Swedish Vallhund

Original Usage: Farm dog, cattle and sheep herder.

Group: Herding(Both AKC and UKC)

Life Span: About 12 to 15 years

Fur color selection: Sable pattern in colors ranging from grey to red, with darker shades on the back, neck, and sides and has light harness markings.

Grooming: Swedish Vallhund's need to be brushed twice a week. Clip their their nails monthly. Brush their teeth daily to prevent plaque. Clean ears and eyes weekly.

Weight: Female: 30 to 32 pounds

               Male: 33 to 35 pounds

Personality: Swedish Vallhund's are alert to any sound or activity and are eager to please.

Trainabilty: Hard. To make the training process a little easier, use clicker training and treat as their reward to listening to you.

Activity Level: Swedish Vallhund's are very energetic. They need plenty of exercise.

Known Health Problems: Retinopathy and hip dysplasia.

Are Swedish Vallhund's good with children? Yes especially with older children when they are trained.

Are Swedish Vallhund's good with other pet? Yes. If trained and socialized with them.

Shuntz Disease

Shuntz disease is a type of liver disease that is cause by a poor diet. It allows blood to bypass the liver, which is not cleaned by the bodily filters. The blood moves around the liver instead of inside the liver. Sometimes, dental disease can cause increased liver enzymes activities. They have to be put on specific diets unlike other liver diseases. The dog has to be on a low protein diet, preferably vegetarian diets. You must avoid foods that contain soy, cauliflower, spinach, asparagus, peas, mushrooms, and beans. Supplements such as SAM-e (S-denosyl-L-Methionine). SAM-e is best to be taken on an empty stomach, along with vitamin B.

This disease is serious. There is a chance that may have to have surgery

Symptoms: body swaying, poor growth, seizures, pushing their head up against something for no reason whatsoever, strange behavior mostly after eating. This disease does affect the blood flow to the brain.

other names for this disease: Portosystemic Shunts

For more information, CLICK HERE

Beauceron

American Kennel Club (AKC): Herding Group

Life Span: 10-12 years

Weight: 65-85 pounds

Height: 24.5-27.5 inches tall

Other names: Berger de Beauce, Bas-Rouge

Uses: Police, herding, and guardian

Temperament: Intelligent, great memory, reliable, eager to please, full of energy, loyal

Exercise: Needs physical and mental exercise activities daily. If they do not get their daily exercise, they may become bored and destructive

Possible  Health Issues:

Litter: 6-7 puppies

Other Information: Beaucerons are full of energy and love to spend time with their family.

American Kennel Club National Championship 2010 Winners

Winners:

BEST OF SHOW: Reckon the Australian Shepherd

HOUND GROUP: Chanel the Whippet

WORKING GROUP: Lady Bug the Portuguese Water Dog

TERRIER GROUP: Adam the (Smooth)Fox Terrier

HERDING GROUP: Reckon the Australian Shepherd

NON-SPORTING GROUP: Drummer the Bichon Frise

SPORTING GROUP: Pointer (German Wirehaired)

TOY GROUP: Malachy the Pekingese

Congratulations to all who took place at this event. Good luck next time!

Merry Christmas

Shar-Pei

Life Span: 8-12 years

Height: 18-20 inches (46-50 centimeters)

Weight: 40-55 pounds (18-25 Kilograms)

Grooming- You MUST clean between EVERY wrinkle, otherwise, infection may set in.

Litter: approximately 6 puppies

American Kennel Club Group (AKC): Non-Sporting Group

Temperament: Strong, independent, calm, confident, playful, and intelligent

Exercise Requirements: Needs a daily walk

Known Heath Problems: several skin conditions, thyroid

Extra Information: Shar-Peis are known for their wrinkles. Most people are turned away from buying or adopting a shar-pei because of the sight of the wrinkles. They have an issue with drool dripping and getting everywhere. Make sure you have a cloth nearby before all that slobber gets everywhere when your shar-pei shakes. Even though it is a lot of work to keep you shar-pei in shape, you have to remember these dogs will love you to pieces.

Stop Animal Cruelty! Be their Voices!

Pet abuse is a horrific thing that can happen. Thousand of animals are abused every year and never survive. Some owners would leave them outside in weather that is way too cold or too hot outside. Others would beat their pets or even starve them to death. And some take the abuse to the animal even more horrific. Everyone need to learn to be the animals voice because they can't use their own voice. If you see any animal cruelty, call your nearest Animal Shelter and report it. Save them because they would do the same for you.

"Marmaduke" Now In Theaters!

Marmaduke Theatrical Trailer

Marmaduke is the latest movie out in Theaters now. Marmaduke is a dog who is a troublemaker just like Marley from the 2007 movie "Marley and Me." It is rated PG (Parental Guidence suggested.)

Beagle

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Life Span: 12 to 15 years

Height: 13 to 15 inches tall

Weight: 20 to 25 pounds

Grooming: Needs brushed and ears cleaned weekly, clip toenails when needed, and brush teeth daily.

Litter: 2 to 14 puppies

American Kennel Club Group(AKC): Hound

Temperament: Beagles are very stubborn dogs, who are very intelligent. They are bred to hunt, so they may try to run out the door when they find a scent. They have a different howl for every scent they find.

Activity Level: Beagles are high-strung.

Exercise Requirements: Beagles will need plenty of walks.

Known Health Problems: Epilepsy, heart disease, eye and back problems, ear infections, and chrondroplasia (dwarfism with the warped front legs)

Lhasa Apso

Group: AKC: Non-Sporting
UKC: Companion dog
Average Life Span: Up to 15 years
Grooming: Brush and comb the coat about three times every week. Bathe them as needed.
Height: 10 to 12 inches for males. Females are smaller.
Weight: Males: 14 to 16 Pounds
Females: 10 to 15 pounds
Personality: Lhasa Apso's are a joyful, impish, dignified, but forceful.
Trainability: Using positive methods, they will only need a moderate amount of training
Activity Level: Usually low; They love to run in the yard and needs a short walk several times a week.
Known health problems: Dry Eye(keratoconjunctivitissicca)
Luxating Patellas(Slipping Kneecaps)
Renal Dysplasia(Kidney Illness)
Other Information: Lhasa Apso's are good with children if they have been socialized with children. They are usually good with other pets. Lhasa Apso's are a loyal companion that on the lookout for other people.

Getting Your Pets Ready For Winter

This winter it's predicted to be in the below zero range. Make sure you don't keep your pet outside too long and don't forget to put their doggy boots and coat on to keep them warm. If you hear there is bad weather coming, make sure you and your pets have a surplus of foods. You don't want them to get hungry nor yourself if you get snowed in. If your dog is the color white, make sure you put them in a coat that isn't white, otherwise you might not be able to see them in the snow. Even though it is going to be winter, keep walking your pets, but don't walk them in below freezing temperatures. Doing that, may cause frost bite and other serious conditions to both you and your pet.

American Foxhound

Nicknames: Foxhound
Litter Size: 1 to 12 puppies
Weight: Female: 35 to 55 pounds
Weight: Male: 65 to 75 pounds
Level of Training: Medium. Needs to be trained early.
Health Problems: (Thrombocytopathy)Blood Disorder,
Family: Very affectionate, can be stubborn at times, and easy going
AKC: Hound Group          
UKC: Scenthound Group
Grooming: American Foxhounds need their ears to be clean weekly. They need to be brushed weekly.
Life Span: 10 to 12 years
Extra Info: American F0xhounds needs walked at least twice a day. Be careful! American Foxhound's leash need to be held on tightly, otherwise you may be running after them, more than you have ran in your life time... They are a hound, so they were bred to hunt. They may go after smaller animals.