AKA: (pl. Pulik) Puli, Hungarian Water Dog

Description: The Hungarian Puli is an memdium-sized sheepdog with a unique and distinctive corded coat. This heavily corded coat can reach up to the ground, making the dog look like a fluffy mop. The Hungarian Puli’s body is squarely proportional and muscular. The head is egg-shaped and the tail is curled tightly over the back. The almond-shaped eyes are dark brown and the ears are left hanging.

Dynamics: The Hungarian Puli is lively and cheerful. It is loyal to its family and is an excellent family companion. It is an intelligent breed that can adapt to most surroundings and conditions. It is not an aggressive kind, but is wary of strangers and annoyed by children that tease and are rough on them.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: males 25-35 pounds (11-16 kg), females 20-30 pounds (9-14 kg)

Height: males 16 to 17½ inches (41-46 cm), females 14½ to 16 inches (36-41 cm)

Color: The most common colors for the Hungarian Puli are black, any shade of gray, and apricot. White is rare in this breed.

Country of Origin: The Hungarian Puli came to Hungary with the Magyar tribe thousands of years ago and is one of the ancient breeds known to have settled in the country.

Activities: The Hungarian Puli has a lot of energy and should be given freedom to run around and play. It is also fond of water and swimming can be an exercise for them. The Hungarian Puli is used as a herder and flock guardian, and also as a family companion dog.

Grooming: The Mats formed when the coat starts to “cord” around should be separated manually and regularly. Clumps should be torn for the tip to the skin. Bathing the Hugarian Puli is easy but drying it takes some time. Without a dryer, it will take two days for the coat to dry. The eyes and ears should be cleaned and the nails trimmed.

Other Info: The Hungarian Puli has a life expectancy of 12 years or more. There no major health problems known within this breed, but it is still prone to hip dysplasia and eye and ear infections. The Hungarian Puli can adapt to any environment. It can live in the city, country, farm, etc. It is okay with any climate.

Photo by Sannse

Description: The Hovawart is a large and massive-looking dog that has the physical features of the Golden Retriever. Its body is slightly longer than it is tall, and is covered with thick and slightly long hair. There is feathering on its chest, legs, undersides, and tail. The Hovawart carries its tail low and hanging past the hocks.

The Hovawart has a powerful head and a rounded forehead. The eyes are dark and almond-shaped. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The color of the eyes, nose and nails go along with the color of the coat.

Dynamics: The Hovawart is generally calm and has a gentle temper. But it can also be energetic and very active, especially when outdoors. It is obedient and affectionate companion, and is loyal to its family. This breed is excellent with children and other household pets, although it might show aggressiveness to other dogs of the same sex.

The Hovawart is an intelligent and cautious breed. It is reserved with strangers, but is friendly with those that tits owner knows. It is brave and protective, making a good watchdog. It is quick to learn as long as the training is firm and consistent. Socialization should start from puppyhood.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: 55-90 pounds (25-51 kg.)

Height: 23-28 inches (58-70 cm.)

Color: The dense coat of the Hovawart comes in blonde, black, or black and tan.

Country of Origin: The Hovawart originates in Germany, becoming nearly extinct in the 1200s but was revived in the 1920s by Kurt Konig.

Activities: The Hovawart has great energy and adaptability. It requires lots of exercises and play sessions to keep fit. This breed is suited for tracking, search and rescue, watchdogging, schutzhund, and defense situations.

Grooming: The Hovawart’s coat needs occasional brushing and combing to remove dead hair and avoid tangles in the hair.

Other Info: The Hovawart has a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years. It is a generally healthy breed. Underactive thyroid is common, though. The breed is also prone to common health issues like hip dysplasia. The Hovawart is not for the city or apartment life. It prefers a home where there is an open space. It prefers cool climates and can be an outstanding watchdog.

Photo by Ursula Schneider

AKA: Scotch Collie, Old Farm Collie

Description: The Farm Collie is more popularly known as the Scotch Collie, and there are two varieties of the breed: the Rough Collie and the Smooth Collie. In general, about the only difference between the two is the coat the breed has. The Smooth Collie has shorter hair than that of the Rough Collie. The Rough Collie has a very long coat that there is a ruff around its neck, feathery hair on the legs, a petticoat on its abdomen, and frills on its hindquarters.

The Farm Collie has a long triangular head, with only a slight stop and the jaws forming a scissors bite. The head is a distinctive feature of the Farm Collie, as it is more pointed than usual. The ears are set high on its head in a triangular shape. The ears are generally bent, with the tips sloping forward. The nose is black and the eyes are almond-shaped.

The body is longer than the dog is tall, with a straight back and deep chest. The tail is carried down when relaxed, and carried high in a curve when the dog is alert or excited.

Dynamics: The personality of the Farm Collie will be influenced by how it is raised. But generally, the Farm Collie has a friendly and calm personality. It gets along with children well, and can be trusted with other household pets and other dogs. It is smart and intelligent and is very easy to train. Training should be firm and gentle. The Farm Collie is also loyal and protective. It is usually calm and mild but can be alert and vocal, which makes it a good watchdog. The Farm Collie requires human company, else they will become bored and become boisterous.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: males 45-70 pounds (21-32 kg) females 40-60 pounds (18-27 kg)

Height: males 21-24 inches (53-61 cm) females 19-22 inches (48-56 cm)

Color: Both varieties of the Farm Collie has four distinct colors (or combinations): sable (ranging from light-blonde to reddish brown, with any hue in between), tricolor (mostly black and whit with tan markings), blue merle tricolor (gray-blue and white with tan markings), and white (with a little head coloration of any of the other three color combinations mentioned).

Country of Origin: The Farm Collie, as its alternative name Scotch Collie depicts, originally came from Scotland Northern England. The original form of the Farm Collie was heavier and less fine-boned than today’s Rough and Smooth Collies.

Activities: The Farm Collie is an active and energetic breed, and it requires a relative amount of exercise. As a herding breed, it needs to have a job to do or some action. It also likes play sessions, but will usually content itself to watching over its family and the property. The Farm Collie can be used as a watchdog, for assistance and therapy, guide, dogs, herding, and as a companion dog.

Grooming: The Farm Collie needs to be thoroughly combed and brushed regularly. Shedding is mostly moderate, but is heavy during the shedding season.

Other Info: The Farm Collie has a life expectancy of 12 to 16 years. It is a generally healthy breed and it suffers from very little medical problems. This breed can live in an apartment as long as it is given enough exercises. The Farm Collie prefers to be on farms and have lots of space to run around.

AKA: Hollandse Herdershond, Hollandse Herder, Dutch Shepherd, Holland Shepherd

Description: There are three varieties of the Dutch Shepherd: the long-haired, the short-haired, and the wire-haired. The short-haired variety, with a fine and dense coat, is very common, the wire-haired one, with medium length hair that is wiry, less so. The long-haired variety, with long straight and harsh hair, is very rare.

The body of the Dutch Shepherd Dog is muscular and symmetrical. It has dark slanting eyes and ears that stand erect on its head. It has a long muzzle and the strong teeth forms a scissors bite. The tail is slightly curved. The feet are small, and there are no dewclaws.

Dynamics: The Dutch Shepherd Dog is an affectionate dog with a sweet and playful disposition. It is very friendly, loving, and highly energetic. It is a very happy dog, and very intelligent. It gets along well with children and with other dogs and animals. It is reserved and suspicious of strangers. It is easy to train and very eager to learn, which makes it an active and enthusiastic worker.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: 65-67 pounds (29.5-30.5 kg.)

Height: 22-25 inches (55-63cm.)

Color: The coat color or the Dutch Shepherd Dog can come in various shades of brindle, including gray, yellow, silver, red or gold brindle, and blue.

Country of Origin: The Dutch Shepherd Dog comes from the Netherlands, and is not really popular outside the country as compared to the related Belgian shepherds’ popularity in the US and northern Europe.

Activities: The Dutch Shepherd Dog is a highly energetic dog and likes a lot of action. This breed has to be kept physically and mentally exercised. They need to be taken outdoors for a walk or a run from time to time. The Dutch Shepherd Dog is popular for being a herder and for its quick reflexes. It has been used for agility, catch, obedience competitions, guard work, and field training companionship. The Dutch Shepherd Dog is also valued as a farm guard, cart-puller, watchdog, and police and security dog.

Grooming: The long-haired and short-haired variety need regular combing and brushing. The wire-haired variety should never be brushed and can only be combed from time to time. It needs professional plucking twice a year to remove dead and loose hairs. The excess hair on the ears should be removed. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Dutch Shepherd dog has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. This breed will be fine living in the city and in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised and taken outdoors often. This is a generally healthy breed and its all-weather coat helps it to overcome cold climate.

AKA: Ciobanesc Romanesc de Bucovina, Ciobanesc de Bucovina, Romanian Bukovina Sheepdog, Bukovina Wolfdog, Bukovinac, Bukovina Sheepdog

Description: The Bucovina Sheepdog is a strong and rustic dog, with a massive head and wide skull. It has a well developed muzzle, with a black nose. It has thick lips and jaws that form a scissors bite. Its eyes are chestnut colored or lighter, almond-shaped, small and slanting. The ears are set high, hanging very close to the cheeks.

The body of the Bucovina Sheepdog is muscular, with a bulky neck and wide chest. The tail is bushy, held low when the dog is relaxed but held high when the dog is alert. The hair is short on the head and front of the legs, but it abundant on the rest of the body.

Dynamics: The Bucovina Sheepdog is a well-balanced and gentle dog. It is calm, devoted, and is excellent with children. It loves to play and will do its best with a lot of space. It makes an excellent watch dog because it does not trust strangers and can be very combative when necessary. This breed also has a very powerful and loud bark.

Breed Group: Flock Guardian

Weight: in accordance with size

Height: males 27-30 inches (68-78 cm), females 25-28 inches (64-72 cm)

Color: The Bucovina Sheepdog usually has a white coat with sand-charcoal, black, or brindled patches. Black or other color drops on the legs is fine. There are also dogs that have solid or uniform colors, mostly pure white or black.

Country of Origin: The Bucovina Sheepdog was bred in the Carpathic region of Bucovina (hence the name), North-East of Romania.

Activities: The Bucovina Sheepdog is calm, yet it has bountiful energy and loves to play a lot. It should be exercised often, taken outdoors because it likes to hav e a lot of space to move around. It was bred to be herd guardians, keeping watch over sheep and cattle against thieves or preying animals. Today, it is being used as a guard go and family companion.