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Histories Of Some Of Our Breeds
History of each of our breeds Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dogs of the small spaniel-type have existed for centuries and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has documented its place among them. They have been recorded in paintings and tapestries for centuries together with the aristocratic families who enjoyed their loyal companionship. Cavaliers were obviously a luxury item, for the average person could not afford to keep and feed a dog that did not work. Today's Cavalier is directly modeled on its royal ancestors but this did not happen without the effort of an American fancier, Roswell Eldridge. Mr. Eldridge traveled to England in the early 1920's hoping to buy two spaniels. He was unsuccessful, finding a diversity of type and none of the "old type", particularly the head type he desired. Employing Yankee ingenuity and determination, Roswell offered prizes of twenty-five pounds to the best male and best female of the "old type" exhibited at Crufts each year. The motivator worked; interest was generated among breeders to revive the original spaniel. In 1952, the first Cavaliers were sent to America and a national breed club was formed soon after, but because of the small numbers of Cavaliers they did not gain full breed recognition for 40 years. January 1, 1996 saw the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel enter American Kennel Club competition as the 140th recognized breed. Coton D ' Teaulear The Coton de Tulear puppy is an extremely rare, ancient pure-breed that originated on Madagascar more than three centuries ago. The Coton was exclusively the dog of the Royal Malgasy nobles, but now this exceptional, elegant companion is available to a select few outside that legendary land. The Coton stands less than a foot tall at the shoulders, is little more than two feet long, and weighs less than 15 pounds. They have dark, engaging eyes, black lips, and a medium-length muzzle tipped with black nose. The Coton earned its name from its unique, cotton-like hair, and for a port city in Madagascar, Tulear. Its dry, wind-tossed coat is probably the easiest to maintain of any long-hair breed. The hair is about four inches long, dries quickly when wet, and requires little brushing. It sheds very little, and rarely bothers people who suffer from chronic allergies. There is one particular color for the Cotons, White with champagne color patches on its ears. Coton are hearty dogs and , with acclimation, frolic in desert heat and winter snow. The breed is extremely healthy, long lived and has no known genetic defects. Probably the most outstanding characteristic of the Coton de Tulear is its behavior. The Coton is a “companion dog�, bred for the pure delight of its intelligent, loving attention to its human family. The Coton is an alert, lively companion, but it is slow to anger, rarely barks, and has never been know to bite a human. They usually snuggle in the lap or rest close-by like a small, elegant, mohair rug. A Coton puppy is calm, sturdy dogs who enjoy most household pets including other dogs and cats. Cotons cock their heads attentively when spoken to, smile and stand of walk on their hind legs to please their human family. They are easily trained. A Coton quickly becomes a family member and retains a puppy-like joy throughout its long life. SHIHTZU Brief History of the Shih Tzu by JORIS Dogs of various sizes, shapes, and colors have been bred in China for centuries. Records substantiate the existence of short, square, under the table dogs from at least 1000 B.C. By piecing together historical facts and documented records, it is possible to some extent to follow the development in China of the breeding of dogs likely to be the ancestors of the present-day Shih Tzu. The ancestry of the Shih Tzu is rather obscure, but it is probable that the breed is primarily of Tibetan origin. The history of the Tibetan Lion Dogs is interwoven with the tenets of Buddhism, which originated in India. The lion was closely associated with Buddhism, but the lion was not indigenous to China, so the Chinese and the Tibetan lamas bred their toy dogs to resemble lions. The Shih Tzu (whose name means lion) is reputed to have been the oldest and smallest variety of the Tibetan holy dogs and bears some similarity to other Tibetan breeds. For much of the long and illustrious history of China, the breeding of the small Lion Dog was a favorite pastime of succeeding imperial rulers
