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Saluki

Monday, February 22, 2010

salukiA true Saluki retains the qualities of hunting hounds and may seem reserved and aloof. They learn quickly but can get bored with repetition, so training sessions should be short and varied. Sensitive and intelligent, the Saluki should never be trained using force or hard-handed methods.

They will “sing” (a high pitched howl, with oscillating volume) when they feel that something is wrong or when a member of the family is away for a long period of time. This “singing” can also be for bonding in the family (pack) group. Salukis have a fairly long life span, living an average of 13–16 years.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Monday, February 22, 2010

rhodesian ridgebackRhodesian Ridgebacks are loyal and intelligent. They are, however, aloof to strangers. This is not to be confused with aggression; a Ridgeback of proper temperament will be more inclined to ignore, rather than challenge, a stranger. This breed requires positive, reward-based training, good socialization and consistency; it is often not the best choice for inexperienced dog owners. Ridgebacks are strong-willed, intelligent, and many seem to have a penchant for mischief, though lovingly. They are protective of their owners and families. If trained well, they can be excellent guard dogs.

Pharoah Hound

Monday, February 22, 2010

pharoah houndThe Pharaoh Hound is an intelligent, trainable, playful and active breed. It is sociable with other dogs and with people, however it can be aloof/reserved with strangers. It is typically very open and affectionate with its family and those it knows. It is an independent-minded, occasionally stubborn breed, yet can be very trainable when appropriate positive training methods are used. It has a strong hunting instinct, and caution should be observed when it is around small pets such as cats, birds, and rodents. It is not a demonstrative breed but rather is quietly affectionate. It is a vocal breed without being yappy or barking just for the sake of barking. It makes a good watch dog; however, it is not well suited as guard dog as it is rarely aggressive with people. This is not a breed suited for kennel situations due to its intelligence and activity level. The breed tends to bond deeply with its people and thrives best when it feels included as a member of the family.

Whippet

Monday, February 22, 2010

whippetWhippets are generally quiet and gentle dogs, and may be content to spend much of the day resting. Although especially attached to their owners, they are friendly to visitors. They are not prone to snapping, so they are good with young children. They may bark when strangers arrive but are not suited to being guard dogs. They do, however, tend to attack cats that stray into their territory, unless they have been raised with cats.

Greyhound

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Although Greyhounds are extremely fast and athletic, and despite their reputation as racing dogs, they are not high-energy dogs. Rather, they are sprinters—a typical Greyhound race lasts only 30–35 seconds—and although they love running short distances, they do not require extensive exercise. Most are quiet, gentle, and affectionate. They do require enough exercise to keep them healthy both mentally and physically.

Dachshund

Sunday, February 7, 2010

dachshundDachshunds are playful, known for their propensity for chasing small animals, birds, and tennis balls with great determination and ferocity. Many dachshunds are stubborn, making them a challenge to train.

They have a loud bark and without proper training they can become nuisance barkers. Dachshunds are known for their devotion and loyalty to their owners, though they can be standoffish towards strangers. If left alone, many dachshunds will whine until they have companionship. Like many dogs if left alone too frequently, some dachshunds are prone to separation anxiety and may chew objects in the house to relieve stress.

They are clever, lively and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below ground work, with all the senses well-developed. Their temperament and body language give the impression that they do not know or care about their relatively small size. Like many small hunting dogs, they will challenge a larger dog. Indulged dachshunds may become snappy or extremely obstinate.

Bloodhound

Sunday, February 7, 2010

bloodhoundThis breed is a gentle dog which is nonetheless tireless in following a scent. Because of its strong tracking instinct, it can be willful and somewhat difficult to obedience train. Bloodhounds have an affectionate, gentle, and even-tempered nature, so they make excellent family pets. However, like any large breed, they require supervision when around small children because they can knock them over with their bulk. Bloodhounds are also characterized by a stubborn “what’s-in-it-for-me?” attitude, a likely cause (in conjunction with their size and propensity for excessive drooling) for the high rate, in comparison with other breeds, of bloodhounds given up for adoption once full-grown.

Beagle

Sunday, February 7, 2010

beagleThe Beagle has an even temper and gentle disposition. Described in several breed standards as “merry”, they are amiable and generally neither aggressive nor timid. They enjoy company, and although they may initially be standoffish with strangers, they are easily won over. They make poor guard dogs for this reason, although their tendency to bark or howl when confronted with the unfamiliar makes them good watch dogs. Beagles are intelligent, but as a result of being bred for the long chase are single-minded and determined, which can make them hard to train. They are generally obedient but can be difficult to recall once they have picked up a scent and are easily distracted by smells around them. They do not generally feature in obedience trials; while they are alert, respond well to food-reward training, and are eager to please, they are easily bored or distracted.

Beagles are excellent with children and this is one of the reasons they have become popular family pets, but they are pack animals, and can be prone to separation anxiety.Not all Beagles will howl, but most will bark when confronted with strange situations, and some will bay (also referred to as “speaking”, “giving tongue”, or “opening”) when they catch the scent of potential quarry. They also generally get along well with other dogs. They are not demanding with regard to exercise; their inbred stamina means they do not easily tire when exercised, but they also do not need to be worked to exhaustion before they will rest, though regular exercise helps ward off the weight gain to which the breed is prone.

Basset Hound

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Bassett houndThe Basset Hound is seen as an especially friendly breed. For this reason they are an excellent pet for children. Many Bassets “forget” the training when a reward is not present. Bassets should be on a leash when out on walks.

Bassets are known to be a vocal breed. Bassets might howl or bark when they want something or to suggest that they think something is wrong (like a storm is coming). They also use a low, murmuring whine to get attention, which sounds to many owners as though their Bassets are “talking.” This whine is also used by the hound to beg (for food or treats) and varies in volume depending on the nature of the individual hound and length of time it has been begging.

Afghan Hound

Sunday, February 7, 2010

afghanThe temperament of the typical Afghan Hound can be aloof and dignified, but happy and clownish when playing. The Afghan Hounds’ intelligence and reasoning skills have made it a successful competitor in dog agility trials as well as an intuitive therapy dog and companion.

The breed has a reputation among some dog trainers of having a relatively slow “obedience intelligence” as defined by author Stanley Coren or a recent survey of dog obedience judges. However, these tests are reliant on obedience tasks, for which Afghans are not naturally inclined. The Afghan Hound has many cat-like tendencies and is not slavish in its obedience as are some other breeds. It is an independent dog, with strong pack allegiance and prey drive, which has helped it survive as a breed for several thousand years. Afghans are likely to refuse or ignore commands from humans or trainers with which they have not developed a close working relationship, but even owners should not be surprised if their Afghan hounds sometimes choose to ignore commands. Although seldom used today for hunting in Europe and America where they are popular, Afghan hounds are frequent participants in lure coursing events and are also popular in the sport of conformation showing.