Dog Breeds/Traits

Do you ever look at your dog during these hot summer days and think: “He must be miserable in the heat with all that fur.”  Or maybe you think: “It’s impossible to keep her clean, with all these trips to the park and beach.”

If so, then read on!  We have compiled a few tips to help you keep your dog cool, clean, healthy and, dare we say it, fashionable this summer.  This week, our advice comes in two parts: the cut and the rinse.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow?

When it comes to grooming advice for dogs, the lessons are as varied as the breeds themselves.  There is not room enough in a blog post to cover all the grooming tips out there, so we’ve picked out several that we feel are especially important in the summer months.

First of all, not all dogs actually need a drastic summer cut.  Dog breeds that hail from cold weather climates, such as Samoyeds and Huskies, should not get a short buzz cut.  This type of cut will prevent the dog’s coat from growing back properly.  Not only will the coat not grow back as beautifully as before, the new short coat may actually hinder a dog’s ability to cool herself.  These natural thick coats act an “air conditioner” by reflecting light and “lofting” as the dogs moves.

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There’s no denying the fact that air travel is a scary experience for some people.  Remember your first flight?  Did you grasp your parent’s or your partner’s hand tightly?  Did you breathe faster?  Did your forehead sweat, and did you fidget nervously in your seat?

Chances are that you experienced these first flight jitters (and maybe some second or third flight jitters too).  Imagine, then, what your dog is feeling before his or her first flight.  He or she will most likely be anxious, confused and vocal.  It is your job to make sure that your dog is capable of and prepared for air travel.

DogWatch Hidden Fences wants to help.  This summer, Dog Tails will offer a series of posts with pet travel tips and information.  For our first installment, we’ll start big with airplane travel.  We’ve broken down the preparation process into three steps: 1) Know your options, 2) Schedule a Vet Appointment and 3) Pack Wisely.

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About 1 in 3 dogs die of cancer, a statistic which is frighteningly similar to the rate in people. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Melinda Beck wrote about Cancer Risk for Purebred Dogs and losing her Golden Retriever to cancer. She reported that Goldens are one of the breeds at the highest risk for canine cancer along with Boxers, Rottweilers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Other breeds listed as being susceptible to cancer:
High risk-Boston Terrier, English Bulldog, Scottish Terrier, Cocker Spaniel.
Average risk- Irish Setter, Schnauzer, Labrador Retriever, Mixed Breed.
Lower risk-Beagle, Poodle, Collie, Dachshund.

There’s no evidence to suggest that mutts or crossbreeds are less prone to cancer. “Some studies that have compared purebreds in general to mixed breeds find about a 10% increase in lifespan for comparably sized mixed-breed dogs.”

Cancer treatment for dogs includes  surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.  Depending on the type and extent of the cancer, treatment may buy months or years for some dogs.

What’s being done about canine cancer?

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Nowadays people think about a lot more than “How much is that doggy in the window.” There are many considerations.

JustDogBreeds.Com has created a list of 155 dog breeds, A-Z, and how to find the one which is your perfect match. They take eight points into consideration:

1. Temperament
2. Dog Size
3. Time for Exercise
4. Children
5. Grooming
6. Allergies
7. How Easy to Train
8. Protection

Hybrid Dogs

A list of the most popular hybrid dogs can be found on Dog Breed Info Center. They suggest that the best way to determine the traits of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. They state, “If you do not feel the temperament of one of the purebreds in the mix is suited for your lifestyle, then that hybrid dog is not for you.”

Designer Dogs

A “designer” dog (as the media has labeled them) is a cross between two purebred dogs. A purebred dog is one that has been bred over many generations to breed true, which means each puppy that is born looks and has the same temperament and characteristics as one another. In most cases a standard is written and breeders must follow this written standard. Only dogs which make the written standard are to be bred.

You may wonder, what’s the difference between a designer dog and a mutt? Generally, a mutt is of uncertain ancestry. A designer dog has documented purebred ancestry, and one knows for sure what it is. The American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC) is  the leading registry for designer dogs.

Two other sources for lists of hybrid dogs can be found on:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americancaninehybridclub.htm
http://www.tinytracks.net/ACHC-Mixed-breed.htm

What do you consider most important in selecting a dog? Do you care whether the dog is a purebred, hybrid, designer, or mutt?