Origin:
The West Highland White Terrier, affectionately knowns as 'The Westie' originates from Scotland. They are in fact, simply a white Cairn Terrier, that came about when a Scottish breeder had some white pups within his Cairn Terrier litters. He continued to breed these white pups and created the Westie. 
 
Purpose:
The Westie was used as a working dog to control vermin issues as well as foxes, badgers and otters. 

Coat care:
The Westie is equip with a double coat however they shed very little hair. The breed requires a clip every 4 or so months and brushing every other day. Their coat is good at repelling dirt and mess and only requires bathing when needed. 

Health & Temperament:
The boldness from their original ancestors has not escaped the Westies we know of today. They are a confident, sturdy and determined little dog. It's important they have rules and boundaries set in place from a young age to avoid little dog syndrome. In general, they are great with kids and robust enough to keep up with them for some playtime. Without balanced training and good socialisation, they can become destructive.  They enjoy companionship and are an easy breed to train.
The breed can be prone to liver issues, hip issues and diabetes. They are often sensitive to certain foods which can cause skin issues too. 

​Origin:
Their name is a bit of a giveaway – the PWD originated in Portugal.
The breed was created from mixing a number of working dogs from the Iberian Peninsula, to create the perfect dog companion for fisherman.
 
Purpose:
The PWD was used as a working dog for fisherman and were capable of many different tasks including herding and catching fish, transporting messages between ships as well as retrieving items from the water.
 

Coat care:
When in full coat, the PWD requires a good brush every few days. A distinct clip the PWD are known for is the ‘lion clip.’
Originally this was used to help them move through water and dry quickly, with fur only kept around their vital organs to avoid them suffering in the cold water.
They are a great option for allergy sufferers as they as considered a hypo-allergenic dog. Their coat is slow growing and does not require frequent clipping.  

Health & Temperament:
The PWD is a great family pet. They are a fun loving dog who is loyal to their pack. They have plenty of energy to burn and can be very playful but also very relaxed and calm natured when their needs are met.
As their name is history suggests, they love water! Water play and exercise included in their routine will keep them very happy and pleased. They are very intelligent and easy to train, responding best to calm pack leader.
The breed isn’t prone to many health issues although hip dysplasia can occur.
Their average life span is between 10 – 14 years.    

Origin:
The first Pomeranians bred, in the early 1800’s weighed up to 13kgs and were used as sheep herders. They were developed by breeding several ancient Spitz breeds together.
It wasn’t until the late 1800’s when Queen Victoria began showing and breeding the Pomeranian that she started to breed them down in size to the dog we know today.

Purpose:
Starting off as sheep herding and guard dogs, the Pomeranian we know today is more suited to agility tasks and performing tricks, making them popular as show dogs.  

Coat care:
The Pomeranian’s long, thick, double coat requires daily maintenance to avoid matting and skin problems. It should be brushed thoroughly daily as well as daily eye cleaning as they are prone to discharge build up. They shed all year round with twice yearly undercoat sheds.

Health & Temperament:
The Pom, as common with other smaller breeds of dogs, are prone to a luxating patella (dislocating kneecap.) This is something that can easily correct itself, sometimes with human assistance so its important owners are educated in this.  Skin and heart problems are often seen within the breed too. They are also prone to eye and teeth conditions so regular check-ups at the vet can help prevent these develop into serious issues.
They are a high energy, bouncy breed of dog. They are very smart, willing to learn and need to be set boundaries from a young age, to avoid an unruly, dominant, bossy dog developing. With rules and boundaries in place, you will have a very loving, loyal and calm companion. Their size makes them ideal for smaller households, providing they get regular daily walks, even if only short.
They are a very brave breed of dog, with no fear. It’s important they are socialised from a young age to avoid aggression issues as an adult. They can also act as a good guard dog, having no hesitation in using their voice to warn off any strangers.
Their life expectancy is around 15 years. 

The Dachshund, pronounced “dak -sund” also known as the Sausage Dog or Weiner Dog, is a small dog, with short legs and a long body. The name Dachshund is of German orient and means “Badger Dog”.
Dachshunds originated in Germany and were used to hunt badgers and other burrowing animals like rabbits. Their short legs, long snouts and deep chests enabled them to run fast, and have plenty of stamina whilst hunting. Dachshunds also have quite loose skin, to ensure that they didn’t tear their skin whilst tunneling in constricted burrows.
Dachshunds come in three different sizes, standard, miniature and rabbit, however the “rabbit” size is not recognised in some countries. They have three different types of coats, the shorthaired, longhaired or wirehaired. The Dachshunds coats come in many different colours, 15 to be exact! Some of them are Red, Black & Tan, Chocolate, Dapple, Sable and Fawn to name a few.
The first sign of a Dachshund traces all the way back to ancient Egypt where there have been etchings found of short legged hunting dogs, and up until recently when this was just a myth, there have now been mummified Dachshund like dogs found in burial urns.
Dachshunds are a traditionally viewed as the symbol of Germany, and were frequently used in propaganda during WWI and WWII, causing their popularity to drop dramatically. In 1972 at the Munich Games, the Dachshund became the first ever Olympic Mascot, his name was Waldi, and the route for the marathon event was even designed to resemble Waldi.
Health wise, the Dachshund are prone to back injuries due to their long spine and short rib cage. Dachshunds should not jump on and off furniture and their weight should be well maintained to ensure that these injuries are less likely to occur.
Dachshunds are lovely, loyal dogs, they are playful but can at times be known to be stubborn, and can be known to be aggressive towards strangers. Despite their small stature they are very courageous and will take on animals that are much bigger than they are! A Dachshund owner needs to be firm and persistent when it comes to their training.
Dachshunds are recommended for families with older children, who can assist in the training and keeping the “pack mentality” going. With the correct leadership they will get along well with children and other pets.
If you think a Dachshund would make the perfect pet for you and your family, you will not regret it, they are truly wonderful companions.

The Tamaruke is a selectively bred dog, created over 30 years to provide a non-shedding companion pet. Their coat and size can be compared to that seen in an ‘Oodle’ type dog however the Tamaruke is not a designer breed of dog and stands as their own breed.
The Tamaruke has been bred only for the reason of a suitable family pet, not as a show dog and is described by it’s breeders as a loyal, easily trainable and naturally intelligent breed of dog with the big positive of being a non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog that produces no ‘doggy odour’ even when wet.

The Cavoodle is a small, purpose bred “Designer Breed” that is cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Miniature Poodle. Whilst they are not a new breed, they have certainly become very popular over the past 10 or so years.
Cavoodles are affectionate, playful and energetic. However, if you have a smaller backyard, they find themselves quite content! (Of course, still needing walks and exercise).
The Cavoodle, being cross bred with a Poodle means that their coat is hypoallergenic and they do not malt. This does mean however that they require regular grooming, every 6 – 8 weeks and regular brushing to keep their coat neat and tidy.
Their coat comes in a variety of colours such as red, white, black, gold, tri-colour and blenheim just to name a few!
Cavoodles are very gentle and loving and actually prefer the company of humans over other dogs! As they are generally quite small, they are suitable companions for small children and other small pets, and have been known to become very strongly attached to specific people in their human family! They can be known to have a short attention span as puppies, but with constant and consistent training they will quickly learn the house rules!
They are wonderful family members. Their inquisitive nature will keep everybody entertained and would make a great addition to any family looking for some four-legged love!

Standard Poodles have been around for hundreds of years though the Toy Poodle is a more recent variation mainly bred for companionship in England around the 19th century.
Poodles come in three size varieties: Standards should be more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder; Miniatures are 15 inches or under; Toys stand no more than 10 inches.
They are prone to developing small dog syndrome and can become very snappy, stubborn and bark a lot if they feel they are the pack leader. A calm and assertive owner is recommended for this particular breed.
Litter sizes for Toy poodles are generally 3-4 pups and the average life span is 12-15 years. Though they are small they do still require a daily walk and enjoy playtimes.
Toy Poodles can vary in colours and can be black, white, silver, grey, apricot or red. They have a short curly coat that does not shed. Grooming is required approximately every 6 weeks along with regular brushing to avoid any mats, which will maintain their coat to look neat and tidy.