An Alaskan Husky is the ultimate working dog and is not the same as the Alaskan Malamute. They are born and bred to pull and are legendary for their endurance. Breeders very carefully select breeding pairs to ensure the best working dog possible. The result is a sturdy dog that resembles the Siberian Husky but with a leaner build. They're also considerably stronger and slightly larger than the Siberian. Alaskan Huskies have a thick coat to deal with all sorts of weather and a fluffy tail that is sometimes carried over the back. They can have eyes ranging from blue to brown. Many dogs have a combination of blue and brown eyes.
Since the Alaskan Husky is bred to be a working dog, they are easily bored and tend to chew or scratch if they don't have something to do. A dog that is lonely or bored will quickly become destructive. They are loyal and gentle, so as long as you can keep them occupied, they make great pets. They stay puppy-like throughout their lives and are wonderful with most children. They tend to love everyone and are relatively quiet (though they do like to howl, sometimes at nothing), so they don't make great watchdogs.
Huskies are incredibly stubborn, so much so that they are sometimes considered stupid. This is untrue, as they are intelligent and highly trainable. If you're going to train an Alaskan Husky, however, you must be prepared to be the leader. If you're not the leader of your own little pack, your Husky will have no respect for you. This disrespect doesn't usually turn to violence, as Huskies are not a naturally violent breed. Instead, your Alaskan Husky is likely to simply ignore you, an ability they seem to share with most cats.
These dogs are born to roam so they don't do well in apartments. They need exercise and room to move. If you do have an Alaskan Husky in an apartment, prepare to walk your dog at least three times a day. This isn't optional as they absolutely must have this much exercise. It would be better if your dog had a fenced yard to explore and toys to keep him or her busy. An Alaskan Husky should not be left to roam without a fence. These dogs do tend to wander off purely by accident and you might never seen your canine companion again. They also like to dig, so the fence should extend at least a foot below the ground.
This dog is bred for colder climates. They enjoy being outside when the temperature dips below freezing, but they really can't stand the heat. On a blistering summer day, you need to give your dog a way to cool down. Maybe an air conditioned garage or even a tub of water large enough for the dog to stand in.
The fluffy coat of an Alaskan Husky requires very little maintenance. But this breed does have two shedding seasons a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. During these periods Huskies will drop a lot of hair and may mat. Brush out the coat every few day with a metal comb to help prevent uncomfortable matting.
Though most Alaskan Huskies are indeed pedigreed, they are not considered pure by the AKC or the CKC and so are not registered by either association. This is because breeders will sometimes introduce other breeds into their breeding programs. Regardless of their acceptance by two of the largest associations in the world, they are a loving and joyful breed and make wonderful companions for many people.
Though the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is descended from the English Bulldog, it really has its origins in the late 1800s. In the southern USA (Georgia, to be specific) an effort was made to save the "plantation dog" from extinction. Outcrosses deemed to enhance the line were incorporated over the course of a century. This concerted effort resulted in the rare guard dog we now call the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog. Because of its rarity, this dog is not accepted by many societies throughout the world. The Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog wasn't recognized by anyone until 1986, and this was only by the Animal Research Foundation (ARF).
This dog certainly has many of the traits we have come to associate with the term bulldog. The dog is well developed and sturdy with a broad head and drop ears. The muzzle is prominent and the eyes are set well apart. The coat of the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog is short and coarse and may be of many colors, though the following are preferred: red merle, blue merle, or brown merle. All colors should be trimmed in white, or a combination of chocolate and white. Eyes should be blue or a mix of blue and brown in a single eyes. These eye colors are called glass or marble eyes, respectively. The ears and tail should never be docked or trimmed and the dewclaws should not be removed, so if your breeder suggests these practices, look for another breeder.
The Alapaha is highly trainable and extremely loyal. It will fight to the death to protect its family, and is highly protective of children. It makes a good guard dog and companion dog. It is on the larger size, sometimes growing to as much as 100 pounds, so make sure you take your dog to obedience classes to ensure a well socialized dog. This dog usually does not suit apartment living, but the Alapaha can adapt to an apartment if they are exercised at least twice a day.
Unfortunately, this dog breed is prone to some health problems, mostly because of the limited genetic pool. They tend to suffer from entropion, which is an inversion of the eyelids. Talk to your breeder about health problems specific to the line. Regardless of line, all Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs require some brushing. They have short hair, yes, but the hair can make them itchy, so groom your dog once a week to remove dead hair.
This sturdy breed, which correctly belongs in the mastiff group, is a good guard dog for homes and farms. It's also a good companion dog for many people around the world.
The Alano Español, also called the Spanish Alano or the Spanish Bulldog, is a large sturdy dog with its origins in Molossia (which makes it a molossar breed). They are an ancient breed whose origins are still unclear. The dog looks a little primitive, it's true, but it's built for a purpose. The Alano Español can run at high speeds for a long time as it ranges over over the countryside chasing cattle and holding them in place for many hours at a time. They can also hunt all day and well into the night. The stamina of this breed is rarely matched in the canine world.
The body of the Spanish Bulldog is well proportioned with strong legs and an arched rib cage. The paws are larger than you might think and give the dog a good grip on the ground, allowing for sharp turns and sudden stops. The tail is thick at the base and tapers to a point. It is generally carried over the back and is never cropped. Why? Because the tail is used as a rudder, helping the dog negotiate sharp turns at high speeds.
This dog can appear frightening, but only because it holds it head low and looks to be constantly searching for something. They are agile enough for the toughest agility competitions and smart enough to learn quickly. Acceptable colors for the Spanish Bulldog include yellow, gray, fawn, red, or black. Brindling is allowed but not required, just as with the classic black mask. White markings are allowed, but usually only on the snout, neck, chest, belly, lower legs, or the tip of the tail. White is never the main color of the Spanish Alano.
The Spanish Alano is sweet and submissive with its own family and is generally great with children. As this dog is a social breed, it is generally good with other dogs, though it may see cats as prey. Strangers are another matter. This dog is both serious and dominant, and strangers will be greeted with suspicion. They can attack with very little warning, though generally only when the situation calls for it. These dogs follow the orders of their master, no matter what. If told to hold a bull in place, they will do so or die trying.
This dog is smaller in size than some, sometimes getting as large as 90 pounds. The Alano Español has few health problems, probably because it developed in a place where only the strongest survived. They also heal faster than most other dog breeds. In addition, they are one of the few molossar breeds that does not snore, drool, or slobber, making them easier to have as house pets.
These dogs need a lot of exercise and they like to be outside, so they don't make very good apartment dogs. The Spanish Alano doesn't mind the heat or the cold, happily roaming and investigating during most temperatures. They do need plenty of water in the heat, and they don't like to roast, so bring them in when the temperature is soaring. As for cold ... they don't mind a little cold, but if the temperature drops significantly below freezing, they probably need to come in.
The Alano Español makes a good companion and will guard its family against all ills. But they don't do well with new people, so don't let them roam where they might encounter someone they don't know.
The Akita is a breed that generates some controvery around the world. There are really two types of Akitas. The American Akita, whose breed standard allows a black mask, is most common in North America. The Akita Inu is the original breed of Japanese origin and does not allow for a black mask. In most of North America, these are considered to be one breed with differences in type. In some other areas of the world, however, they are considered different breeds. For the purposes of this article, I will use "Akita" to refer to the North American standard, which means both breeds with just a slight variation between the two.
This large and sturdy breed has a well defined head with a solid color nose. The ears are strong and erect, but rather small in relation to the massive head. The rims of the eyes and the lips are black, but the tongue is pink. The tail is large and curled, straight and full, and often carried over the back. When extended, the tail would reach down to the hock. They may not look it, but a mature Akita can weigh as much as 120 pounds.
The Akita has a double coat with a thick, soft, and dense undercoat. The outer coat is straight, harsh, and standing somewhat off the body. The Akida may be of any color, including white, pinto, or bridle. The colors should be rich and distinctive and the markings well balanced. Some Akitas have a mask or markings, some do not. The markings mostly depend on the lineage of both parents. Some Akitas have longer hair, but only if both parents carry the recessive longhair gene.
An Akita can be very vocal, but they're not really barkers. Instead they make a variety of odd sounds. This breed is very social and makes a wonderful family pet. They feel an intense need to be with their family. They are intelligent, docile, and friendly, which makes them easy to train. But they are also courageous, almost fearless, and will go to any lengths to protect their family. They are willful and need a guiding hand to remain calm. Without this guiding hand, they can become aggressive, usually to other dogs and small animals. The Japanese version of this breed is so protective that Japanese mothers would often leave their children in the care of the family's Akita. I don't endorse this practice, but it was common in Japan for many years. Akitas, however, are attached just to their own family. Don't leave unfamiliar children alone with any Akita.
The Akita is unfortunately prone to hip dysplasia. Hypothyroid and autoimmune thyroiditis, immune diseases like VKH and Pemphigus,
skin problems like SA, eye (PRA, Micro, entropion) patella, problems with the knee also seem to affect the breed. Look for a reputable breeder and ask about any health problems.
Akitas are great family dogs and remain loyal to their family. Bear in mind, however, that they are a large breed and can be quite stubborn. They benefit from an organized obedience class and a strong human pack unit.
If there was ever a dog born for herding, it's the Akbash. This dog is white and well built. It has keen hearing and is incredibly strong, even when compared to other breeds of similar size. The double coat is non-matting, coarse, and weather resistent. The coat does require regular grooming to help with the shedding, since Akbash dogs are above average shedders. Oddly, especially for a dog this large, there is very little odor associated with this breed. The ears of this dog flop forward and lie close to the skull, though some imported Turkish may actually have cropped ears. This cropping practice is unusual, but it does happen.
The eyes are set well apart and are almond-shaped with colors ranging from golden brown to a brown so dark it's almost black. The tail of the Akbash is long and bushing, hanging down to the hock of the animal when relaxed. When walking, this breed has a springy gait that makes it appear excited to get to wherever it happens to be going. This dog is not recommended for apartment living since it's BIG. It weighs between 90 and 130 pounds and can be as tall as 32 inches at the shoulder.
The Akbash dog is an interesting combination of dominance and submission. The dogs must be submissive enough to not disturb the livestock they're expected to guard but dominant and aggressive enough to stand up to wolves and bears. This is a breed that must be given a job to do. Preferably the job they were bred for -- guarding livestock. If you want to make this dog a companion, you have to be willing to socialize with your dog all the time. You can't lock an Akbash up in a yard all by itself for 12 hours a day and expect to have a loving companion when you get home. The Akbash isn't a Poodle. It's just not wired the way a more social dog is. They're a working breed and need to be respected as such.
An Akbash is a guarding dog that both patrols and barks, so your dog will bark if left outside on its own. A lot. It's a bother-the-neighbors kind of bark. So don't think you can stick this dog in the backyard with nothing to do all night. It will not impress your neighbors. If, however, they are guarding a flock, they will bark only when necessary to protect their charges. They are very contentious guard dogs, but they tend to be dog-aggressive, so you probably don't want other dogs around.
This dog is not usually recommended in household with children under 8 or 10 years of age. All children in the household must be able to establish dominance over the dog. If this can be done, problems are relatively rare. Most of the problems that might crop up will do so during visits by friends and family. An Akbash will view visitors as intruders. As long as the alpha (usually the owner) is present, things tend to be fine. The dog will bow to the behavior displayed by its alpha. But leave the dog alone with the "intruders", especially if the "intruders" are children, and you're asking for trouble. So just don't. Take the dog with you when you go to get the snacks for the children. Of course, I usually tell people not to leave children unsupervised with dogs, especially dogs who don't know these particular children, but be extra careful with a dog like the Akbash.
Oddly enough, the Akbash might resent children, but is really good with infants. This is because this breed, both male and female, has a strong maternal instinct. They bond quickly to the livestock they guard, especially if introduced to this livestock before 6 months of age. They are so good with all manner of babies that sheep and cattle will often let the dog sniff and clean their own newborns. But don't be fooled. This dog will immediately react to any threat and will lay down its life to protect its flock.
These dogs definately have a mind of their own. They are trainable, but they are incredibly independent. This means that any Akbash will think twice about any command, even one given by someone considered the "alpha". It's just the nature of this particular breed. I do not recommend that the Akbash be anyone's first dog and it's not a dog for anyone who doesn't want a serious guard dog.
Most large breeds have health problems, and the Akbash is no exception. Thankfully, however, they seem to have fewer health problems than other large dog breeds. Hip dysplasia and OCD have occured, but they are still relatively rare. To decrease the chances of getting a dog with hip dysplasia, buy only from OFA hip certified stock. If your breeder doesn't know what this means, look for another breeder.
These dogs are great for what they are -- flock guard dogs. If you're looking for a breed to guard your sheep or cattle, the Akbash might be for you.
