Dog Breeds - Labrador Retriever

Today I am going to write about the most popular dog breed.

As you can see from the previews post, the most popular breed is the Labrador retriever. How cute is that dog ?

These dogs have very good detection and working skills, therefore they are often used by police or other parties. They are very polite, friendly, energetic, and intelligent dogs. This is why this breed is so popular. The Labrador Retriever is considered large, muscular, and athletic. He or she can function as a retrieving gun dog. They have floppy ears, a medium length muzzle, and long legs. The basic colors that they can have are chocolate, black, and yellow. But you can also find a variety of hues between these colors.

Their coat is very short and it is water-repellent, excellent for swimming or rain. It also means that the dog doesn’t get cold when swimming in winter.

Labrador Retrievers don’t tend to be aggressive, territorial, or pining, destructive, or insecure. Therefore they are most likely when you want to introduce them new persons. Having a Lab is good for every family member, even the children. They will not harm them intentionally, but you should consider that they are big and heavy. They could hit them unwillingly, accidentally. Because of their intelligent, they can think twice about things they do when they are trained well.

Unfortunately, this breed is not qualified to be a guard dog. The reason is very simple. They are just too friendly, and unaggressive.

Here is video I picked for you for more information:

2006 Favorite Dog Breeds

Every year the American Kennel Club releases the number of dogs registered for each dog breed, and that information is used to discover the favorite dog breeds in the United States for that year. Here are the AKC favorites for 2006:

• Labrador Retriever (137,867)

• Golden Retriever (48,509)

• Yorkshire Terrier (47,238)

• German Shepherd Dog (45,014)

• Beagle (42,592)

• Dachshund (38,566)

• Boxer (37,268)

• Poodle (31,638)

• Shih Tzu (28,087)

• Miniature Schnauzer (24,144)

Compare this list with the top ten dogs from the United Kingdom's list:

• Labrador Retriever

• English Cocker Spaniel

• English Springer Spaniel

• German Shepherd Dog

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

• Golden Retriever

• West Highland Terrier

• Boxer

• Border Terrier

Interesting that there are several dog breeds in the U.K. top ten list that are not near the top ten in the United States.

In the United States the Labrador Retriever has been in the number one position for 16 years in a row. Meanwhile the Chihuahua slipped from 10th place to number 11th, replaced by the Miniature Schnauzer.

It's not surprising that the two most popular dog breeds in the United States and Canada are the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever. Both are such wonderful dogs to own with their easy-going nature and high intelligence.

These two dog breeds, along with the German Shepherd Dog, made the top ten dog list in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever make great dogs for families and are listed in a top ten list of dogs for children.

In the same list of “child-friendly dogs” are the Beagle, Poodle, French Bulldog, Pug, Cairn Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, King Charles Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel, several of which made the AKC top ten dog list.

Looking at the United States AKC top ten dog list the Yorkshire Terrier has moved up to third place, it’s highest point since it became recognized by the AKC in 1885. With their spirited, loving yet willful personality, they deserve to be among the top ten popular dog breeds. Their only drawback is the daily grooming required, but that’s little inconvenience compared to the love they give.

While the Labrador Retriever has been number one since 1991, the breed that held the number one position the longest is the Cocker Spaniel, from 1936 to 1952 and again from 1983 to 1990 for a total of 23 years. Watch for the Labrador Retriever to beat that record.

The Poodle comes in a very close second for the number of years as America’s favorite breed; 1960 to 1982, a total of 22 years. It was in 1972 that the large breeds took over as America’s favorites when the Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers and Chow Chows rose in popularity throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

By comparison, small dogs held anywhere from one to four slots in the top ten at that time. However, as we entered into the new millennium small dogs have increased in popularity among Americans, perhaps due to their portability or perhaps because celebrities are making these smaller breeds more visible.

Notice all the small dogs that are in the list of the 11-20 most popular:

• Chihuahua (23,575)

• Pug (22,064)

• Bulldog (20,556)

• Pomeranian (19,511)

• Cocker Spaniel (16,343)

• Rottweiler (15,916)

• Boston Terrier (15,852)

• Shetland Sheepdog (14,278)

• Maltese (13,676)

• German Shorthaired Pointer (13,273)

Four of these dogs are from the AKCs Toy group and another, the Boston Terrier, is a small dog from the Terrier group. Add the five small dogs from the top ten list and that’s why the new millennium seems to belong to the small dog.

Whatever your favorite breed, we can all agree that dogs continue to hold a very special place in the hearts of millions of Americans, and this is a bond that needs no special breed at all.

Copyright 2006 Carol Stack

Carol Stack has been working with dogs for over three decades. She and her daughter Christy have put up a web site to help others discover how to choose, care for and train their dogs: http://www.christysdogportal.com

My Technorati Link

Ok dog lovers :-)

In this post I just want to include my Technorati Profile link to get the ball rollin' on Technorati^^

It is now about 5:40 am and I am really tired. I think I am going to post more about Dogs in a few hours when I wake up *lol*

Good Night, or Good Morning??

Shahin

Tips for Bathing your Dog

“How do I bath my dog?” That’s a question that plagues all dog owners. This article will help shed some light on that question. The answer to that question varies with the breed of dog you have and its age, length of skin, and condition as well. Hopefully, we can give you some tips that will go for all breeds.

One of the most important facets of taking care of your dog properly is learning how to bathe your dog. It can create a stressful situation and you can end up hating the time you spend bathing your dog, just as much as your do hates being bathed. If you have the knowledge of how to correctly bathe your dog, then it might create a nice bond for you and your dog.

The bath should last for roughly 15 minutes if done correctly. If you bathe your dog fast, your dog will hate the bath less. The washing can be accomplished in a bathtub, a large enough sink, or outside using a hose or child’s plastic swimming pool, depending on the size of your dog. All of this, of course, depends on how big or small your dog is as well as reactions to water, and training of your dog. The best thing is to bathe your dog in the same place every time otherwise you will risk causing your dog to be insecure and anxious when you bathe it. If your dog is going to be a large dog and right now it’s a puppy, be sure to bathe in the exact location you will give the bath when it grows up. Don’t make the mistake of bathing it in a sink and then moving its spot when it gets larger. Your poor dog will be afraid of bath time and you won’t be able to do a very good job.

If your dog is little or it’s a puppy, then be sure to hold them on the underside. Place their front legs in between your fingers. This will allow you to have a successful bath time with your dog without them running away or putting up a fight. Once you have them secure, wet down your dog. If you can use a shower type attachment on the hose, that would be the best idea. Be sure to get the dog’s skin wet completely before putting the shampoo on. Be sure before you start bath time that the hair is free of tangles or of the hair being matted. If you have a dog that has extremely long hair, be sure that’s checked out for matting especially.

Here are general tips to make bathing your dog a more successful and less stressful activity:

1. Use pet shampoo instead of people shampoo. It’s not that baby shampoo would not be gentle, but dogs have a different pH balance than we do. The dog’s shampoo has two very different points in it regarding the pH than people’s shampoo does. In other words, your dog’s skin could become dried out if you use people shampoo.
2. Bathe your dog one time a month. Some of the breeds of dogs will be able to go even longer. Ask your vet to give you the best information regarding when to bathe your dog.
3. Remember to brush the dog’s coat both before and after the bath.
4. Be sure to protect your dog’s ears by putting cotton balls inside the ears before you bathe them, to keep them from getting an ear infection. Once you are finished you can take the cotton balls out.
5. If you get shampoo accidentally in their eyes, you can wash their eyes out with warm water or you can use saline such as used for contact lenses.
6. When you have finished putting shampoo on your dog, be sure to rinse it out completely, especially in the sensitive areas such as between the toes. Otherwise, they will become irritated and cause your dog to lick itself.
7. Once the bath is over, dry your dog completely. If your dog loves to run around and roll in the grass after its bath it will pick up stuff and totally take away all the work you just did. Just remember, dog’s just love to run around and the grass, and even worse sometimes dirt, just draws the dog to roll in it after a bath.

Hopefully, the information provided gives you an idea of what will make bathing your dog more successful and will allow you to have a bonding experience instead of a horrible event for both dog and you.

Tom Lewis:
This article is written by the authors of www.petstuffgalore.co.uk
Dog Loo - Armitages Clean Green Dog Loo The natural way to dispose of dog waste safely.

Homemade Dog Food

You never know what exactly you are giving your dog when you use commercial dog foods. You don't know what it contains and if it provides the right nutrition that your dog needs. Dogs and also other pets need the right nutrition in their food in order to remain healthy and strong. A lot of commercial foods are really bad and they can even build disease or cancer that can lead to the death of the dog because they don't have enough or the correct nutrition for your dog. So the best way to feed your lovely dog is to prepare the food at home which means to give him or her homemade food.

Why homemade dog food is a better food for your dog? Because you know exactly what the food contains. You know what nutrition you are giving your dog and if it is healthy enough. It is much healthier than the store food produced on the treadmill. Homemade dog food does not contain contaminated ingredients or substances that can damage your dog's health. With homemade food you will prevent your dog getting overweight. You have your dog's weight fully under control. Your dog will look much better and feel much healthier. You will be able to notice the health change of your dog when you start giving him or her homemade food. This way you are increasing your dogs lifespan, so you can enjoy having fun much longer and living with your best friend a longer time than the usual average span.

Like we humans, also dogs like fresh food. They love the taste of it much more and the best thing about homemade food is that you are actually saving money than buying the regular store foods. But do not get confused. Homemade food is not the same food that you make for yourself. And you do not make it like the way you make food for yourself. There are a variety of special recipes that have been designed for dogs that you should consider. So if you want to give your dog the right homemade food and not just something you make at home you should learn more about this and most important you should learn the different recipes you can make for your dog.

Learn more about how homemade food can increase your dogs life span and learn how to make these healthy recipes yourself for your dog. Visit homemade-food-for-my-dog to start giving your lovely dog a healthier life

How to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Fit

Just as with humans, one of the biggest health problems today for dogs is obesity. Many owners think their pudgy dogs are adorable, when in fact they are extremely unhealthy. Overweight dogs can develop the same kinds of problems that overweight humans can, such as diabetes mellitus, which can be very tricky to treat. Obesity can also reduce your dog's life expectancy.

If you are not sure if your dog is overweight, there is a very easy way to do so visually and by touch. A dog of normal weight should have an indentation at his waistline, and his ribs should be easily felt under his skin. An overweight dog will not have a waistline and there will be a thicker layer of fat over his ribs.

There are several factors that can contribute to obesity in dogs. Among these are overfeeding, not enough exercise, health conditions such as hyperthyroidism or hyperadrenocorticism, age, gender, and breed. If your dog is overweight, the first thing you should do is have your veterinarian do a full examination. This will help rule out any underlying health conditions.

If no health conditions are present, the next thing you should look at is the quality and quantity of food you are feeding your dog. Many store brand and generic foods do not have the proper nutrients required to keep your dog fit and healthy. If your dog is overweight, you will want to choose a high quality food specifically designed to be low in calories. Many prescription and over the counter diets are available. Talk with your veterinary staff to help determine which food is right for your dog. If you will be switching to a new food, you will want to do this gradually, over the period of about a week. This will help reduce digestive problems like vomiting and loose stools. Feed your dog the amount that the label or your veterinarian recommends.

While your dog is losing weight, ideally you should cut out all treats. Many people feed their dogs the appropriate amount of food, but do not realize how high in calories many treats are. Keep track of what kinds of treats and how many you are giving your dog. You may be amazed to find out that his caloric intake of treats is greater than that in his food. If you must feed your dog treats while he is dieting, choose healthy snacks like carrots or a low calorie manufactured treat such as Charlee Bears. You should also never feed your dog leftovers. Not only is this unhealthy for dogs, it can lead to unwanted behaviors such as begging. In general, your leftovers do not have the proper balance of nutrients that dogs require and are often higher in fat and calories than dogs should have.

Proper nutrition is not the only factor in reducing weight in dogs. You must provide them with appropriate amounts of exercise. Many people do not understand that dogs require an awful lot of exercise to maintain proper health. If your dog is overweight, you will want to go for at least one walk in the morning and the evening for up to 30 minutes each time, depending on the size of your dog. Dog parks are an excellent place for both you and your dog to get exercise. Sign up for a class like agility or flyball to help keep your dog active. Play lots of games like fetch and Frisbee. You have to be an active partner in helping your dog reduce his weight.

Weight loss in dogs should be very gradual. Dogs should only lose between one and two percent of their overall weight per week. You should weigh your dog on a regular basis to keep track of his weight and to check your progress.

Dogs become overweight by overeating and inactivity. By following the feeding guidelines set by your veterinarian, reducing the amount of treats given, and increasing the amount of exercise and activity your dog gets, you can help your dog lose weight and become the healthy and happy dog you want him to be.

Dog Article courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com

Dog Breeds: American Bulldog

The American Bulldog is a very athletic dog. They are very good bodyguards, they put a lot of effort to protect its owner. Their life span is between 10 and 15 years. As you can see from the picture, these dogs are very strong and they have a muscular body. They are loyal and confident to the owner and can be used as a guard dog, all-purpose working partner, and family companion. The male American Bulldog can become 22-27 inches tall and weigh 755-125 pounds. The female dog can become 20-25 inches tall and weigh 60-100 pounds. Its coat is short and stiff. American Bulldogs can litter 6 to 16 puppies.

The American Bulldog's best living area is the outdoor. So it is profitable for them to live in a home with a big backyard that is securely fenced because these dogs are very strong. But you should consider that the these dogs have a short coat, therefore they will not stay outside very long on very hot or very cold days. Thus, you should provide him or her a nice indoor living area.

The American Bulldog is known as a loving and family friendly dog. It is determined to protect its owner from predators and other dangers towards the owner. It is very powerful, confident, and keen dog that has a big head which allows him to hunt everything from small to big creatures.

These dogs are also a good working dog. That means that they are willing to learn new and different things and do different tasks. They are stolid dogs who want to be the boss in any situation. You got to be consistent, firm, and always stay on what you say to your American Bulldog.

Furthermore, they need contact to friendly strangers because American Bulldogs have a natural protective instinct to people they don't know. With contact to friendly strangers they learn the difference between good people and bad people. They need to be socialized carefully because otherwise they will bite others.

Here is a nice video of an American Bulldog: