Posts tagged "Breeds"

The American Kennel Club has welcomed three breeds into the AKC family -- the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Norwegian Lundehund and the Xoloitzcuintli will join the AKC's list of registered breeds, bringing the total number of registered breeds to 170. Here is what the AKC has to say about them:

The Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-etz-queent-lee) is one of the world's rarest breeds and is still considered a "healer" in remote Mexican and Central American Villages today. The breed comes in three sizes: toy, miniature and standard; and two varieties: hairless and coated, which makes the Xolo ideal for those looking for a dog with more variety. They serve as an excellent companion for families due to their attentive and calm nature and require moderate exercise and grooming. For more info go to: www.xoloitzcuintliclubofamerica.org.

Do you ever wonder just why your German shepherd leans against you so much? Or why your Yorkie chases everything? It might have more to do with your dog's breed history than his personality. Learn more in the gallery below!

AKC Recognizes Three New Breeds
Got a cane corso, Icelandic sheepdog or a Leonberger you'd like to show? You're in luck! The AKC is now recognizing these breeds, according to "Today." These three breeds will be able to compete in shows and take part in all other AKC activities, joining 164 other breeds already recognized by the organization.

75-Year-Old Woman Peddles Drugs to Feed Pets
When an elderly cat lover in the Netherlands was caught with a bag of cocaine and cannabis in her car, she admitted to selling drugs, but insisted it was only so she could earn enough money to feed all of her kitties, reports WNYW-TV. She promised not to do it again, and was let off with a warning.

Puppy Saved by Plumber May Get a New Home
A newborn puppy fell down a drain at the Humane Society last week, and when workers heard the little guy whimpering, they called a plumber. The plumber not only saved the puppy's life, he also fell in love with the little furball and hopes to adopt him, reports KYTX-TV. In the meantime, the puppy has earned an appropriate nickname: Drano!

60 Shelter Dogs Leave California for Canada on Private Jet
In rescue news of a different sort, 60 dogs have crossed the Canadian border in search of permanent homes thanks to philanthropist Jan Folk, reports the Associated Press. The small dogs were unwanted in their home state of California, but Folk says they'll all find homes within a couple of weeks in Edmonton, Alberta. Folks has taken 312 dogs to Edmonton in the last year.

It's bad news for the snarling, angry dog on the corner, but good news for the mailman he terrorizes. Scientists have discovered that bold, aggressive dogs live much shorter lives than shy, obedient pooches, the New York Times reports.

Vincent Careau, of the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, and his colleagues came to that conclusion by comparing numerous dog breeds based on their personalities. For example, poodles are ranked as 29 percent more docile than boxers, and Careau's team found that poodles are four times more likely than boxers to live past age 10.

Beyond simply looking at aggressiveness, the researchers also found that the most obedient breeds, such as German shepherds, poodles, and bichon frises, live considerably longer than hard-to-train dogs such as beagles and pomeranians, according to New Scientist. Careau used personality data based on a 1995 psychology study that ranked dog personalities, the New York Times reports, and also compared dogs of similar size.

Call it karma, or a mere accident of selective breeding, but for dogs, it seems, it pays to be good.

From chihuahuas to bulldogs to giant Great Danes, dogs come in a dizzying assortment of shapes and sizes. That makes them all too perfect for scientists who study how genes work.

In a recent essay in the scientific journal PLoS Biology, researchers from the National Human Genome Institute wrote about the major advances in understanding how dog genes translate to the rainbow of traits that make up the modern pooch.

More than 300 dog breeds are known around the world, including the 170 official American Kennel Club breeds. For hundreds of years, dog breeders have accidentally been creating a perfect model for studying genetics. Now science is reaping the benefits.

Not surprisingly, dogs of a single breed share many genetic similarities, according to the essay. A poodle has more genes in common with another poodle than it does with a border collie. By comparing genetic differences within breeds and between them, scientists can tease apart how genes control different traits, from short legs to a predisposition for disease.

The geneticists explain in their essay that dog breeds fall into five major groups: ancient and Asian dogs; hunting dogs and gun dogs; mastiffs and terriers; herding dogs and sight hounds; and mountain dogs. Dogs from a single cluster often share ancient genetic variations.

Dogs share many diseases with humans, so this kind of research is important for people as well as pooches. "Study of variation in dog species... help us hone in on the genomic factors for traits shared across species, including analogs for diseases that occur in the human population," the essay's senior author, Elaine Ostrander, told Live Science.

In other words, scientists have figured out what the rest of us pet lovers have known all along: Dogs are man's best friend.

How does anyone find a dog? Impulse? Research? Trial and error? Blind luck? Fate?

My fiancée Anna and I are looking to adopt a dog. We currently share a postage stamp-sized one-bedroom walk-up in the NYC border town of Hoboken, New Jersey with Nora, a cuddly, who-you-callin'-obese, 10-year-old tuxedo cat. (She and I have the same birthday, May 29.)

Over the next few months, we will navigate some serious life changes and first time experiences, starting with our wedding. Then we plan to add to the drama by expanding our little family to include a dog or a puppy, which may well necessitate expanding our domicile.

From a canine perspective, we come from opposite backgrounds. Anna always had dogs growing up -- a Springer Spaniel, a Westie, a mutt and an English Bulldog -- while I never had house pets (my mom said she was allergic). Both of us feel ready and capable of caring for a dog, but what will be the best breed for us, and how will we find him or her?

By visiting shelters and breeders and speaking with friends and experts, we offer ourselves up as guinea pigs in this process, deconstructing and reporting the ups and downs of our quest for man's best friend. Every week I'll report back with stories about our search.

This week, the basics: Anna wants a smart, well-behaved pup who's good around kids, while I'm hoping for a friendly, small bugger who is not hyperactive or prone to barking.

Then again, who knows? We may just meet a puppy personality that's extraordinary enough to make us toss our preconceived ideas into the trash.

In any case, we'd love your input. How did you go about finding your dog, and was it a successful match?