Poodles: Uncertain Origins

Article Title: Poodles: Uncertain Origins
Author: Lisa B Collins

Everybody loves Poodles for their intelligence and despite
being called yappy dogs that sometimes show signs of being
nervous and which sport haircuts that are a bit out of this
world, the Poodle is nevertheless a breed which will show its
devotion to its master and it can even overcome its highly
strung nature to make a great family pet dog. The Poodle has
been around man for many centuries, though there is still not
enough documentation to show where it originated. From what is
known, it was once bred as a water dog that retrieved game from
the water.

Poodles are also much loved and admired for their intelligent
nature and also for their somewhat unusual appearance and they
have at various times even been used as circus dogs because
audiences really take to these dogs because they can perform
many cute tricks. In addition to these antics the Poodle is also
well loved for its sweet disposition and so it is well suited as
a pet dog that will become greatly attached to its owner, and so
are often considered one-man dogs.

Although Poodles are somewhat unusual in their appearance and
do not look like most other dogs, they are still pleasing to
look at and have square bodies. Of course there are various
types of poodles as well including the standard, miniature and
toy poodle. Also, Poodles have dark and oval eyes that are set
apart and their ears generally hang down below the level of
their eyes with muzzles that are long as well as straight.

A Poodle also possesses a long and muscular neck and it shows
off an air of dignity not generally found in other breeds.
However, the Poodle is set apart from other dogs by its fur and
the color of their fur may range from black to white to gray to
brown and a few other colors as well. The fur is generally curly
or corded while it is normal to dock (cut) its tail to half of
what its original length was. The Poodle also requires extensive
grooming which may even warrant its coat to be professionally
groomed.

All in all, Poodles are wonderful pets that typically are good
natured as well as intelligent and they like to get a lot of
attention while they also bond well with their owners. The
Poodle is also reluctant to being left on its own and because he
always is in need of attention and love, he expects to be around
people most of the time. Poodles are also eager to learn new
things and are very proud of the tricks they can do and
discoveries that they make and will readily show off these
abilities.

Poodles also love stability as well as routine and can also be
considered one-person and even one-family pets and they are also
often known to become shy in the presence of strangers. Though
because they will bark at those they do not know or recognize,
they will make good guard dogs as well as wonderful pets, and in
addition you need to allow them some time to settle into their
new homes.

About The Author: Lisa Collins loves small dogs and has long
experience in keeping them and is the right person to teach
about raising, breeding as well as caring for small breeds. A
http://www.officialpoodleguide.com/ Poodle is an attention
grabbers and though somewhat unusual looking, are intelligent
though sometimes even stubborn to train. If you are looking for
http://www.officialpoodleguide.com/Poodle.php Poodles
information, this article has some useful tips that will better
acquaint you with the breed.

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Bichon Frise Breeders: Friends Of The Frise

Article Title: Bichon Frise Breeders: Friends Of The Frise
Author: Mary A Stevenson

The Bichon Frise is an all-white, curly-furred lap dog that
originated in the Mediterranean region. This breed is believed
to be a mix of Barbet, poodle and generic white lap dog. The
breed has an illustrious history. An early version, called the
Barbichon, existed as early as 600 B.C. This dog accompanied
Spanish sailors on trade routes throughout the Mediterranean
region.

As years passed, the breed name was shortened to Bichon. During
the Renaissance the Bichon became a favorite dog of French
royalty. Unfortunately, the Bichon became commonplace and fell
out of favor among the elite though it gained favor among the
common people. Many were trained to perform tricks in traveling
circuses. The French added Frise to the name to reference the
breed's soft, curly fur. From the 1930s-1970s, the Bichon
Frise's popularity rose and spread throughout Europe, to
Australia, and then to the United States. The American Kennel
Club registered the breed in the non-sporting group in 1973.
Today, each Bichon Frise breeder must meet the specific AKC
breed standard to register dogs in competition.

The American Kennel Club has breed standard traits required for
every breed of dog. For Bichon Frise to participate in AKC
competition, the breed standard includes a dense undercoat of
fur and a curly topcoat, seven to twelve pounds in weight and
nine to twelve inches in height, is outgoing and friendly in
disposition, at least ninety percent pure white fur, a black
mouth and nose with brown or black expressive eyes and groomed
according to the AKC standard. Competition Bichon Frise are
groomed regularly and fur is full volume in appearance.

When dogs are not competing, fur is cropped in a shorter puppy
cut which requires less maintenance. A Bichon Frise breeder
should be able to educate potential buyers of breed standard
characteristics as well as how to maintain and groom Bichon
Frise. One important trait to note is that Bichon Frise fur is
hypoallergenic to humans, however the Bichon Frise suffers from
many skin, eye and ear allergies.

Buyers must do their research before choosing a
_a_quality_BichonBichon Frise breeder. Buyers should educate
themselves on the history and breed standard characteristics so
that they have a general idea of what to look for and what
questions to ask the breeder. Unfortunately, there are
illegitimate breeders working to sell fake Bichon Frise, or
worse, unhealthy Bichon Frise, to make a profit from
unsuspecting buyers. A good sign of a bad breeder is one who
sells Bichon Frise to pet stores. No loving breeder would ship
and sell puppies like merchandise to just any consumer. A second
warning sign is if the breeder is reluctant, unwilling, or
unable to provide proper information of the Bichon Frise such as
pedigree, medical records, and registration papers. Finally, a
bad breeder will not offer any guarantee on the dog's health or
behavior.

Buyers must ask many questions to make sure they are getting a
real purebred Bichon Frise. The Bichon Frise breeder, if
legitimate, will also have questions for the buyer to make sure
the Bichon Frise will be going to a loving, appropriate home.

About The Author: Mary Stevenson enjoyed learning about the
Bichon Frise and Bichon Frise breeder. A thorough knowledge of
the history and breed standard traits is necessary to determine
whether
http://www.bichonfriseguide.com/Bichon_Frise_Breeders/index.php
Bichon Frise breeders are selling real, purebred dogs. Tips on
how to distinguish between a real versus fake Bichon Frise
breeder and general
http://www.bichonfriseguide.com/About_The_Bichon_Frise/index.php
Bichon Frise information is provided in this article.

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The Bulldog's World Traveling Ancestor

Article Title: The Bulldog's World Traveling Ancestor
Author: Bobby A Callahan

Bulldog information is incomplete without a retelling of its
ties to the ancient world. The Bulldog's sturdy build was
inherited from its ferocious ancestor, the Molossian of Greece.
Kept and bred by the Molossi tribes' people, the huge dog was
valued for its great strength and size. Even though the dog did
not have speed or a sensitive sense of smell, the dog had the
courage to go after prey that would not back down.

Huge dogs, such as the Molossian, were used for hunting large
game in prehistoric Europe, Africa and Asia. Originally from
Epirus, Greece, the Bulldog's ancestor, the Molossian, was kept
for hunting purposes and eventually became a guard dog and
fighting dog. A strong based on mutual need developed between
the dog and its human family. The dog became an indispensable
member of the household and earned a living through the work
that it performed for its human masters.

An interesting tidbit of Bulldog information and mythology
concerns the role of the gods in the Bulldog prehistoric past.
The history of the Molossians has been lost in time although it
is believed that the origin of the breed is associated with
Epirus, Greece. A Greek myth tells of the master forger
Hephaestus who created a Demonesian bronze dog. Hephaestus gave
the bronze dog it's own soul. Zeus received Laeleps as a gift
and through time, the dog had different owners until it turned
to stone. Before Laeleps turned to stone, he fathered many
descendants, of whom the Mollosian were descended.

The Greek Molossi tribes bred dogs known as the Molossians. The
Molossi trained the dogs as guard and war dogs. The early name
of this dog is Canis Molossi. During the ancient Greek era, the
Phoenicians, who were important traders, traded with the Molossi
as a bargaining item. The Phoenicians came to regard the huge
dogs to be a highly valuable commodity for trade. In this way,
the Molossians made their way to Briton about 800 BC.

Historical Bulldog information tells of British tribes people,
including the Celts, breeding the dog for their own purposes.
The Celtic tribes bred the dog so that it could accompany them
on their wild boar and wild cattle hunts. The Celtic and British
tribes trained the dog to participate in war and the dogs had
skill at bringing a horseman down. The Romans called these dogs
by the name Pugnace Britannicii or Canis Pugnax. A later name
used for the dog was the Broad Mouthed Dogs of Briton.

The Pugnace would grab a horse by the nose and by clinging on
the horse would buck its rider off in an attempt to dislodge the
dog. This canine maneuver was a surprise to the Romans when they
first invaded the British homelands. The Romans prized the dog's
ferocious nature and put it in the arena as a combatant. Since
this time, the dog's ferocity has been bred out so that what
remains is a good natured and an even comical companion.

About The Author: Bobby Callahan loves the Bulldog breed and as
an owner of several Bulldogs has extensive experience keeping,
raising and breeding many dogs. The
http://www.officialbulldogguide.com/ Bulldog is known for its
excellent character and is a trusted and beloved friend to its
human family. The ancient history and general
http://www.officialbulldogguide.com/Bulldog.php Bulldog
information can be found in this article.

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