#dog profiles

[nightinghoul]

Dog Profiles: Darby

CN: Pet poor health/dementia/end of life

This is Darby! She is a daschund mix. Darby is very old, and we've had her for a long time. I was working at an animal shelter, and one day, Darby escaped her cage during feeding time. She was running up and down the halls, and nobody could catch her. Then I squatted and put my arms out, and she jumped right into my arms and covered me with kisses! Now she has been with our family for over a decade!

Darby loves: cuddles, snuggles, and warm blankets.

She hates: Thunderstorms, and having her naps interrupted.

Her favorite activity is: Rolling around on astroturf, or a nice plush rug.

Her favorite item is: Her fancy memory foam bed

Her best friend is: Her dad

Her nickname is: Worm, because she likes to get all wrapped up in a blanket burrito, and then she looks like a little worm.

Her favorite food: It changes every day!

Fun fact: Darby used to "smile" whenever she was excited, and people thought she was snarling at them. But she was actually just happy to see them!

Now, to get very serious, Darby is reaching the end of her life. Many factors are contributing to this, including age, and damage to her heart from her anti-siezure medication. They change medications over time to prevent damage, but there just comes a point where it's all too much.

Darby also has dementia. I once read this blurb about family members with dementia, and how it's best to meet them where they are, instead of trying to force them into your narrative. I didn't think I would end up applying this to a dog, but here we are.

Darby sleeps most of the day, but she gets up to get water or go outside. Sometimes she gets confused about which of these things she's doing, and she gets stuck in place. We learned that when she gets out of bed, if we make sure there's a path for her, she will do one thing or the other, and then go back to bed, and it is not so stressful for her.

These days, even if she just went outside, if Darby heads toward the door, it's time to go outside. Everyone goes with her, and it's just normal outside time for her. Her sisters don't mind the extra trips at all! They seem to know instinctively that we are following Darby's lead right now.

Her sister Quinn has been taking good care of her. She checks on her throughout the day, often napping with her, and she sticks by her side all night. Darby couldn't ask for a better sister.

I am grateful for every day I've had with Darby, and every day I will have with her.

[nightinghoul]

Dog Profiles: Molly Grue

Molly is our youngest dog at 6 years, but also our biggest. She weighs fifteen pounds, and most of that is legs. The shelter had her down as a jack-yorkie mix, but I'm convinced she has some boxer in her. Even though she's tiny, she looks a lot like a boxer mix we used to have (and we knew that dog's parents!) Plus, she boxes! Molly uses her front paws a lot to get attention and play.

Molly loves to go on adventures! She has been hiking in the mountains, and through the desert. Her best friend is Quinn! Her favorite toy is a purple ball, and I think purple is actually her favorite color. She seems to be able to distinguish it from other colors. I have given her tests, and she always goes after purple toys, and can always find her purple ball out of the blue and green ones immediately. It kinda blows my mind!

Molly's favorite treat is anything she can eat. She used to be really finicky, but after she had her anal glands removed (due to chronic impaction), she became a voracious eater. I guess having a sore butt all the time can really ruin an appetite.

Her favorite game is bringing me her ball to admire, and then running away with it. (She gets very offended when I throw her precious purple ball.) Her favorite napping spot is the cold tile floor next to my desk. Her nicknames are Beardy-Dog, Beardo, Scruffie, Beardy McBeardface, Awkward-Dog, Molly-Moo, Molly-By-Golly, and Molly McGoo.

Molly can be awkward, and sometimes the other dogs pick on her. But that never stops her from being a sweetie, and wanting to be everyone's friend. She tries very hard to be good, but sometimes she doesn't quite understand the rules (Why couch fine but not table? Why my bowl fine, but not yours?) Still, she is a very good girl. She's just a little extra black and white in her thinking, so we have to give her very clear rules. We love our Molly girl. ❤️❤️❤️

[patmypet-blog]

Boxer Dog Breed Profile 101

Boxer Dog Breed Profile 101

Dog Breed Profiles : Boxer Dog Breed Boxer Dog breed was originally used as a guard dog and mainly bull baiting, but now they are a common house dogs or companion dogs. Boxers have a medium sized body and they can weigh up to an average of 27 kilograms or 60 pounds. In this very new series we are going to provide a detailed information about every dog on the planet, and we are going to start it…

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[thelondondogwalkingco-blog]

The London Dog Walking Co. ‘Rural Adventures for City Dogs’

Mojo is deceptively fast, sharp on the turn, show jumper and outrageously cuddly.

[glamourwoof]

Irish Wolfhound Dog Breed Profile

The First of our dog breed profile is the Irish Wolfhound.

It is the first in our blog as we love them!!!

The Irish Wolfhound is an ancient breed of dog which dates as far back as the Roman records in 391AD. (The AKC.org 2013) In ancient times this breed was often given to royalty as a gift. Often refered to as "Ch" which is Irish Wolfdog. As the breed relayed on Elk and Wolfs when they had hunted the prey to extinction the Irish Wolfies or wolf doggies started to decline. I wasnt untill 1800's when a Scottish Deerhound breeder "Captain George Augustus Graham" took an interested in the Irish Wolfies (the true Irish Wolfhound) and decided  to re introduce the breed. Obviously the gene pool was very small so he needed to create a larger gene pool, He breed the true wolfies with other breeds such as deerhound, borzoi and hreat danes. The Breed was accepted into the Kennel Clubs in 1885 as a reg breed. However the Wolfhounds we see today are not true wolfies. (iwcc.ca, 2013)

They are hunters and worked as a hunter, war dog and a guard dog although not aggressive their size was useful. They are so good at hunting that the species they hunted mostly wolfs and large Elk, went into extinction in Ireland, this had a huge impact on the breed and by 1900's the Irish Wolfhound had almost disappeared.

The Irish Wolfhound is a very easy going temperament, very kind, loving and intelligent, making them excellent family pets! They are easy going with other animals, but must be watched at first as they can give chase.

They tend to be slow to mature however they do tend to grow fast making them very large puppies!, they need moderate exercise to ensure there joints are not over worked when young, like with all giant breeds they need a good high protein feed when growing.

It is a good idea to train this breed at an early age due to its size and straight, it is very easy to train as they are very intelligent and learn fast

Like with any hunting hound you should be careful when having this breed off the lead as they will hunt instinctively.

They are extremely large, the tallest of the dog breeds at a standard 35 - 39 inch to the withers, and when standing on hind legs can reach around 7 feet tall! Although large they do not need a lot of exercise, but they do need a large home.

When buying an Irish Wolfhound is it wise to have them checked as this breed can suffer from Hip Dysplasia, Bone Cancer, Von Willebrands and Cardiomyopathy. Most of these are common in large and giant breeds. You should make sure to have their food off the ground to prevent  bloat and twisted stomach which is caused by having the food to low down for large breeds.

They do not live as long as most breeds with a life expectancy of 6 - 8 years.

  The AKC Breed Standards = Taken from AKC.org 2013.

General Appearance Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with keen sight. The largest and tallest of the galloping hounds, in general type he is a rough-coated, Greyhound-like breed; very muscular, strong though gracefully built; movements easy and active; head and neck carried high, the tail carried with an upward sweep with a slight curve towards the extremity. The minimum height and weight of dogs should be 32 inches and 120 pounds; of bitches, 30 inches and 105 pounds; these to apply only to hounds over 18 months of age. Anything below this should be debarred from competition. Great size, including height at shoulder and proportionate length of body, is the desideratum to be aimed at, and it is desired to firmly establish a race that shall average from 32 to 34 inches in dogs, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry.

Head Long, the frontal bones of the forehead very slightly raised and very little indentation between the eyes. Skull, not too broad. Muzzle, long and moderately pointed. Ears, small and Greyhound-like in carriage.

Neck Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched, without dewlap or loose skin about the throat.

Chest Very deep. Breast, wide.

Back Rather long than short. Loins arched.

Tail Long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness, and well covered with hair.

Belly Well drawn up.

Forequarters Shoulders, muscular, giving breadth of chest, set sloping. Elbows well under, neither turned inwards nor outwards.

Leg Forearm muscular, and the whole leg strong and quite straight.

Hindquarters Muscular thighs and second thigh long and strong as in the Greyhound, and hocks well let down and turning neither in nor out.

Feet Moderately large and round, neither turned inwards nor outwards. Toes, well arched and closed. Nails, very strong and curved.

Hair Rough and hard on body, legs and head; especially wiry and long over eyes and underjaw.

Color and Markings The recognized colors are gray, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any other color that appears in the Deerhound.

Faults Too light or heavy a head, too highly arched frontal bone; large ears and hanging flat to the face; short neck; full dewlap; too narrow or too broad a chest; sunken or hollow or quite straight back; bent forelegs; overbent fetlocks; twisted feet; spreading toes; too curly a tail; weak hindquarters and a general want of muscle; too short in body. Lips or nose liver-colored or lacking pigmentation.

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I think a photo album is a much more suitable place for pictures of your dogs, rather than a whole profile. 

They get suggested as people I may know. I can assure you that they are not people, nor do I know them.