Airedale Terrier

Area of Origin:	England
Size: Height: Weight:	large 22 – 24 inches 40 – 65 lbs
Lifespan:	10 – 13 years
Grooming requirements:
Exercise requirements:
Watchdog ability:
Train ability:
Good with children:
Good with other dogs:
Other Names:	Waterside Terrier, Bingley Terrier

The Airedale Terrier was developed about a hundred years ago in the country of York from the ancient Working Terrier. “The King of Terriers,” the Airedale was named for the Valley of the Aire in England, where lots of small game flourished. Originally known as the Waterside Terrier and used as a vermin hunter. The breed was later crossed with the Otterhound to make him a better swimmer. In addition to his role as a small game hunter, the Airedale Terrier has been used to hunt big game in Africa, India and Canada and as a police dog and army sentry dog in World War II. Today the Airedale Terrier is primarily a companion dog. Some of the Airedale Terrier’s talents are guarding, watchdogging, hunting, tracking, military work, police work, and competitive obedience.

Appearance
The Airedale Terrier is a medium-sized, well-boned, squarely-built dog, and at all times a terrier in appearance and attitude.

Character
The Airedale Terrier is a friendly, adaptable and courageous dog showing all the terrier characteristics. They need firm handling as they are naturally dominant and can be stubborn, but normally they love to please and are obedient.

Temperament
The Airedale Terrier is an independent, territorial dog breed. It is intelligent, but often stubborn and headstrong. It makes a good house dog as long as it gets daily mental and physical exercise. Initially suspicious of strangers, the Airedale Terrier makes a good watchdog.

Exercise/Training
The Airedale Terrier is an active breed that needs a chance to get vigorous exercise every day. The Airedale Terrier needs can be met with a long walk, a strenuous game or a chance to hunt and romp in a safe area. The Airedale Terrier can be a good companion for jogging, hiking ore running along side a bike. Playing and obedience are very good types of mental exercise. 20 minutes obedience and playing with your Airedale Terrier will be more useful for the dogs exercise then an hour walk on the leash can provide.

Color
Like many terriers, the Airedale Terrier has a ‘broken’ coat: a harsh, wiry topcoat with a soft, fur-like undercoat. Because of this coat, Airedale Terriers do not significantly shed. Airedale Terriers being shown are generally groomed by stripping: a small serrated edged knife to is used pull out loose hair from the dog’s coat.
The correct coat color of the Airedale Terrier is a black saddle, with a tan head, ears and legs; or a dark grizzle saddle (black mixed with gray and white). Both are acceptable in the AKC breed standard.

Grooming
The coat of the Airedale Terrier needs combing twice weekly, plus scissoring and shaping (clipping for pets and hand stripping for show dogs) every one to two months. A good nutrition and regular brushing keeps the proper coat shine and the skin healthy. Bathing doesn’t harm the coat of the Airedale Terrier as long as you use a good quality shampoo that doesn’t dry the skin and coat and is formulated for a canine coat. The ears of the Airedale Terrier should be kept clean and regularly inspected as well.

Airedale Terrier Pictures

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Havanese – a Superb Dog.

The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese They are a playful small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They love to have attention and will do many things to attract it. This love for attention does not make them an ideal choice for a working couple. They love following owners around the home, but are rarely overly possessive of their “ family”, so are superb with other animals and dogs. This seeking for attention often shows when eating, as they like someone present, so if you leave the room, they will often follow, eating as they go, which can be messy. They are a “real dog”, playing games such as football with all their strength. Like many toy dogs, they do not require long walks, but they do love attention. Professional Dog Walkers such as London Dog Walking, if doing grouped walks will pair them with similar dogs, rather than big energetic dogs.

For dog care they are straightforward. One advantage of the Havanese is that they do not shed much. You may see on lists that they do not shed, this misleading as all hair follicles will have a cycle of growing and dying, shedding it hair, but this is variable and not often, so there is no strong cycle of hair shedding. The coat catches the hair and dander internally, so many people think it is non-allergenic, but they all release dander that can aggravate allergies. If you have an allergy sufferer in the house, have one to stay for a few days to check.

The Havanese has a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a heavier undercoat.

The Havanese must be groomed every day, as the fur has a tendency to mat. If not a show dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have a good coat, it is a coat to keep the hot sun off the body, not warmth inside, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

When you bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. It is a breed that for showing needs to keep a natural look, but for everyday looks and practicality may benefit from bows etc..

The Havanese now come in many different colours and patterns, but were originally white.
Whilst the Havanese is a toy dog, it is solid and sturdy. They have a weight range of 4-6 Kgs ( around twelve lbs). Its height measured at the withers is around 250mm( normally 10). The back raises from the withers to the rump which is unusual in dogs.

The Havanese have a sprightly agile movement. The Havanese are good swimmers, but many of them do not like swimming, but careful close to water  if there is something for them to chase.

They have almond eyes, with medium sized ears that are well covered and hang down. The Havanese are more likely than most breeds to ear infections, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. From time to time they may need inner hairs to be pulled by tweezers or hand. The tail arches over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have a great sense of smell and are trained often for search. The Havanese are easily trainable so are often found in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

  They normally live fourteen to sixteen years. The Havanese being breed from a limited gene pool suffer from some genetic diseases. The most common being liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( streaks and dots on the retina). It is recommended only to acquire Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese may develop brown tear stains, which is especially noticeable on those with white or light coats.

The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Cuba by original settlers and traders. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Globally the Havanese is a new breed, rapidly growing in the seventies from only 11 animals in the US. They were common in Cuba, prior to the revolution, but suffered afterwards. Rapid growth in popularity now makes it difficult to find a puppy.

A great family dog that should be considered.

German Shepherd – a Dog with Intelligence.

The German Shepherd Dog also called the Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund.  They are a relatively new breed of large-sized dog that dates from the late 19th century. They are part of the Herding group that was originally developed as a working dog for herding sheep.

Often employed by the military and police for their obedience and intelligence. The German Shepherd is nearly always one of the top 3 global breeds.
The breed originates from a dog called Hektor Linksrhein. He so impressed Von Stephanitz that he purchased it and changed the dogs name to Horand von Grafrath and founded Alsatian Dog Society.
Horand became the centre-point of the Alsatian breeding programs and was bred with many other society member dogs.
The German Shepherds popularity has grown quickly throughout the 20th Century, though taking dives in popularity in the early days due to health problems from poor breeding and after the world wars with anti German sentiment. This caused the UK Kennel Club to rename it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, a while later the wolf dog appendage was dropped and in 1977, the Alsatian Dog was back as the official name, though it is still often known as the Alsatian. The Alsatian popularity was helped by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now it is globally the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of between 55 and 65 centimetres ( 22 and 26 in) at the top of the back and weigh between 22 and 40 kilograms ( sixty lb).

The German Shepherd’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, powerful jaws, large erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.

Alsatians come in a variety of colours, the most common being the tan/black and red/black versions with black saddles and masks.   Rarer versions include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue types, which may not fit country breed standards. German Shepherds have a double coat. A thick close dense outer coat, which sheds all year round and a thick undercoat. The long-hair variety is rarer.
The Alsatian, like many working dogs is very intelligent,  and are considered to be the third most intelligent breed of dog (Border Collies is deemed to be number one by Stanley Coren in his book The Intelligence of Dogs). This intelligence combined with their strength makes the breed sought after as police, guard, and search and rescue dogs, being able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other large breeds.
German Shepherds have a reputation for aggression and have been banned in areas as a result. Statistically, in the States, the German Shepherd is responsible for more unprovoked indiscriminate bites than any other breed, and have a reputation to attack smaller dog breeds.

Additionally research has shown that German Shepherds are the breed third most likely to attack a person and in another report found that Alsatians accounted for almost half of the dog bites that required medical attention, compared to a more typical twenty of bites requiring medical attention, not a surprise with their powerful jaws and scissor teeth.

There is no problem with the Alsatian breed, it is the fault of the owners. As with all clever active dog (or person), if they are not regularly active and kept occupied, they can become troublesome. Good dog training and dog socialisation are crucial for a dog like the German Shepherd. The Alsatian is different from the collie, which a lot of its aggressiveness has been breed out from show strains, the German Shepherd does not seem to have lost this character.

The German Shepherd are great with the family they know, but can be over protective of their home and family – why they are a great guard dog. Due to this they may appear a bit aloof.

Alsatians learn well and are very obedient and not easily distracted, but due to their strong character,  you need to be very forceful with them.
The Alsatian will need to have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family who cannot give them the time and attention.  For this reason, busy families regularly ask dog walkers to help out by walking them for several hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common genetic health problems, hip and elbow joint problems (dysplasia) which often causes the dog pain and may cause arthritis. The German Shepherd also suffers from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. Due to the large and open nature of their ears, Shepherds also are prone to ear infections.

German Shepherds, like many deep chested dogs are prone to bloat, this is often fatal, so if you think this may be a problem, go straight to the veterinary. Bloat is a gas build up in the stomach, caused by a number of different causes. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A high rate of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias ( forty percent in one study), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The Alsatian also suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are more likely to have Von Willebrand Disease, a common generic bleeding disorder, which shows in varying degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the Alsatian is sturdy with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a Alsatian is around nine years, which is normal for a large dog.

The German Shepherd has a great nose so is one of the most widely-used breeds in a many roles requiring this ability, including search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection dog, amongst others.

So the Alsatian is a superb clever dog that will bond well with you, if you have the time and dedication for him. Not advised for busy working families.

Papillon: Little Butterfly- Eared Creature that Champion Against the Bigger Breeds

One of the most adorable, distinct and supposedly oldest breed of toy dogs is the spaniel kind Papillon. Translated, its name means butterfly in French and true to its name, this dog appears with ears as beautiful and as similar to a butterfly and a temperament that’s as carefree as well. But not only does this dog wins the heart of many people but champions fields of agility, competitive obedience and tricks performance as well.

The Papillon possesses large and lusciously fringed ears that stand and sway like a butterfly on its head. Its body has a single coating of long and fine fur that often appears in varieties of colors but never in white alone for this is considered a disqualification by the kennel clubs. The Papillon’s coat should appear in white plus another color or a combination of a few such as: white and black, white and lemon, white and sable, black, brown and white, black, red and white and more.

With this dog being a toy dog, it is natural that you expect it to be high maintenance like its other breed mates. Surprisingly though, this creature is just the opposite of it meaning, you dont have to spend much in order to make this dog neat and clean. Aside from being naturally clean and odorless, the Papillions coat only requires daily brushing or combing and a once in a while bathing and dry shampooing.

The history of the Papillon goes back to nearly 700 years of recorded existence and was depicted in a plethora of 13th through 15th century Italian frescoes. During the Renaissance period, this breed was flourishing all over the Italian countryside and cities and proof to this is the discovered paintings of well-known artists such as Titian. This breed went from many developments and many breeders and thus had been called by many names such as Continental Toy Spaniel, Squirrel Spaniel, Epagneul nain Continental and the present day Papillon name or Butterfly Dog and Pap.

Being tiny and adorably fluffy, you will expect this breed to be cheerful but never hyper and intelligent but not so very. Sorry to disappoint you, however, but this tiny dog is naturally energetic and superbly intelligent that in fact, it possesses abilities and talents that you never deemed possible for a dog this size. As quoted by many Papillon owners, Papillons are “big dogs in little dog suits”.

The Papillon ranks 8th in Stanly Cohen’s The Intelligence of Dogs so it is not a surprise that the Papillion can outsmart those breed larger than itself. Crediting its high brain capacity, the Papillon is very easy to train in tricks performance, agility competitions and competitive obedience. Even at national and international circuits, this dog is a warrior and will often beat the larger breed Border Collie in some routines.

Despite the Papillon’s recognition and talent in the competitive world, however, its primal instinct as a companion and lap dog is still conspicuous through its unending affection, playfulness and protectiveness of its master. Outside the competition, this dog is often at a sedate state, always being patient, gentle and calm and at the same time kingly and elegant in posture. Moreover, aside from being a champion sports dog and a gentle human companion, the Papillon is also an outstanding watchdog, observing possible threats and guarding its master and possessions against unfriendly faces.

Truly, the Papillon is one amazing and surprising kind of breed for it definitely fit the adage, small but terrible. Judging from its colorful and vivid history, it is clear that this breed is quite a favorite of many royal and common families of the Renaissance period. Additionally, as further proof to its importance to many prominent people, it is believed that Marie Antoinette, leading to her death, carries in her bosom her beloved Papillon companion.

Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie): The Diminutive Herder of Shetland Island, Scotland

The Shetland Sheepdog or simply known as the Sheltie is one of the dog breeds around the world whose origin is not exactly defined. What’s certain, however, is the fact that the Sheltie is a supposed original resident of the rocky region of the Shetland Island in Scotland. Physically, this breed appears like a miniature Collie but in fact, the breeding was never intended to achieve this kind of result.

The Sheltie was said to be the result of various breeding between the Scottish Rough Collie, Pomeranian, Greenland Yakki (now extinct), and the King Charles Spaniel or is a direct descendant of one of these breeds. In Shetland Island, the Sheltie was believed to do herding tasks just like the other Collies. Contradictions supply, however, that the Sheltie was not used for herding but rather for chasing small creatures such as ducks and squirrels.

Presently, this dog is popular around the world as an outstanding family companion and children’s pet. This breed is very loyal, docile and highly trainable and it intensely wills to please the master. With a firm and confident training and treatment from the owner, the Sheltie will definitely become a superiorly fantastic household companion and reliable family pet.

If not often exposed to people in the beginning, this breed has the tendency to become aloof towards strangers when it grows up. It does well around people especially children and therefore should be socialized at a young age. The Sheltie is a superb watch dog as well, barking as a signal when there is an approaching human or car towards the house.

Although never really believed to be a herder then, the Sheltie of today has an eager herder instinct that most of the time comes out through its irrepressible desire to chase and herd other creatures. Because of this, it needs to be always kept busy and so activities such as running and chasing around within a wide spaced area is necessary. The Sheltie is not hyper active; just make sure to give it the right amount of activities in order to keep its physical and mental health in shape.

The normal height of the Sheltie is 13 to 16 inches while its normal weight is between 14 to 27 pounds. It has an outer coat and an inner coat wherein the outer coat is long, coarse and dense and acts as a water-guard. The inner coat is somewhat softer and serves as a comforter against hot or cold temperatures.

The general colors of the Sheltie are sable, tri-colour and blue merle. The sable is either golden or mahogany and the tri-colour is white, black and tan. The blue merle is composed of grey, white, black and tan.

In 1909, the first Sheltie was first registered in the English Kennel Club and in 1911; the first Sheltie was registered in the American Kennel Club. This breed, even if not intended to be a herder, has a natural affinity in herding smaller creatures which is often seen through its chasing smaller animals. What’s certain, however, that herder or not, the Sheltie is still recognized as an outstanding pet of families around the world.

Frequent Diseases in Dachshunds

In reality, there is no disease truly common in Dachshunds The overwhelming majority are born healthy and live long, mostly disease-free lives.Some minor health issues arise for nearly every dog at some point, even those who receive early vaccinations and excellent life-long care.

Nevertheless, some conditions do occur more often in Dachshund than in other breeds.

Problems with the Adrenal Gland

One common disease of the adrenal gland is Cushing’s Disease, or hyperadrenocorticism. In Cushing’s Disease, too much of the hormone cortisol is produced, either by a primary tumor or the adrenal gland, or a malfunction of the pituitary gland, which is the master gland that tells the adrenal gland how much cortisol to produce. The elevated cortisol level results in excessive drinking and urination, a pot-bellied appearance, skin conditions, hair loss and occasionally diabetes. Lab tests are performed to measure the cortisol levels and the ability of the adrenal gland to produce cortisol. Several different drugs can be used to decrease the level of cortisol. On occasion, surgical removal of the adrenal gland may be needed. Cushing’s disease can occur in all breeds of dogs, also.

The opposite condition is called Addison’s disease or low cortisol (hypoadrenocorticism). Whereas, Cushing’s takes some time to present itself, Addison’s disease is a sudden episode of collapse due to an imbalance of the electrolytes and too low of blood sugar (glucose). The sudden illness results in an emergency visit to the veterinarian to correct the imbalances with cortisone injections and fluid therapy. Addison’s  is the most difficult disease to diagnose because the sudden collapse resembles many disorders. Specialized blood tests are necessary to identify both Addison’s and Cushing’s Disease. Treatment of Addison’s disease is life-long treatment with prednisone (cortisone) and electrolytes.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Several eye diseases can affect Dachshunds, such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. PRA is a gradual degeneration of the retina, the lining of the back of the eye. The degeneration results with gradual vision loss and blindness. PRA is a genetic trait, and since it is a slow, progressive disease,  these dogs are sometimes bred before the disease is diagnosed, thus perpetuating the disease. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure or treatment for PRA. Other eye diseases that can affect Doxies are cataracts, glaucoma, optic nerve hypoplasia, distichiasis (abnormal eyelashes) as well as other conditions. Regular eye exams can help identify these eye-disorders early.

Intervertebral Disc Disease

By far the most common disease of Dachshunds is related to the discs between the vertebrae (the bones of the spine). The disc is normally gelatinous and provides a cushion between the bones of the back (spine). In Dachshunds, this material sometimes hardens, or calcifies, and sometimes ruptures. The herniated disc causes inflammation and swelling around the spinal cord and nerves. Early signs of a herniated disc are pain, a reluctance to jump up, partial paralysis and sometimes total paralysis or the rear legs,. The majority of them with disc disease can be managed medically with pain medication and anti-inflammatory medications. Holistic medicine, such as chiropractic manipulation and acupuncture, is sometimes used to relieve the pain. Immediate surgery to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord may help restore full function in the legs when there is a complete rupture resulting in total paralysis. The faster the surgery is performed, the greater the chances of full recovery.

Experimental treatments are being tested using laser needles to fuse the disc material to try and prevent the herniation. Being as this is such a common problem in them, I do recommend purchasing health insurance for your pet. Spinal surgery for herniated discs is very expensive and I have had the uneasy task of performing euthanasia on several Dachshunds because the owner’s were unable to pay for the surgery. A few of my patients that were partially paralyzed did recover some function of their legs over time. Some dogs may recover without surgery, but it is impossible to predict.

Vaccination Reactions

Allergic reactions to vaccinations does seem to occur in the Dachshund more often than any other breed. The reaction is usually minor, resulting in swelling of the face and muzzle and sometimes hives. Occasional vaccine reactions can occur with any dog so it is always a good idea to observe your pet for a few hours after their shots. Vaccines have improved over the past few years so reactions are fewer and the benefits of protecting your pet against the diseases outweighs the risks.

With good health care, Dachshunds can lead a long and healthy life. Good dental care, proper diets, preventive health checks, vaccinations, and heartworm/parasite prevention can help your Doxie live longer.  You can find more information concerning your dogs health at LuvUrDog.com as well Dachshund breed gifts.

 

The Fluffy and Famous Pomeranian

Who wouldn’t recognize this fluffy and adorable little breed when all its magnificence is shown in countless movies and TV repeatedly? This celebrity breed is the Pomeranian and it is on the American Kennel Club’s top 15 most famous breeds of America for 10 consecutive years. Today, the Pomeranian or Pom Pom is being adopted as a companion dog but it is also competitive in terms of agility, competitive obedience and ticks performance.

Evidence of this breed’s ancestors was found in Egypt as shown in various Egyptian paintings, sculptures and pottery inside the tomb of prominent people. Overtime, this breed was brought to the region of the now non-existent Pomerania, a place now occupied by Germany and Poland dividedly. It is in this place that the then 20 pounds Pomeranian-like breed was further refined to possess a luscious coat and a disposition befitting a city life.

Today, this breed weighs 3 to 7 pounds and the credit goes to the English people who developed the Pomeranian breed to be much smaller and colorful. When it became tiny and recognizable as a toy dog, it gained popularity all over Europe through the ardent fascination of Queen Charlotte and Princess Victoria. Famous personalities are said to have an affinity to the breed and such people are Marie Antoinette, Mozart and Emile Zola to name a few.

The Pomeranian is labeled as a toy dog and it belongs to the Spitz type. In many European countries, this dog is called Zwergspitz, a German word meaning dwarf spitz or toy German spitz. The name Pomeranian came from the root word Pomorze or Pomern, a Slavic language meaning “along the sea”.

Describing the look of this tiny breed, many attest that it looks like a fox, a baby doll, or a pansy-faced creature. This may be attributed to the fact that the Pomeranian owns a bright, almond-shaped, and intelligent- looking stare. It also possesses a dense, long and soft hair that is often seen in colors white, black, brown, orange, sable, wolf, or white with colored markings.

The original Pomeranian used to weigh 20 to 30 pounds but through the Mendelean breeding technique, breeders were able to decrease its size to 3 to 7 pounds. This breed may also live up to 12 or 19 years given that it is kept healthy. To achieve its prime health, it is important to give this little dog a dose of daily walks in order to keep it fit and sane.

The Pomeranian is a natural entertainer, sociable, energetic and loyal type of dog. It excels in competitive obedience and tricks performance even in circus acts. Furthermore, the Pom Pom is an independent type of dog therefore you dont have to constantly lavish it with attention and time as it will keep itself busy on its own.

To keep its appearance at its best, frequent brushing and combing, regular dental check up and daily ear and nose cleaning are needed. On the downside, the Pomeranian is an excessive shedder therefore allergic individuals are not suited to own this breed. This dog also strives well in a small apartment dwelling because it doesn’t really need a wide space to exercise.

West Highland White Terrier: A Magnificent Breed Saved From Cruelty

Filled with spunk and a mighty determination- this is what the tiny West Highland White terrier is popularly known for and more. With a compact little body and a wonderfully luminous white fur, this dog is an undeniable charmer and a surprisingly energetic and agile little gamer. Also widely known as “Westie”, this little fluffy creature has a wide following and is still counting.

A lot of dog owners favor the West Highland White terrier today but going back in time, it is but a pity and a shock to know that they weren’t so favored as they are today. In Scotland, where this breed first appeared, they were merely treated as invaluable, least productive and scruffy dogs of peasant and poor workers. These cruel and unjust assessments then widely prompted the people of that time to abandon, allow perishing, and ultimately killing these poor terriers.

Thanks to the influence of a soft- hearted man of rank, however, that this dog was saved from harshness and was started to be recognized as one having unique abilities and useful strengths as a watchdog and vermin hunter. Col. Edward Donald Malcolm of Poltalloch, Scotland was the first man to give importance to this breed and so it was called the Poltalloch terrier then. Col. Malcolm developed several colored terriers but it is the white colored one that gained the most concentration for this typical color is the most useful in bushes and woods setting.

This creature is a relative of Scottish terriers Skye, Cairn, and Dandie Dinmont and inter-breeding made it the West Highland White terrier that it is today. The efforts of Col. Malcolm resulted in the conception of the first West Highland White terrier club in 1905 and in 1906, it was given official recognition by The Kennel Club in the UK and was given the name The West Highland Terrier Club. The West Highland White terrier was shown at that same time in the US and has been a part of the American Kennel Club (AKC) by 1908.

Being a typical terrier, the Westie is unsurprisingly game, hardy, fairly trusting to new people, playful to children; active, self-assured, and feigns companionship. It’s common for this breed as well to be inclined in running, playing, and runningaround small animals such as cats; it is never to hurt other animals but that this terrier loves chasing them around but merely as a form of entertainment. If surrounded by other dogs, this breed will interact just fine for it is never touchy and antagonistic, but rather affable and possesses a high self-esteem.

Outwardly, this dog is covered with 2 inches length of hair that’s thick, soft, and pearly white in brilliance. It sturdily and robustly boasts its 10-12 inches of height and its hair that has a softer and thicker undercoat and courser and tougher overcoat. Maintenance for the hair minimally requires daily brushing and regular trimmings and clippings.

This dog is also tractable, is an innate showman within and is fairly intelligent; truth is, it wins a lot during obedience and dog show competitions. As per its health, just like any other animals, it requires daily walks in order to exercise its body fairly and to prevent them from learning unpleasant behaviors. Daily walks, however, are not enough for this dog needs an ample amount of playtime so as to enhance its physical and mental fitness.

The West Highland White terrier, despite its morbid and pitiful past, is overflowing with praises and spoiling nowadays. Clubs for this breed are popping out in almost every city in all parts of the world and this additionally proves the adoration it receives today. Without the effort of the Malcolm family, this creature must not be of existence now and we would have never known a sweet, charming, and protective little dog called Westie.

The Chihuahua and its Symbol of Class, Wealth, and Mod

The name Chihuahua today has been widely linked with the image of class and style that whoever carries this dog in their arms, purse, or designer bags is cited as one of the in crowd. Because of this categorizing, this tiny little dog is ubiquitously seen in the arms of noted socialites, Hollywood actresses, fashionable people, and even of the ordinary fellows. Chihuahua has become the definite sign of wealth, class, and mod and this breed is that famous, it graces the covers and pages of glossies and appears with lead roles in movies and advertisements.

The Chihuahua, as obviously and ubiquitously seen, is a tiny little breed that’s included in the infamous toy dog group; in fact, it is called the “purse dog” for reasons that it is adorably handy and sensationally fashionable. This dog has sparkly round eyes, fragile little frame for a body, and a coat, which comes either short or long, that’s smooth and shiny. Additionally, it is often seen dressed or accessorized in expensive and designer’s brand of pet clothing.

The long coated Chihuahua is the one which possesses a longer, curly or flat, and soft hair while the smooth coated Chihuahua falls on the side of smooth, shiny, soft, and snuggly fitting pelt. These coats come in varying colors like black and brown and the style and distribution of these colors come as solid, marked, and splashed. Grooming a Chihuahua is heavenly as well for, with its small body and limited fur, it only requires minimal cleaning, occasional maintenance, and for the long coated Chihuahua, once in a while coat brushing.

The Chihuahua is believed to have first appeared in the region of Chihuahua, Mexico which is an obvious source of the breed’s name today. Tracing back its roots, however, results to a mysterious veil in history and the only permissible answer that we have today is; the Chihuahua is a descendant of the small dog (although Chihuahua is still smaller) Fennec Fox which has big eyes and ears just like the Chihuahua breed today. Interestingly as well, history has it that the Aztec royalties and high ranking families that time favored the Chihuahua as a household companion.

Comparing to other small dogs, the Chihuahua wins for being the smallest. It is also recognized as the oldest breed in the United States. Also, adding to its recognitions, the Chihuahua is also cited as the breed having the longest life span among all the breeds of dog, small or large in size.

Each Chihuahua is different from each other and truth is, each one has a unique personality and this disables generalization for the breed. Although small in size, this dog is deeply and devotedly protective and loyal to its master. It can be a great watch dog for it is fearless in suspecting and warding off possible intruders.

Having a mere height of 6 to 9 inches, the Chihuahua is also surprisingly full of energy altogether maintaining a poised and stately demeanor, brave, and human like in reactions. Although intelligent on its own, this dog is quite a handful when it comes to training. It is necessary then to have great patience, positivism, love, and impermeable disposition to be able to turn this breed in to a well-trained and well-mannered creature.

The Chihuahua is also not an intense creature and in fact, an indoor frolic with toys and its master is already enough to keep it occupied. Long walks are the least of your problems with this breed for even in a confined space, you can give it a dose of walking exercise. Knowing these things about the Chihuahua will bring us into the conclusion that this breed is well suited for a lifestyle in the fast-paced and limited spaced dwelling of the city.

The Bulldog Dog Breed

So You Want a Bulldog ?

A Bulldog is much more than a pair of sad eyes and droopy jaws, but this dog’s appearance is a major reason for its popularity. The other reason these dogs are so popular is that they have a sweet and gentle nature.

This breed was originally created to help butchers slaughter bulls. Some people used the tenacious nature of the Bulldog to turn their dogs into bull baiters. When this ugly sport was outlawed, people that loved the breed began breeding only the sweetest dogs. Today, these dogs are sociable, friendly animals.

The Bulldog is a medium sized dog, but is still very powerful. These dogs weigh 40 to 50 pounds and stand 12 to 16 inches high. A Bulldog has a squat body, a flat forehead, and large jaws. This breed has dark, gentle eyes. Some Bulldogs have corkscrew tails, but they can also have straight tails.

The American Kennel Club classifies this breed as a member of the Non-Sporting Group. These odd looking dogs have one purpose, to be devoted companions. Luckily, they are well suited to their role.

Bulldogs are the ideal pets for apartment owners. They are very low energy and do not need to spend a lot of time exercising. Of course, they still enjoy taking a leisurely evening walk with their owners.

Of course, like any breed, the Bulldog does have a few flaws. When you live with a Bulldog, you may feel as though you are living in a frat house, since this breed will snore, drool, and pass gas frequently. Sometimes, one of these normally sweet natured dogs will bully other dogs, especially if there is food involved.

Despite their size, Bulldogs can be quite powerful. Because of this, it will be much easier for you to start training your dog as a puppy. Luckily, these dogs are eager to please their owners, although they are not always quick learners. In fact, some Bulldogs cannot understand even the simplest commands until they are six months old.

A Bulldog has a bit of a reputation as a chow hound. This breed likes to eat. However, you will need to be sure that you do not let your Bulldog overeat, since obesity can lead to serious health problems. Other health problems these charmers face are allergies, hip dysplasia, eye problems, and breathing problems.

Bulldog owners need to be especially careful to keep their dogs out of the sun. These dogs can overheat easily, which can prove fatal. Also, since this breed is prone to breathing problems, Bulldogs should never be walked using a choke collar. A harness will help you prevent their already small tracheas from being damaged.

With their short coats, Bulldogs need very little grooming. However, the wrinkles on their face require careful cleaning. If you do not keep your Bulldog’s wrinkles clean, he could develop skin infections, not to mention a nasty odor.

If you want a loving family pet and can overlook the fact that your little guy is a bit odoriferous, then a Bulldog may just be the right breed for you.