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The Shiba Inu, English Bulldog & Boxer
The Shiba Inu is small, compact, muscular, furry and agile and looks like a miniature Akita and may be mistaken for a fox. It has a pointed face, broad forehead and pricked triangular ears. It has...
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Shiba Inu, English Bulldog & Boxer...
Shiba Inu -- Choosing the Breed of Dog That's Right for You
When choosing a dog, it's important to choose the breed that's right for you. In order to do that, you need to know the characteristics and temperament of the breed you're thinking about adopting or purchasing before you do so. The Shiba Inu is just one breed among many from which to choose.
History/Background: The Shiba Inu (pronounced SHEE-ba inu) was brought to Japan from China 2000 years ago. Shiba means "brushwood" and "small," and inu means "dog." It is sometimes translated as "little brushwood dog." It was originally bred to flush birds and hunt small game in the dense undergrowth of Japan's mountainous terrain but is now primarily a companion dog. It is probably of chow chow and kyushu blood. It is the smallest of the Japanese native breeds. There are more Shibas in Japan than any other breed.
This breed almost became extinct during World War II but is now the most popular breed in Japan and becoming more popular in the United States. It was brought to the United States in 1954 by an armed service family and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1992. The Shiba's talents include hunting and tracking, watchdog, guarding, agility and performing tricks.
Physical Characteristics: The Shiba Inu is small, compact, muscular, furry and agile and looks like a miniature Akita and may be mistaken for a fox. It has a pointed face, broad forehead and pricked triangular ears. It has small dark eyes, a dark nose and a Spitz-like tail that is thick and strong and curls over the back. It has a plush double coat that most often comes in red or red with a little back overlay or black with tan markings, with white or cream-colored markings on the cheeks and sides of the muzzle, throat, underside and chest. It is 13 to 16 inches in height, and weight is 15 to 25 pounds. Females are slightly smaller than males.
Personality/Temperament: Shibas are alert, lively, confident, fearless, courageous and bold but may be a bit reserved with strangers. They are fast, agile, playful and trainable. They are independent and intelligent. They are loving and kind, loyal and affectionate and are good with children. They do well with other dogs and cats if they are raised with them; however, they should not be trusted around small animals such as rodents and small birds. Shibas are not reliable off leash because of their tendency for strong prey and hunting drive and may chase other animals. Shibas can be aggressive, especially un-neutered males, and must have early obedience training.
Shibas can be a bit stubborn if the owner does not show pack leadership. They bark little and bond closely with their owners. They sometimes make a loud, high-pitched scream, sometimes referred to as a "shiba scream," when provoked or unhappy and also when very happy or overjoyed.
They are easy to travel with and are easy to housebreak and will often housebreak themselves because of their clean nature. They feel the need to maintain themselves in a clean state, often licking themselves like a cat. They go out of their way to keep their coats clean and will avoid stepping in puddles, mud and dirt.
Possible Health Conditions: This breed is generally hardy and healthy, with few genetic weaknesses, but possible health problems include hip dysplasia, slipped kneecap, glaucoma, cataracts and food allergies, and epilepsy is becoming more common. Life expectancy is about 12 to 15 years.
Exercise/Grooming: The Shiba Inu has tremendous endurance but will adapt to the owner's circumstances. It requires a daily walk and is very active indoors and will be happier and healthier with regular exercise. This breed of dog can walk for hours. As the Shiba Inu has a clean, coarse, stiff and short-haired coat, grooming is fairly easy and consists of daily brushing with a firm-bristle brush to remove dead hair. Bathing should be done only when absolutely necessary so as not to remove the natural waterproofing of its coat. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder.
Living Conditions: A Shiba Inu will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. It is moderately active indoors but does best with at least an average-sized yard. The waterproof coat protects this breed in both hot and cold conditions and it may live outside in a secured yard but does not like to be alone outside and would prefer living indoors with its family.
Summary: This breed of dog has few health problems, doesn't require a lot of exercise, is easy to groom and housebreak, is loyal and affectionate and makes a good companion but can become aggressive if not trained early and requires strong pack leadership. If you are looking for these characteristics and traits in a dog and are able to fulfill its needs, then perhaps a Shiba Inu is the right breed for you.
English Bulldogs -- Choosing the Breed of Dog That's Right for You
The English Bulldog is another breed among many from which to choose.
History/Background: The English Bulldog descended from the ancient Asiatic mastiff and was brought to Europe by nomads. It was bred for bull baiting in the early 13th century. The name "bulldog" (medieval in origin) refers to the robust look of a little bull and also the power with which this dog attacked bulls in arena combat before that practice was outlawed in the 19th century. The last of the working bulldogs in England were crossed with Pug dogs to create the English Bulldog. This breed was first registered by the American Kennel Club in 1935.
Physical Characteristics: The English Bulldog has a short but wide, compact and muscular body with stocky legs and a short tail. The head is broad, with dense skin folds on the skull and forehead, and the cheeks extend to the sides of the eyes. The muzzle is short and sometimes dark, with a broad black nose and large nostrils. The upper lip is pendant and the lower jaw undershot. The eyes are very round, far apart and dark. The small, thin ears are folded back in the form of a rose. The coat is short and smooth, and the color can be red, fawn, brindle, pale yellow, washed-out red, white or any combination of these colors. The English Bulldog's height is about 12 to 16 inches, and weight is 49 to 55 pounds.
Personality/Temperament: The English Bulldog, in contrast to its aggressive and fighting ancestors, is gentle and very affectionate. It typically does not beg for attention but seeks for it, and lots of human attention is required for its happiness. It is content to lie peacefully at its owner's feet or just to be in the same room with its owner. It is sensitive to its owner's moods. This breed makes a good companion and is good with children and the elderly and also with family pets.
Although known for its courage and excellent guarding abilities, an English Bulldog does not necessarily make a good watch dog. It usually only barks when there is really a reason or sometimes if furniture has been moved or there is something new in the house. This breed of dog can be bullheaded and determined and does not give up easily. It can be dominating and needs an owner who displays strong leadership.
A young English Bulldog will be full of energy but will slow down as it gets older. Although it appears lazy, this is not really the case. It doesn't jump at every command but evaluates the command against its own priority setting to decide whether to obey the command and with what urgency. This breed snores very loudly and tends to slobber and drool. It rarely whines or complains.
Possible Health Conditions: Some of the health conditions that plague this breed of dog include breathing problems, poor eyesight, susceptibility to heat stroke in warm weather or hot rooms or cars, sensitivity to cold, skin infections and hip and knee problems. This breed also has an active digestive system. Puppies are often delivered by cesarean section because of the broad head. The life expectancy for this breed averages 8 years.
Exercise/Grooming: English Bulldogs need daily short walks but are not tolerant of excessive exercise. Some adult bulldogs would rather not exercise while others are full of energy. Grooming is fairly easy and consists of combing or brushing with a firm bristle brush and bathing only when necessary. The face should be wiped with a damp cloth every day to clean inside the wrinkles. This breed is an average shedder.
Living Conditions: This breed of dog is good for apartment life, is inactive indoors and does okay without a yard. It chills easily in cold weather and has trouble cooling off in very hot weather. It should be kept indoors.
Summary: The English Bulldog needs lots of human attention and strong human leadership, is very good with children and the elderly, makes a good companion and is relatively easy to groom but doesn't typically have a lot of energy and has a shorter life expectancy than most breeds. If you are looking for these characteristics and traits in a dog and are able to fulfill its needs, then perhaps an English Bulldog is the right breed for you.
Boxers -- Choosing the Breed of Dog That's Right for You
The Boxer is yet anothet breed among many from which to choose.
History/Background: The Boxer was developed in Germany and was originally an ancestor of 2 German mastiff type dogs - the Bullenbeiszer and the Barenbeiszer, later crossed with ancestors of the mastiff and bulldog. This breed was initially used for hunting and would hold an animal in its strong jaws until the hunter arrived. It was also used for bull baiting and pulling carts and later became a cattle dog and was used to round up livestock. Because it learned tricks so easily, the Boxer became popular as a circus and theater dog.
Although originating in Germany, Boxer is an English name that suitably describes how the dog uses his front paws to play or fight, much like a human boxer. Early Boxers may have been ferocious but today's breed is very gentle and makes a loving family companion.
This breed of dog came to the US in 1903 and began to gain popularity in the 1940s. Talents include watchdog, guarding, police work, military work, search and rescue, competitive obedience, performing tricks and service dog. There are 2 types of Boxers - American and German.
Physical Characteristics: The Boxer's body is compact, muscular and strong. It has a shiny, close-fitting coat and short hair. The different colors include fawn, brindle, white and various shades of red with or without white markings. The tail is usually docked, and the ears are sometimes cropped. The lower jaw extends beyond the upper one, curving upward. The nose is large and black, with open nostrils, and the eyes are dark. A Boxer's height is 21 to 25 inches, and weight is 53 to 70 pounds.
Personality/Temperament: Boxers are highly intelligent, eager and quick to learn and are good for competitive obedience. They are happy, high spirited, curious, energetic, playful and clownish and constantly on the move. They are sensitive, good natured and get along well with children. They are loyal and affectionate and bond very well with their family, and it is a Boxer's nature to protect it's family and home. Because of its courage, it makes a great guard dog and will restrain an intruder in the same way as a bulldog. This breed is extremely athletic, even in old age. Without daily mental and physical exercise, this breed may become high strung or bored, resulting in chewing, digging or barking. The Boxer needs lots of human leadership and requires a dominant owner or may become stubborn, sneaky, demanding, boisterous and hard to control. Training should begin early and be firm and consistent.
Possible Health Conditions: Some of the health conditions that plague this breed of dog include cardiomyopathy and other heart problems, sub-aortic stenosis and hypothyroidism. This breed can be prone to skin allergies and sometimes prone to epilepsy and hip dysplasia. From age 8 on, a Boxer is more likely than other breeds to develop tumors. There is also a tendency for allergies. Boxers may drool and snore and may have excessive flatulence. White Boxers are prone to deafness. The life expectancy for this breed is about 11 to 14 years.
Exercise/Grooming: Boxers need daily work or exercise as well as a long brisk daily walk. They enjoy fetching a ball or other sessions of play. Grooming is fairly simple and includes brushing with a firm bristle brush and bathing only when necessary. Boxers are very clean and will groom themselves much like cats. They are average shedders.
Living Conditions: This breed of dog does okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised and is fairly active indoors. They do best with at least an average-sized yard. They can chill easily in the winter and have trouble cooling off in very hot weather.
Summary: The Boxer is pretty easy to care for, is highly intelligent, playful and protective and makes a good family companion but is strong, needs regular exercise and requires a dominant owner so as not to develop behavioral problems. If you are looking for these characteristics and traits in a dog and are able to fulfill its needs, then perhaps a Boxer is the right breed for you.
Anita Funkhouser is the owner of http://www.gogreendogbeds.com, offering high-quality, eco-friendly dog beds, toys and sweaters made from recycled materials, and http://pickofthelitterblog.wordpress.com/, a blog about various breeds of dogs.
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