Tag: Dog Breeds

It’s here! No, not Thanksgiving. The National Dog Show! This Turkey Day event is just about as traditional as the turkey itself. Ongoing since 1842, the National Dog Show put on by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and is one of three major national dog shows. BestBullySticks.com is providing you with some National Dog Show Trivia that will make today’s viewing that much more interesting and special.

10 Past Winners

2002: Standard Poodle
2003: Doberman
2004: Terrier
2005: Colored Bull Terrier (Rocky Top's Sundance Kid)
2006: Toy Poodle
2007: Australian Shepherd (Buff Cap Creslane Arctic Mist)
2008: Pointer
2009: Scottish Terrier (Ch. Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot a/k/a "Sadie")
2010: Irish Setter (Windntide Mr. Sandman)
2011: Wire Fox Terrier (GCH Steele Your Heart)

Group Descriptions

Terrier: Most of these dogs evolved from the British isles and each had very specialized duties depending on what geographic location the were in. Most of these jobs included hunting small critters like badgers and otters. Tenacious in personality, these dogs have great confidence and courage.

Toy: Dogs in this group have been around for centuries to serve one purpose: companionship. To this day, their small size makes them perfect for any household and living situation.

Working: Breeds from the Working group have a wide range of shapes, sizes and looks, but they have been all been used as aids in their human’s work. Their intelligence and build have made these dogs excellent guards and herders and today still work as these as well as police, military, security, service and hunting dogs.

Sporting: These dogs were developed to help hunters, usually bird hunters using guns. The duties of these dogs can range from pointing and marking, flushing or recovery.

Hound: This group was once classified as sporting because they also can help with hunting, but usually hunt somewhat independently from their humans. Made up of scent hounds and sight hounds, this group has a lot of variety in size, shape and look.

Non-Sporting: At the inception of the AKC, there were only two group, Sporting and Non-Sporting. Many splits and reclassifications later, the Non-Sporting group consists of all the dogs that remain and contains the most variety in one group.

Herding: Characterized by the natural ability performed by these dogs, the Herding group is dogs that have been used on farms to gather and move other animals about.

There are 173 registered breeds; which dog will you root for?

Happy Thanksgiving! Have fun watching the National Dog Show! 

The Bouiver des Flandres is a very misleading dog. With a very up class name, the Bouvier des Flandres has very humble beginnings on Belgian farms. (One Bouvier, Lucky, even made it to the White Hosue as Ronald Reagan’s dog.) A formidable looking dog, the Bouvier is a gentle and sweet soul. Find out more about this dog by reading the BestBullySticks.com Breed Spotlight on the Bouvier des Flandres.

History & Background: Bouviers were first bred by monks in Flanders, which is an area of Belgium. These dogs were first bred by monks and other farmers for cattle droving, sheep herding and cart pulling. Watchdog duties were given to the Bouvier as well. Throughout the years, this dog has had many names. The French name of Bouvier des Flandres literally translates “Cow Herder of Flanders” but also called “koehond" (meaning cow dog), "Vuilbaard" (meaning dirty beard) and "toucheur de boeuf" (meaning cattle driver). It’s thought Bouviers get their look from the breeding of Irish wolfhounds and Scottish deerhounds with local farm dogs.

Since this dog was always meant to fulfill the function of a working dog, no breed standard was ever readily sought after. However, in the early 20^th century fanciers began noticing this dog and soon after the Bouvier appeared at the International Dog Show in Brussels. After this, Bouviers saw an uptick in popularity. It wasn’t long after WWI began and even though this dog was used a messenger, the breed almost died out. The same was true for WWII, yet by that time the AKC had recognized the breed and Bouviers had been shipped to America from Europe. By the 1960s Bouviers were thriving once more and the American Bouvier des Flandres Club was founded in 1963.

Height: Males 23 to 28 inches; Females 22–27 inches

Weight: Males 80 to 120 pounds; Females 60 to 80 pounds

Coat: Bouviers sport a weather fast coat made up of a hard and course outer coat and a soft and dense undercoat. This dog's coat was made to withstand just about anything. The coat should have a disheveled look without being curly.  Hair on the ears is rough and Bouviers should have a thick mustache and beard. Read more

The Tervuren is a European breed that shows fierce loyalty and affection for their owners. BestBullySticks.com highlights this beautiful and personable breed today on the Healthy Dog Blog.

History & Background: Named after the Belgian city of Tervuren, this dog is one of four Belgian sheepdogs which all share a common ancestry. In its own country, this dog as known as the Chien de Berger Beige, which translates “long-haired other than black.” This is because the three other dogs with similar characteristics are the Groenendael, which has long black hair, the Malinois, which a short coat and the Laekenois, which sports a wiry coat. The origin of all of these dogs was pre-Industrial Revolution, when general-purpose working dogs were in high demand. Protective as a watchdog, able to herd livestock as well as having high mental capacity and being attentive, the Tervuren and its cousins were bred as a perfect match for Belgian farmers.

The Tervuren was known as the Belgian Sheepdog for many years, but in 1959 the AKC recognized the Tervuren as its own breed.

Height: Males 24 to 26 inches; Females 22 to 24 inches

Weight: Males 65 to 75 pounds; Females 60 to 70 pounds

Coat: Tervurens have a thick double coat made up of long, plentiful and close fitting fur. The texture is somewhat harsh, but not silky or wiry. The undercoat adjusts to the weather making the Tervuren very adaptable to climate changes. The hair on the head, outside of the ears and front of the legs is short.  Tufts of hair protect the ear opening. Male dogs have a mane of fur around their neck and both sexes have fringes of fur down the fore legs and back legs.

Color: On the body, Tervuren’s color ranges from rich fawn to mahogany. All colors have black overlay. This dog has a double-pigmented coat, which means the lighter colored hair is black at the tip and as a dog matures, they darken. This darkening is most prominently seen on males around the shoulders, back and ribs. To meet the breed standard, white can show up on the chest and toes but no more. Mature dogs are required to have a black mask as well as the ears being mostly black. Under the chest, tail and butt, this breed can show cream, grey or light beige coloring. Tervurens can also be grey, but the AKC doesn’t recognize this coloring in confirmation showing. Read more

Did you miss any of BestBullySticks.com BARK-tastic blogs this week?  If you did miss any of the Lure Coursing/Bully Breed/Crockpot Cooking/Newfie fun, catch up before Monday with all of this week's great BBS Blogs!

So snuggle up to your favorite pooch (or pooches) and read the BBS Healthy Dog Blog! Happy Weekend Reading! Click the links below to find out more about:

Dog Sports: Lure Coursing • National Pit Bull Awareness Month • Easy Crockpot Chicken & Rice Dog Food Recipe • Breed Spotlight on the Newfoundland

Also in your free time this weekend, check out our fun Pinterest Page! We've got TONS of great dog videos, adorable dog photos, funny dog photos, DIY dog project and more!

Run. Fast. Jump. Long. Don’t Stop. Ever! These must be the thoughts rolling through the American Hairless Terrier’s mind when they’re outside, going full out. Being a highly active dog, with seemingly endless energy, you almost forget this dog is hairless. With no thick scruff or padding to protect them, this dog is pretty brave to be so vulnerable. Read on about this courageous, cute and uncommon breed on the BestBullySticks.com Breed Spotlight.

History & Background: In 1972, a hairless Rat Terrier was born in a litter of fully coated brothers and sisters. This unique pup, Josephine, became the pride and joy of Louisiana natives Willie and Edwin Scott. They loved the look and character of this dog and decided to continue this new breed. The Scotts called the uncoated dogs from Josephine’s litters American Hairless Terriers. AHTs are listed in the AKC’s Foundation Stock Services as to be recognized while allowing the breed to work toward a larger and healthy gene pool. In 2004, the UKC designated the AHT as its own distinct breed.

Height: 10 to 18 inches

Weight: 5 to 16 pounds

Coat: Obviously, mature, adult American Hairless Terriers do not have a coat. However, when these dogs are born a soft, downy fuzz appears on the body. At about 6 to 8 weeks all of this fuzz wears away and the dog is left with soft and warm skin. AHT’s do keep whiskers and guard hairs on the eyebrows and muzzle. A unique characteristic about this dog is that when stressed or overheated, the AHT will break out in a sweat. This dog is great for those who suffer from pet dander allergies.

Ironically enough, there is a “coated” American Hairless Terrier. The UKC states this is because the coated terriers are used to improve the breeding stock of the AHT. These dogs look more like their Rat Terrier cousins and have a short, dense and smooth coat.

Color: Any color skin is acceptable in the show ring. AHTs usually have an underlying color with spots and freckles of a contrasting color. Freckles enlarge with age and the skin darkens with exposure to the sun. The coated variety of AHTs must always have some white coat but can be fully white, bi-colored, tri-colored, sable or brindle.

A hairless variety can have any color eyes and rims match nose coloring, which is usually black. For a coated variety, eye color can range from dark brown to amber. Hazel eyes correspond with a light coat, blue, amber or dark grey eyes with a blue coat. Read more