The Gordon Setter dog breed is considered by those who know about such things to be one of the most reliable bird dogs in the sporting group; it can run and hunt for an entire day if it wished to. With seemingly endless energy and always on the looking for a bird, this breed needs constant time outside in large, open land to roam and hunt.
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The English Foxhound is a bit more stout in physical appearance than its counterpart, the American Foxhound. Although the exact origin of this breed is unknown, we do know that particular pedigrees were kept of English Foxhounds since the 1700s. This is longer than any other dog breed.
Fox hunting was a sport that became very popular with the the upper class and a small group of men had a vision of creating a dog that could hunt and kill fox, track a scent from miles away, and have the speed and agility to maintain long-distance running when chasing its prey. In fact, these chases could go on for hours if necessary.
Fox hunting was such a sought-after sport that breeders wanted their Foxhounds to not only perform well when being watched to hunt, they also wanted the dogs to look beautiful, especially when running in packs. Such breeding took place to ensure that specific pack members would have the same color coat, which was usually black saddle over a tan colored body, and white points.
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The Bulldog was extremely popular in England during the 19th century, particularly around the area of Nottingham. Most of these dogs were very small, weighing in at less than 25 to 30 pounds. They made their way to France when a large number of lace workers headed to the area for work and brought their small toy Bulldogs with them.
The Frenchwomen adored the little dogs, specifically the ones that had erect ears. This feature of the ears were very common, but most people did not like this look back in England. Soon enough, many more of these clown-like looking dogs were brought to France by dog dealers, which were referred to as Bouledogue Francais.
As their popularity grew, the breed had caught the attention of wealthy families throughout the entire upper class. You could find French Bulldogs in some of the most prestigious homes throughout France. It was during this same time period that American travelers who were visiting France brought several Bulldogs back to the United States and began breeding them.
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The Ibizan Hound is one of the most instinctive hunting dogs of the Hound Group. They can locate just about any animal using highly tuned-in scent and hearing skills. If given the chance to chase, these dogs will jump at the opportunity to go after small animals. They often bark while chasing prey, which is uncommon among most sighthounds. Indoors, the Ibizan makes a wonderful house pet with a quiet, well-mannered demeanor and highly devoted to its family.
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Long before shotguns were used to kill birds when hunting, nets were used to catch the foul, which were helped by dogs that were trained to crouch whenever they pointed game. “Setters” as these dogs were called, were the foundation of today’s English Setter
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The English Setter is the oldest dog known from these groups. In fact, it is theorized that they date back well before the 15th century. Their function was to locate game and then remain still, practically frozen, until the game was taken away by hunters.
The English Setter’s ancestors were probably the Large Water Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, and the Spanish Pointer. Beginning around the year 1825, specific breeding for the production of the English Setter was started by a man named Edward Laverack. He continued to breed his Setters for well over 30 years. In fact, these are the dogs that created the base-line of all English Setters of today.
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Originating from the Mediterranean during ancient times, the Havanese dog comes from a family of small dogs known as the Barbichon (now called Bichon) family. They showed up in large quantities throughout Cuba when Spanish traders brought them as gifts to give to the Cuban women. This allowed open trade between the two peoples.
Cubans adored this little dog and pampered them greatly. Havanese dogs were popular with the wealthy. In time, these dogs made their way back to Europe where the people refer to them as the “White Cuban”. Their popularity continued to grow. Many people owned them as pets but also enjoyed Havanese dogs as performers.
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The Tibetan Spaniel is a feisty and playful member of the Non-Sporting Group. Small in stature, but tall in personality, the Tibetan has a maximum height of 10 inches and weighs anywhere from 9 to 15 pounds. The body is slightly longer than it is tall, and the face of these dogs are ape-like in appearance.
The temperament of the Tibetan Spaniel is independent and stubborn, yet equally as loving and affectionate. They can be sensitive at times to loud noises and harsh yelling. Due to their small size they make excellent house dogs, enjoying both daily outings with the family or just cuddling up on the couch. The Tibetan is overly-friendly with other dogs and pets but reserved around strange people, making them dependable watchdogs that will bark at unknown individuals or intruders.
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Once born, it is most important that you make sure puppies receive the proper care from their mother, and keeping them warm and well-fed in order to maintain their growth and development.
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It is not known where the American Water Spaniel originated, but it is generally agreed that a combination of the Tweed Water Spaniel, Irish Water Spaniel, English Water Spaniel, and the Curly Coated Retriever all contributed to the American Water Spaniel we know today, but this is primarily based on the appearance of this dog breed.
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