injure small children while he is romping around. If your heart is set on a Rottweiler puppy, you may want to wait until your children are old enough to walk well.

Of course, a dog with the size and energy of a Rottweiler can burn up quite a few calories. You should be prepared to buy quite a lot of food for your puppy. Also, it is important to make sure that your puppy's nutritional needs are being met, since Rottweilers can develop joint problems when they are older.

Since a Rottweiler has such a short coat, grooming one of these dogs is not very time consuming. Brush your dog once a week with a slicker brush to keep his coat looking shiny and glossy. Also, be sure you take the time to check his nails to be sure they become not too long. When your dog is a puppy, you may also want to accustom him to having his teeth brushed.

If the thought of having a hundred pound dog attempt to crawl into your lap as though he weighs ten pounds horrifies you, then a Rottweiler may not be the breed for you. After all, not everyone wants a dog who has the appearance of a killer and the heart of a marshmallow.

Some more facts about Rottweilers:

Energy level - 3

Exercise requirements - 3

Affection level - 2

Friendliness towards other pets - 2

Friendliness towards strangers - 1

Watchdog ability - 5

Protection ability - 5

Heat tolerance - 2

These dogs do not do too good in hot weather. They can become overheated quit easily. It is better to have them indoors with their family, anyways, for correct socialization with the family. Rottweilers need three things to do well in society: socialization, consistent training, and daily exercise.
They enjoy cold weather, but you must provide them with a shelter.

In the 1990s the Rottweiler was the second most popular dog in the United States. It has since dropped in favor and in 2003 was the 15th most favorite dog. Pretty good for a dog that almost became extinct at the end of the 19th century.

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.