Cattle

Archive for April 15th, 2008

What is Chihuahua? You must be feeling very much anxious to know the answer. Well, Chihuahuas are the smallest breed of dog in the world. Basically they can be categorized under ‘natural toy breed’. If you throw back your mind in history of the development of this breed then doubted the religious & mythical role of the Techichi in Toltec tribes. But the archaeologists argue that the remains of this breed were found in Mexico and in quite parts of U.S. In short, Chihuahua is a very small dog of a breed originating in Mexico, having pointed ears and a smooth coat.

Chihuahua is a sweet cute little dog with an apple-shaped head with an extraordinary tiny muzzle. It weighs about two to six pounds with height of six to nine inches. Generally Chihuahuas are found with dark glowing eyes. The color of eyes differs as the breed of this tiny dog changes. One peculiar feature of its eyes is that sometimes it sheds tears when Chihuahua shakes its head. Chihuahua’s ears are large and vertical at an angle of about 45 degree. It is said that they often uses their ears for emotions to express their feelings. The fragile physical features shows that how much delicate their body is. Chihuahua’s pretty features adorn more of its spongy longish tail. The graceful feet of Chihuahua is just amazing which makes you feel to cuddle and love more and more.

As Chihuahua is the smallest pretty dog in the world for they are known for. There is certain breed standards defined to this dog as per their dainty physical appearance in matter of size, colors, and coat. You will also find some non-standard size of Chihuahua. They are well popular by name defined as per their size like “Teacup”, “Pocket Size”, “Tiny Toy”, “Miniature”, “Mandy” and “Standard”. These names are been suggested in reference by Chihuahua club of America and the American Kennel Club. This two clubs classify two types of Chihuahua namely the Long-haired and the Short-haired Chihuahua.

Chihuahua is devoted only to be maintained in specific weather climate. The most preferably is cold climate for them to survive. Because of unique and smallest cute breed of dog Chihuahua is always seen maintained in an affectionate surrounding. With proper training and socialization it becomes pretty easy for them to adapt easily in a tranquil environment. The soft love for Chihuahua never ends as the innocent face is always in front of you. One unique trait in most of Chihuahuas is the tendency to “burrow” into blankets or clothing in order to sleep.

Thus, Chihuahuas has gained much of fame mostly by love and affectionate persons. Chihuahua puppies run well in demand in the market. If you got completely obsessed by this tiny dog then just need not to wait to buy such a beautiful and nice-looking dog like Chihuahua!

Dog Parks and Starting One in your Community

Dog Parks are becoming more and more popular. They are not only fun for our dogs but , are also a great place for humans to interact. They provide a place for dogs to run off leash and socialize with other dogs, as well as allowing for owners to socialize at the same time.

Unfortunately not all communities have Dog Parks available for our canine friends. If your community does not have a Dog Park available to you here are some guidelines on getting a park started.

First off do some research.

Is anyone else developing a Dog Park in your area. Find out about rules and regulations that pertain to your community. Can local parks or recreation departments be of any help. Talk to people in your community and get some feedback about opening a park in your area. When planning park keep in mind traffic patterns, neighborhoods, noise, etc Set up a liaison with city, neighborhood, and dog owners Assign someone to monitor use Set up times that park will be available for use. Rules for using the Dog Park

Present you Community with the benefits of having a Dog Park.

Dogs can socialize and exercise in a safe environment. Helps to promote responsible pet ownership Will help to promote public health and safety Provides a meeting place for dog owners to socialize. Provides access for people with disabilities to exercise their pets.

Dog Park should include:

At least 1 acre or more of ground and be surrounded with a 4′ to 6′ fence. The entry should be gated Regular maintenance should be performed (cut grass, waste clean up, etc.) Wheelchair access Plenty of shade and water A separate parking area Station to dispose of waste Benches, tables, trash cans, etc Complete set of rules for using the Dog Park

With this general guideline you will be well on you way to developing a Dog Park in your area. We hope to see your Dog Park up and running soon.

Article written by Kevin Gawricki

Kevin is owner of Dog Gone Good Stuff which he founded because of the need for a place that caters specifically to dogs and their owners specific needs. Please feel free to visit Dog Gone Good Stuff for all your dogs needs. Web address www.doggonegoodstuff.com

The Finnish Spitz is recognisable for its bright red fur, they have a double coat with the undercoat being a lighter colour than the longer and courser outer coat. They have an almost fox-like face with pricked up ears, a narrow snout, and dark eyes. They are square in appearance, a deep set chest and profuse amount of fur on their tail which is carried curled up over their back. They have rounded catlike paws and their dew claws are often removed. They are generally between 15-19 inches in height with females weighing between 20-27lbs and the males between 27-33lbs.

History. The Finish Spitz is the national dog of Finland, they are thought to have originated around 2000 years ago when they were brought, by a group of people living in central Russia, into Finland. Due to the area where they lived, which was secluded, the breed managed to stay almost pure throughout the years and developed to the hunters needs. They were first introduced to the UK in the 1920’s and to this day they have remained relatively popular not only as working dogs but also as family pets. The Finnish Spitz was used to hunt small game and would alert the hunter with a distinctive bark, it’s even been known for these little dogs to chase bears.

Temperament. The Finnish Spitz is an affectionate and inquisitive companion, who loves nothing better than to be part of the family. They can be lively and playful and do not fully mature until between 3 and 4 years of age. They need to be socialised well, from a young age, or they can develop the habit of being aloof with strangers. It’s important to train them well and to make sure that the dog knows it is not the one in charge, or they can become dominant and even aggressive. They are loyal to their family and, due to their breeding, bark when they have found game, they make excellent watch dogs alerting the family to trouble, however they do not make good guard dogs. Health Issues. Thanks to the careful and responsible breeding of the Finnish Spitz they suffer from very few health problems and are generally a feirly robust dog. On rare occasions though they can suffer from luxating patella, which is when the knee cap slips out of position, epilepsy and hereditary cataracts. They can also suffer from hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Their average life expectancy is around 12 to 15 years.

Grooming. The Finnish Spitz has an almost self-cleaning coat and only requires brushing around once a week. However, they do shed seasonally for a few weeks twice a year, during this time they will need to be brushed daily to remove all the excess coat. This process of removing the old coat will help the new coat to grow out in a better condition, also excess undercoat can cause skin conditions.

Living Conditions. The Finnish Spitz prefers a cooler climate and can be relatively inactive indoors. They can do well in an apartment but do need daily walks and plenty of attention. They are well suited to family life and get on well with children and other pets.