Dogs We Luv!

Mention the name pug and people who knows a lot about dog breeds are bound to describe it with the phrase “multum in parvo” which means “much in little”. True enough, there is so much more to the small package than what meets the eye. Despite its compactness, the pug has a big personality. What Meets the Eye   How would you describe a pug physically? It is easy to recognize a pug with its dark, short-muzzled face; glossy, wrinkly skin; soft, flapped ears; and a curled tail. It has a large head and a square, stocky body carried by four, pudgy but sturdy legs. The average weight can range from 14 to 18 pounds.  Males are generally larger than the females in terms of height.  They can grow anywhere from 10 to 14 inches tall.  On the other hand, females typically grow from 10 to 12 inches tall. Fawn and black are the most common coat coloring for pugs, but some pugs may have apricot fawn or silver fawn coats. A pug with a fawn-colored coat woul...

The Dachshund is a small, hound-type dog with a muscular, elongated body, and short legs.  Like  the Corgi , the Dachshund can be funny looking because its legs are remarkably short compared to its brawny body. The “Badger” Dog The name Dachshund is a combination of two German words –  Dachs  which means “badger”, and  Hund  which means “dog”.  Back in the 1600s, Dachshunds were first bred in Germany, where they were used for hunting small animals like rabbits and badgers. Their keen sense of smell and swiftness make them the ideal dogs for digging burrows and chasing badgers. Because of their appearance, they are also often referred to as the sausage dog or wiener dog. The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1895, listed under the Hound Group. The Different Types of Dachshunds There are three types of Dachshunds, classified based on their coats – the short or smooth-haired, the long...

Many popular dog breeds are considered giants because of their immense size and weight.  Perhaps you might be familiar with the St. Bernard, the Great Dane, the Irish Wolfhound, the Newfoundland, the Bullmastiff, or the Black Russian Terrier? There are numerous breeds of very large dogs from different parts of the world and some of them,  you have probably never heard of.  Here are six amazing, large dog breeds that may not be as famous as their giant cousins, but are definitely worth knowing. Šarplaninac The Sarplaninac is a large dog breed that lives in the Šar mountains, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Albania. It is also known as the Illyrian Sheepdog or the Yugoslov Shepherd. These giant breeds can grow from a height of 28 inches to 32 inches, and weigh anywhere from 38 kilograms to 55 kilograms when full grown. Like many mountain dogs has a large, strong body. They have a slightly long coat (4 inches), and can either be rough or smooth....

Welsh Corgis are small herding dogs from Wales. There are two different breeds of Corgi – the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi- both named after their town of origin [Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire]. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi Pembroke Welsh Corgis are known for their strong affiliation with Queen Elizabeth II, as well as with other British royalties. History reveals that no less than The Queen herself, has owned more than 30 Pembroke Welsh Corgis during her reign. Physical Characteristics of a Pembroke Corgi  source Pembroke Welsh Corgis can grow from 10 to 12 inches in height – from feet to shoulder. They have a sturdy built and adults can weigh anywhere from 25 to 28 pounds. They have a slightly elongated yet athletic body but with short legs. Pembroke Corgis are shorter than their cousins the – the Cardigan Corgis. Pembroke Corgis have a triple coat – a fine undercoat and a coarse, water resistant overcoat. The overcoat can grow up to a medium le...

The Miniature Pinscher is one of the smallest dog breeds. It originated from Germany and is often called the “King of the Toys”. The Min Pin may have been a descendant of the German Pinscher [a medium-sized pinscher breed that is also from Germany], mixed with the Italian Greyhound and the Dachshund. Kennel Clubs recognize Min Pins as “toy dogs”, and because of their boldness, they are called the “King of Toys”. source What Does A Min Pin Look Like? There is a misconception that this little dog is the miniature version of the Doberman Pinscher. Despite their incredible resemblance however, they are two distinct breeds, and Min Pins are definitely not tiny Dobermans. Miniature Pinschers have a sturdy built, a proud stance, and a commanding presence inspite of their size. They can grow anywhere from ten to twelve inches in length.  Some pinschers have cropped ears or a docked tail. They have short, smooth, shiny coats which can either be of a solid black, chocolate, red, ...

Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog has officially arrived at the White House. After some controversies as to the 6-month old PWD’s origin, the Obama’s welcomed the first pooch to his new home last April 14. Apparently, Bo was a gift from Ted Kennedy (who also has 2 PWDs from Bo’s breeder) after Bo’s first owners gave him up. I’m not very familiar with this breed so I came up with this research: Portuguese Water Dog History Aptly named the Portuguese Water Dog, this canine breed was originally a fisherman’s dog in Portugal. Known for its strength and exceptional swimming ability (the PWD can swim all day), it was the perfect fisherman companion (to retrieve fishing nets, carry messages from the boat to shore, guard boats, and dove for fish). Appearance: The PWD is a medium built dog. The size and height proportions range from 20-23 inches, 42 to 60 pounds for males; and 17 to 21 inches and 35 to 50 pounds for females. The body is solid, muscular and well-balanced. PWDs have...

Dogs are not possessions. They are friends. They are family members. And if you’re going to share your home with a dog, you need to be ready for the joys and the responsibilities. Questions to con sider when choosing a dog: Are you an active person? Do you have allergies? (If you do, read For Dog Lovers with Pet Allergies ) Do you have kids? Do you live in an apartment? Should you get a large dog o r a sm aller dog? If you live in an apartment, a smaller dog breed may be best unless you have time to take your dog out on walks every day. Larger dog breeds generally have greater needs than smaller ones (in terms of food, exercise, hygiene, veterinary services, etc.) Seriously consider this: Do you have the time, energy, and money to care for a larger dog? However, if you’re looking for a jogging or a walking partner, small dogs may not be the best companions. Large dogs are perfect for this lifestyle. Dogs and Temperaments Like people, dogs also have their...

Beagle Beagles are energetic, fun-loving dogs, and great around children which makes them a wonderful family companion. A very smart dog that is easily trained with a highly sensitive sense of smell. Beagles have short coats which makes grooming easy. However, because Beagles have a natural flare for hunting, and have a tendency to follow the nose, they should be kept in a well-fenced home. In addition, because they are very active dogs, they need to be taken out for walks at least twice a day. Dachshund Dachshunds come in three different kinds – the smooth haired, wirehaired and the longhaired dachshund. Its coat ranges from cream, tan, grayish, red, black and a combination of these colors. There is a miniature dachshund and a larger one. In Germany, Dachshunds were used as Badger hunters. It got its name from the German word “ Dachs ” which meands Bader. These dogs have long body and short legs which give it a fun, clownish appearance.  Quite appropriate becaus...

Here are three large dog breeds that I would love to have. I know, they're all big and active dogs and right now, I'm just not ready for them. But when I get to live in a bigger house, it will have a spacious lawn and I will have a Labrador Retriever, a Golden Retriever or a German Shepherd! Golden Retriever The Golden Retriever is the second most popular dog breed (next to Labrador Retriever) in the world. We are all familiar with popular movie heroes like Shadow (from the movie Homeward Bound) and Air Bud (from the movie of the same title). When I saw Homeward Bound, I instantly wanted my Golden Retriever puppy. Do you remember that scene when Shadow almost didn’t make it? Golden Retrievers are gentle, friendly, handsome, intelligent.  The breed is a hunter’s loyal companion and a genuine family dog. However, they are energetic dogs who crave for physical activity. They don’t like to mope around doing nothing. They yearn for company, for something to do.  ...