Dog Breed Blog

Great Dane Appearance: In one word, Great Danes are HUGE. With a height of 28 to 34 inches (or more) the Great Dane will catch the attention of everyone when you take this friendly dog for a walk. The Great Dane is the tallest dog breed of them all. It has long straight legs, a well toned/muscular body, long muscular neck as well as a slim and elongated head. Did I mention that they were long? They have giant nostrils and dark, round eyes. The Great Dane’s tail length is medium. Their ears droop over naturally, but many Great Dane owners crop their ears so they are pointed and erect. The coat is short and shiny usually in a color of harlequin, mantle, blue, merle, brindle or black. Overall, the Great Dane is truly a beautiful and impressive dog.

Great Dane Temperament: The Great Dane is definitely a gentle giant and perhaps the perfect dog as they have so many wonderful qualities - if you can deal with their huge size. If you plan on getting a Great Dane, you should expect this to be a member of the family, not just some dog to play with here and there.

At first you might be anxious by their huge size, but you will soon find out there are not enough adjectives to describe their positive qualities. Loving, dependable, sensitive, loyal, devoted…the list goes on and on. Great Danes love people and it is best to keep them indoors and let them make themselves at home - even to the extend of taking up your favorite couch.

They are good with children, but you may not want one if your children are small, as their huge size combined with their need to show affection can be overwhelming for tiny tots. It is recommended to train Great Danes early, when they are still small. This way, when they grow up they won’t be knocking over everything in site when they are full grown. Great Danes will not annoy you with excessive barking..
but do make great watchdogs. What more can I say..the Great Dane is one giant heap of love!

Great Dane Health: The major downside to owning a Great Dane is its short life span. On average, they live to be around 6 to 10 years old. You are very likely to become attached to your Great Dane, so keep this in mind. Depending on if they are male or female they can weigh from 100 to 200 pounds or more.

Pound for pound, they actually eat less than smaller breeds due to their slow metabolism. Health concerns for Great Danes include bloat, bone cancer, heart disease, tumors and hip dysplasia. Due to the many health concerns it is good to take your Great Dane in for tests on a regular basis.

History of the Great Dane: The Great Dane, is known as the “Apollo of Dogs” and history suggests this breed has been around for over 2000 years. They were used to hunt wild boar and other animals and introduced to the U.S. in the 1800’s. The Great Danes we know of today originated from Germany in the ninteenth century. Great Danes are believed to come from an Old English Mastiff - crossed with either a Greyhound or Irish Wolfhound.

Great Dane Breed Group: Working, Mastiff

Video: Happy Birthday Mr. Grey

Are you the proud owner of a Great Dane? Please leave a comment below to add your thoughts about this dog breed. Also, if you have a web site or video featuring your Great Dane, leave that as well.

Pug Appearance: The Pug has a stocky, short, muscular and square body with a soft and sleek coat. The hair color is usually fawn, silver, black or apricot. The Pug has a black squashed in looking face with large dark eyes and thin, small ears that fold over. Pugs have a short back and strong straight legs. Their tail usually has a tight curl, but if they have a double curl then you have the most prized Pug on the planet.

Pug Temperament: The Pug is not only cute, but also a very friendly and happy little dog. They are very easy to love and do very well with children. On the flip side, sometimes the Pug can become jealous, show off or be stubborn, but these playful little dogs are smart, loyal and willing to please - so the Pug’s positive qualities far outweigh the negative. The Pug also has the amazing ability to not bark that much yet be a good watchdog at the same time. Now, look deeply into their big bulging eyes…even having a poker face looking at you right now, how can you resist getting one?

Pug Health: The Pug has a weight range from 13 to 20 pounds and a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. Because the Pug has a short muzzle and wrinkles on its face they tend to have breating problems and skin problems. Proper grooming of your Pug (especially on the face) can help prevent skin problems. Their big eyes can sometimes bring problems such as PRA, keratites, and scratches on the cornea. They can gain weight pretty easily, so don’t overfeed them and make sure they get plenty of exercise. They are sensitive to hot and cold weather, so be sure to limit their exposure when it’s yucky outside.

History of the Pug: The Pug is an ancient dog breed and is believed to have originated in Asia as far back as 400 BC. This is still debatable as some believe the Pug came from Dutch traders coming from the East. Some theorize that the Pug came from the Pekingese - others the result of a cross breed with a bulldog. The name Pug comes from the latin word meaning “clenched fist”. The Pug has a remarkable history that includes being bred to adorn the laps of Chinese emperors to being bred by Queen Victoria in the ninteenth century.

Pug Breed Group: Companion, Toy, Mastiff

Video: Here’s a funny video of a Pug stealing food. Clever dog!

Are you the proud owner of a Pug? Please leave a comment below to add your thoughts about this dog breed. Also, if you have a web site or video featuring your Pug, leave that as well.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Appearance: The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a short and long dog with a head that resembles a fox and has large, perky ears. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has little or no tail at all (poor thing) and is about 10 to 12 inches tall. It has short but sturdy kind of look and dark eyes with black rims. Their coat color is usually fawn, sable, red or black/tan many times with white markings.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Temperament: Despite their short size, Corgis can run fast and should be exercised daily. They are an intelligent and devoted breed and excellent as a watchdog - because they are known to bark quite a bit. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is also a good dog breed for kids.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Health: The Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a weight range from 24 to 30 pounds and has a life expectancy of 11 to 15 years. Because the Corgi is so long, they are susceptible to have problems with the spine. Keep your Corgi lean and active to help prevent back problems. Other health concerns include arthritis, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and glaucoma.

History of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi: The Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed originated from Pembrokeshire, Wales and its primary purpose was for herding cattle and sheep. Queen Elizabeth II favored the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and because of this its popularity grew while other Corgi breeds sat outside the castle eating scraps of the Queen’s leftovers.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Breed Group: Herding, Working

Video: Here’s a cute video of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi playing with a bunny rabbit.

Are you the proud owner of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi? Please leave a comment below to add your thoughts about this dog breed. Also, if you have a web site or video featuring your Pembroke, leave that as well.