GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Approx. 23-28cm (9”-11”).
Colour: Black/white or red/white. Markings to be even.
Coat: Profuse, long, soft, straight and silky.
Gait: Forelegs lifted high and straight with strong hind drive.
The stylish movement and pretty markings make this member of the toy family aristocrats in the showring. A hallmark of the breed is their expression of astonishment, a feature which is caused by showing the white of the inner corners of the eye. The broad skull is round and the very short muzzle is well cushioned. The well feathered ears are high set and pendant.
The proudly carried neck runs into a square, compact body on which the well plumed tail is carried over the back. The slender legs and well angulated hindquarters finish with well feathered long feet.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Like many dogs whose origins lie in the far east of Asia, Japanese Chins have a mind of their own and can be quite aloof at times. This independence and ability to use their own initiative in no way restricts their intelligence or their need for love. They make excellent pets for the elderly but are rather too small and dainty for young children. Regular grooming is necessary and when brushing, make certain to lift the coat so that each stroke starts from the root of the hair.
HISTORY
Sometimes known as the Japanese Spaniel, it is fairly certain that this breed has a blending of some Pekingese lines. Three of the major theories that have been presented to their actual origin are firstly being that they arrived with a Korean mission in 732 AD where they became an immediate success as a lap dog with the Japanese women. The second theory is that they arrived with teachers preaching Zen Buddhism‘ in about 520 AD, and the third, is that the Emperor of China gave a pair to the Emperor of Japan. One thing is certain - these dogs were originally restricted to Royal households where they were favoured by ladies of the court who carried them in their sleeves or in their hands.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 30-36cm (12”-14”). 
Colour: Pure white.
Coat: Outercoat - straight and stands away from the body. Undercoat should be profuse, soft and dense. There should be a good mane and a well covered tail.
Gait: Nimble, light and active. Fore and hindlegs should move straight and effortlessly.
The contrast between the profuse white coat and the black nose, lips and dark eyes, makes this a most attractive member of the spitz family. Ever alert with its small pricked ears, arched neck and bushy tail curled over its back, the whole appearance is one of flexibility and liveliness.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE 
These bold active dogs are natural herders and thrive on plenty of outings. They make excellent companions for young children and being nimble, they are able to look after themselves. Although wary of strangers at their first meeting, they accept them once their owners do. They are an ideal size for town apartments and have the added value of not barking overmuch.
Grooming needs to be done once a week with a pin brush that reaches through the coat to stop knots forming.
HISTORY 
Descending from the Arctic Spitz group of dogs they are characterised by their foxlike faces, prick ears and bushy tail normally carried over their backs. It is believed that a variety of these Nordic Spitz made their way to Japan with the migrating white Russians. Although they were bred in a number of other countries, it was in Japan where the breed flourished and as a result, took its name.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 43.2 to 43.7cm (17”-18”)
Colour: Mixture of grey and black hairs with cream areas. 
Coat: Harsh, offstanding and straight. Smooth on the muzzle and lower legs.
Gait: Clean, short brisk and sharp steps.
With their foxlike heads and confident carriage, these members of the Spitz family present a bold appearance. The dark eyes with the surrounding well defined ‘spectacles’ of lighter grey hair. The wedge shaped head carries small erect ears which show through the hair on the head. The neck with its large ruff, is arched and runs into a short, compact, square body. The high set tail with its black tip ends preferably in a double ring over the back. The hindquarters have profuse trousers and cream coloured catlike feet.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
While most breeds can claim to have had a useful purpose for their existence, the Keeshond does not. All this breed has to offer is a fantastic character which make them ideal companions. Their intelligence is remarkable and having been bred to live in confined spaces on Dutch barges, they must be agile, surefooted and nimble. Their clownish, slightly mischievous behaviour, makes them wonderful pets for energetic children. The coat needs a good brush once a week to keep it free of knots.
HISTORY
Like all breeds in the Spitz family, the origins of this breed are found in the Arctic Spitz. Originally known as the Dutch Barge dog, for over five centuries they travelled up and down the River Rhine with their Dutch owners. The title ‘Keeshond’ came from the Dutch patriot leader de Gyselaer’s dog who was called ‘Kees’, a dog who later became the symbol of his master’s political movement. However, after the suppression of this party by the Prince of Orange in 1576, the breed’s popularity decreased rapidly as their owners avoided political identification. Because of the Keeshond’s even temperament, loyalty, and the fact they would bark at unwanted intruders on the barges, the river boat captains maintained a nucleus of these dogs thus saving them from extinction.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 43-48cm (17”-19”)
Colour: Born black, by 18 months of age they should be any shade of blue with or without black points.
Coat: Soft, silky, plentiful and wavy. 
Gait: Smoothly co-ordinated with strong fore reach and hind propulsion. These neatly trimmed, wavy coated terriers catch one’s eye with their showy movement. The slight stop and very dark eyes are set mid-way between the proportionately long lean skull and the strong punishing jaws.
The ‘V’ shaped ears are set high but with more of the tips dropping forward than in other terriers. A relatively long neck with a short, straight back and an erect tail that is customary docked. The hindquarters are particularly powerful with well angulated stifles and small round feet.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Puppies are always born black and may take up to 18 months to break into blue. These spirited Irishmen need a firm hand during the puppy training period, but when their achievements are praised, the ultimate result is well worth the effort. The socialised and trained Kerry makes an adaptable, intelligent companion for life. While being protective of their family, they do recognize and accept those outsiders approved by their owners. Their coat neither sheds nor has any doggy odour. If not being shown, clipping or trimming about every 2 months should keep the Kerry looking presentable.
HISTORY
Taking their name from County Kerry in southern Ireland, the origin of this breed - like the Irish Terrier - is old and a little obscure. Some say they are the result of poodles left behind from the beached ships of the Spanish Armada and that some of these later crossed with the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (which would account for the Kerry’s soft silky coat), plus blends of Irish Terrier and possibly the Bedlington from across the Irish Sea. One thing is certain - these terriers made themselves invaluable to the farmers due to their rodent hunting abilities, herding skills and, possbily from their poodle ancestry, their ability to retrieve from both land and water.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Approx. 25cm (l0”).
Colour: Black/tan, Ruby (red), Tricolour and Blenheim (red and white).
Coat: Long silky with or without a slight wave and with good feathering.
Gait: Free flowing with strong fore and hind drive. 
These compact toy spaniels display happy, intelligent dispositions. The skull is large and must be well domed with a very short upturned muzzle which creates the undershot jaw. The large, dark, round eyes are set wide and low in the skull, and the well feathered ears hang to the side of the cheeks. Fore and hindquarters are well angulated and the legs must be straight. The chest is wide and must reach to the elbows. The well feathered tail may or may not be docked, and in movement is carried on the horizontal.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE 
Well suited to apartment living, these spaniels make excellent companions for young and old alike. Their sporting instincts should not be lost. They are highly intelligent, respect their owners’ moods and while alert, are not tiresomely active. While this breed does drop coat seasonally, this is not a major problem due to their size. Five to ten minutes once a week will keep the coat in good condition. The ears should be kept clean and the nails not permitted to get too long.
HISTORY
These spaniels share the same ancestry as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and were popular in both Europe and England 3-4 centuries ago. However, the English breeders preferred their spaniels to have shorter muzzles and, possibly through an infusion of the Japanese Chin and selective breeding, the head shape was changed so that ultimately in profile, the well cushioned muzzle appears almost flat. In the latter part of the 1920s, efforts were made to restore the longer nose variety of the original King Charles Spaniel. As this was successful, separation of the two types was necessary - the original and re established longer muzzled variety added the word ‘Cavalier’ to the title of King Charles Spaniel.