If you took a trip back in time to 1870, you probably would have a hard time recognizing a Yorkshire Terrier. In about one hundred thirty years, the breed has gone through tremendous changes in their looks and in their functions. But the Yorkshire Terrier has adapted to the great changes that the Industrial Revolution brought to the economy and to family life. Yorkies back then weighed about thirty pounds and came in more colors than just blue and tan.

Back in the 1870’s, word was getting around about the great pups from a sire named Huddersfield Ben, who was born in 1865. Huddersfield Ben was considered an ideal dog - a champion ratter as well as being friendly and handsome. Any dog that resembled Huddersfield Ben had to have been from Yorkshire, where Ben lived. Yorkshire dog breeders kept their breeding methods secret so they could be assured of buyers. His puppies eventually became known as Yorkshire Terriers.

The ancestors from Scotland were called, appropriately enough, the Scottish Terrier and the Clydesdale (or Clyde) Terrier (which is now an extinct breed). It is thought the also extinct Scottish breed the Paisley Terrier made a significant genetic contribution to the origins of today’s Yorkshire Terrier. Scottish weavers became suddenly unemployed during the Industrial Revolution and moved south to the rough English county of Yorkshire in order to find work. They brought all of their families with them - including their dogs.

The Scottish dogs then inevitably wooed the blushing English roses of the local canine population. It is thought those breeds were the Black and Tan English Terrier (also now extinct), the Skye Terrier and the Waterside Terrier (which is - you guessed it - also extinct). According to the majority of Yorkshire Terrier information sources, the founding father of the breed, Huddersfield Ben, was born in Yorkshire in 1865. He became one of the most admired dogs of his day.

As time went on, the need for big working dogs decreased. People were living in smaller homes and needed smaller dogs they could physically control easily. The Yorkshire Terrier filled this niche admirably. They were a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Not only did they make great guard dogs, but were affectionate and did not need a lot of exercise. They were introduced to America in 1872.

Over the last century, Yorkshire Terriers have become ever smaller. The original Yorkies were about thirty pounds and came in several colors. Today’s show Yorkies are not to exceed seven pounds and must be steel blue and tan (and have those colors in specific proportions).

Just one hundred years after Huddersfield Ben’s birth, the breed standard listed the weight of a Yorkie to be “no more than seven pounds”. The current trend is to breed them even smaller. Who knows how small the Yorkshire Terrier will be by 2065?

There are many things to consider once you begin to think about Shih Tzu breeding. One of the key things that many people who breed dogs of any breed fail to think about is their purpose for breeding dogs. Many puppy mills are created and ran in order to receive a profit and they care about nothing else.

When profit is the bottom line, the Shih Tzu care is often neglected. It is vital to make sure that you are in it for the right reasons, even though the dollar amount you can make is pretty flashy.

If you truly love getting involved with Shih Tzu care and want to help others receive healthy and loved puppies, then you may be on the right path. Sharing your passion and love with others is an excellent reason to get involved with Shih Tzu breeding. When starting out, in order to ease into things, you will want to start out with just one pair of adult Shih Tzu’s in order to be able to place all of your focus and attention on them.

When thinking about breeding your dogs, you should consider Shih Tzu care. Are you able to testify that you truly know the medical and emotional background of your breeding pair?

It cannot be stressed enough that you must have an extensive knowledge of what this breed is prone to.

It is vital that you discuss with your vet that you intend on breeding this pair and let him or her check them over for health concerns. Your vet may be able to point out problems that could arise with breeding that you were not already aware of. Hopefully, with the right steps in the beginning and by taking your time, you will be able to breed healthy and loveable Shih Tzu’s.

Know that you are ready to begin with Shih Tzu breeding; you want to create a safe environment for your dogs to breed and live during the entire process. It is generally best with this breed to keep them indoors and this is what you will find many other people who breed them doing. While under your care you must make sure that the adult dogs remain healthy by giving them proper diets and even possibly vitamins that your vet may suggest.

Once your female Shih Tzu has produced pups, her care does not end there. She still requires healing time both for her mental and physical health. Puppy mills will often turn right around and try to breed that female right away. This is not safe for her or her future pups. Just as humans need time to recover, so do dogs. Understand that Shih Tzu breeding is an emotional journey and do not be alarmed if you notice your female acting distant or protective of her pups. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself is to read as much Shih Tzu information as possible.

Law enforcement and natural disaster response teams are often largely dependent upon the help of rescue dogs (or search-and-rescue dogs) to find trapped or lost human beings, or sometimes, in the worst cases, corpses. The most common breeds favored for this kind of work are Burmese mountain dogs, Saint Bernards and, last but certainly not least, Labrador Retrievers. The successful training of a Labrador rescue dog in particular is dependent on several factors, including the dedication of the handler, and the disposition of the dog.

When classifying rescue dogs, there are typically three different classifications including trailing, tracking, and air scenting. Tracking and trailing dogs are trained to follow a human scent that has been deposited on the ground. The success of the search often depends upon the handler’s competence, the terrain and the age of the trail. Air scenting dogs are similarly challenged by their conditions, as changes in wind patterns may make things difficult.

Labrador rescue dogs in particular, being one of the more common breeds, are generally classified as one of the following: air scenting, tracking, or trailing. Air scenting dogs are trained to follow airborne human scents, while tracking and trailing dogs follow scent trails that have been deposited on the ground. Each of these types is limited by terrain and changing atmospheric conditions.

Because every dog is different, the training is as important to the handler as it is for the dog. The handler needs to become familiar with the dog’s body language, so as to be certain that he has indeed made a find. When the rescue dog follows a scent or trail to its end, for example, the dog may return to the handler and give him a certain look.

Like human beings, Labradors have their own personalities and eccentricities. It is important for the handler to become familiar with the body language of the dog that they are training. For example ? a dog may have a distinct stance when they have made a find in the field. The dog may return to the handler, sit, and give him a very distinct look, or perhaps even bark. As a result, one of the most important things to keep in mind while training a rescue dog is the bond that is being developed.

For the typical Labrador rescue dog, obedience, socialization and agility should be trained daily, between two and five times, for anywhere from ten minutes to one hour. Scent training can be conducted slightly less often, three to seven days per week, for five to thirty minutes.

If the Labrador rescue dog has a competent trainer, it is expected that the dog’s skills will improve very rapidly, and often daily. Still, the many skills required of a search-and-rescue dog are essential and should be drilled routinely. Some of these skills are obedience, socialization and agility. Each of these skills should be trained daily for anywhere from ten minutes to one hour. Scent training is also an essential skill, and should be trained from three to seven days per week for five to thirty minutes.

As training sessions become fewer, however, duration should increase to between twenty and sixty minutes. Focus sessions, such as scent discrimination, should become frequent as well, but only after the dog has proven its proficiency in the training area.

Many families consider getting a Golden Retriever for a family pet. This is understandable, considering the affable personality of the Golden Retriever. Golden retrievers are very people-friendly and great with children, which makes for a terrific family pet. The Golden Retriever was specifically bred for the qualities it has ? agility, hunting skill, confident, love of people, eager to please, loyal, strong sense of smell and tracking ability. It is a mix of various sporting breeds, along with some bloodhound to sharpen its sense of smell.

Originally, a Scotsman named Sir Dudley Majoribanks experimented by crossing a Retriever that had a wavy coat with a Tweed Water Spaniel that was yellow. The offspring from them were then crossed with an Irish Setter and a Bloodhound that was sandy-colored. The result from this mixing was the Golden Retriever, as we know it today.

He first crossed a wavy-coated Retriever with a yellow Tweed Water Spaniel. The offspring from that breeding was crossed with an Irish Setter and a sandy-colored Bloodhound. Eventually, we got the Golden Retriever as it is today. The Golden Retriever has been gaining in popularity all over the world, which is not surprising, given the people-friendly qualities they possess.

Best if they are a mid-gold color with no white patches, the Golden Retriever is a mid-size, well-proportioned dog. They learn easily, especially when young, and it is best to obedience train them from when they are puppies rather than try to fix bad habits once they are older. They can be highly trained, however, and that makes them very useful for law enforcement, with tracking or finding narcotics, but also very useful as guide dogs for the disabled. They are also being used more as a rescue dog.

They do have a lot of energy, but that energy must be guided, as Golden Retrievers will get into mischief if they are left alone for too long or if they don’t get enough exercise. If they are trained while young, however, they can be taught to be gentle with people and to signal the approach of a stranger. They also love to swim and can be taught to do many tricks to please their humans.

Golden Retrievers make great pets. If you are going to have a Golden Retriever for a pet, you need to remember a few things. First, have your puppy obedience trained, so that it learns good behaviors instead of having to try to get rid of the bad habits later.

The owner also needs to remember that their dog will need plenty of exercise. Without exercise, the dog is likely to be bored and will be more destructive, digging holes or hurting furniture.

The exercise will help their pet stay actively stimulated by its environment, so that it doesn’t exhibit boredom behavior, like digging holes and ruining furniture. The Golden Retriever also needs positive attention. As a breed, they are typically eager to please, and love to get accolades from their owners. They can be taught to do tricks fairly easily, which their owner can enjoy and encourage, along with encouraging other positive behaviors.

Although the breed standard for the Boston Terrier is pretty strict on what they should look like, they are also strict on what the breed should act like. This attention to temperament has sadly been lacking in some other breed standards like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Even pet quality Boston Terriers who would be laughed out of a show ring will not be offended, as they will be happy for the chance to make anyone smile.

The charming personality of the Boston Terrier is not only one reason why it is so popular, but also why they do so well outside of a show ring or a breeding kennel. The purpose of developing the breed was to make a good pet for people, unlike other breeds bred to hunt, fight or herd livestock. They are lively, kind, easy-going and good with kids and senior citizens as well as other animals.

The breed standard also reveals another reason why the Boston Terrier is so popular. They are small, but not so small as to jeopardize their health. They are robust, but portable. Although you may find some Boston Terriers outside the lines, they are usually fifteen to twenty-five pounds and only about fifteen inches high at their shoulders. They are most famous in black and white, but also come in seal and white and brindle and white. The breed standard is quite strict on the distribution of white around the body, which disqualifies a lot of Boston Terriers from the ring.

Boston Terriers look like they have docked tails, as they are very short. However, when you look at the breed standard, it says that docked tails are not allowed. This is one of the few breeds that naturally have tiny tails. Sadly, other breeds like Rottweilers, Boxers, Dobermans and Pembroke Welsh Corgis have to have docked tails in order to show. Another fault is being too big ? Boston Terriers are only supposed to be fifteen inches high at the shoulder and twenty-five pounds at the most.

Boston Terriers look and act like a toy dog, but they are shown in the non-sporting group. Their looks are just as charming as their personalities, colors and lack of tail. They are smooth-haired, strongly built without being too muscular like an English Bulldog. They have large, expressive eyes and a lively walk. They have a blunt nose, but usually not as flat as a Pekingese nose.

The nickname for the breed is The American Gentleman.

Boston Terriers often have pointed ears that are proportional to the size of the head. Sometimes, you’ll see a purebred Boston with huge bat-ears ? that’s not a show dog. They bounce when they walk, but they should not have a high-stepping walk like a Hackney horse or the incredibly slow shuffle of a Pekingese.

Boston Terriers are big dogs in little packages. They should exude strength and spirit but also give of an aura of friendliness.

If you remember only one thing from this article, please remember this ? never buy a puppy from a pet store. In fact, don’t even buy pet supplies from pet stores that sell puppies. It can be tempting to go to a pet store today to get a fluffy white Bichon Frise puppy ? and that’s exactly what pet store owners hope you will do. They thrive on impulse shoppers. They don’t care who they sell their puppies to, they only care about getting your money.

All pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills without exception. If they tell you otherwise, they are lying. They are just trying to make a sale and will say anything in order to close the deal. Pet shop owners and employees use the exact same sneaky selling tactic that you are probably already familiar with in other stores and car lots. No respectable and caring Bichon Frise breeder (or any other dog breeder, for that matter) would sell his or her puppies to a pet store.

Perhaps you once had a Bichon Frise, a Poodle-like toy dog that is becoming more and more popular. You should get your next Bichon Frise from a Bichon Frise breeder. A Bichon Frise breeder will offer a lot of little extras that no other pet store or even an all-pet animal shelter can. This is because he or she can spend a lot of time and effort on just a few dogs ? or at the most, a few dozen ? and gets to know their temperaments and quirks. In this way, you can be matched with a Bichon Frise puppy that is most compatible for your personality and lifestyle.

No Bichon Frise breeder would ever sell puppies to a pet store. Bichon Frise breeders take their responsibilities very seriously. Since they planned on bringing the puppies into the world, they are responsible for finding good homes for the puppies. They will do background checks on prospective puppy owners, drill you on your Bichon Frise information (or lack thereof) and often ask for character reference letters. They want to be sure that you are going to be a humane owner and won’t give the dog to a shelter once it has outgrown the cute stage.

Always buy from a reputable Bichon Frise breeder, because buying a puppy at a pet store only helps to perpetuate the inhumane and barbaric puppy mill system. In a puppy mill, dogs are treated worse than battery hens (and there are even laws to protect battery hens, now). Dogs are never taken to a vet, as that would cut into the profit margin. They spend their lives in crates and only come out to breed. They often spend most of their lives sitting in their own excrement.

Bichon Frise breeders will also give their puppies’ basic training in how to get along with people, other dogs, household objects and everyday situations. Your Bichon will be socialized, taught its first housebreaking lessons and first basic training lessons. Your puppy will often be sold to you at just the right time they can best learn. This is often why you are put on waiting lists before the pups are even born, so you can pick the puppy up at the best time.

It is very difficult to be out in the world today and not see Labrador pictures somewhere in your travels. The Labrador is a very photogenic animal and its picture appears on magazines and television shows all over the world as well as in the images of our daily lives such as magazines and newspapers. You can find your own supply of Labrador pictures if you just take the time to look through all of the available sources at your fingertips. If you are looking for some magnificent pictures of some beautiful dogs then you need to search for Labrador pictures.

Professional photographers fill bookstores with over sized books of professionally taken Labrador pictures that are in brilliant color and have wonderful high definition to them. You can see the beauty of the dog’s markings in many of the pictures as the Labrador loves to pose for its picture and lends itself well to good images. They are also very athletic dogs and they can take some breathtaking action pictures as well.

To help you continue your search on the Internet you can find some wonderful Labrador pictures at compilation websites all over the Internet. Compilation websites are sites where people can post pictures of their dogs for the world to see.

You get to see dogs in their home life, some that are very impressive and beautiful show dogs, and sometimes you even get to see police dogs as well. There are many different types of dog pictures to enjoy on these compilation sites and if you are looking for variety in your picture collection then this is the site for you.

Sometimes it can be interesting to check out the website of a particular owner who posts his Labrador pictures of his dog in all types of situations or even the websites of show dog champions. You can really get a look at a Labrador at home with these regularly updated pictures and the daily diaries these owners keep. You can learn a lot about a Labrador by studying the day-to-day activities of other Labradors and their owners.

If you want to see what the different types of Labrador pictures look like at their very best then you can check out the websites hosted by Labrador breeders. A breeder is going to post only the very best pictures they have to offer so that the world can see the quality business they run.

You can learn a great deal from the Labrador pictures on a breeder’s website so, if you are really looking to learn something about the different Labrador types, then be sure to check out a breeder’s website and take your time going through all of the helpful information.

There are so many places to see Labrador pictures that you could literally spend hours just going through them and still not see all that there is to see. Don’t forget to also check out the new video websites such as Youtube as well because there are a lot of interesting Labrador videos out there that can give you an even better idea of the capabilities of the Labrador breed and what you can expect from it.

Poodle breeders love their Poodles. Though the intricately clipped and coiffed appearance of the Poodle may bring ridicule from other breeders, most Poodle breeders support this interesting and unique-looking breed. Poodles are thought to have originated in Eastern Europe or France.

Poodles are thought to have originated in the 15th century. Though it is debated whether the breed comes from Russia, Germany or France, the French are given credit for the breed. French Poodle breeders effectively bred Poodles into their three sizes. The word Poodle comes from the German word Pudel, which means splashing or water.

Poodles are gun or water dogs. They were used historically to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl from water. The breed enjoys playing in water and the name Poodle is related to both the German word Pudel, which means splashing or water and the English word puddle, which is a pool of water. The intricate fur clip seen on competition Poodles today has a utilitarian origin. Poodles were clipped to make them more mobile in water. Some of their heavy fur was shaved to lighten them and fur was left around joints to keep the Poodles warm in water.

Poodle breeders understand Poodle breed standard characteristics. They follow the American Kennel Club’s standards when preparing Poodles for AKC competitions. For example, dogs under twelve months of age can be groomed in a puppy cut, which is an all-over trim with fur of the same length.

Adult dogs must be groomed in either the Continental or English Saddle styles which involve shaving the dog’s back half while leaving pom-poms of fur on the hips, legs, and tail as well as styling the head fur in an intricate pompadour.

Buyers should approach Poodle breeders with a list of questions. Good Poodle breeders will also have questions for buyers. Buyers must first educate themselves on Poodle information and history so they can verify whether breeders know what they are talking about.

Before buying from Poodle breeders, buyers should ask many questions to distinguish the bad breeders from the reputable breeders. Buyers must come armed with knowledge of Poodle information and history so that breeders cannot mislead them. A few good questions to ask to help buyers determine whether Poodle breeders are reputable include whether or not you can visit the kennel in person and meet not only the puppies put the parents as well.

Buyers can avoid bad breeders by asking to visit the kennel where puppies are born and raised, requesting documentation of Poodle pedigree and medical records, and by asking breeders if they broker or sell puppies to pet stores. Good Poodle breeders will never treat a puppy as merchandise to be shipped and sold to anyone.

You’ve heard of the old saying, “What’s old is new again”? This certainly applies to the resurgence in popularity of miniature Beagles, which were dogs of royalty hundreds of years ago. Beagles themselves are miniatures of Foxhounds (according to the breed standard). Miniature animals were great curiosities for the rich and powerful of Europe (note the appearance of miniature horses and the rise of toy dogs). Miniature animals have gotten back into favor since more and more dog lovers have less land to exercise their dogs.

The first recorded miniature Beagle was in the 1300’s. They appear in royal portraits with noses pointier than today’s standards and legs more like Corgis or Bassett Hounds than the rangy Beagle. Lovers of Beagle information found that miniature Beagles were also called “Pocket Beagles” and “Glove Beagles.” Sometimes today they are advertised as “Teacup Beagles”, although the term “Miniature Beagles” is much preferred.

Breeders have been purposefully breeding smaller and smaller size dogs for the fashionable crowd that likes to imitate Paris Hilton. Unfortunately, with any upsurge in popularity of any dog breed many wind up in shelters or are abandoned. Check with the shelter staff to see if they know why the miniature Beagle you are looking at was abandoned. Don’t be surprised if they don’t know.

According to most Beagle information websites and books, miniature Beagles (and regular sized Beagles) are fully-grown at nine months of age. Beagles have a reputation of being cleverer than their owners (one of the reasons why Snoopy was a Beagle). Usually, they need positive outlets for their huge reserves of energy. Miniature Beagles that are less than ten inches tall have been known to be more hyperactive than their bigger kin. Be sure the dog is thoroughly vetted, as miniature Beagles have been known to have health problems.

So how small is a miniature Beagle? The average height is a mere ten inches tall. But getting a litter of miniature Beagle puppies is a genetic crapshoot. All Beagles have the genes to be any height. So, even if two miniature Beagles are bred, the puppies may grow well over thirteen inches tall at the withers.

Most Beagle information experts agree that a Beagle is finished growing at nine months. Designer dog breeders are hoping to make breeding any miniature breed more predictable.

Beagles, including miniature Beagles, are usually very good with children. Beagle types used to be extremely popular in America as family dogs for this reason. Miniature Beagles are one of the quieter small dogs, but they are excellent guard dogs and will vocalize in order to warn your family (his pack) of any intruder.

Your miniature Beagle will give you lots and lots of non-judgmental companionship, so be willing to give some to your dog in return.

When you look at those pretty sad brown eyes, it’s really hard to resist a Labrador puppy displayed on pet shop windows. But hang on a moment and wait, let me tell you about the plight of this extraordinary breed of dogs.

Labrador’s are all the rage around the world. Aside from being utterly lovable they are also extremely versatile. Labradors, unlike most dogs, are not temperamental at all. They get along well with other breed of dogs and they are intelligent, multi talented, and loving without being over bearing.

Sadly though, by you walking out of that pet store with that cute Labrador on hand makes you a purveyor of puppy mills. So you argue that the pet shop owner told me that their puppies are from reputable Labrador breeders and not a puppy mill. Before we argue upon that assertion, first let us clearly define what Labrador breeders and puppy mills are.

Puppy mills are common knowledge; we accept the fact that some people need a source of living. Labrador puppies are very popular in the market and it is ok to breed them. But it is the essence of the Labrador breeders’ procedure that is coming into question. People seem to forget that their source of living should be treated nicely.

Yes, everyone has to acknowledge the fact that for these commercial Labrador breeders, dogs are livestock and not pets. But that is not an excuse. Allowing the mothers to live in smutty cramped cages without any human or animal contact is absolutely in humane. Usually these dogs will go crazy because of hunger, loneliness or lack of any association with other animals or people.

Some pet stores will assert that their puppy does not come from those kinds of puppy mills or that the Labradors they sell come from a reputable breeder, or dog owner. This may be true but chances are, it’s probably not, only about ten percent of pet stores get their puppies from dependable Labrador breeders and private owners.

There is a way of checking if a puppy came from a commercial Labrador breeder that’s okay, unfortunately the paper work will get up to two weeks. The tendency is that someone else would have probably bought the puppy you wanted by that time.

Although there are pet shops that do get their puppies from responsible commercial dog breeders, Labrador breeders, and private owners, the likely hood is that there are only a few of them that do. The lure of higher profits is sometimes hard to resist for some people. So be the responsible one and don’t patronize the pet stores who are merciless to animals.