Cattle

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Description: The Weimaraner is a fairly large, athletic hunting dog. The dog will be found to be 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder and the bitch 22 to 25 inches. The Weimaraner weighs between 50 and 70 pounds, depending on sex. The tail of the Weimaraner is generally docked (as is the practice with many hunting dogs). The coat of the Weimaraner is very distinctive and elegant, being various shades of grey from mouse-grey, charcoal-grey, or silver-grey. The eyes of this dog are widely set and amber in color. There is also a long haired Weimaraner, but it is not recognized in America. The Weimaraner generally lives for 10 to 12 years. It is also called the Grey Ghost or the Weimar Pointer.

History: The Weimaraner is actually a descendent of the Bloodhound. This breed was really developed in the 17th century, but dogs with similar attributes were known in 11th century in France at the court of King Louis IX. The dog eventually made its way to Germany where the breed type was refined and perfected at the Court of Weimar by local noblemen. It developed into a hunter of birds and small game after its original quarry, boar, wolves, and elk became scarce.

Temperament: The Weimaraner is a fearless, protective dog that has been developed not only for its hunting abilities, but for its affection for its human family. The Weimaraner gets along very well with children. For the Weimaraner to be a really valued member of the household, it should be well trained and provided with plenty of exercise. It can be socialized with cats and other dogs in the household, but should probably never be trusted with pet rabbits or hamsters, its prey drive is just too strong.

Health Issues: The Weimaraner, unfortunately, can be subject to bloat. This twisting of the stomach is a life-threatening condition that must be dealt with immediately. Smaller meals and a quiet time after eating can help. This dog can also suffer from hip dysplasia. Von Willebrand’s Disease, a form of hemophilia, is sometimes present in this dog. These last two disorders can be largely eliminated by intelligent breeding. This dog is also subject to tumors.

Grooming: The short coat of the Weimaraner is easy to keep in top form, all that is needed is a twice weekly brushing, and perhaps a ‘polishing’ with a chamois cloth. It is probably best to use a dry shampoo on this dog, to help preserve the natural oils. If the Weimaraner has been hunting in the field, be sure to check for ticks, and for plant seeds between the toes.

Living Conditions: Although the Weimaraner is a keen hunting dog that needs a lot of exercise, it is also a devoted companion dog that needs to be with its human family. This dog will suffer from separation anxiety if left alone. In part, because of its strong bonding to humans, the Weimaraner can live in an apartment, but it must be given sufficient exercise. This dog needs a long walk every day and the chance to experience a free run now and again.

Turtles have always been popular as pets. There are multiple reasons that make people may want to keep turtle as pets. Turtles are interesting to watch, they’re distinctive from traditional pets, or perhaps people may think that turtles are easy, low maintenance pets.

Turtles and tortoises can be prove to be more time consuming and expensive than expected, since they have a very specialized set of needs that are very different from those that you need to provide for your average furred companion. If a turtle or tortoise owner does not provide these requirements, the turtles will lead a very poor quality of live and die a premature death.

Obtaining a turtle or tortoise as pet is a very important decision. It is very important to know the reasons for owning one and the responsibilities for keeping one. Some things to consider before you obtain a turtle or tortoise as pet are:

• The price you pay of purchasing a turtle or tortoise is the cheapest part of owning a turtle. Providing an appropriate housing, foods, vitamins, bedding, humidity and veterinary care, can total hundreds of dollars a year.
• Turtles and tortoises are a long term commitment. They can live for a very long time, often 25 years or longer.
• Turtles require clean, fresh water and bedding. You should spend at least half an hour each day caring for the turtle.
• Some species need to hibernate, which is sometimes quite stressful for the turtle.
• To properly care for a turtle or tortoise, you need to fresh fruits and vegetables. Even for species where formulated food is available, this should only make up a portion of the diet.
• Most turtles grow fairly large and need correspondingly large tanks or enclosures.
• Turtles and tortoises should have exposure to ultraviolet light, either through the use of UVA/UVB producing bulbs.
• Turtles and tortoises do not interact with or particularly like humans.
• Turtles and tortoises are not recommended as suitable pets for most children because of the risk of salmonella infection.

How to choose the right turtles
The next step is to research the different breeds available. There are major differences between turtles, tortoises and terrapins. Choose a species that fits your lifestyle and your environmental niche. By narrowing your options ahead of time, you can make your decision an educated and easy one.

Do I have a place to house my pet turtle? While most turtles and tortoises can be housed either indoor and out door, some types like the Russian tortoise are preferred for outdoors where they can freely move in natural surroundings.

If you are sure that you understand all the above requirements for keeping turtles and tortoises as pet, then you should consider one more important factor before you choose turtles as pet, and that is where did the turtles come from?

Before you purchase a turtle or tortoise, make sure that it has been captive breed and raised. Breeders that provide good housing, nutrition and controlled breeding programs are much more likely to provide healthy species and good husbandry information. There is never a reason to purchase a wild caught turtles.

So with all that is mentioned, you may now begin preparing and narrowing your options before buying or adopting a pet turtle. Visit your local pet shop and veterinary to get some professional advice and choose the right type of turtle and tortoise as your pet.

Today I fell into a trap that I should never have allowed myself to get into. I actually trusted my dog, my Nikki, a 3 year golden retriever.

Nikki is an amazingly affectionate dog, even more than normal for a golden retriever. She is gentle, good natured and behaves pretty well.

She loves going out for car drives, and she is a very well behaved dog in the car. She sits beside me, head hanging out the window and gently watching the world go by. She never gets agitated, restless or excited, even when she spots another dog out the window.

The other day, I took both Nikki, and Benny my black lab out for a drive. This time Benny was sitting in the front. Nikki was in the back. As usual I had the back and front window open.

I drove around the corner, and pulled into my driveway. And, what do I see…Nikki, sitting by the front gate. She must have jumped out the back window as I was pulling around the corner and ran to the gate.

I had absolutely NO clue she had even jumped out. Never before did she ever show any signs of jumping out.

Needless to say I was freaking. I mean, with a little imagination, I could imagine what could have happened.

Rule number one: Don’t trust your dogs. No matter how well behaved your dogs are, they are still dogs. Look out for their safety. Always make safety your first priority.

I should have known better. I try to make dog safety and dog training and dog nutrition my priorities. I have 3 dogs, 2 black labs, and my Nikki, a golden retriever. Dukie, one of my black labs is blind. Oddly enough, when I walk my 3 dogs and my neighbour comes and joins me with her dog, Dukie behaves the best. He loves walking and going for car rides. If you are observing him, you would never know he is blind.

The Labrador Retriever (“Labrador” or “Lab” for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, and are the most popular breeds of dog (by registered ownership) in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The breed is exceptionally friendly, intelligent and good natured, and as a rule these qualities mean that Labs love people, handle children well, and therefore make excellent family and service dogs. Benny, my black lab and Nikki are both Certified Therapy Dogs. They visit the elderly in homes.
Labradors are relatively large with males typically weighing 60 to 80 lb (27 to 36 kg) and females 50 to 70 lb (23 to 32 kg). They are energetic outgoing dogs, and are black, yellow, or brown (called “chocolate”) in color, in that order of frequency. Their fur is usually fairly short and straight, and the tail quite broad and strong. The otter-like tail and webbed toes of the Labrador Retriever make him an excellent swimmer. Their interwoven coat is also waterproof, providing more assistance for swimming. The tail acts as a rudder for changing directions. Yellow labs can have black or pink noses; chocolate and black labs’s noses match the coat color.
As with some other breeds, the English and the America lines differ slightly. Labs are bred in England as a medium size dog, shorter and stockier with fuller faces than their American counterparts which are bred as a larger dog. I have both, one English, My Benny, and one American, my Dukie.
Famous Labs

If you get your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from a quality breeder, you can be fairly certain that you will have an excellent dog that will bring years of happiness. Overall, it is pretty healthy breed with typically few major health problems to speak of. Nonetheless, it is advisable that you become educated about the breed and learn if your dog may be predisposed to health problems via his family history. Keep in mind that some information given about the health of your Cavalier KingCharles Spaniel may simply be based on past assumptions. For example, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels historically have been reputable for their good eyesight and health. Yet over the past few years, the breed has changed a bit and is becoming increasingly susceptible to eye diseases. Similarly, overall eyesight quality decreases with age for most dogs and this certainly includes your Cavalier. Don’t be fooled by blanketed statements about the breed. Always check your facts as well as the bloodline history for your potential dog.

It is estimated that nearly half of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels inherit eye problems. Retinal dysplasia is the most commonly acquired of these diseases and is also the most serious eye problem that a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can get. With retinal dysplasia, the retina of the eye has does not properly form, resulting in what is known as retinal folds. The ailment causes blind spots, which are often almost unnoticeable from your dog’s perspective. The disease can also be more serious, causing complete blindness. Again, a bloodline background check is advised so that you can be assured your dog will not suffer from this potentially tragic disease. A reputable breeder should be able to inform you about the full lineage background and whether or not this dog is at risk for eyesight diseases or any other issues. It is disreputable for a breeder to sell a dog for commission if the animal’s lineage indicates the disease to be prevalent and serious. Finding a referred and respected breeder will assure that you can avoid this, and rest easy in knowing that your dog will be healthy and happy for years to come.

As with all breeds, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has its own particular needs for proper care. Adhering to the guidelines for good health and careful grooming should avoid most eye issues. With proper inspections you will hopefully be able to obtain a healthy dog that does not experience serious eye issues until they inevitably come with age. Yet, on a less serious note, most dogs manage to get conjunctivitis at some point during their lifetime. If your dog has conjunctivitis, thoroughly clean the eyes and clear away the mucus regularly. If the condition persists despite your efforts, you are advised to consult your veterinarian. The veterinarian will prescribe an ointment to be applied regularly. In addition, they will advise that you clean frequently to avoid potential eyesight issues. If conjunctivitis is left untreated, permanent eye damage can result if not careful.

When you are ready to get a dog, you’ll find that there are many breeds available to you. Whether you go to a breeder or you are curious about the background of some of the lovely dogs you can find at a shelter, you’ll discover that being aware of the different groups of dogs might help you make your pick.

If you are someone who is looking for a dog that will require lots of regular exercise and who has a great deal of natural energy and exuberance, consider sporting dogs. Sporting dogs are very active and alert and do require a fairly constant schedule of activity. Some examples include Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.

Dogs from the hound group were bred for hunting, whether they hunt with their eyes and with their nose. Like sporting dogs, they do require regular and fairly intense exercise, but they are also quite diverse. Make sure that you know if you are getting a breed that bays, because the sound is quite loud. Beagles and Norwegian Elkhounds are a part of this group.

Working dogs, on the other hand, have been bred to perform certain specific jobs, whether it means that they have instincts to herd sheep or guard property. Siberian Huskies, Boxers and Doberman Pinschers are all members of this group.

Terriers are often distinguished by their small size and their bright and energetic personalities. They are usually not dogs that are friendly with other dogs, and in the past they were bred to kill rats and other vermin. They are quite lively and you may want to think about it before you bring them into a house with small children. Jack Russell Terriers and Welsh Terriers are part of this group.

Toy dogs are, as the name implies, small and bred to be house dogs. They are great for people who don’t have a lot of space and make good apartment dogs. Consider some of the very popular breeds like Chihuahuas or Yorkshire Terriers.

Herding dogs were bred to protect their charges from predators and to make animals move from place to place. Some members of this group might surprise you, like the Welsh Corgis and Swedish Vallhunds who are just about a foot tall and capable of driving cattle into pastures. These dogs are great companions, but do require good socialization and training. Border collies and Pulis are two examples of this type of dog.

Non-sporting dogs are very diverse, and this is something of a catch-all territory. They do not fit into any other group, but they might share characteristics with them. Poodles, Bulldogs and the Japanese Shiba Inu fall into this category, as do the long haired Lhasa Apso and the Keeshond.

When you are thinking about choosing a breed of dog, consider what your requirements are in terms of temperament and think about what the dog itself needs in terms of exercise, space or socialization. This is an important choice for you to make, so think about the options and make sure that you get a companion animal who suits your space and lifestyle.