The Bedlington Terrier, a dog with an original physique

The Bedlington Terrier is the kind of animal you don't forget. You will rarely see a dog with such an original physique. Its long head and short, wavy coat in particular help to distinguish it from other breeds. This dog is appreciated for his joy of living, his gentleness and his calmness.

Characteristics of the Bedlington Terrier

There are no two like it. The Bedlington Terrier reveals an atypical look which signs its difference. Let's talk about its size first. This dog measures on average 41 cm at the withers and weighs between 8 and 10 kg. It attracts all the attentions by its wedge-shaped or pear-shaped head which is not common. The skull is rounded and narrow, the nostrils are cut out and the stop is absent. The Bedlington Terrier has small triangular eyes that are shiny. Their color depends on the color of the coat. In blue and tan Bedlington Terriers, the eyes are clear. In blue dogs, they are dark. And if the animal is sandy and brown, the eyes will be of light hazel color. The ears for their part reveal a pretty velvety texture and are relatively long. They are set low and drooping. The Bedlington Terrier has a thick, felted coat with curls. The coat can be of various colors: blue, sable, brown. The presence of tan markings is allowed by the standard.

History of the Bedlington Terrier breed

The Bedlington appeared in the eighteenth century in England in the eponymous village of Rothbury which is in Northumberland. Moreover with the origin, the dog was called Rothbury Terrier. Very old, it counts among its ancestors the Otter Dog, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier or the Whippet. At the time, the Bedlington Terrier was a sensation for its versatility. It was used to hunt foxes and rabbits, to eliminate rats in the mine tunnels, which were very numerous in the region, and also in sight chases on decoys. On June 20, 1963, the Bedlington Terrier was officially recognized by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale). In France, it is almost unknown.

Living conditions and behavior of the Bedlington Terrier

The Bedlington Terrier has a golden character. It is calm and extremely gentle. On the other hand, it is necessary to avoid seeking it, because it will not let itself be made. However, he will not show aggression. This dog is also cheerful, active and always ready to play, which is why it gets along with children. However, the Bedlington Terrier will not tolerate being mistreated. It's important to teach your little ones to respect him. Since he is very brave, he is a great watchdog.

Diet and major health problems of the Bedlington Terrier

Unfortunately, the Bedlington Terrier can fall victim to several diseases such as retinal, elbow and hip dysplasia, lacrimal atresia and copper overload hepatitis. His life expectancy is on average 14 years, but to be sure that he reaches this age, it is preferable to subscribe to a health insurance that guarantees a better financing of the care.

The Miniature American Shepherd, a dog with an expressive character

It is less known than its ancestor, the Australian Shepherd. And yet, the Miniature American Shepherd has what it takes to seduce dog lovers. Of small size, it develops an expressive character and a lot of good mood. It also has the advantage of being able to evolve in small spaces. But be careful not to lock him up all day long. The Miniature American Shepherd needs to take the air very often to be happy and in shape.

Characteristics of the Miniature American Shepherd

The Miniature American Shepherd Dog is a breed that is still not very common, belonging to the category of sheepdogs and cattle dogs. It is recognizable by its size making between 35 and 45 cm to the withers for a weight from 8 to 18 kg according to its sex and its age. The animal has a head relatively proportional to the rest of the body and shows a domed skull that can also be flat. Almond-shaped, the eyes express mischief, vivacity and softness. They are revealed in brown, amber or blue colors. Sometimes the dog also has speckled or minnow eyes. As for his ears, they are set high, triangular and slightly drooping. Like the Australian Shepherd from which it originated, the American Miniature Shepherd has a medium length coat, wavy or straight. The coat can be red, red-merle, black or blue-merle.

History of the Miniature American Shepherd Dog

To know the history of the Miniature American Shepherd, it is enough to refer to the history of the Australian Shepherd from which it results. The latter is developed in the United States and would descend from sheepdogs from Australia. The American Miniature Shepherd was born from a selection made with several small Australian shepherds. It had to be named as such to be able to compete in competitions, as these events forbid competition to breeds with similar names. It took a long time to establish the characteristics of this breed. The recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC) was only recently achieved. On the other hand, no recognition from the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) has been formalized so far.

Necessary living conditions and behavior of the Miniature American Shepherd

The Miniature American Shepherd has many qualities. It is an intelligent, attentive and alert animal. It is also very good at herding and guarding due to its shepherding instinct. This dog is known to be active. He will not like to evolve with sedentary masters, because he needs to be constantly exercised. As it is a rather obedient animal, the Miniature American Shepherd remains easy to train. It is also very calm and this can help to conduct work sessions easily.

Diet and major health problems of the Miniature American Shepherd

The Miniature American Shepherd can be affected by certain pathologies typical to the canine species such as elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia or eye diseases. The best thing to do is to take out a health insurance policy for your dog, which will reimburse all veterinary expenses incurred by your dog. As for his diet, there is nothing special about it. Kibbles will do, but they must be of excellent quality.

Canine roundworm: symptoms, cause, treatment and prevention

Canine roundworm is an intestinal parasite. It is very important to treat the infested animal because it may weaken its immune system. In addition, roundworms are responsible for toxocariasis in humans. The dog does not necessarily show any particular symptoms when these worms are present in its intestine, but other signs can alert. In any case, it is essential to treat your pet and take certain precautions to prevent infection.

What is roundworm?

The canine roundworm (Toxocara canis) belonging to the Ascaridae family (ascarids) is a pearly white intestinal parasite. It is the roundworm or nematode worm that is most frequently found in canids. As an adult, it has a diameter of 2 mm but is still up to 18 cm long.

Dogs infested by roundworms: the cause

Each worm can lay up to 200,000 eggs in a 24-hour period. They are then excreted in the dog's feces. Invisible to the naked eye, the eggs harbor larvae that develop within a few weeks. At the end of this period of time, the eggs become infectious for the puppy who ingests them in different ways, namely

• By eating contaminated soil,
• By ingesting feces (coprophagia),
• By licking its fur,
• By sucking its mother because her milk contains roundworm larvae.

During the gestation period, the bitch also contaminates her puppies because the transmission is done via the placenta.

The vast majority of puppies are infested with these nematode worms and in general, adult dogs are immune.

What causes roundworm infection?

A puppy infected with roundworms has no particular symptoms, except for a slight drop in energy or a more marked decline in general condition. However, in puppies and the most vulnerable dogs, we can notice :

• A cough if the roundworm migrates into the animal's lungs,
• Vomiting,
• Diarrhea,
• A change in the appearance of the coat which becomes dry and bristly in some places (we talk about a pricked coat).

On the other hand, it is in the animal's excrement and/or vomit that the presence of these worms can be detected.

The main problem for the puppy infested by roundworms is that its immune system is gradually weakened, which exposes the animal more and more to all kinds of infections. Finally, some infected puppies may be stunted in their growth.

Ascaris in dogs : what treatment ?

The treatment is based on the deworming of the dog. But not all dewormers can eliminate roundworms. It is really necessary to consult the veterinarian at the slightest doubt so that the puppy or the dog benefits from a specific deworming. The treatment usually lasts several weeks because roundworms are not easy to eliminate.

At the same time, the veterinarian must also treat the problems that result from this nematode contamination. Auscultation is therefore necessary and can be completed by complementary examinations.

Please note that all dogs and cats in the household must be dewormed against roundworms.

How to prevent roundworm infection?

It is imperative to practice exemplary hygiene when owning a dog (or a cat because roundworms (Toxocara cati) also frequently infect small felines). It is essential to limit the risk of infection for family members.

• Every place where the dog does its business is inevitably contaminated with roundworm eggs. But these eggs are resistant to disinfectants. It is therefore essential to remove dog poop every day from the lawn, the sandbox and the kennel and not to throw it in the recycling bins.
• Clean every area of the house frequented by the dog several times a week, as well as the dog's bed, blanket, toys, etc.
• Wash your hands with a suitable disinfectant after removing animal excrements, gardening, cleaning the litter boxes or the kennel and make sure that children always have clean and short nails.
• If a sandbox has been created in the garden for children, the dog (or cat) must be kept out of it. Ideally, the animal should be taught not to go there, but the area can also be covered when the children are not playing.

At the same time, the adult dog should be dewormed four times a year. Puppies from the age of 2 weeks should be dewormed even more frequently, as should nursing bitches and breeding bitches, and the same applies to cats, cats and kittens. In order not to forget anything, it is recommended to keep the health booklet of each animal up to date.

The contamination by roundworms is a subject not to be neglected because the transmission to the human being is a real danger which affects even more the children when, for example, they carry to the mouth their soiled hands. These worms can be extremely dangerous in humans.

What is a blue merle or red merle coat in dogs?

The term merle designates a coat of a particular color in dogs. Although it is aesthetic, it indicates that the dog is a carrier of a gene that is not without health problems. What does it mean if the coat is blue merle or red merle? Does a dog carrying this particular gene systematically have a merle coat? Let's take a look at it.

Merle coat in dogs: a gene involved

Eumelanin and pheomelanin are the two components of melanin in dogs and genes act on these pigments. In merle dogs, due to a variation on chromosome 10, eumelanin is only distributed in certain areas. We talk about the M allele (for merle) which causes health problems in the dog, and the m allele (for "non merle"). The cause of the merle color is therefore genetic.

This particularity is apparent as soon as a puppy is born. If he is born merle, it is because he necessarily has a merle parent. A single M allele is enough to obtain a merle coat in the offspring since it is responsible for the dilution of the base color which can only be black or red. Thus, we obtain :

• Either a dog with a blue merle coat,
• Or a dog with a red merle coat.

There are also dogs with a cryptic merle coat commonly called ghost merle coat dogs. They can very well have only one discolored spot, hence the nickname of hidden coat.

A merle dog (whether cryptic or not) carries the mMc or McMc genotype, while the genotype of a non merle dog is mm.

Physical characteristics of a merle coat (blue or red)

In a merle coat, patches of diluted pigments are mixed with a dominant hue.

The blue merle coat: dominant gray hue with black spots. It may or may not be punctuated with white or tan markings. The blue merle coat offers a multitude of possible shades. The blue is in fact made up of black and white hairs in variable proportion, which gives a more or less clear aspect, and the dress is punctuated with splashes, patches or black flecks.

The red merle coat: dominantly beige with brown spots. White and tan markings may appear, but this is not systematic. The background of the coat is more or less dark since white hairs are mixed with brown hairs of varying intensity from one dog to another. Irregular brown spots punctuate the basic color.

Merle dogs (blue or red) have for the vast majority of them minnow eyes or blue eyes.

Marriage between two merle dogs : forbidden by the SCC

The marriage between two merle dogs leads to double merle puppies with, in addition, invasive white, which considerably increases the risks :

• Heart disease,
• Of blindness,
• Deafness.

This invasive white can also be seen in dogs that do not have a merle coat since the genes involved in the coding of the white are not related to the merle. But the problems to be expected are identical. So-called "invasive white" dogs are not confirmed and therefore do not receive a pedigree. They should not be bred either since they do not conform to the breed standards.

In the same way as for the invasive white, a puppy born from two merle parents presents a dysfunction of the central nervous system. That's why he may be blind or deaf.

Note that the Société Centrale Canine (SCC) prohibits "merle x merle" marriages namely B. merle x B. merle, B. merle x R. merle, R. merle x R. merle and this, since July 11, 2017. Only the marriage between a red tri or blue tri (of mm genotype) and a blue merle or red merle is allowed.

Merle dress: the breeds of dogs concerned

Different dog breeds are affected by this genetic issue.

• Border Collie,
• Collie,
• Australian Shepherd,
• Corgi,
• Beauceron,
• Dachshund,
• Shetland Shepherd,
• Pyrenean Shepherd,
• Chihuahua.

Adopting an animal is a long-term commitment. Before welcoming a dog with a merle coat, you should not decide only on aesthetic criteria. You have to be sure that you will be able to deal with the problems that this may entail in terms of animal health and budget for the owner, as veterinary procedures are becoming more and more expensive.

The Alpine Dachshund, sporty dog, tireless player

Although it is low on legs, the Alpine Dachsbracke is a great sportsman appreciated for its friendliness and its lively expression. It is a tireless player, affectionate and versatile in work. They are great pets, provided they get regular exercise and plenty of exercise.

Characteristics of the Alpine Dachshund

The Alpine Dachsbracken is a low-legged, robust dog with firm muscles and strong bones. Its height at the withers varies between 36 and 38 cm for a weight of 16 to 18 kg according to the age and the sex. The dog develops an elongated and solid trunk, a deep chest, a moderately sloping croup, a broad and short loins and a straight back. It has a domed skull. The head is completed by a strong muzzle and a black nose. We will not fail to mention its eyes with black eyelids and dark brown iris. The ears are without folds and set high. They have rounded tips. The Alpine Dachshund has a short, close-lying and relatively dense coat. The coat can be black with red-brown or dark fawn markings.

History of the Alpine Dachshund breed

The Alpine Dachshund is not a recent breed. On the contrary, dogs with similarities have been mentioned since ancient times. The Alpine Dachshund is said to have originated in Germany, but in the past was known as the Mauersberg Hound. The breed is derived from the Dachshund and the Austrian Black and Tan Hound. The Alpine Dachshund won the heart of Crown Prince Rudolf of Habsburg who could not part with his dogs. The best known story about the breed is that the sovereign had the basset hounds in Turkey and Egypt during his hunting expeditions. The official recognition of this breed by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) only came in 1975. The Alpine Dachsbracke is little known outside Austria and Italy.

Living conditions and behavior of the Alpine Dachshund

Its small size does not prevent it from being an inveterate sportsman. The Alpine Dachshund has a strong endurance. This dog is not at ease if it is not constantly in action. It is therefore not made for sedentary masters, because it will need the maximum of walks daily. This dog is not made for a city environment and will prefer a life in the country in a house with a large garden. However, if there is no other choice but to live in the city with him, he will have to get used to it as soon as possible. The Alpine Dachshund is a gentle dog, pleasant in the family and with children. He is friendly, alert and full of courage. It can also be used as a guard dog.

Diet and main health problems of the Alpine Dachshund

The Alpine Dachshund develops an important robustness allowing him to be protected from diseases. It lives between 12 and 15 years provided that it is fed a diet appropriate to its size, age and physical activity.

The Irish wolfhound, one of the largest dogs

Its appearance is enough to attract attention. The Irish wolfhound is one of the largest sighthounds. In addition to its impressive, rustic brown appearance, this dog has a caring, patient, gentle and affectionate character, perfect for keeping company with owners who have room to accommodate it.

Irish Greyhound Characteristics

One thing is for sure: you will rarely see a dog this big. The Irish Greyhound measures between 71 and 90 cm at the withers and weighs between 40.5 and 68 kg depending on sex and age. This dog with an imposing build develops a massive musculature as well as an elongated body without being too heavy or massive. It has a long head carried high with a skull of medium size. The long muzzle is one of its particularities. It has small dark eyes and small ears that form a rose. The Irish wolfhound also has a long tail in harmony with the body and with hair of medium thickness. It is best recognized by its short, shaggy coat, which is so hard to the touch that it is called "wire". The coat can be red, grey, brindle, fawn, white or black.

History of the Irish Wolfhound breed

The Irish wolfhound has a rather tumultuous history. It is a very old breed whose existence is mentioned by the Celts of Ireland, its country of origin. One of the first stories about it was told by the Roman consul Quintus Aurelius in 391 B.C. He received seven Irish dogs as gifts and never stopped praising them, especially for their ability to fight lions and bears in the arena. The strength of this dog is such that it is used to hunt wolves. In Europe and especially in Scandinavia, it was offered as a prestigious gift to kings and nobility. Unfortunately, the Irish wolfhound almost disappeared in the 19th century because of the reduction of the wolf population in Ireland. It was reborn from its ashes thanks to George Augustus Graham, a passionate breeder who made crosses with the Borzoi, the Deerhound and the Great Dane to develop the breed.

Necessary living conditions and behavior of the Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound owes its success to its exemplary character. It is a patient, gentle, quiet and pleasant dog. He is affectionate and gets along wonderfully with children to whom he will show himself very protective. Because of their sighthound origins, Irish Wolfhounds are certainly not made for sedentary or urban life. He needs a lot of space to be able to move and preserve his balance. Beware, it is a great hunter and it tends to run away. Houses should be secured with very high fences to keep it in the garden.

Diet and main health problems of the Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound has a relatively short life span. It can live from 6 to 9 years generally. Because of its weight and size, it ages very quickly. In addition, this breed can suffer from dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer. It needs a diet rich in energy to adapt to its physical activities.