pets

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History and Origin of Pembroke Welsh Corgis

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The origin of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is unclear.It is thought to have lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in the 10th century. Its name comes from the Welsh for heeling dog. It might have been bred from the Swedish Valhund and the Welsh Cardigan Corgi. In the year 920 King Hywel Dda of South Wales declared a law that Corgis were not be abused. Another breed introduced to Wales by Flemish weavers in 1107 may have interbred with earlier Corgis. Some experts believe that the breed is descended from the old Shipperke and belongs in the same family as the Keeshond, Pomeranian, Spitz, Samoyed, Chow Chow, and Norwegian Elkhound. One legend has it that the breed was given to the people by fairies, although this story is given little credence.

Corgis were bred for herding cattle, sheep and Welsh ponies. Their low stature made it possible for them to herd chasing larger animals and nipping their heels while being too low to the ground for the herd animals to kick. If an animal were to try to turn around, the Corgi would nip its nose. The dogs were also used for guarding children and for family pets, as they are today.

Corgis were first shown in the ring in 1925 in Wales. Since Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire are only a few miles apart, there was a great deal of interbreeding between Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Cardigan Welsh Corgis until 1934 when the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom established them as two separate dog breeds, to be shown separately.

At about that time the Duke of York gave Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies to his daughters, Elizabeth, later to become Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and Margaret Rose. Her Majesty still keeps a pack of the little dogs.

Pembroke Welsh Corgis continue to serve as cattle herding dogs on farms in Wales and as pets in many parts of the United Kingdom and the United States.

History and Origin of Pembroke Welsh Corgis courtesy Dog Articles.

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Do Greyhounds Make Good Pets?

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Greyhounds are devoted, brave, sensitive, intelligent, and often fairly laid-back dogs. They are great for young families with children, and are very obedient. This breed is mostly known for their speed and agility which makes them exceptional racing dogs. Other talents they possess include being good watchdogs, sighting and hunting, so Greyhounds do make a good choice of pet.

They have a lovely even temperament in both show and racing lines but are often undervalued due to their character, as at times they can be rather bashful towards strangers and sometimes their owner. Often they are very sensitive to the tone of voice being used, they have been known to be unresponsive to communication if they sense they are stronger minded, and do not react well negative punishment. Greyhounds are tall with a long slender build with flexible spines. Their long graceful necks and small folded back ears are a part of their distinct profile. They also have impeccable straight front legs with contoured muscular hind legs.

This breed can run at remarkable speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Male and  vary some what in height and weight. While a male might be up to 30 inches and weigh up to 70 pounds their female counterparts are only up to 28 inches in height and can weigh up to 65 pounds. Their smooth coat is short and their colors vary from brindle, black, white, fawn, gray, fallow and blue or a combination of these colors with a white coat. Due to their short coats they are simple to maintain as long as they combed weekly. They don’t need to be shampooed regularly only when necessary as they are fairly clean dogs, good for people who normally have allergies as these dogs don’t produce the dander that other breeds do as they have more oil in their skin making them almost shed –free and odorless. These dogs don’t mind urban living environments but still need regular moderate exercises on a daily basis.

They are indoor dogs but also enjoy the freedom of outside play. Their dietary requirements aren’t strict but it may be best to feed them two to three small portions each day instead of the one main meal. Greyhounds may be susceptible to bloating and have been known to be quite sensitive to insecticides and some medications. Some are allergic to anesthetics. Their skin is fairly sensitive so you may need to be mindful of this as it can tear easily. Check with your veterinarian first, before using certain products on your dog, as some flea treatments may be harmful to your pet. Like few breeds, Greyhounds aren’t prone to hip dysplasia and can normally live up to 10-12 years of age. Many retire from their racing prime from 18 months to 4 years old and generally adopted to good homes. These former racing dogs make great pets and have been crate trained, so house-training should come easily. The cost of these dogs will vary accordingly to their bloodlines, racing or show statistics.

Do Greyhounds Make Good Pets courtesy of Dog Articles.

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Going To A Backyard Breeder

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In some cases, the owner of an AKC-registered female dog will breed her to a friend’s unproven registered dog of the same breed.  Are puppies of such matings likely to be satisfactory canine pets for you? The answer depends on the quality of each of the parents, not the cuteness of the puppies.

If both dogs are fair representatives of their breed, have few hereditary problems, and demonstrate acceptable personalities, their offspring may suit your needs.  However, if both parents are quite young when bred, and nothing is known about their ancestors’ qualities, especially conformation and disposition, their litter may not be the one you are looking for! Genetic diseases may be first exhibited after several years of age, and these conditions may be prevalent in both the male and the female bloodlines.

These facts should make you wary of obtaining a backyard-bred puppy.  Judicious advice admonishes you to buy soundness in a big dog, not cuteness.  Look for the best pup, not the most available one.

Mixed breed and crossbred big dogs

Sometimes, a big dog may be inadvertently bred to a neighborhood fence jumper or a female dog of one large purebred may be purposefully mated with a purebred of another large breed to produce crossbred puppies.  What can we predict in such pups?  Again, only the puppies in question and the people involved can answer these questions.

Something can be said for the hybrid vigor of mixed-breed pups.  Sufficient research has not been done to prove that the offspring of such matings are truly stronger or more vigorous than the progeny of purebreds.  Commonsense genetics tells us mixed-breed puppies should have fewer hereditary problems, but the wider gene pool behind them does not assure that these pups will be free of all such problems.

Crossbred offspring conformation is relatively unpredictable on the first mating.  If a large purebred female is bred to a large purebred male of another breed, anything is possible, and few assumptions can be made about the variety of appearances or sizes of the puppies until the litter is several weeks or months old.  Previous matings of the same two dogs may predict the size of these crossbred puppies.

Often, personalities of mixed-breed and crossbred pups are quite attractive, but are probably less predictable than those of purebreds.  Even though individual dispositions may vary, purebred puppies’ characters are likely to be similar to those of their ancestors.

However, if you are not concerned about the actual size or appearance of your big canine partner, and if you find a mixed or crossbred litter, go for it! If the dam is a big dog and the sire is of equal or greater size, the litter has an excellent chance of containing at least a fair percentage of big puppies.

Going To A Backyard Breeder courtesy of Dog Articles.

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