Beagle,also known as: English Beagle

The Beagle is a small hound bred for hunting rabbit and hare.

The Beagle is a small hound bred for hunting rabbit and hare. The head is somewhat lengthy and is domed at the occiput. Eyes are hazel or deep brown in color, large and set apart with a soft, “pleading” expression that is common to most hounds. The finely textured ears are long, low set and gently rounded at the tips. The medium-length muzzle is square and straight with a somewhat defined stop. The shoulders and chest are broad and muscular, without being bulky. The well-muscled back is short and the loin is wide and gently arched. The gaily carried tail is high-set with a light curve, and is rather short when compared to the Beagle’s size. Coloring can be any true hound color. The length of the coat is medium/close and the texture is coarse.

The Beagle is extremely friendly and gentle—traits that make fit very well in a family environment. Beagles are perfect for families with children, as they are tolerant, loving and playful. They can be kept in homes with other animals but must be socialized early because of their hunting instincts. The Beagle can live indoors but requires a fenced yard in which to roam in addition to a daily walk. The Beagle does not like to be left alone, so owners would be well advised to keep a companion animal with their Beagle, especially when away. It is important that a Beagle is walked on a leash in order to prevent it from running off in pursuit of intriguing scents. This breed responds well to obedience training if worked with regularly. Potential owners should also keep in mind that the Beagle was bred to have a strong, melodious bark/howl for hunting purposes—a characteristic that may potentially disturb neighbors.

Because the Beagle has shorter hair, it’s easy to groom. Simply brush regularly with a firm bristled brush and bathe with mild dog shampoo when needed. The ears do require a bit of maintenance and should be kept clean. If the ears become infected or show signs of ear mites, your vet can provide you with special treatment options. Also, make sure to keep the nails trimmed. The Beagle requires daily exercise in the form of either a free roam in an enclose area or a long walk. Major health concerns for the Beagle are intervertebral disk disease and canine hip dysplasia; minor concerns include glaucoma, epilepsy, CPRA, hypothyroidism, patellar luxation, chondrodysplasia, distichiasis and KCS.

Australian Shepherd, also known as the Aussie.

a well-proportioned dog

The Australian Shepherd, also known as the Aussie, is a well-proportioned dog that can come in a variety of colors including black, blue-merle, red and red-merle. The breed is slightly longer than it is tall, has a strong but not bulky body and a coat that is often ornamented with white markings. The Australian Shepherd’s muzzle tapers a bit from the base to the tip and ends with a rounded nose. The color of the nose is dependent on the coat; blue merles and black Aussies have black noses while red and red-merles have liver-colored noses. The ears are medium sized, triangular in shape, and high-set. The breed has as much variation in eye color as it does in its coat with amber, blue, brown, or any mix of the three all commonplace. The tail is naturally very short (usually less than four inches) and often docked.

The Australian Shepherd is an extremely intelligent breed that is also very active. The breed’s intelligence usually makes for a quick learner that is easy to train and eager to please. Australians are generally good with other pets, very friendly and affectionate towards children and family, but can occasionally be reserved in the presence of strangers. Without proper training, the Australian Shepherd may also instinctively nip at the heels of small children or unfamiliar people and it may bark or run excessively. The Australian Shepherd is not typically aggressive with other dogs, although it can be if not properly socialized at a young age. The breed can make a good watchdog and is also considered to provide a moderate to high level of protection.

The Australian Shepherd was bred as a herding animal and needs a lot of exercise on a daily basis. Walks will not be adequate – this breed really needs a free romp in a large yard or field. Without sufficient attention and exercise, the Australian Shepherd can become very hyperactive and bark endlessly. The breed is only a moderate shedder and needs to be brushed once or twice a week. The Australian Shepherd learns quickly but should still begin training at a young age to ensure the best results. The Australian Shepherd is physically capable of living outdoors but this is strongly discouraged, as it will stunt the dog’s mental development. Australian Shepherds are susceptible to cataracts and in very rare cases, Collie eye anomaly. The most common health problems in the breed (and even these are not frequent problems) are canine hip dysplasia, cataracts, epilepsy, iris coloboma, and autoimmune problems such as allergies and hypothyroidism. MDR1 (Multi Drug Reactivity) sensitivity is common in the breed and can result in death for some dogs, if certain drugs are given to them.

Australian Cattle Dog, also known as: Blue Heeler, Hall’s Heeler, Queensland Heeler

Group classification: Herding Country of origin: Australia

The Australian Cattle Dog is a medium-sized dog with a smooth, flat coat texture. Coloring is either blue or red speckle. If blue, the acceptable colors and markings are blue, black, white and tan that is distributed evenly. For red speckled Australian Cattle Dogs there should be red mottling with no cream or white. The head is proportionate to the rest of the body, strong and balanced. The muzzle is medium in length and neither pointed nor cheeky, with a pure black nose. The eyes are oval in shape and dark brown in color, and should convey alert intelligence. Ears are medium in size, wide set apart and moderately pointed. Teeth should be strong and scissor-like. The body is strong and muscular, while the tail is set moderately low with a mild curve.

Because these dogs were bred to herd, they are energetic and enthusiastic. They are loyal and loving protectors and need a lot of fresh air and exercise. Australian Cattle Dogs can be great with children, as long as they are introduced to youngsters at an early age. They will often need to be directed not to nip at the heels of little ones, because this is a herding instinct that is ingrained within them. The Australian Cattle Dog is wary of strangers and can become aggressive towards them if not socialized properly as puppies. These dogs can be exuberant and stubborn, especially when they are young. They need firm handling and an owner that is willing and able to provide them with the direction and exercise they need. The Australian Cattle Dog needs wide open spaces in which to run and is definitely not a dog for an apartment dweller. If you have additional dogs or other pets, care must be taken to manage the dog’s dominant tendencies.

One of the best things about the Australian Cattle Dog is how little grooming it requires. The short coat is highly weatherproof and only needs periodic brushing with a stiff brush. The coat may, however, need extra brushing during the shedding months. It is not necessary to bathe your Australian Cattle Dog very often, unless it gets very dirty. Known health issues include hip dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, deafness, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and elbow dysplasia.

A Calmo Dog Weekend

A Calmo Dog enjoying the weekend

Ah the week end.  For a Calmo Dog that means the master of the house is home all day.  That means backyard fun playing catch or maybe if they are lucky a ride to a park or country side where a dog can find all sorts of goodies to taste and smell. New places to leave your mark and let the world know “I was here”.  Weekend for a Calmo Dog means a good work out for both master and dog. It establishes a good healthy bond between the owner and a pet. The message of the day. Its the weekend get out and take your Dog for a walk or should I say all you well fed well behaved Calmo Dogs take your owner out for a walk.

Good tips on making your dog a CALMO DOG.

This is an article I think worthy of publishing again because we believe this is the foundation to making your dog a Calmo Dog.

Dog Training Tips For Humans

by: M. David Keeling

Here’s a short list of dog training tips us humans should always bear in mind. I’ve decided to mention these because, I believe, they are the most important.

To be honest with you this list has more to do with teaching ourselves how to communicate with our dogs, than it does with dog training tips. Because, when it comes to dog training, we too need to be taught in a sense.

We as human beings need to learn how our “best friends from the animal kingdom” think. If we send our dogs confusing signals when training, we won’t get the positive results we’re aiming for.

Perhaps I should have called this article, “human training tips” instead. Oh well, let us begin:

1.) When ever you’re feeling a little cranky, you might want to put off training your dog till a later time. If you’re not enjoying your training session, most likely your dog won’t enjoy it either. So for take-away dog training tips number one I would say, “If you’re in a bad mood, don’t do it, you’ll only make things harder on yourself and the poor mutt.”

2.) You want to make each training session as much fun for “Fido” or “Fluffy” as possible. That way, in the future, your dog will respond with alacrity to your commands rather than fearful obedience. Take-away dog training tips number two: “For crying out loud, stop scaring the dog and have fun!”

3.) Never spend too much time training your dog. Usually fifteen to twenty minutes a day will be sufficient for your dog to learn. Take-away dog training tips number three: “Take it easy, no need to over do it.”

4.) Always praise your dog when your training sessions come to an end. That way your dog will know that you are pleased with its progress. Take-way dog training tips number four: “Don’t worry about your dog getting a big head. Dogs don’t have egos.” ( Yeah, I know. I don’t know your dog, right? )

5.) Whether training or not, always reward your dogs good behavior with praise and maybe a treat. Take-away dog training tips number Five: “Read tip number six.”

6.) Not to many treats though, or you won’t have a dog anymore! Take-away dog training tips number six: “Don’t over do the doggy biscuits.”

7.) Don’t punish your dog when it behaves badly during training. Try to correct it. If it doesn’t do well, or is confused with a new command, resort back to one it knows. That way you can praise your dog and try again later. Take-away dog training tips number seven: “Lighten up! If your not perfect, neither is the pooch.”

8.) If you become angry at your dog during training, resort back to tip number one.

Remember, you want to make training as fun as possible, for you and your dog, not a chore. Take-away dog training tips number eight: “This one speaks for itself.”

I decided to keep this one short and sweet so you could take-away something to chew on. Us humans can only take-away so many dog training tips, right?

http://dog–training–tips.blogspot.com

About The Author

M. David Keeling has been helping others train their dogs successfully for years. At the behest of family, friends, and neighbors, he has set up a blog to share his ideas with the world. For dog training tips and techniques that actually work, visit: http://dog–training–tips.blogspot.com

Copyright © M. David Keeling

Snow-snow and more snow.

Where we live we have got nothing but snow every day. Getting to work is a drag but the kids and the dogs in the neighborhood are sure loving it. We hope to see some good snow scenes with dogs having fun. Remember to keep you dogs warm when it gets cold and make sure they get plenty of water if they have been active in the snow