The Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Large, rugged and powerful, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a is a hard working guard dog that has an amazing ability when it comes to protecting livestock and there family. Even know there not the prettiest dog breed, the Anatolian’s loyalty, independence and hardiness is what makes them loved by breeders and owners. There coat can be short (one inch) or rough (approximately four inches). It has all color patterns and markings. Because they shed, it is a good idea to brush them frequently. Everyone likes a clean puppy so, giving them a bath once or twice every one to two mouths is a good way to keep your pooch from being too smelly. : ) These dogs have eyes that are blue or in some cases, multicolored.

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog’s breed originated in Turkey and started more than 6,000 years ago. Because they were well- suited to their homelands harsh climate, they served the shepherds as the “frontline defense” against predators. Breeders created these dogs the same size and colors as the livestock they would guarded so that they would blend in and so predators couldn’t see them as well and would be less likely to attack. Anatolians came to the United States in the 1950s.

Chihuahua

          One of the Chihuahua’s  most appealing qualities is there loving attitude. They are very protective of their owners and do not like seeing strangers on their property. This is what causes them to get there aggressive reputation. I found this kind of funny considering their tiny size. Chihuahua’s typically grow to a height of 6 – 9 inches which is why they have been placed in the “Teacup or Miniature” group size.

          Grooming is fairly easy. The best thing you can do to keep Chihuahua’s from sheelding all over the house is too brush them frequently. The more you can brush off, the less you find on your couch. There are two main kinds of Chihuahua’s, the long haired and the short haired.

Chihuahua’s are one of the best breeds of dogs to have if you do not have lots of time to walk your dog. They do not require a whole lot of exercise. They would rather stay at home, lie around, and sleep. If you plan to take a long walk with your Chihuahua, you might want to carry your Chi in the latest Chi bag, but remembered that, because they are not walked daily, they are more likely to display behavioral problems. A harness would be better suited than a leash because of their delicate bone structure.

Rottweilers

The Rottweiler is an intelligent dog with well-developed genetic herding and guarding instincts. Just like any other breed, the dangerous behavior in Rottweiler usually comes from abuse, neglect, or lack of training. This is why some Rottweiler’s are so called “mean and vicious”.  It is important for this breed to get the recommend training and it is important that they get used to being around other people and animals. Rottweiler’s love their owners and may behave in a clownish way when with their family and friends, but they can be very protective of their territory and do not like strangers until they have gotten too know them. Obedience training and socialization are super important.

Rottweiler’s are originally from Germany. Their weight is anywhere from 110 pounds to 130 pounds (male) or 88 pounds to 110 pounds (female). Their height is anywhere from 24 inches to 27 inches (male) or 56 inches to 69 inches (female).  They have a double coat that is short hard and thick and come in tan black or mahogany. Rottweiler’s usually live up to 10 years.

If raised with children, well-bred Rottweiler’s get along fine with them, but they need to know how it act around them. They have a natural instinct to herd and may "bump" children to “herd” them. This "bump" may cause young children to fall down and hurt themselves. Over all, if trained appropriately, Rottweiler’s are good family pets.   

Siberian Husky

If you have ever seen a Siberian husky, you will notice that their appearance is similar to wild wolves. They usually have brown or blue eyes, sometimes one of each color.  Its medium sized skull is slightly rounded on top with forward eyes. The Husky's tail is covered in thick fur, somewhat shaped like a foxes, which is carried over the back in a sickle curve when the dog is alert or happy. The coat comes in many colors like different shades of gray and silver, sand, red, and black and white, often with markings on the head. This is not found in other breeds.

The Siberian husky was breed by the semi-nomadic people of northeastern Siberia, the Chukchi people for a sled dog that could endure harsh weather conditions because dog sledding was their only mode of transportation. They needed a dog that was capable of traveling long distances at regular speeds, pulling heavy sleds, while using a small amount of energy. When the dogs were not working with the men, they were with the women. This put them in close contact with children. Only non-aggressive and well trained dogs were liked. They bred only the best of the best. They didn’t like cross breeding with other breeds, keeping the Siberian husky pure for at least 3000 years.

Over all, the Siberian husky is a very smart and strong dog that is good with children.

Misunderstood

Lots of people think all Pit Bulls are vicious, mean, and dangerous. That’s not always the case. Actually, most of the time, it is the Pit Bull owners that are the vicious, mean, dangerous, and flat out cruel ones. It really bothers me how some pet owners abuse their pets. It is not like the dogs can purposely do anything wrong, so why do people abuse them?

Pit Bulls get there reputation because some of them have been trained for criminal purposes like dog-fighting or protecting drug trafficking operations. This type of activity is what has created aggressive behavior between Pit Bulls, other animals, and people. This is also what has made their horrible reputation. There has been many debates concerning the restriction on the dogs ownership, meaning the Pit Bulls are being considered as a public hazard. How is it the dogs fault? It is the owners that made them who they are.

I know for a fact that not all Pit Bulls are “terrible.” My cousin has Pit Bulls of her own and they are the sweetest things you will ever see! When I see them, they are always very excited to have company, and are quick to jump up on my lap to give me kisses.

So the next time you hear a story about how “evil” a Pit Bull is, put yourself in its position and don’t judge until you have heard the full story.

Mini Mika

In my last post, I talked about my dog Moe, the Miniature Schnauzer. I briefly mentioned Mika, my Shih Tzu.  Well, this time, Mika is the talk of the day. As I said, Mika is a Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzu’s breed originates from China, and was bred as lapdogs and companions. Their origins are dated back to way into the 1800's. There breed is classified as one of the “Toy Dog Group”.  

Shih Tzu’s were bread to have long, stylish hair. Many participate in professional dog shows. But, unfortunately, this takes a lot of upkeep and time. For this reason, we keep Mika’s fur cut short.

I love Mika very much. This is why it breaks my heart to say that Mika has diabetes. We have to give him pills at least once and shots twice a day. The worst part of this is the insulin shots we are forced to give him have caused cataracts that cover his eyes. This, sadly, has made him blind. Therefore we will soon have to put him down.  This is way it is important to give your pets frequent checkups to make sure that they stay healthy and happy.

Despite Mika’s heath issues, he enjoys playing with Moe and likes going for walks. He is perky and loves attention. If you are looking for a small house dog, a Shih Tzu.

Miniature Moe

I love dogs. I have two, a Shih Tzu and a Miniature Schnauzer; which is who I’m going to blog about. His name is Moe. I got Moe a year after we put are other Schnauzer, Maggie down. In fact, he was given to me on my 11^th birthday. He was the best gift ever! If you have dogs in your family, you know that one dog usually picks a family member as “there” owner, well that’s how Moe is to me. Moe is one of the most protective dogs I have had. When someone walks by, we are immediately notified. Although this can get very irritating, it’s not his fault. Miniature Schnauzers were bred to be medium-sized farm dogs in Germany, equally suited to ratting, herding, and guarding property and children. This is why they are so protective. My family loves Miniature Schnauzers because they don’t shed, but this does not keep Moe from rolling in the mud. His hair is very soft, unlike other Miniature Schnauzers who have wiry hair. Moe can’t get enough attention. He is always looking for someone to scratch is neck or shake is paw. Moe loves to run. When we go sledding, he chases us down the hill and then he will run right back up before we have even gotten off our sleds. But, once we get home he collapses on my lap and fells sound asleep. If you are looking for a smart, fun, sweet, and a good guard dog, get a Miniature Schnauzers. You will love them almost as much as they love you.