American Kennel Club | Just for Dog Lovers

Bulldogs are also in the top 10 of America’s favorite dog breed according to the American Kennel Club. Despite their gruff appearance, they are really just pussycats.

Originally bred for in the British Isles for “bull baiting”, they were ferocious dogs with an insensitivity to pain. When dog fighting became illegal, breeders selectively chose the gentle disposition and eliminated the ferocious nature. Now bulldogs are wonderful family pets with a gentle dispositions. They do have a few problems due to their genetics and the large head and flat faces. First one, they almost always have to be delivered by c-section and bred with AI (artificial insemination) , which makes them very expensive to buy and breed. Bulldogs are also very prone to overheating and heat stroke and should not be left in the heat. I have also noticed a problem with demodectic mange due to their inbreeding and I have also found some that are deaf.

To learn more about bulldogs, AKC.org is an excellent resource.

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Love Chocolate Labrador Retrievers

January 28, 2011 By drdawg 1 Comment

Labrador Retrievers continue to keep their number 1 ranking as America’s favorite breed of dog according to the American Kennel Club and I must admit, they are also one of my favorite breeds.

Labs are very affectionate, loyal, intelligent, and still protective of their family and property. They have a sleek coat that has water repellent properties and they do shed if in the house because of the light cycle of being indoors.

Because of their large size they do need a bigger place and room to romp. They love to retrieve, just about anything, and if you seem to be ignoring them, they will bring you their toy so you can play. Labs are good with children, but can run over some smaller children when excited. They are a great rough and tumble dog and an excellent hunter retriever. Their is a tendency toward hip dysplasia, but thanks to the efforts of the AKC and veterinarians, the incidence has seemed to decrease. Labs can also have problems with ear infections because of their swimming nature and the long ear canal. Labradors come in 3 shades, black, yellow and chocolate.

For more information on the Labrador Retriever, be sure to check out the AKC’s website.

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Yorkshire Terrier Lover Calendars

January 28, 2011 By drdawg Leave a Comment

These long haired jewels are Yorkshire Terriers, commonly called “Yorkies”. They have lots of personality and are very energetic. Although, AKC has them as a member of the Toy Group, they maintain the terrier nature being brave, determined and curious.

Yorkies are among the top 10 most popular dogs in America, according to the AKC. Their long, tan and blue coats are very silky and do require a lot of maintenance to keep them from getting tangled. Some owners opt for the “Teddy Bear” groom as a maintenance hair cut. They tolerate having their hair put in bows and children dressing them in clothes.

Learn more about the Yorkshire Terrier at the American Kennel Club

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Beagle Lover Calendars

January 27, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Beagles are also among America’s top 10 favorite breeds of dogs according to the American Kennel Club (AKC.org). They are very intelligent, high spirited, and sometimes very vocal dogs. Famous beagle dogs include the cartoon character, Peanuts “Snoopy”, Garfield’s friend, “Odie”, “Gromit” of Gromit and Wallace,”Mr. Peabody” (from Rocky and Bullwinkle) “Lou” from the movie “Cats and Dogs” and, of course, “UnderDog”.

Besides being in cartoons and movies, Beagles do play an important role with Homeland Security and Department of Agriculture. As reported in Urban Paws Magazine (www.urbanpawsmagazine.com), the “Beagle Brigade” is a team of Beagles that has made an estimated 75,000 seizures a year of prohibited items while working at airports, borders, ports, post offices, and international shipping companies inspecting luggage and packages.

The Beagles sharp sense of smell helps it tell the difference between illegal and legal items and will alert the handler when they find the prohibited items. “Sophia”(pictured to the right) is a Beagle from Houston that made the Beagle Brigade and you can read more about her story in this months urbanpawsmagazine.

So, next time you go through the airport and spot a beagle sporting a navy blue vest, they may just belong to the “Beagle Brigade”

Save on Beagle Calendars, Shop now!

Filed Under: Calendars Tagged With: Akc, American Kennel Club, beagle, Beagle Brigade, Beagle Dogs, Beagle Puppies, Beagles, Breeds Of Dogs, Calendar Frame, Calendars, Cartoon Character, Cats And Dogs, Department Of Agriculture, Engagement Calendar, Famous Dogs, Frien, Garfield, Gromit, Gromit And Wallace, Homeland Security, International Shipping Companies, Loo, Mini Wall, Mr Peabody, Odie, Paws Magazine, Peanuts Snoopy, Pocket Beagles, Pocket Planner, Post Offices, Rocky And Bullwinkle, Seizures, Sense Of Smell, Snoopy, Underdog, Wall Calendar

What kind of pet is right for your family?

December 11, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

There are more than 150 American Kennel Club-recognized dog breeds and 40 Cat Fanciers’ Association-recognized cat breeds. Choosing the right one for your family can be complicated. Ask yourself some questions about your family. Are you an active family? Do you have lots of room for a pet? Does anyone in the family suffer from pet allergies? It’s important to answer these questions and research potential choices. Making the right decision will ensure a healthy relationship for your family and family pet.

View full post on MyPetCareTV.com Pet News

Filed Under: pets in the news Tagged With: Active Family, American Kennel Club, Cat Breeds, Cat Fanciers Association, Choices, Dog Breeds, Family, Family Pet, Healthy Relationship, kind, Nbsp, Pet Allergies, Pet News, Right, Right Decision

Microchips Help Lost Dogs be Found

June 24, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

There is not much of anything in the world than the sight of a child who is grieving a lost dog. Teary-eyed and depressed, yet hopeful, she goes around the neighborhood tacking Xeroxed signs to telephone poles, pleading for the safe return of her beloved pet, all the time knowing that the odds are stacked against her and her dog.

Over the years there have been various methods enacted to try and raise the number of lost pets that are reunited with their owners. Dog licensing and tag laws are one way that local governments have tried to help, but they don’t work very well at all. If a lost dog has lost its identification tag it is nearly impossible for anyone to find the dog’s owner.

For many years the owners of show dogs have used tattoos to put permanent identifying marks of their dogs. The tattoo is placed on the skin of the inner thigh, near the abdomen and contains a unique number assigned by the American Kennel Club. The tattoos aren’t readily visible to the average person, however, and shelter employees seldom check for tattoos on the “strays” that are brought to them on a daily basis.

A newer method of dog identification hopes to put an end to the number of lost dogs that can’t be reunited with their owners, or at least reduce it significantly. A microchip is inserted under the dog’s skin near the shoulder. This chip contains encoded data about the dog and its owner that may then be read by a scanner. It is a more permanent method than a simple metal tag, less painful and inconvenient to the dog than tattooing, and has a higher success rate than any other method when it comes to getting lost dogs back together with their owners.

The method isn’t perfect; some microchips may shift over time and become unreadable to scanners and there is the possibility, however remote, that the microchip can become demagnetized. It is the best method developed so far and is now being used all over the world.

Insertion of the microchip is a simple and nearly pain free process for the dog. Unlike tattooing, which requires the dog to be restrained and often shaved, implantation of the microchip is similar to an injection. After a tiny pinprick, its over and the dog can now be identified at any shelter equipped with the scanning device. The information on the chip is unique to the dog and the owner and makes a reunion a high probability instead of a remote possibility.

Thanks to microchip technology, we may have seen the last child crying over her lost dog and that would be a Very Good Thing.

Filed Under: pet health Tagged With: Abdomen, American Kennel Club, Array, Average Person, Beloved Pet, Daily Basis, Inner Thigh, Insertion, Latest Flash Plugin, Local Governments, Lost Dogs, Lost Pets, Metal Tag, Microc, Microchip, Microchips, Neighborhood, Odds, Safe Return, Scanner, Scanners, Show Dogs, Strays, Success Rate, Tattoo, Tvet

Poodles – One Adorable Dog in Many Convenient Sizes

May 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

People love their poodles! A very popular but often misunderstood breed of dog, the poodle has been with us for centuries. Artifacts from ancient Egypt and Rome have been found bearing the images of poodles engaged in such activities as herding animals, retrieving game animals (small game animals, of course – especially birds), and assisting the dragging of game nets. In fact, the intentional breeding of various sized poodles (the American Kennel Club or AKC recognizes three sizes of poodles – Standard, Miniature, and Toy – which are all considered to be the same breed) likely dates back hundreds of years as opposed to other types of dogs which were bred this way only recently. Suffice to say that there have been oodles of poodles roaming the Earth for a very long time.

Defining the Poodles’ Sizes

The three sizes of poodle have distinct definitions according to the AKC. For purposes of competition in dog shows, the different sizes are determined by the poodle’s height at the shoulder. Standard poodles are defined by being taller than fifteen inches at the shoulder. Miniature poodles must stand no more than fifteen inches but more than ten inches at the shoulder, and Toy poodles must be ten inches or less. Recently breeders have been offering Teacup poodles as well. While the AKC does not recognize the Teacup distinction, most breeders consider a poodle that stands eight inches or less at the shoulder when full grown to be a Teacup poodle. Teacup poodles are proving to be very popular and fetch some of the higher prices for poodle pups.

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Poodle Popularity

The popularity of poodles is particularly due to a plethora of pleasant attributes in poodle personalities. Poodles are proud dogs and usually very active. It is said that the poodle carries an air of regal dignity unseen in other breeds of dog. Some poodles, however, can be exceptionally shy while others may be very cross creatures. These are the exception rather than the rule. Generally speaking, pet poodles please people.

Primping the Poodle

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Toy Poodle Collar & Leash

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Poodle grooming is nearly an art form and there are four generally accepted styles used for show poodles. These are called “show quality clips” and generally include shaping the poodle’s coat to exact specifications in some areas while completely shaving other areas. These four show quality poodle cuts are the Puppy Show Clip, English Saddle Clip, Continental Clip, and Sporting Clip. In addition to these there are five common “pet quality” poodle clips that are employed with non-show dogs. They are known as the Kennel Clip, Dutch Clip (there are two styles of Dutch clip), Bikini Clip, and Puppy Pet Clip.

minipoodle Poodles – One Adorable Dog in Many Convenient Sizes

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For those thinking about becoming poodle owners, the AKC has plenty of information on what to look for in a purebred poodle. The can help potential poodle procurers avoid unnecessary poodle pitfalls and start on the road to a long and happy relationship of poodle puppy love.

Filed Under: Dog Breeds Tagged With: Akc, Akc Dog, American Kennel Club, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Artifacts, Breeds Of Dog, Dignity, Eight Inches, Game Animals, Game Birds, Hundreds Of Years, Miniature Poodles, Plethora, Poodle, Poodle Dogs, Poodles, Small Game, Standard Poodles, Teacup Poodle, Teacup Poodles, Toy Poodles, Types Of Dogs

Attention – Texas Dog Owners- Mandatory Spay/Neuter Bills

March 16, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

News from AKC came to me today that affects all dog owners in Texas and dog owners in the rest of the country should watch out for

Excerpt from AKC news release:

Two mandatory spay/neuter bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature. House Bill 4277, sponsored by Representative Jose Menendez of San Antonio, and Senate Bill 1845, sponsored by Senator Leticia Van de Putte also of San Antonio, will require that all dogs over six months of age be sterilized. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and its Texas federation of owners, the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (RPOA), believe that any attempt at restricting the rights and liberties of responsible breeders–especially via mandatory spay/neuter laws–must be defeated. If adopted, these bills will have a profound negative impact not only on responsible dog breeders in Texas, but also on all current and prospective dog owners. Therefore, it is vital that all responsible dog breeders and all concerned dog owners in Texas, as well as anyone worried about such radical policy, contact their elected state legislatives as well as the bills’ sponsors and respectfully let them know that these draconian measures are unreasonable, unenforceable, and unacceptable.

The American Kennel Club opposes the concepts of breeding permits, breeding bans, or the mandatory spay/neuter of purebred dogs. Instead, AKC supports reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously. Additionally, we strongly support and actively promote a wide range of programs to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and the responsibilities of dog ownership.

As currently written, HB 4277 and SB 1845 would:

Require every person who owns a dog or cat at least six months of age to have the animal spayed or neutered.
Provide few exceptions, including one for owners of a dog or cat who purchase an intact animal permit at a cost of $300 per intact animal.
Make each violation of this law a class C misdemeanor, liable for fines up to $500 per violation.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

All concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in Texas, as well as all other concerned Texas residents, are strongly encouraged to write their elected state legislators as well as the bills’ sponsors. Let them know that mandatory spay/neuter bills are radical and unacceptable and will have a profound negative impact upon the state of Texas.

To find out who represents you in the Texas House of Representatives, click here. For a customizable sample letter to send to your representative, click here.

To find out who represents you in the Texas State Senate, click here. For a customizable sample letter to send to your senator, click here.

House Bill 4277 Sponsor Representative Jose Menendez
Capitol Office: EXT E2.204
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 2910
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78768

Although I do routinely recommend spaying or neutering your dog, I am against making mandatory legislation for such. Besides being against your civil liberties, this would be un-enforceable, and if you mandate automatic sterilization, then the state should have to pay for it. I do not believe the state is ready to either enforce such a bill, nor pay for it. Nor do I think citizens will readily accept such a bill. So get on your phone, your computer and your desk and call, write or email against such legislation.

Sincerely,

Debra Garrison, DVM

Filed Under: pets in the news Tagged With: Akc, American Kennel Club, Array, Dog Breeders, Draconian Measures, Excerpt From, Intact Animal, Jose Menendez, Leticia Van, Negative Impact, News Release, Owners News, Prospective Dog Owners, Purebred Dogs, Responsible Breeders, Responsible Pet Owners, Responsible Pet Owners Alliance, Rpoa, Senate Bill, Spay Neuter, Spayed, Texas Federation, Texas Legislature

JPI Mallard Outdoor Rope & Tennis

November 4, 2008 By admin Leave a Comment

Features: American Kennel Club (AKC ) Outdoor Series Rope Toys combine their popular plush toys with rope serving as limbs to the toy animal. These toys are designed for safe, durable pet play and are appropriate for every age and level of activity.

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Filed Under: Dog toys Tagged With: Akc, American Kennel Club, Amp, Jpi, Mallard, Outdoor Toys, Pet Play, Plush Toys, Rope Toys, Tennis

JPI Pheasant Outdoor Rope

November 4, 2008 By admin Leave a Comment

Features: American Kennel Club (AKC ) Outdoor Series Rope Toys combine their popular plush toys with rope serving as limbs to the toy animal. These toys are designed for safe,durable pet play and are appropriate for every age and level of activity.

$15.99 | Read more...

Filed Under: Dog toys Tagged With: Akc, American Kennel Club, Jpi, Outdoor Toys, Pet Play, Pheasant, Plush Toys, Rope Toys

Bulldog Lover Calendars and Gifts