Search Results for: blog about sporting group dogs

About Working Group Dogs

Working group dogs were bred to perform jobs — “working” isn’t just a clever name! American Kennel Club working group dogs are used to guard property, pull sleds, and assist in rescue efforts. Working dogs have also been seen carrying messages in wartime, guiding the blind, and working with police. Don’t confuse working dogs with herding or hunting dogs — in the American Kennel Club, these are separate groups of dogs. In general, working group dogs are intelligent, capable, and quick to learn. They also tend to be very large, and may not be the best pets for families with … Continue reading →

About Herding Group Dogs

The American Kennel Club divides show dogs into seven different groups: Sporting, Non-Sporting, Hounds, Terriers, Toy, and Working. Each group has particular characteristics in common. The Herding Group is the American Kennel Club’s newest classification, dating back to 1983. The Herding Group split off from the Working Group to include breeds with the ability to direct or control the movement of other animals. Traditionally, these dogs were used to herd livestock. Herding Group dogs are used today in parks to control flocks of geese and to move goats around for natural lawn control. Herding Group dogs are generally intelligent dogs … Continue reading →

About Sporting Group Dogs

The American Kennel Club divides show dogs into seven different groups: Sporting, Non-Sporting, Hounds, Terriers, Toy, and Working. Each group has particular characteristics in common. The Sporting Group includes dogs that were bred for pointing, flushing, and retrieving game, especially birds. Pointers, retrievers, setters, and spaniels are all found in the Sporting Group. These breeds are known for their instincts both in the water and in the woods. Sporting Group dogs hunt by air scent — rather than ground scent, like Hound Group dogs. Pointers are known for standing still in front of their quarry, using nose and body to … Continue reading →

Dog Breed: Xoloitzcuintli

One of the most unique breeds of dogs I’ve ever seen is the Xoloitzcuintli. I wouldn’t even know how to pronounce the name… if it weren’t for catching an Animal Planet special on the breed. For the record: sho-lo-eats-quint-lee is how you pronounce it, though most folks just call them “Xolos” (sho-los). The breed is also known as the Mexican Hairless, which eliminates the pronunciation issue entirely. Like the poodle, the Xolo comes in three sizes: toy (between ten and fourteen inches at the shoulder), miniature (between fourteen and eighteen inches at the shoulder), and standard (between eighteen and twenty-three … Continue reading →

Olympians Sizzling Bodies May Be Too Hot for China

If you needed incentive to get your body in shape then the Summer Olympics came just in time. Good gracious, have you seen the killer bods these elite athletes are sporting? Seriously, U.S. swimmer Dara Torres could have ignited the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony via spontaneous combustion had she simply marched into the stadium wearing her bikini. Her body is so ripped I try to block out the fact that she gave birth just two years ago. Michael Phelps is cut like a rack of lamb, as is the entire U.S. men’s gymnastics team (or all the gymnasts … Continue reading →

Hiking and Camping with the Pups

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Love the great outdoors? Your dog just might love it, too! If you’re planning a hike or camping trip with your four-legged best friend, here’s a list of supplies to get you started. For your pup: Collar and ID tags — these are essential on ANY trip. If your dog becomes separated from you, how will you find him again? Make sure your cell phone number (if you have one) is on your dog’s collar. A leash. Just because you’re in the wilderness doesn’t mean you want to let your dog run wild all the time! Current vaccination records. They’re … Continue reading →

Dog Breeds: Shiba Inu

I once saw a Shiba Inu puppy at a pet store and totally fell in love with the breed. Shibas are the smallest of the native dog breeds that come from Japan. It is one of the breeds declared national monuments by Japan — that list also includes akitas and the Japanese chin. The breed nearly went extinct during World War II — I’m very glad it didn’t! The Shiba Inu was developed to be a hunting dog — both a scent hound and a sight hound. The breed is built for hunting in the dense undergrowth found in Japan’s … Continue reading →

Dog Breed: Weimeraner

Have you ever seen a Weimeraner? These dogs are aristocratic and striking, with a glossy grey coat and amber eyes. Weimeraners are known for grace, speed, stamina, balance, and alertness. They were bred to be hunting dogs; experts believe that the bloodhound is one of the Weimeraner’s ancestors. Germany’s Weimar court sponsored the breeding efforts, and lent its name to the result. Court nobles favored the breed for hunting big game like wolves, wildcats, and deer. The dog has amazing speed, a strong nose, courage to face large prey, and intelligence. Obedience trials helped generate American interest in the breed. … Continue reading →

Super Bowl XLII: What to Know Before You Go—FOOD and MUSIC

In my last blog I detailed some of the exciting Super Bowl related events going on in the Phoenix area leading up to the big game on February 3rd. For you non-sports fans who could careless that the New England Patriots are trying to make NFL history by going undefeated this season—newsflash— Super Bowl XLII is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona this year and by all accounts the first parties get underway in about 24 hours. For those of you lucky football fans who have secured tickets to the NFL’s biggest game and know little about the Super Bowl’s host … Continue reading →

Spring Proofing Your Pet: Thunderstorms

Photo by Vickie Matthews I love spring, but Tuesday night I was reminded of what else comes with it besides longer hours of daylight, pretty flowers, and nicer weather: storms. We had a pretty severe storm roll through complete with tornado warnings, lightning, thunder, and pounding rain. This was my first experience with Tabby in a storm situation. She was perfectly fine. However, perhaps you read Aimee’s account of her nights of thunder with her dog Moose. Like Moose, Murphy and Kitty do not like thunderstorms either. Murphy happens to be one of those dogs who can sense a storm … Continue reading →