Archive for October, 2009

Newfoundland

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

AKA: Newf, Newfie, The Gentle Giant, Blackbear

newfoundlandDescription: The Newfoundland is a strong and massive dog, with a broad head and a short wide muzzle. Its ears are pendant and its eyes are a dark brown, wherein the conjunctiva should not show as it does with a St. Bernard. Its nose is black but is brown for bronze-colored Newfoundlands.

The Newfoundland is hardy and big, but it is agile and has an elegant gait. It has a water-resistant long outer coat, with a thick oily undercoat. Its feet are webbed and this makes the Newfoundland a good swimmer. There are dewclaws on its hind legs that should be removed. Its tail hangs down.

Dynamics: The Newfoundland is an intelligent dog with a good temperament. It is patient and obedient, and is known to be friendly with people. It is calm and gentle, and loyal and devoted. It will act on its own if needed, and can be protective. It will place itself between an intruder and its family in order to protect its owners.

The Newfoundland gets along well with people and other dogs, given the proper socialization and upbringing. It is generally good with other pets and animals. It also gets along well with children, as it is a patient and playful breed. It loves companionship and is very sociable. The Newfoundland likes the outdoors very much. It loves to swim and play in the water. It drinks a lot and gets messy with it because it likes to get wet.

In training the Newfoundland, the owner has t o be calm and patient. Training has to be confident and consistent. This breed is very sensitive to your tone of voice and should not receive harsh treatment when it makes mistakes. Also take into account that the Newfoundland moves slow because of its huge body.

Breed Group: Mastiff, Working

Weight: males 30-150 pounds (59-68 kg), females 100-120 pounds (45-54kg)

Height: males 27-29 inches (69-74cm), females 25-27 inches (63-69cm)

Color: The color of the Newfoundland’s coat is most often black, sometimes with little white markings on the feet, end of the tail, and the chest. The coat can also be black with blue highlights, bronze, brown, gray, or even white with black markings.

Country of Origin: The Newfoundland’s origin is believed to be in Canada. There are stories that the Newfoundland came from crosses between Tibetan Mastiffs that were brought to Canada by the Europeans in the 1700s.

Activities: The Newfoundland can entertain itself around the house by just lazing around but, like all dogs, it needs to be taken outside for a walk everyday. Play sessions and exercise are good for the breed, too. It also likes to swim and frolic.

In the past, the Newfoundland helped fishermen by hauling in nets, carrying boat lines, and retrieving anything that fell overboard to the water. This breed can also help with rescuing shipwrecked and drowning people. The Newfoundland is basically an outstanding water rescue dog. On land, the Newfoundland is just as useful as it is used to haul lumber, pull mail sheds, and carry or deliver things.

Grooming: As the Newfoundland has a long coat, daily brushing with a hard brush is important. Bathe only when absolutely necessary. Dry shampoo if needed.

Other Info: The Newfoundland has a life expectancy of 9 to 15 years. Like most dogs, this dog is prone to hip dysplasia and a hereditary heart disease called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS). This breed should have its heart checked when it is 8 to 12 weeks old to find out if it has SAS or not. The Newfoundland is okay living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised. This breed is sensitive to heat and prefer cool climates.

Photo: DanDee Shots

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New Zealand Huntaway

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

AKA: New Zealand Sheepdog

Description: The New Zealand Huntaway does not have a standard look. It comes in various shapes, sizes, and coat colors. This is mainly due to the fact that the breeders weren’t really concerned about the appearance of the dog and focused instead on the dog’s abilities.

Dynamics: The New Zealand Huntaway is a sheep herding dog unique for using its voice in driving the sheep. It got its name from special events called “huntaways,” developed at sheep-herding trials for the breed. The New Zealand Huntaway is not a guard dog, and is not a good watch dog. But it has a bark that can alert its owners, and it can be trained when and when not to bark. It can be trained to keep quiet and save its voice for work.

The New Zealand Huntaway is an intelligent and friendly breed. It gets along well with children, and is friendly with strangers. It is also good with non canine pets. Its owner should be calm and confident, training the dog in clear and concise ways. The owner should also know how to discourage the New Zealand Huntaway from barking when he wants something as this is allowing the dog to be dominant.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: general 40-65 pounds (18-29.5 kg); the New Zealand Huntaway come in various shapes and sizes.

Height: 20-24 inches (51-61 cm)

Color: The New Zealand Huntaway comes in any color.

Country of Origin:The New Zealand Huntaway is the product of breeding barking sheep-herding dogs. There were many breeds involved in the program, including the Black Labrador, Hound, Border Collie, nd Germn Shepherd. The New Zealand Huntaway is the proof of the success of the breeding program, and is recognized in its land of origin, New Zealand, as the breed made for the intended purpose of sheep herding.

Activities: As sheep herding dogs go, the New Zealand Huntaway is an active and playful dog. It should be taken outside regularly for a walk and plenty of exercise. It should also be given a time to run around free in a safe and open area.

Grooming: Combing and brushing the coat of the New Zealand Huntaway is enough for grooming. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The New Zealand Huntaway has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. This breed is generally healthy and can do well living in an apartment as long as it has sufficient exercise.

Photo: Cgoodwin

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New Guinea Singing Dog

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

AKA: New Guinea Highland Dog, Singer, NGSD

Description: The New Guinea Singing Dog has the appearance like that of a fox, with a triangular head, prick ears, and triangular eyes. It is a small- to medium-sized dog with a plush coat that can be either average or long in length. Its body is muscular, and the New Guinea Singing Dog is agile and graceful. The body ends with lean hindquarters and a brushy, soft, and fluffy tail.

Dynamics: The New Guinea Singing Dog is not as domesticated as a regular pet dog. This breed is closely related to wild dogs. One of its wild characteristics is that it howls more than it barks, even dramatically changing the pitches of its howls. This is where they actually got their name. But it can be tamed and can become devoted to an owner when properly socialized. Generally, this is not a dog for may people.

As a breed of the wild, the New Guinea Singing Dog is active and alert. It is instinctive and uses its fives sense when exploring its environment. It has a great hunting drive, coupled with optimizing all its senses in hunting and chasing prey. It is flexible and can slip through any opening wide enough for its head. The New Guinea Singing Dog is also an aggressive animal, especially with dogs of the same sex.

Breed Group: Southern

Weight: 18-30 pounds (8-14 kg)

Height: 14-15 inches (35-38 cm)

Color: The New Guinea Singing Dog can come in red or shades of red, black, and tan. There can be white markings on the body but it should not cover more than one-third. The white markings can be on the muzzle, face, neck and shoulders, belly, legs, feet, and tail tip.

Country of Origin: The New Guinea Singing Dog is from New Guinea. In the 1950s, breeding with imported dogs almost made the breed extinct. Thankfully, pure dogs were found in the isolated Lavanni Valley , and another pair was caught in Irian Jaya’s Eipomak Valley in Indonesia. This breed can be seen in many zoos around the world, but is already rare in New Guinea.

Activities: The New Guinea Singing Dog needs a lot of exercise and physical activities. As a wild dog, it should be taken outside everyday.

Grooming: Brushing is enough for the New Guinea Singing Dog. Its coat is weather resistant, and does not really need regular grooming.

Other Info: The New Guinea Singing Dog has a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. This is a hardy breed and has no irregularities. This dog is versatile and can adapt to any place and under any climate.

Photo: Valerie Abbott

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Old English Mastiff

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

AKA: English Mastiff, Mastiffmastiff
Description: Old English Mastiffs is a heavyweight breed, has broad skull and square shaped structure. They are a very powerful dog that creates strong impression on people. Forelegs are wide set apart. Their black mask on their eyes and nose is prominent on them. Their hazel eyes are dark and small that goes along with their small ears too. Their coat comes in various colors. Teeth are in scissors bite and tail is set high reaching the hocks.

Temperament: Known as a dignified and courageous breed. They are a loving dog especially to their master. Also calm but could also protect their owner against harm, capable to be a guard dog that could give protection to their owner especially with those suspicious strangers. They are an easygoing and gentle dog too and very loyal to their owner and very dedicated towards their family, small dogs and children.

Activity: A daily exercise is required for them as they tend to be lazy. Daily walks and jog will keep them healthy and fit as long as owners should impose that they should heel beside their owner during walks and jog to instill in their mind who their leader should be.

Health: Hip dysplasia is common to them also prone to bloat, gastric torsion,ectropion, vaginal hyperplasia, elbow dysplasia. Life span is about 10-12 years.

Grooming: They are easy to groom since they have short hair and does not shed heavily. They needed to be brushed to remove dead hair and wipe with towel to make their coat shine and soft to touch. Bathe them only when necessary.

Breed Group: Mastiff, AKC Working
Color: golden fawn, light fawn, brindle, silver, tiger, and apricot
Height: Dogs from 30 inches (76cm) Bitches from 27 inches (69cm)
Weight: Dogs about 160 pounds (72kg) Bitches about 150 pounds (68kg)
Country Of Origin: Britain

Dynamics: The Old English Dog Belongs to the World’s top 5 guard dogs. That is why they could be an excellent guard dog to their owners. They belong to the mastiff group which is known as powerful and been delegated as the arena gladiator in a bloody sport of bull.

Photo by BLikly

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