Exercise: Poodles live happily in flats or small apartments as they don't demand a great deal of exercise. They still need some exercise outside of home such as walks to park. These dogs generally excel in obedience classes.

History: Poodles are believed to have originated from old Spanish water dogs. They got their name from German word 'pudeln' which means to splash in water. This breed were excellent retrievers of injured water birds and ducks. A smaller variety was produced later which became forerunner of Miniature version we know today. Hunters shaved off most of hair on hindquarters to help these dogs perform better in water. They left hair on chest and front parts of body for warmth and sections of hair on leg joints for protection against injury. The custom of tying a bright ribbon on topknot, was for identification of their dogs when at work retrieving. These customs have been maintained over years for Poodles being shown today.

Additional Comments:

Poodles are regarded as one of most difficult breed-standard patterns to achieve (if not most difficult). This breed is commonly recommended for people who are allergic to dog hair or dust as Poodle does not shed any hair. The Poodle is known for it's intelligence and can be taught a variety of skills from water-retrieving to circus tricks. They appear to enjoy performing with praise and laughter that it brings. Different clips for Poodles include: lamb clip, lion clip, puppy clip and continental clip. The puppy clip is always popular for those owners who aren't showing their dogs.

Exercise: Old English Sheepdogs need a fair amount of exercise, but will not grumble if a day goes by without any. They love playing with a ball or similar activities and are best suited for rural homes with a spacious backyard. This breed can do well in various dog sports.

History: This breed has not been around as long as many other dog breeds. It is thought that they evolved from Bearded Collie in early 19th century and possibly with crosses from Briard and Hungarian sheepdog. Farmers commonly docked this breeds tails in early 19th century to claim exemption from English taxes. This was because longer haired 'luxury' dogs only qualified as working dogs if tails were docked.

Additional Comments:

The Old English Sheepdogs have been nicknamed Bobtail, because their tails are customarily docked. If coat is not properly cared for and well-groomed, it can cause skin parasites.