Collie

The name Collie refers to a breed of herding dog originating in Scotland, the origin of the name is uncertain, although it probably originates in Older Scots (coal), meaning black.

The Lassie movies, books, and television shows, which starred Rough Collies, helped to popularize Collies in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as in many other countries. The Collie Club of America is one of the oldest breed-specific clubs in existence in the United States (founded in 1886). However, there are four different dog breeds with "Collie" in their name:

* Collie (including both Rough Collie and Smooth Collie varieties)
* Border Collie
* Bearded Collie

The farm collie was a generic term for a wide range of herding dogs common in North America until the middle of the 20th century.

Shetland Sheepdogs (commonly known as "Shelties") are sometimes mistaken for Collies due to their similar shape and fur, but are a completely different breed of distinct origin.

The highlands of Scotland were the natural home of the Collie, where the sheepdogs had been used for centuries by shepherds, but the modern form of the breed was developed in England in the late 1800s. This early form of the breed was usually referred to as the Scotch collie (or Scottish collie) in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Scotch collies were much heavier and bigger boned than today's Rough and Smooth dogs.

The modern Collie of both Rough and Smooth varieties are available in four distinct colours. Sable and White dogs are generally the most recognizable, the choice of the Lassie television and movie producers. The sable colour on these dogs can range from a light blonde color to a deep reddish-brown, with any hue in between possible. Tri-Color dogs are in the main black and white, with sable markings. Blue Merle collies are best described as Tri-Color dogs whose black has been diluted to a mottled gray-blue color. White collies are usually mostly white on the body with a head coloration of any of the three previous.

The collies differ so greatly in nature that they have been given the own pages on this site.

Cockapoo

A Cockapoo(or Cockerpoo) is the result of crossing a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle, usually a Miniature Poodle. Breeders usually try to retain the small build of the spaniel, while retaining the wavy nature of the Poodle's coat. The breed's name is a pun on "cockatoo", which is a group of parrot species commonly kept as pets.

Appearance
Cockapoos weigh between 20 and 24 pounds (9 to 11 kg) and stand about 14 or 15 inches (35 to 38 cm) at the withers. Like their originating breeds, Cockapoos come in a variety of coat colours, both solids and combinations. The general shape of the Cockapoo, in particular its ears, mostly resembles the Spaniel, but the coat and face more closely resemble that of the Poodle.

Because Cocker Spaniels shed and Poodle don't, some Cockapoos shed and some don't. They are loyal, and don't cost more than a cat to feed. They don't smell, or slobber.

Temperament
Cockapoos are well known for their loyalty to their owner, and are known to get jealous if he/she pays attention to anything else. Like most spaniels, they can be very energetic, but this can vary widely from dog-to-dog. Like both their parent breeds they are trainable and intelligent.

Health
Cockapoos have few health problems, don't expect to be on a first name basis with your vet. They can suffer from problems associated with either the Cocker Spaniel or the Poodle, though rarely due to their cross bred genetic strength.

History
The Cockapoo has been popular in the United States since at least the 1970s. It has become so common that many, if not most, Cockapoos on the market today come from Cockapoo parents, as opposed to Cocker Spaniel/Poodle parents.

The Cockapoo is still under development. Strictly speaking, the Cockapoo is not yet a true dog breed because it does not 'breed true'. In breeders' terms, 'breeding true' means that, when two specimens of the same breed are mated, the puppies have consistently predictable characteristics and will resemble their parents, rather than exhibiting random characteristics of the dog breeds in their parents' ancestries. Further, the breed standards of breeds-under-development are invariably freer, more open to interpretation and cover more observable types than those of established or kennel club recognized breeds.

Expect the popularity of this dog breed to ensure its future.

Clumber Spaniel

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN England

MOST SUITED AS Field sports dog and family pet.

WEIGHT
The weight is about 36kg (79lb) for dogs and 30kg (66lb) for bitches.

COAT
The Clumber Spaniel has a dense coat of medium length silken hair. The colour is usually white with lemon markings, although orange markings are also permissible.

CARE REQUIRED
The coat must be groomed regularly with brush and comb and the ear passages should be kept clean. Some of them have trouble with irritation of the ear but there are special lotions which provide relief. Occasionally it will become necessary to trim them back to breed standard, removing the unruly hairs which stick out, leaving the dog looking first class once more. If too much hair grows under the ears, it is best not to wait until the next overall trim to clip this.

CHARACTER
The Clumber Spaniel is a gentle-natured, equable, cheerful, yet noble dog which has a good memory, a considerable stamina, and is calm indoors.

TRAINING
The good memory combined with the fact that it likes to do things for its handler make this a fairly easily taught pupil.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Clumber Spaniels get on well with other dogs and that is true also for cats and other house­hold animals. They are usually very trustworthy with children but they will avoid strangers - unlike the American Cocker Spaniel these are not dogs that are friends with everybody.

EXERCISE
The Clumber Spaniel is primarily a field sports dog but it has no difficulty in adapting its exer­cise needs to the family. Watch the diet carefully if they do not get much exercise.

Clumber Spaniel

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN England

MOST SUITED AS Field sports dog and family pet.

WEIGHT
The weight is about 36kg (79lb) for dogs and 30kg (66lb) for bitches.

COAT
The Clumber Spaniel has a dense coat of medium length silken hair. The colour is usually white with lemon markings, although orange markings are also permissible.

CARE REQUIRED
The coat must be groomed regularly with brush and comb and the ear passages should be kept clean. Some of them have trouble with irritation of the ear but there are special lotions which provide relief. Occasionally it will become necessary to trim them back to breed standard, removing the unruly hairs which stick out, leaving the dog looking first class once more. If too much hair grows under the ears, it is best not to wait until the next overall trim to clip this.

CHARACTER
The Clumber Spaniel is a gentle-natured, equable, cheerful, yet noble dog which has a good memory, a considerable stamina, and is calm indoors.

TRAINING
The good memory combined with the fact that it likes to do things for its handler make this a fairly easily taught pupil.

SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Clumber Spaniels get on well with other dogs and that is true also for cats and other house­hold animals. They are usually very trustworthy with children but they will avoid strangers - unlike the American Cocker Spaniel these are not dogs that are friends with everybody.

EXERCISE
The Clumber Spaniel is primarily a field sports dog but it has no difficulty in adapting its exer­cise needs to the family. Watch the diet carefully if they do not get much exercise.

Cirneco dell'Etna Dog

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Sicily.

MOST SUITED AS Hunting dog and family pet.

SIZE
Dogs 46-50cm(18 1/2-19 1/2in), bitches (16 1/2 - 18 1/2in).

COAT
This Sicilian dog has a short-haired coat. All shades of red are permissible and one white marking is accepted, although this is fairly rare.

CARE REQUIRED
This breed's coat does not require much attention. The sheen on the coat can be kept in good condition by occasionally running a rubber glove over it. Check at frequent intervals that the ear passages are clean and keep the claws short.

CHARACTER
This is a friendly, affectionate, active dog which is intelligent and very loyal to its handler and the family and is also vigilant. The majority of this breed likes to be heard and also demands plenty of attention.

TRAINING
The Cirneco dell' Etna is a relatively easy dog to train but the handler needs to be very consistent. There will be no problems with your own cat but strange cats will be chased. They are loving and patient with children. They mark the arrival of strangers but that is all.

EXERCISE
Because this breed needs lots of exercise it is necessary to set aside an hour every day for this purpose. Running alongside a cycle or coursing are ideal forms of exercise for them.

GENERAL
The Cirneco dell' Etna is considered a bit of a greyhound, because it hunts by sight and sound as well as by nose. Only let them run free off the lead if you are absolutely certain there is no wild game nearby or its hunting instincts will rear their head and it will go on a solitary poaching foray. They can jump extremely high so your garden needs a good high fence. They like to be near you and are quite unsuitable for kennel life.

Chow Chow

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

The Chow Chow belongs to the Spitz Family of dogs, most of which all developed in the Arctic Circle regions. The Country of Origin for the Chow is Mongolia/Northern China

MOST SUITED AS The Chow Chow had various roles in the past, including herding, hunting, pulling, and guarding. Today, it is a loyal and protective companion that needs to be part of the family.

SIZE
In most countries, the height at the shoulder is expected to be between 46 cm (18 inches) and 53 cm (21 inches) for both dogs and bitches

COAT

The coat comes in two lengths? The rough Coat and smooth Coat? The rough coat is somewhat longer and most specimens are characterized by a mane (more full in the males) and longer hair (feathering) on the tail and backs of the legs. The smooth coat has a uniform, shorter coat all over, lacking the mane and feathering on the tail and legs.

CARE REQUIRED

Typical of the Spitz breeds, the Chow's coat is a double coat, with a short, fine undercoat and a rougher, protective and longer outer coat. This is a coat that requires weekly combing and brushing. Both the Smooth and Rough coats require a similar amount of care.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC
The Chow Chow has a solid blue black pigmentation of the entire inside of the mouth, including the tongue.

CHARACTER
This is an attentive dog with a mind of its own, that is peaceful and noble, independent, rea­sonably active, dominant, vigilant, brave, quite demanding of itself, and full of character. It responds best to a fully integrated family life and to positive reinforcement types of training. It is not a dog that does well being forgotten in the backyard.

TRAINING
The Chow Chow calls for a hand­ler who is calm, equable, and exudes natural authority. It is asserted that the shorter-haired variety is more active and learns faster than the longer-haired family member.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Most Chow Chows can be fairly dominant towards other dogs. In contrast, they are quite good with children. Provided they are acquainted with cats and other household animals early in their lives, problems can be prevented. In the com­pany of strangers they are.

Chinook

The Chinook is a sleddog first bred in the New England region of the USA in the early 20th century. They have one male ancestor ‘Chinook’ a Husky mastiff cross.

Appearance
Standing 21 to 27 inches (53-69 cm) at the withers and weighing 55 to 90 pounds (25-41 kg), the Chinook is well balanced and muscular. The UKC standard states that 'The ideal coloration runs from light honey colour to reddish-gold. Black on the inner corners of the eyes are preferred. Dark tawny/black markings on the ears and muzzle are preferred. Guard hairs on the tail may be black.

No white markings are allowed. Buff markings on the cheeks, muzzle, throat, chest, breeches, toes and underside are acceptable. ‘The UKC standard faults any colour other than tawny and disqualifies Albinism.

Other proposed standards state that the medium-length double coat is ‘tawny’ in colour, with darker shadings on muzzle and ears; white dogs are not allowed, nor are other colours. Eyes are brown to amber in colour.

Ear carriage is variable, but dropped is preferred and the head more strongly rectangular than other sled dog breeds. The tail is a well-furred saber and not the usual brush or plume of Arctic breeds. Overall, the Chinook seems to owe more to mastiff than spitz in appearance.

Editor – it is very odd for a breed with such a limited pool of breeding animals, so few that they are bred with other breeds to keep the breed going that there is such a strict breed standard, especially for a breed initially bred for a purpose, not a standard.

Temperament
Chinook's are calm, non aggressive and friendly, though sometimes reserved with strangers. They are inherently gentle with children.

Health
Health issues in Chinooks are epilepsy, canine hip dysplasia, and eye defects, though none of these are especially common. When considering buying a Chinook, be sure to seek out a reputable breeder and ask questions about their breed stock. They are longer lived than other large breeds and may live for up to 12 years.

History
The Chinook was created by Breeder Arthur Walden of Wonalancet, New Hampshire and derives principally from one male ancestor born in 1917, named ‘Chinook,’ who was Walden’s lead dog and stud. Chinook derived from a crossbreeding of husky stock from the Peary North Pole expedition with a large, tawny Mastiff-like male.

Photos of ‘Chinook’ show a drop-eared dog with a broad Mastiff head and muzzle. Walden’s leader was bred to Belgian Sheepdogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Canadian Eskimo Dogs and perhaps other breeds; the progeny were bred back to him to set the desired type and was apparently a strong reproducer of his own traits.

Arthur Walden was an experienced dog driver with years of experience in the Yukon; he was lead driver and trainer on the 1929 Byrd Antarctic expedition. He is credited with bringing sled dog sport to New England and with founding the New England Sled Dog Club in 1924. The 12-year old 'Chinook' died on the Byrd expedition.

Control of the central breeding stock passed from Walden to Mrs. Julia Lombard and from her to Perry Greene in the late 1930s. Greene, a noted outdoorsman, bred Chinooks in Waldboro, Maine, for many years until he died in 1963, with the Chinook population dwindling after his death. By 1981 only eleven breed able Chinooks survived. Breeders in Maine, Ohio and California divided the remaining animals and managed to save the breed from extinction. The Chinook obtained registered status with the United Kennel Club in 1991; current numbers of registered animals are around 400. The registry has a cross-breeding program under which Chinooks are bred to individuals of other breeds thought to have contributed to Chinook development; fourth-generation backcross descendants of such crosses may be accepted as registered Chinooks.

Working Life
Although some are still used for recreational dog sledding by some owners, Chinooks are now mainly used largely as family pets. Individuals are also used for dog-packing, search and rescue, obedience and dog agility trials.