Dogs - Breed profiles

Presenting the ultimate in beauty and grace, the Afghan Hound is truly a king among dogs. A true aristocrat, the stylish Afghan is an elegant, strong, dignified dog combining great speed and power.

Keen of expression and with a swash-buckling attitude, the Airedale Terrier is the largest of the many terrier breeds and is often referred to as the "King of Terriers." They are probably the most

The American Staffordshire Terrier was originally developed as a working dog by American farmers in the early 1800’s. They were first used for general farm work, hunting, companionship and as homestead guardians.

Originating from Turkey, the Anatolian Shepherd are members of the Mastiff family. Unlike other herding breeds, their nomadic owners used them more for guarding and protection and they were made to

The Australian Cattle Dog was bred in the mid 1800's as a working dog that could easily adapt to the often inhospitable Australian environment. Everything about the breed today - temperament, coat,

It was in the last century when Australian sheep farmers were in need of a special type of working dog that could work the sheeps on the outback properties and under hot climate conditions that the

Historically, there has been much debate about the origins of the Australian Shepherd. However it is now well accepted that the Aussie is more of an American than an Australian as the name suggests.

The aristocratic Basenji is a small, elegant, gazelle-like dog originally used for hunting in central Africa. Personality and Temperament Renowned for the fact that they do not bark, the Basenji

The popular Beagle is a small, pack oriented hunting hound. Although their natural instinct is to hunt, they are highly adaptable and adjust happily to a suburban backyard, as long they have regular exercise to keep fit. As well as a change of scenery, scent and company - either human or another dog.

The Bearded Collie, or "Beardie" as he is popularly known, is one of Britain's oldest breeds. They came to prominence in Peebleshire, in Scotland, where they were highly prized for sheep-herding and

Over 2,000 years ago, the ancestors of the Bernese Mountain Dogs were brought to Switzerland by the invading Roman soldiers.

Bichon Frise, pronounced ‘Bee-shon Free-zay' is a true companion dog and often seen in the company of ladies in Europe during the 16th Century. This cute, curly coated breed remained popular until

The Border Collie derives their name from the border between Scotland and England where these dogs first came to prominence, although the breed was very much developed in Australia. One of the

There are few dogs with a more playful nature than the Boxer. They are strong, boisterous, active and have a very positive personality. It is believed that the Boxer was developed in Germany to serve

Bullmastiffs, originally bred from English Mastiffs and English Bulldogs, were used to catch and hold down poachers in the forests of England during the 19th century. Although developed as a guard

This delightful breed took their name from King Charles II, who enjoyed the company of toy spaniels often far more than of his courtiers. Over time selective breeding gave these spaniels an

Known as the world's smallest dog, the origin of the Chihuahua remains a mystery but it has been said they are a very ancient breed.

The Chinese Crested is believed to originate from Africa where it was used by the Aztecs as a bed warmer. When sailors on Chinese trade ships discovered these little dogs they found them to be great

The Cocker Spaniel's original purpose in life was to flush out woodcock from the thick hedgerows, gorse and undergrowth of England. They most commonly referred to as "Wood-cocking spaniels" hence

Bred in Germany and were used by foresters and hunters to hunt badgers, the Dachshund is a low set, short legged, long bodied dog designed to go to ground and follow the preys into their burrows.

An elegant animal of ancient lineage, the Dalmatian with their picturesque spotting is certainly one of the most distinctive looking of all breeds. Their traditional role in life was that of a

The Deerhound was once known as the Royal Dog of Scotland when there was a time when no person below the rank of Earl was permitted by law to own a Deerhound. In fact, the breed was held in such high

The Dobermann was the creation of a German tax collector, Herr Louis Dobermann. Herr Dobermann was in need of an alert, companion dog to protect him when he was doing his rounds. As he was also the

The Dogue de Bordeaux, or sometimes referred to as a French Mastiff became a popular canine icon after appearing with Tom Hanks in Turner and Hooch. Originally used for hunting and guarding the Dogue

Fondly referred to as the 'Foxie', this little power packet of a dog was originally favoured for use in the sport of fox hunting. The Foxie was charged with chasing foxes from drains and refuge holes

The origins of the French Bulldog, fondly known as the Frenchie, are a little uncertain. The French recognise this little bulldog as a national breed but it is possible they are descendents of the

The undisputed king of dogs, the versatile German Shepherd has done more in the service of mankind than any other. Apart from their original role in herding and protecting sheep they have excelled as

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a powerful, agile, well-balanced dog, possessing great intelligence and animation. Not happy as a lapdog or flat dweller, he/she needs space to stretch out and have

The Golden Retriever was developed through judicious crossbreeding of various gundogs on the estate of Lord Tweedmouth at Inverness Shire in Scotland. The purpose was to create a powerfully-built, agile hunting dog that could retrieve waterfowl under conditions of extreme wet and cold.

The gentle giant we know today, the Great Dane, originated from Germany where they were also known as Boar Hound. As the name suggests, the Great Dane's large stature made them well suited to boar

One of the most elegant and athletic of canine breeds, the Greyhound is also one of the most gentle. Whilst their "prey" drive, or urge to chase moving animals or objects is well developed they

Known in Hungary as the Yellow Pointer, the Vizsla was the original companion sporting dog of the early warlords and landed aristocracy. Bred for hunting both fur and feather, and pointing and

Coveted for their hunting prowess, the Irish Wolfhound was, by law, originally only permitted to be owned by kings, nobles and poets. He hunted wolves, wild boar and the gigantic Irish elk. As you

This game, hardy little Terrier takes its name from the Rev. John (Jack) Russell, a fox-hunting Parson. He was obsessed with the development of an ideal terrier which could flush the fox from its

Originated in Newfoundland, off the coast of Canada, the Labrador Retrievers were first used to retrieve large fish escaping from nets in icy waters and waterfowls. In the 19th century, they were

The Maltese has a colourful yet unconfirmed history and has played an important companion role throughout the world. Fondly described as the 'lady's jewel', the Maltese was a pet of the noble ladies

Originated in Germany as a ratter and companion dog, the Miniature Pinscher in fun loving and has a high self-esteem. Also known as 'Min Pins' they may be one of out most underrated small dogs. The

This little dog takes the name from the French word for butterfly - papillon. Not only do they have large fringed ears closely resembling a butterfly's wings, but also a thin white blaze between the

These Royal Dogs of China were considered sacred animals and, as such, were bred and carefully guarded in the Imperial Palace where only those within the royal circle were permitted to own one. Theft

The smallest of the Spitz group of dogs, the Pomeranian is a descendant of the much larger artic breeds such as the Samoyed. Allegedly named after the province of Pomerania in Europe, this breed was

The origins of the Pug are thought to lie in China nearly 2000 years ago. Subsequently around the 1500's the Pug was introduced to Europe by merchants where they soon became the dog of high society

Referred to in some readings as the African Lion Hound, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is said to take its ancestry from the canine hunting companions of native warriors from South Africa. By necessity, the

Originally known as the Butcher's Dog of Rottweil, after the small German town where the breed developed, the Rottweiler was a cattle and guard dog of great repute. Not only would the Rottweiler

Renowned as the rescue dog of Switzerland, the Saint Bernard was bred for centuries by the monks from the St Bernard Hospice in the Swiss Alps. The Saint Bernard's sense of smell enables them to

The Samoyed originated in the north-west of Siberia, where they were used for herding reindeer and pulling sledges. They took their name from the nomadic Samoyed tribe, who regarded these dogs as

The word Schipperke is Flemish for 'little skipper', and derives from the fact that these small active dogs were used as watchdogs, companions and ratters on barges and riverboats in Belgium.

The Schnauzer originated in Germany and acquired their name from the German words "schnauze" (snout or muzzle) and "schnauzbart" (moustache). They come in three distinct varieties - Giant, Standard

Affectionately known as the Scottie, this terrier is a hardy, courageous, loyal and an often stubborn companion. With records stretching back some 500 years, it is thought that the Scottie may be the

A bundle of wrinkles, the Shar-pei has origins from over 2000 years ago in southern China. Shar-Pei literally means 'sand-skin', referring to the unque rough, sand paper like coat found only in this

Faithful, supremely intelligent, and with great beauty, the "Sheltie" as he is affectionately called, originated in the Shetland Islands off the north coast of Scotland. The dwarfing effect of

This proud breed goes all the way back to the Jouman period in Japan (before 300BC). It is the most popular dog breed in Japan with more than 1 million registered. The Shiba Inu is almost like a cat

The history of the Shih Tzu is a little mysterious but DNA analysis confirms that the ancestors of today's Shih Tzu breed are one of the most ancient dog breeds. It is believed the Shih Tzu's close

Best known of the various sled dog breeds and for their wolf like appearance, the Siberian Husky was bred by the Chukchi people from northeast Asia. Later on they were imported into Alaska and

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier often fondly referred to as the Staffy does everything full throttle; play, exercise, eat and adore!

Used for centuries by the monks of Tibet to turn their prayer wheels by means of a small treadmill, the Tibetan Spaniels were considered a sacred animal. The monks also used to put them inside the

It is widely believed that the Weimaraner was bred at the court of the Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar in Germany. As such it is the oldest German pointing breed, and has been pure bred for about

The Welsh Corgi-Cardigan developed as a cattle herding dog in the Cardiganshire district of Wales. The Cardigan Corgi is a loyal, gentle companion and is easily trained. The Cardigan Corgi was bred

The very popular West Highland White Terrier was originally a hunter in Scotland where their tremendous stamina, courage and agility made the Westie exceptionally suitable for the rugged Scottish

Whippets are a true sporting hound, bred for speed and are the fastest domesticated animal for their weight, capable of up to 56 kilometres per hour. Whilst Whippets look like miniature greyhounds,