Collins Complete Dog Manual

This friendly, muscular dog was almost certainly derived from the ancient Wire-haired Pinscher to which it bears a startling resemblance, as can be seen in a picture by Albrecht Dürer (1492). A fourteenth-century statue of a hunter in Mecklenburg, Germany, has a similar-looking dog crouched at his feet. This old breed was once a general farm dog. It was used to accompany stagecoaches in order to defend them against robbers who worked the forests, and thus it became known as the ‘Carriage Griffon’.

Description

A chunky, medium-sized muscular dog, its coat is black or pepper and salt (greyish) in colour. The outer coat is wiry, harsh to the touch and is distinguished by a beard and bushy eyebrows; the undercoat is dense. A good all-round family pet. Although this dog may look fierce and is very protective of its family, it has a very friendly nature.

Fact File

Group: Working

Country of Origin: Germany

Male:

48 cm (19 in)

Female:

46 cm (18 in)

Coat: Dense, wiry coat; dense undercoat.

Life Expectancy: 12–14 years

Guarding Instinct: Suspicious, so prowlers beware.

Temperament & Grooming

Temperament: Courageous and assertive, it is a friendly dog and needs strong but kind handling.

Grooming: Needs hand-stripping four times a year, and the leg and face furnishings should be combed out twice a week.

Exercise & Feeding

Exercise: All Schnauzers require frequent running exercise and play to maintain their athleticism and mental health. They are also the natural friends of horses.

Feeding: There are no special feeding requirements.

Health Problems

None. This is generally a very healthy, hardy breed.

Siberian Husky

(otsphoto)

Kind, gentle and very affectionate, in the land of their origin the Husky is a much-cherished working dog and was used for hauling sleds laden with meat and fish. Their tremendous strength and stamina allow them to make some phenomenally long journeys. An excellent companion for energetic families.

History

Husky sled dogs were the only means of transport in Alaska during the gold rush of 1900. Dog team drivers developed rivalries and started to stage races. In 1920, a team of twenty Siberians pulled a sled for 340 miles carrying vaccines to the diphtheria-stricken city of Nome, saving the population. A statue of a sled dog in Central Park, New York, celebrates that achievement. Because the breed have lived closely, probably for thousands of years, with the Chukchi nation, they are ‘people orientated’.

Description

The medium-sized Husky looks very alert and is lithe with grace. It has an abundant weatherproof coat with a thick, soft undercoat. The breed comes in a variety of colours; the facial colours can be contrasting, unusual and striking. Elegant and athletic, the Siberian Husky does not bark but howls and talks. Today, in the West, they are usually companion dogs, although the sport of sled dog racing is growing rapidly.

Fact File

Group: Working

Country of Origin: Siberia

Male: 53–60 cm (21–23½ in)

Female:

Slightly smaller.

Coat: These dogs moult freely and have a double coat.

Life Expectancy: 12–15 years

Guarding Instinct: Not a guard dog, too easy-going.

Temperament & Grooming

Temperament: The Siberian Husky is gentle, friendly and people-loving, intelligent and biddable. Easy-going, easy to train and anxious to please, it’s a pack dog that understands its family, particularly the children.

Grooming: Twice-weekly deep grooming required; the undercoat can knot.

Exercise & Feeding

Exercise: Without their work, all Huskies will need frequent free running and exercise, and new owners should consider joining a specialist club that races with wheeled carts.

Feeding: There are no special feeding requirements.

Health Problems

Hip dysplasia (#litres_trial_promo) with a low breed average. There are some eye problems, so puppies should come only from eye-tested parents.

Rottweiler

(Eric Isselee)

In spite of its powerful body and formidable appearance, this dog can make a good pet if properly trained. Very few Rottweilers are used for their droving ability nowadays. Instead, their strong protective instincts are put to use in security work. A young puppy will need kind but firm training and lots of socialization if it is to grow into a good-natured adult.

History

The likely origin is from the Mastiff-style dogs that travelled with Roman armies driving livestock as they swept northwards conquering Europe. First used as boar hunters, then as cattle drovers in the German city of Rottweil (a cattle market town in mediaeval times), they doubled as custodians of traders’ money. The Rottweiler is devoted to its family but must be taught its place kindly but persistently.