Belgian Sheepdog Dog

The Belgian Sheepdog is elegant, with proud carriage of the head. It is a strong, agile, well-muscled dog that is alert and full of life. The Belgian Sheepdog is also recognized for its endurance and ability to learn quickly.

Physical Characteristics

The Belgian Sheepdog is a breed that is square-proportioned with moderately heavy bones in the body. A gait that is effortless, tireless, and smooth enables it to herd for a long time. Its intelligent facial expression, meanwhile, is striking and gives the dog a sophisticated look.

The Belgian Sheepdog's undercoat is dense, and its outer coat, which is black in color, is straight and long. Curiously, many Belgian Sheepdogs tend to move in a circle instead of a straight line.

Personality and Temperament

The Belgian Sheepdog is best defined as "intense." It exhibits an independent nature and is highly protective of its human family. That is why this breed is a great choice for a house dog.

It is somewhat conscious of strangers, and at times show signs of aggression towards other pets and dogs. Extremely obedient, the Belgian Sheepdog is also playful, alert, intelligent, and a quick learner. Some Belgian Sheepdogs, however, display a dominating character.

Care

The Belgian Sheepdog loves to live inside the house with its human family, although it can adapt to outdoor living. It also performs best when given access to the yard. Apart from that, exercise on a regular basis is essential for the breed and should ideally combine long hours of play and jogging. The Belgian Sheepdog's coat requires the occasional brushing to keep away dead hairs, even more so during times of shedding.

Health

The Belgian Sheepdog, which has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, is not prone to any major health concerns. However, it is susceptible to minor issues such as hypothyroidism, seizures, allergies, and skin disorders. Ocassionally,elbow dysplasia, canine hip dysplasia (CHD), hemangiosarcoma, pannus, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) are seen in this breed. To identify these issues early, a veterinarian may recommend that the dog undergo regular thyroid, elbow, hip, and eye exams.

History and Background

The Belgian Sheepdog, sometimes referred to as Groenendael, is known for its versatility and hard-working nature. It is one of the variations of the Belgian Shepherd (or Continental Shepherd); the others being Belgian Malinois andBelgian Tervuren. However, the Belgian Sheepdog has a longer black coat compared to the other Beglian shepherd dogs

Between 1891 and 1901, a time in which the Belgian Shepherd became registered by the Societe Royale Saint-Hubert, there was a concerted effort to develop a standard for the breed, as well as improve its type for exhibition shows.

The earliest Belgian Sheepdogs were used for herding and guarding purposes. They later became popular police dogs in the United States and played a significant role in the First World War as watchdogs. It was not until 1959 that the Belgian Sheepdog got its current name, after the three Belgian Shepherd types were separated into distinct breeds.

Belgian Malinois Dog

The Belgian Malinois is a sheepdog that is sometimes mistaken for a German Shepherd. It is, however, more elegant and lighter-boned. Alert, with lots of energy, the Belgian Malinois is popular as both a police and military working dog.

Physical Characteristics

The Belgian Malinois is of moderate weight, with a square-proportioned and powerful body. It has an impressively effortless, easy, and smooth gait that enables it to remain tireless throughout the day. The breed also possesses oval-shaped bones and an intelligent expression. Its undercoat, meanwhile, is short, stiff, and straight, which is one of the breed's most distinct characteristic.

The basic coloring of a Belgian Malinois is a rich fawn to mahogany, with black tips on the hairs, as well as black ears and mask.

Personality and Temperament

The Belgian Malinois breed has a protective instinct that makes it superb for guarding the home. The active, intelligent, and sometimes dominating Belgian Malinois is always alert and aware of its surrounding. It may show signs of aggression towards other animals and dogs at times, and prefers to stay aware from strangers.

Care

Although it can survive outdoors under various weather conditions, it prefers to remain indoors with access to fields or wide open spaces. Its favorite activities include herding, playing, and jogging, all of which are excellent sources of exercise for the breed. The Belgian Malinois' coat must be combed occasionally and more during periods of shedding.

Health

Although the Belgian Malinois, which has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, is not prone to any major health issues, it does suffer occasionally from elbow dysplasia, pannus, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hemangiosarcoma, and cataract. To identify some of these issues early, a veterinarian may recommend regular tests on the dog's eyes, hips, and elbows.

History and Background

Belgian Malinois dogs are more popular as police dogs than as house or show animals. In fact, demand for the breed as a police dog has surpassed theGerman Shepherd. Historically, all the Belgian sheepherding breeds, that were known as Chiens de Berger Belge collectively, were used as watchdogs as well as herders. With the popularity of dog shows in the 19th century, it was not very clear whether Belgium had any nationally distinguishable breed or not.

During a study in 1891, Professor Reul discovered some native dogs that differed in color and coat from the Chiens de Berger Belge and named them as Belgian Shepherds. It was in the area of Malines that the short-haired variety was bred and that they came to be identified as the Belgian Malinois, named after the locale.

Although the Belgian Malinois were very popular in Belgium, they found it more difficult in the United States. They were able to earn some popularity only between 1911 and World War II. With the end of the Second World War, the number of registrations dropped again. It was only after the separation of this breed in 1959 that their registrations again started to grow. However, the Belgian Malinois has yet to be able to acquire the same popularity as the other Belgian breeds.

Bedlington Terrier Dog

The Bedlington Terrier is graceful and lithe, with no sign of coarseness. It is alert, full of energy and courageous. It runs at great speed and is notable for its endurance. A "real wolf in sheep’s clothing."

Physical Characteristics

Although this terrier resembles a lamb, it has the qualities of a wolf and can fight and chase tough opponents. The lithe and graceful terrier has a well-marked, robust outline. The arched haunch provides it with agility and speed, and a springy, light gait.

The Bedlington's protective coat, meanwhile, which is either blue, sandy, liver, and/or tan in color, is a combination of soft and hard hair that stands away from the skin.

Personality and Temperament

The Bedlington Terrier has proven itself loyal and a good companion. It is one of the softer terriers in temperament, feel, and look. A calm house dog, it will not start a fight but is not one to be frightened of other dogs and can become an aggressive fighter when forced. Additionally, the Bedlington Terrier may chase small animals outdoors, but it will live in harmony with other household pets.

Care

The Bedlington Terrier's coat needs to be combed every week and trimmed once a month to shape it. Normally the hair that sheds clings to the coat, instead of falling off. As the Bedlington loves to chase, it should be given daily workouts in a safe area. A vigorous romp or a nice long walk can also meet the dog’s exercise requirements. However, this breed is not suited for outdoor living.

Health

The Bedlington Terrier, which has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years, is prone to major health ailments like copper toxicosis and minor ones such as renal cortical hypoplasia, retinal dysplasia, and distichiasis. At times, it may suffer frompatellar luxation. DNA tests for copper toxicosis and liver biopsy are suggested, as are eye tests.

History and Background

The Bedlington Terrier, an extraordinary variety of the terrier group, is an English breed, originating in Northumberland’s Hanny Hills. Even though the exact origin is not known, it is speculated that the late 18th century saw the development of a variety of game terriers called Rothbury Terriers.

Joseph Ainsley of Bedlington Town interbred two Rothbury Terriers in 1825 and named the offspring the Bedlington Terrier. There was occasional crossbreeding with other strains including the Whippet for pace and Dandie Dinmont Terrier for a better coat, but these crosses were not documented. Some breed historians even believe that these crosses never happened. Nonetheless, the result of interbreeding resulted in a sprightly game terrier that could chase otters, badgers, foxes, rabbits, and rats.

The Bedlington Terrier gained popularity as a show dog in the late 19th century. And although dog fanciers first favored the dog's lamb-like appearance, the difficulties of trimming the coat quickly diminished the demand of the breed. With the availability of better grooming tools, however, the breed later regained its previous acclaim.

Beauceron Dog

An old breed of herding dog developed solely in France with no foreign crosses, the Beauceron is known for its ability to herd and guard large flocks of sheep, as well as for being able to move the flock up to 50 miles per day without showing signs of exhaustion.

Physical Characteristics

The Beauceron is a powerful dog with a sturdy physique, enabling it to work for long hours at a time. One of its distinct physical features is the presence of double dewclaws on the hind legs, which is normally seen in French herding and flock dogs. When it moves, the head remains down at the back level instead of being held high -- a feature common in herding breeds.

The Beauceron also has strong jaws and a body that moves quickly. Its gait is ground-covering and easy. In addition, its coat (consisting of a dense undercoat and a coarse, straight, average length outer coat) is waterproof and black, tan, or harlequin in color.

Personality and Temperament

The Beauceron is bold yet gentle and highly intelligent. Although loving with children, the Beauceron is a bit wary of strangers and other dogs. The breed, in fact, does not get along well with most pets. One of its distinguishing characteristics is that the Beauceron can very easily memorize tasks, making it a loyal and competent companion.

Care

The Beauceron loves spending time with its human family and performs best when kept inside the house with access to the outdoors. It is highly active and enthusiastic in nature. Exercise on a regular basis is essential, otherwise they tend to get bored and frustrated. But exercise does not mean only physical exercise, a great deal of mental exercise is also required to keep them absolutely fit and fine.

Health

The Beauceron, which has a lifespan of 8 to 10 years, does not have any major health problems. It is, however, susceptible to some minor health concerns such as gastric torsion and canine hip dysplasia (CHD). Beaucerons, therefore, should be taken to the veterinarian for regular hip exams.

History and Background

The Beauceron is a superb herding breed that is very obedient and excellent at tracking. It is the biggest of the French sheepdogs and is well-known for its obedience. As for the history of the Beauceron, it is a purely French breed whose origin dates back to the late 16th century on the plains of Paris, called La Beauce. First used as a farm dog for protecting cattle and sheep, the Beauceron was separated into two working types in 1863: the guard dog and plains flock herder. The long-coated variety were known as Berger de Brie (or Briard) and the short-coated type came to be identified as Berger de Beauce (or Beauceron).

The first Berger de Beauce was enrolled by the Société Centrale Canine in 1893. It was in 1922 that the first club for this breed was established, but they were not that popular outside of France. Beaucerons were used by the French army during the First and the Second World War, and they continue to serve as police and military dogs, as well as guard dogs for families.

The popularity of the Beauceron began may have begun in France, but it later spread to other regions when an effort was made to preserve the qualities of the native breed in the 1960s. The Beauceron Club of America was established in 1980, and only recently received recognition by the American Kennel Club (as part of the Miscellaneous class in 2001).

Bearded Collie Dog Info

Lovingly referred to as the Beardie, the Bearded Collie is an intelligent, curious-looking dog breed that loves to play with children. Thought to be originally from Britain, it later spent some time in Scotland as a sheep and cattle herder before coming to America. The Bearded Collie is now mostly bred for dog shows, though it makes an excellent family companion.

Physical Characteristics

The Bearded Collie has a sturdy medium-sized body. Its long, lean body provides it both power and agility, essential qualities in a sheep herding dog. Besides its ability to make smooth, quick movements, the Bearded Collie possesses a double coat, which is soft and furry underneath with a straight, flat, and coarse outer coat. This outer coat comes in either black, blue, brown, or fawn, with or without white markings. Its facial expression is both bright and keen.

Personality and Temperament

The Bearded Collie is extremely smart, cheerful, playful, and always active. Full of enthusiasm and energy, the dog is obedient in nature and prefers to spend time with people. It can have an independent attitude at times, but loves playing with children; and although it can become too boisterous with children, it is never intentionally aggressive. Otherwise, the Bearded Collie is pleasant to live with.

Care

Although the Bearded Collie can live outside in cool climates, it prefers to remain indoors with its master and family. Walking and playing sessions are recommended for keeping the dog in optimum form, and herding is its favorite activity. The Bearded Collie should be combed and brushed regularly to keep its coat lustrous and tangle free.

Health

With a lifespan of about 12 to 14 years, the Bearded Collie is susceptible to some minor health problems, including colonic disease, canine hip dysplasia (CHD),hypoadrenocorticism, pemphigus, and epilepsy. Other diseases that can be occasionally seen in the breed are cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), von Willebrand's disease (vWD), and persistent pupillary membrane. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may run thyroid, hip, and eye exams on the dog.

History and Background

Occasionally referred to as the Highland Collie, the Mountain Collie, or simply Beardie, the Bearded Collie is one of Britain's oldest breeds. Its origins are thought to date back to the early 1600s, with a relation to the Polish Lowland Sheepdog breed. The earliest known picture of the Bearded Collie, however, was not until 1771, when a dog of similar appearance was placed in a portrait with the Duke of Buccleuch. A description of the breed was later published in an 1818 edition of Livestock Journal.

The dog proved to be an excellent sheep and cattle herder, both in the rough terrain of England and in Scotland. It was only afterwards, during the Victorian era, that the Bearded Collie came to be regarded as a popular show dog. This occurred when the two breeds of the Highland strain with gray and white coats, and the brown and white way coat Border strains were crossbred to form a single breed.

The Bearded Collie was introduced to the United States in the late 1950s, and by July 1969, the Bearded Collie Club of America was founded. The breed became eligible to be shown in the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Miscellaneous Class in 1977 and was given full status as part of the AKC's Herding Group in 1983.

Beagle Dog

The Beagle is a medium-sized breed belonging to the hound sporting group. Though many variations of this breed have existed throughout history, the modern breed emerged in England in the early 1800s. The Beagle is a popular choice for pet owners because of its size and calm temperament, and is useful for hunters because of its sharp sense of smell.

Physical Characteristics

Having a solid structure, the Beagle resembles a Foxhound. Hunters can follow the dog on foot, and the tuneful bay of the Beagle aids hunters in locating the dog from a distance. Because of its moderate size, the Beagle can even be carried to the hunting site, where it can then scurry into the dense undergrowth to look for the target. The dog receives protection against the thick underbrush from its coarse and close coat. And being an amicable dog makes it a great pack hunter, mixing well with other dogs.

Personality and Temperament

Known to be among the most friendly of the hound breeds, the Beagle was developed to be a pack hunter. The best qualities in the Beagle are its fondness for exploring the outdoors and its enthusiasm for trailing. This independent breed barks, howls, and sometimes runs off on a trail on its own. Because it is also an incredibly tolerant, calm and adventurously playful dog, the Beagle also makes a perfect pet for families with children.

Care

The Beagle is a social dog that is particularly well suited to the company of humans and other dogs alike. It also needs to spend equal time in the yard as it does in the house. Regular exercise, such as a romp at the park or in a spacious yard area, along with regular leash-led walks are great outdoor activities for the Beagle. This breed can withstand temperate climates and live outdoors most seasons, as long as it has bedding and an enclosed, warm shelter. With its short, close coat, the Beagle does not require extensive grooming. An occasional brushing to encourage turnover of hair, and to minimize hair buildup in the house is all that is needed to keep your Beagle looking healthy and vibrant.

Health

The Beagle has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years. While this breed is generally healthy overall, some specific ailments that are known to affect the Beagle breed are patellar luxation, glaucoma, epilepsy, central progressive retinal atrophy (CPRA), hypothyroidism, distichiasis, chondrodysplasia, cherry eye, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Deafness, cataract, hemophilia A, demodicosis, and umbilical hernia are some other health problems that affect the breed, while some major ailments include primary carnitine deficiency (CUD) and intervertebral disk disease. Some exams used to identify these conditions include hip, thyroid, and eye tests.

History and Background

The word “beagle” is thought to have come from certain old French words meaning an open throat, a possible connection to the dog’s musical bay. It is also speculated that the dog’s name might have derived from old French, Celtic or English words meaning small. Beagle-like dogs were probably used for the popular sport of hare-hunting in England during the 1300s, but the term "beagle" was not used until 1475. Hunters would follow the dog on foot and sometimes even carry one in his pocket. There were several sizes of Beagles in the 1800s, but the pocket-size dogs were most popular. These small dogs measured only about nine inches and required the hunter's help while crossing rough fields. Because the smaller Beagles were slower and easier to follow on foot, they appealed especially to women, the elderly, and those who otherwise did not have the stamina or inclination to keep up with an active dog.

The first mention of the Beagle in the United States occurred in the town records of Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1642. Before the American Civil War, people in the South used Beagles, but these dogs did not resemble English Beagles. However, when the war was over, English Beagles were imported for crossbreeding and to develop the modern American Beagle we know today. The last part of the 19th century saw the emergence of Beagles as popular competitors on the field and in exhibitions. Soon thereafter, this little hound dog with the melodic howl came to be amongst the most preferred family pets in the U.S.

Basset Hound Dog

Gentle and non-confrontational, the Basset is instantly recognizable by its big, heavy body, long ears, and short legs. Basset, in fact, comes from the French word bas, which means "low." One thing is for certain, the Basset Hound is an excellent tracker and hunter but also a loyal pet.

  

Physical Characteristics

The Basset Hound has a heavy, bony structure, making it larger-proportioned than other breeds. The dog’s short legs and long, heavy body help it run smoothly and powerfully, even in places with thick cover. It moves with its nose pointing to the ground. The tight and thick coat, which can be found in variety of colors, protects the dog from brambles during a hunt.

According to experts, the wrinkles and the long ears help the dog in trapping scent, while its muzzle is spacious in order to accomodate its complicated olfactory apparatus -- an apparatus that makes the large and strong Basset Hound stand out among other dogs, even with its short legs.

Personality and Temperament

By nature, the Basset Hound is very friendly with children and other pets, and is also one of the most relaxed and good-natured of the hound breeds. However, this slow-moving dog may become stubborn at times. Kids should not strain the dog’s back, which is prone to problems.

The Basset Hound is fond of trailing and sniffing, baying loudly while on the trail and inspecting things slowly. As it is a good tracker, the hound will continue to follow game, even if it gets lost.

Care

Daily mild exercise, like playing in the garden or walking on a leash, is good enough to satisfy the Basset. The dog’s face, particularly the wrinkles and around the mouth should always be kept clean, while the coat does not require much grooming. This breed has a tendency to drool and it functions best indoors as a house pet.

Health

The Basset Hound, which has an average lifespan of 8 to 12 years, is prone to major health conditions such as Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD), gastric torsion, elbow dysplasia, thrombopathy, entropion, otitis externa, ectropion, glaucoma, von Willebrand's Disease (vWD), and canine hip dysplasia (CHD).Obesity is a common problem in the breed, which can lead to back problems. It may also suffer from patellar luxation. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend eye and hip exams on this breed of dog; platelet tests may help confirm vWD.

History and Background

The Basset Hound was first mentioned in 16th-century text, which spoke of badger hunting. However, people have used short-legged breeds since ancient times. When such dogs were bred successfully to create the Basset Hound is anyone's guess.

The pre-Revolutionary French used short-legged dogs for hunting, but not much was documented about these dogs. After the French Revolution, many common hunters required a dog that could be followed on foot. This dog also had to be strong, heavy-boned, and short-legged, with good scenting ability.

The Basset was a good choice, as the dog moves slowly, thereby allowing the hunter to attack the quarry easily. Although it normally used to hunt rabbits and hares, the Basset could hunt larger mammals as well. Four types of short-legged hound were eventually created, of which the Basset Artesien Normand was closest to the modern day Basset.

The Basset was crossed with Bloodhounds in the late 1800s, in order to increase the dog’s size. The result was then crossed with the Artesien Normand. It was during the same period when the first Bassets were introduced to America and England, leading to the breed’s popularity. In the mid-1900s, the Basset became popular as a pet and also in the fields of entertainment and advertising, for its funny expression.

Because of its gentle, non-confrontational nature, the Basset remains a favorite among dog fanciers, hunters, and families today.