Animals

American Cocker Spaniel

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The Cocker Spaniel dates back as far as the 14th century. The breed originated from the English Cocker Spaniels, which were brought to the United States. The Spaniels were bred down in size and given the name American Cocker Spaniels, officially called simply the “Cocker Spaniel” by the AKC. The American Cocker Spaniel is more popular than the original English Cocker Spaniel, who are slightly different in appearance, with longer muzzles and larger bodies.

The Cocker Spaniel is a hunting-gun dog able to work in difficult terrain in both wet and dry land. Excellent at flushing and retrieving game with a gentle mouth. They listen to commands well. The name “Cocker” comes from the woodcock, a game bird the dogs were known for flushing. Some of the American Cocker Spaniels talents are hunting, tracking, retrieving, watchdog, agility and competitive obedience. The American Cocker Spaniel was first recognized by the AKC in 1873.

The American Cocker Spaniel is the smallest member of the Gundog Group. They will both point and fetch game and although still used as a field dog, are today more often seen in the show ring or as companion dogs.

American Cocker Spaniels are small-bodied, compact dogs. They are workmanlike dogs and well balanced. They are noted for their rounded head and full, silky coat with feathering on ears, chest, abdomen and legs. They move in a smooth, co-ordinated way and appear to cover the ground effortlessly.

Spinone Italiano

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The Spinone Italiano is an Italian dog breed. However, it should be recognized that the Spinone is a unique, indivisible breed and the correct reference is Spinone (Spinoni plural).
Its original purpose was as a versatile gun dog, which the breed is still a master of today. The Spinone is a loyal, friendly and alert dog with a close lying, wiry coat. It is an ancient breed that can be traced back to approximately 500 BC.

It is often used for hunting, pointing, and retrieving game (HPR), but the intelligent and strong Spinone can be used for practically anything ranging from companions to assistance dogs.

A versatile and popular hunting dog, they excel in pointing and retrieving. The Spinone Italiano is an excellent swimmer that is suited for hunting on all types of terrain and in all climates. In addition to their hunting skills this breed makes a lovely companion.

The Spinone Italiano is exceedingly intelligent, exuberant, and cheerful. They take their hunting duties very seriously, but are lively and entertaining in the home environment. They thrive on human companionship and do not do well if left alone for extended periods of time.

They will suffer separation anxiety and will become bored and destructive. Spinone Italianos are excellent with considerate children and other household pets, although they do have a tendency to chase after anything that runs. The Spinone Italiano is generally quiet and is not suited for use as protection. They have a very patient nature and will return respect they are given.

German Shorthaired Pointer Dog Breed

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The origin of the German Shorthaired Pointer is not clear, but the source of the breed seems to have been the German Bird Dog, related to the old Spanish Pointer, and various crossings with local German scent hounds and track and trail dogs.

When the Germans introduced the English Pointers to lend elegance to the German Shorthaired Pointer prototype, the result was a utility dog that combined sporting virtue with clean lines, good looks and sound temperament.

A versatile hunter and all-purpose gun dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer possesses keen scenting power and high intelligence. The breed is proficient with many different types of game and sport, including trailing, retrieving, and pointing pheasant, quail, grouse, waterfowl, raccoons, possum, and even deer. A medium-sized breed, he has an aristocratic bearing and can be solid liver or liver and white in color.

The German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP, is a streamlined, medium-sized dog with a distinguished appearance and an eagerness to please. This hard working, noble hunter is highly intelligent, extremely friendly and very active.

The short, smooth coat of the GSP requires little care, though the breed does shed at a moderate rate. Basic routine grooming is recommended, paying close attention to the ears to prevent buildup of debris.

American Staffordshire terrier

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The American Staffordshire terrier is a breed of medium-sized, short-coated dog whose early ancestors came from England. In the early part of the twentieth century, the breed gained social stature and was accepted by the American Kennel Club as the American Staffordshire Terrier. They are not to be confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

The American Staffordshire Terrier’s muscled build and protective instinct should make strangers beware, yet with their own family they are devoted, gentle and loving. A common question regarding the American Staffordshire Terrier is, “How is this breed different from the American Pit Bull Terrier?”. In the eyes of the United Kennel Club, they are the same breed, but many disagree.

Some AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terriers are dual-registered as American Pit Bull Terriers with the UKC; however, this draws criticism from many who point out that the bloodlines have been separate for too long for these to be considered the same breed. The AKC, on the other hand, does not allow a UKC-registered American Pit Bull Terrier to be registered as an American Staffordshire Terrier. To be dual-registered, the dog must first be an AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terrier and then it can be registered with the UKC as an APBT — but not vice versa… They are courageous and a tenacious fighter if provoked. Training can be a challenge because of their pushy yet sensitive character. Their natural temperament towards people is gentle and loving, unfortunately some have been improperly handled giving the American Staffordshire Terrier a bad rap.

The American Temperament Test Society conducts tests every year on thousands of dogs to determine the soundness of their temperament. The American Staffordshire Terrier routinely ranks well above many “popular” breeds such as the Beagle, Collie, Doberman Pinscher and the Cocker Spaniel. Intelligence, human attenuation, energy, and affection are characteristic of the breed.

Papillon

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Papillons, which used to only have large, drooping ears, were known in the 16th and 17th centuries as Dwarf Spaniels and were often depicted on the laps of French and Spanish noblewomen. Over time, an erect-eared type, fringed as to resemble the ears of a butterfly, developed (Papillon means “butterfly” in French). In the United States, Papillons (erect-eared) and Phalenes (drop-eared) can be born in the same litter and are shown together as one breed.

The Papillon is a small, friendly, elegant toy dog with a fine boned structure. He is light and dainty, yet still lively, and is distinguished from other breeds by his beautiful, butterfly-like ears. They are known to be happy and alert little dogs that are not shy or aggressive. The breed must be either parti-color or white with patches of any color.

Papillon means “butterfly” in French – a name likely given the breed thanks to it’s ears, which, when erect resemble the butterfly. The white blaze that runs down the top of the Papillon’s head adds to the butterfly appearance. Papillons measure just eight to 11 inches at the shoulder. The Papillon’s fine, soft and silky coat is white with patches of any color or tri-color (black and white with tan markings) The nose, eyes and lips are black, and the gorgeous tail is thickly plumed and carried proudly over the body.

The Papillon is a great choice for elderly or disabled dog owners, since it’s exercise needs are minimal. The Papillon dog breed is well suited to apartment living and city life. The Papillon makes an excellent family pet for any size accommodation and is ideally suited to the stay-at-home. Loyal, loving and protective, Papillons make good watch dogs, too!

Tibetan Spaniel Appearance and Personality

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The name Spaniel is a misnomer. This ancient breed from Tibet is probably the ancestor of the Pekingese. It has been kept by monks for over three thousand years. The little dog was trained to walk on a treadmill, which turned prayer wheels that the monks believed sent prayers to heaven. The holy dogs were given to the emperors of China as tribute gifts and surely figure in the backgrounds of many of the Chinese breeds. One of the first of the Tibetan breeds to reach the west, the Spaniels appeared in England about 1900 and looked much like the Pekingese of the time. Refinements in England have brought the two breeds to their present forms. The Tibetan Spaniel has much more leg under it and is not so exaggerated in form as the Pekingese. Tibetan Spaniels were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1984.

The Tibetan Spaniel is a highly intelligent breed and is deeply devoted to their family and friends. They thrive on human companionship, are extremely sensitive, and will respond to their owner’s moods, emotions, and feelings. They do best with older, considerate, well-behaved children. This breed is generally aloof with strangers but is never aggressive. They get along very well with other pets. The Tibetan Spaniel will vigorously alert their family to any unusual event, sound, or to visitors. They are excellent watchdogs that are neither nervous nor hyper. This breed is not only a lap dog but also likes to sleep in bed with their owners. The Tibetan Spaniel likes to be up high so they are able to survey their surroundings.

One of the three native Tibetan breeds in the Non-Sporting group (along with the Lhasa Apso and the Tibetan Terrier), the Tibetan Spaniel is small, active and alert. They are low to the ground, with a body slightly longer than tall. Popular primarily as companion dogs in their native Tibet, “Tibbies” are also now found in the conformation, obedience and agility rings in the United States. The breed can be all colors including cream, gold and sable, with white markings allowed on the feet.

A very intelligent breed, the Tibetan Spaniel thrives on human companionship and needs to be with its people. Although outgoing and friendly, the breed may be aloof with strangers. Tibbies need only moderate exercise, so they are excellent in apartments. Their double coats need weekly brushing.

Halloween Costumes for Dogs

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Some dogs really enjoy getting dressed in costumes – they might ham it up and revel in the attention.
Other dogs can become scared or uncomfortable in clothing of any type.

If you want to dress your dog up, start simple and see how she handles it. If she does not like it, then don’t push the issue.

Try a Halloween bandanna or collar instead. If your dog does seem to enjoy getting dressed up, be certain you choose a costume that fits comfortably.

If it is too tight, it could cut off circulation or cause sores to develop. Loose-fitting outfits can trip your dog or get caught on objects around the house.

Because of these potential dangers, never leave your dog unattended in the costume. She could become injured or may ingest parts of the costume and choke, become sick, or develop gastrointestinal blockage.

Australian Silky Terrier Dog Breed

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The Australian Silky Terrier is often said to be the result of a planned mating between an Australian Terrier and a Yorkshire Terrier, but because stud records were not kept in the early days this cannot be proved. In 1900 the Australian Terrier Club was formed, but folded a couple of years later leading to the formation of the Victoria Silky and Yorkshire Terrier Club. In 1904 this new club drew up a standard for the breed. Soon after breeders in Sydney formed the Sydney Silky Club and developed a separate standard for what was to be known as the Sydney Silky.

Even today, Australian Silky Terrier breeders will receive requests for Sydney Silkies from throughout the world. And it was not until 1959 that the Silky was recognised as being a breed and was given the name Australian Silky Terrier and the official breed standard drawn up.

Full of energy, this versatile breed will adapt to any situation, making it suitable as a companion in a one-bedroom apartment or as a family dog. It usually devotes itself to one particular family member (usually the one who feeds it). The Australian Silky Terrier is great with children and will play with them for hours. Their small size makes them ideal household pets.

The Australian Silky Terrier is friendly to all the family, but will usually attach itself to one member and be friendly with the rest. It will tolerate strangers, but no more than that. It will love children if raised with them, but it doesn’t enjoy being fussed over or being treated like an animated toy and prefers to be treated as an equal.

The Silky is classified as a toy dog because of its size, but it is far removed from the usual lap dog. It has the true smart and forceful character of a terrier and it has all the advantages of a small dog in suburban life, not being too big for the children, the car or the garden.

Japanese Chin

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Japanese Chins actually originated in China and are probably descended from the Tibetan Spaniel. The breed was introduced to Japan over 2,500 years ago and became a favorite of the Japanese Imperial Court. Chins were introduced to the U.S. in the 1850’s by Admiral Perry. The breed was ranked 67th out of 154 dog breeds in 2004 AKC registrations.

The Japanese Chin is sometimes called the Japanese Spaniel and is from the same family tree as the Tibetan Spaniel, the Pug and the Pekinese dog breeds. The lively and entertaining Chin is a toy-sized breed with a short and very wide muzzle. The Chin’s large eyes are set quite wide apart and it almost has an Oriental appearance. Chins stand about 8 to 10 inches tall at shoulder height and weigh about 6 to 7 pounds. These toy dogs have a long, thick and silky coat with straight hair. The Chin has extensive feathering on the legs, tail and body with a ruff around its neck. The Chin’s normal colors are black and white although red and white is also common. Japanese Chins are members of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Toy Dog Group.

The Japanese Chin is a devoted companion, relishing a warm lap as much as a boisterous game. He is sensitive and willing to please, tending to shadow his family. He is a friend to all: strangers, dogs and pets. His playfulness and gentleness make him a good child’s companion for equally gentle children. The breed has been described as almost catlike, some even climb.

The Japanese Chin is lively but small enough that his exercise needs can be met with a short walk, romp or game. This is not a breed that can live outside. He does not do well in hot humid weather. Some Chins tend to wheeze. The long coat needs combing twice weekly.

English Coonhound

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It has been said that the history of the English Coonhound is the history of all coonhounds. With the exception of the Plott Hound, most coonhounds can be traced back to the English Foxhound. In 1905 the English Coonhound was first registered by UKC under the name of English fox & Coonhound. Back then they were used for fox hunting much more than they are today.

The name reflected the similarity that the breed had to the American Foxhound and the English foxhound. While the Redbone and Black and Tan were given separate breed status, all other treeing coonhounds were called English after the turn of the century. These included both the Treeing Walker Coonhound and the Bluetick Coonhound. They were considered all the same breed. It was the variation in color which separated them. The heavily ticked dogs split off from the English and the Bluetick Coonhound was recognized as a separate breed in 1945. In 1946 the tricolored hounds separated into the breed called Treeing Walker Coonhounds. Though redticked dogs predominate, to this day there are still tri-colored and blueticked English hounds. The English Coonhound was bred to adapt to the rougher American climate and terrain. An English named “Bones,” owned by Colonel Leon Robinson, won one of the first National Coonhound Championships. The breed is still used by practical hunters and competitive hound owners throughout the USA.

The English Coonhound breed descends from Irish and French breeds brought to America. They were utilized to hunt fox by day and raccoon by night. The original Coonhounds were inadequate when hunting by American standards due to their inability to track quarry in trees. Therefore, the original breed was crossed with the Bloodhound to enhance their scent tracking ability. Today English Coonhound’s are used to track and hunt raccoon, oppossum, cougar, deer, boar, and bear.

Affectionate, assured, watchful, fearless, and loyal. The English Coonhound breed does best in packs rather than being the only dog. They get along with older, considerate children and other pets they have been raised with. The English Coonhound has a tendency to be high-strung, exuberant, and lively.

Thai Ridgeback

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Considered to be one of the oldest breeds, the Thai Ridgeback originated in Thailand. Used as a hunter, watchdog, and family protector, this breed is exceedingly rare outside of their native country. Due to a lack of human interaction and isolation this breed remains largely undomesticated and independent.

The Thai Ridgeback is a muscular, medium-sized pariah-type dog with a wedge-shaped head, triangular-shaped prick ears, and a very short, smooth coat. It has a pronounced ridge on its back formed by hair growing in the opposite direction that extends from behind the withers to the hips. Puppies are occasionally born ridgeless. Thai Ridgebacks have a muscular and streamlined body, making them extremely agile. The tail is carried upward called a sickle or sword tail. Its forehead wrinkles with enormous expression. Like many eastern breeds, the Thai Ridgeback has retained a ‘scissor jaw’ where upper and lower teeth interlock when the jaw bones clamp down. The tongue can be black or have black marks. Eyes are almond-shaped and brown but may be amber in blue dogs. The ears are set low and point slightly outward. The ears stand up progressively during the puppy growth period, they are not cropped. The back is straight and level. The coat is short, hard, and straight. Due to the length and density of the coat shedding is minimal, occurring once or twice yearly.

Traditionally, the only other Ridgeback dog beside the well known Rhodesian Ridgeback has been the Phu Quoc Dog. Pho Quoc Island, now a part of Vietnam, is the major isle in the Gulf of Siam, about 200 km south of Bangkok. The ancestry of the Phu Quoc dog is undoubtedly the Thai Ridgeback which has existed in eastern Siam (near the Cambodian border) for at least four hundred years . Ridgeback dogs in cave paintings dating back 1000 years have been found in Cambodia and Thailand.
These Thai Ridgebacks were used for hunting (they are keen sight hounds) deer, tapirs and birds in dense jungle, as guardians for family homesteads and as companions for carts, the traditional mode of transportation in these areas. As a result of the isolation of the area, Thai Ridgebacks have retained their unique type and traditional usage until recently. However, today “civilization” has come even to these isolated areas. Roads have been built and autos have replaced carts as the major mode of transportation. Intense deforestation throughout Thailand has destroyed most hunting habitat. Thai Ridgebacks today are primarily kept as companions or guards for the family homestead and have been adopted by many Thai dog fanciers.

Thai Ridgebacks are medium-large sized short-haired dogs of high intelligence and great jumping ability. Males measure 22 to 24 ½ inches at the withers and weigh from 42 to 60 pounds: female measure 21 to 23 ½ inches and weigh from 37 to 50 pounds. The short coat , ranging from brush to horse coat comes in four colors, black, red (ranging from deep mahogany to light chestnut), blue (or silver) and fawn. The ridge pattern on the back comes in eight different patterns. Thai Ridgebacks bred by Thai fanciers are often kennel raised. Further few Thai’s keep house pets as do Americans. Accordingly, few Thai imports are well socialized. This is especially true since pups must be at least four months old (and have their rabies shots) to be imported into the United States. However, litters bred by American breeders and hand raised in households according to our traditional American socialization methods are very good people dogs, bonding closely to their families. They are usually gentle with their families and with people their families introduce them to, but are excellent watch dogs if people they do not know appear or sounds they don’t understand occur around the house.

Miniature Australian Shepherd

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Directly developed from the Australian Shepherd, the Miniature is a relatively new breed. Originating in the United States, the Miniature Australian Shepherd is rapidly becoming popular for their compact size and strong work ethic. They are extremely adept at herding, but are not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Miniature Australian Shepherd is almost identical in appearance to the standard or full sized Australian Shepherd in everything but size. The Miniature Australian Shepherd is actually less than 18 inches tall (46 cm) at the withers when full grown, and there is also a smaller version of the breed known as a Toy Australian Shepherd which must be less than 14 inches or (36 cm) when fully grown. A still smaller variety known as the Tea Cup must be less than 12 pounds when fully grown.

The Miniature Australian Shepherd is an athletic dog that should appear solid and sturdy without appearing stocky. They have a medium length straight coat that can have a slight wave but never a curl. The coat is double with a somewhat thick and coarse outer coat covering a soft, downy inner coat. The outer coat is not coarse feeling but is rather smooth to the touch. The body is longer than the dog is tall at the shoulders, and the ribcage and chest is moderately developed. The topline is very straight from the withers to the hips. The legs are straight and the feet are slightly arched with the back legs having a well defined stifle that gives the dog its ready to jump into action appearance.

The double coat is of medium length and is very thick and full without giving the appearance of being fluffy. The hair is longer on the ruff, legs and rump and may be slightly wavy but never curly or kinky.
The Miniature Australian Shepherd is loyal, affectionate, and easy going. They are lively, playful, and alert. They are deeply devoted and naturally protective. This breed gets along well with older children. Their exuberance and herding instincts make them unsuitable for homes with young children. They are wary and suspicious of strangers and will warn their family of danger or unusual noises. They are typically not aggressive to other dogs.

Saint Bernard

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The Saint Bernard is a strong and powerful dog with a very tall and muscular body and a large powerful head. They have a wide skull, with high cheek bones and a distinct furrowing of the brow. The skin of their foreheads is very wrinkled, often giving them a rather stern expression, particularly if they also possess a dark mask.

The Saint Bernard has a short muzzle, and does not taper. The bridge is straight and sometimes slightly broken. They have strong sound teeth with either a scissors bite or an even bite. Their mouths often have a black roof.

The Saint Bernard’s nose is very broad with wide open nostrils. Their noses and lips are always black. They have medium sized ears, particularly when compared to the size of their heads. They stand slightly away from the head at the base and then drop sharply, clinging to the head. Their ear flaps are soft and tender and forms a rounded triangle which is slightly elongated toward the point.
The Saint Bernard’s eyes are set toward the front of the head, and are always dark brown. They are medium sized and deep set, giving the dog a friendly and intelligent expression.

The Saint Bernard has a somewhat sorrowful expression, but is actually very good-natured. They are excellent with children and other animals. They have a protective instinct for their family and make excellent watchdogs. They are sensible and loving and make a great family pet. They may display stubbornness, so owners must be very patient. They thrive on high amounts of love and attention. The Saint Bernard is prone to anxiety if left alone for extended periods of time and may destroy their owner’s home and belongings.

Border Terrier

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It was in the Cheviot Hills near the border of England and Scotland that the Border Terrier was first bred. The breed is possibly one of the oldest types of terriers in Great Britain. The farmers had problems with foxes killing their stock and the Border Terrier worked alongside them to drive the fox out of their dens and kill them. They were small enough to follow a fox into the ground but big enough to keep up with the horses. The dogs were often not fed by the farmers in hopes it would make their prey drive even higher and they had to hunt to survive.

Along with fox they hunted otters, marten, the fierce badger, mice and rats. Today while the Border Terrier is mostly a companion dog, he can still serve as a fine farm dog, helping to control vermin. The Border Terrier was recognized by the British Kennel Club in 1920 and by the American Kennel Club in 1930. Some of the Border Terrier’s talents include: hunting, tracking, watchdog, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks.

Even though they are only 13-16 inches high at the shoulder, Border Terriers are giants when it comes to personality. Their compact size in conjunction with their ability to learn and learn quickly has made them the ideal breed for show business animals in recent years. A good number of commercials, TV and movies show not just a small dog that is well trained but a dog whose personality is big enough to come across the screen to an audience.

As lively as they are, Border Terriers are anything but overbearing. They may give a bark or two to express a readiness for action, but they are in no way a naturally aggressive breed, nor are they prone to a bark that is constant. As these working animals were bred to go on foxhunts, they are accustomed to working in packs. In this present day, this equates to being in the company of others, such as a family unit, and eagerly interacting with those around them. Their temperament is known to be an exceptional match for households with children. It is not uncommon for owners to have at least two Border Terriers, (one male, one female) as each has the energy to keep the other occupied while the owner goes about his or her daily business of running a household. Long periods of inactivity are not recommended for this breed.

Dingo Dog Breed

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A true primitive breed, and still in it’s wild state, the Dingo is one of Australia’s unique features.
Brought to Australia by primitive man, the Dingo is believed to be the ancestor of all dog breeds. These dogs were kept by some groups of primitive man as an emergency source of food and hunting partners.

The Dingo has never been fully domesticated and is now in danger of extinction from irate farmers who lose sheep to hungry Dingoes.

The Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) is a type of wolf, probably descended from the Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes). It is commonly described as an Australian wild dog, but is not restricted to Australia, nor did it originate there.

The earliest known Dingo skulls have been found in Vietnam and are about 5,500 years old. Dingo remains from 5000 to 2,500 years old have been found in other parts of South-east Asia, and the earliest record of Dingos in Australia is 3500 years old.

The ultimate origin of the Dingo is uncertain, but it is clearly related to the wolves of south-west Asia, and probably arose in that area at about the same time as humans began to develop agriculture.
A lean and muscular dog, the Dingo can withstand hot, arid temperatures, as well as the cooler climates of certain Australian regions. Their fur is thick and insulating against both hot and cold, and comes in a range of colours, from light sandy tan, to reddish, dark brown or black with white markings.

Dingoes do not bark in the wild, but do have a distinctive howl. They will learn to bark if they associate with other, domestic canines. Dingoes prefer to hunt alone or in their family unit, and as with all truly wild dogs, their mating cycle is yearly, rather than the twice-yearly heats like domestic dog breeds.

Segugio Maremmano Dog

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The Segugio Maremmano is a breed of dog from the coastal plains of Maremma, in Tuscany. It is widely used for hunting wild boar. Tuscan breeders have selected the dogs for hunting ability and their appearances vary.

The breed is recognized by ENCI (the Italian Kennel Club). It has registered 6,600 dogs as breed founders, and the breed was the third most numerous breed in Italy in 2009.

Maremma Scenthound breed comes from Maremma, where it was selected by the end of 1800, not only because of its morphological characteristics but most of all because these dogs bark keeping still. Most suitable for the boar hunt, they do not give up either in case of consistent groups or particularly aggressive boars. Quite good at hare shooting and other mammals hunt. This breed has been recognized by ENCI only recently and it seems to be quite popular.

Smaller than the Italian Segugio, it is different from it in the head, which is not so noble, in the colour, which varies from tawny to seal-black, also striped, and in the tail, which is often cut.
Medium sized dog; it is not a beautiful dog but it is very skilful. Rustic, mesomorphic, the trunk fits into a rectangular; the head with quite a large cranium.

This breed is particularly good at boar hunting. Strong temperament, pleasant ringing voice, very different during the hunt various moments. It hunts on its own or in a pack.

Wetterhoun Dog

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The name of the Wetterhoun has been derived from the Dutch name for water dog. The Wetterhoun was first bred in the Friesland province about 400 years ago. These dogs are very rare, and are not seen often outside the Netherlands. The Wetterhoun are mainly responsible for locating and killing otters. They are also used to hunt small mammals, and they are also very good guard dogs.

Wetterhouns are very challenging dogs when it comes to their physicality – they can also be very sensitive. The Wetterhoun is very bright, and can also be very obstinate. These dogs are courageous and very dependant – and they love to swim.

The Frisian Water dog is reserved about strangers and an ideal guard-dog. Active, brave and fearless, with powerful teeth abd scissor bite, the dog can work many hours in the water. At the same time the Wetterhoun has a very affectionate and sensitive nature and becomes very attached to his family. If you consider make this breed your family companion, please know that this is a working breed with strong hunting instincts that and can be aggressive to other pets. The Frisian is an excellent retriever and hunts very close to his master. It can be stubborn and requires firm and consistent training.

For its own people the Wetterhoun is a good-natured and friendly dog – and this includes the children, provided they treat him properly. For unknown visitors the story is entirely different. In this case it will take up a cautious watch and will protect the home from intruders. Family friends on the other hand will get a hearty welcome. Other dogs and pets will be accepted without a murmur.

Border Collie General Informations

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The Border Collie originates from the border country (between Scotland and England). Bred as sheep dogs, these are probably the best known and popular of the sheep herders.

Border Collies rare usually trained to respond to instructions by a series of whistle and visual commands, and can continue their herding responsibilities when not in the vision of the shepherd. Their herding ability is so ingrained in them that they will display their abilities as young as 6 months old when exposed to a flock of sheep. Like all sheep dogs they are intelligent and easy to train.

The Border Collie is a well balanced medium-sized athletic dog, bred for working and its intelligence, with either a smooth coat or is of medium length with a thick water resistant undercoat. It rather looks like an Australian Shepherd (without the bob-tail). The muzzle tapers elegantly to the all black nose and its ears are usually half perked.

Border Collie females range from 18 to 21 inches and males range from 19 to 22 inches when measured at the shoulder. There are two basic types of Border Collie (both acceptable by the AKC).
The longer haired variety has coarse straight hair, and the shorter haired variety has fine hair. The coloring of border collies can vary enormously. The only stipulation regarding Border Collie show dogs is that the white marking do not predominate.

Typical Health Problems: Genetic health disorders which can occur occasionally in Border Collies include: Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Canine Hip Displasia, seizures, hyperthermia. Accidental injuries are common due to high-speed athletic activities.

Akbash

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The Akbash Dog is one of the oldest of the flock-guarding group. The breed is the counterpart of the French Great Pyrenees, the Hungarian Kuvasz, the Italian Maremma and other white sheep guarding breeds. The Akbash Dog still carries the same mental and physical traits that characterized it thousands of year ago.

Akbash Dogs are large, lean, muscular and powerful with an elegant, racy appearance. Akbash Dogs characteristics are a combination of the Mastiff and Gazehound. They are powerful dogs with medium to long white fur, bred specifically to distinguish them from wolves.

The Akbash Dog can have either a long or a short coat, invariable white. In either case, there’s both an outer and an inner coat, the inner coat composed of soft, fine hairs to insulate against harsh weather. The short-coated Akbash dog’s fur is usually straight and flat with only slight feathering around the neck and legs, while the long-coated Akbash dog’s far is usually wavy with heavy feathering on the legs and a distinctive, lion-like “ruff” around the neck.

They have been bred as a guardian dog whose primary function is to protect sheep from predators. Akbash dogs are calm, quiet and brave. They deserve require respect in training and raising them.
They will protect you and be affectionate to their family as well. But to strangers, this dog is a good guardian and watchdog. If not socialized properly when puppies, they will be aggressive towards all intruders. The Akbash requires a firm and dog-experienced owner seeking a loyal guardian and friend.

The Akbash Dog is a proud beast, bred to be the undisputed leader of his or her pack of flocking animals. This is no doubt a good quality in a flock guard, since it ensures instant obedience on the part of the flock and a much easier time of protecting the dog’s charges from predators. But it can be an extremely challenging quality when it comes to training an Akbash, or simply for using it as a family companion dog.

Lapinkoira Dog

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The lapinporokoira is historicaly closely connected with the lapinkoira. The breed was used for centuries as herder for the Saami people to help with their reindeer. Where the lapinkoira was more of a guarding dog who stayed home with the tents the lapinporokoira was the real worker who could work day after day and run long distances. The dog is build as a typical runner, long in the body with very good angulations and a low carried tail. Today some lapinporokoiras are still used as herders in Lappland.

The breed is very strong in comparison to its size. It must never seem skinny. It should always have long and efficient movements as it was important in their original working field that they could run long distances and for a long time. It is also important for the breed to have a thick dence coat. Some people by mistake think that the breed is shorthaired. It is not. It has a thick waterproof coat like similar other arctic breeds. The coat must never be soft as the dog in its original climate would then get wet all the way to the skin. It is also important that the dog has coat everywhere on the body even in the ears as the dog would otherwise freeze in -30 degrees celcius and under.

The lapinporokoira is not a dog who will lie in the sofa all day it is a typical working dog who should be used for something. In Finland many people saw the breeds qualities and many dogs are doing very well in obedience, agility, tracking, rescue work etc. The breed is obedient if trained and it learns easily and remembers what it learned.

Furthermore it is not at all as stressed as many other working breeds. In Lappland it has been typical that it should work hard some days and not work at all some others. So the Saami people couldn´t use a dog who was going crazy in the times where there was no work to be done.

It is therefore usual for the breed that it is ready to work when you are ready, but when it is at home it is relaxing. The breed is quite strong mentally and we do not recmommend the breed to somebody who never owned a dog before or somebody who are not planning to work with their dog one way or the other.

German Coolie Breed Informations

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The Koolie/Coolie also known as Australian Koolie or German Koolie is an Australian dog breed. Specifically, it is a herding dog, a subcategory of a working dog. Koolies have existed in Australia since the early 19th century, established through old photos owned by elder Koolie breeders and personal records such as diaries.

The German Coolie displays a temperament which is friendly, attentive, and outgoing. They are never aggressive and have usually never met a stranger. They are loyal, devoted with a strong bond to their owner and family. If properly socialized, they adore children.

Coolies are known for their intelligence and herding desire. They are exceedingly attentive, respond quickly and eagerly to training. They have the ability to adapt to any situation.

Coolies have impeccable work ethics, unsurpassed biddability and superior temperaments. They are a versatile breed and excel at any task that is set before them, rather it be herding livestock; performing in the sports arena; Search and Rescue; or just being a companion.

Coolies are confident all-round dogs with a natural ability to head, heel, gather and fetch, as well as drive, livestock. When gathering livestock together, they have the ability to keep them together quietly and confidently using speed and force when needed. They will also hold the livestock using their body language, when necessary. Some Coolies will “back” sheep (jumping on the back of the sheep to get the front ones moving). “Backing” isn’t commonly taught or practiced in the USA.

Alpine Dachsbracke

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A similar dog to the Alpine Dachsbracke was utilized as a hunting dog in ancient times. Between the years of 1881 and 1885, Crown Prince Rudolf of Habsburg required that Alpine Dachsbracken be included on his hunting trips. The breed was officially recognized in 1932 in Austria as the third breed of Scenthound.

Austria is still considered to be the Alpine Dachsbracke’s country of origin.
The Alpine Dachsbracke is a stout, hardy breed that was initially used as a hunting dog.

The head features a long, pronounced muzzle with a straight bridge and a proportional black nose. They have close-fitting, semi-curved lips with black pigment. Their well-developed teeth close in a scissors or pincer bite, and their eyes are very dark in color. Their straight limbs are short, well-muscled, and strong-boned. Their long, heavily muscled bodies feature prominent withers, a level back, and a deep chest.

Their belly is moderately tucked up and their hindquarters are powerful and well-angulated.
The Alpine Dachsbracke has a double coat that features a thick over coat and a dense under coat. While the coat exists in many colors, the dark deer red version is ideal.

The Alpine Dachsbrake is intelligent, kind, sociable, and courageous. Initially utilized as a working dog by mountain huntsman, this breed is hardy, possesses a good work ethic, and can tolerate extreme weather conditions. They make wonderful companions and they are very friendly by nature.

Bergamasco Sheepdog

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The Bergamasco is one of several breeds of sheepdogs believed to have descended from the longhaired shepherd dogs brought to Italy by Phoenicians. As these dogs spread northward through Italy and into the Alps, they became the foundation for the Maremma in central Italy, the Bergamasco in northern Italy, and the Briard in France.

The Bergamasco is an ancient shepherding breed which traces its origins back thousands of years. Believed to have originated in Persia (in the area that is now Iran), hardy, vigorous shepherding dogs worked with their nomadic masters, tending and herding flocks of sheep in the harsh mountain climates from Persia west to Europe.

Certain of these nomads ultimately settled in the Italian Alps and remained there; their dogs became what is now known as the Bergamasco.

The Bergamasco is a muscular, heavy-boned herding dog with a large head and a thick tail that hangs down to the hock and curves slightly upward at the end. The entire dog is covered with an abundant coat that forms mats. The Bergamasco is compact in profile but is just slightly longer than tall.
The Bergamasco’s characteristic feature is its unique coat, made up of three types of hair. The coat forms flocks (strands of hair weaved together creating flat layers of felted hair) or loose mats, which cover the dog’s body and legs, and protect the dog from weather and predators. The hair on the head is typically long and hangs over the eyes.

Solidly compact, Bergamascos shepherd dogs are lively, intelligent, always alert, determined, courageous and excellent guards. Their sweet face, with an almost languid expression, always makes you want to communicate with them. They know how to use their strength and control their behavior depending on the situation. They can be trained for a variety of tasks, like environmental services, man-work, obedience, agility and guarding and herding sheep. Bergamascos shepherd dog breed is resistant to all types of weather and does best in extreme cold climates.

Though these dogs are not instinctively aggressive, they do not like strangers invading their world. They build special relationship with children. Patient, tolerant, attentive and protective, the Bergamascos are used as therapy dogs for handicapped children. These dogs enjoy the outdoors and exercise on their own when living and working on a farm.

Yorkie Dog Breed

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Yorkshire Terriers can be traced back to the Waterside Terrier and developed as a result of breeding with various other terriers throughout England.

Originally known as Scotch Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers were brought to Yorkshire by weavers in the mid 19th century. During the Victorian Era they became quite fashionable. The trendiness of this breed is still notable today, as Yorkies are one of the most popular breeds in the United States.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a lovely lap dog that much prefers to be held on their owner’s lap all day. They have a dose of attitude combined with a bright and playful nature. The Yorkshire Terrier is a true and loyal companion.

This dog is intelligent, lively, and fearless. They focus entirely on their owner and are extremely affectionate. It has been said that a Yorkshire Terrier requires more human companionship and attention than any other breed.

Yorkshire Terriers, commonly called “Yorkies” are little dogs with big personality. Though categorized in the toy group, they take on many terrier traits as well – especially in personality. Early training and socialization with people and other dogs will help keep that “big personality” on track. Yorkies are well suited to apartment living due to their small size, but they are active dogs that still need regular exercise.

French Bulldog

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French Bulldogs were probably derived from undersized English Bulldogs that British workers brought to France in the 19th century. These little bulldogs became popular as ratters and companions of European artists. The Frenchie makes a terrific companion dog and is ranked 49th out of 154 dog breeds in 2004 AKC registrations.

The French bulldog is a small companion breed of dog, related to the English bulldog and American bulldog. The name suggests France as the origin of the breed; however, Americans and British breeders may have played a larger role in the breed’s development.

The dogs are commonly called the Frenchie and are nicknamed “clowns” and “frog dogs”.

The French Bulldog or Frenchie is a small, muscular and fairly active member of the bulldog breed. This chunky breed is characterized by its erect bat-shaped ears. Frenchies have a short, smooth, shiny and dense coat. Coat colors can be roan but are usually fawn and white with streaked patches or tiger markings. These dogs stand 11 to 14 inches tall at shoulder height and weigh from 17 to 26 pounds. Frenchies are members of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Non-Sporting Dog Group.

French Bulldogs are one of the nicest, most amusing and amiable of all dog breeds. The Frenchie is a perfect apartment dog that is clean, easy to groom and sheds very little.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

2011-10-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog or Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund or Grand Bouvier Suisse is a dog breed which was developed in the Swiss Alps, Switzerland.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a draft and drover breed; it is a large, heavy-boned dog with incredible physical strength. Despite being heavy-boned and well-muscled, the dog is agile enough to perform the all-purpose farm duties of the mountainous regions of its origin.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is large, sturdy and muscular. The skull is flat and broad, with a slight stop. The backskull and blunt muzzle are about the same length. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The nose and lips are black. The medium sized, almond shaped eyes vary from hazel to chestnut in color. The medium sized ears are triangular in shape, slightly rounded at the tip, hanging close to the head. The topline is level. The front legs are straight. The feed are round and compact. The chest is deep and broad. The tail is thicker at the base, tapering to a point reaching to the hocks. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat has a dense outer coat of about 1 – 1 1/4 to 2 inches (3-5 cm.) long. The under coat is thick. The tri-color coat has a black base with rust and white specific markings. Symmetrical markings are prefred by breeders. Rust markings appear in a spot over each eye, on the cheeks and on either side of the chest. White appears as a blaze on the muzzle, on the chest, and on the tip of the tail. There may be a white collar or patches of white on the neck.

The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is willing and eager to please. They are excellent with children. Devoted, sweet and easy-going, generally good with other pets and is not dog aggressive. Teach them not to chase. Cautious, and protective, of the home. The Swissy warms up quickly to welcomed newcomers. An admirable, courageous, keen watchdog who will bark if they hear something out of the ordinary. They will not be happy confined to kennel life, enjoying their family.

Mastiff Dog Breed

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This ancient breed was primarily used as a guard dog. The Mastiff was favored by nobility as a hunting companion and revered by peasants as a family and livestock protector. They were also used as arena gladiators where they participated in bull, bear, and dog combat. The Mastiff was nearly extinct by the end of WWII, but was saved with imports from the United States and Canada.

The Old English Mastiff is a massive dog. The Mastiff has a large, heavy square head with a well marked stop between the eyes. The muzzle should be half the length of the skull. The medium-sized brown to dark hazel eyes are set wide apart with a black mask around them.
The nose is dark in color. The small ears are V-shaped and in proportion with the skull and are dark in color. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite but a slightly undershot bite is also acceptable in the show ring providing the teeth do not show when the mouth is closed. The tail is high-set with a wide base, tapering to a point reaching the hocks. Coat colors include golden fawn, light fawn, apricot, silver, tiger or brindle.

The mastiff is an agreeable, laid-back dog – a “gentle giant.” It is loyal, courageous, and confident. It is not a playful breed, but rather calm and dignified. It rarely barks, drools excessively, and tends to snore loudly. It is patient with children, but not recommended for toddlers due to its large size. It is possessive of its home and family and makes an excellent guard dog. It will not attack intruders, but holds them at bay with its large size. It will refuse to let strangers enter the house unless its owner accepts them. If properly socialized as a puppy, it will accept other dogs. It can be difficult to train.

American Pit Bull Terrier

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The American Pit Bull Terrier is a mid-sized breed of dog in the terrier group. They are known for their intelligence, strength, loyalty and friendliness. They make wonderful family dogs and pets for the children always wanting to take care of them.

The American Pit Bull Terrier has a smooth short single coat that requires minimum care. Occasionally, you will see an American Pit Bull Terrier with a pattern on the body, but solid is more common. Eye color can be any color except blue.

They are a strong solidly built muscular dog with a short and stiff single layer of hair that can be almost any color. The ears are occasionally cropped, with a short tapered tail.

The American pit bull terrier is the descendent of working dogs that were imported to the United States by immigrants from England, Scotland, and Ireland. These immigrants brought these working dogs to ports such as Boston and New York.

The working dogs were then bred with each other in order to create a breed that was stronger and taller. This made an incredibly fit working dog that could be used for hunting, dog fighting, and protecting humans. Farmers also used this breed for protection and for catching wild hogs and semi-wild cattle.

The breed that resulted from this crossbreeding became known as the American pit bull terrier. These dogs become very popular as pets, even for people who had children. These dogs also made appearances in major movies such as The Little Rascals.

Alapha Blue Blood Bulldog

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The origin of the Alapaha Blue Blood dates to the 1800s. Developed in the Alapaha River region of southern Georgia by PaPa Buck Lane, the breed was initially used as a plantation watchdog and cattle dog. Like the American Bulldog, the Alapaha is a descendent of the original Bulldogs that came to the U.S. from England in the 1700s.

The breed was established in 1986 by the American Research Foundation, in the working dog category. From 1986 to 2001, ARF has registered or pedigreed just under 700 Alapahas.
The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is a tall breed often measuring 24 inches at the shoulders. They have a good leg length and are powerful yet also lean and athletic in appearance. The hips are slightly narrower than the broad and deep chest giving the streamlined appearance.

The legs are well boned and muscled and should be straight and parallel on the front and well bent at the hocks on the rear.
The feet are large, cat like and well arched. The dewclaws on the front and back legs are always left on unless they become injured or there is some complication.

As a rare breed of dog the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is not commonly found in most areas. They are reported be an excellent companion dog as well as a protector that will loyally and fiercely protect their family from any type of danger.

Although they are a protective breed they are not considered to be aggressive and will not typically attack or protect unless they are provoked or are on their own territory.

American White Shepherd

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The American White Shepherd is said to originate from Europe, Canada, and the United States. This breed is considered a direct descendant of the German Shepherd Dog, which is why they bear similarities in appearance. Many kennel clubs do not recognize the American White Shepherd as a breed because of its colour. This is due to the belief that the colour white negatively affects the working abilities of the dog. White dogs blend in with goats or sheep, which makes them less effective in herding and less visible. Aside from that, the white coat of these dogs are easily noticed in grassy hillsides, making the dogs a target for animals looking for prey.

In 1994, the American White Shepherd Association was founded and has since then worked towards the full acceptance of the American White Shepherd as a distinct and separate breed. In 1999, the association succeeded in petitioning for the United Kennel Club to grant the American White Shepherd with full status.

The American White Shepherd is identical to the German Shepherd with the exception of one distinctive characteristic. American White Shepherds boast a long, stiff coat that is pure white in color.
American White Shepherds look almost exactly the same as German Shepherds, except that they differ in colour. The American White Shepherd sports a white, stiff, long, or long-haired coat. The dogs with long-haired coats have no undercoat. To differentiate dogs of this breed from albino dogs, American White Shepherds must have dark eyes and black eyelids, lips, foot pads, and nose.

American White Shepherds are friendly and highly intelligent. Protective and loyal of its family, this breed is capable of being leery or aloof with strangers. They are not an aggressive dog breed, and they are very easy to train. American White Shepherds enjoy working, and they usually learn tricks quickly.

Being highly intelligent, these dogs learn quickly and are very trainable, although they can be too sensitive at times. Dogs of this breed get along well with children and other dogs. They can also get along well with cats if they’ve been raised with them since puppyhood.

Christmas Dogs Wallpapers

2011-10-04T06:14:00.001-07:00

Free Christmas Dogs Wallpapers for PC. Christmas Dogs Wallpapers reflect the essence of Christmas, with pictures of the nativity scene among other things.

Find all types of Christmas Dogs Wallpapers, Free Christmas Dogs Wallpapers for you. Download christmas dog in christmas theme wallpaper from holiday wallpapers.

Download free Christmas Puppy Dog wallpaper. More Christmas Puppy Dog wallpapers available also in wide resolutions for all desktops.

Cockapoos are another type of hybrid dogs

2011-10-04T06:11:00.001-07:00

Cockapoos are another type of hybrid dogs often called designer dogs. Other names of it include Spoodle and Cockerpoo. The Cockapoos breed is either by crossing the American or English Cocker Spaniels with a poodle or by breeding cockapoo to cockapoo. The origin of the Cockapoo is known in US since 1950 , since then ,the popularity for this dog breed coninues to increase.

He’s affectionate and accepts everyone old folks, kids, and other pets. He’s also of an easy size, being small enough to cuddle and big enough to romp with bigger dogs. Cockapoos have an infectious zest for life that spreads to everyone around them, that essential joie de vivre that makes every day a celebration. These guys are just plain happy to be alive.

Its intelligence is derived from that of a poodle dog breed and has become very popular as a companion pet. This small dog also exhibits a great disposition. This dog breed can also become passive, and at times aggressive, if not given the proper socialization.

They have mixed characteristics, having the loving personality of the Cocker Spaniel and the non-shedding, low-dander qualities of the poodle. Poodle characteristics include a tendency to be very active, energetic and agile.

Cockapoos are a popular choice for a companion dog because of its very friendly personality. A Cockapoo puppy generally gets along with children and other animals very well. Since Poodles and Spaniels have a bit of aggressive traits, this should be dealt while the Cockapoos are still young.

Care is very important with every dog breed you choose. It will depend on the type of dog how much time you will need to spend grooming as well as exercising them. For the Cockapoo you will need to brush them once a day for the best results. Their hair can get very tangled and dirty when they play. You will find that small shedding may occur, but typically they don’t shed. During the grooming process you will need to attend to their nails at least once a year. If you are unsure about the grooming aspects you can visit a pet store with grooming facilities to find out more about the care required. As for exercise they are very active. If you don’t have a yard for them to play in everyday you will need to walk them. You will also want to have play times with plenty of toys to avoid boredom. You will also need to monitor how much they eat. Unlike some dog breeds that you can leave a bowl of food out for a few days the Cockapoo tends to overeat. You should have a regime for feeding your Cockapoo daily and stick with it. This will help with overeating issues.

Beagle Harrier

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Beagle harrier dog is a French breed that was bred by mating two English scent hounds, namely beagle and harrier, to hunt games like hare and deer, in packs. It has an impressive bone structure, with large eyes and hanging ears imparting it both attitude and expression.

The dog has very nicely inherited the qualities of hunting – strong determination, alertness and wonderful scenting ability, from its parents. Beagle harrier is a good and intelligent companion for hunters. Its sweet, calm and affectionate nature makes it an ideal home companion too, the dog but finds it difficult to adapt to apartment life.

It requires less grooming, but a dominating master to train. Read on to know everything about the tough, yet lovable beagle harrier dog breed.

Beagle harrier dog is a medium-sized dog that is larger than beagle and smaller than harrier. It has well-muscled, big and strong bones, with long ears that are common to the parent breed. It has a broad skull and strong head, with well-opened dark eyes, black nose, and a muzzle that is equal to the length of skull. The long ears hang down to both sides of the dog’s head. The canine has a compact body, with short and smooth coat, which has black blankets and tan markings. The coat is usually tricolor, highlighting the fawn, black, tan, or white colors.

Beagle harrier dog is fast, agile, vigorous and courageous, with an even temperament. It is an excellent hunting dog and makes a wonderful companion and loyal pet at home. The dog builds a strong bond with the family and is quite good with children and other pets.

The Beagle Harrier is hardy, vigorous, fast, agile, and courageous but less powerful than the Harrier. With his determination and keen sense of smell, he works well in packs and is not afraid to enter even the thickest brambles. This easygoing, straightforward dog is a pleasant companion.

Bedlington Terrier

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Graceful and lithe in appearance, the Bedlington Terrier has a big heart and loveable nature.
The breed is best known for its curly, woolly coat which starts out dark in puppyhood and fades to a pale bluish gray, sandy or liver, giving him the appearance of a lamb.

Bedlington Terriers are medium-sized dogs covered in lightly-colored fur, sometimes patched in two colors. They bear a passing resemblance to Whippets in their shape (with no distinct stop between the crown of their heads and their nose), and their curling, dense coat gives them a fairly non-threatening look, something like a tiny cloud with two eyes, claws, and a panting pink tongue.

The Bedlington Terrier has a light, curling coat, usually about one inch in length. According to AKC breed standards, the coat should be resistant to touch, but not wiry.

The Bedlington has a mild and gentle temperament and is neither fussy nor mischievous. The breed is an energetic playmate for children but not overly rambunctious.

Bedlington Terriers belong to the terrier group and are mainly used as companions and seen in the show-ring. However, they are also still used today as ratters.

Cane Corso

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The Cane Corso Italiano is a medium-big size dog, strongly built but elegant, with powerful and long muscles, very distinguished, he expresses strength, agility and endurance.

The general conformation is that of a mesomorphic animal whose body is longer than the height at the withers, harmonious as regards the form and disharmonious as regards the profile. The Muzzle is very broad and deep.

Black, blue, fawn and stag-red, with or without brindle markings, as well as the less-desirable black-and-tan and blue-and-tan patterns. White may appear on the chin, chest and the front of the toes.
The noble Cane Corso’s predecessors were big game hunters that showed power, courage and agility, and later proved their skills as drovers and guardians of livestock, property and family on Italian farms.

Very loyal, willing to please and quiet around the house. The Cane Corso is highly intelligent and very trainable. Active and even-minded, he is an unequalled watch and protection dog.
The Cane Corso Italiano is great with children in the family. Docile and affectionate with the owner. They are protective yet gentle. The Cane Corso has a very stable temperament. It makes an excellent guard dog and watchdog. It will not wonder from the home.

Aloof around strangers, protective, and loyal, this breed does make a good companion. The Cane Corso Mastiff does make a lovely companion, but should not be left unsupervised around children due to his sheer size and power.
He is very dependable around children in his family, but can be protective around others.

Brussels Griffon

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Developed in Belgium, the Brussels was developed from primarily the Affenpinscher and the Belgian street dog – a dog similar to the Fox Terrier, except heavier.
Brussels Griffons were often kept in stables as rat catchers. Gradually they became regular members of most Belgian households.

Old folk songs and tales of the period mention “bearded dogs” in reference to the spunky Brussels Griffon.

The Brussels Griffon is a breed most memorable for its unique and distinguishing look. The trio of wide set eyes, flat face and prominent chin coupled with their cheerful terrier disposition has won the dog a small but dedicated following.

Its expression is commonly said to characterize that of an elf or monkey.
Although grouped in the toy category, the Griffon is quite a sturdy, stocky breed with thick square proportions, their stance commonly compared to that of a Boxer.

The body is somewhat short yet holds the large head well. Both the ears and tail can be cropped although this is not a requirement. In fact, cropping is a practice that is largely falling by the wayside.
The Griffon is an intelligent, lively toy dog with a personality much like that of a terrier.
They make excellent companion dogs because of their charming demeanors, cheerful disposition, and ability to learn tricks quickly.

The Griffon has a lot of personality and loves to be showered with affection and attention. Sometimes high strung and moody, the Griffon can be demanding and somewhat spoiled.

Dutch Shepherd

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The Dutch Shepherd Dog is a breed of dog. The breed is an old herding breed of Dutch origin. In the old days shepherds and farmers needed a versatile dog, a jack-of-all-trades, with few demands and adapted to the harsh and meager existence of that time.

The most distinctive feature of the Dutch Shepherd is the brindled coat. This breed is powerful, muscular, well-proportioned, and of balanced build. Dutch Shepherd’s possess an expression of intelligence.

The Dutch Shepherds are among the most competent of all shepherd dogs at such tasks as agility, catch, obedience competitions, guard work, herding, field trailing and companionship. Attached to its territory, and an enthusiastic worker. These affectionate, happy to be around dogs are obedient, sober and very loyal to its handler and family. Friendly, loving, playful and highly energetic. A very happy dog. Cunningly smart. Provided children are seenn as pack leaders, they can also be good friends with them. Unwanted visitors will be stopped in their tracks, while known family friends will be greeted enthusiastically.

The Dutch Shepherd is affectionate, lively, obedient, reliable, and faithful. They typically bond closely to one family member, although they are loving to their entire family. The Dutch Shepherd breed is protective and attached to their family, home, and territory and make excellent guard dogs.
The Dutch Shepherd is a highly capable shepherd dog that excels in areas of agility, obedience, guarding, herding, field training, and companionship. They are extraordinarily competent, and they approach their work with great enthusiasm. They have strong territorial instincts and will ward off unwanted visitors at lightning speed. They are very affectionate, cheerful, and playful, and they love to spend time with their family. They are a highly intelligent breed, and they are very easy to be around.

Goldador

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The Goldador is created by the crossing of two breeds: Golden Retriever and Labrador Retreiver. They are typically referred to as a “designer dog”. The most popular Goldadors are those resulting from first generation crosses.

Muscular and sturdy, the Goldador is well-proportioned and of medium size. They are athletic, hardy, and agile. They exhibit a pleasing personality and kindly expression.

Goldadors are active and require at least half an hour of daily exercise–most enjoy retrieving games as well as hiking and swimming. Once they’ve reached physical maturity (between 18 and 24 months), Goldadors make excellent jogging companions.

Training the eager-to-please Goldador is relatively easy – they come from a long line of dogs who work closely and willingly with people. This makes them an excellent choice for first-time owners, provided they get the exercise, structure, and positive reinforcement they crave.

Loving, devoted, and energetic, Goldadors are prized for their good-natured trainability. They make great family members–a natural with kids and social with other pets–as well as valuable guide, service, and bomb detection dogs.

Lowchen

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This breed is of European descent and originated in France during the 14th century. Known as the Little Lion, they were particularly favored by aristocracy.

During the first half of the 20th century they nearly became extinct.
However, Madame Bennert of Belgium is credited for saving this breed. The Lowchen has appeared twice in the Guiness Book of World Records: once as the most expensive dog in the world, and once as the rarest dog in the world.

Lowchens generally grow to between 25-33cm. (10-13″) tall. They weigh approximately 5-9 kilos. Lowchens have a long silky coat, and are famous for their beautiful head and large dark eyes which gives them their lovely soft, gentle expression. Lowchens come in many colours and combinations of colours, their coats are often very dark as puppies and will change and lighten as they grow. A small black youngster may well develop into a cream coloured adult – they are full of surprises!!

In the show-ring their long silky coat is clipped off on the back half of their body and their back legs, leaving a full “mane” at the front, with fringes of hair over all four feet and a plume on the end of their tail – they look like a lion!! – which is where they got their name Lowchen, which comes from the German word meaning “little lion”. Lowchens usually live to approximately 12 years of age, although many live happy lives for much longer than this.

This intelligent breed is friendly, affectionate, and willing to please. It is fearless and has been known to challenge other household dogs – even those that are larger – to be the top dog.
This quality is often surprising to others since the breed’s lion cut gives the deceptive image of a frail, undignified dog. The l öwchen is active and lovable. It enjoys playing with children and is friendly with other pets. This fearless dog will bark incessantly to protect its family and property.
If not properly trained, it may dig and bark too much.

Fila Brasileiro

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The Fila Brasileiro is a large working breed of dog developed in Brazil.

The Fila Brasileiro is a Molosser breed with large bones and loose skin. The breed standard requires males to be between 65 and 75 cm (25.5 inches to 29.5 inches) high at the withers and weigh at least 50 kg (110 lbs). Females are slightly smaller and are expected to be 60 to 70 cm (23.5 inches to 27.5 inches) high at the withers and weigh at least 40 kg (90 lbs).

The Fila Brasileiro is arguably the most beautiful and awesome of all the guardian dog breeds, with some characteristics not found in many other breeds. You will often hear Fila owners and breeders say “they’re not like other dogs!”

The Fila excels at family and estate protection as well as hunting, tracking, cattle herding and even carting.

A large and powerful dog, but don’t let that fool you: the Fila is also extremely agile and athletic, and it is not unheard of for a Fila to clear a six foot fence to defend his master.

Chinook Dog Breedlysesynt

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The Chinook was developed in the United States as a sled dog whose function was drafting and sled dog racing.

Bred to combine the power of freighting breeds with the speed of the lighter racing sled dogs, he is an athletic, hard bodied dog showing good forward reach and rear extension in a seemingly tireless gait.
The Chinook is an impressive dog, with an aquiline muzzle, dark almond eyes, black eye markings, a variety of ear carriages, and a tawny, close fitting coat. His saber tail is held in a graceful sickle curve.
The male should appear unquestionably masculine; the female should have a distinctly feminine look and be judged equally with the male. A dignified and affectionate family dog, the Chinook is known for his love of children.

The Chinook is to be presented in a natural condition with no trimming. The following is a description of the ideal Chinook.

Ideal height at the withers: males 24 to 26 inches; females 22 to 24 inches. PROPORTION – When measuring from point of shoulder to the point of buttocks the Chinook is slightly longer than tall. The proportion of height to length of body being as 9:10 in ratio.

SUBSTANCE – Muscular with moderate bone, a gender difference is easily discernable. The Chinook exemplifies a sound athlete in grace, muscle tone, movement, and carriage.

Saint Berdoodle

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The Saint Berdoodle is not a purebred dog, nor is it an AKC recognized breed. Saint Berdoodle dogs are a hybrid or cross breed developed from the Saint Bernard and the Standard Poodle. However, the cross is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC).

The Saint Berdoodle tends to have a stocky big body, like a Saint Bernard, but the coat of the Poodle. Like all of the other Poodle mixes, the Saint Berdoodle has a coat that rarely sheds and tends to have a lower dander count. The shaggy kind of coat that is produced needs minimal grooming.

The ideal St. Berdoodle is muscular, powerful, and large. They should possess dark eyes and a keen and intelligent expression.

The Saint Berdoodle is a hybrid, or designer, dog. They are large dogs with a height in the male of 27-30 inches and a weight of 150-200 pounds whilst the slightly smaller female measure 24-27 inches and weighs in at a mere 110-160 pounds.

The St Berdoodle is a cross breed, of a pedigree Saint Bernard and a pedigree Poodle. After the cross it is meant that St Berdoodles should be bred with another St Berdoodles but they can be bred with either of the original parent breeds. Generally speaking their coat takes after the Poodle, so it is fairly short and wavy to curly. However their body and size leans more towards the Saint Bernard. Most commonly the coat will be white, as the main color, with some red markings.

Some Saint Berdoodle are true crosses between Saint Bernards and Poodles, while others are the result of successive generations, created by breeding Saint Berdoodle with Saint Berdoodle. These dogs are typically referred to as “multigenerational.”

Sealyham Terrier

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Originally bred in Wales, the Sealyham was developed from the West Highland White Terrier, the Wirehaired Fox Terrier, the Bull Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.

The breed derives its name from Sealy Ham, Haverfordwest, Wales, the estate of Captain John Edwards, who created this breed to quarry badger, fox and otter. Always game and very quick, the Sealyham’s white coat was necessary so that they could be distinguished from the varmint they went to ground to capture!

The Sealyham Terrier is a hardy and muscular breed. They are proud, compact, and charming. They are lively, bold, vigorous, and exhibit a robust nature.

The Sealyham is a jaunty and jovial companion that has a deep depth of devotion to their owner and family.

Sealyham Terriers were originally bred to hunt otters, foxes, and badgers. Today these clowns of the terrier family are primarily companion dogs and a good choice for the novice terrier owner.
Sealyham Terriers, affectionately called Sealies, are distinctive-looking, affectionate terriers who stand out for their inquisitive, self-confident, good-humored nature. Once you’ve had a Sealy, you can never go back to another breed, his fans say.

Leonberger

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Originating in Leonberg, Germany in 1846, this versatile breed was a favorite with royalty. The Leonberger nearly became extinct at the end of World War I but was revived and restored by several German breeders that were devoted to the breed. They are considered to be the oldest of the German breeds.

The Leonberger is a calm, non–aggressive, large, muscular, working dog with a proud head carriage.

He is distinguished by his balanced build, black mask, and double coat. Adult males, in particular, are powerful and strong and carry a lion–like mane on the neck and chest.

A dog or bitch is easily discernable as such. For its size, the Leonberger is light on its feet and graceful in motion. Because natural appearance is essential to breed type, the Leonberger is to be shown with no trimming, sculpting or other alterations of the coat.
A breed regarded as a “gentle giant“, the Leonberger is affectionate, loyal, devoted, and trustworthy. This calm and steady breed is excellent with children, dogs, and other pets. They do not do well if left alone for extended periods of time and will bark and become destructive if bored or lonely. They are gentle, protective, and self-assured. They require a highly dedicated owner.

The Leonberger dog inherited the admirable characteristics of its ancestors, immense size, noble poise and a strong working ability. Males in particular are mighty and muscular. Its disposition is agreeable, playful and friendly towards other small animals, people and especially children. It is lively, but exhibits a self-confident calmness and a willing submissiveness.

It is an intelligent dog remembering what it has learned, so a Leonberger puppy should be given the right start with obedience training. Adults are fearless, neither shy nor aggressive. Its long dense medium soft to coarse coat needs regular grooming. It requires outdoor exercise several times a day. A Leonberger puppy would be a good choice for a family with children. For proper bone development, special kibble is now available for large boned breeds such as a Leonberger puppy.

Xoloitzcuintli Dog

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According to the American Kennel Club website, the breed’s name is pronounced “show-low-eats-queen-tlee”. The Xoloitzcuintli (Xolo, for short) is a a sensitive breed of above average intelligence and devotion.

They are protective, but will meet aggression, rather than instigate it, taking their cues from their master’s uneasiness of a situation or person. Xoloitzcuintli are still primitive to some degree and need to be guided by reason and respect, rather than force of will.

Though the Xoloitzcuintli is known as a hairless breed, litters often contain pups that are fully coated. Because the coated pups have traditionally been destroyed at birth, there is no standardization in coat color.

The Xoloitzcuintli breed is affectionate, loving, intelligent, and devoted. They are highly protective of their family, home, and territory.

This breed is not recommended for first time dog owners. The Xoloitzcuintli typically do not bark. Instead, they emit a howl to alert their family to danger.
The do best in a home with older considerate children and dogs they have been raised with. They may be aggressive toward dogs they do not know.

The Xoloitzcuintli is a sensitive and emotional breed that demands an inordinate amount of attention.
They will become destructive if left alone for extended periods of time, and are prone to digestive problems and neurotic behavior if they become stressed.

The Xoloitzcuintli is very intelligent, loyal, alert, athletic, and extremely loving to it’s family. It is important that all family members play a role in leadership, rearing, training, and feeding the Xolo, or it will bond to the one person or people who do. It is naturally protective and aloof to strangers.
With proper socializing it is very good with company and children. It is a myth that Xolo’s are vegetarian’s, however they do love veggies. This breed is easy to house train, and learns very quick. You must be the leader and teach the Xolo, or it will lead, and run the house for you.

Welsh Corgi

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The Welsh corgi is a small type of herding dog that originated in Wales.
Two distinct breeds are recognized: the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi, with the Pembroke being the more common.

Corgis are healthy dogs, living into their early or middle teens; however, both do suffer from a few hereditary diseases.

The most famous Welsh corgis were perhaps those of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, who kept at least four corgis.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is obedient, loving, loyal, and deeply devoted. They are outgoing, friendly, and thrive on human companionship and attention. This breed is alert, fearless, and assertive.
They make an excellent guard dog, but their tenacity can sometimes lead them into trouble.
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is best suited for a family with older and considerate children. If they are left alone for extended periods of time they will become restless and bored which will lead to destructiveness and excessive barking. They are often wary of strangers and over-protective of their family and territory.

Due to their herding nature, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi will attempt to perform this task on anything and everything that moves. This breed typically does well with other pets.

Long and low with a robust build, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is spirited, athletic, and dependable.
This versatile companion has a strong work ethic, and displays an intelligent and interested expression.
They are often considered to be “a big dog in a small dog’s suit”.

Aussie Dog

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The exact origin of the Australian Shepherd is not known. The breed that is cherished and loved today was developed exclusively in the United States.

The Australian Shepherd has an innate versatility that makes them useful on ranches and farms as a herding dog, retriever, and watchdog. They are typically referred to as “The Aussie“.

The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent working dog of strong herding and guarding instincts. He is a loyal companion and has the stamina to work all day.

He is well balanced, slightly longer than tall, of medium size and bone, with coloring that offers variety and individuality. He is attentive and animated, lithe and agile, solid and muscular without cloddiness.

He has a coat of moderate length and coarseness. He has a docked or natural bobbed tail.
Size–The preferred height for males is 20-23 inches, females 18-21 inches. Quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size. Proportion–Measuring from the breastbone to rear of thigh and from top of the withers to the ground the Australian Shepherd is slightly longer than tall. Substance–Solidly built with moderate bone. Structure in the male reflects masculinity without coarseness. Bitches appear feminine without being slight of bone.

Australian Shepherds are intelligent, delightful, and loyal. They are highly energetic and thrive on being given something to do. The Aussie has a high degree of intensity and a “no-quit” attitude.
Their herding instinct may be problematic or annoying to their family, as this breed will often attempt to perform this task on everyone or anything that moves. They are reserved and cautious with strangers until the Aussie decides about them. They are confident and protective. Human companionship is crucial to this breed. They get along well with active, considerate older children. The Aussie is not typically aggressive to other dogs.

Persian Cat

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The Persian is a longhaired cat characterized by its round face and shortened muzzle. One of the oldest cat breeds, it takes its name from its place of origin: Persia (Iran). Recognized by the cat fancy since the late 19th century, it was developed first by the English, and then mainly by American breeders after the Second World War. In Britain, it is called the Longhair or Persian Longhair.

Persian Cats have been the most popular cat breed in the world for quite a long time.
The first documented ancestors of the Persian were imported from Persia into Italy in 1620 by Pietro della Valle, and from Turkey into France by Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc at around the same time. From France they soon reached Britain. The longhaired cats from Persia were interbred with Turkish Angoras. Their appearance then differed greatly from today’s standard. Hundreds of years of selective breeding made Persians cobbier cats with drastically shorter muzzle.

The Persian Cat is the most represented cat breed in the cat shows and the Persians are the ongoing leaders in annual ratings by CFA and European cat clubs and associations.

Persian Cats are of calm temperament. The Persian cat is an ideal breed for those who are looking for a pleasant, peaceful and loyal companion. The Persians is not a talkative breed – if the Persian wants your attention, it would sit before you and gaze loyaly into your eyes.

Siamese Cat

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The Siamese is one of the first distinctly recognized breeds of Oriental cat. The exact origins of the breed are unknown, but it is believed to be from Southeast Asia, and is said to be descended from the sacred temple cats of Siam (now Thailand).

In Thailand, where they are one of several native breeds, they are called Wichien-maat. In the 20th century the Siamese cat became one of the most popular breeds in Europe and North America.
Siamese cats are of two types. The traditional Siamese cat is apple headed and has a robust, compact body, while the modern Siamese cat has a more triangular shaped head and has a lithe and slender body.

This breed of cat is the most popular of all the short haired cats, and is made distinctive by its long, slender body and triangular face. They also tend to have blue eyes and an unusual coat pattern. Their coat tends to become lighter around their neck and body but then darkens on the points of the cat, which are the ears, face, paws and tail.

Siamese cats are very temperamental and have outgoing personalities. They are the most social and friendly of all cat breeds. They are very talented at communication with humans. If you are looking for a quiet cat, then Siamese cats are not the way to go. They are extremely vocal and express themselves using their voices. While being affectionate their voices are easy on the ears but when feeling neglected they become quite loud.

The only maintenance these breed of cats require physically is that they need to be bathed once a month and their coats need to be brushed at least twice a month. Gentle brushing is sufficient as their hair is not very long. Siamese cats can live to be fifteen or twenty years old if they are well taken care of.

Bengal Cat

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The Bengal Cat is a relatively new hybrid variety of cats creating by cross breeding a domestic cat with and Asian Leopard Cat.

Their name is derived from the Latin name of its wild ancestor- Felis Bangalensis, and is not related to the Bengal Tiger. It was created to combine the appearance of the wild feline animals with the temperament of the domestic cat.

There are four different types of Bengal Cats. They can have one of the two separate patterns – spotted or marbled on one of the two different types of coats – brown or white. Bengal Cats can be both short haired or long haired.

Temperament: After three generations from the original crossing, the breed usually acquires a gentle domestic cat temperament; however, for the typical pet owner, a Bengal cat kept as a pet should be at least four generations (F4) removed from the Leopard Cat. The so-called “foundation cats” from the first three filial generations of breeding (F1–F3) are usually reserved for breeding purposes or the specialty pet home environment.
The Bengal Cat is considered to be a self-assured cat, both affectionate and playful. They love to play in water. They can also coo and chirp and love to jump and somersault.

Norwegian Forest Cat

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The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed of domestic cat native to Northern Europe, and adapted to a very cold climate. In Norway they are known as the skogkatt/skaukatt which means forest cat (“skog” and ‘skau” being alternate words for “forest” in different Norwegian dialects), or more formally as the Norsk Skogkatt (Norwegian Forest Cat). A common name for them is weegie.

The Norwegian Forest cats are known as ‘skogkatt’ or ‘skaukatt’ in Norway, ‘skog’ and ‘skau’ meaning forest in different dialects. It is believed that the Norwegian Forest cat did come out of the forests about 4000 years ago. Legend has it that travelled the world with the Vikings, protecting their grain stores on land as well as on the sea, and even left their progeny on the shores of America.
The Norwegian Forest Cats look like two different cats in summer and winter.

Acclimatized to cold winters, they have a very thick, glorious coat during the cold months. In the spring, they shed their undercoat and look completely different. They also have fur in their ears, between toes and a large bushy tail to wrap around themselves. They are large cats, with males being larger than the females.

Siberian Cat

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The Siberian cat should feel itself loved and appreciated in every home around the world. The Siberian cat is a Russian cat that originated in Russia. The cat adapted to living in cities and urban areas when people migrated to the cities.

The Siberian is Russia’s national cat. The Siberians first arrived in 1990 to the United States. In cities where the Siberian cat is found, it’s possible to mix with other feral cats. The Siberian has been accepted by the Feline registries.

The Siberian is very dog-like. They are loyal cats that will come to greet you with their unique triple purr. This cat breed appears to be fascinated with water and they are likely to drop toys in it. They are a friendly breed, good with dogs, energetic, and smart.

Known to be an exceptionally agile jumper, the Siberian is a strong and powerfully built cat, with strong hindquarters and large, well rounded paws. They have barrel chests and medium sized ears, broad foreheads, and stockier builds than other cats.

Siberian cats possesses dog like devotion attributes such as being loyal, affectionate, playful and intelligent. It is called a gentle giant and enjoys the company of other pets and people. Siberians love to purr, they are quiet and mellow and extremely personable in nature. They are energetic and athletic creatures and very gentle around children.

Sphynx Cat

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The Sphynx (also known as Canadian Hairless ) is a rare breed of cat known for its lack of a coat.

Sphynx cats came from Toronto, Canada, after a domestic pet cat gave birth to a kitten that was hairless. Eventually the cats were taken to America, Europe and they grew in popularity. This breed of cats is the seventh most popular cat breed based on Cat Fanciers Association.

The Sphynx cat is unique because it has very little or no hair on its body. It is often referred to as the ‘feline alien’ for its strange, small face, large bat-like ears, wrinkled skin, a potbelly and almost no hair. Some types of Sphynx cats have no whiskers or eyebrows as well.
The hairless appearance of this breed of cats is so unusual that people feel the need to touch the cat upon seeing it to see what it feels like to touch them. Touching the body of this cat usually feels similar to touching some warm leather. There is always a soft layer of light down found on its coat. Female Sphynx cats weigh around seven to nine pounds while the males weight around eight to nine pounds.
Sphynx cats have a large amount of energy and love being admired. They are very friendly to all people, new and familiar. When sleeping they will usually find a warm place such as under the bedcovers or near a heater. They have voracious appetites and are known for their high metabolism.
The breed is therefore otherwise known as the “Canadian Hairless”, “Moon Cat” and “Moonstone Cat“. There are, though, well documented instances of the hairless cat mutation occurring many times before 1966 without attracting sufficient attention for a new breed to be formed from the mutation. For example, in 1830 in Latin America and in many other countries including England, Australia, USA and Russia, to name a few.

Maine Coon Cat

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The Maine Coon is a breed of domestic cat with a distinctive physical appearance. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically native to the state of Maine, where it is the official State Cat.

It is also said that these cats originally belonged to Marie Antoinette. There is also a strong theory that they came with the Vikings and mated in the wilds with raccoons from which the name is derived.

The Maine Coon is noted for its large bone structure, rectangular body shape, and long, flowing coat. The breed can be seen in a variety of colors and is known for its intelligence and gentle personality. Health problems, such as feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia, are seen in the breed, but screening methods can help to reduce the frequency of these problems.

Maine coon cats are clever, energetic and playful. They love being in families that have lots of other pets as well as children.
They possess much more dexterity than regular cats, and are capable of scooping up objects, toys and food using their paws, almost like raccoons.
This breed of cat can stretch themselves up and use their flexible paws to open doors using door knobs.
This breed of cat has a shaggy coat of fur that is weatherproof along with a full, puffy tail and ear tufts. All these traits help protect it during harsh winters.

Sacred Cat of Burma

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The Birman is said to have originated in western Burma; and certainly cats with similar markings are recorded in documents from ancient Thailand. One story claims that a pair was given as a gift to an Englishman named Major Gordon Russell and his friend August Pavie by the priests of the Khmer people; another that the cats were acquired by an American named Vanderbilt from a servant who had once been at the temple of Lao-Tsun where the cats were kept as sacred animals.

The Sacred Cat of Burmah (Birman) is yet more veiled in obscurity than its supposed descendant the Siamese, and we are indebted to Russell Gordon for the only authentic account of this species that has reached our shores. He gained his information during the Burmese War of 1885 whilst serving as an officer in the English Army occupying Burmah. His position enabled him to protect certain kittahs, or priests, whose lives were in danger, and in return they bestowed on him unprecedented privileges of entry into their secret and sacred places.

Original Legend of Birman cat
“In a temple built at the sides of the Mount of Lugh, lived in prayer the venerable Kittah Mun Ha, Grand Lama, precious among the precious, from which the very god Song Hio braid the golden barb … There was not a minute, not an inking, not a thought of his existence that wasn’t dedicated to the adoration, the contemplation, and the pious service of Tsun Kyankzé, the goddess with the sapphire eyes, the one who presides over souls’ transmutation, the one who allows the Kittahs to reincarnate in the form of a sacred animal in the time of its existence, before returning to a body surrounded with the total and holy perfection of the grand priests. Close by the goddess, Sinh the dear oracle meditated. He was a completely white cat, with yellow eyes, a reflection of both his master’s golden braid and the golden body of the goddess with sky eyes … Sinh, the counselor cat, who’s ears, nose, tail and points were the color of the soil, the mark of stain and impurity for all that touches or can touch the earth. Now, one night, as the malevolent moon illuminated the cursed Phoums, who were coming their way from the loathed Siam to the holy enclosure, the Grand Priest Mun Ha–without stopping to implore the cruel destinies–entered slowly in death, under the anguished eyes of all the devastated kittahs, with his divine cat at his side… When a miracle happened… the unique miracle of instant transmutation: with one jump, Sinh was on the golden throne on his saggy master… He perched himself on his head, heavy with years, and which, for the first time was not looking to his goddess… And as the cat turned straight before the eternal statue, one could see the hairs on his white backbone bristle and suddenly become a golden yellow. And his golden eyes became blue, immense and profound like the eyes of the goddess. And, as he slowly turned his head toward the southern entrance, his four paws, which were touching the venerable crane, became flashing white until the fringe of the sacred silk clothes. Then, as his eyes locked on the southern entrance, the kittahs, obedient to this imperative gaze loaded with hardness and light, hurried to close the heavy bronze door on the first invader… The temple was saved from profanation and looting… Sinh had not left the throne. On the seventh day, without having ever moved, facing the goddess, his eyes on her eyes, he died, mysterious and hieratic, taking Mun Ha’s soul away to Tsun Kianksé, as he was now too perfect for earth … And when seven days later, the priests assembled in front of the statue, and consulted in order to decide Mun Ha’s succession, they saw all the temple’s cats running up together … All the cats were clothed with gold and white gloves and all their yellow eyes had changed to deep sapphire… Then, all of them in silence surrounded the youngest Kittah, who was chosen by the reincarnated ancestors according to the will of the goddess … “And now” proclaimed the storyteller woman, “when a sacred cat dies in the Lao-Tsun temple, a Kittah’s soul replaces it forever in the golden god Song Hio’s paradise.“ “But also”, she said, “woe to the one who hastens the end of one of these marvelous animals. Even, if he didn’t mean to, he will suffer the cruelest torments until the sad soul he disturbed finds peace…”

Appearance of Sacred Cat of Burma
Birmans have semi-long, silky hair, a semi-cobby body and relatively small ears compared to other cat races and a Roman nose. In order to comply with breed standards, the Birman’s body should be of an eggshell colour or golden, depending on the intensity of the markings colour. The markings can be pure seal, chocolate, blue, red, lilac or cream. Tabby variations are also allowed. Tortie cats can be seal, chocolate, blue or lilac. Birmans have sapphire coloured eyes.

Chartreux Cat

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The Chartreux is an internationally recognized breed of domestic cat from France. The Chartreux is large and muscular, with relatively short, fine-boned limbs, and very fast reflexes. They are known for their blue (grey) water-resistant short hair double-coats which are often slightly nappy in texture (often showing “breaks” like a sheepskin) and orange- or copper-colored eyes. Chartreux cats are also known for their “smile”; due to the structure of their heads and their tapered muzzle, they often appear to be smiling. Chartreux are exceptional hunters and were highly prized by farmers.

The Chartreux is a natural French breed of great antiquity. It is known for its gray-blue color, wooly double coat, powerful build, and mild temperament. Although it is a massive cat, it has a sweet, smiling expression and a tiny voice. It is always gray-blue in color, with gold to copper eyes. Authors through the centuries have praised the Chartreux as a gentle cat, a quiet cat, an excellent hunter, devoted to its master, easy to keep and a good traveler. These characteristics were prized in a working breed, and are still true of the Chartreux today.
The Chartreux is a sturdy French breed coveted since antiquity for its hunting prowess and its dense, water repellent fur.
Broad, rounded head with powerful jaw and full cheeks. Straight nose with a slight depression between the eyes. Comparatively small, tapered muzzle. Sweet, smiling expression. Medium sized ears set high on the head, with a very erect posture. Rounded, open, expressive eyes.

Robust, medium-long body with broad shoulders and deep chest. Solid and dense. Females are medium in size, males are large. Tapering, moderate length tail. Comparatively short and fine-boned legs. Feet are round and appear almost dainty compared to body mass.

Slightly wooly, medium-short coat (slightly longer than most shorthairs). Dense undercoat; longer, protective topcoat. The coat should clump up like sheepskin (we say the coat “breaks”) at the neck and flanks. Silkier, thinner coat permitted on young cats and females.
Chartreux are less talkative than other breeds. Many Chartreux are completely mute: they purr, but cannot meow. Others have a quiet, high pitched meow or chirp which they use infrequently. This quietness can be a plus, but remember that a silent cat cannot let you know when it is lost or in trouble.
Neither gregarious nor shy, Chartreux are calmly attentive to the world, and will tend to hang back and observe, rather than rushing in. They are tolerant and gentle with strangers, small children, and other animals. They tend to withdraw from conflict rather than becoming fearful or aggressive. They accommodate themselves to most situations without complaint, travel well, and do not mind being left alone for long periods.

They are natural hunters, more interested in chasing and “killing” a toy than in romping around or wrestling in play. Even in play they are efficient, watching until the perfect moment and then letting loose with a fast and accurate pounce. They play in short spurts, sleeping and relaxing the rest of the time. They are creatures of habit and enjoy the same games and rituals day after day.

Abyssinian Cat Breed

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The Abyssinian is a breed of domesticated cat with a distinctive ticked coat. There are many stories about its origins, often revolving around Egypt, but the actual origins are uncertain. The Abyssinian has become one of the most popular breeds of shorthair cat in the USA.

Although many believe the Abyssinian to be direct descendent of the sacred cat of Egypt, the exact origin of the breed is obscure. Certainly, there is a strong resemblance between the modern Abyssinian and the cat depicted in ancient Egyptian bronzes, paintings and the agouti coated cats found buried in the tombs, with the lithe long body large ears and long tail. The Abyssinian shape and distinctive coat however also bears a striking similarly to the African Wild cats. The first registration of the breed appeared in English studbooks in 1896. The earliest identifiable Abyssinian can be found in the Leiden Museum in Holland. The label reads “domestica India”, indicating the origin to the same area. More recent studies have indicated the coast of Indian Ocean between Singapore and Ceylon to be the “homeland” of the Abyssinian Tabby colour pattern – Abyssinians are one of the oldest breeds and they are possibly the closest to a natural breed of all the purebred cats in the world.

Appearance: The overall impression of the ideal Abyssinian would be of foreign build, not as extreme as the Siamese not as rounded as the Burmese but somewhere in between. The Abyssinian is an extremely beautiful and colourful cat with a distinct agouti ticked coat. It is this agouti ticking (flecking) that gives the Abyssinian this rather special “wild cat ” look. It is of medium size, lithe, very regal in appearance, hard and muscular showing eager activity and lively interest in its surroundings. Watching an Abyssinian lope across the room invokes images of a wild hunting cat, swift and capable.

Temperament: The Abyssinian is an affectionate intelligent cat, very people orientated, extremely active and a cat that thrives on interaction and play. They are not constant lap cats, rather, they need to know what you are doing; like to help you make a telephone call; read your newspaper or make your bed, in fact they insist on being included in all family activities as a right.

Russian Blue Cat

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The Russian Blue (historically Foreign Blue) is a type or breed of cat that has a silver-blue coat. These cats are known to be highly intelligent and playful but tend to be timid around strangers. They also develop close bonds with their human companions and are highly sought after due to their personalities and unique coat.

The Russian Blue is a naturally occurring breed that originated in the port of Arkhangelsk, Russia. They are also sometimes called Archangel Blues. It is believed that the first Russian Blues were brought from the Archangel Isles to England and Northern Europe in the 1860s by sailors. The first recorded showing of the breed was in 1875 at the Crystal Palace in England as the Archangel Cat. The Russian Blue competed in a class including all other blue cats, until 1912, when it was given its own class.

The breed was developed mainly in Russia and Scandinavia until after World War II.

Russian Blues are gentle, and are usually reserved, or absent, when strangers are around. When they’re with their own beloved humans, however, they are affectionate and playful. Russian Blues are active but not annoyingly so. They like nothing better than to spend time retrieving a favorite toy or chasing sunbeams. They willingly entertain themselves, but prefer that their favorite humans join in the fun. When you’re home, they follow you around, unobtrusive but ever-present companions.

The slight upturn to the corners of the mouth makes most Russian Blues appear to be forever smiling.
Russian Blues like their usual routine and dislike environmental changes more than the average cat. They particularly dislike changes to their dinner schedule. They are also fastidious about their litter boxes and will complain if they’re not spic and span.

Thai Cat

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Thai is newly classified cat breed, similar to but distinct from the modern Western Siamese cat.
There is little dispute that the cats that were imported from Siam to Western countries in the 19th and early 20th century were broader in features than today’s Western Siamese. While the Thai, known in Thailand as the Wichien-Maat, has common ancestry with the Western Siamese, generations of separate breeding of these two cats have spearheaded the development of two distinct breeds.The International Cat Association (TICA), approved the look of the Old-Style Siamese to be shown as Thai in the Preliminary New Breed category, February 17, 2007.

For breeders and Siamese lovers who’s countries lost all their old time Siamese to the progression of show breeding, Thai cats is an option for registering cats who have no registered pedigree. They can be examined and registered as foundation stock and the rebuilding of the breed can move forward. As an example, in the Netherlands a Traditional Siamese lover turned breeder returned from a trip to Ecuador with old-fashioned type Siamese, one male and two females. Most of their Thai cat lines are now based with these Ecuadorian Siamese of unknown parents. They, like Siamese breeders with years of experience, have learned that Siamese of the old type with registered pedigrees that go back more then 50 years are very rare. Breeders in the workgroup are adding lines from other countries including old time Siamese from America to build and produce a genetically healthy cat with the characteristics of the old style Siamese. A breeder of the WTSN selected one of our kittens to be their foundation stud. When taken to a NEOCAT show he was not allowed to compete as a Thai Cat. They would not allow a full blooded Siamese with a registered pedigree to be shown as a Thai Cat. NEOCAT is the equivalent of our CFA.

In Thailand this elegant cat is known as the Wichien-Maat which means “moon diamond”. The Wichien-Maat, along with other cats, is named, described and illustrated centuries ago in the “Tamra Maew” book of cat poems transcribed by Martin Clutterbuck in the book Siamese Cats: Legends and Reality (2004). Over the years, the Wichien-Maat has stayed true to its original breeding, which is still seen today in Thailand, and it remains a popular cat.

Domestic European Cat

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Domestic European Cat is considered to be the second oldest breed in the world because it is a mutation of Abyssinian that is known for over 3000 years. It is believed that –for the variety of colors-it’s the foundation of breeds: short-haired, British Blue, American Short-haired, Blue Russian and Chartreux.

Due to their history and great population, they are not considered a pure breed but Creole, still in beauty expositions they can participate like other breeds.

They were given this name once they were taken to Europe.
It is the most common cat with all the varieties of colors. There is no color that defines them, although some models exist like the spotted ones, also called tabby tiger striped.

Cats that present three colors are always females, known as tortoise shell, tortoise white shell or blue cream. On the other hand yellow tabby are always males.

It is believed that their character is associated with the color of their hair. Black are mysterious, calmed and philosophical; the tortoise shell and tortoise white shell are believed beautiful and they demonstrated openly; yellow tabby are nice of strong personality, possessive and jealous with their family; blue are impatient and frequently aggressive; bicolor are shy and very affectionate and the brown tabby are amicable, patient and very good rat hunters.

The head is wide, short and well developed cheeks. The medium sized nose separates the eyes. The snout is squared and a little long. The ears are medium sized and rounded. Robust body with a slight curly tail at the base and rough. Rounded paws.

They are strong, agile, intelligent and amicable cats. Good companion and an excellent mice hunter.

European Shorthair Cat

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The European Shorthair Cat (EUR), for which a standard was not established until the beginning of 1980s by FIFe, the International Pedigree Cat Association, is one of the most popular shorthaired breeds in Finland.

European shorthair cat has been developed from house cat by crossing the most beautiful individual cats. The objective was to create a robust shorthair cat with rounded face. Occasionally the Persian longhair cats have been crossed to accelerate the appearance unification process.

It is most likely due to the fact that this originally European breed has preserved its purity fairly well in Northern Europe until these days. In Finland it has not been mixed with other breeds, neither with those that are bred artificially nor with those imported from abroad. Moreover, they have mostly been bred in Finland without any contacts with the British shorthair breed, in spite of the fact that until lately they lacked an established standard.

That is why Finland has succeeded in preserving the purity of the registered European shorthair cats – an absolute must for all these cats, presupposed by the present standard. Many international feline judges think that not only is the Finnish stock of Europeans large but also of very high quality: the cats fulfill the requirements remarkably well. Finnish cats of this breed have had pretty much success in cat shows both in Finland and abroad. Also the best shorthaired cats in the shows have often been of the European breed.

The colour range of these Finnish pedigree cats corresponds rather well with that of the original wild European breed. Although FIFe has accepted some new colour variations during the last few years – there are more than 70 of them – in Finland organized and active breeding concentrates on 15-20 classical variations. Among the types of patterned colourings, the most common variations are tabby mackerel, tabby blotched and tabby spotted. The colour combinations of these patterns are usually following: silver (-black), black (-brown) and red. The most popular solid variant is black. The so-called “tortoise-shell” variation repers to a cat with a red-and-black colour pattern. This pattern can also have a bit of white, and this type is called “tortoise-shell and white”. The bottom layer of a smoke-coloured cat’s fur is silver and the top is darker; European shorthair cats are usually of the black-smoke types.

European shorthair cat is today the natural European breed with ancestors only among European house cats. The breed is bred mainly in Scandinavian countries and especially in Finland it belongs to the most popular shorthair breeds.

Devon Rex Cat

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The Devon Rex is a breed of unique appearance. Its large eyes, short muzzle, prominent cheekbones, curly whiskers and huge, low-set ears create a characteristic elfin look.

The Devon Rex is a fine to medium build, small cat. Females weigh an average of 2-3 kilos when full grown, and males range from 3-4 kilos. Although it may look fragile, the Devon Rex is a sturdy, agile and very muscular breed.

The Devon Rex distinctive soft, wavy coat comes in a variety of patterns and in colours, including pointed (si-rex), solid, shaded, tortoiseshell, calico, bi-colour, harlequin and smoke colours as well as the tabby pattern.

The Devon Rex is recognised and accepted for competition in all colours and patterns.

The character of the Devon Rex is remarkable! Devon Rex are alert and active, and shows a lively interest in their surroundings. They love to be with their humans, and enjoy playing fetch or other games. They are also extremely agile cats with an inquisitive nature and will explore every corner of their homes.

Burmese Cat Breed Profile

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Burmese cats lived for centuries in Burma, Thailand and Malaya. In late 1800s they were known in England as Chocolate Siamese, but because they were not favoured they gradually died out in England and Europe. The ancestry of Burmese cats can be traced back to one cat named Wong Mau, who was a brown female from Burma and arrived to San Francisco in the early 1930′s to Dr. Joseph Thompson. Through selective breeding to Siamese, the Burmese was established as a distinct breed. Lighter coloured kittens were occasionally produced and eventually the American breeders requested cognition from CFA for these “dilute” colours; first, as another breed named Malayan, then later as a dilute division of Burmese.

The ideal Burmese is a small to medium sized cat with a muscular frame, heavier than it looks, and a straight back. The Burmese is not as long and slender as the Siamese, nor as heavily boned as the British Shorthair. Their paws are neat and oval shaped with slender legs and neck, which give the Burmese a distinctive elegant look. The tail is medium in length, with a slight taper to a rounded tip.
The most characteristic feature of the Burmese is their amazing coats. Their coats are short, fine, sleek and glossy, lying close to the body, and satin-like in feel and texture. Their coats are easy to care for, a simple pat is often enough to groom it.

The Burmese is very friendly inquisitive cat with an outgoing, loving nature – this is why Burmese are one of the most popular breeds. It has been said that the Burmese are more like dogs than cats in their behaviour. When encouraged from kitten hood, they will fetch. They will greet you at the door when you come home and comfort you when you are ill or unhappy – they give unconditional love.

Egyptian Mau Cat

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The exact origin of the Egyptian Mau is not documented and therefore cannot be known for certain. However, the popular belief is that the Egyptian Mau is an ancestor to the African Wild Cat. This belief is due to the Egyptian Mau’s remarkably similar appearance to the African Wild Cats. The African Wild Cats were also known to be in the same region where the Mau first appeared. No matter how they came about, once this breed was domesticated it became indispensable.

The Egyptian Mau is an elegant beauty that graced Ancient Egyptian art as early as 2200 B.C. Throughout most of the Ancient Egyptian timeline, these cats were seen as both loving companions to be treasured and valuable protectors to be honored and revered. Egyptian Maus were originally trained to hunt prey, such as birds and fish, and return the bounty to their humans. They were also taught to guard crops by keeping away small animals that would disturb them. Cats were held in such high regard that if anyone were to be caught killing a cat in this time period, they would be immediately stoned to death for their crime.
These active, athletic cats have the randomly-spotted tabby pattern resembling wild cats, but are fully domesticated. In fact, the Mau is the only naturally-occurring pedigreed breed of spotted domestic cat. It is an intelligent and devoted breed with expressive green eyes and known for a slightly “worried” expression.

They are accepted in colors such as bronze, silver, and black smoke. They were first accepted in 1968 by CFF.

The Egyptian Mau is a medium sized cat with distinctive darker spots that stand out from the background color. The dark spots are usually round and evenly distributed but are random and can run together to form stripes. The legs and tail are usually banded with the darker color. The breed has an ‘M’ mark on its forehead which is sometimes called the scarab mark after an ancient Egyptian symbol. This graceful and muscular medium-sized cat is similar in conformation to the Abyssinian. Male Maus can weigh from 8 to 11 pounds and females are smaller at 6 to 8 pounds.

There are four color varieties in the Mau breed – silver, bronze, smoke and black.

Egyptian Maus are extremely active, agile and playful cats which need lots of exercise. The Mau is intelligent, loyal and affectionate and can be possessive of its owners. Maus that have been thoroughly socialized make good family pets but can be distrustful of strangers. Maus can be trained to walk on a leash but will do fine as indoor cats. Maus have quiet melodious voices and communicate through chirps and chortles. This breed needs daily exercise and play time and doesn’t like to be left alone.

Balinese Cat

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The Balinese cat is relatively new to the cat world, beginning in the mid 1950s (although a longhaired Siamese was registered in 1928).

Although the occasional ‘fluffy’ popped up from time to time in pure Siamese lines, they were sold off as pets until a few breeders in the U.S decided they were so taken with them that they would start up a breeding program.
Mrs Helen Smith (Prefix ‘Merry Mews’), one of the pioneer breeders, came up with the name ‘Balinese’ because, as they walked, their tail gently waved from side to side and this reminded her of the exotic Balinese dancers.

A Balinese should be the same as a Siamese in most respects, the main difference is a beautiful Semi-longhaired coat.
Some say that everything on a Balinese is slightly ‘softer’ than on a Siamese, the length of coat giving ‘softness’ to the lines of the cat and that the voice is a little quieter.
The Balinese has a wedge head, in the shape of an equilateral triangle, with large flared ears positioned so as to continue the triangle. The eyes are rich brilliant sapphire blue and are oriental or almond in shape.

A long slender neck leads into a refined, lengthy body, well muscled and tubular in shape, the legs are fine boned yet strong, with delicate oval paws.

The Balinese is a medium sized cat breed with a luxurious tail plume. Male Balinese weigh from 10 to 15 pounds and females from 8 to 12 pounds which is similar to the Siamese. The Balinese is svelte and dainty but also lithe and muscular. This is a long slender cat that resembles the Siamese except for the longer coat and plumed tail. The head of the Balinese forms a long and tapering wedge with a long and straight profile. The ears are large. They complement and extend the wedge. The eyes are Oriental, slanted slightly and are a deep vivid blue. The Balinese coat is medium length and silky to the touch and since there is no undercoat, it lies flat to the body. The tail has longer hair than the coat, about 2 to 3 inches, and when brushed forms a luxurious and graceful plume.

The only point colors recognized by the CFA are the same as the pedigreed Siamese cat. Points refer to the face, ears, tail and paws which contrast with the body color. The points should all be the same shade and clearly defined with no ticking or white hairs in the points.

Exotic Cat Breed Profile

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The Exotic or the Exotic Shorthair is the only hybrid cross recognized in the US. The Exotic is a relatively new hybrid created by crossing American Shorthairs with Persians. The intent of the breeders was to create a Persian type cat that didn’t require excessive grooming. These breeders could see that a Persian in short hair would make a valuable addition to the cat fancy.

The hybrid breed ran into a lot of resistance from American Shorthair breeders who wanted to keep their breed true. Therefore in 1966, it was decided to create a new breed called the Exotic Shorthair which was recognized in 1971. The first Exotic Shorthair achieved the status of Grand Champion in 1971. In 1991 an Exotic was named the CFA’s Cat of the Year. The only crosses allowed are Persian to American Shorthair, Exotic to Exotic or Persian to Exotic. Approximately 50 % of the kittens from Exotic/Persian crosses can have long hair if the Exotic carries a recessive long hair gene.

The Exotic has the body and head type of the Persian, but has a short, plush coat.

The breed was developed during the 1950s and 1960s by crossing Persians and various shorthaired breeds, although early in their development, CFA restricted outcrosses to the American Shorthair when it was accepted for championship status in 1967.

The breed is called the Exotic Shorthair in most associations. It is called the Exotic here because some longhaired offspring of Exotics are called Exotic Longhairs, and at least a few organizations recognize this as a separate breed. Exotics are available in the same rainbow of colors and patterns as the Persian breed.
Like the Persian, the Exotic is a docile, gentle cat with a soft voice. They are sweet-tempered pets who enjoy sitting on laps and the refined comforts of home.
The Exotic is sometimes called the “lazy man’s Persian”, as it has the same body and head type, but without the daily grooming requirements.

The Exotic or Exotic Shorthair cat is a plush, shorthaired version of the Persian with the same body shape and the same small and squeaky Persian voice. They have the sweet, flat face of the Persian but have a wonderfully thick, dense, soft and glossy coat that is slightly longer than a shorthair but is even in length and stands out from the body because of the thick undercoat. The breed is nicknamed “the teddy bear cat”. The Exotic has a medium to large, cobby body that sits low on the legs with a broad and deep chest, large shoulders and rump.

The Exotic’s temperament is docile, laid-back and extremely affectionate. Most breeders say it has a similar personality to the Persian.

Oriental Cat

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Orientals represent a diverse group of cats that have their foundation in the Siamese breed. When the Oriental Shorthair was accepted for championship status in 1977 it rapidly became one of Cat Fancier’s Association’s most popular breeds.

With the 1995 addition of the Oriental Longhair into this family of sleek, muscular felines the Oriental breed can provide a cat for just about anyone. With over 300 different colours and patterns to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find an Oriental that will tickle your fancy.

The body type of the Oriental is virtually the same as the Siamese’s. What sets the breed apart is the wide variety of colors and patterns.

Unlike the Siamese that comes in only four colors and one pattern (although that varies depending upon the cat registry), the Oriental is available in over 300 color and pattern combinations. Some colors are more common than others; solid ebony is the most common. Pure white, chestnut, blue, and ebony tabby are also popular. However, Oriental breeders are working with just about every possible color and pattern.

The Oriental is in general a healthy breed but can suffer from the same defects as the Siamese, since they are closely related. Protrusion of the cranial sternum is a common, though not serious, defect seen in some Siamese and related breeds. Endocardial fibroelastosis is a more serious anomaly that can be found in some Siamese lines.

The personality of the Oriental is as distinctive as the multicolored exterior. They are natural entertainers, full of enthusiasm, energy, and the belief that the world should revolve around them. Haughty and royal one minute, they are animated and inquisitive the next. They are highly curious, and will go to great lengths to be involved in your activities.

Ocicat Breed Profile

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The Ocicat is an all-domestic breed of cat which resembles a ‘wild’ cat but has no wild blood. The breed is unusual in that it is spotted like a wild cat but has the temperament of a domestic animal. It is named for its resemblance to the ocelot.

Despite its appearance, there is no ‘wild’ DNA in the Ocicat’s gene pool. The species is actually a mixture of Siamese and Abyssinian, and later American Shorthairs (silver tabbies) were added to the mix and gave the breed their silver color, bone structure and distinct markings.

The Ocicat has been bred specifically to look like a wild cat with its fabulous spotted sleek coat, rippling muscles, strong body and good solid build. The Ocicat is so named because of its resemblance to an Ocelot – but no wild blood has been used to produce this beautiful animal. Whilst the Ocicat looks wild, its temperament is anything but ferocious.

Ocicats are a very outgoing breed. They are often considered to have the spirit of a dog in a cat’s body. Most can easily be trained to fetch, walk on a leash and harness, come when called, speak, sit, lie down on command and a large array of other dog-related tricks.

Himalayan Cat

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The history of the Himalayan is well known and documented. Experimental breeding of Himalayans took place in the United States and England as far back as the early 1920′s when the Persian and Siamese breeds were bred together, but actual recognition as a purebred cat did not come until 1957 in USA. The name Himalayan because their coat patterns were similar to that of the rabbits and goats with the same colouring found in the Himalayans in Asia. Early Himalayan cats looked more like Siamese but now have the same head and body type as other Persians.

The Himalayan cat’s body has the exact same standards of the Persian, medium to large, of the “cobby” type, low on the legs, broad and deep through the chest, equally massive across the shoulders and rump, and with a sweet “pansy” face. The Himalayan should have good muscle tone with no evidence of obesity. Its coat is long and thick, of fine texture, glossy and full of life. A wide variety of colors is permissable.

In the CFA, the Himalayan is considered as just another color of the Persian breed. In TICA, the Himalayan is considered a separate breed, but is included in the Persian Breed Group, which also includes Exotic Shorthair cats.

The Himalayan is one of the most popular of all Persians. They have a round head, short nose, large round eyes, small ears and heavy boned, cobby body of the Persian coupled with coloured points like Siamese. One of the most striking characteristics is their eye colour, which is vivid blue.

A Himalayan can be a lovely pet, sweet of disposition, loving and loyal. However, be prepared to pay your dues in terms of the time you’ll need to spend brushing, combing, and grooming this lavishly lovely cat. If you don’t want to spend the time, consider an Exotic instead.

How To Toilet Train Your Cat

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There are tons of great resources on the web for learning how to toilet train your cat and that is exactly where I turned when my family brought our latest edition home from the breeder. So, we are just beginning the process of trying to toilet train Giggles (kids named our kitten Giggles), but I’ll keep you updated on our progress. For now, here are the resources I came across in my search:

WebSites/Blogs:

http://www.karawynn.net/mishacat/toilet.html – Karawynn Long is a designer (and writer) that lives in Seattle. She published this excellent article that talks about easing your cat onto the toilet which just makes a lot of sense. It’s a simple concept that just takes patience but is what we are going to try first with Giggles.
http://www.wikihow.com/Toilet-Train-Your-Cat – WikiHow has an entry for toilet training your cat and again stresses the importance of patience. They also mention that having a separate toilet to dedicate to the cat is certainly helpful.
http://www.mingusmingusmingus.com/Mingus/cat_training.html – Charles Mingus is one of the most important figures in twentieth century American music and an amazing bass player. He put together this quick and simple set of instructions for toilet training a cat.
http://www.petsdo.com/blog/how-toilet-train-your-cat – PetsDo.com is a resource for all pet owners. They actually sell a system for toilet training your cat. It looks pretty interesting, but their step-by-step instructions have definite value even if you don’t opt for the kit (I’m not going to get it unless my kit-less approach doesn’t work, but you already know that).
http://cats.about.com/od/litterboxproblems/a/toilet_training.htm – About.com is a great resource for just about anything you want to learn about. They have a great article here on litter training versus toilet training that deserves some consideration.
YouTube Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I79-BnwbE_g – Another video of going from the litter box to the toilet with common household items and no kits. This is actually the video to accompany Karawynn Long’s website. It’s great!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p943wK0tSWQ – How to Toilet Train Your Cat offers everything you need to know to toilet train your own cat in your own home. No fancy gadgets or programs to purchase. It’s 5 minutes and well worth a watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4wka4aKtZE – How to Potty Train Your Cat – shows you how to get your cat to take care of their business on the potty (it’s pretty humorous too). Just to warn you, they are selling a kit but you can at least leverage the concepts (the kit is pretty cool).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFc7h3UpER4 – Learn How to Toilet Train Your Cat – really shows different cats doing their business more than anything and is sort of gross from that perspective. However, at this point any ideas are helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTvJrlgOyeg – Teaching Cats How to Use the Toilet uses a slightly different approach with different equipment but is fairly similar to Karawynn’s approach. It is really a mixture of all of the above.
Okay, I’m not sure I can handle too much more of the websites and videos. I am going to just have to begin this adventure myself with Giggles and see how far I can get without going crazy. I think the challenge is really for us humans to have enough patience to get through the whole process without caving in and going back to the standard litter box and pooper scooper. Thanks for bearing with me while I shared this with you if any of you can offer some advice please leave a comment below. Thank you!

Bombay Cat Breed

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Nikky Horner in Kentucky bred the first Bombays in 1953 with selective breeding between a sable Burmese and a black American Shorthair. The breeding program continued with the result of a totally black cat with a short shiny coat and huge copper eyes. The Bombays bred true and in 1976 the Bombay was recognised for championship status in The Cat Fanciers’ Association.

The Bombay is a medium-sized elegant and supple black cat resembling a diminutive version of the black leopard that inspired the choice of its name. With the exception of its black and shiny coat and copper eyes, the Bombay resembles the Burmese in all of its characteristics. The body is muscular and medium-sized with the male being larger than the dainty female. The legs and tail are of medium length and the tail is fairly straight.
In appearance, the Bombay looks very much like a Burmese, however, the Bombay will often be a bit larger and not quite as compact as the Burmese. The head of a show-quality Bombay will be round with a short muzzle. Because the Bombay is a blending of two very different breeds, it is often difficult to produce show-quality cats.

While sable kittens may be produced in litters, especially if one of the parents is a sable Burmese, this quintessential black cat is only allowed to be shown by CFA in black. The Bombay is the blackest cat in the cat fancy. Once the cat is mature, the coat is black to the root, short, tight and extremely shiny. Even the paw pads are black. It’s hard to say what is more eye-catching about the Bombay, the copper penny eyes or the shiny black coat. The combination is absolutely striking.

They are an outgoing cat, friendly and playful. They are easily leash trained and like to retrieve. They are a very sociable cat and make a great addition to the family as they get on well with children and dogs. They are very agile and athletic and their antics will keep you constantly amused.

Tonkinese Cat Breed Profilewootrys

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The Tonkinese Cat is a moderate sized breed that is known for being lively. These cats can live comfortably in an apartment, so long as they get the proper amount of exercise.

They will often be called Tonks for short. Like many old cat breeds, the exact origin of the Tonkinese cat is not well known. Depending on which historian you talk to, you will get a variety of different answers. What is known is that these cats are a mix between a Burmese Cat and a Siamese Cat. It is believed that they have been around at least since the 18th century, but the name given to the cat is not taken from the Tonkin area of Southeast Asia.

The look of the Tonkinese also draws many people in. It is a medium between the svelte elegance of the Siamese and the cobby boldness of the Burmese. The mink, although not unique to the Tonkinese, is certainly an outstanding feature. The incomplete dominance of the Siamese and the Burmese colour gene creates a stunning look, when added to the aqua marine eyes.

The Tonkinese can come in a large number of patterns and colors. However, the three primary colors that will be found with this breed are solid, pointed, and mink. Among owners and cat enthusiasts, the mink color is the one that is preferred and most desirable. Other colors which are desirable among this breed include blue and platinum. When it comes to eye color, the Tonkinese will generally have an color that is either green or gold. The eyes can also sometimes be blue. If the cat lives in a cooler climate, the coat will generally be darker in color than a cat that lives in a warmer climate.

Trying to produce a mink colored kitten by breeding two mink colored adults will often not work. The reason for this is because the mink color comes from having a single gene from a solid Burmese pattern and a Siamese pattern which is pointed. When a kitten doesn’t meet the standards of the breed, it will often be sold as a pet, and the asking price will generally be much lower than with cats that meed the breed standard.

Ragdoll Cat

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The Ragdoll breed is believed to have originated around 1965. Anne Baker is reputed to be the original breeder. There are many different stories as to the breed origin of these cats but it is thought to have started with a white Persian and Angora mix cat called “Josephine”. Kittens born from Josephine appeared to have a very gentle disposition and a loving nature, magnificent blue eyes and non matting fur. They have a tendency to hang limply in your arms when picked up. Hence the name Ragdoll.

The Ragdoll comes in the four traditional pointed colors: seal, chocolate, blue and lilac; and three divisions: solid or colorpoint, particolor mitted, and particolor bicolor. Solid division Ragdolls have darker, well-defined points. Body color is a shade lighter than point color, and soft shadings of color are allowed on the body. No white patches are allowed. Mitted Ragdolls possess well-defined points, except on the feet where they have a matched set of white mittens. Hind legs are entirely white, but the white extends no higher than mid-thigh. A white blaze can decorate the nose. Bicolors boast a white mask like an inverted ‘V’, plus white on all four legs, feet, stomach, chest, and ruff. Other white patches and markings can appear, except on the points, which are darker and well-defined.

Ragdoll Cat Personality: docile, mild-mannered, and congenial, Rag-dolls make ideal indoor companions. One of the nicest features of these cats is their laid-back, sweet personality. They are playful but are not overactive. Known to adapt easily to their environment, Ragdolls get along well with children and adults, as well as cats and dogs. They are easily trained to stay off the counter and are affectionate without being overly demanding. They have soft, polite voices, even at dinnertime, even though they are renowned for their enthusiasm for food.

Ragdolls are extremely docile and love to be held and cuddled. They are usually relaxed in new surroundings and get on well with dogs and cats. Ragdolls are very affectionate and gentle making them an ideal pet for children.

They have a quiet voice and are playful without being noisy or destructive. Ragdolls are a very laid back cat and become devoted to their owners.

Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds

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The prefix ‘hypo‘ in the word hypoallergenic means ‘less than normal‘. Therefore the word hypoallergenic does not mean non-allergenic. A hypoallergenic cat is less likely than other cats to produce allergic reactions in some people.

Although some cat allergy sufferers can tolerate any or all of the following breeds not all allergy sufferers can.

Hypoallergenic means that the cat is less likely to cause allergic reactions in most people. Certain cats are less likely to create the sneezing, wheezing and itching than others. While you may think that the fur is what causes the allergy, this is not the case. Usually a person is not allergic to the fur of a cat but to a protein called FEL D-1. This is found both in the saliva and the sebaceous glands (oil secreting glands in the skin) of cats. When cats groom themselves, the FEL D-1 attaches to the hair and the fur can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive people.

There are four main cat breeds that are considered hypoallergenic: The Sphynx, The Devon Rex, The Cornish Rex and Siberian cat.. Each has different qualities and characteristics. When choosing a hypoallergenic cat, or any pet, spend some time with the animal before you take it home. Having a pet is a lifelong commitment, and it is better to find out that you don’t like the temperament or are allergic to the cat before it comes home with you.

Remember, there is no cat that is completely non-allergenic. Any of these cats may work in your home, you may have allergies to one and not the other, or you may have severe allergies and be allergic to all of them.

Scottish Fold Cat

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In 1961 a Scottish shepherd named William Ross saw a white barn cat named Susie with the distinctive folded ears on his neighbour’s farm . William and his wife Mary obtained a white female kitten from Susie’s next litter which also had folded ears. They named the kitten Snooks and all Scottish folds of today can trace their pedigrees to her.

The Scottish Fold is a breed of cat with a natural dominant-gene mutation that makes its ear cartilage contain a fold, causing the ears to bend forward and down towards the front of their head, which gives the cat what is often described as an “owl-like” appearance.

The Scottish Fold’s folded ears are produced by a dominant gene that affects the cartilage of the ears, causing the ears to fold forward and downward, giving the head a rounded appearance. Since the gene is dominant, all Scottish Fold cats must have at least one folded ear parent to have folded ears themselves. When a Fold is bred to a straight-eared cat, approximately 50 percent of the kittens will have folded ears, although the number of Folds in any given litter can vary greatly.

Scottish Folds are a very friendly and docile cat. Their large round eyes and folded ears, coupled with expressive looks, intelligence and inquisitive nature make them a wonderful extension to the family home. Folds are not very vocal. Scottish Folds have very tiny “meows”. The breed is very good with children, and can adapt to almost any situation. Scottish Folds also make friends readily with other cats.

Burmilla Cat Breed

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The Burmilla ( Australian Tiffanie ) is a breed of domestic cat which originated in the United Kingdom in 1981. It is a cross between the Chinchilla Persian and Burmese breeds.

In GCCF (Governing Council of the Cat Fancy), the Burmilla is considered part of the Asian cat breed. It is accepted in FIFe as the Burmilla. Some governing bodies have used the name Australian Tiffanie, however, there is not international acceptance and standardisation for this breed.
The Burmilla is featured in the online text-based game Legend of the Green Dragon – Crazy Audrey’s kittens are all Burmillas.

The Burmilla is a beautiful cat of medium foreign type, showing striking contrast between coloured Shading/Tipping and Silver undercoat with delicate tracings of Tabby markings on the head, legs and tail. There should be a distinctive M mark on the forehead.
Burmillas have muscular bodies, round faces, short muzzles and tend to weigh between 8-10 lb. A burmilla’s eye color is usually green, although some cat societies accept blue (and yellow eyes are permitted in kittens). A stunning feature of the Burmilla is the dark pencilling around it’s beautiful green eyes which makes it look as though it’s wearing eyeliner. The shape of their eyes are almond-shaped. It has a short, dense and silky coat.

The Burmilla is an outgoing, friendly and sociable cat that has inherited slightly modified characteristics from both of the original parents; it is not as noisy nor demanding as the Burmese, but is more adventurous and inquisitive than the Chinchilla.

The Burmilla is set to become increasingly more popular because of its good looks and extremely good nature. Burmillas are great with children. Combined with their low maintenance and wonderful disposition they make an ideal family pet.

Turkish Angora Cat

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The Turkish Angora is a breed of domestic cat. Turkish Angoras are one of the ancient, naturally-occurring cat breeds, having originated in central Turkey, in the Ankara region.

While pure white Turkish Angoras have been the norm for many years, Angoras in other colors are becoming increasingly popular. As is true of any breed, the pure white, blue-eyed Angora can be born partially or totally deaf.

This is not a defect of the Angora breed itself, but rather a defect in the dominant W gene that produces white coat color and blue eyes in felines. This gene has been linked to a form of degenerative, hereditary deafness that affects the organ of Corti in the cochlea of the ear. Odd-eyed Angoras will generally be deaf in only one ear, on the blue-eyed side. While hearing-impaired Angoras must be kept out of harm’s way, they otherwise enjoy life just as much as their hearing siblings and adapt to their hearing loss remarkably well.

Turkish Angora fanciers are as attached to their cats as their cats are to them. Angoras seem to invoke strong responses in their humans with their symmetry, intelligence, and devotion to their humans. Angoras bond with their families completely; an Angora is not happy unless he is right in the middle of whatever you’re doing. They enjoy a good conversation and can keep up their end of the discussion with the best of them. Angoras are good-natured, but determined. Once an Angora gets an idea into his head, you might as well just give in and spare yourself the lengthy argument.

British Shorthair Cat

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British Shorthair cats were originally found in the alleys of 19th century British Cities. A man called Harrison Weir loved the British street cat so much that he selected some of the hardiest and strongest, bred them and almost single-handedly created the British Shorthair.

The British Shorthair became an officially acknowledged breed by 1889 and went on to become one of the most popular breeds in cat shows at that time and still are today.

The British Shorthair is a well-balanced, medium to large, sturdy cat with a semi-cobby powerful body. Round is the key word for the British Shorthair, accurately describing the head, cheeks, eyes and paws. They have round heads with full, chubby cheeks and a broad skull. The ears are small & set wide apart. The eyes are large and round.

Eyes come in a variety of colours, though the copper or gold eyes of the British blue are the best known. However silver coloured British Shorthairs must have green to hazel eyes. RichSolid whites Brits can have blue, gold or odd eyes with pointed colours having only blue eyes. The shaded silver and shaded golden British Shorthairs are found with green eyes.

The British Shorthair is a placid, easy going and calm cat, which makes this popular cat suited to people who rush around a lot. Their stable and balanced character makes them suitable for indoor and apartment living. Nonetheless, like all cats they are playful and alert when they want to be.

Somali Cat

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When you gaze upon the glorious coat of the Somali, you may find it hard to understand that Abyssinian breeders once were horrified to find longhaired kittens among their litters of pristine Abys. Fortunately, on two fronts, in Canada and in the U.S. a couple of people saw the potential for this beautiful cat, and the Somali was born.

The Somali has an elegant, athletic build that is medium in size. Males tend to weigh in at 4 – 5 kg, females slightly smaller. The face retains the tabby markings of the ‘M’ on the forehead, however the rest of the cat should be free of tabby markings. The ears are large and pricked forwards and the expression is alert and curious. Eyes can be green or amber, the richer colour the better.Somali Cat
In Australia Somalis are commonly available in the four eumelanistic colours of Tawny (called ruddy in the USA, usual in the UK), Cinnamon (also called sorrel), Blue and Fawn The above four colours are also possible in a silver version, called respectively Black Silver, Cinnamon Silver, Blue Silver and Fawn Silver. In silver colours, a particular gene inhibits the base coat colour, leaving the ticking on a white undercoat. Each colour has its own special appeal. In some states chocolate and chocolate silver are being bred.

The coat of the Somali really attracts attention the ticking gives a wild appearance that is very unusual for a longer haired cat. Each hair has bands of contrasting colour. The Somali coat is longest in the breeches, and the lovely ruff. A real feature of the Somali is the tail, which has earned them the name the Feline Fox. The beautiful coat is very easy to care for, due to the silky texture that does not have a tendency to matt. A weekly comb is all that is needed to keep the Somali looking and feeling good, and the cats enjoy this.

Australian Mist Cat Breed

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The Australian Mist was developed in Australia starting in the 1980s. The original name for this breed, Spotted Mist, was changed to Australian Mist in 1998 when the marbled (classic tabby) pattern was added to the acceptable patterns for the breed. There was also the desire to reflect its national heritage as the only breed of pedigreed cat to date developed entirely in that country.

They are moderate cats, medium boned, with rounded heads and large eyes and ears. The coat is short but resilient, with a plump-furred tail.
There is nothing extreme about the Australian Mist; they are of moderate size, medium boned, rounded of head with large eyes and ears. The coat is short but resilient; the tail is plumply furred. The colours are brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, gold and peach. They come in two patterns: delicate spots or intricate marbled swirls against a misty background, with legs and tail ringed and barred, and the faceAustralian Mist Cat Breed Profile Photos and Description lined. Eyes are large and expressive in a range of greens.

But the most outstanding aspect of the Australian Mist is its temperament. The kittens are lively but not boisterous. They are an extremely affectionate breed and very people orientated. They prefer to spend their time with their owners and are always involved in family activities. The even temperament makes them excellent pets for anyone even very young children.

Selkirk Rex Cat Breed Profile

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This new curly breed was first discovered in the USA in 1987. A worker in an animal shelter noticed a cat with a unique curly coat and gave her to a Persian breeder named Jeri Newman. That cat named Miss DePesto was bred to a Persian and her first litter contained 3 straight coated kittens and 3 kittens with this unique soft curly coat. The curly kittens were bred to Persian, British and Exotics to develop the Selkirk Rex lines.

The Selkirk Rex is distinguished by its soft, curly coat. The breed comes in shorthaired and longhaired varieties, each with a distinct curl to its hair. The body of the Selkirk Rex is muscular and semi-cobby. The head is round and broad. The breed comes in all colors and patterns.

One first may be attracted to the Selkirk’s cute, curly exterior, but these cats also make champion companions. They are curious, tolerant, extremely sociable cats that enjoy spending time with their preferred persons. People-oriented without being clingy, Selkirks have a generous measure of love and loyalty for their human companions. Selkirks fit in well with other family members including children, and usually get along well with other companion animals. Because they are very social, they don’t do well in isolation or when left alone for long periods.

Selkirks are fun-loving, mellow cats with a generous measure of love and affection for their human companions. Very people-oriented, they stay playful and kittenish even as adults. They’re very social and don’t do well in isolation.

Tiffanie Cat Breed

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The Longhaired Burmilla is an elegant and beautiful breed developed from the shorthair Burmilla programme, which began with an accidental mating between a Burmese and a Chinchilla in the UK. It combines a longer but still relatively easy care silver coat with the delightful personality combination of clever affectionate Burmese and easy going sweet tempered Chinchilla. The breed was developed by using the naturally occurring longhairs that came through the shorthair programme, and by crossing back to Chinchilla in the early generations.

Called an Australian Tiffanie in the early days, the breed is now developing more in line with the Burmilla programme and in most of the major groups in Australia it is referred to as the Burmilla Longhair.

They probably resemble most the old style Chinchilla with a slightly longer nose but with the same sweet expression. The eyes have it! With incredible apple green eyes and black mascara – type lining … they prompt the question “How long does it take for her to put on her makeup?” Their luxurious silver coat is tipped or shaded in an ethereal mantle of black, blue, brown, chocolate and lilac and this is complemented by a magnificent plumed tail.

The longhair Burmilla is bright and funloving, but more laid back than its shorthair relative in most cases. It is an ideal cat for single people or families, being quite happy to wait until you come home for attention. They are not a demanding cat, but still love to spend as much time with you as possible.
Many of them are very good “fetch-it” cats too!

Chinchilla Cat Breed

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The First recorded Chinchilla longhair can be traced back to the 1880s when a smoke-coloured Persian was crossed with a silver tabby. The result of the mating was the famous chinchilla male ‘Silver Lambkins’ who won nearly every award at The Crystal Palace show in 1888. At the age of 17 he died and was immortalized by a Taxidermist and placed in the Natural History Museum in London. He can still be seen on display today!

Must point out that the modern day Chinchilla Persian has progressed a long way from the original Lad and they are now a lot paler and no tabby markings allowed.

Chinchillas life span average 15-17 years. Approximately 12-14 lbs when adult. Reach Maturity at 3 years.
Healthy cats look fragile due to their colouring. Can be prone to PKD – as with other Persians. Can be more aloof than other Persians.

Chinchillas are a variety of the Persian cat. The Chinchilla is classed as a “silver” cat. Chinchillas of today have a quiet, gentle nature and would suitable for anyone with the exception of small children, the same applies to all Persians . They will need grooming daily in the cooler months or less frequently when not in full coat. Just a few minutes is all it takes. This could be done while you are watching TV.

Of course the exotics (lazy mans Persian) need hardly any grooming at all which makes them a perfect choice for the busy, working person who still wishes to have a cat with the beauty of the chinchilla.

Toyger Cat

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The toyger cat is a domestic tiger-look a-like. It is a designer breed o f cat bred with the demands of modern apartment life as a human companion foremost in mind. Glittered, pelted, dramatic pattern appeals to both the high-tech glamour and nature-loving, wild dreams of city-caught people. The laid back, easily trained character of these cats make them a joy to live with.

The toyger cat is a breed in development. Recognized by The International Cat Association ( TICA ) for Registration the goals for the breed are long term. Several of the features proposed for the Toyger cat have never before been recognized as possible in a domestic cat. Progress is slow but steady in all areas from companionability to appearance.
The name “Toyger” comes from the the words Toy and Tiger.

The Toyger was founded by Judy Sugden of EEYAAS Cattery in the USA. The Toyger is the result of a cross between a striped Domestic Short Hair and a Standard Bengal Tabby This resulted in a striped Cat which after many years of hard work resembles a ‘mini Tiger’.

The Toyger is a designer breed and currently still being developed. Breeder’s are striving to give this stunning breed the true look of a mini tiger over the coming years. Many of the features proposed have never been seen in a domestic cat. Progress is slow but steady and it could be several years before the Toyger truly resembles the wild tiger although the founder is aiming at 2010. Judy Sugden says that with a few more years of breeding, her Toygers will look even more like the real thing, with ears that are shorter, smaller eyes, a bigger chin and a wider nose tip.

Toyger’s are of medium size with a strong and robust torso. The tail is long and muscular and set and carried low. Toyger’s coats are short, thick, plush, soft and feel extremely luxurious.
The ideal colouring for a Toyger is an orange/tan background with dark stripes like that of a Tiger. The stripes are actually long rosettes and should not be uniform like a mackerel pattern but more like long random individual stripes. The coat must be striped with no spotting. The ears small and rounded, good solid bone structure and overall balance.

Turkish Van Cat Breed

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Turkish Van is a rare and ancient breed that developed in central and southwest Asia, which today encompasses the countries of Iran, Iraq, southwest Soviet Union and eastern Turkey. “Van” is a common term in the region that has been given to a number of towns, villages and even a lake – Lake Van – so it is no surprise that the uniquely patterned cat native to the region was named the “Vancat” by the residents.

They were first brought to England in 1955 as the Turkish cats, but this was later changed to Turkish Van to avoid confusion with the Turkish Angora. Although the breed has an ancient lineage, the Turkish Van is a relative newcomer to the United States, arriving in 1982. They are considered regional treasures in their homeland, and are not readily available for export to other countries. Even in areas where the breed has been known for centuries, they are still relatively rare.
Turkish Vans are white with color on the head and tail. One of the most notable features of the cat is the magnificent longhair colored and plumed tail, which stands erect and waves in the air when the cat is running. The coat is semi-long, lies flat to the body and there is no undercoat. Males are 9-20 pounds and females are 7-12 pounds. They take three to five years to fully mature.

The breed is extremely active and strong and loves to run, and run, and run. They are truly “moving” vans because they are always in motion, and they move furniture when jumping on or off. The well-muscled, heavy hind quarters make papers on your desk go flying after the cat jumps off. On the tenth day after her arrival, my first Turkish Van wedged her head and then her chest into the slightly opened sliding glass patio door, leading to my backyard. She managed to enlarge the opening so that she got out. I searched unsuccessfully for four days and could not find her.

The breed is extremely intelligent. This same cat that got out of the patio door was in my backyard at 5 AM of the fifth day, and she ran inside the house when I opened the same door through which she escaped.

Javanese Cat

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Take one Balinese, dip in the colors of the rainbow and you have a Javanese. The Javanese is everything that is Balinese, and then some…the intelligence, grace and refinement of the Siamese, the luxurious silk of the Balinese coat, combined with the designer colors of the Colorpoint Shorthair.

Named for the next island over from Bali, Javanese have been around for about as long as the Balinese. Some appeared in litters of Colorpoint Shorthairs, most likely a result of the longhair gene being introduced via the domestic shorthair when the red, lynx and tortie point colors and patterns were first introduced to the Siamese breed. Most are the result of Balinese breeders using the Colorpoint Shorthair to introduce these colors and patterns into the Balinese breed.

The Javanese were finally accepted by CFA for championship competition as of May 1986. The Javanse standard is identical to that of the Balinese – a cat of Siamese type with long flowing coat, the only difference being in the colors accepted for championship competition.

The Javanese’s standard is almost identical to the Siamese’s and to the standards of the related breeds: Balinese, Color-point Shorthair, Oriental Shorthair, and Oriental Longhair. The main differences lie in the color schemes and hair lengths. While having the same conformation as the Siamese, the Javanese appears to have softer lines and less extreme body type because of the longer hair. Since the fur is only semi-long and lacks the downy undercoat, the coat doesn’t tangle and even show cats require little grooming.

The Javanese is generally a healthy breed but can suffer from the same defects as the Siamese. Protrusion of the cranial sternum is a common defect seen in some Siamese and related breeds. Endocardial fibroelastosis is a more serious anomaly that can be found in some Siamese lines.

Javanese cats, like their Balinese relatives, are playful, devoted, and always eager to tell you their views on life, love, and what you’ve served them for dinner. Javanese (and their Siamese relatives) have a fascination with food, and, while some will burn off the extra calories in playful antics, care must be taken that the less active don’t turn into butterballs.

Korat cat breed informations

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The Korat is a native of Thailand, and has been revered in that country for centuries. Their bluish-silver color examplifies the exalted stature they demand, so it is no wonder they are considered a symbol of good fortune by the Thais.

Consider yourself of equal good fortune if you find yourself “owned” by a Korat. They will reward you with years of affection, loyalty, and love. They are considered a symbol of good fortune by the Thais. Many good luck traditions surround the Korat: they are the color of silver, signifying wealth; they are the color of rain clouds, with eyes the color of young rice, meaning good crops. The gift of a pair of Si-Sawat cats to the bride ensures a fortunate marriage.

Coat and color, as well as a muscular and semi-cobby body type, set this breed apart. The coat is a solid, even, silver-blue color with no tabby markings or shading, but the hair shafts themselves are lighter at the roots and shade to a darker blue just before the tips. The fur is tipped with silver, giving a silvery sheen or ‘halo effect’ to the coat. The Korat goes through an ‘ugly duckling’ phase and doesn’t attain its true beauty until two to four years of age. The eye color is not usually true until the cat matures.

Korats are not as vocal as their Siamese comrades; they have other ways of getting their wishes across. At dinnertime they’ll wrap themselves around your ankle, clamber up onto your shoulder, and perhaps give you a nip on the shin if you don’t hurry up with the cat food, but given something important to say, they speak their minds.

On the cat activity level scale, they are an 8: social, playful, and full of life, but not bouncing-off-the-walls hyper. They are also reported to possess high intelligence.

Like the Siamese, Korats are fetchers of tossed toys, cats whose favorite game is the one in which you take an active part. Korats crave affection from their humans, and will scheme to gain possession of your lap, your arms, and your heart

Manx Cat

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The history of the Manx cat is steeped in myth and folklore. One story holds that the cat lost its tail when Noah shut the door to the Ark on it. Another has the breed descending from cats that swam to the Isle of Man from the ships of either the Spanish Armada or Viking invaders.

A sacred cat to the early Welsh, it was once believed that Manx mothers bit off the tails of their kittens to prevent them from being stolen by humans. Others believed the Manx to be a cross between a cat and a rabbit. In reality, a genetic mutation that occurred a few hundred years ago gave rise to the tailless cat, and isolated on the small UK island, the breed flourished.

The Manx has a robust and rounded appearance, with solid muscling, compact and of medium size. The Manx Coat:

Shorthair: Double coat is short and dense due to a cottony undercoat.
Long: Coat is medium length, gradually lengthening from the shoulders to the rump, with full breeches. (The longhaired Manx was formerly called the Cymric.)

Both short and long-haird Manx come in a variety of colors and patterns, excluding pointed.
The Manx has been around for hundreds of years, and is believed to have originated on the Isle of Man, off the coast of England. Whether the original Manx was a ship’s cat will never be known, but it is generally believed that island cats may also have been involved in the breed’s background.
With its rakish lines, robust appearance, and sweet expression, a Manx of any color or tail length can be a fine companion for a single-person household or a large family. Manx love to be around people, and vice-versa it seems, judging by their immense popularity.
Available in every pattern, colour, and fur length, Manx cats tend to be stocky, with very thick fur and rear legs that are longer than their front legs. This breed has round eyes and a broad jawline, but the most definitive feature is the lack of a long tail. Manx cats may be completely tailless or have a small, stumpy tail.

The Manx’s personality is probably the reason the breed has won such a strong following despite the physical difficulties and breeding challenges. Manx cats make great household companions. They are intelligent, active, and fun-loving cats that manage to express themselves very well without tails to swish around. Manx get along well with other pets (particularly dogs), and form strong bonds with their chosen humans. They enjoy a good game of fetch and are fascinated by water, but only on their terms, of course. Manx are exceptional jumpers because of their powerful back legs. No cupboard or shelf is safe with a Manx around.

Havana Brown Cat Breed

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The Havana Brown noted for its warm, chocolate brown colour originated in Great Britain. Brown cats have been known for centuries. Their origins were probably from South East Asia as a branch of the Royal Cats of Siam. They first arrived in Britain in the 19th century along with the importation of the Siamese.

The Havana Brown cat was developed in the 1950s by crossing a British Seal Point Siamese with another black shorthaired cat of Siamese descent. An accidental breeding between a black shorthair and a seal point Siamese produced a self-chocolate male kitten named Elmtower Bronze Idol, the first Havana Brown to be registered in England and the forerunner of the present day breed. These cats were formerly known as Chestnut Brown Foreigns.

In the mid-1950s, Mrs. Elsie Quinn, Quinn Cattery, imported the very first Havana Brown from England, a female named Roofspringer Mahogany Quinn. She was bred to Laurentide Brown Pilgrim of Norwood, also an import, and produced the very first Havana Brown (Quinn’s Brown Satin of Sidlo) to achieve grand champion status in CFA. All Havana Browns in North America today can trace their heritage to this cat.

Handsome male Havana Brown Araquipa Torpedo bred by Araquipa Cattery made 5 out of 8 finals in his first show.
Once American breeders started developing and raising these cats the British and United States varieties began to take on different characteristics.

In England, the Havana has followed the Siamese type by breeding back to the Siamese and the word “brown” has been dropped from the breed name. In North America, the breed has retained the original look of the early imports, and the basic genetic theory that produced the Havana Brown has been reapplied to produce the wide range of Oriental solid colours.

All Havana Brown cats are a rich, glistening dark brown with just a hint of red. The colour must be even from nose to tail and from tip to root. Whiskers should be brown; nose leather and paw pads are a rose colour that harmonises with the coat. Since Havanas are a shorthair breed, routine grooming is kept to a minimum.

The Havana Brown not only has a unique appearance, with it’s rich mahogany brown coat and brilliant green eyes, but also a truly unique personality. They are gentle and affectionate, people-oriented, soft voiced cats that are very loyal and loving toward their humans. They love human companionship and are very generous with their affections in return. Havana Brown cats are very playful even once they begin to mature. They are very active and energetic cats that love biting paper and cardboard as well as playing tag and other games with their humans.

Cymric Cat

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The Cymric cat has three things about it that are immediately of note. To some it is not a different cat breed but a long haired version of another breed, the Manx. This calls into question what you call a “different cat breed” and once you go down that road it’ll be some time before you come back.

The second thing is the name of the cat. Some websites say that this breed is named after the Gaelic word for Wales (this is incorrect, no criticism meant). Wales is, in fact, a part of the United Kingdom and governed by the UK Parliament, so it does not have a separate legislation although a large number of Welsh people probably think it should have its own government.

Cymrics come in a variety of tail lengths. The tail types are broken into four classifications: rumpy, rumpy-riser, stumpy, and longy. Since the tailless gene is dominant, all Cymrics that possess the Manx gene will have one of the four tail types. Rumpies are completely tailless and are prized because they can compete successfully in the show ring. They often have a dimple at the base of the spine where the tail would be if it were present. Rumpy-risers that possess a short knob of tail, stumpies that have an often curved or kinked tail stump, and longies that have tails almost as long as that of an average cat, are used for breeding or are placed as pets. Many breeders dock the tails of the longies to make it easier to find homes for them.

The personality of the Cymric has won a strong following despite the breeding challenges. Cymrics are intelligent, fun-loving cats, and they get along well with other pets, including dogs. Cymrics are particularly noted for their loyalty to their humans and enjoy spending quality time with them.

Snowshoe cat breed

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This breed of cat is a deliberate hybridization of the Siamese and the American Bicolor cats (American shorthair cats with the white spotting factor). The breed began in 1960 in Philadelphia, USA, when Dorothy Hinds Daugherty of Kensing Cattery, noticed that three Siamese kittens in a litter had white feet within the pointing. She found the contrasting pattern appealing and decided to breed for that effect.

This was an era when a number of new breeds were being created or discovered. This is a fairly rare breed (6/10 where 10 = the most rare, on my estimation).

After the creation of the breed, its development included breeding Snowshoe to Snowshoe.

Breeders brave enough to take on the Snowshoe challenge find that the cat pays back the effort in love and affection. Anyone looking for an aloof, standoffish cat need not apply for Snowshoe ownership, fanciers claim that Snowshoes don’t realize that they’re cats; they consider themselves people. They love to touch and be touched. Very intelligent, they can be taught a number of tricks. Snowshoes are also known for their fascination with water and on occasion will climb into the tub for a swim, as long as it’s their idea. While not as loud or vocal as the Siamese, Snowshoes are never at a loss for words.
One reason that the Snowshoe has not attracted more breeders in the 25 years of his existence is that blending all the genetic elements together to create the perfect Snowshoe isn’t easy. Four traits in particular make it difficult. The first is the inverted ‘V’ facial pattern that should extend from the mouth to the whisker tufts above the eyes. This pattern is governed by the piebald white spotting gene symbolized (S). Because this gene is incompletely dominant, if a cat inherits two copies of the gene, he will have larger areas of white than a cat with one copy of the gene. The effect, however, is not consistent, and other genes can affect the white areas. It’s difficult to predict how this gene will express itself, or predict which kittens will inherit two copies, so regulating the gene is a real challenge.

Calico Cat

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Calico cats are cats with a spotted or parti-colored coat, sometimes there is a swirl (called a rosette) on either side of the stomach. In North America, a blotched or spotted domestic cat, usually predominantly white with red and black patches (a pattern also called tortoiseshell-and-white). Because genetic determination of some coat colors in cats is linked to the sex chromosome, calicoes are almost always female.

They are also known as calimanco, clouded tiger, tricolor cat, mi-ke (Japanese for triple fur) and lapjeskat (Dutch for ‘patches cat’).

Calico cats are nearly always female. This is due to the genes for the orange or black color being on the X chromosome. Female cats have two X chromosomes, while male cats have an X and a Y chromosome.

Therefore, the mother cat passes the X chromosome on to her kittens, while the father passes either the X or Y chromosome, thus determining the kittens’ sex. To be a calico cat, the kitten must have an X chromosome that has the orange color and an X chromosome that has the black color. Male calico cats are genetic anomalies, with XXY chromosomes and are sterile and extremely rare.

A calico cat has sections of different colors in its fur. Usually the calicos with more white fur also have larger and more distinct patches of color. If the orange and black fur is mixed, the cat is called a tortoiseshell. Tortoiseshell cats, or “torties,” as they are commonly known, have little or no white fur.
A variation on the usual calico color pattern is the “dilute” or “pastel” calico cat. This type of calico cat gets its name from the fact that its color pattern is a “diluted” or “pastel” version of the typical colors. A dilute or pastel calico cat has a pattern of buff or cream instead of orange and “blue”, a slate gray color, instead of black.

Birman Cat

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The Sacred Cat of Burma, or Birman, is an exotic cat, majestic in its demeanor but, at the same time, very friendly and intelligent by nature. Although the breed originated in Burma as the Sacred Temple Cat of the Khmer people, it should not be confused with the Burmese, to which it is quite unrelated. The first appearance of the Birman cat in the western world is their introduction to France in 1919. The transfer from east to west remains shrouded in mystery with little documentation of the cat’s actual history until more recent times. The French registries recognized the “Sacre de Birmanie” as a natural breed in 1925. Many of the world’s other registering bodies have considered the Birman a French breed ever since. The English version, “Birman” is derived from the French spelling of their name. The breed was recognized for championship competition in England in 1966 and in the United States in 1967.

The Birman is a strikingly beautiful breed of cat with semi-longhaired coat of colour-point pattern. It comes in a variety of colours and possesses white feet. Males can be quite large – adults reaching 5 to 6 kilos while females are somewhat smaller tending to mature somewhere between 3.5 and 4 kilos. They are affectionate and sweet natured. Their origin is cloaked in mystery and they do come with a very sweet Legend which explains how they came into being. On the whole they are robust healthy cats, many living to very old age yet they possess an ethereal quality which is very endearing.

Birmans are people oriented cats. They are always pleased to see you and where you are your Birman cat will not be far behind. If you are working or relaxing in one room and the Birman has been in another soon it will stroll in and indicate by its expression and a softly waving tail that it is happy to see you. Although kittens are excited by your presence adults are more subject to their inherited dignity. They have soft voices sometimes described as “bell like” and some will hold conversations with you and nearly all of them have wonderful purr machinery.

In the ideal Birman, the matching white gloves on the front paws should end at or between the second and third joints of the paw. On the back paws, the gloves should cover all the toes and may extend up higher than the gloves on the front paws. The gloves must extend up the back of the hock and in this area are called laces. Ideally, the laces end in a point or inverted ‘V’ and extend one-half to three-quarters of the way up the hock. Symmetry of the laces is desirable. Ideally, the front gloves should match, the back gloves should match, and the laces should match. However, getting well-gloved Birmans is the thorn in the paw of every Birman breeder.

Birmans are born pure white, and then develop color on the points. The shading of the legs comes later, so the period of waiting for the glove markings to appear is an anxious one for Birman breeders, since the glove markings are the most difficult to perfect. The gene governing the trait is the dominant white spotting factor gene, which is very difficult to control.

Japanese Bobtail Cat

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The Japanese Bobtail is a breed of cat with an unusual ‘bobbed‘ tail more closely resembling the tail of a rabbit than that of an ordinary feline. The short tail is a cat body type genetic mutation caused by the expression of a recessive gene. Thus, so long as both parents are bobtails, all kittens born to a litter will have bobtails as well.

The Japanese Bobtail is a small domestic cat native to Japan and Southeast Asia, though it is now found throughout the world. The breed has been known in Japan for centuries, and there are many stories, as well as pieces of ancient art, featuring it.

This breed is recognized in both shorthaired and semi-longhaired varieties. Their coats are silky and need minimal grooming.

The Japanese Bobtail is an outgoing, friendly, active cat. They are intelligent and talkative, even entering into entire conversations with “their” people. Although they like to talk, they are not noisy and do not have loud voices, though they may make an amazing range of sounds.

Their popularity is legendary, and no wonder. They are the ultimate pet. They love to fetch, carry things around in their mouths, and ride on shoulders. They adust well to travelling, dogs, and children. More importantly, they are strong, healthy cats with comparitively high disease resistance.

Cat Names

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We offer 1000′s of cat names to help you choose the perfect one. Feel free to browse our unique cat names. An easy to use, creative list of great cat names.
A
Abe, Abdul, Aberdeen, Abigail, Achille, Ada, Adamo, Ade, Adolfo, Agar, Agata, Aiko, Aladdin, Alaska, Alan, Alba, Alcatraz, Alfeo, Alfred, Alfredo, Afrit, Aimee, Aika, Alfa, Alice, Amadeus, Amata, Amato, Ambra, Amedeo, Amigo, Amor, Amour, Amos, Anastasia, Andromeda, Andy, Anja, Ann, Apollo, Arancione, Argo, Arianna, Ariele, Aristide, Arlena, Arlette, Arturo, Asterix, Asso, Astro, Atilla, Aurora, Axel, Azzurra,
B
Baba, Babe, Baldo, Banko, Bart, Bartolomeo, Battista, Bea, Beniamino, Benito, Benny, Benvenuto, Beppe, Bernardo, Bernhard, Bertrand, Beta, Beetowen, Bianca, Bianco, Bibi, Billy, Bingo, Bino, Birba, Birillo, Black, Blacky, Bobby, Bobi, Boris, Briciola, Brigida, Brunilde, Bruno, Buddy, Buffy, Bumble, Burmilla, Brutus,
C
Caio, Candida, Candido, Cappuccino, Carina, Carmen, Cartmann, Cassandras, Cecil, Cecile, Cecilia, Cecily, Celeste, Cesare, Chicco, Chili Pepper, Ciappi, Ciappy, Ciccio, Cina, Cirillo, Ciro, Cissy, Cita, Claude, Cleo, Cleopatra, Cloe, Coca, Cocco, Coltellino, Cora, Corallo, Cordelia, Corinna, Corinne, Corrado, Cozzano, Cowboy, Cristoforo, Cucciolo, Cuccu, Compino
D
Daddy, Dafne, Dalia, Daisy, Dalia, Dalila, Dante, Daria, Dark, Delia, Delizia, Demos, Den, Denis, Denise, Desdemona, Diablo, Diamante, Diana, Dolores, Domenica, Donald, Donar, Dora, Doris, Dorotea, Doroteo, Douglas, Drago, Duchessa, Duilio, Duncan, Dylan,
E
Eclisse, Eddie, Eddy, Edgar, Edgardo, Edith, Edmea, Edmondo, Eduardo, Egle, Einstein, Elettra, Elia, Elio, Ella, El Toro, Elvis, Emy, Enea, Enrico, Eolo, Erasmo, Ercole, Esmeralda, Ester, E.T., Ettore, Eureka, Evita, Ezio,
F
Fabia, Fafi, Falchetto, Falco, Fatima, Fatma, Febo, Fedele, Fedra, Felice, Felicia, Felicita, Fergal, Fiammetta, Fido, Fifi, Filomena, Fiocco, Fiona, Fiore, Flipper, Flora, Fortuna, Fortunia, Franca, Freddi, Freddy, Freya, Frida, Fufi, Furia,
G
Gaia, Gaya, Gaja, Gaio, Galea, Gastone, Gauthier, Gavin, Gea, Gemma, Geraldo, Gessica, Giada, Giallino, Giano, Gilda, Gina, Ginevra, Gioia, Ginevra, Giona, Giotto, Giove, Giovedì, Glauco, Gloria, Goccia, Goffredo, Golia, Goliard, Gordon, Graham, Greta, Gunner,
H
Hallway, Hammer, Hannibal, Hansel, Happy, Harmony, Havana, Hawk, Hearts, Heaven, Heidi, Helga, Hera, Herbie, Hercules, Hero, Hidalgo, Holger, Honey, Hoshi, Historia , Hogan.
I
Iago, Ian, Idalia, Icarus, Ice Cream, Iceberg, Iceberg Slim, Iceman, Ice-T, Igea, Iggy, Igor, Inca, Indiana, Indy, Ingmar, Iole, Iorio, Iride, Irina, Iris, Isa, Isidoro, Isotta, Ivo, Ivonne, Izzy
L
Laica, Lady, Lancelot, Laika, Lalla, Lara, Lattina, Lavinia, Lea, Leda, Leo, Lena, Leona, Leonard, Leone, Leopold, Leopoldo, Leslie, Lassie, Lessie, Liala, Liana, Licio, Lida, Lilith, Lille, Lillie, Lilly, Lola, Lolita, Lora, Loreley, Lori, Lothar, Lotte, Luca, Luce, Lucky, Luke, Luminosa, Luna, Lupo, Lupo Alberto.
M
Madonna, Mac, Magda, Maia, Malka, Mandrake, Marcellino, Marcy, Marilyn, Marvin, Mary, Maya, Matiss, Max, Medea, Melany, Melba, Menta, Mercedes, Mery, Michele, Micina, Mildred, Milko, Mila, Milo, Milly, Mike, Mimosa, Mina, Mino, Minnie, Mira, Mirando, Miro, Mister, Myra, Moby dick, Mocha, Molly, Moon Pie, Muppy.
N
Nabie, Nada, Nadena, Nairobi, Nancy, Nanni, Nano, Naomi, Natale, Neda, Neera, Neo, Nera, Nessy, Nerone, Nicki, Niels, Nightmare, Nina, Ninfa, Nine, Ninja, Nives, Nocciolina, Noemi, Nora, Norman, Nosferatu, Novella,
O
Oasis, Occhi Blu, Odessa, Ofelia, Olimpia, Olympia, Olivia, Olli, Omar, Omega, Onassis, Onyx, Ooga-Booga, Opal, Orange, Orchidea, Orion, Orso, Ortensia, Oscar, Oskar, Ossian, Otello, Otto, Ottone, Ozzy.
P
Pablo, Palla, Pallina, Pallino, Palma, Palmira, Palma, Pallumella, Pandia, Pandora, Pantera Rosa, Paolo, Papaia, Paperino, Papi, Paris, Pata, Patapri, Pecciolina, Pelliccione, Pedro, Peggy, Penelope, Perceval, Perla, Pesca, Paperina, Pierino, Pink Panter, Pinky, Pipino, Pippo, Pirat, Pira, Pirata, Pirro, Piuma, Pluto, Pompeo, Preziosa, Primo, Primula, Prino, Prisca, Priscilla, Pucy,
Q
Qantas, Qua, Quango, Quasar, Quasimodo, Queenie, Quentin, Qui, Quo, Quack, Quake, Quick, Quinto, Quirino, Quiz.
R
Raffaello, Ragu, Raider, Rainbow, Ralf, Rambo, Ranger, Ray Man, Raskal Paris, Red, Regan, Regina, Rem, Remo, Remy, Reno, Rex, Rin tin tin, Ricci, Ricco, Ringo, Robert, Robby, Rocco, Rocky, Rodolfo, Romeo, Romolo, Rosa, Ross, Roswita, Romena, Ruben, Rudy,
S
Sadie, Sam, Sahel, Sandy, Santa, Sante, Santos, Sbiascia, Sem, Sendior, Senior, Sennen, Sergio, Shirley, Sibilla, Sidney, Sissy, Sirena, Sirja, Siro, Snapdragon, Snoopy, Sofio, Solange, Sonny, Spice, Spidy, Spillo, Squit, Stella, Super, Susan, Susi, Susy,
T
Taboo, Taffee, Tammy, Tampest, Tango, Taos, Tasha, Taxi, Tata, Tea, Teodora, Teodoro, Tequila, Terminator, Terry, Teseo, Testarossa, Tex, Tiffany, Timothy, Titina, Tito, Titty, Tobia, Toby, Toffee, Tommasina, Tom, Tommy, Toni, Totem, Tot?, Tris, Trylle, Turbo Cat, Tutu, Tyson,
U
Uffa, Ugly, Ugo, Ugolino, Ulisse, Ullall?, Ulysse, Ulla, Uma, Umbra, Unagi, Urania, Urano, Urban, Ursula, Useless, Ushki, Utopia,
V
Valdo, Valentine, Valentino, Valium, Valter, Vampira, Van Gogh, Vanilla, Vasco, Velia, Venezia, Venus, Vera, Verdi, Vicky, Victoria, Vincent, Vilma, Viola, Virgilio, Vladimiro, Vroom Vroom, Vulcan,
W
Wabbly, Wally, Walter, Watson, Wendy, Werner, Werther, Whiskey, White One, Whitney, Whoopie, Wilma, William, Willy, Wolf, Wolfgang, Wolfram, Wong Mau, Wonka, Woodstock
Z
Zaira, Zacharia, Zampa, Zanzibar, Zarah, Zagor, Zaza, Zebra, Zelia, Zelig, Zelinda, Zenaide, Zeno, Zepellin, Zeppo, Zeus, Zico, Zoe, Zombie, Zoom, Zoran, Zorro, Zucca, Zulu, Zummo.

Mini Lionhead

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Lionheads are, contrary to belief, small rabbits, equivalent to the size of a mini lop which is why I refer to my lionheads as the Mini Lionhead (which is my own term, not a BRC standard term, I have found that if they are referred to purely as the Lionhead, most people automatically assume that this breed is quite large, as they did once used to be when first introduced into the UK years ago).

Lionhead rabbits get their name from the mane they grow that looks very similar to the mane of a lion. I assure you, the similarity stops there. The manes can be double or single and of course, the double manes are the prettiest. Interestingly the gene that causes the mane seems to be a dominant mutation which means that only one parent is required to have the “mane gene” to produce more lionheads.

The average adult Mini Lionhead weight is approx. 3 1/4 lbs, which is less than the mini lop which is 3 1/2 lbs so they are an ideal sized rabbit for a child. Overall their fur is short so quite easy to maintain and look after (again, contrary to belief) although it is a little thicker than the coat of a lop rabbit.

The mane around the face is longer obviously, hence the name Lionhead, but again, it is very easy to maintain and does not require daily grooming, although an occasional comb through once a week/fortnight with a metal comb will keep any stray shavings or hay from causing tangles or knots, the rabbit will love this also, grooming is a good way to bond with your rabbit, even with short haired rabbits such as lops.

Mini Lionheads have lovely temperaments also, and I find that they are ideal ‘lapdog’ companions. Lionheads ears’ stand up rather than lop.

American Fuzzy Lop

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The American Fuzzy Lop is a rabbit breed recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). It is similar in appearance to a Holland Lop. However, the American Fuzzy Lop is a wool breed and will have wool similar to the Angora breeds, although the wool will be of a short variety.

The American Fuzzy Lop weighs 3 to 4 pounds. These small rabbits have a large, flattened “bulldog” face and lopped ears, and look somewhat like a Holland Lop with long fur. They have been bred in many different colors. This is a wool breed, and will require extensive daily grooming and a special diet.

This is a short rabbit with well-developed shoulders and hindquarters. The head is held high and close to the shoulders. The ears sit high on the head and then flop down to 1/2 to 1 inch below the jaw. The show standard requires the wool to be slightly coarse, very dense and equal in length throughout the body.

The American Fuzzy Lop is shown in six different groups based on its color pattern: broken, pointed white, wide band, agouti, shaded, and self. Within these groups, the agouti colors of chestnut, chinchilla, opal, and lynx can be seen. A number of other colors are also available in this short and stocky breed.

American Fuzzy Lops are an active, playful, social breed with lots of personality. They enjoy the attention of their owner, as well as the companionship of other rabbits. AFL’s do enjoy having toys such as a plastic ball, pine cone, piece of soft wood, stuffed sock, or an old glove. The American Fuzzy Lop is the combination of a French Angora and the Holland Lop. They are very fuzzy, as their name indicates, and make excellent pets.

Holland Lop Rabbit

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The Holland Lop is the smallest and the most popular of the lop-eared rabbits. Both the Holland Lop and the Mini Lop are miniature versions of the Lop-eared Rabbit.

It is named after its home country, Holland where this breeds development started in 1949. The final breed as we know it today was finalized in the 1960′s. It was brought into the United States in 1976, and it’s popularity as a favorite pet continues to grow.

These are very mellow smaller rabbits that are easy for beginners to handle and care for. This is a very sweet and affectionate animal. They love to play and hop around. Holland Lops don’t require a lot of space and they eat less than bigger bunnies!

Holland Lops have short muzzle with eyes sitting very deep. The wide, thick, furry ears hang down vertically from the “crown“.

The show standard requires that the ears should be no longer than 1 inch below the jaw. Pointed, narrow or thin ears are disqualified. Some Holland Lops like to be petted, but in general, temperament varies by individual.

Colors include: self-group (black, blue, chocolate, and lilac); broken (any color in conjunction with white); shaded (must have the color darker on the feet, ears, tail and head than on rest of body); agouti group colors include those that have the top side of the body banded (a ring pattern in the coat) and ticked (the tip of the hairs are a different color); pointed group (also know as himalayans) comes in 4 different colors, black,blue, chocolate and lilac.Photo credit: Campo’s Cottontails

Himalayan Rabbit

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More widely distributed around the world than any other rabbit breed, the Himalayan is popular in China and Russia, as well as in the United States.

The Himalayan rabbit is a small, slender rabbit. They are very striking in their markings. They are white with red eyes. The face, ears, feet and tail are coloured. They have a long, pointed head and the ears are erect.

The ideal age for the female Himalayan rabbit to start breeding is between 5 to 6 months of age. The first litter must be born before the female is one year old. The reason for this is that after this age the pelvic bones fuse and she would not be able to give birth naturally. They should have no more litters after the age of three years.

It is distinctive because of its white coat and blue, lilac, chocolate or black markings. A friendly amenable rabbit, this breed may have originated in the Far East.

If you are planning to buy a rabbit as a pet, the most suitable is Himalayan, which is a small, easily-handled and wonderfully placid rabbit with no vices. The young rabbits are white and slightly tinged with silver-gray. As the rabbit matures, the silver-gray disappears and its coat becomes snow white with the nose, ears, feet and tail becoming very dark colors.

Netherland Dwarf

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The Netherland Dwarf Rabbit was developed in the early 1900s in Holland from the white Polish Rabbit and wild rabbits to produce a small rabbit in a variety of colours. The Netherland Dwarf Rabbit was first given a show standard in Holland in 1940. Netherland Dwarf Rabbits were introduced in the UK in the late 1940s and into the US in the late 1960s. Today the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit is one of the most popular breeds of rabbit kept as a pet.

The Netherland Dwarf Rabbit has a small compact body, a short neck and a compact, broad head with curved profile. The ears are small, erect, rounded at the tips and approximately 5cm in length. The coat of the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit is short and soft.
The Netherland Dwarf Rabbit is available in a variety of colours including Agouti, Chinchilla, Squirrel, Opal, Lynx, Black, Blue, Brown, Lilac, White, Tan, Fox, Sable Marten, Otter, Fawn, Himalayan, Orange, Steel, Sable Siamese, Sealpoint, Smoke Pearl Siamese and Tortoiseshell.
The Netherland Dwarf Rabbit, along with the Polish Rabbit, is the smallest of rabbit breeds weighing just 800g – 1.2 Kg when adult.
Most of the time Netherland Dwarfs are happy, friendly little pets, but once in a while there will be one that becomes less agreeable as it approaches breeding age. During this time it may be more protective of its body and its cage.