The Curious Compendium 2023-2024: Chartreux, Bengal, Somali, Egyptian mau

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Guinea pigs and ferrets!


Ferrets were domesticated (probably) from European polecats some 2,000 years ago. They have been depicted in Egyptian art circa 1,400 BCE, have been written in Roman texts as being used for both vermin control (often of rabbits) and for Roman soldiers to use as hunting companions (also to obtain rabbits) as far back as 6 BCE. Nowadays they are used as pets; they sleep up to 20 hours a day, are very playful, energetic, and can even be litter box trained. While they have not been developed as far as to have distinct breeds, there are a fair number of color morphs available.

Guinea pigs were domesticated from their wild ancestors around 5,000 years ago. They are very social and prefer to live in groups of 5-10 (in the wild these would be family members); as pets, they really should never kept alone, they require having at least one partner for company. With Western popularity, this South American livestock animal has become diversified in the pet trade with about 10 distinct breeds known and many more colors/patterns.

[Shane]

@Shane, that's really neat that you have one currently- are they as big a handful as I have read about? My understanding is that they are a bit like German Shepherds- they are a "lot of dog" for most people.

Mine can be a handful sometimes, he's very stubborn and independent. But I've also often heard Shibas described as "the cats of the dog world" and I would agree with that. He spends a lot of time just doing his own thing or laying around. He likes to play, but he doesn't have endless energy that needs to be expended all day every day. He's very particular and rarely has accidents, and doesn't chomp or chew things that aren't his toys (unless he's overly excited). He's affectionate but has a funny way of showing it. But overall I think he's the best dog I could have asked for.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Funny enough, that sounds like my own dog. He is a Decker Rat Terrier (I will talk more about him when I show some figures here) but they are cat like in their cleanliness and independence, can be ready to go on an adventure at any time but also love to just hang out and sleep. And he is very well behaved 99% of the time. And I agree, he is the best dog I could have asked for and I love him a lot.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Saint Bernards!


These big animals come from the Swiss Alps and were bred to help travelers navigate the Great Saint Bernard Pass circa the late 1600s. They were the original search and rescue dogs- their expert sense of smell, large body size to push snow, and thick coats (albeit shorter haired than now due to the collection of ice cicles) of hair to insulate from ice and snow helped to locate travelers in distress if the worst happened.  They also gaurded hospice facilities in the region, and were well known for their ability to predict snow storms. They are indeed big; anywhere between 110 and 200 lbs! They only need a moderate amount of excercise but may need to be persuaded to do so. They do drool more than other dogs, but make up for it with their gentle and sweet nature, tolerance and obedience.

[bmathison1972]

I don't have this breed represented yet but will some day. I like the big Papo one in the lower right. Maybe they'll reissue that one too in upcoming years.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

The Papo or Schleich #16379 are my favorites; Safari has noticeably not done this breed yet...

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Springer spaniels!

This breed is one part of two that was split off from the original breed called a "field spaniel". The breed was split up by breeding smaller pups to other smaller sized pups (creating the cocker spaniel to be discussed later), and the larger pups to the larger pups= springer spaniel. The Kennel Club of Great Britain recognized this split in 1892. Their name comes from how the dogs flush game birds; they "spring" into tall grass to scare the birds into taking to the sky. The dogs are social and bond tightly to their owners and family- they often make good gaurd/alert dogs for their suspicion of strangers. This breed does require grooming to maintain their lucious coat and it comes in several colors such as liver and white, black, lemon, tan, etc.- they've won the third most best in show awards at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Abyssinian, Exotic, British shorthair cats!



The origin of the Abyssinian is unknowm but DNA studies indicate an Asian origin and were later crossed to European breeds. This breed is loving, intelligent, athletic, and considered an easy breed to keep in a first time cat owning home. Kittens are often born dark in color but their coat lightens color with age. They are well known to enjoy a high perch and watch the goings on below them.

The exotic shorthair was developed in the 1950s by crossing American shorthairs with Russian blues, Burmese, and Persian cats. A very playful and loyal cat, they tend to be nervous around strangers and need time to warm up. Being brachycephalic, this leads to tooth misalignment, tear duct issues, possible heart conditions, and breathing issues. Unlike Persians though, they are easy to groom given their short coat.

British shorthairs are believed to be descendents of cats brought to England during the Roman invasion in the first century A.D. They were first recognized at a cat show held in the Crystal Palace in 1871. Originally used for their vermin population control skills, this is also a cat believed to have inspired the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. The cat itself is popular for its round features and dense, plush coat. The breed is relatively healthu but can be prone to obesity, an autoimmune disorder, a heart condition, and a kidney disease.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

I had a few days off for work and decided to just enjoy them and take a step back from things for a few days. Then when I went to start my post for today postimg was doing some maintenance! Alas, here we go again finally!

Old English sheepdog, French briard, Komondor, and Bearded collie.


Old English sheep dogs were developed in southwestern England to help drive and manage cattle. Their ancestry has some mystery to it but could contain dogs from Russia and Scotland. They have a thick and long double coat paired with a bear like gait. They are often described as energetic, patient playmates, and friendly but protective dogs.

The French briard hails from 8th century France, specifically Brie. They were originally used for herding sheep and protecting them from wolf predation. Later on they became the official dog for the army- running supplies to the front lines, acting as sentries, and finding wounded soldiers. Also very energetic, they are often unfriendly to strangers (human and canine) but with good training can be tolerant. They are also muscular in build, have a high prey drive, and can be very independent.

Komondors are known for their iconic corded white coat; this helps them blend into a flock of sheep in their charge to surprise would be predators, as well as being a warm winter coat. Hungarian shepherds needed a working dog and developed this breed in the 9th century in the Danube basin region. They are descendents of aftscharka dogs, an Asian herding breed, brought to the area by the Huns. They were also used in the military given their hardy disposition. Today they are rather rare, with only about 10,000 dogs worldwide.

 The bearded collie was developed in Scotland; descended from Polish lowland sheepdogs left in the area and then crossing with local working dogs circa the 1500s. Used for working sheep since then, the breed has also been known as the "highland collie" and "mountain collie". They became well loved by both farmers and the upper classes alike due to their friendly and intelligent nature; many dogs have been included in paintings from the period. Popularity stepped off after WW I but was redeveloped by G. O. Willison after WWII as he bred them for dog shows and created the Bearded Collie Club in Britain.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Shar pei and Chow!


Shar peis have been around since about 200 BC, statues have been discovered in ancient Chinese burials. They were bred to be gaurdians for royalty. They are most well known for their extra loose skin and wrinkles; this was designed so that an opponent would not be able to get a good grip and allow the shar pei to turn while even being held to attack back. Their name comes from the Chinese words for rough skin- this is due to their coarse feeling short haired coat. They have black tongues, come in many colors, and make great loyal companions that are suspicious of strangers. Their temperament of being independent and suspicious benefits from an experienced and confident dog owner.

The chow also dates back to 200 BC and were also bred for royalty. While initially used as gaurd dogs and companions, they were also used for hauling things and hunting.  They are well known for their fluffy thick coat which comes in a variety of colors and requires extensive grooming, in addition to their blue-black mouth (lips, tongue, gums etc.), and straight hind legs that gives them a stilted gait. They also have 44 teeth when most other breeds have 42! They are very aloof with strangers but bond closely to owners; they also benefit from an experienced owner.

[BlueKrono]

Do other dogs have 42?

[sbell]

(chows) they also benefit from an experienced owner.

Based on every chow and owner I've known, that's the grandest understatement of all time...

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Ah, thanks for catching that @BlueKrono .

And @sbell, yeah Chows are another very intense breed. In the US, they are the #1 breed a lot of insurances won't cover some things if you have one (alongside pitbulls, rottweilers, etc.).

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Scottish Fold!


This breed is distinguished by its folded in ears; kittens are born with normal upright ears and as they age the ears fold downwards due to a genetic mutation/defect. There are three degrees to this folding- single, double, and triple folding. Only about half of the kittens in a litter will carry this gene to expression. The first cat to present this feature was discovered in Scotland in 1961 and was originally called a "lop ear" after the rabbit. The "breed" cannot be bred to itself- a folded eared cat must be bred to another such as the British shorthair or else the offspring will suffer intense cartilage and joint disorders. The breed is known for osteochondrodysplaysia- a condition that affects all joints and cartilage in the cat and expresses or causes deformities, abnormalities, and arthritis in the entire skeleton. Additionally, the cats are much more prone to ear infections given the folding of the ears. Besides these health concerns, they are described as very playful, relaxed, and loving cats with sweet personalities. They are also well known for adopting odd and silly postures such as sleeping on their backs or sitting upright like a person.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Pugs!


Another Chinese breed designed for royalty, pugs were intended to be lap dogs and companions. Their wrinkles were considered lucky and could even resemble good luck characters in Chinese. Pugs were introduced to Europe by Dutch traders circa the 1500s- Queen Victoria was a big fan and bred them herself. These guys have a rather thick coat despite it being short- it needs lots of grooming and can contribute to their heat sensitivity (alongside being brachycephalic). Predictably, they do have their health concerns. Their wrinkles require extra care to keep dry, and they suffer skin allergies and ear infections often, and are prone to obesity. They have a very a very friendly nature and are rarely aggressive, they are very eager to please but can be difficult to train as they lose interest in learning commands and would rather play. A pug has won at Westminster only once; in 1981.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Thank you my friend!

Saluki, Borzoi, and Afghan hounds!


The saluki is another ancient breed dating as far back as 5,000 years at least. Also bred by and for royalty, but in this case for Egyptian pharoahs; these dogs were known as the "royal dog of Egypt" for years. As one breed of the sighthound group, these guys are hunters; designed in every way to be the fastest and most efficient domestic hunter on 4 legs. Foxes, rabbits, and even gazelle were put to the test to get away from these speed demons! Because of this they have a very high prey drive and are not reccomended for first time owners or to be off leash without a solid recall command. They are gentle, sweet tempered, adaptable, and loyal. They come in lots of colors and patterns and need plenty of excercise.

The borzoi, one of our giant breeds, stands at 28 inches tall at the shoulder and is 75-105 lbs for a male. They come from Russia and are a cross of greyhounds with Russian sheepdogs; they were originally called the Russian wolfhound but the name changed in 1936. Also a sighthound they are large but speedy predators that were used to eradicate a number of wild predators but also pursue game. The breed requires excercise and can be susceptible to bloating and stomach upsets. They are calm and gentle but are known to be stubborn and independent. They are often white with some color markings and have a curly or waved longer hair coat.

Afghan hounds have also been around for some time; at least 4,000 years. They too have been used for hunting from Afghanistan all the way to India! As a sighthound they too have an intense prey drive and excercise requirement. They have a long lucious coat in numerous colors and while it does shed less than most breeds, it does require a lot of grooming to maintain it. As puppies they have longer fluffy hair on their cheeks and "saddle" area but this will fall out and grow back shorter with age. They also have musk glands on their face that can have a strong odor. They became popular in 1981 after Barbie was introduced with an afghan hound named Beauty. And the first dog ever cloned was an afghan named Snuppy in 2005.

[bmathison1972]

Ha! the one with the show is kinda funny!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Just like a real puppy! The M.E.G. Puppy in my pocket series doesn't get a lot of love from collectors but I think their older models like that one are quite nice.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Maine coons!

They are believed to be descendants of Norwegian forest cats and Siberian cats brought to the state of Maine; the first mention of the breed hails as far back as 1861. They are a large cat, reaching lengths of up to 48 inches including the tail, and males can grow as big as 18 pounds. They have 75 different coat color and pattern combinations- there is something for everybody to enjoy! They also have thick water resistant fur which may lend to the breeds' love of water. They are generally considered gentle giants and  playful, able to learn lots of tricks and they enjoy human and other animal company. The breed also has a high liklihood of polydactylism! The breed is mostly healthy but they can be prone to obesity, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal issues, and hip dysplasia.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Border collies!


These guys are thought to be descended from Roman dogs (brought along with various conquests) crossing with local working stock dogs. Their name comes from their origin around the border of Scotland and England. They were then developed over time to be some of the best livestock herding dogs around. With high intelligence and an enjoyment of being presented with a challenge, they can learn to do just about anything. They can stubborn and wary of strangers given their gaurding and herding history; but as long as they are given plenty of excercise and a job to occupy their very active brain they can make good family pets. They do have 2 coat types; smooth coated and rough coated.