Dogs: Dalmatian

The Dalmatian is mostly known as the "Firehouse Dog" and the breed gained popularity after the Disney movies 101 Dalmatians.


If you watched it and enjoyed those cute spotted puppies, then you've been introduced to the Dalmatian Breed.

It is a breed of dog whose roots are often said to trace back to Dalmatia, a region of Croatia. The Dalmatian is unmistakably noticeable due to its unique black spotted coat. This dog remains a well loved family pet and most dog enthusiasts enter their pets into the competitions of many kennel clubs. 


They live about 10-12 years.

Temperament


The Dalmatian is trainable to a high degree of obedience. They can be trained for defense and are good watchdogs. Half of the people who adopt a Dalmatian puppy do not keep them past the first year. Young Dalmatians are very energetic, and need a tremendous amount of leadership and exercise. 


They are very playful pets so watch them closely if you have kids.

Dogs: Shih Tzu

SHIH TZU

The Shih Tzu (pronounced SHEE-tsoo) is a breed of dog weighing 4–7.25 kilograms (8.8–16.0 lb) with long silky hair. The breed originated in China and is among the earliest breeds. The name is both singular and plural. Because of their hypoallergenic coats, shih tzus do not shed and are a very good choice for people who suffer from allergies.

Life Expectancy:  About 9-15 years or more

Litter Size:  2 – 5  pups

Appearance:

The Shih-Tzu is a small, sturdy dog, with a body that is slightly longer than it is tall. The head is round and broad, wide between the eyes. The square muzzle is short, an inch or less from the tip of the nose to the defined stop. The nose is broad, with well open nostrils. Nose, lips, and eye rims are liver on liver colored dogs and blue on blue dogs and black on all other colors. The teeth meet in a level or under bite. The large, round eyes are dark in color, but lighter on blue and liver dogs. The large, pendant, low-set ears hang down and are covered in abundant hair. The back is level. The muscular legs are straight and well-boned. The high-set tail is carried over the back covered in abundant hair. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat is dense and long, flowing down over the dog. The hair above the eyes is often tied in a topknot. There is a profuse beard and mustache and the hair on the muzzle is short. Coat comes in all colors.

Characteristics & Temperament:

The Shih-Tzu is an alert, lively, little dog. Happy and hardy, packed with character. The gentle loyal Shih-Tzu makes friends easily and responds well to consistent patient training. They make a very alert watch dog. Courageous and clever. Playful and spunky, this affectionate little dog likes to be with people and are generally good with other pets. The Shih Tzu needs the rules of the house made consistently clear. Because of this dogs small size and it's adorable face, they commonly develop Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors where the dog believes he is the boss of humans. They may become untrustworthy with children and sometimes adults. They will be obstinate as they take their stand and defend their top position. They may bark obsessively as they try and TELL you what they want. These behaviors are NOT Shih Tzu traits, but rather behaviors brought on by the way they are treated by people around them. Give this dog rules, and limits to what they are and are not allowed to do. Take them for daily pack walks to burn mental and physical energy. Their temperament will improve for the better, and you will bring out the sweet, trustworthy dog in them.

Grooming

These little dogs require a good daily grooming using a bristle brush. When kept in along coat a topknot is usually tied to keep the hair out of the dog's eyes. Some owners prefer to have them trimmed to make the coat easier and less time consuming to care for. Keep the ear passages and area around the eyes clean. Shih-Tzu's have sensitive eyes that need to be kept clean. There are special drops you can buy to put in them if needed. Ask your vet what to use on your dog. This breed sheds little to no hair and are good for allergy suffers if their coats are kept very well groomed, do to the fact that they shed little skin dander.

acknowledgment:  Photos & info lifted from google/yahoo

Dogs: St. Bernard

Remember the movie Beethoven?   Those cute, gigantic dogs are St. Bernards.  Here are information about them.

ST. BERNARD

That's me & my son Ralf with St. Bernards in Baguio City

The St. Bernard is a very large breed of working dog from the Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its large size. The St. Bernard is a dog with a large head.

Life Expectancy: About 8-10 yrs.

Litter Size:   6-9 puppies

Appearance:

The Saint Bernard is a giant, strong, muscular dog. The massive head is powerful. The muzzle is short, wider than it is long. The teeth meet in a scissors or level bite. The nose is broad, with wide open nostrils and like the lips are black in color. The medium sized eyes are set somewhat to the sides and are dark in color. The medium sized ears are set high, dropping and standing slightly away from the head. The legs are muscular. The feet are large with strong well-arched toes. The long tail is broad and powerful at the base held low when the dog is relaxed. Dewclaws are usually removed. There are two types of coat: rough, and smooth, but both are very dense and come in white with markings in tan, red, mahogany, brindle, and black, in various combinations. The face and ears are usually black. In the rough-coated dogs, the hair is slightly longer and there is feathering on the thighs and legs.

The coat can be either smooth or rough, with the smooth coat close and flat. The rough coat is dense but flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The coat is typically a red color with white, or sometimes a mahogany brindle with white. Black shading is usually found on the face and ears. The tail is long and heavy, hanging low with the end turned up slightly. The dark eyes should have naturally tight lids, with "haws only slightly visible". Sometimes the eyes, brown usually, can be icy blue, nearly white.

Characteristics & Temperament:

St. Bernards must be well socialized with people and other dogs in order to prevent fearfulness and any possible aggression or territoriality. Overall they are a loyal and affectionate breed, and if socialized are very friendly and are occasionally avoided because of their slobber. They drool after they drink or eat.

Saint Bernards , like all very large dogs, are extremely gentle and friendly and very tolerant of children. The biggest threat to small children is being knocked over by this breed's larger size. Bear in mind that an unruly dog of this size presents a problem for even a strong adult. Teach this dog not to jump on humans starting at puppyhood. Slow moving, patient, and obedient. Extremely loyal, eager and willing to please.  It is highly intelligent and easy to train, however training should begin early, while the dog is still a manageable size. The Saint Bernard is a good watchdog. Even its size is a good deterrent. Dogs want nothing more than to know what is expected of them and the St Bernard is no exception.

Saint Bernards have a highly developed sense of smell and also seem to have a sixth sense about impending danger from storms and avalanches.

While generally not as aggressive as dogs bred for protection, a St. Bernard may bark at strangers, and their size makes them good deterrents against possible intruders.

Grooming:

Both types of coats are easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe only when necessary. Shampoo may strip the coat of its oily, water-resistant properties, so use a mild soap. The eyes, which may be inclined to water, need special attention to keep them clean and free of irritants. This breed sheds twice a year.


Disclaimer: some photos , info lifted from google

Dogs: Pug

If you watched the movie "Men In Black", you've already seen this kind of dog.  The Pug.

Here's some information about the Pug breed.

The pug is a "toy" (very small) breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. Pug puppies are often called puglets. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, and a compact square body with well-developed muscle. They have been described as multum in parvo ("much in little"), referring to the pug's personality and small size. They have Chinese origins, but were popularised in Western Europe by the House of Orange of the Netherlands and the House of Stuart of England, Ireland and Scotland.

Appearance

The Pug is a small, stocky, square, thickset dog. The round head is massive with a short, blunt, square shaped muzzle. Moles on the cheeks are considered beauty spots. The teeth meet in a slight undershot bite. The very large, prominent eyes are dark. The small, thin ears are either rose or button shaped. The face has large, deep wrinkles. The high set tail is curled over the back and a double curl is preferred in the show ring. Dewclaws are usually removed. The short coat is soft, fine and smooth. Coat colors come in apricot, fawn, black and silver.

CHARACTERISTICS & TEMPERAMENT

The Pug is keen, with a happy-go-lucky attitude. Animated, peppy and spirited, they are loyal, loving and affectionate with their families. Playful, lively and rambunctious, they are sure to keep you laughing. Highly intelligent, it bores easily without variety in their training. Pugs are sensitive to the tone of your voice, so harsh punishment is unnecessary. The dog is neither excitable nor dull. They are good watchdogs, very devoted and are not yappers. Pugs get along well with other dogs and pets, and they behave impeccably with both children and visitors.

Lifespan:  About 12 to 15 years.

Litter size: 2 – 6 pups

GROOMING:

The smooth, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Brush and comb with a firm bristle brush and shampoo only when necessary. Dry thoroughly after a bath so the dog does not get chilled. The creases on the face must be cleaned regularly. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder.

Disclaimer:  Photo & data lifted from Google & Yahoo

The Dog Series: Part II - Labrador Retriever

This is the second part of my feature about dogs.  My tribute to my favorite animal of all.  Man's best friend - dogs.

My most favorite dog, another one that I can't afford to buy... the Labrador.  I hope this information will be of use to you dog lovers out there!
                

LABRADOR RETRIEVER

Life Expectancy:  About 10 - 12 years

Litter Size:  Average 7 pups

Black Lab, Yellow Lab, Choco Lab

The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador, or Lab for short) is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. There are two types of Labradors, the English Labrador and the American Labrador. The English bred lab comes from English bred stock. Their general appearance is different. The English bred labs are heavier, thicker and blockier. The American bred Lab comes from American bred stock and is tall and lanky. Coat colors come in solid black, yellow, or chocolate. The double coat is smooth and does not have any waves.

Appearance:

Coat colors come in solid black, yellow, or chocolate. There is also said to be a rare silver or gray color that is referred to as a shade of chocolate. The head of the labrador is broad with a moderate stop. The nose is thick, black on black and yellow dogs and brown on chocolate dogs. The nose color often fades and is not considered a fault in the show ring. The teeth should meet in a scissors or level bite. The muzzle is fairly wide. The neck is proportionately wide and powerful. The body is slightly longer than tall. The short, hard coat is easy to care for and water-resistant. The medium sized eyes are set well apart. Eye color should be brown in yellow and black dogs and hazel or brown in chocolate dogs. Some labs can also have green or greenish yellow eyes. In silver dogs the eye color is usually gray. The eye rims are black in yellow and black dogs and brown in chocolate dogs. The ears are medium in size, hanging down and pendant in shape. The otter tail is thick at the base, gradually tapering towards the tip. It is completely covered with short hair, with no feathering. The feet are strong and compact with webbed paws which aid the dog in swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. This and their subsequent use as hunting companions, gave them the name retriever.

Characteristics & Temperament:

The dogs of this breed are very loving, kind and compassionate to their master. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog (by registered ownership) in the world. It is also the most popular breed of assistance dog in Canada, the United States, Australia, United Kingdom and many other countries as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities. Typically, Labradors are athletic, and love to swim, play catch and retrieve games, and are good with young children.

Grooming:

The smooth, short-haired, double coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush regularly with a firm, bristle brush, paying attention to the undercoat. Bathe or dry shampoo only when necessary. These dogs are average shedders.

Photo & information lifted from:  Google, Yahoo