Although your retriever may be best at fetching a stick, Golden Retrievers are powerful dogs that were bred to hunt. They are especially useful for hunting waterfowl, as their thick coat is water resistant and enables swimming in cold temperatures. They were bred specifically to love water, and to have soft mouths that could retrieve fallen fowl without further damage. Golden Retrievers commonly weigh between 65 and 75 pounds, and reach a height (measured at the shoulder) of 23-24 inches. Females are somewhat smaller than the males. Retrievers are generally healthy dogs, although they are susceptible to obesity if their diet is not watched or exercise is not sufficient, and to a few other breed-specific ailments. We can't ignore the career dogs in any list of Golden Retriever facts! Many Seeing Eye dogs are Golden Retrievers, because of these dogs' excellent intelligence and adaptability. Because of their great noses, they are also popular choices to help law enforcement sniff out illicit drugs. They make good search and rescue dogs, as well - and, of course, their happy natures and eagerness to please make them excellent family pets. Excellent surrogate mothers, Golden Retrievers have been known to take care of kittens and even a tiger cub or two! These dogs are sometimes able to produce milk for their foster offspring even if they did not give birth recently themselves. Any lustrous shade of gold will do, for a Golden Retriever's coat. Feathering may be of a lighter shade. The breed was originally developed in Scotland (by a guy later called "Baron Tweedmouth" - imagine!). There are now English, Canadian, and American varieties, with each type possessing slightly different characteristics. Check with the American Kennel Club for more breed-specific Golden Retriever facts. Golden Retrievers continually excel in agility and obedience trials at dog shows. They have been known to learn as many as 240 words and commands - ask your dog how many he knows!

Dalmatian

Dalmatians are not only adorable and friendly, but very interesting as well. They are often good swimmers and they love to play in water. This breed gets its name from the Croatian province of Dalmatia where many believe the Dalmatian got its start, although there has been no concrete evidence that this is true. Most Dalmatian puppies are born with all white coats which do not begin to show spots until they pups are about two weeks old. Dalmatians are often recommended to people who are allergic to dogs because their fur doesn't trigger symptoms the way most coated breeds do. Dalmatians are excellent hunters of rats and other pests and were used specifically for this purpose in stables and firehouses in London. The Dalmatian made its first appearance in a dog show in Great Britain in 1860 but didn't appear in American shows until the 1920's. Engravings portraying what appears to be Dalmatians alongside chariots have been discovered in Egyptian tombs. Dalmatians are also known as Firehouse dogs, Carriage dogs, or Spotted Coach dogs. This breed was mentioned in letters by a poet named Jurij Dalmatin which was written in the mid 1500's. Dalmatians enjoyed a huge boost in popularity after the book "101 Dalmatians" was published in 1956. Brad Nowell, the lead singer of the rock band Sublime, had a Dalmatian named "Lou Dog" who accompanied him on stage often and was mentioned in the lyrics of several songs. Dalmatians are known to choose one family member as their own while virtually ignoring everyone else in the household. The Dalmatians historical function was to travel with carriages. They rode under the axle or between the lead horses and chased stray animals away from the road so that the carriage would have a clear path to travel. Dalmatians often curl their lips in a way that resembles a human smile. Some owners insist that their dogs do this when they think they may be in trouble! Dalmatians are the only animals that can develop gout, a disease commonly found in humans which causes swelling in the joints. Some people believe that meeting a Dalmatian unexpectedly will result in good luck for the rest of the day. Healthy Dalmatians can run for hours without getting tired. George Washington is believed to have owned a Dalmatian. Dalmatians typically hate being left alone and are much happier when hanging out with the family.

Pug

The pugs were bred during the Shang Dynasty. The pug didn’t arrive to Europe until the late 16th and 17th centuries by the Dutch East Indies Trading Company. Pugs are currently the 14th most popular dog breed in America according to the American Kennel Association. Pugs traveled with William III and Mary II when they ascended to the throne of England in 1688. Marie Antoinette owned a pug named Mops. Josephine owned a pug named Fortune while married to Napoleon. The pug was recognized as a breed in 1885 by the American Kennel Club. Only one pug has ever own the Westminster Kennel Club show, and that was in 1981 by Dhandys Favorite Woodchuck. Pugs have appeared in many movies, like Men in Black, The Adventures of Milo and Otis, and Disney's Pocahontas. The pug is classified as a toy breed dog and weighs 14 to 18 pounds. The name Pug derives from the Latin word "Pugnus" meaning "A Fist". This is because the profile of the dog's head seemed to resemble a clinched fist. The Pug is thought to be one of the oldest breed of dog on earth, originating from the Orient. The breed found its way to Holland (The Netherlands) in the 15th century, but it was not until the 19th century that the Pug became established in the western world. The pug started gaining attention in the United States after the Civil War and was first officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885. From that time pugs have continued to grow in popularity here. In fact for the last several decades, the pug has been consistently listed in the top 20 dog breeds as determined by the American Kennel Club.

Wiener Dog aka Dachshund

The name Dachshund is German and literally means “badger dog,” from dachs “badger and hund “dog.” The breed was developed to scent, chase, and hunt badgers and other hole-dwelling animals. Dachshunds have many nicknames in the US.  Some of these nicknames are: hot dog, wiener dog, sausage dog, and doxie. The three sizes that the Dachshund comes in are small, kaninchen, and miniature. The Dachshund has three types of coats and they are smooth, long, and wire. H. L. Mencken said that "A dachshund is a half-dog high and a dog-and-a-half long." Dachshunds can be extremely loyal and loving, as well as extremely loud. According to the American Kennel Club’s breed standards, "the dachshund is clever, lively and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below ground work, with all the senses well-developed. Dachshunds are notoriously hard to house train. Dachshunds are loved by everyone. Well, who wouldn't love these short-legged and elongated dog breed? They are so cute and everybody just loves to have them as pets. But before actually deciding to bring home your new Dachshund, you must carefully understand its characteristics and needs to evaluate if this breed is the right one for you. A full-grown dachshund weighs 16 to 28 pounds; a miniature usually weighs less than 11 pounds while the kaninchen weighs 7 to 9 pounds. Because they are low to the ground, they are capable of entering through tunnels. Temperament – This dog breed is not suited to impatient people because they are known as strong headed dogs. They have loud bark, dislikes unfamiliar people and will usually growl or bark to show their dislike. They enjoy digging holes and chasing other animals such as birds, squirrels and lizards. Friends for keeps – Despite being strong headed, these dogs are very much devoted and loyal to their owners. They make not only good watchdogs but also excellent companions. Actually, they do not enjoy being alone and will whine until company arrives. Health Facts – Because of their long spinal column and short rib cage, they are prone to spinal problems especially intervertebral disk disease or IVDD. This disease may result to partial or full paralysis. Obese Dachshunds are more susceptible to this disease. To prevent injury, vets recommend stopping them from jumping and other activities that could add stress on their backs. They should also get regular exercise to prevent obesity and lessen the risk of IVDD. Other health problems include eye abnormalities, urinary tract stones and mammary gland cancers. Grooming Dachshunds come in three coat varieties, the smooth coated, long coat and wire-haired. However, this breed is low maintenance and only needs brushing to prevent tangles and mats from forming. Their ears must be kept dry at all times to prevent fungus, bacteria and mites.

The Pomeranian

The Pomeranian originated from Pomerania, Germany. The Pomeranian breed was created with selective breeding. Originating from the spitz group of dogs that were used as sled dogs in Iceland. Pomeranians were bred to be smaller and have beautiful coats. Pomeranians come in many different colors. They can be black, white, brown, red, orange, blue and parti-colored. The parti-colored has a calico type of pattern. I would prefer to have a parti-color Pomeranian or a white one. The white one is the kind that my mom wants. Pomeranians make excellent guard dogs. They are very alert and will warn you if anyone is outside. A Pomeranian survived the sinking of the Titanic. This dog belonged to Miss Margaret Hays (in lifeboat 7). Miss Hays survived as well. Theodore Roosevelt owned a Pomeranian. He called him “Gem.” The Pomeranian was recognized as the official dog breed of 1990. Pomeranians were recognized in 1900 and had their first dog show in the United States in 1911. Pomeranians have a double coat. They have an undercoat that is very dense and the outer coat is long and straight. The best brush to use on them is a wire slick brush to get the undercoat as well. The Pomeranian are highly intelligent and extroverted. They crave a lot of attention and constant love from the owner. They seem to be one-owner dogs and are very loyal. Not recommended for young children because they are too small and may be hurt by the child. Pomeranians have been in numerous movies. Including: To Die For with Nicole Kidman, Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carey, Harlem Nights with Robin givens, X-files with Scully and Cadillac Man with Fran Drescher. Pomeranians have a hereditary defect is a luxating patella. This is when the kneecap will jump out of its groove sideways. This can cause arthritis and lameness. Quality Pomeranian breeders are aware of this defect and would never breed a Pomeranian with a luxating patella. That is why it is important to avoid purchasing your Pomeranian from a puppy mill or pet store whose main concern is profit. This problem can only be resolved by surgery. The current price for this procedure is $1000 per kneecap. They are the smallest dog that I can think of and they can fit into your hand.

siberian husky

The Siberian husky is the most loving, gentle, and kind hearted dog that I have ever met. The Siberian husky is not recommended for people that live in apartments. They are also difficult to house train. In my opinion they have dominate eyes that any other dog can have, it truly stands out more than I have seen in any other dog. My mom has always wanted to get a Siberian husky. When I went to PAWS to see what kind of dog that I wanted to get the Siberian husky was the first dog that came up to me and was nice to me. When it walked up to me it started to lick me on the arm and I was a little suspicious because I had never had a dog do that to me before. After I got over the initial shock of the dog just walking up to me I wanted to get that dog and so did my mom but my dad wanted to get a black lab. The dog has a keen sense of smell and they can sense when the owner is not feeling well. The common colors of the Siberian husky are black and white, red and white, brown, gray and white, sliver, wolf-gray, sable and white, red-orange with black tips, dark gray and white and the most rare is pie-bald. They are the best dogs in the whole world because they can be your best friend and are consistent pack leader. They like to play a lot.

Cocker Spaniel

The cocker spaniel can be a Springer spaniel, Brittany spaniel, and English cocker spaniel.  The

Cocker Spaniel is a medium sized sturdy dog. The head is rounded with a pronounced stop. The

muzzle is broad and deep with square even jaws. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The eyeballs

are dark, very round with slight almond shaped eye rims. Merle Cocker Spaniels can have blue

eyes. The long, low-set ears are well feathered. The top line slopes slightly from the front of the

dog to the back and the legs are straight. The tail is docked. Bold and keen to work, the

American Cocker Spaniel is equally suited to life as a gundog or as a household pet. Cheerful,

gentle and sweet. This breed is of average intelligence, and is respectful of its master's authority.

Amusing, trustworthy and charming with an ever-wagging tail. They are active, playful and

devoted, but should be socialized well when they are young to avoid a tendency for shyness. The

cocker spaniel is very hard to housebreak. The height of the male cocker spaniel is 15.5 inches

and the female is 14.5 inches. The weight of both the male and female cocker spaniel is 15-30

lbs. From the experience with my friends dogs they can be very hyper and they like to urinate in

the house if not taught right. They can live up anywhere from 12-15 years. My friends that have

a cocker spaniel had 5 puppies, which is the average for a cocker spaniel litter. If you want to

train your dog you might want to get the dog when it is a puppy because if it isn’t young it will

be very hard to train.