Great Pyrenees Information

Great Pyrenees Temperament

A gentle, friendly, and affectionate breed, the Great Pyrenees loves the companionship of humans, and is a great choice for a family pet for those that have adequate space for this giant dog to get some exercise. The Great Pyrenees is very intelligent and quick to learn, and is a courageous and protective dog that makes for a good watchdog. These dogs can be stubborn and very independent, which makes them more suited to those with some experience of dog ownership. Although generally quiet and inactive indoors, these dogs love to release some of their pent up energy when outdoors, and love to play and enjoy a range of outdoor activities.

The Great Pyrenees gets on well with children when raised with them, but their size can prove a problem when it comes to very small children. He is gentle and protective with children. He will usually be protective of other animals in the household too, but may chase strange animals away. It is important to be assertive and confident with the Great Pyrenees, as he can otherwise assume leadership and become bossy. Early obedience training and socialization are important for this breed. The Great Pyrenees is a dog that likes to wander off and explore, so you should ensure that he is always in a secured area with appropriate fencing or on a leash.

Great Pyrenees Appearance

The coat of the Great Pyrenees is long and coarse, and has a dense but fine undercoat. The coloring of the Great Pyrenees is white, although some may have markings in gray, reddish brown, or tan. This giant dog looks cuddly because of his long coat, but actually has a sturdy build and carries himself with elegance and dignity. He has a sweet and gentle expression. The weight of the Great Pyrenees is around 85-130 pounds, and the height is 25-29 inches for females and 27-32 inches for males.

Great Pyrenees Grooming

When it comes to grooming you will need to brush the coat of the Great Pyrenees on a weekly basis, and you will need to keep the eyebrows trimmed so that the dog can see properly. You will need to step up the grooming when he is shedding more heavily, which is twice yearly. The Great Pyrenees is a very heavy shedder, and is therefore not suited to those with allergies.

Great Pyrenees Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of the Great Pyrenees is around 8-12 years, and there are a number of health problems that are associated with the breed. This includes elbow dysplasia and HD, luxating patella, entropion, cataracts, bleeding problems, and spinal problems. The parents of the Great Pyrenees puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.

Great Pyrenees History

The Great Pyrenees originates in France, and was used to guard sheep from predators in the Pyrenees Mountains. They were also used to draw sleds. The Great Pyrenees was registered with the AKC in 1933.

Beagle Information

Beagle Temperament

Playful, good natured, and very sociable, the Beagle is a dog that is well suited to inexperienced dog owners as well as the more experienced. These are dogs that are well suited to households with children, as they get along well with kids. They also get on well and enjoy the company of other dogs in their pack. They have a tendency to chase smaller animals. The Beagle is a dog with bags of love and attention to give to his family. He is always happy to see you when you come home, and will wag his tail of and greet you with kisses. He is a dog that loves to explore and follow his nose! Sometimes his curious streak (what is that lovely smell and where is it coming from?) can lead him into trouble and even danger. Beagles love food and are always "starving hungry", or so they pretend, which makes them prone to obesity. So you must only feed him the right amount of food to fulfill his daily nutritional requirements, and no more.

Obedience training of a consistent nature is essential for this breed, as he can otherwise be stubborn and this can make it hard to get him to obey you. Younger Beagles love to chew, so don't leave this breed alone with your best furniture. The Beagle has a bright and cheerful disposition, and is a great companion dog. With strangers the Beagle can be vocal and territorial and their alertness and tendency to bark as a warning makes them good watchdogs. This breed loves to eat and when steal food whenever given the chance. He can also be very difficult to housebreak. The Beagle's tendency to wander off and explore means that you should ensure that he is in a very safe and secure, fenced area if he is allowed to play off the leash. He is an excellent digger and climber, and will dig under, or climb his way over, the fence if he sets his mind on it, so you must ensure that your fence is secure enough to keep him secure.

Beagle Appearance

There are two sized of Beagle, and in terms of height these vary from up to t13 inches and from 13-15 inches. The weight of a Beagle can vary from 16-30 pounds depending on his height. These dogs have short, sleek, and dense coats, and the coloring of the coat can vary and includes red and white, tan and white, lemon and white, blue shading, and the most common, which is tri-colored with black, tan and white. The ears of the breed fall to the sides of the face, and these dogs have wallowing dark eyes and an intelligent expression.

Beagle Grooming

The short, sleek coat of the Beagle does not take much in terms of maintenance, and a quick brushing and occasional wipe down with a damp cloth should help to keep the coat in good, glossy condition. You should ensure that you clean the ears of the Beagle regularly to reduce the chances of infections. He is a moderate year round shedder.

Beagle Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The Beagle has a life expectancy of around 10-14 years. There are various health problems and issues linked to this breed, and some of these include thyroid problems, epilepsy, spinal problems, cataracts, glaucoma, retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, and bleeding disorders. The parents of your Beagle puppy should have CERF and OFA certificates.

Beagle History

The Beagle is a dog that originates from Great Britain, and boasts a history that spans centuries, having been around since King Henry VIII was on the throne. Once bred for hare hunting, these dogs became very popular in the United States in the mid-twentieth century, becoming the most popular breed in America in the 1950s. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1885.

Affenpinscher Information

Affenpinscher Temperament

The Affenpinscher is a small dog with bags of curiosity and playfulness, and is a great choice for those with little experience with dogs as well as for those that are more experienced dog owners. This is a breed that is very playful and entertaining, and is alert and agile, but can also be suspicious towards others and can be very stubborn and strong willed. However, in most cases these toy dogs will get on fine with other family pets, and with older, considerate children, although they are not recommended for families with younger, boisterous children. You will need to quickly show this breed who is boss otherwise you may find your Affenpinscher to be very demanding and bossy. This is a sensitive breed, and is also intelligent and energetic. His stubborn streak can make training a little difficult, however, and he can be hard to house break.

This is a breed that makes a very good watchdog, and also a great exercise companion for those that want some company whilst taking a stroll or a jog. Some Affenpinschers may be afraid of heights, so bear this in mind when picking your dog up, as he may panic and try and jump down. All in all, however, you will find this to be a fun-loving and loyal breed that makes for an excellent little pet.

Affenpinscher Appearance

The weight of the Affenpinscher is around 7-12 pounds, and the height around 8-12 inches. He has a rough coat, which comes in a variety of colors including black and tan, black, gray, silver, and red. This is a sturdy little dog with an intelligent and alert expression. With proper grooming this breed does not shed very much, which is good news for those with allergies. The ears of the Affen are usually cropped, but can be left natural. Although sturdy in appearance, this breed is fine boned, so you should make sure that his spirited personality doesn't put him in dangers way, as he may try and jump around on and off furniture.

Affenpinscher Grooming

You should brush the coat of this breed once or twice a week to keep in good condition and to minimize on shedding. For show dogs the coat may need to be stripped every few months, where the dead coat is stripped off. The coat may also require some clipping to keep in looking its best.

Affenpinscher Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The lifespan of the Affenpinscher is around twelve to fourteen years, and this is generally quite a healthy and robust breed. However, there are health problems that can run in lines, and some of the more common ones include heart murmurs, Legg Perthes, luxating patella, and kidney problems.

Affenpinscher History

The Affenpinscher originates from Germany, and his name literally translates as Monkey Terrier in German - he was given this name because of his monkey-like expression and face. The breed can be traced back to around the seventeenth century, and was originally trained for ratting. He was registered with the AKC in 1936.

Top 10 AKC Ranked Dog Breeds

America's most loved dogs are now presented to you. These breeds are more famous or popular than others because a lot of people and dog lovers are breeding and owning them. They ranked because of their good attitude and worksmanship. When you talk about one of these breeds, most people would recognize how that dog looks and how wonderful the dog is. Majority of the top ranked dogs in the American Kennel Club(AKC) are easy to house-break because they have been tested already by many people. Most of these dogs are safe to keep in your family as well, and are noted of their loyalty to their master. They can also get along well with other animals and people. For breed specific information, please click on a photo below.

1.) Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dogs in the United States and belongs to the gundog group.

2.) Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier is a breed of toy dog bred in Lancashire and Yorkshire, England, from a number of other terriers, principally the Skye and the Manchester terriers.

3.) German Shepherd

The German Shepherd Dog or Alsatian is a kind of dog breed and belongs to a herding group.

4.) Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is a beautiful, strong, well-proportioned dog with a feathered, medium-length, cream to golden-colored coat.

5.) Beagle

The Beagle is a medium-sized dog and belongs to the hound group. It is very similar in appearance to a Foxhound with just a smaller and solid-looking version.






6.) Dachshund

The Dachshund is a long backed, short legged dog of minuscule height. It belongs to the hound group and is used as companions and seen in the show-ring.





7.) Boxer

The boxer is a medium sized dog, very muscular, powerful and deep chested. They have a short muzzle and a slightly upturned chin.







8.) Poodle

The Poodle is a noble, elegant and well balanced dog with a slender muzzle and long neck. They belong to the utility dog group and are now used as companions and performance dogs.

9.) Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu is an affectionate, playful and intelligent dog. They do love children and will accept other dogs and household pets if introduced from an early age.

10.) Miniature Schnauzer

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small sized dog. They are member of the utility group in Britain and Australia but in the working group in the United States.

Which Dog Should I Get?

If you want to have fun with your dog, be careful to choose the right breed or combination of breeds. Dogs do some things better than others.


If you wanted a dog who retrieves balls and sticks, but your dog never fetches anything, a terrier probably wasn't the right dog for you.

Dogs can do lots of things, but their heritage does determine whether they can do some things better than others.