GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Klein (small) 23-28cm (9-11”).
Mittel (middle) 29-35.5cm (11½ - 14”).
Colour: All whole or parti-colours acceptable.
Coat: Long, harsh and off standing. Good mane on the neck. Short on the face, ears and lower legs.
Gait: Lithe, springy and free. Head carried high.
This well knit member of the Spitz family, must be compact with an almost square outline. Like most members of the Spitz family, the ears are erect, pointed and set high on the skull. The head is wedge shaped with a slightly shorter muzzle. The nose is black or may conform to the coat colour (pink noses are to be faulted). The eyes are obliquely set and oval. The moderately short neck runs into a compact body and a high set tail that curls up from the root and over the back. The forelegs are straight and there is only moderate angulation at the stifle, the feet must be small and catlike.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Hallmarks for this member of the Spitz family are loyalty, activity, and alertness and they make excellent watchdogs (as opposed to guard dogs). Their devotion to their family is unquestionable and they should never be aggressive or nervous. They love to join in games and are so responsive, that they even imitate the human smile - never mistake this for a snarl. Like most Spitz breeds, the German Spitz is free of doggy odours and an easy dog with which to live. With the thick undercoat, regular brushing is required.
HISTORY
Fossils of Spitz type breeds have been found far and wide through Asia, Europe and Africa with a preponderance of evidence found in the northern Asiatic area. In what is now North Germany and Denmark, some 6,000 years ago people lived in stilt houses above swamps.When they died they were buried with their dogs in what turned into peat-bogs which also happened to preserve them perfectly. Centuries later excavations found them in an excellent state. Closely allied to the present day Pomeranian, the breeds were eventually separated by a division of sizes. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Klein (small) 23-28cm (9-11”).
Mittel (middle) 29-35.5cm (11½ - 14”).
Colour: All whole or parti-colours acceptable.
Coat: Long, harsh and off standing. Good mane on the neck. Short on the face, ears and lower legs.
Gait: Lithe, springy and free. Head carried high.
This well knit member of the Spitz family, must be compact with an almost square outline. Like most members of the sptiz family, the ears are erect, pointed and set high on the skull. The head is wedge shaped with a slightly shorter muzzle. The nose is black or may conform to the coat colour (pink noses are to be faulted). The eyes are obliquely set and oval. The moderately short neck runs into a compact body and a high set tail that curls up from the root and over the back. The forelegs are straight and there is only moderate angulation at the stifle, the feet must be small and catlike.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Hallmarks for this member of the spitz family are loyalty, activity, and alertness and they make excellent watchdogs (as opposed to guard dogs). Their devotion to their family is unquestionable and they should never be aggressive or nervous. They love to join in games and are so responsive, that they even imitate the human smile - never mistake this for a snarl. Like most spitz breeds, the German Spitz is free of doggy odours and an easy dog with which to live. With the thick undercoat, regular brushing is required.
HISTORY
Fossils of spitz type breeds have been found far and wide through Asia, Europe and Africa with a preponderance of evidence found in the northern Asiatic area. In what is now North Germany and Denmark, some 6,000 years ago people lived in stilt houses above swamps.When they died they were buried with their dogs in what turned into peat-bogs which also happened to preserve them perfectly. Centuries later excavations found them in an excellent state. Closely allied to the present day Pomeranian, the breeds were eventually separated by a division of sizes. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Short haired variety 58-66cm (23”-26”).
Wire haired variety 56-67cm.
Colour: Solid black, liver or white - or these colours with patches, ticking or completely roaned.
Coat: S/iort /mired - short, flat and coarse to touch Wire /Paired - Bushy eyebrows, beard and whiskers. Harsh outercoat of up to 2-4cm.
Gait: Ground covering and powerful.
These pointers present a picture of grace and nobility. The soft intelligent eyes and the moderate stop are set midway between the clean cut skull and the square lipped strong muzzle. The medium sized ears are set high and hang close to the cheeks with no fold. The arched neck flows smoothly into sloping shoulders. The lean forelegs with slightly sloping pasterns balance the muscular well angulated hindquarters. The chest is deep and the croup slopes to the tail which is carried out or slightly up in movement.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Being a dual purpose Pointer/Retriever, these members of the gundog group have a keen nose and perseverance when it comes to searching for and finding game. While being able to fit into kennel life, they prefer to live with a family who will give them plenty of affection and exercise. Their loyalty to their owners must never become over possessive and training must include acceptance of others to the family circle. The Shorthaired variety require little care while the Wirehaireds require periodical grooming.
HISTORY
Hunting with-dogs, has taken place for thousands of years. Different varieties of dogs were evolved for different work - some to point to‘ the game, others to retrieve from land and/or water. In Germany, hunters decided they wanted an all purpose dog which could track, point and retrieve. Thus Shorthaired Pointerscame about through crosses with German tracking dogs, the old Spanish Pointer, the English Foxhound and later the English Pointer. The German Wirehaired Pointer came from the Griffon, Deutsch-Drahthaar (meaning wirehair), Pudelpointer and Stichelhaar. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 33-36cm (l4”).
Colour: Blue, Brindle or Wheaten.
Coat: Harsh outercoat with a soft undercoat. Normally untrimmed, the coat may be tidied up for show.
Gait: Free flowing and ground covering with plenty of hind propulsion.
These long bodied terriers give an impression of strength and substance. The well defined stop and widely set round eyes separate the broad skull and powerful muzzle. The small ears are either rose shaped or half pricked when alert (never fully erect or dropped). The deep body is slightly longer than the shoulder height and the back rises slightly to the strong loin. The well boned forelegs must be bowed and the compact forefeet may turn slightly out. The strong hindquarters must be well angulated at the stifle, and the strong tail must be carried gaily and may or may not be docked.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
True to their terrier heritage, this breed is hardy and game, but at the same time they are completely adaptable and docile in the home. In Ireland, they still combine their work as a hunter with that of the role of pet and protector of children. The coat needs periodic grooming with a pin or strong bristle brush that will penetrate through to the undercoat.
HISTORY
This tough terrier hailed from the Irish Glen of Imaal in the County of Wicklow from where it takes its name. Its fame lies in its expertise in hunting, badgers, foxes, otters and rats and it has been claimed that the Irish also used them for fighting. While relatively common in their country of origin, the fame of this breed has not spread widely around the world. 

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 51-61cm
Colour: Any shade of gold or cream.
Coat: Outercoat to be flat or wavy with feathering.
Gait: Smoothly co-ordinated with strong propulsion.
These stylish members of the Gundog group must be active and powerful.
The dark eyes are set well apart and midway between the broad skull and the wide deep powerful muzzle. The high set cars hang close to the cheek.
The neck must be long enough for the head to comfortably reach the ground when retrieving on the move and the strong body has a chest that reaches the elbows. The fore and hindquarters are well angulated and the round catlike feet must never be splayed. The thick tail is well feathered and long enough to reach the hock - in movement it should never be carried over the back. 
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
With its amenable and affectionate nature, the Golden Retriever will always be a popular family dog. Unlike many other breeds, these dogs do not continually demand attention from their family - some preferring to sit and watch. However, they do need regular exercise and if possible, free running.
Due to their easy going nature and adaptability, they are often used as guide dogs for the deaf or blind. Regular grooming is required - particularly during the seasonal shedding of the coat.
HISTORY
In the 1860s, Lord Tweedmouth in Scotland purchased the only yellow puppy that was born into a litter of black Flat Coated Retrievers. Aiming to produce retrievers of this lighter colour, he later crossed this yellow dog to a liver Tweed Water spaniel - a strain which was hardy, intelligent and capable of retrieving game in all sorts weather. From 1867 onwards, Lord Tweedmouth’s gamekeepers recorded all matings and conscientiously evaluated the results. With conformity of type being established, these yellow retrievers became a distinct breed in their own right. They were first shown in England in 1908 and recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1913.