Warsaw Will, This is excellent! Thanks so much for both the URL and the very clear answer. Now I know: first letters will be written in caps when I refer to a specific breed. . (This was consistent with what I found when I checked other websites, specifically at www.guidedogs.com.).

Okay, so, in the article I'm about to send, would you agree that I should write that I've had the pleasure of knowing the following breeds:
Yellow Labrador Retrievers
Black Labrador Retrievers
Golden Retrievers

I too am writing an article containing dog breeds, and based on what I've gleaned from this discussion, especially Kim's contribution, it's Yellow Lab and German shepard, right?