His past lies somewhere in the darkness of the early history between Euphrat and Tigris about 4000 years ago. The Saluki, the holy dog of he Assyrians and the Babylonians and of cause the Egyptians.Later the Arabian Culture took over the Saluki. Especially the Beduins werre Masters of breeding Horses and salukis, strictly afer the old rules. After the fall of Egypt Marc Anton and Caesar brought the Saluki to Rome. After the fall of Rome the Saluki disapeared in in Europe but with the beginning of the Renaissance the Saluki apperared again in Italy. Via Venice the Saluki came to the Courts of Firenze, Mantua, Siena, aso This is testified on many famous Paintings of the 14th and 15th century. In our days again they are breeded in he Toscana. Dr. Utta Moro is one of the well reknown Experts for Arabian (Egyptian) Horses and Salukis.

Australian silky terrier playing

The Mastiff dog breed is famously loyal,gentle, affectionate and brave, so they can make excellent family pets, if you find the right choice.

Of course, the mastiff is perfectly capable of serving as a working dog. Mastiffs make excellent guardians, and can be used if trained properly in search and rescue. Many consider buying a mastiff to enter in dog shows.

With the correct training and conditioning, Mastiffs can excel at carting, tracking, obedience, conformation showing, and weight pulling.

You have to determine exactly why you have decided on a Mastiff? Your final choice will be different depending on whether you want a companion, a co-worker, or a show dog.

Whether to buy a puppy or an adult dog depends a great deal on how much time and energy you want to put into training. Look out for mastiff puppies for sale. Choosing a mastiff puppy would mean you are responsible for training and socializing him, so if that does not appeal, a puppy is the wrong choice. You will want an older, more mature, dog.

However, if you buy an adult dog, you often don’t know how the dog was raised, how healthy it is, or how good its bloodlines are. Was the dog properly socialized as a puppy so it now reacts well to other dogs and animals? Was the dog shown love and affection during training, or anger and hitting?

If you would prefer a mature animal, but cannot ascertain the circumstances of his training, then you should look for a puppy and be prepared to put the necessary time and energy into socializing it yourself.

Mastiffs can be expensive, especially if you want a show dog. Expect to pay more if the animal has a good pedigree, or if its parents have a history of success in dog shows. In addition, the purchase price may vary depending on whether you are buying a pet or a show dog. A pet will be less expensive and will come with a no-breeding clause.

If you can be certain of his training history, a Mastiff rescue dog might be a good choice.

The expense does not finish on purchase, for as well as a hefty purchase price, you will find that Mastiffs are expensive to live with. Their food costs more, their medicine costs more, and they need bigger crates and beds than most dogs. Mastiff can mean you may even have to consider bigger personal transport if you and the family do a lot of travelling. Consider whether you are prepared to spend the money not only to purchase your Mastiff, but also to house it properly, support it and keep it healthy into its old age.

Myrl the Australian Shepherd demonstrates how much energy Australian Shepherds have.

The ears are a consistent problem for most Spaniels, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is no exception. Ticks and fleas love the warm, moist protection that the ear provides. The insides of the ears should be inspected and cleaned regularly to avoid any infections or other complications that can lead to a loss of hearing. If your dog knocks his ears when he gets over-excited this can cause problems.

Head shaking and continuous ear scratching can indicate ear issues in your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. At the same time it is also possible for dogs to shake and scratch as a part of their usual behavior. Your connection with your dog should allow you to determine if any activities concerning the ears are typical or abnormal behavior and you can act accordingly. If you notice any unusual behaviors concerning the ears check for wax buildup or mites. You should already be well acquainted with the inside of your dog’s ears due to regular grooming and should be able to easily spot abnormalities. If you notice any unusual spots or excess fluids, consult your veterinarian. During the summer, grass can also find its way into your dog’s fragile ears. As soon as you notice, remedy this uncomfortable problem for your Cavalier either on your own, or with the assistance of a veterinarian.

The small Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has long fringed ears, giving it a sweet and innocent appearance. However adorable, these floppy ears can block air ventilation leading to infection. It is mandatory that you keep the ears clean and check them regularly for any problem signs. Infections can be persistent and long-eared dogs and my wind up costing a great deal of money to care for in the end. If the infections become recurring they can eventually make the dog go deaf. Similarly, mites and fleas can also be a nuisance to get rid of in ears, especially once they attach to the long hair on the ears. The mites can be found on the hair inside of the ears and should be routinely inspected for.

A less severe disaster occurs when your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dips his long ears in the food dish! You can either attempt to prevent this or simply be prepared for clean up in every room that he roams to before you manage to clean the ears. It is a sad sight to see the velvety groomed ears so quickly soiled and grimy.

All dogs require some degree of care. But with some dogs it is rare to even think of the ears. But on the contrary, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels require a great deal of loving care just for this small part of their body. For these little dogs, self-care of the ears is not an option and so it is up to the owner to be responsible and up for the attentiveness required of a Cavalier. Fortunately, the ear checks can become a habitual part of the regular grooming and brushing schedule. With careful inspections and frequent care, you may not need to wait for telltale signs of a problem. In fact, you may never find a problem at all.

Dog picture taken by thisisbossi.

Check out his belly when he’s done! Our 8-week-old French bulldog puppy Cosmo was SO thirsty the day we first got him. I even had time to use the restroom while he was drinking.

Dog picture taken by Kjunstorm.

Dog picture taken by doggybytes.

Dog picture taken by Stefano Pertusati.

the love of owning a singing Irish Wolfhound

Dog picture taken by Bill Kuffrey.

Dad & Keano (Irish Red and White Setter) Christmas 2008

History has shown us that people have been naming their dogs for as long as they have kept them. The earliest known pure-bred dog was the Saluki, named after the town of Saluk in Yemen. Rock carvings dated to 7000BC show a very strong resemblance to the Saluki. The earliest domesticated dogs seem to be the Egyptian Pharaoh Hounds which date back to at least 4000BC and who played a signifigant role in the Egyptian royal family. Archaeological digs from around the world have given us proof that mans best friend was given a name. We know many ancient Egyptian dogs’ names from leather collars as well as reliefs, stele and statuary. They included such names as Brave One, Reliable, Good Herdsman, North-Wind, Antelope and even “Useless”. Other names come from the dog’s appearance, such as Blue or Snow, while still other dogs were given numbers for names, such as “Seven”. Many of the names seem to represent endearment, while others convey merely the dog’s abilities or capabilities.

Naming a dog today has become a challenge as more and more people become dog owners. We all want our pet to have that unique name which no one else has. However there are certain common sense guidelines that should be followed when naming your beloved puppy.

1. Remember, you will be using and calling out this name up to a hundred times per day and many thousands of times in the life of your dog. Choose a name that rolls off the tongue easily. Most trainers and breeders suggest a two syllable name. Your puppy will find it easier to learn and you will have an easier time saying it.

2. Choose a name that stays away from common command words (sit, go, down, fetch, no etc). Name like Brown, Sitah, Bogo, Fletch or Beau can confuse a puppy being trained to behave, as well as older dogs whose health and hearing are fading.

3. Remember, your dog will be with you for a long time, so a name that seemed cute and adorable while he was a puppy may not be such a great name in her later years. Poopsy or Stinky may not be appropriate names to use in public when your dog gets older. You will need to guide small children should they be allowed in on the process as they will always go for the cute and embarrassing.

4. Using your dog’s unique appearance, personality and capability are great ways to come up with a name. Your Beagle could be Patches, your Rhodesian Ridgeback could be Big Red, Ridge or Lion and your new Shar Pei could be named Wrinkles. A stubborn pet could be named Rebel or Renegade. A fast dog could be Swifty or Bullet and a beautiful and proud dog could be named Princess or Queenie.

5. Let your dog decide her own name by narrowing down the choices to a few, then calling the names to your dog. Whichever one he comes to could be the one. Conversely, you could place the chosen names on separate paper and let your dog decide by sitting on the name she wants.

6. Remember not to call out your dog’s name when you are angry or disciplining your dog as he will start to associate the name with unpleasant happenings and ignore the name when called. Name training should be done in a positive manner when you are playing with him, praising him and rewarding him. Use his name frequently so that he learns to associate his name with pleasant happenings.

However you decide to choose the right dog name for your new pet, be comfortable in the fact that you are not alone in the difficult task of choosing a name. Just remember to choose the name you and your dog are most comfortable with and you won’t go wrong.

Description: The Bullmastiff dog breed is not cumbersome, but it is still a very powerful and large dog. This dog has a large Broad head, with a broad muzzle that is the usual dark colour. It has large nostrils, and is wide nosed. The skin is loose around the face, adding character that looks soulful but alert. This breed has an undershot bite. They have medium sized eyes that are hazel in colour. Their ears are set high and wide apart in a V Shape that hang downwards. This adds an overall square shape to the dogs face. The dog’s height is 25 to 27 inches with the bitches measuring 24 to 26 inches. Their weight is between 95 to 130 pounds, depending on sex. Their tail is set high, is broad at the root and can be either straight or curved, reaching down to the hocks. This breed has a short, but straight back, showing the powerful build of their body. They have a dense, short and slightly rough coat. Colours are red, fawn and brindle this breed often comes with black markings on their head. This dog lives for about 10 years.

History: As the name suggests, the bullmastiff was created by crossing 40% Bulldogs with 60%. Mastiffs’. This was done in England and records go back as far as 1795. Three generations of Bullmastiff’s were required to be registered as a pure breed. This dog was used to track down and hold poachers for the local games keepers. Although this dog appeared fierce and threatening, they were trained not to bite the intruders, this kept out the poachers as the fear of this breed of dog grew. In its history, it has been used for hunting, guarding, helped the army and police in their work, and as a watchdog in many countries around the world. Today, this breed can be a reliable family companion.

Temperament: The Bullmastiff dog breed is devoted to his family, but it is still important to remember, its strong instinct as a guard dog, it is docile and friendly, but unafraid if aggravated. Although this dog is unlikely to bite an intruder. This dog’s instincts are to catch, knocking down and hold him there. This breed craves human leadership, is even tempered, loyal and calm being even good with children. It is to be remembered this breed, as a particularly powerful and muscular dog needs a firm master, who is consistent with all the rules that are set for this breed. High levels of obedience training, is seen as a must for this breed. This dog needs to learn not to pull on the lead, and the master always goes first. Socialization is also important so that this dog, from a very young age is enabled to get along with other pets and other dogs. This dog is sensitive to your voice, and this needs to be assertive in style, but not harsh. This is not a dog for the meek owner as a dog can become wilful and possibly aggressive towards other dogs. You only need to be a good pack leader at all times.

Health issues: The Bullmastiff dog breed is prone to hip dysplasia, cancer, tumours, eyelid problems, PRA and boils on the lip and bloat which will need meals in small portions throughout the day.

Grooming: The Bullmastiff dog breed is easy to groom, due to short hair, brushing and combing is all that is required. This breed sheds little. Bath only when necessary. Care of the dogs paws is required due to the weight they carry.

Living conditions: The Bullmastiff dog breed will do fine in an apartment providing, they have been exercised, which covers both physically and mentally stimulation. A small garden will be fine for this breed.

Giant Dog breeds refers to those breeds whose height and weight classified them into largest ends of all dog breeds. Although there are no universal height or weight breed as giant, some measures will consider them as giants such as weighing from 45 kg to 80 kg when adult and reaching 80 cm at the shoulders. Giant Dogs are popular dogs for their impressive size that arouse admiration aside from being so mellow, gentle and relaxed. Peaceful, affectionate and docile, Giant dogs show absolute devotion to their owners. They make precious companions for the whole family, they can be good with children. They have remarkable courage, their ruggedness enables them to perform outstanding exploits such as legendary rescues and as excellent helpers for human in many situations.

In August 2004, a Harlequin Great Dane dog named “Gibson” from California was recognized by Guinness Book of Records as the world’s tallest dog, measuring 42.2 inches (107 cm) at the withers, he is more than 7 feet tall standing on his hind legs, he’s 170 lbs. The 17 common giant dog breeds are divided into 3 main groups:

- Mastiff Type: Bull Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Mastiff, Neopolitan Mastiff, Rottweiler and Great Dane.

- Mountain Dogs: Bernese Mountain Dog, Leonberger, Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Estrela, St. Bernard, Newfoundland.

- Other Types: Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Irish Wolfhound, Komondor, Hungarian Kuvasz, Bloodhound.

The giant dog breeds grow more rapidly comparing to smaller dog breeds, they take longer to mature up to their full adult size, about 18 months to 24 months. Their lifespan is generally shorter than smaller breeds, often living around only 6 years to 10 years of age. Giant expenses more on overall, they eat more and require less exercise than smaller dogs. On health issues, giant dog has common joint problems such as hip dysplasia and arthritis, others where hypothyroidism or low thyroid function and bloat or gastric dilatation. Proper caring and support can be able to double the life spans of some gentle giant dogs like Great Danes up to 14-18 years. By catering physical and emotional needs of dogs such as like freedom going in and out of the house, just like human, proper feeding, balanced diets, scheduled exercise, caring procedures and out of harm and heat of sun. Enough shelter space is needed for them like giant dog containment fences and large heated dog beds are required to ensure quality rest and comfort.

Dog picture taken by Snapshot Mitchell.

Four weeks old and the cutest puppies you can imagine.

The history of the Cocker Spaniel as a hunting dog of long standing is pretty well out of the picture as far as the utility of the dog in today’s modern world. The English cocker has retained much more of the qualities of a hunting breed, while the American Cocker, having gained great popularity in the 60s and 70s, has gone the way of many “overbred” dogs, losing in the process some of the instinctive behaviors for which it was bred.

Most probably the small size of this dog led to its demise, for it was and is an “easy breeder” and thus a popular dog for commercial breeding purposes, easy to keep and proliferate for producing puppies.

Unfortunately the offspring of dogs who do well as breeding dogs in commercial puppy farms often lose even more than instinctive qualities, they usually lose a certain amount of temperament and good health. More often than not, a commercial breeder is not inclined to spend money on genetic testing for health problems, nor worry overly about the temperament of the animals he is breeding. In some years, the American Cocker Spaniel has even been high on the list of the dogs who are considered aggressive and are the dogs reported as the “biters” in dog aggression incidents.

This is a little dog that needs training like any other dog and needs to recognize who is the alpha figure in the family. He is normally a very happy go lucky little dog, however because of his size it is often overlooked that he can be stubborn and needs to be trained early to accept his place in the household. The Cocker Spaniel is a popular pet. His coat requires care and those folks who purchase a Cocker Spaniel puppy soon learn that it does take regular grooming. The coats of Cockers are long, silky and mat easily. Often the best solution for busy owners is to take the dog to a groomer.

The Cocker Spaniel is a breed that is represented by three separate varieties in the Sporting Group at American Kennel Club shows. The three varieties are the “Parti” (black and white or combinations of two colors ), the “ASCOB” (Any solid Color Other Than black) and “Black” (solid black with tan points allowed). He is the smallest member of the Sporting Group and may be 15 inches at the withers for a male, 14 for a female. The Cocker Spaniel has an expression that is “perpetually a puppy” and is a popular dog when he makes his appearance in the Show Ring.

The little dog will fly around the ring with his beautiful long coat brushing the floor and creating a “skirt” around the legs that flows and undulates with his moving. They are indeed a showy dog and the show breeders of today have recognized that they do have to take great care in maintaining and improving upon this little dog, so that it can become what it used to be, a dog with excellent character and spirit, non aggressive and gentle and a wonderful family companion.

My Siberian Husky talking back to me and arguing. She’s cute! For pictures of her, here is my website! jessejamesphoto.smugmug.com