Pampered Dog Blog

The American Bulldog is a powerfully-built dog that stands up to 27 inches at the withers, and can weigh as much as 125 pounds. There are actually 3 variants within the breed, the Bully, the Standard and a hybrid of the two. These variants are often referred to as, Johnson type or Scott type, after the main developers of the breed.

These dogs are immensely strong with a solid build and a large head. The face is somewhat flattened with powerful jaws. Te coat is short, and mainly white in color, with patches of black, brindle, brown, fawn or red.

The progenitor of the breed is the Old English Bulldog, an athletic and agile dog which is not to be confused with modern Bulldogs. The dogs were brought to America by English immigrants and were put to work as general purpose farm dogs.

By the end of the Second World War the breed’s numbers has been severely depleted and they would have likely died out but for the work of two men. John D. Johnson, and Alan Scott began work on restoring the breed. Originally their dogs were bred to a similar breed standard, but later diverged. Scott started breeding sleeker, hunting dogs, while Johnson bred more heavily-muscled dogs, suitable for guarding. This divergence gives us the two breed variants of today.

The American Bulldog is recognized by several registries around the world, including the United Kennel Club (UKC). It is not recognised by the AKC.

Despite his intimidating looks the American Bulldog is actually a friendly dog. They are not aggressive by nature and make excellent family pets. They are good with children and get on well with other pets in the household, including cats. They are extremely devoted dogs and are fearless in protecting their family from any threat.

It goes without saying that a dog this powerful needs to be thoroughly trained and socialized. They respond well to positive training methods and have a natural intelligence that makes them easy to train. They can however be quite stubborn when the mood takes them. House training in particular can be a real challenge with this breed.

In addition to training, this dog will require a significant amount of exercise. Forget what you know about the lethargic English Bulldog, these are high-energy dogs. A long daily walk is definitely required, and the American Bulldog also loves to play.

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These dogs shed very little and are easy to groom. They require only a regular brushing to keep the coat in good order.

The American Bulldog is generally healthy and can live as long as 16 years. Health problems that do occur in the breed include hip and elbow dysplasia, cherry eye, entropion, and bone cancer.

The American Bulldog is not an ideal dog for apartment living, but will be able to cope as long as his considerable exercise needs are met. He’ll do much better though, in a house with a medium to large garden.

An incredibly powerful and muscular dog, the American Staffordshire Terrier, descends from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, although it is taller, and more heavily built.

At 17 to 19 inches tall the American Staffordshire is taller than its close relative, the American Pit Bull Terrier. It gives the impression of immense power, with a huge head and incredibly powerful jaws. Cropping the ears make the dog look even more intimidating, although uncropped ears are more common. The coat is short and can be a variety of colors, either sold or cropped.

The Am Staff traces its history back to Staffordshire, England, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. These dogs had been created by crossing the Bulldog with various terrier breeds, but when they arrived in America, local breeders decided they wanted a larger dog, suitable for dog fighting.

When this cruel ‘sport’ was banned in the early 1900s, two variants of the breed emerged. The American Staffordshire Terrier was used for show purposes, while the American Pit Bull Terrier, continued to be used in illegal dog fighting contests.

Despite its imitating looks, the American Stafford Shire is actually an affectionate, happy and balanced dog. They are extremely loyal and bond strongly with family. They have a particular love of children, but are too strong and active to be handled by small kids.

The Am Staff is very protective of those it loves. Not that these dogs usually need to resort to aggression. Few would be stupid enough to challenge them.

Training, socialization and consistent pack leadership are essential with this breed. Not so much because of their, largely undeserved, reputation for aggression, but because an untrained dog this powerful in virtually impossible to control.

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The American Staffordshire Terrier is generally a sound breed, but like all purebred dogs, suffers from a number of inherited diseases. These include hip dysplasia, congenital heart disease, tumors, cataracts, skin allergies, and thyroid problems. Average lifespan for the breed is 12 to 16 years.

Grooming an Am Staff is a simple matter of a weekly brush down, while you can also bathe the dog once a month or so.

The Am Staff requires a lot of exercise, but it will adapt quite well to apartment living provided these exercise needs are met. A house with a large garden would still be preferable, but whatever the living arrangement, a long walk on the leash is required every day.

These are indoor dogs. They dislike cold weather and anyway prefer to be close to their family.

Originally bred to combat poachers in 18th century England, the Bullmastiff is a massive, muscular, and powerful dog. At that time, poachers were a major problem on English country estates. Gamekeepers needed a dog both for protection, and to help them catch the perpetrators. However, they also needed a dog that would not seriously maul the poacher. No such dog existed at the time, so they created their own by cross breeding Bulldogs and Mastiffs. The result was the Bullmastiff, a powerful, ferocious, dog that used its bulk rather than its teeth on poachers.

The Bullmastiff was big enough, fast enough, and agile enough to excel at this job. And the dog seldom had to resort to force because even the bravest poacher was quickly frightened into submission.

And it’s easy to see why, because this is a very impressive dog. Standing 27 inches at the withers and weighing as much as 130 pounds, the Bullmastiff suggests both strength and quickness. It has a large head with and undershot jaw, and a dark face mask. The coat is short and can be tan, red or brindle.

Despite its size and fearsome looks the Bullmastiff is a true gentle giant. These dogs are affectionate, loyal and protective and form strong bonds with their family. They love human company and are particularly good with children, although they are not really suitable for very small children as they may accidentally knock them over.

Training, socialization and consistent leadership are an absolute must with this breed. By nature, they are obedient, but they also have a strong dominance drive which can make them a hard to handle if you have not established your dominant position. Male Bullmastiffs, in particular, can be a handful and may not tolerate another male dog.

Median life style for the breed is 10 years, which is in line with other dogs of this size. The Bullmastiff is unfortunately prone to a number or genetic disorders. As with most large dogs they can suffer from hip dysplasia and gastric torsion, while canine cancers, entropion and progressive retinal atrophy also occur.

Up to a quarter of Bullmastiffs develop hip dysplasia. Bloat, or gastric torsion, is also common and can be prevented by feeding the dog several small meals a day, rather than one large meal. If your dog does develop bloat, it is imperative that you get him to a vet immediately.

The Bullmastiff is easy to groom. The short coat requires only a good brush down a few times per week to keep it in top condition.

Despite its rugged looks and robust built, the Bullmastiff is not really suited to outdoor living. Mastiff breeds in general are sensitive to extremes of temperature, and in addition, these dogs absolutely love human companionship and don’t enjoy being kept apart from their family.

Fortunately, they are no problem indoors, and are so quiet, calm and well behaved that they are even suitable for apartment living. The proviso is that they will need to get out every day for a long walk.

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The Cane Corso is a powerful, mastiff-type dog, that traces its origins back to the days of the Roman empire. The name derives from Latin, and comes from “cane”, meaning dog, and, “cohors”, meaning guardian, so it translates literally to, guard dog.

These dogs were invaluable to the Romans, who used them for all kinds of work. A well documented history tells us they were guard dogs, herders of sheep and cattle, and hunting dogs. They were also used by the Roman legions as dogs of war, as well as in the the Colosseum, to fight wild animals in gladiatorial battles.

Like many European breeds, the Cane Corso was driven to near extinction by World War II, and only survived due to the formation of the Societa Amatori Cane Corso (S.A.C.C.), an organization formed to save the breed.

The Cane Corso is an incredibly powerful dog that stands up to 27 inches at the shoulder and can weigh as much as 115 pounds. These dogs look extremely intimidating, but are not aggressive by nature, although they will most certainly respond if attacked.

These dogs bond closely with their human family and are highly protective, but also loyal and affectionate. The are gentle with children and also intelligent, making them easy to train.

The Corso has a very unique coat that is almost leathery to the touch. Coat colors include black, brindle, fawn, and gray. White patches on the chest, toes and nose are also permitted by the standard. The typical Cane Corso profile is athletic, rather than bulky, but the overall impression is still one of power. These dogs have incredibly powerful jaws, and an impressively muscled neck.

Training is a must with a Cane Corso, and even more important if your dog is a male, as they can be quite dominant. Your puppy will need to understand his place in the pack hierarchy to prevent this.

These dogs are not really suited to a first time dog owner, as they need someone who is able to show strong pack leadership, and keep an unruly puppy in check. You do not want the dog to think he’s in charge.

Socialization is also imperative because, as a breed with a strong protective nature, they are naturally suspicious of strangers.

The Cane Corso is an active dog who requires daily exercise. The ideal living situation for a Corso is with an active family that includes the dog in activities. Be careful though not to over-exert the dog (especially in hot weather) because they overheat quite easily, due to their shortened muzzle.

It goes without saying that this dog will not be happy cooped up in an apartment. A house with large garden is preferable, but the dog will still need a long daily walk on a leash.

Finding dog names, for your Cane Corso is an easy task, when you know where to look. My recommendation is puppy names hq.com, a site with an extensive database of dog names including 1000s of male dog names to choose from.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever or “Chessie”, as it is affectionately known, is a genuine American breed with an interesting history.

The most widely accepted theory about the breeds origin is that it descends from two Newfoundland pups, rescued from a shipwreck in 1807. These puppies were crossed with local dogs, including Otterhounds, Flat-Coated Retrievers, and Curly-Coated Retrievers, and over time, this breeding resulted in the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

These imposing dogs stand up to 24 inches at the shoulder and can weigh as much as 80 pounds. They are perfectly equipped for their primary job of retrieving game birds from the water, and are among the strongest of canine swimmers. The double coat is oily and dense, offering exceptional protection from the elements. Coat color is an attractive reddish brown.

As retrievers go, the Chesapeake is quite a serious dog. It lacks the playful nature of a Golden Retriever or Labrador for example. However, they are loyal and protective towards family, and generally wary of strangers.

These are confident, independent dogs who are not as keen to please their owners as, say, a Labrador would be. They are therefore not a good choice for someone who has limited experience with dogs. A Chesapeake will do better with a handler that is assertive, but even-handed.

They can do well as a family pet for an active family, but are better suited to older children, and will also have to be socialised with other pets.

Like most purebred dogs, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not immune to inherited health problems. They suffer from hip dysplasia, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, and the haemophilia known as, Von Willebrand’s Disease.

They may also suffer from bloat, a dangerous condition that often results in death if not treated immediately. Feed your dog several small meals, instead of a single large meal, to reduce the risk. Median lifespan for the breed is 12 years.

Grooming is very easy. The coat has a unique oily texture and requires only a weekly brush to keep it in good condition. Despite the distinctive doggy odor the dog gives off it should not be bathed too often, as this strips protective oils from the coat.

These dogs can be quite a challenge to train. They are strong willed and independent by nature, and if you haven’t established dominance they are likely to ignore your commands. Strong leadership and positive, reward based training are a must if you want to succeed with training this breed.

If your thinking of adopting a Chesapeake Bay Retriever you’ll have to be prepared for lots of activity. These are high energy dogs, requiring a great deal of exercise. A long daily walk is an absolute must, while your Chessie will appreciate any opportunity for a good swim.

Good dog names can be hard to find. The best advice is to try one of the online dog names, sites. My personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ, a site that has tons of excellent dog names to pick from, including thousands of cute dog names.

Standing 25 inches tall and weighing up to 75 pounds, the American Foxhound is an athletic, medium-sized hunting dog. It is closely related to the English Foxhound, although with a sleeker, and somewhat taller profile.

These are very athletic dogs, with long legs, that cover the ground quickly. The head is long and slightly domed, with widely set eyes. The ears hang down and are set close to the head. The coat is short and harsh and comes in four variants, red, tri-color, black and tan, and blue.

The American Foxhound descends directly from its English cousin. They first came to America in 1650, and have been a popular hunting companion ever since. It is believed that the ‘legginess’ comes from cross breeding with French hounds. These dogs are renowned for their speed, their excellent scenting ability, and their unique bark when hunting.

The American Foxhound is still primarily a working dog, rather than a companion dog. They are not a good choice as a pet for most dog owners due to their high energy levels, although they can be a good companion for the right person.

The ideal owner for this dog would be someone with a love for the great outdoors. The dog will enjoy hiking and jogging, but will prefer to have a job to do. Someone with a job where they can involve the dog would be a good fit. If you cannot meet this dog’s exercise requirements, you should definitely look elsewhere.

Having said that, for the right owner, an American Foxhound will make an excellent pet. Like most hunting breeds they are very sociable and gets on particularly well with kids. They are accepting of other dogs, but less so of non-canine pets, so you’ll have to keep an eye on them. They also tend to be wary of strangers.

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This breed is all but free of genetic health problems, although they are prone to putting on weight, so you’ll have to control food quantities and ensure steer away from junk food and table scraps.

Grooming is easy as the American Foxhound coat is short, and requires only a weekly brush down to keep it in good condition. The breed does however shed heavily, and brushing more regularly may help to control this.

It should be pretty obvious that this dog will not do well in an apartment. If you have a house with a large garden, or better still if you live in the country, this may be the dog for you. But you will still need to be prepared to give the dog vigorous exercise every day.

The Cairn Terrier is an intelligent, loyal and brave little dog that has bags of character. The most famous of the breed was Terry, who appeared as Toto in The Wizard of Oz.

The Cairn is a native of Scotland and has been around since the 1500’s. They were originally bred for fox hunting and rodent control. The name “Cairn” refers to narrow gaps between rocks, and the breed was particularly adept at squeezing through these gaps to kill rats. These days Cairns are more commonly seen as companion dogs.

These sturdy little terriers are typically 10-13 inches tall and can weigh up to 18 pounds. They are short-legged, with strong hindquarters. The face is fox-like and the ears are erect and pointed. The coat is rough and shaggy, and may be cream, wheaten, red, sandy, gray, or brindle in color.

These alert, clever and mischievous dogs have bags of character. They are confident, affectionate and friendly and ideally suited to the role of companion dog. They do well with children, although are not best suited to young kids. You’ll also have to supervise them around non-canine pets, particularly rodents, as they still possess a strong prey drive.

Cairns are incredibly smart little dogs who are easy to train and are particularly adept at learning and performing tricks. The can be quite sensitive though, so training needs to be positive and reward based. The females tend to be more independent and slightly more of a challenge to train than the males.

Quick, agile and intelligent, the Cairn is a star performer in many canine sports, including agility and flyball. They also perform exceptionally well in advanced obedience trials.

These are robust, healthy dogs, but they do suffer from a number of congenital diseases. Cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, and entropion are all known to occur, while the breed is also known to be particularly sensitive to flea bites. Median lifespan for Cairn terrier is between 12 and 15 years.

Grooming is a fairly easy job. The Cairn sheds very little, and only needs to be brushed a few times a week to keep the coat in good order. Brushing should be done gently as they have quite sensitive skin. The dog can be bathed if need be, but don’t do this too often – one a month is more than enough.

Because of their small size, Cairns can live most anywhere and do well in an apartment. They are however, highly active dogs requiring daily exercise. This should include a walk plus games, as Cairns love to play and are particularly fond of chasing a ball.

Good names for a Cairn Terrier can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online puppy names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of cool dog names to pick from.

The Akbash is a breed of Turkish origin that is widely used as a sheep guardian in that country. Said to possess the speed of a sighthound and the strength of a mastiff, this formidable dog stands up to 34 inches tall at the shoulder, and can weigh as much as 140 pounds.

The Akbash coat is smooth, short to medium in length and is always white, although there may be light biscuit coloration on the ears. The coat has a distinctive mane around the neck, to protect the dog from predators.

The Akbash breed is believed to be at least 3000 years old and may be much older than even that. In fact, archeological evidence suggests that similar dogs were used as sheep guardians by the ancient peoples of Turkey as long ago as 8000 BC.

Like the Kuvasz, the Kommondor and other giant livestock guardians from around the world, the Akbash is quite capable of carrying out its duties without human supervision. The are strongly protective with the natural intelligence and independence needed for this job.

The breed is accredited by the United Kennel Club (UKC), although, not currently by the AKC.

These are brave, loyal and intelligent dogs who bond closely with their family but are somewhat suspicious towards strangers. This of course makes them excellent guard dogs. They can also be excellent companion dogs if properly trained and socialized. They are naturally sweet-tempered and particularly good with children.

You will need a fair bit of patience to train an Akbash. Naturally assertive, they will not obey a command, just because you say so. They can be very strong willed and it will take assertive, positive training to get your message across. This is not the ideal dog for the first time owner.

Good names for an Akbash can be hard to find. If you’re struggling, try an online resource like Puppy Names HQ. This site has 1000s of dog names, including a mega-list of female dog names, to pick from.

The Akbash coat is quite easy to maintain, although they do shed quite a bit, so regular brushing will be required. The coat has no “doggy odor”, so bathing is neither required, nor recommended.

This is a very healthy dog breed that suffers from few of the typical health problems found in purebred dogs. Like many large breeds however, they are affected by hip dyslasia. Median lifespan is 10 years to 11 years, which is typical for a dog of this size.

The Akbash is, first and foremost, a working dog, that is best suited to country living. They will adapt to a house with a large garden, but apartment living is definitely out. The dog will need a long daily walk on the leash, but would really prefer a job to do.

A toy dog of German origin, the Affenpinscher is an enchanting little character that has been around since the 1500s. The name, Affenpinscher, means “monkey dog”, and perfectly describes the dog’s expressive face and mischievous nature. The dog stands up to 11 inches at the withers and weighs 7 to 9 pounds. The coat has an unkempt look and can be grey, fawn, black and tan or red an tan.

The Affen, as it is affectionately called, was originally a farm dog, bred to control rodents in barns, granaries and stables. With its speed, agility and terrier-like character, the breed was particularly good at this job.

Affenpinschers are seemingly oblivious to their small size and are brave enough to stand their ground against all-comers. But they are also affectionate and playful, making them excellent pets for older children. They are not, however, suited to young kids as they will not hesitate to bite if they are handled too roughly.

Despite their small size Affens can be quite a handful. They can be stubborn and willful at times and also tend towards dominance. Strong and consistent pack leadership will be required to ensure they don’t get out of hand. The Affen will happily live in a household with other dogs and even cats they’ve been socialized with. However, they should be kept well away from small animals like rodents and rabbits.

Training an Affen is sometimes easy, and at other times it can be a real grind. They are very intelligent dogs who generally learn quickly. Occasionally though, that famous stubborn streak kicks in and you may as well quit for the day. It won’t help to get angry either, as they are quite sensitive dogs who don’t respond well to harsh treatment. House training in particular can be a real chore.

If any of this is discouraging you from getting an Affenpinscher, it shouldn’t. These dogs make wonderful pets and have bags of character. They are affectionate and bond closely with their immediate family.

Finding good puppy names for an Affenpinscher can be tricky. Try to think of something that really brings out the dog’s unique personality. If you’re having trouble coming up with names, pay a visit to Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of unique names, including an extensive list of cool dog names

Affenpinschers are healthy dogs, but like most purebreds, they are susceptible to congenital diseases. These include cataracts, slipped stifle collapsed trachea, and breathing difficulties in hot weather. The mean lifespan for the breed is about 12 years.

Grooming is a relatively simple business involving a brush down every other day. The coat sheds minimally an requires only an occasional trim. You will however have to take care to trim hair away from the eyes.

These are active, energetic dogs who need daily exercise including a walk and occasional games. Provided their exercise needs are met, Affenpinschers adapt well to apartment life.

The Chihuahua, or Chi as it’s sometimes affectionately called, is the world’s smallest dog breed. However this doesn’t extend to their attitude! These bold little dogs are energetic, feisty and confident, with an attitude much bigger than their physical stature.

But they are also charming, affectionate and intelligent dogs who make excellent pets and tend to bond strongly with one individual.

The exact origin of the Chihuahua is a matter for some speculation. A common theory is that they descended from a small Mexican dog named the Techichi and were refined and bred down to their current size by the Aztecs, and the Toltecs. Another hypothesis is that the Chihuahua originated in Malta, and was brought to Mexico by the Spanish. It was crossed with the Techichi to produce the breed we know today.

Any way you look at it, the Chihuahua is a tiny dog. These little guys are slim and fine boned, with large ears and eyes and a short muzzle. Adults can weigh as little as 2 pounds to 6 pounds and stand just 6 to 9 inches at the shoulder.

The coat comes in a number of colors including, sand, fawn, red, black, or black and tan. There are two coat types, smooth or long.

As distinctive as the Chihuahuas looks and size, is its temperament. They are generally cheerful, hyperactive dogs, but it has been noted that, more than most breeds, the Chihuahua’s temperament is inherited. Some lines are very affectionate, whereas others are naturally argumentative and aggressive.

Whatever the dog’s temperament though, a Chihuahua will not tolerate being manhandled. They are therefore not recommended as pets for young kids.

Although Chihuahuas are generally healthy dogs, they are not immune to congenital illnesses. Among the diseases found in the breed are, epilepsy, seizures, hydrocephalus, glaucoma, and low blood sugar. You should also be aware that puppies are born with a soft spot on the skull, called the molera. This closes as the dog matures, but puppies must be handled very carefully. Average lifespan for the breed is 15 years.

This is a relatively easy dog to maintain, although the long-haired variety requires slightly more work. A weekly brush down will be all that is required for a short-haired Chihuahua, while the long hair must be brushed daily. The dog can also be bathed one a month as required. Always use a mild dog shampoo, and remember to keep the dog warm.

The Chihuahua’s small size makes it ideally suited to apartment living. However, you will still have to take your dog for a walk every day. Chihuahuas prefer warm weather and you’ll have to take care to keep them warm in colder climes, especially when outdoors.

Good names for a Chihuahua can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of cool dog names to pick from.