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Utility DogsUtility Dogs are known as the Non-Sporting Group in the United States and Canada.
Hope, the Dalmatian, one of the breeds Breeds in the Utility Dogs Group as defined by the Kennel Club of Great Britain:
There are three varieties of Poodle: the Standard, the Miniature and the smallest being the Toy (but not part of the Toy group!) They have the advantage of not shedding their hair so they are suitable pets for allergy sufferers.
Very early records of the Dalmatian have been found in Dalmatia, Croatia, from where its name derives. They have a long association with horses, running alongside horse-drawn carriages in nineteenth century Europe to protect the travellers from highwaymen; they were also used in America in the 1800s to run with the horses that were pulling the fire trucks.
Dalmatians are a high energy breed taking at least two years to settle down and needing a considerable amount of daily exercise. Their coat is short, dense and fine, and shedding is moderate. The colour is always white with the distinctive black or liver-coloured markings. Puppies are born white however and the spots show up after a week or so.
The average height of a female Dalmatian is 57cm while that of a male dog is 60cm; both sexes weigh an average of between 23 and 25kg (compare with the Rottweiler: a similar height but weighing in at 50kg).
Here is Hope, a three year old Dalmatian who loves to race round with Jessie, our black Labrador-Cross.
The Miniature Schnauzer, or Zwergschnauzer, originates from Germany and is said to be the most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds (the other two types being the Standard and Giant). Schnauze in German means muzzle and it is this that gives them their remarkable look, adorned as it is with the distinctive moustache.
Although all three types are classified as Utility Dogs in the UK, in the US the Miniature is classified as a Terrier, while the Standard and Giant are in the Working Dogs category.
The average height is 33cm for the female, 35cm for the male; the average weight for the female is 7kg while that of the male is 8kg. The coat of the Miniature is harsh, wiry and short with a dense undercoat.
Two year old Bertie, in the photo below, is salt and pepper in colour, but they can also be black with silver markings, solid black or even white in colour. The latter is quite rare however.
The Standard Schnauzer, or Mittelschnauzer, was originally used for catching rats and later as guard dogs. They are a sturdy and muscular medium sized dog with the average height of a female being 46cm and for a male 48cm. Hair on the moustache, eyebrows and legs gives this dog the 'Scnauzer look'.
As with the Miniature the coat of the Standard is harsh and wiry and the colour variations are also the same.
Schnauzers can be very wilful and need consistent, firm training with plenty of socialisation. They do make excellent pets however and will alert the family if anything untoward is happening.
For at least two thousand years the Lhasa Apso was only bred in Tibet. They were used to guard the temples and monasteries and consequently can be suspicious of strangers. Arriving in Europe and America in the twentieth century they were first seen in Britain in the 1920s.
The males on average measure 26.5cm and weigh between 6 to 7kg; the females are a little smaller. Although they naturally have long coats they are low-shedders but do require regular grooming. They have a top coat which is usually long and heavy and an undercoat which is a little shorter and softer.
Four year old Tia Maria, in the picture below, has short hair which is obviously easier to manage. She shares her home with Penny, a West Highland Terrier.
For a dedicated site on the Boston Terrier, click here. The photos of these Utility Dogs have all been taken on various morning and evening dog walks. Thank you to the owners for letting me photograph their lovely pets. Would you like to write about your dog? Perhaps you own a breed in the Utility Dogs group? I can add a link from this page straight to your information and photo of your dog. We'd love to hear from you!
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