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Everyone is familiar with the dog breed Pitbull. An often aggressive breed that is a large culperet to over population and setting a bad stigma for the breed. Several of my dogs have been attacked by pitbulls at the dog park and I can’t help but think that the owners are to blame. The last time a pitbull attacked one of my dogs, Doodle 10 pounds, the dog lunged at my dog and pinned him in a choke bite. Of course we don’t want to identify fault with our dogs or our kids, so it is no surprise that the owner didn’t reprimand his dog or even apologize for its actions, but rather blamed my dog for triggering his dog into trying to kill my dog. I am personally not a fan of this breed. 

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Lots of people that don’t know what they’re doing breed pits and inbreed them. Inbreeding any breed can cause serious health and behavioral issues and they manifest in aggression with this breed.  The breed is very muscular and built, so If you can’t handle the strength of the breed, you should consider another dog for your home. Prone to acting out aggressively, the breed also requires a lot of training for it to be suitable for being around in public.  While it may seem like I am painting a bad picture for the breed, that is not my intention. I just don’t want people buying a pit unless they can devote the time and energy to teach this family oriented and protective breed into being fit to go out to a dog park.  This breed needs supervision around children, obedience training at an early age, getting fixed at a young age to dial down hormonal acts of aggression, and needs to be properly socialized so that it is not overly protective of it’s owners.

Training:

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The American Pitbull Terrier, as it’s commonly known, is not recognised by the American Kennel Club. The breed generally weighs between 40 and 60 pounds and lives 12 years on average. This breed sees small dogs and other animals as prey and needs to be taught from a young age that that is not the case.

Health risks:

This breed is prone to obesity, so it is important to give your pit regular exercise and portion her food so she remains in a healthy weight range. With this breed being so muscular for its size, the bitch is more likely than most breeds to fall victim to hip dysplasia, which I have discussed in several other posts in this dog plog, and knee problems. It is not uncommon for their knee cap to pop out of place which is something your bitch will be able to pop back in place, but if this occurs in multiple ligaments or frequently, surgery might be the only solution.  This breed is also likely to have issues with its skin from allergies to mange to skin infections and ichthyosis.

Do you think this is the right breed for you?

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The Chihuahua has an interesting reputation. Not only have they been the lap dog to Beverly Hills celebrities, but they are also known as shivering barking temperamental bitches.  As one of the smallest dog breeds, they generally weigh between 3 and 6 pounds and can live as long as 20 years of age. They come in a wide variety of coat colors and lengths, but they are all the same breed. In my opinion, the most iconic aspect of the breed are the pointy ears. As the Latino name suggests, this breed originated in Mexico and is very popular there.  Similar to the Yorkie, this breed is fearless and will hunt and kill rats and mice along with other small vermin. Also widely used for companionship, it is unclear if ancient Mexican civilization used them as food.

AKC

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Just because this dog is very small doesn’t mean it needs less training than a large dog breed.  By not just taking your dog outside to potty train her, you should take her on leash to a specific area to learn to go in a specific spot.  Until she is well trained, it is recommended to set boundaries with her, keeping her off the furniture but keeping her close by. It is recommended to have a dog bed right next to yours for her to sleep on and keep an eye on you. This small breed is very smart and crafty, so if you don’t train her, dog ownership will not go smoothly. Since this is a smart dog breed, she is likely to pick up on potty training quickly since they are eager to please their owner and companion.

Health problems:

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Chihuahuas are typically extremely healthy dogs, having the capacity to outlive many other breeds as they can live up to 20, but they are prone to certain problems. One of the most prevalent and well known health problems with this breed is their teeth. Some are born with very little enamel, which makes them prone to cavities and rot. If you notice your bitch has constant bad breath, take her to a veterinarian, because they may be able to help clean the teeth and provide supplements for better health. Another health risk that chihuahuas are prone to is hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Because of their small bodies, this breed has a harder time regulating blood sugar. The good news is that if this is caught early there is virtually no risk for your pup, but if it is never caught or is misdiagnosed there is a chance that he may go into a coma from organ failure. The best way to prevent that is to take your pup to a vet if he is experiencing hair loss, loss of appetite, or is shivering regardless of the temperature.

Grooming

Every dog requires love and care, and chihuahuas are no different. Depending on how long your chihuahuas coat is, bathing biweekly or once a month will be adequate. You should regularly clip your dog’s nails, but how often is dependent on how fast your dogs nails grow. The anal glands should be expressed about bimonthly, but the times it is needed depend on your dog. Taking them to a vet and having them explain all possible signs of this action needing to be performed is best. That is a lot of things that you will have to do as a responsible pet owner, but having a cute and well trained little dog is worth it.  

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Weighing up to 60 pounds, a lifespan of 12-14 years, the SIberian Husky is a truly beautiful dog. With fur ranging in color from white to black, and either blue or brown eyes (sometimes one of each!) the husky is a friend for life. Siberian huskies come from Serbia, and were bred by the Chukchi people more than 4000 years ago to help their tribe hunt and as endurance sled dogs. The breed was popularized after something known as the “serum run” in which a team of these bad boys ran 658 miles in only five and a half days to deliver an antidote to a diptheria outbreak in Alaska. This made national headlines, and the dogs have been highly sought after ever since.

AKC on the breed

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Seeing as the husky was originally a hunter and endurance sled dog, they are quite fierce and have a strong pack mentality. Because of their breeding, this doggo needs a lot of exercise, at least one hour per day (as a puppy). If your husky does not get enough exercise to their liking they will become pent up and will release all their energy however they want (digging in the yard, chewing furniture, howling, etc). As a pack dog, huskies want to be included and feel like they are part of your family, but getting along with dogs can be challenging. One of the best ways to combat this is to enroll your husky in a puppy socialization skills class. Huskies tend to get along with dogs if trained well, but cats and small animals (ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, etc) are a different story entirely. 

temperament 

As a pack dog, your husky will feel like something is off if he is not around others. This off feeling is separation anxiety, and it is a prevalent problem. One of the best ways to combat this is, obviously, for the dog to have some sort of company (another dog) or to at least give them some kind of treat when you leave the house. Bred to run long distances on little food, the breed is very physically healthy. Knowing this, not a ton of muscle or joint problems are present, but a common problem (affecting ten percent of the breed) is cataracts. The only way to combat this is to have your pups eyes checked on a regular basis at a vet. By feeding your bitch a diet specifically formulated for her, and modern day pet brands make this extremely easy. By doing some light searching it will not be hard to find the right brand.

more on health issues

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Huskies are kind of a high maintenance dog breed. Their double coat must be brushed once a week at a minimum, and daily during their shedding season. Their nails grow very fast for dogs, and should be clipped regularly in order to maintain good hygiene and health for your pup. In addition to all of this, their ears must be checked regularly to make sure that there is not a buildup of wax, as that leads to canine ear infection. Finally, a responsible pet owner should brush their dog’s teeth on a regular basis. That is a lot to do in order to keep a healthy pup, but the result is definitely worth the time one has to put in. If you think you can raise and care for a husky while following all of these basic guidelines and you are looking for a companion, you can’t go wrong with a husky.

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Generally weighing between 12 and 18 pounds, the Bichon Frise has an average life expectancy of 13 to 14 years. This breed is small, loving, and most importantly, hypoallergenic. This breed has hair, like a human, rather than fur and is ideal for a single owner or a family.  They are generally friendly and don’t look at strangers as such, but as friends they have yet to meet. While the name sounds French and you might think that’s where this loving breed originated, They actually come from Spain. The French took the breed and turned it into a fun loving lap dog as the name suggests.

more on the breed

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This dog doesn’t shed, but requires a lot of maintenance to keep their coast from getting knotted.  This fun loving breed needs daily brushing to get loose hair out of the coat and prevent matting. Clearly this breed is high maintenance.  The Bichon needs a bath and haircut once a month and most owners rely on professional help with their fluff ball. When you give your Bichon a bath, she needs to get dried with a towel until she is damp, then dried with a hairdryer while getting brushed.  Brushing teeth should be a daily routine with all dogs, but is something most dog owners neglect to do. Smaller dogs have a higher rate of tooth decay and should 100% get their teeth brushed each day.

more on grooming

This breed is a great first dog for anyone who doesn’t have experience owning a dog. They train very easily and are happy to learn commands and tricks to better please their owner.  As a puppy, this dog should be taken outside to go to the bathroom every few hours. To show that this is the right thing to do, bring a treat with you and give it to your dog along with verbal praise when he or she goes potty outside. This positive reinforcement will teach your dog that it’s good to “make” outside and after just a few months, will mostly stop the dog from peeing in the house. Unlike most small breeds, the Bichon usually doesn’t bark at every little noise.

Is this the right breed for you?