The most beautiful dog breeds (in my opinion ;))

Let's start with an obvious one, the lovely Golden Retriever. Not only are they physically one of my favorite breeds, they have one of the sweetest temperaments.
The Golden Retrievers originate from Scotland and were once used as a hunting dog, retrieving ducks and other birds from the water, hence the name Retriever. Nowadays they are used less for hunting and more as family- and companion dogs. Most Goldies love playing fetch and are great swimmers. Because of their intelligence and their loving nature they are often used as guide dogs, rescue dogs and therapy dogs.

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The Siberian Husky is an active dog breed, originating from the USA, that has many wolf-like characteristics in their appearance. They were bred as sled dogs and they love cold weather (and rolling around in snow) and are not suited in very hot climates because of their thick coat. They are usually very friendly towards other dogs and are in general very playful with high exercise needs.

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The Australian Shepherd is another energetic dog breed, also originating from the USA, even though they are called Australian Shepherds. They are a herding breed, mostly used to herd sheep but also larger farm animals like cows and can be also taught to protect and keep watch of the house and yard. There are many color coat versions, like the blue merle, red merle, red tri, black tri and so on. These dogs are very intelligent and need a lot of exercise. They do great in any kind of dog sports, be it agility, obedience or dog dance, Aussies learn fast and definitely have a "will to please" (their owners).

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The Akita (Akita Inu) is an ancient dog breed originating from the northern mountain region in Japan. They have a thick double-coat similar to the Siberian Husky. Akita's are an independent, confident and dominant dog breed, usually wary of strangers but loving and friendly around their families. Once the owner has earned their Akita's respect, they are loyal to their owners for the rest of their lives. The most famous Akita was "Hachiko", every day Hachiko picked up his owner returning from work, from the train station Shibuya in Tokyo. One day his owner died and Hachiko kept waiting for his owner, every day hoping for his return. For 9 years he kept returning to the train station until his own death.

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The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large dog breed originating from the region of Bern in Switzerland, they were bred to herd cattle, as watchdogs and companion dogs. These dogs are very intelligent and easily trainable, and do well in dog sports such as obedience. They have a very calm nature, need a lot of exercise and are over all friendly. They aren't suited for apartment living and should have a large yard (that they can watch over). They are great family dogs, who love children and are kind to strangers, given they have been well socialized.