Legal Woes for Maryland Pit Bull Owners

A big headline here in Maryland lately has been an anti-pit-bull decision made by the state’s court of appeals. The case classified pit bulls and other “bully” dogs (meaning any dog with bull lineage) as “dangerous dogs.” This means that they are not included in the “one bite” exemption owners get before they are held liable for their dog’s action. That liability can also extend to anyone with control on the premises, including landlords, veterinarians, kennels/daycares, groomers, etc. The decision prompted widespread protest. Pit owners are worried that they’ll either be evicted, lose their homeowner’s insurance, or be forced to … Continue reading →

Rare Dog Breeds: The Chinook

In 1965 the Guinness Book of World Records declared that the Chinook dog is the rarest breed in the world. That contradicts what I read about the Lundehund, but then I’ve seen various insinuations of this about a couple different breeds, so I’m just collecting them all under my “rare breeds” category. The Chinook dog has only existed since the early 20th century, so it didn’t have much time to proliferate before breed creator Arthur Treadwell Walden died in the 1960s. That made it a very rare breed (what earned it the title in ’65), but Chinook enthusiasts have dedicated … Continue reading →

The Science of Dogs

Over the weekend I watched the National Geographic documentary “The Science of Dogs.” It explored canine genetics, studying what it is about a dog’s DNA that makes it the species with the greatest number of breeds. The documentary revealed that there is something uniquely malleable about canine DNA that allows it to make a staggering variety of small changes. The example given by the documentary explained that one can breed cows in such a way to get different color patterns or shapes of horns. But all cows will look fundamentally the same and share identical characteristics. As we well know, … Continue reading →

Rare Dog Breeds: The Lundehund

Sometimes it’s fun to look at specific dog breeds, especially for those considering getting a purebred. It’s always good to know the characteristics of a breed before purchasing that type of dog, so one is aware of any potential health concerns. Those into rare dog breeds should be especially intrigued by the Norwegian Lundehund. It’s the rarest breed of dog in the world. The Lundehund is so rare because of its many unique characteristics. The website for the Norwegian Lundehund Club of America contains many details on this special breed. The Lundehund always sports at least six toes on each … Continue reading →

Dog Breed: Xoloitzcuintli

One of the most unique breeds of dogs I’ve ever seen is the Xoloitzcuintli. I wouldn’t even know how to pronounce the name… if it weren’t for catching an Animal Planet special on the breed. For the record: sho-lo-eats-quint-lee is how you pronounce it, though most folks just call them “Xolos” (sho-los). The breed is also known as the Mexican Hairless, which eliminates the pronunciation issue entirely. Like the poodle, the Xolo comes in three sizes: toy (between ten and fourteen inches at the shoulder), miniature (between fourteen and eighteen inches at the shoulder), and standard (between eighteen and twenty-three … Continue reading →

Anatolian Shepherds

I had never heard of an Anatolian Shepherd until yesterday when I accompanied my friend Karen to the Nashville Humane Society. (Karen wanted to see if they had a photographer doing fund raising for them like the Josephs do for the Humane Society in Jacksonville.) Turns out the NHS does have someone who does that, but their events person was very nice and gave us a tour of the facility. That’s when I saw this big white dog who was desperate to get my attention. And when she did, there was such a spark…I just may have to take Wayne … Continue reading →

Plott Hound

With one less T in his name, I’d think the Plott hound was some kind of criminal mastermind, always plotting some scheme to take over the world. The Plott hound is a hunting dog that comes from German stock. The Hanoverian bloodhound — a dog known for the ability to locate a wounded animal even when the trail is a week old — is the main ancestor of today’s Plott hound. The breed was brought to America in 1750 by Johannes George Plott, who crossed the Atlantic with five hounds. Plott and his son bred seven generations of dogs in … Continue reading →

Italian Greyhound

The grace and hunting instincts of a greyhound… in a smaller size. The Italian greyhound is the smallest of the sight hounds. Historians believe that the breed developed more than two thousand years ago in the Mediterranean basin. Likely sites for the breed’s origin include Greece and Turkey. The miniature greyhounds appear in art and architecture dating back at least two thousand years. The breed became prominent in the sixteenth century. Across southern Europe, miniature breeds rose in popularity with the upper classes — the greyhound’s popularity in Italy earned the breed its name. English, Italian, Prussian, Russian, and Danish … Continue reading →

American Eskimo Dog

The American Eskimo dog is a Nordic breed that shares ancestry with the Keeshond, the Pomeranian, and various Spitzes. Until 1917, it was called the American Spitz; these days, you can call it the Eskie. Why the name change from American Spitz to American Eskimo dog? Experts aren’t really sure. Some believe that the name “Eskimo” was included to emphasize the dog’s cold-weather origins. “Spitz” doesn’t quite evoke the same image of thickly-furred dogs. The breed rose to popularity during the 19th century, when the small white dogs were used in circus acts. The Eskie excelled at performing thanks to … Continue reading →

French Bulldog

Not surprisingly, the French bulldog has the English bulldog as an ancestor. During the late 1800s, English breeders sent a lot of toy-sized bulldogs into France. English bulldogs bred with various other breeds, resulting in the “Boule-Dog” (say it out loud, it sounds like bulldog). Early on, the French bulldog came it two varieties — one with rose ears (like an English bulldog) and one with upright bat ears. European breeders were inclined to breed for the rose ear, but American dog breeders objected. Eventually, breeders stuck universally to the distinctive bat ears. The breed got a lot of good … Continue reading →