Archive for the ‘earthdog trials’ Category
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Dachshunds originated in Germany during the 1500s, according to the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds by D. Caroline Coile. Their name means badger dog in German, and they were used to chase badgers into burrows, pull them out, and then kill them. Yikes. Today they compete in earthdog trials, running through manmade tunnels. The original dachshunds were smooth coated, but today there are also long-haired dachshunds and wire-haired dachshunds. Their coats can be a solid color (usually red) or a mixture of black, tan and red. They also come in brindle or dapple, which is a lighter gray mixed with black, like the merle great dane. Dachshunds come in a miniature size (under 11 pounds and 6 inches tall) and a standard size (16-32 pounds and closer to 9 inches tall). Advantages to owning a dachshund: 2. Although they are active, dachshunds don’t need a ton of exercise. As long as they get a walk every day and some long walks here and there, they can live just fine in an apartment and make good indoor dogs. Just remember they are hunters and love to get outside to smell and explore when they can. 3. The smooth-coated dachshund needs very little grooming because of its short coat. 4. Their size (especially the mini) is convenient for traveling and apartment life. Dachshunds make excellent lap dogs, and everyone agrees they are cute. Plus, their size makes them easy to control, even if they pull on the leash. 5. Dachshunds are eager to tag along for hunting and compete well in agility and earthdog competitions. Although they have short legs, they were bred to have the endurance to hunt down their prey, according to Coile. Disadvantages to owning a dachshund: 2. Dachshunds naturally want to hunt small animals. They are better off in a home without smaller pets. 3. “Wiener dogs” are often unfriendly to strangers at first. A dachshund could snap at children and adults it doesn’t know. However, this also means they make excellent watchdogs. Of course, their bark is worse than their bite and I know several dachshunds that bark unnecessarily at everything. 4. Dachshunds are challenging to train. They have short attention spans because they are so curious and interested in everything they smell and see. Plus, they are so low to the ground that it makes it easier for them to focus on anything but their owners. 5. Obesity is a big problem with dachshunds because of their short legs. It’s easy to overfeed them. They also face back issues because of their long torsos. Intervertebral disk disease is common among dachshunds, according to Coile. If you would like to write a profile of your favorite breed, send me an email at Lindsay@thatmutt.com. I’ll use pictures of your dog and link to your site. I’m happy to feature any breed! Click here to see all the breed profiles that have been done. (Image from commons.wikimedia.org)
Cairn terriers are more than just the “Totto” dog. They love children and can make a great family pet, but they also require a long walk every day along with mental challenges. Cairn terriers were originally bred in Scotland during the middle ages to kill mice and rats, according to the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds by D. Caroline Coile. They were used to chase small animals from piles of stone used as landmarks, called cairns. The breed is very closely related to the Skye terrier and the West Highland terrier and became popular in America after Toto starred in “The Wizard of Oz.” Cairns weigh about 13 or 14 pounds, which makes them a nice, lap-sized dog. They come in colors ranging in shades of white, red, gray or black. Cairns have a shaggy outer coat and a softer undercoat. Many breeders recommend stripping the coat twice a year, which gets rid of all the dead hair by pulling it out by the roots, but stripping the coat is not necessary. Advantages to owning a cairn terrier: 1. Cairn terriers are playful and affectionate. My grandparents have had cairns for as long as I can remember, and every one of them has loved attention. In fact, they will crawl right into your lap and demand it if they have the chance! 2. Cairn terriers have very few health issues. I could not find any health problems common among cairns, likely because they are not overbred in the United States like so many breeds. Because of their small size and few health problems, cairns have a long life expectancy of at least 14 years. A few eye issues are becoming more common with cairns, including cataracts and ocular melanosis. 3. They are intelligent. This doesn’t mean they are easy to train, because they will challenge you. But they are hard working and really do want to please their owners. 4. Cairn terriers are tolerant around children. They typically get along well with other dogs, too, even dogs five times their size. They are tough little dogs that are rarely fearful, and they can handle some rough housing from kids and bigger pets. 5. They can handle the heat and cold. Although cairns do best as indoor pets, they do not overheat easily. Their coats also keep them warm in cooler temperatures as long as they are not outside for too long. Disadvantages to owning a cairn terrier: 1. Cairn terriers are typically high-energy dogs (they are terriers, after all) and require a long daily walk even though they are little. 2. Cairn terriers need mental challenges. They are smart dogs and get bored easily if they don’t have something to do. They are great at agility and also compete in earthdog trials, where the dogs navigate through manmade tunnels. 3. They are often barkers. A cairn will let you know if a stranger is approaching, but if they don’t get enough exercise or training they will get carried away with the barking and also alert you to every bird, every passing car and even the wind blowing. No one likes to hear a little dog yapping out in the yard all day, but cairns are very alert and likely to be territorial if they aren’t given any rules. 4. They can be diggers. Cairns have a strong instinct to search for small animals burrowed underground. 5. They are often unfriendly to small animals. Cairns were bred to kill vermin, so of course they want to hunt gophers, rabbits, birds and whatever else they can find. If you have a small pet and are interested in a cairn, make sure to introduce the two pets properly and with caution because of the cairn’s strong prey drive.
……………………………………………………………….. If you would like to write a profile of your favorite breed, send me an email at Lindsay@thatmutt.com. I’ll use pictures of your dog and link to your site. I’m happy to feature any breed! Click here to see all the breed profiles that have been done. (Top image from commons.wikimedia.org, bottom image is Ace with my grandpa and uncle’s cairns) |
