Keeshond Ranks 16th in Stanley Coren's the Intelligence of Dogs

Originating in Germany and a member of the AKC non-sporting group Keeshond is also known as the Wolfspitz, German Spitz or simply Kees. Being part of the German Spitz family they have a typical spitz appearance, neither coarse nor refined. This is medium-sized dog with a plush two-layer coat of silver and black fur with a 'ruff' and a curled tail, small pointed ears and an expressive face. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Keeshond is 17 to 19 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 35 to 40 pounds.

The color is a mix of grey, black and cream. The top coat is tipped with black, while the undercoat is silver or cream (never tawny). The color can range from very pale to very dark, but the Kees should neither be black nor white, and the ruff and "trousers" of the hind legs should be a distinctly lighter silver or cream.

They generally likes to bark (known by their loud distinctive bark) and remain active indoors and makes a good watch dog. Keeshond puppies are generally great with older, considerate children and want to be a part of the family. They are very quick to be trained as long as you use gentle and consistent training methods. Like most of the independent-minded spitz breeds, Keeshonden respond poorly to heavy-handed or forceful training methods.

The Keeshond is a dog that can live in an apartment as long as frequent long walks are available. Keeshond puppies should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. A daily walk and a play time is all they need each day to satisfy its needs for exercise.

This spitz type dog features a fabulous coat which consists of a short undercoat and a long overcoat making it quite fluffy indeed. They shed their undercoat twice a year, seasonally. This coat requires brushing once or twice a week and more often when shedding.

The coat acts as insulation and protects the dog from sunburn and insects, so shaving or clipping is not desirable. With their thick fur they can tolerate cold temperatures but cannot tolerate heat so make sure they are not left out to sweltering heat.

Their teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Be sure not to overfeed the Keeshond as they can have a tendency to gain weight. The Keeshond can live between 13 and 15 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

Unlike herding and hunting dogs the Keeshond is a general, all-purpose dog. An excellent watchdog, friendly and affectionate, they are a wonderful pet for any family who is looking for a dog to share their home. The Keeshond ranks 16th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being of excellent working/obedience intelligence. This intelligence makes a Keeshond a good choice for the dog owner who is willing to help a dog learn the right lessons, but also entails added responsibility.

Go Oriental With Japanese Breed Dogs

Dogs have a long history even in distant places like East Asia particularly in Japan. One of the most popular Japanese dog breeds is the Japanese Spitz characterized by its petite height, pointed muzzle with slanted oval eyes. Another interesting feature of the Spitz is that its hairs have the tendency to stand and tailor long from its back and its hind legs. It is also an excellent security animal as it suspicious of strangers and will bark repeatedly at first sign of doubt. Children also love having a Japanese Spitz at home as they are very friendly and patient with the child's playful actions. Keeping the Spitz nice and healthy is not a problem as it only requires minimal bathing and its coat barely catches a serious amount of dirt.

On the more ancient side of Japanese dog breeds comes the Shiba Inu which are said to breed from the mountains of Japan where they are very susceptible to the cold climate. It is also quite remarkable that Japanese authorities are able to save the almost extinct Shiba Inu in the 1920's The Shiba Inu's part wolf appearance makes it a revered animal to Japanese. Recently, this type of dog is considered as a national treasure in their country due to its early cultural existence.

Finally, another example of these Japanese dog breeds is the Akita Inu or Akita Ken which also stems from the Spitz family. It currently holds the title as the largest dog coming from Japan.

Husky Dog - The Perfect Companion

The husky dog is a name of several types and breeds of dogs that are normally used as sled dogs in countries like New Zealand, Alaska and some parts of the United States of America. Bespoke to the northern regions of the world as sled dogs, their popularity as home pets have increased of late.

Now no more is their visage wrapped in plastic in many products and mascots for sports teams, the loyal and strong husky dog is now a prominent feature in many a dog lover's house and home all over the world. There are more than 5 breeds of huskies, from the popular Alaskan husky, the Mackenzie Rive Husky, the Sakhalin Husky and of course what list would be complete without the Siberian and Tamaskan Husky.

Huskies are considered the perfect companion by many of their owners, probably because of the fact that they are extremely loyal and especially the older breeds - which are very alert to their owners need and extremely well behaved in most situations.

Alaskan huskies are very energetic, which makes them excellent for families with energetic kids and they are one of the choice dogs for pet owners who need someone to have their daily run with. As dogs go, these breed of dogs are really very energetic, so they need a lot of space to run and play.

In much less sedate areas of Alaska, huskies are used by moose and humans alike to serve as sentries, warning if an oncoming large predator like a wolf or a bear is approaching. Like many dogs, when they form an attachment to an owner, they are very protective dogs and form a very instantaneous reaction with little kids and children.

Nowadays, the Siberian husky breed is gaining popularity as one of the best companion dogs in the world today. They are very strong and very industrious dogs, also a member of the Spitz family. Known to be a very gentle and playful dog, often cheerful with a cheeky and wilful side to it, it is an extremely docile dog and does very well with children and families. Like the Alaskan husky, it is also very protective - probably because it is known for its watch dogging capabilities in Russia.

Now many dog houses offered very cute and very tame Siberian husky. With a smooth and dense coat and some markings on the head, the Siberian husky is an easily recognisable dog. Health wise, you need not worry much because most members of this breed and the Spitz dog family are extremely healthy in any condition.

Afflictions that come with old age are inevitable but it does not suffer from normal dog related or breed specific problems. It all depends on the climate and the sort of food you feed the husky. It normally prefers to live in cooler climates and doesn't like apartments that are closed in. If you have a yard, it would be great. You will find that the husky is a perfect companion dog in every sense of the word.

Diabetes and Your Dog

Just as with humans, it is possible for your precious pooch to develop two different forms of diabetes mellitus. In both cases, your pet is unable to metabolize sugar properly, which can lead to a host of additional health problems if not cared for properly.

Understanding Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs

One kind of diabetes, which is referred to as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, occurs when your dog's pancreas produces enough insulin for the body but the body is unable to use the insulin properly. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, which is responsible for about 99% of cases of canine diabetes, occurs when the pancreas fails to produces enough insulin for the dog's body. If your dog has this type of diabetes, it will need to receive insulin injections on a regular basis in order to keep the disease under control.

Recognizing Diabetes in Your Dog

Although diabetes mellitus generally affects older dogs between the ages of 7 and 9, it is possible for younger dogs to be affected by the disease. In fact, juvenile-onset diabetes can affect dogs who are less than 1-year-old.

Some signs to watch for that could indicate diabetes in your pooch include:

o Increased urination frequency
o Increased thirst
o Lethargy
o Unexplained weight loss
o Sudden blindness
o Poor body condition

It is also worth noting that certain breeds of dogs are more likely to develop diabetes, which means you should be particularly watchful of signs of the condition in these breeds. Breeds that are at a greater risk of diabetes include:

o Australian terrier
o Bichon fries
o Cairn terrier
o Fox terrier
o Keeshond
o Poodle
o Samoyed
o Schnauzer
o Spitz

Dogs suffering from certain conditions are also more likely to develop diabetes. Some of these conditions include:

o Cushing's disease
o Obesity
o Recurring pancreatitis

Dogs who take drugs such as progestagens and glucocorticoids are also more likely to develop the condition. Therefore, if your pet suffers from any of these conditions or takes any of these medications, be sure to monitor its blood sugar levels closely and to work with your veterinarian to make certain you are feeding your dog a proper diet.

Treating Canine Diabetes

Successful treatment of canine diabetes involves taking a holistic approach of medication and dietary changes. Most dogs suffering from Type 1 Diabetes will need to receive one or two injections of insulin each day in order to control blood glucose levels. Dogs with Type 2 Diabetes, however, can be treated with oral medications instead.

You can also help control your pet's diabetes by feeding it a diet that is high in fiber and by giving your pet plenty of opportunities to exercise on a regular basis, as weight management is key to controlling the condition. Female dogs can also benefits from being spayed, as estrogen can have an effect on insulin as well as on diabetes.

Most importantly, be certain to work closely with your veterinarian in order to keep your pet healthy. It is not uncommon for your pet's needs to change as it grows older, so changes in medication may be necessary. By keeping a close eye on your pet's health and discussing your pet's needs with your veterinarian, you will be certain to give your pet the best help possible.

Finnish Spitz Dog Health Issues, Grooming and Living Conditions

Health Issues. Thanks to the careful and responsible breeding of the Finnish Spitz they suffer from very few health problems and are generally a fairly robust dog. On rare occasions though they can suffer from luxating patella, which is when the knee cap slips out of position, epilepsy and hereditary cataracts. They can also suffer from hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. Their average life expectancy is around 12 to 15 years.

Grooming. The Finnish Spitz has an almost self-cleaning coat and only requires brushing around once a week. However, they do shed seasonally for a few weeks twice a year, during this time they will need to be brushed daily to remove all the excess coat. This process of removing the old coat will help the new coat to grow out in a better condition, also excess undercoat can cause skin conditions.

Living Conditions. The Finnish Spitz prefers a cooler climate and can be relatively inactive indoors. They can do well in an apartment but do need daily walks and plenty of attention. They are well suited to family life and get on well with children and other pets. It's important to train them well and to make sure that the dog knows it is not the one in charge, or they can become dominant and even aggressive. They are loyal to their family and, due to their breeding, bark when they have found game, they make excellent watch dogs alerting the family to trouble, however they do not make good guard dogs.

Finnish Spitz Dog Breed

Most often we find dogs make wonderful pets, however there are a few that make great working dogs for certain situations. You will find the Finnish Spitz dog breed is a great watchdog or hunter. They were breed early on to bark for a hunter to alert him of other animals. This can make the Finnish Spitz a little difficult to handle if you have neighbors unless you train him not to bark. You will find the Finnish Spitz dog breed to reach twenty- five pounds and about eighteen inches in height. They are golden red in color or auburn. The coat is soft to the touch. It is a dense coat with long hair.

The appearance of the Finnish Spitz is almost like a fox. They have small ears with a small pointed snout. You will also find their tail tends to curl back towards the head rather than hanging down or in an up position. One you have considered the appearance of the dog breed as your new family member you will want to consider their temperament. As stated they tend to bark a lot as they were breed for hunting; however they also make wonderful family pets for children. While it is best to supervise these dogs around small children they don't become aggressive or threatening. You will also find they are very active, intelligent, and affectionate dogs. They are aware of anger in a person's voice so you should always be gentle.

Training can be a little more difficult due to a stubborn streak, but if you are firm and gentle you will find the Finnish Spitz dog breed reacts better to commands. The intelligence this dog has also means he needs activity during training, or he will become bored. You will want to use patience during the training and make sure to train this dog breed daily. Always continue to work on skills. During training as a puppy you will be able to teach your dog to bark less or only at certain things. This can help make him a wonderful pet for the neighborhood. Remember though, that training for barking must begin as soon as possible.

While barking can be a small downside to this breed the temperament more than makes up for it. You will also find the care is rather easy. They tend to take care of the cleaning themselves. With long haired dogs you do have to brush them at least once a week and clean around their paws. You will find bathes are not necessary and should only be done if they begin to smell. They have sensitive skin so it is important not to bath them a lot. You will need to take care of their teeth and trim their nails at least once a year if not twice. As long as you take care of your dog's health by exercising him daily and not giving them a lot of treats you will find health problems will be kept to a minimum and they can live to at least thirteen years if not more. Exercise for the Finnish Spitz is important and they love to run. As long as you give them an hour or more a day to run outside, take walks, and have play time you will find them a wonderful companion. They can be taught to catch and retrieve items, tug of war, and just general fun.

Keep in mind that if you start out with an adult you may need to seek training to help with their bark and it can be a difficult road.

Finnish Spitz - Dog Breeds

Group: Non-sporting

Weight: 25 lbs

Height: 18 inches

Overview

The Finnish Spitz was originally brought from the area of the Volga River Area to Central Russia about 2000 years ago. This breed is the national dog of Finland; and the Finnish Spitz is referred to in quite a few Finnish patriotic songs. These dogs are now extensively acknowledged throughout the Scandinavian countries. The Finnish Spitz is fine at hunting birds, and they also make good family pets.

Temperament

You will find this breed to be lively and sociable, energetic and enthusiastic, devoted and courageous - but at the same time careful. The Finnish Spitz is tolerant of children and other animals in the household. They have a good hunting instinct, so they may chase after smaller animals. This breed is very intelligent and likes to be a part of the family. On the other hand, this breed is not ideal for all families - especially in households with lots of tension or loud bickering.

Care

The Finnish Spitz has a coat that cleans itself seeing that these dogs are viewed as arctic dogs. This breed does not need a lot of overall maintenance, but if dead hair can be removed with a brush or a comb. The coats of the Finnish Spitz don't have a typical doggy odour. The Finnish Spitz sheds heavily on a seasonal basis. The coats of these dogs are very rich, and they can remain shiny and thick all year round if these dogs are maintained throughout the year.

Training

The Finnish Spitz is a very smart, self-assured and intelligent breed. They will learn new skills very quickly and are easy to train when the right training methods are used. This breed can however be stubborn when overly anxious or full of fear. It is imperative to work with the Finnish Spitz in a calm manner whenever possible. These dogs are willful and brave, and will perform at a high level once they are comfy and have admiration for their owners. The Finnish Spitz has time and again been used in competitions as show dogs seeing that they have so many good qualities and virtues. This is an impressive hunting breed, and they can also be trained to be racers and rescuers from an early age onwards.

Health problems
The Finnish Spitz is a relatively healthy, and has one of the lowest occurrences for health issues. There are however a few conditions that potential owners should be aware of and these include hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and deafness.