The Big Book of Dogs

The Big Book

of Dogs

By Linda Alchin

Smashwords Edition.

Copyright 2011 Linda Alchin

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer

Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty: The publisher has used its best efforts in preparing this book, and the information provided herein is provided as is. Linda Alchin makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages

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Author Biography

Linda Alchin is a website author with a keen interest in dogs. Her career initially focussed on conventional training techniques to provide adult education. With the advent of the Internet she moved on to distance learning projects. Combining new technology with her love of dogs she has created a variety of highly successful educational websites which, in turn, have led to the publication of this book. She lives with her family just outside London.

Websites by Linda Alchin:

http://www.dog-names.org.uk

http://www.dog-symptoms-canine-health.info

http://www.dog-breeds.org.uk

http://www.facts-about.org.uk/dogs/index-dogs.htm

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Table of Contents

The Evolution of Dogs

Dog Breeds and Nicknames

Dog Facts

Famous Dogs

Presidents & Their Dogs

Puppy Training

Puppy Care

Choosing a Dog

Working Dogs

Herding Dogs

Terrier Dogs

Toy Dogs

Hound Dogs

Scenthounds

Sighthounds

Hunting Dogs

Bay Dogs

Dogs by Breed

Afghan

Akita

Alaskan Husky

Alaskan Klee Kai

Alaskan Malamute

Alsatian

American Cocker Spaniel

American Eskimo

American Foxhound

American Staffordshire Terrier

American Water Spaniel

Anatolian Shepherd

Australian Cattle

Australian Kelpie Sheep

Australian Shepherd

Australian Terrier

Bandog

Basenji

Basset Hound

Beagle

Bearded Collie

Beauceron

Bedlington Terrier

Belgian Malinois

Belgian Sheepdog

Belgian Tervuren

Bernese Mountain

Bichon Frise

Black and Tan Coonhound

Black Russian Terrier

Bloodhound

Boerboel

Border Collie

Border Terrier

Borzoi

Boston Terrier

Bouvier des Flandres

Boxer

Briard

Brittany

Brussels Griffon

Bull Terrier

Bulldog

Bullmastiff

Canary

Cairn Terrier

Canaan

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Chihuahua

Chinese Crested

Chinese Foo

Chinese Shar-pei

Chow Chow

Clumber Spaniel

Collie

Curly-Coated Retriever

Dachshund

Dalmatian

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Doberman Pinscher

English Cocker Spaniel

English Foxhound

English Setter

English Springer Spaniel

Field Spaniel

Finnish Spitz

Flat-Coated Retriever

French Bulldog

French Mastiff

German Pinscher

German Shepherd

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Wirehaired Pointer

Giant Schnauzer

Golden Retriever

Gordon Setter

Great Dane

Great Pyrenees

Greater Swiss Mountain

Greyhound

Harrier

Havanese

Hovawart

Ibizan Hound

Irish Setter

Irish Terrier

Irish Water Spaniel

Irish Wolfhound

Italian Greyhound

Jack Russell Terrier

Japanese Chin

Japanese Spitz

Keeshond

Kerry Blue Terrier

Komondor

Kuvasz

Labrador Retriever

Lakeland Terrier

Leonberger

Lhasa Apso

Louisiana Catahoula Leopard

Lowchen

Maltese

Maremma

Mastiff

Miniature Bull Terrier

Miniature Pinscher

Miniature Schnauzer

Neapolitan Mastiff

Newfoundland

Norfolk Terrier

Norwegian Elkhound

Norwich Terrier

Old English Sheepdog

Otterhound

Papillon

Parson Russell Terrier

Patterdale Terrier

Pekingese

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Dog

Pharaoh Hound

Plott

Pointer

Pomeranian

Poodle

Portuguese Water

Pug

Puli

Rat Terrier

Redbone Coonhound

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rottweiler

Saint Bernard

Saluki

Samoyed

Schipperke

Scottish Deerhound

Scottish Terrier

Sealyham Terrier

Shetland Sheepdog

Shiba Inu

Shih Tzu

Shikoku

Siberian Husky

Silky Terrier

Skye Terrier

Smooth Fox Terrier

Spinone Italiano

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Standard Schnauzer

Sussex Spaniel

Thai Ridgeback

Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Spaniel

Tibetan Terrier

Tosa Inu

Toy Fox Terrier

Vizsla

Weimaraner

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Welsh Terrier

Westie

Whippet

Wire Fox Terrier

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Yorkshire Terrier

Back to Table of Contents

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Dog Breeds and Nicknames

A

Affenpinscher - The Moustached Little Devil

Afghan Hound - Hound of the Pharaohs and Cavemen

Airedale Terrier - Dog from the Valley of Aire

Akita - The Most Venerated

Alaskan Husky - The Sled Racer

Alaskan Klee Kai - A Rare Breed

Alaskan Malamute - The Artic Dog

Alsatian - The German Shepherd Dog

American Cocker Spaniel - The American with a British Heritage

American Eskimo Dog - The Performer

American Foxhound - The Pilgrim Father's Dog

American Staffordshire Terrie - King of the Fighting Pits

American Water Spaniel - The Great Lakes Dog

Anatolian Shepherd Dog - The Wolf Hunter

Australian Cattle Dog - The Heeler

Australian Kelpie Sheep Dog - Water Sprite

Australian Shepherd - The Basque Shepherd Dog

Australian Terrier - National Terrier of Australia

B

Bandog - The American Bandogge

Basenji - The Bark-less Dog

Basset Hound - The French Aristocrat

Beagle - The Snoopy Dog

Bearded Collie - Olde English Dog

Beauceron - Berger de Beauce

Bedlington Terrier - The Lamb-like Dog

Belgian Malinois - Bred in Malines

Belgian Sheepdog - World War I Hero

Belgian Tervuren - The Tervuren Village Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog - The Berne Herdsman's Dog

Bichon Frise - The Curly Lap Dog

Black and Tan Coonhound - The Raccoon Raider

Black Russian Terrier - A Bull Baiter

Bloodhound - The Sleuthhound

Boerboel - Dog of the Boers

Border Collie - The Trainers Dream Dog

Border Terrier - The Head of an Otter

Borzoi - Sighthound of the Russian Czars

Boston Terrier - The American Gentleman among Dogs

Bouvier des Flandres - The Strong Guy

Boxer - The Fighter

Briard - The Emperor Charlemagne's Dog

Brittany - Epagneul Breton

Brussels Griffon - Hansom Cab Stable Dogs

Bull Terrier - The White Cavalier

Bulldog - The British Bull Baiter

Bullmastiff - Poachers Beware

C

Cairn Terrier - Toto, in the Wizard of Oz

Canaan - Dog from the Land of Canaan

Canary Dog - The Canary Islands Dog of Prey

Cardigan Welsh Corgi - Dog of the Celts

Catahoula Leopard Dog- The Leopard-like Dog

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - The Merry Monarch's Dog

Chesapeake Bay Retriever - The Strongest Swimmer

Chihuahua - The Smallest Dog in the World

Chinese Crested - A Hairless Dog or a Powder Puff !

Chinese Foo Dog - Mascot of the Tongs

Chinese Shar-pei - Chinese Fighting Dog

Chow Chow - The Dog with the Black Tongue

Clumber Spaniel - French Revolution Emigre

Collie - The Lassie Star

Curly-Coated Retriever - The Gamekeeper's Dog

D

Dachshund - The Hot Dog

Dalmatian - Immortalised by Disney

Dandie Dinmont Terrier - Sir Walter Scott's Inspiration

Doberman Pinscher - The Tax Collectors Dog

Dogue de Bordeaux - French Mastiff

E

English Cocker Spaniel - Hunter of Woodcock Pigeons

English Foxhound - Favourite of the English Aristocracy

English Setter - The Dog who Sits

English Springer Spaniel - The Quarry Springers

English Toy Spaniel - Lapdog of Mary, Queen of Scots

F

Field Spaniel - The Field Worker

Finnish Spitz - Barking Bird Dog of Finland

Flat-Coated Retriever - Natural Water Dog

French Mastiff - French Mastiff

French Bulldog - The Toy Bulldog

G

German Pinscher - Saved from Extinction

German Shepherd Dog - The Alsatian Wolf Dog

German Shorthaired Pointer - The Short Haired Dog

German Wirehaired Pointer - The Leading Pointer Dog

Giant Schnauzer - The Small Beard

Glen of Imaal Terrier - The Turnspit Dog

Golden Retriever - The World's Most Popular Dog

Gordon Setter - Gun Dog of Scotland

Great Dane - The Gentle Giant

Great Pyrenees - The Court Dog of France

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog - The Swissy

Greyhound - The Fastest Dog on Earth

H

Harrier - The Hare Hunter

Havanese - The Dog from Havana

Hovawart - Farm Watchdog

I

Ibizan Hound - Sighthound of Hannibal

Irish Setter - A Victorian Favorite

Irish Terrier - The Racy Terrier

Irish Water Spaniel - The Tallest Spaniel

Irish Wolfhound - War Dog of Irish Chieftains

Italian Greyhound - Gaze Hound of European Royalty

J

Jack Russell Terrier - The Scamp

Japanese Chin - The Ornamental Dog

Japanese Spitz - The Pure White Dog

K

Keeshond - The Dutch Barge Dog

Kerry Blue Terrier - County Kerry Beauty

Komondor - The Ultimate Sheep Dog

Kuvasz - The Dog of the Magyars

L

Labrador Retriever - The Fisherman's Friend

Lakeland Terrier - The Showman

Leonberger - The Lion-like Dog

Lhasa Apso - The Sacred Dog of Tibet

Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog - The Leopard-like Dog

Lowchen - The Little Lion Dog

M

Maltese - Prized Dog of Malta

Manchester Terrier (Standard) - The Cat-like Dog

Manchester Terrier (Toy) - The Rat Killer

Maremma - The Italian Sheepdog

Mastiff - War Dog and Gladiator

Miniature Bull Terrier - The Gladiator of Terriers

Miniature Pinscher - The Mini Pin

Miniature Schnauzer - Small Beard

N

Neapolitan Mastiff - The Dog of the Romans

New Guinea Singing Dog - Gazehound of New Guinea

Newfoundland - The Landseer Dog

Norfolk Terrier - The Demon

Norwegian Elkhound - War Dog of the Vikings

Norwich Terrier - The Jones Terrier

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever - The Splasher!

O

Old English Sheepdog - The Bobtail

Otterhound - The Otter's Foe

P

Papillon - The Butterfly Dog

Parson Russell Terrier - The Minister's Scamp

Patterdale Terrier - The Fell Terrier

Pekingese - The Lion Dog - Sacred Symbol of Buddha

Pembroke Welsh Corgi - The Tiny dog of the Celts

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen - Small Dog with the Big Name

Pharaoh Hound - Sighthound of the Pharaohs

Plott - Mr. Plott's Dog!

Pointer - The Bird Locator

Polish Lowland Sheepdog - The Nizinny

Pomeranian - Poms or Puffballs

Poodle - The Stylish Breed

Portuguese Water Dog - Trawler Crew Member

Pug - The Dog of Kings & Monks

Puli - The Hungarian Water Dog

R

Rat Terrier - The Ratter

Redbone Coonhound - The Treeing Red Dog

Rhodesian Ridgeback - The Lion Dog

Rottweiler - Marched with the Romans

S

Saint Bernard - The Saviour of Lost Travellers

Saluki - Sacred Dog of the Sumerian Empire

Samoyed - The Dog with the Smiling Face

Schipperke - Little Captain

Scottish Deerhound - Royal Dog of Scotland

Scottish Terrier - The Scotty Dog

Sealyham Terrier - The Mystery Dog

Shetland Sheepdog - The Sheltie

Shiba Inu - The Brushwood Dog

Shih Tzu - The Chrysanthemum Dog

Shikoku - The Most Venerated

Siberian Husky - The Team Racer

Silky Terrier - The Sydney Silky

Skye Terrier - Greyfriars Bobby

Smooth Fox Terrier - The Adventurer

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier - The Teddy Bear

Spinone Italiano - Italian Renaissance Pointer

Staffordshire Bull Terrier - The Nanny Dog

Standard Schnauzer - The Rat Catcher

Sussex Spaniel - The Flusher

T

Thai Ridgeback - The Thailand Spitz

Tibetan Mastiff - A War Dog

Tibetan Spaniel - The Prayer Dog

Tibetan Terrier - The Good Luck Dog

Tosa Inu - Dog from Tosa

Toy Fox Terrier - The AmerToy

V

Vizsla - The Hungarian Pointer

W

Weimaraner - The Forester's Dog

Welsh Springer Spaniel - Dog of the Celts

Welsh Terrier - The Loveable Rogue

West Highland White Terrier - The Westie

Whippet - The Snap Dog

Wire Fox Terrier - The Live Wire

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon - The Rough Coat

Y

Yorkshire Terrier - The Yorkies

Back to Table of Contents

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The Evolution of Dogs

Is Man's best friend really a descendent of tamed wolves?

Biologists have debated over the history and evolution of the domestic dog for hundreds of years. Most Scientists now agree that dogs are directly descended from Canis Lupus - the Grey Wolf.

Dr. Robert K. Wayne, canid biologist and molecular geneticist at UCLA, has shown, through DNA research, that dogs are more closely related to the Grey Wolf than Biologists had previously suspected. In fact, due in large part to Dr. Robert K. Wayne's genetic research, the authors of the Mammal Species of the World the internationally accepted reference source on mammal species, reclassified the dog in 1993 from Canis Familiaris to Canis Lupus.

The Evolution Dogs from Wolves - How could Wolves be tamed and Why?

We will never now exactly why or how wolves were tamed by man, but remains of dogs dating back 10 to 15 thousand years have been found, so we at least have a ball-park figure of when which helps to build a picture of the History and Evolution of dogs. The wolf and man had several important things in common; we were both hunters and also hunted in packs. It is certain that during our history our paths would have regularly crossed, we would have even hunted and eaten each other! The most likely scenario is that a human hunting party came across a very young Wolf Cub and decided to take it with them. The Wolf Cub would have been very puppy like at an early age, when grown although far less trustworthy than a dog of today, would not have been quite as dangerous as a wild Wolf. A semi-tamed Wolf would probably have had considerable value to a hunter gatherer group, lending its superior hunting senses to the group. This would have helped not just in hunting but defensively as a warning system as well. The evolution of the wolf to the domestic dog began.

Back to Table of Contents

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Dog Facts

The largest, smallest, oldest and fastest – keep reading for amazing dog information and facts. Interesting information and facts about dog anatomy and development are also included!

Interesting Dog Facts - The World Record Breakers!

The Greyhound is the Fastest Dog on Earth and can run 45 miles per hour for short periods of time.

The Irish Wolfhounds is the largest dog.

The Great Dane is the tallest dog.

The Chihuahua is the smallest dog.

The St. Bernard is the heaviest dog.

The Worlds oldest dog was an Australian cattle-dog named Bluey who lived to the age of 29 years and 5 months!

Did you Know...

Barking Sands Beach, on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, is known for its unusual dry sand that squeaks