MINIATURE SCHNAUZER       

DESCRIPTION:

Those seeking a hardy, lively and friendly little dog with the ability to guard and cherish
his master need look  no further than the Miniature Schnauzer.  Here we have a big dog
in a small frame able to protect with great  agility, but it is his happy disposition, along
with his intelligence, that has endeared him to dog lovers. His crisp, tangle resistant,
easily cared for, non –shedding coat makes him the housekeeper’s delight.  His alert
nature combines with a keen sense of hearing to make him a great watchdog.  While not
noisy or yappy, neither is the Schnauzer reticent when strangers are about; nobody, but
nobody, comes in without being properly announced.  He welcomes friends cheerfully
and warns strangers properly. 

The Miniature Schnauzer, “the small dog with the big personality”, is a dog small in size
but in no way delicate.  It is surprising to many people on first picking up a Miniature
Schnauzer to discover what a sturdy, heavy, muscular dog he is.  Alertness, fearlessness,
and adaptability to any circumstance or climate are among his chief characteristics. He
can do with a small amount of exercise, yet he loves walking, following a bicycle or horse
or riding in a car. He is seldom carsick and learns quickly his place in the car, and will
remain quiet, not bouncing from side to side.

The Miniature Schnauzer is a one-family dog – a very keen watchdog.  He is extremely
obedient and quick to learn.  Alone out of doors, he will not allow a stranger to touch
him; but when the same person enters the house and is approved by the family, he accepts
him without question.  He is very devoted, playful, affectionate, and if permitted, will
never let the family out of his sight.  He is quick to learn when he is wanted and when
to be quiet in his own bed or chair.  He is equally at home in a city apartment, hotel,
country estate, or farm.

HISTORY:

No one is quite sure how the Miniature form developed.  Many assert that it came by
selecting the smallest specimens of the Standard and consistently breeding only from
the smallest offspring.  However, it is probable that Affenpinschers were brought into
the picture and utilized as outcrosses to small Schnauzers. In any event, that the small
breed was conserved, developed and finally fixed in size and type to make the
immaculate breed it is today speaks volumes for the skill and devotion of its early
breeders.  As a show dog it is popular, and as a working dog and companion it is
first-rate.  It seems certain that the main breed influence on the Miniature Schnauzer
would have been the Affenpinscher, an attractive little dog and certainly a breed that
would have contributed much in style, type, temperament, soundness, sportiness and
canine character to the Miniature Schnauzer we admire today.

During the early years, most Schnauzers, even the standards, were known as
Wire-Haired Pinschers and they were relegated to the Working Group classes.  In 1926
the breed became known by its current name of Schnauzer.  Standards and Miniatures
were shown together until 1927, when separate classes for the two sizes were held at
the Combined Terrier Club’s show.

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                           BICHON FRISE        

DESCRIPTION:

Many people have described this remarkable little breed in different ways.  Bichons have
various traits that make them desirable house pets; they are quite adaptable and can fit
most lifestyles.  When Bichon owners are asked why they admire the breed, the answers
are numerous.  They are intelligent.  They’re family oriented and love children.  They do
well with other animals.  They’re merry.  They smile.  They don’t shed nor have a “doggy
odor.”  They’re terrific show dogs.  Their size is great--not too large and certainly not
tiny.  They are sturdy and long living.  They are cute!!!!

A cheerful attitude is a hallmark of the breed. A truer statement has never been made. 
These little dogs in their snowsuits will work their way into your heart and home. 
Once you live with a Bichon you will always have one.  This is not to say that you can’t
have another breed, for the Bichon’s gentle and non-threatening disposition makes it
possible to own other pets. In fact, he prefers another dog or cat or two!

HISTORY:

The origin of the Bichon Frise is a bit “fuzzy”, not unlike the little dog himself.  One
school of thought is that the Bichon originated on the island of Malta, off of Spain,
the product of the Maltese, Miniature Spaniel and the Miniature Poodle.  Others believe
the Bichon is a descendant of the Barbet, a water spaniel with a curly or “frizzy” coat
from the Mediterranean.    Though the early origins are not precisely known, most
Bichoners accept that the ancestors of today’s Bichon arrived on the European
continent in the fourteenth century with sailors who brought them to use as barter.
A combination of Bichon breeds eventually formed the Bichon Frise, though we will
never know in what proportions.  The breed’s tremendous history makes it difficult
to determine the exact origins of the Bichon Frise.  We do know, however, that the
Bichon’s ancient roots can be traced back to the era before Christ, and that at some
point in its history, this breed and its predecessors have been desired by many western
civilizations. In 1973 the breed was given full recognition by the AKC.

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                                    PUGS

DESCRIPTION:

There is no better company on two legs or four than a pug dog.  No friend is more
loyal, no comrade more jolly, no confidante more trust worthy than this snuffling
little bundle of joy.  If pugs had their way, they never would be more than an arm’s
length from their owners.  Pugs can live happily in either house or apartment.  Such
is the pug’s zest for living that the breed has been accorded its own motto:  Multum in
parvo, a Latin expression that means “a lot of dog in a small space.”  No one knows at
what point in it’s 2,500-year history the pug acquired this motto.  The pug dog is,
indeed, larger than life.

A pug gives you the convenience of a toy breed, the heart of a giant, the bravery of
a terrier, the intelligence of a herding dog, and the face of a clown.  Pugs are loving,
constant, and devoted. They possess a gentle, jolly disposition belied by a face that
appears as if its owner has just received tragic news. Although pugs are the most
devoted of companions, they sometimes are determined to have their own way.  A
pug is a punch line in search of a laugh.

HISTORY:

The Pug, one of the oldest breeds, has flourished true to his breed down through the
ages from before 400 B.C.  He has always been domesticated and has endeared
himself to mankind. The truth of how the Pug came into existence is shrouded in
mystery, but authorities are agreed that he is of Oriental origin with some basic
similarities to the Pekingese. China, where the breed was the pet of the Buddhist
monasteries in Tibet, is its earliest known source.  It next appeared in Japan, and then
in Europe, where it became the favorite for various royal courts.

In Holland the Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange after one of the
breed saved the life of William, Prince of Orange. An effigy of the monarch with his
Pug at his feet is carved over William’s tomb in Delft Cathedral.  Later, when William III
landed at Torbay to be crowned King of England, his retinue included his beloved Pugs
and they became the fashionable breed for generations.

By 1790 the Pug’s popularity had spread to France where Josephine, wife of Napoleon,
depended on her Pug “Fortune” to carry secret messages under his collar to her
husband while she was imprisoned at Les Carmes. “Fortune” must have had a
possessive nature, for it is said that he bit the future Emperor when he entered the
bedchamber on his wedding night.

Called the “Mopshond” (from the Dutch word “to grumble”) in Holland, “Mops” in
Germany and “Carlin” in France, the origin of the “Pug Dog” has a variety of
explanations.  The most likely is that which likens the dog’s facial expression to that of
the marmoset monkeys that were popular pets of the early 1700’s and were known as
 Pugs.

In 1860 British soldiers sacked the Imperial Palace in Peking, and dogs of the Pug and
Pekingese type were brought back to England.  This was the first time since the early
16^th century that dogs in any great number had been brought out of China.  Black Pugs
were imported from China and exhibited for the first time in England in 1886.  The Pug
was accepted for registration with the American Kennel Club in 1885.

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                          SHIH TZU                  

DESCRIPTION:

One of the strongest characteristics of the Shih Tzu is its personality.  The Shih Tzu is
a friendly, non-aggressive dog that is a good companion for both children and other
breeds of dogs.  Individuals of the breed are known for their fun-loving play, romping
around an apartment or in the countryside.  Given a sock or other convenient “enemy”
your pet Shih Tzu will stalk his prey and quickly run with the prize to another area,
often to lie on his back with a sock between his front legs, snatching playfully at the
prey with his small jaws.

Also remembering the history of the Shih Tzu, and that these dogs were bred to provide
enjoyment for people, personality is an important trait. Although he is generally outgoing
and friendly, the Shih Tzu definitely has an attitude that cries to be spoiled. If you need
help in realizing this fact, the dog will steer you in the right direction with his
self-assurance that he should be treated like a king. Indeed, his strong sense of self
makes him a poor choice in a household with babies or small children. He is often
ealous of babies and toddlers and may snap if bothered by rambunctious children.
However, he is a fine companion for older children, particularly those who enjoy
combing his hair. Shih Tzu are active and alert, qualities that make them good
watchdogs. Shih Tzu are intelligent, and can be trained for obedience competition and
for good manners around the home. They can be stubborn so persistence and
consistency are definite pluses in training methods. Punishment makes this dog shut
down, so training should also be low-key and motivational.

HISTORY:

The Shih Tzu (pronounced Shid Zoo in singular and plural) comes by his regal attitude
quite honestly, for he was developed as a favored pet of Chinese emperors of the
Manchu Dynasty from the middle of the 19th Century. But his history begins centuries
earlier, as one of Tibet's "lion dogs," an exclusive group of dogs bred by Buddhist monks
that includes the Lhasa Apso and Tibetan Spaniel. In 1850, as was their custom, the
monks sent several of their treasured temple dogs to Manchu emperors in Peking, and
the Chinese called these dogs Tibetan Shih Tzu Kou, or Tibetan Lion Dog. The dogs
were bred specifically to please the emperors in each palace, and type varied. Shih Tzu
found their way west to England when Lady Brownrigg discovered the breed in Peking
in 1930.  American soldiers stationed in England during World War II became enchanted
with the little dogs and brought some back to the US. The breed was recognized by the
 AKC in 1969.

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