DOG OF THE DAY

DOG OF THE DAY


This is the Esterela mountain dog

The thick boned, and very large furry friend is possibly decent from mastiff type dogs, Were bred in Portugal to keep watch of flocks of sheep or goats. they probably came in with the Romans when they made it to the Liberian peninsula, or came in with the invading Visigoths. They were recognized by the AKC as a breed in 2004, and in 2008 making it possible for them to compete in events.  

This breed is extremely affectionate with family, and fantastic with children. they do good with other dogs as well. Be prepared with lots of towels, this dog frequently drools (as expected with a large (possibly mastiff) type dog) And might need a thorough brushing at least twice a week. 

These dogs are not super open to strangers, but with great socialization can accustom to strangers (with their adaptable nature) in the home if it suites your lifestyle. these dogs are also super protective, and make great, vigilant, watchdogs.  These dogs are very trainable, however their independence could be a slight issue during training. just work with your dog and it could accustom! 

As an original working breed, these dogs would love to have a job to do. they have higher energy and mental stimulation needs. they would need more room than a small backyard to roam and play. They would also do good on a farm/ranch setting, possibly even watching flocks (as it was bred to do) so long as it have the proper drive as most farm dogs would. 

As most dog breeds do, some come with a higher chance of diseases, illness, disorders exc. Estorela Mountain dogs are relatively healthy dogs when given the right living conditions, but tend to be prone to Hip Dysplasia (common in dogs, occurs when the hip joint has not developed properly and the bone does not sit properly in the socket) Dental disease, ear infections, obesity, curciate ligament ruptures (when the ligament connecting to the knee is torn, resulting in pain, joint instability, and temporary immobility) Wet eczema (When the skin gets wet and is not dried, the moisture sits creating hot spots(kinda like a rash)) are among some of the issues this dog could have. 

This dog is not recomended for a first time owner. they have a tendency to bark, are very strong willed and will likely only respond to a person with a strong will as well. they have a lot of upkeep with their coat due to its thickness AND the drool that can get caked inside. because of their coats thickness hots pots are very common in these dogs. overall not an easy dog, but a wonderful pet to have for an experienced owner. 

These dogs have a lot of needs. if these needs are not met depression could arrise. Depressed dogs tend to appear bored, prefer to not listen to handlers/owners, and can develop behavior disorders such as barking, digging holes, or getting reckless or easily excited around people. (this would not be ideal due to their size)

 remember, having a dog is not always a walk in the park. health issues should be expected and prepared for, as well as being aware of potential behavior issues and how to fix them is always important. if your dog has behavior issues, know that its not the dogs fault. it could be old habits from ex owners or things that you as their owner have failed to teach them or do with them :) 

Be sure to always do your research before getting a dog and its breed to be sure that it has the potential to be happy in your current living situation. be sure to not get a dog just because you think its cute. prepare yourself, and see what breeds could match your lifestyle! 

(none of these photos are mine, i pulled them all off the web)

i hope you enjoyed learning about this dog breed! if you have an uncommon breed request leave it in the comments! i hope that if you were struggling today that this took your mind off whatever is going on in your life :D

EAR CROPPING AND TAIL DOCKING - IS IT GOOD OR BAD?

Most people have heard of Tail docking and ear cropping. if you have not, ear cropping is when a person decides to cut a puppies naturally droopy ears, giving them a new shape and typically causing them to stand erect. Tail docking is when a person decides to (usually puppies) cut a dogs tail to the base, typically in the first few days after birth so they dont feel the pain or remember it if they do. 

Exhibit of ear cropping: 

There are different types of crops you can get, each one taller, or shorter. some shaped differently to make the ears bigger or thinner exc. many people believe that ear cropping is evil. which is understandable. however there ARE some benefits to ear cropping. Ear cropping tends to be tailored towards stronger, more powerful breeds. stronger breeds (naturally) tend to be in either dog fights, or in the working force. on top of that, for some breeds (like Dobermans) its just breed standard. 

For the uneventful dog fights, the handlers crop the dogs ears as a way not only to protect the dog, but to prevent injuries to the ears and to keep other dogs from latching on and getting the upper hand. i must say, dog fights are absolutely atrocious. no dog should ever have to fight like that. Also i must add, that NOT every dog you will see with cropped ears is in the dog fights. just be aware of that. the handlers will probably avoid putting the dogs into public situations. 

For other situations, some work force dogs do need to have their ears cropped just as a protection procedure to keep the dog save AND to add intimidation. Dogs with erect ears are typically seen as more intimidating than the latter, droopy eared dogs. even more so intimidating if their ears were obviously cropped. sometimes though cropped ears is just a breed standard. it doesn't hurt the dog, it just is for looks. if we are really getting down to it, this is no different than plastic surgery which is an "unnecessary" norm in today's society. 

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To be fair, sometimes ear cropping is needed for a dog later in life. sometimes a dog has an awful injury near/on the ear and needs to short crop the ears. cropping ears is also beneficial because it reduces a dogs chances of ear infections whiten the ear canal (which more commonly occurs to dogs with droopy ears covering their ears. 

i am NOT saying to crop all dogs ears. i actually believe in leaving dogs ears alone, however for breeds like the doberman exc, i believe it is okay to let this happen per breed standard. 

Now. onto Tail docking. tail docking is usually seen as another breed standard for breeds such as the Australian shepherd, Blue heelers, dobermans, exc (some of the more famous docked groups)

docked tails is actually benaficial to the working dogs, usually dealing with farm dogs hearding cattle. commonly the dogs tails would get in the way, and be stepped on, causing an avoidable injury had the tail been docked. sometimes (for breeds like rottwilers) the tail could need to be docked too. Rottwilers have some of the strongest tails, when they wag them they was so vigerously that on top of the speed and weight it can dislocate the tail. many Rottie owners have the tail docked just to prevent more dislocations from happening. 

Tail docking for some of these dogs is also just a breed standard. for some dogs going into the show business, (like the Australian shepherd) having a tail will likely reduce them points or wont make it very far. however there are people who leave the breeds tails alone, and i personally find them very beautiful. i personally prefer dogs with tails, some people might prefer a dog without a tail. 

Tail docking and ear cropping isnt at all that bad, however it can be unnecessary. it is up to the breeder or owner if they would like to have these procedures done, but it does not harm the dog in any way. 

DOG OF THE DAY

Everyone, meet the Kai Kens!

This medium sized Japanese breed looks quite similar to the Japanese Akita! (Akita Inu) This dog was bred to hunt a wide range of game in the grand mountains of Japan. This dog is rare though, even in Japan itself. The Japanese gifted this breed to the U.S in the 1960's, however did not produce pups here in america. Pups were also not actively bred until the 90's...making them incredibly rare. Most of these dogs can be found in Japan, however there are only an estimated 12-14,000 dogs left. 

This loyal friend is extremely affectionate with family, as well as good with kids and other dog's. They are quite reserved with strangers, and are extremely protective of their families. They are noted as brave, loyal, and agile, this making them an ideal watchdog/ family watchdog. They are good to train, and love to please their owners/handlers. 

These dogs have a lot of energy, and love to play. They love long walks (three 20+ minute walks a day is recommended) and is recommended to give this dog a lot of mental stimulation for its eager mind. These dogs would do well in an apartment setting, so long as its basic exercise and mental stimulation needs are met. 

As most dog breeds do, some come with a higher chance of diseases, illness, disorders exc. The Kai Kens are relatively healthy dogs when given the right living conditions, but tend to be prone to Alergies, luxating patella ( a kneecap that "pops out" or moves out of position) and seizures are among some of the health issues that can occur. 

These dogs would not do good as a first time dog. they are stubborn and hard headed. they have high energy needs that needs to be met, and are particularly difficult when they are young. Experienced owners are recommended for this dog, unless you are willing to make a firm commitment. 

These dogs have a lot of energy needs, that as i said before, need to be met. if these needs are not met depression could arrise. Depressed dogs tend to appear bored, prefer to not listen to handlers/owners, and can develop behavior disorders such as barking, digging holes, or getting reckless or easily excited around people. (this would not be ideal due to their size)

remember, having a dog is not always a walk in the park. health issues should be expected and prepared for, as well as being aware of potential behavior issues and how to fix them is always important. if your dog has behavior issues, know that its not the dogs fault. it could be old habits from ex owners or things that you as their owner have failed to teach them or do with them :) 

Be sure to always do your research before getting a dog and its breed to be sure that it has the potential to be happy in your current living situation. be sure to not get a dog just because you think its cute. prepare yourself, and see what breeds could match your lifestyle! 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BREEDER

Most people out there will go to a breeder for the new member of the family. There are some things to look for in the breeder when looking for a puppy! Here are the do's and dont's when finding YOUR breeder. 

First of all i want to go over how the way you find/found your breeder is very important. There are many people who will sit outside near a busy road with a "puppies for sale" sign hung, just tantalizing dog lover like you and i to go take a peek. Now it is okay to buy a puppy from a roadside seller, just be sure to ask lots of question such as

- whats the breed. is it mix or crossbreed? (crossbreeds are known as designer dogs such as cocapoos or labradoodles. these are desired crossbreeds whereas mixed breeds would for example be a German shepherd mixed with a pitbul are less desired.)

- any temperament pros and cons of the parents (puppies usually inherit temperament traits from both parents) 

- Any history of health issues to the parents or anywhere down the line.

- Anything about this puppy in particular needed to know (sensitive stomach? Alpha of the litter? exc)

- Does the puppy have a pedigree? (just Kennel Club approved papers about purebred linage) (most roadside/backyard sellers wont have these, however registered breeders should unless its a mixed breed. mixed breeds dont usually have a pedigree) 

- How big are the parents (gauge how big the pup could be)

- Have health tests been preformed on the parents? any recessive diseases? (recessive genes are genes that the dog carries, but is NOT Prominent in the canine. For example: a dog could be a carrier of the albinism trait, but the dog will NOT actually be albino because its a "masked" recessive gene. because this is a recessive gene, the dog has the potential to pass it on to its puppies, ESPECIALLY if the dog its breeding with has the same recessive gene. Now the opposite of recessive is a dominant gene. if albinism was the dominant gene in this said dog, the dog would be a full albino. The dominant gene has a higher chance of passing on recessive to its puppies. there are recessive disorders/ illnesses/traits. this does not just apply to albinism. that was just an example)

-are the puppies up to date on vaccinations and de-worming?

-Have the puppies been socialized? 

You can ask all these question to a certified breeder as well! 

if you go to a backyard breeder/roadside seller, be sure to take the puppy to a vet very soon after bringing it home to have vaccinations done as well as a health check if they have not taken the time to get the puppies up to date on all these things. 

roadside sellers/backyard breeders when selling their puppies, have a tendency to be cheaper than a certified breeder, however certified breeders typically have health guarantee's ranging from 6 months - a year. sometimes even 2 years. certified breeders typically socialize their puppys (with different things depending on their access to some things (like a farm and their animals) that some other breeders might not have.) 

If your willing to pay more, then a certified breeder could be the way to go. certified breeders typically breed purebreds, but also have a tendency to breed designer (crossbreeds) as well. If your looking for a mutt then websites (such as Puppies.com is a favorite of mine) sells purebreads, mutts, and crossbreeds. 

now when your looking for a dog, the main question will be what will the dog do? will it have a job? what kind of job? when looking for a job specific dog, see if the breeders breed for that kind of job. for example. some breeders breed border collies to have the kind of temperament a farm/hearding dog would need. others breed them for family life, giving them a higher chance of a different temperament, meaning they would be likely to handle things a bit differently in a new situation than the other temperament. 

Another very important thing to look for is credability, and the "worth" of the dog when paying. is that chihuahua puppy you want REALLY worth $3,000 when you can find another for less than $200? thats for you to decide. 

look into the breeder if it matters to you! see if the breeder produces quality puppies, with good temperaments and less health issues in the dogs. 

picking a puppy is a big deal. be sure to find one that could fit into your lifestyle and has a higher probability of longevity! 

Hey guys!! sorry its been a minute. ive been really busy lately, but here i am!!

Meet the Bavarian Mountain Scent hound!:

This medium breed is characerised by not only a darker colored head, but also noticeably stubbier legs compared to its larger body. This dog is known as the "original hunting dog" with its super sensitive nose, and high scent drive. The Bavarian scent hounds were bred to track the trail of wounded game that the hunter was hunting. The breed was recognized by the AKC in 2016. 

This breed is noted as loyal and versatile. Affectionate with family, as well as good with children and other dogs, this breed has become a lovely family pet. They are reserved with strangers and hive a protection drive for their families. They are noted as very trainable with their eager to please attitude, as long as the handler has some patience on hand. 

These dogs would not be suited for the apartment life. as a very energetic breed they need lots of space to roam and sniff things out. As a hound dog, they are also expected to be very vocal dogs which would not be the best scenario for apartment neighbors. These dogs however would be a good choice as a first dog for new owners with their eager to please, loyal and affectionate personality as long as you can handle the barking/bowing.

As most dog breeds do, some come with a higher chance of diseases, illness, disorders exc. The Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound is a relatively healthy dog when given the right living conditions, but tend to be prone to Hip and elbow Dysplasia (common in dogs, occurs when the hip joint has not developed properly and the bone does not sit properly in the socket) Progressive retinal atrophy (When a dog reaches adulthood and the cells in eyes begin to break down causing slow but progressive blindness) Entropion (an abnormality common in hounds causing the eyelids to roll inwards.) and Epilipsy (a neurological (brain) disorder in dogs that causes un-prevoked seizures due to an abnormality of the brain) are more likely to happen.

Its important to remember that all dogs are different, and aside from basic needs of all dogs, each breed has personalized needs. these dogs are intelligent and would require a bit of mental stimulation. They have short coats that are easy to care for, but remember that hounds have oils on their skin that can become odorous, some more than others.  . if their needs are not met depression could arrise. Depressed dogs tend to appear bored, prefer to not listen to handlers/owners, and can develop behavior disorders such as barking, digging holes, or getting reckless or easily excited around people. 

 remember, having a dog is not always a walk in the park. health issues should be expected and prepared for, as well as being aware of potential behavior issues and how to fix them is always important. if your dog has behavior issues, know that its not the dogs fault. it could be old habits from ex owners or things that you as their owner have failed to teach them or do with them :) 

Be sure to always do your research before getting a dog and its breed to be sure that it has the potential to be happy in your current living situation. be sure to not get a dog just because you think its cute. prepare yourself, and see what breeds could match your lifestyle!

(none of these photos are mine, i pulled them all off the web)

i hope you enjoyed learning about this dog breed! if you have an uncommon breed request leave it in the comments! i hope that if you were struggling today that this took your mind off whatever is going on in your life :D 

if any of you have any post requests about dogs, any question or pretty much anything about dogs....FEEL FREE TO COMMENT BELOW

@EmmyMarie06 this is the exact dog that i want when I grow up! so cute!

@EmmyMarie06 could you also post a newfoundland today,its my birthday

WHAT PRECAUTIONS DO I TAKE BEFORE BREEDING/STUDDING MY DOG?

There are a lot of mistakes that new breeders could potentially make, so i am going to share some basic precautions to take before breeding/studding your dog!

first of all im going to go over how a female dog is known as a dam, and male dogs are sires. When breeding a male dog, its typically known as studding. many people who own a single male dog of a certain breed will advertise the dog as a "stud" ready to breed. 

My oldest brother is actually ready to breed his dog Lucy and has found a friend who has a stud dog. 

Before breeding your dog, you must health check both female and male dogs to be sure that the puppies have the potential to be as happy as possible. if your dog has hip dysplasia, it would be wise to actually spay/nuder your dog not only to be sure that no unhealthy puppies are born but also because the breeding process could actually harm the dog, and the female being pregnant wont be pleasurable due to the extra weight. 

If there are any domanent health issues, it would be wise to not breed the dog, if its recessive be sure that the other dog it will be breeding with does not have that same recessive trait. 2 recessive traits have the potential to create a domanent trait. if its recessive in only one parent it could either carry on as a recessive trait or not even be a recessive trait in some of the puppies. 

Another thing to look at is the temperament for both the dogs as well. are they easy going or are they highly energetic and rambunctious. What are you breeding for? do both the dogs have the temperament for the job you are breeding for? or would it be suited for something else? are there any personality habits that you as the owner do not like and would not like to pass on? there are many questions to think of before breeding two dogs. another thing to ask is: is your female dog ready to be a mom? or does she have some maturing to do? does she developed a maternal instinct? if a female dog is bred before she is ready, it can cause some behavior issues later on in the future. its recommended to wait at least 2 or 3 heat cycles before breeding her. 

be sure to have the funds to care for the mother AND pups and be aware of any breed related pregnancy issues or birth issues. for example some dog breeds are unable to give birth the regular way and need to have a C- section preformed. also be sure to create a calm environment for the mother the weeks leading up to her labor. 

this is all for now, i will however at some point make a post about what to do after the mother has given birth :D



HEY GUYS!! two dogs of the day today i guess. makes up for being gone for almost a week, but also HAPPY BIRTHDAY KINOKOARI!!

Everyone: Meet the Newfoundland. 

This Massive dog was bred in 15th and 16th century Newfoundland island. their purpose: to swim to shore with a ship to establish a connection. Nowadays they are used not only as cherished family pets, but also are used as search and rescue in deep waters and in harsh cold weather conditions. Its speculated that the viking were to have bred this dog, or to have bred the foundation to this dog because there have been records saying the vikings brought with them "large bear like dogs." 

The Newfoundland makes a superb family bet, noted as extremely affectionate, very well with children and other dogs, and very sweet, Ernest dogs. Although they have a very high protection/watch dog nature, they are very open to strangers and overall among the friendliest dogs despite how large they are. They rarely bark, and typically only to alert you. This dog despite its lovely personality has high upkeep, they shed a bit and have very thick coats. on top of that they are constantly drooling, so be sure to have a towel on hand. 

As most dog breeds do, some come with a higher chance of diseases, illness, disorders exc. The Newfoundland are relatively healthy dogs when given the right living conditions, but tend to be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia (common in dogs, occurs when the hip joint has not developed properly and the bone does not sit properly in the socket) Arthritis, Epilepsy (a neurological (brain) disorder in dogs that causes un-provoked seizures due to an abnormality of the brain) Hot spots (when moisture sits on the skin too long creating a rash like tender spot, can cause hair loss in that spot) and a life threatening heart condition called Dilated cardiomyopathy (Where the heart is very large, thin, and weak making it difficult to pump blood effectively throughout the body) are a few of the health issues Newfoundlands are prone to. 

Newfoundlands need care, and daily human interaction to be happy. they need daily walks, a healthy diet, and mental stimulation however once they tire out they would be more than happy to chill out for the rest of the night with you. These dogs would do well in an apartment lifestyle as long as their needs are met. its important to remember that  if their needs are not met depression could arrise. Depressed dogs tend to appear bored, prefer to not listen to handlers/owners, and can develop behavior disorders such as barking, digging holes, or getting reckless or easily excited around people. 

These big cuddle bugs Make good first time dogs for new owners, however during their "teenage" stage they can become more difficult to handle. But with a soft hand, they can adapt and grow out of it. these people loving dogs meet the standard of a gentle giant, but training is essential due to its massive size. 

remember, having a dog is not always a walk in the park. health issues should be expected and prepared for, as well as being aware of potential behavior issues and how to fix them is always important. if your dog has behavior issues, know that its not the dogs fault. it could be old habits from ex owners or things that you as their owner have failed to teach them or do with them :) 

Be sure to always do your research before getting a dog and its breed to be sure that it has the potential to be happy in your current living situation. be sure to not get a dog just because you think its cute. prepare yourself, and see what breeds could match your lifestyle!

(none of these photos are mine, i pulled them all off the web)

i hope you enjoyed learning about this dog breed! if you have an uncommon breed request leave it in the comments! i hope that if you were struggling today that this took your mind off whatever is going on in your life :D 

if any of you have any post requests about dogs, any question or pretty much anything about dogs....FEEL FREE TO COMMENT BELOW

DOG OF THE DAY

Ladies, and Gents, Meet the Beauceron!

This Large sized dog is often mistook as a Doberman/German Shepherd mix, or Rottweiler/German shepherd mix, however this dog is a totally unique breed from the two. Bred to guard and heard sheep and/or cattle. Its believed that this breed originates from France, and in fact is one of the breeds that was used to help develop the Doberman Pincher, which is why they look so similar. Manuscripts have dated this dog clear back to the 1500's. Relatively unknown outside of France, this dog is considered rare all around the world (outside of France of course.)

The Beauceron is known to be gentle, faithful, and obedient. These dogs are affectionate, and do good with children and other dogs, they are however closed off and wary around strangers and have a very strong watchdog drive. Although these dogs have an intimidating exterior, they are extremely playful, relaxed with their family, and laid back. 

The Beauceron will do okay in an apartment so long as its high energy needs are met, and has plenty of exercise. It's not uncommon for these dogs to bark, but this can be trained out of them. these dogs are good to train, as long as you have a firm hand and start early. if started late you can still train the dog but it will take a short while for it to catch on.

As most dog breeds do, some come with a higher chance of diseases, illness, disorders exc. The Beauceron is a relatively healthy dog when given the right living conditions, but tend to be prone to Hip and elbow Dysplasia (common in dogs, occurs when the hip joint has not developed properly and the bone does not sit properly in the socket) Progressive retinal atrophy (When a dog reaches adulthood and the cells in eyes begin to break down causing slow but progressive blindness) Osteoarthritis dissecans (An abnormality when the bone and cartilage was developing at the joint and can cause lameness in the dog) and a life threatening condition called Dilated cardiomyopathy  (Where the heart is very large, thin, and weak making it difficult to pump blood effectively throughout the body)

Its important to remember that all dogs are different, and aside from basic needs of all dogs, each breed has personalized needs. these dogs are intelligent and would require a bit of mental stimulation. These dogs have extremely high energy, and would require at least 2 - 3 hours of exercise and play each day. its important to remember if any dog's needs are not met depression could arise. Depressed dogs tend to appear bored, prefer to not listen to handlers/owners, and can develop behavior disorders such as barking, digging holes, or getting reckless or easily excited around people. 

remember, having a dog is not always a walk in the park. health issues should be expected and prepared for, as well as being aware of potential behavior issues and how to fix them is always important. if your dog has behavior issues, know that its not the dogs fault. it could be old habits from ex owners or things that you as their owner have failed to teach them or do with them :) 

Be sure to always do your research before getting a dog and its breed to be sure that it has the potential to be happy in your current living situation. be sure to not get a dog just because you think its cute. prepare yourself, and see what breeds could match your lifestyle!

(none of these photos are mine, i pulled them all off the web)

i hope you enjoyed learning about this dog breed! if you have an uncommon breed request leave it in the comments! i hope that if you were struggling today that this took your mind off whatever is going on in your life :D 

if any of you have any post requests about dogs, any question or pretty much anything about dogs....FEEL FREE TO COMMENT BELOW