Wire Fox Terrier

The black markings on wire fox terrier puppies’ faces eventually turn brown and then tan, settling by about 2 months; the only permanent black is on their backs. Compared to other breeds, newborn puppies of this breed have rather long faces.

These dogs were originally bred for foxhunting, tracking their quarry, sniffing out their burrows, and killing it. Later, they were trained to drive the foxes out their burrows for hunters to kill.

The breed has a long history, but its exact origin is uncertain. Only in the 18^th century were they called fox terriers. Their coat color resembled that of foxes, so the current colors were developed to prevent mistaken identity.

These feisty, impulsive dogs track and catch quarry instinctively. One owner says, “A Scottish terrier takes action after the quarry approaches, but a fox terrier just runs as soon as he sees moving objects in the distance.” They need a lot of exercise, but they must be trained carefully so that they do not endanger themselves in traffic. Also, their tendency to bark makes them good guard dogs, but they should be trained not to bark unnecessarily.

Frequent brushing and combing are necessary.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height 16 inches or less ; weight 15-20 pounds
(female) Height 14 inches or less ; weight 13-18 pounds
Coat : Wiry, undercoat is soft and dense; Color is predominantly white, with black and tan markings, liver, and red markings are undesirable.

West Highland White Terrier

Newborn Westie puppies are white from head to toe, with pink noses and footpads. Within 3-4 days, their noses and the footpads start getting mole-size black spots that increase until those body parts are all black. Their folded ears will prick up in 2-3 months. From puppyhood, they are geniuses at playing. One owner says, “If he finds one little stick, he can make a fun toy out of it. If he has a toy, he plays well by himself. He plays well with other dogs, too. He finds a good playmate in his mother, and they play together for a long time.”

This cheerful but tough and strong willed breed, named after its homeland in Scotland, was developed from white cairn terriers, which were originally considered weak and cowardly and were commonly weeded out. But then white cairn terriers were bred to make small terriers to hunt small animals. Sensitive to sound, they make good guard dogs, and they need lots of exercises.

Crossbreeding this breed with the cairn terrier was practiced and accepted for a long time, but, since 1917, the AKC has not recognized registration of these crossbred puppies.

Their rough double coat looks soft, but it is coarse and made for the outdoors. Stripping dead hair and trimming are frequently required.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height about 11 inches ; weight 20 pounds or less
(female) Height about 10 inches ; weight 18 pounds or less
Coat : Wiry; color is white.

Welsh Terrier

The inky black coat color on newborn puppies assumes a blanket marking, which makes these dogs look like they are carrying saddles, after about 3-4 months.

If the Airedale terrier is the king of terriers, the much smaller Welsh terrier is the prince of the family. Once called Old English terriers or black-and-tan wirehaired terriers, these dogs have a long history of hunting foxes, badgers, and otters in Wales. Cautions and brave, they make very good guard dogs.

These dogs are intelligent and well behaved, and they like to be around people; they will not thrive if left on their own.

Careful brushing of their wirehaired double coat, and occasional clipping, is sufficient for household pets.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height about 15 inches ; weight about 20 pounds
(female) Height about 14 inches ; weight about 18 pounds
Coat : Wiry; undercoat is soft and dense. Color is tan, with black on black, or dark grizzle with tan.

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

The muzzles and lower faces of newborn soft-coated wheaten terrier puppies are black, but they will gradually lighten, and by 2 years the black markings will disappear, except for the nose and the tips of the ears. Honey-coated dogs tend to keep their mask until they are more than 1 year old, but the mask on true wheaten-coated dogs fades within 2-3 months. Dogs of this cheerful, friendly, and intelligent breed, ancestors of the Kerry blue terrier and the Irish (red) terrier, once worked as sheepdogs, guard dogs, and dogs used to control foxes and other animals in northwestern Ireland. They require a lot of attention and exercise.

The silky double coat of this breed, which is less wavy than the Kerry blue terrier’s, tends to get tangled and requires frequent brushing and combing.

Origin : Ireland
Size : (male) Height 18 inches or less ; weight 40 pounds or less
(female) Height 18 inches or less ; weight 33 pounds or less
Coat : Silky and wavy or curly. Colors include wheaten and honey.

Sealyham Terrier

Even as puppies, these dogs, which look almost like Old English sheepdog puppies and come to resemble messy balls of yarn if their hair is not cut, already have distinct personalities, much like Scottish terriers. As one owner says, “ They are independent. Brothers and sisters don’t band together, but each one plyas on his own.”

This breed, created by cross-breeding bull, Staffordshire bull, West Highland white, and Dandie Dinmont terriers, as well as corgis, was named after Sealyham in southwestern Wales, where it was developed. In concert with packs of otterhounds, Sealyham terriers worked as hound dog, chasing down otters and badgers; they were bred to have whitish coats to avoid being mistaken for their quarry.

These fearless dogs, which serve well as guard dogs, bark loudly for their size but will not do so without reason. Many people are impressed by their cuddly appearance, dominated by their elegant beards and drop ears, but may be surprised by their proud, intelligent temperament.

Though and energetic, they require plenty of exercises, but their food intake must be monitored, as they gain weight easily.

Maintain proper and regular coat care is indispensable. As with other wirehaired terriers, their soft hair must be stripped and the coat should be combed.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height about 11 inches ; weight about 20 pounds
(female) Height about 10 inches ; weight about 18 pounds
Coat : Hard and wiry; undercoat is soft and dense. Color include white and white and lemon; tan markings on the head and ears are permissible.

Scottish Terrier

Scottish terrier puppies are self confident adventurers that start scurrying around as soon as they learn to walk. And, in spite of their short legs, they move fast. One owner says, “Unlike other breeds, they don’t play together. They are independent puppies.” They are also aggressive, so they should socialize with people and other dogs from a young age.

This breed, originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, is nicknamed the Scottie and was once called the Aberdeen terrier. Originally bred as hound dogs for small animals such as foxes, badgers, and weasels that preyed on farm animals, the Scottie has short legs that are convenient for crawling into burrows. Because of their sharp senses, they made, and make, good guard dogs as well, though they should be trained not to bark unnecessarily.

Training in general is very important for this breed, though overly strict methods will make them stubborn. Owners must be flexible and accepting of the Scottie’s strong character. Also, they are curious and are enthusiastic hole diggers.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height 10-11 inches ; weight 19-22 pounds
(female) Height 10-11 inches ; weight 18-21 pounds
Coat : Hard and wiry; undercoat is soft and dense. Colors include black, brindle, gray, and wheaten; a small white marking on the chest is permissible.

Norfolk Terrier

This breed, once considered a variation of the Norwich terrier, was originally called the drop-ear Norwich terrier. However, in 1964, the KC created an independent breed, and the AKC recognized it in 1979. (Their hometown is Norwich, in Norfolk in aestern England.)

In the 1880s, Cambridge University students kept small terriers as ratters. One of them, named Rags, is said to be the ancestor dog of the two breeds. The Norfolk terrier was also called the Trumpington terrier, after a street in Cambridge.

The primary difference between the breeds is their ears. The Norfolk terrier has drop ears set well apart from each other, with rounded tips. Owners of prick-eared puppies often encourage their ears to drop by stroking them, taping them down, or weighting them.

Intelligent and delightful, these dogs make great household pets, but they are full of energy and need lots of exercise. They are also very adventurous and like to dig holes, so they need to be watched carefully. And, though they are the shortest of the Terrier Group, these dogs have stocky bodies and strong legs.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height about 10 inches ; weight 11-13 pounds
(female) Height 9-10 inches ; weight 10-12 pounds
Coat : Wiry. Colors include red, wheaten, grizzle, and black and tan.

Miniature Schnauzer

Most terrier breeds originated in the United Kingdom as hound dogs that hunted vermin, such as foxes, that preyed on farm animals. However, the miniature schnauzer was developed to guard farm stables and catch rats in Germany.

These dogs are very distinctive looking, with their trademark long, soft whiskers (Schnauzer is German for “whiskers”), bushy eyebrows that give them a wise demeanor, and long featherings on their legs.

The miniature schnauzer, based on the standard schnauzer and bred with the Affenpinscher and the poodle, is quite different from the standard and giant breeds.

Alert, intelligent, and fearless, miniature schnauzer are popular for their serious looks and likable character. Also, because they are naturally very cautions and bark a lot, they make good guard dogs.

They are strong and quick to learn but easy to keep, but they can be stubborn and tend to be wary of other dogs. They should be given work to do and given free rein to exercise, but, because of their tendency to bark, they should not be over stimulated. Also, they gain weight easily, so their food intake should be monitored.

Their coat needs daily brushing and combing, and occasionally plucking is required to remove excess hair.

Origin : Germany
Size : (male) Height 12-14 inches ; weight 11-18 pounds
(female) same
Coat : Hard and wiry; undercoat is soft. Color include salt and pepper, black and silver, and black.

Lakeland Terrier

The colorful coat of a Lakeland terrier puppy continues to lighten until about 4 months. At that point, its soft hair should be stripped to produce a wiry coat; soft hair on the eyebrows and legs is desirable, so those areas should not be stripped.

The Lakie’s ancestos were dogs that were good at tracking down foxes living in burrows in the Lake District of northern England as far back as several hundred years ago; their narrow chests permitted them to crawl into small foxholes after their quarry.

These intelligent, energetic, and playful dogs are good observers, but one bad habit left over from their foxhunting days is a penchant for digging holes.

The more care devoted to the coat, the more attractive and wiry it will become; trimming is also necessary. The Lakeland terrier’s rich, wiry beard may get in the way while eating, but it is easily cleaned with a cloth.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height 14-15 inches ; weight about 18 pounds
(female) Height about 14 inches ; weight about 17 pounds
Coat : Wiry, undercoat is soft; featherings on muzzle and legs. Colors include blue, black, red, wheaten, liver, and blue and tan.

Kerry Blue Terrier

Newborn Kerry blue puppies are as black as ink, but, as they mature, their coats usually fade to a charcoal gray and then become an attractive shaggy blue; the color seems to settle in at about 18 months. (Occasionally, a dog remains black, which disqualifies it from dog shows.)

This breed, once called the Irish blue terrier, derives its present name from its origins in Kerry, the southwestern province of Ireland. Because of their bravery, they were once called “blue devils,” and they make powerful friends but dreaded enemies. As one owner says, “They are loyal to their master. It seems that they have strong determination to protect the family, including both people and other dogs.”

These dogs, with their trademark luxuriant beard and curly blue hair, are intelligent and powerful and can manage almost any type of work.

They require a good deal of walking, playing, and interaction. They are amphibious, hunting otters in the water as well as rabbits and rats on land, and are excellent cattle dogs that have excelled at herding sheep and pigs as well. Recognized for their talent and good work attitude, some even work as police dogs and guard dogs in the United Kingdom.

This terrier has a topcoat but no undercoat, which is rare for breeds in this group; because of this characteristic, they have very little odor or hair loss.

The coat is easy to maintain, but it requires daily brushing, and their beards need combing.

Origin : Ireland
Size : (male) Height 18-21 inches ; weight 33-40 pounds
(female) Height 17-20 inches ; weight 29-36 pounds
Coat : Soft and somewhat long. Colors include silver blue and smoke blue.

Jack Russell Terrier

Newborn puppies have very slight variations in markings, but, as they grow older, individual differences such as coat length, hair quality, appearance, and body shape will become distinct.

The reverend Jack Russell, who loved fox hunting, developed this intelligent, courageous, tenacious, energetic, and compact breed in pursuit of the ideal hound dog. Their bodies are just the right size to fit in fox burrows, and they have flexible joints, pendant ears, and white coats that keep them from being mistaken for their quarry by hunters. To control their qualities, one owner says, “Play rough with them, and, while playing with them, teach them who’s boss. It is important to start training after they are grown will not work.” Another says, “Enjoy their unique temperament rather than thinking that they are unruly.”

These persistent chasers tend to rush recklessly after moving objects. Care should be taken that they don’t dash out into moving traffic.

The breed’s name and standards are in flux. The AKC recently changed the breed name from the Jack Russell terrier to the Parson Russell terrier and moved the breed to the Terrier Group from the Miscellaneous Group in April 2003. The KC recognizes only the Parson Russell Terrier, which has longer legs.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : Jack Russell Terrier (male) Height 9-11 inches ; weight 11-13 pounds
(female) same

Parson Russell Terrier (male) Height 12-14 inches ; weight 11-13 pounds
(female) same
Coat : White should be more dominant than black, brown, and tan markings.

Cairn Terrier

Puppies’ coat are sparse and look scraggly compared to those of adults, but they gradually become rich and fluffy. Their coat color will also change; in some cases, it continuous to change even on grown dogs. Its drooping ears will normally prick up at 3-4 months.

These bright, alert dogs make good companions for human children; Toto, of The Wizard of Oz fame, was a cairn terrier. And just like him, they are brave and strong willed and will confront much larger opponents without flinching.

The cairn terrier is named for the pile of rocks it rooted through to hunt foxes, which lived in burrows beneath them because they could not dig deeply enough in the poor Scottish soil. The breed, long invaluable for protecting cattle, is believed to be the oldest in the Terrier Group and may be the ancestor of the Scottish terriers. King James 1 of Scotland offered one of these dogs to the French royal family.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height about 10 inches ; weight about 14 pounds
(female) Height about 10 inches ; weight about 13 pounds
Coat : Rough and long; undercoat is dense. Colors include wheaten, sand, gray, brindle, and colors close to black.

Bull Terrier

Newborn bull terrier puppies are slender, but this quality is temporary; They soon grow up to be stocky and muscular.

This breed was developed for bullbaiting and bearbaiting in the United Kingdom. Because of their brave yet gentlemanly fighting style, bull terrier were once referred to as “white knights.” After these sports were banned, these dogs were bred to be cheerful and friendly, but they still retain a fighting spirit. Comments by owners include, “He likes people, but he is sort of like a spoiled child,” and, “He will do what he decides to do. He never forgets what he doesn’t like.”

True to its appearance, this breed has a strong character, and rigorous training should begin early; also, owners should have enough physical strength and technique to provide serious discipline. One breeder warn, “Never allows them to get too frisky.” It is important to take these dogs for long walks, but never let go of the leash, and maintain strict control.

The miniature bull terrier is a different breed, but the only real difference is its size. Standards other than height and weight are the same for both. The miniature bull terrier’s nature is a little gentler, and, because it is smaller, it is naturally easier to keep.

Coat care is easy, although despite the dog’s tough appearance, its skin is delicate.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height 20-22 inches ; weight 44-56 pounds
(female) Height 19-22 inches ; weight about 44 pounds
Coat : Hard and glossy. Colors include white, brindle, brindle and white, black and white, and red and white.

Miniature bull terrier
Size : (male) Height about 12 inches ; weight about 24 pounds
(female) same
Coat : Same as the bull terrier

Border Terrier

The dark face characteristic of Border terrier puppies becomes lighter as they mature.

Border terrier were once used as hound dogs for foxes that preyed on lambs and as guard dogs in the frontier of Scotland and England, hence their name, though, alternatively, it may derive from when they were teamed up with a breed called the Border foxhound, which tracked foxes before the smaller Border terriers went into their burrows to ferret them out.

Adult dogs have strong jaws and thick, saggy skin, and are known for their beards and their otterlike faces. Among terriers, this breed has rather long, strong legs developed by running behind hunters on horseback. With their compact, robust bodies, they are powerful and tireless, and they need a lot of exercise. Border terrier get along well with other dogs and are quick learners.

The Border terrier’s thick double coat-the hard, wiry hair was developed to provide protection in bushes and burrows-is waterproof and can endure thick fog and downpour.

Daily brushing and regular trimming are essential.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height 9-11 inches ; weight 13-16 pounds
(female) Height 8-11 inches ; weight 11-14 pounds
Coat : Dense and wiry; undercoat is short. Colors include red, blue and tan, grizzle (bluish gray) and tan, and wheaten (pale yellow).

Bedlington Terrier

Newborn Bedlington terrier puppies are black or brown, but before long, they begin losing their black hair, and their coat color slowly changes to grey or liver. However, they will not begin to resemble their parents until later.

These dogs were miners’ pets in Bedlington, a coal town in North umberland, England, and were used for poaching, catching rats, and dog fighting; despite their dainty appearance, they were known as ruthless fighters.

They were, and are, also excellent hound dogs blessed with the good eyesight and hearing of terriers and a houndlike swiftness at tracking. This energetic breed is believed to carry the blood of the Dandie Dinmont terrier and the otterhound, but its exact origin and lineage are unknown.

Alert and full of fighting spirit, Bedlington terriers are openly wary toward other dogs but obedient to their owners. Gifted with keen senses, they make good guard dogs as well.

The Bedlington terrier has been called a “dog in a lamb’s skin” because of the sheeplike trimming the breed has traditionally undergone; professional trimming is required to maintain the coat style. It needs frequent grooming at home as well, too; Use both a com and a slicker (a wire brush) to care for the unusual combination of hard and soft hair.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height 16-18 inches ; weight 18-22 pounds
(female) Height 15-17 inches ; weight 16-20 pounds
Coat : Curly and both hard and soft. Colors include blue, blue and tan, liver, liver and tan, liver and sandy, sandy, and sandy and tan.

Airedale Terrier

Newborn Airedale terrier puppies are black, with small brown markings on the tips of their toes and around their eyebrows. As they grow, their hair becomes stiffer and more brown; they acquire adult coats by 6 months.

The Airedale terrier, the largest breed in the group, is fittingly known as the “king of terriers.” These intelligent, brave, cheerful, and sensitive dogs make talented hound dogs, police dogs, and military dogs. They also excel at tracking and swimming, which they must have inherited from otter-hounds, one of their ancestor dogs.

However, Airedales are also curious, emotional, vocal, and boisterous; they like to gnaw on things and chase after moving objects, and they remain especially playful and mischievous throughout their life. One owner says, “Whether they are happy or depressed, they react like humans. They are hyper about everything.”

Because of their pride and their energetic behavior, however, obedience training may be a challenge. Also they have strong jaws and large canine teeth, and they can bite and hurt each other while playing.

Stripping should be done about three times a year. Also, daily grooming and regular trimming are required to keep the hair from getting tangled.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height about 23-24 inches ; weight 47-60 pounds
(female) Height about 22-23 inches ; weight 47-60 pounds
Coat : Rough and wiry. Colors include black or dark colors for body and tan for head, chest, and legs. Markings on head and both sides of ears are dark.

Whippet

Whippet puppies are relatively large, weighing 11 ounces at birth, and only at 1 month or so will they begin to develop their characteristic leggy leanness.

This small race dog (its name probably derives from whip) was creating by breeding smaller greyhounds with terriers and Italian greyhounds, and their strong jaws came in handy for rabbit-chasing races and rat-killing contest.

Although they are born to run and chase and need lots of exercise, they are actually quiet, charming dogs, and they are very social. One owner says,” Adult dogs have a strong sense of camaraderie, and, when they are 3 or 4 years old, they stick together and stop playing and running with dogs in other households. If you have only one whippet, he will be left out.”

Their amazingly swift, undulating gait matches the speed of the grey hound, although they accelerate more quickly; it is breathtaking to witness whippets running together at full speed.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height 19-22 inches ; weight about 31 pounds
(female) Height 18-21 inches ; weight about 29 pounds
Coat : Hard and glossy. Colors include black, fawn, brindle, and red, plus markings of these colors on a white base.

Saluki

Saluki puppies seem unusually small compared to their sleek, long-legged parents, but they grow quickly. One owner says, “Compared with whippet puppies, which move very quickly when they play, saluki puppies move as if in slow motion, and their movement seem elegant. But because they are smart and their mischievous tricks are dynamic, you have to keep your eye on them.”

Said to be the oldest documented breed, the saluki (its name is Arabic for “of Saluq,” an ancient city) is the probable subject of sculptures from the Sumerian empire (7000-6000 BC) and was said to be a favorite of Tutankhamen. (Members of this breed, believed by Moslems to be holy, have been excepted from the general Islamic judgment that dogs are unclean animals.) This swift-footed sight hounds, with acute hearing as well as keen sight, was used to hunt gazelles and jackals, and its buoyant and elegant running style gives one the impression that it is flying. Salukis, which need abundant opportunity to run, can accelerate to top speed almost immediately, but owners should note that it is virtually impossible to call them back once they are on the chase.

They are friendly with other household dogs but will shy away from unknown animals; also their single minded devotion to their owners can make them seem unfriendly or bashful around other people. In addition, they are sensitive, so obedience training should be especially gentle.

Their short coats need little care, though feathering on their ears and tails should be brushed occasionally.

Origin : Egypt
Size : (male) Height 23-28 inches ; weight 44-56 pounds
(female) Height much smaller than the male ; weight 31-44 pounds
Coat : Smooth and silky. Colors include white, cream, fawn, gold, red, blue and tan, black and tan, and tricolor.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Newborn petit basset griffon Vendeen puppies have vivid coat colors that lighten as they mature.

These reasonably fast, capable hound dogs are known for their persistence and stamina rather than their speed, and they were originally used to chase animals into their burrows and drive them out. The French name translates as “small, low, rough-haired (dog of) Vendee” (a place on the west coast of France); the abbreviation PBGV is sometimes used for simplicity. Another variety, the larger grand basset griffon Vendeen, was bred to hunt hares.

This friendly breed barks loudly but rarely; one owner says, “They are good with other dogs, and people. They are friendly pacifists.” However, their food intake should be monitored; they have insatiable appetites and can easily become overweight.

Their protectively hard, rough coat is low maintenance, but those with soft coats should be brushed occasionally to prevent matting.

Origin : France
Size : (male) Height 13-16 inches ; weight 24-36 pounds
(female) same
Coat : Hard and rough; undercoat is short and dense. Colors are black and white, black and tan, white and orange, black with sable markings, and tricolor. Overlaid colors include black with white markings over a fawn base and black over a sable base.

Irish Wolfhound

Surprisingly small (21-30 ounces at birth) compared to their huge parents, Irish wolfhound puppies grow fast, weighing about 8 pounds at 1 month and tripling their weight at 2 months and again a month later. This impressive growth will slow, and they will weigh about 90 pounds by 6 months, although they are not generally fully grown until about 3 years. Also, their gray faces will turn blacker at about 2 months, and their body color will lighten.

The national dog of Ireland, though not as heavy as the Saint Bernard, is the tallest breed in the world. Its ancestor was a strong breed used to guard cattle and hunt wolves and deer, but when wolves became extinct in the Emerald Isle in the 18^th century, the breed declined and very nearly became extinct itself.

However, by crossbreeding Scottish deerhounds, borzois, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, and Tibetan mastiffs with this other breed, George Graham of Scotland created the modern Irish wolfhound, which continues to slowly increase in size.

Dogs of this imposing-looking breed are actually gentle, though, beginning at about 1 year, they should be exercised on a leash.

Coat maintenance is low, but the coat should be brushed frequently enough to pull out dead hairs and make the coat rough and hard; a soft coat tends to gnarl.

Origin: Ireland
Size : (male) Height 32-34 inches ; weight about 124 pounds
(female) Height about 30 inches ; weight about 106 pounds
Coat : Hard and rough; long, bristly hairs grow over eyes and under jaw. Colors are gray brindle, red, black, fawn, and white.

Dachshund (miniature)

Newborn dachshund puppies are normally proportioned; only after 3-4 weeks do their bodies lengthen to their characteristic hotdog or sausage shape, which, thanks to depictions in cartoons, earned this breed the nicknames “hotdog” and “sausage hound.” Also, coat colors change at about 2 months; black and tan dogs retain their color, but red coats may lighten and cream ones may change to golden or red.

Sharp-scented dachshund were originally bred to hunt badgers (the breed name is German for “badger hound”), and the miniature variety was created to hunt rabbits out of their burrows. In their native country, they are called Zwerg Teckel.

Long-haired dachshunds are the result of breeding with spaniels; schnauzer and terriers were mated with other dachshund to produce the wirehaired variety. The “golden ratio” of the dachshunds is 2:1 ; the body length should be twice its height at the shoulder.

These dogs are generally jovial, winsome, and a bit self-willed, and, although they are small, they are very brave. Also, because they have an unexpectedly low, loud bark, and they bark often, they should be trained not to do so at random; keeping dachshunds calm restricting access to windows and doors will also make them less likely to be provoked to bark by outside activity.

In addition, despite their size, they need much exercise, and they enjoy chasing moving objects, as well as digging holes, so these behaviors need to be monitored. They also eat indiscriminately, including their own stool, so their living areas should be kept clear of food and small objects.

Origin : Germany
Size : (male) Height 8-10 inches ; weight less than 11 pounds
(female) Height 7-8 inches ; weight less than 10 pounds
Coat : Smooth, long, or wiry, depending on variety. Colors include red, mahogany red, black, and tan, chocolate and tan, dapple, tiger, and brindle; additional acceptable colors for wirehaired dachshunds are wild boar and salt-and-pepper.

Borzoi

This dignified-looking breed was originally a sight hound used to hunt wolves in the Russian forests; Tolstoy refers to them in his novel War and Peace. Before the Russian Revolution, only aristocrats were entitled to keep these dogs, and afterward, their popularity declined, but dogs owned elsewhere in Europe continued to be bred.

Borzoi require a lot of time and space for high-intensity exercise. Also, although they are quietly affectionate, they are sedate dogs that do not exhibit the enthusiasm many other breeds do.

With their gracefully arched backs, deep chests, and long legs, they resemble small Thoroughbred horses from afar when they are running, and their narrow build reduces wind resistance, making them one of the most fleet-footed breeds. That, and their beauty and elegance, combined with intelligence and keen sensitivity, enhances the pleasure of owning one.

Owners must expect to devote much time to grooming, however; Daily brushing of the borzoi’s long wavy, silky coat is a must

Origin : Russia
Size : (male) Height 28-34 inches ; weight 76-107 pounds
(female) Height about 26 inches ; weight 60-87 pounds
Coat : Long and silky. All colors are acceptable.

Beagle

Beagle puppies have flapping ears and expressive tails that spin like propellers when they’re happy. They look like little black furry balls when they’re born, but within a few weeks their color will change to the classic hound colors.

The origin of this breed’s name is uncertain; it may be a variant of the Gaelic word beag (“small”), or it may have French roots. Beagles, the smallest pack hounds, rely on their acute sense of smell to chase their quarry, and they alert hunters with their high-pitched barks. This trait is likely to be troublesome if a beagle is selected as a household pet, so they must be trained not to bark excessively.

Also, they are independent dogs, and, although they are cheerful and like attention, they aren’t especially friendly. In addition, this breed tends to overeat, so their food intake must be monitored so that they avoid acquiring a Snoopy-ish gut.

Their short coats don’t shed much and are easy to take care of, but their pendant ears require regular cleaning.

Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male) Height 13-15 inches ; weight 18-20 pounds
(female) Height 12-14 inches ; weight 13-16 pounds
Coat : Short and smooth, though hard and dens. Colors include white and black and tan; white and lemon are acceptable.

Basset Hound

Big-boned basset hound puppies, with short legs, baggy coats, pendant ears (which they sometimes trip over), and drowsy eyes, may look awkward, but they’re impossible to dislike. Also, though they may look precocious, they grow more slowly than most other breeds and should not be prematurely separated from their mother.

The basset hound (its name derives from bas, French for “short” or “low”), built to follow a scent and chase and track down small animals, lack momentum but has superb endurance.

Despite their sad, reluctant appearance, they are affectionate, gentle, and even tempered, and they are social and don’t like to be alone. They are a bit stubborn, though, so careful training is essential.

The basset hound’s ears are not well ventilated and need to be cleaned inside; because they droop, they need to be cleaned on the outside after walks. Also an elevated feeding bowl and a water bottle are recommended.

Origin : France
Size : (male) Height about 14 inches ; weight about 62 pounds
(female) Height about 13 inches ; weight about 58 pounds
Coat : Short and smooth. Colors include white and black and tan, tan and white, and black and tan, with silver-gray markings.

Basenji

At birth, basenjis are more deeply wrinkled than adults of this breed.

Best known for virtually lacking a bark (some occasionally mimic other dogs but never howl or bark idly), these dogs are one of the most primitive of breeds, dating back to ancient Egypt. The name is Swahili for “a small creature in the bush,” and the local name in their birthplace is m’bwa m’kubwa m’bwa wanwitu (“the dog that leaps”). Known as “dogs of the forest,” basenjis were first brought back to Europe in the late 1800s, but not until decades later did any survive distemper, for which they had no natural immunity, or attempts at experimental vaccination.

In their homeland, equipped with wooden bells so they could be tracked, they hunted as retrievers and pointers; they have acute smell and sight. And, although they rarely bark, they communicate eloquently through facial expressions, body language, and noises.

Basenjis puppies are very playful and adult dogs relish frequent exercise, but they are not especially friendly and are not ideal household pets; on walks, they tend to follow their owners at a distance. “This is a breed with both the qualities of a cat and those of a dog,” one owner points out.

These dogs groom themselves meticulously. One owner says, “He stays away from other dogs’ droppings, or steps over them reluctantly. If he accidentally steps in it he shakes his paw and tries to scrape it off, and he remains disturbed for a long time.” Basenjis are also averse to getting wet.

Origin : Congo
Size : (male) Height about 17 inches ; weight about 24 pounds
(female) Height about 16 inches ; weight about 22 pounds
Coat : Short and smooth. Colors include reddish brown and blackish brown; white markings on throat, chest, leg, and tail are permitted.

Afghan Hound

Afghan hound puppies take their time maturing, but, by 3-4 years, they resemble gallant princes and elegant princesses.

Afghan hounds, or affies, date back to at least 400 BC, on Sinai Peninsula, and they served the royal families of ancient Egypt and Afghanistan (they were even said to have been on Noah’s ark).

Originally, Afghan hounds, swift, sharp eyed, and built for quick turns on rough ground, hunted agile animals such as gazelles through deserts and hilly areas. These intuitive hunters love to run and chase, and they tend to be less responsive when called than most other breeds are, so they need to be trained especially thoroughly.

However, they do not depend on doting attention. One owner says, “After he does what is expected of him, he will go wherever he likes and do whatever he wants. He’s never in your way.”

The long, silky coats of Afghan hounds require extensive care. Also, their poorly ventilated feathered ears need frequent and careful cleaning.

Origin : Afghanistan

Size : (male) Height about 28 inches ; weight about 60 pounds
(female) Height about 26 inches ; weight about 51 pounds
Coat : Long and silky. Colors include fawn, golden, cream, red, blue, white, gray, brindle (dark streaks or flecks), and tricolor