QUICK VIEW OF THE BORDER COLLIE

BORDER COLLIE

   The Border Collies holds the reputation of been the most intelligent of dog breeds and called a workaholic. Bred in the hilly borders between Scotland and England, this breed was bred focusing in intelligence and obedience as top priority. All purebred Border Collies can trace their lineage back to a dog named Hemp bred by Adam Telfler back in 1893.

   For over a hundred years this breed has served as an exceptional livestock herder thus giving them the popularity they have this days. These breed still in used these days for its original purpose herding sheep and other animals in farms and ranches but its popularity extends to shows and competitions in which this dog has a reputation to be great competitors. They are excellent in performance events such as agility, obedience, tracking or flyball, so good that in England this breed has been excluded from some high jumps competitions in order to give other breeds a chance to compete in an even playfield.

The Border Collies popularity is also growing as pets but they are not recommended for everyone, these dogs need a lot of exercise and a sense of purpose or boredom will take over making them destructive around the house; they are famous for chewing holes in walls and furniture legs.

   In 2010 was recorded that a Border Collie name “Chaser” had a vocabulary of 1022 words, recognizing objects and responding to commands and names accordingly. 

 

Funny Halloween Dog Trick

Just funny...

LINK: http://youtu.be/lpmc6LXlNms

DOG PARKS

DOG PARKS

   We all want the best for our dogs and we want to treat them like family. We’d like to take them everywhere we go but we all know that’s not possible. Fortunately there is an alternative that has been growing in popularity in the past decade, enclosed dog parks. But is it really where we want to take our dogs for a worry free outing? Just like in planning to take the kids to a playground or an arcade, we want to make sure is a safe environment for our love ones; we should treat dog parks the same way. We want to do some research about the breeds that frequent the park, incidents reported and memberships required among other things before exposing our four legged companions to a good time without any disappointment.  

   To find the perfect Dog Park for our canine friend we need to keep in mind the benefits and the risks involved in an open area with other dogs that we are not familiar with.

UPS:

      ·         Promotes exercise without leash.
      ·         Promotes socialization with other dogs and humans.
      ·         Promotes dog healthy psychological activity.
      ·         Promotes human socialization between dog owners.
      ·         Promotes up-close learning of other breeds and their behavior.

DOWNS:

      ·         Potential encounter with unruly dogs.
      ·         Potential dog fights.
      ·         Potential accidental dogs injuries.
      ·         Potential fleas/ticks infestation.
      ·         Potential dehydration.

   We also want to make sure we are educated enough to distinguish good playful manners and bulling between dogs. Different breeds play in a different manner here are some examples:

Bull breeds (Boxers, Bulldogs, Pitbulls): Quick chase then lots of wrestling, biting neck and back legs and reversing bully/victim roles.

Non-Bulls (Hounds, Shepherds, Spaniels): Lots of chasing, “arguing”, light biting on legs, neck and ears.

Guards Breeds (Rottweiler, Mastiffs, Chows): Some wrestle and some biting, lots of pushing and bumping.

Herders & Retrievers (Collies, Labs, Hounds): Lots of chasing and bumping while running, lots of barking.

   Some dogs play well with others while some like to bully others, by identifying the dog behavior we can determine rough play or simply bulling. Know the signs and if in doubt call the dog back or remove it from a questionable encounter. Is up to us to manage our dogs and is our responsibility to keep up with their whereabouts and behavior.

Bath time...

Husky arguing about taking a bath...

LINK: http://youtu.be/GWXKmbCh6Kc

THE BEAGLE

THE BEAGLE

   The Beagle is a medium size dog bred for hunting small game such as hare and rabbits. There is no true documentation of the breed origin but, it’s believed the Beagle was created in the early 11^th century by mixing the great tracking ability of the English Talbot and the speed and stamina of the Greyhound. Others will argue that there are documents mentioning of pack hunting dogs dating back to the Ancient Greek times resembling the Beagles but not official reports exist. 

 

   Due to the Beagles amiable, sweet and gentle temperament the Beagle appear as the 9^th most popular breed in the United States according to the AKC Dog Registration Statistic in 2012 and 2013. They are very popular within service agencies such as police departments and airport security due to their acute sense of smell making them excellent drugs and explosive detection dogs. Another side of its popularity comes from the famous cartoon “Snoopy” exposing the breed to a different audience, the typical American family.

   The Beagle loves company but make no mistake with this breed; they are mainly led by its nose, meaning they will not listen to humans when they’re focus following any scent that catches their interest. When it comes to scent tracking they are focus and determined. They will climb or dig around fences or any possible obstacle in order to follow their scent. Having a fenced yard is a must when owning a Beagle and consider keeping them inside due to this breed tends to howl or whine when left alone.

   When it comes to health the Beagle is a fairly healthy breed but some of the major health concerns includes:

·         Epilepsy: Seizures that may show themselves as unusual behavior such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, or even by falling down with rigid limbs and losing consciousness.

·         Cherry Eye: Gland under the third eyelid that protrudes and looks rather like a cherry in the corner of the eye.

·         Chondroplasia (aka dwarfism): Condition where the dog is smaller than normal, may or may not be accompanied by other physical abnormalities, such as extremely short legs.

·         Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): Degenerative eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye.

·         Distichiasis: Additional row of eyelashes known as distichia grow on the oil gland in the dog's eye and protrude along the edge of the eyelid.

·         Glaucoma: Painful disease in which pressure in the eye becomes abnormally high and can damage the pressure inside the eye increases causing damage to the optic nerve and resulting in vision loss and blindness.

   When looking to buy a Beagle puppy make sure of the breeder honesty and reputation. Make sure they provide a health history report of the puppy parents and even better if they provide history if its lineage. Request viewing the parents and the whole litter for a better selection of what you are looking for. Also consider adopting from a known shelter or Humane Society nearby; they tend to provide good care and records of any treatment performed.

   Owning and caring for a Beagle is a challenging task and not recommended for novice owners. Beagles are not the typical obedient dog that comes when called or likes playing fetch in the park. They need to be securely leashed as they will wonder off following their nose not your commands. Growing up and in training they can be stubborn and need a firm trainer with unbreakable consistency. They tend to get distracted easily and disregard instructions. Beagles are best when trained with snack as the smell of food gives them something familiar along their innate hunting instinct. Beagles are best when trained by only one trainer as having different trainers one might undermine the instruction of another thus causing confusion and/or discouraging the dog’s focus and learning interest. If the Beagle is for family purpose, make sure the whole family is informed of the boundaries of the dog and the direction of their training. Beagles are good with children and makes good family pets as long you provide plenty of exercise and activities for them.

   Always do your research about these or any other breed you are interested in and remember to inform yourself about your local pet laws. Always used a leash when walking your dog regardless the breed, this might help avoid any accidental dog related mishap.

Video Link: Beagel Scape. http://youtu.be/MLssW7lyzxw

You get what you put in.

Is how you raise them; Can't stress that enough...

LINK: http://youtu.be/JJqoTN5LkDs

Puppy playing

Big dog let small dog wins...

http://youtu.be/TYU3eNXdxKc

Puppy Shepherd

Just adorable...

http://youtu.be/hjJrNA7gdrU

FAMILY DOGS

FAMILY DOG

   We all looking for that perfect dog as a companion that will blend with our lifestyle and represent our family. We want to se the excitement in their face and the wagging tail when we come home from a day of work. We want that dog that can say is a family member instead just a pet. The question is, if we had chosen the right dog breed that would blend and adjust to the room and accommodations available provided by us. For the different human lifestyle there is certain recommended breeds, is our job to choose the right one in order to achieve a successful human-dog relationship. Here are some great family friendly dogs recommendations.

Newfoundlands - The sweet temper gentle giant, known for been docile calm and good with childrens. Easy to train and very loyal makes them a great pets to have along children.

 

 

 

 

Papillon – Typically know as lapdog, the Papillon is very friendly and intelligent, playful and affectionate. They get along well with children and other pets.

 

 

 

Golden Retriever – The famous “Goldie” appear in several motion pictures due to their friendliness and trainability, always eager to please. Very active and smart makes them exceptional companions.

 

 

 

Pug – Known for their strong will personality, the Pugs are vivacious and friendly. Often called shadows because their constant wish of staying close to their owner.

 

 

 

 

Labrador Retrievers – The ever playful “Lab” love the outdoors and the typical Frisbee. Easily entertain and energetic companion who will give us their best.

 

 

 

 

 

Dachshund –  Clever, lively and courageous, the dachshund are very loyal to the family and if left alone for long periods of time it tends to whine until companion arrives. They can be stubborn and discriminating towards strangers but loving to family members.

 

 

 

Basset Hound – This lovable French canine is very patient and tolerant which makes them great to have around children. Outgoing and playful when young but at later age they are as active as a couch pillow.

 

 

 

 

Rough Collie – Well suited for small apartments, they are very affectionate and love to talk. As herding dogs, they tend to be dominants towards small children but not to be confused with aggression.

 

 

 

 

Beagles – The happy go lucky beagle are sweet, extremely active and friendly. Strong willed enough that they can be great escape artists. They like to be around people and other pack animals, they love attention they are also great with small children.

 

 

 

Bulldogs – Great companion and adjust to any living condition or place. They could be active outdoors or mellow indoors. Easy to care for but tough enough to handle rough play from active children, loyal and tolerant the Bulldog makes a wonderful family dog.

List of Toy Dogs

TOY DOGS

   Toy dogs group is consisted of mostly small dog breeds considered as companion dogs. This group average from 6 pounds to 20 pounds and include a wide variety of breeds. Some of these breeds are originally small while others are smaller version of larger breeds. Not all small breeds are recognized in the toy group category and not all toy dogs are lap dogs. Some organization are currently trying to change the term from Toy Dog to Companion Dog but no success been reported yet.

LIST OF TOY DOGS:

1.       Affenpinscher: Medium size working terrier, 6-13 pounds and 11-13 inches in height; active and tough, originated in Germany early 1600s.

2.       Brussels Griffon: Small terrier type dog, 8-11 pounds, smart and stubborn. There is 3 variation of this breed, the Brussels Griffon, the Belgian Griffon and the Petit Brabancon. Originated in Belgian in late 1800s.

3.       Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Medium size spaniel, 12-13 inches in height and 12-18 pounds; affectionate, playful, patient and eager to please. Originated in England early 1800s.

4.       Chihuahua: Small size companion dog, 8-10 inches in height and 8-10 pounds; extremely loyal and protective. Originated in Mexico as early as 1100s.

5.       Chinese Crested dog: Small size lapdog, 11-13 inches in height and 8-10 pounds; gentle and playful. Originated in China early 1200s.

6.       English Toy Spaniel: medium size spaniel dog, 8-12 inches in height and 12-14 pounds; gentle and friendly. Originated in England mid-1500s.

7.       Havanese: Small size bichon dog, 8-10 inches in height and 10-16 pounds; friendly and affectionate. Originated in Cuba in mid1900s.

8.       Italian Greyhound: Medium size sighthound dog, 13-15 inches in height and 10-14 pounds; gentle and sensitive. Traces back to the Romans times.

9.       Japanese Chin: Small size lapdog, 8-11 inches in height and 8-10 pounds; intelligent and independent. Origin unknown trace back in Japan as early as mid-700s.

10.   Maltese: Small size companion dog, 8-10 inches in height and 8-10 pounds; lively and playful. Originated in Malta early 1900s.

11.   Toy Manchester Terrier: Small size terrier dog, 10-12 inches in height and 8-10 pounds. Gentle and sensitive. Originated in England in mid 1800s.

12.   Miniature Pinscher:  Small size terrier dog, 10-12 inches in height and 8-10 pounds; bold and inquisitive. Originated in Germany early 1600s.

13.   Papillon: Small size spitz dog, 8-10 inches in height and 4-10 pounds; gentle and playful. Originated in France in mid 1500s.

14.   Pekingese: Small size companion dog, 6-9 inches in height and 9-14 pounds; independent and aloof. Originated in China.

15.   Pomeranian: Small size spitz dog, 8-11 inches in height and 7-9 pounds; bold and self-confident. Originated in German in early 1800s.

16.   Toy Poodle: Small size lapdog, 8-11 inches in height and 4-8 pounds; alert and responsive. Originated in Germany in the 1500s.

17.   Pug: Medium size mastiff dog, 10-14-inches in height and 14-18 pounds; playful and confident. Origin unknown brought to China early 1600s.

18.   Shih Tzu: Medium size lap dog, 9-11 inches in height and 12-16 pounds; gentle and upbeat. Originated in China in the 1800s.

19.   Silky Terrier: Small size terrier dog, 9-10 inches in height and 8-11 pounds; bold and feisty. Originated in Australia late 1800s.

20.   Toy Fox Terrier: Small size terrier dog, 8-11 inches in height and 5-7 pounds; curious and energetic. Originated in the USA early 1900s.

21.   Yorkshire Terrier: Small size terrier dog, 8-9 inches in height and 4-7 pounds; bold and stubborn. Originated in England in the 1800s.

DALMATIAN

The Dalmatian

.     The Dalmatian is a medium size dog, muscular and fast. It possesses great stamina and endurance and is the only breed with naturally spotted coat. Stands at nineteen to twenty four inches in height at the withers and average an approximate weight of forty five to seventy pounds. It has brown, blue eyes or a combination of both, also some ember color eyes can be found but not common. This breed is very versatile used for different purpose throughout its history such as guard dogs, shepherds, ratters, retrievers, circus dogs, and coaching dogs.

   The Dalmatian trace as far back as The Romanian gypsies and depicted on a painting in an altar in Veli Lošinj, west Croatia dated back between 1600 - 1630 but it was first mention and described as Canis Dalmaticus in some church documents written by Bishop Petar Bakic in 1719. In 1771 Thomas Pennant publish the book Synopsis of a Quadruped stating that the origin of the breed was actually from Dalmatia a province located on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. In 1862 the Dalmatian made its first show appearance in England but, it wasn’t until 1890 that the breed standard became official after the formation of the first Dalmatian Club in England.

   The Dalmatian is very intelligent and eager to please. This breed is very friendly and energetic at early age. Is easy to train when using positive reinforcement but need an experience owner who will firmly show leadership and consistent training or by instinct a Dalmatian will try to become the alpha dog and become very stubborn and bossy. They need a lot of exercise to avoid destructive behavior. If trained properly they can serve as watch dogs, working dogs or simply as family pet.

   Dalmatians are known for their health issues such as (like humans) liver problems leading to Gout, Kidneys Stones and Bladder Stones. Also 10 – 12% of Dalmatians are born deaf while 30% suffer from deafness at older age. Other health issue in this breed is skin allergies; they tend to develop allergies to some fabrics, carpets and upholstery.

Yorkies Playing

Just adorable...

http://youtu.be/XOku-LCKz7o