Blog about dogs

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the Indigenous Coast Salish peoples of the Pacific Northwest had traditionally maintained a breed of long-haired dog for the purpose of harvesting their hair, or wool, for textile fibers. Along with alpacas and llamas, these woolly dogs are one of only a few known animals intentionally bred for their fleece in all of the Americas. Today, the only confirmed woolly dog specimen is “Mutton,” whose pelt has been housed in the Smithsonian’s collection since his death in 1859. In death, Mutton offered the opportunity to learn more about woolly dog ancestry, selection and management. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, there were several types of dogs in the Pacific Northwest: larger “village” dogs and hunting dogs and smaller woolly dogs , kept separately to prevent interbreeding. Woolly dogs were a little larger than the modern American Eskimo dog breed and had curled tails, pricked ears and a pointed foxlike face. Historians and economists, looking back...

  Most dog breeds were originally selected for particular purposes, such as hunting or guarding property. Humans selectively bred dogs that were best suited for the various roles required of them, based on their fitness, ability and utility. Nowadays, in order to win dog shows, pedigree dogs have been bred to emphasise certain physical features.  Below are examples of problems that pedigree dogs can suffer from as a result of selective breeding range from irritating to life-threatening issues, or those that require risky surgery.  - Pugs, French bulldogs and other similar types of 'designer' dogs have short, flat faces and therefore often have narrow nostrils and abnormal windpipes. Flat-faced dogs are called brachycephalic, many of these dogs have breathing difficulties and struggle with exercise. -Long floppy ears often suffer ear infections or injury and can't move their ears to communicate with other dogs. -Very large and heavy dogs are more likely to suffer heart, di...

  One of the most common complaints of pet owners is that their dogs are disruptive or destructive when left alone. Their dogs might urinate, defecate, bark, howl, chew, dig or try to escape. When a dog’s problems are accompanied by other distress behaviors, such as drooling and showing anxiety when his pet parents prepare to leave the house, they aren’t evidence that the dog isn’t house trained or doesn’t know which toys are his to chew. Instead, they are indications that the dog has separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people they’re attached to. There is no conclusive evidence showing exactly why dogs develop separation anxiety. However, because far more dogs who have been adopted from shelters have this behavior problem than those kept by a single family since puppyhood, it is believed that loss of an important person or group of people in a dog’s life can lead to separation anxiety. Info sour...