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C O N T E N T S Introduction 7 T H E D O G S 14 R E P O R TA G E 96
Glossary 110 Shows & Associations 110
Index 112
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THE DOGS
FRENCH BULLDOG
18
DOG
FRENCH BULLDOG
F
irst bred from full-sized bulldogs to create a diminutive companion dog, the French Bulldog became established as a breed towards the end of the nineteenth century, and was recognized by the Kennel Club in 1905. Although the original bulldog stock came from England, the “toy bulldog” was refined in France, and by the 1850s was established as a pet for fashionistas.
Related Breeds The French bulldog’s principal forebear is the old-fashioned English bulldog, although pug dogs and possibly small terriers may have been involved in its development to help create smaller breedstock.
Size Bitch Weight ......... up to 24 lb (11 kg) Dog Weight ........... up to 28 lb (13 kg)
Origin & Distribution
Features French bulldogs are characterized by their square “bull” heads, rather flat faces, and upright batlike ears. Their bodies are stocky, but muscular and well balanced. The skin around the head and shoulders is loose, falling in slight folds, and the coat is short, smooth, and shiny. Colors range from solid brindle and fawn through to various pied variations, like the pied fawn example opposite. Other colors are not included in the breed standard.
From their Parisian origins, French bulldogs have been exported to become popular pets in many other parts of Europe, as well as North America and the UK.
France
Use
Bred entirely as a companion dog, the typical French bulldog’s temperament is calm and patient, and they are generally good with children and friendly toward other dogs. As with other bull breeds, the flat face compromises their breathing somewhat, so they cannot be overexercised, nor can they live out of doors.
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THE DOGS
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
20
BITCH
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
T
he Golden Retriever originated in Scotland where it was first bred in the late 1860s specifically to retrieve waterfowl across rough terrain and from lakes and rivers. The result, registered with the UK Kennel Club in 1903, was a substantial flatcoated retriever with a soft mouth and a very gentle and tractable character.
Related Breeds The original Golden was a cross between an early type of retriever and a—now extinct—breed called the Tweed Water Spaniel. The breed was subsequently “improved” with pointer, setter, and bloodhound stock.
Size Bitch Weight ......... 60–70 lb (27–32 kg) Dog Weight ........... 65–75 lb (29–34 kg)
Features Golden Retrievers are large and substantial dogs. The eyes and nose are dark and the breed has a medium-length double coat that lies flat and can range from a very pale to a much deeper golden color. The UK retriever is broader and shorter than that found elsewhere; in North America and Australia, Golden Retrievers are lighter and rangier in build.
Origin & Distribution Having been first bred in Scotland in the mid 1800s, the Golden Retriever is now widespread all over North America, Europe, and Australia. Scotland
Use
As well as being a celebrated sporting breed and highly accomplished in agility and obedience contests and field trials, the Golden Retriever makes an excellent family pet, ranking fourth most popular dog in the US, and seventh most popular in the UK. It is also used as an assistance dog.
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THE DOGS
CAIRN TERRIER
22
DOG
CAIRN TERRIER
N
amed for the rock piles or “cairns,” into which it was originally sent to hunt foxes, rats, and other prey in its native Scottish Highlands, the Cairn Terrier is one of the earliest breeds of small terrier to be individually recognized, gaining its Kennel Club registration in 1909. It was first known as the Short-Haired Skye Terrier, but renamed after Skye Terrier breeders argued that the name was confusing.
Related Breeds
Features
From its breeding origins in the Highlands of Scotland, the Cairn Terrier has become popular not only throughout the UK but also in Northern America.
Despite its size, the Cairn Terrier is a solid working dog with a keen intelligence and a nose for adventure. Its build is square and workmanlike, with legs, body, and head all in proportion. It has a double coat with a harsh, weather-resistant outer layer in shades ranging from cream through wheat and red to gray and brindle, and a soft undercoat that helps to keep the dog warm.
As well as the Skye Terrier—now so rare as to count as an endangered species in UK Kennel Club listings—the Cairn also has a close affinity with both the Scottish Terrier (or “Scottie”) and the West Highland White Terrier (or “Westie”).
Size Bitch Weight ......... 13–18 lb (6–8 kg) Dog Weight ........... 13–18 lb (6–8 kg)
Origin and Distribution
Scotland
Use
Although it is still used as a working terrier in Scotland and the north of England, the Cairn has also become a popular pet for terrier fanciers, who admire its lively character.
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THE DOGS
GERMAN SHEPHERD
24
BITCH
GERMAN SHEPHERD
T
he German Shepherd was originally developed both to herd and to guard sheep at the end of the nineteenth century, but due to the breed’s outstanding intelligence, athleticism, and trainability, quickly became popular in other roles, including as a police and army dog. Today, the German Shepherd is familiar all over the world, both as a working dog and a pet.
Related Breeds German Shepherds were deliberately bred in the 1900s from a mix of shepherd dog types that varied widely in appearance and are now extinct. At one time it was believed that wolves were also introduced into the breed mix, but this theory has since been discredited.
Size Bitch Weight ......... 49–71 lb (22–32 kg) Dog Weight ......... 66–88 lb (30–40 kg)
Features The German Shepherd is a large, powerful, well-muscled dog with a domed forehead, upright, pointed ears, an expressive face with dark eyes and nose, and a long, square muzzle. The tail is long and bushy, and the dog has a double coat which ranges widely in color, from black-and-red and black-and-brown, to rarer all-white, all-black, liver, and blue. Not all colors are accepted within breed standards. Most German Shepherds, whatever their main coat color, have a black “mask” around the face.
Origin and Distribution Originating in Germany, the German Shepherd rates highly in the rankings of Kennel Clubs from North America to Australia. Germany
Use
The breed lends itself to work of all kinds, from search-andrescue, tracking, mine-detection, and assistance work with the blind. Well-trained and socialized, it also remains a popular pet.
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