Dog Breeds: Bichon Frise

The name, in French, means curly white lap dog. Other names for this hypoallergenic dog are Bichon a poil frise and Bichon Tenerife.

The Bichon Frise is a descendent of the Barbet or Water Spaniel and was originally called a Barbichon. This name was later shortened to Bichon. There are four categories of Bichon: the Bichon Tenerife, the Bichon Havanese, the Bichon Malteise and the Bichon Bolognaise. All originated in the Mediterranean area.

These happy, lively little dogs, which are friendly and outgoing, love being the centre of attention and becoming a member of their human family.

The dark, alert eyes are full of expression. The nose is black, soft and shiny. The white, soft, corkscrew hair, over a silky undercoat, needs daily grooming to remain in tip-top condition. A small amount of the coat around the ears, snout, paws and parts of the body (not more than 10 percent of the body in total area) may have a buff, apricot or cream hue.

Height is 9 to 12 inches (23-30 cm) and weight 7 to 20 pounds (3-10 Kg). Puppy's noses are pink, but gradually turn black as they grow older. They also have cream or pink markings under their white coat, but these markings should be dark by the time the dog reaches 18 months of age. The legs and head are in proportion to the size of the body. The tail and ears are not docked or cropped. These dogs are of medium to high intelligence.

Because they require a lot of brushing, clipping and bathing, dead hair and dander is constantly being removed. As a result, these dogs make good pets for people who usually have allergic reactions to other dogs. It must be remembered, however, that individual dogs may have more or less allergens than the breed average.

The Bichon Frise is sensitive, gentle mannered, affectionate and playful. It usually gets along well with children and other pets.

The average lifespan of the Bichon is 12 to 13 years, although individual dogs may live for a longer or shorter period. These dogs are prone to cancer, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) and liver shunts.

My Mom and Dad had a Bichon Frise named “Brandy” when they lived in Regina. She was a sweet little puppy, happy and active. However, as she got a little older, she began to limp and often walked on three legs, refusing to put any weight on her left hind leg. A trip to the veterinarian revealed that she had hip dysplasia. As a courtesy to the breeder, Mom phoned her and let her know that one of the parents was passing a hip dysplasia problem on to some, or all, of the pups. The breeder said, “You bought her, so it's your problem now,” and slammed down the phone. Obviously this breeder was not a good one and was only in it to make money, not to ensure that her stock was of good quality.

“Brandy” was operated on and had the ball removed from the top of her left rear femur. It changed her whole personality. Even after she was completely healed and had undergone rehabilitation so she could use her leg again, she became quiet, sad, slow moving and sullen. When she was about 8 ½ years old, she showed signs of chewing problems, so Mom and Dad took her to the Veterinarian. She examined “Brandy” and advised that she had cancer of the mouth and jaw. When Mom asked how long she had, the veterinarian replied, “she will let you know.” Several months later, she stopped eating. A few days after that, she came up to Mom and laid her head in Mom's lap and whined and closed her eyes. It was time! Mom and Dad took her to the veterinarian where she was put to sleep.

Friends of the family have a Bichon, “Charlie,” who is very outgoing and friendly and much loved by his “Mom and Dad.” So, if you would like to have a friendly white dog that loves attention, you may want to consider a Bichon Frise as your next dog. Just remember, they need a lot of maintenance to keep them looking good.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Breeds: The Australian Mist

The citizens of Australia have always wanted an Australian breed of cat. As far back as the 1890's, attempts to create such a breed were started, but none were successful.

In the mid 1970's Dr. Truda Staede of Nintu Cattery in Australia submitted an idea to the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales (NSW) Cat Control (this body was later replaced by the Cat Fanciers' Association of NSW, which is a member of the Coordinating Cat Council of Australia) to develop a breed of cat that would be truly unique to Australia.

She submitted an Experimental Plan outlining her idea to use Burmese cats, Abyssinian cats and the common domestic cat or “moggy.” The Burmese was chosen for its relaxed nature, general size and shape, the colours brown, blue, lilac and chocolate and their pattern, particularly their ghost spotted pattern. The Abyssinian was chosen for its intelligence, colour pattern and to obtain the ticking (agouti) gene to develop the tabby pattern. By crossing them with domestic tabby cats, she ensured the tabby pattern and also their strength and rigour.

The breeding plan was very successful and in 1978, the new cats turned out to be what was planned. They were named the “Spotted Mist” cat. However, occasionally cats were born with a marbled pattern. It was determined that this pattern occurred when two cats with the masked classic gene were bred to each other. It was decided that both the spotted and the marbled patterns should be included in the breed, but the name “Marbled Spotted Mist” was too awkward a name, so the name was changed to “Australian Mist.”

The Australian Mist is a medium-sized, short-haired cat with a round head and large expressive eyes in shades of green. Its coat is either spotted or marbled. The base or ground colour is cream (any other base colour, including white, means that the cat is not a purebred Australian Mist). The delicate pattern colour is one of seven colours: blue, lilac, brown, chocolate, caramel, gold or peach. Random ticking in the solid colour areas gives it an appearance of being covered by a misted veil, hence the name. The nose, chin and whisker pads are broad, giving the face a generous open look, with delicate tabby markings. Legs and tails frequently contain rings of the pattern colour.

These cats are hearty eaters, so care must be taken that they don't overeat and become obese. Their short, dense hair is easy to care for and only requires a weekly brushing, They will shed their hair, and during this time, more frequent brushing is required.

The Australian Mist is a very healthy cat and it is very unusual for one to have a health problem. Their life expectancy is 15 to 19 years. Breeders of this species of cat keep meticulous records and every single cat's lineage can be traced back to the original base group. As a result, prospective breeders are thoroughly screened to ensure that they will keep the breed pure and that all documentation is factual and complete.

As kittens, Australian Mist cats are very lively, and even as adults they enjoy playing. They can be trained to fetch and walk on a leash. Nothing much perturbs them as they are very laid back in temperament. They love people and will plunk themselves down on any empty lap, whether they are invited or not. They prefer company, so make excellent pets for invalids and house bound seniors. They make perfect pets for children of any age, even very little ones, as they enjoy being handled and are not inclined to scratch.

The Australian Mist is very easy to show as they enjoy all the attention. Because of their mild manner and fantastic appearance, they frequently win the coveted “All Breeds Supreme in show awards.”

At the current time Australian Mist cats are being bred in Australia and Great Britain. There are some neutered/spayed Australian Mist cats in the United States and several breeders there are attempting to sign agreements so they can breed these fabulous cats.

So, if you want a loving, beautiful cat that can be taught tricks, you may want to consider the Australian Mist as your next feline companion. One word of caution though, they are very pricey and you will have to undergo a rigorous interrogation by the breeder to ascertain if you would be a suitable owner. You should also know that if you are purchasing a companion cat, that it will be spayed or neutered prior to being sold to you. This prevents any unauthorized breeding from taking place. As noted above, very strict rules apply to this particular breed of cat.

Until next time,

Teia

Dog Breeds: Alaskan Malamute

One of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, this breed originated in the Eskimo settlement of Malamute. Affectionate, friendly, loyal and a devoted companion this breed likes people. The broad head and obliquely set eyes add to its dignified appearance. According to the American Kennel Club, the Alaskan Malamute has a well furred tail carried over the back like a “waving plume.” Apparently in stormy conditions it will curl this tail around its eyes, protecting them from damage caused by blowing snow.

Puppy litters for this breed range from 4 to 10 puppies. Life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, although a British study involving 14 dogs found the median lifespan to be 10.7 years. The discrepancy may be due to the size of the study, or the fact that it took place in Britain which is a warmer climate than Alaska where the breed originated from.

To survive Alaskan temperatures and pull a heavy sled at a steady speed this breed needs to be powerful and heavily boned. An Alaskan Malamute's weight is 85 to 125 pounds (38-56 Kg) and its height 23 to 28 inches (58-71 cm).

The Alaskan Malamute is a good family dog because it is great around children and it is very protective of them. As a result, it is not a good idea to discipline children around the dog.

Unfortunately, it has a tendency to show aggression toward other dogs. Its size and strength require that it be handled firmly and carefully.

Its thick double coat ranges from light grey to black or from gold through shades of red to liver, always with white on its face, chest, under body, legs, feet and underside of tail. The only solid colour permissible for this breed is white.

Apparently the Alaskan Malamute is difficult to train, so training sessions should be kept short and fun for the dog, or it will lose interest.

They make good house dogs as they are nimble around furniture and small objects, but they require plenty of time outdoors getting large amounts of exercise. If kept as an outdoor dog, they must have plenty of shade in the summer and should be provided with a paddling pool of cold water so they can lay in it to cool off. They love snow.

The Alaskan Malamute has a tendency to run off, so they should either be on a leash or within a fenced in area. They are a fairly quiet dog as they do not bark very much, although they do “talk” using a “woo woo” sound and they also have a tendency to howl like a wolf on occasion.

Known health problems include cancer, hip dysplasia, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy.

My Dad's mom had an Alaskan Malamute whose father was a beautiful gold colour. "Rocky" took after his mother and ended up black with some white on him. He looked like a black bear and was nearly as big weighing between 150 and 180 pounds. He liked other dogs and even cats, but he was a great watch dog. He loved children and adored my Grandma. Whenever anyone came to the door, he would stand between the open door and Grandma. If Grandma invited them in, he would lay beside her chair. Once when dad was visiting, he came in the door quickly and "Rocky" came to meet him. Grandma yelled, "It's OK, it's Bert, and "Rocky" skidded to a stop and laid his head on Dad's foot and whined quietly, almost like he was apologizing to dad. Unfortunately he got cancer and had to be put down.

If you are looking for a loyal dog with plenty of stamina that enjoys activity and exercise of all kinds, then the Alaskan Malamute is the dog for you.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Breeds: The Aegean Cat

This breed of cat originated in the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea and it is the only native Greek cat. It is quite prolific in Greece, but very few seem to have been removed from that country. There are several references to a fledgeling Greek Cat Fancy Association attempting to commence proper breeding techniques on these semi-feral cats, but extensive research fails to actually find such an association. Perhaps photographer Hans Sylvester's famous photographs of the cats of the Greek Islands prompted such a group to form, but if it did, it appears to be non functioning at present. At any rate, there is a large colony of these cats spread though the islands, and for want of a better name, they have been called the Aegean Cat. This breed of cat is noted for keeping the rodent population under control as they are excellent predators. Most of them live outdoors and obtain their food from handouts given by visiting tourists and cat loving locals. These cats love fish and line up on the shore when the fishing fleet returns each evening. The local fishermen have taken to tossing them fish that are not merchantable.

They are very social cats and get along well with humans. If taken into a home, they adapt well, even to apartment living. They are intelligent, active, lively and communicative, not being afraid to vocalize to get attention.

Their coat is semi-long-haired in winter, but sheds to a lighter coat during summer months. Their coat is either bi-colour or tri-colour with true white always being one of the colours and covering 1/3 to 2/3 of the body. Other colours can be blue, red, black or cream, with or without stripes.

The Aegean Cat is medium sized with a sturdy muscular build. The body is relatively long with strong, round, medium-size feet. The tail is moderately long and straight. Hair covered ears have a wide base and rounded tips and sit widely spaced on a medium-size head that is wide from side to side. Their eyes are Oriental in shape and are always a shade of green.

The Greek Cat Welfare Society (http://www.greekcatwelfare.moonfruit.com) formed in 1992, is attempting to care for these cats with various programs including spaying, neutering and feeding programs. It is not known if any of these cats are available for adoption.

Until next time,

Teia

Dog Breeds: The German Shepherd

Originating in Germany in the 1800's, this dog was originally used for herding sheep, but now it is used for police and security work, as guide dogs, sniffer dogs, tracking dogs, guard dogs and companion dogs. It is the world's most numerous dog breed. Litters are usually large in number. Also called the Deutscher Schaferhund and by its original name Alsation.

This dog is 23 to 25 inches at the shoulders (57.5-62.5 cm), weighs 75 to 95 pounds (34 – 43 Kg) and has a life expectancy of 12 to 13 years.

Indiscriminate breeding has created many problems, both physically and behaviourally. Arthritis of the joints, eye disease, gastrointestinal disease, hip dysplasia and other problems are quite common.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police experienced so many problems with their German Shepherd police dogs that they discontinued using German Shepherds and switched to the smaller more agile Belgian Shepherds. Because of the extensive training given to their dogs, they could not afford to have them develop serious medical or behavioural problems requiring euthanasia after only a few years of duty.

German Shepherds come in black and tan, black and grey, solid black, yellow, cream and white. Dogs of the last three colours are not allowed to enter dog shows.

A German Shepherd's coat is short, straight and firm with a thick undercoat. When standing, a Shepherd's hocks are angled rather than perpendicular and the front legs are straight. Thighs are strong and muscular and the chest is deep. Erect high-set ears give the impression of alertness. Arched, round well-formed feet have large pads. The large black nose is extended to a flat tip.

Well-bred specimens of the breed are attentive, alert, resilient, steady of nerve, loyal, calm, obedient, responsive, self-assured, courageous and tractable. Lesser animals are nervous, fearful, timid or aggressive. So, as you can see, the quality of individual dogs varies considerably.

Mom and Dad had a German Shepherd – Keeshond cross that developed hip dysplasia, paranoia, arthritis and aggression. He had to be euthanized when he was 8 ½ years old. His brother, who had no behavioural or medical problems of any kind, is still alive at 15 ¾ years of age. So, even dogs from the same litter vary greatly in health and behaviour. This makes choosing a German Shepherd a difficult decision as you can never be certain of just what you will get.

However, if you get a good one, you will have a fabulous dog that will show you loyalty and devotion for many years.

Until next time,

Teia

Unusual Pets: The Red Fox

The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is native to North America, Eurasia and northern Africa and it was introduced into Australia in the mid 1800's. At one time foxes were confined to the the wilds, however, the expansion of cities and towns into former wilderness areas has seen the fox become more bold in recent years. It is now possible to observe them wandering the streets like stray dogs.

This small canid is most commonly an orange-red colour, with black lower legs, black ear tips and top of the tail and white underbelly and tip of the tail. However, some morphs are black or black with a white tip on the tail and some are predominately red, ranging in shades from orange-red to dark red. They range in weight from 3.6 to 7.6 Kg (7.9 - 17 pounds) depending on where they live, with the largest ones found in Canada and Alaska. Some in these locales can weigh up to 14 Kg (31 pounds). Head and body length ranges from 46 to 90 cm (18 – 35 inches) with a tail of 30 to 55 cm (12 – 22 inches). Males tend to be about 15 percent heavier than females. Foxes generally live 3 to 5 years in the wild and 12 to 15 years in captivity. Foxes are extremely fast and can reach speeds up to 72 Km per hour (45 mph). This speed aids in catching prey and evading predators.

A few years ago, a female Red Fox with a black face, ears, back and legs showed up in Creighton, Saskatchewan, where I live. It was an offspring of a dark red male fox and a black female fox that used to hang around the mine site in nearby Flin Flon, Manitoba. This little fox was very friendly and an elderly neighbour used to feed it table scraps by hand. Even though foxes are usually crepuscular and even nocturnal, this fox, which Mom and Dad called “Pretty Lady,” patrolled our town all hours of the day and night. Mom and Dad found out that she liked wieners, so they always had a big bag of bulk wieners in the fridge. This fox would frequently jump up onto our front deck and “knock” on the front door with a paw. Mom or Dad would then peel the cellophane wrapper off a couple of wieners, cut them into pieces on a paper plate and put the paper plate on the front deck. She would eat her fill and then take any leftover pieces across the street and bury them on the edge of a vacant lot. If she didn't show up by the time we had finished supper, Dad would take a plate of wiener pieces and put it on the front deck and then whistle for the fox (similar to whistling for a dog). If she was within hearing distance, she would come running down the street and jump up onto the deck for her “supper.”

One night she was a little slow showing up and when she got to our house, she began to cry like a baby. Mom and Dad went to see what the problem was and discovered that a neighbour's cat was eating the wiener pieces. Dad chased the cat away and the fox jumped up onto the deck beside him and began eating.

I guess the Natural Resources officer felt that the fox was getting too tame, because when spring arrived, he caught her in a live trap and took her 300 Kilometres out into the northern forest.

Last fall an older Red Fox showed up on our back deck one day. She had a big scar on her face starting near her left nostril and curving up over her nose and ending at the top of the right eye socket which was empty and badly scarred. Mom and Dad began feeding her and she became a nearly daily visitor. She wasn't quite as tame as “Pretty Lady,” but she was bold enough to climb through our gate and come onto the deck for food. She also liked wieners, but she would eat any meat or fish scraps we had on hand. She kept coming until March, when she went back into the forest. We all hope she comes back in the fall.

If captured at a young age, Red Foxes will make good domestic pets, however, in many areas, it is against the law to own a wild animal as a pet, so before considering getting a fox as a pet, check with your local authorities so that you don't find yourself in court.

Until next time,

Teia

Cat Breeds: The Burmese Cat

Originally only sable (brown) in colour, selective breeding has produced a wide variety of colours, however, only sable, champagne, blue and platinum are recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA). This cat is longer-lived than most purebred cats, with an average lifespan of 16 to 18 years. It is small to medium sized, but much heavier than it appears, weighing 4 to 6 Kg (8 ¾ to 13 ¼ pounds).

The Burmese cat has eyes which are either yellow or gold in colour, and which are large and very expressive. They use these eyes to hypnotize their human family into loving them for a lifetime. They are very intelligent animals and as they mature, they take over running the household. They use their large eyes and velvet paws to aid them in this endeavour. Female Burmese cats take a very active role in managing the house, getting involved in everything that is going on. They frequently voice their opinions on the way things are being done. The males are more laid back in nature and prefer to supervise, occasionally vocally, but more quietly than the females. They like to do their supervision from a laying position, preferably from someone's lap.

The Burmese cat has a short-haired coat which is glossy, with a satin like finish. The only grooming required is a daily petting.

Burmese cats are very affectionate and love human company, often following family members around like a dog. They will “talk” but are not as vocal as Siamese cats and they have a softer and sweeter “meow.”

Because they enjoy human company, these cats are not suited for being left alone for long periods of time. As kittens they are quite clumsy, often landing on their backside with a thump. The usually maintain kitten energy and interests throughout their life. They can be taught to play fetch and tag, again demonstrating some dog-like characteristics. If introduced to vehicle rides as a kitten, they are comfortable travelling in vehicles. They are seldom aggressive, but if attacked by another cat they will vigorously defend themselves. They get along well with children and dogs.

If you would like an intelligent, affectionate cat that displays some dog-like characteristics, then a Burmese cat would be a very good choice.

Until next time,

Teia