Little Known Dog Breeds

We are familiar with such dog breeds as the poodle and Labrador retriever. There are other breeds less known, especially in this country.  Below, I have given a short description of several of these less-known dog breeds.

Affenpinscher  -- This is the smallest dog in the breed which also presented us the schnauzers. The affenpinscher is thought to be the most suitable for a family pet as it is very intelligent, easy to train of a good demeanor. They have a dark fur and have always shown affection to human beings. 

Anatolian Shepherd -- This dog breed is of a medium size and has proved to be very courageous. This breed is very powerful and loyal and it is used for military and hunting purposes. 

The basenji --These are medium sized muscular dogs and are also named the African Barkless Dogs. These dogs are able to bark, they just choose not to.  Their biggest skill is hunting.

The Bouvier des Flandres -- This dog is similar to the terrier one . Their fur is generally dark and they have proven to be very calm. At the beginning they were bred as herders in France but nowadays they are used for police and military purposes, as well as guidance for blind persons. 

Asian Ovtcharka  --The Central Asian Ovtcharka are large and muscular dogs. They appear to be very loyal and fearless dogs with strong protective instincts which makes them perfect as watchdogs. 

The Polish Owczarek Nizinny  -- This dog is of medium size and has long fur which covers its eyes. These are devilish dogs that are known for creating chaos when left alone.

The next time you are looking to add a new dog to your household, why not take a look at one of these?

Human Food Could Kill Your Dog

The most innocent looking item could kill your dog.

Let’s face it—dogs are not known for being fussy eaters.  Some dogs will eat anything and everything they can get into their mouth.  This isn’t a big problem with many human foods, but there are a few that could be potentially fatal to your dog.

We are all aware that many dogs cannot eat chocolate.  While a tiny bite here and there may not hurt most dogs, it could kill others.  Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are especially hazardous.

Onions are another no-no for your dog.  There are chemicals in onions that turn to poison within the dog’s digestive system.  This is true of some strains of mushrooms as well.  Rather than take the chance, it is important to keep both these substances out of your dog’s reach. Garlic is another culprit.  The toxic effect of this spice is quick.

Any kind of seed could cause problems in your dog.  While most will only cause discomfort and possible vomiting, seeds such as apple seeds can be fatal.  If you have a dog that likes to investigate the garbage, it is important to make sure he can’t get to these.

Chicken bones are another hazard to dogs, as are those of turkey and duck.  These bones tend to shatter and the sharp pieces can poke a hole in your dog’s stomach or intestine.

Dogs are known for eating many things a human stomach cannot handle.  This, however, does not mean they can eat all a human can.  To be safe, make sure foods are not left where your dog can discover them.  The most innocent looking item could be the one that kills your dog. A few minutes of caution can save a lifetime of sadness should you lose your dog.

Doggie Sit-Ups

Ideal play or training sessions with your dog end with the dog feeling both tired and successful.  One method that accomplishes creating a sense of accomplishment in both you and your dog, as well as enforcing obedience, is doing a session or two of doggie sit-ups. It helps to have a lot of small treats on hand for these. At first, you may have to give a tiny bite after each part of the exercise.  Eventually, your goal will be to complete the entire set before a treat is given.

Start by having your dog sit.  Once sitting, have him lay, then sit again and finally stand.  This is one sit-up.  The ideal session will be to have your dog repeat this sequence of moves a total of ten times, but at first you may only be able to get him to cooperate for one or two.  That is fine.  Every few days add an additional turn before he gets his treat until he is doing the full ten.

This exercise reinforces the basic commands of sit, down and stay.  If your dog has yet to learn these commands, you will have to work on them at the same time.  This allows you to accomplish two things at the same time. Keep in mind, however, that trying to learn a new command is tiring in itself.  Adjust the number of sit-ups accordingly or you are bound to have a very frustrated dog.

Dogs love to feel they have made their people happy.  Allowing your dog to combine some of the simplest commands into your play session will make him feel he has accomplished this task and he will be all the more eager to do whatever else you have in store for him during this time.