The Bullmastiff: Big Dog With a Big Heart

The Bullmastiff was specifically bred to bring down a man without biting him and hold him until his Master arrived. In the 1800s the estates of Great Britain suffered serious losses from "poaching" or the stealing of livestock and game and the Bullmastiff was bred to assist in eliminating poachers. This is a big dog, with a big attitude, but was not bred to attack but rather to hold at bay. The original cross of bull dogs with mastiffs produced this tractable yet powerful breed. The foundation stock was 50% Mastiff and 40% Bulldog. The common known term name for the breed early on was "The Game-keepers Night Dog". At first this was a rather generic description for all the big dogs that patrolled the estates but gradually these original dogs were more selectively bred and became what is today known as the Bullmastiff.

The Bullmastiff should have a large, square head with some wrinkling of the brow, a short broad muzzle with a slight upturn to the nostrils and a neck as broad and square as the head, on equally broad powerful shoulders. Unlike the Bulldog, the front legs should be straight. The chest should be deep and the back short, presenting a nearly square appearance to the body. The entire picture should be one of power and strength. The Bullmastiff is 24-27 inches at the withers, weighing between 110-130 pounds. The coat is short and dense, colors can be brindle, fawn, or red, with a black "mask" on the face. The Bullmastiff is somewhat shorter than a Mastiff and certainly stockier of build, a good Bullmastiff should be quite blocky in appearance, while a Mastiff is taller and rangier.

The Bullmastiff, like all large breeds, requires an owner with some knowledge of training and the willingness to socialize the puppy in its early life. As usual with any breed, a buyer who wishes to purchase a Bullmastiff puppy needs to be wary of irresponsible breeders who breed only for profit rather than a passion for the breed . The Bullmastiff is not for everyone, a neat housekeeper will not be happy with the amount of drool that the dog can put out. The coat is easy care and the general health is basically good, there being few genetic problems, except for hip dysplasia which is always an important consideration and care should be taken that x-rays are done before breeding.

The Bullmastiff is a powerful large dog with a fearsome look but is in truth a gentle and trustworthy dog. They are not excitable, actually being rather docile and gentle. They are loving to children and protective without being overly aggressive. The Bullmastiff possesses a delightful sense of humor and they can be quite "clownish". This is a dog that is very easy to train, desiring nothing more than to please its owner.

Perhaps because they were bred to hold a man at bay and not maul or kill, they have a sense of wisdom combined with their watchdog instincts and generally are quite intelligent and thoughtful in their response to strangers. They are good watchdogs and will accept strangers only when introduced properly by their masters and will seldom bite or attack, preferring to stand their ground and bark. This is a breed that is not excitable by nature and they do the business of guarding quite efficiently, since their size combined with their bark is quite sufficient to deter unwanted visitors. This is a dog that is great for country life or suburban areas but they should always be fenced or on a leash, even when on a farm or ranch. They are territorial by nature and will police the entire property that they have access to.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs

Dog Bakery - A Good Idea!

A report from Singapore where they opened a Dog Bakery has been circulated recently on the news network. As we all know, that idea has been around for quite a while in this country. I remember Three Dog Bakery when it first established a store way back in the late 1980's, and they were the World's First Dog Bakery. It reminds one of that era and my college years when the rock group "Three Dog Night" were churning out great songs. That rock group, appeared in Milwaukee a few years ago, and are still rocking, although we are all somewhat older rockers.

Since those early years, Three Dog Bakery has exploded and now have Dog Bakery franchises all over the world, Dog Recipe Books, and very healthy products which have been honed through the years with meticulous care of choosing the finest ingredients to tantalize your dog's palate. There are predictions that this chain will increase in numbers in the coming years. That seems plausible due to the explosive news of the dog food scandal coupled with the popularity of these doggy treats. Recipe books from Three Dog Bakery encourage pet owners to turn on that oven and make some at home. It is fun to bake cookies with the whole family and in turn you are providing your dog with some wholesome tasty snacks. Your dog will also appreciate them so much.

The Singapore bakery opened in 2004, and is a bakery that only caters to dogs on a busy traffic route in Singapore. It has taken them this long to clone our Three Dog Night Bakery and they are discovering just how good we can be to our dogs. The name of this bakery is "US Doggie Bakery". You have to wonder if the humans have to wait outside chained to the fire hydrant, or whether they are allowed to eat the treats? The question is why did they established it in a gas station, perhaps it is a pit stop for your dog and your car. Dog food at this level, is supposedly safe for human consumption except for items that are not geared to humans. You would expect that common sense would prevail and people would eat their own food. The trend of better products available for our pooches is catching on around the world. After perusing the product line it does not compare to Three Dog Bakery.

The Singapore bakery product line consists of: Mini Pizza, Chicken and Cheese, and Quiche that contain no preservatives, and no salt but they look rather bland from the pictures seen in the news item released a few days ago. However, Three Dog Bakery has such ingredients as: Garlic, Apples, Wheat, Egg, Milk, Honey, Vanilla, Blueberries, Cranberries, and Molasses. The wheat used is wholesome, which means no additives, all natural and comes from whole grains which adds more fiber and vitamins. Three Dog Bakery has a team of experts that track down the best wheat producers conducting extensive research and get the finest ingredients for our dogs health. The whole pet food industry is on alert since the pet food scandal of March 2007, and there is a need for more diligence in standards of what goes into our pet food chain.

Apples? Dogs eat apples? Blueberries? They sure do. Last night my dog was chasing a little green apple around the park, and chewing on it, how is that so much better than a rubber ball? Its nutritious, its fun, it's a little green thing that the dog's brain thought was great to chase, its biodegradable, and best of all the dog ate it. No garbage, and no harm to the environment. A natural diet will increase your dog's metabolic rate, helps to regulate hormones, and cope with diseases. Most dog owners know the nutritional needs of our dogs and they are: Proteins and Amino Acids, Fats and Fatty Acids, Energy Needs, Vitamins, Minerals and water. Pretty basic stuff, we don't need a degree to resolve that question, and its very similar to a human's nutritional needs to keep us health and alive. It seems that other countries are following the lead of our entrepreneurs who are catering to a whole new world of pet foods and treats for our favourite dog with quality in their products.

One must guard against over feeding with this abundance of dog treats, and watch the caloric intake and fat content. If your dog is getting overweight you can see the fat deposits on its back, and the waistline seems to disappear. Dog obesity is now a great concern amongst pet owners, of both dogs and cats. One out of four pets has an obesity problem, and it can increase with age and lack of exercise, which is another reason to keep an eye on the calories of treats.

The health risks are diabetes which was once rare amongst the dog population is now an epidemic. A boring lifetime of commercial based pet foods has made its contributions and other refined carbohydrates are also factors in dog obesity. Dogs do eat meat, but they are not strictly chained to meat products. The diet of a dog can include a wide range of vegetables, and plant based proteins. Older dogs need more protein to maintain good health and high energy products.

In these dog days of summer, we also need to insure proper hydration and that means water bowls everywhere, inside, outside and on the road trips. Make sure your dog stays in the shade if outdoors and only for short periods of time. Take your dog for walks in the early morning rather than later in the afternoon, or later in the evening when it is cooler. Pour water on your dog if you feel their temperature is very warm. If your dog is panting heavily that is a sure sign of overheating, to prevent heat stress keep them indoors. Water is a basic necessity for your dogs health at all times. In these hot summer days, keeping a dog at home in the air conditioning is preferable than bringing them with you on shopping trips, even if they are short ones.

In summary, to insure a properly balanced diet there is much room for improvement in the dog food industry and we look forward to the these changes so that the fear of feeding our dogs becomes less of an issue in making good nutritional meal plans for our best friends and offering them a treat that is nutritious as well as beneficial.

Written by: Teri Salvador Get the latest updated information on her dog blog about health, vitamins, supplements and natural remedies for dog diseases, news and views. Sign up for a newsletter. For more information contact: http://www.DogHealth1.com

 

Moving House With Your Cat

Moving house is a stressful time for the whole family, and often it is our pets who suffer the most. Cats are especially susceptible to the stress of moving house, as they are normally family animals and like to be involved; the confusion of moving house can be very traumatic for them.

There are however a few things you can do to make the move a little less disturbing for your cat.

When you start to empty and box up the contents of the house, start with one room first and completely empty it. When you have done this, put the cats' bed, toys, food, litter tray and a lockable carrier in the room. Having the lockable carrier in the room, will make it less intimidating for the cat when it needs to use it for the journey. Introduce your cat to this room, as it will be its home for the next few weeks. Although the room will be empty, your cat should be quite happy as it contains the things your cat is used to seeing such as its bed. The good thing about using this empty room is that should you need to keep the cat away from something (when you are moving house a curious cat might jump in to a box being packed), you cat should not be upset as it is used to going in to the room.

When you have moved house, your cat should be your first priority. Find an empty room and place all the same items in it as you had in the empty room before. This will be your cats room for the unpacking time. Only let your cat out once the entire house is unpacked and sorted out. Your cat will want to explore the house, however it may be nervous of the new surroundings, so talk soothingly to it, and try to calm it. Also make sure you show the cat where its food bowl and litter tray are. Your cat will then being to explore the house by itself.

If you let your cat outside, try not to let it out too soon. Make sure your cat is used to the new house first, otherwise it may run away. Let the cat in to the garden in short, supervised intervals, and when your cat seems happy with the garden and how to get back in to the house, you can happily let your cat go and explore its new territory. Once you move, you need to remember to update the contact details on your cats collar, should your cat get lost in your new neighbourhood, people will need to be able to contact you.

Written by Laura Marsh. For more useful information on cats and cat behaviour visit http://www.caringforyourcat.info

 

The Truth about Cat Myths

Just when you think you already know a lot about cats, you may still find it difficult to tell whether a thing about cats is a fact or a myth. Read on to know more about the real deal about common cat misconceptions.

Cats and dogs are eternal enemies. Fact: Contrary to popular belief, cats can actually develop harmonious relationships with dogs and other pets as well. They can also make very good pets in the home. If you take good care of your pet cat, you will find that it can be the most loving and comforting creature you will ever have.

Indoor cats are unhappy. Fact: Although it may be true in many cases that older cats who have been outdoors can be unhappy when kept indoors, any indoor cat can be happy as long as you give them different stuffs that they can spend time and have fun playing with. Give your furry friend toys and other stuffs, but be sure that these are safe for your pet.

Cats can take care of themselves and are low maintenance. Fact: while cats may project an image of being independent, this does not necessarily mean that they should be given the least care. It certainly is not true that cats can live up to nine lives either. In fact, the average life of stray, undomesticated cats is only three years. Cats also need proper care, nourishment and attention too.

De-clawing and trimming nails are one and the same. Fact: De-clawing or onychectomy is done by surgically amputating the first joint of each of a cat's toe. This procedure is performed so that owners will not have to worry about annoying cat scratches anymore. However, animal rights advocates view this procedure as inhumane and cruel. De-clawing is not the same as mere trimming since the claws will just grow back after a while.

Female cats need kittens before neutering. Fact: Female cats may have more serious risks when pregnant than when she is spayed. Although many people may want cats to produce kittens, the truth is that spaying can prevent uterine and mammary cancer, formation of ovarian cysts as well pregnancy complications that include malformed kittens and stillbirth. And if you find cat overpopulation alarming, spaying your female cat just might be your option.

Spayed male cats have higher risks of UTIs. Fact: Although a study showed that neutered cats had no bearing on the increase of the risks of UTIs, a study conducted by the Win Feline Foundation revealed that a spayed male cat aged 10 to 15 years old had the highest risk of developing certain uroliths or crystals. When measuring the risks of acquiring UTIs between spayed and non-spayed cats, the former is better.

About the Author

Jack Moundon is the owner of http://www.the-cat-central.com , Helpul information about cats health problems and meanings about their common behavior. Great gift for cat lovers and helping you cat stay healthy.