Meet the Breeds

See, Hear, Taste and Smell the World as a Dog Does

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Dec 23rd 2009 @ 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Meet the Breeds

Helena Sung

Neither rain nor unfinished holiday shopping could keep crowds away from the American Kennel Club's "Meet the Breeds" event on December 12 and 13 in Long Beach, Calif. Held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, thousands of spectators braved unseasonably cold rains for the chance to meet some 160 different purebred dog breeds, and even to experience the world as a canine.

A dog sensory exhibit sponsored by Eukanuba gave people the chance to see, hear, smell and taste as a dog does. "I've always wondered what my dog smells," said one man, sniffing at glass beakers filled with varying intensities of spearmint scent to compare a canine's sense of smell to a human's. Dogs have 125 to 220 million olfactory receptors, says Eukanuba, while humans have a mere 5 million. Bloodhounds have an estimated 300 million olfactory receptors. It means a dog's sense of smell is 1,000 to 10,000 times stronger than a human's.

How Much Do You Know About Yorkies?

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Nov 12th 2009 @ 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Meet the Breeds

For 30 years, Sharon Jones has been involved in breeding and showing Yorkshire Terriers, fondly referred to as "Yorkies." "It's an endearing and very spirited breed," Jones tells Paw Nation. "They have a lot of spunk and are a big dog in a small package." Though the Yorkshire Terrier has only once -- in 1978 -- won "Best in Show" at the venerable Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the Yorkie remains one of the most popular dog breeds in the country.

How much do you really know about these dynamic and historic little dogs? Take our quiz and find out!

How Well Do You Know Yorkies?

The American Kennel Club (AKC) classifies the Yorkshire Terrier into which group?

Toy
Terrier
Non-sporting
Hound

What was the Yorkshire Terrier originally bred to do?

Look pretty
Keep the laps of royalty warm
Alert farmers to intruders
Catch rats

In order to meet the AKC's breed standard, the Yorkshire Terrier must weigh no more than how many pounds?

What was the breed called before it was re-named the Yorkshire Terrier?

Silky Chinese terrier
Dublin terrier
Broken-haired Scotch terrier
Wire-coated Irish terrier

The Yorkshire terrier is named after the city located in which geographic region?

England
Scotland
Ireland
Wales

What is the earliest recorded date of a Yorkshire terrier being born in the United States?

1901
1859
1872
1776

Before and After Pictures of Extreme Dog Makeovers

by Helena Sung (Subscribe to Helena Sung's posts): Oct 18th 2009 @ 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Pet Grooming, Meet the Breeds

First, the nation's top pet groomers dished with Paw Nation about their celebrity dog clients and the benefits of taking your dog to a professional groomer.

Next, they spilled their secrets for ridding your dog of everything from skunk odor to chewing gum.

Now, Jorge Bendersky and Jonathan David, finalists from the first season of Animal Planet's "Groomer Has It," share before and after pictures of the pooches they have pampered.

Before: Bernie, a scruffy 9-year-old Jack Russell Terrier wants to know, "What's wrong with the way I look?" Jorge Benderksy

How Much Do You Know About Golden Retrievers?

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Oct 17th 2009 @ 9:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Meet the Breeds

Chris Miele breeds and trains Golden Retrievers under the name Cross Creek Goldens. "For me, they are the ideal dog. They have a wonderful sense of play, a fun sense of humor and they set a perfect example for us on how to behave," she tells Paw Nation.

Think you've got the goods on Goldens? Take our quiz to find out!

How Well Do You Know Golden Retrievers?

Who originated the breed in Scotland in the 1860s?

Local fisherman, tired of birds stealing their fish
Lord Tweedmouth and his wavy-coated retriever
Gentlemen hunters, looking for companions
Sir Goldsmith and his wild dogs

Why was the breed developed?

To herd small livestock
To be guard dogs
To be lapdogs for hair fetishists
To be hunting dogs that could live with a family

What is a key characteristic of the breed?

Friendly temperament
Beautiful coats
Reliable retrieving
Trainability
All of the above

According to AKC Registration Statistics, how popular are Golden Retrievers?

Golden Retrievers thrive on:

Interaction with their owners
Moderate amounts of exercise
Having private time to themselves
All of the above

Which president had a Golden Retriever named Liberty?

John Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Gerald Ford
Abraham Lincoln

What is the breed's average life expectancy?

7-8 years
10-12 years
14-16 years
19-20 years

Learn more about your favorite breeds at the upcoming Meet the Breeds event in New York City on October 17th - 18th. For more information, visit MeetTheBreeds.com.

Q: Why Won't My Dog Stop Barking? Help!

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts): Oct 16th 2009 @ 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Meet the Breeds

Photo: TheGiantVermin/Flickr

By Mary R. Burch, PhD, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director

A: While there are a number of reasons that dogs bark, five of the most common reasons are:

Alerts -- as in when a stranger is coming down the driveway. Warning the owner that a stranger (e.g., a delivery person) is coming into the yard may be a good thing. However, loud agitated non-stop barking accompanied by snapping at the living room window and knocking over the floor lamp can be nerve-wracking for the dog owner who was experiencing a peaceful evening.

Excitement -- as seen during an active play session.

They want something -- "Look at me, come and play," "I want to go outside," etc.

Communication with another dog.

Separation behavior -- dogs who bark, bark, bark when the owner is gone. Some dogs bark non-stop when the owners leave. This can be a serious problem when the owner and dog live in an apartment or condo or the dogs are in a hotel room. Leaving dogs with an activity such as something safe to chew or a toy with a treat inside can help with separation related barking. Leaving the television or a radio on will help some dogs relax.

Your dog will learn to make the distinction before you know it. When a stranger comes on to your property, you can say, "Good boy, bark!" letting him bark a few times, and then say, "Quiet!" Whatever you do, don't punish the dog for barking or feed into the frenzy by yelling at the dog.