Cattle

Archive for December 8th, 2008

The Alaskan Malamute is a stunningly beautiful large breed of dog. The Alaskan Malamute is often used as a sled dog. They can grow up to weigh between seventy five and one hundred pounds, so be sure that you want a big dog before you commit to owning one as a pet.

The Alaskan Malamute, as its name suggests, is best suited for northern climates. This is mainly due to its very thick coat and undercoat. Their coats can be a variety of main colors, such as grey, black, red and sable. The main color is always paired with white in these dogs. If you are looking for a pure bred Alaskan Malamute, it should always have brown eyes. The tail should plume up over the back and have a lot of fur to keep the dog’s face warm in freezing weather while sleeping.
If you are considering an Alaskan Malamute as a house pet, there are a few things to be aware of. They can be great with children, but may not take well to a small child that hurts or teases. Older children in the home are preferred. Alaskan Malamutes are very active as puppies and need a lot of room to run and play. You will need a big yard with a good fence. Alaskan Malamutes can be destructive if ignored or not properly socialized. With some obedience training and proper handling, they usually grow into gentle mild-mannered dogs.

It is important to exercise your dog. Overheating is the main concern and you should be careful about exercising your dog in hot weather. Alaskan Malamutes can easily get too hot in warm climates. Their dense undercoat sheds for warmer weather. Make sure that your dog has plenty of shade and fresh water during warmer months.

Alaskan Malamutes are generally healthy dogs with little health issues to worry about. They eat as much as you give them and can get rather bloated and overweight. They only need a surprisingly small amount of food, so be careful about overfeeding.
Alaskan Malamutes have historically been prized sledding dogs. They were originally bred for sledding and are very powerful animals. They usually have a very sweet disposition as adults and may not make the best guard dogs. They are loyal companions and loved for their friendly mild manners by many owners. They do like to dig, so make sure that your fence is equipped to handle some deep digs and keep your dog in. They are territorial and may not get along well with other dogs. This is especially true with same sex or same breed dogs. They can be raised to accept other pets in the home, even small animals. You will need to properly introduce your dog to smaller pets so that your dog does not see them as prey.

Having an Alaskan Malamute in your life can be a real blessing and add a lot of love to your family. Choose wisely and avoid puppy mills when choosing your dog. Puppy mill dogs tend to have a lot more health and temperament problems. When looking for purebred dogs for sale, please visit www.mydreampuppy.com.

The Whippet is a sensitive, intelligent and sweet dog. They make good watch dogs. They need plenty of exercise and a safe place to let them run would be ideal. They are generally not to be trusted with other pets as they may consider them fair game. They are said to do well with other canines and children, especially if well socialized when young. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Whippet is 17 to 20 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 18 to 28 pounds.

*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Whippet is no exception. Be on the look out for skin problems, upset stomach, genetic eye disease and sunburn. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

*Grooming. The Whippet has a smooth, firm, short, close and easy to care for coat. She should be brushed and rubbed down with a damp chamois regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet.

*Life Span. The Whippet can live between 12 and 15 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

*History. The Whippet comes from Great Britain where they were used for hunting fast small game and later radcing. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1888.

Some Registries:
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry

Litter Size: 4 to 8 Whippet puppies

Category: Hound

Terms To Describe: Elegant, fit, speed, power, strength, balance, affectionate, friendly, gentle,

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Pretty much odor free coat.
Makes a good watch dog.

*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Does poorly in cold climates.
Makes a poor guard dog.

*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.