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Faiths Dog Information Blog

The Iceland Sheepdog

There are many dog breeds to choose from. You have to know everything there is to know about a dog in order to understand if they will fit into your home. There are many dogs that are not going to fit with children or small pets because of their instinctual behaviour. It is important to know everything you can to make a sound decision. You will find below information regarding the Iceland Sheepdog and whether they are a great pet for you.

First of all the Iceland Sheepdog originated in Iceland as far back as 874 A.D. The Viking settlers were the first to have these dogs in their homes. They used the sheepdog as hunters, farmers, and herders. They are also thought to be related to the Norwegian Buhund. The Iceland sheepdog is very close to extinction because of the small numbers. For this very reason there are breeders out their looking to re-establish the breed and hopefully the dog’s popularity.

The Iceland sheepdog is usually a smaller breed of sheepdog. They are still about medium size. You will find they are typically 12 to 16 inches and weigh about 20 to 30 pounds. They have a medium length fur that is often easy to take care of and brush. Their ears are going to point up and sometimes back when they are listening. Their head is relatively small, but the muzzle is a little longer than the head. The tail will also curl back on the body. You will find they are usually brindle, white, fawn, red, and black in colour with white markings.

The Iceland Sheepdog is going to be one of the best dogs to have for working. They are going to be sturdy, and very energetic. You will also find they are intelligent, agile, and hardy. They tend to be friendly, curious, and very playful. This makes them a great pet for the right person. You may not want to have the dog around small children, but they usually adore any child. They are also going to be very kind to strangers rather than aloof. This makes them one of the best dogs you could ever have. They can have strong hunting instincts so training in obedience is necessary. You should also be careful around small pets.

Typically the Iceland Sheepdog is going to need a home with a yard. They are very active and cannot handle being cooped up. They love to be in a family atmosphere and around a family, but they still need a daily walk for about an hour with play. They are a great dog for most types of weather, but especially the colder climes.

You will find that grooming is relatively easy as the double coat they have is weather proof and they usually keep it fairly clean themselves. You will find that a brushing twice a week or daily will remove the dead or loose hair. You will also find that they need their toenails clipped. They don’t usually require professional grooming as long as you make sure there are no mats or tangles forming in the fur. If they do have knots or matting you can simply cut them out. You also shouldn’t need to give them baths. They love to play in the water so this can help keep them clean. They are an average shedder with the medium coat so keeping your home clean can be a little difficult during certain seasons.

Catahoula Leopard Dog

The Catahoula Leopard dog originated from the Nordic wolfhound. In 1979 the Catahoula dog was made the state dog of Louisiana. You will find the Catahoula leopard dog is considered a herding dog. There typical features are white and black further that is rather spotty. They have a sleek form, with plenty of muscle. These dogs have a long tail, thin legs, and droopy ears. They can be white and tan as well. The coat is short, coarse, and usually tight to their bodies. You may mistake them for a mixed Labrador based on their appearance and frame. The Catahoula leopard dog is usually 55 to 80 pounds making them medium sized. You will also find they are 20 to 26 inches in height.

Like most herders the Catahoula leopard dog offers a wonderful temperament for families. They are independent, protective, and territorial, but extremely affectionate with their family. Their characteristics make them good for herding and watch dogging. You will find they are aloof with strangers. Since they can be independent they are not recommended for new dog owners or lax owners. They are best with an active master they can get respect from. You will also want to check with a dog breeder regarding children and other pets with the Catahoula leopard. Their temperament typically asks for older children, and only larger dogs rather than small pets.

Grooming and other care is very important for any dog. You will find that for the Catahoula leopard dog grooming is often easy. The short coat just needs to be brushed once a week to remove dead or loose hair. They can be bathed twice a year if they get dirty. You should trim their nails on a regular basis and check their teeth. You will find the Catahoula leopard dog sheds an average amount of hair a year.

When you provide the proper care for your Catahoula leopard dog you will find they live for about 12 to 13 years. Some health ailments they are prone towards include hip dysplasia and deafness. You will also find that they can have eye issues such as tunnel vision. In some cases these dogs have contracted cancer, but they are not considered genetically predisposed. For proper care you need to provide a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Since the Catahoula dog was breed for herding they require a pretty high protein diet. You should check with a breeder or your vet for the best food. A dry food that is high in protein or a natural diet may be best.

For exercise you will want to ensure that they have daily walks and a yard. They do not do well in apartments for the most part. They need to get at least an hour of exercise if not more than that on a daily basis. The Catahoula does not do well when they have been tied up to a runner or placed in a kennel. It is best to spend a lot of time with this breed and avoid eight hours of being gone. The dog does better when you provide them with a lot of attention both indoors and out. Exercising should be a combination of things such as toys, running, jogging, and walking. Training is also important. They need to be socialized early as well as given obedience training. You may take a combination of training, play, and walks to help get the proper exercise.

Understanding Your Older Dog

Have you ever noticed that when your dog gets older there are behaviour changes? It really is like people. As your parents get older or you get older you notice that there are changes in behaviours and of course health, which is just like what your dog is going through. This article is going to examine the various changes an older dog can go through. We will look at maturity and aging to help you understand your dog a little better. The genera life span for any dog is going to be 9 to 15 years. Part of the reason for such a short or long life span is the breed, but it is mostly the actual care they have received in life. It’s just like a human. Someone who smokes is usually going to have a short lifespan than someone who didn’t. In the same the more exercise one typically gets the longer you will live. So when you think about your dog’s life span consider their lifestyle and health throughout your care. It is important to have preventative care over fixing each problem as it arises.

Aging of course is not preventable. Every dog is going to age. There are some breeds that have more diseases that are common to their health and sometimes those can’t be prevented, but knowing the possibilities can at least help you take the proper care. Part of prevention is making sure they have their vaccinations on a regular basis. Some of the vaccinations are going to be your choice. For information on those you should seek an article dealing with vaccinations and the proper schedules. There are some vaccinations that are state mandatory. Vaccinations are just part of prevention. Good nutrition is another method. If you are providing the healthy foods at all stages in life your dog is generally going to be healthier. This means that you take care for the proper food such as protein, carbohydrates, and the minerals your dog needs to grow healthy. Some of the generic foods are not going to have what is needed. So just double check the label.

Exercise is of course very important. When you offer daily exercise for the type of dog you have you will see their health continue. Basically all dogs require a certain amount of exercise. Some of the dogs require just short walks and playing around the home, while others need at least a half a day of playing outside in a large field. The proper exercise even for an older dog can help keep up the health. Old dogs do like to play and walk, but sometimes they may have health issues that take away from the length of exercise they can handle. While you may feel you are doing them a disservice by making them exercise you are actually helping them even when they are a little ill or have arthritis. They need the little bit of play and exercise. You just don’t want to go overboard.

The other part of preventative care is going to be cleaning their teeth, grooming them and checking their ears. First with the teeth you want to make sure they are not getting gum disease from a lack of proper cleaning. Gum disease can lead to the falling out of teeth and while this is common in older dogs, a healthy diet and care can make this happen less frequently. Grooming your dog is very important as well. As long as you can keep his skin and coat healthy you will avoid skin infections. When the skin begins to look dry, thin, or brittle they can experience health related diseases. You will usually find sore spots and body odor from not taking care of your dog.