Know what to expect from your pet with our breed breakdown; information about each breed's appearance, health, life span, personality and more.
My Mom and I were living in a one bedroom apartment for about five years, and eventually we had to move to a house where we would be able to have our own room and privacy. Not only was I excited about having my own room, I was also excited about finally being able to have a dog, and I had my eye on one particular breed; huskies! I had begged my mom for weeks about getting a husky. She didn’t like the idea due to the responsibility this type of dog would bring, and I didn’t bother to put in the time to research about these responsibilities (big mistake). My mom was reluctant about letting me have this type of dog, but she knew I loved huskies and she wanted to give me a chance to have one, so we began to search. We went to some pounds in hope that we would find something that we were looking for, but we left unsuccessful.
So let’s face it, when you hear Pitbull, what do you think? Not trustworthy? Not recommended to be a family dog? Most aggressive? Whatever it may be, I'm here to say they're completely wrong! I recently adopted a 5-year-old Pitbull named Bruce and he puts the misconception in a 180-degree turn. I have never owned a dog whose cuddling consists of actually lying on top of you or wanting to always be by you. A dog that will look at you with such forgiving eyes that whatever past they had, it was completely forgotten because they have you.
Specific dog breeds nowadays, especially Pit Bulls, are considered aggressive all over the world because of how they look. But let me ask you a question. Does that dog look aggressive, mean, evil, dangerous, or unloving? NO!
Are shorkies a good breed to have? Yes. Absolutely. Shorkies are family-oriented and loyal to their families. They have excellent memory and very intelligent mindsets. They are very easy to train and I have determined that they listen to you speaking and listen out for key words they are familiar with and then associate them with something they would love to do. They really listen. My shorkie wakes up every morning to help me wake the kids for school and she gives them all the goodbye kisses they don’t ask for. All smiles. They are just lovable. If you are not into barking dogs, then this breed wouldn’t be for you because, as I mentioned, they are loyal to family and their territory, and if anyone knocks on your door or they hear an unfamiliar tone in someone’s voice, that will ring the alarm. But they also listen, so just as quickly as they begin to bark and you ask them to stop, they will obey, but still have alarming suspicion about the stranger. I would say that shorkies are very attentive, and if they aren’t watching, they are always listening to sounds and even respond to family members who have high stress levels in their voices. This is really true. If you were to argue with your sibling, your shorkie will get in between you both and commence to barking at you as if they are telling you to get your behinds back and make up. I love it.
I always grew up with dogs. As a baby, we had a “Heinz 57” type mongrel called Gazza, who would permanently be by my side according to my parents. If I started crying, he would go and get my mum and make her follow him to me, and all I remember is how attentive he was, and how he grew old. He started to forget he had been fed, or been let out and the time came to say goodbye. I am forever thankful that my parents were honest when I was 6 and explained that Gazza was in a lot of pain, and it would be the kinder thing to let him sleep forever. I didn’t have to feel that pain for another 13 years when we lost one of our Jack Russell’s, Minnie.
When considering a new addition to your family, discovering the most loyal dog breeds might help you decide which dog would fit your family the best.
Can you die from an overdose of cuteness? My daughter and I both own King Charles Cavaliers. These are dangerous critters if you have things to do or places to go. Their plan of attack is to immobilize owners with their winsome dispositions. They disarm disciplinary measures with those "doe" eyes. However, the secret weapon they pull out just when you're just about to win is their little velvet tongues. Cavaliers will lick you into submission. It isn't easy to be the pack leader to a bundle of unconditional love. Even the simple act of walking a Cavalier is a daunting task. Everyone you meet on your path is compelled to pet them, marveling at their innocent appearance. Innocent? Try going down the basement to do laundry. My little bundle doesn't like the basement and quietly whimpers until I return. These dogs become extremely attached to their owners, and they do suffer from separation anxiety. However, they don't engage in destructive behavior. In all my years of ownership, I have never had to deal with chewed shoes, torn pillows, or garbage destruction. Cavaliers have what is called "soft bite." They can't really bite down completely, which means they don't tear at objects. It also means they are good with children. When I was working, our two Cavs would sit in the front window waiting for me all day. Neighbors would tell me they would watch them in the window, little did they know that were plotting to nuzzle me mercilessly when I arrived. Chloe, the Blenheim, is mine. My daughter owns the tricolor, named Vladimir. Until my daughter moved to Florida, Vlad and Chloe both lived in my house. It was twice the fun and twice the love. The pair was the dynamic duo of puppy love.
Whether you already have a pup, or considering getting your hands on one, some of us want to train our dogs to learn awesome tricks and skills. From balancing a biscuit on their nose to hopping on one leg, and learning how to sit on command, we find training can make our dogs be more mature, listen better, and can pull off cool stunts. And if our dog can master literally every trick in the book, it's only natural to place them in competitions, right? Unless you're not the type to.
1. Dachsund Dachsunds are the incredibly loyal dogs, but they are also incredibly stubborn. They were bred to smell down badgers and scare them away, so even though they are small they will still insist on being a guard dog for the house. This means lots of barking.
It was around my one-year anniversary that a best friend of mine had told me he was selling puppies. I asked what breed of dog they were and he said, "Akitas." Honestly, I'd never heard of Akitas until that very moment. I paid no mind until I randomly brought it up to my boyfriend. He was ecstatic. I had no idea why until he told me he has raised Akitas all his life and listed what they were capable of.
Meet Bayleigh. She's my three-year old American Dingo, or Carolina Dog, that I adopted from a rescue when she was barely six months old. From the moment I saw her photo on the internet, I knew this was the puppy that I had to save. I set an appointment to see her and the rest is now history.
There exist arrays of dog breeds with unique characteristics that endear them to their respective owners. Whether purebreds or mixed breeds, dogs of all shapes, sizes, and colors are certainly the best friends they’re trumpeted to be. Sometimes, selecting one to become a part of your family can be overwhelming with the abundance of choice available.