The Canine and Genetics Project.Dr.Karen Overall.
New insight as to why some breeds have concerns regarding noise reactivity and performance.Dr.Overall ( Canine and Genetics Project) found that herding groups have some overlapping genes related to task . Many dogs from herding groups work as agility, sniffing, service or as herding dogs.The researchers studied three breeds-Australian shepherds,Border collies, and German shepherds.The study is still ongoing.
C.B
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Iceland Dog
This breed is also known as the Iceland Sheepdog, Iceland Spitz, Friaar Dog and comes from Iceland.
Group: Northern,UKC
History: This is Iceland’s only native breed which was believed to have been brought in by the Viking settlers in the late 9th or early 10th century.The Iceland Sheepdog was used as a sheepdog to herd .It has been on the brink of extinction several times, but fortunately this breeds popularity has increased over time.
Physical Description: This breed is a small to medium-size dog that has a strong, triangular shaped head with a muzzle that is shorter than its skull.Their ears are medium sized and have slightly rounded tips.The Iceland’s tail is carried over it’s back and his coat is thick and weather resistant with a thick undercoat
Height: 16-20 inches
Weight: 25-35 pounds
Temperament: The Iceland Sheepdog has a sweet temperament and gets along with children and family.
Activity: Medium to High
This breed needs to be active and to have a job.
Needs: Plenty of exercise,grooming,training, a job such as herding and also socialization.
Health Concerns: Hip Dysplasia
The Iceland Sheepdog Association of America:
National Icelandic Dog Rescue:
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
New Trend-Glitter Tattoos For Your Pooch!
Jorge Bendersky, NY celebrity dog groomer claims that all our fury best friends need that something extra, especially in the summer when most dogs’ coats are kept short.In Upper East Side Manhattan, glitter tattoos are the new trend.
Getting a bling-tastic rose or heart glued to our pooch’s rump is the next crazy new thing!
Jorge Bendersky Link
“Jorge Bendersky, a New York-based ‘pet stylist’ whose client list has included Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
and Ralph Lauren, told DNA info that he has been inundated with bookings since launching the inking service this spring.
The designs, which cost $100 each and last a few weeks, are typically applied to the animal’s hip or tailbone, with roses, butterflies, hearts and anchors among the most popular requests.
He then uses animal-friendly glue to fix on glitter and rhinestone pieces. The designs stay on for up to three weeks, and finishing spray provides extra hold. ” Mail Online
The trend for crystal tattoos has grown immensely throughout the US.
Mr Bendersky is based at the New York Dog Spa and Hotel in Chelsea and uses a stencil to sketch out a colorful design on the dogs’ coats.All products used are canine friendly and super dog safe.
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
Draft Rule Ends Protections For Gray Wolves. Interior Department Draft Rule Ends Protections For Gray Wolves Across 48 States!
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) –” Federal wildlife officials have drafted plans to lift protections for gray wolves across the Lower 48 states, a move that could end a decades-long recovery effort that has restored the animals but only in parts of their historic range.
The draft U.S. Department of Interior rule obtained by The Associated Press contends the roughly 6,000 wolves now living in the Northern Rockies and Great Lakes are enough to prevent the species’ extinction. The agency says having gray wolves elsewhere — such as the West Coast, parts of New England and elsewhere in the Rockies — is unnecessary for their long-term survival.” Associated Press
Only a small population of Mexican wolves-a subspecies of the gray wolf ,would continue to receive federal protection in the Southwest.
If the rule is enacted, all control of wolves would be transferred to state wildlife agencies, thus removing them from the endangered list.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released data showing wolf numbers dropped 7 percent last year in the face of newly-expanded hunting and trapping seasons in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. That’s the most significant decrease since they were reintroduced in the mid-1990s.” Associated Press
The federal government spent $102 million on gray wolf recovery programs and state agencies chipped in $15.6 million from 1991 and 2011. Federal spending likely would drop if the proposal to lift gray wolf protection passes.
Gray Wolf National Wildlife Foundation
Guardians of The Wolf Foundation
Keep Wolves Protected ( all information and petitions)
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
When Are Dogs More Likely To Pick Up Ticks?
According to a new study, it may be slightly later than expected.Spring means the start of the tick season, both for pet parents and their pooches.A new study by Georg Duscher and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna has shown how much more likely it is for pets to pick up ticks when the temperatures go up.
Georg Duscher and colleagues analysed data for 700 ticks found on 90 dogs, that were frequently walked in a particular area in eastern Austria.Of all the three species of ticks most often found,the most common one-Ixodes Ricinus, mostly infected dogs in April and May, although a second peak in infection occurred in September,Dermacentor Reticulatus was largely found during the months of March/April, with much lower numbers in October.Meanwhile Haemaphysalis Concinna seemed to favor the summer months-June/July.
So although the species of tick that your furry friends are most likely to encounter will vary according to the season, dog parents need to pay special attention to the possibility of ticks throughout the year, most especially from March through November.
The scientists also discovered that the number of ticks per day on animals treated with an acaricide, either alone or together with a repellent, was not significantly lower than untreated animals.Disturbingly, the ticks in question are capable of major tick-borne diseases.
Dogs in central Europe are at risk of four granulocytic anaplasmosis:
canine babesiosis
canine granulocytic anaplasmosis
canine borreliosis
tick-borne encephalitis
Michael Leschnik of the Vetmeduni Vienna’s Small Animal Clinic was able to show that over half of the 90 dogs in the study had become infected with one or more of the pathogens during the study period. He found that the chance of being infected did not seem to be reduced by the use of an acaricide, either alone or with a repellent.He also thought that the poor performance of the acaricide may be due to pet parents only applying the spot-on drugs after finding the ticks and that they did not use the drugs often enough.” The efficiency is much higher under laboratory conditions, so we should try to raise the owners’ awareness of how to apply the products correctly,” says Leschnik.
Duscher also found that the ticks preferred to be on the heads, shoulders and chests of dogs .”their body shape makes it difficult for them to crawl through dense fur, so ticks probably attach close to where they arrive rather than risking being knocked off by vegetation,” says Duscher.
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
Blue Heeler-Australian Cattle Dog. Dingo Dog/Scottish Collie
Country of Origin: Australia
Group: Herding, UKC/AKC
History of the Blue Heeler:
The Blue Heeler came about when Australian cattle ranchers needed a cattle drover with endurance that could go long distances.The Blue Heeler’s direct ancestor was the Hall’s Heeler, a canine that was developed from a cross of the dingo and the smooth-coated Scottish Collie.In 1860, the Hall’s Heeler was mixed with the Australian Kelpie and the Dalmation to create the modern Australian Cattle Dog.
Physical Description:
The Blue Heeler is a medium-sized, muscular dog.
Strong, broad head and a medium -length muzzle.
Almond-shaped brown eyes
Medium-sized ears that are naturally upright
Brush tail
Double-coat with a dense undercoat and a smooth, hard outer-coat.Medium length.
Blue, mottled or speckled. with or without blue, black, or tan markings;or red speckled with darker red markings.
Height: 17-20 inches
Weight: 33-55 pounds
Temperament: A truly loyal and protective dog that can be wary of strangers, yet this breed is easygoing with family members that everyone that he knows.
The Blue Heeler is a one- person dog and is alert, intelligent, protective and fun to be around.
With a high activity level, the Blue Heeler needs plenty of exercise and environmental stimuli.
Needs: Positive training, plenty of exercise,and socialization.
Health Concerns: Hip dysplasia and deafness .
Blue Heeler Rescue (Australia)
© Copyright 2013
Claudia Bensimoun
Deskunking Your K9 & It’s Not With Tomato Juice
Paul Krebaum discovered possibly the best solution for eliminating odor on dogs who have been skunked.
Take 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid hand soap. Mix and immediately apply to the stinky pet. Then rinse thoroughly with tap water. For large canines, such as a Labrador or Mastiff, you may need to double the recipe to improve coverage. Keep the mix out of sensitive areas like the eyes and ears. Also, don’t allow your dog to ingest the mixture, because it can be dangerous and cause vomiting.
Keep all the ingredients on hand at home and don’t mix them until you have that incredibly skunky situation.
Claudia Bensimoun
© Copyright 2013
