Dog Breeds

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The Scottie – Your Loyal Guardian

The Scottie – Your Loyal Guardian

Scottish terriers, commonly called Scotties, are British terriers with short legs. They originated in the Scottish highlands where they were bred with the other terriers related to them. They are such jaunty creatures that they are often used in advertisements to represent the nature of the country of their origin.

In reality, the nature of the Scottie perfectly matches its public image. Scottties are extremely loyal to their owners, in addition to being stoic and independant. They also value their privacy.

Scotties, Cairns, and Westies resemble one another a lot. The Cairns and Westies are closely related to each other. The Cairns are available in any color except white. The Westie, on the other hand, is actually a white Cairn, born when white dogs were crossed with the Cairns of west Scotland. Scotties are slightly different in the sense that they have dark coats, long heads and bodies, and usually stay aloof from the other two.

The History of the Scottie

The story of the Scottie’s origin is unclear. In the sixteenth century, the Scottie’s ancestors were sent to the king of France by the English king, James I. Later, three varieties of terriers were identified as Scotch terriers–the Cairns, the Scotties, and the Westies. The Dandie Dinmont, although related to these three breeds, has been placed in a class of its own because of the differences in its physical appearance.

Britain bred terriers to hunt animals that destroyed grain, poultry, and eggs. The terriers, therefore, evolved to be courageous dogs that could hunt foxes and badgers right upto their dens. Moreover, their soft undercoats and wiry outer coats protected them as they hunted in rough locations in harsh climatic conditions.

Interesting Facts about Your Scottie

You will be happy to know the following facts about your Scottie:

They are comfortable both indoors as well as outdoors.
They have a wiry coat about 2-inches thick.
Their color could be steel or iron gray, black, wheat, or sandy; sometimes, it is also grizzled or brindled.
They are about 10 inches tall.
They weight from 18 to 20 pounds.
They love to be praised and adapt well to the nature and habits of the family that owns them.

Caring for Your Scottie

Here are a few things that should be done regularly to keep your Scottie in a good condition:

Give your Scottie a professional grooming twice a year. Their wiry coats require professional care to maintain their texture and appearance. A good grooming will keep the coats wiry and firm.
Comb their fur twice a week and trim it occassionally.
Pluck out the dead hairs of a Scottie. Don’t use electric clippers because this will make their coats soft and dull.
They love hunting and playing with toys such as squeaky balls. Ensure that you spend some time playing with your Scottie.
Keep your Scottie on a leash when you take it for a walk in the public.

If you own or breed Scotties, you should be aware that the breed is susceptible to the following disorders:
An inherited disease called Von Willibrand’s Disease (VWD)
Allergies to fleas and other skin disorders
Epilepsy
Disorders of the jawbone
Cramps, a minor disorder that makes it difficult for your Scottie to walk.
Loss of coordination caused by a rare neurological disorder called Cerebellar abiotrophy that progress slowly.

Do you wish to buy a Scottie for yourself? Think over the matter carefully, and don’t make any hasty decision. Cruelty to the animal and lack of training can only cause distress to it. However, if you take good care of your Scottie, it will become your loyal guardian. In fact, it can become so protective that it will protect you even though it implies danger to its own life. A Scottie, in this regard, is the only dog of its kind.

LOVABLE GIGANT- SAINT BERNARD

LOVABLE GIGANT- SAINT BERNARD

Saint Bernard dogs began as Swiss herding dogs far back into their ancestry. The Saint Bernard has been created specifically to rescue stranded travelers. This was accomplished by adding Newfoundland blood into the bloodline. Today, the very popular Saint Bernard is the result of that. A Saint Bernard is very gentle and very good with children. This beloved work dog is a popular breed because of its gentility with children. However, this breed is a good watch dog and an even better guard dog. This breed’s proven temperament shows true and one could not ask for a better guard than this loyal protector from the Swiss mountains.

Saint Bernard dogs have such a keen sense of smell that they can smell out people burried deep in the snow. Barry, like other Saint Bernard dogs, was trained by the monks to rescue lost travelers in the Alps. The Bernard’s, on finding a man to be rescued, lie on top of the person and start licking his face to wake him up. Simultaneously they bark out aloud calling the monks for assistance, hearing which the monks would come with a stretcher and warm blankets to keep the person warm. The fellow is then taken to the monastery and is served warm tea and food.

Since its original purpose was to rescue travelers, it also is a very good rescue dog and not just in mountainous situations. This breed is very strong and can pull a full grown man up out of the snow. They can be trusted with infants and small children as well as adults. They tend to grow quite large, so a home with a large yard will be ideal for a Saint Bernard. Exercise is a must for this gentle giant. Walking and running are two types of exercise that they enjoy.

Keeping a Saint Bernard fit includes attention to the diet. They are big eaters and the right kind of food is ideal to balance them out. Care must be taken to brush out the coat, so that hair does not get matted or clumped in any way. The coat does shed, so regular brushing of the coat will keep the coat healthy and glossy, while removing all hair that is ready to fall out. This is essential for the comfort of a Saint Bernard. Having a big coat can be very uncomfortable in the summer months, so a haircut is recommended in hotter climates.

One should carefully think before adopting this giant dog. They make a wonderful family pet, are loving, loyal and get along well others and make excellent companions. They grow up eventually and become a large s stature dog.

As Saint Bernard is a gigantic breed one should consider it well because having a large dog can prove problematic. Its height is between 27-35 inches tall and will weigh between 150-200 pounds.

One should assess his or her accommodation properly as if you are planning to bring this lovable giant to your family Do you have enough room and floor space for a St. Bernard to stretch out without being underfoot? If he is going to sleep in your bedroom, if he lies in the middle of the floor will you likely trip over his body in the dark and get hurt?

If you have enough room to bring a St. Bernard into your home that is great. Now take a look around outside. What are you having outside? St. Bernard does not need a large amount of exercise, but does need access to an area where he can be active and play with the family.

If you live in an apartment that is adequate in size for a St. Bernard, this is also acceptable. However you need to make sure the dog gets a chance for exercise every day, as it helps the dog stay healthy.

You should also have a knowledge about his food .how much food does he eat? How many times in a day he needs his meal? St. Bernard puppies should not eat high protein puppy chow; they require a diet with a ratio of 22-26% protein, and a 12-15% fat ratio. This type of food may be hard to find and rather expensive, this is why it is wise to assess your finances prior to adopting or purchasing a St. Bernard pup.

Need more information about saint’s diet, health problems you can visit at http://www.varietykennel.com

Characteristics of the French bulldog puppies

Characteristics of the French bulldog puppies

To those of you who may not be familiar, there are many different breeds bulldogs – the English bulldog, the American bulldog, and the French bulldog. It is believed that the French bulldog descended from the English bulldog and later taken to France. Presumably because of this migration, French bulldogs suffer from a variety of peculiar diseases – uncommon in other breed of dogs. It is said that some of the diseases suffered by French bulldogs are hereditary. It therefore becomes necessary for owners of French bulldogs to have them medically test at regular intervals and more so, before using it for crossing. Otherwise, the chances are the French bulldog will probably beget unhealthy puppies and pose a threat to the breed as a whole.

French Bulldog Puppies are reluctant learners and you need to exercise a lot of patience while training them. You must evolve some signals and you them persistently for the puppies to grasp. One thing that needs to be said is they desperately need companionship and will feel psychologically let down without it.  The French bulldog interacts well with other dogs, but resent being around small children who may manhandle the puppies. Their soft skin, appealing looks, affectionate nature, pleasant behavior and overall agility make them ideal pets.

Bulldog puppies are not very much different from other puppies and they look small, cute and playful and sleep a lot. They crave for attention from their owners and they succeed in getting it as all owners love tiny little puppies. The real problem arises after your bulldog puppy grows up because a lot of people lose interest in providing company to adult bulldogs.

French bulldog puppy is a compact, physically well-built dog with a smooth coat, solid bone structure with a flat powerful muzzle and a pug nose. Lots of people buy cute puppies in the pet stores but feel disappointed when the dog grows up as sometimes they feel they did not buy the right breed. There are bulldog rescue shelters that collect abandoned and neglected bulldogs and find them new loving families. Bulldog rescue shelters are usually maintained by bulldog lovers who volunteer their time and money to find homes for needy bulldogs.

French bulldog puppies are found in a variety of pleasant colors. The puppies are in great demand and bought by people all over the world. French bulldog puppies that are black in color with brownish hue are usually called as Sea Brindles and these types are the costliest.

There are French bulldog puppies having a coat with regular fawn and black stripes pattern resembling Tiger’s skin. French bulldog puppy with a coat of pale cream color is called as Cream. There are various shades of cream from deep amber to butterscotch and palest gold. French bulldogs covered with black stripe and white areas are known as Brindle pied

The physical appearance of French bulldog puppies is characterized by large, wide and erect ears rounded at the top. The head is of square shape and the eyes are round and sharp and the tail is disproportionately short. French bulldog puppies prefer cooler climates as tropical climate may cause heat stroke and water should always be provided. They mature slowly and their life span ranges 12 and 14 years.

If you are in the market for a French bulldog puppy, you can search the Internet where there are plenty of ads offering French bulldog puppies for sale. However, it is to be noted that all the French bulldog breeders out there are not created equal. In fact even a family dog owner who owns a female French bulldog is a potential breeder when he decides to put his bitch out for mating. Find your perfect French bulldog puppy for sale from any reputable and reliable French bulldog breeder listings.

Tyson no ordinary dog
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Australian Shepherd?

Question by courtney!: Australian Shepherd?
i’m looking for a friendly, protective dog that can be left alone for short periods of time. is an Australian Shepherd a good choice?

Best answer:

Answer by Megan G
Yep. Aussies are great.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Golden Retriever runs a store

This is Murphy our golden retriever that helps us run our drive thru beer and coffee company. Located in Michigan Center, MI on Page Ave. Just outside of Jackson, MI. YellowdogCoffeeCo.com
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Basset Hound – the Facts Every Owner of This Dog Breed Should Know

Basset Hound – the Facts Every Owner of This Dog Breed Should Know

The Basset Hound originated in sixth century France and is thought to be descended from the St. Hubert Hounds. The Basset Hound (bas means ‘low-set’ in French) proved useful to hunters, with its slow movement and long ears to stir up scent, they could drive prey out from dense covering and into open fields. The Basset Hound has stamina to keep up with hunters and to track and prey for long periods of time. Basset Hounds are still used for hunting in some areas of the world. The Basset Hound is described as gentle, sociable and stubborn.

Basset Hounds are loyal to their families and good with children and other animals. They prefer to be lap dogs and do not make good guard dogs, as they will greet any stranger who approaches them as a friend. Basset Hounds tend to be strong-willed and independent, making them difficult to train, but with enough consistency this can be overcome. When out for a walk with a Basset Hound, always keep it on a leash as the hunting tendencies may override any and all training.

Though Basset Hounds have a short stature, standing 12 to 15 inches tall, they are not considered small dogs, and will on average weight 50 to 65 pounds when mature. They have short coats that are tri-colored (black, white and tan) or red and white, and require relatively little maintenance. Regular brushing will keep the coat free of dirt and reduce shedding. Baths are necessary only a few times a year, as their coats tend to repel water. A Basset Hound’s ears need regular cleaning since their long, floppy ears do not allow air to circulate, increasing the risk of infection and they do tend to slobber more than other dogs.

Basset Hounds need to be exercised frequently and often times have to be encouraged to do so as they are prone to taking naps in the sun. The Basset Hound is prone to some genetic disorders. Von Willebrand’s disease is a platelet disorder that results in mild to moderate bleeding and a longer than average bleeding time. Through breeding, the incident of this condition has been reduced in the breed.

Basset Hounds are also prone to glaucoma, gastric torsion and interdigital cysts. Some Basset Hounds are allergic to certain grasses. Without proper exercise, Basset Hounds are prone to obesity, which can cause arthritis, back pains and heart trouble.

There is a website that has great information on Basset Hounds and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Breakfast at Ginger’s- golden retriever dog eats with hands

Ginger enjoys a leisurely breakfast. Be sure to check out the version with no laugh-track and let us know which one you like better! Here is the link: www.youtube.com (Unfortunately we are having trouble posting the actual video here).
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Famous West Highland White Terriers

Famous West Highland White Terriers

With a friendly temperament, high energy disposition, and beautiful white coat, it is no surprise that the West Highland White Terrier has become the most popular terrier in the world. Their handsome good looks and excellent temperaments have allowed Westies to become famous actors on television and in films, and become models for various applications, characters in books and cartoon representations. For your enjoyment, below are some of the most famous West Highland White Terriers, America’s favorite Terrier.

The name of the charming Westie that appears on the label of Australia’s My Dog brand of dog food is Imelda.

A Westie with black ear tips played in a feature film based on the French cartoon character Axterix, as the pet dog of Axterix’s friend, Obelix. In the film, he was called Dogmatrix, or Idefix in the original French version.

The pet of the Souphanousinphone family on the animated series King of the Hill is played by a West Highland White Terrier named Doggy.

An acting dog, Happy, who had been abused by her first owner, found a part on the television show 7th Heaven. After being rescued from the animal shelter, it was necessary for Happy to make friends with adult actors before the filming began. She appeared on the show for eleven seasons,

The main character in a series of illustrated books created by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Susan Jeffers is a West Highland White Terrier named McDuff.

Hamish Macbeth is a fictional police officer in a popular series of books written by M. C. Beaton. Macbeth is often accompanied by his Westie, Wee Jock. The series was later adapted into a popular television show for BBC that ran for three seasons.

The mascot and poster dog for the Cesar brand of dog food is Cesar in the United States. In Canada, a different Westie, Maggie, appears on the containers and commercials.

American author and recipient of the Caldecott Honor, David Shannon, wrote a children’s book titled “Good Boy, Fergus!” in which the title character is a Westie.

Agatha Gregson owned a West Highland White Terrier named Macintosh in the celebrated series Jeeves and Wooster, by P.D. Wodehouse.

“Greyfriars Bobby,” by Eleanor Atkinson, depicts an embellished true story of a Skye Terrier who spent the better part of his life sitting on his master’s grave, to whom he was deeply devoted. In a later film, produced in 2006, called “The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby,” the dog, Bobby, was portrayed by a West Highland White Terrier.

The Westie that appears in the American Girl series of books and dolls is named Coconut.

House, a currently produced television series, boasts a Westie named Hector, who lives with Wilson, one of the main characters of the show.

As you can see, Westies are famous world wide. If you are interested in purchasing a Westie for you household, make sure to do plenty of research and know exactly what type of dog you are getting. While Westies are well mannered and intelligent, there may be certain traits you might not like. It’s also important to do plenty of research into your breeder of choice. Make sure your breeder is ethical and properly screens their puppies.

Alaskan Malamute Dog Breed Profile Information

Alaskan Malamute Dog Breed Profile Information

Description: The Alaskan Malamute is a medium to large dog in the sled dog family. The dog is 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and the bitch 22 to 24 inches. The dog will weigh approximately 80 to 95 pounds, and the bitch will be between 70 and 85 pounds. The coat of the Alaskan Malamute has a very dense double coat which is 2 to 3 inches long. This dense coat is what allows the Alaskan Malamute to remain outside in arctic winter conditions. The coat is usually found to be grey, black and white, wolf grey, or red. White is the only permitted solid color. The Alaskan Malamute will generally live for 12 to 15 years.

History: The Alaskan Malamute has been used by the Inuit for over 2000 years. This is a very old breed that shows its wolf ancestry in its appearance. This dog was named for the tribe called the Mahlemuts, who had come across from Siberia to settle in what is now Alaska. The dogs provided the Mahlemuts with a dependable form of transportation in an very challenging climate. Used not only as sled dogs, the Malamute was also used in polar bear hunts.

Temperament: The Alaskan Malamute is a even tempered dog that enjoys being with its human family. This is a friendly dog that does not make a good guard dog. The Malamute is used mostly today as a companion dog, although some are still used for mushing. This dog is quite smart and can learn quickly, however training should start early. The Malamute is good around children and enjoys playing with them, but make sure that the child is large enough to play safely with this rather large dog. Some dogs, male and female alike, in spite of socialization, remain hostile to dogs of the same sex.

Health Issues: The Alaskan Malamute is subject to bloat, or stomach torsion. If your dog experiences this, it is vital to get it to an animal hospital immediately for treatment. This dog can suffer from hip dysplasia, also. Cancer is found, especially in older dogs, and this breed can exhibit hereditary dwarfism. Eye problems can surface in the form of cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy.

Grooming: As the Alaskan Malamute is a heavy shedder, it is necessary to brush out the coat at least twice a week. This dog will blow its coat twice a year, and it is probably a good idea to brush it more during these times. A dry shampooing is all that is needed in the way of bathing.

Living Conditions: As the Alaskan Malamute is kept today mostly as a companion dog, it will usually be kept in the house. It is perfectly capable of living outside as long as it is visited by its owner during the day. The Malamute is not a dog that should be kept in an apartment, it is far too active for such a confined space and needs to have a great deal of exercise to keep it fit. This dog will be come extremely destructive of its surroundings if not given enough exercise.

Its not my personal video. I jacked it from somewhere else in cyberspace. Pretty cool though.

How to Train a Basset Hound

How to Train a Basset Hound

Do you want a cute and short dog with an impeccable nose?

The Basset Hound, the “Hush Puppies” breed, is an adorable and well-behaved dog that will melt your heart with its appearance and demeanor. It is also a breed of amazing ability for tracking scents.

Origin:

The Basset hound is very old breed of dog. They were originally developed in France to assist in hunting slow trailing game animals such as rabbits and hares. They are perfect as trail hunters because their slow quiet movements won’t easily scare game.

Their popularity was at its peak during the reign of Emperor Napoleon. The true fame of the Basset Hound began in 1863, when it was presented at the Paris Dog Show.

They got their name from the French word “bas” meaning “low” in reference to their low set appearance.

Appearance and Abilities:

Basset hounds are very low to the ground. They have short legs. Proportionally, they have heavier bones as compared to other dogs.

Their short build can be deceiving. They are actually long dogs and able to reach counter and table tops to reach food. However, their short limbs and heavy bones make them poor swimmers.

Their skin is extremely loose and falls in folds on their heads. They have long velvety ears that fall way below their noses. They have a naturally sad expression on their faces even when they are happy.

They have short and smooth coats and are accepted in many recognizable colors. There are no rules concerning about coat color and color distribution.

Basset hounds have impeccable sense of smell. Their scent keenness is at par with that of the Bloodhound. They are able to pick up scent from very far and can track its origin with tremendous resolve.

Temperament and Tendencies:

Naturally, Basset hounds are well-mannered and loving dogs. They are never vicious or aggressive as fairly suggested by their melancholic faces. They are very patient and friendly with children.

They are very vocal breeds. They tend to howl or bark if they want something or warn their owners about something. They can whine by murmuring a sound to get attention from their masters. It may sound like they are speaking sometimes.

Training and Care:

Basset hounds will prefer someone to lead them with natural authority. Most dogs battle for the alpha role but Basset Hounds actually prefer it if they are led by gentle consistency.

They respond well with to positive reinforcement. Train them by praising good behavior. Stubborn and wise creatures they are, they will not follow commands if they believe that there is some reward to go with it.

Bassets are rather difficult to train because they are easily distracted by their acute sense of smell. Training them needs persistence and must be done in an area with less distraction from scents.

Always monitor their feedings because overweight Basset hounds have low life spans. Too much weight will put grave pressure on their legs and spine. Vigorous exercise is not necessary but you should give Basset Hounds their daily dose of walks and soft play.

Grooming them is relatively easy. Occasional baths and brushes are adequate and shampoo only when necessary. Always clean their ears and clip their toe nails. Their nails, when not clip are sharp and can scratch you. Basset hounds also shedding constantly so make sure to brush them frequently.

The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt rabbits by scent. Their sense of smell for tracking is second only to that of the Bloodhound. The name Basset is derived from the French word bas, meaning “low”, with the attenuating suffix -et, together meaning “rather low”. Basset hounds are commonly brown and white and most often spotted, but also exist in a variety of colors.These dogs are around 1 foot in height at the withers. They usually weigh between 35-70lbs. They have smooth, short-haired coats but a rough haired hound is possible. Although any hound colour is considered acceptable by breed standards, Bassets are generally tricolor (black, tan, and white), open red and white (red spots on white fur), closed red and white (a solid red color with white feet and tails), Honey And White (honey coloured back, light brown spotty nose and legs, light brown tails with white tip) and lemon and white. Some Bassets are also classified as gray or blue; however, this colour is considered rare and undesirable. They have long, downward ears and powerful necks, with much loose skin around their heads that forms wrinkles. Their tails are long and tapering and stand upright with a curve. Some prefer that the tail be tipped in white. This is so they are easily seen when hunting/tracking through large bushes or weeds. The breed is also known for its hanging skin structure, which causes the face to occasionally look sad; this …
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