AKA: Chien D’ours de Tahltan, Tahltan

Description: The Tahltan Bear Dog was fox-like in appearance, with some likeness to that of the spitz and pariah breed types. This breed is already considered extinct despite claims that there are still a few remaining. What is clearly known about its appearance is that its coat is short, thick, and rough. Its most distinctive feature is its tail, which has been described as short and bushy. The Tahltan Bear Dog carried it erect, making it look like a shaving brush or whisked broom.

Dynamics: As a hunter dog, the Tahltan Bear Dog was athletic and agile. The breed was raised to help the Tahltan natives hunt bears, hence the name. The Tahltan Bear Dog had great power despite its seemingly small stature. It was also brave and courageous, which should be expected when one is facing a bear. Its hunting instincts aside, the Tahltan Bear Dog was kind and gentle to human s and smaller animals.

Breed Group: Southern

Weight: up to 15 pounds

Height: up to 15 inches

Color: The Tahltan Bear Dog’s coat is usually black with white markings. But there has been reports of other varying colors. Black with white markings is considered the standard.

Country of Origin: The Tahltan Bear Dog was raised by the Tahltan Natives. It was indigenous to Canada

Photo: Pharaoh Hound

AKA: Little River Duck Dog, Yarmouth Toller

Description: The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever is like a small Golden Retriever in form. It is well muscled and strongly boned with strong sturdy legs. Its head is clean-cut and triangular in shaped, with ears that are set high. Its coat is dense and straight, with a slight wave on its back.

Dynamics: The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever is an obedient and sensible dog. It is very devoted to its family and makes a good companion. It also gets along well with the children. It can be reserved around strangers, but with proper socialization as it grows up the Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever can become a very playful dog. Its energy can largely be seen as it works and hunts. This breed is hardworking and has a natural tolling ability. It also naturally likes retrieving games, and is very eager for play and training sessions.

Breed Group: Gun Dog

Weight: 37-51 pounds (17-23 kg)

Height: 17-21 inches (43-53 cm)

Color: The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever can come in various shades of red and orange. It can have small white markings on its feet, chest, tail tip and on the face.

Country of Origin: The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever comes from Canada, where it was developed to lure in ducks in the manner of a fox. This breed was crossed with retrievers and working spaniels, a combination which made them great in hunting and retrieving.

Activities: The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever has a lot of energy that it needs a lot of physical exercise. Daily walks and play or hunting sessions is great for this dog.

Grooming: The coat of the Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever should be brushed and combed regularly with a firm bristle brush. Dry shampoo regularly but bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. It is a healthy working breed, although its limited gene pool is expressing an increase in health dangers. The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever will do well living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised.

Photo: Malgorzata Korbel

AKA: Newf, Newfie, The Gentle Giant, Blackbear

Description: The Newfoundland is a strong and massive dog, with a broad head and a short wide muzzle. Its ears are pendant and its eyes are a dark brown, wherein the conjunctiva should not show as it does with a St. Bernard. Its nose is black but is brown for bronze-colored Newfoundlands.

The Newfoundland is hardy and big, but it is agile and has an elegant gait. It has a water-resistant long outer coat, with a thick oily undercoat. Its feet are webbed and this makes the Newfoundland a good swimmer. There are dewclaws on its hind legs that should be removed. Its tail hangs down.

Dynamics: The Newfoundland is an intelligent dog with a good temperament. It is patient and obedient, and is known to be friendly with people. It is calm and gentle, and loyal and devoted. It will act on its own if needed, and can be protective. It will place itself between an intruder and its family in order to protect its owners.

The Newfoundland gets along well with people and other dogs, given the proper socialization and upbringing. It is generally good with other pets and animals. It also gets along well with children, as it is a patient and playful breed. It loves companionship and is very sociable. The Newfoundland likes the outdoors very much. It loves to swim and play in the water. It drinks a lot and gets messy with it because it likes to get wet.

In training the Newfoundland, the owner has t o be calm and patient. Training has to be confident and consistent. This breed is very sensitive to your tone of voice and should not receive harsh treatment when it makes mistakes. Also take into account that the Newfoundland moves slow because of its huge body.

Breed Group: Mastiff, Working

Weight: males 30-150 pounds (59-68 kg), females 100-120 pounds (45-54kg)

Height: males 27-29 inches (69-74cm), females 25-27 inches (63-69cm)

Color: The color of the Newfoundland’s coat is most often black, sometimes with little white markings on the feet, end of the tail, and the chest. The coat can also be black with blue highlights, bronze, brown, gray, or even white with black markings.

Country of Origin: The Newfoundland’s origin is believed to be in Canada. There are stories that the Newfoundland came from crosses between Tibetan Mastiffs that were brought to Canada by the Europeans in the 1700s.

Activities: The Newfoundland can entertain itself around the house by just lazing around but, like all dogs, it needs to be taken outside for a walk everyday. Play sessions and exercise are good for the breed, too. It also likes to swim and frolic.

In the past, the Newfoundland helped fishermen by hauling in nets, carrying boat lines, and retrieving anything that fell overboard to the water. This breed can also help with rescuing shipwrecked and drowning people. The Newfoundland is basically an outstanding water rescue dog. On land, the Newfoundland is just as useful as it is used to haul lumber, pull mail sheds, and carry or deliver things.

Grooming: As the Newfoundland has a long coat, daily brushing with a hard brush is important. Bathe only when absolutely necessary. Dry shampoo if needed.

Other Info: The Newfoundland has a life expectancy of 9 to 15 years. Like most dogs, this dog is prone to hip dysplasia and a hereditary heart disease called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS). This breed should have its heart checked when it is 8 to 12 weeks old to find out if it has SAS or not. The Newfoundland is okay living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised. This breed is sensitive to heat and prefer cool climates.

Photo: DanDee Shots

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