* Craves attention, eager to please, affectionate, jealous.
* Not recommended for small children as they can be snappy and their small size can lead to the dog being injured by an overly rambunctious child.
Chihuahua Potential Health Issues:
* Prone to Epilepsy and Seizures.
* Digestive problems.
* Low blood sugar.
* Have a tendency to become overweight easily if their diet is not monitored.
Special Needs:
* Birthing problems; often need Vet. assistance.
* Take care not to get water into ears as they are prone to ear infections.
* Periodic Vet. cleaning of ears and teeth is needed. Teeth have a tendency to build tartar. Due to the smallness of the mouth, food can collect and remain along the gum line.
* Don’t expose dog to the cold unless dressed warmly.
* Companian to high stress people for hundreds of yearscavalier-king-charles-spaniel
* Popular with royalty
* Descended from the King Charles Spaniel
* Household pet in Charles I household
* Can be seen in paintings dating back to the 16th century
* Current type started breeding in 1920’s
* First entered the Westminster Dog Show in 1997
* Placed 3rd one time and 4th one time at the Westminster Dog Show
* Life Span 9-14 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Appearance:
* Small for a Spaniel 12-13 inches to top of shoulder
* Has full length tail, not docked
* Large round eyes
* Silky coat with no curls – most common colors are chestnut and white, black and white with tancavalier-king-charles-spaniel2 markings on cheeks, black and tan and ruby red.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Temperament:
* Eager, well-behaved, adaptable. Loves people – needs companionship
* Wants to please
* Very affectionate & playful
* Loves sitting on your lap
* Good with children and other dogs. One of the best dog breeds for families.
* One of the friendliest of the toy dog breeds
* Can be cat-like, perching on the back of furniture.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Potential Health Issues:
* Prone to:
Eye disease
Dislocating of knee caps
Back problems
Ear infections
Hearing problems
Hip dysplasia
Many Extra Large Dog Breeds May Surprisingly Be The Right Dog For You
Good things do come in large packages – Extra large dog breeds packages. There is a whole lot of joy packed into those 100 – 200 pound bodies.
These gentle giants usually have a mild, often comical temperament. Many are great family dogs.
Consider These Things Before Deciding On A Gentle Giant Dog Breed
Be prepared to adjust your budget to their often large appetites. They need high quality foods, low in carbohydrates and supplements to keep them healthy.
Life expectancy can range from 8 – 14 years. High quality dog food and nutritional dog supplements can help extend and add quality to the extra large dog breeds life.
An extra large dog breed will require equipment tailored to their size; large dog feeding bowls, large dog beds and large dog toys.
Prepare for some work in the grooming of these giant dog breeds. Your home bath tub can prove a bit small when attempting to wash these dogs. Consider professional dog grooming or rent a tub at a self serve dog wash. Many of these are popping up across the country for those with neither the space or inclination to use their home tub..
Extra large breed dogs can be prone to some health problems less common in the small dog breeds and medium size dog breeds. For instance, hip dysplasia is common in the large dog breeds. Be sure to check the genetic problems common to the dog breed you choose. If you buy from a breeder, insist on history and references. Better yet, adopt from a local dog shelter or breed specific dog rescue group. True, some of these dogs come with their own set of problems but they are already here and need a home. I think they tend to make the best pets and hey, we all have baggage.
MOST POPULAR EXTRA LARGE DOG BREEDS
Great Dane – One of the tallest dogs. Friendly, known as “the gentle giant”. Short hair.
Saint Bernard – Extremely gentle. Long hair.
Rottweiler – Reliable and loving with their family, very protective. Short hair.
Mastiff – Gentle with family, excellent with children. Shorter hair.
Bull Mastiff – Good natured, docile and affectionate. Shorter hair.
Newfoundland – Calm and gentle. Long hair.
Irish Wolfhound – Gentle, also one of the tallest dogs. Shorter hair.
Akita – Docile, affectionate, courageous. May be dog selective.
American Bulldog – Loves children, loyal, not hostile. Short hair.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog – Not aggressive, loves to please, excellent with children. Long hair.
Black Russian Terrier – Protective, loves children, needs to be close to owner. Longer hair.
Bloodhound – Mild-mannered, lovable, very gentle. Short hair.
Many of the extra large dog breeds do quite well in apartments and smaller spaces as long as they are provided with regular exercise in the form of walks and trips to dog parks. These big dog breeds can also be great with kids and love to play and romp with them, often seeing themselves as one of the kids. Care must be taken when selecting a giant dog breed if you have very small children. Often these larger breeds do not realize their size and can be quite clumsy, knocking over smaller kids.
An extra large dog breed will require equipment tailored to their size; large dog feeding bowls, large dog beds and large dog toys. A good quality food for large breed dogs is a necessity, one with premium ingredients. Quality supplements added to the large dog breed diet will help to keep him active and healthy.
When considering dog adoptions and deciding which of the extra large dog breeds to add to your family, check out some of the dog rescue organizations specific to the breeds you are interested in. They will help you to decide which are good dog breeds for children, which are best dog breeds for your lifestyle and answer any questions you may have. These dog rescue shelters are there for the benefit of the dog and they want to make sure the match-up between the dog and it’s new guardian is a successful one for all involved. You can find the dog rescue groups through your local yellow pages, through local Vets and on-line by searching under the breed name and adding your state and the words “rescue groups”.
Small dog breeds ; energetic whirlwinds of boundless energy. People choose small dog breeds for many reasons. They fit well into smaller homes and apartment living. Small dog breeds are easy to take with you when traveling. They love to curl up on your lap. Small dog breeds work well for older people who may have neither the time nor the desire to struggle with larger dogs.
Small dog breeds include the tiny teacup dog breeds, the toy dog breeds and the miniature dog breeds.
The small dog breeds may be tiny in size but they more than make up for it in tenacity, bravery and endless supplies of affection.
Tiny bodies with big hearts and attitudes. The toy dog breeds are very popular as companion pets. People that love to sit with there dog nestled on their laps prefer dogs from this group. They fit well in small apartments and travel well tucked under your arm or in a stylish carrier. They also tend to be a bit yippy and opinionated and always think they are much bigger than they are.
When well-cared for, they usually enjoy a longer lifespan than the larger breeds. Some popular dogs within this group include: Affenpinscher, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Toy Poodle.
Sporting Dog Breed Facts
Some of the most popular breeds. Usually very active, energetic, smart; they love to learn and are eager to please their owners. Happy and friendly dogs. Includes Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers which consistently rank #1 and #2 respectively as most popular dogs according to the American Kennel Club.
Some others in this group are Cocker Spaniel, Weimaraner, English Springer Spaniel and Irish Setter.
Working Dog Breed Facts
Originally bred to work for and alongside their humans. Often used as guard dogs for people, property and livestock. Very intelligent and loyal. Usually possess great strength and size, though there are some smaller breeds within this group. Can make good family pets but require consistent training and socialization starting at an early age to harness their innate strength.
Great dog breeds within this group include: Boxer, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Rottweiler, Akita.
Terrier Dog Breed Facts
These dog breeds were originally intended as a hunter and killer of rodents. They are quick and agile. They tend to be bold, outspoken and tenacious with vibrant personalities. Although their size varies within the breeds, they all see a Great Dane as their reflection when they look in a mirror.
Usually friendly by nature but they can sometimes be nippy. Jack Russel, West Highland White Terrier and Schnauzer are some of the dog breeds within this group.
Hound Dog Breed Facts
Hound dog breeds are best known as hunting dogs.
Some hunt by sight and some by scent but both tend to be stubborn and single minded.
Dog breeds within this group include Afghan Hound, Basset Hound, Bloodhound and Dachshund.
Herding Dog Breed Facts
Originally bred to herd livestock, these dog breeds tend to be medium to large in size (with some exceptions) with heavy thick coats to protect against the elements. Some can be a bit high strung due to their constant thinking nature. They are energetic and are very loyal within a family situation. They often try to herd the children and other pets in their family. Examples of dog breeds within this group are German Shepherd, Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Old English Sheepdog, Australian Sheepdog and Corgi.
Non-Sporting Dog Breed Facts
Within this group are a potpourri of dog breeds that don’t fit into any of the other categories. These include Boston Terrier, Lhasa Apsa, Dalmatian, Bulldog, Shar-pei.
Designer Dog Breed Facts
This group is not actually recognized by the AKC but they are here none- the- less and deserve mention. In some ways they probably fit into the category of mutt since they are a mixed breed and combine the characteristics of their combined parentage. Some dogs within this group are Labradoodle, Goldendoodle and Puggle.
Finding the right dog breeds to fit with your lifestyle can be simple when you have the right facts. Will you choose a small dog breed, extra large dog breed or somewhere in-between?
Whether you are choosing to add a purebred or mixed breed mutt to your family, it is important to know the characteristics of the dogs included in the mix. And remember, check your shelters and rescue groups first. Many purebred dogs are there awaiting a new loving home.
Dogs sold in pet stores or on-line are often from puppy mills which essentially are a cash-crop dog breeding business where dogs are continuously bred in horrid conditions. Even if you find a dog for sale through your local newspaper, check to see if the advertiser has been continuously advertising dogs for sale. Don’t support this kind of torture for profit.
Consider these things when selecting a dog breed for you:
* How large will the dog be when fully grown
* What is the lifespan of the dog breed
* What health problems are associated with the dog breed
* What is the temperament of the dog breed
* How much maintenance and grooming is required with the breeddog-breeds-mastiff
Consider your lifestyle when choosing dog breeds:
* Do you have small children in your household
* Do you have a yard with lots of room or do you live in an apartment
* Are you away from home for extended hours
* Do you have extra time to spend on caring for you dog
* Are your finances sufficient to allow for quality food and Vet care
We want to help you gather information on the dog breeds you are interested in. Click on the links in dog breed facts to learn about different dog breeds and help determine what breed will best fit in with your lifestyle. By learning about the characteristics and traits associated with the different dog breeds, you will be able to make an informed choice and help to assure both you and your new dog will enjoy a long happy relationship.
