This lovable dog is stubborn and bold but easy-going. Bulldogs get along with everyone except strangers (they are guard dogs by nature).

Bulldogs are somewhat slow to learn and not suited to being a watchdog. But they are eager to please and retain what they learn.

They are extremely sweet-natured and devoted, and exceptionally good with children. They are unpredictable with strange dogs.

Bulldogs originated in England. They do not live as long as most dog breeds and are subject to heart attacks in hot and poorly aired quarters, so be careful if you live in a hot area of the world.

They are subject to respiratory problems and tend to snore and wheeze.

Bulldogs are fairly inactive indoors and need only a fair amount of outdoor exercise.

They are very popular in our area. Every time I visit the vet there are at least 3 or 4 Bulldogs in the waiting room with their owners.

There are a lot of inferior breeders, so watch for what is called "legginess" in poor specimens.

Bulldogs are a medium dog breed, with females weighing an average of 40 pounds and males averaging 50 pounds.

If you have a Bulldog you want to make sure he/she is getting the best care. There's an e-book available for downloading that is called English Bulldog Health. It covers all aspects of your dog's health, including how to properly groom your dog, what and when to feed him/her, when to call the vet, and much more.

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The pug is a toy breed, small and boxy in stature, with a lot of attitude. The ideal pug weight is 16 to 19 pounds, however, pugs come in many sizes, sometimes weighing as much as 30 pounds.

Pugs are clowns at heart, known for their silly antics, but they still manage to maintain a sense of dignity. They are known as a lap dog and enjoy lounging around in the company of their human companion, but enjoy daily exercise in the form of a walk. An inside dog, they should never be left out-of-doors for any extended period of time.

The Pug is of Chinese origin. They were prized possessions of the Emperors of China and lived in a most luxurious atmosphere and at times were even guarded by soldiers. The Dutch traders brought the Pugs from the east to Holland and to England where the pug was enjoyed by many Monarchs of Europe.

The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed in 1885. The Pug Dog Club of America was founded in 1931 and recognized by the AKC that same year.

Being a purebred dog, the pug does come with some high maintenance medical issues. Typical medical problems include ear infections, eye problems, mast cell tumors, and skin infections.

Some pugs can suffer from a collapsing trachea or elongated palate making it difficult for them to breathe, especially in hot weather. During the hotter months of the year, it is best to keep your pug in a cool room and avoid walks during the hottest part of the day as they can easily become overheated.

Although the pug comes in a small package, their shedding can be extreme. Be prepared to vacuum or sweep your floors almost daily during the summer when shedding is at its worst and several times a week during the cooler months. Invest in a good lint brush as your clothing will be covered in pug hair also (a minor inconvenience for those of us who love our pugs).

The pug loves food and can easily become overweight if over-indulged with snacks or larger than necessary meal portions. Talk to your vet about your pug’s appropriate weight.

Since the pug is susceptible to skin infections, a healthy diet is a must. Choosing a high quality food for your pug will pay off in a healthier dog with fewer visits to the vet (that means no grocery store dog food!). Read your food labels carefully and choose a dog food with more natural ingredients.

Your pug should visit the vet at least once a year for a physical. A blood test at age six is a good idea and can catch many potential health problems allowing early treatment with the appropriate diet or medication.

Pugs make excellent traveling companions and many pug owners take their pugs with them on vacation. Sharing their human’s bed is the preferred sleeping arrangement for the pug, although for those who would find this a difficult arrangement, a dog bed next to the bed will be tolerated.

If considering a pug breed, try adopting from a local pug rescue. You can find a pug rescue near you at www.rescuers.com.

For more information about Pugs, including how to train them, how to care for them, and more, this e-book, The Ultimate Pug Secrets Handbook, covers everything you need to know about Pugs.

Since it's an e-book you can download it and be reading it just a minute from now. It's a great source of information so you know why your Pug acts the way he does, how to keep him/her healthy, and lots more.

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My first impression of the Bull Terrier was created by the book The Incredible Journey and then by the wonderful Disney movie of the same name. What a wonderful tale.

We later had a dog that was a Bull Terrier/Fox Terrier mix. He was a wonderful dog. He was loyal, gentle and full of energy.

Bull Terriers learn somewhat slowly but are very alert watchdogs and guarddogs. Our dog proved that. He learned one or two tricks but he was a terrific watchdog.
They are a one-family dog and are reserved with strangers and quarrelsome with strange dogs.

They need good, firm training as a puppy to become an admirable pet. Fine for older children but too active for younger children.

Bull Terriers grow to be 35-55 pounds, have a short, smooth coat, and come in two varieties: white and colored (brindle, fawn) all with white chest, feet and blaze.

The following video is very informative if you are a Bull Terrier fan or thinking of getting one.

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Here is a great article about the Bloodhound. But first I want to tell you the specifics about this wonderful dog.

Bloodhounds tend to learn somewhat slowly and are not suited to being used as a guarddog because they like everyone. But they are alert watchdogs.

With children they are exceptionally good. With strange dogs they are unpredictable.

They need a lot of outdoor exercise but are fairly inactive indoors. They are more a country dog than a city dog.

When they are used in police work, they track the criminal but never attack. Their tracking skills are unbelievable, as you will read in the following article:

The Bloodhound: Man Trailing Dog
By Michael Russell

The Bloodhound is a scent hound unequalled, some say, by any other breed. The name actually does not mean that it scents or tracks "blood" as is commonly believed. The Bloodhound was a dog that was held in favor by the English "bluebloods" or nobility and that is the origin of the name.

The Bloodhound is an ancient breed and has remained relatively stable since long before the coming of Christ. This is a dog that has always been used for trailing humans. A well trained Bloodhound, when on the trail, travels with great purpose and determination and often will be tireless for hours.

It is said that a good Bloodhound can trail the scent particles which have wafted out the window of a vehicle as it travels. In fact this has been speculated about in the records of some of the man hunts which have been recorded in various locales in the United States. The dog in any case has such a strong drive to follow a trail and such a talent for scent discrimination that there have been instances where "contaminated" trails older than five days have been successfully followed.

The Bloodhound is susceptible to the condition of inverted eyelids. This can be surgically corrected. If not done, the dog can be in severe pain, so this is a condition which an owner needs to be aware of. Bloodhounds are also one of the breeds which seem to be predisposed to bloat, which is common in many of the larger breeds. And of course, as is also the case with most of the larger breeds, hip dysplasia is a continuing problem and animals that are to be used for breeding need to be x-rayed for this condition.

The bloodhound's distinctive look, wrinkled and pendulous, actually contributes to it's scenting capability. The long ears sweep the ground and help to bring up the smells into the dog's nasal passages. The long muzzle which is also very "deep" is another factor which enhances the dog's natural scenting ability. He is a large dog, males weighing over 100 pounds and standing 27 inches tall.

The body is big boned, feet seem to be overly large for the size of the breed, the legs are heavy boned and sturdy. The colors of the coat can be deep red, black and tan, or liver and tan. The coat is dense and short and somewhat oily. The loose folds of skin on the flews and below the muzzle on the chest and chin need to be kept clean if the dog drools, (many of them are "droolers") Other than that a good wipe down with a towel will suffice most of the time.

It is essential that this dog have early contact with people, this is part of its nature. It should not be used as an attack animal. This is a dog with a sweet and gentle personality, however it can be stubborn and difficult to train and has a great deal of strength and power in its shoulders. If not properly trained to a leash early, it is often too much for a person without "dog sense" to handle.

This is a dog that has so much concentration on what he is smelling that he puts himself in danger when off leash, he will pay no attention to cars, but remain attentive to whatever smell he is tracking. He is a dog of a generous nature and loves to be with his family. As puppies, they are large and awkward and clumsy. A household with a puppy bloodhound definitely needs to be puppy proofed as it will investigate everything thoroughly.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

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