Non-Sporting Dog Breeds – Size & Characteristics

The American Eskimo Dog comes in three sizes mdash standard miniature and toy mdash standing as tall as 19 inches at the shoulder or as short as 9 inches Distinctive traits include a dense sparkling white coat with a lion like ruff around the chest and shoulders a smiling face with black nose lips and eye rims that convey a keen hellip

A good size Bichon will stand a shade under a foot tall at the shoulder The breed rsquo s glory is a white hypoallergenic coat plush and velvety to the touch featuring rounded head hair that sets off the large dark eyes and black leathers of the nose and lips

Boston Terriers are compact short tailed well balanced little dogs weighing no more than 25 pounds The stylish ldquo tuxedo rdquo coat can be white and either black brindle or seal black with a red cast when viewed in sun or bright light The head is square the muzzle is short and the large round eyes can shine with hellip

You can rsquo t mistake a Bulldog for any other breed The loose skin of the head furrowed brow pushed in nose small ears undershot jaw with hanging chops on either side and the distinctive rolling gait all practically scream ldquo I rsquo m a Bulldog rdquo The coat seen in a variety of colors and patterns is short smooth and glossy hellip

The compact medium sized Chinese Shar Pei is an amalgam of odd physical traits a broad ldquo hippopotamus rdquo muzzle a blue black tongue small sunken eyes with a scowling expression tiny triangular ears abundant folds of loose skin about the head neck and shoulders the tapered high set tail mdash all blanketed by a harsh sandpapery coat A literal translation of Shar Pei hellip

Chows are powerful compactly built dogs standing as high as 20 inches at the shoulder Their distinctive traits include a lion rsquo s mane ruff around the head and shoulders a blue black tongue deep set almond eyes that add to a scowling snobbish expression and a stiff legged gait Chows can have rough or smooth coats of red black blue hellip

The Coton de Tulear ldquo Royal Dog of Madagascar rdquo is a bright happy go lucky companion dog whose favorite activities include clowning cavorting and following their special human around the house The Coton is small but robustly sturdy

The Dalmatian rsquo s delightful eye catching spots of black or liver adorn one of the most distinctive coats in the animal kingdom Beneath the spots is a graceful elegantly proportioned trotting dog standing between 19 and 23 inches at the shoulder Dals are muscular built to go the distance the powerful hindquarters provide the drive behind the hellip

The lively Finnish Spitz the flame colored foxy faced breed from the ldquo Land of 60 000 Lakes rdquo is a small but fearless hunting dog whose unique style of tracking and indicating quarry has earned him the nickname the ldquo Barking Bird Dog rdquo

The French Bulldog affectionately known as the ldquo Frenchie rdquo is a compact muscular canine with a smooth coat sturdy bone structure and a short nosed facial expression Originating from France this breed has swiftly gained popularity worldwide especially in the United States for its endearing nature and adaptability to city living A companion dog at heart the hellip

The Keeshond is a square sturdy companion descending from the same ancient stock as other spitz types such as Pomeranians and Samoyeds Typically ldquo spitzy rdquo Keeshonden have a foxy face pointed ears an abundant coat and a plumed tail carried high over the back A unique breed characteristic mdash and one of the most charming hallmarks in all hellip

Standing less than a foot high at the shoulder the Lhasa Apso is a small but hardy dog of aristocratic bearing They rsquo re famous for a floor length flat hanging coat parted in the middle and draping each side of the body A feathery tail curls over the back in the distinct manner of Tibetan breeds The breed rsquo s hellip