American Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed History and Description

Description: The American Cocker Spaniel dog breed is of medium size with a height of 15 inches, for a dog and 14 inches for a bitch. Their weight is 15 to 30 pounds for both male and female. They have a rounded head with a pronounced stop. With the square and deep muzzle, that is broad. Their teeth meet in a scissor bite. Their eyes are round, with slight almond shaping to the rims. The Merle Spaniels, being the exception to the rule with blue eyes. The American Cocker Spaniel dog breed has long, low set ears that have feathering.

Their legs are straight. This breed has a docked tail, if this is permitted. Some countries have outlawed this practice of docking tails. The coat is flat silky and can come with slight waving. The coat is medium in length, but short on the head. They have feathering on their chest, ears, tummies and legs. The coat may come in any solid color including Black with tan points. Multiple color combination's can be white, with buff or red. It is worth noting the field lines have a shorter coat than the show lines within this breed.

History: The United States version of the Cocker Spaniel dates back as far as the 14th century. This dog originated from the English Cocker, which was brought to the United States. They were then bred down in size and became the American Cocker Spaniel. This breed is more popular than the English version. This is a hunting dog and works well in all terrains including water. This breed is excellent at retrieving and flushing out the game. They are renowned for their gentle mouth, and listening to commands well. Some of their many talents are hunting, retrieving, tracking, competitive obedience and agility.

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2009 AKC Eukanuba Commercial Contest

EXCLUSIVE DOG SHOW! Do you love a heated competition?! Watch as 3000 of the world's finest dogs all compete for the one title of "Best In Show" This video is for the 2009 AKC Eukanuba Dog Competition which kicks off December 12 / 13. If you have any interest in dogs whatsoever you should watch this! **The dog show will be featured on Animal Planet on the above dates. Each view counts a vote so please watch it for the contest, and spread this video around. Send it to a lot of people for me.

Maze Procedure Cured My Atrial Fibrillation

It's been only three months since I had the Maze Procedure that cured my atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is a heart disorder found in about 2.2 million Americans. During atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers quiver instead of beating normally.

The blood isn't completely pumped out of these upper chambers called atria, so there is a chance that it may pool and clot.

If a blood clot leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke results. About 15 percent of all strokes occur in people with A-Fib.

Usually, those with chronic A-Fib disorders are on anticoagulants (blood thinners) to help prevent clotting. These anticoagulant drugs have to be monitored frequently necessitating a finger prick, and a trip your Doctor or INR clinic.

I'd had chronic A-Fib for several years that was very well controlled by the anti-arrhythmic drug, Cardia, and a dual chamber pacemaker. I lived a very active life, doing anything I wanted to do.

While I was sitting in my easy chair watching the 2009 Westminster Dog Show, my pectoral muscle under my pacemaker started twitching like crazy. I was quite naturally alarmed, thinking that my pacer was malfunctioning.

A visit to the ER confirmed that yes; indeed, one of the pacer leads had fractured and was leaking an electrical impulse into my pectoral muscle. Of course, the lead had to be extracted, and during the extraction procedure, my tricuspid heart valve was severely damaged, so much so, that it required open heart surgery to repair the damage.

While I had been told before that the Maze Procedure would probably cure my atrial fibrillation thus eliminating any need for heart medication or anticoagulants, I certainly would never have considered the drastic measure of open heart valve surgery to remedy my A-Fib until this unusual chain of events unfolded.

But, since open heart surgery was the only way to fix my severely regurgitating tricuspid valve, my heart surgeon, as a matter of routine on his A-Fib patients, performed a Maze Procedure inside my heart.

As diagrams of the maze procedure shows, the surgical procedure consists of creating a number of incisions in the atrium that are meant to disrupt the errant electrical signals thereby doing away with the quivering in the atria and restoring normal rhythm to the beating of the heart.

Studies show that the Maze Procedure effectively cures atrial fibrillation at least eighty percent of the time.

Would I have gone through open heart valve repair surgery just to cure my A-Fib? No, of course not, but I am ecstatic that a side benefit of my surgery was complete elimination of my chronic atrial fibrillation.

If you would like to follow the day by journey of my open heart surgery - atrial fibrillation ...what made it better, what made it worse, stop by my blog and leave a comment about your own experiences. A another resource that was incredible, was a book that included the story of 78 individuals who had open heart surgery and who are doing well!!!

High maintenance dogs compete for 'Best in Show' title

The 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is taking place this week at Madison Square Garden in New York. A total of 2626 four-legged beauties, representing 179 breeds, chase the elusive Best in Show title.Duration: 00:54

AKC Dog Show Lewiston, ID (AmStaffs)

From front to back in BOB class: Ch. Fraja NE Gold Ticket, BISS Ch. Gaff's I'm Here For The Party, Ch. Fraja NE Hot Ticket, Chavez Here I Come To Save The Day!, and Wizage Moonlight Madness (owner/handler: Mount Brier AmStaffs).

Beagle Dog Breed Information

The Beagle is a member of the hound family. This breed is a hardy hound that has the look of the Foxhound but in miniature. This breed has a unique howl come bark as they chase their pray on the hunt. This is a well-built dog that is well proportioned to look at. The body is slightly square-built. The head is somewhat domed and moderately long. As with the body the muzzle is square and straight and intermediate in length, the nostrils are full and broad. The nose is black. It has large eyes, which are brown in colour and look soulful. The ears are pendant in shape and hang low and long. The tail is set reasonably high and not set over the back. Legs should be straight with good round feet that are firm. They have a medium length of coat that is hard but sleek and is easy to care for. Colours are broad and any colours are accepted but more desirable are tri- colouring, black and tan, red and white, lemon and lemon and white, orange and white, red tick and blue tick.

History: The Beagle dogs history has evidence that goes back to the 1500s. In England hunters would take packs of these dogs out for hunting as they work well as a team or on their own. It is thought that this breed has come from the Harrier and other English hounds. It was brought to America and has gained in reputation to become one of the popular breeds. Here we find the Beagle is more popular than in its native country. The National Beagle Club of America was formed in 1888. There is evidence that this dog was developed in 1830 in England. When it came to America it soon helped by injecting beauty into the previous hounds that had longer legs with weaker heads that previously were present. Snoopy from the comic strip "Peanuts" is appropriately the most famous Beagle to date.

Temperament: The Beagle dog breed needs good leadership and training. This needs to be firm but gentle and always consistent. They need a lot of mental and physical exercise to maintain a health balance, or you can get a dog that is obsessively barking, and can have destructive behaviour when left alone. This dog can suffer from separation anxiety. All this can be controlled by good exercise. This is a dog that loves to tracking, and you will have hours of fun fulfilling this need in your dog. While out walking your dog is better to be kept on the lead, because if he smells something he wishes to track, he is oblivious to all else, this includes you trying to call him back. If you meet this dog's instinctive needs you will have a lovely pet. They are loving, and like to greet all. Wonderful with children but it is best not to trust them with small pets as they have high natural hunting abilities.

Health issues: In some lines, you can have aka dwarfism, epilepsy, heart problems, and some lines have back and eye problems.

Grooming: The Beagle is a fairly easy dog to groom only needing brushing weekly. Bath only when it is really needed. Check ears and eyes weekly for signs of infection.

Living Conditions: Beagles are very active dogs indoors, but as long as you have enough space they adapt well to living pretty much anywhere. They would ideally like a yard in which to play. It can live in an apartment, as long as they are well exercised and taken out regularly, as they need to spend time outdoors, daily.

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Adopt a Bull Mastiff Today - Or Hate Yourself Later

Originally bred in the 1800s by English Gamekeepers to keep poachers away especially at night, the Bull Mastiff is one of the best guard dogs in the world. The Bull Mastiff is a 40% English Bulldog and 60% English Mastiff crossbreed, which are known for its tenacity, agility, loyalty, strength and massive size. If you've just moved into a new neighborhood and you're thinking of adopting a dog to keep bad guys away, here are 10 reasons why a Bull Mastiff can be your best choice:

1) Protective in Nature - The Bull Mastiff dogs are devoted and protective of their master and family. As such, they can be defensive when they feel that a person or another animal is a threat. Although the Bull Mastiff rarely attacks immediately, they would place themselves in between their master and the stranger or pin the intruder down to the ground.

2) Enormous Size - A female Bull Mastiff can weigh up to 120 pounds, while the males are capable of growing up to 140 pounds, making it easy for them to knock down human adults.

3) Alert Guard Dogs - A Bull Mastiff is energetic and alert, but does not bark frequently. However, if they feel the need to bark, especially when strangers or other unfamiliar animals are around, their dark and hollow bark can frighten the intruder away.

4) Harmless - The Bull Mastiff is gentle with children. However, since they are not aware of their massive size, the Bull Mastiff may accidentally knock a small child down. Under normal circumstances, a Bull Mastiff is harmless even if it attacks because they pin an intruder down instead of biting.

5) Reliable "Man's Best Friend" - A Bull Mastiff needs human companionship. As such, he can be very attached to its master and family, making it easier for them to live indoors.

6) Gentle With Children - The Bull Mastiff is gentle to those they know. They also treat children as puppies, making it possible to leave a child with this large dog.

7) Friendly with other animals - If socialized early, a Bull Mastiff will have no problems getting along with other dogs or animals in the household.

8) Obedient - A Bull Mastiff can be trained easily. Once the master asserts his authority, the Mastiff can be extremely sensitive to his or her voice.

9) Fearless - When they feel threatened, Bull Mastiffs can become fearless and protect its territory and family.

10) Good Looking - Unique to the Bull Mastiff is the black muzzle that tones off toward his eyes as well as the dark markings around the eyes, which give these dogs a one-of-a-kind expression.

If you just moved into a new neighborhood, adopting a Bull Mastiff can be your best plan to protect your home from intruders. Adopt a Bull Mastiff today, or hate yourself later when your house has been robbed or trashed. Prevent this from happening by making the Bull Mastiff your home's most reliable guardian.

Bull Mastiffs are great creatures. Troy Winters reveals a lot more information about their secrets. In fact, he will show you a bit more information, you probably don't know about a Bull Mastiff. To learn more about this dog, visit the Bull Mastiff Dog Center at the Mastiff Dog Center website.

The Map: Best In Show

www.travelistic.com Liza goes behind the scenes at the 2007 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City. Meet the handlers, the groomers, and the 1600-plus dogs that traveled to compete for Best in Show!

French Bulldog - Dog Breeds

Group: Non-sporting

Weight: 28 lbs

Height: 11-13 inches

Overview

There is a great deal of speculation about the origin of the French Bulldog, and the most common believe is that they originated from the miniature bulldog that was brought to France by workers from Nottingham at the time of the industrial revolution. During the 1860s, the export of miniature bulldogs became so popular, that they almost died out in England. Many believe that they were then crossed with the Terrier Boule, which resulted in the French Bulldog. During 1896, the French Bulldog made its first appearance in the United States at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York.

Temperament

The French Bulldog is an enjoyable and easygoing companion dog. They love to play and are also very affectionate. This is a sweet natured breed that is very amusing. They have amusing personalities and like to joke around. The French Bulldog is inquisitive and watchful, and will get along fairly well with strangers and other strangers. Some males may be dog aggressive, but in general they get along well with other dogs. This breed wants companionship and will not do well without it.

Care

The French Bulldog is an average shedding dog that will not require a lot of grooming. This breed can be brushed with a rubber brush to remove and loose and dead hair. Seeing that these dogs have a flat muzzle, the French Bulldog is inclined to drool - therefore their mouths should be cleaned often. The French Bulldog should only be bathed when it is really required.

Training

French Bulldogs can be obstinate, and not easy to train. It is important for the trainer to be patient and dominant in training sessions. This breed struggles to adhere to given tasks, and is also easily distracted. Puppy classes are recommended for this breed, and it is also a good way to socialise. Although this is a well-built little breed, they will not respond positively toward rough training methods. This dog will do best with a patient trainer, and will go a long way when the correct training methods are used.

Health problems

A few known health issues of the French Bulldog include an elongated soft palate, premature disc degeneration, difficult whelping and allergies. Some common health problems in these dogs are also eye problems and respiratory difficulties. In some French Bulldogs their nostrils can be widened for better breathing.

Visit the following links for more info on the French Bulldog or a full list of Dog Breeds.

LMDF Shetland Sheepdog Specialty Breed RingOct09

Here is the Peace Arch Herding and Working Dog Show Shetland Sheepdog Specialty, at the Tradex in Abbotsford BC Oct 29/09

English Springer Spaniel Description, History and Temperament

Description: The English Springer Spaniel is a medium sized, compact and robust dog. Their coat is medium-long in with feathering on the legs, body and tail. The show and field dogs can look very different, show dogs have much longer fur and much more feathering and also have longer ears. They can stand up to 18-20 inches and weigh between 50-55 lbs, field dogs however often weigh less and are finer boned. They can come in many coat colors and those are, blue or liver roan, black or liver with white marks, or white with black or liver markings. You can also get tri-colored, black and white or liver and white with tan markings.

History. English Springer Spaniels can be traced back to Spain in the 1500's. During this time all the Spaniels were grouped together in the same breed type and the same litters could produce more than one type of spaniel. It wasn't until 1902 thanks to careful selective breeding that they were recognized as their own breed in the UK, it was later, in 1927 that the AKC recognised them as their own breed. They were developed originally for springing the game for the net while hunting. They are nowadays used as gun dogs to find and retrieve game, they are also used as sniffer dogs, as their sense of smell is impeccable.

Temperament. The English Springer Spaniel is a dog that loves to please and is very affectionate, they are also sociable and highly intelligent. They are easily trained thanks to the fact that they are obedient, willing, and quick learners. They do, however, need clear structure and clear rules set out for them, without clear guidelines and plenty of mental, and physical, exercise they can become frustrated and mischievous. They are also prone to becoming rather destructive and to bark a lot if left alone for too long.

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Glen of Imaal Terrier Dog Breed Description, History, and Temperament

Description: The Glen of Imall Terrier is a small-medium sized dog that is a sturdy little thing, they have many of the usual terrier characteristics and have a lively and happy expression about themselves. They weigh around 35 pounds and should stand around 14 inches tall at the withers.

They have a double coat that should be wheaten in colour or brindle, their undercoat should be soft whereas their outer coat should be harsh to the touch. They have a relatively large head, with ears that are wide set and half pricked. They have round dark eyes that have a loving expression.

History: The origins of the Glen of Imaal Terrier dog are not known, however what is known is that they are from Ireland, and that they received their name from the Glen of Imall in County Wicklow. They are thought to be an ancient breed, but due to their isolation they are an almost unknown breed outside of the area they come from. They are fantastic hunters of fox, badgers and rat.

They were not recognized by the AKC until 2004 and to this day still remain a rare breed though attempts are being made to amend this. Even in Ireland they were not first publicly presented until 1933. In recent years they have become more companion pets, rather than working dogs.

Temperament: The Glen of Imall Terrier is a lively dog that is full of sprit and they can be very devoted. They can however suffer from 'small dog syndrome' so they need an owner who can stop any negative behaviour in a calm manner as they do not respond well to harsh discipline.

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How to Find a Good Pomeranian Breeder

A good Pomeranian breeder is concerned with improving the breed, rather than making money. If breeding is done right, it costs extra money for feeding the mother, for veterinarian bills, and for feeding the puppies for at least ten weeks before they are ready to go to their new homes. Good Pomeranian breeders show their dogs and have judges carefully measure them against breed standards, then match them with mates who will produce the best puppies for conformation, health, and temperament. Bad breeders who are in for it only for the money will breed any dog regardless of health or temperament, and sell puppies before they are ten weeks old. Selling a puppy too early can lead to a dog with poor manners or aggression, because the dam will not have time to teach the puppy not to bite the pack leader.

There are many things a good breeder will look for before breeding a Pomeranian. A responsible breeder will look at general appearance, size, proportion, substance, head, neck, top line, body, forequarters, hindquarters, gait, and coat. If any criterion for judging is thought to be imperfect, then the puppy will be spayed or neutered and sold to be a pet. This means that the pet will come from parents who were show dogs, and can be expected to be in good health.

The American Kennel Club recommends the American Pomeranian Club, Incorporated, for referrals to responsible breeders. The club has been in operation since 1900 and considers itself the guardian of the breed and encourages only ethical breeding. The fact that the club assists in events education, health and genetics research, welfare and rescue illustrates its mission to promote healthy puppies. The APC maintains the standard by which Pomeranians are judged. It maintains a list of breeders who are in good standing, and, although APC does not guarantee results, the list is a good place to start.

The APC keeps a list of breeders in good standing, arranged by state and country. California, for example, is listed as having twenty-one members in good standing with the APC. There is only one listing for New Mexico, and Wyoming has none, but if you live in Wyoming do not despair. A breeder is available in Pocatello, Idaho. There are four breeders listed in Canada, one in France, and one in Latvia.

Another way to locate a good Pomeranian puppy breeder is by attending AKC-sponsored dog shows. Not only will you see which breeders win the competitions, but you can also get to know people who know the breed. The Westminster Kennel Club's 135t Annual Dog Show will be held in Madison Square Garden on 14-15 February of 2011. Local dog shows will take place all over the United States, and many will be devoted to Pomeranians. The Bay Colony Pomeranian Club of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, for instance, will sponsor a show on 28 May 2011. On the other end of the country, the Hawaiian Kennel Club will have an all-breed dog show on Oahu on 11 March 2011. The American Pomeranian Club, Incorporated, will be having a Pomeranian show on 14 March 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. The American Kennel Club has a schedule of dog shows listed by date. You can also check with the local Pomeranian clubs in your state for show information.

Lea Mullins, discusses the how to find a good Pomeranian breeder. TrainPetDog.com provides tips on selecting the Dog or puppy from a good breeder.

Manchester Dog Show Working Group Short-List and Placing's

150th Manchester Dog Show Short-List and Placing's

Westminster Contestants: Khalid Ahmad and "Yona"

Khalid Ahmad has judged other dog competitions for 10 years. This year he's recused himself in order to enter "Yona", a male Rottweiler who will make his debut in "the big show" this year.

WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW 2009 # 12

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Westminster Contestants: Karen and "Devon"

Owner and handler Karen Justin says this might be the last year to show "Devon", a Great Pyrenees, at Madison Square Garden. He's getting on in age (7 years old) and is ready to retire from show business.

Westminster's dog spa

After travelling a long distance to get to the big show at Madison Square Garden, what better way to treat your prized pet then by pampering it next door at the Hotel Pennsylvania's spa, overseen by canine concierge Jerry Grymek.