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Showing posts with label small dog breeds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small dog breeds. Show all posts

Meet the Lovable Beagle

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Officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885, the Beagle is a scent hound primarily used for hunting rabbits and hares back in the 18th century.  Beagles are well-loved among pet owners, and in fact ranks 5th in the top 10 most popular dog breeds based on AKC’s 2015 registration report.
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Appearance
The Beagle is a small sized breed that looks a lot like the miniature Foxhound – although it has a broader head and a shorter muzzle. The Beagle’s ears are long, large, slightly rounded, floppy and drops towards its cheeks.
Beagles can grow an average height of 13 to 16 inches, and weight around 18 to 36 pounds. They have short hair that comes in either tricolor – white with black and brown/tan or brown and tan, or two-color combination – white and tan/lemon/red/orange/brown/black. Despite their short coat, they do shed so regular brushing with a shedding tool or a hound glove is recommended to keep them well-groomed.
Temperament
When it comes to personality, Beagles are known to be smart, happy, curious, playful, friendly, lovable dogs which makes them great family companions. They do well with children and other dogs, too.
However, Beagles are prone to separation anxiety so it’s important that they are not left all alone for long hours of the day. A bored Beagle may resort to destroying things inside the house, which can become a problem.
Of course, Beagles excel with their keen sense of smell, which is said to be “one of the best developed of any dog, alongside the Bloodhound and the Basset Hound” (wikipedia). These days, Beagles are trained to perform a variety of useful roles in the society including drug and explosive detection, search and rescue, and as therapy dogs.
Are you thinking about getting a Beagle as pet? If so, please seriously consider if this dog breed is right for you. Don’t support puppy mills or buy from pet stores. Adopt a dog from a shelter or animal rescue center. 

Pugs - Wrinkly, Pudgy Bundles of Joy!

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Mention the name pug and people who knows a lot about dog breeds are bound to describe it with the phrase “multum in parvo” which means “much in little”. True enough, there is so much more to the small package than what meets the eye. Despite its compactness, the pug has a big personality.

What Meets the Eye  


How would you describe a pug physically? It is easy to recognize a pug with its dark, short-muzzled face; glossy, wrinkly skin; soft, flapped ears; and a curled tail. It has a large head and a square, stocky body carried by four, pudgy but sturdy legs.

The average weight can range from 14 to 18 pounds.  Males are generally larger than the females in terms of height.  They can grow anywhere from 10 to 14 inches tall.  On the other hand, females typically grow from 10 to 12 inches tall.

Fawn and black are the most common coat coloring for pugs, but some pugs may have apricot fawn or silver fawn coats. A pug with a fawn-colored coat would have a black mask on the face and dark ears.

The breed originated in China, but was introduced in Europe by the 16th century. They are a favored breed in the House of Orange of the Netherlands, and the House of Stuart. It was officially recognized by the AKC in 1885, and listed under the Toy Group. Today, they are one of the most popular breeds in many countries across the globe.

Multum in Parvo 


Pugs generally have a fun, friendly, loving temperament which makes them ideal as companion or family dogs. They are very smart dogs, and are also great with children. However, as mentioned at the onset of this article, pugs have a strong personality and can be stubborn if not trained. This is why it is so important for the human to clearly show the dog who’s the boss. Calm, loving, and consistent training is important when you’re caring for a pug – or any dog on that matter.
They love to eat and would definitely eat more than they should when more food is available. Hence, pug owners must avoid overfeeding their pets to prevent obesity and other health risks. They also need regular exercise – daily walks and playtime in order to be healthy and happy. The pug is playful when it has someone to play with, but it doesn’t mind being lazy and enjoying some quiet time in a corner. It likes to follow its owner wherever he or she goes around the house, and are thus called “shadows”.

Grooming Your Pug 


Grooming is a very important role when you have a pug.  The face, especially the corners of the eye needs to be wiped with a clean, wash cloth daily since they are prone to weeping, eye infections, and cherry eye.

Although they have short, smooth coats, pug are actually heavy shredders so you may find pug hair stuck in your clothes, furniture, curtains, and everywhere.  The coat should be brushed after each bath, and everyday to remove loose hairs.  The creases on the face and the folds between the skin must be regularly cleaned as well. A pet hair removal tool is definitely recommended when you have a pug!

Should You Get a Pug? 


The pug is a remarkable breed but it is not for everyone.  Before you decide that you want a pug in your life, get to know as much as you can about the breed – what they need, what kind of temperament they have, how to best care for them.  If you feel that your personality and lifestyle jives, then why not welcome a pug to your home?  And don’t forget to consider adoption as your first option.
What’s it like to  be living with a pug?  When you have a pug, it will surely grow on you! Without a doubt, these wrinkly, bundles of joy were born to make their people happy!
If you’re thinking about getting a Pug, seriously consider if this dog breed is right for you. Don’t support puppy mills or buy from pet stores. Adopt a dog from a shelter or animal rescue center.