"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."Thomas Jefferson
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How Boxers Work With the Family
How Boxers Work With the FamilyBoxers are very family-oriented and always love to be around people. Treat them as family members. Never underestimate their need for human companionship, which is the most notable trait of this breed. The Boxer is happiest ...
Shih Tzu - Is A Training Collar Right For Your Shih Tzu
There are many excellent training devices that can be used when training your Shih Tzu. The most basic piece of equipment that every Shih Tzu owner should own is a quality training collar. There are many different types of training collars, and these ...
Your Dog Will Thank You If You Read These Doggie Diet Tips
Although it was once common practice to feed dogs whatever scrapes came from the dinner table, today we realize that there is much more to feeding an animal than we thought. It is important to give them foods that will provide them with a healthy life and ...
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Every day we hear more about the new "hybrid" dogs, or "designer" dogs. Each feature is accompanied by pictures of adorable puppies that are examples of this new "breed."
Of course they're cute! All puppies are! Should you pay hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars for one? Certainly not! The offspring of a mating between two purebred dogs of different breeds is a mongrel, a mutt. And if you have one, you should love it, train it and care for it as if it had the bluest blood of the canine kingdom.
Every dog breed, and there are hundreds in the world, was "created" by humans. Each breed was developed for a specific purpose - whether that original job was guarding the flock or being the ideal lap-dog. There's no reason that development shouldn't continue. If there is a need for a dog with particular characteristics, enterprising individuals will come forward to fill that need.
However, it takes many generations to "breed true." Compare yourself to your siblings. Do you all have the same looks, same personality, same interests and strengths? Chances are, you don't. Each of you has some of the "best" traits of your parents. But those may not be the same traits. And each of you has some of the worst.
Two of the best-known mixed-breeds out there now are the "Golden Doodle" and the "Puggle." The thinking behind these crosses is fairly obvious: wouldn't it be nice to have a Golden Retriever's personality and willingness to
please combined with the Poodle's non-shedding coat and intelligence? Wouldn't it be equally delightful to have a small dog without the breathing issues of a Pug, but quieter than a Beagle?
But there is no way of knowing you won't get a high-strung, noisy, stubborn, slobbering mutt who sheds like the dickens!
If you are considering spending the kind of money that these "hybrids" are commanding, be sure to research all of the traits of the contributing breeds. You will get a mixture of the two. And an equally adorable mixture may be waiting for you at your local shelter - the size you want, with the coat you want and the adorable face that melts your heart.
If you require certain characteristics in your puppy - whether a family member has allergies, or you have a very small, or no yard, or your household requires a quiet, "easy keeper," or if you wish to fully participate in the world of canine competition, consider a pure-bred animal. There are over 150 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Surely one of them is right for you.
About the author:
Hope Saidel is the co-owner of GollyGear, a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Dog Training Club.
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 Appleton man convicted of hanging dog in garage - Chicago Tribune
APPLETON, Wis. - A man accused of hanging his dog from its choke chain has been convicted of felony mistreatment of animals. Thirty-five-year-old Eric Shattuck of Appleton pleaded no contest Thursday in Outagamie County Circuit Court. The criminal ...
PETA files complaint against Agriprocessors - Chicago Tribune
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals said in a federal complaint that workers in the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville were improperly slaughtering cows and calls for the plant to install video cameras to monitor ...
Aging in flies under natural vs. laboratory conditions - HULIQ.com
Evolutionary studies of aging typically utilize small, short-lived animals (insects, worms, mice) under benign conditions – constant temperature and humidity, no parasites, superabundant food – in the laboratory. Oddly enough, very little is ...
Deaths spark bid to limit puppy numbers - News.com.au
NEW statistics showing an unwanted dog is destroyed every 50 minutes in Victoria have sparked calls to license and limit breeders. A prominent Australian animal welfare organisation has urged the State Government to tighten laws against backyard ...
Monster gators extort ATM cash - News.com.au
A Brazilian drug gang used alligators to terrify residents of suburb they ran, and possibly even to make the bodies of murdered rivals "disappear". "We thought that the stories about traffickers having alligators was an urban legend, but now we have ...
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