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12/22/2025

Within twenty-two seconds of the clip found at the link in the comments below, you’ll hear a word found in the breed standard of the only AKC breed to use it. See if you can spot-hear the word.

The word is ‘rollicking,’ a word we don’t hear much anymore unless you’re a fan of traditional Irish and British folk songs, sea shanties, and drinking songs. But you likely know the word intimately if you are an Irish Setter fancier. No other breed’s standard anywhere in the world is known to use the word “rollicking,” the term is unique to the Irish Setter.

By definition, rollicking means lively, exuberant, high-spirited, and full of joyful energy; when applied to the Irish Setter, it doesn’t just describe an active happy dog, it paints a dog filled with buoyant enthusiasm. Writers of the standard intentionally signaled that the breed should appear happy to be working and exude a cheerful eagerness that is core to the breed’s personality. This spills over to Irish Setter movement described in the standard as lively, graceful, and big (which is to say that in the field, s/he covers a lot of ground, and in a show ring, exhibits the ground-covering motion with great forward reach and powerful rear drive). If we read between the lines, however, we can infer that the Irish’s gait is also expressive. Its slightly jaunty, buoyant carriage reflects the spirit of a dog delighted to be in its skin. The term reassures judges that a bit of sparkle or exuberance in their entry isn’t a fault—it is breed character.

Since “rollicking” also appears in Irish Setter standards from multiple kennel organizations (not just the AKC, though not the FCI), it underscores that a rollicking temperament is regarded as central to the breed’s character worldwide.

Photo of a happy Irish Setter by Aleksandr Zotov | Dreamstime

12/22/2025

12/22/2025

For those who missed the earlier post because FB's algorhythm seems to suppress outside links...

This one is called, "The Devoted Independent"

Although the Azawakh’s AKC breed standard does not mention it, the 21st edition of the AKC’s Complete Dog Book points out that the breed has an uncanny combination of total loyalty and independence, two traits that would seem to be odds with each other. This observation captures a key paradox that actually defines how the Azawakh relates to its people and its environment.

Characteristics that seem paradoxical at first glance are actually a hallmark of the breed’s temperament. This is an intensely loyal breed that forms strong attachments to their chosen people, but this is also a breed that cannot divorce itself from its history as a nomadic hunting dog that needed to operate autonomously in the wild, often making its own decisions unfettered by a need to consult the approval of those same people. In modern homes, this often appears as a dog that is deeply bonded yet not clingy, preferring to stay near its people while still maintaining a certain emotional distance.

It’s helpful to remember that the Azawakh comes from the Sahel region of West Africa where nomadic tribes like the Tuareg bred them to protect livestock, but also to hunt game like gazelle and hare. Survival in the vast and often sparsely populated desert demanded two seemingly opposite traits. Hunters couldn’t constantly supervise their dogs, so the Azawakh had to think for him or herself, and make decisions about tracking or confronting prey, often in a dangerous environment. This called for confidence in its problem-solving skills, and is one reason why the breed is self-reliant even today.

Despite its independence, however, an Azawakh’s primary duty was serve their human family, and this resulted in deep bonds and a loyalty born of a crucial human-dog partnership.

The two traits, then, aren’t contradictory—they’re complimentary. Those lucky enough to love an Azawakh know this about their dog, and embrace its affectionate and dignified nature, even as it maintains a certain aloofness with strangers. Understanding this balance helps set realistic expectations: an Azawakh is best suited to an owner who respects its independence, provides clear structure, and values a thoughtful, sensitive companion rather than a perpetually eager-to-please dog.

Photo of Azawakh puppies by animalinfo/iStock

12/22/2025

The Collie, a beloved breed, has always had steadfast fans, as well as “peaks” of popularity. In England, one such peak came in the 1860’s when Queen Victoria visited the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with the breed. The favor of a monarch made it fashionable to own a Collie, but people soon realized what the Queen was about with this breed, and how wonderful these dogs actually were.

Most estimates put the Collie in American in 1879 where early dog shows were dominated by British imports. Because of these imports, the breed made big gains between 1900 to 1920, and these imported dogs were the foundation of the Collie in America today. Just as Queen Victoria had promoted the breed in the UK, it was another world leader, President Calvin Coolidge, who brought the Collie to its first wave of popularity here. He and his wife, Gracie, were avid animal lovers and owned several rough Collies. The press couldn’t get enough of them, and it was through newspapers and magazines that Americans learned more about the breed. In fact, the first official portrait taken of the new first family after the swearing included their white rough Collie, “Rob Roy.” Mrs. Coolidge had another Collie, “Prudence Prim,” who slept beside the bed and wore a bonnet to attend tea parties.

Needless to say, the literary works of Albert Payson Terhune (“Lad of Sunnybank,”) Eric Knight (“Lassie Come Home,”) lead to an explosion of interest in the breed. The 1950s TV series “Lassie,” put Collies in a heroic light, but didn’t, in our estimation, over exaggerate the breed’s intelligence or beauty. If ever there was a breed that would understand the question, “Timmy’s in the well and he can’t get out?” it would be the Collie.

Photo by Łukasz Rawa

12/22/2025

Useful, Last Minute Great Gift for Dog Owners, 🏵️🐾Classrooms, Families & Community groups!
Gift Certificates 🎁🎉

12/21/2025