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.

My aunt and uncle had an American Staffordshire Terrier when I was young. He seemed huge to me! But then, I was only six when he died. He was the most gentle dog, and let me give him lots of hugs every time I went over to visit.

It was a sad day when Wolfy had to be put to sleep. But he taught me that big dogs could be just as gentle as small dogs (often more gentle than small dogs).

Since the American Staffordshire Terrier is famous for its fighting ability, it is no wonder that this powerful breed has a muscular build. However, there is much more to this breed than its unfortunate heritage as an aggressive fighter. Many Staffordshire Terrier lovers praise this breed’s affectionate and loyal family nature (like Wolfy).

The Staffordshire Terrier was developed by crossing the Bulldog and several terriers. The ancestors of today’s dog were known as the Bull-and-Terrier Dog, Half and Half, and at times Pit Dog or Pit Bull Terrier. This breed was later given the name Staffordshire Terrier, after the English Region of Staffordshire where it was first developed.

It was not until 1870 that these dogs were brought to America. American Breeders preferred this strong, agile breed as a fighting dog and worked to increase the weight of the dog. They also concentrated on enlarging the breed’s head size. When dog fighting became illegal in the USA, American breeders developed two strains of the Staffordshire Terrier.

One strain was developed as a show dog that is today’s American Staffordshire Terrier. The other strain was developed as a fighting dog and is classified as the American Pit Bull Terrier. Despite the best efforts of animal control officials and animal lovers, the American Pit Bull Terrier is still used as an illegal fighting dog in North America.

The Staffordshire Terriers were first accepted for registration in the AKC in 1936, as members of the Terrier group. The name of the breed was officially revised in 1972 to American Staffordshire Terrier. At this time, the AKC made a distinction between the Staffordshire Bull Terrier of England and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a very muscular and powerful dog with a large bone structure. This solidly built breed weighs between 57-67 pounds. While this breed may have the look and build of a fighter, it is actually very loving and protective of its family and so is generally good with children

American Staffordshire Terriers are not ideal apartment dogs, but they will survive in this situation if the owner of this active breed has the energy and stamina to keep up with the dog. These dogs are very active, so will need to take frequent long walks.

A home with a securely fenced yard is a better fit for the breed. However, the Staffordshire Terrier is sensitive to cold and does need to have a warm environment, so during winter months you should be prepared to bring your dog indoors after it burns off some energy with a romp in the yard.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a gentle happy, outgoing dog. This breed plays well with children and relates well to adults. However, you should never leave young children or other pets in an unsupervised situation with any big, strong dog.

These dogs make excellent guard dogs, since they are territorial and very protective. The breed’s original fighting qualities are still evident toward enemies and intruders to the owner’s property.

These dogs should be socialized so they accept guests and other animals. Early training, while your dog is still a puppy and you are stronger, is a must. This dog lives to please its owner, but may be hard to housebreak.

The American Staffordshire breed is generally healthy. However, this breed should receive yearly health screenings to rule out some hereditary traits like cataracts and congenital heart disease. These dogs are also prone to hip dysplasia, so be sure to ask your breeder if the parents have been screened for this hereditary trait, as well.

The short coat of the American Staffordshire Terrier is easy to groom. Brushing your dog’s coat on a regular basis to remove loose hair should suffice, since the breed does not shed profusely. You should also brush its teeth once a day and clip its nails if they don’t wear down on their own.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a protective and loving dog that will wholeheartedly protect its beloved family, and the most important thing in life to this breed is its owner’s fond attention. These characteristics may just make this breed an excellent choice for you.

Some facts:

Males are about 18-19 inches and females are about 17-18 inches

AKC popularity ranking is #64

Energy level - 3 (out of 5)

Exercise requirements - 3

Affection level - 3

Friendliness towards other pets - 1 (this varies, however. Wolfy got along fine with my aunt’s Daschund, Pug, and Basenji)

Ease of training - 4

Watchdog ability - 5

Protection ability - 5

Here is a great little video that gives you a lot of facts about these sweet dogs.

The Pekingese is an ancient breed of dog that originated in China. Despite the fact that this breed is said to be over 2,000 years old, its look has not changed within that time. The Pekingese was originally bred as a lap dog and companion. The Pekingese is also called The Lion Dog and the Peking Palasthund.

Pekingese were the favored imperial companion of the Chinese dynasties. The gait of the Pekingese is unique to the breed. Breeders selected dogs that were bowlegged and developed this characteristic as a way to discourage the dogs from wandering off. As a consequence of the bowlegs, their characteristic rolling gait is very distinctive.

The Pekingese has a long, flowing coat of straight hair. The coat has elegant feathering and comes in all colors.

These dogs are allowed to come in all color combinations. However, Red sable is the most common color for this breed. Black and tan is also a popular color choice. The blonde color is preferred over the other colors for show dogs. These dogs are small, with a height of 6-9 inches and weighing in at a light 8-10 pounds.

This dog breed is classified as a member of the AKC’s Toy Dog Group. The Pekingese was first registered by the American Kennel Club in 1915.

Pekingese are ideal for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do okay without a yard. Pekingese do not necessarily want to exercise but they will stay in better health if they are given a routine of regular activity.

Since these dogs already have a tendency for breathing problems because of their pug noses, you should use a halter and lead to walk your dog instead of the more traditional choke chain or collar.

These dogs will choose one person as their favorite and ignore the other family members. Pekingese are also jealous, which makes them a poor choice for a home with multiple dogs. Socialization training can help with this breed’s behavior, but it is better to choose a more family oriented dog.

The Pekingese requires daily combing and brushing to keep its long double coat matt free. Be sure to brush around the hindquarters, which can easily become matted.

See the dog groomer once every 3 months to get a proper trim for this regal animal. You may want to use a dry shampoo regularly to keep your dog odor free. Clean the face and eyes daily to prevent staining. These dogs are average shedders, but proper grooming should alleviate most of the loose hair.

Pekingese seem to know they are royalty. A novice might find these dogs difficult to train. An early puppy obedience class would be beneficial to both the new owner and the puppy.

The personality of the Pekingese is sometimes stubborn and aloof. This is not a dog for an owner who needs a responsive, tail wagging little dog that will shower its owner with attention. This regal attitude might make these dogs unsuitable for the first-time dog owner.

Some potential health problems for the breed include eye issues and breathing problems. These problems are the result of the breed’s tiny skull and flattened face.

Some Pekingese develop skin allergies and hotspots. An especially common problem in the Pekingese is an eye ulcer, which can develop quickly.

If you don’t have a large family and only want one dog, the Pekingese may just be the perfect breed for you.

Energy level - 1 (out of 5)

Exercise requirements - 1

Playfulness - 1

Affection level - 2

Friendliness towards other pets - 4

Ease of training - 1

Watchdog ability - 5

Grooming requirements - 5

Heat tolerance - 1

This dog, like many dogs with short snouts, cannot tolerate heat.

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