Lifespan Archives - Edie MacKenzie

Focus on the Bernese Mountain Dog

January 25, 2012 by admin Leave a Comment

The Bernese Mountain Dog originated in Switzerland, and is named after the Swiss capital city, Berne.

These large, friendly dogs were originally used as all-purpose farm dogs and excel at all kinds of jobs, including, guarding, herding sheep and cattle, and pulling heavy loads. Perhaps surprisingly, given their amiable personalities, the breed was also once used by the Romans as military dogs, accompanying their legions into battle.

The Berner Sennehund, as it is known in its native land, first came to America in 1926 and achieved AKC status in 1937.

With its striking tri-color coat, the Bernese is an easily recognizable dog. The coat is mainly black with rust coloration on the face and chest, as well as the lower legs and paws. The coat is thick and heavy, to withstand the freezing Alpine temperature, while the fluffy tail and folded ears also offer protection from the weather.

These are loyal, devoted and gentle pets who are exceptionally good with children and also get on well with other dogs and with non-canine pets. The Bernese is renowned for its happy disposition and kind nature.

The Bernese is a very playful dog which makes him an excellent choice for a family with kids. They are also very adaptable, meaning they’ll fit in to most living arrangements, as long as they are close to their human family.

The Bernese requires quite a lot of grooming. They are heavy shedders, with particularly heavy shedding occurring in the spring. Expect to brush your dog every day if you want to keep dog hair off your clothes and furnishings. When grooming your dog, pay special attention to cleaning the ears, which are susceptible to infections.

Bernese, unfortunately, have a very short lifespan, with a median 6-8 years. They are particularly prone to canine cancers, and also commonly suffer from a number of other serious health issues. Musculoskeletal ailments, like arthritis, hip dysplasia, and cruciate ligament rupture, are a particular problem with this breed. They are also prone eye and ear problems.

As with many large dogs, the Bernese can develop into a first class couch potato if it is allowed to. But the breed actually enjoys activity and is particularly fond of walking. You may even consider training your Bernese to pull a cart, as they were once bred to do.

A big plus point with this breed is their temperament. They are affectionate, loyal, friendly, balanced, and intelligent dogs with a genuine love of people. They respond well to reward based training, but can sometimes be a challenge to train because of their playfulness. It has been said that a Bernese remains a puppy throughout his life.

Good names for a Bernese Mountain Dog can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online puppy names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of male dog names to pick from.

Bichon Frise Breed Focus

January 24, 2012 by admin Leave a Comment

Developed solely to be a companion dog, the Bichon Frise is a friendly, happy little dog. These delightful little characters have a long and interesting history.

The breed originated in Spain during the 13th century, and is thought to have been created by crossing Poodles and Barbet Water Spaniels. They were used as an item of trade by Spanish sailors and as a result reached many European countries. In France, they became a particular favorite of the aristocracy, and by the 16th century, the Bichon was entrenched as the favorite dog of the French royal court.

In addition, Bichons found their way into circuses and performing troupes due to their remarkable ability to learn and perform tricks.

The Bichon Frise is a small dog that is classified in the Toy or Companion Group by most registries. They are sturdy little dogs, weighing up to 12 pounds and standing between 9 and 12 inches tall. The coat is soft and silky and is considered hypoallergenic, making the Bichon an ideal pet for someone with allergies. Coat color is always white, although there may be apricot or cream shading on the ears.

As a dog bred to be a human companion it’s no surprise that the Bichon has a wonderfully balanced personality. They are friendly, outgoing and affectionate, forming close bonds with those they love. They are good with children and other pets, and generally just a joy to have around.

These intelligent and attentive little dogs are easy to train, except in one area – they can be a real hassle to housetrain.

In common with many small breeds, Bichons enjoy a relatively long lifespan, and quite commonly live for 15 years or more. Common health problems include canine cancers (especially in older dogs), cataracts, epilepsy, and fleabite allergies. Bichons may also suffer from a condition known as liver shunts, which needs to be corrected surgically.

As you’d imagine with that luxuriant, white coat, grooming can be a challenge. Your Bichon will require brushing every day, and the coat will also have to be trimmed regularly to keep it in shape. You can also bathe the dog once a month, but don’t overdo it as the dog has sensitive skin. Also be sure to use a mild, dog shampoo.

It goes without saying that this is an indoor dog. The Bichon is perfect for apartment living and needs to always be close to his human family. They are quite prone to separation anxiety, and should therefore not be left unattended for long periods. As with all dogs, the Bichon needs regular exercise, and while much of this can be met with indoor games, you’ll still need to get your dog outdoors for a short walk daily.

Good names for a Bichon Frise can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of cool dog names to pick from.

Astounding Dog Snippets You Might Not Know

December 22, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Dogs are amazing aren’t they? Loyal friends, fearless defenders, tireless workers, not to mention goofball buddies who are always up for fun and games.

But I wonder how many people truly appreciate just how incredible our best friends really are.Read on and prepare to be amazed!

1. Incredible Hearing – Human ears can hear sounds at 20, 000 vibrations per second. By comparison, a dog picks up sounds at 35, 000 vibrations per second – a 75% improvement on our puny hearing capacity.

2. It’s a Dog’s Life – It may amaze you to hear that the longest dog lifespan on record is an incredible 29 years and 5 months. Unfortunately, few dogs get close to that milestone. Most live 10 to 15 years, although with improvements to veterinary medicine it’s not that unusual these days for a dog to reach 20.

3. Night Eyes – Many people believe that dogs can’t see color, but this is untrue. They can, although their color perception is not as good as ours. Where a dog’s vision really comes into its own is at night. They have special reflective layers in the eyes, giving them excellent night vision.

4. Dog Soldiers – Dogs are exceptionally versatile animals and have been trained to do many jobs, including as soldiers. They were used in battle by both the Romans and medieval knights. They served with distinction in both world wars and continue to serve in the military to this day.

5. Weapons – A dog’s teeth are a pretty awesome array of weapons. There are 42 of them, set in a jaw capable of delivering a bite force in excess of 200 pounds of pressure per square inch. That’s some serious bite power!

6. By a Nose – Every dog has a unique nose that produces a unique nose print. Kind of like finger printing for canines.

7. Dog Biology – From a Great Dane to a Chihuahua, all dogs share a similar anatomy. All dogs have 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth. Variations do however occur in things such as organ placement.

8. Dog Tired – Dogs love sleeping. In fact, a puppy sleeps up to 22 hours out of 24 during its first few weeks.

9. Canine Radar – Dogs have twice as many muscles in their ears as humans do. This allows them to swivel their ears in the direction of a sound to pick it up, without even moving their heads.

10. Pet Dogs – Approximately 35% of American households keep at least one dog as a pet and millions of pups are born in the US annually.And there you have it – just some of the amazing, little known facts about the incredible animals we share our lives with.

If you want to learn more about dog facts, dog care, dog walking and other helpful dog information check out http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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