Archive for the ‘Dog Breeds’ Category

The playful Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands in the late 1800′s. They were first developed by Lord Tweedmouth, who crossed the original yellow Flat-Coated Retriever with the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel. Tweedmouth later crossed in the bloodhound, Irish Setter and more Tweed Water Spaniel.

The Golden Retriever was historically developed as a gun dog to retrieve shot waterfowl and upland game birds and were bred to have a soft mouth, so that they don’t damage the game that they retrieve. They were also bred for to have a love of water.

There are three types of Golden Retrievers- the American Type, the British Type and the Canadian Type:

American Type: The American Type is a taller and lankier dog with coats in various shades of lustrous gold.

British Type: Generally heavier than the American Type, but with shorter legs and a deeper chest, and shorter tail. Coats of any shade of cream or gold.

Canadian Type: Similar to the American Type in height and weight, with a thinner coat. Usually darker in color.

Golden Retrievers are the fourth most popular family dog in the world and have also been known to play roles such as illegal drug sniffing, guide dogs, hunting dogs, and search and rescue dogs.

Their life expectancy is 10-12 years, but have been known to live much longer. Depending on type and gender, Goldens can weigh 55-80 lbs.

Goldens are known to be easy to train, patient, loyal, loving, charming, energetic, friendly, reliable, devoted and self-assured. Needless to say, they almost always make very lovely family dogs. They are characteristically very gentle and patient with children.

This breed requires quite a bit of exercise, and enjoys a wide variety of activities. Walking your Retriever is a must, but you can add on other pastimes such as flyball, tracking, obedience training, dock jumping, swimming, fetching and agility to see your dog at his or her full potential. Goldens have been known to be at the top of their class!

They can be very “mouthy” dogs and need to be watched very carefully, especially when the dog is a puppy or newly adopted, to make sure that they don’t put something harmful in their mouths. They can really tear apart a couch, so crate training and lots and lots of strong and safe chew toys are highly recommended.

Unfortunately, as a result of careless breeding for profit, Golden Retrievers are prone to many diseases such as congenital eye defects, cancer, Von Willebrand’s disease, joint diseases, hip and elbow dysplasia,  heart problems and skin problems. Be careful how much and what you feed your Golden, too, because they are known to overeat and gain weight rapidly. Also, keep your pet safe from ticks as when a Golden Retriever gets Lyme disease, it remains unseen until late stages of kidney failure.

All in all, Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs for just about anyone who is willing to give them the exercise, time and love that they deserve. Please consider adoption. Below you will find a few links to check out some dogs who need homes.

Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta

Adopt a Golden Atlanta

Grateful Golden Rescue

The average dog has one request to all humankind. Love me.
Helen Exley

Megan with Oscar

Being a professional pet sitter in Gwinnett County, GA, I want to learn everything that I can possibly learn about every breed of pet that I may encounter. The other day, my friend Cynthia Block of Cynsationally Yours (beautiful, personalized gifts and more) and I were meeting so that I could pick up a gift that she made for my Mom. While we were enjoying our coffees, she told me that her Basset Hound, Herkimer was right down the street at the groomer. Well, I’ve been waiting to meet him, so I just had to go with her to pick him up! He is everything that is dreamy about a Basset and more! I got the idea about doing a series of blogs about different breeds of pets from Herkimer, so he is the star of this blog. The sites that I got the information from are Your Pure Bred Puppy , Ammidan and Dog Breed Info.

Basset Hounds

History and Hunting

Basset Hounds are a direct descendant of the Bloodhound and a very old breed. The Basset’s popularity began in Paris in 1863 when they were first presented at a dog show. The American Kennel Club recognized this long-eared darling in 1885. The name Basset comes from the word “bas,” meaning “low.”

It has been suggested that they may have originated from genetic dwarf dogs born in litters of different types of hunting dogs. Bassets are able to hunt in packs or alone and they are also good at hunting in the open or in the den. They are used to hunt hare, fox, opposum and pheasant.

Personality and Training

Basset Hounds are one of the most easy going and friendly of all breeds. Almost any Basset that you meet is going to be good-natured, outgoing, warm and peaceful with everyone- strangers, other pets, kids- name it! They are sweet, devoted, and naturally well-behaved.

As friendly and happy-go-lucky as a Basset may be, they are not the easiest dogs to train. They can be very stubborn with compliant, lenient owners and need a firm, confident and consistent owner who displays natural authority over the dog. House training is one of the most difficult things to teach this breed, but with positive reinforcement and patient gentle training, anything can be accomplished.

Hard to train, but also very food motivated, keep in mind that tricks for treats is something that a Basset loves to do. Even using treats, you still may expect to see very slow, thought out, deliberate responses from him. Also remember that your Basset has a very strong and unique sense of smell. If they catch an interesting scent, the “Come” command goes in one big ear and out the other. When training or playing outside, keep your Basset either in a fenced area or on a leash or you may not see him again.

Exercise and General Health

Despite short legs, Bassets can weigh between 45-65 pounds. Their average life span is 10-12 years. They need a moderate amount of daily exercise, even if it seems they are perfectly happy snoring away on the couch. Overweight Bassets have concurrent health problems that can be very painful for them including aggravated arthritis, back problems, or heart trouble. Exercise is as important to your dog as it is for you. A long daily walk  (30 minutes or more) will be perfect to keep your dog mentally stable and a good healthy weight. Discourage any jumping or stress to the front legs and remember that Bassets are a hunting breed and it’s difficult to get their attention if they catch a scent they like. Keeping them on-leash or in a fence is crucial.

Bassets will run and play by the hour if allowed, but don’t leave them outside unattended. They tend to howl  when bored and the neighbors may call the cops on you. Also keep in mind that those short legs won’t prevent them from counter surfing, so keep any food or other items as far back on the counter as possible.

These dogs shed quite a lot and it never really stops. They are also prone to be gassy and have a distinct “houndy” odor that some people find offensive. I can’t help but love that “houndy” smell, but that’s probably just my dog addiction. Bassets are also predisposed to bone and joint problems, ear problems and skin diseases.

Bassets are apt  to otitis externa, (smelly yucky ears). This is easily prevented if ear cleaning is done regularly, such as when nails are clipped. Check with your veterinarian for an ear wash, or make a preventative cleaning mix of 50% isopropyl alcohol and 50% white vinegar. The Basset is also predisposed to Glaucoma.

Over feeding your Basset can cause too much weight on the legs and spine, leading to possible lameness and eventual paralysis. They are also prone to bloat, so feeding them 2 or 3 small meals instead of one large meal is highly recommended. If your Basset eats one big meal, keep an eye out for signs of bloat for the next few hours.~

So, what it comes down to is Bassets are family dogs with great dispositions, but can be very stubborn. If you have patience and you understand your dog’s breed and meet their exercise, diet and daily health care needs, you will have a wonderful family pet! If not, don’t blame the dog!

Here are a few Basset Hound rescues and resources that I found:

Basset Hound Rescue of Georgia

Basset Hound Rescue of Alabama

Carolina Basset Hound Rescue

Suncoast Basset Hound Rescue

Basset Hounds: Basset Hound Dog Forums

Wikipedia: Basset Hounds

“To be happy, use your nose.  Every day is rich in smells. … a cliche, sure, but if you got roses, smell ‘em.”
–dog quote by Trixie Koontz, dog, Life is Good! Lessons in Joyful Living, edited by Dean Koontz