In the early 1900s, the American Kennel Club entered it as another breed in the AKC Stud. Because of the distinctive properties between the ACS and the English Cocker Spaniel (ECS), the two were each given a distinct place in the American Kennel Club.

Later, the “American” type was known in the U.S. by its shorter name Cocker Spaniel. These two breeds are the smallest of their group. They are a hunter’s best friend because of their sporting breed. Hunters find it easier to shoot birds once they are located by ACS somewhere inside the brush.

Appearance

The ACS can be easily identified from other breeds by its dark, animated eyes which give them their happy, loving and energetic appearance. Their ears sag and their coat grows fully as they mature. At old age, it is often given a different look by cutting its coat at the different body parts usually on the legs, sides and tummy. This would give the dog a “lighter” appearance.

Since its hair grows long enough to cover the ears, it is better to have it clipped in order to maintain air flow through the ears’ inner parts and to avoid ear infections brought about by different causes such as bacteria and other carriers of diseases of the ear.

There are some measurement standards that must be met for dogs used in shows. These standards determine which dog could join in contests and which could not. Cocker Spaniel dogs should have a height of 15 inches and 14 inches for bitches at the withers.

Males that are adult and exceeding 15.5 inches or an adult bitch exceeding 14.5 inches are not qualified from joining a show of conformation. The size of the bone and head should be of good proportion to its overall built. Some US dog owners have successfully raised fine breeds of cockers which have won in several contests.

Color

These groups can be easily grouped according to their color. There are three main groups of Cockers according to color in the North American shows of conformation– black, ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black), and parti-colors. These three groups are further subdivided into smaller groups of colors, some are solid, and some are combinations of the two or three basic color groups. Some dogs also sport a color that is called a “tri”.

There are also the so-called roans which may be blue, orange, and liver or chocolate with or without tan points. These colors of Cockers can be shown in the parti-color groups. Roans can be identified when individual colored hairs mix with the white.

Sable is another coloring that is accepted in shows of conformation in Europe and in Canada but not by the American Spaniel Club (ASC). Another coloring, the merle, is not recognized by the ASC because there is a question on breeding so they cannot be shown in conformation. Restrictions as to colors have prevented other color types from being shown shows of conformation.

Temperament

Compared with other breeds, Cockers are generally pleasant and unquestioning. This makes them lovable to their masters. A cocker would oftentimes be friendly to anyone including small children, and they can mingle with other home animals. They need gentle training so as to bring out the best in them.

Careless breeding has brought about some unwanted behavior among Cockers that are naturally good-natured. Due to the popularity of this breed, breeders have tried to keep up with the supply. Without due consideration of the probable outcome, breeding became more focused on production in terms of number and not on quality. This situation ended up to hostile and frightening behaviors of the dogs that did not undergo a strict process during breeding.

Efforts have been exerted by responsible breeders to correct the situation by eliminating these “unwanted” breeds and by educating people about responsible breeding. When it comes to breeding ACS, the most important consideration should be their temperament. It is known that they leak urine when they are agitated. It is best then that owners should pick a responsible breeder.

Mortality

Based from data on dogs gathered in USA/Canada and UK, the lifespan of ACS compared with other dogs that are purebred is shorter with an average between ten to eleven years, while when compared with other breeds of the same size, their existence is lower by one to two years. The ECS’s existence compared with the ACS is longer by about 1 year on the average.

Cancer is the leading cause of death at 23%, followed by old age at 20%, cardiac problems at 8% and immune-mediated causes at 8%. These are based on UK Kennel Club survey in 2004. The survey conducted in 2003 by Health Survey of USA/Canada using smaller sample population revealed that cancer leads the cause of death, followed by hepatic diseases or those that have to do with the liver, and then by causes related to immunity.

Morbidity

Ear infection is the most common illness of ACS followed by eye infections. Compared with other breeds, they require more visits to a veterinarian. Cataracts, glaucoma and Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), are the most common eye diseases.

Owners of breeder dogs should submit their dogs for a yearly examination of the eyes. Inflammation of the ears and immunity related diseases are also common problems among these dogs, while the less common ones are luxating patellas and dysplasia of the hips. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) can certify for dysplasia-free dogs.

History

The smallest among the breeds of spaniels used in sports, the ACS is very popular as a hunting dog for many upland wildfowl. With their earlier known popularity to be hunting woodcock, the name cocker was attributed to them.

It was in the 1930s when the names American CS and English CS were used to distinguish between these two breeds, but it is more commonly called “Cocker Spaniel” (without “American”) in the US as used by the American Kennel Club.

The ECS Club of America formed on June 20, 1930 paved the way for the increased importation of Cockers from England to the US. This club was formed by a group of English Cocker lovers who decided to give special attention to ECS. The club was then accepted by the AKC after a very strong recommendation by some groups.

There were twenty four Cockers which joined in their competitions by 1938 under the “English” classes. Of these, 6 were American strain and only 1 English strain. At that time, those who showed under the group of English strains had a lead in terms of giving points. As an example, five dogs have to be defeated by and English Cocker Spaniel so that it could be given 5 point major; 19 dogs have to be defeated by a solid American male Cocker to be given the same major points. This is true in California. Many people took this advantage considering that these dogs are all registered in the same group as Cocker Spaniels.

Some membership policies and requirements regarding breeding were signed in 1938 by the ECSCA. In one of their meetings, Mrs. Geraldine Dodge made a motion and it was approved that American type bitches should not be allowed to be bred with ECS studs. The Board of Directors approved of regulating the breeding activities of these dogs.

Moreover, a more specific definition of an ECS as “a bitch or dog of the Cocker Spaniel variety where lineage can be traced in all lines to dogs or bitches which were registered with the English Kennel Club (or eligible for export pedigree) not later than New Year of 1930” (Jubilee, 1986). This was done to thresh out the problem of using American type Cockers in classes for English Cockers.

Because of the foregoing, the American type Cocker became more popular and the ECS lovers also wanted the same recognition as a separate breed in the AKC Stud Book. Efforts along this line were pioneered by Mrs. Dodge in the US but not in England and Canada. A keeper of art and former editor of “Popular Dogs” finished the project.

After this project, efforts to secure recognition were enhanced and pursued. Mrs. Dodge was determined to get the recognition for the English Cocker. The official recognition by the AKC of the ECS as a breed different from the ACS was given in mid-1946. This was a great achievement in favor of the ECS as a dog breed.

No other breeds of spaniels can compete together in some games in the US except ACS and ECS. Most of the field-bred American cockers are outside the US but there is no clear-cut division between field and show-bred dogs in English Cockers.

Until today, the ACS is still considered as a small but multi-talented dog. Despite its size, its popularity surpasses those of dogs that are of bigger size. It could be a lovable pet, a hunter, or a dog used in games which its owner can be proud of.

They are popular to serve as protectors and hunters. Their lineage would be traced to the Old Bulldog of England. With the passage of time, the general make up of this breed of dog has remained practically the same. The names Johnson and Scott were taken from the names of two breeders who succeeded in keeping the breed, John Johnson of Summerville, Georgia and Allen Scott. They got interested in this breed of dog because of the danger of its extinction.

Appearance

Generally, the ABD has a short coat. Some of these dogs sport a white coat; others have some patches combined with the more prominent white, while still others have the black and white brindle. The ABD club requires that ABDs to be recognized should have a white coat at someplace in its body. The Scott type is smaller than the Johnson type.

Although ABDs do not have many variations of coat color, this is the only way to identify them as they are. Today, it is more common to see a Scott and a Johnson combined. The average height of ABD dogs ranges between 22-28 inches while that of bitches is between 20-26 inches. The average weight for dogs is 70-120 pounds and 60-100 pounds for bitches.

Why Are They Confused with Other Dog Breeds?

Sometimes this dog can be mistaken to be another breed of dog. The confusion arises from the appearance and name of the ABD, specifically with the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and other European dogs respectively. There is a close similarity between the physical appearances of the ABD and the APBT, while the name is often confused with the names of some other European dogs.

There are some features that make the ABD and the Pit-bull similar. Both of these breeds are muscular and their colors can be white or those with patches of other colors. What makes them distinct are the shape of their heads and ears. A Pit-bull’s head is wedge-shaped, while that of the ABD is box-shaped. The overall appearance of the ABD is much more on the bulkier type than any of its close relatives.

Temperament

The ABD, despite its large appearance is one of the friendliest dogs, although sometimes it can unintentionally hurt small playful children. It is a happy, friendly and confident pet, which makes it easy to get along with even to those who are new to it. Even as a puppy, it should already be trained how to bond with other dogs. This can be done by socializing it with other puppies and even with other household pets. Since it tends to be a jealous type with their masters, there should be enough control on some of their excessive behaviors.

One has to be knowledgeable about dog training if he wants to own an ABD. By nature, it could be demanding and challenging to train such a dog breed. However, once this dog develops a bonding with his master, it could be one of the most lovable pet dogs a man could ever have. Records have shown that ABDs could even help his master in some weight pulling jobs.

An ABD would always want to expend its energy through many activities. Its happiness and contentment can be maintained if it has a job to do much of the time. It would be advantageous if the owner has a wide area for training. Here, the owner can maximize the chance to develop the natural capacity of the dog.

As part of its natural temperament, it could be hostile towards cats and some other pets, but an early exposure to these household pets could probably result to a “friendlier” cat and dog relationship. The ABD prefers to get tired than to remain sitting down. It has a high prey drive. It is always ready to run after a possible hunting prize. Once it receives correct training, it could be a dependable and truthful servant of his master.

History of the American Bulldog

The history of the ABD can be traced as far back even before the time of Caesar in the British Isles. He was the one who made a report about a violent dog of the Mastiff-type. When the Normans arrived in 1066, there was now a breeding between the Mastiff-type and the Alaunts which resulted to the production of another type. What is very obvious about this cross-breeding is that the ABD handed down the white coat of the Alaunts. This is one of the features among Mastiff-type breeds.

There was a time when bulldogs were used for different purposes both in the home and in the field. The ABD used to be a protector and a hunter. Owing to these somewhat multiple talents, they were used in some blood sports. What became popular was the bull-baiting and later on, dogs were used in gambling. These multiple tacks of the ABD were carried to different parts of the British Isles to her colonies and to the US. Many people found out that the dog can do work on the farm, to hunt, to guard the house and other properties and can be a source of fun or income from gambling.

The ABD was then given some kind of a cruel image due to its abuse, until a law declared in 1935 by the UK government prohibiting bull-baiting. This was once a very popular blood sport involving the use of dogs and bulls. Since then, the dog was gradually “converted” to a softer breed of dog which could be fit for a pet. Other breeds were produced from this dog including the Pug. Retention of the original characteristics of the ABD was maintained over time.

When the population of the ABD reached near extinction, there were two men who did a very significant contribution in the revival and preservation of this breed. John Johnson and Allan Scott worked together in order to save the ABD from being wiped off from the face of the earth. At first, it was John Johnson alone who did the pioneering in saving the ABD from extinction. He looked for the remaining breeds and started their work from these remnants. For a time, both of them worked using the same line breeds. However, each of them later had his own line.

For Johnson, he made use of atavistic bulldogs and maintained the dog’s athletic strength. Having a curiosity of its own, Scott looked for some other groups pf dogs. On Scott’s side, he used dogs which were not from Johnson’s stock and this resulted to the present breed of Standard ABD. Their going separate ways somehow produced good result because it has created two types of the American Bulldog.

Present State of the American Bulldog Breed

The prominence of the ABD cannot be underestimated. Here and there, it is used in several different ways. You can find it in the home as a pet or a guard, in the field as a hunter, a worker, or as a cattle drover, and even in the cities and anywhere else, as K-9s. They are also part of the dog show and sports world. Unquestionably, the ferocious image of the bulldog has been changed into a friendly and gentle reputation.

With the exclusion of the APBT in some European countries, people have turned to the ABD as its closest relative to take the place. Since people always wanted a dog to be a friend, the presence of bulldogs adds color to the house. Now, it can be told that the ABD will be here for a long time, doing its work as happily and faithfully as it could. Making its master happy and satisfied is the bulldog’s motto.

Some critics say that the appearance of the ABBB is the same as that of the American Bulldog. They also gave a judgment that there is nothing unique about it. The owners of the breed strongly opposed this criticism as photos show a dissimilar type.

The ABBB has the typical look of a bulldog; however, this breed is well-built, muscular and full-bodied. Its size and height vary to a great extent. The weight of the male ABBB ranges from 30 - 45 kg and its height ranges from 19 - 26 inches. The female ABBB is smaller with an approximate of 25 - 30 kg in terms of weight.

The ears and tails of this breed has not been docked nor cropped. The various colors of this dog are usually black, white, red, grey, brindle, fawn, brown, mahogany and buckskin. Some Alapaha are two-colored or spotted.

The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is obedient, dependable and protective. It can be easily trained, friendly and cool not unless they have to pose for some defense. They can be aggressive when provoked. However, in spite of its strong appearance, it is prone to entropion - the inversion or inward folding of the eyelids.

The ABBB is fairly unique and there are about 200 of them who are in existence. The breed can be registered at the Animal Research Foundation which is located in Quinland, Texas or at the Alapaha BlueBlood Bulldog Association (ABBA).

Afghan Hounds belong to one of the earliest dog breeds, once widely employed for hunting and herding purposes by the early tribesmen of Afghanistan, centuries ago. As a matter of fact, many ancient cave images depict this dog breed, reinforcing the verity that Afghan Hounds have been around for as long as the prehistoric civilizations.

Physical Appearance

Afghan Hounds are typically characterized by their noble deportments. They stand dignified, with hipbones that are well prominent, and with steadily set long legs. Oftentimes, they are described to be having a judicious, sage-like appearance as if standing on meditation at all times.

The head of the Afghan hound is of fine length, with extended jaws. The eyes are often depicted as owning an exotic quality, appearing slightly triangular. The ears and the neck are also long, with the ears customarily leveling with the eyes.

This dog breed is typified by its long body hair that is usually fine and silky in texture. Even the feet and the ears are well-furred. For authentic appearances, it is best not to trim the Afghan Hounds fur, for it is the thick and long coating and a copious knot of silky head hair that gives distinction to this elegant breed.

These dogs stand between 25 to 27 inches approximately, with the male typically standing at twenty-seven inches, and the bitches at approximately twenty-five inches. The standard weights are between fifty to sixty pounds, with the males normally heavier than the females.

General Temperament

Afghan hounds generally have a warm temperament, and can be fiercely loyal to their masters. However they are also normally typified by their distant, almost standoffish behavior, especially when not trained properly. When disciplined in the most fitting manner, Afghan hounds will exhibit a sweetness and sensitive nature, and will show affection and gentleness even when unprovoked.

Although the Afghan Hounds’ elegant coating and slender structure give them a sense of delicate physical appearance, they actually make very excellent hunting, herding, and watch dogs. They have to be trained in the most fitting way possible however, given their oftentimes aloof temperament that can be challenging to break through.

The Afghan hound has a graceful but powerful gait, showing elegant gallops in stride, its head and curved tail held notably. Especially when set loose, these dogs will show amazing flexibility and bounce at great paces.

Health

The Life Expectancy of Afghan hounds are between 12 to 14 years. There are several causes for death, counting cancer, old age, cardiac arrest, and urinary and reproductive problems. There are two diseases however; that this dog breed can be susceptible to – Anaesthetic Idiosyncrasy and Von Willebrand’s disease.

Anaesthetic Idiosyncrasy can render Afghan hounds intolerant of anesthetics and tranquilizers, which is why it is highly encouraged for the dog owners to inform the dog veterinarian of this rare condition. In severe cases the dog will experience hair shedding and other health complications. Also, a respiratory system paralysis called Necrotic myelopathy can be fatal to Afghan Hounds.

History

The breed of Afghan hounds has been in existence since primeval times, dating back to ancient empires of Egypt and Central Asia. A strong legend has circulated that this was the dog breed which the biblical Noah has brought to his ark.

Afghan hounds are indigenous to Afghanistan, where Afghan hunters and herders used these dogs during hunting expeditions, and for farming purposes. Despite their elegant stances, Afghan hounds are excellent hunter dogs, easily preying on deers, gazelles, and even dangerous leopards. Later, this breed reached India, and at the beginning of the 20th century, spread to the United States and England.

They were originally employed to guard kitchens and stables from the menace of rodents, as Affenpinschers typically become excited in the face of aggressors, making them suitable in guarding kitchens from unwelcome pests.

They have a squarely proportioned sturdy body, and are generally described to have a self-assured, monkey-like appearance. Affenpinschers are customarily dark gray to black in coating color, although there are beige-tan and red varieties.

Temperament

The temperament of the Affenpinscher is a combination of alertness, playfulness, loyalty, and general curiosity. Affenpinschers can either be hushed or aggressive, depending on the circumstances. When they are in the mood for games, they easily fool around and can get along easily with other dogs.

In spite of their small, toy-like structure they convey a sense of confidence and can be rather territorial especially with food and toys. When training affenpinschers, control is greatly needed as they can be typically imposing and domineering.

Health

The average life span of Affenpinschers is between 12 to 14 years. They usually don’t thrive well in cold or rainy weather and may sometimes require a sweater or woolen blanket for support. In hot weather however, this breed may be prone to suffer respiratory problems.

Toy breeds are naturally fragile, and Affenpinschers, no matter how sturdy looking need to be monitored during daily activities. They can be easily fractured, or suffer from Patellar Luxation where the dog’s kneecaps cracks out of place.

History

Affenpinschers originated from the 1600s in Germany, utilized for their ability at keeping rodents out of kitchens and stables. They are normally called as “monkey dogs” because of their primate-like facial appearance. They were believed to be of bigger stature when first propagated in Germany, although later on they were miniaturized, specifically beginning the 18th century for their new purpose as toy house pets.

Considered as one of the earliest toy dog breeds, they are still being employed presently as kitchen watchdogs, although largely kept as companion and house dogs.

Care

Severe temperatures do not work well with Affenpinschers. In extreme cold they need suitable protection, while in sweltering heat they could easily develop respiratory complications. They should be housed indoors, seeing that they can do well even when merely playing inside homes or apartments. However, daily outdoors exercises are still needed, plus considerable socializing with other dogs to develop its friendly temperament.

The thick, shaggy coating should be groomed regularly by brushing. Clipping the hair short is discouraged as this could lead to coat damage eventually. Cataracts can also affect this toy breed, which is why regular visits to the vet are necessary.

Affenpinschers, like any other dog breeds need to be given vaccination shots early in life as protection against any future infections.

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is typically muscular. Its strong body is protectively covered by a coat. It has a wide neck, and its head is quite broad, too. It grows to around 27-32 inches (or 69 to 81 cm) at the withers, and its weight is between 80 to 150 pounds (or 36 to 68 kg), with the female Anatolian shepherd dog expectedly smaller than the male Anatolian shepherd dog.

Anatolian Shepherd Dogs have lips that are tight to the muzzle, and they have also ears that are triangular in shape.

Anatolian Shepherd Dogs can go on their own as independence is one of their characteristic traits. However, they can be quite fierce as they were meant to become. As such, they must be trained well to enable them to become essentially good companions to their masters. This is a challenge to any trainer or owner of this kind of breed.

While Anatolian Shepherd Dogs can easily be trained, they can also have a mind of their own at times. They take to heart their responsibility of guarding the flocks of their masters, and have a tendency of being overly protective of their wards.

A survey done by the United Kennel Club in 2004 on 23 dogs revealed the average lifespan of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs to be around 10.75 years, typical of purebred dogs. If they do not die of old age, it is possible that they may perish because of cancer, cardiac problems, or a combination of both.

Common diseases of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs are entropion and canine hip dysplasia. It is advisable, therefore, that prior to breeding, testing of the eyes and hips should be done.

It is highly likely that the history of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs began sometime in the tenth century. This is the time when the ancestors of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs came to Turkey. There were quite a lot of variations of the breed that evolved over the years, but these dogs were generally called shepherd dogs or coban kopegi.  Anatolian Shepherd Dogs were among the breeds developed by western breeders in 1970.

Some of the most famous Anatolian Shepherd Dogs may be found in several films. Butch plays the part of an Anatolian Shepherd Dog in Cats and Dogs. An Anatolian Shepherd Dog is named Bart in the film Kate and Leopold, while in the film Simon and Simon, Marlow is the Anatolian Shepherd Dog.

The American Water Spaniel can grow to about 15 to 18 inches (or 36 to 46 cm) tall and weighs between 25 to 45 pounds. Female American Water Spaniels are around 25 to 40 pounds on the average, while male American Water Spaniels weigh somewhere between 30 to 45 pounds (or 11 to 20 kgs).

American Water Spaniels are suitably covered with thick, curly coat to enable them to withstand the cold in North America. Their protective covering may be liver or brown or chocolate in color, although in certain instances, there may be a bit of white color on the chest or toes. Their eyes may appear like dark yellow or chocolate, and their tails are characteristically small. Their heads, too, are quite expansive, although not too much in a way that they are still well apportioned to their other features.

Generally, American Water Spaniels are friendly, smart and charismatic. Extremely likeable, American Water Spaniels are fond of pleasing their masters. In fact, they will always try to please their masters at whatever cost. They are overly protective of their masters, and they will make a great companion at home. However, American Water Spaniels can be possessive, and they may have a tendency of taking control over the whole household. They need a good amount of training to enable them to become the kind of friend that pet lovers often seek or long for.

American Water Spaniels may bark rather excessively, making them unfit for owners who are beginners in this kind of thing. It is therefore recommended of beginners to go to an obedience class for this particular breed, and to spare ample time with their American Water Spaniels.

Intelligent that they are, they can be easily trained, although they do have a mind of their own. A patient and dedicated trainer can even bring out the best in them. The training should have a lot of variety, though, to enable the American Water Spaniel to respond best. For many of the American Water Spaniels, cruel or rigid training methods are not advisable as they may be looked upon as offensive, causing them to retaliate in fear, or worse, bite. In other words, a trainer for this kind of breed must be fair and just, and unswerving in all things.

American Water Spaniels love to hunt feathered and furred animals, but hunting is not a requirement to their eventual happiness. Interestingly, they love to eat bananas. Even though they have a rather soft mouth, they can play tug-of-war pretty well, if they are well trained. Perhaps, just like any other dog or creature for that matter, American Water Spaniels, too, are not exempted from diseases. They may be afflicted with a host of diseases such as diabetes and allergies, cancer, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, follicular dystrophy, even cataracts and epilepsy. It is recommended, therefore, that American Water Spaniels must have undergone thorough testing of the hips and heart, and must be cleared by no less than the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation prior to breeding. Any buyer must ensure that he is given a guarantee by the breeder regarding these health issues.

The history of American Water Spaniels may be traced back to as early as the 1800s, although how they came to be remains a mystery. Experts tend to agree to the notion that American Water Spaniels may have evolved in Wisconsin, specifically in the Fox River and Wolf River Valleys.

Although there seems to be no record to point out the kind of breed used for the eventual development of American Water Spaniels, a certain Doctor Pfeifer of New London, Wisconsin, theorized that American Water Spaniels evolved by cross-breeding the English Water Spaniel and the Field Spaniel. This discovery of Doctor Pfeifer earned him some recognition in the 1920s.

Later, however, it became apparent that other breeds were involved in the development of American Water Spaniels as well. These other breeds include the Curly Coated Retriever, the Irish Water Spaniel, and the Tweed Water Spaniel. Even the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is thought to have played a role in the development of American Water Spaniels.

The American Water Spaniel gained recognition as a purebred dog only in 1920 through the United Kennel Club. This was much later supported by the Field Dog Stud Book in 1938, and a couple of years after, by the American Kennel Club in 1940. American Water Spaniels became very popular during this period, although their popularity has gradually waned throughout the years. Still, they are not likely to be extinct in the near future.

The reason for the development of American Water Spaniels could be linked to the need for a hunting dog that could function both on land as well as on marshland without occupying a lot of space. Small that they are, American Water Spaniels could very well fit into a canoe without taking a lot of space.

The American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are so similar in many respects that in certain areas, specially those areas that have undergone the breed specific legislation which ban or limit the ownership of Pit Bulls or dogs that are classified as Pit Bull type, American Staffordshire Terriers are also not permitted. However, despite their sharing the same ancestry, some Pit Bulls are found to be larger in size than most American Staffordshire Terriers.

Generally, American Staffordshire Terriers, which gained recognition in 1936 by the American Kennel Club, are short in stature, and they are sturdy. They are medium-sized, ranging from 16 to 19 inches, or 40 to 50 cm, at the withers, and their approximate weight is between 57 to 67 pounds, or 26 to 30 kg.

They are short-legged and square-built, with a deep, but not too wide chest. They have a larger bone structure and the size of the head is large as well. They also have a characteristically strong neck that is well-bent. Just looking at their physical attributes makes one think that American Staffordshire Terriers are strong. However, in spite of their being so, they are able to move with such grace and speed. American Staffordshire Terriers are protected by a glossy coat that is short. The coat may be of any color, except white, black, tan, or liver.

American Staffordshire Terriers can be both fierce and brave; but they can also be extremely loyal and friendly. They are even described as very loyal companions. In fact, they are specifically bred to be exactly that — loyal and friendly to human beings. They can give their full attention to their masters and they can also be very committed to them. Their nature of being fierce and brave makes them excellent guard dogs.

Normally, American Staffordshire Terriers do not behave in an aggressive manner. If they do, that is not a good sign of any American Staffordshire Terrier. American Staffordshire Terriers are also not known to be too protective of their masters. They know their limits when it comes to how much protection they must give to their masters. They can get along pretty well with both humans and pets alike, especially if they have come to know them early on in their life.

American Staffordshire Terriers may be viewed as intelligent dogs. They can easily be trained, and they can easily learn from examples shown them. They are able to pick up even the most restrained human behavior. Moreover, they can also learn a lot from whatever good habits they see in humans. However, they can pick up the bad habits just as easily, as well. So, dog owners of this kind of breed are advised to apply extreme caution when his American Staffordshire Terrier is around.

American Staffordshire Terriers came to be developed for a variety of reasons. Most notable of these reasons include hunting, guarding, and farm work. American Staffordshire Terriers may have also developed to serve as companions to humans. Some breeders and owners train American Staffordshire Terriers to perform community service, such as engaging in pet therapies and search and rescue operations.

Examples of American Staffordshire Terriers may be found in several films.  Our Gang featured an American Staffordshire Terrier through Pete the Pup, or Petey, for short. Buzzin Around, a film in 1933 directed by Alfred J. Goulding also presented an American Staffordshire Terrier. A recent film in 2001 directed by Blair Hayes, entitled Bubble Boy, and Cabin Fever also included American Staffordshire Terriers in the film.

These two breeds are the American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The American Pit Bull Terrier, however, is recognized by the United Kennel Club and many of those registered under the AKC as AST can be registered by the United Kennel Club as an American Pit Bull Terrier. But the largest registry for APTBs to date is the American Dog Breeders Association.

The APTB and its Rich History

With the introduction set aside, it is time you know more about the dog you popularly call “pit bull”. The American Pit Bull Terrier existed long ago around the early 1800s. They were initially a cross breed between bulls and terriers from England and Ireland.

This cross-breed was made for the purpose of bull-baiting, a popular sport at the time. However, this sport was considered illegal later on, due to the aggressiveness it brought for both animals involved. Owners of the pit bull decided to move on the next popularized sport, dog fighting. This turned out to be illegal, too, due to animal rights issues, and was outlawed in the following years.

When talking about dog fighting or bull fighting, a good sporting dog owners specifically looked for in the past were pit bulls that looked strong and ready for a game. These characteristics are not hard to find in any pit bull, as the ancestors from which the pit bull terrier was bred was known to never give up. Hence, pit bulls are known not to give up on a fight and once they’ve bitten down, they won’t let go. These are the characteristics essential when looking for pit bulls to join in fighting sports.

But having the said characteristics can be dangerous especially when a pit bull’s aggression is turned towards humans. One other characteristic that owners looked for in fighting pit bulls is its non aggression towards humans. Owners and handlers had to be able to control their dogs. If this can’t be done, the pit bulls would be killed immediately. This is a sad fate for the breed back in the days. But on the brighter side, this method of setting a tight control on aggressive and non aggressive dogs brought the strong breed known today as one that would never turn on its owners.

After both sport has come and gone, the pit bulls finally found a place in their owners’ homes as a pet. Don’t let the appearance of a simple pet fool you, however. The American Pit Bull Terrier, though now considered a pet, still retains its working dog qualities. In tracing the history of pit bulls from the time they became pets, they started by travelling with their owners, as migration was still very much practiced back in the day. As travelers started to settle, the pit bulls settled themselves as well, finding a place as working dogs on farms.

The APBTs was used for a variety of reasons but mostly because of the dogs great sense of smell and are also good candidates for being cattle dogs. They are a strong and tough breed and can handle the mess that can be brought on by a herd of cattle compared to other dogs.

As with the APBTs sense of smell, a great and established blood line of red noses, the “Castillo Bloodline”, is held responsible. This bloodline is known for its consistency in size of the breeds which also possess immaculately correct structure. For this reason, the “Castillo Bloodline” was considered by the United Kennel Club as the second most titled red-nose bloodline.

At about the same time that the American Pit Bull Terrier became widely known, two clubs were created specifically for the purpose of registering the dogs. These two clubs are the United Kennel Club and the American Dog Breeder’s Association. The United Kennel Club recognizes APBT as a breed compared to other pit bull clubs primarily because the UKC was founded with an American Pit Bull Terrier.

After the savage sport of dog fighting and bull fighting were outlawed, owners wanted to separate the pit bull of today from the pit bull of the past. This brought on the naming of the pit bull as a Staffordshire Terrier. It was this name that was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936, which goes to explain the reason why they only register ASTs.

The name Staffordshire Terrier was added the word American, making it known as the American Staffordshire Terrier of today because owners as well as the AKC wanted to differentiate this breed from its smaller cousin from British roots, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Many of the clubs aside from the American Kennel Club disagreed with the standards the AKCs put forth with regards to the name of the pit bull. Many of the clubs as well as owners still settle for the name, American Pit Bull Terrier. Because of this debate, there is still much confusion that exists between the APTB, AST, and SBT.

The American Pit Bull Terrier, once a popular dog in the United States, began to reach a point where they started to decline in numbers. This was especially notable after the Second World War when other breeds began to gain favor in the hearts of American citizens.

The Lowdown on the Popularized APBT

First off, is to know what a typical American Pit Bull Terrier looks like. In order to find an APBT of good breed, you have to be informed on the general appearance of this dog. Among the three, APBT, AST, and SBT, the American Pit Bull Terrier is the mid-sized breed.

Males typically weigh in at about 35 to 65 pounds or 16 to 29 kg. Females on the other hand, weigh a little lesser at about 30 to 60 pounds of 16 to 27 kg. An APBT should measure around 18 to 22 inches in height or 45 to 55 cm, measuring from the withers.

The coat of an APBT is characterized as being short and single layered. It may be stiff but the overall appearance has a glossy sheen. You can find APBTs of any color. Any type of color is acceptable, expect merle alone. The dog can either have a solid color or has patches of colors mixed together. The merle is not acceptable in any registration clubs for APBTs as this is not considered a pure breed. An APBT that is merle in color is a mixed breed with that of the Catahoula Leopard Dog.

As for the APBT’s eye color, any color is accepted, expect for blue. Their ears should be rose or semipricked. The APBTs ears can be cropped but uncropped ears are generally preferred by registration clubs.

The APBT’s tail should be short and tapering. Its body should be characterized as having a solid build and muscular. You should also look for APBTs that have a wide chest. The head of this breed is wedged in shape and may have some wrinkles on the forehead. Its muzzle is medium in size and its teeth should typically form a scissors bite.

If you are asking if there might be a particular nose color that meets APBT standards, there is none. The nose of APBTs can range from any color and still be accepted.

The next step in finding out a quality bred APBT from that of an ordinary APBT is by determining its temperament. The APBTs are generally a very sweet breed. They are curious, intelligent, and to some point can seem clownish. They are capable of being outgoing, giving affection, and are eager to please people. They have a fondness for people and they like being given the attention.

These qualities define an APBTs likeness to be severely loyal to its owners, even to a point of standing up and giving their lives for them. In general, APBTs can be great as pets but they need to be raised with a firm hand. If not, APBTs are known to be quite stubborn and can display aggression towards other dogs. If you are a first time pet owner, the American Pit Bull Terrier should not be your breed of choice.

This breed is required to be brought up with a strong and firm hand. It is also a must that they attend obedience training as early as possible. If this is done, your APBT can have a stable and dependable temperament.

There is important information owners of this breed must know is that APBTs are bouncy, full of energy, and have a high predator drive. This energy should be channeled into something stimulating such as exercise and play so that the dog will not be bored, become frustrated and eventually be destructive. Novice pet owners of APBTs have realized this first hand and have considered the breed to be quite a handful.

APBTs have been stereotyped to be a threat to both children and adult. The dog’s build, its size and its strength have been the reason for the stereotype. Contrary to what you might have heard, APBTs are generally average, sound-minded dogs and are not considered to be a threat especially where children are concerned.

APBTs are commonly the type of dog that does not recognize its own strength and are more likely to knock children down by accident than by force. This breed is one that likes to play and so it is best for adults to keep them on their leash when left alone with children.

Rather than displaying human aggression, APBTs are capable of displaying dog aggression. This aggression can be seen towards dogs that are not of their breed and dog with the same sex or level of aggressive. You can avoid this by socializing and training the dog at a young age. Do not be wary and do take precautions when your dog interacts with other breeds. There is a reason why pit bulls are named as they are and if you remember their history, they have been bred for the sole purpose of bull baiting.

Though APBTs don’t display human aggression, they were also not bred to have guarding behaviors. They will only respond when they perceive a threat for their owners. Looking back at its history, strict control has been maintained over the breeding of APBTs, breeding only those that do not display human aggression. You will do kindly and wisely as to follow the tradition because it is this control that has kept human aggression to a minimum.

Before you select an APBT for a pet, do consider if the seller has taken the dog’s temperament to consideration. Make sure that the seller is reputable for selling only those that do not have aggressive tendencies. You can detect when a seller is offering you dogs that have aggressive tendencies when they start talking about the dog’s guarding skills and protective behavior.

The United Kennel Club has set standards for breeders and the standards state that each dog should be health tested and temperament tested. You can settle buying APBTs from animal shelters. Most animal shelters do temperament test their dogs before putting them up for adoption. Make sure you approach these types of animal shelters.

APBTs and Appropriate Activities

The American Pit Bull Terrier has specific characteristics physically as well as in temperament. These characteristics can be applied to certain activities that your APBT will surely excel in. Since APBTs are energetic they have a great tendency to complete athletic tasks.

Some people allow their APBT to undergo certain training in order to join them in sports where pit bulls are known to excel in. APBTs can be trained for dog agility and strengthening. The sports pit bulls are more commonly associated are the weight pulling competitions, obedience competitions, and the schutzhund.

Statistics have shown that out of 25 dogs who have garnered the title of “superdogs” in the United Kennel Club, fourteen of those were pit bulls. This superdog status was awarded to those who have excelled in competitions like conformation, obedience, weightpulling, and agility.

Athletics is not the only field your APBT is useful for. American Pit Bull Terriers have been known to be used in the police being a narcotics detection police dog. Other roles APBTs have been linked to be that of being Border Patrol dogs, hearing dogs, and search and rescue dogs. In these fields, the APBTs heightened sense of smell, high energy drive and increased strength prove to be useful.

As pets in homes, APBTs are great for running errands with or going to the park and playing fetch. As energetic as they are, they do well in homes that have large backyards and a tall fence.

Terriers are known to be capable of vertical jumps, especially the Parsons Russell Terrier, previously named the Jack Russell Terrier, so having tall fences to prevent escapes and accidents is deemed helpful. In an urban setting, your APBTs can still survive as long as they are walked often and have exercise time and again.

Laws Surrounding the APBT Breed

Since the American Pit Bull Terrier have been used for bull fighting and dog fighting, there have been many moves taken to address this cruelty to the breed. The sport promotes aggressiveness to an otherwise stable minded dog. This can bring about more instances of accidents and attacks towards humans, not to mention the number of animal rights broken.

The law has stepped in to protect these animals from harm and from aggression development. One such movement towards the safety of these animals is the requirement of a microchip imbedded into the pit bull.

There have been many cases wherein pit bulls have been stolen and joined in dog fighting rings. This law also helps protect the breed from abuse which happens so many times to pit bulls. Other laws have been enacted to promote the safety of these dogs yet some of them have made even positive sports hard to perform.

Confusing Issues Surrounding the Breed

There has been much confusion with the American Pit Bull Terrier brought about by three pit bull breeds that have nearly the same standards as the APBT. There are also twenty breeds or more that are related to pit bulls making specifically identifying them difficult.

For a dog to be recognized as an Alaskan Malamute, it has to meet standards imposed by the American Kennel Club (AKC). These breed requirements include the dog being within a range of size, within the range of freighting weight of 75-85 lbs and a range of height of about 23-25 inches.

There, are however, deviations in sizes and weights that do not comply with the historical trend for Alaskan Malamutes or standards for participation in shows. Heavier dogs of greater than 100 pounds, and lighter ones that do not even hit 75 pounds are common, while those of 140 pounds are not a usual sight. These “giant” Malamute sizes are usually specifically bred to meet the demands of pet owners who want to own more gargantuan versions of the Alaskan Malamutes.

There are slight physical differences that exist between the Alaskan Malamute and the Siberian Husky. This primarily manifests in the fact that the Alaskan Malamute has a characteristic double northern coat that is dense, but harsher in texture than that of the Siberian Husky. Their coats usually are colored in combinations of grey-white, sable-white, black-white, red-white, or just white.

The purity of breed is evident in the physical characteristics of their eyes. Pure-bred Alaskan Malamutes have brown almond-shaped eyes. Blue eyes indicate a Malamute that has undergone some extent of cross-breeding, and are an evident cause for disqualification of blue-eyed dogs in shows for Alaskan Malamutes.

In terms of stature, the Alaskan Malamute is what is known to be “compact”. This signifies a height to length ratio is longer than taller, combined with a heavy bone structure.

However, despite this seeming priority in appearance, the AKC in fact prioritizes the capacity of a Malamute to fulfill its function of pulling heavy cargo on sleds in their criteria of judging for Malamutes in dog shows. Malamutes are usually very capable of pulling heavy freight. In fact, the rest of the physical considerations come secondary in the vast criteria for Malamute.

Characteristic to the breed are tails that appear to resemble plumes, with these furred tails that hang over the Malamute’s back portion. However, while descriptions of the breed in many books limit tail appearance to that of a plume, tails that resemble corkscrews are slowly becoming a common characteristic of tails of many Alaskan Malamutes. The purpose of the thick fur on the tail of a Malamute is to help them stay warm during cold periods. What they do is to curl up and wrap their furred tails around their noses and about their faces not only to warm themselves, but also to protect them against snow blowing against their faces.

Aside from being compared to Siberian Huskies, the Alaskan Malamute is also compared to wolves. The comparison explores various points of difference. While they may come in similar sizes and neck widths, the Malamute’s head appears different to the head of wolves. Their heads are much narrower and overall smaller in size. The Malamute also has a wider chest and stands two inches shorter. The difference in height is due to the Malamute’s leg being shorter than the wolf’s by about three inches, and the Malamute’s body being eight inches shorter than the wolf’s. Moreover, the tail of a wolf is nearly twice that of the Malamute, despite its being unable to curl this tail over its back like the Malamute.

Characteristics

The various functions that the Alaskan Malamute fulfills now are more varied than what was originally intended. For instance, more Malamutes are used now for recreational sledding than for their original function of being sled dogs in hauling freight and luggage, or helping pull and move heavy cargo. To date, the Alaskan Malamute is more popularly a family pet or a show dog.

In 1994, a team of Malamutes were led by Nancy Russell during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, where they managed to complete about 600 miles of the 1,150 mile-race. However, the Russell had to pull out the team of Malamutes from the race after the dogs faced nutrition problems and acquired blisters. The blisters were primarily a result of the dogs having worn the wrong shape of dog booties, used to protect their paws from cracking when exposed to extreme cold.

Moreover, the Malamutes are ill-equipped to run the same speeds as other breeds that are much smaller and faster. Thus, they are better suited to carry freight or travel long distances provided that it is at a speed much slower than the speeds required for distance racing.

The Young Malamute

Because the Malamute is one of the purest breeds of dogs, it has continued to manifest the traditional traits characteristic of their breed. This includes being extremely tame and affectionate to the extent that they are ineffective as watch dogs and protectors of the home. This is consistent with their genetic history of being nurtured in the wilderness still with constant interaction with man and other domesticated animals of similar size.

However, it is believed that the Alaskan Malamute is not well-suited to interact with animals tinier than itself, even if these smaller animals are also canines. This opinion is derived from extensive concurrence in the experience of many Malamute owners of a deviation from their affectionate behavior when they are around smaller animals.

Note that as a general rule, Malamutes exhibit a notable amount of amiability when they are interacting with humans regardless of age. It is for this reason that it is speculated that this inconsistent behavior is a result of the divergent ancestry of the Malamute, which at some point in its genetic history, cross-bred with wolves. While there is a lack of empirical data to prove this point, it would be wise to oversee a Malamute when in the presence of a smaller animal to be more familiar with that particular dog’s responses.

Only after spending time to observe a pet Malamute can help determine just how the Malamute will respond to interactions with other house pets, particularly those smaller in stature. However, despite its being comfortable around your own household pets to the point of it being fine to be left unwatched, this does not in any way signify the response it may have when it comes into contact with other animals. This is because of the fact that Malamutes continue to exhibit many characteristics of their canine counterparts.

Like all dogs, Malamutes are uneasy around unfamiliar dogs and house guests that they display a great level of aggressiveness. This happens even though Malamutes are not characteristically territorial dogs. In the event of their response being unfavorable, it may be imperative for their owners to spray or neuter the Malamute. This action is necessary because damage and destruction may ensue when they use their strong chests and large heads in aggression. Male dogs, as is usual, are more aggressive than their female counterparts. Luckily, Malamutes are generally fond of people, and unfavorable instances like those mentioned occur rarely that they do not merit as much worry from people who seek to have them as pets.

What also makes them unlikely guardians is the fact that Malamutes are relatively quiet and timid dogs. This manifests in the fact that they do not bark as much as other dogs do. Instead, they seem to “talk” by seemingly enunciating a woofing sound. The bark of the Malamute was the sound that Star Wars creators tried to emulate with the character of Chewbacca. It is believed that George Lucas got the idea for the voice of Chewbacca after a Malamute he used to own. What Malamutes are capable of doing, however, is howling. When they howl, their howls are practically indistinguishable from the wolf.

Health and Well-being

The Alaskan Malamutes have only undergone one particular health survey, and it was done by the UK Kennel Club in 2004 with a sample size of 14 dogs. Within this sample size, the median lifespan that they were able to derive was 10.7 years. This is consistent with the lifespan of many of the dog breeds of that size. The major reason for death for 36% of Malamutes was cancer.

However, the other reported health conditions in the same study (this time with a sample of 64 Alaskan Malamutes) included mostly musculoskeletal in nature. The variety of musculoskeletal problems included injury in the tendons, the growth of pre-cancerous cells along the hips, patellar luxation where the kneecap moves out of place, fracture, arthritis, and cranial cruciate ligament rupture, or the rupturing of joint ligament leading to joint instability and crippling. Others were dermatological in nature, including inter-digital cysts, fading nose coloration, shedding of hair, and dermatitis.

Malamutes also suffered from chondrodysplasia or genetic crippling deformities, optical disorders (like cataract and progressive retinal atrophy), and inherited polyneuropathy.

Origins

The Alaskan Malamute derives its name from its having descended from the dogs kept by the Mahlemuit tribe in the upper west of the Alaskan region. It is recognized as a spitz dog, and was with the Mahelmuit tribe as functional companions since about 3,000 years before. During their period with the tribe, they managed to encourage prosperity in the Mahlemuit tribe by being excellent companions to their human counterparts, be it at work, during hunting, or in every day functions. This lead to them flourishing despite the inhospitable region they occupied near the Arctic Region.

The Malamutes served as sled dogs and supplies carriers to gold seekers and settlers who occupied the Alaskan region during the short period of the Gold Rush in the year 1896. During this period, the Malamute was frequently interbred with other breeds from abroad, either to imbibe new characteristics to the dogs and enhance the breed, or to compensate for the dearth of Malamutes available for purchase by these settlers. This period of cross-breeding, however, did not have any material effect on the genetic composition of the present-day Malamute. In fact, the genetic analysis on the modern Malamute has shown that it remains integrally true to its origins. The Malamute breed continues to be one of the oldest and genetically distinct breeds of dog.

Throughout its history, the Alaskan Malamute has provided companionship and carrier services not only to the miners of the 1896 Gold Rush, but even helped Richard Byrd in his quest in the South Pole. The dog, because it wasn’t meant to be a racing dog, was mostly used in the past years to move heavy cargo of supplies settlements in the Alaskan areas. Usually, these loads of heavy supplies were collectively carried by Malamute groups of about 4 dogs at a given time.