Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

The Bearded Collie

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Bearded Collie History and origin:

Believed to be one of the oldest herding dog in Scotland, the Bearded Collie was developed in 17th and 18th century England and Scotland. This breed was used for herding and cattle droving. His weather- resistant coat enables him to withstand harsh, wet climates.

Description:

The Bearded Collie stands 20 to 22 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 45 and 55 pounds. He has an athletic medium-size body and a long, flat, shaggy, shedding coat that mats easily and absorbs odors. Daily brushing and combing as well as regular bathing are essential for this breed. His coat can be kept in a shorter clip to reduce maintenance. His coat may be black or blue-gray with or without white, or it may be fawn or brown, both with or without white. The color may lighten or darken as the dog ages.

About the Bearded Collie:

A natural herder, this beautiful dog is a devoted pet who is friendly, playful and good with children. He is intelligent, active, easily trained, and makes a great show dog. The Bearded Collie is initially reserved with strangers but comes around quickly. This is a sensitive and mildly stubborn breed that responds well to consistent training if the technique is firm but not overbearing. The “Come” command can be the hardest to teach. The Bearded Collie, like most other herding breeds, has a tendency to chase moving objects such as cars, bikes, and joggers. Though reliable with children, he likes to chase them and nip at their heels. Children should not be allowed to play chase games with this breed. The Bearded Collie needs regular exercise. He can excel at competition obedience, agility work, and herding.

Feeding:

Recommended feeding for the Bearded Collie is 1 to 1 ½ cans (13.3oz) of a branded meaty product with biscuit added in the same amount or 3 cupfuls of a complete dry food.

Ideal home:

This breed needs plenty of exercise. A house with a fenced yard is essential. The owner of a Bearded Collie should be a consistent leader who wants an enthusiastic, friendly family dog that can excel in obedience work. Children are fine, provided no chasing or roughhousing is permitted. Spoilers and nervous owners may reduce the dog’s confidence and promote timidity and fear-biting. The elderly and the disabled may have trouble owning this active breed. Time to train, exercise, socialize, and groom the Bearded Collie is important.

Description Of A Labrador Retriever: Part 2

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It is important for the Labrador Retriever to be well balanced. He should  not be as tall and thin as a pointer, and he should not be as short and fat as a potbellied pig. No one feature should be so prominent as to detract from the total picture. If you look at a Labrador and notice only his huge head, the dog is probably unbalanced. If you look at a Labrador and see only his big feet or a long scraggly tail,  you are probably not looking at a good specimen of the breed.

The Labrador Retriever ears should be set off the side of the skull, not too high and not too low. They should be of medium size, hanging so that the bottom tips are about two inches below the eyes. The ears should not be so big or so small that they draw attention to themselves. And they should never be long or folded as they are on many hounds.

The Labrador Retriever eyes are where we see that irresistible, sweet, kind and alert expression. Some are shaped like a rounded diamond.  Although some round eyes can be attractive, they should not resemble the round eyes of a Cocker Spaniel, nor should they be too almond-shaped. A good color would be a warm brown-eye on all three colors (black, yellow or chocolate), maybe a bit darker on a yellow Labrador Retriever. If the eyes are too light, the dog’s expression will be ruined.

There should never be a harsh or mean look about a Labrador. When you look into a Lab’s eyes, you should feel instant friendliness. Usually, the moment your eyes meet, the Lab’s powerful tail starts wagging automatically.

The desirable Labrador Retriever head should sit on a strong neck of medium length. If the neck is too short, the dog looks as if his head is sitting on his shoulders; if the neck is too long, the dog appears elegant, like a setter, which is not correct. There is nothing elegant about this dog. He is agile, strong, and sturdy. As you continue down the neck, past the withers, the top line (the back) should be rather level, never sway-back or sloping to the degree that a Setter’s back does from the neck to the rump.

The Labrador Retriever chest should be deep with well-sprung ribs like a barrel. The shoulders should be long and sloping. The correct look requires long bones that form a ninety-degree angle as you look at the dog from the side, from the withers, to the sternum, to the elbow.

The front legs of a Labrador Retriever are well underneath the dog, allowing a prominent breastbone to show and creating the picture of a powerful chest.

Why Should You Get A Dalmatian?

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The Dalmatian makes wonderful family companions. This is a type of dog that will fit  nicely to whatever your way of life.  His medium size  is suitable for apartment living, while at the same time a true sporting dog at heart, therefore a great addition to your country or suburban home.  In addition, the Dalmatian is an excellent guarddog who is very sensible and alert but not a hysterical barker.  He is therefore a dog whose bark is to be respected and investigated!  If your Dalmatian sounds a “danger alarm,” you can be sure that there is a good reason for it, such as the approach of a stranger.  He is initially cautious of strangers and not automatically everyone’s friend.  Often referred to as courteous dogs, he greets visitors to your home with quiet dignity but at the same time with reserve.

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Dog Training Tips To Get Your Dog To Obey!

If you’d love to discover EXACTLY how to get your dog to stop urinating on your carpet and actually ring a bell when he needs to potty. . .

Train puppies to NEVER chew on furniture or expensive rugs – even when you aren’t there to supervise. . .

Learn simple techniques for getting any dog to stop barking at strangers or from begging you to let him back inside –

Plus a TON more step-by-step dog obedience strategies THOUSANDS of regular people are already using, check out –

The Hands Off Dog Training Method

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Classifying Dalmatians as Non-Sporting Dogs is inaccurate.  He is actually an excellent bird dog, has strong scent hound tendencies, and an efficient retriever.  Being the one and only true coach dog, the Dalmatian is a hardy dog who is capable of many miles in “road work”  and in early days were often used for herding duties.  In addition to being a wonderful companion, a Dalmatian is an elegant dog with his clean lines and spotted markings that gives him a smart and charming appearance.  If you and your family loves spending time doing things with your dog, this is an excellent breed to have.  He is very intelligent, a fast learner, and very anxious to please his owners. The Dalmatian is fond of children and enjoys playing with them.  With early training and socialization, this breed gets along well with other animals.  If you are interested in showing your dog, the Dalmatian is a suitable choice of breed.  He enjoys being in the dog show limelight and is seldom difficult to teach show routine.  His short coat is easy to care for and requires low maintenance grooming.

There is one special concern to watch out for before you purchase a Dalmatian puppy: this breed has a tendency towards deafness.  This is a concern to which reliable breeders are making every effort to correct within their breeding programs, and something that one should be aware of in selecting the new family member.  Therefore, it is especially important that you purchase your Dalmatian from a reputable Dalmatian breeder.   When you shop for your dog, be alert for signs of deafness.  Test for keenness of hearing by talking to the puppy, snapping your fingers, chirping at him from behind or off to the side to make sure that you are being heard and reacted to properly.  It is not difficult to ascertain the Dalmatian puppy’s hearing is normal, but be alert and watchful as you make your selection.

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