July 24th, 2009 by admin

History and origin:

Once known as Russian Wolfhounds, this Russian sight hound was developed by crossing the extinct Lapp sled dog with the Collie.  The Borzoi was used as coursing hounds to chase rabbits, foxes, and wolves in packs.  His speed, agility, and strength allowed him to range far ahead of the mounted hunter, acquire the prey by sight, run it down, and hold it at bay until the hunter arrived. The first Borzoi was brought to the U.S. from England in 1889.

Description:

The Borzoi stands 26 to 28 inches at the shoulder and weighs 65 to 100 pounds.  He has a lean, leggy, athletic body and a long, silky, shedding coat that requires medium maintenance.  The coat is usually white with black, tan, or lemon markings.  It was developed to protect the breed from the cruel Russian winter.

About the breed:

This breed was once a favorite among the Russian aristocrats and admired by the Russian czar’s court.  He has the beauty, elegance, carriage, and personality to match his regal heritage. The Borzoi is fast, agile, aloof, and very clean.  He is faithful to his owners but cautious with strangers.  He is normally intolerant of unpredictable young children and may bite without warning.  The Borzoi needs early training and socialization. The training should not be overbearing because this breed processes information slowly and will shut down if pushed.  Patience and consistency are important.  The “Sit” command is difficult to teach because of the Borzoi’s bony, lanky structure and lack of body padding.  The “Come” command is crucial and must be perfected because his great speed enables him to disappear from sight in seconds.  The Borzoi has a high prey drive and will seize and kill small animals before his owner can react.  He can also be very dog-aggressive.  Similar to all sight hounds, the Borzoi must often be allowed time to be by himself.  Do not expect him to be as affectionate as a Golden Retriever.  Owners who are used to the mind-set of cats will appreciate this breed, though it would be a mistake to own a cat along with a Borzoi.  He needs a bed or a thick blanket to lie on because he does not have much muscle or fat on his body and can get pressure sores if his sleeping area is not cushioned properly.

Feeding:

Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of branded meaty with biscuit added in same amount or 5 cupfuls of complete dry food.

Ideal home:

This breed is not suitable to live in an apartment, although he can adapt to one  as long as he is getting plenty of space and exercise.  A quiet environment free of unpredictable events and young children is preferred.  Small animals may pose a problem due to this breed’s high prey drive.  He needs to run, and activity that is possible only if you have properly trained him to come when called and if you have socialized him among other dogs and people.  Borzoi owners should be calm, easygoing leaders who do not necessarily want a dog that is too affectionate.  Nervous, hyperactive, and pampering types should avoid this breed.  The elderly and disabled may have trouble training and exercising this breed.  He should not be left alone in a yard because can easily jump a six-foot fence.

July 24th, 2009 by admin

When dogs were wild, or at least still hunted for their food, hunger may have been an occasional concern, but rarely were nutritional deficiencies or imbalances ever a problem. Dogs killed and ate almost all of their prey’s carcass including the entrails, skin, and even bones.

Domesticated and dependent upon their owners for food, today’s dogs are amply fed, right to the point of obesity, yet they often develop a number of deficiencies from their improperly balanced diets. The advent over the past decade of nutritionally “complete” or “balanced” commercial dog foods, and their increasing acceptance by dog owners and veterinarians alike, has drastically reduced the incidence of dietary deficiencies. Today such nutritional problems are seen mostly in dogs who are fed homemade diets or a diet of table scraps and leftovers.

Poor nutrition, whether from dietary deficiencies or excesses, has a significantly negative effect on your dog’s ability to remain in good health. Resistance to infection is lowered, as is the production of antibodies, allowing infectious agents to multiply rapidly and spread. The resulting fever, diarrhea, or other manifestations of illness, more than likely will make your dog less interested in eating, thus increasing the state of malnutrition.

July 12th, 2009 by admin

History and origin:

An ancient Siberian breed, the Samoyed is a beautiful Spitz-type that takes his name from the Siberian tribe of the Samoyedes.  He was used by the nomadic peoples of the same name as the breed to guard herds of reindeer and as a sled dog.  This hardy breed has remained relatively pure for centuries.

Description:

The Samoyed stands 19 to 23.5 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 45 and 65 pounds.  He has a strong medium-size body that is graceful and athletic and a face that always seems to be smiling.  The undercoat is thick, soft, and insulating; the harder, straight outer coat grows through the undercoat.  Shedding is year-round, particularly in early summer.  Regular brushing and combing is required.  If this breed is left outside, his coat may become matted and odorous.  The color is white or off-white.

About the breed:

This is a very hardy dog who is intelligent, alert, and highly independent  that, although obedient and friendly, can be a challenge to train.  He has a sassy, impetuous side to his personality that is endearing yet troublesome.  He is by nature a dominant, controlling breed that may become pushy and if not given proper leadership. Training can be difficult due to his independent, stubborn nature and therefore must begin early and must be firm and consistent.  The Samoyed will resist surrendering control and is capable of showing aggression toward his owners, particularly if they have been too lenient.  Establishing dominance is the key to owning a Samoyed.  Any spoiling will increase the chances of dominance aggression.  He is capable of taking over as the leader of the pack, using bites, barking, and tantrums to get his way.  The most difficult command to teach this breed is the “Come.”  In addition, handling must occur every day so as to facilitate conflict-free grooming.  If you wait too long, this breed will learn to be intolerant of brushing and may bite in protest.  The Samoyed can be a good watchdog and barks more than most breeds, often to the point of irritation.  He will bark, dig, and become a matted mess if left in the yard all day.  This breed needs daily exercise or he may become restless, destructive, and loud.  He is susceptible to hip dysplasia and does not do well in warm climates.

Feeding:

Recommended feeding for the Samoyed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meat product with added biscuit is same amount or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry food.

Ideal home:

This breed loves the snow and is happiest in wide, open spaces.  A house with a fenced yard is important, though this breed should not be left in a yard all day.  The owner of a Samoyed must be an active, strong, dominant leader and must enjoy a breed that is intelligent and a challenge.  Time to train, socialize, and groom the dog must be available daily.  Passive owners will have control problems with this breed, resulting in a dominant, pushy dog capable of biting friends or family.  This breed is not recommended for those with small children.  Older children must not be allowed to roughhouse or to play chase games with this dog, and they should be capable of working with the dog in obedience.  The elderly and the disabled may have trouble establishing dominance over this breed and should consider one only if they are physically capable of training, exercising, and grooming it every day.