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Nonsporting Dogs
Dog breeds in bold are not pictured.
American Eskimo Dog, Bichon Frise (or Teneriffe), Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, Finnish Spitz, French Bulldog, Keeshond, Lhasa Apso, Poodle, Schipperke, Shiba Inu, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier.
American Eskimo Dog, breed of domestic dog introduced to the
United States from Germany in either the late 19th century or the
early 20th century. Despite its resemblance to Inuit sled dogs, the
American Eskimo dog, nicknamed the Eskie, is a type of spitz dog, a
family of dogs that can be traced to the late Stone Age (about 6000
years ago). American Eskimo dogs are intelligent, energetic dogs that
typically have bright white coats.
The standard American Eskimo dog weighs 18 to 35 pounds and has a
shoulder height of 15 to 19 inches. Dogs belonging to a miniature
variety of this breed weigh 10 to 20 pounds and are 11 to 14 inches
tall. A toy-dog variety, which is even smaller than the miniature
variety, has been developed, but it is not recognized as a distinct
breed by the American Kennel Club.
These dogs have wedge-shaped skulls with wide muzzles; oval, dark
brown eyes; and triangular, erect ears that are rounded at the top.
Their thick double coats that are either pure white or cream colored.
The coats are thickest around the neck, where they form a manelike
ruff, which is especially obvious on males. The tail is curved and is
covered with long hair.
American Eskimo dogs have a good-natured temperament that makes them
suitable for many living situations. Because of their high energy,
however, they may become noisy or destructive if they are forced to
be inactive. They are ideal companion dogs because of their
intelligence and eagerness to please. These dogs are rarely used to
perform work.
The
nonsporting bichon frise, which means "curly
lapdog," is a descendant of the water spaniel and originating in
ancient times in the Mediterranean area, is known for its
intelligence. Its abundant white, silky hair is often groomed and
trimmed. They are a breed of nonsporting dog, descended from a water
spaniel Used as barter by sailors, they were introduced into
continental Europe in the 14th century and became favorites in Italy
and later at the French and Spanish courts. The dogs were introduced
in the United States in 1956. Small and sturdy, they range from about
9 to 12 inches high. The profuse silky coat is solid white, or white
with markings of apricot, cream, or gray. Both the dropped ears and
the curled tail are covered with long, flowing hair. The dogs are
prized for their lively intelligence and are usually groomed and
trimmed to give a "powder-puff" appearance.
The
Boston terrier is a small breed of nonsporting dog
characterized by black-and-white markings, a short nose, a broad
chest, and a short tail. Boston Terrier or Boston Bull is a breed of
nonsporting dog, originated by crossing an English bulldog with a
white English terrier. The Boston terriers, recognized by the
American Kennel Club as a distinct breed in 1893, are descended from
a dog owned about 1884 by a native of Boston. The Boston terrier is a
small dog, weighing about 15 to 25 pounds. It has a square, flat
skull; large, round, dark eyes that are alert and intelligent; a
smooth coat, usually brindle in color with white markings, or black
with white markings; a short, square muzzle; small, thin ears; a wide
chest; and a short, tapering tail. The Boston terrier is lively,
strong, intelligent and gentle-an ideal pet.
The
bulldog was originally bred for the sport of bullbaiting;
after the sport was banned, the bulldog was bred once again to lose
its viciousness. The bulldog is often considered a mascot of the
British, developed in England in the 13th century for courage and
ferocity. The bulldog has a heavy, thickset, low-slung body; a
massive head; wide shoulders; short, stout, and straight forelegs;
long hind legs; and a fine-textured coat of short, straight hair. It
is also characterized by small, thin ears, located high on the head;
a large, broad nose; and a deep, broad, and full chest. The lower jaw
projects, enabling the dog to take a grip that is difficult to break.
The tail is short, straight, or screw, but not curled, and is hung
low. The color of the dog may be red brindle, other brindles, solid
white, or piebald. Mature male dogs weigh about 50 pounds; females,
about 40 pounds.
Chinese
breeders originally cultivated the excess folds of skin on the Shar-Pei
to give the breed an advantage in dogfights. Considered a
working dog since its origin in ancient times, the Chinese Shar-Pei
retains an independent demeanor. Developed in China in ancient times
as a guard dog and fighter. The dog is bizarre in appearance, with
heavily wrinkled skin over the head and shoulders, and it has a
blue-black tongue. Solidly built, it stands only about 18 inches at
the shoulder but weighs up to 55 pounds. The bristly coat is usually
brownish. The Shar-Pei was recognized as a nonsporting breed in 1992
by the American Kennel Club.
The
chow chow, the name of which is often abbreviated to chow,
was bred from dogs of ancient Chinese origin. It has a unique
blue-black tongue. Chow Chow (also chow), breed of dog, of ancient
Chinese origin. The chow chow is a compact, powerful dog whose
characteristic appearance is one of scowling independence. Its thick,
coarse coat may be any clear color. It has a large head, carried
erect; deep-set eyes; a short muzzle accentuated by a ruff; a broad,
black nose; and, unique to the breed, a blue-black tongue. The chest
is broad and deep; the tail curls over the back; the forelegs are
straight and the hind legs heavy and muscular. When full grown, it is
about 20 inches tall and may weigh more than 50 pounds. The breed was
introduced into England in 1780 and into the United States in 1890.
It is a popular pet and watchdog.
Dalmatians
reputedly originated in Dalmatia, in what is now Croatia, and were
commonly used in Europe in the 1880s to accompany coaches and other
vehicles. Today the dog is a popular mascot of firefighters in the
United States. Pure white at birth, the dog's coat develops either
liver-colored or black spots within a few weeks. It is also known as
the "coach dog" because it was used to precede or follow
horse-drawn coaches, carriages, and similar vehicles; in the United
States it is popularly known as the "firehouse dog" because
it is often used by firefighters as a mascot. It has a white coat
with round black or brown spots. It has a flat skull, broad between
the ears; round sparkling eyes; thin, finely textured ears carried
close to the head; a deep chest; and a spotted tail that tapers
toward the end with a slight upward curve. The dog is from 19 to 23
inches high at the shoulder and weighs from 35 to 55 pounds. It is a
good watchdog, pet, and hunting dog; its exceptional memory gives it
value as a performing dog for stage and circus.
The
spitz is descended from sledge dogs of Saamiland and Iceland.
A Finnish spitz is shown here. A forebear of the Pomeranian, the
Finnish spitz has had a written breed standard in Finland since 1812.
The Finnish spitz stands about 18 inches high at the shoulders and
weighs up to 30 pounds. The head with a pointed snout and small,
upright ears is small for its body size. Its rich, fluffy coat, which
is colored chestnut red to red-gold, has a soft inner layer. The
feathery tail of the Finnish spitz curls upward or sideways.
The Finnish spitz was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1987.
French Bulldog, breed of dog developed in France, probably from a small type of English bulldog that was then crossed with other breeds. The French bulldog is small, standing only about 12 inches at the shoulder, but it is relatively heavy, weighing up to about 28 pounds. It has high, batlike ears and a naturally short tail. The skull is flat between the ears and curves directly above the eyes. The smooth coat is usually brindle, brindle and white, fawn, or white in color. The heavy-jawed face is blunt and wrinkled, creating a comical more than a pugnacious appearance. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1947.
Because
of its fine sense of hearing and its intelligence, the Lhasa Apso,
which originated in Tibet more than 800 years ago, is an excellent
guard dog and pet. The dog, whose Tibetan name abso seng kye means
"bark lion sentinel dog," was used as a guard dog inside
the lamaseries and dwellings of Lhasa. Its keen sense of hearing and
intelligence uniquely qualified it for this role. Hardy, vigorous,
and easily trained, it makes an ideal pet as well as a watchdog and
has recently become extremely popular in the United States. Like all
Tibetan breeds, the Lhasa has a tail upcurled over the back and a
heavy protective outercoat. Its long hair is straight and very dense.
The pendant ears, legs, and tail are heavily feathered. The dark
brown eyes are hidden under the heavy fall of hair over the face. A
lionlike tawny shade is the preferred color, but several variations
occur. The Lhasa ranges between 10 and 11 inches in height and weighs
about 13 to 15 pounds, but is not classified as a toy dog.
The Keeshond is a breed of nonsporting dog, long popular in Holland, where it was a riverboat pet and watchdog. The breed is named for a dog that in the 18th century became the symbol of the party of the middle classes in opposition to the prince of Orange. Probably of Arctic origin, the keeshond is related to the Chow Chow, Norwegian Elkhound, Pomeranian, and Samoyed. With changing political conditions and the advent of larger barges with room for larger dogs, the breed declined in popularity, but was revived in 1920. Alert and intelligent, the dog is a perfect companion. Distinctive features are the marking ("spectacles") around the eyes and the luxurious gray and black coat that forms a lionlike mane around neck, shoulders, and chest. The hind legs and tail are also profusely covered with hair. The ideal height is 18 inches for males and 17 inches for females.
A
poodle submits to having its fur trimmed. The clipping of
poodles originated as a method of reducing drag while the dog was
swimming.Believed to have originated in Germany as a water retriever,
it appeared in various parts of the world long ago; bas-reliefs
dating from the 1st century in southern Europe represent such an
animal. Although the poodle has been particularly popular in France
since the beginning of the 19th century, its intelligence and
adaptability have made it a universal favorite.
Three varieties of the breed exist: the standard, which is 15 inches
or more in height at the shoulder and weighs 20 pounds or more; the
miniature, from 10 to 15 inches high at the shoulder and weighing
from 12 to 20 pounds; and the toy, which is 10 inches or less at the
shoulder and weighs under 12 pounds. The standard variety is used in
the country as a water retriever, watchdog, and pet; the miniature
and toy varieties are used as pets chiefly in urban surroundings. All
three types have a moderately peaked skull; a long, straight muzzle;
dark, oval-shaped eyes; ears that are set low and hang close to the
head; a strong neck; a deep chest; straight forelegs and muscular
hind legs; and a tail that is carried high. The dog has a woolly
undercoat and a topcoat that consists either of wiry, curled hair, or
long, silky hair hanging in cords. The dog may be of any solid color.
The coat of the poodle is generally clipped in one of two principal
styles, the Continental or the English saddle. The custom of clipping
apparently originated as a means of facilitating swimming. In the
Continental style, the hindquarters of the dog are shaved down to the
skin, with rosettes of hair usually left on the hips and hocks. In
the English saddle style, the hindquarters are clipped to leave a
blanket of short hair. In both styles each leg is clipped, leaving
only a bracelet of hair near the foot; the face and tail are also
clipped, except for a pom-pom of hair at the end.
The
schipperke (Flemish for little captain) received its name in
1888 from the owner of a line of Belgian canal boats who used them as
watchdogs on his vessels. Bred several centuries ago in the Flemish
provinces of the Netherlands (now comprising Belgium) from a black
sheep dog known as the Leauvenaar, the schipperke was known as the
spits or spitske until 1888, when it was given its present name in
honor of the proprietor of a Belgian canal boat line who was
instrumental in promoting interest in the breed; he used the dogs as
watchdogs on his boats. The dog was imported into the U.S. about the
same time and since about 1929 has become fairly popular. It
functions chiefly as a watchdog and pet; sometimes it is employed in
hunting small game such as moles and rabbits. The schipperke weighs
up to 18 pounds. It has a foxlike head; a small black nose, somewhat
oval-shaped eyes, dark brown in color and unusually intelligent and
alert in expression; triangular ears; a short, thick-set body;
straight forelegs; and muscular hindquarters. The solid black coat is
abundant and somewhat rough and forms a heavy ruff about the neck.
A
short, compact non-sporting dog from Japan, the Shiba Inu is
quick, agile, and an excellent hunter. The Shiba Inu, which developed
some 3000 years ago and was used by ancient Japanese hunters to find
small game, is both independent and industrious. The Shiba Inu
originated on the main island of Japan and in the mountains of
Skikoku Island. Bones of the Shiba Inu dating between 2000 BC and 400
BC have been found in southern Japan.
Despite a 1937 Japanese law designed to protect the Shiba Inu from
extinction, the breed nearly disappeared during World War II
(1939-1945). Only three blood lines remained after the war, and all
modern Shiba Inu are descended from them. A returning American
military family introduced this dog to the United States in 1954.
The Shiba Inu has a compact body. It stands about 13.5 to 16.5 inches
high at the shoulders, and weighs about 17 to 20 pounds. The front
legs are strong and straight, and the back legs are powerful. The
well-developed shoulders are sloping, the back is straight, and the
sides are long and muscular. The chest is deep with well-rounded
ribs, and the medium-length neck is thick. The forehead is broad, and
a full, pointed muzzle tapers to a black nose. Small, dark-brown eyes
are deep-set, almond in shape, and angle upward slightly. Small
triangular-shaped ears are erect and tilt slightly forward. The
thick, high-set tail curves up and over the back.
The coat of the Shiba Inu is a soft, dense fur covered by strong,
straight hair. Longer fur grows around the neck and on the tail and
buttocks. This dog usually is colored red, but can be red sesame (red
with a black overlay), white, or black and tan. White markings on the
muzzle distinguish this breed.
The Shiba Inu is quick, agile, a high jumper, and an excellent
hunter. Ancient Japanese hunters used it to find small game. This
active dog requires daily exercise.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized this breed in 1993. Its
national breed club is the National Shiba Inu Club of America.
Tibetan Spaniel is a breed of small, non-sporting dog from the
Himalayan mountains of Tibet. The Tibetan spaniel is depicted in
Shang Dynasty bronzes dating to 1100 BC, and was used as a prayer dog
by Buddhist monks a thousand years ago. It was introduced in the
United States in the 1960s.
The Tibetan spaniel stands about 10 inches high at the shoulders, and
weighs about 9 to 15 pounds. The front legs are slightly bowed, and
the neck is short and muscular. The head is small, with a blunt
muzzle. Expressive, dark-brown eyes are medium-sized and oval shaped.
High-set ears are medium in size and hang from the top of the head.
The high-set, plumelike tail curls over the dog's back.
The Tibetan spaniel may be any color or color combination. The silky
coat is smooth on the face and the front of the legs, with
featherlike fur on the ears, back of the front legs, and between the
toes. A thick mane covers the neck.
This dog moves with a straight, easy stride, has excellent eyesight,
and makes an ideal watchdog. It requires daily exercise and frequent
grooming. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized this breed in
1984. Its national breed club is the Tibetan Spaniel Club of America.
A
terrier in size and name only, the Tibetan terrier is fast
and agile, with great endurance acquired in its native mountainous
terrain. Many Tibetans believe it brings good luck. The Tibetan
terrier has been raised as a pet by Lamas-Buddhist monks in Tibet for
more than 2000 years. Also known as Dhoki Apso and related to the
Lhasa Apso, it is a terrier in size and name only. Many Tibetans
believe this dog brings good luck and give it as a gift to those they
consider deserving. The Tibetan Terrier was introduced in England in
the 1930s, and in the United States in the 1950s.
The Tibetan terrier has a powerful, square-shaped body. It stands
about 14 to 16 inches high at the shoulders, and weighs about 15 to
31 pounds. Its large feet-a distinctive trait of this breed-are flat
and round, and act like snowshoes to provide traction on treacherous
surfaces. The legs are long and straight, and laid-back shoulders are
sloping and muscular. The medium-sized head has curved cheekbones.
Large, wide-set eyes are dark brown, and the nose is always black.
Ears hang slightly away from the side of the head. The medium-length
tail curves forward over the back.
The Tibetan terrier's face and body are covered with long, fine hair,
giving it an appearance similar to that of an old English sheepdog.
The hair can be wavy or straight, and any color or color combination.
Centuries of living in the extreme climate and terrain of Tibet made
the Tibetan terrier so hardy that travelers to an inaccessible
region-called "the Lost Valley of the Tibetan Terrier"-once
were given this dog for a guide. The breed also is used as a
watchdog. A Tibetan terrier is fast and agile, yet has endurance. It
requires regular grooming and exercise.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed in 1973. Its
national breed club is the Tibetan Terrier Club of America.
"American Kennel Club (AKC) Recognized Dog Breeds," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 99. © 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
