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 Komondor was originally brought to Hungary by nomads to guard their sheep and is still used for that purpose today. The earliest account of this breed is from the 16th century. The dog is said to be related to some Russian breeds and is a descendent of Tibetan dogs.

The Komondor is still used to protect flocks in his native country. The dog lives outdoors for most of his life and his genetic evolution of physical characteristics has presented the heavy coat for his protection.

The Komondor is used as a guard dog in the United States. These dogs are wonderful watchdogs but can require very specialized environment for their optimum growth and enjoyment.

The Komondor is a very large dog with an amazingly beautiful white coat that hangs majestically to the ground in cords. The dog makes an impressive show dog because of its size and the magnificent physical features.

The corded white coat acts as camouflage for the dog when he is acting as a guardian for the unprotected sheep in his care. The coat also protects him from the claws and teeth of attackers. The world took notice of this breed around 1920 when it was first presented in dog shows.

Characteristics of the Komondor include a huge frame and imposing strength. The Komondor can weigh up to 125 lbs and have a height of up to 27 inches. The females of this breed weigh on an average of 70-85 lbs.

This dog would not be appropriate for apartment living. Because of the size of this breed, the Komondor is more suitable for owners who have large backyards. Country living is preferred for this huge animal.

The Komondor is beautiful and enjoys family life, but is not for the faint of heart. This breed requires specialized care for its coat and extensive training. This breed survives best in colder climates.

Puppy obedience classes are necessary for the Komondor. You will need to get this dog to learn to obey you before it weighs as much as you do.

Puppy classes are also necessary for early socialization of this breed. These dogs tend to be overprotective if they aren't properly socialized.

Like many other working dogs, the breed also tends to be very independent and early training helps create a partnership that your dog will respect.

Grooming this massive dog is a daily requirement, especially if you want to maintain the magnificence of the corded coat. Their hair must never be brushed or combed. The coat has to be divided into cords and trimmed. This dog needs a lot of bathing and the coat takes a long time to dry. It sheds very little, if at all.

Potential health problems of the Komondor can include hip dysplasia, bloat and skin problems.

The Komondor makes a good, loyal family pet. The ideal family will live in a colder climate with acreage.

Owning a dog like the Komondor requires patience and some specialized skills to control the independent nature of the dog. Also, to maintain and groom the dog effectively requires some time.

When the right environment, family and dog are combined, a wonderful connection will take place. This dog will bring years of protection and companionship to its lucky family.
Energy level - 3 (out of 5)

Exercise requirements - 3

Affection level - 4

Friendliness towards other pets - 4

Ease of training - 3

Watchdog ability - 5

Protection ability - 5

Heat tolerance - 2

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

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.