Behind the Breed: Plymouth Rock Chickens.
This black and white chicken breed is one of the oldest breeds in the country and was a favorite amongst folks all across the US, as it's one of the few breeds to rival the Rhode Island Red in egg and meat production. Also known as Barred Rock chickens, Plymouth Rocks...
Behind the Breed: German Shepherds
German shepherd dogs (commonly referred to as GSDs) are an incredibly popular breed in the US and one of the best all-purpose workers! This breed is confident, loyal, brave, and very intelligent. Their personalities make this breed a great working dog as...
Behind the Breed: Jack Russell Terriers.
Jack Russell Terriers are one of the more iconic small dog breeds, with several making appearances in movies and one PBS children's show from the mid-1990s even had a Jack Russel Terrier as the main star! (Unsurprisingly, I loved the PBS show 'Wishbone' as a child!)...
Behind the Breed: Bernese Mountain Dogs.
These large dogs are working dogs and built for hard work. But despite their size and strength, Bernese Mountain Dogs are sweet, affectionate, and gentle dogs. They're great family dogs because they love their people and love to be included in any activity! As Jackie...
Behind the Breed: Australian Australorp Chickens
If you're looking for a great backyard chicken, Australian Australorps are a great option! With black feathers that have a purple or green tint, these chickens can be raised for meat or eggs and can adapt well to a variety of climates. Standard Australorps usually...
Behind the Breed: Collies
Collies are, thanks to the television show Lassie, a fairly recognizable and popular dog breed in the United States. These dogs are large (ish) but graceful herders, which means they generally stand 22-26 inches tall, weigh 50-75 pounds, and are incredibly smart....
Behind the Breed: Shetland Ponies.
In many parts of the world, horses have been an integral part of life for centuries. With the advent of cars, trains, and other forms of transportation, horses have become less of a fixture but still remain important to many. There are numerous horse breeds around the...
Behind the Breed: Corgis
From the So Cal Corgi Beach Day at the Huntington Dog Beach outside Los Angeles to Cheddar the Dog on Brooklyn 99 to Queen Elizabeth II's many corgis, this breed is beloved by many! Hailing from Wales, this breed's name means 'dwarf dog' or 'gathering dog' in Welsh...
Behind the Breed: Chihuahuas.
Chihuahuas are a tiny breed with a large personality! This tiny toy breed is the national symbol of Mexico, as they're one of the oldest breeds in the Americas and have a lineage that goes back centuries. These dogs usually stand 5-9 inches tall and only weigh 2-6...
Behind the Breed: Great Pyrenees Dogs
These large and fluffy dogs are well known for their goofy, smart, and calm personalities. While they might be strong and powerful working dogs, Great Pyrenees dogs are known for being loyal and wonderful companions nowadays. Many of these dogs stand at 25-32 inches...
Behind the Breed: Newfoundlands
Newfoundland dogs are a large, iconic breed with an incredibly sweet disposition. Despite their heavy and relatively huge stature, this breed actually has the reputation of a wonderful family companion and nanny dog for kids! In some of the official Peter Pan texts,...
Behind the Breed: Border Collies.
This medium sized breed is incredibly affectionate, smart, and popular! Border Collies are a part of the herding group, which combined with their intelligence and workaholic tendencies means they require plenty of attention, exercise/enrichment, and training! These...
Behind the Breed: Siberian Cats.
This very friendly and affectionate cat breed comes from the taiga of Siberia, which is a forested area with snow and a subarctic climate. Siberian cats have been known in Russia for over 1,000 years and are even found in some Russian folktales! Many other cultures...
Behind the Breed: Basset Hounds
With large domed heads, floppy ears, sad eyes, and a long body, Basset Hounds are truly one of a kind and instantly recognizable! These dogs are part of the hound breed ground, as you might have guessed, and despite their awkward framing, they're powerful and able to...
Behind the Breed: Scottish Fold Cats.
Scottish Fold Cats are, as you might imagine, cats with unusual folded ears and while their lopped ears make these cats look like owls, these cats are sweet, loving companions for any person or family! The name of this breed also points to the country of origin, as...
Behind the Breed: Orpington Chickens
Orpington chickens are, in my opinion, some of the best backyard chickens. Like Rhode Island Reds, these chickens are a dual purpose breed and can regularly produce great eggs! There are several full sized and bantam varieties but one of the most common is the Buff...
Behind the Breed: Black Russian Terriers
Black Russian Terriers are, despite having the name of terrier, large and powerful dogs! They have long, coarse all-black coats that don't shed that much but need weekly brushing. This breed is relatively new and still fairly rare but given the right training and...
Behind the Breed: Rhode Island Reds.
Over the past few weeks, I've been writing about the history, characteristics, and care of different cat and dog breeds. Knowing the general characteristics of different breeds can give pet owners a sense of what to expect with different cats and dogs, especially in...
Behind the Breed: Salish Wool Dog
In the 'Behind the Breed' for Labrador Retrievers, I mentioned that labs came from a now extinct St. Johns Dog. The St. Johns Dog isn't the first nor is it the only dog breed to go extinct. Over time, breeds of dogs have shifted and changed, which has meant that there...
Behind The Breed: Australian Shepherds
Not only are Australian Shepherds incredibly adorable, they're also known to be smart, exuberant, and work-oriented! These dogs are medium in size and are usually 40-65 pounds. Aussie coats come in different colors and patterns; one Aussie pattern is merle, a...
Behind the Breed: Norwegian Forest Cats
Norwegian Forest Cats are large, semi-longhaired cats that have a long history in their native Norway, where they're called 'skogkatt' (which literally translates to forest cat!). These cats have been recorded in Norway for at least 500 years but have been around for...