The Estrela Mountain Dog has been a working flock guard in the Serra Da Estrela Mountains of Portugal for many centuries. This is a primitive breed with all the pros and cons that come with it. This is a Molosser breed but is not a massive breed. History of Estrela Mountain Dog:   For centuries the shepherds have taken the flocks onto the plateaus for the summer, being away from home for many months with only their dogs for company and from this comes the wonderful relationship that is possible to achieve with the breed. The shepherd would return to his village from time to time to collect supplies and the dog would be left to guard the flock which developed the highly intelligent dog we have today. During the winter months whilst the flocks came back to the farm he would spend time with the children and family and so his adoration of children has become legendary.

The Japanese Shiba Inu is a very primitive breed. Shiba-like remains have been found dating back to the Jomon Period 6000 years ago. History of Japanese Shiba Inu They are the smallest of the six native Japanese breeds and are classed as a National Treasure. The largest is the Akita and the medium breeds are the Kishu, Shikoku, Kai & Hokkaido. Today’s’ Japanese Shiba Inu has been bred by a careful mixing of many strains of small Japanese dogs. All Shibas originate from the mountainous regions of Japan and are used mainly for hunting birds and small game but can be sent in as a pack after bear and boar. Three ancient breeds were combined to make the Japanese Shiba Inu. The San’in Shiba that was prevalent in the Shimane and Tottori prefectures, the Mino Shiba from the Gifu prefecture and the Shinshu Shiba from the Nagano prefecture. The combination of size and color from these dogs resulted in our present-day Shiba that measures 15 ½” dogs and 14 ½” bitches with a ¾” allowance either way.

Chow Chow Dog, Every breed can have health problems and this one is no exception. If not kept nicely groomed they can develop skin problems, and some will persistently chew themselves, sometimes out of sheer boredom. Hip dysplasia is known in the breed but is not common. The type varies in the breed and sometimes the heavier more wrinkled examples can have an eye condition called entropion which is where the eyelids can turn in against the eyes and cause severe irritation. This condition does need surgery to rectify the problem, once dealt with the chow chow dog should be fine. Like many heavily built breeds they can damage their cruciate ligaments, just like a footballer can damage cartilage, so being careful to prevent wild exercise is a good precaution. History of Chow Chow dog The Chow Chow Dog has its origins in China, their existence having been known for thousands of years. Truly a universal dog of the people in that country,

All Facts About Bouvier Des Flandres   The Bouvier Des Flandres was historically developed by the farmers of the Flandres region of France/Belgium as a general-purpose farm worker. The Bouviers tasks involved herding, guarding, churning and draught work. There are many debates as to the genetic heritage of the Bouvier, but it was primarily the result of selective breeding for necessity and usefulness, rather than beauty or fashion. The breed numbers were decimated during the 1st and 2nd World Wars where many Bouviers lost their lives working as stretcher-bearers and messengers on the battlefields. With the modernization of farming methods, the Bouvier Des Flandres became       redundant as a farmworker and so its skills of scent tracking, initiative, intelligence, and guardianship were utilized by the forces and police. The customary present-day role of the Bouvier Des Flandres is as a most loyal and devoted family companion.   Characteristics Of Bouvier Des Flandres   The Bouvier is large and somewhat forbidding in appearance,