Pets Rock Blog

The Shar-Pei is a Chinese dog breed originating in Guang Dong Province (Southern China) with ancestors dating back to possibly the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.), though the exact origin is uncertain.

The breed is believed to be related to the Chow-Chow because they both have black tongues.

They breed was originally bred as guard dogs but were also very poplar as fighting dogs. Shar-Peis also have the nickname of Chinese Fighting Dogs.

The dogs faced extinction during the time of the Communist Revolution, probably due to the breed’s association with the upper classes and nobility. Matgo Law from Hong Kong made a considerable effort to rescue as many dogs as possible. Law was responsible for the export of many Shar-Peis to America in the 1970s and greatly contributed to the preservation of the breed. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1992.

The breed is best known for its distinctive wrinkly coat, although the original Shar-Peis had smoother coats. Coat textures of Western Shar-Peis vary between “brush”, “horse” and “bear”. The Shar-Pei has many wrinkles as a puppy but then loses most of them as it grows into its skin. The Chinese breed has a harsh “sand coat” and has fewer wrinkles than the Western breed. The bear coat also has fewer wrinkles and does not meet AKC standards. Shar-Peis come in a multitude of colours. Any one of over sixteen colours are acceptable as long as the coat is one solid colour and not spotty.

Shar-Peis are mediums-sized squared-built dogs. They weigh about 46-51cm (18-20”) and weigh around 20-27 kg (45-60 lbs). They have small triangular ears and tails that curl up, so no cropping is needed.

Health problems that might occur include skin- and food allergies, Familial Shar-Pei Fever, Swollen Hock Syndrome and eye problems. Due to their wrinkly faces they may also develop a condition called “Entropion” were the eyelashes curl inwards and irritate the eyes, which could lead to blindness. Entropion can be treated by an eyelid lift surgery or removal of excess skin.

Shar-Peis are very territorial dogs and can be very aggressive towards strangers. They are not particularly noisy and make good guard dogs. They are intelligent and alert, but are independent and can be very stubborn. They can however make loving a loyal pets.

If you are thinking of buying a Shar-Pei please make sure that is the right breed for you. Can you handle such and aggressive dog? Are you willing to deal with possible health issues and eye operations? Sure these wrinkly canines are very cute, but remember they require great responsibly. If you buy from a breeder, please make sure they are registered and inspect their premises. Before you look at dogs for sale please consider getting a dog at a rescue shelter or adopting a dog directly from its former owner. You might be able to find the breed you want up for adoption in the pets classifieds section, so it is worth a look.

Source: Wikipedia
Related link: American Kennel Club

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The Scottish Terrier as the name suggests originates from Scotland. Known commonly as Scotties these terriers are also sometimes called by their original name: Aberdeen Terriers. They were given the nickname “Die-hards”, by the Earl of Dumbarton.

Scotties were originally bred in Aberdeen Scotland in the 1700s to hunt rodents, badgers and foxes.

The  Scottish Terrier is a small breed of dog, about 28–38 cm (in height). A Male dog should weigh around 8.5–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female round 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). They have square build and short legs. They have a short and bearded muzzle and have pointy ears. Their tails are kept natural.

They have a wiry topcoat with softer undercoat. Hair is usually shaved short at the top but kept long around the legs and under carriage. They are mostly black (pure black, gray or brindle) in colour but rare, wheaten Scotties are white. Scotties require special grooming. Their coats need regular brushing and should be trimmed about six times a year.

Scotties are intelligent, fiercely independent and somewhat stubborn which makes them somewhat difficult to train. They are quite aggressive dogs and should be kept on leash during walks. They are very energetic and highly alert. Their independence makes them a good choice for working people who aren’t at home all day. Scotties aren’t such a good choice for smaller children, because they don’t like being teased or prodded. They get along with most pets, but skittish pets that run away might trigger the Scotty’s hunting instincts.

They tend to gain weight easily, so special attention should be given to their diet. They are more susceptible to cancer, especially balder cancer, than some of the other terrier breeds. Other health issues that they might be genetically prone to are von Willebrand disease and craniomandibular osteopathy. They might also suffer from Scottie cramp, cerebellar abiotrophy and patellar luxation.

In popular culture, the Scotty is a token in the game of Monopoly. Jock, an old Scotty is one of Ladies friends in “The Lady and the Tramp”. They became extremely popular between World War I and World War II”. Although its popularity has not remained constant, the Scottish terrier is still a well-known and popular dog breed.

If you’ve decided that you would like to buy a puppy (or even better, adopt a dog) you have to keep the Scotty’s temperament in mind before you choose the breed. Is this the right dog for your family set-up and life style? Are you dominant enough to be the boss of a Scotty?  When you buy a dog you should be willing to take responsibility for it and take care if its special requirements.

Sources: Wikipedia  & IAMS
Picture by: Ukapala (sxc)

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Ben of Hyde, the first recognised yellow lab.

The Labrador is a type of gun dog and belongs to the class Retriever. The Labrador retriever is the world’s favourite dog breed. The breed originated in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The breed was developed over time from the St Johns water dog. Crossing the Labrador with the Poodle gave rise to the Labradoodle.

The Labrador, or Lab for short, is a medium-large dog with a strong build. Males weigh about 66–79 pounds (30–36 kg) and females weigh around 55–71 pounds (25–32 kg). The British breed is slightly smaller and mild mannered than the American breed. Labs have floppy ears and “otter tails”.

Labs have shorthaired water resistant coats and come in the colours yellow, black and chocolate. Yellows vary from white to light gold to a fox red. They tend to shed a lot of hair

Labs are friendly, highly intelligent, sweet natured and good family pets. They are not very territorial. They are very trainable dogs, though the book Marley and me by John Grogan is a true story about a Labrador that was “untrainable”. Marley & Me was adapted into a movie starring Owen Wilson as Grogan and Jennifer Aniston as his wife. It’s a sweet story that most dog lovers would enjoy. In the medical sitcom [Scrubs] JD and Turk own a stuffed yellow lab name Rowdy.

Labs are excellent working dogs and are used for hunting, searching, as guide dogs and as therapy dogs. They are the breed most commonly used as guide dogs for the blind. Assistance Labradors have even been known to assist their owners at ATMs. Endal, “Dog of the Millennium”, was the first dog known to do this.

Labs are prone to eye problems and hypdisplasia. They can also get ear infections or become over weight. They require daily walks and exercise.

Labradors make wonderful pets but remember that they are very active dogs.
As always make sure that this is really the right pet for you. Before you buy a dog, see if there are any dogs up for adoption in the breed of your choice.

(Read my post on: Adopting a Dog)

Source: Wikipedia

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Weimaraner

Weimeraners belong to the class hunting dog and gun dog. They are German in origin and are thought to have been developed in the 19th century.

They are large dogs and have athletic appearance. Males weigh approximately 70-85 pounds and are 25-27 inches in height. Female weigh around 55-70 pounds and a 23-25 inches high. They have a short coat and are often gray in color. Their eye color can be gray, blue-gray or amber. Ears are kept natural but Weimeraners’ tails are often docked when they’re puppies.

They are prone to health issues like gastric and eye problems

They are not outside dogs and prefer to be with their owner at all times. They are prone to barking when left alone. They can develop anxiety problems. They were originally bred to hunt quite large animals so they should be introduced to other pets at a very young age to prevent them from acting on their hunting instinct.

They are very demanding dogs that require a lot of attention. They have high energy levels and should be adequately exercised. If you’re thinking about getting a Weimeraner, do some research and make sure that it is the right breed for you.   Also consider adoption as an option when you’re thinking about buying a dog.  (Refer to my post on Adopting dogs.)

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Beagle puppy

The Beagle is a popular dog breed due to its amicable nature and most likely because of  the dog Snoopy in Charles Schultz’s Peanuts comic strips.

The Beagle falls the hound classification of dogs and is similar to the Foxhound. The modern Beagle was probably developed around 1830, although similar beagle-type dogs have existed for longer. They were presumably bred from, the North Country Beagle the Talbot Hound, the Southern Hound and the Harrier. They were originally bred as hunting dogs. Crossbreeding a Beagle with a Pug gave birth to the Puggle.

The Beagle has a highly developed sense of smell. This makes them good sniffer dogs.

Beagles are small to medium sized dogs. They can have a range of colours including bicolour, but the tricolour is the most common. They are usually about 33 – 40 cm in height. Females are usually smaller than males. They have long tails and floppy ears

They are thought to be friendly even-tempered dogs. They make good pets and therapy dogs. They are very excitable. They are pack animals and get on well with other dogs. They are not the most trainable dogs and do not have a high obedience ranking. They can be quite stubborn and are difficult to call back once they have picked up on a scent.

Beagles are prone to a number of illnesses including hyperthyroidism, dwarfism, epilepsy, glaucoma and corneal dystrophy. They are also prone to weight problems if they don’t receive sufficient exercise.

Due to their peaceful nature they are the dogs most often uexperiment on. I think that’s sick!

More info:  wikipedia or mybeagledog

Picture by: coloniera2

If you want to buy a dog,  remeber that it is a serious responsibilty. Do not simply get a breed because you’ve seen it in a movie, do some research. Visit the premises where the puppies and their parents come from.

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