Hip Dysplasia is actually a common problem among many dogs, particularly larger breeds, but pugs are also particularly susceptible to this condition. A lot of pain may be caused in cases of hip dysplasia to the dog due to the malformation of the hip joint and femur bones and in the some cases, will need immediate surgery, or in the worst case, will need to be put to sleep. Cases that are less serious are less of a problem to treat and typically need a good nutritional basis and normal exercise.

If the pug’s nostrils are narrow or constrained, he has a problem called “stenotic nares,” which can strain his body and lead to an enlarged heart. Breathing from the mouth and a foamy type discharge may be indications of this problem and can be fixed with surgery.

Entropion is a condition where the eyelids can roll inward causing the eye lashes to rub against the eye, which is a serious problem as it can cause ulcerations, scratches and irritation of the eye. The usual way to treat your puppy dog for this malady is surgery, but it’s important to note early on the signs and symptoms for it to be successfully controlled.

Dry Eyes is another condition that can fairly commonly occur in pugs. Having dry eyes can be defined as not being able to produce enough of your own tears to keep the eyes moist. When not enough tears are being produced by our tear ducts, this may be caused by blockage of the duct or the lack of nerve stimulation, and treatment depends on how severe the condition is.

One of the typical problems a lot of canines encounter is demodectic skin mites and they come in two types. With the first form, localized demodectic mange, appearing as small hairless patches of skin, is seen in dogs under one year of age. The next type is typically characterized by demodectic mange manifested by large areas of healthy looking skin without hair and dogs of any age can have this.

There are many more health conditions that you should look out for if you own or intend to own a pug, so if you suspect that your dog has any of the problems listed above or problems that may not be listed make an appointment with your vet and have your dog evaluated.

Find out more about Pug Breed and more about Pug Dog Breed visit www.healthyhappydogs.com

The Doberman is a member of the working group. The male stands 26 to 28 inches at the withers and weighs approximately 75 to 90 pounds. The females are slightly smaller standing 24 to 26 inches at the withers and weighs about 55 to 70 pounds. Their appearance should be a medium sized squared bodied dog that is compact muscular and powerful in appearance. The Doberman comes in four recognized colour – Black and Rust; Red and Rust; Blue and Rust; Fawn (Isabella) and Rust. Dobermans require very little grooming due to their short hair.

The traditional look of the Doberman is one with docked tails and cropped ears. Now many countries are making it illegal to do this believing it to be humane. The Dobermans tail is actually quite long and thin. Tails like this often become “broken” and are very difficult to heal. The other reason for docking is not to allow someone to grab them by the tail. The ears were originally cropped for their health, cleanliness and looks.

Over the years the Dobermans’ temperament has mellowed. In the early years their temperament was very sharp and on the verge of being vicious. Although portrayed as a vicious dog the Doberman rarely attacks people. A Doberman with a good temperament who has been properly trained and socialized and raised with children make a wonderful family pet. They are not for everyone. They have an instinct to be dominant so they really need to be trained. They are quite intelligent and can get into a lot of mischief if they are left alone. They are often referred to as the Velcro dog as they will always be beside the ones they love.

Dobermans are used as guard dogs, watch dogs and police dogs. They are a very versatile working dog. They are used in search and rescue, scent detection, therapy, ring sport, obedience, agility etc. They are also as I said a very loving family pet who will go jogging with you, play Frisbee with you and curl up on the couch with you and watch your favourite movie.

Dobermans have a lifespan of about 10 to 12 years. Like all other breeds of dogs they have their health problems. Common health problems of the Doberman are hip dysplasia, Wobblers’, bloat, cancer, heart disease and Von Willebrands Disease.

Von Willebrands Disease is a clotting disorder. A Doberman that test positive for Von Willebrands can bleed out so extra precautions are taken if any type of surgery is needed. A DNA test can tell you if your dog is a carrier, affected or clear. If breeders were just to breed clear dogs then they could actually breed this out of the Dobermans. Unfortunately only 15% of the Doberman population is said to be clear. Not all Dobermans are tested so this data is not a 100% accurate.

Wobblers’ is a degenerative disc disease. Dogs affected by this will seem to sway and lose their balance. Some cases are treatable with surgery.

Doberman also suffer from heart disease. Years ago Guelph University in Guelph, Ontario Canada started a program that would monitor the dogs’ heart. This was open to all breeds of dogs. Over the years the Doberman people stuck with it. The dogs start in the program around 2 years of age. Once a year they undergo an ultrasound and an E.C.G. It is research so the cost is relatively inexpensive. They can tell if your dog will have problems down the road and medications may be given to your dog to help him with his heart and give him a better quality of life.

Presently we own two Dobermans. I have owned Dobermans for over 25 years and can honestly say that they are a very loyal and loving breed. They are not a dog for everyone. You must establish yourself as the alpha in a very firm and gentle way. They are a very active dog so they require daily exercise. They can be very mischievous if they are not exercised and become bored.

Make sure you do your homework before you purchase a Doberman or for that matter before you purchase any dog.

They are a high energy dog requiring a great deal of exercise and stimulation. They are low maintenance when it comes to grooming because their coats actually shed dirt very nicely. They are a medium sized dog. The male stands approximately 19 to 22 inches while the female stands 18 to 21 inches tall and both weigh between 35 and 40 pounds. They have a double coat which can be slick to lush and can come in many colours. The most common colour is black and white. Other colours can be black with tan, red and white, red-tri, red merle, blue merle and blue and white.

The Border collie is not a good pet for everyone. They do not make good pets around young children. Although they are not naturally aggressive because of their energetic nature and their strong herding instinct, they may nip at small children trying to round them up.

They require a lot of attention and they need activities to keep them busy. They do really well in many canine sports. The border collie, like so many other dogs, when left to entertain themselves will often engage in destructive behaviour –couch chewing, barking etc. .

Border collies love to play fetch, love to hike, and love to run. Any high level of exercise on a daily basis will keep your border collie out of mischief. Of course the best exercise of all would be what they are bred for and that is herding a flock of sheep. Al though we all don’t live on farms and own sheep we can still have our dog participate in this event. There are many dog clubs that offer this type of activity for you and your dog. Some competitions will use ducks for the dogs to herd up and into pens.

Although very easy to train, the Border collie is often referred to as a “soft” dog. All that means is they are very sensitive to rough treatment and corrections and respond much better to motivational type of training that involves treats and play for rewards. Also they need consistency in their training. This is very important with this breed. Any variation in a body movement or a word being used for training they will perceive as a new and different command. As I said earlier this dog is not for everyone. Many believe the Border collie is way more dog than most people can handle.

Border collies are also bred not to hurt wildlife, including birds. This enables them to protect endangered species of birds or mammals. Some border collies have been trained to chase birds away at airports thus protecting them from injury from planes.

Border collies have also been trained as therapy dogs, guide dogs, hearing dogs and drug detection dogs. There is not much this breed can’t be trained for. Many call them workaholics since they are happiest when they have a job.

Border collies like many other breeds have some health issues. The most prominent of these are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, epilepsy and hypothyroidism. Males with the merle gene may also be prone to eye problems or hearing problems or both.

Although easy to train and a dog with a good temperament the Border collie is not for everyone. The Border collie needs a high energy individual that is willing to get involved in different canine sports that they will both enjoy together.

The Affenpinscher, although a small dog, weighing between 7 to 12 pounds and standing between 8 to 12 inches tall, is a very sturdy and compact dog with medium bone structure.  Their coats are shaggy in appearance and non-shedding.  The texture of the coat is rough, dense and harsh and about 1 inch in length on the shoulders and body.  His coat needs no special care other than a good brushing once a week.  However if you  are going to show your dog, then, as with most show dogs more care is needed.  The coat then will most likely need to be brushed two to three times a week.  The hair around their eyes should be trimmed to avoid eye irritation but their coat should be plucked not trimmed.  This is a job best left to a professional groomer.  Black is the most common color of the Affenpinscher but they can also be gray, silver, red, black and tan or beige.

The Affenpinscher is considered to be a healthy breed with few hereditary health problems.  They do however have a predisposition to cataracts and luxating patellas better known as trick knee.  Their light frames can also make them more vulnerable to broken bones.  They can also be prone to hip dysplasia(ball and socket joint).

Affenpinscher do tend to have a stubborn streak which can make them difficult to train.  Some Affenpinschers can be quite difficult to housebreak so it is imperative that training begins at an early age.  As with all dog training you need to be consistent and firm.  Affenpinscher tend to become bored easily so although you should follow a recognized training regime, the training should also offer some variety to keep their interest.  They are a very clever dog and will perform challenging tasks quite well.  You can achieve good results if you make your training sessions full of fun for the both of you.  Agility classes may be a consideration for this breed.
The Affenpinscher is well suited to life in the country or to life in the big city.  They do well living in an apartment.  Although this breed is active and energetic, indoor play can fulfill its exerise needs.  However just like every other breed of dog they should be taken out for a daily walk.  They not only enjoy the walk but all the smells in the outside air.  I always think of the dog walk as their time to communicate with other dogs and animals that have been around the area.

This breed makes a good family pet but not families with small children.  Since they weree originally bred as rodent hunters they are a prey driven dog.  They can harm small objects or creatures and they will tug and chew with things like loose clothing. The Affenpinscher is very territorial and they are not good at sharing toys or food.  Problems could arise if a toddler went to grab a toy or food that belongs to the dog.  However they do love being with their family and are quite loyal towards their family.  Although they are generally a quiet dog they can become quite excited when threatened or attacked and are very courageous.  They will not back away from an aggressor.

On the other hand they are often referred to as a class clown.  They are full of mischief fun-loving and playful.  They are curious and inquisitive dashing around checking out new things.  They also adjust well to change and this trait makes them an excellent travelling companion.  To this breed home is where the family is.

Maureen Brownel