It is an unfortunate fact that some breeds are changed to suit the needs and desires of people, sometimes so much so that the new breed bears no resemblance at all to the parent breed. This is the case with the Lo-Sze. In ancient China there are references to three distinct dogs with small heads and short legs. The first resembles the Pekingese, though it was referred to as the Fu Lin. The second was the Shoku-Ken, a dog that is probably the ancestor of the Japanese Chin. The third was the Lo-Sze, which looked similar to the Fu Lin but with a shorter coat and a tail that wasn't at all feathered. The Lo-Sze is the ancestor of the modern day Pug.
When trading began with the western world, all three dog were changed irrevocably. The Pekingese, Japanese Chin, and Pug all emerged, but the older breeds were quiet lost to time. In 1989 a woman by the name of Rebecca Manns began researching the history of the Pug and its older Chinese ancestor. When she discovered that the original traits of the Lo-Sze had been abandoned in favor of European traits, she decided to do what she could to restore the original grandeur of the Lo-Sze. In 1998 the American Lo-Sze Pug was recognized by the International Rare Breed Dog Club Registry, proving Manns efforts successful.
Like the modern Pug, the American Lo-Sze Pug should be short of stature but broad in the chest and face. The nose should have wide nostrils but may be of any color. A wrinkle in the nose is preferred but not required. Ears are set high and may be either drop-style or rose formation. Think Pug, but not quite Pug. This breed can weigh up to 12 pounds but stands no more than 10 inches tall.
The tail of the American Lo-Sze Pug should be set high and carried directly over the back. Offset tails are not allowed. The preferred coat type should be short, soft, and smooth. An undercoat may or may not be present. Less desired, but still permitted, is a longer coat with feathering around the ears, tail, legs, and toes. Regardless of coat type, any color or pattern is acceptable. A weekly brushing should keep the coat in top shape.
The American Lo-Sze Pug is a highly social dog and loves to be around adults, children, and other pets. They have been known to get along well with dogs, cats, birds, and even squirrels. This breed is a bit of a clown and will enchant family and friends with his antics. Smart and responsive, the American Lo-Sze Pug is easy to train, but may show shyness around strangers. They do bark to alert to anything suspicious, but they're not incessant about it.
Like the common Pug, the American Lo-Sze Pug does have a few health issues, many of them associated with the blunt nose so associated with this type of dog. Look for cleft palate, inadequate blinking, lacrimal duct atresia, patella luxation, stenotic nares, and umbilical hernia. They can also suffer from such conditions as cataracts, cleft lip, distichiasis, elongated soft palate, and hip dysplasia.
Because of the short nose, the American Lo-Sze Pug is prone to overheating. Case must be taken when exercising this dog and it should never be left outside in the heat. Or in the cold, for that matter. In fact, this dog is definitely an indoor dog. If your dog overheats, throwing a cold bucket of water over him usually helps. Sometimes veterinary intervention is required, so watch your dog closely.
If you're looking for a dog that is excellent with children and does well in small spaces, the American Lo-Sze Pug might be for you.
There's a great deal of debate surrounding the origins of the modern American Indian Dog. Some claim they are an ancient breed while others are certain that the current American Indian Dog is merely a recreation of a much older breed. In the end, it doesn't really matter. What matters is that there is an American Indian Dog and its popularity is growing slowly but steadily.
The American Indian Dog is medium in size with a light build. They can be up to 20 inches tall, but they only weigh 60 pounds at their heaviest. The ears are pricked and very pointy while the muzzle has a natural look. The eyes are medium in shape and have a slanted appearance. Acceptable eye color includes yellow, blue, gray, or even silver. The color and the shape of the eyes give the impression that the dog is staring right into your soul.
The nose and lips should be black, though liver is an acceptable color for some coat colors. Teeth should come together in a scissor bite. The tail should be plumed and medium in length. It should be carried with a slight curve, though this curve should never extend over the back.
This sturdy breed has a medium-length coat that is shiny and thick. Hair is longer on the tail, ruff, shoulders, chest, and on the back of the legs. Acceptable colors include blue, black, chocolate, cream, fawn, gray, golden red, red and tan, silver, tan, and white. All colors should have sable shading with darker tipped guard hairs. There should be very little spotting or defining marks between the colors, meaning the colors on the coat blend together seamlessly. Some white on the chest, collar, feet, and tip of the tail is accepted but not desired.
The American Indian Dog is a true pack animal so it tends to bond intensely with its family. They are quite territorial and don't like unknown people or animals in their space. Wary of strangers, they make good watchdogs. This breed is also highly intelligent and easy to train. Sometimes the American Indian Dog will try to take charge of the entire family, but a strong pack leader (a human one) can normally head this off.
With its ability to adapt to most environments and its overall health, this is a good choice for a family pet or companion dog. It should be noted, however, that the American Indian Dog is not recognized by all associations.
Sometimes genetics grows a sense of humor, as it did in 1972. A little of Rat Terriers was born, and among them was a tiny hairless female. This dog, named Josephine, was bred when she matured, but produced only a single hairless pup. Her next several litters produced no puppies of the hairless variety. Finally, when Josephine was nine years old, she produced two hairless puppies, one male and one female. These pups would be the basis for a new breed that would eventually be labeled as the American Hairless Terrier.
This hairless trait is quite different from the hairless trait shared by other 'hairless' dogs. For one thing, the American Hairless Terrier has no powder-puff variety; they're all hairless. All of them. The second and most importance difference is that the American Hairless Terrier has a autosomal recessive hairless gene instead of the semi-lethal dominant gene common in other hairless breeds. This results in a healthier dog that is truly hairless in every respect.
Physically, the American Hairless Terrier is nearly identical to the Rat Terrier (except for the hairless nature, of course). They're a medium sized dog, typically weighing in at no more than 16 pounds, with strong shoulders, a deep chest, and powerful legs. Ears should be perky and tails should be left long. Docking the tail is an immediate disqualification in the show ring.
Puppies are born with a light fuzz, but this fuzz will shed out as the pup matures. They should be entirely hairless by the time they are six weeks old. The skin should be primarily gray with black, gold, gray, or red spots. There should be no tuffs of hair on an adult dog, but all dogs should have normal eyebrows and whiskers.
Like Rat Terriers, American Hairless Terriers are sweet, playful, loving, and very smart. They also have a lot of energy and are great with children. This last part is especially true if they are raised from puppyhood with said children because they will develop an intense bond to the entire family. This terrier is really territorial, making them excellent watchdogs.
Terriers through and through, the American Hairless Terrier is quick, feisty, and fearless. Because they are so intelligent they are fairly easy to train, but they also have a dominant streak. Proper obedience classes and at least 30 minutes a day of exercise can help curb this and other undesirable behaviors, especially if you keep your dog in an apartment.
American Hairless Terriers don't have the health problems associated with many of the hairless breeds such as absent premolars and skin complications, but that doesn't mean everything is rosy. Because they really do have no hair, they can get sunburns and even occasional rashes. Use a sunscreen rated for dogs and apply lotion (that is lanolin-free) to any rashes that develop. This dog has sweat glands, so expect your dog to sweat and even get pimples. Sweating is normal and pimples will go away on their own.
The total lack of hair makes this dog as 'hypoallergenic' as dogs can get. They still drop dander, however, so they are not truly allergen-free. Still, many people who are allergic to dogs find they can tolerate the American Hairless Terrier. The lack of hair also means that this breed experiences the cold quite intensely, so don't leave him outside in the winter.
If you're looking for a dog with boundless energy who won't drop hair all over your sofa, the American Hairless Terrier might be for you. Just remember to buy him a sweater.
The American Foxhound closely resembles its cousin, the English Foxhound, because the American version is a direct descendent of the dogs brought over in the 1600s. The English hounds were later bred to French hounds, so the American Foxhound is actually an almost-perfect blend of the two. The American hound was often used to track both people and animals and quickly became favored among hunters for its efficiency and unfailing energy.
Standing no more than 25 inches tall and weighing in at no more than 75 pounds, the American Foxhound is both lighter and taller than its English counterpart. It also has a better nose and is significantly faster in the hunt. The skull is large and domed, the ears broad, and the eyes large and wide-set. This gives the hound a sweet and handsome face. Eyes should be either brown or hazel. Other colors are not accepted.
The legs should be straight and long, giving the dog an elegant appearance. The tail is thick and has a slight upward curve. It is not, however, carried over the back. A tail that does curl over the back is cause for disqualification in the show ring. Things are a little more forgiving when it comes to the coat, which may be of any color as long as it is both short and hard. The short coat needs little grooming beyond a firm bristle brush applied once a week. With appropriate care, this breed is an average shedder.
You won't find may breed sweeter and more affectionate than the American Foxhound, but they're also fiercely loyal and brave. They're very intense and nearly impossible to distract once they catch an interesting scent. This means they are prone to taking off, but they also tend to come back...eventually.
This breed is excellent with children and gets along well with other dogs, but care should be taken when exposing this breed to non-canine pets. The American Foxhound is a natural hunter, and even show lines may decide to hunt the guinea pig or think the hamster is excellent as prey. Cats fare a little better, but only because they're fast and can hide on top of the bookshelf.
Because of its hardy nature, the American Foxhound is relatively free of genetic disorders. They do, however, gain weight easily, especially when they're not rigorously exercised. Take care not to overfeed this energetic breed or they may suffer from unhealthy weight gain.
The American Foxhound is a dog that needs plenty of exercise and space, so they are not generally suited for apartments. They are incredibly active whether inside or out, and when left alone indoors they do tend to become destructive. Acreage is best for these active hounds, though they can do well enough in the city if they have a yard and someone who will take them on long walks. Plan on very long walks because this breed simply does not tire out easily. They can be loud as they like to bay, so take care that they don't annoy the neighbors.
As a hunter, the American Foxhound is very quick and has an excellent nose for tracking prey. His stamina is unmatched and his bay is almost musical in nature. Because of these traits, the American Foxhound is still primarily used as a hunting dog that appears frequently in field trials. That doesn't mean, however, that this dog can't be used for other things. They make excellent trackers and great companions for families who understand their high-energy needs.
