“Purebred Star” – Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Victoria

Welcome to Purebred Star, the weekly blog exploring the wide diversity of dogs out there!

In my last “Purebred Star” blog I talked about the “Yorkshire Terrier“.

This week: Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

My Training Experience:  I have had a wonderful opportunity to work with a few Corgis’.  They truly live up to their breeding genes of being a Herding dog!  They can become very narcotic if not trained due to their abundance energy level.  They enjoy a good chase game with small children and cats, so extra care of proper socialization will be needed during their young age.  The Corgi is so fun to work with as they are very quick to pick up on their training, something that I always enjoy seeing with a very clever breed.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Originates From:  Wales is where they originate from, however there are two types of Corgi’s; the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (being the most popular one) and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi.  The difference between the two is their size.  Interesting Fact:  A folk legend indicates that the Corgi was a gift from the forest fairies.  The breed’s markings were left by the fairies from the harnesses and saddles.

Bred For:  The Corgi was bred to herd cattle and geese by nipping at their heels.  Corgi’s herd by nipping at heels of the livestock versus running circles around them like other herding breeds.  Their short statue helps them avoid being kicked and if charged at they quickly respond with a nip at the livestock’s nose to get them back on track with the group.  This breed is known to be happy to herd children and can tend to be extremely nippy with them.  If you have young children (under age 10) or other small animals, a Corgi might not be a good match for your family.

Build: The Pembroke height is from 10-12 inches and can weigh about 25-30 pounds and the Cardigan’s height is 10.5-12.5 inches and can weigh between 25-38 pounds.  They are a hardy and sturdy small to medium size breed.

Appearance:  The Corgi is long and sits low to the ground.  They are easily identified with their large erect ears!  Sometimes their tail can be long and busy or docked.  However, due to “dock-tail” banning in some countries, breeders are focusing on having this characteristic bred into the Corgi.  They have a double-coat which is soft and can be medium to long in length.  The Corgi comes in a variety of colors and patterns such as; brindle, red, sable, blue merle, black, fawn and tan with or without white markings.

Personality:  The Corgi is truly a BIG Dog in a small package and they are happy to display so!  They are a clever breed so they can be trained easily.  The Corgi has been described as a fun-loving dog that typically gets along with everyone.  They can have a stubborn streak about them and they are a very hardworking breed.

Activity Level:  Their activity level is moderate, which makes the Corgi a busy-body that will require an active family!  They do require at least one to two walks a day for about 30 minutes or a good jog for 45 minutes.  This breed is happy to herd children on bikes, scooters and skateboards, so proper training will need to be taken at a very young age.  They are a very intelligent breed, so someone that is looking for a breed that is happy to lie around will be disappointed when they realize Corgi’s are always looking to entertain themselves which sometimes can be in a very destructive manner.   This breed will be perfect for any type of herding competitions, agility or flyball!

Health Concerns: A typical life span for the Corgi is 12-14 years.  Health concerns to be aware of with a Corgi are Progressive Retinal Atrophy (aka PRA; Vision Loss/Blindness), Canine Hip Dysplasia, Canine Degenerative Myelopathy (Progressive Spinal Cord Disease), Intervertebral Disc Disease (Chronic Back Pain) and Epilepsy.

Rescue First

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Puppy

Corgis are a very spirited breed, who adapts best in an environment when given a “job” to do.  This breed is devoted to its family, however around small, young children and other animals in the household you might want to reconsider this breed as a pet.  They LOVE to be active and are willing to go with you at a moment’s notice!  Because of their perfect size, they are easy to travel with and will enjoy experiencing new adventures with an active family!

Consider looking into a rescue organization for a

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Puppy

purebred, there are many out there and this will give you the chance to “Save a Life” by adopting.  NEVER purchase any dog from a pet store, unfortunately, those puppies come from puppy mills, instead look for a reputable breeder to work with.

As for all animals, it is important to spay and neuter your puppy by 6 months old to have a healthy and happy pet for many years to come!

 

Posted in Behavioral Issues, Fun Information About Pets, Medium Breeds, Purebreds, Small Breeds | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wondrous Five Senses of a Cat!

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Victoria

To their outstanding night vision, their strong sense of acute smell, the radar-like ears, their incredible touch receptors located all over their body and last but not least that sand-paper like tongue has a preference of meat over sweet!

Let’s explore these wondrous FIVE senses that a Cat has!

Night Vision

Seriously!  They are truly better hunters at night with their wonderful ability to reflect light as it passes through the retina to provide the optimal night vision that they have.  However, they have poorer eyesight during the day and their slit-like iris helps reduce the sensitivity to the daylight.  Cat’s have a 200° angle of vision versus humans which is 180°.  Contrary to belief cats are not color-blind; they can see red, blue, yellow and green lights.

Cats have a third eyelid and unlike humans they do not need to blink often (less lubricating) which gives them a better advantage for hunting.  Squinting their eyes however is a form of communication, sometimes blinking one eye at a time and much slower than a human’s blink.

Acute Smell

Fourteen times stronger than a human’s sense of smell, makes the cat’s nose an amazing part of their sensory.   A cat’s nose helps it to identify food, objects, locate prey and other individuals in their environment.  Cat’s have about 200 million olfactory receptors (odor-sensitive cells) in their nose compared to a human that has about 5 million!

Radar-Like Ears

Do you hear the squeaky sound of that mouse?  For a cat, that high pitch squeak is exemplified three times higher than what you are hearing.  Their radar-like ears can single out noise up to four to five times farther than a human!  Their ears can rotate in various degrees with even the capability of making one of their ears point backwards to listen.  Their intuitive hearing can help make the cat a very successful hunter by pinpointing the exact location of their prey within three inches.

Those Incredible Whiskers

Those incredible whiskers are a cat’s primary source to their touch receptors.  Whiskers are not just on a cats face, they are located on their front and back legs and over their eyes (those are not eyelashes).  Whiskers have a high degree of nerve endings at the base, when triggered the nerves send the brain a three-dimensional map of their surroundings.  The whiskers help determine if a cat can move between two objects by gauging the distance.  Whiskers will also help the cat guide their way through night by the cat moving their whiskers forward, making the whiskers an important part of their sensory code.

Mmmmm….What is That I Taste?

Only recently it was discovered that the cat is unable to taste sweet and salty foods.  Their taste of choice is high-protein and high-fatty foods, making them a carnivore that prefers a meat-based diet.  Cats will typically turn away from a sweet or salty type food preferring more of a meaty food.  Compared to a human’s taste buds of 9,000, the cat has approximately 475.  They tend to use their nose versus their taste buds to determine if the food they are smelling is something they wish to devour.  That is why cats are sometimes consider “finicky” eaters according to their owners.  The cat is happy to smell, lick several times before determining if they will eat their whole meal.

Watch out little mouse, the cat is considered to be a super-sensory species that you might not stand a chance against!  With their night vision, radar-like ears, acute smell and those whiskers guiding them only gives them more power to POUNCE on you!  Their taste receptors will determine if you are worthy to eat or not!

Posted in Cats, Fun Information About Pets | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

5 Pet Food Secrets Corporations Don’t Want You To Know About

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Victoria

Do you really know what is in your pet’s food?  I am extremely picky for my pets (and actually they are too) and have self-educated myself about the food my pets eat.  It took some time on my part, but it is worth it to understand what your pets are eating.

Here are 5 Pet Food Secrets that Corporations are happy to keep to themselves.  These 5 secrets will give you an inside look on what you could be possibly feeding your pet that isn’t what you thought.  As a pet owner, I only want the best for my fur kids and even though our pet’s food has come a long ways over the past 40 years, it still has a long ways to go.  So I encourage you to do the same.

Secret #1 Understand the Ingredients Listed on your Pets Food

Are you thinking whole chicken and beef, fresh vegetable and grains are what you are feeding your pet, think again?  It could very well be cow brains, sheep guts, chicken heads, rancid grains and yes road kill.  Curious what byproducts are, here is a list of what they can be; when the slaughterhouse has selected their choice cuts of meat for human consumption, what is exactly done with everything else left from the cattle, swine, chicken, lamb and other animals?  Their bones, blood, pus, intestines, ligaments, fat, hooves, horns, beaks and many other parts is what commercial pet foods are calling a nutritionally balanced diet for our pets.  Beware of the word “Byproducts” in your pet’s food of ingredients.

Secret #2 Do You Understand the Difference Between Quality Pet Foods vs. Generic Pet Food

Read your labeling on your package under ingredients; do you see it say “Meat or Bone Meal” anywhere in those ingredients?  Buyer beware, you could be feeding your beloved pet euthanized dogs and cats (and that would include anything they were wearing such as; flea/tick collars or a plastic bag they were in), this could include road kill and expired packaged store meat too, would you eat any of that?  AAFCO (Associate of American Feed Control Officers) president has admitted that dead and euthanized pets have been used in making pet food.  The pet food companies that mass produce cheap and generic pet food are ecstatic to save millions of dollars by using euthanized pets, expired store meat  and road kill without disclosing exactly what they are using in their ingredients.  Instead they simply list it as “meat or bone meal” as an ingredient and it should read “Chicken Meat or Fish Meal” as an example of what to look for instead of no definition of what type of meat or bone meal they company is using.  The ingredients will need to be read thoroughly and carefully.  The higher quality and grade of food you purchase for your pet will help decrease the chances of your pet eating a euthanized pet or road kill.

Secret #3 Grains and Soy are NOT your pet’s best friend

Majority of grains are considered a filler such as; corn, wheat, soy, gluten all which are not healthy for your pet.  These types of grains have only one purpose to make your pet feel fuller.  These can be very difficult for your pet to digest.  Soy has been linked to cause bloat and gas in dogs and cats lack an essential amino acid needed to break down and digest soy.

Secret #4 Grease to Sweeten’ the Taste

Kitchen grease (from restaurants), lard, refined animal fat (house waste and supermarket trimmings from meat) and other oils that humans would not consume are used to entice our pets to eat their food.  This type of grease is sprayed onto our pet’s kibble.  Have you ever opened your pet’s bag of food and become overwhelmed with a strong overpowering odor, this is the grease being sprayed onto your pet’s food.  This can cause some serious health issues in your pets such as; diarrhea, gas, upset digestive tract and the most common bad breath.

Secret #5 Does your Vet Know Best?

Does your vet know best what type of food to feed your beloved fur kid?  Yes, they are a source to ask for recommendations; however, most veterinarians only acquire their knowledge about a pet’s nutrition through elective classes in their school.  Often the classes are taught by pet food company representatives and they are happy to donate their food brand to the students for their own pets use.   It is best to take those recommendations as just that and spend time doing your own homework and research.

My personal guideline is to stay away from any pet food that labels “meat or bone meal” (unless specified what type of meat or bone meal is being used), “by-products”, “corn syrup” and other words that you simply can’t pronounce under the ingredients portion of the packaging.  Brands that list the first 10 ingredients you can pronounce and understand is heading in the right direction.  Visit your local pet store and ask a manager for guidance and recommendations.  They are in the business of selling all types of brands and typically are not persuaded by pet food representatives to “push” a certain product.  I hope these secrets revealed will encourage you to purchase the best food possible for your pets.  Take the time that will be needed to research those brands you believe will be the best for your pets, the most important thing you can do is make an informed decision on your pet’s food.

 

Posted in Big Breeds, Cats, Fun Information About Pets, Medium Breeds, Pet Health Tips, Purebreds, Small Breeds | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Purebred Star” – Yorkshire Terrier

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Victoria

Welcome to Purebred Star, the weekly blog exploring the wide diversity of dogs out there!

In my last “Purebred Star” blog I talked about the “German Shepherd“.

This week: Yorkshire Terrier

My Training Experience:  I have had the pleasure of working with many Yorkie’s and yes, they are every bit adorable in person!  My saddest training experience is far too often my most common situation with this breed.  It is when parents get a Yorkie (keep in mind of their extremely small size) and have small children that are not taught properly how to handle and behave around their new Yorkie puppy.  I commonly see the Yorkie extremely nippy towards small kids and have experienced Yorkie’s getting injured due to small children dropping their puppy.  As a trainer, I highly recommend this little pocket size breed for a family with children of ages 11 and older only.  Training is a must with this little breed that can quickly fall into the “Small Dog Syndrome” category very fast, making them extremely unpleasant to be around.

Originates From:  Yorkshire, England is the origin of this pint-size but full of punch purebred which is best known as a Yorkie and is Number 3 on the 2011 Most Popular Dog Breed list!  Interesting Fact:  The Yorkshire Terrier was originally called the Broken-Haired Scotch Terrier, the breed was renamed in the late 18th century and is a descendant of the Waterside terrier, Old English black and tan terrier, Paisley terrier and the Clydesdale terrier, however there is debate that the Maltese is one of their descendants.

Bred For:  The Yorkie was originally bred to catch rats in the clothing mills in Yorkshire but quickly became a little companion dog amongst dog fanciers alike.

Build: The Yorkie’s height is from 7-9 inches and can weigh about 3-7 pounds.  They are a very small and sometimes fragile breed if mishandled by young children.

Appearance:  Their coat is sometimes considered to be hypoallergenic (there is no such dog that doesn’t shed).  A hypoallergenic dog still dispels skin dander and saliva which is what causes human allergies to flare up, but their shedding of fur is almost non-existent except during brushing and grooming.  Their distinctive coat is long, silky and glossy with a part down the middle and hanging to the floor.  Typically they are groomed with a “Puppy Cut” which makes it more manageable to maintain the coat.  They are born with the colorings of black with tan points and gradually change over the years (sometimes 2-4 years) to a blue/tan color or a silver/cream color.  They have little erect ears which are V-shaped.

Personality: Yorkie’s are full of punch, meaning they have a zest for life!  They are scrappy, courageous and extremely assertive, making them sometimes difficult to train.  Training early on will help you and your Yorkie to understand the importance of hierarchy in your family dynamics.  They are full of spirit and are happy to take the lead of guarding their territory making them a very yappy dog.  With some early training the barking can be manageable but they will always be a “barker”, so think twice before getting a Yorkie if you prefer not to have a dog that barks a lot.   Because of their stubbornness, they are known to take up to 2 – 5 years to potty train, if you live in a colder climate area, it will be in your best interest to get your Yorkie pup in the Spring time making the potty training much more easier.

Activity Level:  Their activity level is moderate, which makes the Yorkie a perfect partner for those daily walks of 30 minutes.  Because they are active to a certain degree, it is important to have playtime and daily walks scheduled to keep your little Yorkie’s energy controlled and mentally happy!

Health Concerns: This breed has issues Dental (yearly dental cleanings will be a MUST for this fur kid), Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar), Legg-Perthes Disease (Top of the Femur, thigh bone, degenerates), Liver Shunts, Tracheal Collapse (weakening of the walls of the trachea) and Luxating Patellas.

Rescue First

This is a fun, energetic, full of attitude pint size purebred!  If that sounds like a match for you consider a Yorkshire Terrier as the dog to have.  However, reconsider if you have children younger than age 11 as they typically do not do well with younger kids.  They are an adventurous breed making them a great traveling buddy and will be happy to go with you in a moment’s notice.

Consider looking into a rescue organization for a purebred, there are many out there and this will give you the chance to “Save a Life” by adopting.  NEVER purchase any dog from a pet store, unfortunately, those puppies come from puppy mills, instead look for a reputable breeder to work with.

As for all animals, it is important to spay and neuter your puppy by 6 months old to have a healthy and happy pet for many years to come!

Posted in Fun Information About Pets, Purebreds, Small Breeds | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment