The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world and is named after the state Chihuahua on Mexico. The height of the dog is between six and ten inches and the weight 1,5 and 3,0 kg. Chihuahua breeders frequently use terms as miniature, teacup, tiny toy, apple headed or deer headed to describe puppies.

         Exists two types of Chihuahua if we are to take after their coat: the long coat and the smooth- coat which genetically are the same breed. The first one is actually smoother to the touch, having soft, fine guard hairs and a downy undercoat which gives them their fluffy appearance and the second one does not mean that hair is necessarily smooth, as the hair can range from having a velvet touch to a whiskery feeling.

         This breed has a large number of colors such as: sable, Irish spotting, Dalmatian spotting, piebald spotting, extreme black spotting, brindle, masks, tan points, red, white, black, merle, orange and last but not least fawn. Colors and patterns can combine and affect each other , resulting in a very high degree of variation.

         The Chihuahua dogs are protective, can be easily provoked to attack and are consequently generally unsuitable for homes with small children. They can have genetically anomalies frequently neurological ones, such as epilepsy and seizure disorders. Chihuahua dogs can also be at risk foe hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. This can be combated with frequent feedings. Signs of hypoglycemia include lethargy, sleepiness , low energy, uncoordinated walking, unfocused eyes and spasm of the neck muscles.

         Due to their small size even little high fat or sugary treats can result in an overweight Chihuahua. Overweight Chihuahua dogs are impressionable to having an increase rate of joint injuries, tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis and shortened lifespan.

         Even if you are single or your family has a very large number of members, you can choose a Chihuahua because this breed gives you affection and love. Due to the fact that they have health problems , the lifespan for a Chihuahua is around 10 to 17 years.

Chihuahua Dog Pictures Gallery

         The Old English Sheepdog is known as a powerful, compact and well shaped dog. At a first look you will be able to see the topline lower at the shoulders displacing higher towards the back end. The chest is wide and big. The main characteristics of this breed are the ears that are medium and which are carried flat to the head, the teeth which meet in a level or by contrary tight scissors bite. The eyes might vary from brown to blue or even one of each colour. Another specific characteristic is given by the legs: the front ones are extremely straight while the hind ones are more round and muscular. At the end of the legs you will be surprised to find some well arched toes. When it comes to the tail, as the name says: Bobtail, the dog is born tailless. The coat is made up of two different textures: the outer coat is long and luxuriant while the undercoat is smooth and waterproof. Its colour can be gray, grizzle, blue, variations of blue like blue gray, blue merle and last but not least gray with white marking or vice versus.

         The temperament of the Old English Sheepdog can be described as a steady and happy – go – lucky one. They possess the ability to easily change to different conditions, they are adoring and friendly. They are perfect for a family , especially for a one that has children because they are easily loved by children due to their friendly and gentle attitude. They have also a powerful herding instinct, but they can be easily taught how to get rid of such behavior. For a better relationship with such a dog you should make some rules from the very beginning and make sure that the dog understands and obeys them. In this way you will avoid a strong – willed behavior from its side. You will be the perfect owner if you manage to combine the firm, calm, confident and consistent leadership. One can easily recognize the bark of the Old English Sheepdog as it sounds like a cracked bell. A positive thing for those who love puppies is the fact that this breed remains puppy – like for a long period and by this I mean a few years, but then it`s the age that tends to hit them all of a sudden.

         The height and the weight of the Old English Sheepdog varies from dogs to bitches. The dog`s height is from 22 to 24 inches (56 – 61 cm) while bitches don`t grow more than 20 – 22 inches (51 cm). When it comes to their weight, we can only refer to their average dimension: the dogs can reach 65 pounds (29 kg) and the bitches 60 pounds (27 kg). There are also exceptions when they gain over 100 pounds (45 kg).

         If you find this breed perfect for you and your family you should take into consideration its health problems, too: they are prone to IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia), hip dysplasia and cataracts. They are perfect for a small yard and even a flat if they are well exercised. You should take them out for a daily walk, but remember they love hard working and running. The life expectancy of this breed is 10 to 12 years.

Old English Sheepdog Pictures Gallery

         The English Bulldog was bred in England and it is the result of a cross between the Mastiff and the Pug. Primarily, they were used for bull-baiting – a sport which was very popular in the 17th century. Bull – baiting consisted in placing a bull in a specially constructed ring and tied to an iron stake so that it could not move outside of an area larger than 30 feet and the role of the dog was to immobilize the bull. But today` s English Bulldog is the result of the crossing the original Old English Bulldog with the pug. That is why the bulldog that we see today looks tough and cannot any longer perform the job for which it was primarily created for.

         A bulldog can easily be recognized by its thick shoulders and its matching head: a brow which is made of thick folds of skin, the eyes are round and black but far apart, a short muzzle right above the nose, dropping lips and pointy teeth. The body is covered with short, flat and sleek hair and its color can go from red, fawn, to white and even brindle. The tail of the bulldog does not need to be cut soon after birth as another important characteristic of this breed is the naturally short and curly tail. The size of a bulldog can differ. For example in the USA the size of a typical mature male is somewhere around 50 pounds, while the mature females can reach up to 45 pounds. On the hand, in the United Kingdom, the average male weights 55 pounds and the female only 50 pounds.

         When speaking about the temperament of the English Bulldog, you should know that they are docile and despite the fact that they might look a bit fat, you will be surprised to find out that they are fast movers over short distances. They are adorable, friendly, loveable but sometimes willful. Due to the fact that they are extremely friendly they are proper for a family with children. They also tend to get along well with other dogs or pets. Bulldogs are perfect for either a flat or a small yard but you should know that they are so attached to their home that they would never go outside of the yard all by themselves.

         The English Bulldog is prone to interdigital cysts, certain allergies or hip and joint issues. In order to avoid unwanted infections caused by moisture accumulation, you should clean the folds daily. They are also extremely sensitive to heat that is why during summer they should be kept in a shady place and be given more water.

English Bulldog Pictures Gallery

         The Siberian Husky is a breed which has a medium- size, dense- coat and is original from the eastern Siberia. This breed is recognizable by its thickly- furred double coat, stickle tail, erect triangular ears and distinctive markings. The Siberian Husky is an active breed, energetic and resilient.

         Siberian Huskies have a unique look as they have a thicker coat than most other breeds of dog, they can be colored in a variety of colors and patterns usually with white paws and legs, facial markings and tail tip. This breed can be colored in black and white, copper- red and white, gray and white or pure white though many individuals have blondish or piebald spotting. Striking masks, spectacles and different facial markings occur in wide variety. This breed incline to have a wolf- like appearance.

         The Siberian Husky has the eyes colored in blue, light blue, amber or brown. Some dogs may have one eye brown and other blue or one or both eyes half brown and half blue. The coat of this breed is thicker that most of breeds of dogs, containing two layers: a dense undercoat and aq longer topcoat of short, straight guard hairs. This protect the dogs effectively against low temperatures , but the coat also reflects heat in the summer. The nose of the Siberian Husky is black in gray , tan and black dogs, liver in copper- colored dogs, and can be flesh- colored in white dogs. The size of the breed is 53 to 60 cm tall at the withers and weighing between 20 to 27 kg for males while females have 51 to 56 cm tall at the withers and weighing between 16 to 23 kg.

         The Siberian Husky breed is known to howl rather than bark. The owner of the dog must practice exercises daily because this breed is an active one. The dogs are affectionate with people, stubborn, dominant and independent. When the dog is a puppy must be trained. It is known that this breed has a very highly intelligence being situated on the 45th rank. The dogs are very active because they were at the beginning bred to be a sled dog. If you don`t have enough time to give them attention or exercise they will get an unwanted behavior such as excessive howling , marking, chewing on furniture or crying.

         The Siberian Husky has genetically issues such as seizures, defects of the eye such as juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy. The lifespan for this breed is around twelve to fifteen years of age.

         Even if you are single or your family has a very large number of members, you can choose a Siberian Husky because this breed gives you affection and love. Due to the fact that they have health problems , the lifespan for a Siberian Husky is around 12 to 15 years.

Siberian Husky Dog Pictures Gallery

         No matter the breed that were are talking about, when it comes to standards it is commonly excepted that it depends on what the registry is interested in: whether on a dog to perform its job in an excellent manner, or on a dog whose appearance its idealistic. When talking about the Scottish Collie, it has been mainly treated as a show dog after its many appearances in different shows. After this sudden rise of popularity, it has been mainly been kept as a ring dog.

         The color of the coat at this breed comes in four distinct manners: sable, tricolor, blue merle and even white collies. Sable collies are the easiest to recognize as they resemble to Lassie which you have seen at least once on television. The sable color can vary from a light blonde to a radish – brown. The tricolor ones are mainly black and white but with tan markings. Then, the blue merle collies are the black – and – white dogs and, the last but not least, the white collies are mainly white on the body but with a touch of color which can be any of the previous and which can be seen on their head.

         The Scottish Collie is usually a healthy breed, but as well as other breeds it suffers from some specific diseases. So, this dog can be prone to PRA – progressive retinal atrophy, gastric torsion, dermatomyositis, collie nose (discoid lupus erythematosus) and demodicosis. Other diseases that may occur but which are less seen are seizures, canine hip dysplasia, microphthalmia and even cyclic neutropenia. But despite of all these diseases a Scottish Collie can live up to 14 years.

         When talking about the temperament of this breed, they are generally known as sweet and protective. The specialists say even that they are easy to train, due to their high level of intelligence and because they are eager to please you. Although sometimes you might find it a little clingy, this comes from their overdeveloped sense of loyalty. All in all, they are most of all herding dogs and they are perfect for the championship of a family or even other dogs. The Scottish Dogs are extremely playful, gentle and perfect for a family with children. If you want to buy one and you do not have plenty of space you should know that this breed has easily adapted to living in apartments, even though they need daily exercise.

Scottish Collie Dog Pictures Gallery

         If you are the type of person who thinks that cats were designed for indoors living and their existence should be all about making their owners feel loved and amused I have got just the right cat for you. Its name is the Ragdoll and it gathers all the above mentioned qualities plus a lucky bonus: its looks.

         The Ragdoll was created exclusively from stray cats and the breeder kept pursuing the growth of this type of cat not only for its silky not matted coat, but for its sweet and gentle personality. Ragdolls are indoor cats. They have absolutely no survival instinct for outdoors living. These cats are so calm and non aggressive that they have no idea how to defend themselves. In spite of their massive body and imposing stature they are total sweethearts.

         Ragdolls get along with children and other pets and are social creatures. They are crazy in love and supremely loyal to their owners. They will follow you around the house from room to room. They will watch you8 doing your chores and lend a helping paw. They want to be involved in everything you do because they are just crazy for you. Ragdoll kitties will act as if limp when you grab them, opposing no resistance. This is where the name comes from….the act like a rag doll. They are relaxed and lied back to the point that some people believed they are immune to pain.

         These giant sugar kitties have a large constitution. Males are liable to reach twenty pounds at maturity, while females can grow up to 15 pounds. The muscular and bony bodies display symmetry and grace and are covered with a semi long hair. Ragdolls have wonderfully blue eyes and semi-wide ears. The chins are always white and they have wedged heads. They come in three color varieties:
Mitted: a pointed exemplar with white abdomen and paws (or boots)
Pointed: displaying a darker color in their extremities
Bicolor: any combination including the following: white legs, abdomen and inverted V on the nose.

         These fellows love water and they might follow you around in the shower to play or splash around. They also like to play on the ground more than other cats instead of climbing on high furniture and jumping around from up high. These cats should never be left out if you are not there to supervise and take care of them. Ragdolls are what you call a lap cat. They are extremely trusting and friendly. When you are gone they’ll be waiting for you in front of the door. You’ll find them and see how happy they are to see you again. They will come when you call them and if you spoil and pet them they’ll go in “feet up” mode, displaying their bellies, which is a sign of complete abandonment on the part of any cat. They like to fetch things you throw and will have a dog like behavior in that they are as loyal and happy to be by your side.Wherever you are they’ll make all they can to be…either in your lap or at your feet. They totally depend on you and will absolutely charm you because they give everything.

Ragdoll Cats Pictures Gallery

         One step further along the path of exotic, breath-taking felines we stumble upon a fluffy adorable fellow : The Scottish Fold. These guys have an unexpected distinctive feature, their ears are folded giving them the look of an odd sweet puffy creature whose ears have maybe vanished. Many say that the round, big head with huge amber or yellow eyes resembles an owl. If you ever get the chance of owning such a rare pet you will find it is nothing like an owl….except maybe its strange look.

         The Scottish Fold has been first mentioned in the 1960’s when a man named William Ross came across some strange kittens in Scotland. He took one of the youngsters and continued breeding Susie (the first famous Scottish Fold) obtaining other folded ears cats. The particularity of the breed is due to a natural mutation caused by an incompletely dominant gene which causes the straight ears of the kittens to fold at about 3-4 weeks old.

         The round aspect of the kitty is contributed to by the round head with distanced large eyes and the short neck which connects the head to a medium sized body. The coat can be either short or long, creating thus particular lines among the breed which are known unde various names. The colors and their combinations as well as patterns accepted are virtually infinite. The Scottish Fold’s coat is very thick and soft. However the short hair individuals are said to shed little hair. The males are significantly larger than females. They weigh somewhere around 9-13 pounds, while females vary between 6to 8 pounds.

         Everything about The Scottish Fold will charm you and make you want it as your pet. Unfortunately the large request caused by the unusual and sweet appearance of this fur ball cannot be met by the offer. The Scottish Fold is not a very easy to get breed although its needs are not at all exaggerate and anyone with large affection resources can make it feel happy and at home.

         This cat is not noisy, and its voice is soft anyhow. It will be extremely loving with all your family members but it will display quite a bit of shyness when stranger are around. It is a good companion for children as it is not aggressive and it will get along perfectly with other pets you might have around the house.

         The Scottish Fold is a breed which has not been recognized by all animal associations as the breeding between two folded ears animals will most probably cause other serious and painful mutations. Therefore the British and European associations repeatedly refused to accept the breed as an official one.

Scottish Fold Cat Pictures Gallery

         Bombay cats are creatures of high vitally and energy. They are a relatively “young” breed having been obtained from the crossing of an American Shorthair and a Burmese. The American breeder who offered the world this shiny black diamond is Nikki Horner. She started her attempts at obtaining a “parlor panther” in the late 1950s and kept trying until she obtained the whished result in 1965. It was only seventeen years later that this cat would be officially allowed to participate into feline competitions.

         The Bombay cat is a happy and involved cat. It will follow you around the house. It will try to get involved in your daily work just because it enjoys spending time with you and it loves to offer its company. This is a highly social cat. It will run at the doorstep when it hears the doorbell and greet whoever is coming over. It is friendly to guests and children. It will muse you with its innumerable ways of playing and it will surprise you with its inventiveness. It loves to play with anything from little bits of paper to small paper balls. It is smart and playful enough to enjoy expensive and home made toys equally.

         There are two branches of the Bombay breed. One of them, the American one is known to have reoccurring malformed members. The kitties are born with cranial malformations and are put to sleep at birth. The other branch of the breed is the Australian one. Fortunately these kitties are happy and healthy; there has never been any report of genetically challenged members.

         Morphologically the Bombay is a bony, compact cat. Its strong muscles are very well developed and it is surprisingly robust for its dimensions. The head has a round shape and its large ears are set far apart. The eyes vary in color from greenish to copper. Copper is preferred by breeders and judging committees. The coat must be perfectly black. Undercoat and coat must be black, with the hair of a glossy black to the roots. Bombay members do not require high maintenance. The usual once a week combing, with a slightly more frequent rate in shedding seasons, will suffice.

         If your schedule requires long hours away from home and you are keen on getting a Bombay you should probably start considering another pet as a companion. Bombays get along fine with other animals in spite of the fact that they will tend to be the dominant one. Under no circumstances should you make this pet spend time alone on a regular basis. This is a highly people oriented animal and also considerably social. It will feel miserable and may even display unwanted behavior if left alone too long. Bombay cats want and will require lots of attention. They are not the quiet Chartreux or the independent Russian Blue. They are quite vocal and will “talk” to you…….some members more than the others. Just know that should their food ball ever be empty or should they feel neglected you will definitely hear from them. This is a breed that can be successfully trained to walk on a leash, so it can always fill in for those “dog” qualities you may have dreamt of when planning to go for a spin. They will cuddle beside you and you may even find them under the blankets with you, as they are always seeking heat and affection.

Bombay Cat Pictures Gallery

         If you have ever seen the ancient Egyptian stone paintings you will definitely be shocked when you first see an Abyssinian: this cat’s resemblance with the Egyptian praised cats is striking. A wedged head with big almond eyes and a pair of imposing ears make up the modern cat’s profile. What completes the wilderness which it inspires is the thick, short, particular colored coat as well as a small turf of hair between and sometimes at the top of the ears. The cat’s facial traits are sometimes underlined by darker or black thin lines which adds to their elegance and dramatic looks.

         The Abyssinian is one of the oldest cat breeds. Its existence has been reportedly detected as early as 4000 B.C. The scientists suspect that these felines are the same breed with the ones depicted in the Pharaohs’ Pyramid paintings and that they had been buried there too, as they were considered a sacred animal. Their name is believed to have been borrowed from the country they were imported from, which at that time (late XIXth century) was Abyssinia (currently Ethiopia). The war having ended the English brought back to the United Kingdom this exotic looking mammal. It was exported to the States at the dawn of the XXth century but it would be another thirty years until the breed would start competing in cat contests being organized by official associations.

         The physical appearance of the Abyssinian is that of a slender and gracious creature. It has long lean muscles which, in spite of the cat’s elegant look, are strong and well developed. The Abyssinian cat is the catwalk star of the feline world. The thick , shiny, perfectly tight coat contributes to the overall athletic pose. And this kitty really has a few moves up its sleeve. If you want a nice cuddly lap cat you can just forget about the Aby. This guy’s looks aren’t just a wrapping. It swarms with energy and it will be relentless. The males are larger than females and the weight varies between 4 and 6 pounds.

         The Abys are extremely intelligent and will seek human companionship all the time. They are not clingy but they do not take well to being left alone or not being paid attention to. They are great height lovers and will constantly surprise you with their ability to climb up the furniture, lamp, fridge or whatever heights in their reach. These elegant creatures hate being confined to small places and being deprived of their freedom as much as they hate being left alone or uncared for. They will make great family pets and will display amazing loyalty as long as you treat them fair. Their needs are not at all burdening. They’ll eat whatever you’re having as well as any quality cat food you provide. They may be water lovers and are said to quickly train you to play a number of their favorite games. This is an extremely active cat, you will only see it lying when it is sleeping. All day long it just begs to be a part of your activity.. it wants to lend a helping paw because it loves to be involved in everything you do. It is its personal way of saying that you mean the world and that you will never be left alone as long as you have an Aby as a pet. Fortunately, if lovingly taken care of these kitties will live past their fifteenth year.

Abyssinian Cats Pictures Gallery

         Remember Alice in Wonderland? Well, you might not know the story at all but I’m sure everyone has heard at least one time, until now, of the Cheshire cat, Carroll’s famous creation. The cute legendary character seems to have been inspired by the breed that gives this article’s title: the British Shorthair Cat.

         British Shorthairs are no news on the cat scene. They have been around for well over two millenniums and their history has been a turbulent one. Brought to the United Kingdom when its shape was still in mold, by the Roman invaders, this cat was put to a very good use. It was a redoubtable mouse catcher and the advanced, civilized Romans needed to keep their grains safe from pests. These were good times for the British Shorthair, as they were also used as companions and valued for their use. Later times will prove less favorable to these puffy creatures. With the rise of Christianity and its Witch hunt paranoia cats were often gathered and slaughtered as they were held to be the Devil’s messengers. This stupid and violent episode was to be repeated, in the form of a much bigger worldwide catastrophe, during the first World War The cut in the British Shorthair population was so dramatic that they had to be bred with Persians, Russian Blue or Chartreux to re-establish the breed.

         When it comes to describing the British Shorthair it is all about round shapes and sweetness. The head is round, with well rounded cheeks, a powerful chin and medium sized ears which go with the round shape of the head. The body is robust and well anchored on two short strong feet which end in round wide paws. The neck is short and powerful. The British Shorthair looks like a living and walking teddy-bear who will occasionally purr. ?It is simply irresistible due to its thick and rich coat that has a plush feel to it. The traditional fur color is blue, but breeding with stray cats have created a generous gallery of patterns, colors and combinations that include over thirty internationally accepted possibilities.

         British Shorthairs are known to be intelligent and low maintenance cats. They’ll need some combing at least once a week to get rid of the falling hair, but aside that, these cats are said to be capable of taking care of their coat themselves. Eyes are huge and round with copper color, usually. This kitty will not bore you with its noise or attention seeking. It is a discrete presence in your family and it will enjoy being by your side most of the time. However these cats feel the need to have time alone and they are perfect choices for those who can’t be home all of the time. British Shorthairs are very calm cats and they will get along well with children although they will tend to be more attached to the people who are able to respect its habits and space. A medium active cat, it will spend most of its time snoozing quietly while you are away, especially as it gets older. Maturing takes approximately four years with these fellows, but they will be adorable regardless age. Males are much bigger than females and the breed has medium to large members altogether. Prices vary according to the pet’s quality but this is not an easy to find breed, nor a cheap one.

British Shorthair Cat Pictures Gallery