The Boston Terrier originated in Boston and were bred to fight other dogs for sport. They are a mixture of the English White Terrier, French Bulldog and the English Bulldog but have been bred smaller and smaller to attain their current size! Today the Boston Terrier is used primarily for companionship to people.

This breed has a very toned little body with a small head and a flat, pushed-in muzzle. Their ears are triangular and pricked upward giving them a constant alert look. The Boston Terrier has long legs that are athletic and muscular giving them their stamina and speed. Naturally their tail is short and stubby like that of a boxer.

The Boston Terrier is a polite, sweet and goofy little dog that is devoted to their families. They are clever and spend their days playing or exploring! This breed will be great for families because they adore children, and will get along with other dogs and smaller pets.

Breed Group

Non-Sporting

Size

Males: 15-17 inches high
Females: 15-17 inches high

Weight

Males: 10-25 lbs
Females: 10-25 lbs

Color(s)

The Boston Terrier will come in a brindle, medium brown, or black and all will be accompanied with white markings on their face, legs, paws and chest.

Coat

The Boston Terrier has a very short, hard coat that is smooth to the touch. They will need weekly brushing just to remove the dead fur from their coats.

Life Expectancy

About 15 years.

Personality

The Boston Terrier is a fun loving breed that likes to clown around. They are energetic, happy-go-lucky dogs that literally live for their owners. Characteristically, this breed is loyal and friendly but there might be some friction between them and other dogs of the same sex. Their popularity started off in the United States and quickly spread throughout the world because their personalities and appearance are appealing to people of many lifestyles.

Despite the fact that the Boston Terrier can be a bit stubborn, they tend to pick up basic obedience commands quickly and their knowledge of this will stay with them throughout their lives. They are known to love being held but also enjoy time to themselves making them a well rounded dog.

Care

This breed will need very minimal grooming because their coat is short and they keep themselves quite clean as it is. Brushing once per week and bathing every 2 months will be perfect for this dog’s coat. The Boston Terrier is prone to skin allergies, heart conditions (due to their deep chest), breathing difficulties (due to their pushed in face) and luxating patella’s. They are also prone to a few eye ailments such as Cherry eye, and cataracts.

Training

The Boston Terrier is a loving breed that wants nothing but to please their masters, making their trainability level quite easy. These dogs are incredibly clever and will be able to be taught many tricks as well as different trials of training such as agility! Boston Terriers are notorious for being harder to housetrain but this can be taught quickly if the owner is consistent and clear.

Activity

The Boston Terrier will need about half an hour of exercise per day to keep them tired out! Either time spent in an off-leash dog park or on a longer walk will be perfect. These dogs love to play and will burn off their energy quicker if they are exercised off-leash and have the chance to play with other dogs or chase after a ball. The Boston Terrier will do well in an apartment because they don’t need the space of a household to roam around in. A backyard would be great so they can run around in an outside environment at home, but is not needed.

The American Eskimo is a beautiful and well balanced Spitz-type, it looks like a miniature snowy white Samoyed. No one knows exactly when and how they originated.

The American Eskimo is possibly related to the White German Spitz (imported from Germany in the 1800′s), White Keeshond and Samoyed, however as is commonly thought it was not descended from nordic sled dogs.

It has been bred solely to be a loving companion and hardy watch dog, he is wonderful with his family including children and is known for their beauty, agility and longevity.

Breed Group

Non-Sporting, Toy, Miniature, and Standard.

Size

- Toy: 9-12 inches tall (at shoulder)
- Miniature: 12-15 inches tall (at shoulder)
- Standard: 15-19 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

- Toy: 6-10 lbs

- Miniature: 10-20 lbs
- Standard: 18-35 lbs

Color(s)

Pure white, off white or cream.

Coat

The American Eskimo Dog has a double coat. The undercoat is dense and plush-like, while outer coat is harsh and straight, not curly or wavy.

Life Expectancy

About 12 – 15 years.

Personality

The American Eskimo are considered to be one of the most intelligent of all dog breeds. He is a charming, affectionate, hardy and playful nordic type dog who enjoy cold better than hot weather. Eminently pet-able, Eskimos need to be part of the family and loves to be lavished with attention. Naturally wary of strangers, never overly shy nor aggressive, they become instant friends once introduced to them.

Care

The American Eskimo is an exceptionally healthy breed, although they are prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, also fleas can cause dermatitis.

The thick snowy white coat is easier to maintain then you may think because it contains natural oil that drive-off dirt.

The American Eskimo need to be brush three or four time a week with a firm bristle in spring and summer because he tend to sheds heavily, otherwise grooming is moderate.

Training

Eskies are easily trained and extremely intelligent, he learn new tasks quickly and tend to ranks highly in obedience trials. The American Eskimo need to be stimulated and is training must be done with firmness, gentleness and consistency. They make excellent watchdogs of their family and home, suspicious and wary, they bark to announce the presence of strangers.

Activity

American Eskimos must have regular daily exercise because this breed can gain weight easily if it does not get enough. Eskies are very active indoors and benefit immensely from family play sessions. They enjoy daily walks or playing in an enclosed yard.

In the winter of 1807, two Newfoundlands were brought to Maryland on an English ship.

The two dogs were given to a family and were later mixed with local retrievers. This breed was first used for hunting in the Chesapeake Bay and later revealed to be an outstanding retriever.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

Male: 23-26 inches
Female: 21-24 inches

Weight

Male: 65-75 lbs
Female: 55-65 lbs

Color(s)

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever’s color can vary from dark brown to faded tan or deadgrass. Little white spots can appear on the chest and the toes.

Coat

The outer coat is thick and short, the undercoat, dense and woolly. The hairs on the face and the legs are very short and straight, with a tendency to wave on the shoulders, the back and the neck.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 12 years.

Personality

The Chesapeake is friendly, loving and affectionate with family and the children. This is an intelligent and obedient breed, however a little slow to learn and with a mind of their own. They are willing, courageous and strong with a tendency to be very territorial. The Chesapeake is different from other retrievers as it tends to be more aggressive and reserved with strangers. This dog is also very slow to mature.

Care

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is prone to hip dysplasia and hereditary eye diseases.

The Chesapeake needs to be brushed regularly to remove dead hairs and needs occasional bathing to prevent little odors, but not too often.

Training

The owner of a Chesapeake Bay Retriever must be experienced and confident. These dogs like to have it their own way so the training should be made with authority, but kindly. The Chesapeake can be prone to dominance problems so it’s important to socialize and train them properly. This dogs needs a dominant master that knows how to handle it.

Activity

The Chesapeake needs a lot of daily exercise, including swimming if possible or they can become bored and show bad behavior.

Virtually unknown outside of the United States, the American Water Spaniel are considered a rare breed, which was obviously created by mixing Irish Water Spaniels and Curly-Coated Retrievers.

Since the 18th century this long legged medium sized spaniel was developed primarily as a hunting dog to retrieve from small boats such as skiffs or canoes. Active and muscular, strong swimmer, he was sometimes referred to as the lifeguard of dog breeds.

Breed Group

Sporting

Size

15 – 18 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

25 – 45 lbs

Color(s)

The American Water Spaniel has a dark brown coat and typically has white toes and/or chest

Coat

The American Water Spaniel has a dense double coat. The outer coat it curly, while the under coat is oily and weather/water resistant.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 12 years.

Personality

The American Water Spaniel is affectionate towards people, children and other pets, friendly, obedient and willing to please he make an ideal family pet. This competent retriever makes a tireless companion in the hunt. He also has the usual loyalty, brainy and compliant spaniel qualities.

Care

The rarity of the American Water Spaniel has enabled them to remain a healthy breed free of genetic disease. They may, however, have skin allergies. Brush them thoroughly at least twice a week. Bathe using a mild shampoo only when it’s absolutely necessary.

Training

They’re bred for the water, intelligent and trainable, hunting comes natural to them and they do it with excitement and enthusiasm. The American Water Spaniel has a highly sensitive nature and the training should be done with patience, consistency, and fairness. They’re an excellent watchdog, yet they tend to bark excessively.

Activity

This breed require 2 hours minimum a day of vigorous exercise or a home in the country setting with large yard. American Water Spaniels enjoys daily jogging (securely leashed, because they have a tendency to roam) playing Frisbee and swimming either in a pool or at the beach.

Originated in nineteenth century in the English region of Staffordshire, by crossing bulldogs and various terriers. Two strains of these dogs were developed to its present looks in America, a show strain, the American Staffordshire Terrier and a fighting Dog strain labeled the American Pit Bull Terrier which is a much more aggressive dog.

The two are now being recognized as separate breeds and they both make gentle and loving pets towards people with the right kind of owner. The American Staffordshire has a stocky and powerfully muscular body and is extremely strong for his size, also they has a very high tolerance for pain. The American Staffordshire Terrier is faithful and courageous, highly protective and devoted to his family.

Breed Group

Terrier

Size

16 – 19 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

40 – 60 lbs

Color(s)

Can come in many colors including black and tan, red, brown, and white.

Coat

The Staffordshire Terrier has a very short coat, stiff to the touch, close, stiff, and glossy.

Life Expectancy

About 9 – 15 years.

Personality

The American Staffordshire Terrier is good-natured, stable, and responsive to things around them, it has given outstanding results as a guardian of property. Extremely loyal the Am Staff wants nothing more then to please its master. The American Staffordshire Terrier does well with children and adults when socialized from a puppy, but tend to be territorial especially towards other animals and should not be left unsupervised around them.

Care

A generally healthy breed, the American Staffordshire Terrier are prone to hip dysplasia, hereditary cataracts and congenital heart disease. The smooth, short-haired coat requires minimal, to sometimes no grooming. Occasional bath is all right, but dry shampooing is preferred. Brush on a regularly with a firm bristle brush.

Training

All dogs have an instinct to have a pack order, and this breed is not for the owner who does not understand that. The American Staffordshire Terrier need a dominant and experienced handler. It is an excellent guard dogs, intelligent and courageous yet very willful and stubborn, protective of its family.

Its training can be a little difficult because of his independent character and is very high energy. When properly trained and socialized at an early age, the American Staffordshire Terrier makes a great friend. Some of the Am Staff talents are watchdog, farmers and police helper, is also great in weight pulling and agility.

Activity

If the American Staffordshire Terrier have plenty of regular exercise (At least two hours), he will do okay in an apartment yet he have the tendency to become bored indoors. At least a medium sized yard to run and daily walks, also, make sure to keep them leashed in public to avoid troubles.

Originally used 2000 to 3000 years ago, the Alaskan Malamute is the oldest of the Nordic dogs. It gets its name from Mahlemuts, a tribe of northwestern Alaska.

He was developed by the nomadic Inuit Indians to haul their possessions over long distances and was highly valued. This large Alaskan dog was built for strength and endurance rather than speed.

Breed Group

Working

Size

22 – 28 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

70 – 115 lbs

Color(s)

The usual colors may include various shades of gray to black as well as sables to red, the legs and muzzle nearly always white.

Coat

The Malamutes breed wears a thick double coat of medium length. The outer coat is coarse protecting it from extreme weather and the undercoat is dense, oily and woolly.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 15 years.

Personality

The Alaskan Malamute makes a loyal, devoted companion, not a “one man” dog, they are certain to make a nice family pet. He does well which children who are old enough to play with him safely. Extremely loyal, affectionate and friendly, the Alaskan Malamute isn’t all work and no play. Males can be very dominant and both sexes can be combative with other dogs. Although very intelligent this calm and quiet dog can prove to be a bit stubborn.

Care

The Alaskan Malamute is a very sturdy breed, however they are prone to hip dysplasia but less then many others large breed. Some are subject to anemia, chondrodysplasia and possible day blindness. Clean and odorless, bathes for this breed really aren’t necessary. The Alaskan Malamute dense coat should be brushed twice a week in the spring, one is enough at other times. In summer make sure they have shade spot and clean cool water because he does not like hot, humid weather.

Training

Although this is not a breed for the first-time dog owner, it is not especially hard to train them to be well-mannered because they are eager to please. Firm handling and obedience training are imperative as well as proper socialization with people and other dogs. The Alaskan Malamute are large and strong working dog bred for sledding and independence, they have participated in many polar expeditions due to their legendary endurance and sense of direction. The Alaskan Malamute are very friendly and therefore are not suitable as a guard dogs.

Activity

Alaskan Malamutes are very active and tireless dogs and are not recommended for apartment life, they prefers largely to pull a sled or a wheeled cart outside all day. Malamutes need a minimum of 2 hours exercise a day, but be careful not to overdue it if the conditions are too hot.

The Toy Fox Terrier originated in the United States and was bred to be a ratter and to hunt small vermin. Their ancestor is the Smooth Fox Terrier but these dogs were bred to be much smaller which was done by mixing in the Italian Greyhound, English Toy Terrier and the Chihuahua. Today these dogs resemble the Jack Russell Terrier as their body and facial expressions are very similar to them. The Toy Fox Terrier also goes by the name American Toy Terrier.

The Toy Fox Terrier has a compact small body that is muscular and athletic. Their muzzle is long and their eyes have a curious expression to them. They have toned legs which help them in the hunt for mice or rats, and a naturally long tail that is docked for show purposes. The Toy Fox Terrier has a short hard coat that will come in white with black accents on the face, body and tail. Tan accents also occur in this breed.

This little dog has a mischievous and inquisitive personality that they love to show off. They have the mind set of a much larger animal and is outgoing with other big animals. They tend to get along great with people and are used for helping the deaf as a hearing dog!

Breed Group

Terrier

Size

Males: around 10 inches high
Females: around 10 inches high

Weight

Males: 3-7 lbs
Females: 3-7 lbs

Color(s)

The Toy Fox Terrier will come in one colour variety which is a white with black or tan accents. The black and tan will be on their face, ears or tail.

Coat

This breed has a thick short coat that sheds quite a bit. It feels smooth yet hard to the touch and will need to be brushed about once per week just to remove dead fur. Bathing is required every 2-3 months as they are relatively clean dogs.

Life Expectancy

About 13-14 years.

Personality

The Toy Fox Terrier is a playful and affectionate breed that will be great for people or families with no smaller pets and older children. This breeds instinct is to hunt vermin so mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. will be considered prey to them. Younger children will be to rough for this little guy to endure so older children are recommended to interact with this dog. Stubborn yet clever, the Toy Fox Terrier is an entertaining little breed that does not act like a small dog. They are not a prissy breed that need to be carried from place to place as they are much tougher than they look.

Although this breed is extremely tiny, they can be trained to do very important tasks and have helped out the handicapped and in some cases the deaf! They have a quick responsive mind that makes them relatively simple to train whether that be in obedience or for little tricks.

Care

This breed has a very short coat that will need weekly brushing and bathes about every 2 months to upkeep their appearance. They are a low maintenance dog that will take roughly 15 minutes per week of grooming. The Toy Fox Terrier is prone to legg-calve-perthes syndrome, luxating patella’s and some have allergies to food such as wheat, corn and beet pulp. The breed is generally a very healthy dog with the above diseases being a rarity.

Training

This breed is a clever little dog that will excel in training provided their owner is firm and consistent with them. They have been known to excel highly in basic obedience as they have a high intelligence level that just needs a gentle training method to encourage it. These dogs have the personality and trainability to become hearing dogs for the deaf or handicapped.

Activity

This little dog will need about a half of hour of exercise per day and either a walk or time spent in a dog park will be perfect for them. These dogs tend to tire themselves out during the day so not to much activity will be needed. The Toy Fox Terrier will be perfect for people that live in apartments as they don’t require much room, although a back yard would be great so they have an outdoor area to run around in.

The Plott Hound is probably one of the least known hounds and has only recently been an AKC registered dog breed. Ancestors of today’s Plott Hound were used to hunt boar in Germany, but were brought over to America to hunt bears. These dogs are known for their courage and for their stamina.

Breed Group

Hound

Size

Male dogs: 24 to 27 inches

Female dogs: 21 to 25 inches

Weight

Male: 50-75 lbs

Female: 40-65 lbs

Color(s)

The Plott has a distinctive “brindle” which is defined by the National Plott Association as a line or stripe effect that is made with two different hair colors. The shades that are acceptable on a Plott are yellow, red, tan, brown, black, grey and Maltese. White markings are accepted on the chest and feet.

Coat

The Plott Hound has smooth short or medium length hair with a glossy appearance.

Life Expectancy

About 12-14 years.

Personality

This is a very fast and active dog breed. They usually accompany hunters and are very vicious with their “game”. The breed is very alert and quick to learn new things. They will be very affectionate with their master and family and they are always very eager to please.

Care

A Plott Hound should get a lot of exercise and moderate care. This dog breed does not require much grooming. Long walks and trail exercise is great for Plotts.

Training

The Plott Hound is very trainable. They are aggressive in the hunt, but they are very obedient with their master and will follow orders. Training these dogs at an early age is always has the best results.

Activity

They need a lot of exercise and it is definitely not recommended to confine a Plott to a small area like an apartment. It is best if the owner has a backyard that the Plott can roam freely; or even in a rural area!

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a cross between a Fox Hound and a Blood Hound. This breed originated in the United States, and in 1945 they were recognized as a Hound, making them the only one out of six types of Coonhound in the American Kennel Club Hound group.

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a scent hound used to hunt down deer, stag, mountain lion, bear, cougar and most commonly, raccoon. They use their powerful sense of smell to locate their prey and when it is found, they unleash a remarkably loud howl to alert their master of the discovery.

The Black and Tan Coonhound has been bred to keep their unique coat colouring. They have a bulky head with floppy square shaped ears and a large nose. The body of this breed is as long as it is high, making them a sturdy and powerful dog.

Breed Group

Hound

Size

Male: 25-27 inches high

Female: 23-25 inches high

Weight

Male: 60-80 lbs

Female: 40-75 lbs

Color(s)

Black and Tan.

Coat

The Black and Tan Coonhound has a glossy short coat only coming in black and tan. Their skin is flaccid yet sleek to the touch.

Life Expectancy

About 10-12 years.

Personality

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a very sweet yet docile dog. They are notorious for being loyal and affectionate, making them great companion or working dogs. This breed likes people and enjoys being in the company of children, but should be monitored around other dogs as if they are not socialized as puppies, they can become weary or aggressive as adults.

There are two variations of the Black and Tan Coonhound which are the field variation and the show variation. The field type is smaller but tends to be a better working dog where as the show type is bigger and make better family pets.

Care

The Black and Tan Coonhound will need to be brushed about twice per week as they have a very short coat which does not need as much maintenance as a longer coated dog. This breed is prone to Hip and elbow dysplasia and eye problems, one being Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Training

Being a scent hound, this breed will need to be leashed when walking to ensure they don’t wander off to follow an interesting smell. The Black and Tan Coonhound can be very stubborn so the owner will need to be consistent when training but they should use a positive manner rather than using harsher methods, as those will not be advantageous to either owner nor dog.

Activity

The Black and Tan Coonhound will need a large area to live in, so apartments are not the best living situations. A house with a yard would be perfect as these dogs need to run. Walks will be needed daily or trips to an off-leash dog park so they can run and sniff the grounds safely.

This extraordinary Foxhound come from two breeds, English (brought to America in 1650) and French (sent as a gift by Lafayette to George Washington), this combination have produced the American Foxhound.

Favored as a hunting dog he has been developed to have a keener sense of smell, and to be even faster in the chase than its European cousins.

Breed Group

Hound

Size

21-25 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

60 – 75 lbs

Color(s)

Any color but the most commonly seen are a mix of white, brown, grey and black.

Coat

A close to the body, harsh to the touch coat of medium length.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 14 years.

Personality

Although sweet, affectionate, loyal, gentle and loving at home, the American Foxhound is still primarily a hunting dog and don’t always make good family pets, though he has had some success as a companion dog he is not particularly people oriented. The American Foxhound due to their history as outdoor pack kennel hounds should not be trusted with non-canine pets, however they get along well with other dogs and are kind with children. Once they pick up a scent the Foxhound will follow it no matter how hard you might command them to stop.

Care

The American Foxhounds are a fairly healthy breed, they tend to be free of many genetic diseases such as hip and bone problems. However, genetic deafness and blood disease can hurt them. Avoid overfeeding your Foxhound as he has a tendency to put on weight. The short-haired coat is easy to groom. Comb it with a firm bristle brush, and bath only when necessary.

Training

This breed does best when trained with consistency and its majors talents are hunting and agility. The American Foxhounds can be difficult to housebreak.

Activity

The American Foxhound are very active dogs and needs exercise in plenty or he can become unsatisfied and devastating for is environment. He is exceptionally athletic, he can run from early morning to late at night, give to him regular walks and place to have a run about.