Edie MacKenzie On Dogs

Posts Tagged ‘Dog Breed’

With the looks of a glamor model, and the physique of an athlete, the Afghan is an instantly recognizable dog breed.

These impressive dogs can be as tall as 29 inches at the shoulder and commonly weigh up to 58 pounds. They have an impressive coat that is long, sleek and lustrous. Any color is permitted within the breed standard, although white markings are not allowed.

Another common, characteristic is a black facemask, while some dogs also have a long Manchu-like moustache, called a ‘mandarin’. As the name suggests, the breed originated in Afghanistan where they were used for hunting small game. They were originally introduced to the west in the 19th century, but by the end of the First World War had all but disappeared.

Then in the 1920’s several dogs were brought to Scotland as breeding stock. These dogs caused quite a stir on the dog show circuit and were soon recognized by the major international kennel clubs. Virtually all of the Afghans we see today, descend directly from this group.

Afghans are an ancient breed, and have genetic markers in common with wolves, making them close descendants of the original domesticated dogs.The Afghan temperament is a perfect match for its stylish looks. They are known to be aloof, stand-offish, and have even been described as ‘snobbish’. They are intelligent dogs, but with a stubbornness that makes them a challenge to train.

Some even describe their temperament as cat-like, in their ability to totally disregard you. Put it this way, an Afghan will obey if he sees a good reason to, otherwise he just won’t.

That aside, the Afghan is still an excellent pet that forms close bonds with its immediate human ‘pack’. They just take a while to accept strangers, and will usually ignore someone who hasn’t earned their trust.

Like most other sight hound breeds, the Afghan can be quite lazy. They enjoy nothing more than curling up on the couch for a good nap, and normally see no reason to exert themselves.

Outdoors though, it’s an entirely different story. The hunting instinct kicks in and they will chase anything that moves, small animals in particular.The Afghan may look glamorous, but it is no softie. These are strong healthy dogs who have very few serious health problems. The major health issues relate to the eyes, with cataracts a particular problem.

If you were thinking that the luxuriant coat requires a lot of work, you’d be right. The Afghan is a high maintenance dog that must be brushed daily. In addition you’ll need to to have the hair trimmed regularly in order for it to keep its shape.

Afghans were bred for hunting, but despite this are not really suited to outdoor living. Their impressive coat provides very little protection in a cold climate, and besides that they simply prefer to be sleeping on the couch than under the stars.

Good names for a Afghan Hound can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of male dog names to pick from.

When it comes to diversity, no species on earth rivals the dog. Our canine friends come in a vast array of sizes, shapes and colors. Not only that, but they also display vastly different character traits from one breed to another.

Much of this is down to human meddling. For centuries we have bred dogs to meet our needs, so that over time we’ve developed over 600 distinct dog breeds.

However, recent studies suggest that many of the physical changes in dogs may have occurred spontaneously. So as amazing as it is, it seems dogs have actually evolved along the lines they believe we expect of them. Now that’s what I call devotion!

Fascinating stuff, but there’s also a practical purpose to all this.

Let’s say you are interested in buying or adopting a purebred dog. I’m sure you’d want one that is a good fit for your life style. It would be foolish for example to adopt a Husky, if your idea of fun is flopping down in front of the TV with with a bowl of popcorn. Before you know it you’ll have an extremely frustrated dog, most likely with behavioral problems.

By the same token, an active person who gets a Bulldog and expects him to join in the Sunday morning jog is bound to be disappointed.

And it doesn’t stop at activity level either, name any trait you find particularly desirable in a canine companion, and you’ll find a dog breed that meets your requirements. Some breeds are more affectionate, others more independent, some are protective, others timid, some are known to be yappers, others hardly bark at all.

Then there are physical characteristics. You may prefer a larger or a smaller dog. Well, it’s hard to imagine a greater discrepancy than between a Great Dane and a Chihuahua. It’s almost difficult to believe that they belong to the same species!

Another factor you need to take into account is the amount of hair the dog sheds. Some dogs shed enough hair to make another dog, while others hardly shed at all. And if shedding is really an issue there are hairless dogs, like the Xoloitzcuintle.

And what about training? You are going to train your dog aren’t you? Well then you should know that not all dogs are equally easy to train. With some it’s a piece of cake, with others more like talking to a brick wall.

So if trainability is an important factor you’ll want a dog that is a quick learner with an eagerness to please. Dogs that fall into this group include the Poodle, Papillon and Golden Retriever.

The breeds you’ll want to avoid are most of the Hound Group, including Bassets, Beagles, and Bloodhounds. Some breeds, like the Dachshund, are known for being particularly obstinate, while certain toy dogs will ignore you as a matter of principal.

And then there are the so-called designer dogs, as well as mixed breed dogs, which we haven’t even spoken about here.

Fact is, there really is a dog breed to suit just about everybody’s lifestyle. Which is yours?

Visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com to learnmore about types of dogs, dog care, dog training and other interesting dog info.

German Shepherds are large dogs that came from, naturally, in the country of Germany. German Shepherd history goes back to 1899 which makes them a relatively new dog breed. They are a very intelligent and obedient dog breed that originally was used for guarding and herding sheep. Today, because of their intelligence, size, and strength they are frequently used as military or police dogs. Their loyal and obedient nature also makes them ideal household pets and are one of the most popular dogs registered with the American Kennel Club.

Despite their loyalty and obedient nature, owning a German Shepherd can have a big potential downside. If they are not properly trained and controlled, their size and strength can make them dangerous. They may view other dogs or strangers as a threat to their home and family. When this situation happens, an untrained dog may bite or attack the other dog or person. While there are not concrete statistics on the how likely it is that a German Shepherd will bite, several reputable organizations state that they are more likely than other breeds to attack other dogs or people. This makes German Shepherd training critical for everybody who owns one.

There are a couple options when it comes to training a German Shepherd. Investing in a professional dog trainer is the first option. This could be a group training program at the local pet store or a private dog trainer. A personal trainer can be good because they give a dog more attention, but the group class can be good to get the dog used to being around other dogs and people. A do it yourself training program is the second option for dog training. There are several good programs available including some that you can download immediately on the internet.

If you spend a little time on training, German Shepherds can be fantastic pets. They can be cherished family members that are also a great protector for your home.

When it comes to dog training there are two differing sides of opinion when it comes to dogs and their digging habits. Firstly, many dog trainers think that a dog is a dog, and we should permit him to express his true canine nature by allowing him free reign over the yard and flowerbeds. The other dog training experts feel that a flowerbed is a flowerbed, and no dog should even think about expression his dogginess if such an expression comes at the price of a ruined flowerbed.

Most leading dog training experts favor the middle ground for training your dog. Although many dogs do love to dig, and it is healthy for them to be permitted to dig once in a while, there’s a difference between allowing your dog to express their inner puppy, and allowing him to run rampant in the backyard. No dog training professional would agree that a dog should have to come at the price of a garden, and vice versa. When if comes to dog training, flowers and dogs can coexist peacefully if you train your dog correctly. If your dog’s developed a taste for digging, it will just take a bit of time, and some ingenuity, on your part to resolve the dog training problem satisfactorily.

To start with, if you have yet to adopt a dog and your concern for the fate of your garden is purely hypothetical, consider the breed of dog that you would like. If you’ve got your eye on a specific mixed-breed dog, what aspect of his mixed dog heritage seems to be the most prominent?

Dog breed often plays a significant role in any given dog’s personal opinion of digging as a rewarding and valuable dog pastime – many terriers and Nordic breeds in particular (Huskies, Malamutes, some members of the Spitz family for example) seem to particularly enjoy digging.

Every dog training expert will, of course, say that when you get right down to the sum and substance, every dog is first and foremost an individual, and there’s no real way to predict whether or not your chosen four legged friend is going to be a burrower or not. However, if you’re trying to reduce the likelihood of an involuntarily-landscaped garden as much as possible, It is suggested you stay away from all breeds of terrier (and for those that did not know, the name means ‘go to earth’, after all!) and the Nordic breeds.

Why do dogs dig?

Dog training professionals often agree on the following reasons, and they are in no particular order, as to why a dog will dig:

* General Lack of exercise. Digging is a good way for a hyped-up, under-exercised dog to burn off some of their nervous energy.

* Boredom. Bored dogs will find a ‘job’ to do, something rewarding and interesting, to help the time pass by.

* Digging is often the ideal solution for a bored dog: it gives him a sense of purpose, and distracts him from an otherwise-empty day.

* The need for broader horizons. Some dogs are just escape artists by nature – no matter how much exercise and attention they get, it’s nearly impossible to confine them to an area. For a Doggy-Houdini, it’s not the digging itself that is the reward, it is the wonderful unknown that exists beyond the boundaries they were confined to and dogs love to explore a world of unfamiliar scents.