Have you ever admired a beautiful Siberian Husky and thought, “I wish those were just a little smaller?” If so, you’re in luck. The Alaskan Klee Kai is a rare breed that resembles a Siberian Husky but is only 13 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder. These petite Northern dogs were created by Linda S. Spurlin, a dog lover who in the mid-1970s acquired an unusual dog created as a result of an accidental mating between a small dog and an Alaskan Husky. “Curious” inspired Ms. Spurlin to selectively breed in hopes of creating a miniature Alaskan Husky.

History

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Is there any breed more controversial than the American Pit Bull Terrier? Not only are many people afraid of them, they’re even singled out to be killed on sight in some areas due to Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). So what’s the truth about Pit Bulls, and how can the average owner train one to be a friendly family pet? Read on.

Pit Bull Temperaments

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The Portuguese Water Dog
(Photo by Steffen H. Wohnort)

The Portuguese Water Dog (PWD) made news in early 2009 as one of the two finalists to become the “first dog,” as President-Elect Barack Obama’s family announced in early January that they’re deciding between the Portuguese Water Dog and the Labradoodle in their search for a new dog.

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Siberian Huskies Doing What They Do Best – Running! (Stuart Blacklock Photo)

Siberian Huskies are most commonly recognized as sled dogs, a favorite of mushers worldwide for their endurance and their high tolerance of cold climates. These dogs can also make great pets for the right type of person; Siberian Huskies, while beautiful dogs, are not a breed for everyone. As an owner of Siberian Huskies and several other dog breeds, I can confirm that there is a very big difference in the way that Siberian Huskies interact with humans compared to many other dog breeds. (more…)

Kota the Miniature Pinscher

The Miniature Pinscher is among the spunkiest, peppiest dog breeds out there. They bounce, they bark, they’ll chase cats, other dogs and small children if you let them. Min Pins are fiercely faithful to their humans, and most will eagerly take on the role of protector and doorbell. They’re a breed like no other; a breed that will either win you over or drive you nuts. (more…)

I’m a firm believer in biodiverisity. Variety is the spice of life, after all! For that reason, I’ve decided to start occasionally profiling a rare breed on Petlvr: The Blog, in hopes of encouraging dog lovers who’ve decided on a purebred dog to investigate rarer dogs. Of course, I always encourage adoption as a first choice for most pet parents, but for those who want a purebred, owning a rare breed can be fun. It’s a great conversation starter, too!

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the Hungarian Pumi!

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Piggy the Pug – He’s Stubborn Yet Lovable!

When I moved away from home and moved in with my now-husband, my first “want” was a pug. Ever since I was a kid, I had wanted a pug – my favorite movie growing up was even The Adventures of Milo and Otis.

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Terriers are among the most diverse breeds, ranging from the tiny toy Yorkie to the large Airedale. Originally developed to hunt and trap small game, the group has largely changed its role in human life over the past 200 years. But the wide range of size, temperament and appearance has caused terriers to continue to be among the most popular group in the world.

Even within a single subset, such as the smaller breeds, variety is everywhere with terriers. Jack Russells look and behave very differently from Westies. A Scottie and a Yorkie are roughly the same size, but have very different attitudes in detail, while still retaining many general terrier characteristics.

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The image of a friendly, active Golden Retriever is familiar to anyone who has seen a magazine ad or TV commercial. And there’s a good reason that breed features prominently in so many of them: it’s all true!

Golden Retrievers are one of the most easily trained breeds because they are smart, active and sociable. They take readily to any sort of outdoor activity because they enjoy anything that gets them moving. From their beginning as a derivative of Russian circus dogs in the mid-19th century, they’ve been bred to retrieve. Fetching a tennis ball, jumping short fences and other such activities are a natural extension of retrieving game.

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The upgrade is complete now. There was an issue last night completing the little odds and ends related to the feed of the blog, because for some reason Feedburner didn’t recognize this URL! However, this morning it did and I just completed the configuration of the new Network wide template installation.

What do you think of it?

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