Extreme K9s 101!

Today's extreme K9 is Boo, literally the cutest dog in the world!

"He has nearly two million fans and a book deal. But Boo isn't a reality

TV star, actor or a pop singer - he's a pet dog.

The five-year-old Pomeranian has the fame most celebrities dream of after amassing 1.79million fans on social networking site Facebook.

And Boo is also a hit with the ladies. He attracted the attention of Hollywood stars including Khloe Kardashian, who posted a picture of the dog on her blog last year and singer Ke$ha, who Tweeted that Boo was 'her new boyfriend.'

Since then, Boo's Facebook page, launched in 2009, has gone viral,

receiving thousands of

new fans a day.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2040461/Boo-Pomeranian-Worlds-cutest-dog-millions-Facebook-fans-book.html#ixzz1fEhb2kUn"

With his own book out and photos gone wild, Boo has definitely made an appearance in loads of people's lives!

Also check out this adorable vid of Boo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DryVmGDArTY#!

Article and pics from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2040461/Boo-Pomeranian-Worlds-cutest-dog-millions-Facebook-fans-book.html\

Bark out the Facts!

Today's awesome fact is...

"Mosaics, meaning "Beware the Dog," would be found on doorsteps in ancient Roman cities."

Fact from: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/anphys/2000/hatfield/hatfield8.htm

Pic from: http://www.dogsofpompeii.com/tour.php

Bone Appetit!

Today's rockin' dog recipe are Barkin' for Brownies!

"Ingredients:

1 1/4 lbs Beef liver or chicken liver

2 C Wheat germ

2 T Whole wh

eat flour

1 C Cooked barley

2 Whole eggs

3 T Peanut butter

1 Clove garlic

1 T Olive oil

1 t Salt (optional)

Directions:

Pre heat oven to 350.

Liquify liver and garlic clove in a blender, when its smooth add eggs and peanut butter. Blend till smooth.

In separate mixing bowl combine wheat germ, whole wheat flour, and cooked Barley. Add processed liver mixture, olive oil and salt. Mix well.

spread mixture in a greased 9x9 baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or till done.

When cool cut into pieces that accommodate your doggies size.

Store in refrigerator or freezer."

Recipe from: http://www.thepoop.com/pooppantry/barkin_brownies.asp

(sorry no pic available)

Crazy Dawgs!

"I am not moving until my limo comes to pick me up!"

Pic from: http://critteristic.com/dogs-and-puppies/what-kind-of-face-will-i-make-today/

Atlases!

Atlas Terriers are the bomb. Now, check out some facts about them!

#1. "The Atlas Terrier is an off shoot of the Jack Russell Terrier, one difference being they can be solid in color. The Atlas Terrier can come in any color, including "merles" and "brindles", they can not have more that 15% of white, which will allow for a white collar, toes, facial blaze and chest. The Atlas Terrier comes in two coat varieties, smooth and wire."

#2. "Tail docking is optional as well, but an undocked tail must curl completely over the back and must fall below the body top line. A docked tail must be carried high above the body top line."

#3. "The skull is flat between the ears, then tapering."

#4. "Eyes are almond-shaped eyes, and can be solid, marbled or cracked with any of the following colors: Brown, Amber, Yellow, Green, Hazel, Cobalt, Glass."

#5. "The v-shaped ears fold forward."

#6. "The neck is strong well set, and of decent length, the body is tapering, with a "sleeve" like chest, the hind end is powerful, well angulated."

#7. "The coat is a thick, loose skinned and weather resistant, without a good coat a terrier is very susceptible to the elements, above and below ground."

#8. "The Atlas Terrier is a dog built for athleticism, speed, and flexibility."

#9. "A pliable chest is of utmost importance, any other will have difficulty functioning underground."

#10. "They are highly motivated, extremely willing, and incredibly intelligent."

#11. "Much like the Jack Russell, the Atlas Terrier is an outgoing, devilish, merry, devoted, and loving dog."

#12. "Spirited and obedient, yet absolutely fearless."

#13. "Careful and amusing, he enjoys games and playing with toys."

#14. "An Atlas terrier will enjoy playing with your children as long as the playing stays "friendly" and the dog does not start to fear for it's safety and or see himself above the kids in the pecking order."

#15. "They are extremely intelligent, and will enjoy trying to outsmart their owners at every turn, they will test the boundaries and push the limits, owners need to be on their toes."

#16. "Much to their delight, they will enjoy training their owners, but such can lead to tragic events if the owner can not safely keep this pooch under control."

#17. "This means staying the dog's calm, but firm, confident and consistent pack leader at all times. Do not allow this breed to take over your home or you will experience many behavior issues. Careful not to treat them as if they were little humans. Learn canine instincts and treat them accordingly."

#18. "The Atlas breed is less dominant than it's Jack Russell cousin, but can get into tiffs with other dogs if they are challenged."

#19. "Early socialization and an owner who displays natural authority can help suppress this behavior."

#20. "They have a high prey drive and small cute fuzzy critters will perk their interest. As the terrier mentally matures the hunting instinct will also grow, having potential victims as pets is best if they are kept separated."

#21. "They like to chase and explore EVERYTHING, Be careful not to let them off the lead unless they are very well-trained."

#22. "Atlas Terriers like to bark, dig, and chew, especially if bored, or ignored."

#23. "Atlas Terrier climb, which means they can climb over a fence, they also jump."

#24. "The RIGHT owner for an Atlas Terrier is capable of giving direction, knows how to set boundaries, and won't mind doing daily physical and mental exercise with the dog. Problems will arise if an owner does not provide the proper amount of exercise and or leadership."

#25. "Height: Toy 9-11 inches (23-28 cm.)

Weight: Toy 6-12 pounds 2.7-5.4 kg.)"

#26. "Height: Mini's 11-13 inches (28-33 cm.)

Weight: Mini's 10-15 pounds (4.6-6.9 kg.)"

#27. "Height: Standards 13-15 inches (33-38 cm.)

Weight: Standards 13-18 pounds (6-8 kg.)"

#28. "What makes the Atlas so special is the extreme controlled breeding program used to create this breed, all originating dogs used where health tested, as much as modernly possible and they were monitored well into their senior years as longevity was a concern as well. To this day no major health problems have been detected."

#29. "The Atlas Terrier will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are very active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. If the Atlas Terrier is kept in an apartment, the dog should have a person home with it during the day unless the dog is crate trained. Even then, the owner better expect to get some exercise or be pestered to death for belly rubs and tug of war games when he/she gets home."

#30. "Like the Jack Russell, the Atlas terrier will exercise, and amuse themselves in a yard, but without supervision their choice of activity my not be to your liking, they thrive on being your shot gun buddy and anywhere you go, they would like to be with you. They need to be taken on long daily walks. They excel in active sports, like agility, flyball, & racing. We like to say that a tired Atlas is a well exercised owner."

#31. "Life Expectancy: About 15 or more years."

#32. "The Atlas Terrier comes in two coat varieties, smooth and wire. Neither are high maintenance coats. Special grooming is not required on your wire coated dogs, unlike a Wire Fox Terrier, this coat is hard, and lays flat to the body. Routine brushing and combing and occasional bathing will keep them in good coat condition, and reduce shedding."

#33. "The Atlas Terrier is a by product of the Jack Russell Terrier, The JRT originated by crossing many terrier breeds together, the base breed being Fox Terrier, and The Old English White Terrier (now extinct), but other solid colored breeds such as Border Terrier, Lakelands, and Manchester where crossed in as well, The Parson himself kept a ole black and tan stud in his kennel, in the day of the Parson, many dogs used for breeding where based solely on their working ability, color and conformation where often given little consideration.

In our modern day society, very few dogs are used for the original tasked they where bred for, and breeding for "LOOKS" became the primary importance, with the standard for the JRT being a mostly solid white colored dog, dogs born of solid or excessive coloring where either culled at birth or given away as none breedable dogs.

The gene that causes the predominant white coloration does have it's price, and like other spotted white dog breeds, the JRT has become effected with deafness, it was out of this concern that the Atlas Terrier was born, it's solid coloration greatly reduces the chance of deafness."

Info and pics from: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/atlasterrier.htm

Deerhounds!

Scottish Deerhounds are so awesome so why don't you have a look at some facts about them!

#1. "The Scottish Deerhound is tall and slim appearing to be a rough-coated Greyhound, but

larger and bigger boned."

#2. "The head is flat and broad between the

ears."

#3. "The nose is black and sometimes blue on blue-fawn dogs."

#4. "The teeth meet in a level bite."

#5. "The eyes are dark, either brown, or hazel with black eye rims."

#6. "The ears are high set, folded back like a greyhound. When the dog gets excited the ears are half-perked."

#7. "The chest is deep not broad but not too narrow."

#8. "The front legs are straight."

#9. "The tail is long, carried low, almost touching the ground."

#10. "The wiry coat is 3-4 inch (7-10 cm.) longer and harsher on the body, neck, beard, mustache and mane and is shorter and softer on the head, chest and belly. Coat colors include shades of blue gray, gray, brindle and black, yellow and sandy red or red fawn, sometimes with black ears and muzzle. There is sometimes a little white on the chest, feet and tail."

#11. "The Scottish Deerhound is a gentle, well-mannered dog."

#12. "They are polite and affectionate."

#13. "Loving, friendly and excellent with children."

#14. "Very courageous and dignified, devoted and loyal, but they are not watch or guard dogs, for they just love everyone."

#15. "They need a firm, consistent, confident pack leader who knows how to display calm, but stern authority over the dog or they will be willful at times and slow to obey commands."

#16. "Although friendly with other dogs, they should not be trusted with non-canine pets."

#17. "Scottish Deerhounds are quiet and rarely ever bark."

#18. "Height: 28-32 inches (71-81 cm.)"

#19. "Weight: 75-110 pounds (34-50 kg.)"

#20. "The Scottish Deerhound is prone to bloat. It is wise to feed them 2 or 3 small meals a day rather then one big one. Avoid vigorous exercise right after the dog has eaten a big meal."

#21. "Scottish Deerhounds can do ok in an in apartment if they are sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors. If they are taken for walks they can live without a yard, but does best with a large fenced yard."

#22. "This is a very active breed who needs to be taken on a daily, long walk or jog, making an excellent jogging companion. Always keep in mind that they have an instinct to chase. Do not let them off lead in an unsafe area."

#23. "Life Expectancy: An average of under 10 years."

#24. "The harsh, wiry coat needs extensive grooming. Some trimming and stripping is required, but little skill is needed. This breed is an average shedder."

#25. "Closely related to the Greyhound, the Scottish Deerhound was once known as the Scotch Greyhound, Rough Greyhound and Highland Deerhound. In Scotland it became a district breed in the 16th and 17th centuries and was given the name Scottish Deerhound, and the rough coat was bred in to adapt to the rough climate. They were used as deer hunting dogs for Scottish tribes in the Middle Ages. They became known as the royal dog of Scotland and no one ranking below earl was permitted to own one. Queen Victoria and Sir Walter Scott owned Scottish Deerhounds. With their strict ownership rules the dogs were not very populated in number and took an even harder hit almost to extinction when man invented the gun and the dogs were no longer needed to bring down deer. Two brothers by the name of Archibald and Duncan McNeill saved the breed in the 1800s when they started a breeding program. Once again in Britain during World War II, like many breeds the dogs fell very low in numbers. It was very difficult to feed the large dogs, and many people destroyed them for food. Along with their great sight, the Scottish Deerhound also has a very fine sense of smell. Some of the Deerhounds talents include: hunting, sighting, tracking, racing, agility and lure coursing."

Info and pics from: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/scottishdeerhound.htm

Irish Wolfhounds!

Irish Wolfhounds are so cool so why don't you have a look at some facts about them!

#1. "The Irish Wolfhound is a giant sized dog, one of the tallest breeds in the world, reaching the size of a small pony."

#2. "The head is long and the skull is not too broad."

#3. "The small ears are carried back against the head when the dog is relaxed and part way pricked when the dog is excited."

#4. "The neck is long, strong and well arched."

#5. "The chest is wide and deep."

#6. "The long tail hangs down and is slightly curved."

#7. "The legs are long and strong."

#8. "The feet are round, with well arched toes."

#9. "The wiry, shaggy coat is rough to the touch on the head, body and legs and longer over the eyes and under the jaw. Coat colors include gray, brindle, red, black, pure white or fawn, with gray being the most common."

#10. "Irish Wolfhounds are sweet-tempered, patient, kind, thoughtful and very intelligent."

#11. "Excellent and can be trusted with children."

#12. "Willing and eager to please, they are unconditionally loyal to their owner and family."

#13. "They tend to greet everyone as a friend, so do not count on them being a watch dog, but may be a deterrent simply due to its size."

#14. "This giant breed can be clumsy and are slow to mature in both body and mind, taking about two years before they are full grown. However, they grow rapidly and high-quality food is essential."

#15. "While it is important to take a growing pup for daily walks for their mental well being, hard exercise should not be forced and may be too taxing for this dog's body when it is young. Teach it not to pull on its leash before it gets too strong."

#16. "The Irish Wolfhound is relatively easy to train."

#17. "It responds well to firm, but gentle, consistent, leadership. This approach with plenty of canine understanding will go a long way because this dog quickly grasps what you intend."

#18. "Make sure the young dog is given as much self-confidence as possible and that you are always consistent with it, so that it grows into an equable, confident dog."

#19. "This calm dog gets along well with other dogs. This is also true with other animals."

#20. "Height: 28-35 inches (71-90 cm.)"

#21. "Weight: 90-150 pounds (40-69 kg.)"

#22. "The Irish Wolfhound can reach up to 7 feet tall when standing on his hind legs."

#23. "Prone to cardiomyopathy, bone cancer, bloat, PRA, Von Willebrands, and hip dysplasia."

#24. "The Irish Wolfhound is not recommended for apartment life. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least a large yard. This is a giant breed that needs some space. They may not fit well in a small compact car."

#25. "They need to be part of the family and would be very unhappy in a kennel. Being sighthounds, they will chase and so need a secure, fenced area for exercise."

#26. "These giant dogs need lots of space to run, but do not need any more exercise than smaller breeds. They need a daily walk where the dog is made to heel beside or behind the human holding the lead. Never in front. Like many other giant breeds it is important to remember that too much forced, vigorous exercise is not good for a young dog's growth and development, so watch your puppy for any signs, but they still instinctually need a daily walk."

#27. "Life Expectancy: About 6-8 years."

#28. "The rough, medium-length coat needs regular and thorough grooming with a brush and comb. This with keep the coat in good condition. About once or twice a year pluck the coat to remove excess dead hair. This breed is an average shedder."

#29. "The Irish Wolfhound's name originates from is use as a wolf hunter, and not from its appearance. This is a very old breed with Roman records dating as far back as 391 AD. They were used in wars, and for guarding herds and property and for hunting Irish elk, deer, boar, and wolves. They were held in such high esteem that battles were fought over them. Irish Wolfhounds were often given as royal presents. Boar and wolf became extinct in Ireland and as a result the Irish Wolfhound declined in population. A British army officer by the name of Captain George Graham bred them in the second half of the 19th century. The breed was restored by the introduction of Great Dane and Deerhound blood. The Irish Wolfhound Club was founded in 1885 and it was recognized by the AKC in 1897. In 1902 a hound was first presented to the Irish Guards as a mascot. It was recognized by the Kennel Club as a sporting breed in 1925. The Irish Wolfhound Society was founded in 1981."

Info and pics from: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/irishwolfhound.htm

Danes!

Great Danes are so awesome so why don't you have a look at some cool facts about them!

#1. "The Great Dane is a giant, powerful dog."

#2. "Square in body, but females may be slightly longer than tall."

#3. "The long head is rectangular in shape."

#4. "The nose is black, blue/black on blue Danes or black spotted on the harlequins."

#5. "The dark, deep-set eyes are medium in size."

#6. "The medium sized ears are set high and either cropped or left natural. If left in their natural state they are folded forward hanging close to the cheek. When cropped they stand erect and are large in proportion to the rest of the head."

#7. "The well arched neck is set-high, firm and muscular."

#8. "The front legs are perfectly straight."

#9. "The feet are round with dark toenails."

#10. "The tail is set high, thicker at the base and tapering to a point."

#11. "The coat is short and thick. Colors come in brindle, fawn, black, blue, mantle harlequin and sometimes merle. Although not a recognized color, chocolate does occur in a recessive gene. Merle is a common result of harlequin breeding, but it is not a recognized color."

#12. "The Great Dane has a good disposition, often called a "gentle giant"."

#13. "Charming and affectionate, they are playful and patient with children."

#14. "They love everyone and need to be around people."

#15. "The Great Dane does not bark much and only becomes aggressive when the circumstances require it."

#16. "They are reliable, trustworthy and dependable."

#17. "Courageous and loyal, they are good watchdogs."

#18. "The Great Dane does not stay little for long and consistent training and rules should start right from puppyhood."

#19. "This giant dog should be taught not to jump or lean on people."

#20. "The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success."

#21. "Dogs who know their place below humans in the pack order will be good with children."

#22. "If you are not a firm, confident, consistent pack leader who knows how to correct the dog when he is showing signs of aggression, the dog can be dog-aggressive. Owners who know how to properly handle their dogs will not have this issue."

#23. "Height: Dogs 30-34 inches (76-86 cm.)

Bitches 28-32 inches (71-81 cm.)"

#24. "Weight: Dogs 120-200 pounds (54-90 kg.)

Bitches 100-130 pounds (45-59 kg.)"

"Note: Dogs of even larger size are more prized."

#25. "Prone to hip dysplasia, bloat, heart disease, tumors and tail injuries. Jogging is not recommended until the dog is at least one year old, but walking is necessary. Not a long lived breed."

#26. "The Great Dane will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is relatively inactive indoors and does best with at least a large yard."

#27. "The Great Dane needs plenty of exercise. They need to be taken on a daily long walk."

#28. "Life Expectancy: The average is under 10 years, however some can live to be 12-13 years old."

#29. "The smooth short-haired coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush and dry shampoo when necessary. Bathing this giant is a major chore, so it pays to avoid the need by daily grooming. The nails must be kept trimmed. This breed is an average shedder."

#30. "The Great Dane is a very old breed, known as the "Apollo of all dogs.". Dogs resembling the Great Dane have appeared on Greek money dating back to 36 B.C. There are also drawling's of these dogs on Egyptian monuments from roughly 3000 B.C. The earliest writings of dogs that sounded like Great Danes were in Chinese literature dating back to 1121 B.C. In 407 A.D. German Gaul and part of Italy and Spain were invaded by an Asiatic people (the Alans) who brought with them powerful mastiff-like dogs. They were admired for their ability to bring down bear and wild boar. The dogs were thought to have been Wolfhound mixed with the old English Mastiff. With selective breeding the Greyhound was added in to create the Great Dane. Besides being used as a hunter, they were also used as estate guard dogs. Despite the fact that they are called Danes in English, they have nothing to do with Denmark. The Great Dane was recognized in 1887. Some of the Great Dane's talents are tracking, watchdog and carting."

Info and pics from: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/greatdane.htm

Argentinos!

Dogo Argentinos are so cool so why don't you have a look at some facts about them!

#1. "The Dogo Argentino is also called the Argentinian Mastiff or Argentine Dogo."

#2. "It is a large, well muscled dog."

#3. "The deep-set chest is wide."

#4. "There is an abundance of skin on the muscular neck."

#5. "The head is massive with a rounded shape from front to the back."

#6. "The jaws are strong."

#7. "The teeth should meet in a scissors bite."

#8. "The nose is black."

#9. "The eyes are set well apart, and are dark brown, light brown or hazel in color. The rims of the eyes should be pink or black."

#10. "The ears are set high and are usually cropped to make them stand erect, and triangular in shape."

#11. "The thighs are very muscular with a short hock."

#12. "The thick tail is long and carried naturally low reaching the hock."

#13. "The thick, glossy coat is white and has no undercoat. While not accepted in all clubs, sometimes the Dogo Argentino can have a black spot on the head known as "pirata". This trait in the Dogo´s coat is accepted by Federacion Cinologica Argentina."

#14. "The Argentine Dogo is a loyal dog who makes a great guardian of the home and family."

#15. "Playful and very good with children, giving kisses and cuddling."

#16. "Highly intelligent and powerful, Dogos are easy to train if you are consistent, using loving but firm authority."

#17. "The Argentine Dogo is not a breed for everyone. With the right owners even the more dominant Dogos can be submissive towards all humans and other animals. This breed needs someone who understands how to display leadership. Humans who are firm, confident, and consistent, this breed needs rules he must follow and limits to what he is and is not allowed to do. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. When you put this breed with a meek or passive owner, problems may arise as the dog will feel he needs to, "save his pack" and run the show."

#18. "Adult Dogos can be aggressive with other dogs however, the Dogo does not usually provoke the confrontation but may if he senses another dog who is unstable."

#19. "The breed needs an owner who can tell the Dogo it is not his job to put another dog in his place."

#20. "They are good with other pets if they are raised with them from puppyhood."

#21. "This white mastiff needs early socialization with other animals."

#22. "It also requires early obedience training."

#23. "Height: 24-27 inches (61- 69cm.)"

#24. "Weight: 80-100 pounds (36- 45kg.)"

#25. "This breed will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised and does best with at least an average-sized yard. Be sure to bring the Dogo inside when temperatures drop below freezing."

#26. "Give this dog plenty of exercise. They need to be taken on a daily, long walk or jog."

#27. "Life Expectancy: About 10-12 years."

#28. "The single white coat is very easy to care for. Brush occasionally. Keep nails trimmed. They have no doggy odor. This breed is an average shedder."

#29. "In the 1920's the Argentine Dogo was developed in Argentina by two Argentinians, Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez and his brother Agustin. The brothers wanted an ideal companion dog that was also a good pack hunter and guardian. The breeds that were used in the development were the Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Pointer, Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Bulldog, Bull Terrier and a now extinct mastiff-type breed called the Dog of Cordoba. The result was a bullish, fearless hunter who also had great stamina. The white coat deflected the heat rather than absorb it. Unfortunately the breed earned a bad reputation in Britain when people started using the dogs for dog fighting, which is an activity still popular in many parts of South America and elsewhere. Rather than go after the dog fighters Britain has enacted a national legislation to control dogs in public. The Dangerous Dogs Act which came about in 1991 totally bans the three breeds Fila Brazileiro, Dogo Argentino and Japanese Tosa. A fourth breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier, is allowed but is heavily restricted. The dogs must be registered, neutered, tattooed, microchipped and owners have to carry insurance. The dog cannot be bred or imported and when in public it must be muzzled, leashed and handled by a person over 16 years of age at all times. This is a real shame. When properly raised these are all great dogs. A dog is what the master makes of it. Not all breeds are for everyone. People teach these dogs to fight giving them a bad name. Banning the breed is not the way to solve the problem. Some of the Argentine Dogo's talents are hunting, tracking, watchdog, guarding, police work, narcotics detection, military work, guide for the blind, competitive obedience, and schutzhund."

Info and pics from: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/dogo.htm

Ask Annabel ~ Appenzells!

Appenzell Mountain Dogs are so cool so why don't you have a look at some facts about them!

#1. "The Appenzell Mountain Dog is also called the "Appenzeller," the "Appenzell Cattle Dog," and the "Appenzeller Sennenhund."

#2. "It is a muscular but not massive dog."

#3. "A well-built and hardy animal, it is a versatile working dog."

#4. "It has a wide, flat head with a muzzle that narrows towards a black nose."

#5. "The eyes are small and dark and the ears are pendant."

#6. "Its tail is carried rolled up on its back."

#7. "Its limbs are straight."

#8. "The Appenzell's short double coat is considerably tight, thick and glossy. The basic colors are black or brown with symmetrical white and rust markings. A white blaze and rust marking over the eyes must be present on the head. Rust is always between the black and the white."

#9. "Charming and affectionate, tough, sober, brave, intelligent, and lively, the Appenzell usually gets along well with other dogs and mixes well with livestock and household animals if it has become used to them while still young."

#10. "They are rather unsure of strangers but greet family and friends effusively."

#11. "A well brought up Appenzell Mountain Dog who understands his lower place in the human pack is fine with children."

#12. "Loyal to the whole family, but tends to bond closely with one person."

#13. "They respond best to firm, but consistent, even-tempered training."

#14. "Socialize this dog well with all kinds of situations, people and other animals."

#15. "Appenzells learn quickly, partly because they are so intelligent, but also because they really want to have something to do."

#16. "This breed enjoys the outdoors, loving freedom and open spaces to run."

#17. "Agility skill trials and games of catch are suitable sports for this breed."

#18. "Potential problems arise when owners are not the dogs firm, confident, consistent pack leader displaying the proper authority over the dog. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success."

#19. "They need to be taken for a daily walk or jog to release mental and physical energy."

#20. "Lack of leadership and or lack of mental and physical exercise can cause a wide variety of behavioral issues including but not limited to obsessive barking, over protectiveness/ guarding, destructiveness, and a high-strung, neurotic temperament."

#21. "This working dog is not going to happily lay around your home like a couch potato. They do best when given a job to do. If you do not provide this for them, they will take it upon themselves to find a job and it will not be something you like."

#22. "This breed makes a good watchdog."

#23. "These are great dogs for the active outdoor type."

#24. "Height: Dogs 22-23 inches (56-58.5 cm.)

Bitches 18-20 inches (46-50 cm.)"

#25. "Weight: 49-70 pounds (22-32 kg.)"

#26. "The Appenzell Mountain Dog is a fairly healthy breed."

#27. "The Appenzell Mountain Dog is not recommended for apartment life. They prefer to live outdoors and should have acreage where they can run free - such as a farm. Appenzells who do not have acreage, need extra attention to their mental and physical exercise needs. They like to bark, so they are not suited for areas with close neighbors, however giving them the proper amount of leadership and exercise can lesson their urge to bark."

#28. "The Appenzell does not belong in a busy urban environment or in the suburbs if you are not a very active jogging/fast walking type. It does best when it can live on a farm where it has room to run. Its strong herding instincts keep it from running off. It prefers to be outdoors and closely bonds with its territory. If it is not used as a working farm dog it must be taken for really long daily walks or jogs. If you can find work for the Appenzell and provide the leadership all dogs instinctually crave, it will be completely happy."

#29. "Life Expectancy: About 12-13 years."

#30. "The Appenzell's straight-haired double coat is easy to care for and requires little attention. Just remove the dead hairs with a rubber brush from time to time."

#31. "There are two theories concerning the origin of the Appenzell Mountain Dog. One, that it is a native breed dating back to the Bronze Age, the other: it descended from the Molossus and was brought into Switzerland by the Romans. In any case it is one of the four Swiss Sennenhunds. The Appenzell is the rarest of the four. It is an outstanding herd dog. Tireless and surefooted in the mountains. It is also adaptable to pulling a cart and is used to bring milk and cheese from the valleys to the merchants in town. It does not have a lazy bone in its body. When it is not working with the herd, it will guard its master's property with a natural enthusiasm."

Info and pics from: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/appenzell.htm

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Make sure you and your pooches have a holiday filled with giving, thanks, and love.

Sniffing for readers,

Annabel

Pic from: http://www.yeepet.com/blogs/Cute-Last-Minute-Ideas-for-Pet-Thanksgiving-Costumes-2385

Extreme K9s 101!

Today's extreme K9 is Shane!

"When Kamata hears the tsunami alert in the coastal city of Sendai, he doesn't evacuate immediately. Instead, he decides to visit his neighbors to warn them of the coming peril. Kamata puts his Akita dog, Shane, in the yard so they can leave as soon as he returns. But later, as he heads home, the tsunami smashes the city, blocking his path. Kamata is forced to flee to higher ground, to a school that serves as a shelter. He fears he'll never see Shane again.

Six hours later, another survivor tells Kamata that a dog is waiting outside the school. Kamata goes to look: It's Shane! Miraculously, the pooch swam through the tsunami and found Kamata, even though Shane had never been to the school. The minor cuts on his legs--- probably from climbing onto floating debris during his swim--- don't bother the dog as he runs to his owner."

Article from: November 2011 issue, p.20, Tsunami heroes section

Pic from: http://www.globalanimal.org/2011/03/28/global-animals-donate-27000-so-far-to-japan-animal-rescue/33925/

Bark out the Facts!

Today's rockin' fact is...

"The longer a dog’s nose, the more effective it’s internal cooling system."

Fact from: http://www.animalsneedhelp.com/2008/04/20/102-interesting-facts-about-dogs/

Pic from: http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/blog/nose-work-1-introduction-nose-games/

Bone Appetit!

Today's awesome doggy recipe are Pumpkin Cookies!

"Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup pumpkin, canned

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

4 tablespoons Crisco

1 whole egg

1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, cinnamon and nutmeg and cut in shortening. Beat egg with milk and pumpkin and combine with flour, mixing well. Stir until soft dough forms. Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool and serve."

Recipe from: http://www.thepoop.com/pooppantry/

Pic from: http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/100863413/Pumpkin_Cookie_For_Dog/showimage.html

(Sorry not real pic of cookies)

Crazy Dawgs!

"Quick! Everybody get in! California here we come!"

Pic from: http://critteristic.com/dogs-and-puppies/white-dog-mania/

Extreme K9s 101!

Today's Extreme K9 is Mtani the Labrador retriever!

"Tampa Bay, Florida:

Whenever Kasi the cheetah wants Mtani's attention, he chirps like a baby bird. Mtani responds by chasing Kasi's tail. "They absolutely love spending time together," says zoologist Mike Boos of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, where the friends live.

The animals were introduced shortly after Kasi was abandoned by his mother. The baby cheetah was sad and alone, so caretakers found him a pal. They brought Mtani from an animal shelter and began supervising playdates for the pair. Now Kasi and Mtani spend most of their days cuddling, rolling around in the grass of the park's cheetah habitat, and playing tug-a-war with stuffed animal toys. They even share a large pillow when they snooze, with Kasi often falling asleep right on top of Mtani! If the cheetah is separated from his Lab friend, he chirps until the dog returns. Luckily, the buddies have a lot of together time in their future: They've started traveling the country with their keepers, helping teach people about endangered animals such as cheetahs. Says Boos, "The two will be friends for life."

Article from: National Geographic Kids Nov. 2011 issue, p. 6, Incredible Animal Friends section

Pics from: http://www.roritravel.com/?p=2835

Bark out the Facts!

Today's cool fact is...

"Dogs have two times as many muscles to move their ears as people."

Fact from: http://www.animalsneedhelp.com/2008/04/20/102-interesting-facts-about-dogs/

Pic from: http://www.caninest.com/dog-ear-types/

Bone Appetit!

Here's an awesome Thanksgiving recipe that will seriously have your dogs wanting this holiday every week!

"Step One:

Prepare your mise en place. In this case, I took the usual Thanksgiving suspects: turkey, sweet potato, a carrot, some heels of bread used for stuffing, some bacon for garnish, some chicken jerky, and Honest Kitchen Preference for a little green.

Step two:

Assemble the layers using the technique described in the chicken parfait. I layered as follows: turkey, Preference, turkey, sweet potato, Preference, bread.

Step Three:

Decorate! I used sweet potato slices for wings, some chicken jerky treats for the head, bacon for the tail, and a carrot for the beak. I have some peanut butter Kong filling that I used to glue on the beak and make eyes. Easy peasy.

Remove bacon. (Since bacon is a high fat food and a common precursor to Thanksgiving pancreatitis, I reserve this one as ‘garnish only.’) Carve up parfait (best done with a spoon) to the dogs who have suddenly learned the meaning of Thanksgiving gratefulness."

I hope this great recipe makes your dogs really understand pure joy on this special holiday!

Pic from: http://www.doggiestylish.com/store/blog/2010/11/make-a-turkey-thanksgiving-feast-for-your-dog/

Recipe from: http://pawcurious.com/2010/11/the-pawcurean-presents-turbacon/

Crazy Dawgs!

"UGH! I can't even look at you. We're over!"

Pic from: http://critteristic.com/dogs-and-puppies/of-george-and-his-winning-smile/

Extreme K9s 101!

Today's Extreme K9 is Puggy the Pekingese!

"How do you know Puggy the Pekingese likes you? He might give you a playful slap with his tongue. Measuring four and a half inches, Puggy's record-length tongue is about as long as a soda can and often hangs out of his mouth. People aren't quite sure what to make of him. "Once someone thought he had a frog in his mouth," owner Becky Stanford says. But despite his difference, Puggy's just like any other dog--- he just might take a little longer to chew his food."

Article from: Nation Geographic Kids Nov. 2011 issue, p.10, Guinness World Records section

Pic from: http://www.ohmidog.com/2010/09/20/guinness-recognizes-longest-dog-tongue/

Bark out the Facts!

Today's cool fact is...

"Up until the late 1800’s, Collies were known as Scottish Sheepdogs."

Fact from: http://www.animalsneedhelp.com/2008/04/20/102-interesting-facts-about-dogs/

Pic from: http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Collie/

Bone Appetit!

Today's awesome doggy recipe is the Peanut Butter Delight Cake!

"1 cup white or whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup shredded carrots

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup honey

1 egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)

Mix together flour and baking soda. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour into a ring mold sprayed with a nonstick spray for 40 minutes.

Frost this cake with low fat cottage cheese and decorate with carrot pieces. Store in refrigerator."

Recipe and pics from: http://www.dog-treat-recipe-exchange.com/dog-birthday-cake-recipes

Crazy Dawgs!

"OOOOO!!! I should have kept the stuffing to a minimum."

Pic from: http://localism.com/neighbor/woltal?page=121

Extreme K9s 101!

Today's Extreme K9 is Buddy!

"Buddy and his owner, 23-year-old Ben Heinrichs, were in the family workshop on the Caswell Lakes property April 4 when a heater ignited chemicals.

Heinrichs, who sustained minor flash burns on his face, dashed out as the fire grew. He then told Buddy "we need to get help."

The dog took off and eventually found a trooper responding to a call about the fire. Buddy led the officer through winding back roads to the house and the trooper guided firefighters to the scene."

Story from: http://mysmelly.com/content/dogs/dog-intelligence-amazing-stories-speak-for-themselves.htm

Pic from: http://www.alaboon.com/fire_safety_unit_fire_prevention.htm

Bark out the Facts!

Today's cool fact is...

"The Wizard of Oz’s Toto was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry."

Fact from: http://www.animalsneedhelp.com/2008/04/20/102-interesting-facts-about-dogs/

Pic from: http://fixnation.org/2011/05/toto-wizard-of-oz-fixnation-hollywood-forever/

Bone Appetit!

Sorry for the late posting! Anyway, today's dog recipes are Homemade Dog Treat Recipe Bacon Bits for Dogs!

"Ingredients:

6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

4 eggs, well beaten

1/8 cup bacon fat

1 cup water

1/2 cup non-fat dry milk powder

2 cup graham flour

2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup cornmeal

Directions:

Mix ingredients with a strong spoon; drop heaping tablespoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake in a 350 oven for 15 minutes. Turn off oven and leave cookies on baking sheet in the oven overnight to dry out. Yield: about 4 dozen dog cookies."

Recipe from: http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/Recipes/Recipes.htm

(sorry no pic available)

Crazy Dawgs!

"Dog Wars."

Pic from: http://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/18-dogs-that-look-like-chewbacca