A Cairn Terrier Dog Breed Profile Description: The Cairn Terrier is a small, rugged dog with a shaggy coat. The dog will be 10 to 13 inches at the sh

Description: The Cairn Terrier is a small, rugged dog with a shaggy coat. The dog will be 10 to 13 inches at the shoulder, and the bitch 9 to 12 inches. The male Cairn Terrier weighs between 13 and 18 pounds, and the female between 12 and 17 lbs. The Cairn has a double coat consisting of a soft, dense underlayer covered with a hard, shaggy guard coat. The coat of the Cairn Terrier is wheaten, brindle, grey, or reddish. Black and white are not considered proper coat colors for this dog. The Cairn can live to be 12 to 15 years old.
History: Originally from the Scottish highlands and the Isle of Skye, the Cairn Terrier began as a sturdy farm dog that hunted for rats and mice around the cairns, or rock piles, found where they lived. From the year 1500, these small terriers were used to hunt out the vermin that might make their home in the cairns, which often marked graves or boundaries. For larger game, such as a badger, the Cairn would hold the prey until the farmer or hunter could arrive to dispatch it.

Temperament: The Cairn Terrier is an outgoing dog that is a lively addition to any household. This dog enjoys meeting new people and especially enjoys being around his human family. The Cairn will stay close to its people and wants to interact with them as much as possible. Having developed as a hunter of small animals, the Cairn Terrier will chase cats and treat other household pets as prey animals. Early socialization can help with this. The Cairn gets along well with children, and will happily play with them.
Health Issues: Although the Cairn Terrier is generally a healthy dog, there are several problems that this breed can develop. The most common, and something that seems to be seen in a lot of terriers, is craniomandibular osteopathy. This condition makes it difficult for the Cairn puppy to eat as the jaw becomes swollen. Although alarming, the problem seems to correct itself by the time the puppy is a year old. Very rarely, surgery is needed. This breed can also suffer from the kneecap slipping off the joint, it is called slipped stiffles. Hip dysplasia is sometimes found in the Cairn.

Grooming: Although the Cairn Terrier does not shed much, the shaggy coat should be brushed at least several times a week to prevent tangles from forming. This dog will probably benefit from a bath once a month, but be sure to brush the hair while it dries. The hair around the ears and eyes can be trimmed with blunt ended scissors.
Living Condition: While the Cairn Terrier can live in an apartment, it must be remembered that this dog has a very high need for exercise. It is playful in the house, but it also needs outdoor activities to keep it sound mentally and physically. The Cairn is perfect for active people who enjoy outdoor activities and sports. Unless it is in a fenced yard, it should be kept on a leash while outside as it will chase any animal it sees.

A Bull Terrier Dog Breed Profile

Description: The Bull Terrier is a strong, muscular, medium to large sized dog. This dog will be found to be 20 to 24 inches at the withers and will weigh from 45 to 80 pounds. The head of the Bullterrier makes it instantly recognizable, as it is egg shaped when viewed from the front and there is no stop. The short, hard coat is found in either a white or colored form, which will find the coat with black, red, brindle, or fawn with white. This terrier has a life span of around 10 to 12 years. It is also called the English Bull Terrier or the Standard Bullterrier.

History: The Bull Terrier was bred originally to take part in the 'sport' of bull baiting. As the devotees of bull baiting wanted a more agile dog than the rather ponderous Bulldog, this dog was bred to the English Terrier and Spanish Pointer. As a contender in the bull baiting ring, however, the Bullterrier was a flop. It was used to attacking animals tied to a post, and did not do well with free contestants. However, the dog had attracted the attention of quite a few people and was kept on as a destroyer of vermin and companion dog.

Temperament: The Bull Terrier has had most of the aggression bred out of it and is now a very loving and affectionate dog. This dog becomes extremely attached to its human family and wants to be with them at all times. The Bull Terrier will suffer if away from them for long periods. This is a very playful dog, even something of a clown, and loves being with children. The exuberance of the Bull Terrier may be too much for small children, however. This terrier does need to have an owner who can display leadership.

Health Issues: The Bull Terrier is a breed that shows more deafness than usual in its bloodlines. The white dogs are especially susceptible to this. Dislocation of the kneecap is fairly common in this breed as well. This terrier can also suffer from obsessive compulsive disorders where the dog will lick or chew or scratch for hours unless stopped. This can usually be controlled medically. Zinc deficiency can also cause serious problems in this breed.

Grooming: As the Bull Terrier has very short hair, it is easy to groom. A weekly brushing will keep the coat in excellent shape. Check the ears and eyes occasionally for irritants and make sure the nails stay short. Running a chamois cloth over the dog's coat after a brushing will give it a very nice shine.

Living Conditions: Not only must the Bull Terrier be considered an inside dog because of its short coat, but also because of its strong attachment to its family. This dog will be very unhappy if kept out of family activities, and behavioral problems may arise if this terrier does not get enough attention. The Bullterrier can live in an apartment setting, as it is fairly active indoors. It will appreciate long walks or jogging alongside your bicycle.

An Alaskan Malamute Dog Breed Profile

Description: The Alaskan Malamute is a medium to large dog in the sled dog family. The dog is 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and the bitch 22 to 24 inches. The dog will weigh approximately 80 to 95 pounds, and the bitch will be between 70 and 85 pounds. The coat of the Alaskan Malamute has a very dense double coat which is 2 to 3 inches long. This dense coat is what allows the Alaskan Malamute to remain outside in arctic winter conditions. The coat is usually found to be grey, black and white, wolf grey, or red. White is the only permitted solid color. The Alaskan Malamute will generally live for 12 to 15 years.

History: The Alaskan Malamute has been used by the Inuit for over 2000 years. This is a very old breed that shows its wolf ancestry in its appearance. This dog was named for the tribe called the Mahlemuts, who had come across from Siberia to settle in what is now Alaska. The dogs provided the Mahlemuts with a dependable form of transportation in an very challenging climate. Used not only as sled dogs, the Malamute was also used in polar bear hunts.

Temperament: The Alaskan Malamute is a even tempered dog that enjoys being with its human family. This is a friendly dog that does not make a good guard dog. The Malamute is used mostly today as a companion dog, although some are still used for mushing. This dog is quite smart and can learn quickly, however training should start early. The Malamute is good around children and enjoys playing with them, but make sure that the child is large enough to play safely with this rather large dog. Some dogs, male and female alike, in spite of socialization, remain hostile to dogs of the same sex.
Health Issues: The Alaskan Malamute is subject to bloat, or stomach torsion. If your dog experiences this, it is vital to get it to an animal hospital immediately for treatment. This dog can suffer from hip dysplasia, also. Cancer is found, especially in older dogs, and this breed can exhibit hereditary dwarfism. Eye problems can surface in the form of cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy.

Grooming: As the Alaskan Malamute is a heavy shedder, it is necessary to brush out the coat at least twice a week. This dog will blow its coat twice a year, and it is probably a good idea to brush it more during these times. A dry shampooing is all that is needed in the way of bathing.
Living Conditions: As the Alaskan Malamute is kept today mostly as a companion dog, it will usually be kept in the house. It is perfectly capable of living outside as long as it is visited by its owner during the day. The Malamute is not a dog that should be kept in an apartment, it is far too active for such a confined space and needs to have a great deal of exercise to keep it fit. This dog will be come extremely destructive of its surroundings if not given enough exercise.

How to Train a Siberian Husky - 2 Things You Must Know!

There are a few things to know when figuring out how to train a Siberian Husky. They are very independent thinkers and this can really be a thorn in your side while you try to train them. This breed of dog was bred to to run, run, then run more.

Siberian huskies are independent thinkers.

If they see something that touches their interest (bird, bike, ball, you name it!) they will want to go chase/see/grab that object.
This is tied with a very strong hunter instinct, and was crucial to Siberian huskies survival when living on the frozen tundra in Siberia.
This can't be trained out of a husky, however you can use it to train them! if you have something they want because of their hunter instinct (This can be anything from a treat to a favorite toy), you can keep their attention, and once you have their attention it is insanely easy to train them.

Siberian huskies have an insatiable desire to run.
The breed was bred to run for upwards of 12 hours a day pulling a sled across huge expanses of land. Exercise will be absolutely crucial to training your Siberian husky.
If you exercise your Husky you will find that they are one hundred, no, a thousand times easier to train. They must have that need met in order to be well behaved. If that need isn't met, or you can't meet it, training a husky could be a very difficult thing for you to accomplish.

When keeping all this in mind, it becomes much easier to get through to your dog.