The Maltese is a small, white and fluffy dog. Their coat is long and silky. Some do have curly or wooly coats, but this is not standard. They do not have an undercoat. They coat is typically white, but in some cases it is cream or a slight lemon color. They have black noses, but it is not uncommon for their noses to fade or change color. But many times it will return back to black with more sun exposure. They weigh from 4 to 13 pounds and are 8 to 10 inches tall. Their fur is similar to a Yorkshire Terriers, also known as a Yorkie. Most people cut their Maltese’s fur short. But most show dogs have long silky fur reaching the floor. Grooming is important. Since they are white it easy for dirt to be noticeable. Also, they get tear stains underneath their eyes. This needs to be cleaned.

 Personality:

The Maltese is a cuddly breed. They have lots of energy and are extremely brave for their small size. They are very trusting and lovable towards their owner. They were bred for companionship, so they are lovable and kind. But, if not raised properly they will not be as kind and cuddly as you would want. It is important not to treat them like a baby. Spoiling them or sheltering them can make them destructive and bratty. They need to have some freedom. Training is important, also. It helps them become the perfect companion and become easier to handle pets. They love praise and treats. They are easy to train and love to please their owner. Do not use harsh tones or discipline. This will lead to worse behavior, biting and mistrust toward you. Small dogs easily feel threatened and are not hesitant to bite or bark at you. House training can be difficult. Like most small dogs, finding where they went to the bathroom is hard to find, since it is so small. Also, like most small dogs, the Maltese has separation anxiety. This means they don’t like being alone or separated from their owner for very long. They are best for homes where someone is present most of the time. Remember to walk your Maltese, they need lots of exercise and have tons of energy. They get along with other dogs and animals and often play with dogs three times their size. They are not the best choice for people with children though. They love children, but a small child can easily harm one. They live about 12 to 14 years.

Origin:

There is not much known about the history of the Maltese. The exact origin of the Maltese is unknown. They are thought to be descended from a spitz-type breed from the Swiss Lake area. There is also evidence that supports that they are relatives of the Asian Tibetan Terrier. The oldest record of a Maltese was found in the Etruscan town of Vulci. A Maltese like dog is portrayed on a Greek amphora. It dates back to around 500 B. C.

picture from:

http://www.0235.org/uploads/14361512/12755136455806.jpg

 Here are the 100 most popular dogs names:

 Boy Dog Names:

• Max
• Buddy
• Rocky
• Bailey
• Jake
• Charlie
• Jack
• Toby
• Cody
• Buster
• Duke
• Cooper
• Riley
• Harley
• Bear
• Tucker
• Murphy
• Lucky
• Oliver
• Sam
• Oscar
• Teddy
• Winston
• Sammy
• Rusty
• Shadow
• Gizmo
• Bentley
• Zeus
• Jackson
• Baxter
• Bandit
• Gus
• Samson
• Milo
• Rudy
• Louie
• Hunter
• Casey
• Rocco
• Sparky
• Joey
• Bruno
• Beau
• Dakota
• Maximus
• Romeo
• Boomer
• Luke
• Henry

Girl Dog Names:

• Bella
• Molly
• Lucy
• Maggie
• Daisy
• Sophie
• Sadie
• Chloe
• Bailey
• Lola
• Zoe
• Abby
• Ginger
• Roxy
• Gracie
• Coco
• Sasha
• Lily
• Angel
• Princess
• Emma
• Annie
• Rosie
• Ruby
• Lady
• Missy
• Lilly
• Mia
• Katie
• Zoey
• Madison
• Stella
• Penny
• Belle
• Casey
• Samantha
• Holly
• Lexi
• Lulu
• Brandy
• Jasmine
• Shelby
• Sandy
• Roxie
• Pepper
• Heidi
• Luna
• Dixie
• Honey
• Dakota

from:

http://dogtime.com/top-100-dog-names.html

Italian Greyhounds are odd looking dogs. They are skinny and look very fragile. They look like they are nothing but skin and bones. But they have tons of muscle and can run extremely fast. They are part of a dog family called “sighthounds.” Sighthounds are breeds of dogs that hunt with speed and sight, rather than scent and endurance. The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of all the sighthounds. They are only about 13 to 15 inches tall and weigh 8 to 18 pounds. They are taller than most toy dogs, so be careful when buying apparel for them. Their coats almost always have white on them. It is extremely rare to find one that is a solid color unless they are white. Occasionally they can be solid black. They are commonly found in different shades of fawn. They can also be mouse, seal, red, chocolate, sable, blue or cream.

Personality:

They are extremely curious and love to get into trouble. It is smart to watch them and make sure they don’t try jumping off things, because they can hurt their legs and back. Italian Greyhounds are like cats in some ways. They enjoy sitting in the sun, or sun bathing. But you must remember to make sure your Italian Greyhound does not over heat or get sunburned. They also like high up places, like the back of chairs and couches. Window seats are their favorite though. They do not like getting wet, as slot of dogs are. If they have to use the bathroom, they will not do it while it’s raining. Some people resort to litter box training them. They are easy to not punish. They have big eyes that can melt your heart. But be careful, if you are too soft and not strict they will go wild and think they own the house. They do need early socialization to keep them from being aggressive towards strangers. They live about 12 to 15 years.

Origin:

Italian Greyhounds are an old breed. They are seen in ancient artifacts dating back to 2,000 years ago. Most of these artifacts are found in modern day Greece and Turkey. Archaeologists have also found small greyhound skeletons. There was a small greyhound body found in the ancient city of Pompeii, a Roman city that was destroyed by a volcano. In the Middle Ages they started becoming popular in southern Europe. Italians were very fond of them, hence the name Italian Greyhound. In the 1600’s they started showing up in England.  Like in Italy, they were very popular. They were especially popular with royalty and aristocrats. The American Kennel Club registered the Italian Greyhound in 1886, even though they were not as popular in the United States.

picture from:

http://www.321dogs.com/pictures/italian_greyhound_wallpaper.jpg

The havanese comes in many different colors. But they all have in common a black nose and eye rims. Although in a brown, or chocolate, havanese it is exceptional to be dark brown. The color a havanese is as a puppy may not stay. By the time they are an adulthood they could be a different color. They can be black, blue, gold, chocolate, champagne, silver, and white cream.  Their fur should be long, soft, and smooth. Their fur can be curly, straight or wavy. They have shady, round eyes and large ears. They are non-shedding and hypoallergenic. They need daily grooming to keep their fur from getting matted and messy.  Their fur may appear to look like they are prepared for the cold of winter but it serves no protection from the cold. They weigh from about 8 to 17 pounds. And they can be around 8 to 12 inches in height.

Personality:

The havanese is a playful, cheerful and friendly dog. They get along well with kids and other animals, which is hard to come by in most tiny dogs. They are not as fragile as most tiny dogs. They do not require a lot of exercise and can keep themselves entertained. But they do love attention. They will do tricks and entertain guests. They love people and will follow you around your house, so be careful not to trip over them. Some havaneses have been known to only eat in the company of someone. Which means sometimes they will carry their food to wherever their owner is to eat it. They are super easy to train and are very smart. They are wonderful companions as well as kind and gentle dogs. They do not respond well to harsh tones and punishment. They are better with positive reinforcement and praise. They live about 14 to 15 years.

Origin:

The havanese is part of the Bichon family. Other members of this family are; the Bichon Frise, Coton de Tulear, Bolognese, Maltese, Bolonka and Lowchen. They are often called the Cuban Bichon, because they are from Cuba. But they had many other names too.  They originated from Havana, Cuba.  They are the National Dog of Canada. They were popular in other countries. The queen of England and Charles Dickens owned one. They often belonged to the aristocrats in Cuba. But during the Cuban Revolution the aristocrats fled to the United States, however few were capable of bringing their dogs. They became very unpopular and rare. But more recently they have been making a comeback. Breeding the havanese in the United States only started in the 1970’s. A US breeder names Mrs. Goodale is given credit for saving the breed. She started breeding havaneses that were brought by some Cubans and eventually saved the breed.

picture from:

http://hhavanese.com/dogfiles/p5100199.jpg

The pug is a very strange looking breed of dog. It is hard to believe that they can be descended from wolves. Their main and most notable characteristic is their flat, squished in, wrinkly faces, with their little flat nose. They have small, packed in bodies with a short curled tail. They can come in four color varieties; black, silver, apricot, and fawn with a black face and ears. Fawn with a black face and ears are very common and seen in most pugs. They can also simply, just be described as fawn, instead. Black pugs are somewhat rare. Silver pugs are often mistaken as “smutty” pugs, which are not very popular and considered “undesirable”, while apricot pugs are a burnt orange color. Most pugs are about 10 to 14 inches tall and weigh about 13 to 20 pounds. They may be small and compact, but they do weigh a lot.

Personality:

Pugs are goofy, silly tiny dogs. Pugs are super loving and are normally not aggressive towards anyone. They get along great with other pets and are actually really great with kids. You must be careful though; larger dogs can easily hurt a weaker pug. Also, children can easily hurt them too. They make great family pets and they love to show off and amuse their owners. They often just run around chasing their tails or acting goofy. But remember, pugs do shed. A lot. Pugs are very sensitive to the temperature. They can get hot way too easily. They should not be outside pets. It is also very important to watch their weight. They can gain weigh without any trouble. Do not feed them table scraps or people food. They need exercise but be careful. Simply playing in your yard with other animals or kids is enough. Do not try and go running or jogging with them. They cannot handle that kind of exercise. There are a bunch of health concerns when owning a pug but most pugs live to be about 12 to 15 years old.

Origin:

The word “pug” comes from England where “pug” meant “monkey” or “dog.” Which is wear the pug got its name. The face of the pug resembles that of a monkey. The pug breed comes from China. Although the exact origin is unknown, all records were destroyed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who was the first emperor of China. There they were bred as lap dogs.  They were called “foo” or “Lo-Chiang-Sze.” It is believed that the pug is an ancestor of the modern day Pekingese. The pug breed became popular among Tibetan Buddhist monks. Their popularity then spread to Japan, and eventually Europe. Later on they were bred with the King Charles Spaniel to create the modern day King Charles Spaniel.

pictures from:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaig/920673628/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lost-moments/245283519/

http://www.funnyfarmpugs.com/clients/21016/1835858_org.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21315468@N06/2291474830/

An English Toy Spaniel, also known as a King Charles Spaniel, has a very short, smashed in nose. It is similar to that of a pug. They have big, murky eyes and long hanging ears. They have a large, round-shaped head. The head is exceptionally large in comparison to the rest of an English Toy Spaniel’s body. The fur on an English Toy Spaniel is long, smooth and silky. They come in a few colors. They can be black and tan, which is normally referred to as “King Charles”. They can be solid or almost solid red, which is called Ruby. They can be black with tan markings, which is called Prince Charles, and they can be white with red markings, that is called Blenheim. They are small and compact, along with a solid, well-built frame. They are about 10 inches in height and weighs from 8 to 10 pounds. In the United States of America it is popular to dock, or bob their tails. But that is illegal in most parts of Europe.

Personality:

The English Toy Spaniel is an affectionate little dog. They can be playful, but are normally calm and sophisticated. But it is smart to keep them in a confined yard, they love to chase animals, hence the spaniel in them. They are wonderful lap dogs. They love to cuddle and just lounge around on coaches. They don’t like strangers too much and they can be shy, and possibly aggressive though, if they have not been socialized enough.  They make wonderful pets for the elderly, but not children. They are caring and gentle, and get along with other pets. Like most small dogs, they suffer from separation anxiety, a state of anxiety caused in somebody by the thought or fact of being separated from primary caregiver. They need lots of grooming, also. Since their fur is long and thick, it must be taken care of. They are easy to train They live around 10 to 12 years. The English Toy Spaniel does have many health problems. Some of these problems are: slipped –knees,-palettes, -stifles, Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA), Mitral Valve Disease are just to name a few.

Origin:

In the early 1600s toy spaniels were very popular in Europe.  Charles the II was very affectionate toward this breed of dog, which is why they now carry his name. But back then they didn’t have the smashed in face of the modern day English Toy Spaniel. Back then they would have looked like a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. But later on in the century and early into the next, pugs were becoming popular. Eventually the pug and the English Toy Spaniel were bred together to create the modern day breed. The AKC recognized the breed in 1886.

picture from:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Betty_Verdure.Photo_Ph.BRIZARD.JPG

The Boston Terrier(aka the Boston Bull) is in the Non- sporting group.

They are active, highly intelligent, good family dog.

Origin-

In Englad in the mid 1800’s, Robert C. Hooper crossed an English Bulldog and a White English Terrier. The Boston terrier was the outcome.They were originally called American Bull Terriers In the beginging, it was a big 32 pound dog, over years of breeding, it became the dog it is today.There are over 75 dogs, whos acenstory is traced over 3 centuries, and are the foundation of what is now the Boston terrier. The first AKC Boston terrier was presented on 1893.After that, the names was changed to the Boston terrier. Since then the breed has slightly gotten smaller in size. The dogs were first shown in the New  England Kennel Club at Boston in April 1888.The earliest breeder was J. P. Barnard. Some other breeders were E.S. Pollard,Edward Axtell, and Edward Burnett.

Descriptions-

Quick description -The head is in proportion to the size of the dog. Their nose is wide and always black. Their eyes are always dark in color and big. Their ears are small, either cropped or left natural. Muzzle is short and in proportion to the skull.The body may seem boxy, but is in great square proportion for the dog.The tail is set low on the back. brindle, seal or black in color and evenly marked with white. The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.

Full description -Head -The head is in proportion to the size of the dog. Their head is an a very defined square skull. Their nose is wide and always black.The eyes are spaced apart, set square in the skull, and always dark in color and big.  Their ears are small, either cropped or left natural, to enhance the shaping of the dogs head. The mouth, or muzzle is short and in proportion to the skull.Body- The chest is deep, ribs well spread out. The body may seem boxy, but is in great square proportion for the dog.Tail-The tail is set low on the back.Coat- brindle, seal or black in color and evenly marked with white. The coat is short, smooth, bright and fine in texture.

Disqualifacations & faults -Blue eyes. Dudley nose.Wry mouth. Eyes showing too much white or haw.Wide nostrils. Size of ears out of proportion to the size of the head. Any showing of the tongue or teeth when the mouth isn’t open.Docked tail. Gaily carried tail. Roach back, sway back, slab-sided.Legs lacking in substance,splay feet.Solid black, solid brindle or solid seal without required white markings. Gray or liver colors

recognition: AKC CKC UKC FCI KCGB ANKC NZKC NKC APRI DRA ACR

Temperment-People mistake them for being high strung only because they haven’t had enough mental exercise. They are very sensitive to the tone of one’s voice,the only difficulty training them, is probably house training. Other wise the dog is quite eager to learn and it will be very simple. When you train Boston terriers, you NEED to let them know YOUR the boss. Depending on the outcome, the human will be that leader, or the dog will. The Boston terrier is a loving dog that likes to be a part of a family, which makes this dog a great house and family pet. I would consider this dog for children.They most always get along well with non-canine pets. Only because this dog will try to be dominant with other canines, but proper training can suffice that. A Boston terrier that hasn’t been trained properly will probably, developeSmall dog syndrome. Small dog syndrome is where the dog belives he is the pack leader to humans.

The most common Boston terrier color is the basic Black and White. But if you didn’t know, there are more colors in this breed than just black and white

Black and white- the most acceptable color of this breed. Brindle-grey or brown streak or a pattern .Seal-(black with some brown hairs visible in sunlight)NOT Acceptable colors -Red- A solid red, with or without white. Liver – A brown, that has greys tans, and silvers in it.Fawn, A light brown with or witout black outlining.Blue- A light black with a blue hue to it. White- A solid white. Merle- mere should never be made on purpose in a Boston Terrier, because it realtes to birth defects, blindness, and deafness.

Boston Terrier health problems.

Description for each health problems -

Patellar Luxation – The patella is the knee cap. Patellar Luxation is where the Patella pops out of place, in laderal or medial position.

Hemivertebrae – Is simply a deformed vertebra. Or a congenitally deformed vertebra. It occurs when two or more vertebral bodies fuse or form asymmetrically, creating a wedging effect.The screw tail is formed from hemivertebrae in the vertebrae of the tail . Hemivertebrae isn’t a serious health problem unless its higher up than the middle of the back, and the spinal cord can actually become compressed. Signs if your dog has Hemivertebrae: Weakness of the rear limbs, Urinary incontinence, andFecal incontinence.

Brachycephalic syndrome – Is resistance to airflow through the upper nose lyrnix.Brachycephalic syndrome is caused by bodly abnormalities related to the shortened bones of dogs compressed (smushed) faces without the same even shortening of the overlying soft tissues. Symptoms : Exercise intolerance, Noisy breathing, Cyanosis ( blue gums from lack of oxygen). Syncope ( fainting) .

Sensorineural Deafness/ Nerve Deafness- AKA hearing loss.Sensorineural Deafness/ Nerve Deafness is caused from problems in the inner ear, in the nerve close to the inner ear to the brain, or in the brain. Even though, Sensorineural Deafness / Nerve Deafness isidiopathic ( no known cause ), it is theoryed by scientist that it’s hereditary. If you think your dog has Sensorineural Deafness / Nerve Deafness, you should preform a hearing test, or take your dog to the vet.

Bordetella – full name is Bordetella pertussis. Bordetella causes tracheobonchitis (Kennel cough)  in dogs. Bordetella is a bactererial  illness/virus that is most common around a large group of dogs. ( such as dogs shows or kennels) In 3- 7 days you will be able to tell if your dog has Bordetella, the only symptoms will be a dry hacking (coughing) consisantly until it is gone. In 7 – 21 days it should be gone. It is rare for Bordetella to be a serious life threating element for the dog. Most dogs dont need medications for Bordetella. But if you persist to give your dog medication for it, use antibiotics or cough suppresants.

Distemper - Is a  highly fatal disease. Canine distemper  is caused by a Morbillivirus.Morbillivirus is related to the virus causing measles in humans.Distemper is mostly seen in puppies 3 to 6 months old and in young dogs who haven’t been vaccinated. Also the puppies can be infected in utero which is when the virus crosses the placental barrier between the mom and fetuses. This often causes a still-birth. If the puppies survive, they might show sign of central nervous system damage like wobblines, tremours, and seizures. Those symptoms get worse as the puppy ages.  Distemper is extremely contagious, thats ones reason why its so fatal. Symptoms are : Fever, Anorexia,  pneumonia, vomiting and diarrhea. It damages the brain and spinal cord causes neurologic sign.

Parvovirus- AKA PARVO Parvovirus is basically, EXTREMELY serverre, bloody diarrhea.Parvo is a very contagious disease known by diarrhea that is often bloody.  There are vaccinations for dogs, which everyone should get their dogs treated while they are puppies. Parvo is spread when a dog makes contact with feces contaning the virus. Parvo can survive up to 5 months on the ground, in dog cages, and clothing. It can practically survive anywhere if it is in the right conditions.  Symptoms are: vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lethargy. Lethargy is inactivity, unconsiousness, and deep sleep.

Glaucoma- Is pressure within the eye. Glaucoma is an inherited condition. Glaucoma occurs when fluid isn’t draining from the eye fast enough. It usually starts in one eye, then slowly takes over both eyes. Its outcome is blindness. The only way to know if your dog has this condition, is to take him/her to the vet. Treatment is Surgical or medical therapy.

Early On-set Cataracts – Devolped early in life. It’s the  breakdown to the  disruption of the normal arrangement of the lens fibers or its capsule. Cataracts can be inherited, depending on the dog breed. The only way to treat canine cataracts consists of surgical removal of the lens. Symptoms: Only your vet will be able to tell if your dog has Cataracts.

Late On-set Cataracts -Developed in dogs 6 years or older. It’s the  breakdown to the  disruption of the normal arrangement of the lens fibers or its capsule. Cataracts can be inherited, depending on the dog breed. The only way to treat canine cataracts consists of surgical removal of the lens. Symptoms: Only your vet will be able to tell if your dog has Cataracts.

Corneal Ulcers - Ulcers in the cornea can be deep or shallow. They can form from a scratch to bacteria. When the cornea gets torn it become painful, and very irritated. When you see your dog squinting, and tearing up, it’s called Blepharospasm. The only way to tell if you dog has Corneal Ulcers is to preform a series of test, or take your dog to the vet.

Cherry eye –  The cause of this health problem isn’t known, but  is thought to be caused by the tissues in the eye. Cherry eye, is when the dogs third eyelid becomes inflamed. There is very little known about cherry eye, and you would be able to tell if your dog had it, because its eye would have a large red, inflamed swelled ulcer. The only treatment is surgical removal from a vet.

Corneal Dystrophy –  It’s only inherited in 6 dogs breeds, it’s a disease of the cornea that is bilateral.Corneal dystrophy looks gray-white, in the center of the cornea.It may affect any layer of the cornea, the epithelium (outer layer), the stroma (the thick, middle layer), or the endothelium (the inner layer). It’s usually oval or round and are sometimes doughnut-shaped. The only treatment is surgical removal.

Distichiasis- Is an inherited condition where there is growth of extra eyelashes. It’s not fatal, its just very irritating to the dog. Symptoms : blood vessel accumulation, Pigmentation of the cornea, Corneal ulcers, White areas around the cornea, redness, and squinting.

Keratitis Sicca (aka “dry eye”) This is like a form of dog allergies. The dog will develop a thick, yellowish discharge. What happens is the  infections are common as the lack of the bactericidal tears allows bacterial organisms to overgrow on the eye, so the eye trys to flush away all the bad stuff. If left untreated, it can lead to chronic eye infections. Symptoms is thick yellowy dishcharge. Ointments or drops can treat this infection, but make sure you see a vet.

Entropion-  It’s inherited in most purebred dogs. All Entropion is, is an inward rolling of the eyelid edges. It can develope to pain, and cause other disesase in the eye.  Symptoms : Tearing, Squinting, rubbing of the eyes, Thick discharge from the eyes, and rolling of the eyelid.

Black and white- the most acceptable color of this breed.

Brindle-grey or brown streak or a pattern

Seal-(black with some brown hairs visible in sunlight)

NOT Acceptable colors -

Red- A solid red, with or without white.

Liver – A brown, that has greys tans, and silvers in it.

Fawn, A light brown with or witout black outlining.

Blue- A light black with a blue hue to it.

White- A solid white

Merle- mere should never be made on purpose in a Boston Terrier, because it realtes to birth defects, blindness, and deafness.

Eyes-

Yellow- Are a major fault and are not accepted

Blue- Are a major fault and are not accepted

( i do NOT own any of these)

People mistake them for being high strung only because they haven’t had enough mental exercise. They are very sensitive to the tone of one’s voice,the only difficulty training them, is probably house training. Other wise the dog is quite eager to learn and it will be very simple. When you train Boston terriers, you NEED to let them know YOUR the boss. Depending on the outcome, the human will be that leader, or the dog will. The Boston terrier is a loving dog that likes to be a part of a family, which makes this dog a great house and family pet. I would consider this dog for children.They most always get along well with non-canine pets. Only because this dog will try to be dominant with other canines, but proper training can suffice that. A Boston terrier that hasn’t been trained properly will probably, develope Small dog syndrome. Small dog syndrome is where the dog belives he is the pack leader to humans.

The downfalls of the dog is -

Stubbornness

house training

Slobbering

Gassienes