With the looks of a glamor model, and the physique of an athlete, the Afghan is an instantly recognizable dog breed.

Standing anywhere between 24 and 29 inches at the shoulder, and weighing up to 59 pounds, these lean sighthounds are characterized by a long lustrous coat that can be any color.

The face also has a black 'mask', while some dogs sport a long mandarin-style moustache called, unsurprisingly, a mandarin. As you can deduce from the name, these dogs come from Afghanistan. Like most sighthounds they were hunters of small game. The breed was unknown in the west until the 19th century, and by the end of World War 1, had virtually disappeared.

Then in the 1920's several dogs were brought to Scotland as breeding stock. These dogs caused quite a stir on the dog show circuit and were soon recognized by the major international kennel clubs. Virtually all of the Afghans we see today, descend directly from this group.

Afghans are an ancient breed, and have genetic markers in common with wolves, making them close descendants of the original domesticated dogs.The temperament of the breed is best described as aloof, even snooty. They also have a reputation as being difficult to train. It's not that they're unintelligent, just that they prefer not to obey.

They’ve even been described as cat-like, because of their ability to totally blank you out. Put it this way, if you want an Afghan to obey your command, you’d better give him a good reason to.

Having said that, they still make excellent pets, and are affectionate towards those close to them. With strangers though it’s a different story. When you meet an Afghan for the first time, you should expect to be ignored!

Despite their athletic profile, Afghans can be first-class couch potatoes. They love curling up and dozing on the couch and will do it for hours if you let them.

Outdoors though, it’s an entirely different story. The hunting instinct kicks in and they will chase anything that moves, small animals in particular.Despite its limited gene pool, the Afghan is a surprisingly healthy dog. They suffer from few of the problems that typically afflict purebreds. They are however prone to eye diseases, with cataracts a particular problem.

One of the biggest challenges for an Afghan owner is keeping that luxurious coat looking its best. This requires daily brushing, and a regular trip to the dog salon to trim the coat back into shape.

Although the Afghan is a hunting dog, it much prefers the luxury of indoor living to sleeping outdoors. Anyway, the dog is not equipped for outdoor living as the coat offer very little protection from the elements.

The easiest way to find good names for your Afghan Hound is to visit an online dog names, resource, like puppy-names-hq.com. This site has tons of dog names, including 1000s of female dog names to choose from.

The Bullmastiff is a powerful, muscular dog that was first bred in England during the 18th century for the purpose of apprehending poachers. During the latter part of the 18th century, poachers were the bane of English country estates, and a dog was sought to assist gamekeepers in apprehending them. Unfortunately, the dogs of the day were either too vicious, or too slow, so a new breed was created by crossing the Bulldog and the Mastiff. The resulting dog was fierce, powerful, but pinned the poacher down, rather than mauling him.

The Bullmastiff was big enough, fast enough, and agile enough to excel at this job. And the dog seldom had to resort to force because even the bravest poacher was quickly frightened into submission.

Standing up to 27 inches at the withers, and weighing as much as 130 pounds, this dog just exudes power and strength. The head is huge with a somewhat undershot jaw. The coat is short, in tan red or brindle, normally with a darker face mask.

In common with most mastiff breeds, the Bullmastiff is truly a gentle giant. These huge fearsome dogs are real softies when it comes to the people close to them. They are placid, loyal and loving, and get on particularly well with children. You will however need to watch them around small kids as they can easily knock a child over by accident.

Obedience training is a must with this breed, as is early socialization and strong consistent leadership. The Bullmastiff is generally an obedient dog, but does tend towards dominance, especially if there is a lack of rules and boundaries. Male Bullmastiffs for example, can be highly territorial, and will often not accept another male dog in the household.

Median life style for the breed is 10 years, which is in line with other dogs of this size. The Bullmastiff is unfortunately prone to a number or genetic disorders. As with most large dogs they can suffer from hip dysplasia and gastric torsion, while canine cancers, entropion and progressive retinal atrophy also occur.

Up to a quarter of Bullmastiffs develop hip dysplasia. Bloat, or gastric torsion, is also common and can be prevented by feeding the dog several small meals a day, rather than one large meal. If your dog does develop bloat, it is imperative that you get him to a vet immediately.

Grooming a Bullmastiff is an easy task. All it takes is a good brushing every other day or so, to keep the coat looking its best.

The Bullmastiff may look tough and rugged, but it is not an outdoor dog. Their coat offers little protection from the elements and besides, they are sensitive souls who want and need to be close to those they love.

The good news is that they are generally calm, quiet and well behaved indoors and can even be kept in an apartment. They will however, require daily exercise outdoors.

Good names for a Bullmastiff can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of female dog names to pick from.

Developed solely to be a companion dog, the Bichon Frise is a friendly, happy little dog. These delightful little characters have a long and interesting history.

The breed is believed to have originated in Spain, the result of cross breeding the Poodle and the Barbet Water Spaniel. As far back as the 13th century, Spanish sailors were using these little dogs as an item of barter, and as a result the breed spread across western Europe. Many ended up in France, and by the 1500s, the Bichon was a firm favorite of French royalty.

The Bichon has always had an unsurpassed ability for learning tricks, and for this reason has always been a popular performing dog with circuses and other entertainment troupes.

The Bichon Frise is a small dog that is classified in the Toy or Companion Group by most registries. They are sturdy little dogs, weighing up to 12 pounds and standing between 9 and 12 inches tall. The coat is soft and silky and is considered hypoallergenic, making the Bichon an ideal pet for someone with allergies. Coat color is always white, although there may be apricot or cream shading on the ears.

As a dog bred to be a human companion it's no surprise that the Bichon has a wonderfully balanced personality. They are friendly, outgoing and affectionate, forming close bonds with those they love. They are good with children and other pets, and generally just a joy to have around.

These are intelligent dogs with a strong desire to please, so training is an absolute pleasure. That is, unless you bring house training into the equation. The Bichon has a reputation for being difficult to housebreak.

This is a relatively healthy breed, although not immune to the conditions typically present in purebred dogs. Cancer, epilepsy, cataracts and fleabite allergies are among the health issues that afflict the breed, while liver shunts, a condition requiring surgery, is also known to occur. Despite this, the Bichon is a long-lived breed, with a lifespan often exceeding 15 years.

The Bichon Frise is relatively high maintenance when it comes to grooming. That luxuriant coat needs to be brushed every day and also requires regular trimming and clipping to keep it in shape. The dog can be bathed once or twice a month, but they tend to have sensitive skin, so don’t overdo it.

This is an ideal breed for keeping in an apartment. The Bichon loves to be close to its human companions and will develop separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. They are energetic dogs but can meet most of their exercise needs with indoor games. However, it is still important to get your dog out of doors, for at least a short walk, every day.

If you’re looking for a name for your Bichon Frise, the best advice is to visit a puppy names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of male dog names.

Originally from Belgium, the Bouvier des Flandres is a versatile working dog. These large, powerful and imposing dogs were created by crossing the Beauceron to various Griffon breeds. They were commonly used in the cattle trade to herd livestock to market and to guard butcher's establishments. In fact, the name "Bouvier" means "butcher."

In the early days the dogs were bred exclusively for their working abilities. No attention at all was paid to appearance and Bouviers came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, distinguishable only by their attitude and willingness to work.

During World War I they were used extensively for delivering messages, and as a result their numbers declined to a point where the breed almost became extinct.Fortunately, a group of breeders took it on themselves to save the breed, at the same time defining a breed standard and developing the dog we know today. The Bouvier is a multi-talented dog, and excels at all kinds of work, including guarding, search and rescue, police and military work.

The Bouvier is a heavy, well-muscled dog that gives the impression of power. The build is squarish, with a strong muzzle and a bushy eyebrows. The coat is rugged and can be a number of colors including black, blonde, brindle, fawn, grey, and salt-and-pepper.

The Bouvier looks intimidating, but is actually a friendly, balanced dog. However, this is not a dog to be trifled with, the Bouvier has strong guarding instincts and is fiercely protective of its family. In general though, they are obedient and well-behaved with a playfulness that extends well into adulthood. They are intelligent dogs, and take well to training.

A Bouvier that has been trained and socialized makes an excellent pet, that gets on well with children, other dogs and non canine pets. And training is most definitely required. Not that this is an aggressive breed, but any dog this big will be difficult to control if it hasn't been trained.

This is a generally robust and healthy breed although they are prone to hip dysplasia and various eye problems. These dogs have a very pain tolerance, and will actually hide symptoms from you, so you'll have to be alert for any sign that all is not well.

Grooming is a serious consideration with this breed. The rough, heavy coat requires daily brushing, and cutting at least three times a year.

If you've decided to adopt a Bouvier, be prepared for a lot of exercise. Remember that, these are working dogs so they need plenty of exercise. You'll need to give your dog a long walk every day, plus games and other activities to keep him happy. While a Bouvier can adapt to an apartment, a house with garden is a much better option.

If you’re looking for a name for your Bouvier des Flandres, the best advice is to visit a dog names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of boy dog names.