Cocker Spaniel

General Description
(Cocker Spaniel) The American Cocker Spaniel is the smallest breed of sporting spaniels. They have a compact body with a short back and a gently sloping topline. Their legs are stout, straight, and well-boned. American Cocker Spaniels have a defined, round head with an abrupt stop and a square jaw. Their friendly eyes are round, dark, and close-set, and their strong teeth meet in a scissors bite. Depending on the color of coat, an American Cocker Spaniel could have a brown or black nose. Their dropped ears (pendulous ears) hang very long, and their tails are docked to less than half their original length. American Cocker Spaniels have a beautifully soft, lush, silky, feathered coat. The coat on this breed is of medium length and comes in a wide variety of colors.
Cocker Spaniels are good hunters but they are a good family pet too.
They range from 13 to 14.5 for a bitch and 14 to 15.5 [max] for a male... 16 inches is very large
Character
American Cocker Spaniels are commonly used as pets, but they also serve a working purpose. They are naturally kind, affectionate, and sensitive, and they are respectful of authority. American Cocker Spaniels are fairly intelligent, trusting, and cheerful. They are usually excellent with children and very even-tempered. However, there are temperamental variations due to the breed’s popularity. When buying American Cocker Spaniels, it’s important to choose them from reputable breeders. Poor breeding can lead to a number of unappealing characteristics and bad behavior in specimens. Well-bred American Cocker Spaniels are lively, playful, and social. They need proper training from a young age to avoid the onset of shyness.
Size 14 – 16 inches The breed standared is 13 1/2 to 15 1/2 inches
Weight 15 – 30 pounds 30-50 pounds

General Health
American Cocker Spaniels are affected by a number of health concerns. IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) is fairly common in this breed, and is usually a life-threatening condition. Eye and ear problems like infections, PRA, glaucoma, and cataracts are common. Ear inflammation, luxating patellas, and hip dysplasia are less prevalent, but they are still a concern. The average life span of an American Cocker Spaniel is 12 to 15 years, and they average 5 puppies per litter.
they approximately have from 5 to 7 pupies per litter
13 to 17 years if healthy. 5 to 6 pups per litter

Chihuahua Information

General Description
The Chihuahua is a very small-sized dog with a proportionately robust build and distinctive facial features. Their body is stout and just longer than it is tall, and they have straight limbs. They have a sickle-shaped tail that curls over the dog’s back or off to one side. They have an apple-shaped head with a short, tapered, pointy muzzle. Their large eyes are round, dark, and can sometimes be ruby or luminously-colored. They have large, triangular-shaped, erect ears that are a distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Chihuahua puppies have a soft spot on the top of their skull that closes as they become adults. There is a long-haired variety of Chihuahua, but the most common variety is the short-haired Chihuahua. Their coat comes in a variety of colors including fawn, sand, chestnut, silver, and steel blue. They may also be black & tan or tri-color.

Character
The Chihuahua is lively, alert, proud, and makes a good companion. They seek and demand affection, and they are very spunky by nature. They are determined, courageous, and they become very attached to their owner(s). They have a jealous streak, and they will follow their owner’s every move if strangers are present. Some Chihuahuas are difficult to train, but they are intelligent and generally learn quickly. They are most receptive to gentle training and positive reinforcement. The Chihuahua doesn’t like to be poked, pestered, or teased, and he may snap if a child provokes him. Because of their small size, they will resort to using their teeth if they feel threatened. This breed can be noisy and difficult to housebreak. All Chihuahuas should be properly socialized to avoid the onset of aggressive behavior. This breed is usually aggressive towards other dogs.
Size 6 – 9 inches 6-9 inches
Weight 2 – 6 pounds 2-10 pounds

General Health
The Chihuahua may wheeze or snore because of his very short nose. The breed has prominent eyes that are prone to corneal dryness and secondary glaucoma. Other health concerns include slipped stifle, colds, stress, and rheumatism. This breed shouldn’t be overfed. Frequently, Chihuahuas are born by cesarean section because of their proportionately large-sized heads. This breed typically lives for more than 15 years.
They are prone to get stye in their eyes.
With Chihuahuas, the smaller the full grown size ... the more health issues have to be watched ... ESPECIALLY their SUGAR - these little dogs need to eat several small meals to sustain their energetic little bodies & can go into "sugar shock" very quickly - in many cases this shock if not noticed ASAP can result in death. In these cases you can restore the sugar with Nutra Cal (puppy vitamin gel), maple syrup or even Karo Syrup (just a tiny bit can do the trick!)
This breed is also known for epilepsy and seizures. Seizure medication can cost as much as $60 a month. It is very common after they turn 2yrs of age.
The chihuahua can live up to 13 to 15 years.

German Boxer

General Description
The Boxer has a powerful, stocky body with compact muscles and square-shaped proportions. They have round, brawny necks that are well-muscled and do not possess any dewlap. Their front limbs are straight and parallel and their tails are carried high. The tails of this breed are usually docked, and the heads of this breed are proportioned to the size of the dog’s body. Their lower jaw curves upward and extends beneath their upper jaw, and neither teeth nor tongue are visible when the mouth is closed. Their large noses are dark in color and feature a pair of wide, open nostrils. The Boxer’s glossy, close-fitting, short-haired coat exists in a number of colors including fawn, brindle, red, and white. White markings may be present.
White boxers are more prown to deafness then others.
Character
The Boxer is good-natured, high-spirited, playful, and curious. They are highly intelligent and eager to learn, but they can also be free-willed and sneaky. This breed is good for competitive obedience. They love bonding with their family, and they are excellent family pets. They get along wonderfully with children and are generally friendly towards other dogs and animals. Boxers like to use their front paws to get into things and move things from place to place. They have a sense of humor and are quite goofy, and they have been known to pick up just about anything and carry it around with them. They are very protective over their family and home, but visitors are almost always welcomed enthusiastically. This breed makes a great guard dog. They should be trained and properly socialized from a young age so that they don’t jump up on people. They love to jump and they can be overly boisterous. This breed requires a dominant owner and firm, consistent training.
They love to be the middle of attention and are also known as the "clown of dogs"
Boxers are caring and loving dogs if you love them they love you back.
Size 21 – 25 inches 22-25inches (57-63 cm) a female boxer should be 20-27 inches a male boxer should be 25-30ish inches (at the most)

female- 20-27 inches male- 25-30 inches 50-60 inches
Weight 53 – 70 pounds 50-110 pounds
females weigh up to 53-70 pounds
General Health
The Boxer is prone to cardiomyopathy, sub-aortic stenosis, and epilepsy. Like other larger dog breeds, hip dysplasia is also a concern. Between the ages of one and eight years, the Boxer is more likely to develop tumors than other breeds. They have a tendency towards developing allergies and heart problems. Boxers may drool or snore and/or have excessive flatulence. White varieties of Boxers are prone to deafness. This breed typically lives for 11 to 14 years. They average 6 puppies per litter.
This breed typically lives for 10 to 12 years.
It is very important to purchase from a reputable breeder that health tests as they are very prone as puppies to demodex or also known as red mange.

The Beagle

General Description
(English Beagle) The Beagle is a comparatively small hound with a square-shaped, sturdy build. They have broad, slightly domed skulls and a straight, square muzzle. Their noses have full nostrils and their eyes are brown or hazel in color. Many people say the Beagle is reminiscent of a small English Foxhound. Beagles have long, wide, pendant-shaped ears and round, strong feet. Their tails are carried freely and gaily. Beagles have a glossy, short-haired coat that exists in a variety of hound colors including tri-color, black and tan, red and white, lemon and white, or orange and white.
Beagles are also very small and they are good with childern and they are also good with other animals in your house
Beagles are very active and energetic. They love to play and go walks all the time. They get along with any other thing. Such as, family members, other dogs, and maybe even cats.
They don't always get along with smaller pets like rabbits, as rabbits were the prey they originally hunted.

Character
Beagles make excellent pets because of their sweet disposition and kind, loving nature. They are very social and warm towards everyone, and they have a very cheerful demeanor. This breed is great with children and rarely aggressive towards other dogs. They shouldn’t be left unattended with other pets unless they are socialized with them from a very young age. Because Beagles are determined and have a mind of their own, so they need firm, patient training and shouldn’t be left alone. If owners of this breed are gone for extended periods of time, it’s a good idea to have more than one Beagle. This way, the dogs can keep each other company and not become lonely. Beagles have a loud, baying cry that can bother neighbors and they will follow interesting scents without warning.

Size 13 – 16 inches 13-15 inches
Weight 20 – 25 pounds beagles weigh 20-25 pounds 18 - 30 lbs

General Health
Certain lines of Beagles are prone to heart disease, eye problems, back problems, and epilepsy. The breed is susceptible to chondroplasia (dwarfism) that causes the front legs to become warped. Typically, Beagles live for 12 to 15 years. They average 7 puppies per litter.
12 to 17 years
11 to 15 years

The Boston Terrier

General Description

The Boston Terrier is a compact, stout, well-muscled mastiff breed. Their distinctive face features a short, broad muzzle and a pair of large, round, far-set eyes that are dark in color. Their ears are short and stand erect, and their nose is large and black in color. The Boston Terrier’s head is wide and flat, and the neck is slightly arched. The breed’s chest is proportionately broad, and the limbs are straight, sturdy, and well-muscled. The coat of the Boston Terrier is glossy, short-haired, and fine in texture. It exists in a number of colors including brindle & white, black & white, or brown & white.

Character

Originally, the Boston Terrier was bred to participate in dog fights. Since that time, the vast majority of the breed’s aggressive tendencies have been eliminated. The contemporary Boston Terrier is friendly, alert, and good-natured. They are full of character, energy, and enthusiasm, and they are highly intelligent and well-mannered. Because they are perceptive and sensitive to a person’s tone of voice, they like to learn and are a comparatively easy breed to train. They are independent and free-willed in certain situations. Boston Terriers only bark if they sense a threat, and for this reason, they make good watchdogs. They are very good with children, elderly people, and they are social with strangers. They like to feel like part of the family. Some male Boston Terriers may be dominant towards other male dogs. They get along with non-canine pets.

Size 15 – 17 inches
Weight 10 – 25 pounds

General Health
Because of their squat muzzle and short face, the Boston Terrier is susceptible to breathing problems in extreme weather conditions. This breed can become overheated if they are overly exerted or pushed too hard by their owner(s). This breed is likely to drool and snore. Boston Terrier puppies are often delivered by cesarean section because of their large-sized head. Their prominent eyes increase the likelihood for eye injuries. Some lines of this breed are especially prone to heart and skin tumors. Poorly bred Boston Terriers are susceptible to a bone defect in the skull that stunts brain growth and causes retardation. This breed typically lives for 15 or more years. They average 3 to 4 puppies per litter.

What our dogs eat and don’t eat, and why

Dogs will eat anything they get used too.
Our dogs can a will eat and enjoy, anything they get accustomed too as long as they have more than one opportunity to try it. This is one of the main reasons dog food manufacturers instruct you to gradually switch over your dogs food, from the old brand of dog food to the new brand. Some of our dogs will eat anything put in front of them. And some of our dogs will turn their nose up at any new feed.
The other reason we are told to slowly change our dogs food, when trying a different brand. Is a lot of dogs will get diarrhea when they first try eating something new. We will then think something is wrong with the new food, or our dog has some kind of new health issue. Most likely they just need some more time to get used to the new stuff.
The vast majority of dogs, have a cast iron stomach. Remember our dogs are a carnivore species. A dogs digestive enzymes are very different than ours. That is why when we prepare foods for ourselves, it has to be cooked to certain temperatures before eating to avoid getting sick. While our dogs can eat anything they like uncooked or raw. And a lot of our dogs prefer their meat, ah lets just say a little aged. They will bury it then dig it up a week or two later, then eat it when its nice and ripe.
Our dogs get fed a significant amount of raw meat. The local butchers and meat processors, donate roughly five to six thousand pounds of meat a year to us. Our guys will not touch the dry feed ( regular dog food), when raw meat is available to them.
The point of the raw meat thing is a lot of the new dogs that come to our sanctuary, initially when first given the raw meat to try, will not eat it. The reason for this is simple, they never had the opportunity or they didn’t have enough chances to get used to it. After a short period of time, they all wind up preferring to eat the raw meat as apposed to the dry dog food.
Each litter of puppies that we studied to gain a true understanding of pack structures and behaviors. Were given raw meat to eat as soon as their milk teeth emerged at about three weeks of age. And being the wild animals that they are, devoured the meat.
The point of this whole thing, our dogs need time to get used to whatever we decide to feed them. Whether we prefer a more natural raw diet for them, or we like buying dog food in bags or cans.

Keep money in mind when choosing a pet

Pets can be costly, both to obtain and to keep.

While some dogs are free or almost free, registered dogs and so-called "designer" breeds usually start at about $500 and can run well over $1,000. That is just the beginning, however. Basic equipment can be costly, depending on the size of the dog and the animal's place in the family. A simple dog bed can be obtained for as little as $10 for a small dog. A crate or kennel can cost under $50 or up to $500 or more, depending on size and use.Dogs also need collars, leashes, food and water dishes, and, of course, the all-important dog food. Many family dogs have a variety of toys and are usually given treats such as dog biscuits. The cost of pet ownership mounts when health care costs are included. Veterinarian visits can be as expensive as doctor's visits for the animal's human counterparts. Puppies need a series of three sets of immunizations, just like infants. A visit to a vet's office starts at $60 to $80, plus shots and medications. If an owner wants a microchip embedded under the dog's skin with identifying information, it costs about $80. Spaying and neutering usually starts at about $250 and increases in proportion to the dog's size. Emergency visits and hospitalizations can be much more. Professional grooming adds to the cost of dog ownership.

How to Take a Photo of Your Dog

1- Try to avoid using flash when taking the photo if at all possible. This can cause redeye and dark shadows resulting in a poor quality photograph. The best shots are taken outdoors, and in natural light. If it is sunny then it is better to find a shady spot and keep the light source behind you.

2- Have your pet sitting, then get down to their eye level before attempting to take a photo. Have some help from another person to get your dogs attention with a toy or treat, try toget your dog to look slightly upwards and to one side of you.

3- Be patient and make it enjoyable for you and your dog

Jokes

Man to dog trainer: "Every time a bell rings, my dog goes into the corner." Dog trainer: "That's OK, he is a Boxer."
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A wife says to her husband one weekend morning, "We've got such a clever dog. He brings in the daily newspapers every morning." Her husband replies, "Well, lots of dogs can do that." The wife responded, "But we've never subscribed to any!"
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Two Scottish nuns have just arrived in USA by boat and one says to the other, "I hear that the people of this country actually eat dogs." "Odd," her companion replies, "but if we shall live in America , we might as well do as the Americans do."
Nodding emphatically, the mother superior points to a hot dog vendor and they both walk towards the cart. "Two dogs, please," says one.
The vendor is too pleased to oblige, wraps both hot dogs in foil, and hands them over the counter. Excited, the nuns hurry to a bench and begin to un-wrap their 'dogs'. The mother superior begins to blush and, then, staring at it for a moment, leans to the other nun and whispers cautiously, "What part... did you get...?"

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During break time at obedience school, two dogs were talking. One said to the other..."The thing I hate about obedience school is you learn ALL this stuff you will never use in the real world."

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A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet and says "My dog is cross-eyed. Is there anything you can do for him?" The vet says, "Well, let's have a look at him." So the vet picks the dog up while examining his eyes. Finally he says "I'm going to have to put him down." "What? Just because he is cross-eyed?" "No, because he is really, really heavy."

how to stop a puppy biting you

The following is the best ways we found on how to stop a puppy biting you.
1- When your adorable puppy bites or nips you make a loud "yelp" like it really hurt and stare at the puppy. This will make your little angel think it has hurt you and it should stop. If not then leave the room and return in a few minutes. It will quickly learn it needs to control its behaviour.
2- Find some buddies for your puppy if at all possible. This is extremely effective. If you can, let your puppy play with other puppies or dogs. The little monkey will soon learn the sociable rules of doggie etiquette when exposed to others. It will quickly learn what is and what is not allowed. It will very quickly learn when to control its behaviour.
3- Toys. Make sure the cute little monster has plenty of toys. This will let him/her take out all the teething and chewing on a slightly more inanimate object. This can also tie in with number 1. After performing the "yelp" you can give the puppy a toy instead to play with. We found it best not to encourage tug of war type games as this just heightens your puppies aggression and will not help with its training.
4- Something foul tasting. Put something that the puppy will not like the taste of on your hands. We found garlic worked very well but you may need to try something different. There are any number of concoctions you can try. Free or specific products are available if you like.
A tired puppy makes for a happy owner. The same goes for adult dogs. Puppies have an awful lot of pent up energy just waiting to explode! You need to be careful if you have a very young puppy as there are many claims that to much exercise can lead to problems in later life. We were careful not to walk our young pup very much until she decided to come on her own and we gradually built up the time of walks over quite a long period. What we did do however is let her outside to play as often as possible. This way the young tear away will run around and play on its own and will stop when its natural instincts tell it to. This really was a great way to get away from those razor teeth and let the pup do what comes naturally.
5- If number 1 doesn't work then we found this tip very useful. GROWL! If you’re darling bite monster doesn't respond to a "yelp" when it bites you or respond to you "yelping" and leaving the room then growl at it. We found this very successful. You are acting like a more dominant dog or what its Mother would have done. What works best will depend on the temperament of your little cutie.
6- Now for the one tip that worked the best above all else but will not be for everyone. Get another dog! This was without doubt the complete overnight success we dreamed of. We knew that we wanted at least two dogs and a month or so after we got Faye we went to a rescue pound and got our very shy Daisy girl. She was so timid with us and very undernourished. However this did not stop her giving as good as she got with Faye. They would play, jump, bite, roll for hours with each other. I can honestly say that Faye stopped biting and nipping at us the day we brought Daisy home. That was it. She had a better pal to bite and they have been great buddies ever since.