AFFENPINSCHER ffenpinschers fall into the category of dog breeds commonly known as „toy A breeds‟. These dogs are quite similar to terriers. They weigh between 7-9 pounds (3-4 kg) and are not higher than 11 inches (24-30 cm). They have harsh, rough coats and their expression is sometimes called monkey-like. This is also how they get their name because „Affe‟ means monkey in German. The coat forms a mane over the shoulders and the head and is shaggy in these areas. Over the hind and back quarters the coat is typically much shorter. The texture of the coat is wiry. In the UK, the only acceptable coat color is black, but the American Kennel Club also accepts silver, gray, red and tan, and belge (a mixture of black, white and red hairs). Black is the preferred color for most clubs and kennels. These dogs don‟t shed very much and frequent grooming will usually keep their surroundings free of loose fur. By appearance, these dogs are common associated to terriers, but by temperament, they seem to belong more to the pinscher-schnauzer group of dogs. This breed gets along well with other pets and animals, thus differentiating it from terriers. They are curious, active, stubborn and adventurous. They are also fun loving and playful by nature. They are affectionate towards family members and can get very protective. These dogs really enjoy being part of a family. However, they are difficult to house-break and need consistent, patient training. These dogs also tend to become easily bored, so the training routine should be made as varied as possible. These dogs are reasonably territorial about their food and their toys. For this reason, they are not recommended to have around really young children. Mostly quiet 1 | P a g e by nature, these dogs can become very aggressive if threatened or cornered. Affenpinschers are best kept in families that like shows and have a sense of humor. The average lifespan of these dogs is 11.4 years. This is the typical lifespan of a pure bred dog but lower when compared to other dogs of the same size. The most commonly known causes of death are old age and urologic reasons. This breed is also vulnerable to hip dysplasia and collapsed trachea (in which the cartilaginous rings of the trachea collapse, thus flattening the trachea). The latter is an ailment found in many small dogs and is usually associated with obesity. Some cases of cataract have also been reported in Affecpinschers. As the name suggests, these dogs are German by origin. They date back to the 17th century. This breed is commonly thought to be older than both Miniature Schnauzers and Brussels Griffons, which are both well known varieties of toy breeds. Since the 1600s, dogs of the Affenpinscher type have been known. These dogs, however, were larger and came in colors like fawn, black and tan, and grey and tan. The breed was developed to be ratters and was used to free buildings (specifically kitchens, stables and granaries) of rodents. 2 | P a g e AFGHAN GREYHOUND ith this afghan greyhound is the same as other breeds of ancient W origin, which are surrounded by legends. It is said, that Noah himself put a couple of Afghans into his ark, which would make them the oldest dogs on earth. It probably is a descendent of the ancient Egyptian greyhound which was used in hunting large game. From 1888, in which a British Army Official took a couple of Afghans to England, is development began in Europe and its spread throughout the world. PHYSICAL TRAITS of the AFGHAN GREYHOUND The male‟s height should not exceed 74 cm, the females are 6 cm shorter and the weight is between 25 and 30 kg, measurements that make the afghan greyhound a large dog, with a solid body with a well defined rib cage. It is harmonious, very elegant, wide skulled, elongated muzzle, an undefined stop and black or liver red nose, according to the coat color. The eyes are dark, oblique, and almost triangular; and the ears are droopy. The fur is very long and fine throughout the body, except in the face where it is short and sense, except for the head that exhibits a longer tuft and a beard with bristles, denominated mandarins. There are no defined colors in the standard and every color is admitted. One of the most peculiar traits is its peculiar stride movements, the head is erect with a distinguished air and the elastic step of its stride is long. When it runs, the afghan is able to change direction feinting in even 90° without slowing down. TEMPERAMENT AND ADAPTATION of the AFGHAN GREYHOUND: Its training should be firm, but not brusque. The afghan is a peaceful animal that, although it is affectionate to the family, it is no effusive, but its love and loyalty to the 3 | P a g e owner is unquestionable. It can seem selfish especially with strangers, which it truly despises. It has a great sense of comfort that is why it is important that its place in the home is defined from the beginning. It adapts to the home, preferably if it has a garden. EXERCISE AND CARE required for a AFGHAN GREYHOUND: The fur requires much care: soft brushing every day and periodical professional care. It needs to exercise regularly besides daily walks. 4 | P a g e AFRICANIS he Africanis is actually an umbrella name for all aboriginal dogs from South Africa. This T group is generally not recognized as a breed. Its exact origin is unknown, but these dogs are widely believed to be the descendants of hounds and pariah dogs of ancient Africa. They were possibly brought into the Nile Valley from the Levant. In Swahili language, this breed is called „umbwa wa ki-shenzi‟ which means traditional dog or common mongrel. These dogs are medium sized and have short coats. They are muscular and more long than tall. They can be found in various colors. Some dogs may come with a ridgeback. There is no certain standard for the appearance of these dogs. They are ideally suited to the climate and terrain of Africa. The beauty of these dogs lies in the simplicity and adaptability of their bodies. These dogs are slender built, active, capable of great speeds and supple. These dogs have a friendly temperament and can be good guard dogs without being overly aggressive. They are independent by nature, but respond well to training. They usually make good pets and are safe to have around the house. They are also easy to maintain because their coats need almost no special care. Over hundreds of years, these dogs have developed strong immune systems which help them to resist internal and external parasites. They are naturally aligned to being around humans from their long history of thriving around ancient tribal settlements. The earliest known presence of this group has been traced to Egypt in around 4700 BC. They then spread rapidly along the Nile into Sudan and elsewhere. Human migrations and trade took these dogs deep into the Sahara desert. The concept of domestic dogs first arrived in South Africa with the Bantu people in the early Iron Age. Since then, the gene pool of the Africanis has been enriched by a wide variety of hounds. Purer breeds of Africanis are still found in tribal areas which have been 5 | P a g e relatively untouched by the modern world. A steep decline in the popularity of these dogs as pets has endangered their future to some extent. For this reason, the Kennel Union of Southern Africa has recognized these dogs as an emerging breed. The purpose of this organization is to preserve the natural features of these dogs, rather than develop new breeds. These dogs have been valued by traditional African tribes for their intelligence, loyalty, hardiness and hunting skills. What makes these dogs unique is the fact that they were shaped by natural causes, rather than human breeding efforts. In present times, it has become increasingly clear that these dogs are indigenous to the African continent and not merely mongrels of Western types. For a thousand years before any Western influence entered Africa, these dogs were accompanying tribal African hunters and were very common in Southern Africa. Foreign influence on this breed happened only in the 19th century. The Greyhound was a particularly popular choice for cross breeding. In Zulu language, such crosses are known as Ibhanzi. 6 | P a g e AIDI he Aidi, also known as Chien de l‟Atlas is a Moroccan dog breed typically used to guard herds of sheep and T goats. This dog is also known for its hunting skills and has good scenting ability. They are used together in hunting with the Sloughi breed of dogs. The Sloughi will typically chase down prey that the Aidi has located by scent. These dogs are historically found in the mountains of North Africa where their primary use was to guard property and livestock from predators like jackals, wolves, foxes and snakes. Their keen sense of smell made them useful additions to nomadic caravans in the Sahara desert, where these dogs would be help to track prey. Aidis can be about 21-25 inches (53-63 cm) tall and weigh about 55 pounds (25 kg). Their muscular, lean bodies are covered by a think, coarse, weather-proof coat and their tails are heavily plumed. The head looks somewhat bear-like and in good proportion to the rest of the body.