Breeding Reference Libraries
The Berger Picard, also called the Picardy Shepherd, is a rare French herding breed. Today, the breed consists of only about 4000 dogs; the breed nearly became extinct after both World War I and World War II. The breed's mutt-like appearance has kept it from being popularized. It is thought to be related to the Briard, Beauceron or the Belgian Shepherd. The Berger Picard is a muscular,...
The Bergamasco is a herding breed which originated in the Italian Alps. It is a solid, medium-sized dog with a rustic appearance. The feature that sets the Bergamasco apart is its unusual coat. The coat is felted and characterized by three types of hair which form mats or flocks. These flocks start from the spine and grow yearly to reach the ground. The breed is born with short, smooth fur...
The Belgian Shepherd (Tervuren) is a variety of Belgian Shepherd recognized by its thick mahogany coat with a black overlay. It is a medium sized breed, generally standing between 24 and 26 inches high and weighing 65 pounds. The Tervuren has a double coat, and regular brushing is necessary. The coat should be slightly hard and lies flat against the body. The breed is not generally...
The Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) is a variety of the Belgian Shepherd distinguished by its short brownish-yellow coat and black ears, muzzle and cheeks. The breed can vary greatly, due to its origin as a working dog. Appearance is not particularly important for the Malinois, although if a dog represented as a Malinois is brindle it is probably a mixed breed or a Dutch Shepherd. The Malinois...
The Belgian Shepherd (Laekenois) is a variety of the Belgian Shepherd recognized by its wooly brown and white coat. The Laekenois, like other varieties of Belgian Shepherd is square-proportioned and medium-sized with large, pointy, triangular ears. This particular variety or breed is not fully recognized in the United States. The Laekenois is a hard worker. Its name is derived from the lake...
The Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael) is the most popular of the four varieties of Belgian Shepherd. It is a medium-sized dog recognized by its black coat and square proportions. It stands 22 to 26 inches high and weighs between 44 and 66 pounds. Its black coat is long with an extremely thick undercoat. The coat should feel hard, not wooly, frizzy, fine, wiry or silky. The Groenendael...
The Brussels Griffon, named for the city in Belgium from which it originated, is a toy breed which is broken down into three sub-categories. The term Brussels Griffon can refer to three different breeds, the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Belge, and the Petit Brabançon. These are typically considered varieties in the same breed; only their coats differ. The Brussels Griffon is a fairly...
The Bedlington Terrier is a sheep-like dog well suited for agility. It is a terrier breed named after a mining town in Northeast England. Its fur has a wooly texture and usually a pale blue, sandy or liver color; it has been described as looking like a "˜lamb on a leash'. The original Bedlington was an underground rodent hunter, and the breed might have played a part in the early development...
The Beauceron is a French herding dog, also known as the French Shorthaired Shepherd. It originated in the plains region near the Seine River. Its regional name can be somewhat misleading, as it was found throughout northern France rather than just in the Beauce. The Beauceron is typically between 24 and 28 inches tall and weighs 20 to 39 pounds. Its coat is short and smooth, generally black...
The Bearded Collie originated in Scotland and is a herding breed. Legend has it that a Scottish shepherd was impressed with the Polish Lowland Sheepdog that he'd seen that he decided to breed them with some local Scottish dogs to produce the Bearded Collie for its herding ability. There are very few registered bloodlines of Bearded Collie today, but they do exist. The Bearded Collie is a...
