Picking a dog to own is a hard decision. At Advice Dog we want to make sure you make the right decision that will keep your dog with your everyday lifestyle. Owning a dog is a big responsibility so we want to make sure the dog you are looking for fits your expectations.
The Soft - Coated Wheaten Terrier has four varieties. Traditional Irish, Heavy Irish, English and American. They are a breed that is less likely to give you allergies. Their coat sheds very little hair. They were originally bred for hunting vermin, herding livestock, guarding and watching the family and livestock. Today this breed is basically a playful companion and a great friend. The Wheaten has been cross bred with Standard Poodles to form a Woodle. It has also been cross bred with Beagles to form a Wheagle. Wheatens are great with cats as long as they have been well socialized with them as puppies. They are great with other dogs as well as children. They make a great watch dog however may be less of a guard dog due to their even temperament. The Wheaten Terrier is a dog that needs to be handled with care and treated properly or aggression and fear could occur in its behavior. Adequate exercise is needed but too much exercise in the heat should be avoided. Puppies have a red, brown, mahogany or white coat. The muzzle or ears of the puppies may be black or dark brown. As they grow older the coat will then change from dark to white and then wheaten in color. Thus the name the Wheaten ( wheat colored ) Terrier. The coat as an adult may have darker colored hair in it. If the dog has a skin disease as an adult the resulting hair growth will remain the same as the puppy coat until growing into the wheaten color. The size is from 18 -20 inches at the withers and about 45 pounds. This is a versatile dog that should get along with every possible part of your life ( children, strangers, friends, cats, dogs ).
The Black Labrador Retriever is a dog that loves water. For temperament they are always in need of a companion. They love to greet and show their love to family members and friends. It is important to keep this dog active. Failure to exercising the Black Labrador Retriever enough could result in the dog being overweight. You can always allow these dogs to swim. They love the water and can be used as a retriever of game such as ducks or geese in hunting. Playing games of fetch and ball with water involved can be integrated into this dogs life. The Black Labrador Retriever is a medium sized to large dog depending on the breeder. It usually weighs from 65-80 pounds and measure about 20-23 inches at the withers. It is well known for its webbed feet which helps it to swim in the water. This dog is a great family companion and is well behaved with children and strangers. You will always love the calm yet happy demeanor of this dog and will never forget the everlasting memories that it can give you.
Scooby Doo is a Great Dane and boy could he always catch an impostor. Everyone would like to own a Great Dane because of the cartoon Scooby Doo. Great Danes are also known as Apollo and German Mastiff. They are well known for their height being one of the tallest dogs in the world. Most Great Danes are about 30 inches tall and the standard weight is usually 100-120 pounds. Females are lighter and slightly shorter than males. They have hip problems due to their height and also have been known to suffer from heart disease. The Great Dane is Fawn, Brindle ( striped ), Blue, Black, Harlequin and Mantle or black and white in color. They originate from Germany and possibly Denmark and were bred to hunt game and protect. The temperament for this dog is that of a gentle nature. They do require a great deal of exercise and care due to their size. The coat is short and smooth and easy to maintain. What a great dog to own and protect you. This is a big dog that can handle your lifestyle as long as you can handle the dog.
The St. Bernard is a Swiss dog that needs special exercise and it could include the cold weather. The St. Bernard has a coat that involves them in cold weather activities. They can be a cold weather companion and adjust to the cold weather better than most dogs. This dog is used as a search and rescue dog on mountain and snow filled terrain. Weighing from 180 to 260 pounds and measuring in at from 28 to 36 inches at the shoulder it is an imposing dog. A St. Bernard can be used to watch livestock, rescue, guard and hunt. It has a versatile amount of these characteristics in its breed. The coat is long and smooth and is usually brown or reddish and white in color. The tail is also full going along with the coat. They are similar to the English Mastiff, Newfoundland and Great Pyrenees. All of these dogs are walking giants. The St. Bernard may have been linked to religion the dog was supposedly named after a monk. The biggest St. Bernard ever was said to have weighed about 357 pounds it is the heaviest dog that has ever lived to date. On the funnier side, St. Bernards actually carry a small barrel of brandy around their necks. People joke that the dog would like to get drunk but we all know that they are not drinking it.
For its size it does have hip and elbow problems but that is common in almost all dogs both big and small. Be sure to relax your St. Bernard by exercising it at least for 2 hours a day. This will help it from becoming overweight and having the medical problems. Feed this dog on a strict schedule and try not to over do it with table food. On the other hand you could grow a huge dog by feeding it more, they can withstand a great size. The temperament is gentle and that to please the owner which could lead to aggression. This type of dog needs to be controlled as a puppy due to its size as an adult. Puppy training to sit and stay and to eat when told is key. Cujo is a movie about a St. Bernard getting infected with rabies and going crazy but that is not the true nature of the dog. Socialization with small animals, children and adults is also very important as a puppy again due to its large size as an adult. The St. Bernard may also be difficult to control on a leash due to the handlers strength. A choke collar may be necessary. They can be fun and loveable and if you like the outdoors are a perfect dog. Socialize them well and treat them gently and you will have a great big best friend.
The English Bulldog is one of the most expensive and popular dogs that you will find. Originally bred for bull baiting and protection it is still in effect today. Though it is not used for bull baiting anymore its protective nature is still in the breed today. The English Bulldog may not be the biggest of dogs but sure does come in pound for pound as a lot of dog. This dog is easy to take care of due to its lazy demeanor. It does like to sleep and is small so it can be used as a house dog but it does need adequate exercise. The English Bulldog standard for males is 55 pounds and for females is 50 pounds. Their height ranges from 12 to 16 inches at the shoulder. This dog needs discipline just like any other dog. Bulldogs can be vicious and also can be loveable it all depends on how you raise the dog. Any dog can be out of control if not raised and socialized with children, strangers, and other animals both big and small.
The English Bulldog is a tenacious dog when provoked and since it does have a guard instinct it will play tough. I refer to playing tough with toys and fun playing with other dogs. They do get funny and growl in a playful way as well as go too far sometimes. This is why you should not hit the dog but rather gently tell them no using your finger and reward them with a snack. A strong bone or pig ear may be their best toy due to their strong jaw. In one word I must tell you that the English Bulldog though it may think it is extremely tough is really just a "sweetheart" when treated properly.