The Norwegian Elkhound can be summed up as courageous, bold, independent, playful and with a boisterous attitude. These husky members of the Hound Group are a combination of spitz-like traits, mixed with that of the hound, and always looking for the next outdoor adventure. With its high energy levels and overly friendly personality, the Norwegian Elkhound makes an excellent house dog for any family that enjoys exploring the great outdoors.
A Brief History Of The Norwegian Elkhound
There is a bit of confusion over the history of the Norwegian Elkhound, mostly because its roots are tied to the spitz breed, yet is placed in the Hound Group. And anyone not familiar with the breed would immediately assume it was a spitz due to the Elkhound’s physical appearance.
The Norwegian Elkhound has always been an excellent scenthound, used to track large game. They have also served as trustworthy guard dogs, herders, and protectors. The Elkhound has been a breed to survive and evolve to performing a variety of jobs during the coldest of climates, the roughest of terrain, and the deepest of ice-filled mountains.
Above all, its most revered usefulness is in hunting Elk, as the breed’s names suggests. The job of the Norwegian Elkhound was not actually to kill the animal, but rather to locate the prey and keep it in place until the hunter arrived to make the kill. They made their way to England and the United States sometime during the late 1800s and recognized by the AKC in 1930.
Upkeep Requirements For The Norwegian Elkhound
This breed has an insatiable instinct to hunt, and was bred to do so during all types of harsh weather conditions. Therefore they need to live with a family that has access to the outside and with a passion for an active lifestyle. Running, hunting, jogging, and playing are all great ways to spend time with your Norwegian Elkhound. These dogs have endless amounts of energy and are not meant to be couped up inside the house.
Norwegian Elkhounds can live outside if need be, so long as the temperatures are not hot, as their heavy coat was made to withstand the cold. Like all loving companions they should be allowed to sleep inside at night with the rest of the family. Grooming requirements call for a thorough brushing about twice weekly. During shedding season a daily brushing will be necessary.
Health Concerns
The average lifespan of the Norwegian Elkhound is between ten and twelve years. Major health concerns that run common in the breed are CHD. Minor health issues include sebaceous cysts, hot spots, and renal dysplasia (kidney disease). Rarely seen is intracutaneous cornifying epithelioma, PRA, Fanconi syndrome, and patellar luxation. Veterinarians suggest that Norwegian Elkhounds get specifically tested for Fanconi, eye, and hip problems.
The Beagle is one of those dog breeds that thrives off human companionship. A very amiable animal that was originally bred to be a pack hunter, the Beagle is an enthusiastic adventure seeker. The ideal playtime for this dog would be rummaging and exploring through forests and wooded areas. He absolutely adores his owner and makes a great social house pet.
Although the Beagle needs daily exercise to keep him calm and happy, it does not take much, perhaps 20 to 30 minutes of walking each day. You will find that this dog breed is an excellent house pet who remains gentle and calm, especially around its family members. A perfect choice if you have children in the house, owning a Beagle is a breed which will make you happy and will never stop looking for ways to please you.
Upkeep And Maintenance
As mentioned above, exercise on a daily basis should be a part of the Beagle’s physical upkeep. Take them out for a long walk or a quick run through a safe area in the woods. He particularly loves to scout trails and other small paths. However, be sure not to take this dog out off leash if he has been boarded up in the house for a long time. If he catches the sense of a small animal through a trail, he is liable to dash off and run around for a long period of time, especially if his energy reserves are built up from non-activity.
Health Information
When owning a Beagle, veterinarians suggest that you request specific tests for eye problems, hip dysplasia, potential knee problems, and thyroid. The major health concerns that are widespread with many Beagles is CHD and intervertebral disk disease.
Most Beagles have a long lifespan of between 10 and 15 years but occasionally have minor health issues to watch out for which are cherry eye, epilepsy, glaucoma, patellar luxation, KCS, chondrodysplasia, and hypothyroidism.
The Beauceron is a highly intelligent and sensitive member of the Herding Group. This breed has the look and form of a balanced, solid, and powerful dog. They have strong jaws, an agile body, with a dense, straight coat. Today the Beauceron serves the function of a protective house dog but at one time was associated as being one of the best of herding canines.
These dogs are supremely focused when it comes to listening to its owner’s commands and takes great pride in learning new things. They are a loyal breed, calm yet courageous, especially under the circumstances of guarding the family. The Beauceron is always ready to please and very patient around children. These dogs score high when it comes to training ability, watchdog accountability, and protection ability.
A Brief History Of The Beauceron
Although the area of origin for this breed is France (dating back to the 1500s), they are not entirely a French breed. The Beauceron actually originated from the plains outside of Paris (the La Beauce). These dogs were largely used as farm dogs – driving sheep, protecting cattle, and guarding the family.
It was 1863 when two types of the same dog had emerged. One was a flock-herding dog (the long coated Berger de Brie, known as the Briard) and the other a guardian (the short coated Berger de Beauce, known as the Beauceron). The first Berger de Beauce was registered in 1893 by the Societe Centrale Canine group. And the first breed club was created in 1922.
The breed was very well known as one of the best herding dogs in France, but remained hidden from outside of the area. They became well-respected in the military as service dogs during both world wars. Their functions included following trails, detecting mines, and adhering to detailed instructions. The Beauceron Club of America was formed in 1980 and in 2001 the AKC officially recognized the breed as a member of the miscellaneous class.
Upkeep Requirements For The Beauceron
Taking care of this energetic and super intelligent breed means lots of daily exercise and mental stimulation. This is not the type of dog that is happy sitting around the house all day. Without the right amount of stimulation, both mental and physical, the Beauceron becomes easily bored and will act out in a destructive manner.
The Beauceron should have plenty of time to spend outdoors in a large, fenced-in yard, but should sleep inside at night with the family. They can tolerate moderately cool and warm temperatures. Grooming requirements for the breed calls for a light brushing once per week to remove dead hairs.
Health Concerns
The average lifespan of the Beauceron is between ten and twelve years. There are no major health concerns in the breed. Minor health issues include gastric torsion and CHD. Veterinarians suggest that all Beauceron dogs get specifically tested for hip problems.
The Shetland Sheepdog originated in the 1800s and its ancestors were from Scotland, which worked as herding dogs. These early dogs were fairly small, about 20 inches in height, which further developed into the current Shetland Sheepdog. It is said that other dogs came into the mix as well, which helped produce this breed, namely the early Collie, the Iceland dog, and the King Charles Spaniel (black and tan version).
Because they were isolated from the rest of the world, the Shetland Sheepdog was able to breed to its original form in a fast amount of time compared to other dog breeds who might have taken decades, or even centuries of mixed breeding to form their current AKC recognition. England became fond of these animals when the British naval fleet used to take puppies back after visiting the islands.
Their name in the beginning were referred to as “Toonie dogs” which made reference to their local Shetland farming area. Sometime in the early 1900s the name was termed “Shetland Collies”. However, Collie enthusiasts were not very fond of his name so they changed it to the Shetland Sheepdog.
This dog breed is a very intelligent animal that is considered to be extremely bright, a bit on the sensitive side, and always willing to please. Shetland Sheepdogs learn very quickly which makes them easily trainable. They are very obedient dogs and just as equally gentle, amiable, and make great companions to any family, especially those with small children.
Upkeep And Maintenance
This dog is very energetic, therefore it must have daily exercise to maintain its physical energy output needs. Brisk walks throughout the day on a leash, short jogs, or playful training sessions are all perfect ways to spend time with the Sheltie while getting the dog its required exercise.
Shetland Sheepdogs are best to be kept indoors with its family, as it longs for companionship and human contact at all times. However, this dog can sleep outdoors if necessary, so long as the climate is decent. It is just not recommended for its stable emotional happiness.
Health Information
As a member of the herding group, the Shetland Sheepdog has a lifespan of a 14 years when it maintains good health. Veterinarians suggest that dog owners have their Sheltie dogs specifically tested for DNA for vWD, hip dysplasia, eye problems, and thyroid issues. The only major health concern that is common for this dog breed is dermatomyositis. Minor issues to lookout for include allergies, patellar luxation, CHD, PRA, CEA, hypothyroidism, trichiasis, Legg-Perthes, and cataracts.
The Miniature Pinscher has been said to be the world’s most energetic dog breed. Of course opinions vary, but if you have ever been the proud owner of one of these adorable animals then you would have to agree that the statement can ring very true. The Miniature Pinscher received its recognition by the AKC in the year of 1929 and is now one of the most popular toy dog breeds in the United States.
This “king of the toy dogs”, as some dog enthusiasts would call it, is a nonstop energy machine, staying busy and active at all times during the day. Accurate descriptions of this dog’s characteristics would be playful, inquisitive, bold, and a bit stubborn, as it likes its independence. Although the Miniature Pinscher can be a little aggressive with other animals, especially canines, it is extremely affectionate and playful with its family.
Upkeep And Maintenance
If you are the kind of person that does not enjoy being outdoors and experiencing times of playful activity, the Miniature Pinscher may not be the best choice for your pet. This dog needs an extraordinary amount of daily activity with long walks and short, but intense sprints. However, because of its tiny size, he can be easily exercised indoors so long as there is enough room to run around.
Although running outdoors is a favorite pastime of the Miniature Pinscher, this dog is best suited to living inside the house with its family. Like other toy dog breeds, he needs to be away from the cold and cannot stand chilly weather. In fact, you’ll find that the Miniature Pinscher loves to snuggle up underneath pillows and blankets when he is resting.
Grooming the Miniature Pinscher is very easy. Because of its short coat, he only needs to be brushed occasionally. As far as bathing is concerned, once a week or every two weeks is ideal.
Health Information
Most dogs have major health concerns which are typically seen throughout the breed. But when it comes to the Miniature Pinscher, there are no major worries. There are however, a few minor concerns which may need to be addressed: heart defects, cervical disk, MPS VI, patellar luxation, Legg-Perthes, and hypothyroidism.
The Miniature Pinscher has a very long life span, living up to 15 years, sometimes longer. If you own one of these amazing dog breeds or plan on purchasing a Miniature Pinscher puppy, make note that veterinarians recommend that you get specific health tests for hip dysplasia, eye problems, knee issues, and DNA for MPS.
The American Eskimo Dog has been a member of the AKC since 1994. With its spitz-like features, this white bundle of love makes an outstanding family companion. They have the physical makeup of your classic spitz, but come in all-white and maintains a double coat. The ears are adorably short and thick, which makes them cold resistant. This breed can be seen in the toy version, miniature, and standard.
A Brief History Of The American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog (also known as the Eskie) is often mistaken as a spitz breed. This common mistake is not without merit, however, as the breed descended from one of the spitz varieties that was created in Germany. Other influences that went into the making of the American Eskimo Dog was the Pomeranian, Volpino Italiano, and the Keeshond.
All of the other breeds mentioned above quickly became popular, leaving the Eskie to grow slowly in popularity. Essentially what happened was that the Keeshond dog came in a variety of colors but only the gray variety was accepted, excluding the white Keeshond. Then the Pomeranian standard excluded any dogs over 8 lbs.
So by the 1900s, there were these white spitz-like dogs, all white, and larger than the Keeshond breed, that had no home. It is said that European workers brought these dogs with them to the United States. In 1913, they began registering with the UKC. By the 1920s, the Americans called the dog the American Spitz, which could regularly be seen in circus shows. After World War I the American Spits had its name changed to the American Eskimo Dog, which did not gain AKC recognition until 1994.
Upkeep Requirements For The American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog needs plenty of daily exercise, but the amount of physical activity also depends on the type of Eskie. The standard versions need a good workout in addition to several walks on the leash each day. The miniature and toy versions can get by with just a few walks and a romp around the living room. All Eskies love to run and play, especially in the cold.
As its name suggests, the American Eskimo Dog is no stranger to cool temperatures and thrive in such conditions. These dogs are definitely not meant for warm climates. Eskies should also be considered house dogs, spending the majority of its time indoors with the family, where they make excellent watchdogs. Grooming requirements for the breed consists of a thorough brushing of its double coat twice weekly.
Health Concerns
The average lifespan of the American Eskimo Dog is between twelve and fourteen years. There are no major health concerns in the breed. Minor health issues include PRA, CHD, and patellar luxation. Rarely seen is diabetes. Veterinarians suggest that the American Eskimo Dog get specifically tested for eye, hip, and knee problems.
