Terrier Dog

Rat Terrier

The Rat Terrier is a dog of early immigrants who made their way into America. Designed as a capable farm or ranch dog, his purpose was to protect the property from the rats and other vermin that plagued the farms during those days and this was a job which he performed wholeheartedly. For a time, the Rat Terrier declined in numbers but recent years has seen a resurgence of the breed, this time as a capable and affectionate little companion animal.

The Rat Terrier Dog Breed in Brief:
Origin: United States
Height: 10-13 inches at the shoulder for miniature, 13-19 inches for standard
Weight: 10-25 pounds
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy

The Rat Terrier is a dog of early immigrants who made their way into America. For a time, the Rat Terrier declined in numbers but recent years has seen a resurgence of the breed, this time as a capable and affectionate little companion animal.

The History of the Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier owes his existence to early immigrants who made their way over to America during the 19th century. Taking popular dogs of the day - the Bull Terrier, Old English White Terrier, the Manchester Terrier and other similar scrappers, they crossed them with various dog breeds, such as the Beagle, Toy Fox Terrier, Whippet and Italian Greyhounds. The results of this breeding would create a small-to-medium sized dog which a smooth coat, medium bone, and an athletic build. Fast, aggressive and with strong jaws, these early ratting dogs were more than capable at clearing out rats and other pests.
Every new cross brought something unique to the breed; the terrier blood gave the dogs an aggressive and ‘feisty’ disposition that was needed for this kind of work, while the Beagle and Fox Terrier breeding gave the dog a better ‘nose’ that was needed to track his prey. While still a new breed, fans of the Rat Terrier are adamant about getting these wonderful little dogs known and respected.

Source : Rat Terriers

Reasons To Buy Your Puppy From A Yorkie Breeder

If you are planning on purchasing a purebred Yorkie puppy for show or breeding when he or she matures, your best possible option is to buy from an established, reputable breeder.There are also two distinct types of Yorkie puppy and those are show and pet quality. Pet quality Yorkie puppies will be sold as pet quality clearly indicated on the sales contract and the same is true for show quality.

Typically pet quality Yorkie puppies from a reputable Yorkie breeder will also come with the requirement that they be spayed or neutered and not used for breeding purposes. This provides the original breeder with the knowledge that the Yorkie puppy will not fall into the hands of a disreputable breeder or to a puppy mill.

Purchasing your puppy from a Yorkie breeder provides you with:
- Peace of mind as to the medical background of the puppyís parents in current and past generations. Many Yorkie breeders now have computer programs that generate a pedigree, but a handwritten copy is just as good.

- Quality assurance that the puppy that you purchase will meet breed standards and specifications. This will be true with show quality, however not all pet quality Yorkie puppies for sale will meet all breed standards and they may have disqualifying faults. Ask the Yorkie breeder to explain the difference and the faults in a pet quality Yorkie puppies before buying.

- Support in understanding and working with the breed of your choice ñ the Yorkie. A good quality Yorkie breeder will be an asset to you in providing information about the breed as well as giving you pointers on showing, breeding and even training in the future.

- Advice as to vaccination regimes, medical concerns associated with the breed, local trainers and handlers, and other questions you may have.

- Assurance that the puppy can be registered. For a Yorkie puppy to be registered, both the dam and sire must also be registered and that information provided to the new owner or owners. A Yorkie breeder will typically include all that information on the bill of sale or the sales contract, plus they will assist you with registering the puppy should there be any concerns or problems.

- Health guarantee and vaccination records will all be including in the paperwork from the Yorkie breeder. Always ask about health issues in the breeding line and carefully read the health guarantee or warranty that the breeder is offering.

- For show quality Yorkie puppies the breeder will usually provide a fertility guarantee, although there may be exceptions and limitations on this guarantee. The Yorkie breeder may also retain the right to approve any future breeding of the puppy when it matures to ensure that the dog will only be used in the advancement of the breed, not in a for profit breeding program such as a puppy mill.

- The Yorkie breeder will also usually provide a package, basket or starter kit for you Yorkie puppy. This will usually include information, enough food for the first day or two as well as ideas and tips for helping your puppy settle in.

A Yorkie breeder will usually be active in showing animals, and will be very aware of the current trends in the breed, so they will be actively pursuing the breed standards.

Source : why buy from a yorkie breeder rather than a pet shop

Some Facts about the Boston Terrier

The Boston terrier is a well-muscled and compact breed. This is not really surprising since the Boston terrier was first bred by people who wanted to use them in dog fights. Now some people may read all sorts of implications from such a violent past. Some people might think that the Boston terrier dog would make a bad pet because of its aggressive nature. However, you should know that as a pet, the Boston terrier can actually be pretty mild mannered.

The temperament of the Boston terrier can be described as enthusiastic as it often loves to play. Most people comment that the Boston terrier actually has a great sense of humor. Another characteristic that people find delightful with this breed is the fact that they are intelligent and are very much easily trained. This fact is also enhanced by the dog’s natural curiosity and love for learning.

Of course, people who own pets know the importance of training. Having a well-behaved pet increases the enjoyment for you both. Having a well-behaved pet means that you can have more fun with that pet.

One thing that owners have noticed with a Boston terrier is the fact that it can be very sensitive to the tone of a person’s voice. This means, however, that you need to take care when training your dog.

This means that you won’t wake up in the middle of the night because your Boston terrier saw a butterfly. There are some cases, though, when a Boston terrier will not bark at all.

Regarding the living conditions, Boston terriers can do well enough without a yard as long as they get regular exercise.

Unlike other terrier breeds, the Boston terrier is an average shedder.

Bostons have a variety of common health problems. They easily get overheated when they are pushed too hard. As said before, they can also be sensitive to extreme weather and any weather that’s too hot or too cold can leave them with breathing difficulties. Skin tumors and heart tumors are very common with this breed. So you need to bring the dog to a vet regularly.

If a Boston terrier is badly bred, it often develops a bone defect that prevents the brain from growing. This, naturally, will lead to a retarded dog.