The Little Fox ~ The Shiba Inu

Hi Lil Dog Whisperer Readers ~
Recently, I got a request to feature this foxy little dog, the Shiba Inu.  I hope you enjoy this little dog as much as I did.

The Shiba Inu is a unique and beautiful breed.  They are intelligent, active and energetic.  They are famous for their spirited boldness, cat-like agility and independent nature.  The Shiba Inu approaches the world with a calm dignity that is uniquely his own, which is likely why he is also described as stubborn. 

Early obedience training is important, but even then they can be stubborn.  Off leash training is especially challenging and does not always stay with them, so keeping them on leash is always a better option.  They are escape artists and owners have to be careful every time they open a door because they will bolt and they are fast.  They have even been known to climb chain link fences. 

They are alert and high energy so they need regular exercise, but a spirited 30 to 45 minute walk every day should suffice.  However, for best results, running or jogging should be made a part of the daily routine

They are not great with other dogs, and because of their hunting nature, the Shiba dog was originally used for hunting, specifically large game. Due to their speed, small compact build and agility, they would flush game out of the brush and bushes, they are not great with small animals but can coexist peacefully with cats, but if a cat runs your Shiba Inu is likely to chase it.

They are good watchdogs and only bark when there is a reason.  Then tend to be reserved towards strangers.  Shiba’s will do well with older children, but some are afraid of young children and are alarmed by their squeals and quick movements.  Many Shibas will run and hide from toddlers.  If the toddler pursues the dog the Shiba is not one to stay calm.  The Shiba Inu guard his stuff, including toys, food and territory.  

Proper socialization helps minaimize this characteristic, but it's wise to put away his toys when other dogs and kids are around.   

They are not lapdogs and prefer to sit beside you, not on you. They are not particularly cuddly and don't really like to be held. They spend a lot of time on their own, enjoying some quiet solitude. Because they don't really like to be touched or handled, grooming can be a real challenge. They are generally quiet, but do possess the Shiba scream -- a high-pitched banshee call.  They can be a bit of a drama queen.

Shibas may be red, black and tan, or sesame (red with black-tipped hairs), with a cream, buff, or grey undercoat.  They may also be white (cream), though this color is considered a "major fault" by the American Kennel Club and should never be intentionally bred in a show dog, as the required markings known as "urajiro" are not visible; "Urajiro" literally translates to "underside white".  Conversely, a white (cream) coat is perfectly acceptable according to the British Kennel Club breed standard.

These dogs are very clean, so grooming needs will likely be minimal. A Shiba Inu's coat is coarse; short to medium length with the outer coat being 1–1¹⁄₄ inch long; and is naturally waterproof so there is little need for regular bathing. 

They also have a thick undercoat that can protect them from temperatures well below freezing. However, shedding, also known as blowing coat, can be a nuisance. Shedding is heaviest during the seasonal change and particularly during the summer season, but daily brushing can temper this problem.

The Shiba is the smallest of the Japanese native breeds, which include the Kai Inu, Hokkaido Inu, Kishu Inu, Shikoku Inu, Tosa Inu and the Akita Inu.  Despite their smaller size it was bred to hunt small wild game, boar, bear and to flush birds.  Their name Shiba means both, “small” and “Brushwood” in Japanese.   

At the close of World War II, Shiba's were close to extinction, but merging the three remaining primary blood lines save the Shiba Inu breed.

The first Shiba dog to enter the United States was documented in 1954 and the first documented litter here in the US was born in 1973.

The American Kennel Club recognized this unique dog breed in 1993.  Today these charming dogs are the #1 most popular dog breed in Japan.

The breed received a huge boost in popularity following the debut of the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam, which went viral in 2008. The website featured a live-streamed webcam trained on six newborn Shiba Inu dogs born on October 7, 2008. Within the first week, more than three million viewers had spent 1.2 million hours watching the puppies.

Several Shiba Inu puppies were also featured in the 2009 film Hachi: A Dog's Tale, portraying the young Hachikō (who was, in real life, an Akita Inu).

Fun and Feisty, The West Highland Terrier

Hi Lil Dog Whisperer Readers ~

One of my favorite Terriers is the West Highland Terrier or more commonly know as the Westie. They are feisty, determined and devoted little dogs with lots of personality. So I have decided to feature them.

I hope you enjoy learning about them as much as I did.

The West Highland White Terrier is said to originate from Poltalloch, Scotland, and due to this, was originally known as the Poltalloch Terrier. He was also sometimes referred to as the Roseneath Terrier, after the Duke of Argyll's estate. The Westie was first shown in the United States in 1906 under the Roseneath name, but this was changed in 1909 and he has been known as the West Highland Terrier ever since.

The popularity of the breed during the early 20th century was such that dogs were being exchanged for hundreds of guineas.  As of 2010, the Westie is the third most popular breed of terrier in the UK, with 5,361 puppies registered with the Kennel Club.  However, this is a decrease in numbers since 2001, when it was the most popular terrier breed, with 11,019 new dogs registered. The breed's position in the United States is more stable with it remaining in the top third of all breeds since around 1960. It was ranked 30th most popular in 2001, based on registrations with the American Kennel Club, which has varied around the 30s in the decade since, with it ranked 34th in 2010. 

The first show held for the breed was at Crufts in London in 1907. The first AKC registration was in 1908. Originally registered as the Roseneath Terrier, the name was officially changed to West Highland White Terrier on May 31, 1909.

Westie’s are active, spunky and energetic. They are confident and will stand their ground; regardless of their size this makes them good watchdogs.  They have a streak of stubbornness, so their owner/s have to start training at a young age and make them self pack leader from the very beginning. However they are fairly easygoing and friendly.

Westies are good with other dogs, but have been bred to chase small pray, so need to be socialized at a young age if you have any small animals in your home and should not be left alone with them. They also like to play rough so socialize with other small dogs.

They are okay with children, but can get nervous when they run at them, pat them roughly, or pull their ears or tail.  Sometimes a young child will remind a Westie of prey and will give chase and may act bossy around kids.  Most breeders recommend Westies go to a home with kids over ten years of age.

Though the Westie is a small dog, they are not lap dogs.   They don’t need much pampering and are happier to go for a walk in the rain and play in the mud puddles.

They love walking, they are very energetic, and most also enjoy swimming. They love to dig, so they don’t make great gardening companions. They are also known for digging under fences so a strong fence is needed to keep your Westie in your yard.

West Highland Terriers come in only white. They have a double coat. The top coat is about two inches. It is long, harsh and straight, the shorter undercoat lies close and soft.  The Westies are very light shedders but regular brushing is necessary to help keep the coat in good condition and help reduce shedding.

US owner surveys put the average lifespan of a Westie at 12 to 16 years, and some beyond that;  while the average litter size is between three and five puppies.  However, some litters may contain more than this, one of which was a Westie called Isobel who gave birth to a litter of eleven puppies in April 2012.

One of the most famous West Highland Terriers today is the  Westie from Cesar’s Dog Food. 

Cesar is the mascot and poster dog for Cesar brand dog food in the United States. In Canada, the Westie that appears on Cesar brand dog food is named Maggie.

Imelda is the name of the charming Westie that appears on the labels of Australia's My Dog brand dog food.

In the feature film based on the French cartoon character Asterix, the pet dog of Axterix's friend Obelix,

called Dogmatix, or Idefix as he is called in the original French, is played by a Westie with black ear tips.

On the animated series King of the Hill, Doggy, the pet of the Souphanousinphone family, is a West Highland White Terrier.

Happy was an acting dog that appeared on the television series 7th Heaven. Rescued from an animal shelter, Happy was reported to be abused by her first owner, making it necessary for her to make friends with adult actors before filming began. She appeared on eleven seasons of the series.

McDuff is the main character in a series of illustrated children's books created by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Susan Jeffers.

In the popular series of books about fictional Highland police officer Hamish Macbeth written by MC Beaton, Macbeth is often accompanied by his Westie, Wee Jock. The series was adapted into a popular television series for three seasons by the BBC.

Fergus is the title character in the children's book, "Good Boy, Fergus!" written by American author and recipient of the Caldecott Honor, David Shannon.

Macintosh, the dog owned by Agatha Gregson in PD

Wodehouse's celebrated series Jeeves and Wooster, was a West Highland White Terrier.

The book, Greyfriars Bobby by Eleanor Atkinson, embellished the true story of a Skye Terrier that spent the better part of his life sitting on his master's grave, whom he was devoted to. In a film produced in 2006, called The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby, Bobby was portrayed by a West Highland Terrier.

Coconut is a Westie that appears in the American Girl series of books and dolls.

On the currently produced television series, House, Hector is a Westie that lives with Wilson, one of the main characters of the series.

Here are some Westie Rescues

http://www.westierescue.com/index.asp

http://www.petfinder.com/dog-breeds/West-Highland-White-Terrier

http://www.helpwesties.org/

I hope you enjoyed learning about the Westie as much as I did and if you have any cute photos of your Westie, or a dog breed you would like me to feature, e-mail me at lildogwhisperer@gmail.com

Hi Lil Dog Whisperer Readers ~

One of the sweetest dogs I have ever met is the Beagle.  They are friendly, gentle and merry.  I always love being around and with them.   Sorry for all the photos, but I think that they are so cute!

Beagles are kind and gentle with children.  He loves to play with you and always wants to be near you and he's territorial and protective of his family.

Beagles are a member of the Hound Group along with the Bloodhound, Dachshund, Basset Hound and many others!

The Beagle is a small to medium-sized dog. It is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears.

Beagles are a scent hound, which means that they use their sense of smell to find game, not like the Greyhound who as a sight hound, the breed pursues game using its vision and speed.  Often you can tell sight hounds from scent hounds but their heads.  For example, the Greyhound has a long lean head so the have more range to see, while the Beagle has a short square head, also the ears play a good part in scent hounds tracking.  Their ears pull the scent towards their nose.

He has a highly developed nose and will wander off after interesting smells. For this reason, he needs to be securely fenced in or on a leash when he's outdoors or he will wander miles away after a scent. He might be more interested in finding out where that fascinating smell comes from than obeying your commands!

 Due to their amazing sense of smell often today in airports throughout the USA, dogs of the "Beagle Brigade" sniff packages and baggage belonging to international passengers, searching for prohibited food and agricultural items.

The Beagle can be quite noisy: baying and barking, telling you he has found his scent. He loves his food and will eat until he bursts if allowed to. He can be quite ingenious in coming up with ways to get to the food in the cupboard, in the bin or on the table! His favorite past time is digging in the dirt. He always wants to be near you and given lots of love and attention from his human family.  They are eager to please and will always be willing to take a treat! 

Beagles have many different hair colors although the Tri-color (white with large black areas and light brown shading) is the most common, Beagles can occur in any hound color.

Tricolored dogs occur in a number of shades, from the "Classic Tri" with a jet black saddle (also known as "Blackback"), to the "Dark Tri" (where faint brown markings are intermingled with more prominent black markings), to the "Faded Tri" (where faint black markings are intermingled with more prominent brown markings)

Some tricolored dogs have a broken pattern, sometimes referred to as pied. These dogs have mostly white coats with patches of black and brown hair.

Tricolor Beagles are almost always born black and white. The white areas are typically set by eight weeks, but the black areas may fade to brown as the puppy matures. (The brown may take between one and two years to fully develop.) 
Some Beagles gradually change color during their lives, and may lose their black markings entirely.

Two-color varieties always have a white base color with areas of the second color. Tan and white is the most common two-color variety, but there is a wide range of other colors including lemon, a very light tan; red, a reddish, almost orange, brown; and liver, a darker brown, and black.

Liver is not common and is not permitted in some standards; it tends to occur with yellow eyes. Ticked or mottled varieties may be either white or black with different colored flecks (ticking), such as the blue-mottled or bluetick Beagle, which has spots that appear to be a midnight-blue color, similar to the coloring of the Bluetick Coonhound. Some tricolor 

Beagles also have ticking of various colors in their white areas.

The short coat of a Beagle requires only an occasional brushing.  But he does shed and you may find yourself brushing him more the twice a week to remove loose hair.

Has anyone heard of Snoopy from the comic strip and TV series Peanuts?  He is one of some very famous Beagles.  So, to finish off, here are some more Beagles that I’m sure you know:

Odie from the Garfield series

Underdog, the Super dog,

There’s no need to fear Underdog is here!

 Gromit from Wallace and Gromit

In the 1960s President Lyndon Johnson had three Beagles.... named "Him", "Her", and "Edgar". 

And here is a really cute video that I found that I just LOVE!

I hope you enjoyed learning more about the Beagle as much as I did!

Cute Pups! Cute Dog Photo of the Week!

Hi Lil Dog Whisperer Readers ~

I have a new column where every week I will post a cute dog photo and this week I have some really cute ones to share with you to kick off the new column!

Here they are!

Which one is your favorite?  I love the one with the Golden and Westie!

If you have any beautiful or cute dog photos you'd like to share, please e-mail me at lildogwhisperer@gmail.com.  I would love to share them here on Lil Dog Whisperer. 

Hope you enjoyed the photos and look forward to seeing some of yours soon!! 

You Dog Lovin’ Pal, 

Araya

Flat-Coated Retriever ~ Peter Pan of the Dog World

Hi Lil Dog Whisperer Readers!
This week I have decided to write about the fun, beautiful Flat-Coated Retriever!  I hope you enjoy learning about them as much as I have!!

 The Flat-Coated Retriever is excellent with children and a great family dog, with a reliable temperament. Friendly, sweet and high-spirited, they love everyone, even strangers. They have a puppy-like attitude and always appear to be in good spirits.

They love to play and retrieve, and with enough exercise they will be quiet indoors, saving the activity for the outside. They are intelligent, loyal companions. This very sociable breed needs lots of gentle but firm leadership from their family.

As a family companion he is sensible, alert and highly intelligent; a lighthearted, affectionate and adaptable friend. He retains these qualities as well as his youthfully good-humored outlook on life into old age. 

Paddy Petch, author of The Complete Flat-Coated Retriever, refers to these dogs as the "Peter Pan" of the retriever breeds, given they never quite grow up.
The Flat-Coated Retriever gets along well with dogs and other pets. They are active, obedient and highly trainable, and can get bored easily without variety.

Keep training sessions short and fun, without excessive repetition. Be sure to take them for daily walks to satisfy their high energy.

The Flat-Coated Retrievers is a versatile family companion hunting retriever with a happy and active demeanor, intelligent expression, and clean lines.The Flat-

Coated Retriever is an active, multi-talented bird dog with a strong desire to please people. Exuberant, confident, and outgoing, they make a loving family pet and are excellent companions to even small children, providing adults are nearby to direct this dog's boisterous enthusiasm.

These retrievers do best with plenty of exercise and engagement to help channel their natural sporting energy. Including them in one's daily routines whether for a walk, jog, or car ride are great ways to indulge their innate desire to be with people. While flat-coats will protect their owners and property with an assertive bark, they are unlikely to back up such noise with actual aggression.

Originating in the mid-19th century in England, the Flat-Coated Retriever gained popularity as a gamekeeper’s dog.  It is thought that Canadian seafarers brought Newfoundlands to British ports and that they factored into the ancestry of the Flat-coat. It is thought that Collie-type dogs were added to increase the breed's trainability along with the Newfoundland for strength and Setter blood for enhanced scenting ability.

The first examples of the breed were introduced around 1860, but the final type was only established twenty years later.  These retrievers were invaluable to fishermen and often traded between Britain and North America, where they became known as generic "Labrador" dogs. Eventually, a breed known as the Wavy-Coated (subsequently Flat-Coated) Retriever appeared and became distinct to these "Labrador" dogs.

The medium-length coat of the Flat-Coated Retriever only requires an occasional brushing. But because he sheds you may find yourself brushing him once or twice a week to remove loose hair. (What you get out with a brush doesn't fall out in your home!)

The distinctive and most important features of the Flat-Coat are the silhouette (both moving and standing), smooth effortless movement, head type, coat and character.

In silhouette the Flat-Coat has a long, strong, clean, "one piece" head, which is unique to the breed. Free from exaggeration of stop or cheek, the head is set well into a moderately long neck which flows smoothly into well laid back shoulders.

A level topline combined with a deep, long rib cage tapering to a moderate tuck-up create the impression of a blunted triangle. The brisket is well developed and the forechest forms a prominent prow.

(Liver Flat Coated Retriever)
This utilitarian retriever is well balanced, strong, but elegant; never cobby, short legged or rangy. The coat is thick and flat lying, and the legs and tail are well feathered. A proud carriage, responsive attitude, waving tail and overall look of functional strength, quality, style and symmetry complete the picture of the typical Flat-Coat.

From the young Peter Pan or strong retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever is an amazing dog!

From Hero to Beethoven~ The Saint Bernard

I have met a few Saint Bernards here on Alki and so this week I have decided to write about the beautiful, large and brave Saint Bernard.

I hope you enjoy learning about them as much as I have!

The St. Bernard is a large dog. The average weight of the breed is between 140 and 264 lbs and the approximate height at the withers is 27½ inches to 35½ inches.

The St. Bernard is descended from the ancient Roman Molossian dogs of war that accompanied Roman soldiers on their invasion of the Alps. These dogs were crossed with native Swiss dogs and the Saint was developed for hauling carts, guarding and herding.

The hospice was founded in 980 AD by St Bernard de Menthon as a refuge for mountain travelers using the hazardous mountain pass between Switzerland and Italy.

By the 18th century, the monks of the hospice were breeding St. Bernards to guide and rescue mountain travelers.

The Saint’s sense of smell is so good that he can find people buried by avalanches under many feet of snow.

The breed also seems to be able to sense low frequency vibrations and predict avalanches. During the past 3 centuries, these dogs are credited with saving the lives of well over 2,000 people.
"St. Bernard" wasn't in widespread use until the middle of the 19th century. The dogs were called "Saint Dogs", "Noble Steeds", "Alpenmastiff", or "Barry Dogs" before that time. .

There are two coat types for the Saint Bernard.  The coat can be either smooth or rough, with the smooth coat close and flat. The rough coat is dense but flat, and more profuse around the neck and legs. The coat is typically a red color with white, or sometimes a mahogany brindle with white.
Black shading is usually found on the face and ears. The tail is long and heavy, hanging low with the end turned up slightly. Sometimes the eyes, brown usually, can be icy blue, nearly white.

                     (Short haired St. Bernard)

The Saint is an intelligent, courageous, loyal, obedient and good natured dog breed. Some Saints are extroverts and some introverts but all need close contact with their families. Do not leave this breed outside all the time as it needs to be part of the family’s activities.

The breed is very good with children and also other pets but because of their very large size, young children and toddlers should be supervised carefully to avoid any accidents. The St Bernard is devoted to its family and will guard it from any threats.

The Saint is slow moving, obedient and wants to please its owner and therefore is relatively easy to train. However St. Bernard dogs are so large that they must be thoroughly socialized and trained while they are young and haven’t grown too large to handle. Any giant breed must be thoroughly obedience trained or you will have a disaster in the making.

The Saint makes a good watchdog even though it doesn’t bark much and is fairly tolerant of strangers. The Saint Bernard does best with an experienced dog owner.

Here are some famous Saint Bernards:

• Bamse, a Norwegian dog honoured for exploits during World War II memorial statue in Montrose, Scotland.
• Barry, famous Alpine rescue dog
• Beethoven (from the movie series of the same name)
• Buck, from Jack London's The Call of the Wild, is half St. Bernard
• Cujo, the dog from the book Cujo and film of the same name
• Nana, in the Disney and Columbia Pictures Peter Pan movies (but a Newfoundland in J.M. Barrie's original play and novel
• Porthos, J.M. Barrie's dog
•  Scipio St.Bernard of Orville Wright

And here is a photo that I really love of a St. Bernard and a cute little friend!

 
And so from Hero to Beethoven, the St. Bernard is a great dog!

Coton de Tulear - Playful Pup

Hello Dog Whisperer Readers ~

This week I am going to write about the Coton de Tulear (It’s pronounced KO-Tone Dih TOO-Lay-ARE) due to a request from Julie, a Lil' Dog Whisperer reader!  Thank you very much for the request and I hope that you enjoy!

Madagascar is the country of origin of the Coton Tulear. It is presumed that in the 16th century sailors had brought the ancestors of the Coton to the port city of Tulear (present day Toliara) in Madagascar from Spain and Portugal. The Coton is related to the Bichon dog family.

Cotons are both lovable and lucky, so it seems. In general, the Coton de Tulear is a healthy animal that can live to be 18 years old.

Coton de Tulears are affectionate, playful, and intelligent little breeds.  They love life, and are generally lively and enthusiastic. A very vocal breed, this fluffy dog grunts and makes noise when having fun. Some even have a habit of leaping and walking on their rear legs to entertain people. But some may exhibit cautiousness or shyness in new situation, particularly around strangers. This will not be a problem if you properly socialize and train him/her.

Training Coton de Tulears is a delightful experience. This breed is lovable, and eager to please the owner making them highly responsive to positive methods using praise and rewards. They are obedient and highly agile dogs that enjoys competition being in the spotlight. As with other breeds, they still require consistent training with obedience classes as puppies to both socialize them, and provide a good knowledge of the basic commands.

The Coton de Tulear loves to play and swim. They appreciate wide open space, and can tag along on horseback with their masters. They do great in various dog sports including agility trials, and catch. As an active breed, they really adapt well to their family's situation for as long as they are provided with daily walks.

This small dog weighs between 9-13 pounds for males, 8-11 pounds for females, and stands 10-12 inches for males, 8.5-10.5 inches for females.

The Coton de Tulear is different from most breeds of dogs in that the cotton, dry textured coat is more like hair than it is like a traditional dog fur. This makes the coat appear very fluffy and light, almost tussled in appearance.

The tail of the Coton de Tulear may be carried straight or slightly curved, but will always be covered with longer, cottony hair. The breed has a noticeable beard and moustache of longer hair, plus the eyes of the mature Coton de Tulear will be covered with the long hair from the forehead. In pets this may be trimmed to help with upkeep, but in show dogs the coats and faces may not be trimmed or clipped. The overall appearance of the coat should be windblown and free, not slicked or flat against the body. They should closely resemble a fluffy cotton ball that has been slightly pulled apart.


I hope you’ve enjoy learning about the Coton de Tulear as much as I have! 

You dog Lovin’ Friend,

Araya