The Coton de Tuléar is a small breed of dog. Their most distinctive feature is their soft coat, which is considered to be hair, rather than fur. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Coton de Tuléar

Appearance

The Coton de Tuléar is a small breed, with males weighing between 4 – 6 kg and females between 3.5 – 5 kg. The coat of soft, cotton-like hair, rather than typical dog fur means that the breed does not have a normal dog smell. This also means that they can be a good breed for those allergic to normal dog fur. This hair does, however, require daily brushing to prevent matting. The coat comes in three colours, white, black and white and tricolour. Many multi coloured examples do later lose their colour as their adult coat grows in. A black nose and large, dark eyes beautifully contrast this light colouring. The tail is usually of medium length and curls over the back.

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The Rough Collie is a medium / large breed of dog. People sometimes refer to them as ‘Lassie Dogs’, thanks to the character of Lassie, a Rough Collie who has appeared in novels, movies and television shows.

Rough Collie

Appearance

The most recognisable feature of the Rough Collie is the long fluffy coat. This coat is found in four different coat colours, sable and white, tricolour, blue merle and white, though even ‘white’ examples typically have small patches of colour. The coat is double layered, with a coarse outer coat over a downy under coat. This coat requires regular brushing to prevent matting.

They are a medium / large breed, with males typically weighing between 20–29 kg, and females between 18–25 kg. The breed has a very distinctive face, with its long thin muzzle, and alert eyes. Their ears stand proud of their coat, but the points typically tip, rather than standing straight up. Similar breeds include the Smooth Collie, which is a shorter haired variety, and the Shetland Sheepdog, which is a smaller breed with Rough Collies in their ancestry.
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The Shih Tzu is a small breed of dog, well known for their short muzzle and long coat. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

Shih Tzu

Appearance

Shih Tzus are a small but sturdy breed. Females typically weigh between 4.5 and 8kg, with males between 5 and 8.5kg. They frequently have an obvious underbite, which is prominent under a short muzzle. They have drop ears and a tail that curls over the back. The Shih Tzu coat is soft, long and double layered. While show dogs typically only have this trimmed at floor level, it is common for pet Shih Tzu to receive regular trims to keep their coat at a more manageable length. Because of the coat length, Shih Tzu’s do require regular brushing to avoid matting.  Compared to other dogs, shedding is minimal, so Shih Tzus can be good for those allergic to pet hair. The coat comes in a great number of colours, and the breed standard does not prefer one colour over any other.
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The German Shepherd is a large breed of dog, well known for their intelligence and trainability. To find out more about the breed, and if it is a good fit for your family, read on below.

German Shepherd

Appearance

German Shepherds are easily recognised by their distinctive face, with its long muzzle and pricked up ears. Most people also recognise them by their black and tan colouring, though they can be found with other, rarer colours. These less common colours include sable, pure black and pure white. They have a dual layered coat, with a dense outer coat over a thick under coat. Although most commonly short haired, longer haired examples do exist. They are a large breed, with females weighing 22-32kg and males 30-40kg. An exaggerated sloping of the back has caused controversy after being seen in show German Shepherds. This has resulted in dogs with spinal and hind leg issues. Consequently, the Kennel Club has retrained judges to penalise dogs that show these symptoms.
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