Weimaraner
friendly / fearless / obedient
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About the Breed
The Weimaraner, Germany's sleek and swift 'Gray Ghost,' is beloved by hunters and pet owners alike for their friendliness, obedience, and beauty. They enjoy exercise, and plenty of it, along with lots of quality time with their humans. Instantly recognized by a distinctive silvery-gray coat, male Weimaraners stand 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder, and females 23 to 25 inches. A properly bred Weimaraner will be solid colored, with maybe a small white spot on the chest. The face, with its amber or blue-gray eyes framed by long velvety ears, is amiable and intelligent. Overall, the breed presents a picture of streamlined grace and balance. A well-conditioned Weimaraner on point is a breathtaking sight. Weimaraners are excellent with kids and yearn to be full-fledged family members. Easy grooming, trainability, a loving nature, and a can-do-attitude make them excellent pets, as long as owners are committed to keeping them physically active and mentally engaged.
Welsh Springer Spaniel
reserved / happy / upbeat
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About the Breed
The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a vigorous, medium-sized bird dog of happy disposition, known for versatility in the field, companionability at home, and dashing good looks anywhere. The Welshie is among Britain's oldest sporting breeds. Standing between 17 and 19 inches at the shoulder, Welshies are described by their fans as being of 'handy size': bigger and stronger than Cocker Spaniels but smaller than English Springers. Welshies have two hallmarks that distinguish them from other spaniels: A uniquely tapered head and an eye-catching coat of bold red and white patterns. The beautiful coat isn't just ornamental'it's a waterproof, weatherproof, and thornproof suit that enables Welshies to show off their renowned versatility in all climates and on all terrains.
Welsh Terrier
intelligent / friendly / spirited
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About the Breed
The Welsh Terrier is as alert and spirited as any self-respecting terrier, but a bit calmer than most''game, not quarrelsome,' as breed fanciers say. The Welshman was bred to do battle with badgers, otters, and other dangerous opponents. Sturdy, compact, and rugged, with a tight-fitting black-and-tan coat and a rectangular head featuring folded ears and a jaunty beard, Welsh are constructed along the classic lines of Britain's long-legged terriers. They stand about 15 inches at the shoulder, a little larger than the Lakeland Terrier but much smaller than the mighty Airedale. All three breeds, however, share a family resemblance: An ancient breed called the Old English Black and Tan Terrier is thought to be the granddaddy of these and some other British terriers.
West Highland White Terrier
loyal / happy / entertaining
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About the Breed
Smart, confident, and always entertaining at play, the adorable West Highland White Terrier (Westie, for short) has charmed owners for over 300 years. This diminutive but sturdy earthdog is among the most popular of the small terriers. Standing 10 to 11 inches at the shoulder, with dark piercing eyes, compact body, and a carrot-shaped tail wagging with delight, the Westie's looks are irresistible. Beneath the plush-toy exterior, though, is a true working terrier of gameness and courage. Bred to hunt rats and other underground rodents, Westies are surprisingly strong and tough. The all-white double coat is hard to the touch, not soft and fluffy. Alert and active, Westies exhibit traits of a plucky and self-reliant ratting terrier: They require no pampering, they will chase after anything that moves, and their independence can make training a challenge. But, thanks to their faithfulness and keen intelligence, Westies will train nicely with time and patience.
Wetterhoun
loyal / intelligent / good-natured
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About the Breed
The Wetterhoun, although originally bred for hunting otters, now make excellent companions, watchdogs, and can excel in a variety of sports due to their perseverant nature. The Wetterhoun is almost never seen apart from its owner; they enjoy their company as much as the owner enjoys theirs.
Whippet
playful / affectionate / calm
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About the Breed
The sleek, sweet-faced Whippet, the 'Poor Man's Racehorse,' is lightning quick. He is an amiable, dignified, and gentle soul, but give him something to chase and he's all business. The name Whippet is synonymous with streamlined grace. At somewhere between 18 and 22 inches at the shoulder, the Whippet looks like a Greyhound, but smaller. The Whippet exhibits the classic 'inverted S' lines of the sighthound. The deep chest and trim waist; a lean head supported by a long, arched neck; and slim but sturdy legs combine in a picture of an agile, fleet-footed athlete. Between bursts of intense pursuit, Whippets love to stretch out and relax for long hours, enjoying the role of a loving, and loved, companion. Whippets like a fenced yard to run in, but they do nicely in cozy apartments too'as long as they are exercised properly. Another plus for city dwellers: Whippets rarely bark. Despite the breed's elegant looks, the Whippet is a robust, low-maintenance dog.
Wire Fox Terrier
alert / confident / gregarious
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About the Breed
The Wire Fox Terrier breed standard says they should be 'on the tip-toe of expectation at the slightest provocation.' Once a mainstay of traditional British foxhunts, today's Wire is a handsome and amusing companion and master show dog. The Wire Fox Terrier, 16 to 18 pounds of coiled energy is a sturdy, symmetrical, short-backed hunter with fire and intelligence shining in its dark, round eyes. The predominantly white coat is rough and wiry; the V-shaped ears are neatly folded forward, the better to point up the face's distinctive, and completely irresistible, expression. Wires are delightful pets for families looking for an upbeat, friendly companion with loads of personality. As terriers, they possess the typical independence and prey drive of this feisty canine clan. They are smart and companionable; training can be a challenge but by no means impossible. Excellent athletes, natural comedians, and charming housemates, Wires are long-lived and low-shedding.
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
friendly / devoted / trainable
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About the Breed
The hardworking Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, renowned as the 'supreme gundog,' is known for the harsh, low-shedding coat the breed is named for. Outgoing, eager, and quick-witted, Griffs are incomparable in the field and loving at home. Griffs are medium-sized, all-purpose gundogs standing no higher than 24 inches at the shoulder. They're known for an extremely harsh and bristly coat that gives them a natural, unkempt appearance. The preferred color is steel gray with brown markings. A lavish mustache and eyebrows frame large, rounded eyes that gleam with a keen intelligence. Griffs are the very picture of an honest, hardworking sporting dog, whose handsome looks are the result of a noble and unaffected ruggedness rather than fussy grooming.
Wirehaired Vizsla
loyal / gentle / trainable
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About the Breed
The Wirehaired Vizsla is an exuberant hunter on land or lake, whose dense, wiry coat distinguishes him from his close cousin, the Vizsla. Calm and gentle around the house, these upbeat Hungarians like running, swimming, and upbeat play. WVs are close relatives of Vizslas but a distinctly separate breed. The key distinguishing feature is coat type. Unlike the sleek Vizsla, WVs have a dense wiry coat, with a shaggy beard and eyebrows setting off a bright, lively expression. Both Vizsla breeds are classified as medium-sized, but an ideal WV will stand a shade taller and be a bit heavier than his smooth-coat cousin. The two breeds share the same striking red coloring (golden-rust), with a nose and eyes that smartly complement the coat.
Working Kelpie
alert / intelligent / eager
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About the Breed
The Working Kelpie is extremely alert, eager and highly intelligent. He possesses an open, friendly, active but placid disposition with a good balance between keenness to work and ability to relax. With an almost inexhaustible energy, the Working Kelpie has a marked loyalty and devotion to work and a strongly-inherited natural instinct and aptitude in working sheep and other livestock, both in open country and in the yards. The overall appearance of the Working Kelpie is that of a medium-sized, lithe, active, strongly-muscled dog conveying the capability of untiring work. He has been successfully used to manage a variety of stock, including reindeer, goats, cattle and of course sheep. Kelpies in Sweden have gained police dog titles and have pulled sleds. They are also being widely used as search and rescue dogs. Kelpies need companionship. Though he can be content to stay for hours on the chain, he also needs to be with you for some time each day and needs exercise, walks or games with a ball or a stick. One cannot expect this dog, which has been bred to work, to stay outside the house without any mental or physical stimulation. Inevitably, he will set about looking for an occupation, which could include chasing cars, trying to 'work' them as he would control sheep. A Working Kelpie makes a fine family dog, gets along well with 'his' children and, because they are naturally gentle, almost all Working Kelpies live peaceably with other family pets.