doggies are NICEEE <3

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Jack Russell Terriers
Jack Russell Terriers are famous for fox hunting, as they are small in size, well-built and tough. They are mainly white in colour with black or tan markings. They either have smooth, broken or rough coats, and the skin can occasionally show a pattern of black or brown spots that do not appear in the outer coat. All the coat types are dense, double coats that are neither silky nor woolly, in the case of smooth coats and rough coats respectively.
There is a distinct stop at the end of a Jack Russell’s muzzle where it meets the head, and a black nose. The jaw should be powerful and well boned with a scissor bite and straight teeth. The eyes are almond shaped and dark coloured, and small V-shaped ears of average thickness are carried forward on its head, which should not extend past the outer corner of its eyes when it is alert. Its tail is set high, and its chest should not be so large that it forbids the terrier from entering and working in burrows. The traditional preys of the terriers are red foxes, so the terriers must be small enough to pursue the foxes, as they are mainly working terriers.

History
Jack Russell terriers were first bred by Reverend John Russell, a parson and hunting enthusiast born in 1795. In his last year of university at Oxford, he bought a small white and tan female terrier called Trump from the milkman based upon appearance alone. She was the starting point for a breeding program to develop a terrier with a high stamina for the hunt, as well as the courage and formation to chase out foxes that had gone under the ground.
An important attribute in this dog was a tempered ferociousness that would provide the necessary drive to pursue and capture the fox without resulting in physical harm to it, efficiently ending the chase, which was considered unfair. This line of terriers developed by John Russell was well respected for these traits, and his dogs were often taken on by hunt enthusiasts. It is unlikely, however, that any dogs alive today are descended from Trump, as Russell was forced to sell all his dogs on more than one occasion because of financial difficulties, and had only four aged - and non-breeding - terriers left when he passed away in 1883.

Temperament
Jack Russells are first and foremost a working terrier. Originally bred to chase out foxes from their dens during hunting, they are used on numerous ground-dwelling quarry as well. The working Jack Russell terrier is required to locate quarry in the earth, and then either chase it out of the earth, or hold it in place until they are dug to. To accomplish this, the dog must bark and work the quarry continuously. Because the preservation of this working ability is of the highest importance to most registered breeders, Jack Russells tend to be extremely intelligent, athletic, fearless, and vocal dogs. It is not uncommon for these dogs to become moody or destructive if not properly exercised, as they have an inclination to get bored easily and will often create their own fun when left alone.
Their high energy and drive make these dogs ideally suited to a number of different dog sports. Obedience classes are also suggested to potential owners, as Jack Russells can be stubborn at times and hostile towards other animals and humans if not properly socialized. Despite their small size, these dogs are not recommended for the condominium or apartment owners unless the owner is ready to take on the overwhelming task of providing the dog with the necessary amount of exercise they require. These are truly big dogs in small packages, a fact which can sometimes lead to trouble involving larger animals.

x penned @ 8:25 PM

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Under unusual dog breeds, we have classified these breeds into groups which show a singularity, for example, either a physical abnormality or a typical behavioural attribute, that are not usually seen in other dogs. We have also included some dog breeds with an intriguing or unusual history. Some of these dogs tend to be rare, but not all of them.

Basenji
The Basenji descends from dogs that came from Zaire in the 1930s.
The abnormality of this dog is the singular yodel it produces-a bit like a Swiss Alpine yodeller. Similar to the wolf, the Basenji has only one breeding cycle a year.

Chinese crested

It is a hairless dog with tuft of hair on the head and

the feet and tail are called 'socks' and 'plume' respectively.

Catalburun

A Turkish hunting dog having the very unique attribute of having split nose.

In their country this characteristic is not considered a genetic imperfection and

it was probably deliberately breed. As these dogs were said

to show superior scenting instincts.

They are also famous for fast and swift movements and are also

ry talented in pa

rtridge hunting in the diffcult situation.

Chow Chow
One of the most unusual dog breeds for its patchwork appearance: the mane of a lion,

the black tongue of a bear and the fur coat of a dowager.

It was once bred for its flesh and fur. And not forgetting, that their tongue are purple.

and many many more...

x penned @ 6:56 AM

It is very important for us and dog owners to understand what the dogs are saying by using their body language, it not only help us to know our own dogs better and to better predict what other dogs are doing.

AGGRESSIVE
ears: close to the head.
eyes: narrow or staring challengingly.
mouth: lips open or drawn back to expose teeth in a snarl.
body: Tense or Upright.
tail: straight out from its body or being fluffed up.
sound: growl or loud bark.

ALERT
ear: Turning to try and sense sounds.
eyes: Open normally.
mouth: closed or slightly opened.
body: standing on tiptoe(Slightly).
tail: wagging.
sound: none or low whine.

ANXIOUS
ear:Partly back.
eyes: slightly narrowed.
mouth: closed or slightly open to form a grin.
body: Tense.
tail: lowered.
sound: moaning typed of bark.

SUBORDINATE
Ears: Down, flattened against head.
Eyes: Narrowed to slits or wide open, whites showing.
Mouth: Lips pulled way back from teeth in a "grin". Nuzzling or licking other
animal or person on face.
Body: Lowered to ground, front paw raised. Lying on back, belly up. Possibility
of urine leaking/dribbling. Possible emptying of anal scent glands.
Tail: Down, between legs.
sound: None or worried whining.

PREDATORY
Ears: move forward or backward to catch sounds.
Eyes: Wide open or focusing.
Mouth: Mouth.
Body: Low to ground or ready to spring forward. And quietly sniffing the air.
Tail: Straight and low.
sound: None (so the prey will not be alerted).

PLAYFUL
Ears: relaxed.
Eyes: Wide open.
Mouth: Mouth relaxed and panting excitedly.
Body: front end lowered, body wiggling in a play-bow. up and down. Circling around
tail: wagging energetically.
sound: soft playful growl.

GUARDING
Ears: Forward.
Eyes: Wide open
Mouth: slightly open, teeth bared.
Body: Tense. Standing tall in an aggressive stance.
Tail: Held straight out from body.
sound: Growl.

FRIENDLY
Ears: Perked-upwards.
Eye: Wide open.
Mouth: Relaxed or slightly open with a "smiling" mouth.
Body: Normal posture.
Tail: Wagging.
sound: Whimpering or short, high bark is produced.

x penned @ 6:13 AM

Monday, October 26, 2009

Pros and Cons of having a dog

Advantages of Dog Ownership
The psychological benefits of owning a canine are well known...

A carefully trained animal companion can offer fellowship, unconditional love, and often a friendship as intimate as any human bond. Dogs can also become an integral part of the family.
Canines also assist us during crises by helping to bear our emotional and psychological baggage. This function has important physiological benefits as well.

A good-natured dog can also help fight depression and loneliness—one of the reasons they are used extensively to visit nursing homes and hospitals. Considering the benefits, the relatively nominal cost of keeping a dog seems like a wise investment. Thus, proving to be a rather fruitful benefit.
Dogs also offer a source of protection, whether from a pint-size Chihuahua's barking to a Rottweiler's often-intimidating demeanor. If you live alone, have small children, or are often on the road leaving your family more vulnerable and you want a security system that doesn't run on electricity or batteries, a dog could potentially provide for your sense of peace as it pertains to feeling safe.

☻ Pets Can Improve Your Mood

☻ Pets Encourage You To Get Out And Exercise by walking them

☻ Pets Stave Off Loneliness and Provide Unconditional Love

☻ Pets Can Reduce Stress

Disadvantages of Dog Ownership
Keeping a dog indoors has its disadvantages.

Dogs might chew on shoes and furniture and create a big mess in your house.

Also, it is more difficult to leave them home alone because of the bond that they share with the owner. In addition, some dogs can leave foul odors on clothes that they make contact with and even worse shed hairs that are a nuisance to people with allergies.

Not to mention, dogs which are not well-trained by owners might tend to pee and shit around the house. Owners might spend most of their time cleaning their pet’s mess. Thus providing a great deal of inconvenience to the owners.

Dogs, being attention seekers, would require their owner’s attention most of the time. Some owners which are oblivious to their dog’s requirement might neglect their dog’s needs and wants. This would in turn cause the bond between the dog and its owner to be rather weak. Thus, there is a chance that a dog might bite its owner whilst playing too vigorously.

x penned @ 8:11 AM

Food that dogs are not supposed to eat

A chip with guacamole can cause your dog some real problems. In fact, there's a lot of people food your dog should never eat. No matter how good you think the guacamole is, you shouldn't give it to your dog.

Avocados contain a substance called persin. It’s harmless for humans who aren't allergic. But it’s highly toxic in most animals, including dogs. Just a little can cause your dog to vomit and have diarrhea.

Beer, liquor, wine, and foods containing alcohol - none of its good for your dog, just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death.And, the smaller the dog, the greater the effect.

Onion in all forms - powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated - can destroy a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia.

Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a dog. And, there is no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding.

In addition to tea and coffee - including beans and grounds - caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. It's also in some cold medicines and pain killers.

Grapes and raisins have often been used as treats for dogs. But it's not a good idea. Although it isn't clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. And, just a small amount can make a dog ill. Repeated vomiting and being hyperactive are early signs. Within a day, the dog will become lethargic and depressed.

Milk and milk-based products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset as well as set up food allergies.

The toxic agent in chocolate is the bromine. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Eating chocolate, even just licking out the icing bowl, can cause a dog to vomit, have diarrhea, and be excessively thirsty. It can also cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.

x penned @ 7:07 AM