Labradoodle, todays dog featured

A Labradoodle is a crossbred or hybrid dog created by crossing the Labrador Retriever and the Standard or Miniature Poodle.
The Labradoodle was first deliberately bred in 1989, when Australian breeder Wally Conron first crossed the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle for Guide Dogs Victoria. His aim was to combine the low-shedding coat of the Poodle with the gentleness and trainability of the Labrador, and to provide a guide dog suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander. Guide Dogs Victoria continue to breed Labradoodles and Labradoodles are often used around the world as guide, assistance and therapy dogs as well as being popular family dogs.

The Labradoodle as a dog breed is still developing, and does not yet "breed true," i.e., puppies do not have consistently predictable characteristics. While many Labradoodles display desired traits, their appearance and behavioral characteristics remain, from an overall breed standpoint, unpredictable.

There is no universal consensus as to whether breeders should aim to have Labradoodles recognized as a breed . Some breeders prefer to restrict breeding to early generation dogs (i.e. bred from a Poodle and Labrador rather than from two Labradoodles) to maximise genetic diversity, to avoid the inherited health problems that have plagued some dog breeds.

Others are breeding Labradoodle to Labradoodle over successive generations, and trying to establish a new dog breed. These dogs are usually referred to as Multigenerational (abr. Multigen) or Australian Labradoodles . Australian Labradoodles also differ from early generation and Multigenerational Labradoodles in that they may also have other breeds in their ancestry. English and American Cocker Spaniel/Poodle crosses (ie Cockapoos), Two Irish Water Spaniels and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers have variously been used in some Australian Labradoodle lines. The Curly Coated Retriever were used too, but these lines did not work out and they were discontinued.

Labradoodle coats are generally divided into 3 categories: Wool (with tight curls, and similar in appearance to that of a Poodle, but with a softer texture); Fleece (soft and free-flowing, with a kinked or wavy appearance); or Hair (which can be curly, straight or wavy, but is more similar in texture to a Labrador's coat). Labradoodles come in a wide variety of colours, including chocolate, cafe, parchment, cream, gold, apricot, red, black, silver, chalk, parti colours and generally all the colours that can be found in Poodles. They also can be different sizes, depending on the size of poodle (i.e. toy, miniature or standard) used.

American Hairless Terrier, todays breed dog

The American Hairless Terrier is a breed of dog that was formerly considered a variant of Rat Terrier. As of January 1, 2004, the United Kennel Club deemed the AHT a separate terrier breed. It is often mistaken for a hairless Chihuahua.

Reputedly, the breed started when one hairless puppy appeared in one Rat Terrier litter in the state of Louisiana, United States, in 1972. Owners Edwin and Willie Scott liked the dog's look and temperament, and upon maturity bred her hoping to reproduce the hairless quality. They were eventually successful; a litter produced in 1981 provided the foundation stock of the breed.

Recognition
In 1998 the breed gained recognition as the American Hairless Terrier by the American Rare Breeds Association and the National Rat Terrier Club. Canada was the first country outside the US to gain recognition, by Canadian Rarities in 1999. In 1999 the breed was recognized as Rat Terrier, Hairless Variety by the United Kennel Club. The UKC is the only governing body that recognizes the breed. While this organization is a national body, the breed is waiting for an international official breakthrough.
In the US the American Hairless Terrier Association is the provisional breed club. Other National Breed Clubs around the world include the Canadian American Hairless Terrier Association and the Japanese Hairless American Terrier Club.

Yorkshire Terrier, todays article

The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed of Terrier type, developed in the 1800s in the historical area of Yorkshire in England. The defining features of the breed are its small size and its silky blue and tan coat. The breed is nicknamed Yorkie and is placed in the Toy Terrier section of the Terrier Group by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and in the Toy Group or Companion Group by other kennel clubs, although all agree that the breed is a terrier. A winning showdog and a popular companion dog, the Yorkshire Terrier has also been part of the development of other breeds, such as the Australian Silky Terrier. They are not good dogs for children because they are very fragile.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog, weighing 3.2 kg (7 lbs) or less, with a glossy, long silky coat that hangs straight from a part that runs along the middle of the head, back, and tail. The coat is dark blue on the back with a tan chest and tan on the head and legs, a pattern described as "tan with a blue saddle." Small erect ears are covered with short, deep tan colored fur. The tail was traditionally docked but today the Yorkshire Terrier often has a big butt a long tail, held a little above the level of the back, with long blue fur parted down the middle. Like most dogs bred to be pets rather than working dogs, breed standards contain detailed descriptions of precise colors and placement of markings, as well as body proportions and structure. Most importantly, according to the Standard, a Yorkshire Terrier should have a general look of self confidence, "conveying an important air".

For adult Yorkshire Terriers, the importance is placed on its coat color, its quality, and its texture. The hair must be glossy, fine, straight, and silky. Traditionally the coat is grown-out long and is parted down the middle of the back, but "must never impede movement."

From the back of the neck to the base of the tail, the coat should be a dark gray to a steel-blue, and the hair on the tail should be a darker blue. On the head, high chest, and legs, the hair should be a bright, rich tan, darker at the roots than in the middle, that shades into a lighter tan at the tips. Also, in adult dogs, there should be no dark hairs intermingled with any of the tan colored fur.

Yorkshire Terrier puppies are not born with their adults coats. Yorkies are born black with tan points and slowly transition in to their adults coats over many months, even years. As an adult, a Yorkie can be black and tan, blue and tan, blue and gold, or black and gold.

A newborn Yorkie puppy is born black with tan points on the muzzle, above the eyes, around the legs and feet, the inside of the ears, and the underside of the tail. Occasionally Yorkies are born with a white "star" on the chest or on one or more toes. These markings fade with age, and are usually gone within a few months. A white "star" on the chest is generally an indication that the puppy will be a good coat grower in quantity, but not necessarily quality.

Latest Dog News..

'Disgusting' dog-fouling campaign

Dog mess offenders could be issued with a £75 fixed penalty notice or face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Councillor Dave Butt, Torbay cabinet member for community services, said: "The council receives a number of complaints about dog fouling, and anecdotal evidence would suggest that the problem is getting worse.

Dying terrier is dumped in garden

A man found the Yorkshire terrier in his Wyndham Crescent garden in, Brislington, Bristol, on 2 May.

A medical examination by the RSPCA found the elderly terrier to be gaunt and severely dehydrated, with a matted coat and suffering conjunctivitis.

Girl, 4, bitten by dog on cheek

A four-year-old girl who was bitten on the face by a dog in a Kent park needed an operation as a result, police say.

source: bbcnews.com

Alaskan Husky, todays featured dog breed.

The Alaskan Husky is not so much a breed of dog as it is a type or a category. It falls short of being a breed in that there is no preferred type and no restriction as to ancestry; it is defined only by its purpose, which is that of a highly efficient sled dog. That said, dog drivers usually distinguish between the Alaskan Husky and “hound crosses”, so perhaps there is informal recognition that the Alaskan Husky is expected to display a degree of northern dog type. Specializations in type exist within the breed, such as freighting dogs (Mackenzie River Husky), sprint Alaskans, and distance Alaskans. Most Alaskan Huskies have pointy ears, meaning they are in fact classified as a spitz-type dog.

The Alaskan is the sled dog of choice for world-class dog sled racing sprint competition. None of the purebred northern breeds can match it for sheer racing speed. Demanding speed-racing events such as the Fairbanks, Alaska Open North American Championship and the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous are invariably won by teams of Alaskan huskies, or of Alaskans crossed with hounds or gun dogs. Hounds are valued for their toughness and endurance. Winning speeds often average more than 19 miles per hour (31 km/h) over three days' racing at 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 km) each day.

Alaskan huskies that fulfill the demanding performance standards of world-class dogsled racing are extremely valuable. A top-level racing lead dog can be worth $10-15,000. Alaskans that fail to meet the performance standards of the musher who bred them often go on to be sold to less competitive mushers, allowing them to continue to run.

Appearance

The Alaskan Husky is a mixed-breed dog in which northern or husky-type ancestry, such as the Siberian Husky or the traditional Alaskan village dog, predominates. Many other breeds have contributed to its genetic makeup, including the wolf, Staghound, Foxhound, Greyhound, Doberman etc; these diverse breed contributions account for the Alaskans great variability of appearance.

Alaskan Huskies (at least those used for speed racing) are moderate in size, averaging perhaps 46 to 60 pounds (21 to 25 kg) for males and 38 to 42 pounds (17 to 19 kg) for females. Some of them superficially resemble racing strains of the Siberian Husky breed (which is undeniably part of the Alaskan Husky genetic mix), but are usually taller and larger with more pronounced tuck-up.

Temperament

Racing sled dogs are bred for stamina, strength, agility, and endurance. A positive working attitude is essential. Sled dogs that come in contact with the public at races or in excursion businesses must not be aggressive toward humans. They do attack children and other small animals, an average of 4 children a year are attacked and mauled or killed.

Alaskan huskies are popular as pets in Alaska; older dogs that have outlived their usefulness as racing dogs make excellent pets for people willing to exercise them regularly. Older ex-racers tend to be very alert and well behaved, as well as somewhat less energetic than their younger counterparts.

Young huskies make good pets if given plenty of space to run and play, but their high demand for exercise and activity makes them a poor choice for urban residents.

Huskies are often healthier in drier climates such as that of interior Alaska. In the more humid regions, they are prone to develop ear and related infections.

History

The Alaskan Husky is derived from a mix of northern types, most notably the Siberian Husky. The history of the Alaskan Husky really began with the Gold Rushes of the late nineteenth century; sled and draft dogs used by miners of that era were typically heavy draft dogs with obvious Saint Bernard ancestry. The importation into Alaska of dogs from across the Bering Strait in Siberia in 1908 and subsequent years changed Alaskan sled dogs radically and permanently towards a smaller dog with lighter weight and much greater speed. With the increasing prevalence of motorized winter transport in the mid twentieth century, working sled dogs became less common in the northern villages. The Alaskan sled dog experienced a revival in the 1970s. George Attla, a Native Alaskan from the village of Huslia, was largely responsible for this. Many successful racing dogs today trace their lineage back to Attla dogs.

Coton de Tulear, todays featured breed dog..

The Coton de Tuléar is a small breed.It is named after the city of Tulear in Madagascar, and for its cottony textured coat.

Appearance

Multiple registries with differing standards describe the Coton de Tuléar, but in general, it has very soft hair, comparable to a cotton ball, a prominent black nose, large expressive eyes (usually covered by bangs) and somewhat short puffy legs.

Coat and color

The Coton de Tuléar has medium-length to long hair (about four to six inches), fluffy, cotton-like coat that is hair rather than fur. Since it is a non-shedding breed with no dander, it is hypoallergenic (like the poodle) and has no "doggie smell".

This breed has little to no shedding.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard specifies that the Coton's coat should be white but may also have lemon color on their ears and body, but the coat must be primarily white with no black hair allowed. The US-based Coton de Tulear Club of America allows for three different but equally favorable colorings: white, black-and-white and tri-color which includes "honeybear". White is described as nearly all white, sometimes with champagne coloring on the ears, face or back. Black-and-white is defined as pure white with prominent black patches on the head and body (no ratio of white-to-black is specified or favored). Tri-color is described as mostly white with some brown markings and dustings of black on the body and head. A honey bear tri-color has light brown with black tips which gradually fades to off white or lemon color. The tri-color loses the most color of any of the color varieties usually becoming mostly white with possibly some champagne markings and a dusting of black hairs on the ears and/or body.

Size

The international Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard gives the Coton's weight as from 4 to 6 kg (about 9 to 13 lb) for males and 3.5 to 5 kg (8 to 11 lb) for females. The Coton's height (including tolerance) is from 25 to 30 cm (about 10 to 12 inches) tall for males and from 22 to 27 cm (8½ to 10½ inches) for females.

By contrast, the Coton de Tulear Club of America standard specifies the weight as no more than 18 lb (8 kg) with the average being between 11-15 pounds. The standard height is 9 to 13 inches (33 cm), except for the rare Tall Coton, which is 14 to 16 inches (43 cm) high.

The Tall Coton shows up in all three colors, and can be born to a litter with normal sized parents that carry the appropriate genes. These long-limbed dogs are exceptionally agile and graceful.

History

The Coton de Tulear developed on the Island of Madagascar and is still the island's national dog. The Coton's ancestors were brought to Madagascar in the 16th and 17th century on pirate ships. Madagascar was a haven for pirates and pirate graveyards can still be seen there. Pirates established the only democratic kingdom for themselves on St. Mary's Island, Madagascar and took Malagasy wives. Whether the dogs were brought along to control rats on the ships, as companions for long voyages or were confiscated from other ships as booty, no one knows. Tulear is a port which is now also known as Toliara. The Coton is of the Bichon dog type, linked most closely to the now-extinct Bichon Tenerife and Tenerife Terrier. There have been many stories circulating about the history of the Coton in recent years. Most of them are untrue. The Coton de Tulear was never feral on Madagascar. It did not hunt wild boar or alligators. It was a companion dog of the Merina (the ruling tribe) in Madagascar. It has very little prey drive and is not a hunting dog.

The cottony coat may be the result of a single gene mutation. This small, friendly dog caught the fancy of the Malagasy royalty and they were the only people allowed to keep Cotons. When Dr. Robert Jay Russell http://www.cotonclub.com discovered the breed in Madagascar in 1973 and brought the first ones to America, he coined the phrase the Royal Dog of Madagascar and the name stuck. They were also imported occasionally into France by returning French colonists but weren't officially imported to Europe until the 1970's.

Arum banks on Hatton-Pacquiao fight being 'richest of all time'

• Promoter says economic crisis has boosted pay-per-view
• Briton looks as sharp as ever for world title fight in Las Vegas

Bob Arum, who has never knowingly undersold a fight, responded with ­predictable enthusiasm to the suggestion that Ricky Hatton's world title fight with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on 2 May might be "the richest of all time". If so, each fighter can expect to earn between £15m and £20m, although such estimates depend hugely on pay-per-view take-up.

On the London leg of a quick promotional tour of the UK for what is potentially the fight of the year, Arum, who has been promoting in the big time since the mid-sixties, suggested the main reason the fight could generate higher than expected revenue is the effect the recession is having on families in the United States.

Hatton and Pacquiao meet at the MGM Grand, the scene of triumph and disappointment for both of them in the past, competing for Hatton's IBO light-welterweight belt and, more importantly, Pacquiao's standing as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

"It could be the richest fight of all time, you never know," Arum said, sitting alongside Pacquiao at the Imperial War Museum in London yesterday.

"For me to say [that], how would I know now how many people are going to actually buy it? Well, the funny thing that we have found in the United States – and I think you'll find it in England – is that these bad economic times have enhanced pay-per-view.

"And the reason is that people don't have a lot of [disposable] money. So they buy the pay-per-view, which is expensive, but they buy it in conjunction with friends and family. It's cheaper for them than to go out to a cinema and watch a movie. Read full story..

source: Kevin Mitchelle
guardian.co.uk

2009 Worlds Richest Man!!!

A guy lost his girlfriend in a train accident but the gal's name nowhere appeared in the dead list. This guy grew up and became IT technical architect in his late 20?s, achievement in itself!!

He hired developers from the whole globe and plan to make a software where he could search for his gf through the web..

Things went as planned and he found her, after losing millions of dollars and 3 long years!!

It was time to shut down the search operation, when the CEO of Google had aword with this guy n took over this application,

This Software made a whopping 1 billion dollars profit in its first year,which we today know as ORKUT.
The guy's name is ORKUT BUYUKKOTEN Yes its named after him only. Today he is paid a hefty sum by Google for the things we do like scrapping.

He is expected to b the richest person by 2009. ORKUT BUYUKKOTEN today has 13 assistants to monitor his scrapbook & 8 to monitor his friends-list. He gets around 20,000 friend-requests a day & about 85,000 scraps!!!

Some other Cool Facts about this guy:

* He gets $12 from Google when every person registers to this website.

* He also gets $10 when you add somebody as a friend.

* He gets $8 when your friend's friend adds you as a friend & gets $6 ifanybody adds you as friend in the resulting chain.

* He gets $5 when you scrap somebody & $4 when somebody scraps you.

* He also gets $200 for each photograph you upload on Orkut.

* He gets $2.5 when you add your friend in the crush-list or in the hot-list.

* He gets $2 when you become somebody's fan.

* He gets $1.5 when somebody else becomes your fan.

* He even gets $1 every time you logout of Orkut.

* He gets $0.5 every time you just change your profile-photograph.

* He also gets $0.5 every time you read your friend's scrap-book & $0.5 every timeyou view your friend's friend-list. .. wow..

Gut Parasites That Can Infect Humans May Be Widespread In Domestic And Wild Animals

The gut protozoans Giardia duodenalis and various species of Cryptosporidium are extremely contagious single-celled parasites liable to cause digestive disease in both humans and animals. Some species and genotypes of Cryptosporidium and Giardia are important zooneses, as they occur in both animals and humans. Zooneses are diseases that may be transmitted between animals and people.
Inger Sofie Hamnes showed in her doctorate that parasites of the groups Cryptosporidium and Giardia are extremely widespread in domestic animals, wild deer species and the red fox in Norway. Genotyping of Giardia isolated from elk, wild reindeer and red foxes showed that Giardia duodenalis in these animals may potentially infect humans.
Hamnes studied the occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in calves, dogs, wild deer species (elk, wild reindeer, red deer, roe deer and Svalbard reindeer), piglets and red fox in Norway, by analysis of scats. Read full story..

source: science daily

If You're Aggressive, Your Dog Will Be Too, Says Veterinary Study

In a new, year-long University of Pennsylvania survey of dog owners who use confrontational or aversive methods to train aggressive pets, veterinary researchers have found that most of these animals will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are modified.

The study, published in the current issue of Applied Animal Behavior Science, also showed that using non-aversive or neutral training methods such as additional exercise or rewards elicited very few aggressive responses.

“Nationwide, the No. 1 reason why dog owners take their pet to a veterinary behaviorist is to manage aggressive behavior,” Meghan E. Herron, lead author of the study, said. “Our study demonstrated that many confrontational training methods, whether staring down dogs, striking them or intimidating them with physical manipulation does little to correct improper behavior and can elicit aggressive responses.”

source: science daily..

If you have this, what will you do??

College Students Find Comfort In Their Pets During Hard Times

A new study suggests that college students may handle stressful situations better if they have a pet. Research has already shown that pets can improve the quality of life for people who are aging or those who are chronically ill. But researchers at Ohio State University recently found that many college students may also benefit from owning a cat or a dog.
Read full story on this site..


source: science daily