Gordon Setter – the Gordon Setter’s Owner’s Guide
The Gordon Setter is a true Scottish breed, dated back to 17th century Scotland. He is the only native Scottish gun dog and was originally known as the Gordon Castle Setter due to the fact that he was bred at Gordon Castle, Banffshire. Many believe that he is a cross between the Bloodhound and the Collie. He was valued for his pointing, retrieving, and tracking ability. The Gordon Setter is an excellent gundog, bird-finding dog, and watch dog. He is beautiful, graceful, intelligent, and makes a wonderful family pet. A Gordon Setter is very affectionate with his owners but suspicious and reserved toward strangers. He gets along well with children, provided they do not roughhouse. However, he may not be as friendly with the children’s friends. He is a very active dog that need plenty of exercise. This breed makes a great jogging partner because of his leggy, agile build. He can be difficult to train because he learns rather slowly and may become passive-resistant if he is pressed too hard. Be patient and go slow with this breed, and be clear about what you are asking him to do. Allow more time for him to learn whatever you are teaching and do not use overbearing techniques. Some Gordon Setters have a tendency toward fear-based aggression toward people or dogs, so make sure yours is amply socialized from the first day. Take your dog to friends’ homes, stores, and parks, but avoid any off-leash dogs that might scare your puppy. Introduce your puppy to as many people and animals as possible when he is young and impressionable. The Gordon Setter stands 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 45 and 70 pounds. He has a graceful, solid, athletic body. His shedding coat is of medium length, is lustrous and wavy, and needs regular brushing. The coat is always black-and-tan. A house with a fenced yard is essential for this breed. The Gordon Setter is a very active dog and needs plenty of exercise, particularly jogging or field work. Older children are okay provided they are respectful and not rough. Obedience training and socialization are necessities for this breed and must not be hurried. If left alone too long, he may become vocal and destructive. The elderly and disabled may have trouble providing the Gordon Setter with enough exercise. Recommended feeding for this breed is 20 to 33 oz of high quality meat product with biscuit added in same amount or 5 cupfuls of a complete, similarly high quality dry food. Raw food is to be preferred for all dogs, and a great second choice is a high quality premium dog food – Life’s Abundance is one which comes with high…
read moreGolden Retriever Breed
The Golden Retriever is a big, muscular dog, weighing in at 55 to 75 pounds and standing 21 ? to 24 inches tall at the shoulder. This dog breed has a broad skull, which may be why Golden Retrievers are so intelligent. Coat colors range from a deep, honey colored gold to a light gold that is almost white. The palest gold or darkest gold colors are considered to be undesirable, as are any white patches or markings. Golden Retrievers were originally bred to be working dogs. They are members of the AKC Sporting Group. These dogs are high energy animals and need plenty of exercise, especially while they are less than three years of age. This desire to stay busy is one reason that Golden Retrievers make good rescue, Seeing Eye, or drug sniffing dogs. If you do not keep them occupied, they will find ways to amuse themselves, such as eating your entire shoe collection. If you are a keen gardener, you will need to be sure you have a separate area where you can contain your dog, since most Golden Retrievers love to dig. While they are going through their puppy stage, they are also prone to chewing up shrubs. So be prepared to have your beautiful garden looking not so beautiful if you opt for a Golden Retriever! Since Golden Retrievers are large dogs, you may want to consider the cost of food before buying your puppy. These dogs eat a lot. Also, since Golden Retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia, you may want to ask your veterinarian about feeding your puppy food that is especially formulated to help large breeds grow properly. If you have small children, you may need to consider whether a Golden Retriever puppy will be too boisterous for them. Although adult Goldens are excellent family dogs, puppies can be quite mouthy and rowdy. They may accidentally knock toddlers down while they are playing. If you do buy a puppy when you have small children, you will need to find time to teach him good manners quickly. You may want to attend obedience classes with him, so that he is used to other dogs and people and learns how to act when he is outside the house. Training your puppy before he is too strong for you to control easily is a good idea. Golden Retrievers need frequent grooming to keep their coats from tangling. You will need to pay special attention to the area behind your dog’s ears, as it is prone to developing large mats. Frequent grooming will also help you alleviate dog hair on furniture, which can be quite heavy when your dog is shedding his coat. In addition, you will need to have enough time to check your dog for ticks after he goes for a romp in the park or other grassy and wooded areas. If you feel that this is the breed for you, be sure to look for a good breeder to buy your puppy from. A healthy, good tempered Golden Retriever makes a wonderful, intelligent…
read moreChow Chow Dog Breed – a Chow Chow Owner’s Guide
Chow Chows have a black tongue with a distinctive bluish tint. Although it sounds odd, this is perfectly normal, and a characteristic of the Chow Chow breed. The Chow Chow originated in China, where it was used as a hunting dog. Asian sailors brought these dogs with them to England, where their exotic appearance quickly made them popular. This breed is classified by the American Kennel Club as a member of the Non-Sporting group. The Chow Chow is a 45 to 70 pound dog that stands 17 to 20 inches high. Its down turned lips can give this breed a deceptively angry appearance. This unfriendly impression is offset by the tail curling over the dog’s back and its thick double coat. The red Chow Chow is most common, but these furry dogs also can have black, blue, cinnamon, or cream colored coats. Chow Chows are devoted to their families and usually love children, but they do not often do well with other pets. New owners should concentrate on socializing their puppies to be sure they do not grow up to be dangerous or aggressive to strangers. Puppy obedience classes are a good way to socialize your puppy while being sure it receives thorough obedience training. Besides their tendency to be aloof and unfriendly to people outside the family, these dogs do have a few other drawbacks. They have a tendency to dominate people if they can get away with it and they can bully inexperienced dog owners. You will have to be firm with your dog and should always be sure to follow through on commands. Chow Chows are not high energy dogs, but they do need a bit more exercise than an apartment provides. A small fenced yard is adequate for this breed. If you do live in an apartment, be prepared to take your Chow Chow for a daily run. However, do not allow him to run loose in the park, as Chows are prone to aggressiveness toward other dogs. Since they are not extremely active dogs, Chows do not eat a lot. You should feed your dog a nutritious puppy food while he is young and a good adult dog food when he grows older. While they are easy to feed, they do require quite a lot of grooming. Their thick coats are hard to brush because they are so dense. While they are big dogs, Chow Chows should not spend too much time outside during the summer, since their thick coats do not protect Chows from heat sensitivity. These dogs also can suffer from hip dysplasia and often have problems with their knee…
read moreBull Mastiff – the Bull Mastiff Owner’s Guide
The Bull Mastiff is a trustworthy, affectionate, lazy, powerful breed with a natural instinct of guarding his home and family. These dogs are usually very suspicious of strangers and other dogs and are one of the most territorial of breeds. Though normally gentle with children in their own family, Bull Mastiffs can be unpredictable with friends, relatives, and co-workers. Keep in mind that this breed was designed to challenge human beings and will do so without hesitation if a threat is perceived. When a Bull Mastiff becomes aggressive, it is explosive and unstoppable. This breed is capable of killing another dog in seconds, so do not consider letting him off leash. The only way to minimize this instinctive behavior is to socialize and train the dog from day one, allowing the Bull Mastiff puppy to interact with people and dogs in a controlled, positive environment. Males should be neutered by the eighth month. Females tend to be less aggressive and are considerably more timid than males. The Bull Mastiff is normally content to lie around the house. Though less energetic than the Boxer, he does tend to be slightly more active than the Mastiff. Training should begin early and should be firm but not overbearing, as this breed matures slowly and can become worried if pushed too hard. Patience and consistency are required, as well as positive, confident attitude. Spoiling will create a pushy dog that lacks confidence, a combination that could be dangerous. Mature children are permissible provided absolutely no roughhousing is permitted. The Bull Mastiff eats large quantities of food. He usually lives ten to twelve years, and is susceptible to bloat, hip dysplasia, eyelid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, and respiratory problems. He snores and drools and is often flatulent. Recommended feeding for this breed is at least 20 to 33 oz of a good quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal amount or 5 cupfuls of a dry complete dogfood. Raw food is recommended as the preferred food for all dogs, followed by a super premium pet food such as Life’s Abundance. A large house in the country with a fenced yard or kennel is preferred, though this breed is easygoing in the home. The owner of a Bull Mastiff must be a strong, easygoing, confident leader who is fully aware of the power of this breed and who does not project worry or concern. Time must be available to train, socialize, and handle this breed. Though very affectionate with his family, the Bull Mastiff may be unpredictable and aggressive with your children’s friends. Spoilers and weak, nervous, or overbearing people should avoid this breed, as should the elderly and the disabled. The Bull Mastiff needs regular exercise; a child or lightweight person may have a hard time controlling the lead. The Bull Mastiff stands 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 100 and 135 pounds. He has a powerful, heavily muscled and boned body and a short, low-maintenance shedding coat that needs regular brushing. Ears may be cropped or uncropped. The color may be fawn, reddish brown, or brindle; a small white patch on the chest is…
read moreBulldogs – the Bulldog Dog Breed
Bulldogs were originally created to help butchers slaughter bulls. Some people used the tenacious nature of the Bulldog to turn their dogs into bull baiters. When this ugly sport was outlawed, people that loved the breed began breeding only the sweetest dogs. Today, these dogs are sociable, friendly animals. The Bulldog is a medium sized dog, but is still very powerful. These dogs weigh 40 to 50 pounds and stand 12 to 16 inches high. A Bulldog has a squat body, a flat forehead, and large jaws. This breed has dark, gentle eyes. Some Bulldogs have corkscrew tails, but they can also have straight tails. The American Kennel Club classifies this breed as a member of the Non-Sporting Group. These odd looking dogs have one purpose, to be devoted companions. Luckily, they are well suited to their role. Bulldogs are the ideal pets for apartment owners. They are very low energy and do not need to spend a lot of time exercising. Of course, they still enjoy taking a leisurely evening walk with their owners. Of course, like any breed, the Bulldog does have a few flaws. When you live with a Bulldog, you may feel as though you are living in a frat house, since this breed will snore, drool, and pass gas frequently. Sometimes, one of these normally sweet natured dogs will bully other dogs, especially if there is food involved. Despite their size, Bulldogs can be quite powerful. Because of this, it will be much easier for you to start training your dog as a puppy. Luckily, these dogs are eager to please their owners, although they are not always quick learners. In fact, some Bulldogs cannot understand even the simplest commands until they are six months old. A Bulldog has a bit of a reputation as a chow hound. This breed likes to eat. However, you will need to be sure that you do not let your Bulldog overeat, since dog obesity can lead to serious dog health problems. Other health problems these charmers face are dog allergies, hip dysplasia, eye problems, and breathing problems. Bulldog owners need to be especially careful to keep their dogs out of the sun. These dogs can overheat easily, which can prove fatal. Also, since this breed is prone to breathing problems, Bulldogs should never be walked using a choke collar. A harness will help you prevent their already small tracheas from being damaged. With their short coats, Bulldogs need very little grooming. However, the wrinkles on their face require careful cleaning. If you do not keep your Bulldog’s wrinkles clean, he could develop skin infections, not to mention a nasty odor. If you want a loving family pet and can overlook the fact that your little guy is a bit odoriferous, then a Bulldog may just be the right breed for you. A Bulldodg is much more than a pair of said eyes and droopy jaws, but this dog’s appearance is a majoir reason for its popularity. The other reason these dogs are so popular is that they have a sweet and gentle…
read moreBloodhound – the Bloodhound Owner’s Guide
The Bloodhound, a member of the American Kennel Club’s Hound Group, stands twenty three to twenty seven inches tall and weighs in at eighty to one hundred ten pounds. These dogs are known for their long droopy ears and their gloomy looking wrinkled faces. They have short coats of coarse hair, which can come in black and tan, red, or liver and tan colors. Although used for tracking criminals, Bloodhounds are actually too sweet to be used as guard or attack dogs. It is true that a Bloodhound will track down a man’s scent, but these dogs do not hunt people to hurt them. Bloodhounds need to work with handlers because they will rush right up to a hardened killer and greet him like a long lost friend. While their gentle nature makes these dogs a wonderful choice for families, Bloodhounds do have some quirks. This breed is a decision maker, which means it does not do well with obedience training. The same traits that enable this breed to track down scents make the Bloodhound less likely to obey and more stubborn than most other breeds. Teaching your Bloodhound to obey involves a lot of patience and understanding. Never yell at him or treat him roughly, as he may become permanently scarred from this treatment. If you can’t teach your dog to obey commands, you may want to consider getting help from a professional dog trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods. Although the Bloodhound loves to spend time with its family, this breed cannot endure life in the city. Bloodhounds need more exercise than most breeds. A house with a large fenced yard is ideal. You may also need to take your Bloodhound for long walks to burn off excess energy. Bloodhounds enjoy eating and can make a considerable difference in your grocery budget. Since these dogs can suffer from stomach problems and are prone to developing hip dysplasia, you may want to consult your veterinarian to see if you should use a special dog food for your Bloodhound. But best of all is a premium, healthy dog food like Life’s Abundance – click here. Although Bloodhounds do not need to be brushed frequently, they do need to have their face wrinkles and creases cleaned to prevent odors and bacteria growth. You also should be prepared for your dog to develop ear infections if enough air does not circulate to his ears. Any breed that has been around long before the Dark Ages will have a few health problems. Besides hip dysplasia and stomach problems, the Bloodhound can suffer from eyelid problems. However, the Bloodhound’s most frustrating problem is not actually a disease. The droopy lips that add to this breed’s mournful appearance cause the Bloodhound to drool and slobber more than most other breeds. If you want a dog breed that has withstood the test of time and still has a wonderful personality, you may want to take a close look at the…
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