The Pug is a member of the toy dog group whose name is derived from the Latin word Pugness, which means "fist." This perfectly describes their facial features as it can be said to look like a clenched up fist. This dog breed has been recognized by the AKC since the year 1886 and has become an extremely popular house pet and show dog ever since.

The Pug dog breed is extremely amiable, displays a confident personality, and is abundantly playful. It can also be a bit headstrong and stubborn to train, but mostly the Pug is a pleasant dog who enjoys pleasing its owner, especially if given the chance to show off.

Upkeep And Maintenance

As with all toy dog breeds, the Pug needs to have plenty of exercise on a daily basis. A brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes would be ideal, or a fun physical activity which centers around a dog game would do nicely.

The Pug is not the type of dog that should be kept outdoors for an ongoing period of time. This animal is meant to be indoors and cannot stand hot temperatures and humid weather. Of course there is nothing wrong with keeping your Pug in the yard for a few hours each day, but always ensure that he has plenty of shaded areas to retreat to when the weather is hot.

When it comes to grooming, this dog needs regular cleaning due to its heavy wrinkles, especially around the face and neck areas. Should the Pug get wet he will need to be dried off immediately as to prevent infection of the skin, which is sometimes typical of this breed. Lastly, when it comes to physical characteristics, the Pug tends to wheeze and snore often.

Health Information

You can look forward to your Pug living a long and healthy life of up to 15 years, and sometimes longer. The only two major health concerns that all Pug owners should be worried about is CHD and Pug dog encephalitis. Minor health concerns, which rarely pop up with this breed include patellar luxation, KCS, hemivertebra, elongated palate, Legg-Perthes, stenotic nares, and skin infections.

The Tibetan Mastiff has long been held in high regards as a protector and courageous watchdog. An independent and strong-willed, this dog is very territorial and aggressive towards strange people and unfamiliar dogs. They are highly devoted to its family and must be socialized from an early age around people and other animals so as on to grow up to be overly suspicious and anxious. Tibetan Mastiffs are wonderful around children, but may have a tendency to guard against other children visiting the house.

A Brief History Of The Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan Mastiff dates as far back as the Ancient times. As its name suggests, the area of origin for the dog is Tibet. The original function of the breed was to be a highly devoted guardian. Today the dog is still relied upon to act as a trusted guardian and family pet.

Unfortunately, the Tibetan Mastiff dog goes so far back in time that its exact origins have been lost. There is, however, archaeological evidence that shows the massive dog to have been alive in China sometime around 1100 B.C. One theory suggests that the dogs traveled with Attila the Hun and the legendary Genghis Khan, which helped start the base of the breed in Central Asia.

Tibetan Mastiff dogs were used to guard the villages, campsites and monasteries of the nomadic people. During the day, certain dogs (known as village sentries) were kept chained to rooftops and gates, then allowed to roam freely at night to protect the village.

The breed was kept so isolated during this period that they were unknown outside of Tibet until the year 1874. Researchers have found documentation that one of the dogs was sent to Queen Victoria as a gift from the Viceroy of India.

Shortly after, the Prince of Whales had imported two of the dogs and had them enter a dog show. This helped the popularity of the Tibetan Mastiff boost to higher numbers. In 1931, a breed standard was created by the Tibetan Breeds Association of England.

The dog's numbers declined severely when the Chinese attacked Tibet during the 1950s. The only way for the breed to survive was to escape to neighboring countries and local mountains. Fortunately, enough did survive and during the 1970s several breeding programs for the Tibetan Mastiff were started in the United States. And in 2005, the breed was officially recognized by the AKC.

Upkeep Requirements For The Tibetan Mastiff

In addition to being devoted family protectors, these dogs make wonderful house pets. They are quiet and calm when indoors, and very active when outside. In terms of daily exercise needs for the Tibetan Mastiff, a few brisk walks on the leash or vigorous playtime in the yard will be plenty.

Confinement in a closed-in space, even if the yard is large, is not enough to keep his dog happy. They should be allowed to roam free on open areas of land. Without this living arrangement Tibetan Mastiffs become easily bored and destructive through digging. They do not tolerate heat well and should live in colder climates. Grooming requirements consist of two to three weekly brushings due to the dog's heavy coat.

Health Concerns

The average life span of a Tibetan Mastiff is between eleven and fourteen years. There are no major health concerns that run common in the breed. Minor health issues include canine inherited demyelinative neuropathy, seizures, and entropion. Veterinarians suggest that Tibetan Mastiffs get tested for potential hip and thyroid problems.

The origin of the Chihuahua is buried beneath hundreds of years of history. During all of this time civilizations have risen and have fallen. Races of people have been conquered, have overcome their conquerors, and risen from their bondage to become themselves, conquerors.

The uncivilized and barbarous victors of past conquests not only plundered, but destroyed completely the ways of life of their adversaries. Somewhere in the pages of history and the ashes of time, lies the true origin of today's featured breed - the Chihuahua.

Perhaps the origin of no other breed is cloaked in so much mystery and theory, yet the Chihuahua's popularity has risen to place him in the top ten of the most popular dogs in the United States.

The most commonly accepted theory is that the Chihuahua was originally a little dog called Techichi belonging to the Toltec people, a primitive race inhabiting Mexico about the time of the Mayan civilization was declining. The Toltecs were destroyed by the Aztec, who, it is said, had a dog known as the Biche.

It is thought by some historians that the Techichi and the Biche interbred to produce the Chihuahua. However, since neither the Toltecs nor Aztec conquerors had horses, cows, sheep, goats, or pigs - or any other domestic animals of Europe, Asia, or Africa - it's a little difficult for one to believe that somehow they had dogs.

The Aztecs themselves were conquered by the Spanish Conquistadors who were uneducated barbarians. They destroyed completely the entire way of life of the Aztecs. The Conquistadors claim the Aztecs did have dogs, and modern historians - for some reason - accept this as gospel. They seem to overlook the fact that the Conquistador called everything "dog", including raccoons, opossum, and even the sloth.

When the Conquistadors arrived in the New World, they saw life forms which they never knew existed, and it gave rise to the probability (to them) of a second creation. History points out that the Conquistadors all mention a mute dog they found in the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and even in sections of northern South American.

But whether it was truly a dog, or just another of the many strange lifeforms they called "dog" (for lack of a better word), no one will ever truly know.

If one were to study the works of Manuel Orozco y Berra, who devoted a lifetime to the study of Mexican history, the theory that the Chihuahua originated with the Toltecs and Aztecs would be exploded.

In 1880, the classic Mexican history, titled Historia Antigua y de la Conquista de Mexico, was published and on page 278 of book II, the writer states:

"The Aztecs had only three domesticated quadrupeds, all of which carried as root the word 'itzcuintli' which the Spaniards translated as 'dog' because of the similarity of them with that animal."

The writer went on to say that all of these quadrupeds disappeared after the Conquest. The Tepeitzcuintli, though still rare, can be found in the wild, but it is not a dog. The Itzcuintlipotzotli was a guinea pig, or hutia, with a Roman nose, no neck, and a humped back. The Xoloitzcuintli, a hairless animal whose body was four feet long, hardly answers the description of the Chihuahua.

The most commonly accepted theory of the Chihuahua's origin can be likened to a sieve - that is, full of holes that can never be factually filled in.

Some say that the Techichi was crossed with the wild Perro Chihuahua to form the Chihuahua dog. But the Perro Chihuahua was not a dog. It was nothing more than gopher, or as we would say in American, a prairie dog. Such a breeding would have been genetically impossible - another theory scuttled with a big hole.

Among the mysteries that surround its origin, one cannot overlook the fact that between the time of the Spanish Conquest, 1519, and about ninety-five years ago, there is no evidence of such a thing as a Chihuahua dog in Mexico!

There is, in fact, no record of any dwarf dogs in Mexico until the year 1875. It may be but a strange coincidence that in the year 1875, a ship bound from Asia to Europe stopped at a Mexican port. (Since there was no Panama Canal, most ships stopped at Acapulco and other Mexican ports to offload people and cargo, who would then be further transshipped across country to the east.)

Two Chinese passengers aboard that ship exhibited two dwarf dogs in Mexico City. It was a known fact that the Chinese, prior to the fall of their empire, had a passion for dwarfing things. They dwarfed cherry trees, plum trees, maple trees, chickens, fish, and even dogs!

Of Chinese Origin?

It is significant then, that the first appearance of the Chihuahua dog in modern times places them along the Mexican border. Their appearance coincides with the arrival of that ship from Asia. The first Chihuahuas purchased by Americans were purchased from across the border of Texas at Juarez, Mexico.

Juarez is in the state of Chihuahua, and the Chihuahua dog receives its name from that state. There is no evidence that the Aztecs ever lived in the area known as Chihuahua. The conquering Spaniards found only Indians of a peaceful hunting and fishing culture living there.

So, in sifting through the many theories of the Chihuahua's origin, one simply cannot overlook the fact that what we know as the Mexican Chihuahua just might have come from China. The interest in purebreds began in 1875, the ship from Asia arrived in Mexico in 1875. The reader then, is left to swallow whichever theory he finds most palatable.

Only two things are known for a certainty; the Chihuahua dog is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico and the Chihuahua dog is so popular that he's rated in the top ten most popular breeds in existence.

The modern Chihuahua is one hundred percent pure American, developed and purified right here in this country. The American standards of the breed are worldwide. Every registered Chihuahua in the world traces back to pure American blood.

Some people believe that the Chihuahua and the Mexican Hairless are one and the same, but this is not so. The Mexican Hairless was recognized and registered in America twenty two years before the first Chihuahua dog.

The First Registered Chihuahua

The first Chihuahua dog ever registered was born in 1903 and registered in 1904. That year, a total of five Chihuahua dogs were registered. Since other toy breeds were competing in popularity, it was not until 1923 that the Chihuahua Club of American was formed. From that point on, the popularity of the little toy dog known as the Chihuahua began its rise, finally coming to rest comfortably as the sixth most popular dog in America.

Known as the world's smallest dog, the Chihuahua ranges in weight from one to six pounds, with two to four being average. He comes in one of two packages; long-coat or smooth-coat. The long-coats are judged by the same standard as the smooth-coat except for the coat itself.

The little guy has an apple-domed head and a short nose which is slightly pointed. They have been called "the dog with the hole in the head." The hole - or mollera - is an area on top of the head where the skull bones have failed to join. It can be seen in any newborn human baby.

Not all Chihuahuas have this mollera, but it seems to be restricted just to this breed, although there have been a few occurrences of the mollera in the Japanese Spaniel.

A Spicy But Loving Attitude

In spite of its size - or lack of it - the Chihuahua does not suffer an inferiority complex. He falls in love with people but usually restricts his total affection to one individual. He moves into a family expecting to become a part of that family. He actually prefers home and people to a pack of dogs.

Always alert and playful, he burns up energy faster than most other breeds, and therefore requires more frequent naps. Too, he needs about twenty percent more food per body weight than other dogs, which proves to be somewhat of a problem, since Chihuahuas are known for being poor eaters, with skinny appetites. Chihuahua puppies sometimes must be fed.

The Chihuahua is easily trained, since he is quick and has an exceptional memory. Having excellent visual perception and hearing, the Chihuahua must be considered as being one of the most trouble-free of all breeds.

Listed among the few problems encountered with the Chihuahua, is the fact that since it is the world's smallest dog, he is always down close to drafts which sweep across the floor surfaces in summer and winter alike. When sleeping, the Chihuahua should always be protected from these drafts.

Though they don't look like it, the Chihuahua is a very hardy little tyke. Since he comes from an area along the Mexican border, he had to be pretty hardy to survive. Summers expose that area to blistering heat, and winter nights have seen temperatures drop to below freezing.

Taken to Canada in the early days of the breed's recorded history, the Chihuahua thrived in that climate. It should be pointed out, however, that since Chihuahuas spend most of their lives indoors, they could easily suffer in severe weather when taken outside and therefore should always wear a coat.

The life span of the Chihuahua varies, but records show one to have lived to be twenty-two years old. Another, at thirteen was still siring litters.

Although his ancestry is shrouded with the mystery and drama of time, somewhere from the pages of history the little toy dog called the Chihuahua stepped out and into the hearts of millions of Americans who are firmly convinced that there is no other dog more trouble-free and wonderful to own than the Chihuahua.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an all-natural herding dog. As member of the Herding Group, this breed is short in stature, with a long frame. They have fox-like features, making it highly popular with families around the world. Weighing from 25 to 27 lbs, the Pembroke only reaches a hight of up to 12 niches.

The temperament of the breed is best described as quick-witted, spunky, and alert. Always willing to please and devoted to its human family members, they make excellent watchdogs and will even fight off intruders if necessary. Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs are safe to have around children but may nip at their heels in attempt to play. They also tend to bark a lot, especially when strangers approach.

A Brief History Of The Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Welsh cattle dogs were mentioned as early as the 11th century in several books. And although the breed shares a past with the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, it developed completely on its own in a separate area in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Although it is difficult to trace the breed's exact bloodline, we do know that the dogs were important in helping farmers working in South Wales. These little canines were excellent at herding cattle with their technique of nipping at the heels of the herd, and would duck with extreme speed and pin-point agility to avoid being kicked.

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi was still working in the fields while many other breeds were seen in the show ring. It wasn't until 1926 that a club was formed for the breed. Breeders further sought to improve the dog's overall appearance. The big differences between the Pembroke and the Cardigan is that the Pembroke is smaller and with features very similar to the fox.

The two types were officially recognized as separate breeds in 19Ȃ. And it was the Pembroke Welsh Corgi that became hugely more popular than the Cardigan. King George VI took fancy with the breed, as well as Queen Elizabeth II. By the time the mid-1960's arrived, the Pembroke was one of the most popular dogs in the world.

Upkeep Requirements For The Pembroke Welsh Corgi

This dog absolutely loves to herd, and in addition to daily walks on the leash, the Pembroke should be involved with plenty of herding exercises to complete its exercise requirements. Their minds are also complete sponges when it comes to absorbing training commands, which makes the Pembroke an ideal candidate for advanced obedience training.

The Pembroke can withstand both hot and cool temperatures and are physically capable of living outside. But of course they are most happy when allowed to sleep indoors with the family at night. They thrive on human companionship. Grooming requirements for the breed consists of a weekly brushing to remove dead hairs.

Health Concerns

The average lifespan of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is between eleven and thirteen years. Major health concerns that run common in the breed are CHD and intervertebral disc disease. Minor health issues include degenerative myelopathy and epilepsy. Rarely seen is lens luxation, PRA, vWD, and urinary stones. Veterinarians suggest that the Pembroke get specifically tested for DNA for PRA, hip, and eye problems.