Breed Shorts Articles

Golden Retriever

Pets Best — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: At Withers Males 23 to 24 inches Females 211/2 to 221/2 inches

Weight: Males 65 to 75lbs, Females 55 to 65lbs

Color: Shades of Golden

Origin: British Isles

Coat: Medium Length, Dense, Water-repellent, Feathering on the back forelegs and underbody

Temperament: Reliable, Friendly and Trustworthy

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Exercise: Daily

Health Problems: Hip Dysphasia, Congenital Eye Defects, Von Willebrand’s Disease,

Heart Problem, Allergies

Famous Goldens: “Shadow” Homeward Bound, “Duke” Bush’s Baked Beans, “Comet” Full House

Newfoundland

Pets Best — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: males 27 to 29 inches, females 25 to 27 inches

Weight: males 130 to 150 lbs, females 100 to 120 lbs

Color: Black, Black with white, Brown, Gray, Landseer

Origin: Uncertain, From Newfoundland ancestors brought there by Fisherman from Europe

Coat: Flat, Course, Water Resistant, Double Coat

Temperament: Sweet, Courageous, Loyal, Intelligent

Life Expectancy: Under 10 Years

Exercise: Benefits from regular exercise, enjoys swimming

Health Problems: Hip Dysphasia, Obesity, Heart Problems

Famous: “Nana” in Peter Pan, “Mother Teresa” Must Love Dogs, Lewis and Clark Expedition

Ragdoll

Pets Best — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Color: Vary from Seal, Blue, Red, Lilac etc., Siamese Points

Origin: 1960’s California Breeder of Longhaired Cats with Siamese Markings

Coat: Longhair

Temperament: Large, Loving & Gentle

Life Expectancy: 15 to 25 years

Health Problems: Comparable to any cat

Famous: For Going Limp in your Arms

Chihuahua

Pets Best — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: 6 to 9 inches

Weight: 2 to 6 lbs

Color: Any color marked or splashed

Origin: Mexico

Coat: Smooth or Long Coats, Soft and Glossy

Temperament: Courageous, Lively, Enterprising, and Alert

Life Expectancy: 15 years

Exercise: Daily

Health Problems: Nasal, and Eye Problems, Trouble giving birth, Vulnerable

Famous Chihuahuas: “Gidget” Taco Bell, “Bruiser” Legally Blonde, “Torrey” Pets Best Insurance

Border Terrier

Pets Best — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: Males 13 to 16 inches, Females 11 to 14 inches

Weight: Males13 to 15.5 lbs, Females 11.5 to 14 lbs

Color: Red, Grizzle and Tan, Blue and Tan, Wheaten

Origin: Border between England and Scotland used to drive foxes out of their dens and kill them

Coat: Short dense undercoat with very wiry topcoat

Temperament: Affectionate, Obedient, Easy to Train, Bold Hunters

Life Expectancy: 15 years

Exercise: Moderate

Health Problems: Canine Eptiloid Cramping Syndrome

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Pets Best — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: 12 to 13 inches at withers

Weight: 10 to 18 lbs

Color: Blenheim, Tri color, Ruby, Black & Tan

Origin: Breed to model after the aristocrats luxury dogs in paintings and tapestries

Coat: Moderate length and silky

Temperament: Friendly, sportive and non aggressive

Life Expectancy: 9 to 14 years

Exercise: Moderate

Health Problems: Eye disease, dislocated kneecaps, ear infections, heart problems

Famous: “Rex” Pet of Ronald Reagan, “Princess” in Sex in the city

Basenji

Pets Best — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: Height Males 16 to 17 inches; Females 15 to 16 inches

Weight: Males 22 to 26 lbs; Females 20 to 25 lbs

Color: Red, Black, Tricolor, Brindle, all with white feet, chest and tail tip

Origin: One of the oldest breeds first discovered in Egyptian tombs, today the breed stems from an African line where they are used to guide through forests

Coat: Smooth and shiny

Temperament: Intelligent, Clever, Affectionate, Demanding

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Exercise: Daily

Health Problems: Fanconi’s Syndrome, Progressive retinal atrophy

Famous: Basenjis played in The African Queen, Goodbye My Lady

Akita

Pets Best — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: Height Males 26 to 28 inches; Females 24 to 26 inches

Weight: Males 75 to 120 lbs; Females 75 to 110 lbs

Color: White, Brindle, or Pinto

Origin: Native to the island of Honshu in Japan

Coat: Double- coated, undercoat dense and thick, outer coat straight and harsh

Temperament: Intelligent, Courageous, Willful, Faithful

Exercise: Moderate

Health Problems: Hip Dysplasia, Hypothyroid, Immune Diseases, Skin, Knee and Eye Problems

Famous: “Hachi-ko” Famous in Japan for loyalty to his master, for 11 years would go to the station and wait for his deceased master, owned by Helen Keller, “Kato” Possible witness to the murder of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman

Doberman Pinscher

Pets Best — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: Males 26 to 28 inches, Females 24 to 26 inches

Weight: 66 to 88 lbs

Color: Black, red, blue, fawn

Origin: Germany in the 1900’s breed to be a guard dogs and companion animals

Coat: Smooth and short

Temperament: Loving, intelligent

Life Expectancy: up to 13 years

Exercise: Frequent Exercise

Health Problems: Bloat, hip dysphasia, heart disorders, blood disorders, wobblers syndrome

Famous: “Blitz” in Road Rovers, “Snowflake” in Amazing Stories

Australian Cattle Dog

Pets Best — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: Males 18 to 20 inches; Females 17 to 19 inches at withers

Weight: 30 to 35 lbs

Color: Blue or Red Speckled

Origin: From Australia, breed to work cattle, Breed from Dingos. Kelpies, Dalmatians, & Collies

Coat: Weather Resistant Double Coat, Short Dense Under Coat & Short Straight Outer Coat

Temperament: Intelligent, Loyal and protective

Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years

Exercise: Enjoy as much activity you can give them

Health Problems: Hip Dysphasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, & deafness

Famous: “Dog” Mad Max 2 The Road Warrior, “Zip” Last of the Dogmen

Great Dane

Pets Best — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Size: Females 28 to 32 inches, Males 30 to 34 inches

Weight: Females 100 to 130lbs, Males 120 to 200 lbs

Color: Fawn, Black, Blue, Harlequin, Mantel, Brindle

Origin: Asiatic invasion of Spain & Italy brought with it large powerful dogs that were breed with Irish Greyhounds creating the breed

Coat: Smooth short hair

Temperament: Spirited, Courageous, Friendly, Dependable

Life Expectancy: Under 10 years

Exercise: Plenty

Health Problems: Hip Dysphasia, Bloat, Tumors, Heart Disease, Tail Injuries

Famous: “Scooby Doo”, “Mars & Jupitor” in the Patriot, and “Hank” in The Truth About Cats & Dogs

Leptospirosis

Pets Best — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

A disease that is becoming more common in the United States is leptospirosis. It is caused by a spiral shaped bacteria that is spread through the urine of wild animals and vermin that are shedding the bacteria. The bacteria can survive for weeks to months in the environment and is then picked up by drinking contaminated water or contact with contaminated soil

Signs of the disease include fever, depression, deceased appetite, joint pain, nausea, excessive drinking and jaundice. In general the bacteria in taken up by the blood stream and moved to the kidneys to reproduce. Severely affected animals can exhibit a low platelet count, anemia, and organ failure. It can take any where from five to fourteen days from exposure to develop the illness. In pregnant animals abortions and impaired fertility can take place. Luckily the bacteria will respond to antibiotics making it easy to treat in today’s world.

A scary factor with this illness is that it is zoonotic meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Some researchers speculate a third of the human cases are from exposure to an affected dog and one third from exposure to rodents. The best way to prevent the disease is to have your dog vaccinated according to the recommendation from your veterinarian and to avoid water or soil that may have been exposed to wild animals.

Sources: merckvetmanual.com; veterinarypartner.com; cdc.gov