Monday, July 14, 2014

Scotland Terrier Quiz

Quiz Question #1 :

What is the name of the Scottish Terrier in Lady and the Tramp?

Quiz Question #2 :

What is the name of the Scotland Terrier in The Wizard of Oz?

Quiz Question #3 :

What type of Scotland Terrier is in The Wizard of Oz -

a) Scottish
b) Cairn
c) West Highland White

Diehard irony -

Fans of both movies will know the answers WITHOUT research.

"Diehard" is a nickname that can be researched on Wikipedia.

Scottie, Spaniel, Bloodhound Oh my!


Breed of the Day - Scottish Terrier




Scottish Terrier


HISTORY :
  • "Scottie" ... "Aberdeen Terrier" (Aberdeen, Scotland)
  • One of five terriers with Scotland origin (Breeds : Scottish, Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, West Highland White Terrier)
  • Presidential owners - FDR, George W. Bush
  • Playing piece in Monopoly
(A further history can be found on Wikipedia)


TEMPERAMENT :
  • Brave
  • Alert
  • Intelligent
  • Playful and friendly as a puppy..."dignified" as an adult
  • Excellent watchdog
  • Stubborn tendency
  • Consistent firm and calm training early on...Owner MUST be confident in training to keep the dog positively responsive...Lack of authority by all leaders in the family will lead to nonresponsive and challenging behavior
  • Needs socializing
  • "Reliable temperament"
  • Likes to exercise and play
  • "Big dog in small dog's body"
  • AVOID SMALL DOG SYNDROME - Moody, Protective, Obsessive barking, etc. - BEHAVIORS NOT NATURAL TRAITS OF A SCOTTISH TERRIER
  • Children MUST show leadership
  • Not good with younger children
  • Daily exercise reinforces leadership


PHYSICAL TRAIT :
  • Average weight : 19 - 23 pounds


HEALTH :
  • Prone to bleeding disorders
  • Prone to joint disorders
  • Prone to autoimmune diseases
  • Allergies
  • Scottie Cramp - movement disorder
(Source - Wikipedia)


LIVING CONDITIONS :
  • Good for apartment
  • Okay without a yard
  • Prefers cooler weather


LIFE EXPECTANCY :
  • 12 - 15 years



(Temperament, Physical Trait, Living Conditions, Life Expectancy source - DogBreedInfo)



Saturday, July 12, 2014

My Favorite Breed - Australian Cattle Dog

 
 
 
 
 
 
Australian Cattle Dog
Blue Heeler
 
 
 
 
 
"Protective, Cautious, Obedient, Loyal, Energetic, Brave" - Wikipedia
 
 
Her name was Chessie.  Her litter siblings were outgoing and eager to be adopted.  She looked lonesome with a face that said, "No one will adopt me."  She did not expect a life to be filled with dedicated love soon to come.
 
My grandmother was intrigued by the checker board pattern on Chessie's face and adopted her in a heartbeat.  Chessie was the name given to her by her forever family.
 
I met Chessie when I was an infant.  Although I have no recollection, the stories shared by my grandmother and mother make me feel as though I have known her all my life.
 
She proved her breed's natural temperament growing up.  She proved her breed's natural temperament even more when my mother was pregnant with me and after I was born.
 
Chessie held strong motherly instinct.  When my mother was pregnant with me, Chessie felt a sense of loyalty in such a profound way that cannot be placed into words.
 
When I was born, Chessie became a second mother.  When I was taken for walks in my stroller, Chessie pressed against the stroller hard.  When strangers approached, she was so protective of me that she went into attack mode.  As one story goes, an off-duty police officer passed us, but was in his full uniform.  He was a "good stranger," but Chessie felt otherwise.  She bared her teeth, growled, and barked to protect me and my grandmother.  When he backed off, he commented on how powerful she was to be so cautious, brave, and truly loyal toward her family.  As another story goes, my grandmother was stopped in her car with Chessie in the passenger seat I believe.  A man thought to be drunk approached the car.  The windows happened to be rolled down a bit.  She went into protective attack mode and actually injured him slightly.  Even he was impressed by how powerful she was.  He really backed off.
 
Chessie passed away from cancer before my milestone months and years.
 
Her precious doggie imprint on my family's life is forever lasting.  Memories through stories are my way of saying "I love you" through lovealwayschessie.blogspot.com.
 
Chessie will always be my favorite breed.


Friday, July 4, 2014

Independence Day Spotlight : Portuguese Water Dog

Election years come with palpable nerves on both sides of the aisle.  Who will be elected into office as the new President of the United States?  Every four years, the month of November comes with hope, anxiety, and exhaustion.  By the night's end, America's decision is finally known.  Let the celebration commence.  In January, the President is sworn into office.  The first day of work has arrived.

The President of the United States is surrounded with a solid support system - Cabinet and family.  Family will always be at the core.  Therefore, every sitting Chief Executive introduces new familial ways to America...including their unique canine family.

Bo and Sunny are the current "first pets" in the White House household.  Breed of choice - Portuguese Water Dog.



www.nydailynews.com
Bo is on the left
Sunny is on the right


The Fourth of July celebrates United States history.  On this July 4, 2014, Puppy Love will celebrate a unique version of history - the First Dogs.

Portuguese Water Dog

HISTORY :
  • Native of Portugal
  • "Excellent swimmer"
  • Intent : Work with fishermen
  • Catch fish, Retrieve anything falling in the water, Carry messages from ship to ship/ship to shore, Guard boats in foreign territory ... These tasks were eventually taken over by technology
  • In the 1930s, the Portuguese Water Dog breed was nearing its end due to tasks no longer needed.
  • Vasco Bensaude of Portugal invested in a program to save the breed
  • The Portuguese Water Dog was introduced to the U.S. in 1958
  • AKC registration in 1983
  • Utilized as a therapy dog and assistance dog amongst many other attributes

TEMPERAMENT :
  • Loyal
  • Loves the water
  • Humorous
  • Affectionate
  • Active
  • Good with children
  • Good with other dogs and pets
  • Good-tempered
  • Brave
  • Intelligent
  • Obedient
  • Easy to train - fast to learn and understand instructions
  • Consistent, calm, confident leadership from all in the family
  • Good as a watchdog
  • Puppies are chewers!
  • Do not allow to jump on humans

PHYSCIAL TRAITS :
  • Average male weight : 42 - 55 pounds
  • Average female weight : 35 - 49 pound

HEALTH :
  • Prone to GM-1 Storage Disease, a potentially fatal nerve disease - dogs for breeding need testing early as signs show around 6 months old

LIVING CONDITIONS :
  • Okay in an apartment with daily exercise
  • Prefers activity outside with family

EXERCISE :
  • Loves water activities
  • Loves to run
  • Best with high-energy owners

LIFE EXPECTANCY :
  • 10 - 14 years

UNIQUE ASSET FOR OWNERS :
  • Hypo-allergenic
  • Little to no shedding

(Source - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewaterdog.htm)


As First Dogs, Bo and Sunny are a part of a great family.  Their owners happen to exhibit and prove confident and consistent leadership.  Their owners happen to enjoy exercise.  Their owners happen to have a decent yard.  Their owners, more importantly, happen to run on high energy.  Bo and Sunny Obama proudly represent the official canine administration.

Happy Birthday, USA

Paw five to all First Dogs and, well, all dogs!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Corgi Royalty

Pembroke Welsh Corgi - British Royalty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is held in high esteem in Britain.  Queen Elizabeth II has owned and dearly loved over 30 Pembroke Welsh Corgis in her reign.  (Wikipedia)
 
Google offers several images of Queen Elizabeth II and her precious pups in formal photos and lighthearted informal photos.
 
I came across a breathtaking black and white poster photo of the Queen in her earlier years with a Pembroke Corgi by her side.  The quality is phenomenal and a must have for royalty fans and Corgi fans alike.  Purchase a true one of a kind at Zazzle.


Breed of the Day : Pembroke Welsh Corgi




Pembroke Welsh Corgi


HISTORY :
  • Herding breed
  • 2 Welsh Corgi breeds - Pembroke & Cardigan
  • Pembroke Corgis do not have a tail...Cardigans have long tails
  • 25th most popular breed in 2011
  • Preferred breed by Queen Elizabeth II & British royalty for over 70 years
(Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembroke_Welsh_Corgi)


TEMPERAMENT :
  • Intelligent
  • Loyal
  • Good with children...Children MUST show leadership
  • Good with non-canine animals
  • Protective
  • Cautious around strangers
  • Socialize at young age
  • Owners MUST show consistent, loving, firm, and calm leadership
  • Communication & Authority are essential - Lack of leadership by owner leads to aggression toward other dogs, biting family's heels as herding instinct, constant barking, and Small Dog Syndrome behaviors
  • *Constant barking by the Pembroke and Cardigan breeds shows dominancy issues...Pembroke Corgis tend to bark a lot



PHYSICAL TRAITS :
  • Average male weight : 25 - 30 pounds
  • Average female weight : 24 - 28 pounds



HEALTH :
  • Prone to glaucoma
  • Prone to back disorders
  • Do not overfeed - Weight gain causes back problems



LIVING CONDITIONS :
  • Okay in an apartment with daily exercise
  • Calm indoors with daily exercise
  • Active indoors without daily exercise



LIFE EXPECTANCY :
  • 12 - 15 years



(Temperament, Physical Traits, Health, Living Conditions, Life Expectancy source - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pembrokecorgi.htm)







Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Breed of the Day : Cardigan Welsh Corgi




Cardigan Welsh Corgi


HISTORY :
  • Herding breed
  • 2 Welsh Corgi breeds - Cardigan & Pembroke
  • Cardigans have long tails...Pembroke Corgis do not have a tail



TEMPERAMENT :
  • Intelligent
  • Obedient
  • Loyal
  • Loving
  • Protective
  • Cautious around strangers
  • Socialize at young age
  • Active
  • Good with children...Children MUST show leadership
  • Good with non-canine animals
  • Communication & Authority are essential - Lack of leadership by owner leads to aggression toward other dogs, biting family's heels as herding instinct, constant barking, and Small Dog Syndrome behavior



PHYSICAL TRAITS :
  • Average male weight : 25 - 30 pounds
  • Average female weight : 25 - 30 pounds



HEALTH :
  • Prone to glaucoma
  • Prone to back disorders
  • Do not overfeed - Weight gain causes back problems



LIVING CONDITIONS :
  • Okay in an apartment with daily exercise
  • Calm indoors with daily exercise
  • Active indoors without daily exercise



LIFE EXPECTANCY :
  • 12 - 15 years



(History, Temperament, Physical Traits, Health, Living Conditions, Life Expectancy source - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cardigancorgi.htm)






Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Breed of the Day : Saluki




Saluki


HISTORY :
  • "Royal Dog of Egypt" or "Persian Greyhound"
  • Rock art images in central Iran depicting Saluki images dating from 8,000 to 10,000 BCE
  • Saluki images on Egyptian tombs dating to 2134 BCE
  • Connections to the Koran and Imperial China
  • Breeding in the west began in 1895
  • AKC registration in 1929
  • Mascot of Southern Illinois University Carbondale

(A detailed history can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saluki.)


TEMPERAMENT :
  • Gentle
  • Friendly
  • Loyal
  • Good with children - Note that the children must not be overly playful and rough
  • Training - Calm, Gentle, Consistent, & Firm a MUST...The Saluki is a sensitive breed that will not respond to "harsh discipline"
  • Easily distracted
  • Good as a watchdog
  • Hunting instinct to chase and kill non-canine animals
  • Obedience training a MUST to keep hunting instinct under control
  • Okay with pet cat(s) as long as the cat(s) show dominance over the breed



PHYSICAL TRAIT :
  • Average weight : 29 - 66 pounds



HEALTH :
  • Prone to genetic eye diseases
  • Prone to cancer
  • Can get sunburn



LIVING CONDITIONS :
  • NO APARTMENTS
  • Needs plentiful outdoor space
  • Sleep indoors
  • Prefer warm climates



EXERCISE :
  • "Natural athlete"
  • Daily exercise - walk or run...Running is preferred
  • Naturally independent - NEVER LET OFF LEASH UNLESS IN A SECURED ENVIRONMENT...WILL NOT RESPOND TO OWNER IF ON A CHASE
  • Run 40+ mph...Feet barely touch the ground
  • Sprint and Long distance capability



LIFE EXPECTANCY :
  • 10 - 12 years



(Temperament, Physical Trait, Health, Living Conditions, Exercise, Life Expectancy source - http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/saluki.htm)