How to Choose a Dog Breed?

Assuming the acceptance of all the inconveniences and changes in our lives can mean adopting or purchasing a dog, and depending on that we have already had the company of these animals or be "newbies" in the field, is presented an important option that can be varied success or failure in the future relations irrational family member.

The initial outlay will be carrying out to buy a copy of good constitution, a healthy and excellent "pedigree" would not be very different depending on the breed, dogs except for few and far between. However, this price, logically increases based on the "quality" of the animal, divided between thirteen or fourteen years of life probably did not find it so outrageous.

The puppy bargain or offered by an acquaintance at a low price will not, in most cases, a perfect specimen purebred, registered in the registers of official cynological societies.

However, already decided to perform an expense that may seem superfluous at times very high and we have to meditate slowly dog breed that we will integrate into our circle of life. Aesthetic preferences subjectively makers in most cases, especially in the masters "beginner", typically demonstrated bad advisers. Badly can be blended with Doberman, however beautiful it may seem, if we want a calm animal, pet, you can live without leaving a small apartment near, nor can we train to defend our assets to a sweet cocker, although it represents the ideal type of dog we wanted.

Many races for various functions
Cynological groups and patterns of behavior of each of the races will guide us to a first approximation with respect to the purpose for which the animal is intended that we will acquire.
Fans on the hunt, according to the hunting mode to practice, will rationally separating and discarding those varieties that go beyond their needs and can finally meet a list of 10 or 15 races, more or less similar and affordable, including to make the choice.

A family who wants a constant companion, guardian of property or physical, can act analogous way to separate ultimately space requirements, exercise and feeding of the finalists.

Space and exercise: limiting factors
Something that is all too often forgotten in the previous considerations to the purchase of the puppy is that the size of our can be very different depending on the chosen race. What we can offer the ultimate space dog as permanent accommodation? A Great Dane, for beautiful picture and temper cannot physically live in an apartment in a city without causing serious inconvenience to their masters without harming the animal's health. But not only the size of the hostel, we must also take into account the need for free space requires minimal exercise to be performed by each race. A defense like dog bulldog can live in a small apartment as well as the boxer, although the latter need more outdoor exercise, but a great dane or bull-mastiff hardly achieve a balance of character and health if you do not have a garden to expand.

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The Australian Silky Terrier

The Silky Terrier was created in Australia by some fans who wanted a dog of small size, but that was more robust and solid than some breeds of company. From the Skye Terrier and the small erect ears Yorkshire Terrier, after several crosses with different percentage of blood of either race, won and set the Silky Terrier, which retains the characteristics and hunter instinct and layer Skye Terrier and the small size of the Yorkshire Terrier.

The breed was recognized in 1962 by the FCI and the same year he set the standard, which was updated a few years later. It is logical, therefore, that this dog is not yet widespread, but is beginning to find enthusiastic and passionate.

Appearance
It is compact, so moderately low, moderately long, with a refined structure but with enough substance to suggest the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents. It should display Terrier characteristics, showing a sharp vivacity, activity and vigor. The coat silky, smooth and cut in half forming a stripe gives it a neat appearance.

Head and skull
The head is of moderate length, slightly shorter from the tip of the nose to the area between the eyes, which from the same position to the occiput. The head should be strong with Terrier characteristics, being moderately broad between the ears, the skull, without curves flattened between the eyes, is provided with a tuft of fine silky hair that covers the eyes (a long fall is reprehensible hair on the front or cheek).

The nose should be black.
Eyes: small, round, not prominent, its color should be as dark as possible with an expression of keen intelligence.
Ears: Should be small, in a "V", the flag is thin, set high on the skull, the leads are completely devoid erect and long hair.
Jaws / Teeth: Jaws strong, teeth and tight uniforms, the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower (scissor bite).
Adherent and thin lips.

Neck
Medium length, refined and slightly arched, gracefully inserted shoulders. Well covered with long silky hair.

Body
Should be moderately long in proportion to the height of the dog. Topline straight, well sprung ribs extending back to the back to be strong. Chest of moderate depth and width. It is a serious offense if the top line is due or is convex.

Hindquarters
Well-developed thighs, knees and hocks should be well bent. Views from behind, the hocks should be well positioned below and parallel to each other.

Feet
Climbing shoes, small, well padded, toes close together, the nails must be black or very dark.

Tail
It must be amputated is set high and carried erect, but not too up. There should be provided with feathers.

Movement
Should be free, straight, showing no looseness at the shoulders and elbows, turning neither in nor out of his feet and pasterns.

The hindquarters should have strong propelling power with ample flexibility at stifles and hocks. Viewed from behind, the movement should be neither too narrow nor too broad.

Hair
Smooth, thin, shiny, silky texture, with hair length 13-15 cm (5-6 inches) from the posterior region of the ears to the tail set, but it should not prevent movement of the dog. The members must be free of long hair from carpal joint or the hock to toes.

Color
Blue and tan, blue and tan or gray, the more intense more appreciated. In the tail the color should be blue to very dark. It is desirable that the lock head blue or fawn. The distribution of blue and tan as follows: Fire around the base of the ears, nose and sides of the cheeks, blue from the base of the skull to the tip of the tail, on the forelegs to near the carpal joint and near hind hock joint. It shows a tan line below the knees and joints carpal and hock to the toes. Color fire around the anus. The color of the body should be free from smudging or dark shadows. The color black is permissible in puppies, but the blue color must be established at 18 months of age.

Size
Wither height: about 23 cm (about 9 inches) in males, in females slightly less.

Weight
Ideal weight 3.5 to 4.5 kg.

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Deafness in Dogs and Cats - Loss of Hearing

Deaf Dogs and Cats

Complete loss of hearing is called deafness, and can occur in one or both ears. A deafness of both ears is called bilateral, and one ear is called unilateral. It may also happen that the dog has a hearing threshold greater than in normal animals in one or both ears, denominating this condition partial deafness (hearing loss) of one or two ears.

Causes of deafness in dogs and cats

The causes of deafness in pets can be divided into two main categories: conduction deafness and sensor neural deafness. Conductive hearing loss in dogs is observed when there are disturbances in the transmission of sound vibrations to the inner ear and the auditory pathway. Any defect or disease that affects the dog's external ear canal, tympanic membrane, auditory pathway and / or middle ear may be grounds for conduction deafness.

Sensor neural hearing loss occurs when there are abnormalities in the inner ear structures in cochlear nerve and / or the auditory pathway anywhere on their way to the cerebral cortex. The main causes include hereditary deafness, neuronal damage by ototoxic substances (antibiotics such as gentamicin or diuretics such as furosemide) or senile deafness.

Hereditary deafness has been reported in many breeds of dogs and cats. It is caused by degeneration of the inner ear structures and spiral ganglion neurons. This process occurs during postnatal maturation of the auditory system. The clinical signs are among the first few weeks and the first 2 months of life. Were associated with a greater predisposition to hereditary deafness in dogs with predominantly white robe, blue or speckled gray. The breeds most often affected are: Dalmatian, English Setter, Australian Shepherd, Collie and Shetland Sheepdog limit, but has been reported in at least 54 breeds of dogs, including the Gran Danish Rye s, Boxer, Bull Terrier and Cocker Spaniel, including.

It is assumed that hereditary deafness in dogs is predominantly autosomal dominant, however, in the Bull terrier is described an autosomal recessive inheritance.

Brief concepts about inheritance of deafness in dogs and cats

The legacy of disease, genetic abnormalities, or traits is described: a) by the type of chromosome that is the abnormal gene (chromosome autosomal or sex chromosome), and b) if the trait is dominant or recessive. Autosomal diseases (such as deafness) are inherited through the non-sex chromosomes and sex-linked diseases are inherited through one of the "sex chromosomes", the X chromosome (diseases are not inherited by through the Y chromosome). Dominant inheritance occurs when an abnormal gene from one parent is capable of causing disease even though the matching gene from the other parent is normal. The abnormal gene exerts control over the outcome of the gene pair.

Recessive inheritance occurs when both genes must be abnormal to produce disease. If only one gene in the pair is abnormal, then the disease manifests slightly hard of hearing or not manifest. In other words, the normal gene can replace the pair of gene function, so that said abnormal gene recessive acts. However, an animal with a single defective gene is called a carrier, indicating that the disorder can happen to the puppies. Both parents must be carriers for the puppy is deaf.

Chance of inheriting deafness in dogs and cats

In the case of autosomal dominant inheritance: if one parent is a carrier and the other is normal, there is a 50% chance that each puppy inherits the abnormal gene and therefore the dominant feature. In other words, if we assume that in a litter with 4 cubs, one parent is a carrier of an abnormal gene for deafness, the statistical expectation is: 2 normal and 2 puppies deaf. This does not necessarily mean that puppies suffer hearing loss, but it does mean that each puppy has a 50:50 chance of inheriting it. Puppies that do not inherit the abnormal gene will not develop or pass deafness.

In the case of autosomal recessive: if both parents are carriers of an autosomal recessive trait, there is a 25% chance that a puppy inherits two abnormal genes and therefore manifest deafness, and 50% chance that a puppy inherits only one abnormal gene (thus being carrier). In other words, assuming that in a litter with 4 puppies, both parents are carriers (not manifest hearing loss), the statistical expectation is: 1 puppy with two normal chromosomes (normal), 2 puppies with one normal chromosome and one abnormal (carriers, without hearing loss), and one puppy with 2 abnormal chromosomes (deaf). This does not mean that this distribution will be observed compulsorily, but it does mean that each of the puppies has 1 in 4 chance of inheriting the disorder and a chance of being a carrier 50:50.

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