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Working Dogs GroupWelcome to the Working Dogs page.
Here's Lola, the Boxer.
The Working Dogs Group These breeds are the heroes of the dog world, rescuing, guarding and even pulling humans (on sleds!). The group includes the Boxer, Great Dane, St Bernard and the Rottweiler. They tend to be large, powerful dogs and therefore need to be properly trained.
Up to the late nineteenth century teams of dogs were used in Britain to pull carts of butchers, bakers, street traders, as well as the travelling sideshows that visited country fairs - truly working dogs!
The Working Dogs breeds
The breed nearly died out as the result of the two world wars. During World War I most Leonbergers were left to fend for themselves as breeders fled or were killed. Only five Leonbergers survived World War I and were bred until World War II when, again, almost all Leonbergers were lost. All Leonbergers today trace their ancestry back to eight dogs that survived World War II. Weighing in at between 34-50 kg (75-110 lbs) and measuring 65-80cm (26 - 31.5 in) at the withers they are a powerfully built dog. This compares with 27-36kg (60-80 lb) and 51-61cm (20-24 inches) for a Golden Retriever. In fact here’s Georgie our Golden Retriever sitting alongside Barney to give you some idea of their tremendous size. The breed loves to play around in water and they have large, round feet and webbed toes.
The coat colour can range from lion yellow, red, reddish brown, and sandy, and all Leonbergers have the distinctive black mask. The coat needs to be brushed and groomed on a regular basis to remove any dead and loose hair.
Next we have the Rottweiler or Rottie. The breed originates from Rottweil in Germany and has had a rich working history including herding cattle, pulling carts and security work. Currently they are often used as guard dogs and by the police.
The average height of a female is 61cm while that of the male is 66cm; average weight is 50 kg for males and 42 kg for females. They are one of the strongest and most powerful dogs in the world for their size and need plenty of exercise. If their energy is not channelled behavioural problems can occur and aggression can become a problem. Owners need to be responsible and train their dog in a fair, firm and consistent manner socialising them from an early age.
Tia, in the photo, is an extremely well-behaved Rottweiler and clearly sees her owner as the leader. This is how it should be.
Boxers are the result of a cross-breeding between a Mastiff type dog and other breeds including the Bulldog. This Working Dog breed was originally used for bull baiting and as a guard dog while today they are mainly kept as pets.
The coat is smooth, shiny and short and requires minimal grooming. There is little coat shedding. The colour ranges from red to fawn usually with some limited white markings, and they can also be totally white in colour.
The boxer is a very muscular, deep chested dog. The average height of the female is 56cm and the average weight 26kg; that of the male is 60cm weighing in at an average of 31kg.
Boxers are a bright, energetic and playful breed and tend to be very good with children. They do require adequate exercise and over two hours a day may be considered suitable. Like the Rottie, if their energy is not channelled, destructive behaviour can ensue.
The photo below shows a calm, steady and well-trained three year old Boxer called Lola.
The Bernese Mountain Dog or Berner originates from Switzerland and was used by Swiss farmers for pulling loads of milk and cheese to market. They are strong, sturdy animals.
They are an active breed in the Working Dogs group needing plenty of exercise - between 60 to 80 minutes a day - and regular grooming. Their coats are soft and silky and they should be brushed daily to prevent shedding and tangles. They are always jet black in colour with a white muzzle and blaze (a spot or stripe on the face), white chest, white paws and white tail tips.
The average height of a female is 62cm and the male 67cm. Both sexes weigh between 40 to 44kgs.
They love to be part of the family and thrive on affection. They are gentle with children and are patient and good-natured dogs.
Here is Buddy, a beautiful six year old male Bernese Mountain Dog.
The Dobermann - also known as a Doberman Pinscher or Dobie - originated in Germany and was the result of one man‘s work: Herr Louis Dobermann. He was a tax collector in nineteenth century Germany and developed the breed as the ultimate dog for personal protection. The Dobermann is said to be an amalgamation of different breeds including the Rottweiler, Great Dane, Greyhound and Manchester Terrier.
The average height of the male is 70cm while that of the female is 66cm and they should weigh between 32 and 45kg. They have short, smooth coats which come in a variety of shades: black, black & tan, blue-grey, red, fawn and white. Eight year old Tinny, in the photo below, would be classified as a red Dobermann.
We've met all the dogs featured on this page on our morning or evening dog walks. A big thank you to all the owners for letting me photograph their dogs. More Working Dogs will be added to the page over time. Perhaps you have a pedigree dog? You might like to write a special piece about that particular breed. 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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