A four-pound (1.8-kg) Yorkshire Terrier found abandoned in the New Guinea jungle became a sensation both during and after World War II, and is remembered not only as a war hero, but also as the first known therapy dog. The story begins in 1944, when a soldier found the dog, later named Smoky, in an…
The Bible is the source of many popular dog names, from Samson to Sheba, but only one breed of dog earned a mention in the Bible: the greyhound. Although generic dogs are noted throughout the Bible, the only time a specific breed is cited is in Proverbs, chapter 30. The King James version of the passage…
There are five main types of hunting dogs: hounds, gun dogs, terriers, curs, and feists. Not all of these types of hunting dogs are used throughout the world. Feists, for example, tend to be found primarily in the United States, especially in the Southern States. However, all of these types have ancient lineages, and they…
Illegal dogs include any breed of dog that is thought to be especially vicious and dangerous to the general public, regarding which a law has been passed restricting them in some way. There are no national laws that name certain dogs as illegal. There are a number of state, county, and city laws that restrict…
A “designer dog” is a relatively recent term, often used to describe a selectively cross-bred dog from purebred parents. Some dislike the term “designer dog,” and argue that it’s no different than any other mixed breed. However, a so-called designer dog is often priced as high, if not higher than, a purebred dog. The cost…
A sheepdog is a dog which has been bred and trained to work with sheep. Sheepdogs are often used in herding, to manage sheep flocks as they are moved and handled, and they may also work as guard dogs to protect the livestock from predators and poachers. A wide variety of dog breeds are used as sheep…
A Havanese is a breed of dog that originated in Cuba and was originally bred as playful companions for children of the Cuban aristocracy. The breed was also used for herding chicken and geese on family farms. It is part of the Bichon, or bearded, group of dogs. These dogs were once popular circus dogs…
The papillon is one of the oldest toy dog breeds in existence. Papillons and phalenes, the papillon’s sibling, are also one of the friendliest and most energetic of all the toy breeds. These dogs get their names for the shape of their ears. Papillon means butterfly in French, while phalene means night moth. The papillon has huge butterfly-like ears that stand straight…
Prairie dog burrows are detailed with separate tunnels and areas built for specific purposes. These expansive underground dwellings have areas defined by the intended activities, such as nurseries, sleeping areas, and toilet areas. The burrows are home to groups known as coteries, which may consist of tens of thousands of prairie dogs. A typical prairie…
A prairie dog is a burrowing rodent in the genus Cynomys, part of the squirrel family. The animals were once widely found across the Great Plains of North America, but they began to be treated as pests in the 1800s, when they were subjected to mass eradication campaigns. Although prairie dog colonies, known as towns, do still exist,…