"Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be."Sydney J. Harris
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How Important Is The Hen In Your Breeding Program?
Throughout the history of game fowl breeding, the importance of the hen has, in the majority of cases, been overlooked, and in isolated instances, even ignored. It is my own belief (you may disagree) that any present-day breeder competing in the fierce ...
"Sheltie" - Shetland Sheepdog Breed Profile
History The Shetland Sheepdog can be traced back many years to the Shetland Isles, where they were bred as a herding dog. Smaller, hardier animals were required to survive the harsh conditions in the Shetland Isles and thus, the Shetland Sheepdog was ...
The Most important steps for finding a dog breeder
Generally people are very keen on animals, dogs especially,wanting to have one in their apartments or houses. The dog breeders are the persons you can contact whenever you want to take a pure breed dog. Yet, the problem of the dog breeders's reputation ...
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Every day we hear more about the new "hybrid" dogs, or "designer" dogs. Each feature is accompanied by pictures of adorable puppies that are examples of this new "breed."
Of course they're cute! All puppies are! Should you pay hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars for one? Certainly not! The offspring of a mating between two purebred dogs of different breeds is a mongrel, a mutt. And if you have one, you should love it, train it and care for it as if it had the bluest blood of the canine kingdom.
Every dog breed, and there are hundreds in the world, was "created" by humans. Each breed was developed for a specific purpose - whether that original job was guarding the flock or being the ideal lap-dog. There's no reason that development shouldn't continue. If there is a need for a dog with particular characteristics, enterprising individuals will come forward to fill that need.
However, it takes many generations to "breed true." Compare yourself to your siblings. Do you all have the same looks, same personality, same interests and strengths? Chances are, you don't. Each of you has some of the "best" traits of your parents. But those may not be the same traits. And each of you has some of the worst.
Two of the best-known mixed-breeds out there now are the "Golden Doodle" and the "Puggle." The thinking behind these crosses is fairly obvious: wouldn't it be nice to have a Golden Retriever's personality and willingness to
please combined with the Poodle's non-shedding coat and intelligence? Wouldn't it be equally delightful to have a small dog without the breathing issues of a Pug, but quieter than a Beagle?
But there is no way of knowing you won't get a high-strung, noisy, stubborn, slobbering mutt who sheds like the dickens!
If you are considering spending the kind of money that these "hybrids" are commanding, be sure to research all of the traits of the contributing breeds. You will get a mixture of the two. And an equally adorable mixture may be waiting for you at your local shelter - the size you want, with the coat you want and the adorable face that melts your heart.
If you require certain characteristics in your puppy - whether a family member has allergies, or you have a very small, or no yard, or your household requires a quiet, "easy keeper," or if you wish to fully participate in the world of canine competition, consider a pure-bred animal. There are over 150 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Surely one of them is right for you.
About the author:
Hope Saidel is the co-owner of GollyGear, a bricks-and-mortar and online small dog shop featuring fun, affordable and practical products for small dogs. She has trained and competed in Obedience with small dogs for over a decade and is on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Dog Training Club.
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 Animal rights video shows turkey abuse in W.Va. - Daily Anaeum
LEWISBURG, W.Va. (AP) — Global poultry grower Aviagen Inc. said Wednesday it has suspended a supervisor and would investigate a video released by an animal rights group that appears to show horrific abuse of turkeys at the company’s West Virginia ...
Wild horses get reprieve - Caspar Star-Tribune
RENO, Nev. -- The U.S. Bureau of Land Management put off a decision Monday to kill large numbers of wild horses to control herds and spiraling costs. Instead, the agency will reduce roundups and try to shuffle money to maintain its wild horse and ...
Astronauts step outside space station for lube job - WTOP Radio
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - Two astronauts are out on a spacewalk for an unprecedented cleaning and lube job at the international space station . Astronauts Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper (stef-uh-NIHshun PIE-pur) and Stephen Bowen stepped outside the ...
Hearing begins for Ariz. boy, 8, accused of killing dad, other man - Arizona Daily Star
ST. JOHNS — A court hearing is under way for an 8-year-old boy accused in the slayings of his father and another man in rural eastern Arizona. The boy faces two counts of murder in the deaths of his father, 29-year-old Vincent Romero, and 39-year ...
More than 100 homes feared lost in Santa Barbara County fire - Baltimore Sun
Officials say that more than 100 homes might have been destroyed by the Tea fire in the coastal foothills near Montecito. ( Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times / November 13, 2008) Reporting from Montecito - As daybreak arrived this morning ...
Injured Asashoryu hunts, cooks wild animals - Taipei Times
Volatile sumo grand champion Asashoryu will not return to the ring until the New Year despite being fit enough to hunt and cook wild animals in the Mongolian mountains. The yokozuna returned to his native country for treatment to an elbow injury last ...
Animal rights video shows turkey abuse in W.Va. - Daily Anaeum
LEWISBURG, W.Va. (AP) — Global poultry grower Aviagen Inc. said Wednesday it has suspended a supervisor and would investigate a video released by an animal rights group that appears to show horrific abuse of turkeys at the company’s West Virginia ...
Giraffes set sail for Australia - New Zealand Herald
Two of the tallest animals at Auckland Zoo have left home on the first and only big OE. Young giraffes Forrest, 12 months, and his half sister Ntombi, 16 months, were loaded into separate 4.2 metre high cages at the zoo today and onto trucks to be ...
Cooking Mama sharpens knife over PETA fuss - Techradar.com
Pity the Japanese. Not only are their meals of deliciously 'scientific' whale meat spoiled by do-gooders jumping in front of their harpoons, now they can't even relax with a game of Cooking Mama without upsetting campaigners. Animal rights group PETA ...
Riding with animals - Aspen Times
Other animals are on buses, why not dogs? As a full-time rider for the past six years, I have ridden with many animals on the RFTA buses, including the animals that bring their drinks, meals and desserts to eat on the way home from City Market and ...
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