BACKGROUND
The Old English Sheep Dog was bred to herd and to guard sheep. Similar to all sheep dogs they are very intelligent and the shepherd relied on them not only to protect the sheep day and night, but also to help keep the sheep together on the unfenced fields and then drive them to the market.
AVERAGE LIFESPAN
Old English Sheep Dogs can live up to 15 years of age.
AVERAGE HEIGHT & WEIGHT
56cm to 60cm
23kg to 42kg
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BACKGROUND
About the middle of the 19th Century a man known as “Doggy” Lawrence was breeding small red terriers (about 4kg) that he sold mainly to Cambridge undergraduates. It is believed these dogs were the foundation of what are now known as Norwich and Norfolk Terriers.
Norwich Terriers, drop-eared and prick-eared were officially recognised by the English Kennel Club in 1932. Following later disagreements, several representations made to separate the breed officially into two varieties were refused, but a suggestion to form two separate breeds was agreed by the club, with the prick-ears to be Norwich Terriers, while the drop-ears would form the new breed to be known as Norfolk Terriers.
AVERAGE LIFESPAN
Norfolk Terriers can live up to 15 years of age.
AVERAGE HEIGHT & WEIGHT
25cm to 26cm
6kg to 7kg
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BACKGROUND
Although the Maremma Sheepdog is classed as a rare breed in Australia it has been known in its native Italy for 2000 years. The Maremma originates from two areas of central Italy; the Abruzzi, where the dog is called Postore Abruzzese and the Maremma where the dog is called Pastore Maremmano. The two breeds are almost identical to the dog we know as the Maremma Sheepdog.
The main function of the dog was to guard the flocks against wolves and bears, and more recently from thieves and wild dogs. The dog was left to use his own initiative in making decisions and that sense of independence is still strong in the dogs of today. In Australia, where the Maremma Sheepdog has been used as a stock guardian, farmers have reported a 35 percent reduction in losses from foxes, wild dogs and birds of prey.
AVERAGE LIFESPAN
Maremma Sheepdogs live to about 12 years of age.
AVERAGE SIZE & WEIGHT
60cm to 73cm
30kg to 40kg
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BACKGROUND
The Lhasa Apso is a small, well-muscled hardy little house dog originating in Tibet and is thought to be descended from the type of dog common for centuries over Central Asia.
The name Apso is used in Tibet for both of their smaller longhaired breeds and means longhaired or goat like.
AVERAGE LIFESPAN
Lhasas have been known to live up to 17 years of age.
AVERAGE HEIGHT & WEIGHT
25cm to 28cm
6kg to 7kg
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BACKGROUND
These little dogs are sometimes known as the Royal Spaniels due to being great favourites of the Stuart kings. Accompanied by a rippling sea of dogs wherever he went, the King’s deathbed was cluttered with them, much to the consternation of the attending Archbishops. Signs "Beware of the Dogs" that appeared in the Royal chambers meant “don’t tread on them”.
The King Charles was most probably bred from dogs brought to England from Japan, and crossed with local breeds and then with a Pyrame Spaniel brought from France. The King Charles Spaniel, which ranks among the rarer breeds in Australia, should not be confused with its larger cousin, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
AVERAGE LIFESPAN
King Charles Spaniels live from between 9 to 15 years of age.
AVERAGE HEIGHT & WEIGHT
25cm to 30cm
4kg to 7kg
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