DogLvr.com

The Stabyhoun

By Michael Russell

The Stabyhoun is a dog with beautiful proportion and is well known for its skills as a water retriever and for a soft mouth which will bring in the birds undamaged. The function and origin of this breed is that of a gun dog breed native to the province of Friesland in Holland. It is noted for its propensity to be an excellent swimmer and water retriever, with a soft disposition and friendly character. It is sometimes of quite a heavy build and has been used also as a draft dog. The Stabyhoun is an all around farm dog and hunting dog and is treasured by the farmers of Holland for his ability to fill many roles on the farm, from hunting to watch dog to livestock protector and family pet. When he is a dog on a family farm he also fulfills the role of rodent killer, for he will go after moles and rats as well as flushing out wild game.

The Stabyhoun can be black and white, orange and white, or brown and white. It has a sleek single coat with long body hair and feathering on the front legs and breeches on the rump and rear legs. The entire coat can be speckled or “ticked” or the spots can be large and splashy. Tri color is not acceptable in the standard of the breed. The tail is bushy and has a distinctive feature in that the tip of the tail is covered with a short smooth coat. It is a medium sized dog, built much like a spaniel. Height at the withers is 21-23 inches. The dog is proficient at hunting and retrieving and will naturally point and flush. He retrieves from water as well as land. He is reliable, steady on point and is also an affectionate and calm family pet with an even and unshakably gentle temperament. This is a breed that can live as long as 13-15 years and appears to have very few health difficulties.

More →

Welcome New Visitor!

The Sealyham Terrier: Otter Terrier

By Michael Russell

The Sealyham Terrier has as its origin the region of Sealyham, in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is a cross of several different terriers and hounds, among them the Bull and the Dandie Dinmont and the Fox terriers and the Westy. Another important part of its genetic makeup is the Flandres Basset Hound. From the Basset the Sealyham acquired the short carriage and the heavy duty front legs capable of digging out burrows quickly and efficiently.

The Sealyham Terrier is a terrier which was custom designed by Captain John Tucker Edwardes, an Otter Hound enthusiast. Captain Edwardes desired to produce a dog which would be agile enough to rout out the Otters from between the rocks and crevices in which they hid, into his waiting pack of Otter hounds. Besides, he reasoned, the landowners of the Wales countryside needed a dog that could more easily get into the burrows of the animals which killed their chickens and destroyed their grain stores. His Sealyham Terrier fit the bill, being speedy enough to run with the hounds and small and agile enough to go to ground and less “scrappy” in nature so that he got along well with the pack. This terrier is by nature more of a pack dog than many terriers, this is perhaps due to the genetic addition of the Basset in the gene pool. Whatever the reason, this terrier, although “game” when it comes to the hunt, is more of a couch potato than other terrier types and is noted for being laid back.

More →

The Popular Labradoodle Dog

By Sandra Oberreuter

The Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poole. They are the most popular “designer dogs”. They make a wonderful companion and family pet. They also make a good service animal if trained right. These dogs are friendly, energetic and loyal. They make good watchdogs.

HISTORY

More →

The South Russian Sheepdog (the Ovtcharka)

By Michael Russell

The South Russian Ovtcharka is also known as the South Russian Sheepdog. It resembles the Bearded Collie not only in looks but in natural tendencies and it is likely that the two breeds may have some common genetic background. There is dispute on that matter, for some historians believe that the South Russian Sheepdog is completely native to the Steppe country of Russia and that there is evidence to suggest that they were a well established presence by 1790. Others stick to the belief that the dogs originally were imported from Austria and Europe to serve as flock guards. However, the Austrian dogs of the present day are smaller and without the strong guardian tendencies which are part of the nature of the Ovtcharka.

Regardless of the origin, the chief responsibility of this large and fierce dog is protect the flocks from predators. These predators include the wolf and bear and mountain lions. The territory that it will establish for itself is as great as the distance within its range of scent and surrounding the flock of sheep, usually Merino Sheep. The Merino Sheep tend to maintain themselves together in a flock or group, the Ovtcharka will patrol the outer edges of the flock ceaselessly and with great persistence. It is a large and active breed with punishing jaws and great strength of body. For many centuries the South Russian Sheepdog has maintained a presence amongst the sheep herds almost without intervention or human training of any sort. Often the dogs were born within the flock and grew up within the flock, brought up by the dam and taught by the dam the job of flock guard. Human shepherds were there for the necessary food and care but other than that the dogs took the job of sheepdog or more accurately flock guard quite seriously and quite on their own.

More →

Labrador Retrievers - Beloved Companion and Therapy Dogs

By Melanie Bosano

By far the most common use of today’s Labrador is as a home companion, a role at which he excels. Surprisingly, the Labrador Retriever was rarely kept strictly as a house pet until several decades after the breed’s introduction to the united States. The initial fanciers of the breed became acquainted with him through knowledge of the shooting game. When the breed was well established as a sporting companion, his docile, brainy nature won his way out of the kennel and into the home.

The Labrador Retriever’s ability to quickly adapt and respond to instruction made the transition quite easy. Today, puppies raised in the home actually become so entwined in the lives of their owners that they often suffer when relegated to the kennel life. (If you are planning to keep a kennel of Labradors, select puppies that are properly socialized but still familiar with kennel life.)

More →

The Sloughi, North African Sighthound

By Michael Russell

North Africa is home to the Sloughi, a sighthound believed to be one of the ancient breeds still in existence today. The Sloughi was the most treasured dog of the Northern African Bedouin tribes, kept within their tents and cherished for their steadfastness and speed on the hunt. For many centuries this is the dog that supplied the Bedouins with their food supply, for they are skilled hunters of the gazelle and the ostrich. This breed also served as a protector of the Bedouin flocks, warding off the hyena and jackals. The nature of the sighthound is that of a dog that will give chase to anything that moves and the Sloughi is no exception. Consequently they have good vision and exceptional speed besides of course the sense of smell which also plays some part in their hunting skill.

The Sloughi is a desert dog with a smooth dense coat that is the color of the desert, thus he is naturally camouflaged. He may be brindle or solid color in sandy or tawny variations and darker colors such as deep blue black or red black. His ears are fold over “lop” ears and the muzzle is long and triangular with only a slight stop. The Sloughi has what is known as a straight shoulder which means that there is not a lot of angulation in the front shoulder and this allows the dog to move with an easy loping gait and corner tightly. This is a breed that will extend his movement at the full gallop but can also cover a lot of ground at a lope. He is a tall dog carrying very little fat, presenting a streamlined appearance. The standard calls for a height at the shoulders is 27-29 inches. The breed is recognized by the F.C.I. and is a member of the F.S.S. service of the American Kennel Club, which is the precursor to the breed being admitted as a member of the Miscellaneous Class in A.K.C. shows. In the United States there are two groups which are eligible to register and keep the stud book, the American Sloughi Association and the Sloughi Fanciers Association of America.

More →

The Billy: Aristocratic French Hound

By Michael Russell

The Billy is a French hound that is believed to have been the product of careful line breeding in the 19th century between the three ancient breeds of French hounds which are now extinct, the Larye, Ceris and Montembeufs. He is unique in that these breeds of which he is the descendant were true French Hounds and there is no Foxhound blood in the mixture. The other breeds which bear the stamp of the ancient extinct French hounds include the Poitevin and the Grand Bleu de Gascogne. His creator, M.G. Hublot du Revault wished to produce a packhound that would run deer exclusively. The resulting hound, the Billy, is a packhound but not of the type which will pursue the fox, for he on the taller side (23-26 inches at the shoulder) with a lean appearance and quite swift and has the instinctive desire to give chase to the deer. The breed bears the name of the Castle Billy, the domicile of his creator, in Poitou.

The Billy is an elegant and naturally quick hound, built for speed and with a more delicate look to his body than that of the Foxhound. He was nearly extinct after the World Wars but a pack was revived with the few remaining Billies and the addition of the Poitevin Hound and Harrier blood to keep the gene pool strong. The resulting breed continues with the original name but is still quite rare even in France and is seldom seen on the International dog show circuit. The Billy is a member of the Gundog Group of the F.C.I.

More →

The Southern Black Mouth Cur

By Michael Russell

The southern tier of the Eastern United States is a popular hunting area for big game such as wild boar and black bears. Throughout these states there are a number of regional areas where particular breeds are or have been developed and have built a reputation for their formidable hunting skills. Among these breeds is the legendary Black Mouth Cur. This particular breed of dog has become solid enough in its bloodline and true enough in type to have “made a name” which has spread beyond its original territory and can be recognized as a breed by its markings and structure. It is recognized by the United Kennel Club. This Black Mouth Cur is noted for its proficiency at hunting but also is quite useful as a cattle dog and actually is registered as a member of the Herding Group. When hunting, the dog is apt to catch and kill the medium sized and small game on his own and will hold the large game at bay successfully. When after coon, he will trail them and tree them silently, alerting the hunter of his success with only one or two deep and resounding barks.

The color of the Black Mouth Cur is usually yellow. Often he is called the Yellow Black Mouth Cur. As a matter of fact, the Disney Movie “Old Yeller” used a black Mouth Cur as the dog in the movie. A black muzzle is the reason for his name and is the preferred marking. He also will have low hanging black ears. The coat can be of two types, double or single but must be yellow. The tail if not docked is quite long. When the Black Mouth Cur hits a scent and moves out he can spring from a walk to a full out ground covering stride easily and has the stamina to continue this for many miles. Many of his admirers feel that he is among the swiftest of the trailing scent hounds of the Southern States.

More →

The Grand Bleu De Gascogne: King of Hounds

By Michael Russell

This large and leggy hound is well known outside of France, its country of origin, even though there are few examples of the breed elsewhere except in the dog shows of Europe and Great Britain. This breed is often termed the “King of Hounds” because of its remarkable stature and great beauty. Furthermore this hound is noted for its tenacity on the hunt and its deep and melodious voice. The Grand Bleu is tall but proportionate in size and is marked with black patches on a mottled roan background with tan. The black patches on the head must always cover both ears and the sides of the head and the entire body is so mottled as to leave the impression of blue roan coloration.

There are four dogs which come from the region of Gascogne in France, all have the Gascogne designation in their name; they are believed to be among the purest of the hound dogs since they are directly descended from the original Phoenician hounds crossed with the Gallic scenting hounds. The Grand Bleu lays claim to being the direct descendant of the now extinct Chien Courant, a hound of legendary strength and size. The Grand Bleu was known to bring down wolves in the early days, now it is a hound that is used primarily for hunting deer and wild boar.

More →

Border Collie - Is This The Dog Breed You Want?

By Michael Russell

Are you thinking about getting a border collie? This dog makes a great pet as long as he has lots of work to do. The border collie was bred to herd animals and that is what it will want to do. It may even start herding your kids or your other pets!

The border collie originally comes from Northumberland which is on the English/Scottish border. It is a descendant of the old British droving breeds but also has some spaniel in it. This dog is an incredible herder; it can handle any type of herd. The border collie will crouch down on the ground and give the animals an intense stare. Herding isn’t all this dog is used for though. It is used for drug and bomb detection as well as search and rescue. Some are even used as seeing-eye dogs.

More →