Archive for August, 2009
Different Dog Breeding Methods
Author: Admin
Dog breeding is not as easy as you think. Many pet owners prefer to get purebred dogs these days. Even on the same breeds, breeding lines tend to produce different traits and types of dogs. As you can see, dog breeding is a complex undertaking and without adequate knowledge, you can’t be an effective dog breeder.
Dog breeders should be aware of the breed standards. However, dog breeding is often influenced by the personal likes or dislikes of the breeder when it comes to color, sizes, and types. What dog breed do you prefer? Does it possess its true characteristics? Is the appearance of the dog the same as what the books or other information sources say? What about its temperament? Is the breeding line of your pet healthy? You need to answer these questions before you finally choose a particular dog breed. Answering the questions is also vital should you decide to be involved in the breeding business.
There are a lot of considerations in dog breeding. You should be willing to invest time, effort, and money before you can see the fruits of your labor. Try to answer the questions above and if you can’t, you will need to dig in deeper. You need to research about the different dog breeds, the traits of different bloodlines, the appearance of the dam and sire, grand-dam, and grand-sire in a particular dog pedigree. Do you want to introduce improvements in the dog breed? Do you want to retain certain traits or qualities in the dog breed?
Breeding methods vary whether you’re dealing with inbreeding, out crossing, line breeding, or purebreds. You must be able to gather all the information you need about dog breeding. Keeping yourself well informed will make you a better dog breeder. You can read books on dog breeding or you can do some online research.
Cross breeding is one of the methods of dog breeding. In this method, dogs of different breeds are used. You can’t expect to produce the best dog breeds if you use the cross breeding method. If a problem occurs with regards to the traits of the dogs, you can’t easily track down where the problem came from.
The next method is out breeding. This is a complicated method and only experienced breeders can perform it. If a certain dog breed has a problem or defect, you can make improvements through out breeding. You must have a mate which posses the particular trait that you want to improve. The breed should possess such trait up to that last 3 generations. After the out breeding, the dogs are bred back to the original breeding line. New breeders are not encouraged to do out breeding because this not a good way to start a breeding program especially if you have plans to produce constant breeds with the same soundness and temperament. Educate yourself thoroughly before you consider out breeding.
Line breeding is another method in dog breeding. In this method, closely related dogs are bred to produce the same quality traits, size, and temperaments dog breeds. This method should be performed properly to ensure success. Breeders who want to concentrate mainly in one dog breed should be involved in line breeding.
These are the three dog breeding methods that you should know if you have plans of breeding dogs as a form of hobby or even for business.
read comments (0)Ten Things To Look For In A Dog Breeder
Author: Admin
When you are looking for a purebred puppy you are likely to be overwhelmed with the number of kennels and breeders advertising on the internet, in local papers, and even in dog magazines and publications. While anyone can develop an advertisement, set up a web page or stick up a for sale sign, just having puppies for sale doesn’t make the person a reputable breeder.
There are two basic types of breeders, those that are in it for the love of the dogs and the enhancement of the breed and those that are simply in it for the money. The first type of breeder is really the only one that you should consider. Breeders that seem to have unlimited number of puppies of various varieties are very rarely conscientious breeders, rather they are running puppy mills, which simply breed dogs for the sake of selling puppies. Not only are these breeders likely to breed any purebred dogs together to create a litter but they are often cruel and abuse towards the adult dogs, often not seeking vet assistance or even vaccinating and maintaining their dogs in even close to adequate conditions. Usually these puppy mills or puppy farms will provide poor quality puppies that are not close to breed standards for shows, but also contribute to worsening genetic conditions that plague breeds for many generations.
A good quality, reputable breeder is easy to spot. Look for a breeder that:
· Only breeds a very few types of dogs and is knowledgeable on the various breeds he or she raises.
· Only pre-sells litters. This means that the puppies are all sold before they are born. Often these breeders will have waiting lists to get puppies because they put the female dogs health first, not the dollar value of the puppies. Reputable breeders will only let a female have one litter a year or possibly one litter every two years.
· Interviews you and has you complete a questionnaire or application before agreeing to sell you a puppy. This may include questions on your income, people in your home, size of your home or even if you have other pets.
· Has a good reputation with other breeders in the area. This usually means being registered as a breeder with the local or national breed registries as well as the Kennel Club for the country.
· Allows and encourages you as the prospective owner to tour their facilities and see the adult dogs and litters they may have on hand.
· Keeps clean, well-ventilated and spacious kennels with happy and healthy adult dogs.
· Interacts well with all the dogs in the kennel and knows the dogs by name. Watch how the dogs interact with the breeder. Are they happy to see him or her or do they appear nervous or timid?
· Offers litter registration papers as well as all paperwork required for AKC, CKC, KC or other registration.
· Provides information on the championship lines of the parents as well as vet certificates and genetic condition test results.
· Provides a health guarantee for the puppy.
A reputable breeder will be happy to work with new owners and will often be a great source of advice and information on the breed. Most breeders will require new owners agree to spay or neuter the puppies and will require proof of the procedure at the appropriate age.
There are wonderful, caring and loving breeders in most areas that can help you find just the puppy to meet your needs. Do some research and find the breeder that you want to work with when getting the puppy of your dreams.
How to Choose a Good Dog Breeder
Author: AdminOne of the most hardest aspects of choosing a dog is not the dog himself but the Breeders of the dog. It is often quite difficult to find the right dog breeders or a breeder associated with the Kennel Association of a particular country like AKC for the US.or the english kennel club.
The question is how do you choose the right breeders? Dog breeding is a lucrative business and most of it is unregulated. You might find most of dog breeders out there but a huge number of breeders are probably not even associated with American Kennel Club and are not a legal company This is an aspect that you need to be cautious and careful about when choosing large dog breeds. According to the Humane society, any dog that is over 50 lbs is considered to be a large dog. According to AKC, there are 167 large dog breeds in the US and their height range from 14 inches for a Shiba Inu to 32 inches and even more for a Great Dane. The minimum weight for large dog breeds is 45lbs and the maximum is 150lbs. Some of the most common large dog breeds that you can find at registered AKC dog breeders include:
1. Afghan Hound
2. African Wild Dog
3. Airedale Terrier
4. Akbash Dog
5. Akita
6. Alano Espanol
7. Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
8. Alaskan Malamute
9. American Allaunt
10. American Bandogge Mastiff
11. American Black and Tan Coonhound
12. American Blue Gascon Hound
There are different types of dog breeders out there and when choosing a dog from a breeder, you should ideally do a background check to understand if the breeder is operating illegally or not. To ensure that you get a pedigree and not a mix especially for large dog breeds, you should always check with the American Kennel Club for a list of authentic and reputed dog breeders. The top quality dog breeders will make an extra effort to get the best dog lineages and those who have good genetic traits. Good dog breeders will not breed any dogs that have ‘bad’ genetic traits like hip dysplasia, which is fairly common with large dog breeds like German Shepherds.
One of the important things that you need to check when buying from dog breeders is the breeding information of a particular dog. Authentic dog breeders will have this information readily available while those operating illegally will not be able to provide you with information regarding their lineage, genetic or hereditary characteristics and traits etc. You should also ask a lot of questions to dog breeders related to their association with AKC, copy of their code of ethics, the different types of dog breeds they have, health problem information of different dogs, information on their breeding facility and others. This information will help you to choose the right dog breeders especially while buying large dog breeds.
Having a dog is a lot of fun, but also a lot of time and commitment, be sure you choose the right dog breed for you take a look at the top 10 dog breeds in the UK to help you find one of the most popular in the UK.
Im henry, i have 4 cats fluffy, tea, tequila and boots and love them very much, my interests are cats!!! football and walking i tend to walk every weekend. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-choose-a-good-dog-breeder-1156369.html
What Rag doll Cat Breeders Should Know About Them?
Author: AdminRag doll cat breed is one of the best breeds of cats in the world. They are such good friends and companions that Rag doll cat breeders would just love them. Apart from the magnificent appearance, they have a keen instinct of love and affection towards the owners. This makes them stand unique in their way to be-friend with people. The round face with small round ears and large round eyes make them look like a celebrity in catwalk. The bright blue color eyes would just captivate your attention and Rag doll cat breeders would never feel lonely for having them. The bushy tail, which tapers at the end, wags often and invites us to play.
Why Rag doll Cat Breeders Are Mad At Rag doll Cat Breeds?
It is true that one could go mad with the most beautiful woman in the world. One could still go mad if the same woman is near you spending her lifetime for you. The same is the case with the Rag doll cat breed too. They are just like the beautiful woman throwing the Rag doll cat breeders mad at them. People would just love the way Rag doll cats walk around the house like the king or the queen. They behave just like our little dogs in their characters, they run up to the door to greet visitors, they follow Rag doll cat breeders wherever they go, they quietly snuggle up to their couch or bed and sleep beside them.
Most of the colors in which Rag doll cat breeds come would be patterns with bi-color or tricolors, pointed patterns and dotted Rag doll cat breeds. Most of the Rag doll cat breeders love to get the tricolor and bi-color patterns as they would be very great with good color combinations. Most of them would not get the dotted Rag doll cats, as they would resemble the famous big cat breeds.
Go through the full version and much detailed description from my blog. Regular updating of articles not only aiming at mere article marketing but also focusing on the real time experience that the author had or the author had visualized from her neighbours. Through these articles, the author tries to help the readers in their ventures. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/what-rag-doll-cat-breeders-should-know-about-them-1149909.html
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The author is a regular writer and involves in writing informative content.She is an Engineering Graduate residing in India and she continues writing as a way to spread knowledge.To know more about her visit her blog.
Dog Breeders: Are You Getting What You Pay For?
Author: AdminA year after they were married, Amanda and Tom, a professional couple, moved from the city to the suburbs. They rented a cute little cape-style house with a good-sized backyard in a residential neighborhood that was close enough to the city to allow them to commute to their jobs. For the first time in their lives, they had their very own house, but something was missing… they wanted a dog.
With their landlord’s consent and a dog in mind, they invested in a tall privacy fence for their backyard. Now all they needed was a dog romping in the yard to complete their idyllic picture. They spent endless hours discussing breeds, personality types and desirable size and regaling each other with stories of the dogs from their childhood.
They did their homework, reading as much as they could on the breeds they both liked and in the end, agreed that a Newfoundland was what they wanted. They contacted a reputable breeder, visited the breeder’s premises and learned that a litter was due any day, met the expectant female, examined the documented blood line, played with some of the other dogs before departing and made plans to return when the puppies were old enough for new homes.
Little Bear arrived at her new home when she was three months old. Over the months that followed, Amanda and Tom spent hours trying to teach Bear all the niceties of dog behavior, but by the end of Bear’s first year, housebreaking was the only lesson she had learned. They were loving parents, but they finally had to face the fact that their lifestyle was at odds with the best living arrangement for Bear. She needed more companionship, more exercise, and quite possibly a professional trainer. Bear’s owners realized that she was being short changed and they felt guilty for having failed her.
They contacted Bear’s breeder-who had made them promise when they purchased Bear to return the dog to her if things didn’t work out-and shared their concerns. The breeder found Bear a new and loving home with a family that already owned several Newfies. The owner was a professional dog trainer, he had a large farm, and best of all, there was a large pond on the farm where Bear could do what she liked best, swim.
Purchasing Through a Qualified Breeder vs. a Pet Store
The young couple just described is not unlike many others who buy the dog of their dreams only to discover, for a variety of reasons, that their choice is not a good fit. Intelligent and caring owners do what Amanda and Tom did, contact their breeder for assistance in finding a new home for their pet, but too many people, especially those who purchase dogs at pet stores, do not know where to turn when they find they have made a mistake.
If you purchase a dog through a pet store, you must do so knowing that the dog is entirely your responsibility for life. Turning a dog over to a shelter, while preferable to abandonment, should never be considered an option.
It is probably safe to say that all prospective pet owners anticipate living happily ever after with the dog that they buy; however, as history shows us, this is not always the case. While not all breeders will agree to assist you in finding a second home for your dog if this becomes necessary, no pet stores provide this service. If the breeder you select will allow you to return the dog or assist you in finding a new home for your dog should this become necessary, purchasing your pet directly from a breeder becomes a wiser course of action than selecting one from a pet store. In either case, be it breeder or pet store, do not expect a refund beyond the standard new purchase guarantee.
Qualified Breeders
There are two types of breeders: hobby breeders and commercial breeders.
Hobby breeders - Hobby breeders pursue their interest in a particular breed or more than one breed solely out of concern for the breed(s) of their choice. Making money is not the goal of the hobby breeder; rather, the breeder’s concern lies with preserving and protecting their breed preference. In the course of indulging their hobby, these breeders follow a specific breeding program designed to enhance and maintain the integrity of their chosen breed; therefore, they limit the number of litters per year choosing to breed only as necessary to enhance the breed itself and the overall breeding program they have established. A reputable hobbyist will provide puppies with human contact and environmental stimulation, raise puppies in their own home or alternatively, in a small, clean kennel and work to place puppies in the best possible homes. Additionally, hobby breeders screen the dogs they breed to perpetuate healthy dogs by eliminating hereditary defects and they usually belong to or work with a local breed or kennel club to increase their knowledge and share their love of the breed with others.
When you visit a hobby breeder with the hope of purchasing a puppy, it is not uncommon to discover that you are not the only one with questions. Hobby breeders, in an effort to find the very best homes for their puppies, will ask prospective buyers a number of questions in an attempt to assess the prospective owner’s willingness and ability to provide the things that a puppy needs to grow into a happy, healthy pet. Be prepared to answer questions similar to these:
What is your past experience with dogs?
Who will the dog live with?
Do you have other pets?
Are there any limitations on pets in the community in which you reside?
Do you rent or own your own home? (In the case of a rented home or apartment, the breeder will want to be assured that you have your landlord’s approval.)
How much exercise you are prepared to offer the dog? Where will the dog live?
How much time will be you be able to devote realistically to companionship, training, play activities and socialization?
Are you aware of and prepared to meet the cost of feeding, veterinarian visits, grooming, etc. that the dog will require?
As important as these questions are, what the breeder really wants to see is a warm, caring, fair and even-tempered person who has realistic expectations of what is required to provide a happy life for the puppy.
Commercial breeders - Commercial breeders are motivated by money. Breeding and selling dogs is a business. Most commercial breeders sell to brokers, middle men who move puppies from commercial breeders to retail stores. Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) passed by Congress in 1966-and amended in 1970, 1976, 1985, and 1990-the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) licenses and inspects commercial breeders to ascertain adherence to minimum standards of housing and care. These standards require a minimum amount of space for each dog, clean shelter conditions, fresh water every 24 hours, proper kennel drainage and sanitation procedures, a feeding program and appropriate veterinarian care. Additionally, some states license and inspect the kennels of commercial breeders. Despite these protections, not all commercial breeders are responsible breeders. Further, commercial breeders, that sell puppies directly to the public as opposed to through a puppy broker, are not covered by the AWA. Unregulated and unlicensed breeders are generally unscrupulous and inclined to ignore such breeding standards as screening for genetic defects, breed resemblance or temperament. Kennel conditions can range from acceptable to deplorable. Never buy a puppy directly from a commercial breeder.
It is worth noting that retail puppy store owners and employees never inquire about a buyer’s ability or desire to properly care for a puppy because their motive is strictly monetary; they will sell puppies to anyone who can afford the price. Such lack of concern should give prospective buyers pause.
Puppy Mills
We have all heard about puppy mills, even though neither the Animal Welfare Act nor the American Kennel Club defines these kennels. However the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), an organization that works tirelessly to protect animals of all kinds from cruelty, is much more vocal on the subject. It defines puppy mills as large scale commercial operations “where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs.”
Dogs in puppy mills are housed in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, often in wire cages that cause damage to legs and paws. There is little or no veterinarian care. Food and water tend to be inadequate and there are no opportunities for the puppies to become socialized before they are shipped to pet stores, often as early as eight weeks of age-too young to be pulled away from their litters. Females are bred at every opportunity with little or no recovery time between litters and may spend every day of their lives in cages. When parents can no longer breed, they are often killed as are puppies born with obvious deformities because they cannot be sold. There is no attention to selective breeding to prevent genetic diseases. According to the ASPCA, puppy mill dogs are prone to diseases like:
Epilepsy
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Musculoskeletal disorders (hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, etc.)
Endocrine disorders (diabetes, hyperthyroidism)
Blood disorders (anemia, Von Willebrand disease)
Deafness
Eye problems (cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, etc.)
Respiratory disorders
It is not unusual for puppy mill dogs to be shipped to pet stores with other diseases as well. The ASPCA reports the following most commonly seen diseases:
Giardia
Parvovirus
Distemper
Upper respiratory infections
Kennel cough
Pneumonia
Mange
Fleas
Ticks
Intestinal parasites
Heartworm
Chronic diarrhea
The ASPCA warns consumers not to purchase puppies in pet stores or through retail websites because such purchases contribute to the support of puppy mills.
Adding a puppy to your family is a big step for both you and your puppy. Don’t risk disappointment and possible tragedy by making an uninformed choice. Buy from a hobby breeder, not a pet store, and learn all you can about your breed preference before you begin visiting breeders. A puppy is not a disposable toy; it is a life-long commitment. If you make an intelligent choice and provide your puppy with all the ingredients of a happy, healthy life you will be repaid tenfold-the reason a dog is considered man’s best friend.
Pat Perkins is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a breeder or more pet articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Dog Breeders: Are You Getting What You Pay For? Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-breeders-are-you-getting-what-you-pay-for-1152166.html
Small ferret breeders might want to specialize in a certain kind, color of ferrets and sometimes even a color pattern. If you are a small ferret breeder you could even breed for size. Emphasizing what might be…
2. As serious ferret breeders you might want to import some ferrets from Europe, European bloodlines are more resilient to adrenal disease as well as a few others. Adrenal disease isn’t as common in European bloodlines so if you were to incorporate the bloodlines to help breed a stronger healthier ferret. “European baby ferrets for sale,” what a sales pitch.?
3. Tell prospective buyers you Have a ferret for sale and you are a family owned and family friendly breeder, as well as your ferrets are hand raised will bake people. Just knowing a ferret for sale is a family raised ferret and when I say family raised I mean “the ferret Family” and your family which makes me feel better and I see it as a plus. Because most pet stores get their ferrets at the 7-8 week mark they get no more family interaction whether it be from the hob, jill or you.
4. Another good idea for ferret breeders is set up a web page let people know about you. Email shelters, tweet on twitter, join a ferret facebook group, myspace groups and the list goes on. You can spend a day setting all that up and once a week take 15 min and send some information out. Your web page can be something small 3-4 pages just so that people will find you. You may not even have a ferret for sale on your web page; it is just info about you and how to contact you.
5. Small ferret breeders might want to specialize in a certain kind, color of ferrets and sometimes even a color pattern. If you are a small ferret breeder you could even breed for size. Emphasizing what might be hot in the ferret shows will increase the price you charge but compared to a pet store your price will probably be better for a couple reasons:
a. The rent is cheaper (low over head).
b. They are rarely spayed, neutered.
c. They are rarely de-scented.
d. The information the new owners get need to get quality not quantity.
6. As a small breeder let people know you do not try to trick your ferrets by controlling lights. You will only have kits available twice a year and that is the natural ferret cycle. Our ferrets are part of our family not just live stock as some of these ferret farms treat their ferrets. I would never buy a ferret from someone who sold to labs for testing and research, neither would a lot of people so let them know you never have and never will sell ferrets to labs.
7. If you get information from several sources. You are the expert and what you say they take as gospel. Handouts with important information for new ferret owners will make you more professional. Become a member of associations; rescues even clubs will get your name out as a repectable breeder.
**** The author stress these are only his opinions ****
E. Anthony Gove is a marketing expert and he helps transcribe articles for a long time friend at this website http://www.FerretCareMadeEasy.com/baby-ferrets the owner also has another good site (lens) found here >>—> http://www.ferretcaremadeeasy.com/ferret-care/
The Dog Breeding Heat Cycle
Author: Admin
that you have what is often called a “pre-potent” sire or ***** (that is one that always producess puppies very similar to herself) you have a good chance of puppies which will have the traits you expect and want. If you are in that position with your ***** you will then be awaiting on her dog breeding heat cycle. Such animals must themselves have a “good linebred pedigree” and that in technical language is one that is inbred just so much that the animal is called - homozygous - for as many as possible of the characteristics that you/the breeder considers desirable.
The first sign of a female (also called a Dam) coming “Into Season” is often a swelling of the *****. This swelling can occur a week before bleeding, or the day before. Other signs of heat are behavioral changes, your Dam may start to hump other Dams, or pups or even your leg. She may also begin to lick her self a lot.
Watch for this and mark your calendar. This will help, but not guarantee, you a good heads up for next time. Mark the first day of swelling as day 1. First day of red blood will work if you don\’t know this date.
You will also find that boy dogs become interested. Simply watch for the blood, and the swelling of the vulva, and you will be able to tell when a female dog is in heat.
While it is not a hard rule to apply in all cases, most female dogs come into their first heat cycle at around six months of age, although I have had them wait as long as one to one and a half years old. As a general rule females will hold to a fairly steady schedule of coming into season about every six months, but as they say rules are made to be broken and it really can vary quite a bit. Some bitches will only come into heat once year, while others may even come in as often as once every four months, but often these “extra” seasons are not always fertile. Breeders usually advise that once a female has her first season, you should track her dates through subsequent seasons to find out what her natural pattern will be.
So, it stands to reason that you female can be bred when she goes into heat. To help you decide when to breed with her let\’s go thorugh the sequence. First she will get a swelled vulva(”place”) and will bleed out of it blood ranging in color anywhere from milky to red. She may also urinate more often and males will be more attracted to her.
Her heat can be said to have started and on average lasts 3 weeks, and progresses as follows. About one week after going into heat (a stage lasting from 1-17 days), and for one week in heat (this stage lasts from 3-21 days) you should have the male (“Stud”) around. However, as the length of the heat is so variable in dogs the Stud should be available from from the first day, just to be sure not to miss the right time.
If she is an average ***** and does not become pregnant she will go into heat again about 6 months later. If she does get fertilized she will be pregnant for 58-66 days counting from about the time she was mated.
You should not breed with your dog when she is less than about 9 months old, or preferably 1 year.
When you let your ***** mate be sure that your female is both physically and mentally mature enough to be bred. Just the fact of her being in heat is NOT enough to justify a breeding. A general rule of thumb is to breed from a female on her 2nd heat or 15 months old, but many say leave it another heat before starting and this can vary by breed and individual. We recommend that you consult with reputable breeders of your breed and/or your veterinarian on this point.
Male dogs mature sexually at about six months of age. When both ********* are descended, theoretically the dog can mate, but it is best to wait until the dog is nine to twelve months old before using it for breeding. This is to allow the dog to fully mature and a heavy breeding season might stunt his growth.
In today\’s urban society where most male dogs are confined to limited territory and most bitches are desexed, the male dog has fewer opportunities for mating now than they did in the wild. Some believe this causes behavioral changes in many male dogs. Undersexed male dogs, the reasoning goes, are more likely to bite, to fight with other dogs, chase cars, exhibit sexual deviations (such as riding legs!). In fact this is a difficult theory to prove either to be accurate or not.
Breeding a dog can be a very joyful experience. It is very important to remember that dog breeding involves a lot of dedication, patience and responsibility coupled with a great deal of knowledge about dog reproduction and the dog reproduction cycle. You also need to bear in mind that dog breeding is an expensive undertaking. Like skilled dog breeders, a dog breeding beginner should have thorough knowledge about his or her chosen breed. Most breeders are very loyal to their dogs and their dog’s welfare is their primary concern. However too often, people are willing to sacrifice the health and welfare of their ***** for the sake of making a profit. Don\’t forget also that you will need to be able to sell your puppies, and that may not be easy at all in the current economic circumstances.
Professional breeders allow dogs to mate for a specific purpose which may be to create pups for sale and at other times to carry on a purebred line. Such breeders have access to records which show a dog’s lineage and they are also aware of the difficulties involved in the dog reproduction process of the breed that they handle. Our plea here is that if you plan to breed for the first time, you really must obtain expert advice from other breeders about your Dam, and the Stud you plan to use, before proceeding.
Toy Dog Breeds Advantages and Breeding
Author: Admin
are beloved by many. They are loyal and intelligent and especially good at learning tricks. They are known for being very loving and loyal with their owners.
Toy dogs are great choices for people with allergies or limited space, as they are generally docile and have less fur to irritate sensitive people. They do have a small disadvantage in that they often bark more than larger dogs for attention, but due to the small size of their vocal chords, they do so with less volume! The best of these dogs, and there are many, are true companion animals. Their only task in life is to please people and keep them company.
Toy dogs are exceptional choices for the elderly as they love to be loved, are lightweight (weighing on average 5 pounds, bitches weighing even less) and are fiercely protective.
Toy dogs as the name suggests, are very small, and most of time not very good with small children. With the exception of the Pug, who has been characterized as one of the sturdiest and most stable of the toys.
Despite their small size toy dogs are probably the gutsiest pups in the canine family with their big yet little voices barking at the mere site of other dogs and passers-by. Sometimes this can be a problem for them however, when they don’t back down against a larger animal they are sure to come-off worst in the battle.
Toy dogs are not only meant to entertain your pets. Toy dogs provide you with a reason to move more, which we all need to do to avoid overweight problems. Keep fit by exercising your toy dog. Toy dogs are generally an easy-care pet.
Toy dogs are not limited in their gene pool by their small size, and are descendants of a wide variety of dog breeds. Their predominant characteristic is that most were initially bred and developed their characteristic natures when kept as a loyal companion, and are often referred to as lap dogs. No points awarded to you for guessing why that is!
One thing though which they do suffer from. Toy dogs are notorious for having bad teeth and the small mouths and small jaws make it almost impossible to clean them adequately at home. So, many have a need for regular visits to a vet to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
Toy dog breeders are no different from any others and we find their trait of talking about their disappointing pups as “only pet quality” unhelpful. In other words breeders who see pets as a by-product of the breeder’s search for the perfect dog, are not primarily looking after you the pet owners interest. We say beware of buying from such a breeder. Breeders like this do not give the health of their puppies the highest priority, instead their motivation is to show the best looking dog that they can breed.
Breeding for appearance was only introduced in the 19th Century, and is in danger of degrading the stock of healthy genes in our dog population. Before this time dogs and puppies were bred to increase useful abilities and traits helpful for the duties they were intended for. Breeds in the some breed groups nowadays suffer from far more genetic problems than they have in the past. Some breeds that have become more and more popular as time goes on have suffered for being bred for quantity to fed the market, again to the detriment of the health of the pups available for sale. Just be aware of this when you choose a breeder.