GENERAL APPEARANCE
The desirable weight for the Dachshund is 9-12 kgs.
The desirable weight for the Dachshund Miniature is 4.5-5 kgs.
In profile, the Dachshund is a long, low dog with a level topline.
The head is to be long and appear conicle when viewed from above, from the side it is to taper uniformly to the tip of the nose.
The body should be moderatley long and full muscled. Sloping shoulders and back reasonably level. 
In Australia all colours are permissable except for white (barring a small patch on the chest). The dapple colour should be evenly marked throughout. Other colours include Black and Tan, Red, Shaded Red, Cream, Shaded Cream. Chocolate, and some other variations.
The Dachshund's gait should be free and flowing.
The Smooth Haired coat should be dense, short and smooth. The skin should be loose and supple but well fitting all over. There should be little or no wrinkles.
The Long Haired coat should be soft and straight (or only slightly waived). The hair should be its longest under the neck, on the underparts of the body and behind the legs where it forms abundant feathering, on the tail where it forms a flag. The outside of the ears well feathered, the coat flat.
The body of the Wire Haired Dachshund with exception of the jaw, eyebrows, chin and ears. should be covered with short, straight, harsh coat with dense undercoat. There should be a beard on the chin, eyebrows bushy, but hair on the ears almost smooth.
CHARACTER
The Dachshund is required to have intelligence, strength, endurance and versatility, a long body with relatively short legs and three different coat types, all of which combine to enable it to fulfil its purpose.
The intelligence, obedience and size of these dogs make them ideal companions in the city or the country. They are full of character and are quick to defend themselves and thus make excellent watchdogs. Although eager to please, there are times when their independence makes them stubborn. They are popular pets having no doggy odour and are easy to keep clean - naturally the Long and Wire Coated Varieties take a little more grooming. 
HISTORY
Originating in Germany, the Dachshund (Teckel) was bred to hunt small game. predominantly badger, that goes to ground.  The dog was required to scent, track and pursue game into burrows. The Dachshund was required to move over all types of terrain, including dense undergrowth and water.
They take their name from the German word ‘dachs’ meaning badger. Being short legged makes them ideal for going into burrows. The shortened legs are believed to have been brought about by a mutation of genes. The Miniature Dachshund is the Standard variety bred down for rabbit burrows.The Wirehaired variety arose from an infusion of Dandie Dinmont lines and the Longhaired variety through crosses with German Stoberhunds. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 56-61cm (22”-24”).
Colour: Black spotted or liver spotted. Spots not large but well defined.
Coat: Short, hard, dense and glossy.
Gait: Smoothly co-ordinated with strong fore reach and hind propulsion.
These clean cut elegant dogs should be muscular, active and free of coarseness. Their sparkling round eyes are set midway in well proportioned heads with the spotted ears hanging to the side. The elegant fairly long neck is free of loose skin and runs into a strong body with a deep chest. The strong legs are muscular with a good turn of stifle and finish with round catlike feet.
The tail should reach approximately to the hock and when moving, should be carried horizontally.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
All Dalmatian puppies are born white, but by 2-3 weeks their spots start making an appearance. As a breed, they are outgoing and friendly with an affinity to horses - in the past they used to be seen following the horses under coaches and fire engines. Free from nervousness and aggression and liking to please, Dalmatians make excellent pets and are great companions to take jogging or for a walk in the park. While they do have a tendency to shed coat, regular brushing will remove the dead hair and control the situation. Apart from that their coat is quite trouble free.
HISTORY 
Although this breed received their official name from coastal Dalmatia by the Adriatic Sea, ancient friezes discovered in the Middle East, depict spotted dogs of the Dalmatian type from as early as 1250 BC. It is believed the breed made its way to Europe with the Romany gypsies during the 14th century and arrived in Britain a century later. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Approx. 20-28cm 
Colour: Pepper - dark bluish black to light silver grey. Mustard - reddish brown to pale fawn.
Coat: Outer coat to be hard but not wiry with a soft linty undercoat.
Gait: Free moving with fore and hindlegs moving straight and with strong hind propulsion.
Quite unlike any other terrier, in profile the Dandie gives the impression of a series of curves on short legs. The domed square skull is covered with a soft profuse topknot with round widely set eyes and a shorter muzzle. The lowset hanging ears are well fringed with darker feathering. The chest comes down below the elbows and the well padded feet point forward or may turn slightly out. The flexible body has a topline that curves gracefully up over the rump and then down to a lowset, low carried, feathered tail. The well angulated hindlegs are set rather wide apart.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
The Dandie is more sedate than many of the terrier breeds, but at the same time is still a good ratter. They make good house pets and companions.
These fun loving terriers are both responsive and affectionate, but have the terrier streak of independence. However, for the conscientious gardener, the Dandie’s love of digging might not be welcomed. The coat is made up of hard and soft hairs, creating the typical ‘crisp’ feel to the touch. The coat requires stripping a couple of times a year. For those not interested in showing, then clipping back to 5cm (2”) will suffice.
HISTORY
While the evolution of this breed is shrouded in mystery, it is believed they are the result of small rough coated terriers being crossed with Otter Hounds. By 1700, a distinctive type of terrier was to be found in the Cheviot Hills on the English/Scottish border, but it was not until 1814 that they rose to famewith the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Guy Mannering. In this book a character named Dandie Dinmont owned 6 of these charming little dogs. Thus it is from a fictitious person that the breed takes its name. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 71-76cm.
Colour: Dark blue/grey, grey, brindle, red or fawn with black points.
Coat: Harsh shaggy coat 7-10cm long.
Gait: Springy and free flowing with plenty of drive. 
These tall sighthounds are built on racy lines with heads carried high. The soft dark eyes are set midway in the long skull -the muzzle has a good moustache and some beard. The velvety ears are normally rose shaped but may be erect when excited. Although the body is similar to the general conformation of a greyhound, the Deerhound’s body is larger with more bone.
The hindlegs are well bent at the stifle and have great length from hip to hock and well knuckled compact feet. Like the greyhound, the tail is very long reaching, almost to the ground when stationary.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Gentle sighthounds like these are extremely easy to live with and need plenty of exercise either playing with another dog, or running in the park.
They make excellent companions for joggers. Possessing deep intuition as to what is right or wrong, they adapt easily to different situations; however, they will not respond to harsh discipline. Their shaggy coats need periodic brushing to remove dead hair and prevent shedding in the house.
HISTORY
The origins of the Deerhound lie in the history of Scotland and presumably evolved from crosses of the greyhound to rough coated local dogs. For centuries they were highly ‘valued by Scottish chieftains for stalking, hunting and holding deer. The human association has resulted in their close affinity to people, but for a while the possessivenes of their Scottish owners almost made it extinct. However in 1825 after the author Sir Walter Scott had described Deerhounds as being “The most perfect creature in
Heaven”, coupled with the artist Landseer depicting them in many of his paintings, the breed was re-established and these dogs were restored to their rightful place in the canine aristocracy. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 65-69cm
Colour: Black, brown blue or fawn - all with tan in designated areas.
Coat: Smooth, short, hard and close lying.
Gait: Fore and hindlegs move straight with the important and distinctive rotary hind action.
These bold muscular dogs with their proud head carriages are capable of great speed. The almond shaped eyes and the slight stop are set midway in the clean cut wedge shaped head. The nose and eye colour tone in with the body colour. The high set ears drop to the side of the head, or in countries which permit cropping, they are erect. The long neck runs smoothly into a straight topline that slopes slightly to the customary docked tail. The well angulated fore and hind quarters finish with small cat like feet.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Many feel that as guard dogs, Dobermanns are second to none as they combine both loyalty with courage. Easily trained, they are popular as police dogs. Care should be taken to select a puppy from lines with sound temperaments. Making excellent family companions, they do need to live with their owners rather than being shut out in a yard. Coats need practically no additional care.
HISTORY
Although their ancestry is rather obscure, it was Louis Dobermann, the keeper of a dog pound in Germany, who decided to breed a larger, stronger dog than the pinschers and terriers that were currently popular. In order to retain the terrier agility and spirit, Dobermann crossed some of these dogs with Rottweilers and German Shepherds. Otto Goeller completed the evolution of the breed by adding some Manchester Terrier bloodlines. The final experiment was immediately successful and the breed has become widely popular.