Archive for February, 2007

Norwegian Lundehund

Norwegian Lundehund

Alternative Name
Norsk Lundehund Norwegian Puffin Dog Lundehund

Basic Info

It is known for its great range of motion in its joints. His upright ears are placed so high and forward that, upon pricking them, they afford the added protection of almost closing to the front. This creates a shield from the constantly dripping water and dust in the caves. He is able to mold his body to fit in narrow passages because of the extraordinary range of motion in his joints. The head can be bent backwards, almost touching its back, and the forelegs can turn to the side at 90-degree angles. The Norwegian Lundehund is polydactyl: it has an extra toe (at least 6 total) on each foot and double dew claws on the forepaws, which helps with climbing cliffs when hunting puffins. The outercoat is dense and rough with a soft undercoat.

Health

N/A

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

N/A

Origin

Norway

History

The breed has a long history. As far back as 1600 it was used for hunting puffins along the Norwegian coast. Interest for the breed declined when new methods for hunting puffins were invented. A dog tax also led to a decline in the dog population. Around 1900, they were only found in the isolated village of Mostad in Lofoten. The breed was nearly extinct around World War II—only 6 dogs survived (1 on Værøy & 5 in southern Norway Hamar). Due to careful breeding with strict guidelines, there are now around 1500-2000 dogs in the world, with around 1100 in Norway. Estimates show there are approx. 250 in the US.

Common Foods

pellet dog food

Comments

Norwich Terrier

Norwich Terrier

Alternative Name
N/A

Basic Info

These terriers are the smallest terriers (11-12 lbs, 5 to 5.4 kg; 9 to 10 inches (24 to 25.5 cm) at the withers), with prick ears and a double coat.

Health

The life expectancy of the Norwich Terrier is 12-16 years. While the Norwich Terrier is considered a healthy breed, there are some health issues for which responsible breeders do preventative genetic health testing, thereby reducing the incidences. For the Norwich, there are incidences of epilepsy, narrow tracheas, luxating patellas, hip dysplasia, mitral valve disease, and incorrect bites (how the teeth meet when the jaws are closed). Exercise requirements A good daily walk takes care of the exercise requirements of the Norwich Terrier. They are excellent walking companions. They are reasonable joggers for those who like to jog with their dogs. Care The Norwich Terrier has two coats - a harsh, wiry topcoat and a soft warm undercoat. Ideally, the coat is combed and brushed once a week to remove the loose, dead hairs and prevent matting. Hand stripping the coat once in the fall and once in the spring helps to keep its attractive appearance. Clipping or cutting affects the appearance of the coat’s natural colors and texture. Breeding Norwich Terriers are difficult to breed. Many have Caesarean sections. The North American average litter size for 2005 is two puppies with the total number of puppies for the year at approximately 750.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

These small but hardy teddy-bears-like dogs are courageous, remarkably intelligent and wonderfully affectionate. They can be assertive but it is untypical for them to be aggressive, quarrelsome or shy. They are energetic and thrive on an active life but won’t be any worse for wear if they miss a day’s exercise now and then. They are eager to please but have definite minds of their own. They are sensitive to scolding but 100% Terrier. They should never be kept outside or in a kennel setting because they love the companionship of their owners too much. Norwich are not given to unnecessary barking but they will warn of a stranger approaching. Norwich are good with children. If introduced to other household pets as a puppy they generally co-habitate peacefully. Males often make the best companions though are a little more sensitive to changes in routine than females. Most important is that Norwich do not have a road sense and hence need to be kept on lead when there are being walked. Norwich seem to prefer the company of humans over other dogs, though they readily accept their heritage of being pack dogs.

Origin

United Kingdom

History

The breed has existed since at least the late 1800s, as working terrier of East Anglia, England. The game and hardy little dogs were useful as ratters in the stable yard, bolters of fox for the hunt, and loving family companions. It was the mascot of students at Cambridge University. Small red terriers, descendants of Irish Terriers, had existed in the area since at least the 1860s, and these might be the ancestors of the Norwich, or it might have come from the Trumpington Terrier, a breed that no longer exists. In its earliest history, it was also known as the Jones Terrier and the Cantab Terrier. Since its earliest identification as a breed, puppies have had either drop or prick ears, and both were allowed when the Norwich was first recognized in the show ring in 1932 by The Kennel Club (England). Drop ears were often cropped until it became illegal to do so. This intensified a long-standing controversy over whether drop-eared dogs should be allowed in the show ring and whether the primary difference was simply the ears or whether other, deeper, personality and structural differences marked the drop-eared variety. Starting in the 1930s, breeders increased their efforts to distinguish the breeds. Both ear types continued to be allowed in the ring until The Kennel Club recognized the drop-eared variety as a separate breed, the Norfolk Terrier, in 1964, and the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club did the same in 1979.

Common Foods

pellet dog food

Comments

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Alternative Name
Yarmouth Toller Little River Duck Dog Little Red Duck Dog (nick Toller)

Basic Info

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is one of the most unusual breeds of gundog, The Toller should be athletic, well-muscled, compact, and powerful. All tollers should be capable of tolling, and physical faults that inhibit working ability are heavily penalised. They should be of moderate build, a lack of substance or a heavy build are penalised, as both detract from the type and athletisism. An important feature of the breed is its head, which should resemble that of a fox, and must never be blocky like that of a Golden Retriever. Coat The coat is of moderate length and consists of a waterproof outer coat with a dense undercoat for warmth. Any dog without a double coat should be severely penalised. The tail is heavily feathered and the legs are moderately feathered. The coat color may be any shade of red or orange, with deeper colouring preferred. There is usually some white on the chest, feet, nose, head, and tip of tail. One unusual feature of this breed is the webbed feet that permits them to swim easily, along with the “feathered” tail that they use for added balance. A curry comb brush is useful for grooming. Size Tollers range in height from 18 to 20 inches (43-53 cm) at the withers for males, and weigh 45 to 51 pounds (17-23 kg); females are slightly shorter and lighter. There has been a trend towards larger dogs in recent years, however this is not correct breed type and is unacceptable.

Health

Tollers are generally hardy. However, they, like almost all dog breeds, have certain genetic disorders that are prevalent in the breed. This is sometimes blamed on a relatively small gene pool, a problem that is aggravated by the fact that some people buying Tollers only want dogs that are bred in Nova Scotia, beliving that Nova Scotian dogs are the only “true” Tollers. The Toller’s hereditary diseases include: -Addison’s Disease -Progressive retinal atrophy -Hip dysplasia

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

The Toller is a gentle but active breed. They are highly intelligent and easy to train, although many get bored with repetition. The dog requires extensive daily exercise, as well as regular grooming. They are excellent with older children, but can be wary of strange adults. They do not have the all-forgiving temperament of a Golden Retriever and should not be left unsupervised with young children who have not yet learned how to interact with dogs. Potential owners should note the “Toller scream,” a high-pitched and very loud utterance made up of a growl, whine, bark, and howl. The dog will do this to show great excitement and, depending on the dog, any other reason.

Origin

Canada (Nova Scotia)

History

The breed was developed in the Little River district of Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia around the beginning of the 19th Century, and was officially admitted to the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945. 56 years later on June 11, 2001 it was approved for admission into the Miscellaneous Class of the American Kennel Club and was granted full recognition into the Sporting Group on July 1, 2003. The exact origins of the breed are not known, but it appears that some Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, and/or Irish Setter may have gone into the mix. It may share origins with the smaller Kooikerhondje.

Common Foods

pellet dog food

Comments

Old English Sheepdog

Old English Sheepdog

Alternative Name
Bobtail
Basic Info

An Old English Sheepdog is a breed of dog formerly used for herding livestock,. Males generally weigh 70 to 100 pounds(45 kg); females, 60 to 80 pounds. They stand around 22 inches at the withers. Their long coats can be any shade of gray, grizzle, blue, or blue merle, with optional white markings. The undercoat is water resistant. The Old English Sheepdog’s abundant coat is an effective insulator in both hot and cold weather.

Health

The long coat requires thorough brushing at least weekly, and the long hair around the pads of the feet can form mats if it isn’t kept trimmed. Some people save their Old English Sheepdog’s hair from grooming and have spun it into yarn.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

This breed is intelligent, funny, social, and adaptable, although they do tend to seem stupid on first impressions. It generally gets along well with children, other dogs, other pets, and visitors. Like all herding breeds, it requires plenty of exercise, both mental and physical. These dogs are tender and catch on quickly to things like boundaries and little things such as doing a trick for a treat. These animals are gentle with other dogs and are always willing to play

Origin

United Kingdom

History

Dulux dog The Old English Sheepdog is the brand mascot for Dulux paint. The dog was first introduced in Australian advertising campaigns in the 1960s. Since then they have been a constant and highly popular feature of Dulux television and print adverts in both Australia and the UK. So much so, that most uninformed people in those markets refer to the breed as a ‘Dulux dog’ rather than a Sheepdog. Over the years, different dogs have appeared in the adverts. However, they all look very similar, partially as a result of most of them being selected from a closely related line of pedigree dogs. The first Dulux dog was Shepton Dash, who held the role for eight years. His successor, Fernville Lord Digby, was the most famous Dulux dog and also made his owner, Cynthia Harrison, famous. When filming commercials, Digby was treated like a star, being driven to the studio in a chauffeur driven car. Barbara Woodhouse was employed to train Digby and his three stunt doubles, who were used whenever specific tricks or actions needed to be filmed. Apart from Dash, all the Dulux dogs have been breed champions, and five of them have won ‘Best of Show’ prizes.

Common Foods

pellet dog food

Comments

Otterhound

Otterhound

Alternative Name
The Otter’s Foe

Basic Info

The Otterhound is a large, rough-coated hound with an imposing head showing great strength and dignity, and the strong body and long striding action fit for a long day’s work. They generally weigh between 80 and 120 pounds (36 to 54 kg). It has an extremely sensitive nose, and is inquisitive and perseverant in investigating scents. The Otterhound hunts its quarry on land and it has a combination of characteristics unique among hounds; most notably a rough, double coat and substantial webbed feet.

Health

The breed lives to between 10 and 13 years old, although some have reportedly lived to be 15 or older.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

They are basically big, friendly dogs with a unique bass voice that they sometimes use to excess. Because Otterhounds were originally bred for hunting, their most important characteristic is their ultrasensitive nose. As a result, new owners of Otterhounds often find that their new dog gets into everything and that the dog needs to be supervised or confined when unsupervised. The Otterhound’s hunting background means that it has energy and endurance, requiring more energetic exercise than simply walking around the block. This is a good breed for active people who have a lively sense of humor!

Origin

Great Britain

History

There are only an estimated 1,000 or so Otterhounds in the world and somewhere between 350 and 400 in the US. Even in the early 20th century, when otter hunting was most popular as a sport, Otterhounds were not numerous. But they can be good family dogs that simply demand a bit more training than some other breeds.

Common Foods

pellet dog food

Comments

Papillon

Papillon

Alternative Name
Butterfly Dog Phalène (drop ear type) Continental Toy Spaniel Epagneul Nain Continental Squirrel Dog (because of tail carriage)

Basic Info

According to the AKC breed standard, the Papillon has an abundant, flowing coat, short on the head but with a profuse frill on the chest. The Papillon has no undercoat. The tail should be a plume of long hair. The Phalène is the same as the erect-eared Papillon except for its dropped spaniel-like ears. The AKC considers the Phalène and the Papillon the same breed. Countries whose breed clubs follow the FCI standard consider Papillons and Phalènes two separate breeds. Papillons are a white dog with colored markings. Any colored markings are permitted. The color must always cover both eyes and the front and back of the ear to give the proper butterfly look. A white blaze and noseband on the face are preferred. Size should range from 8 inches to 12 inches at the shoulder (11 inches in the UK) with the average papillon being between 9 and 10.5 inches in height and weight in proportion.

Health

The Papillon is a fairly health breed, but like all dog breeds there are some health problems which are prevalent. These include: -von Willebrand’s disease -Luxating patella -mitral valve disorder - A congenital heart defect -Progressive retinal atrophy

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

Even though the breed has the connotation of a dainty toy breed, many owners will tell you they act like big dogs in small dogs’ bodies. There are several possible reasons for this. First, the Papillion is hardy; some people find that their Papillon is very capable of handling a good five-mile walk. Some owners believe the reality is that they will resist such an outing if the grass is dampish or if there are two clouds in the sky that might lead to rain, but others have experienced them as very versatile in almost all conditions, although not necessarily with prolonged exposure. Perhaps they seem to be larger dogs because to many people Papillons appear not to be prone to small dog quaking when confronted with a new situation. In fact, some Papillon owners believe that their dogs interpret any new event as having been put on for their benefit, and believe that the dogs do their best to be an attentive host or hostess. Another aspect of the Papillon that has led many to believe the ‘big dog’ assertion is that this breed is surprisingly athletic. Perhaps people are surprised that in contrast to its staid and stately representation in the Old Master portraits, the Papillon is highly energetic and intelligent (Stanley Cohen, in The Intelligence of Dogs, rates the Papillon eighth among all breeds). Provided their genetic structure is sound and they are healthy, Papillons are built for movement, and most do not need any encouragement to apply their energy to athletic activities. In order to make a Papillon coat really shine to its fullest, it should be brushed once or twice a day, and the dog bathed at least every two weeks.

Origin

France

History

The Papillon probably originated in continental Europe and was a favorite at the French court. The most famous owner was Henry III; documentation of his devotion to the breed lies in his declaration of the Papillon as the official dog of the Royal Court during his tenure. Other famous owners are said to have been Marie Antoinette, and Madame de Pompadour. There is evidence that these small dogs were favorites of European aristocrats, particularly French royalty, during the time of the Old Masters, as Continental Toy Spaniels (Phalènes and Papillons) were included in many Old Master royal portraits from as early as the sixteenth century. The Papillon is a highly athletic breed. There are many stories about the Papillon. Marie Antoinette was said to have walked to the guillotine clutching her small dog under her arm. Tradition has it that her dog was a small spaniel that had been brought to the French court from Spain on the back of pack mules. According to the story, her pup was spared and cared for in a building in Paris still called the Papillon House. Marie’s small spaniel was said to have descended from a very old drop-eared breed known as the Epagneul Nain Continental, or Continental Dwarf/Toy Spaniel that appeared in church frescos and paintings as early as the 13th century. The Papillon is still officially referred to as the Epagneul Nain Continental (ENC) in non-English-speaking countries. The name Squirrel Spaniel also has been used, most likely referring to an earlier standard in which the tail set is described as “curling over the back as a squirrel’s.” One version of the history of the two varieties of ear shape in the ENC (”Papillon” to denote the erect ear and “Phalène” to denote the dropped ear) is that toward the end of the 19th century, breed fanciers bred a version of the spaniel whose ears stood up. This dog was said to have been nicknamed papillon based on the impressively large, erect ears that resembled the wings of a butterfly. The drop-eared variety of the breed came to be called the Phalène (which means “night moth”). Both types are still bred today and appear in the same litter. The Papillon variety is much more common, although recently the Phalène has undergone a resurgence in popularity.

Common Foods

pellet dog food

Comments

Parson Russell Terrier

 Parson Russell Terrier

Alternative Name
Jack Russell Terrier

Basic Info

The Parson Russell Terrier was the first Kennel Club recognized variant of the Jack Russell Terrier. The Kennel Club Parson Russell terriers are dogs that reside at the top end of Jack Russell height spectrum (12-14 inches) although it must be pointed out that taller Jack Russell types do exist as “Jack Russells” in working Jack Russell Terrier clubs in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Health

N/A

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

The definitions and description of the various Russell Terriers are still evolving, and confusing differences arise even among kennel clubs of the same breed. For example, in the United States, Parson Russells are limited to the standard terrier colours, white with black or tan markings, or tricolour, but in Australia, Parson Russells may also be entirely white, or white with lemon markings. It is likely that there will be more changes before the various Russell Terriers are definitively categorized. Refer to the breed article on the Jack Russell Terrier for more on the origin and development of the breed.

Origin

England

History

Like all Jack Russells, the Parson Russell Terrier is descended from early white-bodied fox-working terriers used in the hunt field. At the end of the 19th Century, these dogs were drawn into the Kennel Club as “fox terriers,” but their still-working antecedents were referred to as “Jack Russell” terriers throughout the 20th Century, in honor of the Rev. John “Jack” Russell, a noted fox hunter of the 19th Century “The Sporting Parson”.

Common Foods

pellet dog food