Whippet

Whippet

BREED HISTORY

The Whippet is not considered an old breed, having evolved in England a hundred or so years ago. It was developed by miners in Northern England who, unable to afford the upkeep of the Greyhound for coursing hare and rabbit, developed this dog which costs less to feed and groom.

The dog’s terrier blood, and presumed source of courage and stamina, has long since been bred out of the Whippet. Emphasis, instead, has been placed on the dog’s prowess in straight racing, a sport which had its inception in Lancashire and Yorkshire. This sport was introduced in North America by the Lancashire textile workers who took jobs in the mills of New England early in the 20th century.

The British Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1892.

BREED QUALITIES

The Whippet is intelligent, lively, affectionate, sweet, and docile. This very devoted companion is quiet and calm in the home. The Whippet should never be roughly trained, for they are extremely sensitive both physically and mentally. Be sure to introduce plenty of variety when training them. The best results will be achieved by including games and running.

They are good with children of all ages as long as the children do not roughhouse or tease the dog. Whippets are clean, virtually odor free, easy to care for and easy to travel with.

They are good watchdogs and may be reserved with strangers. They will pursue and kill cats and other small animals if given the opportunity, but are good with other dogs. Household cats that they are raised with and have become accustomed to will be left alone. The Whippet’s sweet personality makes him a fine companion dog.

The Whippet is the ultimate sprinter, unsurpassed by any other breed in its ability to accelerate to top speed and to twist and turn with matchless dexterity. They can be used to hunt. Some can be difficult to housebreak while others housebreak quickly.

Something of a couch potato.

BREED TIPS

Care must be taken to ensure that the Whippet is given a balanced diet. Too much starchy or liquid food may cause stomach problems. Avoid overfeeding. Daily walks are essential and the animal should be allowed to run free in an open area whenever possible. Brush the coat daily with a soft brush and polish it with a chamois.

For more information on the Whippet.

Links to Whippet Breeders, Clubs and Rescue Groups.

Borzoi

Borzoi

BREED HISTORY

Sighthounds had arrived in Russia from their original home in southwestern Asia by the Middle Ages. Here they developed into the Borzoi, a Russian term for all sighthounds, including some rarities virtually unknown in the West, such as the Taigan and the Chortaj. The Borzoi had spread westwards into Europe by the 19th century, where it became favored as a high-status pet and an aristocratic household dog, and was bred for companionship rather than hunting.

BREED QUALITIES

The Borzoi is a sweet, intelligent dog. They are proud and are extremely loyal to their family. They are quite affectionate with people they know well. They can be trained in obedience, but it should be remembered that they are hounds, and as such are more free-thinking, and less willing to please humans than some breeds. They are, however, very intelligent, and capable learners. The training of this breed needs to be gentle but firm and consistent.

The Borzoi needs an owner who displays a natural authority over him making the rules of the home clear and confidently sticking to them. Borzoi often appear to be cat-like in that they keep themselves quite clean.

They are quiet dogs, rarely barking. Like all other sight hounds, they are very fast, and have little-to-no territorial instinct. Therefore, they cannot be trusted off leash, unless in a securely fenced or very safe area. If they get sight of a small animal they may take off after it and not even hear you calling them back. Good with other dogs but should be supervised with small non-canine pets such as cats and rabbits. Spending time outdoors with small animals is not advised. Socialize them very well with cats and other pets at as young an age as possible, but remember the Borzoi will always be a hunter that may race after a fleeing animal.

His lightening snap can kill a small animal in a second. The Borzoi is a noble dog that gets along fairly well with children, but it is not ideally suited for being a child’s companion as it does not take well to rough-housing play.

During the growing stage, these dogs need a highly nutritional diet.

For more information on the Borzoi.

Websites relating to Borzoi Breeders, Clubs and Rescue Groups.

Greyhound

Greyhound

BREED HISTORY

Tombs of Egypt from the Fourth dynasty, between 4000 and 3500 BC, show drawings of dogs similar to Greyhounds and Salukis, making it obvious that dogs of this type were much esteemed during this era. During the ensuing centuries, Greyhounds proved to be in great demand as an item of barter, and spread through the Near East and Europe.

They were developed as a standard in England, where they became a status symbol. The dog was a favorite of English nobility, who limited ownership by the common folk under the Laws of Canute formulated in 1016. “No mean person may keepe any greyhounds, but freemen may keepe greyhounds so that their knees be cut before the verderors of the forest, and without cutting of the knees also, if he does abide 1 miles from the bounds of the forest.”

In wide flat spaces, a hunter was handicapped – no brushy forest to conceal the human presence or to hamper the animal as it attempted to bolt. With its powerful eyesight and great speed enabling him to overtake the quarry, the Greyhound proved an invaluable aid.

When dogs became more than a means to fill a cooking pot, the Greyhound excelled in coursing, and later, track racing, hitting a speed of 45 mph, maintaining its reputation as the fastest dog on Earth. Only the cheetah tops him for speed in that animal world.

His track abilities have given him an advantage over all other breeds. The racing Greyhound is the only recognized breed in America not afflicted with the curse of hip dysplasia.

BREED QUALITIES

Modern Greyhounds make gentle, well-behaved, graceful pets, elegant showdogs or thrilling competitors. They are affectionate with their families and, like many sighthounds, aloof with strangers.

Despite their speed in pursuit, the Greyhound at home can be a relaxed and relaxing companion, although not ideal for city life and families with young children. It tends to forget its training when it sights potential prey,, but is otherwise tractable.

BREED TIPS

The Greyhound should be neither too thin nor too fat. Watch its weight and diet carefully, particularly if the hound is a racer. Dive the dog thick, solid food, including semi-fat meat. Avoid liquid or fatty mash, and starchy foods. Two or three light meals a day are preferable to one heavy one. The diet should be rich in calcium, vitamins, and minerals.

Use a soft brush on the coat. To give the coat its luster, use a piece of chamois. Take the Greyhound for daily walks on a leash or, better still, use a bicycle. Let the mature Greyhound gallop freely once or twice a week.

For further information on the Greyhound.

Websites relating to Greyhound Breeders, Clubs and Rescue Groups.

Bloodhound

Bloodhound Dog

BREED HISTORY

This droopy breed is said to be directly descended from the packs of hounds belonging to St Hubert, patron saint of hunters, in the 7th century. These dogs were maintained for centuries by Benedictine monks at the Abbaye de Saint-Hubert in the Ardennes, and by tradition six dogs were sent every year to the King of France for the royal packs.

Taken to Britain by the Normans, the same lines became known as the bloodhound, referring not to an ability to scent blood, but to a dog of “pure” blood, belonging to the nobility. The breed has been shown and recognized in Britain since the earliest dog shows.
BREED QUALITIES

The Bloodhound is a kind, patient, noble, mild-mannered and lovable dog. Gentle, affectionate and excellent with children. This is truly a good natured companion. These dogs are so good-natured that they will lie there and meekly let children clamber all over them. This breed loves all the attention they receive from them. To be fair to your Bloodhound, make sure your children do not pester or hurt the dog, because Bloodhounds will sit there and take it, which would not be fair to the dog. Very energetic outdoors and boisterous when young, determined and independent. It needs firm, but gentle training. With an owner who displays anything but a natural, calm but stern authority will bring out a streak of willfulness.

The new owner of a Bloodhound will need to have plenty of patience and to possess great tact for consistent leadership for training to succeed. Clear rules need to be set and followed. If you show signs of being a meek owner, this dog will not listen to you. Do not expect too much by way of obedience from this dog. They  are naturally gentle animals but they are not easy to obedience train.

If they catch a scent of something it can be hard to redirect their attention back to you if you are out of physical range of them. Males go through puberty in-between the age of 1 and 2 years. They can be quite a handful at that time and one really needs to make sure they are being a firm pack leader, but after age 2, with the proper leadership, training, stimulation and consistency, they will mellow out a bit.

Socialize well to prevent them from becoming timid. It is very important that this dog is taken for a daily pack walk. Bloodhounds who are lacking in mental and or physical exercise will be hard to handle. A Bloodhound becomes devoted to its master and gets along well with people. This dog loves everyone and some will greet wanted and unwanted visitors happily.

For more information on the Bloodhound.

Websites related to Bloodhound Breeders, Clubs and Rescue Groups.

Related Links Beagle , Basset

Basset Hound

Basset Hound

BREED HISTORY

The Basset Hound is best known of all the Bassets, this breed has lost any geographical qualification of its name. The exact location of its origin is hazy, but it is regarded as a classically British breed. The Basset is descended from dwarfed bloodhounds, and dates back to the 1500s. The first breed description may be in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “With ears that sweep away the morning dew/Crook kneed, and dewlapped like Thessalian bulls/slow in pursuit, but matched in mouth like bells”.

Another story is that the first Bassets in England were named Basset and Balle, bought by Lord Galway in 1866 from the Compte de Tournon. A subsequent breeder, Sir Everett Millais, added the Bloodhound strain to his Basset stock to create a distinctively British breed.

BREED TEMPERAMENT
The Basset Hound is sweet, gentle, devoted, peaceful and naturally well-behaved. They fit into family life well. Their temperament should always be friendly with never an indication of sharpness or viciousness and would only become so if the owners led the dog to believe he was pack leader over humans. They are mild but not timid; very affectionate with its master and friendly with children. It can be a bit stubborn with meek owners and need a firm, confident, and consistent owner who displays natural authority over the dog. Dogs need to know the rules of the house and have the humans stick to them.

Bassets like to do tricks for food. It has a deep musical bark. Housebreaking is difficult, but they do well with gentle patient training and positive reinforcement. With proper training, they are obedient, but when they pick up an interesting smell, it’s sometimes hard to get their attention, as they like to follow their noses and may not even hear you calling them back. Only allow your Basset off lead in safe areas.

The head is large, with a rounded skull and pronounced occiput. The plane of the muzzle is parallel to the top of the skull. The skin is loose-fitted and falls in folds on the head. The velvety ears are very long and should meet beyond the top of the nose. They should fold and not appear flat. The large teeth should meet in a scissors or level bite. The lips hand down with loose flews. The sad brown eyes should show prominent haw. The expression should be kindly without any harshness. The Basset has a very pronounced dewlap. His chest is very deep and extends in the front of the forelegs. The paws are big and the hindquarters are round. Dewclaws may be removed.

The dog’s movement should be deliberate, but not clumsy. The coat is short, hard and shiny. There are no rules concerning color, but it is usually white with chestnut or sand-colored markings.

For further information on the Basset Hound.

Websites related to Basset Hound Breeders, Clubs and Rescue Groups.

Related Links:  Beagle,  Afghan Hound.

Basenji

Basenji

BREED HISTORY

The Basenji resembles those depicted in tomb paintings from ancient Egypt, and has primitive characteristics, such as a tendency to howl rather than bark, that seem to show it is an ancient breed. The story of the Basenji breed today begins in the 1930s with dogs bought from Africa to Europe and originally called Congo Dogs.

Much credit for the sturdy Basenji of today goes to Veronica Tudor Williams, who traveled through the remotest areas of Africa in search of specimens to better the strain. One of these dogs, Fula, was a superb bitch that contributed much to the breed.

BREED QUALITIES
Basenji are small, unusual, elegant, athletic dogs about the size of a fox terrier, with a smooth shiny coat of copper, red, black and tan, black and brindle. Usually with white feet and white on the chest and tip of the tail. Individuals may also sport a white facial blaze, white legs and/or a white collar. The back is level; the legs are long, and the forehead is furrowed with wrinkles, giving it a worried look. The ears are straight and open in the front and its tail is set high and curls up over and slightly to either side of the back. Its eyes are small and almond shaped. Its thighs are muscular, and it has a flat skull.

The breed has a distinctive, horse-like running gait. The Basenji does not bark, but does have a lot of other unusual vocalizations. He may yodel, howl, growl or crow, depending on his mood. Unlike most other domestic breeds, which have two heats per year, the female Basenji comes into heat only once a year.

The Basenji is alert, affectionate, energetic and curious. It loves to play and makes a good pet, as long as it is handled regularly from an early age. It is very intelligent, responds well to training with a strong desire to please. They can be reserved with strangers, socialize well. The Basenji is somewhat aloof, but can also form strong bonds with people. It should not be trusted with non-canine pets.

They do best with children who understand how to display leadership towards the dog. The Basenji dislike wet weather. They like to chew, so giving them lots of toys of their own would be a good idea. The breed likes to climb and can easily get over chain wire fences.

They need daily exercise to release mental and physical energy. Basenji are very clever at getting their own way, they succeed less by obstinacy than by charm, and therefore need an owner who displays natural authority. One who makes rules and sticks to them. Calm, but firm, confident and consistent Basenji who have meek or passive owners, or owners who are not consistent with the rules will become demanding.

For more information on the Basenji.

Websites related to Basenji Breeders, Clubs and Rescue Groups.

Afghan Hound

Afghan Hound

BREED HISTORY

The Afghan Hound is among the most ancient of all breeds. What is not clear is how thousands of years ago it came to the mountains of Afghanistan, far from the Arabian peninsula where dogs of this type originated. In its homeland, where it is still used for hunting, it is known as the Tazi, and a shorter haired version exists; it is also called the Baluchi Hound.

BREED QUALITIES

Most sight hounds of various breeding have a similar temperament – aloof, independent and very active. Afghans are particularly active in the mornings and evenings. The Afghan’s temperament has been known to range from shy to sociable to aggressive. The breed’s popularity in the 70′s lead to indiscriminate breeding and consequently, as occurs with many popularly-bred dogs, aggressive tendencies evolved. An eventual and unavoidable decline in popularity lead to only the more dedicated breeders remaining and has since allowed for the more responsible breeders to make the Afghan a more sociable animal again.

Regardless, the pedigree Afghan is still a breed of fairly recent domestic origins and it should not be forgotten that it is a dog long-bred to catch and kill other animals. Hunting instincts are still very strong and an Afghan can make for a fiercesome sight when agitated. They do make for good watchdogs and can be vocal at feeding time.

The Afghan Hound is popularly regarded as the most unintelligent of breeds. The Afghan’s independence and aloofness is most apparent during training. Breeders say that basic commands are still no problem however more advanced obedience and exercises such as fetch and retrieve are not the breed’s forte. The breed was never developed to retrieve and as such should not be expected to do so.

BREED HEALTH

Breeders say that reports of incidence of hip dysplasia and juvenile cataracts do not amount to substantial problems within the breed, but regardless, professional, responsible breeders do test for these conditions. Ask to see certification that the puppies’ parents are free of these conditions before purchase.

Breeders have also reported some incidence of undershot and overshot jaws. This can affect a dog’s ability to eat. Examine the pup’s mouth before purchase. Afghans enjoy a reasonably long lifespan, around 12-15 years.

For more information on the Afghan Hound.

Websites related to Afghan Hound Breeders, Clubs and Rescue Groups.

Related articles – Beagle Hound.

Beagle

 

Beagle

HISTORY

The Beagle probably derives from the larger Harrier breed, and has been used for hunting in Britain since the Middle Ages. These small dogs could even be carried by mounted hunters in saddlebags, and were bred to pursue rabbits and birds, either in packs or solo.  The breed as we know it today was developed in Great Britain about 150 years ago.

It has been one of the most popular breeds in North America for more than a quarter century. The most famous Beagle of all is Snoopy from the comic strip “Peanuts.” Today’s Beagle comes in two height varieties (13 in. and 15 in.) and any true hound color, including tri-color, red and white and lemon.

TEMPERAMENT

The Beagle is described as :

• Gentle, sweet, lively and curious dog
• Loves everyone, a happy little tail-wagger.
• Sociable, brave and intelligent.
• Calm, loving and excellent with children

The breed is generally good with other dogs, but because of their hunting instincts, they should not be trusted with non-canine pets, unless they are socialized with cats and other household animals when they are young. Beagles have minds of their own.

Being a hound, the Beagle has one of the strongest noses in dogdom and this can leave Beagle guardians pulling their hair out. If there’s food to be had in the kitchen, the Beagle will get it. The Beagle is a happy-go-lucky dog that brings a breath of fresh air to any household. However, the Beagle can be a handful and breeders warn that prospective owners should rethink their decision if they work long hours and are unable to give the dog enough time and stimulation to keep it happy. The consequences of an unhappy Beagle can be disastrous: baying for long periods of time (sure to send your neighbors demented), destruction both in and out the house, serious attempts at escape, and a sad and doleful pooch.

They are determined and watchful and require patient, firm training. It is important you are this dog’s pack leader and that you provide the proper amount of mental and physical exercise including daily pack walks, to avoid separation anxiety. You can also purchase animal scents and play tracking games with your Beagle to help satisfy their instinct to track.

A Beagle has a loud baying cry that was a delight to hunting horsemen, but can be disturbing to family and neighbors. Beagles have a tendency to follow their own noses. They may take off on their own exploration if let off their leash in an unfenced area. Once their mind, and nose are on a scent, they may not even hear you calling them.

Beagles who are allowed to be pack leaders over their humans can develop a varying degree of behavior issues, including, but not limited to, guarding, obsessive barking, snapping, biting, and destructive behaviors when left alone. The Beagle looks like a small English Foxhound.

The skull is broad and slightly rounded, and the muzzle is straight and square. The feet are round and strong. The black nose has full nostrils for scenting. The long, wide ears are pendant.
The brown or hazel eyes have a characteristic pleading expression. The tail is carried gaily, but never curled over the back. Beagles have a distinct howl / bay of a bark when they are on the hunt.

IDEAL OWNERS

This breed does well with an active family and is adaptable to most living situations, country or city.
DESCRIPTION

This is a small, lean dog that is slightly longer than it is tall. It has a long skull and square muzzle. It has large, brown or hazel eyes and a black nose. The drop ears are long and broad and the naturally short tail is set high. The short hard coat is of any hound color.

BREED TIPS

• A Beagle is bred as a pack hound and requires canine companionship and lots of exercise.
• These hardy dogs need special care only for their long ears, which must be cleaned regularly.
• The coat needs a thorough brushing, once or twice a week, to rid it of dust and dead hair.
• Needs a fenced yard and to be leashed.

More information on the Beagle.

More handy Beagle links