Golden Retriever

Description:

The Golden Retriever is a symmetrical, powerfully active dog, and a well built hunter. They are known for displaying a kindly, compassionate expression. Golden Retrievers posses a personality that is eager, alert and self-confident. Primarily a hunting dog, he works well in difficult conditions. medium-sized dog possessing exceptional athleticism and balance. Their well-built frame enables them to have the stamina and ability to hunt waterfowl and/or upland game for long periods of time. The most distinguishing characteristics of the Golden Retriever is its thick, soft, luxurious, water-resistant coat. An important aspect of the Golden Retriever is its above average intelligence. The Golden Retriever is easily trained and make great companions because they have a mild, gentle temperament.

Consistently ranked as the most popular breed of dog, the Golden Retriever personifies everything we love about dogs-loyal, loving, patient, great with children and eager to please. With such great intelligence, it’s no wonder that Golden Retrievers excel in obedience competitions and at performing tricks. It should be no surprise that the Golden ranks highly on list of top 10 most affectionate dogs.

Intelligent:

Golden Retrievers are exceptionally intelligence, and can learn up to roughly 240 commands, words and phrases. The Golden Retriever ranks 4th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being one the the brightest dogs ranked by obedience command trainability. These dogs are also renowned for their patience with children.They are considered by many to be one of the most intelligent bird dog breeds. In fact, they are often used as seeing-eye dogs. Since they are so intelligent, they are easily trained, and very obedient. Once trained, they will work diligently for you. They make exceptional family dogs and fantastic gundogs.

Temperament:

Golden Retrievers are calm, well mannered, and extremely affectionate. They are easy to train as well, very intelligent, and great for those who need a companion. Golden's are also loyal to their owners, lovable, and great with children of all ages. They also make great watchdogs as well, as they will bark loud and let you know when a stranger is near. This mixture of intelligence and loyalty mark them as a natural choice for families. This is a devoted breed, one that will do everything they can to please.

Other characteristics related to their hunting heritage are a size suited for scrambling in and out of boats and an inordinate love for water. Golden Retrievers are exceptionally trainable—due to their intelligence, athleticism and desire to please their handlers—and generally excel in obedience trials. In fact, the first AKC Obedience Trial Champion was a Golden Retriever. They are also very competitive in agility and other performance events. Harsh training methods are unnecessary as Golden Retrievers often respond very well to positive and upbeat training styles.

Golden Retrievers are compatible with children and adults and are good with other dogs, cats and most livestock. Golden Retrievers are particularly valued for their high level of sociability towards people, calmness, and willingness to learn. Because of this, they are commonly used as guide dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and search and rescue dogs. They are friendly and tend to learn tricks easily.

Coat and color:

The coat should be dense and waterproof, and may be straight or moderately wavy. It should not be silky, hard, or wooly. It must lie flat against the body. The AKC standard states that the coat is a "rich, lustrous golden of various shades", disallowing coats that are extremely light or extremely dark. This leaves the outer ranges of coat color up to a judge's discretion when competing in conformation shows. Judges may also disallow goldens with brown or pink noses, though these are very rare. The Golden's coat can also be what people call a 'mahogany' color, or what people see as 'redheads' in people. As a golden grows older their coats can become darker shades or lighter tints of brown, along with or excluding a noticeable whitening of the fur on and around the face.

Size:

Golden Retrievers reach their full height around one year of age and full weight around age two, though many owners comment that their dogs retain their puppyish nature for life. They are 56 - 61 cm (22-24 ins) at the withers for males, and 51 - 56 cm (20-22 ins) for females.They weigh 29 - 34 kg (65-75 lb) for males, and 27-32 kg (60-70 lb) for females.

Here are a few more interesting facts about golden retrievers:

- Golden retrievers mouths are very soft, which allows them to retrieve a lot of different things, including living things, undamaged or unharmed.
- Golden retrievers have an instinctive love for water, which is quite different from other dogs. This can make bathing them a little bit easier and also allows them to help hunt game near bodies of water.
- Golden retrievers were bred specifically with human companionship in mind. A golden retriever that has been deprived of a human companion will typically become stressed and hyperactive. (Having a companion dog to be with can alleviate this to some degree, but they still need lots of human interaction.)

Other Interesting Facts About Golden Retrievers.

- Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States of America, owned a golden retriever named Liberty.
- Clark Kent's pet dog Krypto in the TV show Smallville is a golden retriever.
- Golden retrievers need lots of exercise. They are very energetic and active and would eventually get sick if not given enough daily exercise. They love to play "catch." One of our favorite games to play is chasing after tennis balls.
- Golden retrievers have a much higher pain tolerance than many other dogs, which makes them ideal for more dangerous roles such as police dog and hunting helpers.
- While instinctively fond of water, golden retrievers can still be a challenge to bathe because their coats are very dense and water repellent.

If you are considering a family pet, I highly recommend a golden retriever. They will quickly become your best friend and life-long companion.

Dachshund

Description:

Dachshunds come in two sizes, standard and miniature, and three types of coats: smooth-haired, longhaired and wirehaired. The breed is easily distinguished by its low, long muscular body and disproportionately stubby legs-perfect for moving about in the tunnel or den of a badger. Despite their lapdog status, this breed has stamina and agility and displays great.

The dachshund is a short-legged, elongated dog breed of the hound family. The breed's name is German and literally means "badger dog". Due to the long, narrow build, they are sometimes referred to as a wiener dog or a sausage dog.

Dachshunds may look cute and cuddly, but they are tirelessly energetic, clever and curious—some might even say “intense.” Always up for a walk or a game in the park, they can easily get bored when left to their own devices for too long. Sometimes, that can involve chewing things.

Things you should know

Dachshunds are proud and bold. With proper attention, positive reinforcement and training, they will surprise you with a lovable and dependable temperament. They thrive with single people or families with older children. Very young children could lack the necessary patience and maturity required with Dachshunds.

Miniature dachshunds are prone to back problems, due to their relatively long spine and short rib cage. If allowed to jump down from a bed or couch, they can easily slip a disk. For this reason, it is also important to hold them properly, supporting their full frame.
Also, be sure to ration their food appropriately: Dachshunds can gain weight quickly, causing more back problems and other issues.

A healthy Miniature Dachshund can live as long as 16 years, providing years of fun and companionship.

Average Size:

Standard Dachshunds are 8 inches and weigh 16-32 pounds. Miniature Dachshunds are 6 inches and usually weigh under 11 pounds.

Temperament:

Dachshund's are lively little dogs with an independent nature and playful spirit. They tend to bond deeply with one person, and although they love to play, they often do so by their own sets of rules. This breed is highly intelligent, but their independent nature can make them a bit mischievous and difficult to train. Still, they are loyal and affectionate and make wonderful companions. Many dachshunds do not like unfamiliar people, and many will growl or bark at them. Although the dachshund is generally an energetic dog, some are sedate. This dog's behavior is such that it is not the dog for everyone. The dachshund's temperament may vary greatly from dog to dog. Long-haired dachshunds have a calmer, intelligent character inherited from the spaniel. Wire-hair doxies have much of the terrier's spunky personality.

















Health:

The breed is known to have spinal problems, especially intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), due in part to an extremely long spinal column and short rib cage. The risk of injury may be worsened by obesity, jumping, rough handling, or intense exercise, which place greater strain on the vertebrae.

Grooming:

The longhaired and wirehaired coat varieties require more grooming. In general, Dachshunds are medium shedders, have very little dog odor and need less bathing than most other small breeds. This breed requires standard care for eyes, ears, pads and nails.


Coat:

Dachshunds exhibit three coat varieties: smooth coat, long hair, and wire-hair. Wire hair is the least commonly seen coat and the most recent coat to appear in breeding standards. Many people are unfamiliar with wire-hairs and commonly mistake them for other breeds.

Dachshunds have a wide variety of colors and patterns. They can be single-colored, single colored with spots ("dappled"—called "merle" in other dog breeds), and single-colored with tan points plus any pattern. Dachshunds also come in Piebald. The piebald has a white background with various shades of brown. The dominant color is red, the most common along with black and tan. Two-colored dogs can be black, blue, wild boar, chocolate, or fawn ("Isabella") with tan "points", or markings over the eyes, ears, paws, and tail, of tan or cream.

Saint Bernard

Description
The St. Bernard Dog is a very large breed of dog, a working dog from the Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its enormous size.The Saint Bernard is a very large, strong, muscular dog, with a powerful head. As long as the weight stays in proportion with the height, the taller the dog the more prized. There are two types of coat: rough, and smooth, but both are very dense and come in white with markings in tan, red, mahogany, brindle, and black - in various combinations. The face and ears are usually shaded with black and the expression is intelligent and gentle. In the rough-coated dogs, the hair is slightly longer and there is feathering on the thighs and legs. The feet are large with strong well-arched toes, making the Saint Bernard's sure-footed in the snow and ice. They have a highly developed sense of smell and also seem to have a sixth sense about impending danger from storms and avalanches.

Naming

The name "St. Bernard" originates from traveler's hospice on the often treacherous St. Bernard Pass in the Western Alps between Switzerland and Italy, where the name was passed to the local dogs. The pass, the lodge, and the dogs are named for Bernard of Menthon, the 11th century monk who established the station.
"St. Bernard" wasn't in widespread use until the middle of the 19th century. The dogs were called "Saint Dogs","Noble Steeds", "Alpenmastiff", or "Barry Dogs" before that time.

Appearance

The St. Bernard is a very large dog with a large and massive head. A full-grown male can weigh between 160 and 240 lb (73–110 kg) or more and the approximate height at the withers is 27½ inches to 35½ inches (70 to 90 cm). The coat can be either smooth or rough, with the smooth coat close and flat. The rough coat is dense but flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The coat is typically a red colour with white, or sometimes a mahogany brindle with white. Black shading is usually found on the face and ears. The tail is long and heavy, hanging low with the end turned up slightly.

The dark eyes should have naturally tight lids, with "haws only slightly visible". Ectropion or entropion are listed in the breed standard as serious faults, indicating that the dog should not be bred. Other faults include aggressiveness, flews of the lower jaw turning outwards, eyelids too loose, curly coat, and sway back or roach back. See the article Dog terminology for an explanation of terms. Faults do not always indicate that a dog would not be a good companion, only that the dog should not be bred.

Temperament

Saint Bernards are extremely gentle and friendly and very tolerant of children. Slow moving, patient, and obedient. Extremely loyal, this breed wants to please. Since this dog is so giant, be sure to socialize it very well at a young age with other people. It is highly intelligent and easy to train, however training should begin early, while the dog is still a manageable size. Teach this dog not to jump on humans starting at puppyhood.

Bear in mind that an unruly dog of this size presents a problem for even a strong adult if it is to be exercised in public areas on a leash, so take control from the onset. The Saint Bernard is a good watchdog. Even its size is a good deterrent. They drool after they drink or eat. Be sure you remain the dog's pack leader. Dogs want nothing more than to know what is expected of them and the St Bernard is no exception. Allowing a dog of this size and magnitude to be unruly can be dangerous, and shows poor ownership skills.

Grooming & care

The Saint Bernard's coat is shed twice a year. They require daily brushing with a firm bristle brush to keep hair around the home down to a minimal amount. Bathing should only be done when necessary using a mild shampoo to avoid stripping the coat of its essential oils. Their eyes and ears must be checked and cleaned regularly to keep them free of irritants. The Saint Bernard is prone to such health issues as wobbler syndrome, heart problems, skin disorders, and bloating. They have no tolerance for hot weather. Twisted stomachs should be watched for. As these dogs are prone to bloat, it is best to feed them two or three small meals a day instead of one large meal.

Coat

The Saint Bernard breed has two different coat varieties: the smooth or shorthaired, and the rough or longhaired. Both varieties of coat are extremely dense in texture and are water resistant. The coat of the Saint Bernard is typically white with tan, red, mahogany, black or brindle markings in various combinations. They are heavy shedders.

Related Breeds

The breed is strikingly similar to that of the English Mastiff. This can be attributed to a common shared ancestry with the Alpine Mastiff. It is suspected that St. Bernards were used to redevelop this breed to combat the threat of their extinction after World War II.

The four Sennenhund breeds, the Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog), the Berner Sennenhund, (Bernese Mountain Dog), the Appenzeller Sennenhund, (Appenzeller), and the Entlebucher Sennenhund (Entlebucher Mountain Dog) are similar in appearance and share the same location and history, but are tricolour rather than red and white.

Origin

This is a very ancient breed. It was founded in AD 980 by St Bernard de Menthon as a refuge for travelers through the perilous Alpine pass between Switzerland and Italy. It is descended from the Tibetan mastiff and therefore must have originated with the mastiff brought to the Alps by the Romans around the year 1000. The monks probably crossed the ancient mastiff with the Great Dane and the Great Pyrenees. Its use and popularity as a rescue dog began in the middle of the seventeenth century.

The Saint Bernard was used as an avalanche and rescue dog in the snowy passes near the Hospice. More then 2,000 people have been saved by this amazing servant of mankind. The dogs search out and find the lost or injured traveler, and then lick him and lie next to him to give him warmth. Then one dog from the party heads back to the Hospice to get a full rescue team. The Saint Bernard's sense of smell is so excellent that he can find a person even under many feet of snow. This breed is also known for his ability to foretell storms and avalanches, perhaps because he may hear very low frequency sounds that are beyond our ability to hear. There are two varieties: short-haired and long-haired. The short-haired variety is more often used for mountain work because he can tolerate cold temperatures. The long-haired variety's coat tends to collect icicles. Some of the Saint Bernard's talents are search & rescue, watchdog and carting.

Record size

St. Bernards were exported to England in the mid 1800s, where they were bred with mastiffs to create an ever larger dog. Plinlimmon, a famous St. Bernard of the time, was measured at 95kg (210lbs) and 87.5cm (24 1/2ins), and was sold to an American for $7000. Commercial pressure encouraged carelessly breeding ever larger dogs until "the dogs became so gross that they had difficulties in getting from one end of a show ring to another".

The world's heaviest and largest dog in known history was a Saint Bernard named Benedictine, which weighed 162 kg (357 lbs), even though there have been unconfirmed reports of heavier Newfoundland (dog). Benedictine surpassed Zorba, the largest English mastiff on record, which measured 8 feet, 3 inches long and weighed 343 lb. Benedictine currently holds the world record for the heaviest dog that ever lived. This weight was provided, not by direct measurement, but by "successive studies", and the lower weight of 152.5kg (336 lbs) is sometimes cited, which would put Benedictine back into second place among all time heaviest dogs.

Beagle

The Beagle is a small hound bred for hunting rabbit and hare. The head is somewhat lengthy and is domed at the occiput. Eyes are hazel or deep brown in color, large and set apart with a soft, "pleading" expression that is common to most hounds. The finely textured ears are long, low set and gently rounded at the tips. The medium-length muzzle is square and straight with a somewhat defined stop. The shoulders and chest are broad and muscular, without being bulky. The well-muscled back is short and the loin is wide and gently arched. The gaily carried tail is high-set with a light curve, and is rather short when compared to the Beagle's size. Coloring can be any true hound color. The length of the coat is medium/close and the texture is coarse.


Temperament: The Beagle is extremely friendly and gentle—traits that make fit very well in a family environment. Beagles are perfect for families with children, as they are tolerant, loving and playful. They can be kept in homes with other animals but must be socialized early because of their hunting instincts. The Beagle can live indoors but requires a fenced yard in which to roam in addition to a daily walk. The Beagle does not like to be left alone, so owners would be well advised to keep a companion animal with their Beagle, especially when away. It is important that a Beagle is walked on a leash in order to prevent it from running off in pursuit of intriguing scents. This breed responds well to obedience training if worked with regularly. Potential owners should also keep in mind that the Beagle was bred to have a strong, melodious bark/howl for hunting purposes—a characteristic that may potentially disturb neighbors.

Habitat & Exercise: Beagles are quite small, it can accomadate itself in small living space such as apartments. A small yard is sufficient for playing with childrens and have a routine exercise.
Energetic and possessing great stamina, the Beagle needs plenty of exercise, including a brisk daily walk. It should have a fenced yard of reasonable size to romp in. Always use a lead when walking this breed or you will be running the risk of it disappearing in search of wild game.

Grooming: The Beagle's smooth short-haired coat is easy to look after. Brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe with mild soap only when necessary. Dry shampoo occasionally. Be sure to check the ears carefully for signs of infection and keep the nails trimmed. This breed is an average shedder.

Colouring: Beagles appear in a range of colours. Although the tricolour (white with large black areas and light brown shading) is the most common, Beagles can occur in any hound colour.
Tricoloured dogs occur in a number of shades, from the "Classic Tri" with a jet black saddle (also known as "Blackback"), to the "Dark Tri" (where faint brown markings are intermingled with more prominent black markings), to the "Faded Tri" (where faint black markings are intermingled with more prominent brown markings). Some tricoloured dogs have a broken pattern, sometimes referred to as pied. These dogs have mostly white coats with patches of black and brown hair. Tricolour Beagles are almost always born black and white. The white areas are typically set by eight weeks, but the black areas may fade to brown as the puppy matures. (The brown may take between one and two years to fully develop.) Some Beagles gradually change colour during their lives, and may lose their black markings entirely.

Two-colour varieties always have a white base colour with areas of the second colour. Tan and white is the most common two-colour variety, but there is a wide range of other colours including lemon, a very light tan; red, a reddish, almost orange, brown; and liver, a darker brown, and black. Liver is not common and is not permitted in some standards; it tends to occur with yellow eyes. Ticked or mottled varieties may be either white or black with different coloured flecks (ticking), such as the blue-mottled or bluetick Beagle, which has spots that appear to be a midnight-blue colour, similar to the colouring of the Bluetick Coonhound. Some tricolour Beagles also have ticking of various colours in their white areas.

Types of Breed: The American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club recognize two separate varieties of Beagle: the 13-inch (330 mm) for hounds less than 13 inches (33 cm), and the 15-inch (380 mm) for those between 13 and 15 inches (33 and 38 cm). The Kennel Club (UK) and FCI affiliated clubs recognize a single type, with a height of between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41 cm).

Great Dane

A "gentle giant," the Great Dane is nothing short of majestic. Sometimes referred to as the "king of dogs," this extremely large dog breed is known for being strong yet elegant, with a friendly, energetic personality. Striking in the show ring, this breed is also popular as a family pet. Coat colors can be brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin and mantle.

The Great Dane is a giant dog that combines nobility with robustness and power with elegance. It has a long narrow head with an accentuated frontal stop and a rather large nasal canal. Its neck is long and muscular and its front legs are perfectly straight. It has muscular thighs and round feet with short, dark nails. The Great Dane's tail is medium-length, reaching to the point of the hock. Its eyes are round and usually dark - with a lively intelligent expression. Its ears are either cropped rather long, pointed, and carried erect, or left natural. Its well developed white teeth must close in a scissors bite.

All Danes have short, thick, shiny, close-fitting hair. The color of the coat indicates the variety, fawn, brindle, black, blue, mantle harlequin and sometimes merle. Although not a recognized color, chocolate does occur in a recessive gene. Merle is a common result of harlequin breeding, but it is not a recognized color. Black coats and dark eyes, while blue Danes may have lighter eyes.

Size, Proportion, Substance: The male should appear more massive throughout than the bitch, with larger frame and heavier bone. In the ratio between length and height, the Great Dane should be square. In bitches, a somewhat longer body is permissible, providing she is well proportioned to her height. Coarseness or lack of substance is equally undesirable. The male shall not be less than 30 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that he be 32 inches or more, providing he is well proportioned to his height. The female shall not be less than 28 inches at the shoulders, but it is preferable that she be 30 inches or more, providing she is well proportioned to her height. Danes under minimum height must be disqualified.

Temperament: The Great Dane is a gentle giant. Dignified, kind, sweet and affectionate, it is playful and patient with children. It loves everyone and needs to be around people. The Great Dane does not bark much and only becomes aggressive when the circumstances require it. A steady dog, responsible and dependable. Brave and loyal, it is a good watchdog. Because of his giant size, the Great Dane should be thoroughly obedience trained when young so it will be manageable when fully grown. Teach this giant dog not to lean against people, especially children. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans must be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. Dogs who know their place below humans in the pack order will be good with children. If you are not a firm, confident, consistent pack leader who knows how to correct the dog when he is showing signs of aggression, the dog can be dog-aggressive, especially with same sex dogs.

Grooming: The smooth short-haired coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush with a firm bristle brush and dry shampoo when necessary. Bathing this giant is a major chore, so it pays to avoid the need by daily grooming. The nails must be kept trimmed. This breed is an average shedder.

Color, Markings and Patterns Brindle--The base color shall be yellow gold and always brindled with strong black cross stripes in a chevron pattern. A black mask is preferred. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears and tail tip. The more intensive the base color and the more distinct and even the brindling, the more preferred will be the color. Too much or too little brindling are equally undesirable. White markings at the chest and toes, black-fronted, dirty colored brindles are not desirable.

Fawn--The color shall be yellow gold with a black mask. Black should appear on the eye rims and eyebrows, and may appear on the ears and tail tip. The deep yellow gold must always be given the preference. White markings at the chest and toes, black-fronted dirty colored fawns are not desirable.

Blue--The color shall be a pure steel blue. White markings at the chest and toes are not desirable. The one in the beginning of the

Black--The color shall be a glossy black. White markings at the chest and toes are not desirable.

Harlequin--Base color shall be pure white with black torn patches irregularly and well distributed over the entire body; a pure white neck is preferred. The black patches should never be large enough to give the appearance of a blanket, nor so small as to give a stippled or dappled effect. Eligible, but less desirable, are a few small gray patches, or a white base with single black hairs showing through, which tend to give a salt and pepper or dirty effect.

Mantle--The color shall be black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body; black skull with white muzzle; white blaze is optional; whole white collar is preferred; a white chest; white on part or whole of forelegs and hind legs; white tipped black tail. A small white marking in the blanket is acceptable, as is a break in the white collar.

Any variance in color or markings as described above shall be faulted to the extent of the deviation. Any Great Dane which does not fall within the above color classifications must be disqualified.

Exercise: Although Great Danes have a fairly slow metabolism they need daily exercise the same as any other dog, and a fair amount of it. A common misconception is that they are slow and docile and don't need walking; this is incorrect and in most cases Great Danes are full of energy and need regular walking. The Great Dane was bred to hunt wild boar and guard the manor. They are robust, alert and agile when needed to be.

Health: Great Danes, like most giant dogs, have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in small breeds. Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds. Not a long lived breed. Be careful to buy from a conscientious breeder, as some very poor specimens are being sold to the unsuspecting public. Beware of hip dysplasia; buy only from OFA certified stock. Also prone to bloat, tumors, heart disease, and tail injuries. Do not jog with this dog until it is at least one year old.

Mastiff

The Old English Mastiff is one of the heaviest breeds; a male Mastiff can exceed 200 pounds. This dog is very massive, powerful and muscular. The head is heavy and square with a short muzzle. There is a black mask around the eyes and nose no matter what the general coat color. The eyes are small, dark, and hazel. The small ears should also be dark-colored. The teeth should meet in a scissors or slightly undershot bite. The tail is set quite high, tapers to the tip, and reaches to the hocks. The short coat comes in golden fawn, light fawn, brindle, silver, tiger, and apricot and is easy to groom. In the eighteenth century it was described as follows:
"As a lion is to a cat, so is a mastiff compared to a dog."

Guinness Book of World Records recognizes a mastiff from England named Zorba as the heaviest dog in the world, at over 343lb (156 kg). Zorba stood 37 inches (94 cm) at the shoulder and was 8 feet 3 inches (251 cm) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail[citation needed]. Zorba set this record in November 1989, when he was 8 years old, and about the size of a small donkey. There is a picture of a Neopolitan Mastiff circulating online being walked next to a small horse and the two animals are the same size. This is a doctored photo and there is no evidence in history of a dog of this magnitude. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the tallest dog is a Great Dane named Gibson. The dog is 42.3 inches tall.

Temperament: Originally valued for their abilities as a fierce guard and fighting dog, today's Mastiff is a gentle giant. It is a self-confident, watchful, and patient dog who is gentle-natured towards his family. Intelligent and dignified. It rarely barks, but it is in its nature to defend its territory and family. Calm, steady and docile, this dog is normally excellent with children, (not recommend for toddlers though, because of their great size). Good natured, but very large and heavy. Responds well to gentle, patient training. This breed loves to please and needs lots of companionship. The breed is innately good natured, calm, easygoing, and surprisingly gentle. It is a well-mannered house pet but needs sufficient room for exercise and activity. The Mastiff is an extremely loyal breed, exceptionally devoted to its family and good with children.

The Mastiff's dominance varies widely depending on the lineage. They can be aloof with strangers or fairly friendly. Do not hit a Mastiff or you are asking for it! A born guard dog, brave and loyal. When strangers visit, it is likely to refuse to let them in unless they are accepted by its handler. The Mastiff generally holds intruders at bay rather than attacking. Protection training is unnecessary for this naturally protective breed. It is very possessive of home, family and car. It may be combative with other dogs if not very well socialized as a puppy, so extra effort should be given to socialize a Mastiff puppy. If properly socialized it will get along well with other dogs. The Mastiff tends to drool, wheeze and snore loudly. They can be somewhat difficult to train.

Grooming: The smooth, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush and wipe over with a piece of toweling or chamois for a gleaming finish. Bathe or dry shampoo when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.

Health: The mastiff is a particularly large dog demanding correct diet and exercise. Excessive running is not recommended for the first two years of the dog's life. However, regular exercise must be maintained throughout the dog's life in order to discourage slothful behavior and to prevent a number of health problems. A soft surface is recommended for the dog to sleep on in order to prevent the development of calluses, arthritis, and hygroma (an acute inflammatory swelling). Due to the breed's large size, puppies may potentially be smothered or crushed by the mother during nursing. A whelping box, along with careful monitoring can prevent such accidents. The expected lifespan is about 7 to 13 years.

Beware of hip dysplasia. As these dogs are prone to bloat, feed two or three small meals a day, instead of one large one. Also prone to CHD, gastric torsion, ectropion, PPM, vaginal hyperplasia, elbow dysplasia and PRA. Occasionally seen is cardiomyopathy.

English Mastiff history: The Mastiff name probably evolved from the Anglo-Saxon word masty, meaning powerful. The Mastiff is descended from the ancient Alaunt and Molosser and is recognized at the oldest British breed. The Mastiff might have been brought to Britain in the 6th century BC. It was used in the blood sports of bear-baiting, bull-baiting, dog fighting, and lion-baiting. Throughout its long history, the Mastiff has contributed to the development of a number of dog breeds.

When Sir Peers Legh was wounded in the Battle of Agincourt, his Mastiff stood over and protected him for many hours through the battle. Although Legh later died, the Mastiff returned to Leghs home and was the foundation of the Lyme Hall Mastiffs. Five centuries later this pedigree figured prominently in founding the modern breed.
Some evidence exists that the Mastiff came to America on the Mayflower, but the breeds documented entry to America did not occur until the late 1800s. In 1835, Britain passed legislation making baiting illegal. Subsequently, the Mastiff lost popularity and was virtually decimated in England by the Second World War; however, sufficient numbers had been brought to America by that time to keep the breed going. Since that time, it has gradually risen in popularity.

This picture from the mastiff images available in the web shows clearly how big and macho a Mastiff will be when compared with human.

Pug

One of the great things about pugs is their size. The Pug is a small breed of dog with a wrinkly, short muzzled face . Pugs are small dogs, but their small size is deceptive, they pack a punch! The word "pug" may have come from the Old English pugg or "puge", which were affectionate terms for a playful little devil or monkey. Adult pugs vary in weight from approximately 17 to 24 lbs, the females on the lower end of the scale. An adult pug is only about the size of a big cat.
They say that pugs are a big dog in a little package and it's true. They are not fru-fru dogs that are delicate or require a lot of primping and preening. Pug puppies are often called puglets. The breed is often summarized as multum in parvo ("much in little"), describing the Pug's remarkable personality despite its small size.

Temperament: Pugs are friendly, playful dogs with wonderful temperaments. They are natural clowns and will keep you entertained.
They are wonderful with children and older people too. I have never seen a pug act out aggressively towards any person. I have two unneutered male pugs who get into occasional scrapes with each other, but only very rarely with other dogs and only then with other unneutered males. They get along well with other dogs, even much larger dogs. I have never known pugs to be intimidated by any other breeds and are good playmates at the park. Pugs are very loving and will follow their owner wherever they go.

Training: Pugs are very smart and stubborn dogs. They can be trained with a little persistence and patience. Pugs will do anything for food. Training with a treat or a toy and lots of praise seems to work the best for me. Start training right away. Instead of training in one long session that can get boring and frustrating to the dog, train in short 5-10 minute sessions throughout the day. This keeps training fun for your pug. The following are the most important things for your pug to learn. Pugs are sensitive to the tone of a human voice, so harsh punishment is generally unnecessary. While Pugs usually get along well with other dogs and pets, they generally prefer the company of humans and require a great deal of human attention; they may become slightly anxious or agitated if their owner ignores them or does not play with them. In general, they are very attentive dogs, always at their owner's feet, in their lap, or following them from room to room.

Types of pugs: It is common today to see a few different types of pugs around the place. Many people will know about black pugs and the common white pug, but many have never heard of the Chinese pug. The Chinese pug is in fact exactly the same as the Western pug but many people traditionally call them the Chinese pug because that is there proper name. This is usually the hardcore breeders whose livelihood is based around breeding the most traditional looking pugs possible. Most breeders in fact are so traditional that they actually believe that the pugs they have are the original Chinese pugs because of their difference in appearance.

First one is the chinese pug, second is the black pug, third is also chinese, and the one in the beginning is the fawn pug. I love black pugs the most.

Pomeranian

My Pomeranian

I like pomeranian's since i have one and its name is Toby. He came to me at the time when he was just 40 days. He is very naughty and fluffy boy.

About Pomeranian

The Pomeranian is a Nordic breed which takes its name from the province of Pomerania, now located in Germany. It is a tiny, fluffy dog with a wedge-shaped head and pointed erect ears. Some have faces that breeders liken to a fox; others have baby-doll or "pansy" faces. The Pomeranian (often known as a Pom) is a breed of dog of the Spitz type, named for the Pomerania region in Central Europe (which today is part of modern eastern Germany and northern Poland) and classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size. As determined by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale the Pomeranian is part of the German Spitz breed, and in many countries, they are known as the Zwergspitz (`Dwarf` Spitz), or Toy German Spitz.

Puppies