1) Origin
The origin of Hmong Bobtail dog is closely related to the history of Hmong people. Hmong people emigrated to the mountains of northern Vietnam from China in an attempt to escape the persecution by the chinese Qing dynasty. Many of them brought their working and companion dogs with them to their new homes and it is believed that the Hmong Bobtail Dog is a descendant of these dogs that were further crossed in northern Vietnam with local dogs.

​2) Native dogs of Vietnam
Today, the Hmong Bobtail Dog remains very rare and you can almost exclusively find it in northern Vietnamese provinces Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, Lào Cai, and Yên Bái. It is also one of the four native dogs of Vietnam, next to the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, Chó Lài and Chó Bắc Hà.

3) Working dog
For centuries, the Hmong Bobtail dog is a valuable working companion of Hmong people. They used this dog for controlling the livestock, protecting property and even for hunting small game. Today, the breed found utilization in police and military as well and they are sometimes used for patrolling the borders. This is very versatile dog that is known for its terrific memory which helped them in any kind of a job. They can easily remember difficult mountain and forest routes which helps them when patrolling, herding or hunting.

4) Companion
Of course, the Hmong Bobtail Dog is not only a superb worker. They also make wonderful family companions. They are known for their extreme loyalty, intelligence and they are pretty easy to train. They are also highly playful and affectionate towards its own family, but they are reserved and aloof around strangers. Due to their hunting ancestry, they are not the best choice for families with other household pets, but they can typically be socialized to live with other dogs without problems. Interestingly, The Hmong bobtail is said to the calmest of all Vietnamese breeds. It is very relaxed dog and they do not need high ammount of exercise.

5) Not for novices
It is also important to say, that the Hmong Bobtail Dog is not a good choice for novice dog owners. This is pretty strong dog with naturally protective and hunting instincts and it is crucial to properly train and socialize such dog from puppyhood, so they can turn into well-behaved and obedient adult dogs. I would definitely not recommend the Hmong Bobtail Dog to first time dog owner.

6) Size
This is a medium sized dog breed with muscular body and average height between 46-54 cm (18-21 in) and weight is usually between 16-26 kg (33-57 lb). The males are naturally slightly taller and heavier than females, but the difference is rather subtle.

7) Tail
Many people believe, that the bob-tail is always docked. But that is not true with the Hmong Bobtail Dog, whose tail is a natural bobtail and no docking is performed. The tail is typically 3-5 cm long (1,2-2 in), but sometimes it can grow up to 15 cm (6 in).

8) Coat
The coat of Hmong Bobtail Dog is typically medium long and it has soft and fluffy texture. The coat is very thick, providing protection from weather, cold temperature and underbrush in the woods. The color can wary quite a lot, but the most common colors are black, brown and white. Some dogs have a coat in one plain color, some have a mixture of colors and some can be brindle.

9) Maintenance
Speaking of the coat, it is important to mention the maintenance and grooming as well and luckily it is quite easy.The Hmong Bobtail Dog does shed seasonally and during that time it is better to brush their coat regularly to remove all the dead and loose hair and minimize the shedding. No other grooming is needed and the dog can take care of its coat by itself. Just like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.

10) Health
Last, but not least, lets talk about the health of Hmong Bobtail Dog. And great news is, that this breed is extremely healthy with superb resistance to diesaeses. The average lifespan is between 15 to 20 years and the only health issue are ocassionally missing teeth. Other than that, this breed does not suffer much from any serious health issues.

1) Ancestry
The Ultimate Mastiff originated from two ancient and extremely strong mastiff dogs. Those are the french Dogue de Bordeaux and italian Neapolitan Mastiff. Both dogs are known for having ancient history, many hundreads years old and both served as protectors, guards or even as war dogs. And you can see some traits of both of these dogs when you look at the Ultimate Mastiff.

​2) Utilization
As you can probably expect, even the Ultimate Mastiff can make good protector and guard, just like its ancestors. They can be easily trained to guard a property, and even their mere presence is most often enough to deter any intruder. They typically posses protective and kind of alert temperament. But that said, majority of Ultimate Mastiffs are rather living the life of spoiled companion pets, rather than life of working dogs.


3) Temperament
And indeed, the Ultimate Mastiff is not only protective and alert, but also totally loyal, affectionate and quite gentle. This makes them very good partners for older kids. They also should not have high prey drive, so they can typically live with other household pets without problem, but of course, this is vastly influenced by early socialization. These dogs are known to be pretty calm and relaxed indoors, they are definitely not hyperactive dogs.

4) Exercise
That said, this is not a total coach potatoe neither. The Ultimate Mastiff definitely needs daily proper exercise, both mental and physical. They love vigorous playtime, hiking or even swimming. These dogs are prone to gaining weight, so regular exercise is essential for them to stay in good shape. Without proper daily exercise they will become bored and potentionally develop some unwanted behaviour such as destruction. Few daily longer walks accompanied with some good playtime or fun training sessions are typically enough exercise for a day.

5) Training
The Ultimate Mastiff is extremely powerful, kind of strong headed, quite protective and territorial. And if you have dog with these characteristics, you must make sure that you know how to properly socialize and train a dog, otherwise you will have a big problem. The training is lets say moderatly hard, not the easiest and not the hardest. The Ultimate Mastiff understands new commands quickly and they are able to learn all the basic obedience commands easily. Just like with all dogs, you will have the best results with positive training, by rewarding the dog for good behaviour. I would definitely not suggest this dog for novice and unexperienced owners, you should have some experiences with dogs prior before getting the Ultimate Mastiff.

6) Size
The Ultimate Mastiff is characterized by wide chest, massive head, wrinkled face and overall very strong body. The average height is between 23-29 inches, which is 58-73 cm and weight between 120-160 lbs, which is 54-72 kg. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.

7) Coat and Color
The coat of Ultimate Mastiff is the same as coat of Dogue de Bordeaux and Neapolitan Mastiff. This means that they have short, straight and silky coat. The coat comes in various colors, the most typical are black, gray, brown or black and tan, blue or fawn.

8) Maintenance
Speaking of the coat lets mention the grooming and maintenance as well. These dogs shed moderatly and you should brush their coat regularly in order to minimize the shedding. No other grooming is needed. It is important to check their eyes, ears and nails and clip them or clean them if needed. You should also take extra care about the wrinkles and keep them clean and dry, so they do not develop any infections.

9) Recognition
The Ultimate Mastiff is not officially recognized by any major kennel club and most people view them as a crossbreed rather than a pure dogs. It is probably fair, as two Ultimate Mastiffs can have huge variety in size and in appearance, so indeed, it is better to categorize this dog as a cross.

10) Health
Both parent breeds of Ultimate Mastiff – the Dogue de Bordeaux and Italian Mastiff are not the healthiest dog breeds and even the Ultimate Mastiff can suffer from variety of health issues, such as hip and elbow dyslpasia, bloating, skin fold dermatitis or some eye problems. They should typically have slightly longer average lifespan than their ancestors, which should be around 10 or 11 years, which is actually quite good for dog of this size. ​

1) Origin
The history and origin of Segugio Italiano is lost in the past. It is believed that it is an ancient dog breed and there are ancient Roman statues portraying hunting dogs similar to Segugio Italiano. One theory claims, that the Segugio Italiano might be a descendant of Pharaoh Hounds of the Middle East, but it is impossible to verify this theory. For centuries, this dog breed was used as a skilled hunting and tracking dog. The Segugio Italiano was finally officially recognized in 1920s when the first breed standard was written.

​2) Two breeds
There are two, almost identical dogs, known as Segugio Italiano. They have the same personality, size, body type and purpose, but they differ in one main thing, and that is the coat type. The two breeds are known as Segugio Italiano a Pelo Forte and as Segugio Italiano a Pelo Raso. A genetic comparison found that these two breeds are almost indistinguishable and they are very close to other italian breeds as well, such as Segugio Maremmano.

3) Coat types
So what are the actual coat types of the two Segugio Italiano breeds. The first one is short coated type, with straight and dense coat. The second one is wire haired. This type has longer hair, up to 5 cm long (2 in) and the coat is smoother on the head, tail and legs. Two coat colors are officially recognized and those are any shade of fawn-coloured, varying from deep fox-red to very pale; and black-and-tan. They might have few white markings on the head or chest.

4) Hunting
The Segugio Italiano always had one main purpose, which he serves even today and that is of course hunting. Segugio Italiano main weapons on the hunt are its extremely good sense of smell and never ending stamina, they could really hunt all day long without tiring. These dogs are adaptable hunters and they hunt alone, but also in large packs. Their main quarry are hares, but they can be used to hunt larger prey as well, such as wild boar. The Segugio Italiano is known for its loud baying which he is using when pursuing the game.

5) Companions
Of course, the Segugio Italiano is not only a hunter, but also loving family pet. It is known for its kind and gentle character and they create strong bond with the family. Most of these dogs adore children and they will love to play with them, but it is always a must to supervise any actions between any dog breed and young child. If considering Segugio Italiano as a pet, you should be prepared for kind of independent and stubborn dog. They are intelligent and they will learn all the commands easily, but because of their independent mind, they dont always want to obey them. And of course, they are not the best for families with other household pets, as Segugio Italiano is natural born hunter with strong prey drive.

6) Exercise
As you can probably imagine from a dog that can hunt all day long, these dogs require quite a lot of exercise to stay healthy and happy. They will love daily long walks, jogs, hikes, vigorous playtime or fun traning sessions, anything that will occupy their mind and body. Without enough exercise, these dogs might develop unwanted behaviour such as excessive barking or destruction.

7) Size
This is very athletic dog breed with squared shaped body and with average height between 48-58 cm, which is 19-23 inch and weight is usually between 18-28 kg, which is 40-62 lbs. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.

8) Appearance
The Segugio Italiano has longish and oval head with large and almond shaped dark colored eyes with soft expression, large, triangular and hanging ears and thin tail that is set high and it is typically hanging at rest and it is raised above when the dog is at work or at any kind of action.

9) Maintenance
It is relatively easy to keep the coat of Segugio Italiano in good condition. As you already know, these dogs can have two coat types, the short and rough haired coat types. Both coats should be brushed regularly, lets say few times a week, to keep them clean and healthy. They do not need much bathing, only when it is really really necessary. You should take extra care about their long hanging ears and properly clean them and dry them so they do not develop any infections. And just like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, nails and teeth as well and keep them in good condition.

10) Health
The Segugio Italiano is usually very hardy and healthy dog breed with average lifespan around 13 years. There are no known health issues, which would be very common in this breed and they should typically not suffer from any serious genetic health issues. As i already mentioned, they might have problems with ear infections, ocassionally bloating or some joint problems, but as i said, this is usually very healthy dog breed.

1) Ancient dog
The Bankhar should not be called as a dog breed, but as a landrace. That means, that it evolved naturally over the time by adapting to its natural and cultural enviromnent. It is not a wild animal, it is still domesticated dog, but it can be said, that the Bankhar was not evolved by a man, but that it rather evolved next to a man. They co-evolved with humans for their specific utilization in specific environmental conditions. And it is undoubtedly extremely old and ancient dog, thousands of years old.

​2) Livestock guardian
Believed to be one of the oldest of all the livestock guardian dogs, the Bankhar may be considered the progenitor of all the livestock guardian dogs we have today. For thousands of years, nomadic Mongolian herders have relied on the Bankhar to protect their livestock from dangerous predators such as wolves and eagles. Bankhars live, sleep, and breathe alongside the livestock, willing to sacrifice their lives to ensure their safety. Most of the time, their mere presence is enough to deter intruders. They use their deep voice and scent marking to ward off potential predators. As livestock guardians, they are invaluable to Mongolian herders.

3) Special connection
The bond between the Bankhar and its owner is truly remarkable, often described as a strong and special connection. In Mongolia, Bankhar dogs are believed to possess a spirit similar to that of humans. There is a belief that Bankhar dogs can reincarnate as humans in their next life, and vice versa, which is considered a great honor. When a Bankhar passes away, its remains are traditionally placed on top of a mountain, bringing them closer to the gods. Bankhar dogs hold a special place among Mongolian nomadic families

4) Companion
While the Bankhar is a working dog, it is also a loving and loyal companion. They are never aggressive towards people and are docile and trustworthy with their own families. Similar to other livestock guardian dogs, the Bankhar is an independent thinker, making training a bit challenging. However, they can learn basic obedience commands fairly easily. Bankhars can be affectionate partners for children, but it's important to never leave any dog breed alone with young children unsupervised. With proper socialization from an early age, Bankhars can coexist with other dogs and pets. Socialization plays a key role in raising a strong and protective dog like the Bankhar.

5) Legend
According to a Buryat legend, the Bankhar dog's origin is associated with a giant who descended from a mountain accompanied by an enormous dog. It is believed that all Bankhar dogs are descendants of this giant dog.

6) Rarity
Bankhar dogs have accompanied Mongolian nomadic tribes for thousands of years, and due to the relative isolation of Mongolia, they have not been extensively crossed with foreign breeds. In the past, Bankhars were widespread in Mongolia. However, during the communist era in Mongolia between the 1920s and 1990s, the nomadic lifestyle was discouraged, causing many people to abandon their traditional lifestyle and their dogs. Consequently, most Bankhar dogs were released or exterminated.Also, some foreign breeds were introduced to Mongolia and the remaining Bankhar dogs were often time crossed with other breeds, such as the Tibetan Mastiff. There are only few remaining pure Bankhar dogs and this breed is extremely rare and it is almost impossible to find it outside Mongolia. But their numbers are slowly increasing and the future of Bankhar does not look the worst.

7) Size
The Bankhar is strong, big and powerful, but it should not be overly masive. It should not be as huge as for example Tibetan Mastiff and the Bankhar should rather be more athletic, which is far better for their nomadic lifestyle and livestock guardian work. The average height is typically between 26-33 inch, which is 66-83 cm and weight between 80-125 lbs, which is 36-56 kg. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.

8) Coat and color
The Bankhar has a long and dense double coat that adapts to the weather. In colder regions of Mongolia, the coat is extremely thick, while in warmer regions, it is lighter. The Bankhar was not bred for a standardized appearance, so it can come in various colors. However, the most prevalent coloration is a combination of black and mahogany, often accompanied by mahogany spots above the eyes and a white patch on the chest. This coloring is also known as the "Mongolian Four Eye Dog."

9) Maintenance
The Bankhar is very independent dog and it does not need much care from people. Even with limited maintenance, the coat of Bankhar will stay in decent condition. But of course, regular brushing will help to remove all the dead and loose hair, to redistribute natural oils all over the coat and it will keep the coat in best possible condition. No other grooming is required. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.

10) Health
The Bankhar is for such a big dog surprisingly healthy. It is most likely due to the fact, that they have very high genetic diversity and probably because they evolved naturally, basically by surviving of the fitest. Weak and unhealthy Bankhar dogs would have it very hard to survive in Mongolia. That said, the average lifespan of Bankhar is around 15 years, which is just excellent for big dogs. And they do not suffer much from any serious health issues, even the joint issues such as hip dysplasia are extremely rare.

1) Origin
The origin and history of the Veadeiro Pampeano are rather unknown, but there are a few theories about it. The first theory suggests that they are descendants of Iberian Podenco dogs that arrived in South America during the time when Brazil was a Portuguese colony. They later crossed with some local dogs and adapted to the local environment, resulting in the Veadeiro Pampeano as we know it today. The second theory claims that this is a native South American breed that naturally evolved over time. While it is difficult to trace the breed's history accurately, it is undoubtedly a very old dog breed with a long history.

​2) Name
The Veadeiro Pampeano has a very descriptive name. The word "veadeiro" can be translated as "deer-hound," and "pampeano" means that they come from the Pampas, a South American fertile low grassland. So, the English translation is perfect—the Pampas Deerhound. The breed is sometimes also known as the Gaucho Deerhound or Bianchini.

3) Hunter
Despite being named as a deerhound, this is a very versatile breed that can hunt a variety of game. In addition to deer, they are often used to hunt wild boar, and thanks to their great speed and agility, they can even hunt smaller animals, such as hares. This dog breed loves to hunt; they are absolutely tireless and passionate about it, and have an extraordinary sense of smell. When they find the prey, they knock it down and bring it back to the hunter. If the prey is too strong, they will corner it and wait for the hunter. This is an extremely adaptable hunter that can hunt alone or in packs without any problems. Hunting is their passion, and they excel at it.

4) Companions
These dogs are not only hunters but also loyal companion dogs. They are very docile and friendly with their own family, including children. However, it is important never to leave any dog breed with very young children unsupervised. They can also live with other dogs in the family. On the other hand, they can be quite alert and aloof around strangers, making them good watchdogs.

5) Exercise
This breed is fast, endurant, and energetic. They love to be outside, enjoying walks, runs, hikes, vigorous playtime, or any other activity. They are definitely not couch potatoes and should live with an active owner who can provide them with enough exercise. Without sufficient exercise, they might develop unwanted behaviors, such as excessive barking.

6) Size
The Veadeiro Pampeano is a medium-sized dog breed with long legs and an athletic body. They have an average height between 47-59 cm (19-23 inches) and weigh between 18-28 kg (40-61 lbs). Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.

7) Coat and color
The Veadeiro Pampeano has a short and dense single-layered coat that is straight and rough. The breed comes in white or fawn color, with white being more common.

8) Maintenance
Speaking of the coat, let's discuss grooming and maintenance as well. Fortunately, it is extremely easy to care for this breed. They can easily take care of themselves. You can brush their coat from time to time to remove loose hair and redistribute natural oils, but even without regular brushing, the coat will stay in decent condition. Like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails, and teeth, and trim or clean them as needed.

9) Recognition
Although this is an old dog breed, it was not officially recognized by any kennel club until 2000. In that year, mainly thanks to Carlos Lafaiete Seibert Bacelar, it was recognized by the Brazilian Kennel Club. It is still considered a rare breed that can be almost exclusively found in.

10) Health
There are no official studies on the breed's health, but it is generally considered a healthy and hardy dog breed with an average lifespan of around 12 or 13 years. Like all dog breeds, they may suffer from typical dog health-related issues, such as eye problems, joint problems, infections, or allergies.