Anything For Animals

posted by admin on May 7

Why not create a fun game to teach your kids or friends about dog breeds?

In the same way that wildlife books help you identify random plants by following a simple flow chart - you could split up and identify common - or not so common - dog breeds.  Or cat breeds, rabbit breeds or horse breeds etc…..

Obviously, it is far easier to learn something new when it is simple and you get fast results - so using technical terms is out of the question as well as things that can only be found out through serious study!

This should be fun!

The Key:

Now you need to decide whether this is for the very beginner - or whether they have a certain amount of doggy knowledge as otherwise this could become quite tedious - or just make 2.

The basic one assumes that they know no breeds at all - and the other can be more specific to rare or unusual breeds - after all if they know what a dalmation looks like - they won’t be using your guide anyway!

Now to get started you need to group your dogs in appearance related groups rather than show groups - as people who see a dog in the street might not know whether it is a working breed or toy dog - so go for looks alone - and start with the simple and most obvious breeds to get them out the way.

For example you may want to filter out Dalmation and Komandors straight away as they are unique in their looks and can’t be mistaken for anything else.  You could also look to be filtering out whole colour groups, like the blues, tri-colours and black and tans - as these groups are easy to spot and can then be further reduced to split up your Dobermanns from your Manchester Terriers.

You could also go on coat type early on if you wanted - although this might be better for later stages - however, a Mexican hairless and a Chow are also very easy to spot!

Problem Areas?

Yes, I know a German Shepherd can be white, black, black and tan, sable, long-haired or normal-haired - but you leave these till you need them - rule out the Maltese, Patterdales, Rottweilers, Collies and Shelties first before proceeding to the more variable breeds.

Try out different ways on scrap paper first as there will be more than one way to get to the same answer - and certain breeds may be at the end of several threads depending on your style of filtering.

Here’s a simple one to give you the jist.  Lets take a Rottweiler, GSD, Maltese and a Sheltie.  Now more than one could be black and tan; more than one could be white and more than one could be long-haired - so how do you filter them out?

Well, here are 2 ways:

1) Has it got very short hair - Yes - Rottweiler (leaving GSD, Maltese and Sheltie)
No: Could you pick it up easily? - No - GSD (leaving Maltese and Sheltie)
Yes: Is it White? - Yes - Maltese - No: it’s a Sheltie

2) Is it really fluffy? - Yes - Maltese
No: Could you pick it up easily? Yes - Sheltie
No: Has it got long hair? - Yes - GSD
No: Rottie

I know that this is only a small group and assumes that all the dogs are present - but it gives you an idea of how to avoid lengthy questions or variable breed descriptions.

These keys can also be used for the very basic teaching or breeds even - like how to tell the difference between all the common pet rodents, pet reptiles or caged birds etc.

It doesn’t have to stop at German Shepherds!  

posted by admin on Mar 9

We all love puppies - but here are a few tips for your search!

Buying your first puppy can seem so easy; you choose a breed you like then see the cutest little puppy ever - and buy it!

But there are a few things to bear in mind before you take that little ball of fluff home with you.

Rule Number 1:
The most important thing to remember when buying a puppy is that all puppies are cute!

All of them will tug at your heart-strings and you will come up with some little thing about them that means ‘they are the one’.  However, you need to be sensible about these things as not all cute puppies will be perfect for you as they grow up.

When you start looking for puppies for sale, you will find 3 types of puppy:

1) Puppies from a breeder who has many different breeds of puppy
2) Puppies from a breeder who only breeds that 1 type of puppy
3) Puppies from a family pet who has only had this 1 litter

Buying your puppy from the 2) and 3) examples is fine and usually (with 2) the breeder has had years and years of experience handling, breeding, showing and training your chosen breed or (3) the family pet was used just once for breeding so that the family can keep one of the pups for themselves because they love their existing dog so much!

The breeder in example 1) has no doubt been breeding dogs for the money.  They no doubt can tell you a lovely story about this and that - but someone who breeds numerous breeds of dog will predictably breed the most popular puppies - because that’s where the money is.

I mean isn’t that the breed that you are looking to buy?

Great breeders will use the best stud dogs and the kindest bitches to make sure that they are improving the breed and ‘weeding out’ bad genetic traits like hip dysplasia or skin problems - other breeders will just breed which ever 2 dogs they have at the time - regardless of health or behavioural issues.

You can still get your dream puppy from a good breeder - but they might ask you a few questions about you first - well, wouldn’t you want to know the type of person you are selling your puppies to?

So if you are searching for dogs for sale in your local area - then at least do it properly.  There are hundreds of breeders out there to chose from and take your time looking for the healthiest, disease-free individuals.

You wouldn’t buy a car that might have been badly made, or rush into choosing that new kitchen without learning a bit about the manufacturers and fitters would you?

And your dog should be with you for 8-18 years - longer than that car or kitchen - so get it right first time! 

Remember: All puppies are cute - but are they all healthy…….

posted by admin on Nov 30

I work at a local dog shelter - and really wish more people would rehome the lovely Staffies we have here.

They are dogs with huge hearts, full of life and easy to train - but they have a stigma it would seem.  And that is where you come in.

By not being a ‘typical’ Staffordshire bull terrier owner - the fact that you have one (or 2) would go to making them not a cliche.  I mean if there are Staffies out there with pink collars and cow-print coats on, then they won’t look quite so ‘hard’ for their more typical owners and be trussed up in the largest black leather harness and 2-stone chain lead.

Staffies: The Breed:
Staffordshire bull terriers were originally bred as a dog to catch vermin - and some of the best ‘ratters’ of medieval Briton were bull terriers, however the breed was also used for fighting, bear-baiting and other such activities.

As a result of this type of breeding, the have a very muscular appearance and a great big head and mouth!  Needless to say that this translates into ‘looking mean’.

However, you should also be aware that Westies were bred to kill foxes (!) but we seem to think they are cute now!

Staffies are however, very reliable dogs and respond very well to training and absolutely love agility!  You won’t have a quite moment with one of these terriers in your home - but that’s what makes them fun.

There are 2 body types for the Staffies: the short-legged and the long-legged; as well as a whole range of colours from all white through tans, brindle, browns with white faces, chests and feet to all black.  So, something for everyone.

Staffies: The Problem:
Well, the problem is that due to the ’status symbol’ of the perfect Staffie - irresponsible people are breeding and breeding and breeding them until they get the right ‘look’ that they are after - and they are dumping all those along the way that don’t quite meet that look.

Regardless of age or sex - they are all ending up at rescue centres or are dumped - and needless to say; these people don’t have their pets micro-chipped either, so the problem becomes someone else’s.

Unfortunately, many rescue centres have the hope of rehoming as many homeless dogs as possible - so they cannot take more than 1 or 2 Staffies at a time - otherwise there would be no room for all the other breeds that have been abandoned!

As a result, many of the people who genuinely call rescue centres with a Staffie that they can no longer have (for financial or marital reasons) cannot find a reputable centre to care for it!  They have to resort to giving it to anyone who will take it after calling all the best centres and getting turned down - while those who don’t care for their pets just dump them regardless!

Staffies: The Solution:

Firstly - try not to see Staffies as a fighting dog - see them as a dag which has been used needlessly for a fashion statement.

By assuming that all Staffies are ‘bad’ you are making sure that these dogs remain homeless and also that the breed in general is persecuted wherever it goes.

Obviously - it goes without saying that you shouldn’t ever buy a Staffie puppy (or Staffie cross puppy either) as this will help not only to stem the breeding pattern - well if their owners don’t get money for their pups and have to feed them themselves they might have less litters - and then you still have a home ready for one of the abandoned dogs instead!

Love Staffies - Rehome Staffies!

posted by admin on May 25

This article details all you need to know as a beginner about a year in the life of a bat in the UK: 

Animal Type: Mammalia - Chiroptera

Species Info: There are 2 main Orders of bats in the world: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera - but only the latter are found in the UK. 

UK Distribution:There are 17 species of Bat in the UK, with all these found in the South including the tiny Pipistrelle (only 5 grams) and the larger Daubenton’s and Noctule Bats, with only a few species found in the North.

Preferred Habitat: Around water (as this attracts their insect prey) and in quiet locations - although are quite happy to live in towns on canals or by lakes.  They need roosting sites nearby to where they feed - one for hibernating and another for summer roosting, so a variety of buildings, caves and holes in trees (or bat boxes) are essential.

In Spring:  Waking Up After Hibernation.
In early March, bats may still be hibernating but some will start to feed if necessary - however April is the month that you are most likely to start seeing many bats feeding at night in the UK.  By May there will be plenty of activity in the Bat world as the females are actively looking for communal nursery sites in which to have their young.

In Summer:  Giving Birth & Young Taking To The Skies.
The young are usually born in June (usually only 1 young per female per year).  These young stay in the nursery though most of July, building up strength until they start to leave the nest in August.  After the young have left, the females go off in search of males to mate with.

In Autumn:  Mating & Searching For A Hibernation Site.
The adult males and females spend most of September mating, as well as starting to build up fat reserves for the winter ahead by feasting on insects.  If the weather stays warm there could still be feeding into November, but when temperatures start to drop, the bats start to hibernate.

In Winter:  All UK Bats Are Hibernating.
You will rarely see a Bat through the cold winter as they will be be hibernating somewhere quiet and secure.  As the winter moves on they will stay in that place, gradually using up their fat reserves to stay alive.  Only when temperatures warm up nearing Spring will they naturally begin to stir and set out hunting again.

UK/World Events: 
May: UK National Moth & Bat Night
August: European Bat Weekend

Bat Groups:
UK - Bat Conservation Trust
US - Bat Conservation International
Other - South-East Asia Bat Conservation

Other Information:
Bats in the UK are protected by strict laws and you can be liable for a fine of up to £5000 and possible imprisonment per incident or ‘per bat’ if you deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat, destroy a roost - even if not in use, or intentionally block access to a bat roost.  So call an expert if in doubt!

posted by admin on Jul 9

A Black & Tan Long-Haired Large Dog that tops the polls!

German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most-registered breeds of dog across the US and Europe due to their loyalty, intelligence and ease of training - as well as their unique appearance.

And for this exact same reason - they are a favourite breed for the armed forces and security trades to use for protection and defence.

The History Of The Breed:
Quite a recent herding breed, the German Shepherd (or GSD) grew in popularity in Germany and throughout Europe around the turn of the 20th century.

Although sometimes called the German Shepard, Berger Allemand, Deutscher Schaferhund or Alsatian - they are one and the same breed and the history of the latter no longer applies so is not a preferred term of breeders and show people alike!

Hekto Linksrhein was a working dog that was found at a show by a dog enthusiast looking for the perfect working dog.  This man was Max von Stephanitz, and he went on to intensively breed from this dogs progeny and started the genetic base for the German Shepherd we know today - and all today’s Shepherds can draw a genetic link to his puppies!

The prefix of ‘German’ has hampered the breed in the past due to the 2 World Wars, however, this goes to show the popularity of the breed has remained.  By registrations is is the 3rd most popular breed in the US at the moment, 3rd in Canada, 4th in the UK and 2nd in Australia - beating the Australian Shepherd on home turf!

Problems With The Breed:
Unfortunately, the breed was originally designed to be a working dog - as were many herding dogs we have as pets today.

This leads to a whole host of problems, as looks and temperament start to dominate breeding rather than health and internal structure.  Breed judges might say that they need to have a longer nose or a more sloping back - purely for human satisfaction - rather than for the benefit of the dog!

As a result of all the human demands - German Shepherds now suffer from a huge list of genetic problems - in reality these sometimes painful and life-shortening traits are being bred into the puppies so that the adults can ‘win’ in shows.

Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, chronic digestive conditions, liver shunt, monorchidism and many more common ailments are well known across the breed - but afflicted animals are still bred from - as these problems are not always visible in young dogs - so can still be entered into shows!

Problems With The Owners:
There are tests available for the discerning buyer who wants a healthy - disease free pet - but many buyers just buy their dogs because they are a German Shepherd rather than a healthy German Shepherd. 

Unfortunately, it is more common for the latter of the 2 buyers to not neuter their pets therefore passing on these ‘bad genes’ to the next generation of casual buyers.

If people stopped buying German Shepherd puppies that had these illnesses (or no proof that their parents didn’t have these illnesses), then breeders would have to stop breeding them - and focus on healthier individuals to make a living.  It’s like selling faulty household goods or furniture.

Why buy a dog for several hundred dollars that is going to be in pain, get ill or have to have an operation and cost you hundreds more in vets bills - when you could buy the exact same dog and have it live it’s whole life healthy and pain-free?

Do your research before you buy - and have yourself a happy German Shepherd for the next 10 years…..

posted by admin on Jun 2

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Teacup chihuahuas are so popular at the moment - and have starred in many recent Hollywood movies! One film was even just about chihuahuas - nothing else!

These tiny little dogs are very similar to standard chihuahuas as there is no actual ‘breed’ that defines the teacup variety other than their size - being that they are smaller than the standard show type.

What Is A Toy Dog?
Well, the definition of a ‘toy dog’ is just a small dog really!  It isn’t a certain group of breeds or even a certain breed of dog so to speak, although there are several breeds sizes used in shows that use the ‘Toy’ prefix - such a ‘toy poodles’. 

However, there are also very small dogs that are classed in other working groups like the Australian terrier.

Toy dogs span many different dog types including spaniels and terriers - although not all toy dogs are lap dogs - many are (or were) working dogs, usually ‘ratters’ and ‘hunters’.

Some toy breeds were designed to be small for pleasure and to ’sit on a lady’s lap’, but others were made smaller for a specific purpose - like a ‘fox catching dog’ may have been bred over time to be smaller to fit in underground tunnels and dens etc.

Chihuahuas obviously fit into the general ‘Toy Dog Group’ of the US and UK Kennel Clubs, which also include both lapdogs (like pekingese and papillon) and miniature versions of working dogs (yorkies and toy poodles).

Teacup Chihuahuas:
Standard Chihuahuas come in a variety of sizes and colors and with either long or short hair.  The breed standard in each country varies slightly in what size or weight is acceptable in showing (the height isn’t a problem) - but of course your teacup chihuahua can be as tiny as you like if it is just a pet. 

Even if it does literally fit into a tea cup, it is still a chihuahua if both it’s parents were - it just won’t win and awards with the Kennel Club - however, it will still win everyone’s heart!

Teacup chihuahuas are one of my favorite breeds (along with teacup poodles and teacup pugs of course!) and chihuahua puppies are just the cutest thing ever!

I traveled all the way to Mexico several times to get a glimpse of some native chihuahuas - as the breed originated in the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico.  It was definitely worth it for me!