Breed group: Herding

Weight: Male: 70-84, Female: 57-71 lbs

Height: Male: 23.5, Female: 22 inches

Overview

The Bergamasco is originally from Persia, and it is believed that this ancient shepherding breed is at least 2000 years old. These dogs were bred to be independent and clever. After the Second World War these dogs were almost extinct, but were saved by the efforts of Dr. Maria Andreoli – an Italian breeder and scientist. Even today, the Bergamasco is still a very rare breed.

Temperament

The Bergamasco is not ideal for someone with no previous dog ownership experience. This breed is dependable, calm and extremely protective of their families and homes. They will be tolerable of other dogs if they do not see them as threats. The Bergamasco will also get along fine with children. These dogs are very wary and suspicious of strangers – and they are always attentive, caring, level-headed, distinguished and well-balanced. These dogs were never bred to be just pets.

Care

If the coats of these dogs are fully flocked, they will not require a lot of care, and should only be brushed and bathed occasionally. Then from two to three years, their coats will settle into a locking pattern that will continue throughout the dog’s life. Their coat consists of three types of hair: the undercoat, the goat hair and the woolly top coat. The Bergamasco is a very straightforward, but genuine dog – and this is reflected in their coats. It is advised that the coats of these dogs develop as naturally as possible. The Bergamasco is not a heavy shedding dog, but you will find that they loose some hair during certain stages, especially during puppy hood. The hair loss for these dogs is minimal after the flocks are set. The coat of the Bergamasco is considered to be hair, and not fur. The coat is also considered to be non-allergic, but there are some cases where someone is still allergic to the hair of the Bergamasco.

Training

Bergamasco’s as independent, bright and open-minded dogs. They are however not submissive, and were developed to solve problems on their own. They also need to know why certain commands are given. This bred will not submit to be obedient, but rather to display affection. The Bergamasco will not react positively to training methods that are cruel or unkind. Training of these dogs should also be conducted in a firm, fair and consistent way. It is also advised that these dogs receive the necessary obedience and socialisation training.

Health problems

Seeing that this breed is fairly rare, not a lot is known about health concerns and issues.

For more info on Bergamasco grooming or a full list of Dog Breeds visit this Dog Training resource website.

Bill Gates in bergamasco (originale)

Flyball, if you’ve never seen it, is a relay race for dogs. Two teams race on parallel tracks through an electronic gate, over four hurdles to a Flyball Box, from whence they must retrieve a ball and return lickety split… without missing a jump and without dropping the ball. On paper I suspect it sounds rather pedestrian. But did I mention the timer? The whole round trip might take… say, four or five seconds per dog.

Last weekend I spent two rollicking days at the Fresno Fairgrounds with a local flyball club called Mutts in Motion who are hosting their first tournament. The action is already at full throttle by 8:30am. Amid the bedlam, teams with names like Mad Dogs, Leap of Faith and Gold Coast Flyers are going neck and neck over the jumps. More than 100 dogs have come to compete and I realize I should have brought earplugs. Flydogs do have the most magnificent vocabulary of woofs and howls and yowls, but then, so do their owners. At the starting lineup, the dogs bark insults at the team across the way, rowdy as all get out, and straining to be off.

I am watching Touch N Go, the team from Las Vegas who are currently the world record holders. Their dogs are sleek and sinewy… staffy-borders someone says, a serendipitous combining of Staffordshire Terriers and Border Collies. They are specially bred for flyball, and they redefine fast. To watch the champions, it must be said, is as exciting as flyball ever gets.

All dogs run for the joy of speed, the stretch, the physical delight of wind in their ears. But these dogs race. There’s a difference. The body sinks low, ears flatten, and the whole dog becomes an aerodynamic muscle, undulating over the jumps at heart stopping pace.

The precision of a really good flyball team is impressive to say the least. The first dog’s return starts the time for dog two. The art in the sport is in knowing when to release the next dog so that the incoming dog has passed the sensor, a nose hair before the outgoing dog bolts through. On Sunday morning Touch N Go come within a fraction of a second of breaking their own record and the place goes wild. They miss it by a whisker.

Breaking records is nice, but winning, as some wise person once said, isn’t all.

The roster of the Mutts in Motion flyball club is as varied and diverse as the Ben & Jerry’s section of your grocer’s freezer. From mystery mutts, to Jack Russells, to cattle dogs and herding dogs,

their lineup includes a Dalmatian, a Portuguese Podengo, a Pomeranian and, surprisingly, a couple of Bouviers des Flandres.

If the dogs themselves are a motley crew, their owners are motlier. The youngest handler is Victoria Neufeld, age 16, running Roxy, an Australian Shepherd so pretty she looks like a beauty queen. On the other end of the spectrum are a couple of senior citizens with such an astounding amount of energy one might be forgiven for pronouncing flyball the secret of eternal youth. The oldest dog on the team is Lizzy, an 11 year old Staff Bull Terrier, owned and loved by Loren Fleming. Lizzy and Loren may not be speed demons but they exemplify what Mutts in Motion is all about.

These are predominantly rescue dogs. In previous lives they have been unwelcome and unwanted, abandoned, cut loose, dropped off, left behind.

Nancy Chauncey’s Toby was a drug store giveaway. Lavada Montgomery who is one of the original founders of the club, currently has five four-legged family members including Jack who came from a rescue group, Riddle who was left as a four month old pup when his owners moved, and Chammy, for whom Lavada is the fifth and absolutely, positively last port of call.

The members of Mutts in Motion know first hand the healing power of a sport that can channel one’s natural exuberance. Both dog and handler must become highly trained, responsive, cooperative members of the team. And that doesn’t happen overnight. Everyone commits to the training, everyone shows up and does their best, everyone belongs.

The dogs haven’t just found a home, they have found a life, and that life has purpose.

A singles run brings a little Pomeranian to run against a young Boston Terrier. Both are still learning, easily distracted by barking dogs on the sidelines and red flags which flutter up to indicate a fault. They lose their way. The handlers yell and wave, stand on their heads if it will bring them back on track.

After a comical minute or two the dogs finally complete the run, each crossing the finish line to a hero’s welcome. This is a benign universe where those who go astray get second chances, and everyone gets lavish praise for being just who they are, whoever they are. If that’s not grace I don’t know what is.

In fact, in the flyball universe, the divisions are not determined by the size of the dog but by its speed. Hence Retrievers and Rat Terriers can be team mates and the height of the hurdles will be set for the smallest dog. It’s the universe we all wish we lived in, where what we have in common would so far outweigh our extraordinary differences we could all play on the same team.

When the races are run and the dust has settled, Mutts in Motion’s first tournament is declared a success. At the end of the tournament there is an awards ceremony with plenty of categories to ensure that no team goes home empty handed. A pot luck supper follows, and no one goes home hungry either.

Mutts in Motion is a non-profit group. Look out for their flyball demonstration performances at NBA and NFL half-times, or catch them at rescue fund-raisers and school events.

Copyright ©2008 Sue Rauch

Sue Rauch is a freelance writer who runs FitDogHome.com Dog Agility and Flyball equipment for fit dogs and their faithful owners.

Sammi the Portuguese Podengo

Amongst the many different types of miniature puppies and teacup dogs are the Chihuahua, Maltese, Miniature Pinscher, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier and the Shih Tzu.

The dogs all have very different temperaments and personalities but the list described above are at least true recognized miniature dog breeds and not one-off runts.

These dog breeds are also known as toy dog breeds and even sleeve dogs. The term Sleeve dogs comes from the renaissance period when the gentry dressed in all their finery had very fashionably large sleeves in their tunics where they could hide or place a small dog! – very nice in winter to help keep you warm not a bad idea especially when there was no central heating available!

Surprisingly these small dogs can make very good guard dogs as their bark is often a lot louder than their diminutive size which can make even the most desperate burglar run in fear.

Being small they are good to keep in apartments and make ideal pets for children, they don’t generally need as much exercise as their big brothers and of course don’t molt or make as much of a mess on the carpet!

They still need to be looked after well though. These tiny breeds can be subject to many different types of ailments that their standard breeds are not prone to.

One particular problem is that of dehydration, their tiny bodies need to be kept hydrated more often than the larger dogs and water should be close to hand especially in warmer weather or sunny conditions or if they are partaking in outdoor activities.

Another problem is their blood sugar can drop so also ensure you have some doggy-treats close by ready to perk your pooch up.

Some of the breeds also have a tendency to spinal problems, due to the dogs small size the vertebrae can be under more pressure and can fail or cause pain as the dog gets older.

As always, before you buy, do your research, learn as much about the breed as you can and then go looking for your pet – have a look on the internet you might be lucky and find adoption sites where you can pick up a cheap or sometimes free miniature dog to love.

Ken is a lover of animals in general. He is particularly fascinated by the whole story of the miniature breeds and Teacup puppies.

His particular favorite is the miniature Beagle with their big brown eyes and friendly loyal disposition.

Follow this link and to see his blog and maybe leave a comment:
miniaturedogs blog

25 Popular Dog Breeds List Video

affenpinscher?

these dogs are absolutely adorable and seem suitable for my household but the problems with most breeds i find is they’re no where to be found! i live in new york and am only looking to buy from a breeder. can you reccomend a breeder or another breed that is similar to the affenpinscher?

Looks like there are a few breeders in New England:

http://www.affenpinscher.org/breeder_list.htm

These are members of the Affenpinscher Club of America, which means they have signed this Code of Ethics:

http://www.affenpinscher.org/code_of_ethics.htm

This is a good place to start!

Good luck!

Affenpinscher on the attack

What is the difference between an Airedale terrier and Welsh terrier?

I was interested in getting either an Airedale terrier or Welsh terrier, and was wondering what the difference was between them? Do they have different temperaments? Do they make good pets? Thank you.

About the same differences as there are in a Yorkie and a Rottweiler. One is a giant terrier and the other is a rather small terrier.
But are famously stubborn and hard headed as are most all true terriers. While the airdale was used as a hunting, working and police dog due in most part to its size. The Welsh is a varmint dog of much valor. Hunting small game such as fox, badger, rats and other furred game. Both will bite the hell out of you if you piss them off. But the welsh is more likely to be serious about it. They have sharp temperaments. The Airedale is more laid back, silly and not that easy to train as the think they already know everything. I’ve met quite a few welsh and they are best describe as “Hell on Wheels” If your not a hard core terrier owner then pass on this little spitfire.
The Airedale is a better terrier for the average pet owner.
Also consider the grooming cost of both breeds. Since most pets are clipped and not stripped, figure about $30 to $40 for the welsh and $45 to $65 for the Airedale on average. Triple that if you want the dog to be stripped for correct terrier coats.
Also you need to study the possiable health issues that both breeds suffer. Airdales have many the Welsh not as much.

Dogs 101 – Airedale Terrier

Fun tricks I can teach my dog.?

I have an extremely smart dog (Podengo Portuguese Pequeno). He loves to work for me and I love to teach him new things.
Who has great new tricks? And how, do you think, can I learn him that certain trick the best?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tbo471Tp4s

for info on her training:

http://www.silvia.trkman.net/

Add- now why in the world would I get a TD for that?

Falcao Portuguese Podengo Pequeno’s

Would a Saluki make a good candidate for agility?

I know they have energy to run and chase things, but do you think that they would enjoy agility as a good outlet for their energy? Also, would a pair of finches in a cage be safe in a Saluki household, or would the Saluki constantly want to kill them?

Any dog can enjoy agility and any breed can be good at this sport. Realistically, the dogs that are best candidates for finding agilty to be a fun experience are:
–dogs who don’t have structures that make jumping problematic (bulldogs, dachshunds are examples of dogs that are challenged in this sport–but I’ve see both breeds compete)
–dogs with drive (who can become focused on something and are willing to work to get it)
–dogs that are not reactive or intimidated around any other dogs (because an agility trial–especially indoors–is noisy).

None of this relates to winning titles and trials. And you won’t win much if your dog doesn’t find it fun. So the first pre-requisite is for the dog to find it fun (which is a factor of the 3 things I mentioned above).

As for Salukis, here are a couple of things to consider about that breed and agility.
–they’re sighthounds. There are lots of visual distractions at agility trials so that will be something that will challenge you. It’s not impossible, just something that this breed brings to the agiity table.
–they’re not considered “biddable.” Herding dogs (BC’s, Aussies) are biddable dogs. That means they work best with direction. Saluki’s are a breed that is more independent and thus less consistently obedient. Again, doesn’t mean agility won’t work, only that this is another challenge to deal with.
–It’s a tall dog. In agility, jumps change with the height of the dog. But the tunnel doesn’t change. I saw an Irish Wolfhound do an agility run and he had to crawl through the tunne. So really big dogs have trouble getting through a tunnel fast.

Now, those are reasons why a Saluki isn’t likely to be on the US World Team. But they’re not reasons against doing agility or owning a Saluki. If you love the breed and also want to do agility–go for it. But if you want to do agility and are looking for a good agility dog, than there are other breeds that are likely to be easier to train for the sport.

Breed All About It – Saluki

Would an Estrela Mountain Dog do well in the florida climate?

My mom is thinking about getting me a dog for christmas and ive looking for a medium to large dog. We already have a german shepherd so i want a dog that plays well with other dogs and children, and i wanted to know if an Estrela Mountain Dog would do well in the florida climate (temp.) and play well with my German Shepherd.
Also if you could suggest any other large dogs that would play well with other dogs and with children that would do well in a florida climate, with not alot of grooming needed that would be great.

The Estrela Mountain dog would do ok in the florida climate assuming that they had a way to get out of the heat when they needed to. The EMD is very adaptable but they also come in two coat styles so go with the shorter haired estrela. They love to play but when they’re young they can be very rambunctious so be careful, but i feel it would do well with your current German shepherd. They are naturally flock guarders so they will definitely adopt your whole family and protect them. They like water, love kids, don’t do well in apartments, they do bark at anything suspicious, they don’t trust strangers at first, they are dominant dogs (sometimes called stubborn) but are very loyal. Good luck on your dog #2 search!

ESTRELA MOUNTAIN DOGS UK 1976-2005

The Kuvasz is a little known breed of dog that is very aggressive and fiercely independent. However they can be loyal and valuable pets as they have an extremely strong instinct to protect children and their families.

The Kuvaszok (that’s the plural) are wary of strangers and other animals although they do tend to get along well with other dogs and animals in their own household. Early and ongoing obedience training and a firm but fair owner are necessary to make and keep this dog sociable.

Appearance of the Kuvasz

The Kuvasz has the traditional double layer coat found on mountain dogs like the Great Pyrenees and Bernese Mountain Dog. The coat can range from quite wavy to completely straight. The coat is always pure white. But, remarkably the skin is heavily colored, often slate grey or every jet black. Kuvaszok stand about 26 to 30 inches tall and weight upwards to 115 pounds.

Grooming and Exercise Needs

Your Kuvasz should be brushed at least twice a week to prevent matting and tangling. Frequent bathing will help to prevent odors that get picked up by the highly absorbent coat. This breed need A LOT of exercise to stay healthy. If you live in the city, expect to walk it vigorously several times a day. Suburban and country dwellers should have a large open area where the Kuvasz can run and play.

A healthy Kuvasz can live 10 – 12 years.

Origins of Kuvaszok

This dog’s ancestors originated in Tibet in the 1200′s. The breed was further developed in Hungary by the aristocracy from the 15th to the 19th centuries where it was used for guarding, hunting and herding. The name actually comes from the Turkish word “kuwasz”, which means “armed guard.”

Note – If you didn’t get this from the above description — the ASPCA suggests that the Kuvasz is not suitable for inexperienced dog owners and city or apartment life.

One of the best thing I have found to carry everything you and your dogs need on short afternoon walks is the JanSport Laptop Backpack. It’s plenty roomy and built to last.

Check out http://jansportbigstudentbackpack.net/ for the best information and deals on JanSport Backpacks.

Hungarian Kuvasz

I am looking for a list of swedish dogs breeds.?

I am looking for a list of swedish dogs breeds that are described as, “Great”

The monstrous hound Garm guards the entrance to Helheim, the Norse realm of the dead. It has four eyes and a chest drenched with blood, and lives in Gnipa-cave. Anyone who had given bread to the poor could appease him with Hel cake.

On the day of Ragnarok, Garm will join the giants in their fight against the gods. The god of war Tyr will kill it in this cataclysmic battle but will die from the wounds inflicted by the hound.

Garm is often equated with the wolf Fenrir. It can also be compared with Cerberus, the Greek guardian of the underworld.

25 Popular Dog Breeds List Video