Pet Punter

Archive for the ‘Dogs Care’ Category

The Yorkshire terrier is a breed of two distinct types. The tiny dog, seen immediately groomed in the show-ring weights up to 3.1 kg. The jaunty dog seen on a lead in the street or racing joyfully around the park is the same dog, but often twice the size. The fact is that the long steel blue and bright tan hair that bedecks the glamour star of the shows would break off short if he can loose. But the spirit of the true Yorkshire tyke is the same inside whatever the outward appearance. Grooming the household companion, a dog that is immensely popular throughout the world, is easily accomplished with ordinary skills. As a home-loving animal, the Yorkshire is tough, ready to play with the children or dispatch any rat unwise enough to invade his owner’s dwelling.

The Pointer is instantly recognizable. The clean-cut lines of his lean frame covered by a short, shining coat make a beautiful silhouette on grouse moor and in city parks alike, although his whole purpose in life suits him better for the countryside. At 69cm he is quite a tall dog. He does not carry much surplus flesh so gives the impression of being bony. His movements are fluent and athletic. He is not big either, he is very easy to clean up after a day’s work and he is relatively easy to teach reasonable manners, though he is unlikely to win a top-standard obedience competition.

The English Cocker Spaniel is the original of the American breed. He stands around the same height at 41 cm but his coat is shorter and therefore nowhere near such hard work to keep well groomed, provided adequate attention is paid to his fairly hairy feet and his longish ears. He can be found in the whole colors such as red and black, also in black and white and in multicolor. A thoroughly bust dog, he is always searching and bustling around in the grass and bushes.

His name comes from his ability to flesh out game, particularly the woodcock. He also delights in carrying things about whether on command or purely voluntarily. He is often portrayed as the original slipper-fetching dog by his master’s fireside, tail wagging furiously. The cocker’s job is to flush around game for his handler, the tight body is essential for his bustling way of moving.

The English Springer Spaniel gets his name from his ability to flush birds rapidly into the air or spring them. A handsome dog, relatively tall for a spaniel at 51 cm, he covers much ground at a galloping pace. His coat is close and weather-resistant and he is either liver and white or black and white. It is not hard to groom him as long as the hair round his ears is kept fairly trim. He enjoys his food but is not greedy. He is a compulsive worker, apparently absolutely tireless.

As a household companion, he is similarly minded, expecting walks in either town or country, and he reckons that those walks should not be a mere stroll down to the shops. The Springer also has a charm that he is quite capable of using to his own ends. He is capable of learning all manner of games, preferably those requiring him to retrieve a ball – endlessly!

One of the first sign that a dog is ill if he refuses his food. Most of the fussy dogs will at least smell the food on offer, but a sick dog may have no appetite and simply not approach his food. The dog will tend to become duller than usual, although many sick dogs will still respond to their owner’s enthusiasm for a game or a walk. The signs of chronic illness appear gradually and are likely to be more subtle and difficult to recognize. Loss of weight, persisting over a period of weeks, is a common indicator of chronic disease. This may be accomplished by a normal or reduced appetite.

Gradually, developing swellings may indicate the growth of superficial tumors, often not cancerous but usually needing attention. Other sight includes hair loss, with or without sore skin or itching and scratching; slowly developing lameness; excessive drinking, with or without an unpleasant odor from the mouth or body. Occasional vomiting may indicate an internal problem, although many healthy dogs may also vomit. In the normal course of events, bitches may frequently regurgitate food for their puppies.

Choosing whether to have a male or female – a dog or a bitch – is one of the early decisions. Dogs tend to have a more “macho” outlook on life than bitches, and if that attracts you, the male of the species will be your choice. Dogs are possibly most outgoing, certainly on average a little harder to train, but often more responsive once trained. They do not, of course, come into season twice a year, with the attendant bother of oestrous discharges and the attraction of all the dogs in the neighborhood. But don’t forget that it is the male dogs that are attracted, and if you have a male it could be yours that has to be dragged home each night from his wanderings. On balance, if there is such a thing in this particular choice, the female is likely to make a better family pet. She is less likely to be aggressive, although dominance is as much as a breed characteristic as it is related to the sex of the dog. Bitches are much less likely to try to wander for meat of the year, and they are inclined to be more loving to their human family.

An inherited disease is one that may be passed from generation to generation through affected genes of the sire or the dam, or sometimes through a combination of both. Genetics, the study of inheritance, is a highly complicated science and it becomes increasingly so the more we learn of the subject. There are two main problems in the control of inherited diseases in the dog. Some diseases are partly inherited, and partly occur as a result of some environmental influence, which is often difficult to determine precisely.

The inherited element may depend on sever inherited factors rather than a single gene. Typical of this type of disease is hip dysplasia, probably the most widely known of all inherited disease of the dog. It is hind-leg lameness, caused by several erosion and damage to the hip point. It is generally considered that inheritance accounts for about 50 per cent of the clinical signs of hip dysplasia and that the remainder is caused by one or more environmental circumstance – such as the dog’s weight, exercise and diet – but precisely what is not known. In these circumstances, attempts at control are slow at best depending on the diagnosis of the disease.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a popular Toy dog with everyone. Built on the lines of a small gundog, he has a charm for the elderly as well as the young family. He seems to love people and he does not find fault with other dogs. His weight range is 5.5-8 kg which is a wide enough range, but as a breed they do tend to get even heavier. The Cavalier’s placid nature and friendliness often includes people to give him injudicious tidbits that encourage obesity! He has good-looking head and a well-balanced body.

He can appear in a series of colors, from ruby (red), black and tan and tricolor (black and white with tan markings) to Blenheim, which is mix of rich chestnut and white, often with a lozenge of chestnut in the centre of a white patch down the middle of his head. He enjoys exercise and is built on elegant, athletic lines; indeed, he needs it in view of his hearty appetite. He is not difficult to groom as his coat can be kept tidy with normal brush-and-comb techniques; a true favorite. The Cavalier is in fact a miniature spaniel, combining all the qualities of a Toy and a Gundog.

Never be fobbed off with excuses about the condition a puppy is in or its behavior, and never buy a puppy simply because it’s the last one left and you feel sorry for it. It is often said that puppies choose their new owners, rather than the other way around, and there is much truth to its claim. An overly shy puppy may have socialization problems latter, and the puppy that comes forward from the nest, asking to be chosen, is probably the right one. The puppy’s coat and skin should feel lose and soft. The skin should be free of sores.

The puppy must be alert and have bright clean eyes. Its nose must be clean (but forgive a little crust of food), its ears must be free of wax, and its coat must be clean and pleasant to handle and smell. There must be no sign of sores or grittiness on the skin and coat. Black “coat dust” is usually flea dirt – fleas themselves are more difficult to spot. Examine all the puppies briefly to ensure that they have been well cared for. Sturdy, strong limbs are a must for any breed although if you fancy an Italian Greyhound doesn’t expect him to be this sturdy.

The Deerhound (Scottish Deerhound) hails from Scotland and is in fact a Greyhound with a harsh and shaggy overcoat. It is said that he has hunted deer for a thousand years, and ancient depictions of him suggest that he has altered little over the centuries. He appears to capture the heart of all who fall under his spell, but in return he demands great loyalty. He stands 76 cm and weights around 45 kg so he is not a lightweight, but he has a surprising ability to curl up in a corner and not get in the way, even in a small house.

He is not a big eater and gives the impression that ordinary oatmeal would be welcome along with the venison. Grooming should be regular but is not a chore as the harness of his shaggy coat renders him relatively easy to keep tidy. As far as his temperament is concerned he is a friendly, faithful creature with a dignified attitude ti strangers, One of the most venerated among his breeders travels with a team of Deerhounds from the outer regions of mid-west Scotland to shows all over Britain and does so by train, which must say something about the breed’s charm and adaptability.