GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 43-50cm (l7”-19½”).
Colour: Wheaten - a clear pale yellow to fawn.
Coat: Soft, silky and either loosely waved or slightly curly.
Gait: Free flowing with good hind propulsion - head and tail carried high.
A medium sized compact dog whose attractive colouring and silky coat make Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers stand out in the terrier group at dog shows. The dark hazel eyes under strong brows are set mid way between the flat skull and the square muzzle. The high set ‘V’ shaped ears, like the skull, are covered in plenty of hair. The slightly arched neck runs into well laid back shoulders and a moderately wide chest. Fore and hind legs are well muscled and the stifles must be well bent. The customary docked tail measures between 10-13cm (3”- 4”) and is carried erect.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
The Wheaten’s temperament combines the Terrier intelligence and alertness, but being people orientated, they are dependent on their owners whom they love and are anxious to please. Harsh or too strict treatment of this breed can result in them becoming stubborn. While they will bark at strangers, generally they are quieter than most of the smaller terriers.
Similar to many members of the sight hound family, this breed also is sensitive to anaesthesia and vets should be notified of this fact. While the coat does not shed seasonally, the Wheaten does need regular grooming and this should commence from puppyhood. Unlike the Kerry Blue Terrier, these terriers need not be heavily trimmed.
HISTORY
Along with many other terriers, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is presumed to have been evolved from the old English rough coated black and tan terrier, with infusions of the Skye Terrier and some Irish breeds. These dogs fulfilled the needs of the farmers of earlier times by acquitting themselves well with cattle, as a guard dog, a hunter and a shooting companion and generally became a canine jack-of-all-trades.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Height at the shoulder: Minimum size for males 77 cm; Minimum size for females 72 cm
It is desirable that the size in males is over 80 cm, and in females over 75cm. There is no upper limit.
It is a dog of great size, taller than average, of medium proportions. Well balanced, very powerful and muscular. Compact bone structure. Massive head and a body covered with a semi-long coat. Most important are balance and functional harmony in the dog standing as well as on the move. His bark is raucous, low-pitched and deep, very sonorous, audible from a considerable distance.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
He is a very intelligent dog, not without beauty, whose expression manifests both these qualities. Rustic, affectionate, kind and noble, he is very determined when facing dangerous animals and in front of strangers, especially when he has the opportunity to defend and protect farms or cattle. In his behaviour, one can see it is a dog sure of himself, determining his strength because he is aware of his enormous power.
The coat is dense, thick, medium length, smooth, distributed all over the body down to the between the toes. Two types of coat are distinguished; covering coat on the back and another protecting type on the ribcage and the flanks. Shorter on the legs, longer and silky on the tail.
The colours most popular are self-coloured like yellow, fawn, red, black, wolf colour and deer colour. Also allowable are the combined colours like brindle, parti-coloured or dogs with a white collar.
HISTORY
Guard and defense. The breed is closely related to the seasonal moving in the livestock, and especially the Merino livestock which he already accompanied at the time of the “Mesta” (association, in the Middle-age, of breeders of the wandering herds) by defending them from wolves and other predators, all along their journey from one location to another and on the grazing pastures, in all seasons and sites. Actually he accompanies numerous herds, whether sedentary or wandering by fulfilling his ancestral task. He performs in the same way the function of guard and protection of farms, people and properties in general.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: approx. 65-70cm (24½”-27½”).
Colour: Orange, mahogany/brindle, red/brindle all with white patches on the body, muzzle, blaze, collar, chest, forelegs, feet and tail end. Coat: Rough coats - dense and flat, fuller around neck. Smooth coats - close
and hound-like with slight thigh, tail and feet feathering.
Gait: Easy extension, unhurried, smooth and ground covering.
These majestic dogs are well proportioned with massive skull and a shorter square muzzle. The deep set eyes with drooping lower lids show some haw. The lengthy neck with some dewlap, runs into a broad straight back and a deep chest. The tail may be carried low or raised, but never over the back. The well boned and well angulated legs finish with large compact feet.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
These gentle giants are benevolent, dignified and intelligent. They are totally loyal, love children and are easy to train. One must be prepared for them to slobber at times. During the growth period of puppyhood to over one year of age, they require plenty of bone forming additives, vitamins, minerals and exercise in order to develop the muscle needed to carry their large frame. As adults they are not overly active so do not need as much space. Coat care is not difficult and only periodic brushing is required.
HISTORY
Evolved from the Asian mastiff family, these dogs moved through Greece to Italy and then further into Europe. By around 1000 AD, due to the Swiss monk Bernard de Menthon (from whom they took their name) the breed had established a reputation for assisting lost travellers. Never given formal training, the young dogs learnt their skills through imitating the adults. Their ability to scent out stranded people in the snow was phenomenal, often keeping the victim warm by lying each side of the body, while another dog returned to raise the alarm. Over the centuries, due to inbreeding, it became necessary to outcross to Newfoundlands and Pyrenean Mountain dogs. Unfortunately these crosses brought in rough coated varieties whose coats collected snow which weighed them down in icy weather.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 35.5-41cm (14”-16”).
Colour: Red, white, blue, black, brindle and fawn with or without white markings.
Coat: Smooth, short and close.
Gait: Legs moving parallel when viewed from the front and the rear.
These extremely muscular dogs have bodies which slightly resemble Bull Terriers. The heads must be broad with unusually prominent cheek muscles, with a well defined stop and a muzzle that is short and powerful. The ears may be either half pricked, or rose shaped folding back. The muscular neck is rather short and widens into extremely powerful shoulders and a broad chest. This results in widely set forelegs which finish with well padded feet either pointing forward or turning out a little. The loins are more lightly built than the shoulders, and the lowset and low carried tail tapers to a point. The hindlegs must be muscular and the stifles well bent.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Being bold, fearless and reliable, these dogs respond well to the attention and training that would be dispensed to a child. They are ‘people’ orientated and are happiest in a domestic environment rather than out in a yard on their own. In order to maintain the correct muscle tone, this breed needs plenty of good exercise. Due to the indomitable courage expected of them, when they were forced to perform in the now banned dog fights, care must be taken to see that their training emphasizes peaceful relationships with other dogs.
HISTORY
Early in the 19th century, when mining folk in Staffordshire wanted a suitable dog for pit fighting, they crossed the Bulldog with the old English terrier aiming for strength, spirit, tenacity and agility. In those early days, this breed was known as the Bull and Terrier, or, the Half and Half. While not being savage by nature, through training to fight and battle from puppy hood onwards, they soon learnt to fulfill the expectations of their master.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 38-41cm (15”-16”).
Colour: Rich golden liver. Dark liver to be faulted.
Coat: Abundant and flat with a tendency to curl. The undercoat should be ample and dense.
Gait: The fore and hindlegs should move straight, and like the Clumber Spaniel, these dogs should have a distinctive roll.
Whilst not as massive as the Clumber Spaniel, the Sussex nevertheless is an active, energetic and strong dog. The wide skull should have a prominent occiput and stop, and the well developed muzzle is square lipped. The nose is liver coloured and the large hazel eyes should not show too much haw. The head, with its thick lobed shaped ears, should not be carried much above the level of the back. Fore and hind legs are rather short, strong, well feathered at the back and finish with round well feathered feet. The body and the chest must be round and the low set customarily docked tail, must be active in movement and never carried above the level of the back.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Not being particularly trendy in the field or the showring, the Sussex Spaniel is one of the rarer breeds. However, for the huntsman who wants a keen nosed dog who can be worked on foot, then the shorter legged Sussex could be the answer. They display marked intelligence and respond to well taught lessons; however if badly taught, they may show some stubborness. They make “ideal companions as they have a most lovable nature. Free of the ‘doggy’ odour, they require little bathing and only occasional” grooming to remove twigs and tangles. Like most spaniels, their ears need regular checks to see they are healthy and clean. A rather slow dog, the Sussex Spaniel makes an ideal pet for the elderly.
HISTORY
As the name implies, this breed was established as a distinctive breed type in Sussex, England where a Mr. Fuller concentrated on developing the rich colour of the Sussex Spaniel. Records show this breed was exhibited in England as far back as 1892.