Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier

Background: The Boston Terrier is said to be "as American as apple pie" (Animal Planet). Due to their, color pattern they gained the nickname the  American gentleman because their coat resembles a tuxedo. As it says in their name they were bred and developed in Boston Massachusetts around the 1800's, the breed was a cross bred between  a bulldog and a now extinct white English terrier. in 1865 these dogs were once used originally for pit fighting a common sport that is still done today but in most places the practice of dog fighting is illegal. Now retired this breed has become a wildly popular breed to own.

Characteristics:  

Weight: 10-25 lbs

Height:15-17 inches

Lifespan:15+ years

Temperament:Boston terriers are very people loving, lively with boundless energy, sweet natured, good guard dogs. They love to please their owners. They do not bark unless it is necessary.

Coat and Color: Their short coat requires little grooming.With a base coat of white they come in brindle black, seal (seal is when it looks black but when in the light has a red cast)

Health issues: Due to their short wide muzzles they suffer from respiratory issues, and this is why they shouldn't be too active because they will push themselves over the limit and overheat. Also due to their short muzzles they are known to be gassy, snort and snore. They can also suffer from eye issues. 

Living conditions: They can live in almost any environment and are good for children and as family companions. 

Final Note: 

These dogs are good dogs that provide endless hours of fun and entertainment and from my own experience with these dogs they are truly very loving toward people and I would highly recommend to anyone to own a Boston Terrier. 

Citations:

Boston terrier. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2012 , from Dog Breed info : http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bostonterrier.htm

Dogs 101. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2012 , from Animal Planet : http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/dogs-101#all-videos

Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiff

Backround: Tibetan Mastiffs are one of the more ancient breeds and are the reason we have a majority of the large dog breeds.  These dogs are from Tibet and were and still are used in a lot of places as guard dogs by nomads in the Himalayas. These dogs were sometimes trusted to protect entire villages. They were brought over all of China and then west into  Europe by Atil of the Hun. Today they still remain in China and are even seen as a status symbol of wealth, if you lived in China and owned a Tibetan Mastiff you were seen as wealthy. In China there was even one that almost sold for $600,000 because of its rare copper color

Characteristics:  Tibetan Mastiffs are very protective dogs making them territorial and weary with strangers but are very loving with their family. They are stubborn and independent, therefore they shouldn't be for novice dog owners. They have a heavy build which gives them their strength and their deep intimidating bark which is why they are excellent guard dogs.

Weight:  140-170 lbs

Height:  25-28 inches

Lifespan: About 15 years plus

Temperament: Courageous, fearless, even tempered, Calm and thoughtful

Coat & Color: They have a double coat that shed heavily.

Health Issues: Little health issues but have big dog health issues such as hip dysplasia, thyroid, skin and eye issues.

Living Conditions: Can live in an apartment but must be exercised a lot, Would do best in large areas. They should also live in a cool dry environment.

Tips:

* You shouldn't own one if you are a novice dog owner.

* Early socialization is important so that they are not aggressive towards people and other animals.

* Training should start early.

* Boundaries should be made early.

* Dominance should be set early because they have a mind of their own.  

Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhound

Back ground: Despite their name these dogs surprisingly are not from Italy but in fact they are from Greece and Turkey. The Italian Greyhound was well known during the renaissance age and can be seen in multiple renaissance paintings which is why they are called, "The Italian Greyhound". They were also been considered to be a high class dog in the past and mainly seen with royalty such as Charles the 1st, Catherine the great, queen Ann, queen Victoria, and Fredrick the 2nd. This was because they were good companion dogs.

                                                                    

Characteristics: Italian Greyhounds are sometimes called Velcro dogs because they love to be by your side and snuggle for warmth with their owners. They are built for speed like their cousins the original greyhound that are used for dog races. With their speed is their acute sight and hearing. All this leads to their speeds reaching as fast as 25 miles per hour.

Weight: 6-10 lbs

Life span: about 15 years

Temperament: Italian Greyhounds are very shy and need to be socialized early during puppy stages. They have also been known to be cat like, they have a good temperament overall.

Coat & Color: They can come in multiple colors ranging from black, grey, tan etc.  Their coat doesn't shed a lot and there is little odor.

Health Issues: A fairly healthy breed.

Living Conditions:  They are adaptable to pretty much any living conditions whether it's an apartment or a house. They are not tolerant at all so during the cold seasons they need to be kept warm with blankets or coats and should be kept indoors to avoid the cold.

Tips:

* It is best to keep them out of the cold so litter box training is possible.

* For the 1st 12-18 months they should be watched carefully because their bones are very fragile and can break easily.

* They are fast dogs and do not do well with responding to being called back after they are after something so they should always be kept on a leash when outside in an unfenced yard.

* They are not good with lively children because they are so shy so a family of either adults is best for them.

Final Note: These are excellent companion  dogs that are good for novice or new dog owners.

Sources: Animal Planet's Dogs 101 television series

Tornjak

 

 

The Tornjak

Pronounced (Torn-yak)

 

Background history:  The tornjak is a very old breed that originated and lives in Bosnia, Herzegovinian and Croatia for the past 1,000 years. In these countries they are used for herding and guardian dogs for large farms, like what many believe to be one of  their ancestors the Tibetan Mastiff. In these countries the breed is very popular and is even on Bosnia's stamp. Although in the U.S they are not even recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club) and are very hard to come by.As far as I know of there are only 3 breeders in North America, 2 in Canada and 1 that is just started to breed Tornjak's in the U.S.

                                             

Characteristics:

Height: Male's:65-70cm, females:60-65 cm

Weight: ~140 lbs

Lifespan: ~14 years

Temperament: friendly, calm, courageous, obedient, intelligent, full of dignity and self confidence, when the situation demands it, it is a vigilant, a very alert watchdog

Coat: Their coat is doubled for the cold weather and their base color is white and can include tan, brown, black, and copper markings all over the body in many different ways.

 

 

Puppy stage:

*The Tornjak is a strong breed that will become dominant if you allow them to. During early training you should set your dominance to ensure they do not over power you.

* If you intend the dog to be sociable you must expose them to multiple people very Early when they're puppies.

*Do not put them on puppy food for long, because they're big dogs if they grow too quickly it will affect their bones and make them weak.

*They grow fast so take in all the small cuteness you can, they will start growing very large in about 4 months. 

Care tips:

* Tornjak's are survivors so keep them on a low protein diet will keep their coat neat.

*Provide strong toys because their teeth are very strong.



* Tornjak's need plenty of running space.

* Give them plenty of exercise.

*Grooming is essential for their thick coat.

* Be aware of bloat make sure after they eat to keep them from doing extraneous activities for at least a half hour.

* Tornjak's are fast so keep them on a leash until they learn to respond on your command.

 

From my own experience having a tornjak (The dog at the top is mine):

My dog's name is Tocan (Toch-an) which means faithful in Croatian. He is 8 months old at the moment, 85 lbs, and on his hind legs he stands 5"2. We adopted him when he was 3 months old in March and he was flown over from Alberta Canada. I honestly love this dog and the more he grows the more I am amazed with the breed. He is a VERY intelligent, if he wants something he will find a way to get it. He learns quickly and when you tell him a command you can actually see him thinking about it before he does it. This is a sort of bad trait but still very impressive, when the family is busy doing things and Tocan wants to be played with he will grab a shoe and show it to you because he knows that he isnt allowed to have it from past training. Tocan is also a very loving dog who loves to think he is a small dog and sits on my lap when I am on the couch. I honestly love everything about him and he is always making me laugh just by his own clumsiness, I would highly recommend a tornjak as a family pet.