AKA: Reds

Description: The Redbone Coonhound is a robust but neat-looking dog. Its appearance is handsome and clean, yet also displays strength and agility. Its coat is shiny and sleek, short and lying flat. Its head is nicely modeled, with a medium stop between the brow and the nose. Its ears are long and hanging. Its paws are compact and cat-like, and its legs are strongly toned. Its tail is held upright.

Dynamics: The Redbone Coonhound looks serious but it has a sweet temperament and a happy disposition. It is an affectionate dog and it gets along very well with children. It also has a pleasant bark, and doesn’t really alarm people to fear. This dog loves people and values companionship, and it can adapt well to family life. It is eager to please and is a loyal and obedient dog. It can also get along well with other pets provided it has been socialized at an early age.

The Redbone Coonhound was bred as a hunter. It has the instinct of one and it is not difficult to train to follow a scent and give chase to a target. It is fast, alert, and adaptable to any types of weather and difficult terrain. It is flexible and agile, able to hunt ion steep or rocky grounds. The Redbone Coonhound is one of the best in coon hunting. It is also good in trailing and treeing bear, cougar, and bobcat. The Redbone Coon hound is also an excellent water dog.

Breed Group: Hound

Weight: 50-70 pounds (23-32 kg)

Height: 21-27 inches (53-66 cm)

Color: The color of the Redbone Coonhound’s coat is red, sometimes with a little white on the feet or chest.

Country of Origin: The Redbone Coonhound originated in the United States, specifically in the American South. Breeders in Tennessee and Georgia wanted a hound with more speed and a hotter sniffer. They first developed the Saddlebacks which possessed black saddle markings. The breeders developed the Redbone Coonhound by selective breedind, wherein the solid red dogs were distinguished.

Activities: The Redbone Coonhound has a lot of stamina as befitting of a hunting dog, and so it needs a lot of physical exercise. It needs to be walked everyday. It has a tendency to run off and hunt around so make sure that the area is securely fenced.

Grooming: The coat of the Redbone Coonhound only needs an occasional brushing. Bathe only when necessary. It is a light shedder.

Other Info: The Redbone Coonhound has a life expectancy of 11 to 12 years. It is a generally healthy breed but can be affected by hip dysplasia like all dogs. This breed will do okay living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised.

Photo: Amy Lawson

AKA: North American Miniature Australian Shepherd, Mini Australian Shepherd, North American Shepherd, Toy Australian Shepherd, Mini Aussie, Tea Cup Australian Shepherd

Description: The North American Miniature Australian Shepherd has a slightly wavy coat that is moderate in length. It has feathering on the back of its legs and a mane and frill around its neck. Its skull is flat and clean cut, and its upper jaw does not hang over the lower jaw.

Dynamics: The Miniature Australian Shepherd is an affectionate and playful dog. It is great with children and is courageous and very active. It is also attentive and is easy to train. This dog has to be given attention otherwise it becomes nervous and destructive. The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a dog that always needs to be doing something. Socialization is needed so that it will not grow up suspicious of strangers. The Miniature Australian Shepherd is not usually dog aggressive and can get along with other dogs.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: 20-40 pounds (9-18 kg)

Height: 13 to 18 inches (35 to 46 cm)

Color: The coat of the Miniature Australian Shepherd comes in either blue or red merle, red or black tricolor, or all with white or tn markings. The hair around the ears and eyes should not be white.

Country of Origin: The Miniature Australian Shepherd was bred in the United States in 1968 using small Australian Shepherds.

Activities: The Miniature Australian Shepherd is an active breed and therefore needs to be regularly walked and exercised. This is a working dog and has to be always on the go.

Grooming: An occasional brush with a firm bristle brush is enough to groom the Miniature Australian Shepherd. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Miniature Australian Shepherd has a life expectancy of 12-13 years. This breed is prone to blindness and deafness as the gene for the merle combination carried this factor. This breed will be all right living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised.

Photo: Elf

Description: The Nebolish Mastiff is considered the most agile dog of the Mastiff breeds. Its body is muscular, structured with large bones. Its head is broad, its chest is wide, and its jaws form a scissors bite. Its coat is usually short or medium-length. But there are also Nebolish Mastiff dogs with long coats. Its body ends with a tail that can be docked.

Dynamics: The Nebolish Mastiff is a fearless, alert, and intelligent breed. It is known to be stubborn if it thinks that its owner cannot handle it well. Once a part of the family, however, it becomes a oyal and very protective companion. It brings about an air of dignity, and is good natured, patient, and even tempered. It can be playful with children and get along with them well. Socialization is important, of course, to void destructive behavior in the dog.

In training the Nebolish Mastiff, the owner has to achieve sort of pack leader status. He or she has to be dominant over the dog, otherwise the Nebolish Mastiff will belittle you and not follow you. It is intelligent this way. The training also has to be consistent and firm, with the line between the leader and the follower clear between the owner and the Nebolish Mastiff.

Breed Group: Mastiff, Working

Weight: 95-200 pounds (43-90 kg)

Height: 27-36 inches (79-90 cm)

Color: The coat of the Nebolish Mastiff can be either fawn or brindle, of any shade of the colors, including a rare silver. The coat can also have markings, although it is preferred that the dog not have any markings at all. The markings can be a black mask or any white markings on the body.

Country of Origin: The Nebolish Mastiff is one of the rarest breeds of the Mastiff types. The breed was developed in the Northwest and Canada, back in the late 1960s. There have been many reports on the exact breakdown of the breeding program of the Nebolish Mastiff, all still just claims and with no certainty.

Activities: The Nebolish Mastiff loves to run and swim, and so this dog should be taken out everyday for its daily delights. Walking everyday with a little play session can suffice for those owners who do not have much time on their hands. When walking out, the Nebolish Mastiff should be made to heel beside or behind the owner, as a sign that you are the leader and the dog should follow you. Otherwise, it will ignore you and take off on its own to have fun.

Grooming: Combing or brushing regularly is enough as a grooming routine for the Nebolish Mastiff. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Nebolish Mastiff has a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years. It is generally a very healthy breed, developed to be agile and free of genetic defects. This breed is not fit to live in an apartment, as it likes to explore and occasionally romp around. This breed loves warm climate, and loves the water.

Photo: Boxers of Whiteface Ranch

AKA: NAID

Description: The Native American Indian Dog, or NAID for short, can be recognized by their two distinct color combinations. Its coat can either be short, two layers thick, or long, both with dense undercoat that is resistant to wind and water. It has resemblances of a wolf, and is said to be a mix of a Husky, Malamute, Chinook, German Shepherd,and other dogs from American Indian reserves. It is also often mistaken with the other kinds of Indian dogs.

The Native American Indian Dog has ears that are set upright a broad head that is angularly shaped. The muzzle is slender, and the almond-shaped eyes are either brown or amber. Its tail can either be tightly curled like that of the Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute, but a tail held down with a slight kink or bend in the end is most often preferred by breeders.

Dynamics: The Native American Indian Dog’s eyes reflects its intelligence really well, as this breed learns well and fast and is highly trainable. It is also very versatile and hardworking, as it was originally bred to work especially in pulling sleds and hunting game. In training the Native American Indian Dog, you have to adapt a leader-of-the-pack method with you as the leader and the dog as one of the pack that has to follow you.

The Native American Indian Dog is also very loyal and dedicated to its owners. They can be reserved when it comes to strangers though, which is why socialization is important beginning at puppyhood. This is also a sensitive breed that will not do well when treated harshly. A firm “no” is most often enough. This breed is also protective of its family, and can get along well with children and other animals.

Breed Group: Native American, not yet officially recognized by major kennel clubs

Weight: 55-120 pounds (25-55 kg)

Height: 23-34 inches (58-67 cm)

Color: The coat of the Native American Indian Dog can be in color combinations that ranges from silver to black, to the sacred color of the Native Americans who would refer to the breed’s broken pattern color s the “Spirit Dog.”

Country of Origin: The specific location of origin of the Native American Indian dog has brought out many claims pertaining to its history. But the most widely accepted idea is that the Native American Indian Dogs of the past travelled with the Native Americans along the North American continent, particularly the United States and Canada.

Activities: The Native American Indian needs a daily walk and moderate exercise. It was bred as working dog in the past, made to pull travois and sleds, hunt for game and food, and becoming beasts of burden until the horses came to the continent. It is only natural that this breed has the instinctive need to always be doing something. Otherwise it might get restless and destructive.

Grooming: The coat of the Native American Indian Dog needs only to be brushed during its shedding season, although bathing the dog may be necessary once in a while. This breed sheds only once a year in the spring season.

Other Info: The Native American Indian Dog has a life expectancy of 14 to 19 years. It has no known genetic faults but this doesn’t mean it will not suffer any of the common dog health issues like hip dysplasia or hearig problems. This breed is not suitable when living in an apartment as it likes to run and play at times. It also does not like do well with a “closed crate” training method. This breed prefers the outdoors, but will always be where their owners are.

Photo: iNewsCatcher

AKA: Catahoula Leopard Dog, Catahoula Hog Dog, Catahoula Cur

Description: The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is descended from a long line of Native American dog breeds. This is a breed that is very varied in appearance, as the Catahoula Leopard Dog was bred based on its temperament and attitude rather than for its appearance. Its coat can be coarse or slick or wooly, long or short or shaggy. The color of the coat also varies. There is also no particular eye color for its eyes. It can be brown, green, gray, or amber.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog’s body is well-proportioned, with its tail long and whip-like. It reaches past the hocks of the back legs. The tail can also be in bobtail form, but this is rare. The legs are strong-boned, ending in toes with prominent webbing. This makes them excellent swimmers and the ability to work in marshy and wet areas.

Dynamics: The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is a breed with a sense of independence. It is intelligent and can thin for its own. This dog is not meant for owners who will try to limit the dog’s capabilities. This dog gives the impression that it feels like it is already an adult and should therefore not be forced.

The Catahoula Leopard Dog can be affectionate and loving. But it is also protective and territorial. It can also be dominating, which is why the owner should also show good leadership qualities for the Catahoula Leopard Dog to follow him or her. This breed is reserved and suspicious when it comes upon strangers.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: 55-80 pounds (16-37 kg)

Height: males 22 to 26 inches (56-58 cm.), females 20 to 24 inches (51-61 cm)

Color: The coat of the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is usually in a merle or black/tan pattern. Colors can vary, and combinations can be tri-color or quad-color. There are also coats that are predominantly white with patches of other colors.

Country of Origin: The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog is said to have Louisiana, U.S.A., as its point of origin. The breed was designated to be the state dog of Louisiana in 1979.

Activities: The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog was usually used for the task of driving and roundind wild pigs and hogs, and also unruly cattle. This breed has a lot of energy and likes to run around in an open area. It should be taken on daily walks and exercised. It also likes to play, running and jumping and bumping into the people it’s playing with. This breed can be physical and noisy and has to be kept in control when it is playing.

Grooming: The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog does not need intensive grooming. It only needs a good brushing once a week. The nails should be trimmed and the teeth cleaned. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog has a life expectancy of 12 to 13 years. This is a generally healthy breed, but is also prone to common diseases like hip dysplasia and deafness. This dog is not meant to live in apartments, and it is not to be tied to a dog house or ignored. This breed is an active dog and loves human companionship. And it needs to be paid attention to, or have something to do always.