The Poodle is a dog believed to originate from Germany where they were known as “Pundelhund” meaning “splash in the water” dog. Whist the Standard Poodles are commonly known for their German origin, the smaller Toy Poodles became quite popular during the reign of Louis XVI. There are three different sizes of Poodles. First came the Standard Poodle, which were bred as a retriever, and were used for duck hunting. In the later years, they then went on to breed Miniature Poodles and Toy Poodles. It was believed that when breeding the Standard Poodle, they would only use the smallest of the litter to breed further blood lines, until they reached the desired size of the Miniature Poodle. These measures were also used to breed the smaller Toy Poodles. Once Gypsy’s heard of the Miniature Poodles, the smaller, yet equally intelligent and strong version of the Standard Poodle, they began breeding them as circus dogs. Over the years Miniature Poodles have become popular household companions. They have a single layered coat, which doesn’t malt, therefore needs regular grooming. But a bonus to this is that they are considered “Hypoallergenic”. So, whilst they are not 100% allergen free, they would be more suitable for those prone to allergies. A Poodles coat needs proper grooming and care, with brushes on a weekly basis to ensure that it does not matt and a groom every 6 – 8 weeks.
There are many different ways to clip a Poodles coat, some a little more extravagant and out there in comparison to others! There is the “Puppy Clip”, which is acceptable for Poodles under 1 year old, however many pet owners these days opt for this clip as it doesn’t expose any skin. Another of the more “out there” clips is the Continental Clip. This clip is usually confirmation that a Poodle is older than older 1 year and older. There are many other different clip styles, over 120 to be exact, however some of the other popular ones are; Town & Country Clip, Kennel Clip, Lamb Clip, Summer Clip and the English Saddle Clip. The benefits of being clipped, especially in earlier times was removing the hair from the lower part of the Poodles body, this was because of the style of coat the Poodles have, which retain water, therefore making them heavier. Poodles have a beautiful nature, they are loyal, alert and very intelligent, which make them very easy to train. They are also very active, and love to exercise. These days, whilst they are still popular show dogs the poodle is a very popular family pet as they are great companion dogs and make a great addition to families.
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In honour of our Dog of the Month, Archie, the Kelpie x we wanted to share some fun facts about the Kelpie breed! Did you know....?
The Sealyham Terrier originated from Wales in the mid 1800’s, where it is said that Captain John Edwardes at Sealyham house originally developed the breed for pest control and to eliminate vermin.
In 1903 the Sealyham terrier was shown for the first time and the Sealyham Terrier club was then created in 1908 but not officially recognized by the Kennel Club until 1911. The Sealyham Terrier has a white medium length double coat, making the undercoat dense and the outercoat wiry and weather resistant. The hair around the muzzle and face is much longer than the coat giving a beard like appearance. Although the Sealyham Terrier is all white some can have marking on there head or ears in colours from lemon, brown, black, blue or badger which is a mixture of black & brown. Their head and neck are long, while their legs are short and stocky. As an Adult the Sealyham Terrier ranges in height from 25-30cm at the wither and weighing around 8-9kg. They are a very hardy breed with few specific health problems with an average life expectancy of 12-14 years. Their personality is very affectionate, inquisitive and confident and they are much less active than most Terriers though have are always ready to play if you are! Overall the Sealyham is outgoing, friendly, loyal to family members and has a great sense of humour, though will a great watchdog if trained properly which makes them and ideal family pet! Beagles have existed for over 2,500 years and although their origin is uncertain, it is known that the modern breed of Beagle developed from Great Britain around the 1830’s. Beagle’s are a breed of scent hound which means they have a fantastic sense of smell and tracking instinct which was why they were originally bred to hunt Hare or Rabbits.
The Beagle is a small to medium sized dog, with floppy ears, a dome shaped head and shorter square muzzle with large eyes seen in either brown or Hazel colour. Their tail is long and slightly curved upwards, while the coat of a beagle is short and smooth. They stand between 12-16 inches at the wither when fully grown. The most common colouring for a Beagle is Tri coloured (Black, tan & white) however it is acceptable for a Beagle to been seen in up to 11 different variations that include, Black, Blue, Tan & White, Red, lemon and fawn. Beagles markings can also vary, though the most iconic is the white tipped tail. As the Beagle is known for its great sense of smell, a lot of them are employed as a detection dogs for prohibited goods in airports and quarantine around the world. Beagles are also commonly trained as gun dogs to assist hunters with finding and retrieving, Though Beagles also make great family pets as they are very gentle, sweet and known to be great with children. They also have high energy levels and respond best to reward based training. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, also know as an English Toy Spaniel originating from the United Kingdom where the 1st Duke of Marlborough commonly used them for hunting and was able to record that they could keep pace with a trotting horse. It is also said that King Charles II a British Royal owned quite a few of the breed and this is where the name originates from.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed with a soft to touch medium length coat, long floppy ears that hang beside their face and a short muzzle. The adult coat can be seen to feather around their ears, feet and chest. Colours cmmonly seen are Tan & Black, Red & White( Blenheim)and tri coloured ( Black,white & Tan. Once fully grown they stand around 30-33cm tall for either a female or male. The Cavalier King Charles puppy can be very timid and dependent on human companionship, lots socialization with other dogs will help them to build an outgoing and confident temperament.Overall the Cavalier King Charles is known to be very affectionate, gentle, and adore being snuggled up on your lap and are also very good with children and the elderly. Making them the ideal family pet! Cavalier King Charles Spaniels also have a playful side to them along with very good chasing instincts for birds, butterflies, possums or nearly anything that quickly goes past them. Because of this secure fencing or being on lead near roads is always recommended. At the end of the day your Cavalier King Charles will be your best of friend if they receive a daily walk for exercise, a warm lap to snuggle up on and lots of cuddles and attention! Interesting Facts:
Originating from Scotland migrating with weavers over to Yorkshire, England as a ‘Broken Haired Scotch Terrier’. These swift little dogs were used as rat catchers during the 19th century in cotton and wool mills. As their utilization increased in Yorkshire, the breed was perfected and in 1870 officially renamed to the ‘Yorkshire Terrier’ we know and love today. Sometimes better known as ‘Yorkies’ this naturally intelligent and quick to learn breed needs lots of walks, playtimes and being a working breed always like having something to do when not snuggling up on a nice big pillow or happily sitting on your lap. They are very active, love to ‘talk’ and can be quite stubborn at times, but early intervention with training and socialization will help prevent any undesired behavior issues. Weighing in on average at 3.2kg and sometimes up to 6.8kg, these little pocket rockets are very confident, swift and are not afraid to charge in where they see fit almost never considering their own tiny size. It was reported in 2015 that a man named Larry Yepez went outside to check a noise and was greeted by a bear! During a battle to fend off the bear his little Yorkshire Terrier came running out and tried to help. This distracted the bear enough to enable both of them to get away safely and live to tell the tale! They really aren’t afraid to take on anything, so it is recommended to keep them on lead when out and about as their swift ‘charge in’ nature could mean they end up in a not too desirable situation. Yorkshire Terriers are very inquisitive and love being pampered which is a given considering their long coats and maintenance required, if left untrimmed their hair has been known to grow up to 2 feet long! They are usually trimmed at or just above floor length but often shorter for ease of combing. Daily brushing and regular grooming is a must for these little balls of fur. Their color ranging from black and tan usually seen in pups will change over time to a blue or silver and tan/cream, it can be noted that this color change can sometimes take place up to 3 years old.
It is said that one Hudderfield Ben (1865-1871) is believed to be the sire of all Yorkies, the father of the breed if you will. He achieved feats in both ratting contests and breed competitions and although weighed in on the larger side he helped set the standard of the then developing breed. It is believed that all modern day Yorkies are distant relatives of this famous winner of 74 prizes! Yorkshire terriers being of the toy breeds are better suited for families with older children, being so small, and the rough nature that young children can sometimes display can intimidate and possibly provoke a negative reaction out of a Yorkie and sometimes end up with a nip or a bite. They are well suited to apartment living but will need to maintain a very active lifestyle physically and mentally to keep from getting bored and telling you all about the things outside. Yorkies can be prone to Pharyngeal gag reflex, or easier known as ‘backward sneezing’ this can be somewhat shocking when heard for the first time as it can be compared to that of a goose! It is usually caused by irritants such as pollen/dust or perfumes but this reaction will usually pass on its own. Did you know that a little Yorkshire Terrier who came to be known as Smoky was the first recorded therapy dog? She was found by an American soldier in WWII and found her way into the care of Corporal William A Wynne of Cleveland, Ohio; where she backpacked with him through the rest of the war. She helped warn of missiles which saved lives and even had her own parachute made up for her! After the war she continued to work with people in hospital who were injured during the Biak Island Invasion, New Guinea. She could perform many tricks and didn’t fail to bring cheer. These loyal companions are small and full of personality, they will keep you on your toes but make a great addition to anyone wanting an affectionate companion that will never fail to bring a smile to your face. |
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