August 12th, 2009 by admin

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History and origin:

The Bullmastiff is believed to have been evolved between 200 or 300 years ago by crossing the Mastiff with the Bulldog.  He was used as a guard dog against poachers (who were hunting on large estates) without actually harming them.  The Bullmastiff was bred to be courageous, quick, strong, and willing to challenge humans.

Description:

The Bullmastiff stands 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 100 and 135 pounds.  He has a powerful, heavily muscled and boned body and a short, low-maintenance shedding coat that needs regular brushing.  Ears may be cropped or uncropped. The color may be fawn, reddish brown, or brindle; a small white patch on the chest is acceptable.

About the breed:

The Bullmastiff is a trustworthy, affectionate, lazy, powerful breed with a natural instinct of guarding his home and family.  These dogs are usually very suspicious of strangers and other dogs and are one of the most territorial of breeds.  Though normally gentle with children in their own family, Bullmastiffs can be unpredictable with friends, relatives, and co-workers.  Keep in mind that this breed was designed to challenge human beings and will do so without hesitation if a threat is perceived.  When a Bullmastiff becomes aggressive, it is explosive and unstoppable.  This breed is capable of killing another dog in seconds, so do not consider letting him off leash.  The only way to minimize this instinctive behavior is to socialize and train the dog from day one, allowing the Bullmastiff puppy to interact with people and dogs in a controlled, positive environment.  Males should be neutered by the eighth month.  Females tend to be less aggressive and are quite more timid than males.  The Bullmastiff is normally content to lie around the house.  Though less energetic than the Boxer, he does tend to be slightly more active than the Mastiff.  Training should begin early and should be firm but not overbearing, as this breed matures slowly and can become worried if pushed too hard.  Patience and consistency are required, as well as positive, confident attitude.  Spoiling will create a pushy dog that lacks confidence, a combination that could be dangerous.  Mature children are permissible provided absolutely no roughhousing is permitted.  This breed eats large quantities of food.  He usually lives ten to twelve years, and is susceptible to bloat, hip dysplasia, eyelid abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders, and respiratory problems.  He snores and drools and is often flatulent.

Feeding:

Recommended feeding for this breed is at least 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of a branded meaty product with biscuit added in equal amount or 5 cupfuls of a dry, complete food.

Ideal home:

A large house in the country with a fenced yard or kennel is preferred, though this breed is easygoing in the home.  The owner of a Bullmastiff must be a strong, easygoing, confident leader who is fully aware of the power of this breed and who does not project worry or concern.  Time must be available to train, socialize, and handle this breed.  Though very affectionate with his family, the Bullmastiff may be unpredictable and aggressive with your children’s friends.  Spoilers and weak, nervous, or overbearing people should avoid this breed, as should the elderly and the disabled.  The Bullmastiff needs regular exercise; a child or lightweight person may have a hard time controlling the lead.

August 12th, 2009 by admin

There is no excuse for heat stress ever occurring. No one questions your love for your dog, or he wouldn’t have survived this long. Just a little logical forethought during hot weather is all that is needed. Don’t take him shopping with you if your stores do not allow dogs on the premises. Then you won’t have to tie him outside. If you are going for a drive, be sure he will be welcome at every place you intend to stop. If his outdoor exercise area is small, take him indoors before you leave the house for any length of time.

Those breeds more prone to heat stress (pug, boxer, English bulldog, Boston terrier, etc.) should have even normal outdoor activity severely curtailed during periods of hot sun and high temperatures. In extremely hot parts of the country they may require air-conditioning. Certainly, free access to frequently changed cool water is a must. As far as I am concerned, any dog who suffers heat stress, and survives, ought to pack up and look for a new owner!

July 24th, 2009 by admin

History and origin:

Although known primarily as a Scottish breed, Deerhound-type dogs have been around since ancient times.  He was bred primarily to hunt with his owner and bring down large deer.  This breed has a rough coat that protects him from the cold.  Though he is known as a sight hound, his sense of smell is also acute.

Description:

The Scottish Deerhound stands 30 to 32 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 75 and 110 pounds.  He has a lean, athletic, lanky body that is similar to but thinner and slightly shorter than that of the Irish Wolfhound.  The Deerhound’s shedding coat is medium-length, rough, wiry, and weather-resistant.  It requires periodic brushing and an occasional trim.  The color may be blue-gray, fawn, light gray, or brindle.

About the breed:

He is a hardy, graceful, beautiful, and dignified breed that is typically quiet, gentle, and reserved with strangers. Though lazy and easy-going in the home, he does need a daily run to stay happy and healthy.  The Scottish Deerhound prefers a quiet, predictable environment and does not easily tolerate teasing from young children.  He may also be dog-aggressive and has a high prey drive toward small animals.  This breed needs obedience training and socialization from an early age to combat his timidity and increase his confidence.  He may bite if scared or annoyed.  Training must be slow and precise because this breed learns slowly.  Overbearing methods may cause him to panic or become passive-resistant, a condition in which a dog stops thinking and seems frozen.  Patience and consistency are required.  The “Sit” and “Come” commands may he the hardest to teach to this breed.  The Scottish Deerhound usually lives only ten to twelve years and can suffer from bloat or torsion of the stomach, an often fatal condition.  To help avoid this, break the dog’s feedings down into at least two a day, and soak the dry food in warm water for five minutes before feeding.  This will minimize the chance of swelling and of gaseous buildup in the stomach, which is a leading contributor to bloat.