Given the name Border Collie around 1915, they were bred out of necessity; shepherds on the England-Scotland border could not do without the help of these trusted sheep dogs.

Border Collie Appearance

Broad face. Strong but short muzzle. Beautiful, big oval eyes.

Black and White is the most common color, although they also come in red and white, blue merle and many variations in-between. Their dense coats can be long or short.

Border Collies look like true athletes; strong and agile – they are so active that it's rare to see an overweight Border Collie!

The title of “King Charles Spaniel” was bestowed upon these dogs during the reign of King Charles II, who adored his spaniels and would not be parted from them. A law that was passed by King Charles II, still stands today that these little dogs can enter any public place, including the houses of parliament!

These little dogs were used to warm the laps of nobility on carriage rides and in cold castles and buildings, so they really are the original “lap dog”.

Dachshunds can be traced back to Germany for many years, back to around the 15th Century, athough many believe that ancient Egyptian art depicts images of dogs similar to Dachshunds; perhaps their ancestors.

Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers (“Dachs” means Badger). Badgers were a formidable prey and Dachshunds were bred to have courage and bravery bordering on the reckless! Their size and shape makes them perfect for hunting both above and below ground.

The breed club was set up in 1888 to standardise the breed characteristics and to ensure that these dogs had beauty to match their intelligence.

There are conflicting opinions regarding the origin of the Greyhound, from the Celts who believed that they came from Greece, to the Romans who believed that they came from Gaul (in Western Europe), with many varying opinions inbetween.

There are ancient pictures which date back to 6000BC in the city of Catal-Huyuk in present-day Turkey, depicting dogs very similar in type to Greyhounds. Pictures from 4000BC found on a funery vase in Iran also depict Greyhound-like dogs which suggest that these dogs were held in the highest regard. Ancient artists tended only to depict images of religious or social importance.

Appearance of the Greyhound
Greyhounds have an extremley elegant and graceful appearance; slender but also strong. They are propelled by extremely strong hindquarters; when they run it appears effortless and truly beautiful.

Labradors originated from the coast of Newfoundland in the 17 th Century. They were trained by fishermen, to collect the nets from the icy waters and for this reason, were bought to Poole Harbour in the UK in the 19 th Century.

With such an attractive dog, the fishermen were often offered money for them and they very soon were found to be extremely effective as gun dogs.

The Earl of Malmesbury was a huge fan and began breeding these dogs, and named them “ Labradors”

Appearance of the Labrador Retriever
Labradors are extremely attractive dogs, with kind faces and gentle eyes. They are strongly built and broad through their chest and rib cage.

The history of these Miniature Dachshunds mirrors that of their larger relatives; Dachshunds can be traced back to Germany for many years, back to around the 15th Century, athough many believe that ancient Egyptian art depicts images of dogs similar to Dachshunds; perhaps their ancestors.

Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers (“Dachs” means Badger). Badgers were a formidable prey and Dachshunds were bred to have courage and bravery bordering on the reckless! Their size and shape makes them perfect for hunting both above and below ground.

The breed club was set up in 1888 to standardise the breed characteristics and to ensure that these dogs had beauty to match their intelligence.

Miniature Dachshunds were used instead of ferrets to drive rabbits out of their warrens.

Records show that ridgebacked dogs were used in South Africa as hunting and companion dogs as far back as the 15th Century. They were used to track big game (hence the name "Lion Dog") and were trained to trap the prey without attacking, and to alert their masters by barking.

In the 17th Century, these dogs were bred by European settlers with their own scent hounds and mastiffs, into the Ridgeback of today.

Appearance of the Rhodesian Ridgeback
Ridgebacks are large, handsome and althletic looking dogs. Their name comes from the ridge of hair on their back which grows in the opposite direction to the rest of their hair.

They have a broad skull with big round eyes which are quite wide set. They can have a black nose with dark eyes or a brown nose with amber eyes.

They have a deep set chest with strong, muscular shoulders and loins.

The Shetland Sheepdog can be traced back many years to the Shetland Isles, where they were bred as a herding dog.

Smaller, hardier animals were required to survive the harsh conditions in the Shetland Isles and thus, the Shetland Sheepdog was developed. No official records exist, but it is believed that Sheltie’s probably derived from Scottish Collies, which were smaller than today’s Collies.

Appearance of the Shetland Sheepdog
Shelties are very pretty little dogs with almond shaped eyes, giving them a very sweet expression.

Shelties should stand at approximately 36 cm tall for females and 37 cm tall for males.

They have very long, thick coats and come in a wide variety of colours; Sable, Tri-coloured, Black and White, Black and Tan and Blue Merle, with many variations inbetween.

In AD980 St Bernard de Menthon founded the Hospice of the Great St Bernard Pass as a refuge for travellers through the precarious Alpine pass between Switzerland and Italy. The St Bernard took its name from this hospice, after Monks in the area began to realise the benefit in using dogs to find and rescue lost travellers thanks to their superior sense of smell, their strength and resilience in poor weather conditions and their innate sense of direction.

Monks established their own breed of “Alpine Mastiff” to be used as rescue dogs, and eventually came to cross these dogs with Newfoundlands, Great Pyrennes and perhaps Great Danes, to establish the St Bernard that we all recognise today.

The image of the St Bernard in the mountains carrying a brandy cask (which they never really did!), is one that we all summon when we think of the beautiful St Bernard.

Originating in Scotland, Westies were bred to hunt foxes, otters and vermin. They share their ancestry with many of the other true Scottish Terriers and became formally recognised as West Highland White Terrier’s in 1904

Appearance of the Westie

Westie’s are compact, stocky little dogs with shaggy white coats. They have little button noses and small, erect ears.

They look very sweet, but strong and have a happy, proud air when they are trotting around the park!