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Such a pretty boy!

So, Dragon, whose hair grows like crazy, especially in the summer, has needed a haircut in quite a while. He’s worse than some people I know in needing a haircut. He supposed to get one every six to eight weeks or so. Time just goes so fast that sometimes it seems he just has a grooming session when he looks a shaggy mess again. Then again, he is cute shaggy dog.

This time I was just lax and didn’t take him in for grooming for almost three months! That’s a long time; no wonder, brushing him lately has been a bit of a chore. Besides being long, his hair is very thick, and it gets tangled, burrs, etc. He really needed one today.

My daughter likes him best just before he turns into a mini Bouvier. In other words, when his hair has grown out a bit from his ever so charming Kerry cut and before he turns into a lovely doggie hairball. So have some before and after photos of my Dragon dog.

Summer Safety Tips for your Dog

Summer is definitely here—which probably means more time outside for you and your dog. Going out and having fun in the sun is great but there are some precautions that would make the time in the great outdoors more enjoyable for your dog (and you).

Here is a list of 10 things to think about:

1.    Make sure your dog has access to shade and plenty of fresh water at all times of the day.
2.    Never leave your dog in a car on a warm day, let alone a hot one. Even with the windows open, the temperature inside a car can get over 100 degrees. Leaving windows partially opened will not help.
3.    Dogs may need extra brushing and bathing,  especially if they are out in nature—they can pick up lots of weed bits (see below).
4.    Avoid strenuous exercise on extremely hot days. Dogs don’t have an efficient way of handling excess heat since they don’t sweat and some haven’t figured out they shouldn’t play really hard in the heat. So exercise in the early mornings or evenings when the heat is not so intense.
5.    Most lawn and garden products are hazardous to dogs so keep dogs away from lawns that have been treated (although I;m not sure you can always tell which are those, so just don’t let your dog on other people’s lawns).
6.    Rinse your dog with clean water after it goes swimming. Chlorine from pools and bacteria from lakes and rivers can be toxic to dogs.
7.    If going to the beach, do not let your dog drink seawater; the salt can make him sick. Salt and mineral in the ocean can damage the dog’s coat, so rinse after a day at the beach.
8.    Some dogs can get sunburn, especially short-haired dogs and ones with pink skin and white hair (i.e. bull terrier). Don’t let these dogs out in the sun when the sun is really strong. If they do go out in the sun, apply sunblock to their nose and ears 30 minutes before going outside.
9.    If dogs are outside and meeting other animals more, be sure their shots are up to date. Diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvo are ever present. Also, mosquitoes, fleas, etc. are around more in warm weather. Get your dog treated for these too.
10.  Be aware that asphalt can get so hot it can burn the pads of a dog’s paw. Keep to the sidewalk, grass or dirt where it’s cooler.

The one on that list that I’m really aware of is number 3. Boy, during and after our walks I get to clean Dragon dog’s feet. We’ve had to stop several times in one walk, at times, just to clear those obnoxious little burrs (mostly E from above*) out between his paw pads. I can tell because he’ll start limping every few steps. Once he got the burr on the pad and then he just didn’t put that foot down again. Then I definitely knew something was wrong! Anyway, I would have to grab his foot and pull out a bunch (usually) of burrs from each foot. Might as well check them all instead of just one. I feel like a smithy holding Dragon’s paw up like that. And since his coat is so soft and long around his feet, well, stuff clings to that as well—plenty of dried weeds and they all seem to dry now and hanging onto the dog. I guess, all this makes sure I give my Dragon lots of brushing!

*A. Burdock; B. Grappling-hook; C. Horehound; D. Bur-grass ; E. Bur-clover; F. Beggar-ticks; G. Sand-bur; H. Cocklebur; I. Krameria; J. Stick-tight; K. Devil’s-claw.

Tags: summersafetytipsfordogs

Alaskan Malemute

Last day of July, last day of posts on American dogs. More American dogs next July or some other time. Next month (tomorrow, oh my! Time goes too fast these days) I’m going to deal with summer and dogs.

Today’s post is on the Alaskan Malemute, probably the oldest American dog. It is a descendant of dogs of the Mahlemuts tribe from western Alaska. These dogs also got their name from this tribe. Its origins are lost in history. But it is known that 2000 to 3000 years ago, the Mahlemuts already have these dogs. The dogs were used to pull sleds hauling heavy loads of food and supplies.  They were highly valued. Without these dogs the Mahlemuts would not have survived the extreme conditions of the Artic.

Later when white settlers arrived in Alaska, they also saw the value of these dogs and used them to haul their goods about. They were the only reliable form of transportation during the cold snowy winters. This was especially so during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896. The Malemutes also were used by Commodore Robert Peary on his North Pole expeditions and Rear Admiral Richard Byrd on his passages to the South Pole. Byrd commended his dogs when he wrote in Little America, “Had it not been for the dogs, our attempts to conquer the Antarctic by
air must have ended in failure. On January 17th, [lead driver} Walden’s single team of thirteen dogs moves 3,500 pounds of supplies from ship to base, a distance of 16 miles each trip, in two journeys.” Photo, from his second expedition, is from alaskanmalamutes.us/AboutAlaskanMalamutes.html.

Although the Malemute is a very strong dog, it’s not as fast as some other northern breeds. Because of this, they are not usually used in sled dog races like the Iditerod. However, they have no rival in endurance and strength which is why they were used in trips for exploration of the Polar regions, most recently in the Trans-Antarctic expedition. They are also used in weight pull competitions where they can pull load of thousands of pounds.

To live in the exceeding cold Polar lands, the Malemute developed a double coat that protects it from wind, snow, ice and temperatures even 70 degrees below zero. These days Malemutes live in many other climes but they are not generally suited for hot humid areas. They will grow a winter coat and shed it in spring no matter what. When they shed or blow their coat, it’s quite remarkable! Hair, hair everywhere! It’s been said you can fill up several grocery sacks per week. Otherwise Alaskan Malemutes take care of their own coats so well that they only need a bath once or twice a year.

The Malemute is not a dog for everyone. They are extremely smart and stubborn which could make them difficult to train. This difficulty comes from the fact that they are easily bored. They probably know what is needed from them, but they might not want to do it. They learn quickly but they don’t like repetition, so they might not do what is asked even if they know what it is. However, when you make sure they know you’re the boss (the pack leader), they will follow your commands more readily.

They are also great family dogs and will bond with the whole family. They are affectionate and curious. Also, Malemutes are excellent watch dogs and rarely bark, but they sometimes howl like a wolf at times. What do you think of that?

Again, I have drawn some designs of Alaskan Malemutes at www.cafepress.com/dogsink.

Tags: Malemute, AlaskanMalemute, sleddog, mal,

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers

Here’s another dog born and bred in America. Like my beloved Kerry, the development of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever started with a shipwreck. In 1807 two Newfoundlands were rescued from an English brig off the coast of Maryland (BTW, all the people were rescued too). These, a dingy red dog named Sailor and a black bitch named Canton, were great retrievers and were bred to local dogs, in addition to outcrosses to Otterhound, Flat-Coated and Curly-Coated Retrievers. From these dogs developed a breed perfectly adapted to hunting in the rough, icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

By the mid 1800s a distinct breed was clearly developing. It became legendary for its great stamina and skill in working in cold, cold waters. Another great ability the Chessie had is how it can mark and remember where a bird has fallen and be able to find it, even from miles away.
Sometimes they would also have to retrieve up to 200 ducks in a day. Besides their amazing retrieving abilities, they also developed a coat that is virtually waterproof. This is because of natural oils in its coat. After getting out of the water, all a Chessie would have to do would be to give a shake and the water would be gone.

Today Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are still known for all of the above and are the toughest, most strong-willed and protective of the retrievers. They are courageous, intelligent and friendly and they get along very well with families. Above all they love to swim and retrieve. And they need to be active! Without enough exercise they may become bored and act out (just like kids!).

One of the accepted coat colors is “deadgrass,” which is exactly what it sounds like. That color and the other coat colors are great for camouflage that blends in with the fall foliage. I’m rather taken by their eyes that are the color of gold.

It was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1895 making it one of the oldest AKC recognized breeds. It became the official state dog of Maryland in 1964 and is the mascot of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In tribute, there is also an iron statue of a Chessie at the Chesapeake Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland.

Again, if you like a Chesapeake Bay Retriever of your very own to wear, see more at www.cafepress.com/dogsink. This design exemplifies the Chessie’s all-American origins.

All-American Plott

The Plott is an unusual dog in that it was bred by one family for generations so we know exactly how it came to be and why. It is also the only American hound not descended from English dogs.

In 1750, Johannes Plott came to America from Germany with five Hanoverian hounds. The Hanoverian Schweisshund was renowned for its ability to trail an animal even if the trail is a week or more old. Its still a favorite with German gamekeepers.

Plott built a home, married, had children and bred his dogs in North Carolina. His son, Henry, and then his son and so on for seven generations (over 250 years), continued breeding and refining these dogs—specifically for the rugged country of the North Carolina mountains. The dogs were initially bred to hunt boar in Europe, but there being no boars in North Carolina they were used to hunt bear and were known for their stamina and ability to work well into the night. However, boars did show up in America when George Moore tried to start a hunting preserve with buffalo, elk and boar from Russia. That business went bust but the boars are still around.

As the fame of the Plott dogs spread, they also came to the attention of raccoon hunters. Those Plotts with treeing instinct became coonhounds as well, there being lots more raccoons than bears or boars. They were also, like their ancestors, able to cold trail bears and other animals all through the mountains of North Carolina.

The Plott family kept their dogs pure with hardly any outcrosses. One was around the 1780s when a hunter from Georgia, came to see the famous Plott Hounds for himself. He was so impressed that he borrowed one of the Plott’s stud dogs for a year to breed with his bitches. No other crosses occurred until around 1900 when Gola Ferguson bred the tan and black-saddled Blevin Hounds to the Plott. Other than that, the Plott is just pure Plott.

This breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club of Britain in 1946. In fact, it’s one of the ten most popular breeds in Britain in 2007. The American Kennel Club didn’t recognize the Plott (without the Hound part in the name) for show competition until 2007, although it was in the miscellaneous group for years before that.

Nowadays the Plott is still a great hunter, tracking big game such as bear, boar and even mountain lions. It has also been used to hunt coyotes, wolves and wildcats. It is well suited for these endeavor having been developed to be extremely strong and persistent. Besides having great courage and endurance, the Plott is capable of trailing on land and through water, in good and bad weather.

The Plott is also the state dog of North Carolina (naturally) adopted as such in 1989. And it might be the only dog with a highway marker recognizing it! This was dedicated just last month in Waynesville, North Carolina. Photo from PlottDogs.com

As usual, if you like a Plott of your very own to wear and to hold see more at www.cafepress.com/dogsink. 

Tags: plott, plotthound, coonhound, bearhound, boarhound,

Dog as Panda Mom

Plotts will have to wait another day. I found this news today and have to share it. So amazing!

A lesser or red panda at the Taiyuan Zoo in Shanxi Province gave birth on June 25 much to the surprise of the zoo keepers. The mother, the first red panda bred at the zoo, was taken in from a nature reserve in the northwestern Shaanxi Province at the end of April.

Apparently, “No one knew she was pregnant. Her plump body and bushy hair disguised her protruding belly until the babies were born,” said zoo worker Ha Guojiang. She actually gave birth during the day in front of a crowd of visitors but then abandoned the babies and refused to have anything to do with them.
So the workers went in search for a stand-in mom for the baby pandas. They found a dog that was owned by a farmer living near Taiyuan and had given birth three days before the mother panda.

“The mother dog thinks the two bears are its own babies and refuses to nurse the pup,” said Ha who has to help hand feed the poor puppy. He also said the baby pandas are doing well and likes the mother dog’s milk just fine.

Unlike the better known giant panda, the red panda looks more like a raccoon with it bushy tail and masked face.

This is a rare species and is under special protection in China. It is also considered vulnerable worldwide. There are less than 2500 red pandas in the world. Their population has dropped because of people moving into their area and destroying their environment. Also they also have a specialized diet of bamboo. In this they are like the giant panda. They also live in the same habitat and share a unique bone called the pseudo thumb which helps them hold the bamboo that they eat. But how closely the two pandas are related have been debated for many years.

I have always like the red panda ever since I’ve heard of them. It is so cute! See photo from Wikipedia of a adult.

Good health to baby pandas and pups alike.

Tags: dogmother red panda babies, red panda, lesser panda, mother dog

American Gentleman

Since we celebrate the birth of the American republic in July, I thought it would be fitting to celebrate some All-American dogs this month as well. There are not too many recognized by the AKC. However, several more American breeds have been listed in the miscellaneous class, so more are in the offing for official recognition.

To start off I’m going to discuss one of the most popular of the American breeds, the Boston Terrier. Despite its name the Boston Terrier is not really a terrier. It was bred essentially to be a companion, not as a working dog or hunter of vermin as most terriers were. It did descend from terriers so in that respect the name fits. However, it has lost most of the terrier’s manic behavior, including the hunting instinct, and now just loves to be with people, getting along well with young and old alike. It was nicknamed the American Gentleman because of its gentle, friendly disposition and its dapper appearance of a tuxedo-like black and white coat (although it can also be brindle or seal and white).

This most American of dogs was originally bred around 1870 by Robert C. Hooper of Boston. He bought a dog named Judge, a cross between the Old English Bulldog and English White Terrier. He was around 30 pounds. He was bred to a smaller white bitch, named Gyp or Kate. From this mating came a slightly smaller male which was also bred to a smaller female. The offspring of this mating interbred with French Bulldogs, and there you have the beginnings of the Boston Terrier.

By 1889 the breed was popular enough in Boston that fanciers formed the American Bull Terrier Club but this name didn’t sit well with Bull Terrier fanciers. Somehow, its nickname, Roundhead, was also deemed inappropriate. What do you think? Would this dog be as popular with that as a breed name? Anyway, the name Boston Terrier was suggested and adopted. It was recognized to the American Kennel Club in 1893 being the first American breed to be admitted.

For being such a relatively young breed (I mean there are some breeds that stretch back to antiquity), the Boston Terrier has gained plenty of distinction already. It became the state dog of Massachusetts (naturally) in 1979 and Rhett, the Boston University mascot, since 1922. Famous people have also embraced the Boston as pets. These include former presidents Warren G. Harding and Gerald Ford, Helen Keller (pictured at left) and actress Rose McGowan.

Here’s an oddity that you may not know—the Boston Terrier is associated with The Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum, the author, did not specify a breed for Toto, but described him as”a little black dog, with long, silky hair and small black eyes that twinkled merrily on either side of his funny, wee nose”. The original illustrations show Toto as a shaggy black dog. Most people think that he was a Cairn (which is how he was portrayed in the movie), some thought him a Yorkshire Terrier. In some following books, however, Toto became a Boston Terrer (!) for some unexplained reason, but then reverted to a terrier in later books.

There are a few downsides to this dog though. For one thing, they can snore! Sometimes quite loudly, too! This is because of their brachycephalic nature (short nose). This also can cause the Boston to have breathing difficulties in hot weather. They can also overheat. Then, the big round head, which makes them so cute, makes having puppies difficult. Big-headed pups and narrow pelvis for mom makes for Caesarian section for most Bostons.

But the Boston’s great personality outweighs all those problems. The snoring and snorting might actually be endearing!

For you Boston Terrier lovers who would like to have one with you at all times, be sure to check out my Boston Terrier designs at www.cafepress.com/dogsink. I have Boston Terriers for all seasons as well as for everyday.

Next will be one of the lesser known breeds, the Plott.

Tags: Bostonterrier, american gentleman, boston bull, state dog of Massachusetts

More Walking

Well, I’m still walking with Dragon dog. He loves trotting along the path and checking all the various bushes and weed clumps for whatever new smells since we last walked there. However, I am not a good dog walker. It’s more like the dog is walking me. He walks quite fast and the leash is quite taut most of the time, but for the times he stops to sniff. I haven’t really tried to rein him in and slow him down. I just think that this quick march he puts me through is good for me. After all, I’m doing this to exercise myself. As I wrote before, Dragon gets plenty of exercise without this daily walk.

And he has the route memorized! Every time I deviate from the regular route, he would turn to the way we usually take and expect to walk that way. He thinks it’s grand to walk the same path so he can sniff the same smells or whatever dogs like. I don’t know, but I get bored so I try to vary the way I go and sometimes the distance traveled too. Problem with this that Dragon remembers all the additions to the route and he doesn’t like to drop any of the loops and tangents at all! This is a problem because there are days when I don’t have the time to go all the way. One day I had to grab his collar and tail (lovely handle) and force him into the car, he was so intent on finishing the whole route!

I usually walk at sundown and the scenery is wonderful this time of day. The light on the water and grasses is so nice. I’m not so good with all the descriptive words that others can come up with so I brought my camera so you can see for yourself. This day it’s not quite sunset, almost though. Another day I’ll show you the sunset; it really quite lovely over the bay.

The swallows fly in swarms and so low over the path that I’m amazed that the birds don’t crash into some of the walkers.

We met the big and the small today. The first dog we saw as soon as we out of the car was a wolfhound. So very big but nice. Later we met a chihuahua/dachshund mix. It was only 2 months old and oh so cute! Looked more like just a chihuahua with a curly tail, no long body or short legs.

And to end this walk here is Dragon doing his doggie thing.

Happy Independence Day!




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