Dogs that dont shed – Part 3
December 2, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Schnauzer Grooming
It is worth noting that in the Kingdom of Canines, there is no such thing as a dog that does not shed fur. Every dog, despite its breed, sheds fur. However, much to the delight of those with pet allergies, there are a list of dogs who shed such little fur compared to other breeds that they are commonly referred to as “non-moulting dogs”.
Such breeds of dog renowned for their “non-moulting” abilities include the Bichon Frise, Bedlington Terrior, Poodle, Labradoodle, Cockapoo, Itlaian Greyhound, Airedale Terrier, the Miniature and Giant Schnauzer, Kerry Blue Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier and all breeds of hairless dogs, to name but a few!
The advantages of owning a “non-moulting” dog far outweigh the few disadvantages. Firstly, owning such a dog ensures that you, as the owner, will never have the dreaded task of endlessly cleaning up shed dog hairs which have a rather annoying habit of awkwardly placing themselves between carpet fibres!
Those with allergic reactions to animal fur may also find a “non-moulting” breed results in no or very little allergic response. This is because when no or very little hairs are shed, less allergens from the hairs’ proteins are released into the air. This is good news for those canine enthusiasts who, unfortunately for their allergy to pet allergens, are unable to own a dog as a household pet.
However, whilst “non-moulting” breeds are very practical from these points of view, one must bear in mind that these breeds require a more intense grooming regime than other breeds. This is because “non-moulting” fur is more likely to matt than fur which regularly moults. The Bichon Frise, for example, requires a once-daily brush over, as well as frequent trims. Curly-haired dogs, such as The Bichon Frise and Poodle, are more susceptible to tangles, which is not dissimilar to human hair. “Non-moulting” breeds are best suited to regular trips to the grooming parlour, unless the dog owner is very experienced in canine grooming. Regular grooming sessions can inevitably be quite costly, and so it is best to consider this before purchasing a “non-moulting” breed of dog.
In conclusion, “non-moulting” dogs make ideal pets for those prone to allergies, as well as those who do not particularly have the time or desire to continuously clean up shed dog hairs. The “non-moulting” breeds previously mentioned are also delightful breeds both in looks and in character. From the undeniably “adorable” traits of the Yorkshire Terrier through to the loyal, intelligent personality that is the Labradoodle, there is a “non-moulting” breed to suit very budding dog owner everywhere.
Would You Like To Know More About Dog Breeds?
November 15, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Schnauzer Grooming
Each year, more and more new dog breeds are added to the already growing list. Currently, the American Kennel Club, or AKC, recognizes over 150 different breeds and has seven different groups to categorize them. These groups include; sporting, working, toy, terrier, hound, herding, and non-sporting breeds.
The working category of breeds refers to those canines who aren’t merely pets or companions for humans, but rather are working animals that are now or have been trained to perform certain tasks. The working breed category includes: border collie, boxer, german shepherd, great dane, labrador retriever, rottweiler, st. Bernard, siberian husky.
Terriers are a lively group of dogs that were originally bred for hunting small animals such as rabbits and foxes, with most types coming from the British Isles. This category includes some well known dog breeds such as: american pit bull, australian, boston, bull, cairn, fox, jack russell, rat, scottish, welsh, west highland.
Also called teacup or tiny, the Toy category features the smallest of dogs who generally weigh under 20 to 25 pounds and include: Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Havanese, Maltese, Papillon, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Pug, Shih Tzu, Toy and Miniature, Poodles, Yorkshire Terrier.
There are also categories that use other criteria to describe dogs, such as those that are considered hypoallergenic or non-shedding. Some of these include: Airedale, Basenji, Cairn, Kerry Blue, Norfolk, Tibetan, and Welsh Terriers; Chinese Crested, Poodle, Schnauzer
A growing number of ‘designer dogs’ that mix certain breeds are becoming popular. These include many dogs that are part Poodle:
- Labradoodle (Labrador and Poodle)
- Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle)
- Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle)
- Maltipoo (Maltese and Poodle)
- Schnoodle (Schnauzer and Poodle)
Dog breeds may also be grouped by the size and weight of the dog.
- Toy breeds are 10 pounds or less.
- Small breeds are 10 to 25 pounds.
- Medium breeds are 25 to 50 pounds.
- Large breeds are 50 to 75 pounds.
- Extra large breeds are over 75 pounds.
While any dog can be trained to be good around children and toddlers, there are those who seem to have an extra affinity and tolerance for kids. And of course, any dog who is not trained or poorly socialized will not do well with children. Some of the breeds known for being good for families with children include:
- Basset Hound
- Bulldog
- Collie
- English Setter
- Golden Retriever
- Newfoundland
- Samoyed
- Standard Poodle
How to Choose the Right Dog Breed for You
There are many different variables to consider when trying to decide on the right breed of dog for you and your family. Before trying to pick which type of dog would do best in your home, ask yourself the following questions:
Training: All dogs require some type of obedience training and house training, but some need a bit more work than others. Do you have the time and patience necessary to train certain types of dogs?
Size: Do you have the room in your home and yard to accommodate a dog, and if so, what size?
Exercise/walking requirements: Do you have the time and energy it takes to see that a dog has the proper amount of exercise they need to stay happy and healthy?
Grooming and shedding: Is anyone in your home allergic to animals? Do you have the resources and time to devote to grooming your dog on a regular basis?
Poodle Hybrid Designer Dogs
February 21, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Schnauzer Grooming
Designer dogs are really hybrid or cross-breed dogs that have been developed to try and gain some positive characteristics or lose some negative characteristics from the founding pure-bred dog breeds. “Poo” hybrid dogs where the Poodle is crossed with a number of breeds such as the Labrador Retriever (Labradoodle), Golden Retriever (Goldendoodle), Maltese (Maltipoo) Cocker Spaniel (Cockapoo), Bichon Frise (Bich-poo), Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkipoo) and the Schnauzer (Schnoodle) are very popular. This is because the Poodle is a very intelligent breed with a non- or low-shedding odorless coat which is said to be hypoallergenic. While there is no guarantee as to what characteristics will be passed on to the first generation puppies from the breeding parents, the Poodles non-shedding coat seems to be a dominant characteristic which is often passed on to the first generation of puppies, accounting for the popularity of the “poo” hybrids. I guess if you wanted to ensure a hypoallergenic and non-shedding coat, then you should acquire a Maltipoo, Schnoodle or a Bich-poo where both parents have non-shedding coats. It should be noted that there are really two types of Labradoodles. The first is the unofficial mixed Poodle/Labrador designer breed described above and the second is the Australian Labradoodle which has resulted from an exhaustive Australian breeding program involving 6 different parent breeds: Poodle, Labrador Retriever; Irish Water Spaniel; Curly Coat Retriever; American Cocker Spaniel; and English Cocker Spaniel.
Most of the Poodle hybrids are quite attractive with beautiful coats. Colors range from whites and creams to apricot, brown, chocolate, silver, gray, black and multi-colored. Their coats are low to non-shedding and will need combing, brushing and clipping on a regular basis. Poodles are very intelligent and most “poo” hybrids should be fairly easy to train. Since there are three sizes of pure-bred Poodles (Toy, Miniature and Standard), you can have many different sizes of “poo” hybrids. Through the wonders of artificial insemination, the smaller Toy and Miniature Poodles can be bred with larger breeds such as the Labrador or the Golden Retriever to produce smaller designer dogs. While a Poodle could be either the dam or sire in most pairings, in this situation the Labrador or Golden Retriever would be the dam. One of the most popular designer dogs today is the Cockapoo which can take many forms. The Cockapoo Club of America recognizes two main types of Cockapoos – the American Cockapoo (Poodle/American Cocker Spaniel cross) and the English Cockapoo (Poodle/ English Cocker Spaniel cross). Four sizes of Cockapoo are designated. These are the: Teacup Toy (under 6 pounds grown weight); the Toy (7 – 12 pounds); Miniature (13 -18 pounds); and Maxi (over 19 pounds). Information on “poo” hybrids such as Cockapoos, Goldendoodles and Labradoodles can be found at www.dog-breed-facts.com .
Many designer dog breeders insist that the first generation hybrid puppies will be healthier and have fewer genetic health problems than the founding breeds. They say that this is due to a phenomenon called hybrid vigor. Some breeders will even breed a first generation “-poo” hybrid back to another Poodle to try and ensure a non-shedding coat. The resulting back-cross will be ¾ Poodle and ¼ other founding breed. Other experienced hybrid breeders tend to focus on producing a multi-generational line of hybrid puppies with standardized characteristics by breeding non-related hybrids with the desired characteristics. It is really up to you as to which type of designer dog hybrid – first generation, back-cross or multi-generation – that you purchase. However since the founding breeds are always pure-bred with potential genetic problems, purchasers should always ask to see the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) certificates for both parents. This combination of genetic testing and cross-breed vigor should help to ensure you acquire a healthy puppy.
