Saturday, May 1, 2010

Tan and Black Coonhound Dog Breed

Black and Tan Coonhound Dog Breed

Description: The Black and Tan Coonhound dog is a determined hunting hound. This is a large dog; the head is in good proportions to the body. The body's length is equal, or slightly larger than the height of this dog at the withers. The head is longer and more oval on the outline, the muzzle is long. The teeth meet in a scissor bite. The eyes are oval and hazel or dark brown; they have tanned spots above the eye.

This breed has long ears, sets low hanging towards the ground, reaching beyond the tip of the nose. They have long legs that are straight, and even with the body. The dog's skin fits loosely. The strong tail is carried unreservedly. They have a short thick, black coat with distinctive tan markings on their chest limbs and muzzle.

History: This breed was developed by crossing the Talbot Hound with the bloodhound and foxhound. The black and tan coonhound was the first coonhound, to be considered as a separate breed from foxhound.

This hound is known for its howling and tracking abilities. The hunting abilities of this breed are renowned, they have been known for hunting deer, bear, mountain lions, over all terrains. This is a hardy hound that can live outside in any weather. Among its talents are tracking, watchdog, and even agility.

Temperament: this is a good-natured dog, that is loyal quick to learn and intelligent. This is an eager dog, which loves and is passionate about working. He is gentle and kind to people, loves to hear its master's voice. This breed needs to know humans are alpha and be shown good leadership, to maintain the health and balance of this dog. This dog is usually better with older children.

This breed, needs to have lots of exercise, it is used to being able to run for hours at a time. Without lots of walks this dog can become highly strung, possibly showing signs of aggression towards the owner, who has not communicated that the humans are in command. This dog with the right training, leadership, and rules, can be a wonderful dog, and a full member of an active family. Without good, physical and mental exercise, this dog can howl if left alone, and can be very aggressive with other dogs, and will need good socialization at a very young age. It is best, if you wish to have this hound as a pet to look at the show breed. As these have slightly less energy than the working breed. Care needs to be given when out walking this dog, as a working dog, this dog is likely to chase and scent out all types of small rodents. It is best to keep this dog on a lead when out walking.

Health issues: This breed is fairly hardy, but can get hip dysplasia. It can gain weight easily so portion control is a must.

Grooming: this breed needs little in grooming and an occasional brush over works fine. A weekly check needs to be done, for ears and eyes, to keep clean, and infection free.

Living conditions: this breed is not recommended for apartment life. They are an active breed, and will do best with a large garden, plenty of walks and exercise, and really will suit an active family.

lets know more on American Foxhound Dog

American Foxhound Dog

The American Foxhound is very similar to the English Foxhound, but it is lighter and taller than the English cousin. Its reputation is that it has a better sense of smell. The head is long with a good shaped but slightly domed skull. The eyes are big and widely set and have a pleading look. The ears are pendent and broad, set close to the head. This is still a large dog and their legs are long and straight. The tail has an upward curve but doesn't go over his body. The coat is short, somewhat firm and can be of any colour. These are fast dogs.

History: This Foxhound has come from England, the English hound. They were brought over in about 1650. This breed was, 100 years later, bred with a French hound by George Washington. They have been mostly used as hunters and for tracking as they have a wonderful nose and can track well. The American Foxhound has served as an untiring hunter throughout the passages of time. With its great nose and speed an asset to man. Today they are mostly used for hunting and field trials.

Temperament: The American Foxhound dog will need plenty of exercise and is best if working. It doesn't always make a good house pet as the natural instincts are such due to their history of outdoor living. Their bark is unique and is low. When they find a scent they like or wish to follow, they can bay and bark lots. They are formidable fighters in the hunt. On the other hand, with the right amount of exercise they can be loving and gentle. They are brilliant with children. Have no problems getting along with other dogs but a watchful eye needs to be there towards small pets due to the hunting abilities of this breed. They have endless energy and, to stop indoor restlessness, you need to take them on long daily walks. The faster the better so brisk walking, or jogging with this dog is better. As with all dogs this dog needs to know you are in change and this will allow you to lead the way rather than the dog leading.

Health issues: The American Foxhound dog breed is mostly free of a lot of problems. You do need to keep an eye on their weight as they can put on weight easily. Good exercise and portion control works best.

Grooming: The American Foxhound is low maintenance but requires a comb and brush for short haired dogs. This only needs doing a few times a week. Bathing is not needed often and should only be done if required.

Living conditions: The American Foxhound is an active dog. It is best to have a very large garden or acreage. They are not recommended for apartment life. Even with a large garden this dog needs vigorous exercise and a secure garden to stop them chasing a scent that they wish to follow.

Cat litter training

For most cat owners, training their cat to use the litter is a relatively painless process. It is among a cat's natural instincts to eliminate in an area that they can cover their feces in. This behavior may be a way of your cat accepting what they perceive to be as the natural order of dominance. In the wild feral cats will bury their feces if they are not at the top of their social hierarchy, if a feral cat does not bury his or her feces it is likely that the cat exhibiting that behavior is the dominant feline. So when your housecat buries his or her waste he or she may be recognizing your role as the dominant animal in their social community. It is also possible, however, that your cat may be displaying his or her inherited instinct to bury his or her feces in order to hide their trail from would be predators.
Generally kittens will learn the behavior of burying their feces and using the litter 
through their mother once they are weaned assuming the mother is litter trained. 
So if you bring home a young kitten of about 12 weeks, you may only need to 
place kitty in the litter box and gently scratch the clean litter with your fingers 
shortly after she eats to indicate to her what she is to do.
KITTY DIDN'T TAKE TO THE LITTER RIGHT AWAY
If your new cat doesn't take to litter training after your first few attempts you may 
want to consider teaching her using another common method. Confine your new 
addition to a small but comfortable room, preferably one with a hard floor if you 
have one. Place both the litter box and the food dish in the room but don't place 
them close to one another. Your cat will naturally not want to defecate near its food 
source so she will look for another area. Eliminate any pillows, blankets, 
newspapers, towels or other soft items where your cat may decide to eliminate from 
the room before you close her in. If you have confined your cat to a room with hard 
floors she is likely to avoid eliminating on the floor since urinating is likely to splash 
back and get on her fur. The only remaining choice to the cat at this point is 
(hopefully) the litter box.
MY CAT STOPPED USING THE LITTER
If your cat was housebroken and all the sudden she seems to have 
forgotten that instinct there are a few possibilities you might want to consider 
before giving up.
1. Does Kitty Have A Dirty Litter Box? The most common cause of a 
housetrained cat to stop using the litter is your cat 
disagreeing with the level of cleanliness regarding her litter box. Your cat is more 
likely to 
stop using the litter if she feels that it is too dirty. It is best to clean your cat's litter 
every day or at the very least every second or third day. The dirtier a litter box gets 
the less likely it is that your cat is going to continue to use it. Your cat wants to 
eliminate in a clean environment and if she notices that every time she eliminates on 
the carpet you immediately run and clean it up she perceives that as a more 
desirable place to eliminate because it is so quickly cleaned. Keeping your cat's 
litter as clean as possible is the best way to avoid this problem, and remember, what 
you consider clean, your cat may not.
In addition to emptying the litter, you obviously need to change it from time to time 
as well in order to ensure good cat health and cleanliness. Weekly changing is best, 
this ensures that odors and wetness won't have too much time to build up to 
unacceptable levels and it also reduces the likelihood of sickness due to high levels 
of bacteria.
2. Stress. A cat eliminating outside of the litter box may also be a sign for 
stress. 
The introduction of a new person or animal into the household may be putting a lot 
of stress on your cat. Cats generally like to feel like they know what is going on and 
what they can expect. If you upset that balance by introducing a new creature (even 
a two legged one) into the household they may get stressed which can cause them 
to eliminate outside the box.
If you leave your cat alone for long periods of time (for example while you take 
vacations or go on business trips) and you come back you may 
notice that your cat will sometimes seem aloof and standoffish. This is another 
instance in which your cat may react with eliminating outside the litter box as a sort 
of protest to what she perceives as being abandoned.
A new piece of furniture, or conversely, a newly missing piece of furniture may also 
put stress on your cat. Order and comfort are important if you are a cat. If you 
decide to get rid of that old fabric sofa because of it's ugly pea green color and 
because it's falling apart at the seams and then you replace it with a brand new, 
slick, top of the line, leather sofa with a refrigerator built into the side, and a 
massage and heating function, your cat is unlikely to see this as a stylish upgrade 
the way you would. What your cat will probably see is that one of her favorite nap 
spots has disappeared only to be replaced by something she is unfamiliar with and 
intimidated by.
3. Changing Litter Brands. Cats are creatures of habit and can also be 
quite finicky (remember Morris, the 9 Lives cat?). If you've recently switched the 
brand of litter you usually buy this may be cause for your cat to find another place 
to go. Some litters are perfumed (for humans rather than cats) and your cat may 
not react well to these smells, or perhaps your cat was used to a less dusty type 
of litter, a particular litter's texture, or who knows what. Changing brands or types 
of litter may upset what your cat is comfortable with and the result may be a messy 
carpet. If you suspect this to be the cause, you can either switch back, or 
gradually introduce the new litter. Try mixing in a little bit of the new litter with the 
older brand at first and gradually step up the percentage of the new litter each time 
you change the box, eventually you will be able to replace the older brand 
altogether. This will help your cat ease into the new litter brand rather than upset 
her sense of the order of things.
4. Multiple Cats. As mentioned above a second animal may cause a cat to 
begin to 
eliminate outside of the litter box, but this may not necessarily be the result of 
stress. A second cat in your household should probably have his own litter box 
unless your cats have proven they don't mind sharing. Again, remember cats are 
clean creatures and they can be territorial as well. Some cats may not mind using 
the same box, but others may refuse, which means again, the carpet becomes litter 
box number two.
5. Litter Box Size Or Placement. If the litter box does not provide enough 
room for 
your cat she may not use it at all. Your cat will likely want to scratch around and be 
able to feel comfortable in the litter box. Make sure it is roomy enough, easy 
for your cat to get in and out of (the sides of the box should be lower for kittens 
than for adult cats), and not in a high traffic area as cats seem to like some 
degree of privacy when eliminating. Lastly, make sure your cat has access to the 
litter at all times. Putting your litter box in a room that is closed on occasion is a 
recipe for disaster. If your cat has to go and she can't get to the room that you've 
put the litter in then she really will have no other alternative than to find another 
suitable area to eliminate.
6. Medical Issues. Your cat may be experiencing kitty incontinence. Like 
humans, 
incontinence can strike animals and this may be an indication of other medical 
issues with your cat. As a cat ages, she becomes more likely to lose control of her 
bodily functions just like a human does. If you suspect age or medical reasons may 
be the cause for your kitty's litter box problems then you should take her to the vet 
for an examination, advice and possible treatment to resolve the problem.
WHEN YOUR CAT MAKES A MESS
If your cat does make a mess outside of the litter box it is generally not good 
practice to scold her or punish her. Putting her nose in the mess and then tossing 
her in the litter is not going to solve your problem. Being upset with your cat is 
natural after such an incident, but to display this behavior and then to put her in the 
litter box is only making your cat associate the litter box with a bad experience. 
Your cat may also begin to learn to be afraid of you, which is obviously not what you 
want. Your best solution is to clean up the mess quickly. Put your cat in the litter 
box and be friendly and speak in a calming voice with the cat. Scrape the clean 
litter with your fingers and make sure your cat sees this behavior, hopefully it will 
sink in. To avoid having your cat defecate in the same place outside the litter box a 
second (or third) time, cover the area with a plastic sheet or something hard that 
will result in your cat splashing herself with her own urine if she should chose that 
place to defecate again. Clean the smell as best you can (white vinegar may help, 
but make sure your furniture or carpet can handle it). You can also move her food 
dish on top of or near the area that she used to defecate, a cat will not want to 
defecate near her food source. If your cat uses the litter again, even just once, 
reward her, play with her, pet her, give her a treat, make her associate the litter box 
with a good experience rather than a bad one.
A cat that eliminates outside of the box is not a lost cat. Don't give up on her until 
you've explored the possible reasons for the problem. Once you find it, you can 
most likely correct it and kitty and human can live a happy co-existence once again.

Importance of Dog Training

Dog Training- Show Your Puppy or Dog Who is the Boss

Dog training is an important area for the well being of your dog and yourself. The first thing that you have to decide is to what level you wish your dog to be trained. There are several thoughts around dog training but the best thing to do is to have a pet that is good within your life and is a sociable dog around other pets and people. All dogs need to know where they fit into your world. With this in mind the dog has to know that you are in command. Puppies need to learn good manners too. It can be easy to spoil a puppy, which then becomes a very difficult adult dog.

To start at the basics for your dog's training. Coming when called, sitting, and being sociable. To teach your puppy its name, call the puppy in a friendly way and when the dog looks at you or comes over give lots of praise. Small training treats can be used, but if the dog likes a squeaky toy use this as a reward. Rewards help the puppy to train quickly.

This same technique can be used for the "come here" command; this can then be a game that you play with your dog. It builds up what the dog is expected to do, and when. A word of warning here, do not expect a fully trained puppy too soon. Do a lot of your training in a safe fenced off area, your garden or a small secure park area works well. If your dog doesn't come back or runs away from you, you need a safe place where they cannot get hurt or wander off too far.

Do not shout, smack, or scold your puppy for not coming back when called as this sends the puppy the wrong message, and they may be frightened to return to you next time, if they get a negative feed back. Try calling a few times, and if they don't return to you, you go over and collect them, no treat on this occasion putting the lead back on the puppy.

Keep trying with a long lead on your dog if you need to and build up their understanding of what you wish them to do. Keep consistent, whether you're in the home, out with friend or family, or walking in the park.

To train your dog to sit is easier and the dog soon learns what you want. Holding the treat just over the dogs head, say "sit", while moving the treat away from you over the dogs head. The dog will follow the treat encouraging them to naturally sit. When they have sat, praise the dog and give the treat. Repeat. Soon the dog will understand the word and be able to sit as you say so.

There are some great dog training schools that also do socializing with other dogs, this helps with getting the dog to see and behave with other dogs. Another way to help with this is when you are out walking your dog ask other dog owners if they would mind your dog getting to know their dog. Little and often with consistency seems to be the best way to train your dog.

Is Rottweiler Dogs your choice

Rottweiler Dogs For Your Family

Love big dogs? The Rottweiler may be the right dog for you. Originating in Germany, this dog has a rather hearty breed. It does not fall behind in the intelligence department as well since this breed learns well and assimilates information the way other intelligent dogs do.

Rottweilers used to work as draught dogs in the past. They pulled carts of livestock for slaughter which means that they are very strong. In German, this breed's name is Rottweil Metzgerhund. In English, it means "Butcher's Dog". Rottweilers were known for their strength centuries ago and were popular with butchers because they could pull small carts. Today, Rottweilers are loved by their pet owners and are not required to do any tasks.

Rottweilers are lean machines but they are not mean at all because they are friendly and generally love children. Some records show that Rottweilers were also used for hunting but today's Rottweilers no longer have a penchant for hunting. This means that bringing your Rottweiler to the dog park will not be too taxing because he won't go around hunting small dogs.  Although a fairly versatile working breed, Rottweilers were also used as herders. They could protect herds of sheep with their speed, intelligence and strength.  During World War I  the breed served as police dogs and even served as messengers, ambulance carriers,  guard and draught dogs.

The black coated dog has rich tan markings making this breed distinctive. It has a large skull and a large body but it does not lack elegance and nobility. This feature makes it one of the favorites among dog enthusiasts. This dog's nose is not round, it is broader compared to other working breeds. It also has lots of muscles on its neck and on its legs. The back is straight and firm and has a stumpy tail.

Rottweilers are a healthy breed and most of the time they are disease-free but as with most working breeds, hip dysplasia can be one of the major problems encountered by this dog.  These dogs are very powerful and have developed great guarding and herding instincts throughout the years. They usually take the responsibility of taking care of the home's premises and are very protective of their masters.  Be careful though because a Rottweiler can attack another person especially someone the dog deems suspicious. To avoid this, you should train your Rottweiler well. Enrolling him or her in a dog training facility while he or she is still young is very much recommended.

Spaniel Dog

Boykin Spaniel Dog

The Boykin Spaniel breed has a classic Spaniel type head, with the wide set eyes that are almond shaped. This breed has the long pendants drop ears that have long hair. Their muzzle is straight. If permitted the tail is docked. They have a waterproof coat that is rather wavy or can be curly, but is a smooth coat. Their colours are liver and brown. They are a larger dog than a cocker spaniel. Their weight is between 25 and 40 pounds. And their height is 15 to 18 inches. This is a hunting dog, and so more care is given to their ability than their looks.

History: The history of the Boykin Spaniel dog starts with a stray being found by a man called Alexander, who discovered what a wonderful hunting partner this dog was. Alexander gave his dog to Whitaker Boykin. This dog was male, and the Boykin Spaniel breed has come from this one dog. He was crossbred with the American water Spaniel, Pointers, Springer spaniels, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. This is a popular dog in the southern United States, particularly among bird hunters. This breed originated from South Carolina, and is the official state dog. This dog was accepted into the miscellaneous group to the AKC in February 2007. All the breeders are hoping to move this dog to the sporting group sometime in the future.

Temperament: The Boykin Spaniel is a working dog and needs lots of daily exercise, including long walks. This breed has a high drive are very willing and need to be working. They have an active mind that needs to be exercised as well. Without daily long walks, this breed will find many ways to entertain themselves, this is not recommended. While this is a docile and pleasant dog, it is to be remembered, this is a working dog that loves to work. This dog is an excellent swimmer, but care must be taken as they are prone to Spaniel, ear infections. They have excellent field ability, with a fine nose and great enthusiasm. This dog needs an owner that can communicate well with the dog, that shows good and natural leadership, and someone who likes to walk a lot.

Health issues: The Boykin Spaniel breed can have eye problems, hip dyspraxia, and in some lines they can have heart and skin problems. A careful checking and looking after the ears, is important with this breed.

Grooming: The Boykin Spaniel is an easy breed to groom, and only requires brushing every few days. While this dog can swim it is odd to say bathing is not a good idea but if bathed too much this just strips out the dogs natural oils, which can lead to skin problems and a lank coat. Weekly checks of their ears are important as well.

Living conditions: The Boykin Spaniel dog is okay in an apartment; providing you exercise daily, long walks are a must for this breed. This dog is a working dog, and is happy being a working dog, so careful thought has to go into choosing this dog as a household pet.

Know more about Airedale Terrier Dog

Airedale Terrier Dog

The Airedale Terrier is know as the 'King of Terriers', it is the largest of the terrier breeds standing up to 24 inches in height, with bitches only slightly shorter, and should weigh around 55-65 lbs. Their coat is tan in color with a black saddle and often black on the top of their tail and black around the neck. They have a square appearance while standing and have an energetic and alert air about them. Some Airedale Terriers in America can be even larger, they're know as Oorang Airedales, these originated in the 1930's but they are not true Airedales, in the past they were cruelly bread to be larger and they can not only be aggressive but have genetic problems.

History: The Airedale Terrier originated from Yorkshire in England, between the Aire and Whafe rivers. They started life as a cross between the Welsh terrier and an Otterhound, in 1886, the English Kennel Club officially recognized them as their own breed. They were first shown though in 1964, but were classified under different names such as the Rough Coated, Bingly and Waterside terrier, but they adopted the name Airedale Terrier when they joined the Kennel Club. They were originally used as hunting dogs and sporting dogs especially in ratting (where they would sniff out a rat, chase it down and kill it). They were also used during World War 1 to deliver messages on the front lines and as police dogs in 1906.

Temperament: The Airedale Terrier is a strong, independent and intelligent dog, that can occasionally be stubborn. They have a great sense of humor and thanks to their high intelligence can be trained to an exceptionally high standard if you have the patience to work with them, however it takes a trainer with a creative mind to really train an Airedale as they can easily get bored. They make great family pets as they are loyal, loving and enjoy being in the middle of family activities.

Health: Airedale Terriers have a life span of around 11.5 years, which is about average for a dog of their size, though they can suffer from hip dysplasia, eye problems and skin conditions. Because of their thick coat a skin condition can often be hard to notice with this breed, so look out for 'hot spots' where the dog scratches or licks excessively. They are also susceptible to bloat, this is often caused by exercising the dog too soon after eating, bloat causes the stomach to either block or twist witch causes a build up of gas, this can be fatal if not treated immediately. In a 2000-2001 survey the most common causes of death were cancer 38 percent, urologic 17 percent, old age 12 percent, and cardiac 6 percent.

Grooming: Because of their harsh wiry coat the best method of grooming an Airedale Terrier is hand stripping, this should be done by a professional where they use a serrated blade to pull out the loose fur. This encourages the new hairs to grow and keeps the coat looking superb. However for a pet dog you can simply use clippers as you would with most other dogs but this method can soften the coat and cause discoloration over a long period of time. The most noticeable traits are the eyebrows and the moustache, these are left long as part of the Airedales look, they should also be brushed on a daily basis, although they are commonly referred to as a non-shedding breed this is not true, and daily brushing will help keep the coat at its best.

Living Conditions: Airedale Terriers are not suited to apartment living as they are very active dogs, they need at least an average sized garden and long daily walks to burn off the excess energy they have, Airedales that are not exercised enough can often become bored and can find highly mischievous ways to amuse themselves. They need a lot of attention and often love to run, swim and play ball.