Whippet Dog Breed

The Whippet Dog Breed is a very lean little breed that is famous for being the fastest canine for its weight. They are very loyal and intent on pleasing their owners and are very intelligent, and highly active. In my experience, their desire to please their owner can sometimes turn into a bit of an obsession – so they really need lots of exercise and mental stimulation to make sure they are happy.

It is likely that they evolved from the Greyhound, as a breed to hunt rabbits, hares and other small game. They were originally known as the “poor man’s greyhound”, but have since become a highly regarded breed in their own right. They also have a heritage which includes racing, similar to their Greyhound cousin.

In terms of temperament, these dogs are alert, intelligent, keen to please and absolutely love spending time with their master. Their intelligence and working dog heritage makes them easy to train, as long as their owner is firm and consistent. Many owners believe that males are more obedient, outgoing and affectionate.

The average lifespan is around 13 years, but they can live for up to 15 years with the right diet, genetics and lifestyle.

They usually grow to about 45-50 cm in height and weigh between 18 and 23 kgs in peak condition.

Check out the Whippet on the Dogz Online Community

Smooth Collie Dog Breed

Smooth Collies are a short-haired version of its ‘Lassie Dog’ or ‘rough coated’ cousin. They are a lot less maintenance than their long-haired counterparts. They are a great choice for people living in the city, but they need regular exercise and love to run off the lead sometimes.

The Smooth Collie originated on the border of Scotland and Northern England. The name is thought to orignate from the word “coally” as in the early days, these dogs were predominantly black with small amounts of white and brown.

These dogs are incredibly intelligent and friendly. They thrive on human company, so really suit families that will be able to spend a lot of time with them. They are also great with other dogs, but can sometimes spend time “rounding up” other dogs because of their natural herding instinct.

The average lifespan for The Smooth Collie is around 12-14 years and they will usually grow to weigh between 18kg (40lbs) and 30kg (66lbs).

Check out the Smooth Collie on the Dogz Online Community

Silky Terrier Dog Breed

This breed is also commonly known as the Australian Silky Terrier. It originated as a cross between the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier, but is now a recognized pedigree breed in its own right. It’s a great choice for a family pet, as these little dogs are very hardy and fairly low maintenance, however will need regular grooming to look its best and ensure its coat doesn’t become matted. They are lively, alert and generally easy to train.

The average lifespan is around 13 years, but they can live for up to 16 years with the right diet, genetics and lifestyle.

They usually grow to about 20-23 cm in height and weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 kgs in peak condition.

Check out the Silky Terrier on the Dogz Online Community

Shih Tzu Dog Breed

The Shih Tzu is originally of Chinese descent and is distantly related to the Tibetan Spaniel and the Pekingese. With its long locks is an ultimate designer dog. They can be very precious and often expect to be spoilt rotten! This breed will generally bond very well with their owners, but can be stand-offish with strangers, though usually once they realize there is no threat they will bond with anyone. I have seen some of these little dogs that are a little big for their boots so it is important they are well trained and socialized whilst they are young.

The breed is suited to being indoors and is one of the best choices for people living in an apartment or flat. They will need to be walked daily on a leash. To keep their coat in its best condition, these little dogs need a weekly bath and blow-dry as well as regular grooming. If this regimen is followed from a young age, they shouldn’t mind bath time at all.

The average lifespan is around 12 years, but they can live for up to 16 years with the right diet, genetics and lifestyle.

They usually grow to about 26-28 cm in height and weigh between 4.5 and 8 kgs in peak condition.

Check out the Shih Tzu on the Dogz Online Community

Tibetan Spaniel Dog Breed

The Tibetan Spaniel is a stunning looking little dog which is a perfect pet or around-the-house dog. The silky coat is naturally longer around the ears and tail and not so long around the back and flank, giving the dog an attractive and unique appearance, which really only requires a small groom here and there to keep it looking great.

The breed originated in the Himalayan Mountains and can be traced back for more than 2000 years. Their primary role was as a watchdog for Buddhist monks and this instinct is still alive and well in the breed today. They are a great companion for older people or people who live alone and crave some extra security without having a large dog to look after. The keen senses of sight and hearing present in this breed ensure that any strange occurrences will not go unnoticed.

In terms of temperament, these dogs are just like a mischievous child. They are intelligent and will pick up on any inconsistencies in their owner’s training behaviour, as well as stubborn, determined and engaged. These traits mean that as an owner you need to be prepared to be firm and consistent, in conjunction with committing to spending a great deal of time training your puppy whilst it is young.

The average lifespan is around 14 years, but they can live for up to 17 years with the right diet, genetics and lifestyle.

They usually grow to about 24-27 cm in height and weigh between 4 and 7 kgs in peak condition.

Check out the Tibetan Spaniel on the Dogz Online Community

Ryan Gosling and His Dog George

After completing filming on his latest movie – The Ideas of March - Ryan Gosling was snapped out in Ohio with his wonderfully shaggy dog George.  Speaking of George, Ryan stars in the movie along side another George we all know – George Clooney.  As well as starring in the film, Clooney also directs and co-wrote the screenplay, which was based on the play by Beau William.   Other lead cast members in “The Ideas of March” include Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei.

As for George the dog, we’d say he’s a defintite cross breed, likey having a bit of briard, terrier or even perhaps some irish wolfhound in him from somewhere down the track.  Whatever the breed, we’re loving the mohawk hairstyle that Ryan keeps him clipped with – perhaps George the Dog and Kingston Rosswell should get together to compare ‘hawks

If you’re interested in seeing some more briard pics, check out these images on google.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on what you think is the dog breed of Ryan Goslings Dog – vote in our Poll: what breed is Ryan Gosling’s Dog?

Sheltie or Shetland Sheepdog dog breed

Sheltie is the nickname given to the Shetland Sheepdog breed. It is a very intelligent breed and as the name suggests it has a heritage involving work as a sheepdog. They look like a small version of the ‘Lassie Dog’ or “Rough Collie.”

As a breed, they are very easy to train and are a loyal companion and will guarantee to turn heads with their masses of hair. They need a lot of grooming to keep them looking their best and if you don’t have time to spend grooming them, they will get matts in their coat. This can be solved by getting the dog completely clipped in the summer months, which probably makes them feel much more comfortable than having their huge coat on anyway (they do look a little bit funny though!)

The breed was originally bred as a sheepdog on the Shetland Islands. Today, there are very few Shetland Sheepdogs still working sheep, but farmers who have worked sheep with the breed tell me they have incredible stamina and sheep sense. Due to their history and breeding, this dog is very loyal to their own family, but is wary of strangers. They make excellent watch dogs and can be trained to bark only when unusual noises occur. They are hardy and happy to be left alone for periods, but thrive on attention when it is given to them. As with any working or highly intelligent breed, it is important that you take the time to train it whilst it’s a puppy, or you may have a willful, difficult to control dog on your hands when it grows up.

The average lifespan is around 12 years, but they can live for up to 16 years with the right diet, genetics and lifestyle.

They usually grow to about 35-37 cm in height and weigh between 6 and 9 kgs in peak condition.

Check out the Sheltie on the Dogz Online Community

Gwen Stefani out with Kingston, Zuma and 2 Dogs, March 2011

 Gwen Stefani and her kids, Kingston and Zuma Rossdale, were recently spied out and about with a couple of pooches at a pet shop in the states.  The little dog looks like a yorkie, while its difficult to tell if the bigger dog is the same dog Gwen was photographed out in London with back in 2006 when she was preganant with Kingston…  If it is the same dog, it’s certainly had a good haircut recently - as has Kingston, with his uber fashionable mohawk!!

A pregnant Gwennie back in 2006

Yorkshire Terrier or Yorkie dog breed

The Yorkshire Terrier has a beautiful mantle of long silky steel-blue hair, whilst a golden mane falls from its head and face. It’s a great family pet, but if kept traditionally, requires a lot of grooming. If you want a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors, this perhaps is not a great choice, as the silky hair can matt easily. For a similar natured dog more suited to the outdoors, I would suggest an Australian Terrier or a Silky Terrier .

The breed originated around England’s Yorkshire region in the mid 1800’s and were initially used as ratting dogs. There are 2 distinct lineages of terriers, the bull fighting terriers (eg the Bull Terrier, and the vermin hunting terriers. Other historically vermin -hunting terriers include the Airedale Terrier, the Australian Terrier, the Bedlington Terrier, the Cairn Terrier, the Kerry Blue Terrier, the Scottish Terrier, the Smooth Fox Terrier, the Wire Coated Fox Terrier, and the West Highland White Terrier.

In terms of temperament, these dogs are courageous, alert, intelligent and absolutely love spending time with other dogs, especially other terriers.

The average lifespan is around 14 years, but they can live for up to 17 years with the right diet, genetics and lifestyle.

They usually grow to about 18-20 cm in height and weigh between 4 and 6 kgs in peak condition.

The yorkshire terrier is a favourite amongst US celebrities, with yorkie owners including Vanessa Williams, Orlando Bloom, Paris Hilton, Tara Reid, Molly Sims, Kristen Cavallari, Miley Cyrus, Gisele Bundchen and Britney Spears – just to name a few!

Check out the Yorkshire Terrier on the Dogz Online Community

Standard Schnauzer Dog Breed

The Standard Schnauzer is a very earnest little breed of dog – they are very friendly and love socializing with people and with other schnauzers, but are often not that interested in playing with other dogs… they would choose a person every time! They are a great pet for most households and are easy to train both on the lead and off. Their little beards and whiskers look very cute after they have been clipped. This sizes comes in 2 colour varieties – ‘salt’n’pepper’ and ‘black’. In order to maintain the traditional bearded look, these dogs will require regular clipping, but are still gorgeous without clipping.

It is an ancient breed, with historical references to it dating back to as early as 1492. They were previously known as “wire-haired pinschers”, but the name was changed in 1879 in Hanover to the name of an exhibition’s winning dog-“Schnauzer”.

The breed comes in 3 size categories; Miniature, Standard (shown on this page) and Giant. Both the Miniature and Giant versions are derivatives of the original Standard sized version.

The Standard breed was originally bred as a sheepdog, but has also had roles such as guard dog on the wagons of travelling merchants in the 15th and 16th Centuries and watchdogs of the family home. Because of this heritage the breed is particularly alert to out of the ordinary noises and will be sure to alert the household to any strange goings on.

The average lifespan is around 13 years, but they can live for up to 15 years with the right diet, genetics and lifestyle.

They usually grow to about 43-49 cm in height and weigh between 14 and 20 kgs in peak condition.