Pugs

Be warned; I'm about to talk about another dog that I don't particularly love.  I just can't love its face as much as I do the bulldogs.  But I'm going to talk about it because, well one of my friends asked me to, and, I hate to admit it, I did fall for one of these. What dog am I talking about? The pug. Friday night I was at a friend's house, and this friend has a little dog named Skittles. Now Skittles is one crazy dog, kinda like Nub the Mountain Feist, but she sure did love being rubbed. I don't particularly love Pugs because they've never seemed that cute to me, but this little dog won me over. I didn't think about using it as one of my posts until a friend asked me to write about Pugs or Pomeranians. Well guess what? Skittles is a mix of those two breeds. I guess it was fate. So, I decided to write about Pugs.

(Not Skittles)

General Information:

• "Smushed in face"
• Have short noses 
• Face wrinkles
• Aims to please
• Curly tail
• Typically a lazy dog, but will become active if owner is
• Playful and charming
• Weight: 14 to 18 pounds
• Height: 10-14 inches

Health:

• May have trouble breathing, especially in warm weather
• Eyes may pop out, especially if collar/ leash is too tight
• Be careful not overfeed
• Exercise every day, but don't let them overheat!
• Life expectancy: 12-15 years

Grooming:

• Minimal, but do shed some
• Must clean wrinkles on face

Environment:

• Good for apartments because of its small size

Type of Owner:

• Great for families
• Get along with other pets and with visitors

Now after reading a little bit more about Pugs, watching a video, and meeting Skittles, I think I have to rethink my opinion about this dog.  They may not look the cutest in pictures, but their personalities more than make up for it.  But it scares me a little that its eyes may pop out!  That's something I'll have to consider...

(Thanks to Dogs101, AKC, and DogBreedInfo!)

Black Labrador

So in my previous post, I talked about Pumpkin, a Greyhound/Chihuahua mix.  Well Pumpkin has a little buddy.  Okay, maybe he isn't so little.  But he sure thinks he is!  He lets Pumpkin run circles around him, and doesn't even try to argue.  This dog is so loving and just wants the people around him to be happy.  He's a big teddy bear.  He hates thunderstorms, running inside whenever one hits.  This dog's name is Luke.  And he is a Black Lab.  Now, I'm not going to lie and say that I know for sure that Luke is a full Black Lab.  But it's the closest I could come to describing him!

Now...on to the interesting part!

General Information:

• Most popular breed in the United States
• There are two different kinds, American and English
• American is tall and lanky
• English are heavier and bulkier
• Intelligent, even temperament, love to play, eager to please (like Luke)
• Height: 21- 24 inches
• Weight: 55-75 pounds
  

Health:

• Prone to hip and elbow dysplasia
• PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) and eye disorders

Grooming:

• Shed seasonally
• Brush and groom regularly
• Bathe or dry shampoo when necessary

Environment:

• Okay indoors
• Better to at least give this dog a decent yard to run around in

Type of Owner:

• Great for families
• Easily trained
• But also need a strong pack leader to overcome their playfulness

So even if Luke isn't a purebred Black Labrador, he sure has the characteristics of one, a truly loving and playful dog. This breed is just about the cutest breed in my opinion; if only they weren't so gosh darn big!

(Thanks to AKC, Dog Breed Info, and BlackLabrador for their information!)