Pampered Dog Blog

The Bull Terrier is a muscular, medium-sized dog with an unusual egg-shaped head, erect ears, small slanted eyes, and a stocky build. These fearsome looking dogs have a reputation for being aggressive, but are in fact intelligent, affectionate dogs who make wonderful pets.That’s not to say you should disregard their reputation entirely, because with its immense strength, protective nature, and powerful bite a Bull Terrier is ready, willing and able to take on anyone and anything. They aren’t called the gladiator of dogs for nothing.

The origins of the breed can be traced back to England in the middle 1800s. A man named James Hicks wanted to create a powerful, aggressive fighting dog, and did the by crossing the Bull and Terrier, to various English white terriers. Later, brindle colored Staffordshire Bull Terriers were introduced to the line, in order to produce coat colors other than white.

These dogs were prized for their aggression as they were primarily used for dog fighting and for killing rodents. But as these blood sports died out, the Bull Terrier became more of a companion dog, and was bred for a more agreeable temperament.

However, caution is still advised with such a powerful dog. They are not really suitable for a first time dog owner and require a firm, but sensitive hand. They are also not suited to households with small children as they tend to be quite boisterous. In addition, Bull Terriers normally do not take to other dogs, or non-canine pets.With the right owner though they can be a real joy – intelligent, comedic, affectionate, loyal and protective. Their unusual looks may not be to everyone’s taste but those who love the breed consider them beautiful.

Training a Bully can be a challenge. It’s not that they’re not smart, but they tend to be quite stubborn. Patience and positive reinforcement will pay dividends if you stick with it. Obedience training and socialization is, however, an absolute must with these dogs.

Like almost all purebred dogs, the Bull Terrier is prone to a number of congenital diseases, including zinc deficiency, slipped patella, skin problems and flea bite allergies.

They are also known to quite nervy dogs and are often afraid of loud noises, like thunder. Bull Terriers also sometimes display obsessive compulsive disorders. The breed lives on average 10 to 14 years.

Grooming these dogs is relatively easy. They have a short, flat coat and are average shedders. Brushing once or twice a week is all that is required to keep the coat in good condition.

The Bully makes an exceptional pet for the right owner. Just make sure that you’re up to the challenge before deciding to adopt one.

Picking a name for your Bull Terrier can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many puppy names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of male dog names.

The American Water Spaniel is a hardy, muscular dog that hails from Wisconsin. These medium-sized dogs have a curly coat that can be liver, brown, or chocolate in color. They stand on average 15 to 18 inches at the withers, and can weigh up to 45 pounds.

Developed in the 18th century, by crossing the Irish water spaniel and the Curly-coated retriever, the American Water Spaniel is an outstanding all round hunting dog. They are strong swimmers and equally adept at retrieving from all kinds of terrain. But they also have excellent scenting abilities and excel at flushing game. The American Water Spaniel is the state dog of Wisconsin.

Like many hunting and retrieving breeds, the American Water Spaniel is an extrovert with a genuine love of people. The get on well with children and also with other dogs and pets. They are highly energetic and need a lot of attention, activity and if possible, a job to do.

This breed does however need a strong pack leader plus obedience training and, in particular, thorough socialization. Dogs that are not socialized will tend to be either over-protective, or overly timid.

Training needs to be consistent, positive and reward based. These are quite sensitive dogs and they do not respond well to harsh treatment. On the other hand, this is a dog that loves attention and is eager to please. Use these traits to your advantage and training will be a breeze as these dogs are highly intelligent.

Remember that the name you choose for your dog can have a big impact on your training results. Puppy Names HQ offers advice on picking a name, plus an extensive database of categorized boy dog names and girl dog names, so pay a visit and check it out.

These are very healthy dogs who are known to live beyond their mid teens. However, they are not immune to inherited diseases and may suffer from cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and skin diseases.

Grooming an AWS takes quite a bit of work but provided you do it regularly you’ll be able to keep the coat in good order. Brush the dog two or three times a week to remove mats and burrs and also check for ticks if the dog is used in the field. These dogs naturally have a doggy odor, but should not be brushed unless absolutely necessary. Bathing too often will deplete the skin of its natural oils.

It should be obvious that such an energetic dog should not be kept in an apartment. If you have a house with a medium / large garden you should be okay, provide you take the dog out for a long walk each and every day.

Picking a name for your American Water Spaniel can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many dog names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of boy dog names.

A native of Turkey, the Anatolian Shepherd is a big, muscular dog that specializes as a sheep guardian. With a solid build, a large head and a thick neck, these dogs stand as tall as 30 inches and can weigh up to 150 pounds.

The Anatolian is a powerful breed, capable of taking on most predators. However, the body is lean rather than bulky, with the thick coat making them look heavier than they actually are. The tail is long and when the dog is alert it curls up over the back. The coat is usually fawn, and the dog sports a black “face mask”.

An ancient dog breed, the Anatolian is revered as a national treasure and is considered the national dog of Turkey. They’ve been guarding sheep in the Sivas-Kangal region of Turkey for hundreds of years, but have also been used as hunting dogs, and as military dogs.

These dogs are afraid of nothing and will take on wolves, bears and other predators to protect their flock. The are particularly rugged and can live outdoors in any temperature.

To understand the Anatolian’s temperament you have to appreciate the job they were bred to do. They are guardians first and foremost and much of their behavior relates to this task. These are highly protective dogs who will lay down their lives to protect their flock, and that includes their human family.

If you understand these behaviors, then this can make a good pet. However, this is not the ideal dog for a first time owner, as they are strong-willed dogs, requiring consistent pack leadership. That said, they are excellent with children, tolerant of other pets that they’ve been socialized with, and outstanding guardians.

You should be aware though, that they are at their most vigilant at night, and tend to bark a lot. This behavior can be addressed with early socialization and obedience training.

A good source of names for your Anatolian is puppy names hq. With thousands of dog names including a huge list of cool dog names, you’re bound to find something you like.

The Anatolian Shepherd is a healthy dog with an average lifespan of over 12 years. This is exceptionally long for a dog of this size. However, the breed is not without its health problems and may suffer from hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and eyelid entropion.

The Anatolian has a particularly slow immune system, which means an anaesthesia can be dangerous. Be sure to inform your vet of this.

The Anatolian is quite an easy dog to maintain. They do shed heavily twice annually, and you’ll have to brush the coat every day during this period.

It goes without saying that this is not a dog to be kept in an apartment. The Anatolian needs a large secure garden and will also have to taken for long daily walks.

The Chow Chow is an instantly recognizable dog. These natives of China are easy to spot with their dense fur, lush tails, “bear-like” faces, and trademark blue tongues. They are medium sized, and can be up to 22 inches in height and weigh up to 70 pounds. The coat is most commonly red, but can also be black, cream or blue.

This ancient breed is thought to have originated in Mongolia round about 200BC. They were used in a number of roles including guarding, herding, hunting and pulling carts. They were also a source of food for the ancient people of this region.

The origin of the name is uncertain. A common theory is that it derives from the Mandarin word for “food”, by this is generally discredited. A more widely accepted idea is that it comes from the word used by English sailors to refer to cargo. The Chow Chow is believed to be the progenitor of several other dog breeds, including the Keeshond, Pomeranian and other Spitz type dogs.Chows are confident dogs who can be dominant if allowed to be. They do best with an assertive owner who has some experience handling dogs. They are sometimes unfairly labelled as an aggressive breed, but aggression is very rare and almost always down to poor breeding practices. In fact, Chows can be very affectionate, usually bonding with a single individual, and being indifferent to everyone else.

They are not a good choice for a family with very young kids, but do well with older children. They also do well with other pets,. as long as they’ve been properly socialized.

Training is an absolute must with this breed. However, you’ll need tons of patience to train a Chow, they are famously strong-willed and while they may sometimes be co=operative, at other times they’ll flatly ignore you. They are however very eager to please their bonded human, so training is not entirely a lost cause.

Although they are generally healthy dogs, Chows do suffer from a number of congenital diseases. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and entropion are all known to occur. Another common problem is gastric torsion, a serious condition, that requires immediate veterinary treatment. You can reduce the risk of bloat by feeding your dog small, regular meals, and avoiding exercise immediately before an after meals. Average lifespan for the Chow is 15 years.

As you might expect, the Chow Chow’s dense coat requires daily grooming. They are heavy shedders, and also blow their coat twice a year.

Chows are very independent dogs, so they have no problem living outdoors, provided they get attention from their favorite human. Their dense coat allows them to withstand cold weather conditions although they are less adapted to warm weather.

Finding good dog names, for a Chow Chow can be a challenge. Your best bet is to use an online dog names database like Puppy Names HQ, which has literally thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-list of cool dog names.

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.

If you’re having trouble finding good names for your American Bulldog, try puppy-names-hq.com. This site has thousands of great dog names including a huge database of girl dog names.

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.

Finding good puppy names for your Am Staff is easy when you know where to look. Try Puppy Names HQ and pick from 1000s of categorized dogs names including a huge database of male dog names.

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.

If you’re stuck for puppy names, for your Bullmastiff, I’d recommend that you check out Puppy Names HQ, an online database that has thousands of excellent dog names including a huge list of boy dog names.

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.

As a new dog owner, you may be overwhelmed with the amount of work it takes to make sure your dog is both healthy and well behaved. This article will go into detail regarding tips specific to your situation, a new dog owner, and ways that you can successfully train your dog.

Use appropriate rewards and punishments when training your dog. For example, many dogs respond favorably when rewarded with a favorite treat for good behavior. At the same time, be aware that excessive punishment can backfire. Instead, use a consistent tone of voice or command word to indicate to your dog when a behavior is unacceptable.

Remember that you must respect your dog’s boundaries. The fact is that you cannot change a dog from being a dog. Your dog does not speak English, and you cannot rationalize his behavior with him. Some dogs will have issues so severe that you can only minimize the impact of the issue on their lives. Consult with a trainer about your dog’s specific limitations, and what you can reasonably expect.

If you have a dog that is not learning, despite training, sometimes bringing in another dog that is already trained, can work wonders. The trained dog can lead by example and will receive all the praise from the people around. Meanwhile, the untrained dog will be watching what the trained dog is doing and learn from this.

A great dog training tip is to always use your dog’s name in a positive manner. By doing this, you will ensure a higher success rate of good behavior because your dog will associate its name with good behavior. Therefore, you should never use your dog’s name in a negative manner.

A great tip for training your dog properly is to never reward your dog’s bad behavior. If your dog is rewarded, it will think it has done something good, which will cause the dog to continuously repeat the bad behavior. Therefore, if your dog misbehaves, never give it a treat, a belly rub, or some other type of reward.

When you are training your dog, focus on what your dog does right during the training sessions, not what they do wrong. This will make training more enjoyable for both you and your dog. Enjoyable training sessions will ensure that your dog remembers what you taught and is ready to come back for more at the next session.

One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is to always reward good behavior, and discipline bad behavior. This is important because your dog needs this stiff structure. Otherwise, it may get confused. Your dog can not comprehend many human emotions and needs a strictly on/off type of response from you.

Paper train your dog. If your dog is left home for long periods of time, he will need a place to go to the bathroom. With this housebreaking method, accidents do not occur in other areas of the house, and the dog learns the proper place to do his business.

The way you train your dog depends on your own goals and your pet’s temperament, of course. Certain methods and strategies can be effectively applied with any training program. If you choose the methods presented in this article that suit your needs and your canine companion’s attitude, you will be able to get your dog jumping through hoops – maybe literally – in no time.

If you’re looking for a name for your dog, the best advice is to visit a puppy names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of female dog names.