Though there may be other references like the European golden retriever, the English golden retriever is really the pure breed in most cases. In fact the American golden retriever has minimal subtle differences from the English type which I like to call the ‘original’ golden retriever.

The golden retriever as a breed was first developed not in England, but Scotland around mid 1800s. You may perhaps be wondering why it was not named after its country of origin, so do I. Lord Tweedmouth is credited for developing this breed primarily for hunting, reportedly from a cross of the water spaniel and the bloodhound.

It was used for retrieving the birds that were shot during the then increasingly popular duck hunting spot in both the fur and feather and water retrievals. This was because of their characteristics like being good swimmers, their waterproof coats, and very high intelligence levels.

Though it was developed to fill a need, it is one of the most popular pets in the world over two centuries later. It is now available across the globe as a pure breed or as a cross.

The English golden retriever is slightly heavier and shorter, has a blockier forehead, a slightly wider muzzle than the American type. It has a deeper chest, a shorter tail, and a less hairy and firmer coat which is predominantly light cream or any of the lighter shades of gold color.

This further became a key characteristic which enabled the golden retrievers to traverse the rugged and wet terrains to retrieve the birds. It is now a stunning spectacle of the golden retriever that every owner loves to brush and rub.

Perhaps its most endearing qualities include its warm temperament and versatile nature that have made it quite popular as a family pet and even assistance for the handicapped. Its relatively high intelligence has made it a top choice for a rescue dog, drug sniffing dog, tracking and hunting companion and of course an excellent show dog.

It has a knack for banging the obedience and conformance awards in several competitions. One of the kennel associations beautifully and accurately describes the English golden retriever in the ‘general appearance’ category in this manner;

“A symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy or long in the leg, displaying a kindly expression and displaying a personality that is eager, alert and self-confident…”

I recently saw a UK kennel club cum British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee report about the health of the English golden retrievers. I thought it was quite impressive that just shy of 20% of the golden retrievers had run out the clock or died of age related complications. Cancer took up the largest chunk of deaths, about 39% of all the deaths.

So it really is correct to say that every other golden retriever breeds are really a variation of the English golden retriever.

The Briard has been known since the 12th century and comes from the Brie area of France, where the dog is also known as the “Berger de Brie” or “Chien de Brie.”  He was first used to guard herds against wolves and poachers.  This breed was bred with good size and a protective weather-proof coat.

Description:
The Briard stands 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 55 and 90 pounds.  He has a large, strong, lanky body and a shedding coat that is long and straight or slightly wavy, with a finer undercoat.  The head is well coated, with a beard, long, arched, expressive eyebrows, and cropped or uncropped ears.  The eyes are almost covered with hair.  This breed requires  daily brushing and combing to prevent mats.  A shorter clip will reduce the maintenance requirements.  The color may be black, gray, or tawny or a combination of two of these colors.

About The Briard

The Briard is a great family pet, a farm worker, a good guard dog, and a successful show dog.  He is loyal, easy to train, and has a gentle nature.  This active, lively, independent breed is affectionate with his family and reserved with strangers.  Alert and territorial, he may be initially resistant to training.  A firm, consistent technique combined with early socialization will be needed to reduce pushy, suspicious behavior.  Giving this breed a job such as herding, competition obedience, or agility work will help focus his energy and increase his confidence.  The Briard may chase cars, bikes, and joggers and may not tolerate the hectic activity of young children, perhaps nipping at them in an effort to herd them.  Roughhousing and chasing should not be allowed.  This breed can also be dog-aggressive.  The Briard may be susceptible to hip dysplasia and eye problems.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for the Briard is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of a high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal amount or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home:
The Briard needs a house with a fenced yard. The owner of a Briard should be an active, firm leader, who desires an athletic, lively, intelligent breed. Daily exercise is mandatory; competition obedience or herding would help focus this breed and build his confidence.  Sedentary people should avoid this breed. Spoilers and nervous types may encourage a pushy, nippy, timid attitude.  Older children who will not roughhouse or play chase games are okay.  The elderly and the disabled may have trouble controlling this active breed.  The Briard does better in a dry clim

This scent hound is an old breed, dating back to Roman times.  He is said to have been brought to England by William the Conqueror in 1066.  This dog has the most powerful sense of smell of all the breeds.  In the United States, he has been used as a tracker of fugitives and lost individuals.

Description:
The Bloodhound stands 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 90 and 110 pounds.  This is a large, powerful animal with great stamina and drive. The shedding coat is short and requires regular brushing with a hound glove to keep it in good condition.  The color may be black-and-tan, red-and-tan, or all tan.  Bloodhounds have loose, wrinkled skin and long ears.

About the Bloodhound:

The Bloodhound is known to be the best tracker of all the scent hounds.  He is excellent at picking up a scent and following it relentlessly until the prey is located, but he does not kill it.  This breed is a highly specialized dog specifically designed to perform a single task: tracking.  Breeders have created not only a dog with the best nose in the business but also a dog with a relentless, determined mind-set.  The Bloodhound will follow a scent forever and ignore everything else, including you.  Choosing a Bloodhound for a family pet would be like using a bulldozer to drive to the corner store.   More than any other breed, the Bloodhound needs to perform the task for which he was bred.  Although most of them have a very good temperament, there have been few cases of very aggressive Bloodhounds.  The relentless, determined, non-thinking mind-set that is so effective in tracking can be transformed into aggressive behavior as well.  When a Bloodhound becomes aggressive, he is almost impossible to stop.  Keep in mind that this is a very big dog.  The Bloodhound needs obedience training and socialization early in life.  He is stubborn and is easily distracted by scents that you cannot perceive.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for the Bloodhound is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home:
This breed will be suitable for hunters, trackers, police departments, and search and rescue teams and is not really recommended as a family pet.  He can be intolerant of children and may bite if teased or provoked.  However, if you choose to have this breed as a family  pet, he needs to live in the country and requires a fenced yard or kennel.  The owner must be a strong, no nonsense leader and must use this breed to do the work he was bred for.  Keep in mind the Bloodhound needs plenty of exercise to keep him happy and healthy.

First used in Medieval England, the Black and Tan Coonhound was perfected in the southern United States.  This breed is one of six types of Coonhound and was used as a tracker of opossum, raccoon, and bear.  It is a working hound that is not usually seen in the show ring.

Description:
Standing 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 70 and 90 pounds, this is a big, strong, agile scent hound.  The shedding coat is short, dense, and requires regular brushing with a hound glove.  Regular ear check is important with this breed.

About the Black and Tan Coonhound:

This is a very strong, hardy, active, driven breed that is primarily a” hunting dog and should not be considered for use as a family pet.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is not as adaptable to the home as the Beagle or Basset.  He is best owned by a hunter who can put his natural abilities to the best use. The Black and Tan is eager, alert, and possesses a superb sense of smell and will be easily distracted by any scent wafting through the neighborhood.  Similar to the Bloodhound and to a lesser extent, the Basset, this breed can be provoked to aggression if required to obey when he does not want to or when he does not understand what he is expected to do.  This is an explosive, non-thinking type of aggression that comes with very little warning.  The instinct to track in this breed is usually stronger than his owner’s ability to control; the dog goes into a driven, trance-like state that is hard to break through.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is normally suspicious of strangers and is not recommended for families with children because of his potential for aggression.  Though bred to be a pack hunter, he can be very dog-aggressive.  The Black and Tan Coonhound is also very vocal, making him best suited to life on a farm or in the country.  He is susceptible to hip dysplasia and ear infections and must have his ears cleaned regularly.  His owner must handle the dog liberally from day one or risk being bitten.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of branded meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry food.

Ideal Home:
A house with a fenced yard or a kennel is essential.  This breed does not make a good family pet because he does not understand and will not tolerate children.  He does much better if owned and used by a hunter on a regular basis.  He is a working hound that needs regular exercise as well as supervision and firm no-nonsense leadership.  Obedience training and socialization from day one are necessary for the Black and Tan Coonhound.

Originated in Switzerland, the Bernese Mountain Dog was bred for herding, guarding, drafting, and droving. His large, sturdy frame and long coat allowed him to perform in cold mountainous environments.

Description:

The Bernese Mountain Dog stands 23 to 27.5 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 70 and 100 pounds. He is a large breed and is similar to the Golden Retriever in structure, only heavier and bigger-boned. The shedding coat is medium-long, wavy, glossy, and thick and requires regular brushing to keep it in good condition. The Bernese is tricolored, primarily black with rust and white markings on the chest, muzzle, feet, and forehead.

About the Bernese Mountain Dog:

This large, beautiful, athletic dog is easily trained and makes a great watchdog and a good family pet. Though playful and gregarious as a pup, he tends to become more reserved and guarded as he matures. He is normally affectionate to his owner, but can be very suspicious of strangers. Some are very timid to the point of being phobic. This potential for extreme shyness can lead to a fear-based aggression that is difficult to modify. This breed also possesses a dominant, head-strong temperament. Stubbornness normally calls for a firm, consistent training technique, but many Bernese, particularly the females, can slip into a panicky mind-set if pushed, sometimes resulting in a bite. This tendency is usually a result of poor breeding practices, and may not be reversible.

A well bred Bernese Mountain Dog is trainable, but patience and precision are crucial. The Bernese needs daily exercise and is happier in a rural environment. Because of the potential for aggression, this breed is not recommended for families with children. Early socialization is important from day one, as well as handling and grooming. The Bernese Mountain Dog lives only ten to twelve years and can suffer from hip dysplasia and bloat. Anyone interested in this breed should visit numerous breeders and closely observe the parents and litter mates.

Feeding:

Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home:

A house with a fenced yard is important for the Bernese Mountain Dog. A strong, patient leader is mandatory, as well as early training, handling, and socialization. Families with children should at present avoid this breed, as should nervous, cautious, and over-bearing people. The elderly and the disabled may not be able to handle the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Recently, waiting to welcome a friend at the airport, I witnessed many departures and arrivals. The one I liked best involved a young couple returning from some far-off island who couldn’t wait to see their “son.”

“How is he?”

“Did he sleep?”

“Did he eat alright?”

“Where is he?”

When the “son” was brought forward and turned out to be a tiny, quite excited Pomeranian, we wondered why we weren’t more surprised. Then we remembered that it is not at all uncommon for dog owners to regard their pets as children. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with such a situation; neither owner nor dog appears any worse for it.

The trouble is that it often doesn’t go far enough. Right now, for instance, with Jack Frost waiting in the wings, many of us are telling one another to get down to the doctor’s office for a flu shot, and while we’re there, we’ll have our annual check-up.

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For Optimal Dog Health Dogs Require Check-Ups Too

But what about the tiny Pomeranians and all their canine brothers and sisters? They require an annual check-up too.

Indeed, according to no less an authority than thousands of professional veterinarians, a yearly check-up is five to seven times more important to a dog than it is to an owner, because dogs mature five to seven times faster than humans. From a dog health perspective, a dog ages as much in its first year as his owner does in twenty!

Many dog owners put off taking their family pet to a veterinarian until they notice something wrong. The dog won’t eat, or he sleeps all the time, or he’s biting everybody on the block. Perhaps, had he been checked by a veterinarian long ago, none of these conditions would prevail.

Also, it is well to remember that dogs are subject to many hidden hazards, just as we are. Dogs get arthritis, they suffer from tumors, heart trouble, kidney ailments, etc. Caught in time, a lot of pain can be avoided.

What does a visit to the veterinarian involve? Some owners we’ve talked to think it’s an all-day affair, costing a fortune. Not so. The cost is moderate and the time consumed is seldom more than an hour. Most often, it’s a matter of minutes.

The doctor will use a stethoscope, an otoscope, and an ophthalmoscope, the last two instruments for the ears and eyes. He will have a good look at the dog’s teeth and gums (dogs can get pyorrhea), he’ll check the dog’s coat, weight, pulse, and temperature.

Most dogs learn to enjoy their visits to the veterinarian. Incidentally, it’s a very good idea to take the dog to the same doctor each visit, just as you would yourself.

When it comes to dog health, in their own way, some dogs even demand it!