Dog Breeds

A Black Scottish Terrier

Weight: 17-22 lbs

Height: 10 inches

Length: 11 inches

Coat: Short and Wiry on top; soft undercoat

Color: Black, Brindle, Weaten

Appearance

Scottish Terriers are a short, stocky breed, with a muscular body and an often appear barrel chested. They have large paws adapted for digging, erect ears and an erect tail.

Temperament

Scottish Terriers are great family dogs that are known for being alert, quick, feisty, independent, self-assured, playful, intelligent, and determined. Their stubborn nature can make them tricky to train, but so long as they are given a gentle hand when young, they are very trainable and make great house dogs. Originally bred to hunt and fight badgers, they have a strong prey drive towards small vermin (squirrels, rats, mice, etc.) and will need to be kept on a leash when walked. Their determination is seen in everything from digging to working over a bully stick.

Health

Scottie's don't have any congenital health problems like some breeds, though they have shown a predisposition towards some types of cancers. With few if any physical issues, they often live to be upwards of 15 years old.

Famous Scottie's and Scottie Owners

Franklin D. Roosevelt – Fala, Duffy, Mr. Duffy

Humphrey Bogart

Shirley Temple

Bette Davis

George W. Bush – Barney, Miss Beazley

Ronald Reagan

Jock – Lady and the Tramp

In light of the election being less than a month away, I thought it prudent to look at the history of some of the most beloved inhabitants of the White House – the Presidential Dogs. While living the life of luxury in DC has its perks (lots of space to run around in and dog treats that are checked by the Secret Service), there is a certain dignity and air of sophistication that a Presidential Pooch must project. Here's a look back at the First Dogs since our country began.

George Washington

As our first President, George Washington was also the first to have a First Pet. While his dogs didn't get to live in the White House, one can assume they had plenty of time to run around. George Washington had seven dogs – three Staghounds (Sweet Lips, Scentwell, and Vulcan), and four Black and Tan Coonhounds (Taster, Tipler, Tipsy, and Drunkard). It's safe to assume that his Coonhounds liked to get into the Presidential liquor.

John Adams

Continuing the tradition of the First Dog, John Adams only had two dogs while President, though they were the first to stay in the White House. While the breeds have been lost to time, we're sure that he loved his two dogs (Juno and Satan) despite their naming.

Thomas Jefferson

We know that Thomas Jefferson had two Briards, and while one's name has been lost to time, the other, Buzzy, probably got to enjoy his time at Monticello.

James Monroe

Picking up where Thomas Jefferson left off, James Monroe Read more

The growing trend in dog ownership is the purchase or adoption of designer dogs – those dogs that have been deliberately bred from two purebred dogs with an expected result.  While I would never discourage the adoption of any dog, designer or otherwise, there are certain pros and cons that come with giving a home to a Designer Dog.

Pros

The pros to giving a home to a Designer Dog (besides the obvious good karma of giving a home to a dog in need) typically relate to the health of the dog in question.  While many purebred dogs are prone to health problems related to the lack of genetic difference between one generation and the next, Designer Dogs, much like mutts, bypass many of the health problems that purebreds are known for.  The difference between the Designer Dog and the mutt is that while a mutts heritage isn't know, Designer Dogs often have papers stating what their heritage is, including the breeds and history of both parents.

Along with avoiding many of the health issues associated with purebred dogs, Designer Dogs are often bred to combine favored traits of two breeds, such as a lack of shedding and the size of one dog with the playful nature and affection of another.  The hope with Designer Dogs is that the penchant that one of the breeds may have for chewing on your shoes will be countered by the penchant the other breed has for eating dog treats from your hands.

Cons

The cons to bringing home any dog of mixed parentage is that you never really know what to expect.  You can breed two of the most affectionate, loving dogs, and at the end of the day you might still get a Designer Dog that sees your slippers and thinks chew toy.  Temperament and size are very hard to judge with Designer Dogs, especially those that come from two dogs of largely varying sizes (you might end up with a Labrador/Dachshund mix that is either the size of the Dachshund, the Labrador, or somewhere in the middle).  Poodle Designer Dogs are known to exhibit many of the Poodle's often aggressive nature, in spite of being bred with a more docile breed.  While giving you hope having a Boxer mixed with a Chihuahua will curb its need to chew on things better than giving it bully sticks, at the end of the day, you can't know what you will get from the dog until you've spent time with it and tried to train it.

Don't Go in With Any Expectations

When bringing home your Designer Dog, remember not to have any expectations.  You may bring home the most perfect puppy that will be easy to train, have all the best traits of both their breeds, and be a ray of sunshine in you and your family's lives.  Or you may bring home a little terror that will drive you all insane…just like any other puppy.  Don't assume that the new trend in Designer Dogs means that you don't have to put in the time to properly train your dog.  Good genes are no replacement for proper training and love.

About the Author

Avrum Elmakis is the owner of Best Bully Sticks, a leading provider of dog treats, bully sticks, and lamb treats for dogs.  They can be found online at:  http://www.bestbullysticks.com .

The top dog breeds can be debated forever, but for the purposes of this list, we're going to use the top ten most popular dog breeds based on American Kennel Club breed registrations. That being said, I welcome any and all opinions on what you think should fall into the Top Ten List of Most Popular Dog Breeds.

10. Bulldogs – These lovable dogs have long held a place in the hearts of pet owners that are looking for a dog that is shorter, won't require as much exercise, but has a personality as big as its jowels.

9. Shih Tzu – This Chinese breed with its vaguely lion like appearance and attractive coat is popular as both a pure bred dog and for cross-breeding with other breeds for desired physical and temperament traits. These are great house dogs as they don't require a great deal of exercise and are perfectly happy staying at home chewing on a Himalayan dog chew.

8. Poodles – Known for their distinctive appearance and intelligence, the Poodle are most often associated with French elegance and an aristocratic nature.

7. Dachshunds – These short little dogs are a favorite of dog lovers everywhere, coming in both a short haired and long haired variety. These playful and fun dogs are great for families as they can entertain with their intelligence and playfulness while playing with toys or begging for dog treats.

6. Boxers – Originally from Germany, this stocky breed of medium size is known for their large chest and square jaw. Bright and energetic with a playful temperament, these dogs are great for active owners that can exercise with their pet.

5. Beagles – The winner of this year's Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show, the beagle is one of the most recognizable dogs, with animated dogs like Snoopy carrying the beagle image into the entertainment world. Their even temper and gentle disposition makes them great for families, and their playful nature will keep a family entertained for hours.

4. Golden Retrievers – A larger dog, the Golden Retriever are kindly and friendly, and are known for being friendly with any and all comers that are willing to give them a pat on the head. As the name implies, Golden Retrievers love to retrieve, and are great for those looking for a dog they can play with outdoors or watch tear apart a bully stick inside.

3. German Shepherd – Originally bred in Germany for sheep herding, this breed can be found doing everything from police work to working with the blind. Easy to train, these dogs make great house pets and are great for those looking for a dog to complete agility courses with.

2. Yorkshire Terrier – These tiny little dogs are known for their long coats and personality that doesn't seem to fit with their small bodies. Incredibly intelligent, Yorkies are also independent, which is perfect for those looking for a dog that doesn't have to be coddled all day long.

1. Labrador Retriever – The most popular breed of dog according to the AKC, this breed comes in a variety of colors, but is most loved for their mellow nature which makes them great house pets. Not known for aggressive, territorial, or pining behavior, Labrador Retrievers can fit into most household situations and because of this, have become highly sought after because of their gentle nature (they can carry an egg in their mouth).

There are any number of famous dogs in entertainment: Lassie, Eddie (of Frasier fame), Benji, Hooch, and Rin Tin Tin, but there is a certain breed of dog that has risen to a celebrity all their own. The animated dog. Here are my top ten animated dogs.

10. – Ren Hoeck – The Ren & Stimpy Show

A staple of Nickelodeon for many years, Ren was the often abrasive, usually neurotic companion of the slightly effeminate, hair-ball producing Stimpy. A take on a Chihuahua, Ren could go from screaming and calling Stimpy an idiot, to shivering in a corner much like a real Chihuahua. An icon for an entire generation of teenagers, Ren leads off our list at number ten.

9. – Blue – Blue's Clues

Children around the world are familiar with Blue for his educational messages and great source of early childhood development skills. The recipient of nine Emmy awards, Blue's Clues was inspired by Sesame Street, and appealed to the same crowd of pre-schoolers. Incorporating sign language, creative thinking, riddles, and both verbal and non-verbal skills, Blue's Clues remains a great source for children of all ages.

8. – Santa's Little Helper – The Simpsons

Often neglected, the Simpson's dog, Santa's Little Helper, is a charming, but poorly trained Greyhound. Having survived where the family's cat has not (currently on Snowball V), this retired racing Greyhound has been a staple of the Simpson household for years. Having saved members of the family on numerous occasions, it's often surprising that Bart was so quick to replace him with the more well trained Laddie (a joke on Lassie). Eventually Bart came to his senses, and Santa's Little Helper has stayed with the Simpsons ever since.

7. – Brian Griffin – Family Guy

The Griffin's dog is noticeable for his wit, intelligence, love of martinis, and ability to speak. While only 7 years old, Brian is only a few credits short of a degree from Brown University, owns a car, votes, and maintains a credit card. While displaying some of the typical canine behaviors (fear of vacuums), Brian's anthropomorphic qualities are what have made him one of the more memorable animated dogs in recent history, catapulting him from tertiary character to one of the most popular characters in the series.

6. – Odie – Garfield

While certainly not the main star of the series, Odie has been a participant (sometimes willing, sometimes not), in many of Garfield's hi-jinks. Though Garfield has usually gotten the better of Odie's good nature and admitted simple nature, Odie has shown surprising ingenuity in getting revenge on Garfield on a number of occasions.

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