It has been said that Great Danes are descendants of Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound and Bullenbeisser. Years of careful breeding resulted to this tall, chiseled dog, so robust yet so gentle, so regal and elegant. Great Danes possess remarkable characteristics that capture attention and admiration wherever it goes.

Photo: pups4sale.co.nz

Probably some people think that this breed won’t make good household pets (especially those who are living in apartments) because of their giant size. Their height ranges from 30 to 40 inches and the typical weight for males ranges from 54 to 90 kg. and 45 to 68 kg. for females. In fact, a Great Dane named Gibson holds the title as the world’s tallest dog in the Guinness World Records in 2004. But despite their giant size, a Great Dane can manage life in an apartment quite well. Their energy is not as high as other breeds and only need half an hour walk and some run few times a week.

Being a creature with fairly slow metabolism, they really don’t eat that much. Two cups of dry dog food a day is enough to keep them fueled. Too much protein should be avoided to prevent damaging the bones and joints. Bloat, formally known as Gastric Volvulus is their enemy. It is a serious problem that may kill this breed, or other large breeds in minutes. Gastropexy (tacking of the stomach to the right abdominal wall) is usually done to Great Danes especially those who have relatives with history of bloat. Using elevated food dishes and avoiding strenuous exercise and other activities right after meals are other ways to prevent the occurrence of bloat.

Would you believe that these remarkably large dogs are also remarkably gentle? They are sweet and kind large creatures, good with children, other dog, other animals and even strangers. They do not cope well without close contact with their human family and may cause them to become mentally unstable and depressed if left alone for too long. They don’t respond well to training based on hard corrections given that they are emotionally sensitive dogs. Aggression may occur at times due to their nature as wild boar hunter and their drive to protect their family members from what they perceive as threat or danger.

People should understand that this breed grows rapidly. They should think thoroughly and discover more about this breed before taking them home. Remember that ignorance, often if not all the time, leads to wrong decision. You may not want to abandon your gentle giant in a shelter or organization, don’t you?

Richard Cussons is a writer and a dog expert. Visit greatdanesavvy.com for great information about Great Danes and effective Great Dane training tips.
 

Have you heard of characters such as Snoopy from the Peanut comic strips, Underdog from the cartoon series, or Shiloh from Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s book? All of these are examples of the Beagle, a dog that has been in the top 10 list of most popular dog breeds in the United States for 30 years. If you have not read or seen any of these examples and are unsure what this breed of dog looks like you can read below to find the common Beagle characteristics.

Photo: westsidebeagles.googlepages.com

You may not know what a Beagle looks like but a Foxhound looks extremely similar. Beagles are miniature versions of the Foxhounds but have broader heads, shorter muzzles, and the legs are shorter in proportion to their body. They are typically between 13 to 16 inches in length and weight between 18 to 35 pounds.

The common Beagle characteristic of the skull is that it is domed, with medium-length, square-cut muzzle and a black nose. Their eyes are large and either hazel or brown. The have long, large ears that turn toward the cheeks and round at the tips. Their upper teeth fit perfectly over their lower teeth with both set aligned square into their strong jaw.

These dogs have a medium length neck, just long enough for them to pick up a scent from the ground, and there is sometimes a dewlap in their skin. The Beagle has a broad chest that narrows to a smaller abdomen and waist. At the end of its body is a short tail that curves to a white tip. The white tip has been selectively bred as it allows for the dog to be easily seen when its head is down sniffing.

One of the biggest characteristics of the Beagle is their sense of smell. These dogs have the best developed senses of smell of any dog, next to the Bloodhound. Starting in the 1950s John Fuller and John Paul Scott began a 13 year study into the behavior of canines.

Part of the research they did was testing the scenting abilities of a variety of breeds by putting a mouse in an acre of field and they timed how long it took for the dogs to locate the mouse. A Scottish Terrier was unable to find it, a Fox Terrier found it in 15 minutes, and the Beagle found it in less than one minute.

The problem with this breed is that they are extremely good at ground-scenting, but they are not very good at air-scenting. For this reason they are not used for mountain rescue teams and rather collies are used because they are able to use their sight in addition to their air-scenting, making them the best choice.

These are just some of the Beagle characteristics that should help you identify this breed without doubt.

Jake Kennedy is an avid Beagle Dog lover providing valuable advice at I Luv Beagles for fellow Beagle lovers, where he shares Beagle dog info and training tips with Beagle lovers worldwide. Visit our Beagle Photo Gallery too: Beagle Dog Pics.
 

The American Staffordshire Terrier, also sometimes called Amstaff, is a medium-sized dog breed with good family values. It fits nicely as a pet, and works well together with older more considerate children as well as other animals. It is a relative of the American Pit Bull Terrier, and was brought to the US with the British and Irish settlers, more specifically after the Civil war. Animal fights, with larger animals such as Bulls, were popular in the 1830’s, but became illegal in old Britain and Ireland because of the Human Ethics Act.

Photo: gotpetsonline.com

People then began to organize rat fights and dog fights instead, since they were much easier to hide from the officials. The American Staffordshire Terrier has a very large bone structure, head size and it weighs a lot, therefore fitting perfectly in this sport. Their body is very athletic, robust and compact. Still today these fights are arranged, but they are not as common as they were before. The American Staffordshire Terrier breed was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. They are a member of the Terrier and Molosser groups.

American Staffordshire Terriers are confident, laid back, and easygoing. They are also in general good natured, although best for those with some experience of dog ownership. Despite their calm style of life it is important to remember that they were bred to be aggressive towards other dogs, and they may still sometimes act based upon those ancient instincts. Their attitude and reaction when it comes to strangers varies, sometimes they can be friendly, at other times they can be very aggressive. The lifespan of the American Staffordshire Terrier is around 10-12 years. There are some health problems associated with this breed, including eye problems, ligament problems, thyroid disorders, cancer, temperament problems, and cataracts.

The American Staffordshire Terrier has a broad, powerful head, short muzzle, very strong jaws. Their ears are generally cropped. Their eyes are round and black. All colours are accepted, as long as they are not more than 80% white. The American Staffordshire Terrier is a general happy, stable and confident breed, as well as loyal companion dog. As quoted from unknown source "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion".

For more info on American Staffordshire Terrier or a full list of Dog Breeds visit this Dog Behavior Training resource website.

The Welsh Corgi, the Pembroke and the Cardigan, are known to be descendants of dogs from the British Isles around the 9th century AD. They are believed to be brought there by the Scandinavian raiders.

Photo: wallcoo.com

The dogs were then breed with the native dogs. So the original Norse-Welsh crosses were born.

In 12th century AD, Flemish weavers brought to Wales Spitz-like dogs and further crossbreeding took place.

Corgi’s Scandinavian ancestors were believed to be used for hunting water fowl, and Corgis themselves are deployed as fowlers’ dogs on the rocky Welsh coast. So, Corgis were then used to guide animal flocks in the farms, and to protect them from predators.

In this modern era, Corgis’ have maintained their flexibility and tenacity that make them multi-purpose farm dogs. They can herd livestock, eliminate pests and hunt as well. They also tend to want to herd humans, and other smaller dogs as well. However, when domesticated, they make good companions for kids and as well as adults and old folks. Corgis are highly intelligent and can be easily trained, although some may have stubborn traits.

Corgis were officially introduced in England in 1925. Pembrokes and Cardigans were then used to differentiate between them only 1934. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has several lovely Pembrokes throughout her life.

The general appearance of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is low-set, but sturdy and strong. It is active portraying substance, strength and stamina in a compact body. It looks bold but kind, intelligent and engaged. It is never shy nor is it vicious. Height should be about 10 - 12 inches and weight between 28 - 30 pounds.

Originally developed for hunting, Weimaraners are great and versatile dogs, perfect for show, field, obedience, tracking and agility. It was in the 19th century when this breed was developed and were used by royalty for hunting large game such as boar, bears, deer and foxes. Weimaraners were later used for hunting smaller animals such as fowl, rabbits and foxes when popularity of large game hunting declined.

Photo: cachorrosweb.com

Size. Female Weimaraners are between 22-25 inches (56-63 cm) and males are between 24-27 inches (61-69 cm). The weight of the females are generally between 50-70 pounds (23-32 kgs) and males are between 55-85 pounds (25-38 kgs).

Appearance. The Weimaraner has short, fine, smooth gray coat that led to its nickname, "gray ghost" or silver ghost. The coat’s color range from mouse-gray to silver-gray. The eyes may be amber, gray or blue-gray. The color of the head and ears are lighter than the rest of the body, with ears moderately long. The head is also long and aristocratic. The tail is docked to 1 1/2 inches (4cm) when the dog is two days old.

In rare cases, there are also long haired variety that is recognized by most kennel clubs in the world except in North America. This variety has silky coat and undocked, feathered tail.

Temperament. Weimaraners are intelligent and fast learners giving them the nickname "dog with a human brain". This breed is happy, loving and cheerful suitable as household pet but is not as friendly towards strangers just like Labrador and Golden Retrievers. Thorough socialization when young will prevent aggression. Firm and appropriate training and exercise are necessary to help them control their behavior since this breed requires vigorous exercise, games or running.

Health. Weimaraners are prone to bloat (gastric torsion) because of their deep chest. To prevent bloat, it is better to feed them two to three small meals a day instead of one large meal. Rigorous exercise right after meals should as well be avoided. This breed is also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, hypertropic osteodystrophy (too rapid growth) and tumors. Other health issues include cryptorchidism, distichiasis, Von Willebrands Disease, entropion, hypothyroidism, renal dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy.

Grooming. Weimaraner with short and smooth coat is easy to groom. Regular brushing with a firm bristle brush, occasional dry shampoo and a rub of chamois is enough to make the coat shine and keep your Weim in good condition. Keep the nails trimmed and check the mouth after work or exercise.

Siberian Husky Puppies - Generally Enjoy Good Health
By Andrew A Preston

Siberian Husky puppies can easily win your heart over if for nothing else but its outstanding looks. These looks make them the most beautiful of all dog breeds that are equally attractive even when their coats are not black or white in color. What’s more the Siberian Husky puppy can have an eye color that is other than blue, for which it is best known for.

In any case, Siberian Husky puppies have very endearing characteristics and they are certainly a lot gentler than you would expect from a medium sized breed. If you are concerned about the temperament of your Siberian Husky puppy, you won’t have anything to worry about. Because though it may prove mischievous once in a while or show a strong will, he is basically intelligent, outgoing and active as well as playful, and somehow it won’t give up its youthful exuberance even when it becomes an adult.

Generally, the Siberian Husky puppy is a very intelligent animal and is easily given to being trained, though because of its extremely friendly nature it is not well suited as a watch dog. Firstly, it does not bark much and secondly, it will generally love everyone he comes into contact with. While training Siberian Husky puppies, you will often notice the tendency of the puppy to show its own will and mind and generally only obeys commands that seem sensible to him. Thus, you need to be patient when training him and also remember that you need to be consistent and understanding of his faults.

Other than that, don’t be surprised if you hear the Siberian Husky puppy howl (which he likes to do) and he is also easily bored, and won’t like being left alone, which means owning a pair of Siberian Husky puppies would not be a bad idea at all. Left by himself, the Siberian Husky puppy can become extremely destructive and at heart he is also a sled dog which makes them behave well, even when in the company of other pets.

A noticeable facet to the Siberian Husky puppy is his relative lack of need to eat bowlfuls of food, and is less than voracious when it comes to putting down whole meals. In fact, the puppy is frugal when it comes to eating and will easily be satisfied with less food than is the case with other medium sized breeds.

However, he will spend a lot of time in exploring his surroundings and being active; will require being taken out for exercising for an hour in the day. Unless he is especially well trained in obeying your every command, it is not wise to let Siberian Husky puppies to be taken out without being leashed because he may easily wander off somewhere without coming back to you.

In addition, he likes the cold climates and will not relish being left in the sunlight and in fact must be given a shady place where he can play and rest, and even an air conditioned room may be required to keep him comfortable and happy. Even though, generally, Siberian Husky puppies do not fall ill too easily, it is still necessary to check that he does not have hip dysplasia, or juvenile cataract or other common diseases that may affect him.

Andrew Preston has spent years in rearing and handling different dog breeds and is an avid lover who will handle them with love and affection. There is lots that you should know about Siberian Husky puppies. The lovable and gentle Siberian Husky puppy is also intelligent and very beautiful to look at, and you can easily give them many interesting Siberian Husky puppy names to describe these attributes.