Selecting a dog breed is a very personal choice that is best left to the family. However, if you are a first-time dog owner, there are certain breeds you may want to avoid as they need a firm owner and an experienced dog handler. Also, there are a few breeds that do not get along well with children; some are quite difficult to train, and some are Continue Reading

Most dogs make good companion dogs but the ones that fall under the category of ‘breeds that cannot be left alone’ have generally been bred to only be companion animals, for centuries. These usually include small dogs such as Maltese and Shih Tzus, known for their special knack for being adorable and, in most cases,  also to require a lot of Continue Reading

DNA testing has revealed that all dogs should be regarded as the subspecies of wolves. Both belong to the same genus, Canis, but wolves are Canis Lupus and dogs, all dogs, are Canis Lupus familiaris. Dogs have been domesticated nearly 20,000 years ago, but the first ancestors of dogs may have split from the wolves-branch only 10,000 years ago. Many Continue Reading

When we speak about Finland, the first thing that comes to mind is the rugged, icy terrain and extreme winters. Finland has given us several of what the world refers to as ‘Scandinavian dog breeds’, although many countries come under Scandinavia including Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and their associated territories. The focus of Continue Reading

Dogs have been an integral part of Soviet culture. Soviet Space program could not have reached the success it did without dogs. Three Russian dogs named Laika, Belka and Strelka were sent to space through the Russian space programs. Laika, the first animal ever to be sent on a space mission, died shortly after launch. However, her successors Belke Continue Reading

Pointers are the kind of dogs used by hunters to help track and flush game. They belong to gun dog category which also includes the Retriever and Flushing dogs. Pointers are trained to point; they detect game and drive them out of their hiding places so that the hunter can aim and shoot. Pointing breeds have a variety of coat types like Continue Reading

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) approximates there are 4.7 million incidents of dog bites each year in the United States. Roughly eight-hundred-thousand of these bites result in medical treatment. According to a reliable source, one out of every sixty-nine Americans will suffer a dog bite. While dog bites can be painful and may require Continue Reading

When we describe dog coat colors, we use many different terms. Often, what might seem to be red or reddish brown to someone might be described by someone else as deep golden or bronze. Many breeds, like the golden retriever, come in a range of coat colors as fawn or tawny or even red or wheaten red. Coat colors also may not be obvious immediately Continue Reading