If you have had any experience with the Papillon toy breed then you know about its high energy, engaging personality and sweet nature.

This breed, possibly the oldest of the toy breeds in existence, is immediately recognizable by its butterfly-shaped ears. But even if you can recognize the breed on sight, you might not know some of the most interesting aspects of this type of dog.

Papillon Dog Breed History

Like other ancient breeds, the Papillon can be seen in various art throughout the pre-modern world. Toy spaniels that great resemble the Papillon in size and profile can be found as early as the sixteenth century in Italian art, but there is the suspicion that the breed's history goes back much further.

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Golden Retrievers – Friendly, Sociable and Intelligent

The image of a Golden Retriever that is active and friendly is well-known to everyone who has seen a TV commercial or magazine ad. There are good reasons that this breed features significantly in so many of them: it's all true!

Golden Retrievers are among the most easily trained dog breeds because they are intelligent, sociable and active. Since they enjoy anything that requires activity they love any kind of outdoor recreation that gets them moving.

From the breed’s roots as an off-shoot of mid-1800s Russian circus dogs, they've been bred to retrieve. Whether it’s fetching a tennis ball or jumping over low fences or any other similar activity, it is all a natural extension of the game of retrieving.

Among the most intelligent of dog breeds, Golden Retrievers can learn a wide variety of behaviors with minimal effort. They are easy to housebroken and will give clear signs (after the initial training) that they need to go outside. Fetching comes almost automatically. It is also easy to teach them to stay, sit, roll over, and a lot more.

Golden Retrievers are easily socialized and friendly with people and (typically) other animals. Although individuals vary they usually adapt well to children and other pets. However, socialization does take a certain degree of training. They can be territorial and will probably bark at or chase animals and even people who do not belong to the home.

Despite their quick bark they do not make good guard dogs or watch dogs. They will definitely alert you to the advance of the mail carrier, but they also will bark at any movement. Trying to teach them to tell the difference between the two can be a big challenge. They may bark at a car sitting on the street outside the house or at a squirrel darting across the grass in the front yard. With so many false alarms they are completely unsuitable for guard dog duty.

Also, they will almost never attack anyone since they are by nature so friendly, and trying to train them to do so is inconsistent with their nature. Though they bark, they hardly ever bite. Their bark is a greeting rather than a sign of anger or a warning.

Training them to walk on a leash without tugging can be a challenge. But since they are so eager to please you they can be taught to walk patiently at your side. It might take a few weeks, and is best taught while the dog is still young.

It is very important to give them plenty of daily exercise since they are so energetic and active by nature. One word of warning: Their tails are often wagging because they are by nature happy dogs. This can cause trouble unless you prepare your home ahead of time and move all the knick-knacks to a safe spot higher up out of reach of the tail.

They are incredibly social dogs and need to be with the family. Left a lone for long periods of time is not healthy. If there is no person at home during the day, at least have one other dog to be a companion for them.

Golden Retrievers are great dogs, and make a good family dog, but they are not for everyone. They are definitely best for people and families who want an active and friendly dog, and who are willing to devote time and attention to their furry companion.

To learn more about this great breed I recommend this ebook, which you can download and read right now: Golden Retriever Guide eBook. It will tell you everything you need to know about your Golden Retriever.

Gentle Giants

If there was ever a gentle giant, this dog is it. The Mastiff loves everybody and everything, especially his family. They are an especially good dog with children and make an excellent dog breed for a family.

That is a bit surprising since they were originally bred as war dogs. Outfitted with saddles that carried live coal, the dogs were trained to run underneath horses so the enemy knights would fall to the ground. Once a knight was on the ground he was helpless.

At other times the Mastiff was pitted against gladiators, lions, bears and bulls. This is a far cry from the gentle and low-key dog of today who is happiest when with his family.

They are extremely loyal and should be allowed to live indoors where they can fulfill their role of devoted guardian. They only require enough room to stretch out comfortably.

These large dogs are not very active and do not need much exercise. Unlike the sporting dogs that will run and run for miles, the Mastiff is happy to just lie around the house. One walk each day or a good game is enough exercise for them.

An Ancient Dog Breed

The Mastiff originated in Great Brittain. They come from the mastiff family which is one of the oldest and most influential dog breeds. Like the mastiff family, the Mastiff is also an ancient breed that has been around since before the time of Caesar.

In the years leading up to World War II they almost disappeared in Great Brittan. Thankfully, they were a popular dog in the United States and so the breed did not completely die out. Since then their numbers have increased, and today it is the 33rd most popular dog in America.

Special Needs of a Large Dog Breed

The only drawbacks to this dog are the amount of food they require and the space they need indoors. They are not active indoors, but like to stretch out in comfort. They require very little grooming, are generally very healthy, and very easy to train.

When acquiring a Mastiff it is important to gain his respect at an early age. If the dog learns to listen and follow orders when he is a puppy, he will be very happy to obey when he is 230 pounds.

Males can reach up to 230 pounds and females can reach 170 pounds. They are a little shorter than the Irish Wolfhound but heavier. As a result of their large size it is especially important that puppies are bought from reputable breeders that do not feed puppies anything that will speed their growth. This can lead to health problems later on.

How to Choose a Good Puppy

Other things to beware of when looking for a Mastiff for a pet is to make sure the mother is older than 22 months and younger than seven years, and that the prospective owners check the parents’ hip and elbow certificates to verify that they do have hip or elbow dysplasia.

Reputable breeds will be happy to comply with any questions the buyers ask. Remember that people who really care about the breed are not breeding just for the money, but are also breeding for a pure and exceptional line.

Anyone who purchases a Mastiff will have a wonderful companion for as long as nine to eleven years. The Mastiff is definitely an excellent dog for families to consider.

An Introduction to the Keeshond

The Keeshond (plural is Keeshonden) is an extremely affectionate dog that tends to get along wonderfully with people and with other pets in the household. They are a medium sized dog, weighing about thirty-five to forty-five pounds and stand at seventeen to eighteen inches tall.

The Keeshond History – Dog of the Patriots

The world almost didn’t get to enjoy this great companion dog, though. It was in the late 1700s that the breed almost disappeared. The people of Holland dared to stand up to the royalists at about the same time the colonists in the New World were preparing to fight King George of England.

The Dutch commoners chose as their mascot a medium-sized dog that had served for centuries as the guard dog on barges and as a household companion. The leader of the Patriots had one of these dogs that followed him everywhere. The dog’s name was Kees.

The Patriots were not victorious and people were afraid to be seen with a dog that had stood for the rebellion, so these great dogs almost disappeared. Then in 1920 Baroness van Hardenbroek found a few of these dogs that had been kept in low profile by farmers and river boatmen. She used the fine individuals to bring the breed back.

The Baroness fought the attempt to change the name of the dog to German Spitz, and in 1925 the breed was officially changed to Keeshond (after the dog Kees, mentioned above, and the Dutch word for dog, “hond”). It is now the national dog of Holland.

The Keeshond’s Temperament

The Keeshond is very smart and such a great companion that it’s a bit of a mystery why it is not more popular in the United States. In 2006 they were ranked 93rd most popular dog by the AKC.

Like many dogs they want to be inside with their family instead of locked outdoors. They make great housedogs: playful, attentive, loving, content to take it easy, and yet ready for adventure. A daily walk and a play time is all they need each day to satisfy its needs for exercise.

They are also easily trained, friendly to everyone but yet an alert watchdog, and an excellent companion for children and adults. With their thick fur they can tolerate cold temperatures but cannot tolerate heat.

Like dogs such as Border Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs, the Keeshond has a double coat to keep them warm. This coat requires brushing once or twice a week and more often when shedding.

Unlike herding and hunting dogs the Keeshond is a general, all-purpose dog. An excellent watchdog, friendly and affectionate, they are a wonderful pet for any family who is looking for a dog to share their home.

Some interesting facts:

Energy level - 3 (out of 5)

Playfulness - 3

Affection level - 5

Friendliness towards strangers and household pets - 4

Ease of training - 3

Cold tolerance - 4

Heat tolerance - 1