Yet another very popular dog breed… The Golden Retriever is a very loving breed.  As the name suggests, this breed was used to retrieve small game for hunters AND is golden in color. The average size of a retriever is anywhere from 55-75 pounds and they live up to 12 years as is common for dogs of this size.  They are the 4th smartest dog breed and the 5th most popular breed. With a propensity for playing fetch and jumping in the water, this breed thoroughly enjoys exercise as well as lazy time. This friendly and intelligent dog breed is perfect for a family or as a therapy dog.  

The only real potential drawback from the breed is the shedding, but its nowhere near as problematic as owning a husky. Weekly brushing will keep their coats looking nice and silky. This breed requires a large space to live in and doesn’t do well in an apartment.  Retrievers are highly sensitive and don’t do well with being scolded or reprimanded. These loving doggos don’t do well being left alone for long periods of time.

(photo credit)

Perhaps the best smile of all dog breeds, these loving beauties are very well proportioned and are very athletic with a propensity for playing in the mud.

Here is what the AKC has to say about Golden Retrievers:

https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/golden-retriever/

While some dogs favor having one owner, retrievers are instantly best friends with whomever they meet.  If an intruder were to enter your house in the middle of the night, this breed would more than likely greet the unwelcome stranger with a playful bark and a friendly demeanor. They are generally great with kids and other pets and not aggressive.

Yet another reason they make great additions to a family. They love being tasked with an action such as fetch.  It’s as if they have an oral fixation as they will keep a ball or stick in their mouth for hours. They tend to be oblivious to overheating, so it’s essential to keep an eye on how much exercise they are getting. As you can see from the picture on the right, this “adogable” breed loves to chase, but doesn’t always bring the item back to the thrower. That is something that needs to be taught.

(photo credit)

The hardest part about having a puppy is potty training them. No one wants a pee stain on their bed, rug, or carpet.  This breed does best with a consistent schedule and a potty command. Often owners will use crate training to teach them to hold it in. If they start to mark around the house, it is a sign that they should be neutered.  Keep in mind accidents will always be a part of any success story, so try not to get mad when they pee in the house. Rather than scold, reward proper outdoor pottying with positive reinforcement in the form of a treat or verbal praise.

For more on crate training golden retrievers, check out:

https://pets.thenest.com/golden-retriever-puppy-potty-training-3523.html

With so much versatility to the breeds adaptability and capabilities, how could you say no to adding this loving animal to your family.

Poodles!!! One of the most popular and smartest dog breeds.  The poodle comes in a variety of sizes from teacup all the way up to standard and can weigh anywhere from 3 to 70 pounds.  Originally they were used in Europe as hunting dogs with high energy and a propensity for water, they would retrieve ducks and other birds from the water.

It’s time to get some facts straight about poodles:

First off they aren’t actually french. That’s a common misconception as they originate in Germany.

While the typical poodle cut may seem like it’s a fashion statement or even a flex, it is actually intended to keep the poodle warm with strategically placed tufts of hair while allowing the canine to move about with ease and agility. The most popular hairstyle is known as the continental clip.

Picture credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/490751690632706972/

Lastly, and something you probably already know, is that poodles have hair, not fur. They are hypoallergenic and allow dog lovers with allergies to dog dander to enjoy the companionship one gets from having a loving dog without the allergies that may come with it.

Because poodles don’t have fur, they don’t shed and require quite a bit of upkeep on their coats. Daily brushing and grooming ensures your poodle’s coat stays matt free which keeps your poodle from being in discomfort or in pain.  As with any breed, weekly nail clipping and daily brushing will prevent discomfort and save money down the road. Poodles have a long lifespan compared to most dog breeds and need their teeth preserved, so they don’t need to get pulled when they enter the later stages of their life.  The smaller variants of poodles in particular are more prone to gum issues so brushing their teeth is highly important.

For a more extensive read on grooming a poodle, check out this informative website:

https://thehappypuppysite.com/poodle-grooming/

Their energy level is higher than most dog breeds, especially the standard poodle, so they require frequent and extensive exercise.  People have even used standard poodles to train with them for marathons. If you intend to have your back yard as a means for your poodle to exercise, be aware that this highly intelligent breed will find any weak points in your fencing and explore the neighborhood. Making sure your yard is properly secured will keep them from getting into too much mischief.

As someone who has owned several sizes of poodles over the years, I can vouch that they will get into anything left unattended without concern of the ensuing consequences of their actions.  From getting into trash cans to chasing people away with intimidating borks to running away to explore the town, these fluff-balls have a knack for adventure and marching to the beat of their own drums.

They require a lot of love and attention and reciprocate ten fold.  This loving breed is the perfect addition to a family and will want to go with you wherever you go. While this isn’t always possible, you need to be considerate and inclusive of these loving creatures whenever possible.

Picture credits:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/863213453555430798/

Before I start blogging about specific breeds of dogs, I feel it’s imperative to talk about the importance of spaying and neutering your pets. It is paramount to spay your dogs (and cats) because it prevents breast tumors and uterine infections.  Spaying your pets helps ensure that they live a longer and happier life. Who doesn’t want that? On the behavioral side, your bitch won’t go into heat and will have better temperament. Neutering your dog prevents testicular cancer and reduces risk of prostate issues.  Similar to your bitch, fixing your male dog will improve his behavior and make him less likely to wander away from home if he gets out of the house. An unneutered male dog will go to great lengths to find a mate to breed with. An example of this would be digging holes under fences to escape and search for a mate. Once an unneutered dog escapes from home, he will wander around in search for a mate, potentially getting into fights with other male dogs and even getting hit by a car.

Some untrue beliefs about fixing your pets are that they will become overweight and it will fix behavior problems. Both are untrue. The sources of pet obesity come from overfeeding and a lack of exercise. A neutered or spayed pet will be able to focus better and that can improve upon relations between family/owner and pet, but it doesn’t fix all behavior problems. It is important to understand how to raise a dog correctly so they are well behaved. Having a well behaved dog is having a happy dog as they get most of their joy from pleasing their owners.

Additionally, pet overpopulation is a sad, yet serious issue in most communities and fixing your pets is your part in helping reduce the prevalent issue. Millions of dogs and cats are euthanized every year as a result of overpopulation which is due to unplanned litters.  Such liters can lead to strays which can cause accidents (pets running through traffic), affect wildlife (by praying on them), attack children and even adults, and many other issues.

If after reading that, you’re still not sold on the idea of spaying and neutering your pets, consider the cost benefits.  It’s considerably more expensive to have and care for a litter than to have your pet fixed. Hopefully if you’re in a position of pet ownership, you have the financial security to afford to spay and neuter your pets, but if the price at a veterinary clinic is too costly, there are cheaper alternatives like the SPCA and other non profits that are a fraction of the cost.

Dogs hate the cone of shame which in the past has been the only post surgery method to prevent dogs from chewing on their stitches. There are neck pillows (usually inflatable) that are much less stressful on a dog during it’s recovery and just as effective as a cone.  This is not something you can usually purchase from a vet, so I recommend buying one online or from a pet store prior to your dogs surgery.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

This first post is an introductory to this blog where i will talk on a myriad of dog breeds and what you should know when considering adding one to your family.