When Your Son's Dog Dies

We recently suffered a canine loss on our family. My son's dog Brownie was killed on the highway at the end of June. It was the greatest tragedy my 9-year-old had ever experienced because of the close relationship he had with her. They were each other's everything. They played together, ate together, sang together, watched TV together, went camping together, and slept together for 6 years. They were only apart when he went to school or went to visit his father for an afternoon. He even took her shopping with him, and not just at pet stores. They really were two of a kind. She was his best friend, baby, and confidant all rolled into one.

And then that Sunday in June hit. It was the last Sunday of the month, and it dawned bright and sunny. But, because it was Sunday, most of us weren't awake. Unbeknownst to us, a series of unrelated events were about to occur that would lead directly to Brownie's death. My youngest son was the only one awake, and the dog had to go out. Instead of waking my oldest son, as he had always done, he decided to let his brother's dog out into the dog run. What he didn't know was that the fence was down and Tristan had been taking the dog out the front. Tristan would sit on the deck and wait for her, never taking his eyes off her wiggling form.

Rowan, unfortunately, didn't know that. He put the dog in the dog run like a good brother would do. After that we have to piece together what happened from the bits and pieces of information we have gathered. As near as we can tell, Brownie was in the yard for 3 hours before she saw a neighbor jogging down the street. There are no sidewalks where we live, so the shoulder is where we jog. Now Brownie, being naturally social, decided to go with said neighbor. The neighbor saw her and welcomed the company. But it only lasted a moment because people speed on our road. By a lot.

They were jogging together when a car slowed behind them. I'd slow down too if there was a jogger and a little dog on the side of the road. The car behind, however, didn't share the sentiment. It sped up, whipped around the first car, pulled over too far, got caught on the soft shoulder, and hit Brownie and nearly hit the neighbor. Everyone but the speeding idiot stopped, which is obviously how we found out.

So now I'm faced with telling a 9-year-old his dog has passed away. He didn't scream or yell, he just curled up and cried silently into his hands. It broke my heart. I'd lost my own dog 5 years earlier, so I knew something of what he was going through, and I knew there was nothing I could do for him. I couldn't fix it, and that's hard for a mother to accept.

But accept it I had to, because there was nothing else I could do. We did rescue Brownie's collar, which Tristan wore as a bracelet for a few days. Then he asked me to buy a stuffed toy that looked like Brownie. Tiny black poodle toy. Maybe a few years ago this would have been a tall order, but these days the Internet solves many a problem. A stuffed black poodle arrived 3 days later (because when your kid is crying, you pay for faster shipping). He put the collar on the toy and has been carrying it around ever since.

A month has passed since his little dog was killed and he still talks about her every day. She was such a big part of his live that he'll probably talk about her for years, even decades. And that's all right, because she was his baby. His first baby, and he grieved for her as much as anyone has ever grieved for a loved one. There will be other dogs, but Brownie will forever hold that special place in his heart. And I wouldn't change that for the world.

Dog Breeds: American Staghound

Called simply the Staghound most of the time, the American Staghound is an interesting breed. It's not recognized by any association, and so has no detailed breed standard, but it's a breed nonetheless. Because they're mostly bred for function, not form, there hasn't really been a push to get them recognized. The Staghound is a hunting dog, and most huntsmen would rather the breed continue to be bred for this function rather than have to adhere to a specific breed standard.

In any case, the Staghound has been bred in its current form since the 1800s. Before that, it was primarily the result of crossing the Greyhound with the Scottish Deerhound, with a few other breeds likely thrown in there to get the best possible hunter. The Greyhound gave it the speed to pursue the coyote while the Deerhound had a rough jacket and better scenting abilities, not to mention a more robust constitution. Their breeding has always laid with the huntsman, and if the Staghound is to maintain its majesty, it should probably stay that way.

Standing no more than 32 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 90 pounds, the Staghound looks like a hunting dog. It has strong muscles, a deep chest, and long legs. They have extraordinary visual acuity and most of them have some scenting ability. Because of their Greyhound ancestry, the American Staghound is incredibly fast, but it also has some endurance, making it a well-rounded hunting dog.

The American Staghound can be of any color and pattern, though it usually mimics the colors found in both the Greyhound and the Scottish Deerhound. There are three distinct coat types, none of which is more prized than the other. First, there is the 'shag', which resembles the coat of the Deerhound. Then there is the 'slick', which looks a lot like the coat of a Greyhound. Finally, there is the 'broken' coat type, which is somewhere between the two. Many hunters have a preference for the 'shag' coat, but it isn't a strong preference and both 'broken' and 'slick' are common as well.

Though this breed is a born hunter, he also makes an excellent companion. Most Staghounds crave human attention and want to be around their families. They tend to be calm, even lazy in the house, so they really do make great house pets. Staghounds are wonderful with children, but they are a bit large and don't know it, so they often knock young children over without meaning to.

Unlike some breeds bred for a specific physical standard, the Staghound has been bred for hunting and practically nothing else. This means they have a strong hunting instinct and a high prey drive. So while they may be trusted with humans, don't trust your Staghound with other pets unless you're there to supervise. They're excellent dogs, and highly obedient, but they are hunters. Never forget that. Some Staghounds can live comfortably with cats and other small animals, but most shouldn't.

The American Staghound isn't an apartment dog, but they can do well enough in the city if you make sure to exercise them on a daily basis. They're a healthy breed, mostly because they've been bred for it, so there aren't many health problems to be aware of. If you're going to have a Staghound for your canine companion, you should know that they have little body fat, making them more susceptible to anesthesia during surgeries. They also shouldn't run after a heavy meal because of torsion bloat concerns. Other than this, they are one of the healthiest dog breeds out there.

If you're looking for an affectionate dog who will bond well to his family, the American Staghound might be for you. Elegant and strong, this hearty breed can be an excellent addition to the right household.

Dog Breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier

Known by such diminutives as Staffy, Stafford, Amstaff, and American Staffy, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a cousin to the American Pit Bull Terrier and often treated with the same lack of respect. The American Staffordshire Terrier is descended from the Staffordshire Bullterrier which was brought from England to the United States in the 19th century. American breeders took the Bullterrier and increased its weight and gave it a more powerful head to make it more effective as a fighting dog. Because of these and other changes. the American Staffordshire Terrier was eventually recognized as a separate breed from its British cousin.

When dog fighting was finally banned in the United States in 1900, breeders went two distinctly different routes with their breeding program. Some created a show strain for competition and others created a non-show strain for other purposes. The non-show strain was labeled the American Pit Bull Terrier while the show strain retained the name American Staffordshire Terrier.

The Staffy is a relatively small dog, standing no more than 19 inches high, but he's heavy for his size and can weight up to 67 pounds. His smaller size may make you think he's easy to hand, but he's incredibly strong for his size. He's agile, muscular, stocky, and powerful. The eyes should be dark and round and set wide apart. Pink eyelids are a fault and not at all desirable.

The head should be broad and the jaws should be strong with the teeth meeting in a scissor bite. Ears should be set and may be cropped, but uncropped is both more common and preferred, especially with several countries having banned the procedure entirely. When ears are cropped, they should be rose or half prick. Tail should be undocked and taper to a point.

The coat should be thick, stiff, and glossy. This makes it easy to groom. A firm bristle brush once a week or so should do the trick. If you're having trouble getting your Staffy to shine, try a chamois cloth twice a week. The American Staffordshire Terrier is an average shedder. All coat colors and patterns are accepted, but some associations (such as the AKC) discourage dogs that are more than 80% white.

Intelligent and happy, this dog is a stable and confident breed. They outgoing, gentle, and loving with their family and are amusing for adults and children alike. The American Staffordshire Terrier has a sense of humor and is extremely loyal. With its strong desire to please, this powerful breed is almost always obedient.

Because this dog was partially bred for protection, they are incredibly protective of their owners, their owner's family, and their owner's property. They are a persistent fighter if provoked, and they have a high tolerance for pain, so care should be taken around strangers. This is not a breed to give up.

Some unsocialized Amstaffs can be dog or even people aggressive, so socialization at a young age is a must. An obedience class, one with plenty of other dogs and many people, is recommended for this breed so socialization occurs in a controlled setting. While this is important for all breeds, with more powerful breeds (such as the American Staffordshire Terrier) it is essential. This plus plenty of exercise will ensure a well adjusted canine companion.

Like many other purebred dogs, the American Staffordshire Terrier has its own set of health problems. They can have heart murmurs, skin allergies, tumors, thyroid problems, hip dysplasia, congenital heart disease, and cataracts. Ask a breeder about the frequency of these problems in their breeding lines.

One of the more serious problems the American Staffordshire Terrier may inherit is ataxia. This is a neurological condition consisting of a lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements. One of the symptoms can be a gait abnormality. Ask your breeder about guarantees that your pup will be free of this condition before purchase. There is a test available for ataxia, so don't be afraid to request one.

Used for agility, protection, police work, and other activities, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a fun and loving companion. If you're looking for a loyal and affectionate family pet, the American Staffordshire Terrier might be for you.

Dog Breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier

Of all the breeds out there, the American Pit Bull Terrier (casually called the Pit Bull) has faced the most discrimination. Originally bred as an all-purpose breed that could hunt, herd, guard, and even pull a cart around the farm, the Pit Bull became a status symbol for many types of criminals and dog fighters. Because of a few poor choices (by people, not the dogs), the Pit Bull is the go-to when a dog needs to be blamed for an attack. The media is often the driving force behind the witch-hunting that goes on for this poor breed. A few years ago there was a news story about Pit Bulls attacking a young girl. Turns out they weren't Pit Bulls at all, but Alaskan Huskies. The media continued to call them Pit Bulls until they were corrected several times (by several sources). This isn't the only incident of its kind.

Most American Pit Bulls weigh no more than 78 pounds and stand no more than 24 inches high. This isn't actually the largest dog, though they are powerful. Some might think of the Pit Bulls as quite a large dog, but Pits that are larger than 24 inches at the shoulder have likely been crossed with another breed. They may even be American Bullies or another breed altogether. American Pit Bulls are medium-sized dogs with a more elegant appearance that you might think. Some are no larger than 14 inches at the shoulder. Certainly not a large breed by any measure.

Though not large, the Pit Bull is powerful, agile, and has the appearance of a dog ready for anything. They have a broad head and a well-defined neck (to carry that heavy head). The chest should be deep and well-sprung and the entire body should be muscular. This dog is definitely strong for its size and he'll let you know it. The ears are sometimes cropped, but this is becoming less common as cropping is not allowed in several countries. Tail docking is even rarer. When the tail is not docked, it should taper to a point.

The coat should be short, thick, and quite shiny. Because it is so short, buffing your Pit Bull with a chamois cloth is usually enough of a groom unless you companion happens to be a show dog. Even with the short coat this breed is classified as an average shedder. All coat colors are admissible, though some associations don't accept merle coats and there are even a few that will not accept a Pit Bull with blue eyes. Pits generally fall into two color categories--blue-nose and red-nose. Blue-nose Pits are shades of grey with a matching grey nose. Red-nose Pits are shades of red or brown with a matching red or brown nose. Both varieties are accepted by all associations.

The American Put Bull Terrier is driven by its need to please. This has, at least in part, led to its rather nasty reputation. A Pit Bull really wants to do what you want him to do, but if you aren't very clear about your expectations, he'll come to his own conclusions. This breed is highly intelligent, so as long as you're a strong leader and have communicated your expectations in a manner he understands, he'll be a loyal and friendly companion.

Highly protective, this dog will guard your children and property from any and all threats. With his high tolerance for pain, he can happily roughhouse with the children in your family, but remember that this dog has a clear vision of his 'pack'. Your own children may be perfectly able to roughhouse with your dog, but never let children who won't live with the dog on a daily basis play with the dog in this manner. Don't even leave them alone with the dog (or any dog, really).

Though great with children, the Pit Bull has a natural distaste for other animals. If they're raised with a cat or other pets, this can be managed, but always be aware that this dog likes people better. They do have a natural fighting instinct, but it's not so strong that it cannot be curbed with proper instruction and a clear set of boundaries when it comes to the behavior of you Pit Bull.

This is an active breed, so be prepared for long walks. They're even active indoors, so expect your Pit to bounce off the couch a few times. The American Pit Bull Terrier is generally healthy, but beware of hip dysplasia, congenital heart disease, cataracts, and a genetic allergy to grass in some lines. Ask your breeder about these problem prior to bringing a new Pit Bull into your life. Some of these problems are harder to deal with than others, and the grass allergy is really not fun for your dog.

Most Pit Bulls live a happy life as family pets, show dogs, or sporting companions. They can be excellent pets if they are raised right, so if you want a happy and loyal dog, you might want to consider the American Pit Bull Terrier.