Yorkshire Terriers

At a glance:

• Breed Group: Toys Group
• Height: 8 – 9 inches
• Weight: 4 – 7 lbs
• Color: They are born black and as adults are blue and tan.
• Life Expectancy: 13-14 years
• Average litter size: 3

History:

The Yorkshire Terrier was originally a product of crossing different small breeds in Yorkshire, England, which is also why the breed has the name it does. The breed was first shown in the beginning part of the 1860’s and that was the start of what we see today. It is believed that many small dogs used in the crossings which resulted in the present day breed came from Scotland with their owners during the mining period in England were the ancestors. However, that is hard to say because no documents were kept and there were no breed standards.

The type of work the breed does:

Yorkshire Terriers were bred to kill rodents, such as mice or rats and was known as a “ratter” for this reason. They could also be used to some extent for hunting and tracking.  They are quite capable of digging holes in order to track. Today they are extremely popular as a pet, especially in cities and apartments.

Physical Representation:

The Yorkshire Terrier has a long, silky coat and under that coat there is a compactly built dog. The tail and head are held high when walking or doing something.

Personality and Temperament:

Yorkshire Terriers are very dominant, strong willed small dogs. They know no fear and tend to aggressively protect their territory. They are independent, but also need a lot of personal attention and companionship. They are very focused on their owner and show affection. Although they can get along with other pets and children, one has to have either older children or quiet pets, because otherwise the Yorkie will not be a happy dog.

Care:

The Yorkshire Terrier has a silky coat with long hair and you will have to brush through this hair every day. Many let the hair on the head grow long, and then tie it up with some kind of ribbon. However, if your Yorkie is not a show dog, it might be a good idea to have the hair shortened or even cut very short to make the daily grooming times shorter. The eyes and ears have a tendency to get dirty and should be cleaned on a regular basis, and the same goes for their teeth.

Living environment:

Yorkshire Terriers are small dogs and are perfect for those with a small apartment or for older people who cannot take long daily walks. This breed does not require a lot of exercise, but do love playing and attention. They especially love games tugging games where they can measure their power. They can be easily trained, but you might need to be patient because they are known for doing what they want to.

Containment:

The Yorkshire Terrier works well with electronic fencing as long as the trainer understands their temperament.

Labradoodle Dogs

What Are Labradoodle Dogs?

Labradoodle Dogs are a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. It was the most popular breed of “designer dog” in the United States until the Puggle burst onto the hybrid dog scene in 2005. The goal of the breed mix is to retain the intelligence, aloofness, and non-shedding coat of the Poodle, along with the loyalty, loveability, and cheerful high energy of the Labrador.

Today’s Australian Labradoodle breed is different from the early crosses in that it doesn’t limit parentage to strictly the Labrador Retriever and Poodle. Australian Labradoodles may also have Irish Water Spaniels, English and American Cocker Spaniels, and Curly Coated Retrievers among their ancestors. An ancestral mix of temperament, easy trainability, non-shedding coat, and sturdy body type is the common goal of Labradoodle breeders. Australian Labradoodle Dogs can have one of two coat types: wool or fleece. The wool coat is completely free of shedding, while some fleece-coated dogs may exhibit very slight shedding.

There is a movement among breeders to block Labradoodles from becoming a recognized breed. Labradors are genetically prone to weak hips, and it is believed these type of problems will continue to manifest in the Labradoodle. Neither the Labrador Retriever Club nor the Poodle Club of America recognize Labradoodles, and both have issued statements against the breeding.

Labradoodle Dog size

Miniature: 14 to 16 (not over 17) inches (or about 35-42cm) from the wither to ground measurement. There is no correlation between height and sex in the miniature size . Weight range tends toward 7-12 kg or about 30-45 lbs.

Medium: 17 to 20 (not over 21) inches (or about 45-52 cm) from the wither to ground measurment. The ideal size for the female is 17-19 inches and the male is 18-20 inches. Weight range tends toward 13-20 kg or about 30-45 lbs.

Standard: 21 to 24 (not over 25) inches ( or about 43-52 cm) form the wither to ground measurement. The ideal size for the female is 21-23 inches and the male is 22-24 inches. Weight range tends toward 23-30 kg or 50-65 lbs. Oversize is a major fault.

Traning: Labradoodle Dogs are very easy to train in basic and advanced obedience. With the traits of the Labrador and Poodle the Labradoodle is quick to learn just about any command taught.

Electronic pet containment is a breeze with Labradoodle Dogs. The key is to find a dog fence company that uses true dog professionals not just another fence company. The Labradoodle can be ruined by an inexperienced trainer or by a “just shock them into staying in the yard” mentality.

Beagles

At a glance:

• Breed Group: Beagle
• Height: 13 to 16 inches
• Weight: 20 to 25 lbs
• Color: black & tan, red & white, orange & white, lemon & white.
• Life Expectancy: 12 – 15 years
• Average litter size: 7

History:

The Beagle dog breed can be traced back to the reign of King Edward III who used them during the Hundred Years’ War. The name is derived from the Old English word “beag”, meaning small. Originally used to hunt hares and wild rabbit in Wales and France, beagles are also known to have aided in hunting for wild pigs and deer in the Scandinavian region. Subsequently, they began to be used as gundogs for tracking as well as retrieving in the United States and Canada. The current breed is thought to have descended from the cross between the Harrier and other breeds of hound in England.

The type of work the breed does:

This breed is used in hunting pheasants, hares and quails. They have also become an integral part of narcotics detection teams because of their sharp sense of smell. You may have seen Beagles in the news for fruit fly detection with US Customs officials and insect detection (termites) for home buyers. Beagles have developed into very good companion pets as well.

Physical Representation:

The Beagle is a small but sturdy and squarely-built dog. Its medium length coat is short, hard and sleek and comes in a wide range of color combinations including red and white, black and tan, orange and white as well as lemon and white. They have a round and broad skull with a straight muzzle which is square in shape. The extremely sensitive nose is inevitably black in color. The eyes are either brown or hazel in color with an identifiable pleading expression and the drooping ears are long and wide. The Beagle has round and strong feet and the tail is carried gaily behind the body.

Personality and Temperament:

The Beagle is inherently active, playful and affectionate. Its curious and brave personality along with its almost continuous tail-wagging tendency has endeared it to all dog-lovers. They are known to be very good companions for children and are comfortable in the presence of other dogs as well. If you intend keeping your beagle along with other non-canine pets, make sure you start socializing him early itself. These dogs have a mind of their own and need to be handled firmly and patiently when training. Beagles like to be in the company of people and should preferably not be left alone for extended periods of time. This breed is not the easiest to train.

Care:

This breed does not require elaborate grooming. Its coat is easy to maintain by regularly brushing with a firm-bristle brush. Though these dogs can be bathed regularly, dry shampooing should be done only when necessary. The ears should be checked regularly for infection. These dogs are average shedders.

Living environment:

Though they manage to stay quite active indoors, they look forward to a good romp around in the back yard. They require plenty of physical activity. Daily walks are advisable but a leash is imperative as their curious nature makes them liable to wander off while following a particular scent.