The Butterfly Dog

Posted on July 8th, 2007 in Dogs by Dog Bark Collar

The Papillon is a toy dog that was named after a species of butterfly.  The reason for this is the shape of the ear, this dog’s most amazing feature.  When the large ears are reared up, they resemble the open wings of a butterfly.  Ideally, the erect ears should form an angle, which is roughly 45 degrees to the head.  And when the ears are pulled down, the Papillon is designated the name of “Phalene”, which means “moth”.

An observant owner may find that his Papillion has symmetrical markings on its head.  Often, the mark is a thin white blaze that, at a cursory glance, appears to be the body of butterfly.  While the presence of the thin white mark is preferred by owners for its aesthetic value, a healthy, active, and intelligent Papillon need not possess this distinct mark.

The Papillon is one of the daintiest toy dogs.  Its height is between eight to eleven inches only.  But many of these dogs are well-proportioned.  They are often alert but have never shown any signs of violence or aggression.  Such traits make them perfectly genial companions.

The head of the Papillon is rounded between its ears and this is emphasized by its muzzle which is delicately pointed.  The eyes are located low in the skull, making them appear deep set.  These almost spherical eyes are considered by vets to be of medium size.  And there are dark rims that give additional shade and mystery.  The nose is often black.  The Papillon has powerful jaws complemented with complete scissor bite.  The lips are narrow and usually dark-colored.

The shoulders of the Papillon are regarded as well-developed and these have an elegant sloping appearance.  The chest is regarded as deep, while the forelegs are straight and delicately-boned, like most toy dogs.  The belly is seen to be somewhat arched but this is well-supported by sturdy hind legs.  The tail is unusually long and carried high and arching over the back.

The second most amazing feature of the Papillon is its coat.  Soft wisps of hair are found between the toes while long and flowing ones create an elegant plume over the tail.  This particular dog has no undercoat but the coat hairs are long, silky and fine.  On the chest, abundant frills grow while on the head and muzzle, the hairs are conveniently shorter.

The white color dominates the coat of the Papillon, but this white is splattered with patches of a variety of colors.  The patches are usually located inside the ears, on the cheeks, and sometimes, over the eyes.

Choosing the Right Dog

Posted on July 7th, 2007 in Dogs by Dog Bark Collar

Choosing the right dog is a bit like choosing the right spouse; the only difference (at least for some of us) is that with dogs, you repeat the exercise every ten to fifteen years. If you choose only by size and looks, you might end up with the wrong dog in the wrong place, and a misfit can make your life miserable. It can be destructive, aggressive, noisy and a downright nuisance to you and to your neighbors.

Emotion, of course, has a great deal to do with how we choose our new pups. But if we are willing to be practical, there is a sensible series of questions we can first ask ourselves about how we live and what we want from our pets.

Start by making a list of both what you want from a dog, and equally important, what you can offer him. What type of housing do you live in? Do you have umpteen stairs and walls so thin that you always know what your neighbors are watching on television? If you do, then think twice about that cute little Dachshund you’ve always longed for. Dachshunds suffer from back problems and are robust barkers. In these circumstances, a Dachs could prove to be a disastrous choice.

Think about you and your family’s future plans. Will you be willing or able to provide your dog with the exercise he needs? A Pekinese might be happy to chase slugs in a back garden, but a terrier of similar size needs far more room. If you plan to keep active dogs you must also plan to make time available to exercise them. The age and activity level of the members of your household should be considered when selecting the perfect breed for you. Active people enjoy active dogs.

Consider too the amount of money you want to spend on food and remember here that cost is not always related to size. Large breeds of dogs like dobbermans, shepherds, setters and retrievers will eat almost anything. That means you can easily feed them cheaper but nutritious dog foods than you can sometimes feed smaller breeds. Small breeds like Yorkies can be real faddy eaters, you know.

The final decision to make before considering which specific breed is best for you and your family is whether to get a male or a female. Your previous experience will once more colour your decision but there are a few new statistical facts that are worth considering.