Right let’s get down to business and breakdown the various hidden components behind dog grooming.

What Is Dog Grooming?

Yes, we have to go back to basics because only then can the rules be broken. No but really when most people hear or speak of dog grooiming it conjures up images of some spoilt dog (doggacessory?) being lathered and shampooed before the lotion and parfum is applied.

And then there are those of you who conjure up more down-to-earth images about dog grooming which only revolve around maintenance of the dog’s fur (or hair). And ceratinly you are not wrong for thinking such but truth be told dog grooming is so, so much more.

Beyond keeping a hounds coat shiny and spic-n-span, dog grooming actually incorporates the following:

• Maintaining a healthy dog coat
• Oral hygiene
• Nail trimming
• Ear Cleansing

Health Angle of Dog Grooming

The coat of your average typical dog speaks volumes. A well-fed, healthy dog usually boasts a nice shiny and radiant coat. A dog, on the other hand, that sports a patchy scraggly coat may be suffering from a host of issues  which could be anyone of the following:

• Malnutrtition
• Internal parasites
• Disease
• External parasites
• Cancer
• Hormonal imbalance
• Allergies

Of course there is the off chance that a dog with a disheveled, dirty coat may be suffering from nothing more than an unwashed coat.

Thus always bear in mind that dog grooming is much more than having a good-looking presentable dog, but could very well be a reflection of your dog’s health.

Dog Grooming From a Social Angle

If your dog is going to interact in a social environment then like it or not he is going to have to attain a certain standard of hygiene. Put another way, a disheveled looking dog breeds suspicion. What kind of suspicion am I atlking about?

Consider this:  You’re strolling down a street and you see two dogs from the same breed approaching you. One looks immaculate and well-groomed, whereas the other has a dirty-atted coat and is generally filthy all round. Neither of the dogs is approaching with a menacing demeanor, but you have no option but to squeeze past one or the other on either side of the street.

The question is, which dog would you rather squeeze past? No! You don’t have to answer that we both already know your reply.

Bottom line a well-groomed dog:

• Reflects well on its owner
• Is perceived as less of a threat than one that is not groomed
• Is more likely to be up-to-date with standard vaccinations
• Is less likely to be rabies bound
• Is less likely to be viewed as a dangerous stray

Dirt and Disease

It is well-known far and wide that dirt and disease make the perfect marriage. And as you are probably well aware dogs don’t care too much where they lay their heads and the rest of their torsos.

In fact much to many an owners chagrin dogs are wont to bedding and rolling down in the stankiest of places. So what are you gonna do when that happens. Just let fido saunter into the living room and hop onto the couch in all his funky and stinking glory?

And you know he would without blinking unless you put your foot down. No you like most other dog owners are going to sigh and thank the stars that they learned how to groom their errant four-legged family member.

So there we have it, another very legitimate reason for you to maintain a regular dog grooming schedule – warding off disease and funky smells as well as pooh-filthy particulants!

Cost Investment of Dog Grooming

Okay I’m sure you now agree that there are more than a few good reasons to groom that hound dog of yours. But I’m also sure that if you have never undertaken the task of grooming a dog you’re probably a   little anxious about what it entails from a money point of view as well as timewise.

Dog grooming approaches pretty much boil down to one of two choices:

• Do It Yourself (DIY) Dog Grooming
• Proffesssional Dog Grooming

Each approach obviously has its merits. The DIY approach shines in that in the long run it is going to be so much cheaper than professional grooming. The downside in the DIY approach is that you’re going to have to get your hands dirty!

Proffessional grooming speaks for itself. You pay a pro to make your dog look like a fashionista (or should it be doggista?) without having to worry about much except forking over a few good bills for the transaction.  As the saying goes, if you are willing to pay the pro will play!

However there is one important aspect you should consider with respect to grooming even before getting your dog or puppy (of course if your mutt is a rescue then good onya matey and such considerations really don’t concern you).

The consideration I am talking about is the type of coat your soon-to-be-yours dog will have.

High and Low Maintenance Dog Breeds

Now as you are probably well aware not all dog coats are equal in that some are of the short variety while others are long. Some dogs even don’t have any!

That said, you should know that dog coats generally fall into one of two categories which are:

• Dogs with double coats
• Dog with single coats

Double Coat Dogs

Most dog breeds actually have two coats, such dogs being categorized as having either a double coat (most commonly) or  a two-ply coat (less common). These dogs  have their double coat divided into an upper coat which is comprised of so-called guard hairs. This coat is characteristically water-repellant and acts as a natural barrier to the elements and protects the dog’s undercaot and skin.

 The coat beneath the top coat is unsurprisingly known as the undercoat. This type of coat is generally shorter than the stiff-haired uppercoat and tends to be downy in nature. The undercaot acts as an insulative barrier during cold weather and is shed or blown out during the warmer seasons. Such shedding occurs twice a year.

Single Coat Dogs

Fewer dog breeds are of the single coat variety and in such breeds there is only a single top coat. Not surprisingly single coat dogs shed less than their double coated counterparts. With respect to dog grooming both coat varieties have unique issues.

While we are still on the topic of coat variety in context with dog grooming then the next logical subject matter is coat length.

Coat Length and Coat Texture

As you have probably guessed, dogs with short coats are easier to groom than dogs with long coats. The following list outlines that various coat variants:

Hairless Dogs: As their categorization indicates, for all intents and purposes theses dogs lack hair/fur; though some may claim a smattering here and there like the Chinese Crested dog (one of the more popular hairless dogs).

It should be noted that despite their general lack of fur these dogs still requier grooming. After all they have skin; teeth; ears and nails. Enuff said!

Short Coated Dogs:  Dogs with this coat variant only get minimal protection against the elements despite the fact the coat may be a double coat not single. However from a dog grooming point of view these types of dogs are low maintenance.

Medium Coat Dogs: These types of dog usually boast a double coat. From a grooming perspective as well as protection against the elements, these dogs have the best of both worlds. The coat is long enough to afford adequate protection against harsher weather yet not too long to constitute a grooming nightmare!

Long Coated Dogs: Dog breeds with long coats are the fashion models of doggy world. Simply put they look ree..al good! However that looking good comes at a price. Their coats require frequent and lengthy grooming upkeep.

Long-coated dogs generally sport a single coat which perhaps explains why their coats are so long and luxurious – to better protect their owners. The Afghan hound is perhaps the most visible and well-known long-coated dog breed.

Although this Toy Dog breed goes by the name Japanese Chin many believe that it actually originated in China and was taken to Japan by Buddhist monks as far back as the 6^th century. The Japanese Chin has variably been known at some time or other as either:

• Japanese Spaniel
• Japanese Pug
• Japanese Chin

With respect to the history of this dog breed the following theories have been proposed as to its origins:

1.       It was taken to Japan by Buddhist monks in 6^th century AD

2.       It originated in Korea as a breed called the Ssuchan Pai and was taken to the Japanese court as a gift from a Korean prince.

3.       It was bequeathed as a gift to the Japanese Emperor by Chinese rulers

In the beginning the Japanese Chin was exclusively relegated to nobility. In fact the punishment for stealing or illegally breeding one of these noble dogs was death. Much revered by the nobility the Japanese Chin was bred, developed and modified to be a dog breed apart. Whereas other dogs in Japan were considered purely utilitarian in purpose and function the Chin was developed solely for pleasurable companionship.

Originally the Japanese Chin was bred to cater to the whims of the various noble houses and as a consequence individual dogs could weigh anywhere from 4lbs to 20lbs in contrast to the typical dog of today that is largely confined to a weight of 4lbs – 11lbs. In fact it was the preference of western tastes for the smaller variety of dog following its introduction to the region that cemented their overwhelming prevalence today.

As usual with most dog breeds there is a little controversy and confusion about how the Japanese Chin made it to the west. Some contend that the dog breed was taken to Europe in the 17^th century by Portuguese sailors who presented it to Queen Catherine of Braganza, Consort to King Charles II of England. Another theory has it however that the breed was actually a gift to an American naval officer, Matthew Calbraith Perry during his visit to the Orient in 1853 to cement trading routes between east and west. Although unverified it is speculated that Perry then presented the only surviving pair of dogs (he was given seven dogs) to Queen Victoria.

The Japanese Chin quickly gained a foothold of strong popularity in the west and was first exhibited in England in 1873 at the Birmingham show. After its arrival in America in 1882 it quickly gained recognition by the AKC and was registered as early on as 1888. Originally referred to in the Americas as the Japanese Spaniel, a club under that name was created and founded in 1912; the name of the club was changed to the Japanese Chin Club in 1977.

Following World War II bloodstock of this dog breed was understandably severely depleted that new stock had to be replenished from England and other parts of the world.

Japanese Chin Temperament and Character

Unlike many small dog breeds the Japanese Chin is not yappy and indeed rarely barks, only doing so to alert its owner of impending danger or the approach of a stranger. Another fairly unique feature of the Chin is that of its cat-like qualities. These include its habit of washing and wiping its face with its paws, a surprising agility in climbing and its tendency to perch and rest in elevated regions like the top of chair and sofas. In fact speculation has it that the Japanese intention was to create a blend of dog and cat resulting with the somewhat feline-dog characteristics found in the breed.

This dog breed is friend to all be it four-legged creature or two. It does very well in relatively small spaces, making it ideal for apartment dwelling and as noted before is a dog that rarely barks at all! Personality-wise the Japanese Chin has been described as dignified yet playful and some go as far as to describe it as the perfect companion.

Like cats the Chin is fastidious in nature and its characteristic playfulness and gentle nature make it the ideal pet for reserved children.

Care and Upkeep

This dog breed makes the ideal pet for apartment dwelling requiring little exercise, little space to exist happily and typically making little if any noise. Although lively in nature the Japanese Chin thrives perfectly well with a short walk or romp. This dog however was never designed to live outside and its long coat also means that it does not do well in hot humid climates.

The long coat requires combing at least twice a week and it should be noted that the breed’s flattened face appearance sometimes leads to respiratory and heart problems in some individuals. Also one should be aware that their rather oversized eyes are prone to easy injury.

Article on Japanese Chin written by Kayye Nynne

Choosing Your Most Compatible Puppy

So what do I mean when I say choosing your most compatible puppy? This simply means picking the puppy that best matches you, your personality and your lifestyle. Now it is well known and understood that the different dog breeds were bred to carry out different tasks and to that end they exhibit very different genetic or hereditary characteristics.

Thus taking the retriever dog breeds for example, as their name suggests they were bred for, among other things, to retrieve. This trait was honed and sharpened through selective breeding over time; this explains why dogs from this breed are ever so happy and willing to play catch.

Taking another dog breed group as an example, let us consider livestock herding dogs. As the name of the group obviously suggests, such dogs were selectively bred to herd livestock. In other words those individuals that excelled at herding livestock were bred amongst themselves (as well as outsiders to minimize the inherent problems with inbreeding) to accentuate the desired traits.

Thus it is not uncommon for such selectively bred herders in today’s urban environment to express their natural tendency to herd by rounding up the kids of their family in place of the livestock they were originally bred to herd. Right those are enough examples methinks.

Now back to the most compatible puppy issue. The thing that most people don’t take into account is that puppies from the same litter (just like kids from the same family) have widely different personalities and characters. And typically most people pick the puppy that rushes up to them first before its siblings under the presumption that it has chosen them and must be the one. Truth be told that puppy is simply the most boisterous, dominant and aggressive one. This may not be an issue when the puppy is small, but trust me, it will certainly blossom into one when the puppy matures (especially if it is from a large dog breed).

By Seven Weeks Old A Puppy Has Attained Its Adult Dog Personality & Character

But here’s the really great news. There’s a scientifically proven method to determine the personality and character of a puppy at just 7 weeks old. Yup! It is now well understood and accepted that by seven weeks old a puppy has already attained its adult dog character.

So in simple language what does this mean to you? Well it means that if you’re looking for a laidback dog from a particular breed you can choose that dog when it is still a puppy. I’m not going to go into details behind the procedure of puppy selection but suffice it to say it is very straightforward.

If you truly wish to learn all about this procedure and how to use it to select the puppy that most compliments you go ahead and download my free guide covering the topic and entitled: The Secret To Choosing The Perfect Puppy.

When Should You Pick Up Your Puppy?

Although you should pick out your puppy at seven weeks after carefully assessing the one that is most compatible with your personality a good breeder would recommend that you pick up your puppy when it is at least 8 weeks old. How come?

Well, the reason why a puppy should not be prematurely separated from its mother and litter mates is because before then it would not have learned sufficient social skills and language comprehension from both its mother and interaction with its litter mates that would allow it to function as a wholesome well rounded canine individual later on.

One of the consequences of premature separation from mum and litter mates is that when that puppy matures into a grown dog he/she will be incapable of playing with both humans and fellow dogs without inflicting damage! Why? Because as a puppy he/she never learned how to interact with his siblings in play where he would have mastered the skill of bite pressure and force restraint, thus preventing serious injury during play as an adult dog.

The breed is so sturdy and tough, that its stamina, energy and feats of endurance under the harshest of conditions are legendary. In fact legend has it that one particular dog was capable – and indeed did so – of retrieving as many as 300 downed birds in a single day from near-freezing waters.

So formidable is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog breed’s prowess in retrieving that the only explanation for its rather limited popularity with the American people at large, is because in appearance it is rather plain and homely looking. Put simple, this is no dog breed that is going to stop most in their tracks to think, “wow that’s a good looking dog!”

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever got its name from the large inlet off the Atlantic coast of the United States just south of Washington DC. However before its present name became permanent it has also variously been known as:

• The Red Chester
• The Brown Winchester
• The American Duck Retriever
• The Ducking Dog

The Development & Origins of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Unlike most cases of canine history, the origins of this particular dog breed are pretty well documented. In 1807 a shipwrecked British vessel had its crew and cargo rescued by an American ship just off the Maryland coast.

On board the doomed British vessel other than the crew were two Newfoundland puppies. The puppies were taken ashore and raised into adulthood when they were mated with local retriever dogs. The offspring of that genetic union resulted in dogs that excelled at retrieving and aquatic abilities. The progeny of the Newfoundland and local retriever mix also had a phenomenal tolerance for ice cold water.

The results so delighted the local populace that they bred more and more puppies from the rescued Newfoundland puppies that before long a new breed was formed. The original pair of Newfoundland puppies rescued from the doomed British vessel was a light brown male called Sailor and a black female called Canton.

It is not completely known what other dog breeds eventually comprised of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever but speculation has it that at some time or other the following breeds played their part:

• Flat-Coated Retriever
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Curly-Coated Retriever
• Coonhound
• Bloodhound

However whatever the genetic soup or mix of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, one fact was undeniable and that was the fact that it was and still is an exceptional water retriever unmatched by any other.

Improvement and refinement of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever continued throughout the 19^th century such that by the mid 1880s the dog breed had been perfected to its modern form. Indeed by 1885 this dog breed was completely established and recognized by the AKC. In 1918 the national breed society was formed.

Article on Chesapeake Bay Retriever by Kayye Nynne

Popular wisdom would have it that those dogs that exhibit the highest degree of problem-solving and learning ability should also excel at what is known as obedience intelligence/ work intelligence.

But forgive me for I am getting way ahead of myself because if we are to properly understand dog intelligence we need to go back to the beginning; which is we need to break down intelligence into its component parts.

Most often when we think of intelligence as a parameter of measurement we equate that measurement with the ability to learn and the ability to solve problems. In fact the capacity to learn is measured in terms of the number of experiences required for any given individual to imprint an occurrence or event as a permanent memory.

Thus those individuals with above normal or excellent learning ability require few or less than average exposures to a given situation to create usable memories and associations.

Problem solving on the other hand is quantified as an individual’s ability to mentally surmount obstacles, correctly string together bits of information resulting in an accurate response or solution to what for all intents and purposes is a novel solution to their dilemma. In both people and dogs learning ability and problem solving ability constitute what is referred to as adaptive intelligence.

Adaptive intelligence thus correlates to the smarts or skills required of an individual enabling them to adapt, modify and conquer and obstacles presented within or by their environment. A simple example of adaptive intelligence is illustrated by a person improving their driving skills, typing skills or even driving skills.

Whenever problems arise during this period of learning then the resultant effective solutions are rendered to memory (in other words learned) such that on subsequent occasions when the individual is confronted with a similar dilemma they may expeditiously elicit and apply the best response.

Componential Intelligence

A Yale University psychologist called Robert Sternberg who is responsible in no small manner of our understanding of human intelligence, analyzed that intelligence and concluded to subdivide it into component parts. It was for that very reason he preferred the term Componential Intelligence to that of Adaptive Intelligence.

Sternberg posited that a number of meta-components comprise an important set of components found in adaptive intelligence. The prefix meta is of particular importance here for the fact that it is derived from the Greek root that denotes of stands for “higher level” or “transcending” pointing to the fact that such components play a significant role in controlling and organizing a vast array of more specialized behaviors.

So You Want To Get A Puppy

Before I continue I am going to make a number of assumptions here, the main one being that you already know the type of dog breed that you wish to get. This article is about choosing the right puppy so I really won’t delve into depth about the various dog breeds.

However suffice it to say that out of all the hundreds of dog breeds, there most certainly is one that is just right for you. Finding that right puppy though requires an honest assessment and evaluation on your part such as…

…you already have in mind the role your dog will play; a role which will most likely fall under any of the following:

• Playmate for the kids
• Companion
• Protector
• Show performer
• Herder
• Hunter

Furthermore I am going to conclude that since you have already mentally designated a role to your dog then you have already settled on a breed.

This part shouldn’t be hard at all because the various dog breeds were bred and developed to carry out these functions. Some of the dog breeds are more capable than others at performing the various tasks (indeed some dog breeds are able to perform all of them [the so-called muti-taskers of the canine world; e.g., the German Shepherd] ).

Now all you have to do is decide which dog breed covers your needs.

Oh…one other thing, your homework also requires an honest unbiased assessment on how you and your furry friend are going to co-exist. In other words you need to ensure that:

• Your lifestyle and personality complement your dog’s genetic heritage
• You can devote enough time to your dog
• Your living arrangement is suitable for both you and your dog
• The climatic conditions will not make your dog’s life a misery

Okay now that we have ascertained that you have carefully decided on the type of dog breed you wish to get and also that you have covered other important parameters such as living arrangements, climate etc., let’s tackle the topic at hand.

How To Choose Your Best Fit Puppy

Just like siblings in a given family tend to have widely different characters so do puppies from the same litter.  So in the same litter of puppies it is not uncommon to find a boisterous, rowdy outgoing puppy as well as a timid, shy puppy that is literally scared of its own shadow!

So why is it important to be able to tell which puppy is which? Well consider the following:

• By 7 weeks of age a puppy has attained its adult dog character!
• Most abandoned dogs become so because their owners are at their wits end and can’t cope with them any longer; a situation they could have avoided had they chosen the right puppy!
• Puppies from the same litter have different dispositions; some are sweet and some will become overly dominant menaces!
• Some puppies are easy to train while others are downright difficult!
• Some puppies love human companionship while others are outright anti-social!
• Some puppies will mature into dogs that are way too difficult to handle by the 1st time dog owner!

Those are some very good reasons to be determine the character and nature of your dog while it is still a puppy.

At 7 Weeks Of Age You Can Tell How Your Puppy Will Behave As An Adult Dog!

Did you know that as far as puppies go what you see is what you get by the time the puppy is seven weeks old. In other words if you know what you are doing you can tell precisely how your puppy will behave as a mature dog!

It is important to remember that though your puppy is now an adorable, cute bundle of joy, in the not so distant future he/she will become a lot bigger and a lot less manageable; unless of course he/she is amenable and compliant to your instructions.

Having a great relationship with your dog means having a well trained dog but unfortunately this is not possible with some dogs for the simple fact that they are either too anti-social or are either downright stubborn.

There’s no doubt that the different dog breeds are characterized by specialized behavioral traits, but the truth of the matter is that within each and every litter of puppies from a given dog breed, those puppies are going to exhibit very different personalities.

If You Wish To Have A Great Relationship With Your Dog…

Then you’ll most likely want to choose a puppy that:

• Matures into a dog that is easily trainable
• Is sociable and loves being around people
• Will follow your lead and obey your instructions
• Won’t become a overly dominant alpha male that is a menace to everybody
• Becomes a dog with a sweet disposition that is a delight to everyone

Remember earlier on I said that by seven weeks of age your puppy has already developed its adult personality? Well not only has the puppy developed its adult personality by then but it is also exhibiting it!

All you need to be able to do is interpret the signs that puppy is exhibiting at 7 weeks and in effect you can choose the precise dog personality that you desire!

There’s actually a simple and straight-forward procedure to establish the future personality of a dog by testing it when it is a puppy; anybody can perform this simple test.

If you wish to learn how to determine the personality and character of any dog while it is still a puppy please ensure you get your very own free copy of my Guide entitled The Secret To Choosing The Perfect Puppy.

The hunting pastures that proved to be too much of a challenge for Europe’s finest hunting hounds bristled not only with unfriendly terrain that included marshes and swamps, but also with vicious quarry such as alligators, cougars, bears, porcupines and raccoon that were not averse to fighting back. Another aspect that stumped the European hounds was quarry that took to the trees; many hunting dog breeds from Europe were used to routing their prey from subterranean refuge or simply running them to ground.

Hence it was obvious to the new would-be gentry of North America that the only solution was to breed their own hunting dog with ingredients of their choosing.

Development of the Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound was derived from the Red Foxhound which was brought to the shores of America by Scottish immigrants in the 18^th century. The Foxhound became the foundation stock for the Redbone Coonhound and later on the Irish Foxhound and Bloodhound lines were added to the mix.

In its early days the Redbone Coonhound was never solid red there having been made little to no attempt to breed for color uniformity. However by the 1920s a vigorous and earnest effort to breed for a solid red dog paid off and the earlier variably colored version of the Redbone Coonhound (known as the Saddleback because of its distinct black saddle like markings on its back) disappeared.

One breeder has been best associated with the development of the Redbone Coonhound and that breeder was none other than Peter Redbone. To this day it is not properly established whether the Redbone Coonhound was named after Peter Redbone or whether it got its name simply because of the fact it is…er…red. Personally I follow the school of thought that the dog breed was named after Peter Redbone because otherwise how do you explain the “bone” in the dog breed’s name?

Two other notable names come to mind with respect to origination of the Redbone Coonhound dog breed and those names are: 1) Dr. Thomas Henry of the 19^th century; and 2) Georgia F.L. Birding of Georgia.

The Redbone Coonhound has been called by a variety of other names which include:  Redbone; Redbone Hound; and Red-coon dog. Early on in the 20^th century, 1902 to be more precise, the Redbone Coonhound became the 2^nd coonhound dog breed to be recognized the UKC. The American Kennel Club (AKC) was somewhat more snail-paced in bestowing its formal recognition, only doing so almost 100 years later in 2001.

Redbone Coonhound Features and Character

Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound is an easygoing, mild mannered dog that presents with what many have observed as a pleading expression dramatized by soulful poignant eyes. Redbones love being around people but unlike some other dog breeds (notably the Weimeraner) it is not clingy by nature.

The Redbone typically has a lean, muscular and well-proportioned body. The long straight front legs abut either side of a wide barrel chest. The head and tail of the Redbone Coonhound are held high when the dog is hunting or on parade in the show ring. This dog breed sports a short smooth coat that is coarse and tough enough to provide adequate protection to its skin whilst it is hunting in dense brush.

The Redbone has large floppy ears and a nose that is always black. In accordance with the breed standard, the coat must always be a solid red though a small smattering of white is permissible on the chest, between the legs and on its feet; note though such sprinkling of white is allowed it is not desired. The toes of the Redbone Coonhound are webbed a characteristic that enhances its ability to chase water bound prey. Much like the Labrador Retriever the Redbone is not averse to antics and frolicking in the water.

• Maltese Terrier
• Maltese Spaniel
• Maltese Dog
• Maltese Lion Dog
• Maltese Poodle
• Bichon  Maltais
• Melita Dog
• Melitae Dog
• Ancient Dogge of Malta
• Roman Ladies’ Dog
• Shock Dog

Maltese Dog Breed Origins

One would think (and understandably so) that the origins of the Maltese dog would be a no brainer, in that evidently from its name the breed must have originated from Malta. Well the origins of the Maltese dog breed is not the clear-cut case that it may seem and indeed there is a minority school of thought that believes that the Maltese actually originated from somewhere else altogether!

That somewhere else is believed to be another Island but this time one found in the Adriatic somewhere off the coast of Yugoslavia. That said, mainstream and the majority of authorities favor the idea that the Maltese was exported from the island of Malta by Phoenician sailors as far back as 1500 B.C. Back then the island of Malta was a very popular trading port.

The Maltese dog is believed to be a descendant from the spitz family of dogs, more specifically from a spitz type dog that originated from Swiss Lake dwellers. There is also some unsubstantiated scant evidence that the Maltese dog may owe at least some part of its origins to an Asian connection, the Tibetan Terrier.

No matter its apparent origins the fact remains that going back as far as the time of the Ancient Greeks, the Maltese dog was a big hit with the ladies. No wonder the breed was known at one time as the Roman Ladies’ Dog! The trend of being adored by the ladies has continued even up to this day and it is not uncommon to find the Maltese dog as a resplendent fashion accessory “adorned” by a latter day starlet or celebrity!

Though nowadays the Maltese dog typically appears with a long, silky, pure white coat, this was not always the case because the breed presented in several different coat colors. In fact up until the middle of the 19^th century the Maltese dog was a hodge-podge of varying traits whose one uniform factor was they were all assembled in a small canine frame! It was not until the mid 19^th century that serious efforts were made to homogenize the Maltese dog breed such that it could be recognized as a true breed apart! Indeed it was only after that time that the Maltese dog could truly and proudly boast to be a recognizable dog breed. Unsurprisingly prior to that time there existed nine different “breeds” of Maltese dog; some as small as squirrels.

Maltese Dog Breed Almost Becomes Extinct

Like many another dog breed the Maltese dog has suffered its fair share of getting-up-close and personal with extinction. That close shave with extinction was superbly illustrated by an 1830 painting entitled “The Lion Dog from Malta—Last of His Race!” Certainly by the early 19^th century the fate of the Maltese dog breed was in jeopardy which once again was clearly shown through the documented records of a Knight of Malta’s remarks which were: “There was formerly a breed of dogs in Malta with long silky hair, which were in great demand at the times of the Romans, but have for some years past greatly dwindled, and indeed are become almost extinct.”

In 1840, or thereabouts, two Maltese dogs originally intended as a gift to Queen Victoria were nonetheless introduced to England and in effect becoming the first of their kind to be exhibited there. Furrowing through the 19^th century and progressively through the 20^th century the Maltese dog breed became increasingly popular and quickly developed a substantial following of admirers and fanciers.

Maltese Dog

The Maltese dog breed made its debut into the show ring in 1859 in England and in 1877 in the United States. The breed was eventually formally recognized by The American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1888. Presently the breed standard only recognizes a dog with a pure white silky coat as being a true representative of the breed which explains why the typical Maltese dog of today is white throughout in color.

The Maltese dog is not big in any respect or form and should never tip the scales beyond a blushingly modest 7 lbs. Even so the breed standard calls for dogs that fall within the weight range of 4 – 6 lbs. This dog breed is relatively long-lived typically attaining ages of fourteen years. The average lifespan of the Maltese dog breed is between 12 – 14 years. Miniscule in size though it may be, that doesn’t detract from the fact that the Maltese has a big heart and is actually a tough and spirited dog that makes for a lively and entertaining companion.

Oh…and it also makes a great watchdog!

Article on Maltese by Kayye Nynne

Those early molossian dogs eventually passed on from the ancient Greeks to the Romans when the Romans conquered Greece. Further Roman expansion introduced the Romans as far north as Britain and wherever their conquests led, right by their sides were their loya, ever faithul and ferocious molossian fighting dogs. Huge and powerful as the Roman molossian dogs were, the massive English Mastiff trumped them in physique and power if not ferocity.

The Romans were duly impressed and took it upon themselves to cross their breed of dog with the massive, powerful English mastiff dog breed. The results were outstanding! The cross produced a dog unsurpassed by any in ferocity and power. These dogs, which were referred to as “mastini” (mastini in Italian means mastiff), took on anything, anyone, went to war wearing armor and guarded everything and anything asked of them.

The Mastini were so ferocious and formidable they even took on lions in the coliseum as well as the occasional Christian!  In time as weaponry became more sophisticated the role of the Neapolitan Mastiff diminished and resultingly their numbers began to dwindle rapidly with time.

However not all was lost for this ferocious and formidable dog breed. Just because the rules of engagement in warfare had radically changed and somewhat eclipsed the Neapolitan Mastiff that didn’t mean the dog breed couldn’t find a new vocation. Thus in the southern Neapolitan region of Italy covering the span of several centuries the Neapolitan Mastiff was genetically refined to become the dog of choice to guard and oversee security for large estates, properties and country homes.

Until the Italian artist Piero Scanziani, who is largely regarded as the patron of the modern Neapolitan Mastiff dog breed, took it upon himself to stabilize and conform the breed standard, the Neapolitan Mastiff lacked uniformity of type. This in itself wasn’t particularly surprising considering that prior to that time the Neapolitan Mastiff had been bred fore mostly for fighting prowess and little else.

In fact it is that fighting heritage that gave rise to the Neapolitan Mastiff dog breed’s fearsome appearance and size. The loose skin, multiple folds and ample dewlap proved highly advantageous during fights and protected the dog from injuries that would otherwise have been devastating if not fatal!

Neapolitan Mastiff

The Pointer dog’s hunting method is unique in style and fascinating to observe. The pointing position characteristic of the hunting Pointer came about because the 17^th and 18^th century flintlock action guns were extremely slow loading. Thus in order not to scare off the quarry once it was detected by further advance (and while the hunter was still busy reloading) the Pointer would freeze in mid-step, head held high, body rigid and its tail held out stiffly behind!

The Pointer would maintain its frozen position until that time that it was so instructed by the hunter. Such is the degree of the Pointer dog breed’s poise and self-discipline that some refer to it as the Zen-Master of dogdom!

During the 18^th century significant improvement in the performance of sporting guns meant a significant decline in large game which meant that the hunters now had to go after smaller swifter game. This also meant that the hunter needed smaller swifter Pointer dog specimens that could readily embrace the new style of hunting. Thus new blood was introduced to that early stock of Pointer dog which resulted in the smaller, swifter Pointer of today!

These days there are two types of Pointer dog:

1. The so-called specialist Pointers that only point and do nothing else.

2. The all-purpose Pointer dog breeds that not only point but hunt and retrieve as well; this latter type of Pointer are commonly referred to as HPR breeds (hunter, pointer retriever).

Pointer Dog Breed Development

There is considerable controversy over when and where and by whom the Pointer dog breed was developed. Although the English Pointer is perhaps the most recognized Pointer dog breed these nowadays (thanks in no small part to the numerous dog encyclopedias in which it is featured) this by no means ranks it as the progenitor of all things Pointers!

Controversy, dispute and the such-like notwithstanding, the more widely embraced view is that the modern Pointers forebears were from Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. It is believed that after the War of Spanish Succession (1713) returning British army officers took with them the heavy-boned Spanish Pointer.

In England those slower cumbersome and larger dogs were crossed with the more streamlined and lithe Foxhounds and to a lesser extent, the Greyhound. Still there are those who readily contend that such line of thinking is absolute poppycock and that in fact the English Pointer was already a well-established dog breed which was only later on influenced by the genetic infusion of the larger Spanish dog!

Pointer Dog Temperament

The Pointer is truly the quintessential gundog and as a wide-ranging hunter possesses the stamina and endurance to run for hours. So it comes as no surprise that this dog breed requires a lot of exercise. In strict accordance to its genetic heritage Pointers are always on the lookout for birds, a habit that makes for a dog that is easily distracted from other chores.

However once it is on point the exact opposite is true in that it is almost impossible to distract from its mission. Personality-wise the English Pointer is a sweet, sensitive, intelligent dog that makes for a great companion just so long as it gets enough exercise.

Pointer Dog Upkeep

As mentioned previously this dog breed needs plenty of exercise and evidently is not the best choice of dog breed for apartment dwelling. In lieu of an actual hunting experience a long jaunt across the wilds of nature will delight this dog and it is quite happy to live outdoors in temperate to warm climates just so long as there is a comfy shelter to retire to.

As with most dog breeds though the Pointer does best with both human and other canine contact.

Pointer Dog courtesy of Fir0002/Flagstaffotos