Dogs as pets and best friends

Molly - most popular doggy name

2008-03-23T06:10:00.001Z

For the fifth consecutive year, Americans have been naming their dogs Molly more than any other name, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI). 450,000 pets were surveyed by VPI, the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, and Molly came out as top dog (and cat!) again, with no Fido or Spot in sight!
dog collar

1. Molly;
2. Max;
3. Buddy;
4. Bella;
5. Lucy;
6. Maggie;
7. Daisy;
8. Jake;
9. Bailey;
10. Rocky;
11. Billy
12. Nick;
13. James;
14. Bob;
15. Rikki.

“The continuing popularity of Max is largely due to the fact that it is monosyllabic and simple for people and pets to remember, yet easy to distinguish from common commands,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary officer for VPI. “Plus, it’s a fitting name for an active, energetic pet.”

Few of the names on the top 10 dog names list are traditional pet names. In fact, some of the top 10 names, or close variations, appear on the Social Security Administration’s list of most common baby names. Jacob (Jake) is the top name for boys, while Isabella (Bella) is No. 4 for girls. Ironically, Max is far from the top at No. 160.

“When people consider their pet an integral part of the family, they are more inclined to choose a human name for it,” said McConnell. “The prevalence of pets with human names clearly reflects the growing human-animal bond.”

Each of this year’s top 10 dog names appeared on last year’s list. Bella made the most impressive jump, going from No. 8 to No. 4, while Bailey fell from No. 2 to No. 9.

Bulldog - come back to the top 10

2008-03-23T06:03:00.000Z

The American Kennel Club announced that the Bulldog, a popular sports team mascot and one of the most recognizable and iconic purebred dogs, has muscled its way into the 10th spot on the organization’s annual list of the most popular breeds in America according to AKC’s 2007 registration figures. The Labrador Retriever retains the title of “Top Dog”— a position it has now held for 17 consecutive years.

“This is the first time the Bulldog has made it onto the top ten list since 1935,” said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “This breed appeals to a very wide range of dog lovers so it’s no surprise that it is a favorite amongst AKC’s 157 breeds. The Bulldog is both docile and adaptive, and can thrive in small or large homes. It’s an excellent all-around family pet.”
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The Bulldog was first recognized by the AKC in 1886 – just two years after the organization’s founding – and was most popular in 1915 when it peaked in 5th place. The breed’s popularity ebbed and flowed throughout the mid-20th century, but since hitting a low of 41st place in 1973, its ranking has steadily increased.

Here is the list of the 2007 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.:

1. Labrador Retriever;
2. Yorkshire Terrier;
3. German Shepherd Dog;
4. Golden Retriever;
5. Beagle;
6. Boxer;
7. Dachshund;
8. Poodle;
9. Shih Tzu;
10. Bulldog.

The AKC looked at the Top 10 breeds in the nation’s 50 largest cities. Some highlights:

* The Bulldog is most popular in Los Angeles where is it currently ranked 2nd right after the Lab.

* Despite having one of the world’s most beloved and renowned Bulldogs as the mascot for its state college sports team – University of Georgia’s “Uga,” – Atlanta is one of the few cities in the nation that did not include the Bulldog in its Top 10.

* The Poodle and Dachshund, who each once enjoyed the top spot in Manhattan (2006, 2005 for the Poodle and 2004 for the Dachshund) now share a tie for 3rd place, ousted by America’s top choice, the Labrador Retriever.

* Detroit, Knoxville, Miami, Honolulu and Orlando are the only cities that do not have the Labrador Retriever in the top spot. Detroit and Miami favor the German Shepherd, Orlando puts the Yorkie in 1st place, Honolulu the Golden Retriever and Knoxville the Boxer.

* Salt Lake City is the only city to place the Shih Tzu in one of its top two spots. It moved from 3rd in 2006 to 2nd in 2007.

* The only cities to not have the Yorkie on their lists are Buffalo, Milwaukee and Des Moines. And, Des Moines had the most unique list of all 50 cities, considering that it shared only four dogs with the national Top 10.

* The Miniature Schnauzer, which was displaced on the national list this year by the Bulldog, still claims top dog status in Oklahoma City where it ranks 3rd, higher than in any other U.S. city.

* San Francisco and Los Angeles were the only cities in the nation to include the French Bulldog in their Top 10 lists.

Most expensive dog collar

2008-03-23T06:00:00.001Z

From the i Love Dogs La Collection de Bijoux, Amour Amour is the world's most expensive dog collar with the price tag of $1.8 million. It is a one-of-a-kind, stunning, 52 carat diamond dog collar. The collar includes 1600 hand-set diamonds with a seven-carat, D-IF, brilliant cut center diamond. The line of diamond dog collars include other pieces named Juene Cheri, Amour de la Mer, L'Etoile, and Cheri and selling for $280,000 to $480,000.

i Love Dogs La Collection de Bijoux is a stunning line of dog collars that showcases over one hundred carats of sparkling diamonds and exquisite jewels.

These breathtaking, limited-edition collars are in a class of their own, and are most certainly the first of their kind. Even the most pampered pooch will stop in its tracks for the chance to wear one of these elegant beauties.

Most Expensive Dog Breed

2008-03-23T05:46:00.000Z

The most expensive dog was originally bred for fighting and guarding. Typically standing over 24 inches and weighing more than 100 lbs, it can be a terror if not socialized at an early age. The sport of dog fighting was popular in Bordeaux, France, and the Dogue de Bordeaux, or French Mastiff, proudly bears the city’s name.

The most expensive dog breed may trace its ancestry to the Alans/Alaunts, a breed of dog from the Middle Ages, or the Bulldog. It was known in France as early as the 14th century and was entered into its first show in the 1863. It wasn’t until the 1920’s, though, that the French Mastiff became a uniform breed. The dog was virtually unknown outside of France until the late 1800s and was threatened with extinction after WWII. In 1970, though, the Dogue de Bordeaux population began to grow again.

Famous French Mastiffs include Beasley, who starred alongside Tom Hanks in Turner & Hooch, and Mac, recently stolen from and returned to Dutch football player Andy van der Meyde.

A puppy from this expensive breed averages around $2300.

Breed categories

2008-03-12T23:05:00.000Z

The following are all the categories of dog breeds, most based on their appearance or working ability as well as others:

* Sighthounds;
* Scent hounds;
* Terriers;
* Spaniels;
* Spitz/Arctic dogs;
* Herding or Pastoral dogs;
* Guard dogs;
* Working dogs;
* Toy dog;
* Hunting dog;
* Cur dogs;
* Companions;
* Molosser;
* Extinct dog breeds.

Dog types (breed types)

2008-02-25T00:00:00.000Z

There are 12 subcategories in this category, which are shown below. More may be shown on subsequent pages.

B
*Bulldog breeds

C
*Companion dogs

D
*Doodles

F
*Dog fighting breeds

H
*Hairless dogs
*Herding dogs
*Hounds

M
*Molossers

S
*Sled dog breeds
*Spaniels
*Sporting dogs

T
*Terriers

Mixed-breed dog

2008-02-14T23:03:00.000Z

A mixed-breed dog (also called a mutt, crossbreed, mongrel, a bitsa, tyke, cur, or random-bred dog) is a dog that has characteristics of more than two breeds, or is a descendant of feral or pariah dog populations. The term "mutt" generally refers to a dog of unknown descent. Dogs interbreed freely, except where extreme variations in size exist, so mixed-breed dogs vary in size, shape, and color, making them hard to classify physically.

There is a profusion of words and phrases used for dogs that are not purebred. The words cur, tyke, and mongrel are some used, but generally viewed as derogatory in North America. In the United Kingdom mongrel is the unique technical word for a mixed-breed dog, and is not a term of disparagement. North American owners generally prefer mix or mixed-breed. Mutt is also used (in the U.S.A and Canada), usually in an affectionate manner. In Hawaii, mixed breed dogs are referred to as poi dog, and in the Bahamas, they call them Pot Cakes (referring to the table-leftovers they are fed). Some American registries and dog clubs that accept mixed-breed dogs use the breed name All American. In South Africa, the tongue-in cheek expression pavement special is sometimes used as a description for a mixed-breed dog. Random-bred dog, mutt, and mongrel are often used for dogs who result from breeding without the supervision or planning of humans, especially after several generations, whereas crossbreed implies mixes of known breeds, sometimes deliberately mated.

In Brazil and the Dominican Republic, the name for mixed-breed dogs is vira-lata (vira: to turn, to bring down; lata: tin can, trash can) because there are dogs without owners that feed on urban garbage on the streets, and often knock over trash cans to reach the food. Therefore, by having stray dogs it seems to increase the amount of "mixed-breed" dogs.

Slang terms are also common. Heinz 57 is often used for dogs of uncertain ancestry, in a playful reference to the "57 Varieties" slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company. In some countries, bitsa (or bitzer) is common, meaning "bits o' this, bits o' that". A fice or feist is a small mixed-breed dog. In Newfoundland, a smaller mixed-breed dog is known as a cracky, hence the colloquial expression "saucy as a cracky" for someone with a sharp tongue.

To complicate matters, many owners of crossbreed dogs identify them—often facetiously—by an invented breed name constructed from parts of their parents' breed names. These are known as portmanteau names. For example, a cross between a Pekingese and a Poodle is called a Peekapoo, possibly a play on peek-a-boo, along with the Goldendoodle, a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. As another example, one of the UK's Queen Elizabeth's famous Corgis mated with her sister's Dachshund, and the resulting offspring were referred to as Dorgis.

Dog breeds

2008-01-14T22:59:00.000Z

There are numerous dog breeds, with over 800 being recognized by various kennel clubs worldwide. Many dogs, especially outside the United States of America and Western Europe, belong to no recognized breed. A few basic breed types have evolved gradually during the domesticated dog's relationship with humans over the last 10,000 or more years, but all modern breeds are of relatively recent derivation. Many of these are the product of a deliberate process of artificial selection. Because of this, some breeds are highly specialized, and there is extraordinary morphological diversity across different breeds. Despite these differences, dogs are able to distinguish dogs from other kinds of animal.

A dog breed is a group of dogs, represented by a sufficient number of individuals to be interbred without forced inbreeding to stably transfer its specific characteristics over generations. Purebred dogs of same breed have similar characteristics of appearance and behavior, primarily because they come from a select set of ancestors who had the same characteristics. They are accommodated to certain natural and economic conditions and usually exploitation while differ from other breeds by exclusive conformation traits and working abilities.

Aboriginal groups or pariah dogs establish themselves near human population, and further develop and maintain themselves without further selection. Neither they carry any specialized working dog functions. Working, hunting and other functional breeds most likely appeared when there is a demand for certain traits that are prevalent to the extension of the point one can devote his time and efforts to establish and maintain the group of dogs that perfect in certain traits valuable for that individual.

Initially the selections would have centered on domestication and useful behavior such as barking at strange creatures, livestock guarding or hunting ability. Some dog breeds, such as Saluki or New Guinea Singing Dogs , have been bred for specific characteristics for thousands of years. Some working dog breeds such as German Shepherds or Labrador Retriever are established for hundreds years. Later, dogs were also selected for attractive and distinctive forms, resulting in a vast variety of different breeds. Similar dog breeds are classified by dog registries in Dog Breeds Groups.

At a certain point of dog breed development, group of individuals that have dogs of the same breed unite into a National Breed club, describe their dogs in a specific language by writing a breed standard. They describe the most desirable breed specimen and also specify working abilities, as well as undesirable traits for purebred dogs that can belong to this group of dogs. National Breed Clubs promote dog breeds by joining a local dog breed registry, as well as internationally, by joining international organizations. Many traditional dog breeds are recognized by the main breed registries are said to be "purebred".

Doggy information

2007-10-18T11:41:00.000+01:00

Dogs can smell and hear very well, but can not see well in colour or they are colour blind.

The usual life span of a dog from pup to an adult is about 10 years or more.

Like wolves, wild dogs travel in groups called packs. Packs of dogs are ordered by rank, and dogs with low rank will submit to other dogs with higher rank. The highest ranked dog is called the alpha male. A dog in a group helps and cares about others.

Dogs have lived with people for at least 14,000 years. Dogs can serve people in many ways. They are often called "man's best friend". For example, there are guard dogs, hunting dogs, herding dogs, and guide dogs for blind people. Dogs have even been sent by Russians into outer space, a few years before any human being.

There are at least 400 breeds (kinds) of dogs. Dogs whose parents were the same breed will also be that breed: these dogs are called purebred or pure pedigree dogs. Dogs with parents from different breeds no longer belong to one breed: they are called mutts, mixed-breed dogs, hybrids, or mongrels. Some of the most popular breeds are sheepdogs, collies, poodles and retrievers.

Canis lupus familiaris

2007-09-11T17:39:00.000+01:00

The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term encompasses both feral and pet varieties and is also sometimes used to describe wild canids of other subspecies or species. The domestic dog has been (and continues to be) one of the most widely-kept working and companion animals in human history, as well as being a food source in some cultures.

The dog has developed into hundreds of varied breeds. Height measured to the withers ranges from a few inches in the Chihuahua to a few feet in the Irish Wolfhound; color varies from white through grays (usually called blue) to black, and browns from light (tan) to dark ("red" or "chocolate") in a wide variation of patterns; and, coats can be very short to several centimeters long, from coarse hair to something akin to wool, straight or curly, or smooth.

The English word dog, in common usage, refers to the domestic pet dog, Canis lupus familiaris. The species was originally classified as Canis familiaris by Linnaeus in 1758. In 1993, dogs were reclassified as a subspecies of the gray wolf, Canis lupus, by the Smithsonian Institution and the American Society of Mammalogists. "Dog" is sometimes used to refer collectively to any mammal belonging to the family Canidae (as in "the dog family"), such as wolves, foxes, and coyotes. Some members of the family have "dog" in their common names, such as the African hunting dog.

The English word dog might derive from the Old English docga, a "powerful breed of canine". French dogue and Spanish dogo, as applied to some dog breeds, is of English origin; neither word is a source for dog. The English word hound is a cognate of German Hund, Dutch hond, common Scandinavian hund, Icelandic hundur which, though referring to a specific breed in English, means "dog" in general in the other Germanic languages. Hound itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European *kwon-, which is the direct root of the Greek κυων (kuōn) and the indirect root of the Latin canis through the variant form *kani-.

In breeding circles, a male canine is referred to as a dog, while a female canine is called a bitch. The father of a litter is called the sire, and the mother of a litter is called the dam. Offspring are generally called pups or puppies until they are about a year old. A group of offspring is a litter. The process of birth is whelping. Many terms are used for dogs that are not purebred.

Dogs Physical characteristics

2007-07-05T18:03:00.000+01:00

Sight!

Like most mammals, dogs are dichromats and have color vision equivalent to red-green color blindness in humans.

Hearing!

Dogs detect sounds as low as the 16 to 20 Hz frequency range (compared to 20 to 70 Hz for humans) and above 45 kHz (compared to 13 to 20 kHz for humans), and in addition have a degree of ear mobility that helps them to rapidly pinpoint the exact location of a sound. Eighteen or more muscles can tilt, rotate and raise or lower a dog's ear. Additionally, a dog can identify a sound's location much faster than a human can, as well as hear sounds up to four times the distance that humans are able to. Those with more natural ear shapes, like those of wild canids like the fox, generally hear better than those with the floppier ears of many domesticated species.

Smell!

Dogs have nearly 220 million smell-sensitive cells over an area about the size of a pocket handkerchief (compared to 5 million over an area the size of a postage stamp for humans). Some breeds have been selectively bred for excellence in detecting scents, even compared to their canine brethren. What information a dog actually detects when he is scenting is not perfectly understood; although once a matter of debate, it now seems to be well established that dogs can distinguish two different types of scents when trailing, an air scent from some person or thing that has recently passed by, as well as a ground scent that remains detectable for a much longer period.

Coat color!

Domestic dogs often display the remnants of counter-shading, a common natural camouflage pattern. The general theory of countershading is that an animal that is lit from above will appear lighter on its upper half and darker on its lower half where it will usually be in its own shade.

Sprint metabolism!

Dogs can generate large amounts of energy for a short period of time. A dog's heart and lungs are oversized relative to its body and its normal everyday needs. A dog also has relatively more red blood cells than a human. Most of the time the dog will keep the extra red blood cells stored in its spleen. When the animal enters into a situation where its full metabolism is required, such as play, catching game, or fighting other dogs, the extra cells are released into the bloodstream.