Can You Trust Your Mastiff With Other Animals?
As a general rule, if a Mastiff is well socialized as a
puppy, then it will get along well with other dogs as an
adult. It should be as calm and patient with other dogs as
it is with children. In fact, most Mastiffs love playing
with small dogs. The Mastiff is peaceful and tolerant, and
usually will just turn its back even if attacked. It will
rarely fight unless it has to in order to protect itself or
a member of the family.

If your Mastiff was unlucky and not well socialized as a
puppy, then it may be aggressive toward other dogs. In this
case, it is best not to place such a dog in the same family
as another dog of the same sex. When your puppy matures,
the two dogs will fight for dominance – it is just in their
nature to behave this way. Read more »

The Bulldog is one of the more popular breeds and there is a good reason why. These dogs have a one-of-a-kind look and incredible personality that make them great companions and pets for a number of owners. With their sad eyes and droopy jaws, the Bulldog is immediately recognizable.

Originally, the Bulldog was developed to help butchers to slaughter cows. With their tenacious nature, Bulldogs were a natural as bull baiters. The sport was eventually outlawed, and people began loving Bulldogs for their sweet personalities. These dogs are now friendly and sociable creatures.

Bulldog Appearance – Although they only weigh 40 to 50 pounds, the Bulldog is very powerful. They can stand 12 to 16 inches tall with a squat body, short legs and flat forehead. They have large jaws, but dark, gentle eyes and either a straight or curly tail.

A member of the Non-Sporting Group, the Bulldog has only one purpose in life – to be the best friend of a lucky owner. They are well suited to their role in life. Read more »

Pet Ferret Introduction – History and Characteristics
Ferrets are very unusual pets to own. They are named after the Latin word “furonem” which means “thief.” They were named this because of their propensity to hoard and save food and toys in hiding places. Ferrets are now some of the most popular household pets out there. They can be friendly and inquisitive. These social animals make great pets, but they will need some patience to be litter trained.

Ferrets were domesticated as few as 2,500 years ago. Since then, they have always included humans as part of their social group. They were the favorite pets of the royalty in the Middle Ages for their friendly nature and unique looks.

Ferrets are part of the weasel family, which can include a lot of members. The weasel family are mustelids. They have over 65 different species of cousins in the weasel family, including otters and badgers. When you look at the ferret, you can see how they are closely related to these creatures instead of the rodents that they are frequently compared to. With their sleek bodies and their short fur, they can come in a variety of brown colors with black highlights. There are albino versions of ferrets as well that have white fur and pink eyes, which is what you would expect from an albino animal.

Male ferrets are usually about 18 inches and 2-3 pounds, while females are a little smaller. No one knows why ferrets take toys and food to hide them for later on. They probably initially started doing it to hoard food for the colder, more lean months similar to how squirrels act. This is probably where the behavior started, but it definitely continues to this day.

Ferrets are often accused of having a bad smell. This is not the case. They give off a musty scent due to their natural oils, but you can have the glands that produce these smells removed. Most of the time, if your ferret smells, it is a result of their cage being dirty or their owner not taking proper care of them. If you forget about your ferret’s litter box or cage for a few days, of course they are going to stink!

Ferrets will require some help to make sure that they don’t smell and stay in excellent shape. Unfortunately, they are prone to a number of ferret diseases and their already too-short lifetimes can become even more shortened. The diet of the ferret should be very high in fat and protein. They need about 35% in protein about roughly 15% in fat to stay at their healthiest. For the first few years of a ferret’s life, you will have to be very careful about what you feed them to make sure that they grow up strong.

You can give a ferret cat food if you are stuck in a bind, but you really can’t give a ferret cat food for an extended period of time. After all, cat food doesn’t have all of the vitamins and nutrients that ferrets need.

Ferrets are very intelligent and can be trained to do some tricks, although this will require some patience. They love holes as they were originally bred to get rabbits out of their burrows. They are descended from polecats and love to sleep. An average ferret can sleep up to 18 hours a day, but when they are awake, you will definitely know it! These pets are fun, loyal and smart, making them great animals to have around.

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Moses Wright is a ferret pet lover. He sets up a site to help fellow pet owners with their home pet problems. He also provides more ferret health care problems, breed facts and supplies information on his site.

An Extremely Intelligent Dog, The Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier, (nicknamed Yorkie), is a breed of small dog in the toy category. The long-haired terrier is known for its playful demeanor and distinctive blue and tan coat. Yorkies can be very small, usually weighing not more than 7 pounds. The American Kennel Club does not specify the minimum weight accepted nor does it specify a height. Based on registrations of the American Kennel Club, Yorkshire Terriers became the second most popular dog breed in the United States in 2006, following the Labrador Retriever.

Yorkies originated in Yorkshire and Lancaster, England in the nineteenth century. The Yorkie was bred as a ratter, used to kill mice and rats in small places. They may have been used for hunting as well. Terriers specialize in hunting animals (usually vermin) that live in dens or burrows. Animals that are cornered and defending their young will fight ferociously. Any dog that would willingly pursue them must have a great degree of courage; terriers are bred for that quality.

The Yorkie being a toy breed does not necessarily mean fragile. Yorkies have an athletic build and are very playful. As a working dog a Yorkies intelligence makes them wonderful for agility and obedience. Yorkies are generally easy to house train. But sometimes because of their independence they can be hard to housebreak. For their own safety it is better to crate train them and to leave them in a crate when they are left alone, e.g. during the night or if their owners are out of the home. Always leave them some toys and fresh water, and be sure they have a cosy bed inside the crate. Remember that as they do enjoy human company they will not appreciate being left alone for long periods.

They have long hair with no undercoat which means less shedding. Their coat is alot like human hair which only falls out when broken or brushed. Yorkies have little dander, good for allergy sufferers. The coat is silky, glossy, fine, and should be straight. The traditional coat is extremely high maintenance and needs several hours of brushing daily. For pets the coat is usually kept in a shorter pet clip. Anyone obtaining a pet Yorkie must remember that there will be additional grooming expenses to take into consideration. A Yorkies ears stand erect and it’s tail should be docked medium length. The hair should be plucked from inside the ears, and checked regularly for excessive wax and for mites. The hair should also be kept out of their eyes. Also the tarter from the teeth needs to be removed regularly, especially because the Yorkie is a Toy breed. Even though there is an extra expense for grooming, Yorkies eat very little, thus the owner saves money.

Yorkies are often very susceptible to hypoglycemia especially in puppies, but often carrying over into adulthood. Because of their small size they also are sometimes intolerant to anesthesia. The lifespan of a Yorkie is generally 12 to 15 years but can be shorter in the smaller ones (three pounds or less).

The temperament of a Yorkie varies greatly depending on how it’s been socialized by its owner. Some are timid and shy, while others are bold and confident. But most are intelligent, inquisitive, and self assertive. Alot of Yorkies have a big dog attitude not realizing their small size, which can get them in serious trouble and danger. This fact not always making them suitable pets for younger children.

Before buying a Yorkie, find a reputable breeder. Learn all you can about the breed. And make sure your reputable breeder or yourself has the Yorkie vet checked to make sure it is healthy. Also, Do not buy any puppy unless it has had a bile acids test run before and after eating and you have seen the results of the test. Liver Shunt is running rampant in many breeds of dogs right now and especially in Yorkshire Terriers. Any responsible breeder will be more than happy to have their veterinarian run this very simple blood test on their puppies. Breeders please start testing your puppies before you sell them. Even with the extra expense of grooming and the extra care they need the Yorkie can make a wonderful pet and companion.

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Randy and Penny Taylor – Expert Breeders and Owners

http://www.passionforpuppies.com

http://www.ourpetsupplies.com

I heard last week about dog cloning, now Blondie’s Dad has sent me a film clip about Doggie DNA testing. The TV presenter got a test for her dog, Jasper, who was sold by a pet shop as ‘Australian Sheepdog / Poodle’. Have a look at the film and see what happened when he was tested.

My Dad said my new year’s resolution should be to get a job and earn my keep, after someone mentioned working dogs to him. Collies normally herd sheep but there is not much call for that in Muswell Hill, and I think I am a bit old to become a model. Simba asked recently whether he could become an engineer but I think the oil and grease would stain your fur. Laura sent me a picture of a Truffle Dog, this is a good job for a dog as you get to root around in the woods and dig holes. Most of us do that already so we could earn our keep – Simba could pay for damages around the house, I could buy more dog beds, as I only have four.