Rafeiro do Alentejo
confident / calm / powerful
About the Breed
The Rafeiro do Alentejo is an excellent farm and estate watch dog. He is also a very useful livestock protector, being more vigilant at night and very serious when guarding territory or any other property entrusted to him. He has a calm and confident expression. Since the beginning of the breed's history, Rafeiros Alentejanos were used in packs as hunting dogs for big game, though this function has gradually disappeared over time. More recently, the breed is a guard dog for property and livestock, watching sheep and cattle. They also often work alone in prairies and will defend the herd against any intruders. Hailing from Portugal, the Rafeiro do Alentejo is a large-sized dog, powerful, rustic, sober, and calm. He moves with a heavy, slow roll. His coat is short or medium-length and thick, straight and dense. They can be black, wolf grey, or fawn, with or without brindling, always with white markings; or white with patches of these colors.
Rat Terrier
friendly / inquisitive / lovable
About the Breed
An American original, with a breed name said to be coined by Teddy Roosevelt, the Rat Terrier is a compact, tough, smooth-coated exterminator dog. RTs come in two size varieties and are happy-go-lucky, playful, and portable companions. Balanced, compactly built Rat Terriers are tough but elegant-looking. There are two size divisions: Miniatures stand 10 to 13 inches at the shoulder; standards are over 13 inches and as high as 18 inches. The smooth, shiny coat comes in varieties of pied patterns. (Pied, a word borrowed from the horseman's lexicon, means 'comparatively large patches of one or more colors in combination with white.') These smoothly muscled exterminators are constructed for the efficient movement required for a long day's work.
Redbone Coonhound
eager to please / even-tempered / amiable
About the Breed
The streamlined Redbone Coonhound, an American original, is even-tempered, mellow, and kindly at home but a tiger on the trail. Vigorous activities like hunting and swimming between long periods of rest is the rhythm of coonhound life. Redbones are medium-to-large hound dogs whose muscles undulate beneath a sleek and stunning red coat. The overall impression is that a master sculptor carved them from blocks of the finest mahogany. The classically houndy head is flanked by ears long enough to reach the nose. Dreamy brown eyes give the face an expression described by the breed's devotees as 'pleading.' Bred to work on all kinds of punishing terrain, Redbones are fast and surefooted and move with a proud, determined gait.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
dignified / affectionate / even-tempered
About the Breed
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is an all-purpose 'Renaissance hound' whose hallmark is the ridge, or stripe of backward-growing hair, on his back. Though the breed was made famous in its native Africa for its skill at tracking and baying, but never, ever killing, lions, today Ridgebacks are cherished family dogs whose owners must be prepared to deal with their independence and strong prey drive. Beneath the Ridgeback's trademark ridge is a whole lot of hound: Ridgebacks are fast and powerful athletes who can weigh between 70 and 85 pounds, and oftentimes more. They come in only one color, wheaten, which spans every shade seen in a wheat field, from pale flaxen to the burnished red of a maturing crop. Ridgebacks also have two nose colors: black and the less commonly seen brown. The formidable Ridgeback can be strong-willed, independent, and sometimes domineering. Ridgebacks must be guided with a firm but a fair hand from puppyhood. They are faithful friends, protective of their loved ones, and meltingly affectionate with those whom they trust. Still, a Ridgeback can be too much hound for the novice dog owner.
Romanian Carpathian Shepherd
loyal / brave
About the Breed
The Romanian Carpathian Shepherd dog is a natural guardian, very courageous and loyal, distinguishing itself by its unconditional attachment and devotion to the whole family, or the herd it protects and to its master. The Carpathian is a dignified, proud, calm, and balanced dog. The Romanian Carpathian Shepherds are fierce guardians, brave, intelligent, loyal, and proud dogs that are also very playful, and fully devoted to their family and master - they will listen to all family, but recognize one human to be the ultimate master they will follow. The Carpathians are large, double coated dogs, gray wolf-like in color, very agile and powerful. They are extremely efficient working dogs, naturally selected to guard and protect herds and flocks from the large numbers of gray wolves, brown bears and other predators housed in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, the dogs playing an important role in maintain a balanced, natural habitat between humans, domesticated animals, and wild predators in the area.
Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog
independent / loyal / confident guardian
About the Breed
The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog origins come from near the Carpathian Mountains. The breed is very impressive in size and character. Used for centuries to guard livestock in its homeland of Romania, the Mioritic Sheepdog is a typical Livestock Guarding Dog (LGD). Loyal, reliable, independent, and fiercely protective, he is friendly and devoted to his family but very mistrusting of strangers. It is a large dog with long coat which requires regular grooming, and with any dog of this size and temperament requires daily exercise and basic obedience training. Mioritics are lively and stubborn but in spite of all their independence they are very sensitive creatures in their furry armor. As puppies they stick to the pack which has accepted them. This can be any kind of creature ' dog, cat, horse, sheep, the Mioritic needs very close family ties; a house without doors it thinks would be ideal. This certainly depends a great deal on the weather. Its favorite place is always very close to its favorite person. It determines its resting place itself. This may even be the couch or a carpet not suitable for dogs, but as a rule shepherds, even as puppies, prefer to sleep on hard ground. They need no dog baskets, no special mattresses and by no means an allocated place. No 'work creating' program is necessary but daily walks and hikes provide exciting variation.
Rottweiler
loyal / loving / confident guardian
About the Breed
The Rottweiler is a robust working breed of great strength descended from the mastiffs of the Roman legions. A gentle playmate and protector within the family circle, the Rottie observes the outside world with a self-assured aloofness. A male Rottweiler will stand anywhere from 24 to 27 muscular inches at the shoulder; females run a bit smaller and lighter. The glistening, short black coat with smart rust markings add to the picture of imposing strength. A thickly muscled hindquarters powers the Rottie's effortless trotting gait. A well-bred and properly raised Rottie will be calm and confident, courageous but not unduly aggressive. The aloof demeanor these world-class guardians present to outsiders belies the playfulness, and downright silliness, that endear Rotties to their loved ones. (No one told the Rottie he's not a toy breed, so he is liable plop onto your lap for a cuddle.) Early training and socialization will harness a Rottie's territorial instincts in a positive way.
Russell Terrier
alert / inquisitive / lively
About the Breed
Upbeat, lively, inquisitive, and friendly, the jaunty Russell Terrier was developed by England's "Sporting Parson" for use in foxhunts. The adorable Russell Terrier looks like a plush toy come to life but is an eager, tireless working terrier. These jaunty little fellows pack lots of personality into a compact, rectangular body standing 10 to 12 inches at the shoulder. Their dark, almond-shaped eyes and mobile V-shaped ears bring out the keenly intelligent expression'an endearing hallmark of the breed. All three coat types are mostly white with markings that are tan or black, or both. Russells move with a free, effortless gait that announces the breed's innate confidence.
Russian Toy
loyal / charming / smart
About the Breed
The Russian Toy is a small, elegant, lively dog with long legs, fine bones and lean muscles. They are active and cheerful, possessing keen intelligence and a desire to please. This breed loves to snuggle and be close to their human companions, although sometimes slightly aloof to strangers. They are neither cowardly nor aggressive. The Russian Toy is a toy breed with a lineage that dates back to the Russian aristocracy. In general, he is a good-natured imp that loves to run and play. They will dash through the house or yard chasing toys as long as you can keep up, while many others are willing to do nothing more than lounge in your lap all day long, content in knowing that they are the prize jewel in your home. They thrive on human companionship and will let you know if they are feeling neglected. Their coat is either semi-long or smooth. The longhaired variety carries a nice ruff on the chest and unique feathering on the extremities, tail and ears. Long-coated Russian Toys will not have an adult coat until it is more than a year old and full fringing not until three years of age. The smooth-coated variety is sleek and smooth to the touch. There is also a slight attitude difference between the two varieties. Smooth Coats tend to be a little more terrier-like than Long Coats. However, both share a larger-than-life personality.
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka
playful / charming / inquisitive
About the Breed
Russkaya Tsvetnaya Bolonka translates to "Russian Colored Lapdog." Bolonki were originally bred to be the ultimate house pet for apartment living. Sweet, loving, intelligent, and willing to please, he is friendly to all and shows no sign of aggression. The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, or Bolonka for short, is a member of the Bichon family that was almost extinct until after the Cold War. It is a small companion dog that is funny, clever beyond words and intensely loyal to its family. Some are excellent mimics; others are content to sit by the door and monitor who is allowed in or out. Spirited, yet easy-going and sociable, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is great with children. Although they are quick to alert, they will not be a constant barker with early training on appropriate behavior. They are fairly independent for a toy breed and require early socialization with people. However, Bolonki do get along well with dogs and other animals. Very clever and smart, they do well in formal training such as obedience, rally, tracking and agility when trained with a firm, but gentle, hand.