Tag: Breed Spotlight

The Japanese Chin is a royal dog with a royal disposition. “Chin” means “royalty” and any Chin owner could tell you the name fits the personality. Also called the Japanese Spaniel, this dog is a great family pet with a lively and funny personality. Read more about this royal dog in the Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight on the Japanese Chin!

History & Background: Always and forever a companion dog, the Japanese Chin was first bred for accompanying the ladies of the Imperial Court to the palace where the dogs warmed the laps of the Chinese ruling class. When these dogs first entered Japan is debatable, but most historians think Buddhist monks brought them to Japan.  Japan is where the dog was selectively bred to be distinct from all other dogs. Dogs in Japan during this time were only used for work or herding, so a companion dog was new to the Japanese. Chins became the dog of the ruling class and only those of royal or noble blood could own these dogs.

There are differing stories about how and when Japanese Chins came to the Western world. What is known for certain is that these dogs were frequently given as gifts to prestigious foreigners.  One story goes that in the 17^th Century Portuguese sailors brought the breed to Europe, presenting them to Catherine of Braganza, Queen Consort to King Charles II. Another story says Chins were a gift to an American Naval officer, Matthew Calbraith Perry, in 1853 by the Emperor of Japan during trade talks.

Height: 8 to 11 inches

Weight: 4 to 15 pounds, but averaging 7 to 9 pounds Read more

The Super Bowl is over. We know the winner and the season has ended, but if your a dog lover, your big competition to watch hasn't begun. The "Super Bowl" of dog shows is coming your way next week! The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show be televised on USA Network and CNBC Monday, Feb. 13 and Tuesday, Feb. 14. from Madison Square Garden in New York.

This year marks the 136th Westminster Dog Show and continues the yearly tradition of America's oldest organization dedicated to purebred dogs.  This year, over 2,000 dogs are competing for Best In Show title.  What's great about this years competition is that six new breeds will be gracing the stage at Westminster. BBS has been covering these breeds in our Breed Spotlights every week. They include the Cesky Terrier, the American English Coonhound, the Xoloitzcuintli, the Entlebucher Mountain Dog, the Norwegian Lundehund and the Finnish Lapphund.

Monday night's competition will showcase the Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Groups airing on USA starting at 8 ET on USA Network and continue at 9 on CNBC. Tuesday night audiences will see the Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups as well as Best In Show starting at 8 ET on USA Network.  So, curl up with you pup and some treats and watch the Westminster Dog Show this Monday and Tuesday.

Fun Facts About Westminster

-First held in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is America's second-longest continuously held sporting event, behind only the Kentucky Derby.

-Westminster pre-dates the invention of the light bulb and the automobile, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Washington Monument, the invention of basketball and the establishment of the World Series.

-A portion of the proceeds from Westminster's first show in 1877 was donated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to establish a home for stray and disabled animals.

-There have been a total of 301,650 dogs entered in Westminster's 134 shows through 2011

-Westminster was established in 1877, pre-dating the founding of the governing body of the sport, the American Kennel Club, which was established in 1884.

We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige. We are excited to spotlight the Afghan Hound.

Height: 24-28 inches (Male: 26-28 inches tall, Female: 24-26 inches tall)

Weight: Male 60-64 lb., Female: 58-62 lb.

Coat: The long, fine hair of the Afghan hound is shiny and silky to the touch. Though it is fine, Afghans have a thick covering of fur and many describe the texture as very similar to human hair.

Color: Fawn,Gold,Brindle,White,Red,Cream,Blue,Gray,and Tricolor

Appearance: Afghan Hounds are “The Aristocrat” of the dog world, carrying themselves with dignity and poise at all times. They are tall and lean, with long, narrow heads, high hipbones, long curling tails and a silky topknot that are unique to the breed. Their long, flowing hair covers their entire body, except for the face, and is truly a sight to behold when properly groomed. Afghans have almond-shaped eyes, which the AKC states, “gaze into the distance as if in memory of ages past." This breed comes in just about any color of the canine rainbow, so dark colored Afghans are just as common as light colored Afghans.

Temperament: Despite his glamorous reputation, the Afghan hound is a hunter at heart, bred to chase down game over rugged terrain. While he maintains his regal bearings inside, he needs a daily chance to stretch his legs in a safe area. His worst trait is a reluctance to come when called. He will chase small animals outside; inside, he will coexist peacefully. The Afghan Hound is gentle with children and described by some as 'catlike'. He is independent yet sensitive and not overly demonstrative. He can be reserved with strangers; some can be timid. He has a clownish side.

Afghan Hounds are very loving, affectionate and sweet-tempered dogs. They are very responsive to calm talking and commands. They carry themselves very elegantly and with grace. Though they are somewhat aloof, they are a bit standoffish with strangers.  They crave affection and attention from their families and can be trained to tolerate children, though they do best with older children. Housebreaking this breed can be an arduous task but it is possible with time and effort put into the dogs.

Health: The Life expectancy for Afghan Hounds is 12 years and 18 years if the dog is taken care of. Major health issues are allergies and cancer. They are hypersensitive to pain. Even simple, common injuries can cause them great discomfort. Afghan hounds are also among the dog breeds most likely to develop chylothorax, a rare condition which causes the thoracic ducts to leak, allowing large quantities of chyle fluid to enter the dog's chest cavity. This condition commonly results in a lung torsion (in which the dog's lung twists within the chest cavity, requiring emergency surgery), due to the breed's typically deep, "barrel"-shaped chest. If not corrected through surgery, chylothorax can ultimately cause fibrosing pleuritis, or a hardening of the organs, due to scar tissue forming around the organs to protect them from the chyle fluid. Chylothorax is not necessarily, but often, fatal.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email with the subject “Spotlight My Dog”. If you are submitting your very own dog don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic  and a short 2-3 sentence bio about your canine buddy.

We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige. We are excited to spotlight the  Chihuahua.

Height: 6-9  inches

Weight: 2-6 lbs

Coat: There is a long-haired variety of Chihuahua, but the most common variety is the short-haired Chihuahua. Chihuahuas have two coat types, smooth and long. The smooth coat should be soft and close, with a perceptible sheen. Long coats can be flat or wavy, with an undercoat, fringed ears, feathering on the feet and legs, and a tail that looks much like a plume.

Color: Chihuahua coat comes in a variety of colors including fawn, sand, chestnut, silver, and steel blue. They may also be black & tan or tri-color.

Appearance: The Chihuahua is a very small-sized dog with a proportionately robust build and distinctive facial features. Their body is stout and just longer than it is tall, and they have straight limbs. They have a sickle-shaped tail that curls over the dog’s back or off to one side. They have an apple-shaped head with a short, tapered, pointy muzzle. Their large eyes are round, dark, and can sometimes be ruby or luminously-colored. They have large, triangular-shaped, erect ears that are a distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Chihuahua puppies have a soft spot on the top of their skull that closes as they become adults.

Temperament: The Chihuahua is lively, alert, proud, and makes a good companion. They seek and demand affection, and they are very spunky by nature. They are determined, courageous, and they become very attached to their owner(s). They have a jealous streak, and they will follow their owner’s every move if strangers are present. Some Chihuahuas are difficult to train, but they are intelligent and generally learn quickly. Thus are most receptive to gentle training and positive reinforcement. The Chihuahua doesn’t like to be poked, pestered, or teased, and he may snap if a child provokes him. Because of their small size, they will resort to using their teeth if they feel threatened. This breed may often be noisy and difficult to housebreak. All Chihuahuas should be properly socialized to avoid the onset of aggressive behavior.

Health: The average lifespan of this breed is between 15-18 years. There are also a number of health problems to look out for with this breed. Prone to rheumatism, slipped stifle, colds, gum problems, corneal dryness, secondary glaucoma due to protruding eyes, weight gain and susceptible to fractures. Also some Chihuahuas have a molera, an unclosed section of the skull which can remain open throughout life making them prone to injury. They often wheeze and snore because of their small, short muzzles. This breed is also susceptible to stress.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email with the subject “Spotlight My Dog”. If you are submitting your very own dog don’t forget to send over a photogenic pic  and a short 2-3 sentence bio about your canine buddy.

We always love getting emails from our customers & readers asking us to feature their dog or favorite breed for our Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed blog series every Thursday. As always we are honored to oblige. We are excited to spotlight the Finnish Spitz.

Height: Male 17½ - 20 inches, Female 15½ - 18 inches

Weight: Male 47-53 lb, Females 40-47 lb

Coat: The Finnish Spitz has a typical double coat, which consists of a soft, dense undercoat and long, harsh guard hairs that can measure one to two inches long. The coat should be stiffer, denser, and longer on the neck, back, back of thighs, and plume of the tail, whilst shorter on the head and legs. Dogs should sport a slightly longer and coarser coat than the females, who are slightly more refined. However the plume of the tail is important to the overall look of the dog but should not be too long. Feathered long tail hairs without sustenance can give the dog an unkempt look. Additionally the tailset is important and the Finnish Spitz should be able to move its tail from one side to the other. Most Finnish Spitz have a preferred side and this is not incorrect.

Proper care of the coat is most important. The Finnish Spitz blows coat or loses its undercoat twice a year. It is imperative that owners brush out the old undercoat so the new coat can grow properly. Excessive undercoat can cause skin problems and although a dog may look fluffy and full, the undercoat may be causing serious skin problems.

Color: They are golden-red in color, and the hues range in shade from a pale honey to a deep auburn. The undercoat is always more pale than the outer coat, giving the dog a “glowing” appearance. Finish Spitz are solid in color with white markings at the toes and the chest.

Appearance: The Finnish Spitz is a medium size dog with a square build, meaning that the length of the body is the same, or slightly shorter than the height of the withers to the ground. It should look like a fox with a fluffier coat. The length of the body is measured from the point of the shoulder or forechest in front of the withers to the rump, giving a truly square dogs a short back. Females are usually a little longer in the back. Both dogs and females should appear slightly longer in the leg.

They have pointed muzzles, prick ears and come in bright colors ranging from pale honey to vibrant golden-red. The nose, lips and rims of the eyes are black in color. The ears sit high atop the head, are erect, pointed and open towards the front of the dog. Their feet are round, like the feet of a cat and the tail is plumed and curls over the back and down the side of the dog

The Finnish Spitz is a double coated breed but the outer coat should not exceed 2½ inches at the ruff. The undercoat is soft and lighter in color than the red/gold outer coat. The undercoat will shed twice a year, and if a Finnish Spitz is to be kept healthy, a good shedding of the undercoat when the dog is ready to "blow coat" is needed.

Temperament: This breed is active, alert and lively. They need one or two long walks each day and they will be fairly inactive indoors. This breed will not adapt well to a strictly kenneled living situation; they need a balance of outdoor exercise and indoor time with the family. Finnish Spitz are considered to interact well with people and they are especially good with children. They are always ready to play with children but if ignored, they will usually walk away. As with all dogs, young children and dogs should always be supervised when together. It is an independent breed and will attach to the family while remaining aloof with strangers. The Finnish Spitz is a protective breed, with males tending to have more domineering traits than females. Most Finnish Spitz get along well with other dogs in the home. They are bred as a hunting dog and thus are unreliable around small animals, but may do alright with cats.

Health: The life expectancy for Finnish Spitz is 12  to 15 years. The Finnish Spitz is typically a very healthy breed, and health concerns are rare. Here is a short list of health problems that may occur: Hip dysplasia, Patellar luxation Elbow dysplasia and Epilepsy.

Is your dog barking for his or her time in the spotlight?

If you would like your dog spotlighted or want to recommend a dog breed you love for our next Best Bully Sticks Spotlight on a Breed entry please send us an email with the subject "Spotlight My Dog" or tweet @bestbullysticks. If you are submitting your very own dog don't forget to send over a photogenic pic  and a short 2-3 sentence bio about your canine buddy.