Archives for Adopting A Dog category
The Best City Dog 3: When Kids Are In The Home
Dogs, like man, can learn to adapt to almost any environment. That’s why dogs have become household pets and not relegated to a zoo like most other animals. Any dog can adapt to a city just as well as they can adapt to the country and if there are kids in the home then they can adapt to them as well. For the most part dogs love children, it all depends how they are socialized from a young age (the dog as much as the kid), but an older dog as adapt to children as well given time, patience and love.
Of course you have to be reasonable about all of this. If you have a one room apartment or studio, or driving a small car, you’re going to have a problem with raising a dog like a Great Dane; but that being said, if you can get past their boisterous puppy stage in a small apartment then they are great dog to have. As an adult they tend to take over one spot and that is their spot. If trained right it will be their bed pad. As a rule Great Danes can be lazy and don’t require much exercise. In fact to much exercise at one time (say like running) can actually harm the Dane. They only need 15-20 minutes of a run or long fast pace walk. Great Dane are great with children despite their size. A small dog like a feisty Jack Russell Terrier needs a great deal of exercise as they have a lot of energy.
In selecting a dog for the city, there are many books that will give you basic information about the temperament of different breeds. This is a good starting place, but remember each book, authority or whatever on any breed can differ. For example, some books say that Great Danes don’t make a good pet for a small place but there are other that say the opposite. You will also have to consider that a large dog like say a Great Dane has a short life span (8-9 years) whereas a small dog like say a Jack Russell Terrier can have a life span of about 10-12 years or longer.
City Dogs & Children In The Home
If there will be small children in the household, the information below can be of tremendous help in making that decision:
Dogs That Are Good With Children (from the start)
American Water Spaniel, Basset Hound, Beagle, Boxer, Brittany Spaniel, Bull Dog, Coonhound, English Setter, English Shepherd, Foxhound, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Irish ‘Red’ Setter, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Wolf Hound, Labrador Retriever, Old English Sheep Dog, Pointer, Standard Poodle, Saint Bernard, and the Springer Spaniel.
Dogs That May Not Be So Good With Children (but can get used to them in time)
American Cocker Spaniel, American Toy Fox Terrier, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chihuahua, Chow, Dachshund, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Husky, Italian Greyhound, Japanese Spaniel, Kerry Blue Terrier, Malamute, Maltese Terrier, Mexican Hairless, Miniature Pinscher, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Samoyed, Scotch Terrier, Spitz, Toy Manchester, Wire-haired Fox Terrier, and the Yorkshire Terrier.
Give & Take
This list of dogs that are good or bad for kids is by no means a done deal. It does not mean that a dog cannot be taught to love children. It’s just a bit harder for a dog that does not automatically feel comfortable around energetic little kids while coping with city life at the same time – especially if the owner is not properly training them to be happy with both experiences.
When bringing any dog into a home with kids it is always good to be present when introducing a dog/puppy into the family home. DON’T let the child/children rush or to start grabbing at the dog. LET the child hold out their hand palm down, fingers slightly bent so the dog can sniff at their hand first and then the dog will make the first move to accepting the child. The same goes for anyone in the home.
Also, the lists above are not complete. Some dogs were not included because there are just some many dogs breeds out there and also what we call the ‘mutt’ breeds. Some breeds may be on the bad list because they are rescue dogs that have had bad backgrounds and just aren’t sure yet who they can trust. Just because a dog is a rescue dog though doesn’t mean he won’t be good with kids. When choosing a rescue dog/puppy bring your children so they can participate in the early introductions when choosing a dog. If you are willing to put in the time required to raise a city dog with kids, then any dog can be a work in progress.
Technorati Tags: best city dog, kids in the home, city dogs, household pets, dog, puppy, Great Dane, children, kids, rescue dogs, dog breeds, mutt breeds, Dogs & Puppies Adoption Blog, Teri Champigny
Feb 05, 2011 | | Adopting A Dog
The Best City Dog 2: What Breed Is Best For You To Adopt
When choosing the right dog to adopt for city life, you can test new puppies out for behavior, character and personality, but the truth is that there really is no one all-around best temperament for a city dog. You should choose a dog for adoption with a temperament that suits your needs for the way you live.
Some people can choose to adopt what you might think is the wrong dog. Sometimes you can get a very quiet people but they have a very aggressive dog, but the dog can be controlled. They say the dog helps them to lead their quiet life… no one is about to bother them.
One young man stated that he wanted to adopt a dog that he could talk to. For people like this you need a calm dog that has a passive temperament. This is the most common type of dog that people need. This is a dog that is for companionship.
At any rate, the best thing you can do is to try to match the temperament of a new puppy with that of your own personality and lifestyle. An active married couple will have different needs than a retired couple or a family with boisterous children… and there will be a pup for each environment.
By picking a dog best suited to your own personality, according to the pup’s temperament, we can reexamine the question of which breed is best for the city. Looking at it from the dog’s standpoint, it doesn’t really matter. Big dog, little dog, longhair, short hair… any one will be healthy and lead a happy life with you if your temperaments match and if you give the dog the correct training. The earlier the better but as long as you are persistent and constant any age dog can be trained. Even a adult dog from a shelter can be trained to obey commands.
Questions To Consider
The big decision here is yours. Do you want a big dog for protection? More and more people think this is a very important factor in the city. Can you afford to feed a big dog? With prices of food what they are in our cities, owning a big dog is like having an extra member of the family at the table each night. Does your place support having a big dog. A big question ever more important to consider is if you live in an apartment can you live with a big dog. Big dogs as a rule need lots of room and exercise. Also does your lease allow dogs as most adoption agencies will ask to see your lease if you live in an apartment.
And what about exercise? There seems to be an old wives’ tale about the amount of exercise a big dog needs. A dog, like man, can adapt to the kind of conditions dictated by his lifestyle. The farmer lives a very active life and gets lots of exercise, but his life expectancy is no greater than that of the city businessman who sits behind a desk and gets his exercise only on the weekend. The daily walk and the occasional romp will keep the dog fit and will help you, too.
Which Breed Is Right For The City?
The often-asked question is always: which breed is right for the city? And it might best be answered by strolling through the park on a balmy spring evening. You will find every possible breed of dog there if you wait long enough, just as you will see every color and make of car on the road.
People like to have their choice and no one best car is best for all the different needs of city people. This same statement holds true for picking the right breed for your life in the city. It all comes back to the temperament of the individual dog, and that is the point I am trying to stress.
Technorati Tags: best city dog, what breed is best for you, dog, new puppies, puppies, city life, temperament, breed, apartments, adoption, adopt, Dogs & Puppies Adoption, Teri Champigny
Jan 25, 2011 | | Adopting A Dog
The Best City Dog 1:
The Problem Canine
City living is not always as glamorous as the movies make it out to be. The majority of people living in various parts of major cities have to deal with the problems of crime, littering, and bad manners during peak rush hours of coming and going. And when you turn on the television there is a guy on a talk show expounding bitterly about the dogs in our cities.
Not saying we don’t have a problem with our dogs, but he was sure barking up the wrong tree. The problem is a people problem, not a dog problem. We’ve become such slobs in our cities – what else could we expect from our dogs!
It’s not hard to see that the dog problem is not too different from our people problem – like the people, too many of our dogs are badly behaved or poorly trained. The concept of the “Golden Rule” is something a dog can’t learn, but it is up to the master to see that the dog performs it.
We’re just chasing our own tail, so to speak. The quality of our city life is so bad that more and more people are getting dogs. Cities are becoming cold and dangerous places to live in. More people want dogs for companionship and so-called protection.
So, the dog population is exploding and making the problem worse. Figuring from the numbers, that if all the dogs in New York were lined up nose to tail, elephant fashion, they’d string themselves from Times Square in New York to the Commons in Boston… and that’s a lot of elephants!
What’s The Answer To The Dog Population Problem?
The answer is behavior – good behavior – it’s that simple. You might as well give up on how to get better behavior from our city’s “two legged dogs”, but there are answers for the four-legged variety. The first step will be the selection of the dog.
What makes a good city dog? The answer, again, that one word: behavior.
Too many people think size is the prime concern. What size should a dog be? The answer means reversing the question to: “What size does behavior come in?” And while many of the experts don’t agree with that, all it takes is common sense to know that the right city dog, the one with good behavior and manners, depends on how well it’s owner can train the animal.
Technorati Tags: city, dog, problem dog, barking, dog problem, poorly trained, trained, good behavior, city dog, Dogs & Puppies Adoption, Teri Champigny
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Jan 13, 2011 | | Adopting A Dog
Dog Pictures: Man’s Best Friend Is Also His Best Photo
It’s not just about dog adoptions. Here is a special article for the new doggie parents to be. You can join the many parents of a furry ‘baby’ showing your precious furry ‘baby’ pictures.
Ask any dog fancier to show you a snapshot of his lovable animal and he’s bound to regale you with an album-full of dog pictures, just like any proud parent!
Dogs and cameras seem to have been made for each other. But modern photographers count their blessings – it wasn’t always as easy as today’s ‘point and shoot’ technique which can stop a dog in mid jump catching a Frisbee, and come out looking perfect!
Dog Pictures From The Past
When the first photograph was taken in 1839, the photographer, Louis Daguerre, had to leave the shutter open for twenty minutes just to get enough light on the film (Quite an improvement over the eight hour exposure time earlier experimenters used.)
In just a few years, the art of photography spread like wildfire throughout the country and new developments made shorter exposure times possible – although exposure was still measured in minutes rather than the fraction of a second it now takes.
Photographing people was difficult enough. To keep them motionless during exposure they were often held rigidly in place by braces and vise-like head grips. Children were even worse – the slightest squirm blurred the photo. With daddy standing sternly nearby ready to scold the small poser if he scratched his nose, the photographer was nevertheless able to produce fairly good quality photos.
Dog Pictures Were Just As Popular
But just as with today’s dog owners, everyone with a pet pup wanted to get him into the act, too. However, even the best-trained pooch couldn’t be expected to freeze for five minutes while the photographer exposed his film.
The twitch of a friendly tail ruined many dog pictures in those early days – but nothing could put a damper on the dog owner’s enthusiasm. He wanted a shot of his dog – whether it was a daguerreotype, ambrotype, carte de visite, tintype, cabinet photo or snapshot.
Photographers kept trying, and out of the mass of blurs and blotches emerged a number of dog pictures immortalizing man’s best friend – and the photographer’s worst model!
Collectors Of Dog Pictures
Recently, a phenomenal growth of interest in early photography has sent a small army of collectors scouring the country for the daguerreotype and its successors. Some collect only outdoor scenes, others specialize in civil war soldiers – but it’s the valiant few who search for dog pictures that have the most difficult task of all.
The blurred images were of course discarded long ago, and good quality dog photos were uncommon even during the 19th century. Today they can be ranked in the “rare” class and have been sold for as much as $500 or more.
Technorati Tags: dog pictures, man’s best friend, photo, dog adoptions, snapshot, photographers, point and shoot, photograph, photography, dog owners
Dec 08, 2010 | | Adopting A Dog, Adopting A Puppy, puppies for free
Do You Really Want A Large Dog?
Every year, thousands of individuals and families bring home a member of a large dog breed, only to discover in a short time that it is not the right fit for their home and lifestyle. Of course this sudden realization is understandable – why would most people want a canine that reaches 100 pounds and is taller than the children? However, it was not a responsible decision in the first place to buy a large breed of dog without doing the research needed to ensure it was a perfect match for you and the family.
Beware Of That Adorable “Little” Puppy
Too many people see that oh-so-cute pup in the store or walking around the neighbor’s yard, and are suddenly drawn to have one. Why? Cute ears, puppy breath, that harmless wobbly walk – but you know what – all puppies are cute!
Let’s take some breeds for example that have characteristics that many people are not privy do when purchasing: A beagle is one of the cutest puppies there is, but most likely will run away most of the time without lots of training. A Coonhound is cute and will be big, but due to its genetic makeup must have a large outside area to explore and run when it is older. It is a tracking and scenting dog.
It’s All In The Genes, So Take Time To Read Up On The Breed
Big dogs all have unique “big dog personalities” and somehow they must blend with you and your home. There must be a fit. They can put a huge demand on you and your home if the family is unprepared to handle it.
The characteristics bred into canines by humans will determine if a big dog can be a good companion in your situation. The expenses are often greater, if not only in food, and you must be committed to caring for them. Big dogs are also hard to find new homes for once they are older so if you change your mind then it will be the poor animal that suffers down the road.
Once You Have Decided A Big Dog Is Right For You
So you want to have a dog in your life, have done all the research you can on the breed, understand its size potential as well as its needs for living and care.
You have also been honest with yourself and determined why you want a big dog and that you have the proper environment set up. You are well funded enough to do so and you just don’t want a compact mini model dog – you must have a big one!
Now all you have to do is decide want length fur you want and what breed is most suitable for you and your family. When you bring the new pup home make certain you train and socialize the big guy well. And above all, enjoy your big dog!
Technorati Tags: large dog, large dog breed, large breed, puppy, puppies, big dogs, Dogs & Puppies Adoptions, Teri Champigny
Dec 03, 2010 | | Adopting A Dog
Disposable Dogs
When it comes to the emotional universe of human-animal relationships, perfection becomes a much coveted goal in the eyes of the dog owner. Everybody wants to have a dog that is in perfect health, perfect confirmation, and with the perfect temperament. But does this ideal canine really exist?
While it is true that many animals, just like many people, are very close to perfection than others, it is highly doubtful that any specific animal (or group of animals) can realistically be perceived as “perfect”.
A Crime Of Attitude
It is quite surprising just how naive humans can be in their outlook towards their canine friends. Everyday, puppies are returned to pet stores from individuals who have a handful of complaints from so-called imperfections of the animal. These minor imperfections cause puppies to be passed from home to home without anyone taking the time to try to understand them before hoisting them off to the next family.
Young puppies that come down with an illness or a debilitating handicap are most often put to death by euthanasia rather than the owners committing the love and care to help it cope with its disease or handicap. It’s just the easy way out.
The basic theory seems to be clear: “toss away the less-than-perfect dog, for he can be quickly replaced by a more perfect one… hopefully.”
Realistically, Complete Perfection Is Impossible
If a person is one of these owners who has illegitimately “thrown away” a not-so-perfect dog or puppy, then it is quite obvious that they are used to simply exchanging problems instead of eliminating them.
These animals are living creatures, just like you, just like your children and your family. How in the world can you expect each one to be perfect? Is the life of a dog not worth the extra care or attention?
Also like humans, dogs may not only come with imperfections in health, they also come with complex emotional systems that may be experiencing some sort of malfunction at one time or another. Many owners concede that when a dog starts to display an unwanted characteristic, whether it be physical or mental, it is then time to dispose of the dog for a replacement.
What Will It Take?
How difficult can it possibly be for pet owners to start thinking of their animals as sensitive living beings that need more love and attention than simply filling up the food dish and taking the dog out for a walk? A favorite quote is: “Dogs have rights too!”
And not only does your dog have rights to a life of love and care, regardless of many imperfect circumstances, he also has the right to be recognized for exactly what he is, which is a creature that is neither more perfect or less perfect than the owner that cares for it. If you do not make it a practice to discard your children for their imperfections, your friends, spouse or siblings, then have the decency to treat your pet the same way.
Technorati Tags: disposable dogs, dog owner, dog, canine friends, canine, puppies, pet stores, puppy, animals, Dogs & Puppies Adoption, Teri Champigny
Nov 29, 2010 | | Adopting A Dog, Adopting A Puppy
What Are Kennels
Kennels are enclosures to keep pets in for a period of time. This is to make it more convenient for their owners to do what they need to. Anyone that owns a pet can tell you it is difficult at times to deal with them if you don’t have access to a kennel. They are most commonly for dogs but people also use them for cats, rabbits, and other types of animals.
Some kennels are stationary which means they can’t be moved. These are very common in backyards when a person wants to give their dog room but not the entire yard. Others are portable which means they can be moved. The don’t offer as much room as an outdoor kennel but they will work when you need to transport your pet. Make sure it is going to fit into your vehicle as well though as some are quite wide.
You will find there are kennels in all sizes, with those for outdoors being the largest by far. Some are small enough for little dogs and cats that you can carry them with shoulder strap like you would a purse. They are also made from various materials including canvas, wood, durable plastic, and chain link.
A kennel needs to be a good fit for your pet so take your time to find one. Make sure you take their current size as well as their future size into consideration. They also need to have room for food and water during transport. Ventilation is also very important. Some have a thermal top that can be removed for warmer weather so that they can be comfortable no matter what time of the year it is.
Most vet clinics also have kennels where they room and board your pets. This is often done when your pet is ill or has a medical procedure so observation overnight it needed. They also open up their kennels to those that need a place for their pet to stay while they are away for vacation or some other need. This is better than leaving them home alone or trying to find someone to go care for them daily while you are gone. This is very affordable and you can go do what you need to without worrying about your family pets.
Technorati Tags: kennels, enclosures, pets, stationary kennels, portable kennels, dogs, cats, rabbits, Teri Champigny
Nov 02, 2010 | | Adopting A Dog, Adopting A Puppy
Bideawee: Part 1
Helping Dogs & Cats Find Loving Homes For Over 100 Years
For individuals looking for their first dog, and whose needs dictate an adult animal rather than a pup or kitten, the perfect answer is often to turn to an animal shelter. Not all animal shelters function as their name seems to imply though. That is, not all of them provide shelter, food, and care for a homeless animal until a new home becomes available.
One such organization whose standards far surpass the average home is the Bideawee, For The Love Of Pets organization, formerly known as the Bide-A-Wee Home Association. Entrusting a beloved pet to their care, the bereaved owner is assured that no animal is ever destroyed unless it is incurably ill.
Located in Manhattan and in both Wantagh and Westhampton, Long Island, the Bideawee Home has been finding loving new homes for unwanted animals for more than 100 years. Thousands upon thousands of dogs and cats are placed in loving new homes each year by the efforts of the Bideawee group.
Such a wide variety of animals passes through Bideawee each week that the prospective pet owner usually has no difficulty finding exactly what he’s looking for. The variety of pups and dogs of mixed ancestry is unending and these combination often produce marvelously handsome, hardy animals.
While purebred pups and kittens rarely find their way to the Home, purebred adult animals frequently find themselves up for adoption – concrete evidence of too many pups and kittens of pure as well as mixed ancestry are glutting the animal market. Dogs and cats of almost every known breed from Afghan to Abyssinian have at one time or another been offered for adoption at Bideawee.
A Reasonable Organization
A small donation goes a long way at Bideawee. Only a small fee is charged for people to put the animals up for adoption, which includes inoculation. When available, purebred pets may cost slightly more but well within the means of most prospective pet owners.
All pets are sent out with a health guarantee and are treated free of charge should they exhibit symptoms of illness within the specified guarantee period. Every animal that is placed for adoption has received at least a temporary inoculation against distemper (and, in the case of cats and kittens, against pneumonitis too) and has been thoroughly examined by a Bideawee veterinarian.
Information solicited from the animal’s original owner initiates the adoptive “parents” in what to expect from their new pet. Is he a good watchdog? Is he fond of children? Is he housetrained? Does he tend to be destructive? What does he like to eat?
The answers to these questions often make adopting a Bideawee dog even easier than buying a pup since the new owner is spared much mystery about how his pet will develop and, often, much of the disappointment of adopting a pet for, say, a watchdog in the neighborhood or, what is worse, selecting a pup as a child’s companion only to have it become an overly aggressive, intractable dog.
Bideawee: Part 2
Helping Dogs & Cats Find Loving Homes For Over 100 Years
At the Bideawee organization, an excellent pet adoption center that has been in existence for more than 100 years, the great majority of dogs and cats there are housetrained, eat one or two meals a day (compared to the four or five meals needed by a puppy or kitten), and are easily identifiable as to basic temperament.
Yet there are many, many adult dogs and cats who seem doomed to spend indeterminable months at one of the Bideawee shelters only because they are more mature or less handsome than the average pet. These animals surely need new homes all the more desperately.
Adopting The Unadoptable
At Bideawee there are many animals that may seem unadoptable, but eventually they will find a home. For example, there’s Tootsie, a 5-year-old Beagle-Fox Terrier mix, who for some strange reason is always ignored by visitors to the Manhattan adoption center.
Junior, a 4-year-old male mixed spaniel, and a handsome fellow too, has spent months at Bideawee growing more and more despondent as the days go by.
But by far the saddest of all is Hercules, an 8-year-old mixed Chihuahua who would love a nice quiet home with an elderly person or a couple.
Experience has shown shelter officials that even these lovely animals, classified by some as hardcore unadoptable canines, will eventually be given new homes by some kind humanitarians in exchange for the love and devotion that they are eager to offer. As the old saying goes: Where there’s life, there’s hope – especially at Bideawee!
For these animals the wait may be long but the prospect of a happy new home filled with love will never be abandoned. In the meantime, these animals become the very special favorites of the Bideawee staff who desperately try to add a more personal touch to the institutional atmosphere which pervades even this fine shelter facility.
Bideawee Needs Your Help
What is obvious here is the fact that Bideawee, like all such agencies, is in desperate need of our help. More than volunteer work, more than donations, Bideawee needs you to adopt a pet!
These animals – whose only crime is to be unwanted – need loving and understanding new homes, homes with people who will show them once again how to enjoy life.
While many critics of such shelter systems bemoan the fact that it is indeed just as cruel to keep an animal in a cage for a long period of time as it is to destroy it, Bideawee claims that it provides a service of inestimable value to those people who cannot condone taking the life from an otherwise healthy animal merely, because they are allergic to it or their landlord says not pets are allowed.
Obviously, no animal shelter or organization can be all things to all people, and for those to whom euthanasia is more readily acceptable than confinement, many, many shelters functioning in that fashion exist all across the country.
Technorati Tags: helping dogs & cats, dogs, cats, Bideawee, loving homes, Manhattan, veterinarian, children, pups, puppies, kitten, kittens, dog breeds, cat breeds, adoption, Dogs & Puppies Adotptions, Teri Champigny
Oct 19, 2010 | | adopt rescue dogs, adoption shelter
What Is The Perfect Age To Bring Home A Puppy?
The day your puppy comes home to stay is often a fun and exciting time. Usually there is something that makes it a special occasion to remember, an occasions adults always seem to be able to call upon no matter how many decades have gone by.
Someday this puppy will be all grown up and hopefully following the rules of the house. But alas, you have a long way to go before a well mannered dog develops from that playful new puppy. But never fear you can make it positive and successful. You must begin right away, as soon as the little guy or gal walks in the door.
New Puppies Are Like New Babies: Lots Of Work!
It is very normal for most pups and owners to experience some difficulties within the first few days of arriving. It can’t be helped with the world of his litter mates suddenly gone and an entirely new world thrown upon them. But good humor must prevail and with patience you can accomplish things in a good way for the entire family.
The best puppy age range to bring home is commonly thought to be 6 to 8 weeks of age. But to be exact, a lot of breeders believe 9 weeks to be best. With a puppy in this age range there will be a need for frequent rest periods, mainly in the afternoon, with some in the morning.
And take heed, when your puppy first arrives in his new home he might seemingly go crazy to explore anything and everything for several days while he adjusts. But this will pass and as long your puppy isn’t in harm’s way or hurting anything then let the little squirt have at it.
The 8-Week Old Pup
If you have brought home a puppy that is 8 weeks then beware from the start. This pup is at a stage that is called the fear stage. Thus anything that is heard by the puppy or done to this puppy could cause fear that lasts a long time and takes a while for him to grow out of (if ever). So you will have to be more patient during this age and let your new puppy take the time needed to explore and adjust.
The 10-Week Old Pup
For a puppy that is 10 weeks or slightly older, you will have brought home a bundle of energy. This puppy will play more and sleep less, especially a large breed dog. But the positive aspect of this is you can more easily get your puppy to stick with you and keep his attention on you for both play time and training sessions.
Technorati Tags: perfect age, bring home puppy, puppy, new puppy, puppies, dog, pup, Dogs & Puppies Adoptions, Teri Champigny
Oct 02, 2010 | | Adopting A Dog, Adopting A Puppy
The Scruffy Little Hunter Dog: Border Terrier
The Border Terrier got its name from the Scottish borders. This is where these dogs were bred to bolt foxes that have gone underground. They were also used to hunt and kill rodents as well as hunting for otters and badgers.
They have wiry coat that is why they normally appear as scruffy. However, this scruffiness is an attention-grabber that is why owners do not forget to hug their little ball of energy. You can get a Border Terrier from a breeder or you can try The Border Terrier Club of America a rescue place.
The following are some of the basic facts breeders would really love to know about Borders:
Category: Terrier
Coat: wiry and short; double coated
Colors: wheaten, red, grizzle and tan, blue and tan
Height: Males – 13-16 inches (33-41 cm)
Females – 11-14 inches (28-36 cm)
Weight: Males – 13-15.5 lbs (5.9-7.0 kg)
Females – 11.5-14 lbs (5.2-6.4 kg)
Temperament:
Naturally,
• they are scruffy, hard and bold hunters
• they are active as puppies but mellow down as they mature
• they are not friendly with rabbits, rats, hamsters, and even birds
• they are economical to feed
• their activity die down when left alone all day as they really love to please people especially their owners
• they can get along with cats they were raised with but will chase cats they don’t know
• they may lose timidity when accustomed to active environments
Breeders should note of the following health issues:
• Canine Epileptoid Cramping Syndrome or CES, also called as “Spike’s disease”, which is a hereditary, neurological, metabolic and muscle disorder that is sometimes confused with canine epilepsy
• Cataract, or loss of transparency of one or both lenses of the eyes
• Cryptorchidism, wherein testicles do not descend into the scrotum
• Deafness
• Skin problems and a few skin allergies
Care and Exercise:
• Their coat needs weekly brushing.
• They should be professionally groomed at least twice a year.
• They should bathe only when necessary since they shed little to no hair. Their physique requires a regular exercise routine which includes a daily play time while on leash.
• They should be on leash while walking in public places because of their hunting instincts.
Origin/History:
The exact origins of Border terriers are obscure but many breeders accepted the story that the variety was developed in the Cheviot Hills area, which is near the border of Scotland and England. The Borders have been used as hunters of rabbits and hares. They can even keep up with running horses with their short yet sturdy legs. They were also used by farmers to lure predatory foxes into their dens before killing them.
They were also trained to hunt otters, marten, and even fierce badgers. Like most terriers that were once molded as hunters, they also evolved as pets and became lovely, friendly, and loyal companion dogs. They also take part in dog shows and they can easily grab their audience attention with their agility, appearance, and bright disposition.
The breed was registered by the British Kennel Club in 1920 and by the American Club ten years after.
At present, Borders are highly favored as companion dogs and pets due to their adaptability, friendliness, and winning personality. Nonetheless, they can be reliable when it comes to tracking down vermin. In fact, some of their esteemed talents include hunting, guarding the family, and performing tricks and sports that require competitive obedience.
Like most terriers, you can be rest assured to have a loyal and bright companion dogs if you give your attention and affection to a Border. You can be sure that they can definitely drive away your bore!
Technorati Tags: Border Terrier, Scottish borders, Scotland, scruffy, hunter, wiry coat, breed, The Puppy Blog, Dogs and Puppy Adoptions, Teri’s Dog Training Tips, Teri Champigny
Sep 22, 2010 | | Adopting A Dog, Adopting A Puppy, Breed Standard
