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It is too often in the newspapers and on the television sets, pitbull attacks child for no reason! In order for this terrible trend to stop it is essential that owners of pitbulls take the necessary lessons, if need be regarding training pitbulls. More owners need to be aware of the fact that ignorance is not a good excuse in the area of owning and training pitbulls and this would surely get a positive response. The pitbull is actually the one of the best-behaved dogs on many popular lists that ranks individual breeds according to disposition and biting or attack frequencies.

It is not only necessary to the behavior and disposition of the pitbulls that they are trained properly and are handled decently. All too often pitbulls have fallen into very irresponsible owners who thought it would be fun to see such a vicious dog and show it off to friends however, these owners inevitably end up being the victims of vicious dog attacks. Lets examine some of the common beliefs surrounding pitbulls and how imperative training pitbulls from a very young age is absolutely essential.

Training Pitbull Puppies

In order for a pitbull to become aggressive, it has to be secluded for its younger years from other people as well as other animals. This is one of the worst things that an owner can do with a pitbull because they are very social and eager to please dogs that do not deserve the bad reputation that they have been given. It is so important to beginning training pitbull puppies by taking them in public and socializing them with other people and other dogs so that they do not become intimidated and therefore cause an attack later on in life when they are more mature.

Training pitbull puppies is a fun and rewarding experience because the more they can relate to other dogs and people the more loving and social they become. Training pitbulls is a very important step in raising a healthy, well-rounded dog that is well behaved and trustworthy. This is but one small step in the training pitbulls experience and for the sake of argument, it could be said that the pitbulls become more at ease with themselves as well as strangers when they are well socialized.

It is both sad and disturbing that pitbulls have gotten the negative media that they have received in recent years because it is all mostly due to the factors in training pitbulls as well as having irresponsible owners.

The Basenji is an ancient African pack hunting dog. She is fairly small in stature and cat like. She will tolerate older children if properly socialized at an early age. Remember to never leave any young child unsupervised with a puppy or dog for any length of time. She keeps herself so clean that she barely sheds. She is basically a quiet dog, rarely barking, although she can make a racket if she wants to.

The Basenji is probably unsuited for apartment life because she prefers to live in a pack. She also loves to chew, everything. If you try to fence her in, she will probably climb the fence to escape, as she is a climber and an escape artist. She needs plenty of exercise.

*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Basenji is approximately 17 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and about 24 pounds. The female should run about 17 inches to the withers and about 22 pounds.

*Special Health Considerations. All dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed. The Basenji has the following potential problems. Umbilical and Inguinal Hernias, PPM or Persistent Pupillary Membrane (related to the eye and generally does not cause symptoms), hypothyroidism (sluggish thyroid gland which can result in weight gain), certain eye anomalies, canine hip dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint), Hemolytic Anemia (serious to deadly blood problem), small intestine problems and PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy (inherited disease of the retina that can cause vision loss and blindness).

*Grooming. The Basenji has a fine short coat with very pliant skin. She will clean herself like a cat and sheds very little so almost no coat brushing is necessary. Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

*Life Span. The Basenji can live between 10 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

*History. The Basenji has an amazing, ancient history. Likenesses of them are carved on Egyptian pharaohs tombs. The breed disappeared and were re-discovered in the Congo in 1895. The African people, Mangbetu and Azande used them singly and in packs to help chase game into nets. They were imported to England and America in the 1930 time frame. The AKC, American Kennel Association accepted them as a breed in 1943.

*Registries:
Basenji Club of America
CKC Continental Kennel Club
FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
AKC American Kennel Club
UKC United Kennel Club
NKC National Kennel Club
APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
CKC Continental Kennel Club

Category: Hound, Sight hound, Hunting dog.

Terms To Describe The Breed: Alert, affectionate, intelligent, independent, swift, elegant, graceful,

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Rarely barks.
She keeps herself very clean.
Highly intelligent.
They form a strong bond with their human family.
Sheds very little.
Almost no dog odor.

*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Does not like water or getting wet.
May test her limits just for fun.
Can become very destructive if left alone too long.
Territorial, can be hostile to other dog and animals.
They are fence climbers.
Will chew most everything.
Rarely barks but can make plenty of noise.
Not a scary looking watch dog.

*Other Names Known By: Barkless Dog, Zaire Terrier, Congo Terrier

The Poodle is said to be one of the smartest members of the canine world. For anyone who has had a Poodle, there's no doubt that these dogs will go out of their way to get their way, attract your attention or accomplish any other feat they have on their minds.

There are no less than a half dozen countries that claim the origins of the Poodle, but the official consensus is that this breed probably originated in France. Even if the French weren't the originators of the breed, there's no doubt that they greatly boosted the popularity of the breed. Because of the intelligence and attractiveness of this dog, the French used them as performers - leading to the common term "French Poodle."

When most people think of the Poodle today, they think of the pampered companion to families and individuals, usually with elaborate cuts, ribbons and painted toenails. That's a fairly common lifestyle for these elegant dogs, but that hasn't always been the case.

More than likely, the Poodle is descended from several water dogs. During the early years of this breed, the dogs were actually working dogs, taught to retrieve. They loved the water - a trait that emerges with many Poodles today. They were eager to plunge into any waterway in order to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl. They've also been used to perform other tasks. Some reports indicate that these dogs were taught to find truffles.

The Poodle is available in three distinct sizes - Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle. Other than size, there are only minor differences in the three. Depending on the canine organization in charge, they may even be judged together in dog shows. The Miniature Poodle usually weighs about fifteen pounds. The Toy Poodle, also called a Teacup Poodle, will typically weigh something less than ten pounds. The Standard Poodle is the largest of the three and may weigh up to seventy pounds or more. Many people note that the Standard Poodle is the most even-tempered of the three Poodles. They're typically calmer than their smaller counterparts, though socialization and training play very important roles in what these dogs become. The Standard also seems to require more exercise than the smaller Poodles, though they're very indifferent about what form the activities take.

One of the most often noted character traits of Poodles is their dislike of being left alone. They seem to think they've been abandoned, even if left alone for only a few hours at a time. These dogs will certainly find ways to repay an absent master - some of them very creative. Returning to find that furniture has been torn up and all manner of havoc wreaked is not uncommon with Poodles. Remember that natural intelligence and it's easy to understand that these dogs don't need to be left to their own devices with nothing to occupy their minds.

Though companion and pet are arguably the most common reasons for owning Poodles, these dogs can still be trained for a myriad of tasks. They are still sometimes used as hunting dogs and may be excellent watchdogs.