Tibetan Spaniel

This very old breed, kept mainly in monasteries and cherished by the Dalai Lamas, is believed to share an ancestor with the Pekingese, Tibetan spaniels traditionally watched over villages below monasteries and warned their watchdog partners, the Tibetan mastiffs, about human or animal intruders.

One owner says, “My dog knows to step back and observe the situation. When I come home, he first sits and look at me as if to study me. He never jumps at me blindly like other dogs. Only when I tell him to come, he comes to me. He is always trying to read my lips, and never demands his ways.” These intelligent, cheerful, active dogs require frequent exercise but are quite at home inside and outside; they remain excellent watchdog.

Coat care is simple; to keep hair from entangling, brush the coat two or three times a week.

Origin: Tibet
Size: (male) Height about 10 inches; weight 9-16 pounds
(female) same
Coat: Silky; featherings on ears, legs, and tail. Colors include golden, black, white, sand, and any other solid colors, as well as combinations.

Shiba Inu

Newborn shiba inu puppies have dark coats and look like raccoons or fox cubs, but as they grow older, their color lightens; the darker the initial clors are, the more beautiful red they will turn. After about 1 month, their ears stand and their tails become firm. Also, their character settles early, so training should begin at about 3 months.

The most common native breed in Japan, the archetypal shiba inu, a hound dog developed to chase birds and small animals, is well suited for the country’s climate. Shiba derives from either the Japanese term for brushwood, the bark of which their coat resembles in color, or an archaic word meaning “a small thing.” (Inu means “dog”.)

This breed is distinguished by its curled or sickle tail and triangular pricked ears. These active, intelligent, brave, simple, and noble dogs, designated as a natural treasure in Japan in 1937, require plenty of exercise.

Origin: Japan
Size: (male) Height 15-17 inches; weight about 20 pounds
(female) Height 14-15 inches; weight about 18 pounds
Coat: Straight and hard; undercoat is soft and dense. Coat colors come in red, black peppering, red peppering, black, and liver; white markings on lower muzzle.

Shar Pei

The unique baggy wrinkles of this unusual breed (its name, in Chinese, means “hanging skin” or “sand skin”) are actually more pronounced on puppies; as they grow, the wrinkles will stretch and diminish slightly.

In 1978, this obscure breed became known worldwide when it was introduced in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s rarest dog. Their wrinkled bodies, small ears, deep set eyes, and black-blue tongues also make them one of the most distinctive-looking breed, but their origins are modest. Long ago, in Guangdong, China, they were used as hound dogs, farmyard watchdog, fighting dogs, and, sometimes, even food. Their wrinkles were developed to make it difficult for them to be injured fatally when they were bitten during dogfights, and their deep set eyes are also a protective feature. They used to be larger, weighing about twice as much as they typically do now, and one was said to weigh 156 pounds.

These imposing, dignified, independent, and somewhat stubborn dogs are affectionate to their owners but wary of other people and tend to dislike living with other dogs. They require lots of exercise.

Although the coat, which feels bristly or sandy, is deeply wrinkled, it is short and therefore easy to care for. Occasional massages with a brush or towel are sufficient, but the spaces between the wrinkles must be cleaned carefully.

Origin: China
Size: (male) Height 18-20 inches; weight 40-51 pounds
(female) Height 16-18 inches; weight 36-44 pounds
Coat: Short, straight, and hard. Colors include red, black, fawn, cream, and white.

Schipperke

In the 19^th century Belgium, schipperkes (Flemish for “little skippers”), developed by miniaturizing black sheepdogs called Leauvenaars-considered the ancestor of the Belgian sheepdog (Groenendael) as well-served as mascots for barges traveling on the canals between Brussels and Antwerp.

Their tails were said to be docked to make it easier for them to move around on barges, although a traditional story tell how the custom derived from a man who cut his schipperke’s tail off because the dog stole food.

They have curious dark eyes, mobile ears, and no tail. One owner says, “People often take these puppies for animals other than dogs.”

These winsome, fawning, active dogs are wary toward strangers, so they make good watchdog. “These dogs are very sensitive to noises,” one owner comments, “I have never seen them fast asleep.”

Their water-repellent coat needs only occasional brushing, although they lose a lot of hair during the shedding period and require more frequent care; also, watch for skin conditions.

Origin: Belgium
Size: (male) Height about 12 inches; weight about 18 pounds
(female) same
Coat: Rich but somewhat hard; undercoat is soft and dense; longer capelike hair behind neck. Black coats are standard, but any solid colors are acceptable.

Poodle

The poodle puppy’s coat color changes as it grows, and it takes about two years before it acquires its full coat.

The origin of this very old breed, which now consists of standard, miniature, and toy varieties, is not certain, but it most likely came from Germany; the type derives from Pudel (German, “to splash in water”). It is also known as the French poodle, a name earned because achieved fame as elegant dogs in France.

Despite their affected air, they were originally used as retrievers in watery areas; their distinctive coat trimming pattern was designed to make it easier for them to swim and to protect their hearts, and the leg tufts served as makeshift fins and buoys. Recently, low-maintenance trimming that make them look like teddy bears has increased the popularity of the two smaller varieties.

Intelligent and quick to learn, these dogs were long appreciated as stars in French dog playhouses and traveling circuses, and they continue to be circus stars. Among their more mundane tasks were pulling milk carts in Germany, and, during World War II, carrying supplies and messages. Among this breed’s many fans throughout history was Beethoven, who composed music in memory of his beloved poodle.

Small poodle are excitable, but because they are generally quiet and peaceful, they are suitable for families with children.

These dogs don’t shed, but their hair grows fast, requiring regular trimming and careful brushing.

Origin: Central Europe
Size: Standard (male) Height about 15 inches or more; weight 46-71 pounds
(female) same

Miniature (male) Height 11-15 inches; weight 7-13 pounds
(female) same

Toy (male) Height 10 inches or less; weight 4-7 pounds
(female) same

Coat: Rich, dense, and curly or corded. Colors include black, white, apricot, blue, and cream; solid colors are ideal.

Lhasa Apso

This 2000 year-old breed’s homeland is the foothills of the Himalayas. Believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck, these dogs were kept by priests and nobleman in Lhasa, home of Lama monasteries. The breed name is said to derive from the Tibetan phrase Lhasa apso seng kye, which means “a leonine dog from Lhasa that barks well.” Another interpretation translates the phrase to “a leonine dog from Lhasa that is as hairy as a goat” (apso means “goat”).

Although these dogs were for many years not allowed out of the region, the Dalai Lamas used to make an exception and offer male dogs to the Chinese emperors. They were not kept to entertain local or far-flung noblemen, however. From way back, these intelligent, wary, and sharp of hearing dogs guarded monasteries and palaces.

One owner says, “When my dog was a puppy, he was very quiet, and only on rare occasions did he bleat in a faint voice, but once he was grown up, he changed. A soon as he senses something suspicious, he barks loud and continuously.” And, although Lhasa apsos are cheerful and love to play with people, they are also proud. One owner says, “They don’t like to be ordered around.” They are active dogs, but extensive exercise is not necessary.

Careful daily brushing is indispensable to maintain a shiny, tangle-free coat, and they should be groomed more extensively once or twice a week.

Origin: Tibet
Size: (male) Height 10-11 inches; weight about 16 pounds
(female) Height 9-10 inches; weight about 13 pounds
Coat: Long, straight, and hard; undercoat is moderate and dense. Colors include gold, sand, black, honey, grizzle, and smoke.

French Bulldog

The French bulldog’s trademark large, batlike ears lie flat on newborn puppies, but they cycle through standing and drooping several times before they finally prick up for good.

Excessive exercise should be avoided until puppies are grown.

Although the English bulldog is widely believed to be this breed’s ancestor, opinion is divided as to whether the French bulldog was bred from small toy-type dogs of the former breed brought by British immigrants to northern France during the second half of the 19^th century or whether French bulldogs are an older breed that were already being used for dogfighting in the 1600s. Besides their ears, which were once allowed to prick up or to be half bent, their domed head is the breed’s distinguishing feature.

These dogs are well loved for their misleadingly imposing appearance; they are actually gentle, quiet, intelligent dogs that don’t bark unnecessarily. However, because of their short muzzles, they are known to snore. This characteristic also makes them sensitive to heat, and, because of their unusually large heads, litters are delivered by cesarean section.

Their short coats generally need little care, except during the shedding season, when frequent brushing is needed; also, check for skin conditions. In addition, the ears, eyes, nose, and muzzle need to be cleaned, and their nails should be clipped regularly.

Origin: France
Size: (male) Height about 12 inches; weight 18-22 pounds
(female) same
Coat: Short and glossy. Colors include dark brindle, brindle and white, and fawn.