Animal Aqua

Shih Tzu Dog

AnimalAqua — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:43:13 +0000

Shih Tzu – This is a fine little urban housedog, happy trotting through mud in the park but even more content when ensconced on a sofa. It appears consistently in the top ten breeds in North America and is now more popular than the Yorkshire Terrier in the UK. While some of their ancestors probably came from Tibet, the modern Shih Tzu is a result of breeding in Peking in the late 19th century, in the kennels of the Dowager Empress Tz’u-Hsi

A constellation of breeds

Small dogs similar to today’s Shih Tzus first reached the UK early in the 20th century. Some of these dogs were selectively bred for small size and gregarious spirit, while others were bred for a slightly larger size and a more contained temperament. Eventually the former were recognized as Shih Tzus and the latter as Lhasa Apsos. A third branch of the family is the much less common Tibetan Terrier breed. Some of the Shih Tzus that I see are remarkably like the Pekingese in the drama of their squashed (brachycephalic) faces, but quite consistently, the Shih Tzu is a more trainable breed.

Beautiful but sensitive eyes

The dense, thick, and long coat needs considerable attention, otherwise it tends to knot and mat. While tying the hair on the head in a topknot keeps it out of the eyes and enhances vision, I prefer to see Shih Tzus with neat eyebrow cuts. They have wonderfully luminous, expressive eyes, and if you can’t see them clearly, they can’t see you either. These prominent eyes, like those of the Pekingese, are relatively less sensitive to touch than those of other breeds. An unfortunate consequence is that eye injuries are regrettably common, especially in the dogs with the flattest faces.

Personality

Lap-loving affection-seekers, Shih Tzus are excellent dogs for families with children. They are quietly playful, lack the natural aggression of some breeds the same size, and are unlikely to demolish your home.

Health

The two most common inherited health problems are related to their anatomy: eye injuries (keratopathies) and breathing and heart difficulties (brachycephalic syndrome). Cataracts occur in some lines.

Time taker

Although they need only small areas of open ground for exercise and usually need to visit the vet no more than once or twice yearly, daily grooming is essential and takes time and patience.

Shih Tzu Dog Info:

Height: 25.5-28cm (10-11 in)
Weight: 5-7kg (11-15 lb)
Life expectancy: 13.4 years
First use: Sentinel
Country of origin: Tibet
Colour: Any colour
Excitable: 9
Trainable: 6
Vocal: 6
Playful: 7
Pushy puppy: 4

Lhasa Apso Puppies Dog

AnimalAqua — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:30:18 +0000

I admit that I still have problems sometimes, when I can only look at them, in telling the difference between a large Shih Tzu and a small Lhasa Apso. But if I’m allowed to interact with them, the difference becomes more apparent. As popular as Shih Tzus in the UK, but less common in the rest of Europe and in North America, the Lhasa Apso is often more circumspect in its temperament, more thoughtful in its response to strangers.

Alert guardians

Some of the ancestors of Lhasas and Shih Tzus were kept as companions and watch dogs by Buddhist monks in both Tibet and neighbouring Bhutan. The Tibetan name for similar dogs in that country is Apso Seng Kyi, which translates approximately as “bark lion sentinel dog”. Lhasas certainly do bark, much more so than typical Shih Tzus. They are also pushier with their owners and can be opinionated when it comes to obedience training. The coat is profuse and dense, which is ideal for winter insulation but a challenge to keep clean and tidy, especially with a dog that convinces its owner that grooming really isn’t high on his list of priorities.

Healthy and enduring

Lhasas share with Shih Tzus relative good health and a better-than-average median life expectancy. Breeders have told me that it’s best to leave the thin puppy coat alone and not to clip it until the adult coat has fully appeared, which is usually by nine months of age. As with Shih Tzus and other similarly longhaired dogs, I feel it is vital to keep the hair away from the eyes. This will dramatically improve sight and, as a consequence, reduces the risk of a dog reacting fearfully to any unexpected handling or activity.

Personality

While almost as affection-demanding as the Shih Tzu, the Lhasa is more of a barker. Some can be quite pushy with their owners, and they get away with it because they look so cute.

Health

Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) occurs more frequently than in the Shih Tzu, but otherwise there are few known inherited problems within the breed.

Time taker

Both grooming and training are routine time fillers. In hot weather many dogs have their tummies clipped out to keep them cool. All dogs thrive on exercise, but Lhasas can take theirs on relatively small areas of open ground.

Lhasa Apso Dog Info:

Height: 25.5-28cm (10-11 in)
Weight: 6-7kg (13-15 lb)
Life expectancy: 13.4 years
First use: Sentinel
Country of origin: Tibet
Colour: Gold, sand, grizzle, slate, smoke grey, black, parti-colour
Excitable: 7
Trainable: 3-4
Vocal: 8
Playful: 4
Pushy puppy: 8

Maltese Puppies Dog

AnimalAqua — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Of all small dogs, the Maltese is perhaps the most laconic. This is a surprisingly easygoing breed, and although the ancient Melita breed from Malta probably arrived on that island through trade with the Far East, the modern Maltese is the result of more recent breeding within the last 200 years, probably involving the Melita but also Miniature Poodles and spaniels. It is a particularly popular dog in Japan.

A white spaniel

Pushiness, aggression, and a highly strung temperament are the job description for many small dogs, but the Maltese is the exception. Its temperament is more like a spaniel’s than a terrier’s, and I can’t recall ever meeting an aggressive Maltese. While most of those I see lead rather sedentary lives, given the opportunity the Maltese enjoys typical canine physical activity. They thrive on attention. In fact, they demand affection from their owners.

Amenable and trainable

Like other “doglets”, the male Maltese is an inveterate urine marker, desperate to leave his scent on any vertical surface, although he is not as driven in this as is the Yorkshire Terrier. The long, silky coat needs daily brushing, which the Maltese resents less than many other small breeds. While all breeds with white coats appear to have a slight predisposition to allergic skin irritation, this is a superb dog for those who want reduced size without the turbocharged temperament that often comes with it. I see one Maltese who was found uninjured after a plane crash, walking around the crash site. Small, but tough as old leather.

Personality

The Maltese is the least aggressive of all popular small breeds. It’s also easily trained and not at all destructive – a good combination for a first-time dog owner.

Health

Gum disease is very common. An inherited and distressing liver condition called -a liver shunt, or more accurately an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt, also occurs in some breeding lines.

Time taker

The necessary daily brushing and combing of a Maltese takes less time than that needed for a Pomeranian, but equal time needs to be devoted to oral hygiene.

Maltese Dog Info:

Height: 20-25.5cm (8-10 in)
Weight: 2-3kg (4 1/2-6 1/2 lb)
Life expectancy: 13.3 years
First use: Companion
Country of origin: Malta
Colour: White
Excitable: 8
Trainable: 6
Vocal: 8
Playful: 5-7
Pushy puppy: 3

Pomeranian Puppies Dog

AnimalAqua — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:51:07 +0000

It may look like a soft, warm powder-puff, but the feisty Pomeranian has a mind all of its own. It’s one of the very smallest of all dog breeds but has inherited the strong, dominant, “follow me” character of the German Spitz, from which it was developed more than 100 years ago. At the time when Queen Victoria owned and popularized the breed in the English-speaking world, it was larger, and still known as the Dwarf Spitz or Loulou

Nordic explorers

More than 600 years ago, small-eared, densely coated dogs accompanied the Nordic Vikings on their conquests and travels through the heart of Europe. The largest of these dogs, the GroB Spitz, were used in what is now Germany for herding livestock, while smaller ones (Mittel and Klein Spitzen) offered companionship. While these three breeds are in decline in Germany and elsewhere, the miniaturized version, named after the old German state of Pomerania, is increasing in popularity in Europe, North America, and Japan. It is surpassed by only two other micro-dogs: the Yorkshire Terrier and the Chihuahua.

Compact thugs?

Although the Pom has acquired a reputation for being yappy and snappy, my experience is that if an individual is treated as a dog from the time it is a pup, rather than as a fragile, helpless ball of fur, and if it is properly obedience trained from the time it joins your family, not only will it not be snappy, it will be impressively responsive to obedience training, and even to agility training. What I can’t guarantee is any easy way to reduce the breed’s natural inclination to bark. Pomeranians are instinctive watchdog barkers, but they also bark for attention. Some individuals bark just because they like the sound of their own voices.

Personality

Owners think of Poms as small and frail. Small, yes. Frail, absolutely not. A Pom wants to be boss, and those I meet usually have owners willing to be bossed. My clue about the relationship is in the name. Beware of Poms called “Dynamite”.

Health

Gum inflammation and the accumulation of plaque on the teeth, leading to classic canine “death breath”, is very common. Poms should either have their teeth brushed routinely or, from an early age, learn how to chew safely on bones or dental chews.

Time taker

Poms need lots of body maintenance, especially daily brushing and combing of their long, straight coats, particularly the plumed, curled tail and the dense undercoat. They are heavy moulters.

Pomeranian Dog Info:

Height: 22-28cm (8 1/4-11 in)
Weight: 2-2.5kg (4 1/2-5 1/2 lb)
Life expectancy: 13 years
First use: Companion
Country of origin: Germany
Colour: White, cream, sable, grey, blue, brown, black, red-orange
Excitable: 8
Trainable: 5
Vocal: 8
Playful: 5
Pushy puppy: 6

What Puppy Problems

AnimalAqua — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 14:30:35 +0000

It’s live and learn during the first months with a new dog, but there are three common problems that may become permanent if they’re not nipped early. Many pups urinate when they’re greeted. This is temporary if the only cause is excitement, but permanent if your dog’s insecurities are not overcome. Car journeys are a common part of life, but for some dogs they occur so infrequently they cause either nausea or excitement. And finally, some individual dogs, given the chance, will eat stuff we don’t want them to eat, such as their own or other animals’ faeces. All of these conditions are preventable or treatable.

Wet greetings

Excitement urination occurs because the young sphincter muscles aren’t strong enough to retain urine in the bladder if a pup becomes excited. Greeting you or playing with you triggers a flow of urine. This is a temporary problem that pups outgrow as their muscles gain strength. Submissive urination falls into a completely different category. Dogs have evolved behaviours designed to reduce violence between them. To prevent a physical attack, a lower-status dog may grovel, roll over, urinate, or do all three. Submissive urination is a type of “I am not worthy” greeting, used by your pup to acknowledge your superiority.

Avoidance and prevention

Your family, guests, and strangers are invariably looming and “big” in your pup’s eyes. All of you find your pup so appealing that you stare at it, especially at those beautiful eyes. You want to hold your pup close, so you reach down to touch it or pick it up. You might stroke it on its head or shoulders. An insecure puppy will interpret all of these activities as dominant challenges and will respond with an appropriate submissive gesture, the wet greeting.

Avoid the situations that trigger wet greetings. Disregard your pup when you arrive home. Avoid eye contact. Don’t bend over it for any reason at all. If it controls its bladder, mutter a few words so it hears your voice, but still avoid eye contact. If it remains dry, give a food treat for not urinating. Physiologically, dogs find it difficult to eat and urinate at the same time; eating competes with urinating. When you have guests to the home, encourage them to pretend your puppy doesn’t even exist, and if you have an excitable dog, put it in its playpen or behind a barrier gate.

Car journeys

Start your pup travelling in the car the week you get it, ideally in its crate in the back of the car. When obedience training starts, include sessions in the stationary car so that your dog sits or lies down in it on command. If your puppy is sick when the car is in motion, sit it inside it with the engine off and the radio on, and give food rewards or a favourite toy for not panting with excitement or showing signs of nausea. Once your puppy is calm in the car, progress to starting the engine, then to pulling out of your parking space and right back in, then driving a short distance, and eventually driving longer distances. If car sickness is severe, discuss the problem with your vet, who can help with anti-nausea medicines.

What should I do if my puppy eats animal faeces?

It’s “normal” (dogs are scavengers), but it’s disgusting. It can cause digestive upsets and should be avoided. Poop-eating starts as an adventure and rapidly becomes a habit. Unless there’s a nutritional deficiency, and these are extremely rare, treatments such as adding papain enzyme, pumpkin, or pineapple to the diet don’t work. Nor does telling your dog off. Training your dog to “come” and “leave it” works. So does aversion therapy. If, for example, your dog goes to the cat litter tray and thinks of it as dessert, with help from your vet, use a syringe to inject some of the faeces with a safe but unpleasant substance such as Tabasco sauce or Bitter Apple spray. Most dogs that eat the treated faeces teach themselves not to do so again.

Whippet Dog

AnimalAqua — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:45:43 +0000

This is a breed that some men have difficulty with. They look so girly the lithe, lean Barbie dolls of dogdom. But men soon learn that living with a Whippet is like having two totally different dogs residing in the same sleek body. Indoors, the whippet is the world’s most successful couch potato. Outdoors, it becomes Vlad the Impaler, the shadow of death to squirrels and rabbits. Guys enjoy exercising their Whippets.

Calm, relaxed companionship

This, too, is a breed created by crossing other breeds – in this instance, small greyhounds and terriers. (The Bedlington Terrier, a breed with an equally long life expectancy and similar origins, is much like a curly-haired Whippet.) Whippets are wonderful children’s companions, but their long limbs are fragile and can break easily. This is a breed that is virtually never aggressive with people, although, as with all dogs, it will bite if provoked.

Living hot-water bottles

Some breeds have a tendency to gain weight, but this is definitely not one of them. They lay down very little fat, and their skin is thin. With a very fine coat of guard hair and no insulating downy hair, Whippets easily suffer from the cold. As a consequence, they do something that many dog owners adore: they cuddle up to people for warmth, even creeping under the bed covers at night. Their owners call this behaviour “love”. Few breeds need outdoor clothing, but in cold or inclement weather, the Whippet certainly does.

Personality

Whippets are calm, docile, and loving. They vividly express their emotions through the set of their extremely mobile ears, the position of their lips, and the look in their eyes.

Health

A typical Whippet has no more than an annual veterinary health check. There are no serious inherited health problems within the breed, but the thin skin is susceptible to tears, and the long, thin bones to fractures.

Time taker

Grooming time is minimal. Training time is average, and so is walking time. Whippets take their own speedy exercise as you walk, then yearn to return to the sofa.

Whippet Dog Info:

Height: 43-51 cm (17-20 in)
Weight: 12.5-13.5kg (28-30 lb)
Life expectancy: 14.3 years
First use: Rabbit hunting
Country of origin: UK
Colour: Any colour
Excitable: 6
Trainable: 6
Vocal: 3
Playful: 5-8
Pushy puppy: 1

Australian Shepherd Dog

AnimalAqua — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:26:09 +0000

To capture the personality of this wonderful breed, think Labrador with an IQ transplant. Increasingly popular in North America and becoming better known to dog owners in Europe after winning Crufts Dog Show in England in 2006, the Australian Shepherd exemplifies the transition of dogs from their old practical roles to their new function as affable, participating members of the extended human family. This breed is a harbinger of the future.

An ideal first-time choice

Developed in California around 100 years ago from collies and sheepdogs imported from Australia and New Zealand, this breed is very much like Californians once were: easy-going, laid back, and cool. Whether you want a relatively small dog or a large one, the Australian Shepherd fits the bill; its size range is greater than most other popular breeds. It may still be capable of sheep herding, and it’s a winner at agility and obedience trials, but the Aussie’s niche is that of an ever-more popular household companion.

Playful and trainable

Generally uninterested in being “top dog”, less inclined than most other breeds to be snappy (although still responsive and alert as a watchdog), happy to mess around with kids, this is a superb modern companion dog, in the same category as the Golden Retriever, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Shetland Sheepdog. A potential problem is the tendency among some breeders to breed down in size, which can bring increased nervousness.

Personality

Australian Shepherds are contented extroverts who want to be playful, active kids, with the bonus that they’re more trainable than most kids, less aggressive or destructive, and will never, ever experiment with alcohol or drugs.

Health

While hip dysplasia is the only common inherited disorder, deafness may also occur in merles, because it can be associated with the merle colour gene in all breeds.

Time taker

The dense coat sheds copiously and needs daily attention. Obedience training is usually short and easy, but this breed thrives on advanced training, in both games and agility.

Australian Shepherd Dog Info:

Height: 46-58cm (18-23 in)
Weight: 16-32kg (35-70 lb)
Life expectancy: 13 years
First use: Herding
Country of origin: USA
Colour: Black, blue merle, red merle, red; either solid or with white
Excitable: 7-9
Trainable: 10
Vocal: 4
Playful: 8
Pushy puppy: 2-4

Border Collies Dog

AnimalAqua — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:11:12 +0000

Obsessive? Compulsive? Disordered? The Border Collie may consistently win every single canine intelligence test, but this is a breed that lives on the edge. Where they are popular, animal behaviourists see more Border Collies with behaviour problems (obsessions such as chasing aeroplane shadows from the garden, or chasing their own tails) than any other breed, sometimes all other breeds. To stay sane, this breed needs to “do”, and there’s often little for city dogs to do.

The best all-rounder

Registration figures belie this single-minded breed’s popularity. In rural regions it is one of the most common of all breeds, the working companion of both livestock farmers and non-farming rural families. Invariably, it makes the best search-and-rescue dog, the best agility dog, the best obedience-trials dog, the best canine-athletics dog. It is so darn good at these things that in some activities events are divided, one section open only to Border Collies and another similar event open to all other dogs.

A canine challenge

This doesn’t mean that Borders make good pets. Far from it. Breeders of show Borders selectively breed them for a reduced need for physical activity, as well as for show conformation, but even so this remains an amazingly focused breed with an enormous need for physical and well-defined mental stimulation. In the absence of outlets for their high levels of energy, they create their own games: chasing joggers or cyclists, rounding up other dogs in the park. So many people are surprised by the Border’s demands on their lives that they are a common sight at rescue centres waiting to be rehomed.

Personality

Just because they are so easily obedience trained doesn’t mean Borders are reliable. They have a tendency to be fearful and are prone to nipping in pre-emptive defence. Any family with children and a Border Collie must be ever vigilant. Their herding instinct is powerful from puppyhood.

Health

As well as a constellation of eye conditions commonly called Collie eye, Borders are also genetically susceptible to hip dysplasia. Their high level of physical activity makes them more prone than average to physical injuries.

Time taker

All Borders shed profusely, but the long-coated ones need daily brushing and combing. Training is simple, as are different aspects of advanced training. Expect to spend time with dog trainers, discussing behaviour concerns.

Border Collies Dog Info:

Height: 46-54cm (18-21 in)
Weight: 14-22kg (31-48 lb)
Life expectancy: 13 years
First use: Herding
Country of origin: UK
Colour: Black and white, tricolour, sable, blue merle, brown, black, red
Excitable: 8
Trainable: 10
Vocal: 3
Playful: 7
Pushy puppy: 5-7

Jack Russell Dog

AnimalAqua — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:26:02 +0000

These are the hard-muscled, resilient shock troops of the terrier world, feisty, sometimes a bit thuggish, and wonderfully doggy at the same time. Look into the eyes of a Jack Russell and you find them mutely saying, “I’m all right, Jack.” Kennel Club registrations indicate that this is an uncommon breed, but that isn’t so. Most Jack Russell litters simply aren’t registered. These bounce-back bundles of high-octane energy are probably the most popular of all terriers in the UK.

Natural-born nippers

In the dog, some characteristics of wolf behaviour are diminished and others are enhanced. Jack Russell Terriers are tough little nuts. A wolf uses body language to avoid confrontations and fights, but a Jack Russell doesn’t bother with such subtleties. “If in doubt, bite” is the breed motto. Fortunately, they’re snappy rather than tenacious, but this is still a serious concern if you’re contemplating living with a Jack Russell. Discipline training is vital. Males are more aggressive with other dogs than are females, who can be quite relaxed, with other canines. Both sexes can be remarkably affectionate with people and thrive when part of household activities.

Hunting history

Take care when walking in the country. Their instinct to enter any animal’s earth warren, without thinking about how to get back out, is overwhelming. Jack Russells come in smooth- or wirehaired coats. There is also the longer-legged Parson Russell Terrier, whose ebullient personality is somewhat more biddable than its more popular cousin.

Personality

These are rugged dogs. Although they are small enough to fit into a carryall, even soccer hooligans are happy to be seen in public with them. They make excellent twosomes, although it’s best to have one of each sex, because fighting is common in same-sex households.

Health

Vets love Jack Russells. They have no serious inherited disorders, and although they can be a handful to examine and are more prone to physical injuries than many other breeds because of their attitude to life, they respond wonderfully to treatment and are uncomplicated healers.

Time taker

The breed’s high energy demands at least two hours’ daily mental and physical exercise – Jack Russells are always ready for another game. The wirehaired coat needs daily grooming.

Jack Russell Dog Info:

Height: 25.5-31 cm (10—12 in)
Weight: 4-7kg (9-15 lb)
Life expectancy: 13.6 years
First use: Ratter
Country of origin: UK
Colour: Black and white, brown and white, tricolour
Excitable: 9
Trainable: 4-6
Vocal: 3
Playful: 7-9
Pushy puppy: 8 (bitches less)

Siberian Husky Dog

AnimalAqua — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:07:40 +0000

Look into the light-blue eyes of an alert, intent Siberian Husky and you can see him thinking. This is a haughty, almost imperious breed, but the Siberian Husky is suffering from a surfeit of fashion. I’ve seen them in Tokyo and Rome, as well as in New York and London. Their numbers are ever increasing, but this is not a city dog. It’s a breed that thrives best in the outdoors, the rural outdoors, and especially in crisp, cool weather, pulling something.

Living on the edge

For centuries, the native peoples of the north survived in the harsh Arctic climate only with the help of their dogs. The draught-pulling husky dogs in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland were invariably large, but those used by the Chukchi people of Siberia were smaller and lighter. Just under 100 years ago, fur traders first brought these dogs to Alaska, where they excelled in local sled-pulling dog races. Within 50 years, the Siberian Husky was popular across North America, and in the last 50 years it spread to Europe and Japan.

A primitive breed

Genetic studies suggest that this is a truly ancient breed, and like other ancient breeds, such as the Chow Chow and Akita, the Siberian Husky is naturally aloof and seldom shares its emotions with others. These are independent dogs, and it takes an experienced dog person to train them. However, their innate love of extreme sports makes them ideal companions for people who want to develop recreational winter pursuits with dogs. Small as they are, Siberian Huskies are excellent sled pullers, even better at skijoring or “ski-pulka” – wearing a special harness and pulling a skier.

Personality

Stubborn, aloof, predisposed to fighting with other dogs, hard to obedience train, unlikely to back down, this isn’t a breed for the inexperienced. On the other hand, it is as handsome as dogs come, and with early experience it can learn to become part of the human household.

Health

With the exception of several eye conditions, the breed is free from serious health conditions.

Time taker

The dense coat needs constant attention. Training is time consuming, and behaviour off the lead unreliable. Hours of daily exercise are needed, as is time to find your delinquent dog after it has wandered off. These are award-winning time takers.

Siberian Husky Dog Info:

Height: 51-61 cm (20-24in)
Weight: 16-27.5kg (35—60lb)
Life expectancy: 13 years
First use: Sled pulling Country of origin: Russia
Colour: Any colour for both coat and eyes
Excitable: 8
Trainable: 2
Vocal: 5
Playful: 1
Pushy puppy: 9