101 Things to Know Before Getting a Dog. Susan Ewing M.

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      Rough Collie

      Further, some herding breeds may want to keep everyone in a group. A Border Collie, for instance, may try to keep children together rather than letting them run in different directions. I had a Corgi who hated to see a person move from one room to the other; he wanted everyone to stay seated in the living room.

      There are a variety of coat types in this group. Many of these dogs have double coats, which serve them well in all weather conditions. Some, like the Collie and Shetland Sheepdog, have long outer coats as well as dense undercoats. Even the Belgian Malinois and the Australian Cattle Dog, both of whom appear to have short coats, still have thick undercoats.

      Some breeds have more than one variety of coat. For example, there are smooth- and rough-coated Collies, and the Pyrenean Shepherd has the rough-faced variety, with longer, harsher, woollier hair that may cord; and the smooth-faced variety, which has much shorter hair on the muzzle and overall has softer, finer fur that is no more than 3 inches long on the body.

      The Berger Picard has a harsh, rough coat. If you saw the movie Because of Winn-Dixie, you saw a Berger Picard. The Bergamasco has an entirely different coat, made up of three separate layers: the undercoat; the long, straight, rough “goat hair;” and the woolly, finer outer coat. The goat hair and the outer coat twist together to form flat sections of felted hair known as “flocks.” Each flock is 1–3 inches wide, and they are never combed out.

      Yet another coat type is found on the Spanish Water Dog; this breed has a single curly coat. When longer, the coat can form cords, similar to those of a Puli or Komondor. Traditionally, in Spain, these dogs were clipped once a year and their coats sheared just like a sheep’s.

      Grooming

      Generally, while some herding dogs may require more grooming than short-coated breeds, it is grooming that you can do yourself, without too many trips to a professional.

      Speaking of the Puli, the breed’s corded coat takes considerable work because those cords need to be carefully formed. If you’ve fallen in love with a Puli, you may want to consider keeping him in a puppy clip. However, if the cords are part of what you love about the breed, work with your breeder to create and keep the hundreds of cords.

      Among the most popular dogs in the Herding Group are the German Shepherd Dog, the Australian Shepherd, the Shetland Sheepdog, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and the Collie. German Shepherd Dogs have been popular ever since Rin Tin Tin made it big in Hollywood. This breed is versatile and highly intelligent. It is also very protective of its family and will definitely warn strangers to be careful. These dogs need plenty of exercise and training. Health concerns include hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy (spinal-cord disease), epilepsy, vision problems, immune-mediated diseases, and digestive problems. The breed’s life span is ten to thirteen years.

      Australian Shepherds are active, friendly, easy-to-train dogs that make great family pets. Name a sport—obedience, agility, herding—and Aussies can excel. They need lots of exercise, but they learn quickly and love to work. They’ll be happy to play ball for as long as you want to. Health concerns include hip dysplasia and several eye diseases, and they can be affected by multiple drug sensitivity (MDS), which causes a risk of fatal reactions to a number of common veterinary drugs. Fortunately, there’s a simple test for this. Their life span is twelve to sixteen years.

      The Shetland Sheepdog is another wonderful, versatile breed, weighing just under 30 pounds. They have a lot of coat, but if you don’t mind a dust bunny or two (or more!) of fur, you’re fine. The Sheltie is rather vocal, but that makes him a good watchdog. He’s fairly active, which is good news if you want to try performance events. The Sheltie might not be the best breed for very small children, but it is generally a good family dog. Health concerns include hip dysplasia, Collie eye anomaly, progressive retinal atrophy, von Willebrand’s, and dermatomyositis (DM), also known as Sheltie skin syndrome. The average life span is twelve to fourteen years.

      Pembroke Welsh Corgis are smart, active dogs who are always ready to play and are good with children and with other pets. They are not incessant barkers, but they will definitely let you know if someone’s at the door or if another dog just walked by the house. They shed heavily twice a year, so be prepared for the hair! Their short legs disqualify them as jogging partners, but they’re great at obedience, rally, agility, and herding. Health concerns include progressive retinal atrophy, von Willebrand’s, and degenerative myelopathy. Tests are available for the latter two, so ask your breeder to see the health clearances on your prospective puppy’s parents. If your breeder did not perform these tests, find another breeder. The breed’s life span is twelve to fourteen years.

      Collies come in rough-coated (think Lassie) and smooth-coated varieties. The smooth coat is short, but both varieties have and undercoat, and both shed. Collies are good family dogs and are happy to participate in any game or sport. Health concerns include bloat and a range of eye diseases, including Collie eye anomaly and progressive retinal atrophy. The Collie’s average life span is ten to twelve years.

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      Toy Dogs

      Some of the AKC’s Toy breeds are:

      Affenpinscher, Maltese, Poodle, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Miniature Pinscher, Pug, Chihuahua, Papillon, Shih Tzu, СКАЧАТЬ