Search Results for: blog dog breed akita

What Your Dog Says About You

I don’t know if this is a new trend or an old one experiencing a revival, but lately I’ve seen a lot of “what does your dog’s breed say about you?” style articles. I’ve even seen a few ones related to romance: what does your boyfriend’s dog say about him, or about his sex life? While I find the latter a bit of a stretch, I think maybe there might be some truth in the former. The breed of one’s dog might say a bit more about one’s living situation than personality, so that two vastly different people might both … 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 →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Jan 29 – Feb 4

What a week! We said goodbye to January and hello to February. Here’s a breakdown of the hot topics Aimee and myself covered this past week in the Pets Blog. Monday, January 29 I sat down and talked with Sherlockian Author E.J. Wagner and her Dr. Watson, RL (Resident Labrador). Then it became obvious January wasn’t the only thing we were going to bid farewell to last week. In a tender piece recounting his rise to glory and the disease he ultimately could not outrun, Aimee shared how Barbaro’s Journey Ended. Tuesday, January 30 Murphy inspired how to pointers in … Continue reading →

Dog Breed: Akita

In Japan, seven breeds of dog are designated National Monuments. The Akita is one of them. At one time, only the Imperial family and ruling aristocracy could own an Akita; special leashes signified the rank and standing of the Akita’s owner. These days, the dog is an affectionate family member all around the world! The Akita comes from the mountains of northern Japan, and was bred to be intelligent and adaptable for hunting. This breed has a spiritual significance in Japan; they are regarded as loyal companions, protectors of the home, and a symbol of good health. When a child … Continue reading →

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 →

Uno is Numero Uno at Westminster

On Tuesday night, a beagle named Uno took Best in Show during the second day of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. More than one hundred and sixty breeds and varieties were represented at the 132nd annual affair in New York City. More than 2600 dogs entered the show. The crowd at Madison Square Garden got to their feet and roared for the little beagle. Uno joined in the cheering — he has an unusual habit of baying at the judges as if to say: “Pick me! Here I am!” Handler Aaron Wilkerson says that Uno is definitely a people’s … 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 →

Pets and Cold Weather

Cold weather is upon us… for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. On those bitter cold days, your pets may dart outside long enough for a quick potty break and run back inside. Other pets may love the colder weather and refuse to come inside! My parents’ dog Becca is the latter type of dog — she’ll happily sit on the middle of the pool cover once the water below has frozen. But she has a thick, double coat to protect her from the worst of the winter chill. Don’t force your pets outside when the weather is too … Continue reading →