Dog breed: Shed – Part 2

I am a dog lover, always have been, always will be. When I married my husband, he came complete with two very allergic small boys. Their birth mother died from asthma and the boys inherited all her allergies. A dog or cat within 50 feet could send them to the emergency room. The boys loved dogs so we spent hours researching dogs that could share our lives.

We took the boys to an allergist and found out that the boys were allergic to dander, the flaky dead skin cells from the dogs skin. The doctor said that people may also be allergic to dog’s saliva or secretion from the sebaceous glands of dogs. All dogs have dander, some dogs more, some less. There is no such thing as a 100 percent allergy free dog, there are dogs that don’t drop off as much dander. The doctor said that it’s the dander, not the hair, that that causes the allergic reaction.

There are dogs that come close to being hypoallergenic because they don’t shed or shed very little. They are usually smaller dogs or single coated or hairless dogs. The poodle has curly hair, sheds very little and has little dander, as does the bichon frise, miniature schnauzer, all the poodle variations, yorkies, maltese, Lhapso Apso and many more.

Our first dog was a poodle mix that we rescued. He didn’t shed and the boys didn’t have any reactions to him. We bathed him regularly, brushed him and vacuumed to keep the dander to a minimum. Even though the experts say to keep the dog out of the bedroom if the children are allergic, it isn’t always easy to do when the kids and the dog love each other. As hard as we tried to keep them separate, we’d find them napping together. When Dogg went to the great dog heaven, we just couldn’t live in a dogless home.

Even thought our sons are grown, we wanted dogs that wouldn’t cause an asthma attack when they visited. I wanted a dog that doesn’t shed. I wear black clothing at my job, I don’t want dog hair attached to any of my clothing.

We fell in love and adopted a miniature schnauzer, Maxx. A couple of years later, we were adopted by a very shy bichon frise who refused to let us leave without her. Luckily her breed is considered hypoallergenic, because her eyes were the huge Puss In Boots eyes from the Shreck movies. They kept getting bigger and bigger pleading with us to take her home. Still today, no one can escape her charms. Both dogs run our lives and leave no dog hair on our clothing. We’ve added three allergic grandchildren to the family who adore the dogs and have no problems around our dogs, but react to other breeds of dogs.

If you have an allergic family member and you want to add a dog to the family, have the person allergy tested. The test is painless and easy and the results will specify the triggers of their allergens. Discuss the possibility of getting a dog with the doctor. Have the person spend a half hour or so with the dog in a closed environment to see if they react. If they are allergic to that dog, you will know within minutes. They’ll sneeze, wheeze or get runny eyes and a runny nose.

Reference: Big Paws Only, Hypoallergenic Dog breeds http://www.bigpawsonly.com/Hyp oallergenic-Dog-breed.htm

The 7 Akc Dog Groups Explained

Do you want a new dog? Have you really thought about it? Why are you thinking about adding a new dog companion to your family in the first place? Do you have any idea what you’re looking for in a new dog companion? What are you real needs in a dog? And your wants? There are many things to consider first before bringing home that new bundle of joy.

It is very important, first, to match your new dogs overall personality, exercise requirements and needs to you and your family as closely as possible. With luck you’re choosing an animal that is likely to be with you for 10 years or longer so put forth a little research time in the beginning and you’ll be rewarded for your efforts for years to come.

Were you aware that the common dog comes in more than 400 different breed types world wide? There is much more variation among our friend the family dog than in any other species of mammal known today. The selection of available dog types to choose from is truly amazing. They come in more sizes, shapes, colors, coat types, abilities and personalities than you could shake a bone at.

Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to find the right dog breed to fit your personality as well as your current lifestyle. Dogs, just like people, have many different jobs and most were bred for very specific activities. This is probably one of the most important things you need to know before you get the wrong dog for you. Example: If you are a couch potato you don’t want to bring home a dog breed with extreme energy – and a need to express that – or if you are a triathlete, you don’t want to bring home a new exercise partner with tremendously low exercise requirements.

Here I will list each of the major AKC dog groups, briefly describe their overall purpose and what the dogs were originally bred to do, list many of the jobs dogs in each particular group currently perform, as well listing as a few members of each group.

- The Herding Group

Bred for stamina, these super intelligent herding dog breeds work with their owners all day long out in the fields moving livestock. Overall, these energetic, intelligent herding dog breeds make excellent pets and work extremely well with different kinds of training such as agility, flyball, Schutzhund, search and rescue and obedience. Keep in mind, since these dogs were bred to do a particular job (herding), they do better when they have lots of exercise.

A few members of the AKC herding group are the German Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie and Bouvier des Flandres.

- The Working Group

The dogs of the working group were bred to help man in many various jobs – from pulling sleds, guarding a home or tracking, to pulling carts, water rescues, and more. These particular dog breeds have been bred for several generations for very definite purposes and they need jobs to fill their days. They have very active minds, and are very trainable and willing to work – it is also true that these working dog breeds also require a lot of training.

Overall, the larger size, power and strength of many of the members of this group may make them unsuitable for most families, however they thrive with the right companions. Remember, since most were bred to work, they do best with lots of exercise and a specific task to do.

A few members of the AKC working group are the Boxer, Alaskan Malamute, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, and Rottweiler.

- The Hound Group

The members of the AKC hound group were bred to help man while hunting. Divided into 2 separate groups, the hounds track their prey using their wonderful senses of sight (called sight hounds) or smell (called scent hounds). The hound dog group has some of the oldest dog breeds known to man today.

Many of these dogs are quite vocal based on their hunting background so it would be a good idea to hear their vocalizations before you decide to get a hound of your own. Also, it is also a good idea to keep these dogs on a leash at all times since they can easily be led by their nose, or eyes, into situations that may get them into trouble.

A few members of the AKC hound group are the Basset Hound, Beagle, Bloodhound, Greyhound and Rhodesian Ridgeback.

- The Terrier Group

The fiesty and energetic terrier group dog breed members were bred to hunt vermin both above and below ground and are often described as the "pest controllers" of the dog world. Typically these tenacious little dogs have little to no tolerance for any small fast moving animals, the postman, other dogs, etc. They are well known for their tenacious, fiesty and independent nature.

Terriers can make great pets in the right home but need a determined owner who matches their dogs’ spirited personality.

A few members of the AKC terrier group are the Airedale Terrier, Bull Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

- The Toy Group

The toy group dog breeds were developed simply to be our companions. Their main job is to make their owners happy. The only things the members of this dog group have in common really is their petit size. The toy dogs are also called "lap dogs" sometimes because this is where many of these toy breeds prefer to stay, in their masters lap.

It is very true that the name "toy" is very misleading. Many of the toy dogs are as tough as nails. Toy dogs are especially popular with people that live in apartments or people without a lot of living space.

A few members of the AKC toy group are the Pomeranian, Chihuahua, Pug, Yorkshire Terrier and the Havanese.

- Non-sporting Group

The different purebred dog breeds in the non-sporting group are a wide collection of dogs in all different types of shapes, sizes, coat types, jobs types, personalities and overall appearances. Many people call this the AKC "catch-all" dog group. The diverse membership of the non-sporting group contains a little bit of everything – big dogs, little dogs, hairy dogs, bald dog breeds and some of the finest companion dogs you might possibly ever own.

A few members of the AKC non-sporting group are the Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Dalmatian, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, and Keeshond.

- The Sporting Group

Well known for their incredible instincts in both the water and woods, many of the members of this AKC sporting dog group continue to actively participate in hunting and other field trials today, actively retrieving and hunting feathered or furred game for their masters. The sporting dog breeds are well known also for their easy going temperaments.

Included in this group you’ll find the pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels. Keep in mind that the sporting dogs do need regular exercise, frequently.

A few members of the AKC sporting group are the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Irish Setter, Pointer and the Cocker Spaniel.

- Miscellaneous Dog Group

The many different dog breeds included in the AKC Miscellaneous Group are awaiting final breed recognition by the AKC. All dog breeds that are in this group can compete and earn titles in AKC Obedience, Tracking and Agility events.

Many of these dog breeds are ones that you may not see everyday but can make great pets in the right homes. Research each of these breeds one by one since they have different working backgrounds such as hunting, herding or guarding.

As of the writing of this article, the current members of the AKC Miscellaneous Group are the Pyrenean Shepherd, Beauceron, Redbone Coonhound, Dogue de Bordeaux, Norwegian Buhund and the Swedish Vallhund.

If you’re like most people you probably have many unanswered questions about dogs in general. Hopefully armed with the information above you will have a better idea of what various dog breeds were originally bred to do and will better understand whether or not they will fit your needs. Finding the right dog breed for you is truly a very important process. The best way to do that is when armed with the knowledge to make a decision based totally on fact, not fiction or hear say.

Copyright 2007. Debbie Ray. All Rights Reserved.

Explaining animal breeds

I shall not only explain breeds but shall pass on a milennia of my personal pets, and as the list is long and varied and exotic, I’ll use the stratagem of earliest to latest, with most important factors for each beast. DOGS or CATS that weren’t interesting though I may have had them, won’t list.

FIRST, of great importance to me as a child was BLACKY, and English bull dog, born from his mother,WHITEY, and who lived his entire life near my side on our farm until his death just as I left for college. He was short, strong, black and white, had an amputated tail, and was strictly my dog. Though his temperament rarely showed on his face, he would instantly attack anyone he felt inemicable to me. Once he attacked a good friend as he came to visit me. I wondered about the unprecedented bite and found that my friend had spilled whiskey in his pocket. Blacky woud go into a rage at the odor of alcohol, and on another occasion, attacked a drunken bum who had accosted me and my brothers as we fished at a river.

But he was loyal, brave, beautiful, and quiet, not a barker but a doer. AVE ATQUE VALE!

DON was next, a 250 pound St. Bernard who came as a puppy and left as an elephant! Genial, loving children, he instantly killed any dog he saw who tried to intimidate him, and he ended up pulling sleds in Alaska.

Schultz, a sausage-hound, rode in my bicycle basket and slept on my bed until two ancient and very old lady twins begged that I give him to them…my last memory is of him very happy on a pink cushion in the octogenarian double-ladies kitchen.

Schweppes was a miniature Schnauzer, picked up wet and diry on a Texas highway, and lived as my wife’s loved pet for years until killed by a car in St. Petersburg, Florida as he was let out for 5 a.m. bathroom functions…he espied a female dog on the street opposite and was hit by a truck.

His outstanding factor was intense dislike of me, and he had bitten me severly several times, just for coming home from work.

ROGET was so named because he was Thesaurus dog in Florida. He was a two person lover, me and my wife, and would put any other human at bay at once. A Doberman, he had the true Nazi personality and died of lung cancer.

WALTER was a large grey cat who wandered into our Florida kitchen and wandered out three years later. His equipment was male, but he was totally female. A gay cat. He died of leukemia.

ISAAC was rescued when one of our patients died and asked us to ‘put down’ her 14 year old black

Hunting Dogs Vs. Show Dogs

This past winter I attended a number of Sportsman Shows throughout the northeast where I performed numerous waterdog retrieving demonstrations, showing the versatility of the English springer spaniel and Labrador Retriever. What amazed me while speaking to the average outdoorsmen was not the fact that they were unaware of a spaniel or the Labrador Retrievers’ versatility, but rather that they were unaware that there was a difference between show and field gundogs.

During the show I was absolutely amazed at the number of avid outdoorsmen who had little, if any, understanding of the qualities that go into breeding world-class gundogs. Throughout the course of these sportsmen shows and meeting tens of thousands of avid outdoorsmen, I would venture to guess that better than 70% of the folks I met were unaware that such a difference existed. Ask those same individuals what gauge or shot size they would use to hunt a species of upland game or waterfowl and they could easily rattle off the pros and cons of each.

So, why do these individuals have such a keen understanding on selecting the appropriate guns and loads but do not demonstrate an understanding in selecting a suitable hunting companion? The answer is a lack of education on the difference between show and field bred gundogs. Manufacturers spend countless dollars each year educating outdoorsmen on why one particular model or brand of shotgun is better than another when hunting their favorite quarry. However, when speaking to breeders about selecting a suitable hunting companion, many will claim their dogs are “bred to hunt”. That simply may not be true! And I am reminded of phrase that echoes in my head from business school, “caveat emptor”, literally translated “Beware Buyer”.

For better than a half-century, the sporting dog breeds have gone in two separate directions when it comes to qualities sought after by professional breeders. With most sporting breeds, the “dual champion”, a dog that has attained the champion title in both the show and the field, is harder and harder to come by. In fact, the last Labrador Retriever to achieve a dual champion title was in 1984, Ch-FC/AFC Highwood Shadow, sired by FC/AFC Highwood Piper. According to 2001 AKC reports only 26 show champion Labrador Retrievers have achieved the Master Hunter title. The first lab to do so was Ch. Topform Edward, MH, owned by Larry Reider of Independence, Missouri and trained by Bobby George of Blackwater Retrievers in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Why, you may ask? Simply put, both areas have become so competitive in recent years that breeders in both the show ring and the field have changed what traits they breed for in order to be competitive. To be successful in the field, professional breeders must focus on breeding traits that are highly desirable during your typical day of shooting. In contrast, a show breeder must focus on traits that relate to the confirmation and structure of their breed. I once heard a gentleman summarize it nicely, “Field breeders are producing the athletes and show breeders are producing the models”.

Champion show or bench breeds must adhere to a strict confirmation standard and are nearly perfect physical specimens. Per the confirmation standard, male show Labrador Retrievers should stand 22 ½ to 24 ½ inches at the withers, 21 ½ to 23 ½ inches for bitches. Males in working condition should weigh approximately 65 to 80 pounds, while females should weigh 55 to 70 pounds. Typically speaking, show Labrador Retrievers’ torso should measure no longer than their height at their withers, giving them a very balanced appearance. Their skull should be wide, well-developed but without exaggeration (a “blocky” appearance). The show Labrador Retrievers’ upper lip should not be squared off or pendulous, but fall away in a curve toward the throat. Their eyes should be of medium size, well set apart and neither protruding nor deep set. Their lids should be tight with little or no haw showing. In contrast, by breeding strictly for performance over the past 30 plus years, the field-bred Labrador Retriever has resulted in a dog that can look different from their counterpart, the show Labrador Retriever. Simply putting the two side by side can be an education in itself. The field-bred Labrador Retrievers’ physical make-up is athletic and very functional for field activities. They tend to vary in size and structure.

The avid outdoorsmen would be enlightened as to the differences between show and field bred gundogs by simply attending each event. The two events could not be more different and so are the dogs that compete in them. While attending a field trial, it would become immediately apparent that dogs are not judged on physical appearance. They are judged against other dogs for their performance in the field. In contrast, show ring competitors are judged against a confirmation standard, not for hunting ability or trainability.

This past year I had the fortune to attend numerous National Field Trial Championships and saw some of the best dogs in the world compete for both the English and U.S. National Championship honors. Field trials where established to offer breeders a chance to evaluate suitable dogs for the breeding purpose, with the goal of improving the sporting breeds through “selective breeding”. It’s at these field trials, were breeders can compete their dogs, one against another, and make sound breeding decisions that influence their strain of spaniel and the future of the sporting breeds. Reputable breeders are always looking for ways to improve on weaknesses in their breeding program. Every dog has some type of weakness, regardless of the titles he or she holds, whether it’s bird finding ability, mouth, marking ability, intelligence, trainability, or confirmation. There are always areas to improve on, and field trials offer breeders the best opportunity to evaluate these strengths or weaknesses and find suitable breeding stock for future generations.

Over the years, selective breeding has done its job; it has created two different types of gundogs, field and show, each the very best at their particular discipline. When clients ask field breeders if their dogs could be shown in the ring, often it would be a mistake for field breeders to proclaim such a possibility. The same could be said for show breeders when asked if their dogs can compete in field trials. However, without proper education, an avid outdoorsman may buy his next hunting companion based simply on the common breed name and end up with a dog that has about as much hunting ability as a Miniature Schnauzer. Remember as my business school professor used to drill into our heads, “Caveat Emptor” – Beware Buyer!

Testimonies: My Doberman Pinscher

I was first introduced to the Doberman Pincher by a friend a few years ago. When I came to her house, two gigantic animals greeted me at the door. I was scared to death. I asked my friend what I should do. She told me to just enter the house nonchalantly. After I did, it was love at first lick. All those two dogs wanted to do was to lie down beside me and put their heads on my lap. They wanted to sleep with me too which was tricky since I was in a twin bed! I have had dogs all my life but I have really never been with two such sweet and loving animals. They love the closeness of their human companion so much that the dogs would lean on my friend when they were all standing still. After the visit, I knew I was destined to find a Doberman for myself. After hours and hours on the phone and at the computer looking for a rescue dog or even a puppy from a breeder, I finally found a dog. She sounded perfect…6 months old, house broken, female and the ears had not been cut. That’s just what I wanted. I went to get her as fast as I could and believe me when I tell you that we have been inseparable ever since. She is not mean nor does she growl at people. My teenage son has his friends over and she is fine with them. She’s been introduced to babies as well and no problem. She simply wants to be near me. She leans on me too like my friends dogs and although I would like her to sleep with me, she is too big and pushes me off the bed during the night. I have a Miniature Schnauzer as well and they get along fine. Basically, if you treat a Doberman right, you can bring out the loving and sweet nature that is all Dobie.

Dogs and Myopia (nearsightedness)

Optical measurements of dogs’ eyes have found a surprising incidence of myopia in some breeds. A study of about two hundred dogs by a veterinarian named Christopher J. Murphy and his colleagues found the average canine refractive error to be pretty close to normal (within a quarter of a diopter of perfect, an amount that would not provoke any person to get glasses). Several breeds of sporting dogs, such as Chesapeake Bay retrievers, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, cocker spaniels, and springer spaniels, were on average a bit farsighted. But two-thirds of Rottweiler and half of German shepherds and miniature schnauzers in this study were significantly myopic, by more than 1.5 diopters. The myopic Rottweilers were close to 3 diopters nearsighted on average. Generally, people who have more than about 0.75 diopters of nearsightedness will complain of noticeable impairment and find they need to wear glasses or contact lenses to function in everyday life.

The animals in this study population were all pets. Interestingly, when Murphy and his coworkers looked at a second population of German shepherds – animals kenneled at Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California – they found that the guide dogs had average normal vision, with fewer than a third showing even as much as 0.5 diopters of nearsightedness. The guide dog program did not specifically test dogs’ vision in selecting animals, but they did flunk out any dogs that failed to perform well in training, which suggests that myopia results in a real impairment in getting the job done. The average farsightedness of sporting dog breeds suggests that there has likewise been selection at work in these breeds – that good distance vision has a demonstrable effect on making a good working dog.
The researchers noted a tendency for severe nearsightedness to run in families, which suggests a strongly inherited component. In breeds that are not expected to perform anything more demanding than lying on the carpet, walking on a leash, and finding their supper bowl, there has no doubt been little selection for good vision, which has allowed myopia to sneak into the gene pool.

There are distinct breed differences in peripheral vision and overall field of view as well. Human eyes look straight ahead, giving us just about a 180-degree field of view, but with a lot of overlap between left and right eyes. Animals can see in true 3-D vision only when they use both eyes together, and the overlap in the human visual field thus maximizes the region in which we can perceive depth by using this binocular vision. The eyes of dogs are turned a bit to the side, which allows them to see a bit to the rear, with a wider overall field of vision.
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What is a Goldendoodle?

Goldendoodle and other hybrids are very hardy dogs providing they are not inbred, linebred or backbred. Those who breed multi-generation hybrids of any sort cause their hybrids to have the same kinds of problems purebred dogs share. Hybrids tend to be a much hardier dog when they do NOT share common lineage or ancestry. Where allergies and shedding is concerned, the fact is hybrids and all live animals DO shed. Humans shed, every living thing sheds.

However, Poodle hybrids DO shed entirely less than any other hybrid or purebred dog. It is easy to find websites over the internet claiming “hypo-allergenic”, “non-shedding” doodles…but it is not true. It doesn’t matter if the breeder has a smidget of Golden Retriever with mostly Poodle in the doodle……..the puppy will shed and will continue to shed as an adult; All hybrids shed very little, but they shed all the same. We have had customers write to us claiming their doodles do not shed…but I believe they just don’t see the shedding because it is so light. This works out great for those with allergies or who do not want a dog’s hair all over their home, clothing or vehicle. There isn’t a breeder on this planet who can provide a 100% allergy FREE dog! Not happening people!
Most allergy sufferers do well with a Poodle hybrid….but we can not guarantee all will be compatible. Allergy sufferers “suffer” differently and there may be some people who just can not own a dog of any type. We do, however, find that most people who have mild allergies do quite well with a Poodle hybrid.

In Goldendoodles, many websites claim that sizes will vary according to the sizes of the parents. This is a complete fallacy. Since 1999, we have witnessed a variety of sizes in any given litter regardless of the sizes of the parents.
Our experience over the years has taught us this: The less a puppy weighs at 8 weeks of age, the smaller the puppy will be as an adult and vice versa. Those who consider their Goldendoodles to be a Miniature size dog when their doodle weighs over 25 pounds need to do more research and studying. I personally do not consider a 30-50 pound dog to be a “Miniature” sized anything. I do consider this size dog to be a “mid-size” dog…but not a Miniature. When you consider a Miniature sized dog, you should consider the size of a Miniature Schnauzer………a Miniature Poodle, etc; Since 1999, we have witnessed both parents weighing 48-65 pounds produce 26 pound puppies…but not all puppies in the litter will be small. One or two will be small. One or two will be medium and one or two will be large. In 2004, We produced a doodle who weighed 32 pounds at the age of 9 months. It is possible we had produced small doodles before this, but without customer feed-back, it is impossible to know for sure. This 32 pound doodle at the age of 9 months, most likely turned out to be 40-45 pounds (genetically) at the age of 1 year. In early 2005, we produced 2 litters of small doodles; By June 2005, some weighed 16 lbs. by age 5 months and by November of 2005, some were weighing 25 and 26 pounds. In 2005 we bred one of our Golden Retriever dams with one of our Toy Poodle sires who produced 9-18 lbs. goldendoodles …but again….we saw the usual occur even in this kind of pairing.

The largest male who was born last, was stillborn so we’ll never know what his size could have been. The order in which a puppy is born has nothing to do with the determination of its size. We know this to be a fact. The Goldendoodle is a first hybrid crossing between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle. This hybrid was first created in Australia. The Goldendoodle hybrid has only been in the United States since 1997. The entire reason for this creation was to provide those who were physically challenged, a service dog that had extremely low shedding. Such a canine was needed for those who needed an assistant dog but had allergies that prevented them from being able to own one. Although there is some debate as to whether the Labradoodle or the Goldendoodle was created first, it really doesn’t matter.
With some extensive searching over the internet, there are some nice websites based in Australia regarding both hybrids. Naysayers can be enraged and fuss all they want about hybrids…… the fact is…THE GOLDENDOODLE AND THE LABRADOODLE and any other Poodle hybrid, IS HERE TO STAY!!! As of Aug. 2006…there are some who are writing books with regards to the Goldendoodle. Remember you read the facts here first! We are actually one of the original Goldendoodle creators in the United States. There will be many who argue that hybrids are “NOTHING BUT MUTTS” who fill up animal shelters annually. The facts are, EVERY PUREBRED DOG OF TODAY started out as a MIXED BREED DOG and there are just as many purebred dogs in shelters as there are mixed or hybrid dogs. Other than the Maltese, every dog in existence began as a mixed breed dog with plenty of inbreeding, back-breeding and line-breeding. After many, many years of refinement by breeders, over time…. kennel clubs were formed by groups of people who favored a selected breed of dog….advertised and sold the particular breed to the point that eventually caught the attention of the American Kennel Club. The American Kennel Club is all about money and is NOT the first Kennel Club to have ever began. They are more highly recognized because they have millions of dollars to advertise themselves. Every show that is placed on television and every show breeder who wins, has been paid for by YOU…..the dog owner who just had to have an AKC registered dog because you bought into the notion that AKC produces quality dogs. NOT SO! They don’t produce anything. The breeders produce the dogs.

Terriers. Smart, Determined And Focused. The Terrier Dog Is A Canine Prince

Terrier Dogs: The History of the Terrier Dog Breed

What do you think of when you think of a terrier? Probably a small, stout dog with perky ears and a round belly, right? Perhaps a friendly dog, a family dog comes to mind when you think of a terrier. However you may picture them, members of the terrier dog breed can look any way.

The category of terrier dogs can fulfill any of a variety of descriptions; terriers are a diverse and interesting breed of dog that fit’s many a niche in the world today.

Miniature Schnauzer, American Pit Bull, and Scottie–surely these are dog breeds that sound familiar to you. These dogs are terrier dogs; they fall into the same category as Yorkshire Terriers (Yorkies), Jack Russell Terriers, Welsh Terriers, and Australian Terriers. While these dogs all have a very different appearance and style, they all fall under the category of the terrier dog breed.

How is that, you ask? Terriers get their name from Terre, or earth-related.

Their specialty is rooting through the earth and killing rats and other vermin; that is what people have had them for historically. They were mainly born and bred in Britain, taken in as pets and used to kill mice, rats, and other unwanted rodents and vermin.

Some of the big terriers have even been known to be used on hunting trips, for their strength and tenacity but killing rodents is what Terrier dogs are born to do. From here is where the similarities end when it come to these lively, energetic dogs.

What Does a Terrier Look Like?

At this point, a person who doesn’t know much about terriers is probably asking what a terrier looks like. This question is more complicated than the asker could ever know; asking what a terrier looks like is like asking what a person looks like! Terriers come in all shapes and sizes, from toy-sized little guys to massive Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers built for toughness.

Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are what most people would call pit bulls.

They are built for fighting and beating rough elements and treatment, but they have thinner coats than some of the other terrier dogs. Jack Russell Terriers are also popular; they are little dogs with big personalities and a medium coat. These are great family dogs and they are often used in television commercials and movies because they’re very smart and easily trained.

Yorkshire Terriers are popular terrier dogs as well. They are small and adorable, perfect for people who are looking for a cute pet. They are popular with older people and they have a stylish element in their smallness that makes them a hit with fashionable girls these days.

Terriers are an amazing and diverse group of dog. They make some of the best family dogs out there, even the large pit bull terriers that get a very bad name are some of the most loyal and family oriented dogs on the planet.

Trainable and loving. Terriers make great pets and are immensely popular in American society.

Should cropping a dogs ears be illegal? – Part 2

Ears: in a dog’s life they play main vital functions, from powerful hearing devices to effective means of communication. In certain breeds, they also are floppy shaped to protect the vulnerable ear drums from invading insects or rain, in others they are raised high on the top of the head to ensure state of the art hearing aids. So when the question: “Should a dog’s ears be mutilated?” arises, the answer should be a bold and loud “NO” even if only the ear tips should be affected.

After all, would you, as a sound of mind human, want your ears chopped off? Unless there would be a medical reason, the answer should ba a loud and bold “NO” as well. Well, let’s consider that to make things even worse is the fact that ear cropping in dogs are performed mainly for aesthetic reasons.

Having worked at a veterinarian hospital, I remember my first encounter with an ear cropping case. A couple had scheduled an appointment with me to have their Pitbull terrier’s ears “clipped”. Unknowingly, I thought the dog’s ears needed the hair clipped so I scheduled it as a normal appointment. When the owner asked me how long it would take and I told them fifteen minutes they looked very surprised. Only after taking them in the room have I realized they were really referring to an ear crop! Embarassed, that day I learned about this uneccessary procedure.

After that famous day, I have witnessed various ear croppings. Aside from the sadness of seeing those precious ear tips fall off to the ground, I noticed that recovery was often hastened by complications and that sometimes the ears would not “stand up” as requested necessitating further surgeries to correct the unwanted floppiness.

While ear coppings are not strictly dictated by many AKC breed standards, dogs of certain breeds with uncropped ears are often severely penalized, making it sound as if a Doberman does not comply with this standard, it is denied the right to be called a Doberman.

Many breeds are affected by the ear cropping trend, such breeds are as follows:

Boxers

Schnauzers

Great Danes

Doberman pinschers

Miniature pinschers

American Pit bull Terriers

A CLOSER LOOK INTO THE PROCEDURE

In order for ear croppings to be effective, puppies must undergo this procedure at a very tender age, usually between 7-12 weeks old. General anesthesia is performed and along comes the potential risks involved in operating on such young pups. About 2/3 of the ear is removed during the procedure along with important

Dog breed: Miniature schnauzer – Part 4

The Miniature Schnauzer (or as the German’s know it, the Zwegschnauzer) is remarkably similar to it’s cousin, the Standard Schnauzer, including it’s schnauzbart, the German word for its trademark beard for which it was named. They both have a strong, squared appearance, with its straight forelegs, no matter which angle you view it from, and its flat head, to it’s smartly docked tail. Even the ears will fold down and close to the head, unless they are cropped, which will cause them to stand even and erect.

This breed was first officially shown in England, 1899, and it gained popularity in the United States in the 1920s. Miniature Schnauzers are a member of the terrier family, and though it is thought to have been bred to be a ratter, today this little canine is more of a family member than a farm dog. If you start training early you will find that you can get a jump on the stubbornness that this breed can sometimes exhibit, though when done properly their obedience training can be extremely successful.

When you bring home a Miniature Schnauzer, you bring home raw energy. This little power plant will go all day long and then some. They love to play and go for long walks. They are curious and protective, so some are very good with strangers, but some are much more cautious than others. If you have children, they love to play with little ones and will be a good addition. If you have other pets, it is best to introduce them when they are puppies, as this little princess loves your attention and doesn’t like to share. Though they get along well with other animals, they were bred to hunt, and you may find that they will spend lots of time chasing the family cat.

Your Miniature Schnauzer needs to burn off energy to keep them from growing bored and becoming destructive and noisy. Your baby will not play alone, they need a playmate, so before he is brought home you should understand that he or she will require twenty to thirty minutes of active play everyday that is initiated by you. As this is not much active time in comparison to other breeds, and they do not require a great deal of space, this is a good dog for apartments, the elderly, and city dwellers. They do not do well when they are separated from you or their family, so if you are looking for a kennel dog, this is not the dog for you.

Though they have a stern appearance, you can expect a very pleasant temperament in this addition to your family. Some Miniature Schnauzers

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