 The Boxer is a compact and powerful breed. They have a short muzzle and distinct face that cannot be missed. Naturally, their ears are set high and straight, but today that is rare. They have a very muscular body and are come in colours of fawn, brindle, black, mahogany and often white markings. They can also come in a white coat though some clubs won’t allow pure white boxers to be registered. The Boxer originated in Germany in the 19th Century, they were developed by breeding two German mastiff dogs, the Bullenbeiszer and the Barenbeiszer. At a later time they were crossed with very powerful ancestors of the Bulldog and Mastiff. During this time the Boxer was used for cart pulling, dog fighting, bull baiting and also to round up livestock or pin down pray until the hunters could arrive. Later on they were popular as theatre and circus dogs. They are great as watchdogs, guarders, search and rescue and police work. The breed standard was never really set until the first studbook started in 1904, before this time the Boxer’s carried in appearance and size. Their name is believed to have come from the way they use their front legs, they appear to ‘box’ with them as they bat with their front legs. Today, there are two breeds of Boxer; the German Boxer and American Boxer with the German having a larger head and generally a more muscular body. Today, the Boxer makes a great family pet for an energetic house hold. They are a very happy breed of dog, high spirited and very intelligent. Their eagerness to please makes them very easy to train. They are an extremely loyal and affectionate mate who bones very closely with their family; they are also great with kids. With plenty of socialisation and the right training they will happily get along with other house hold pets too. They can be a very entertaining pet, bursting with personality they bring a lot of happiness to an environment. They will be very welcoming to known visitors but can be stand offish and protective of their family with strangers. The Boxer needs a strong, calm leader who will set the rules. They require a lot of human leadership and without this can become destructive and a very unhappy dog. Although we enjoy the thought of our dogs doing as they please, this isn’t a healthy state of mind for a dog and Boxer, especially, cannot live a happy, balanced life without rules. Being an athletic dog they need daily exercise. Not only will this help to keep them fit, it will help their very smart minds to keep busy. Lack of stimulation will again result in destructive behaviour and a dog that won’t listen. Long, daily runs are ideal and any form of mental stimulation is great, they will enjoy fetch and toy games. Grooming is simple with their short coat and some Boxers have been known to clean themselves, similar to a cat. The breed is prone to skin allergies and from the age of 8 onwards is more likely to get tumours more than other breeds. Arthritis and hip dysplasia are also common so a good understanding of your dog’s capability as they age is essential. The Boxer will make the perfect addition the right family, with a firm yet confident owner and a family with a good knowledge of the breed and the time to exercise and stimulate their pooch. 
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As promised, some more great articles from Cesar Millan;
Having a hyper dog is a dog problem with many possible causes and solutions. Many hyper dog problems stem from boredom and a lack of stimulation. So in order to address the dog problem, you have to assess the way you are interacting with your dog and the kind of activity your dog gets on a daily basis. Here are some simple techniques you can try at home to work to calm your hyperactive dog. Ignore the hyper dog behavior. Dogs seek attention from you. By paying attention to the hyper dog during outbursts, you’re reinforcing the very dog problem behavior that you're trying to eliminate. The next time your dog is jumping or nipping at you in an overexcited way, give it a try -- no touch, no talk, no eye contact -- and see how you fare. You might be surprised how quickly the dog settles down. Give your dog a job. Having a task to focus on can help tremendously. Hyperactivity in dogs can come from psychological needs as easily as it can from physical needs. By giving your dog a job to do, you are removing his hyperactive dog behavior and are redirecting his energy elsewhere. For instance, having your dog wear a dog backpack with extra weight will keep your dog focused on carrying instead of getting distracted by squirrels and other things. Go for a dog walk to redirect dog's high energy. If your dog has a lot of built-up energy, a really vigorous dog walk is another excellent way to redirect it where YOU want it to go. Once you’ve burned that extra energy away, your dog should be pleasantly exhausted and too tuckered out to jump and nip. Without that frustration, he’ll find it much easier to relax. Check your own energy. Your dog is your mirror. Any energy you project, he will reflect back. Are you in a calm assertive state of mind? Are you projecting a confident pack leader energy? Are you stressing out over an argument, or burdened with the worries of the workweek? Nervous or anxious moods can translate into nervous or anxious body language or tones of voice, and can affect the energy of your dog. So be the pack leader and stay in tune with your energy. Try out aromatherapy. Don’t forget that dogs experience the world primarily by scent! Just as the smell of lavender is said to relax human beings, a soothing smell can also have a very calming effect on your pet. Talk to your veterinarian or consult a holistic professional to find out what smells may work for your dog and which dispersal methods are the safest for him. Find more great tips on Cesar's WEBSITE! I think we all know about the great Cesar Millan and he is able to provide great advice and tips so over the next few weeks we will be sharing some of articles, especially on topics we get asked about a lot.
How can you tell if your dog is the pack leader? It's simple: if your dog jumps on you when you arrive home, she is the pack leader. If your dog jumps on your guests, she is making sure that these new arrivals also know she is in charge. What can you do to stop this hyper dog problem behavior? Establish yourself as pack leader. When a dog doesn't have a clear pack leader, she tries to fill the vacant role, usually to disastrous results (for the owner and for the dog!) The pack leader leads by projecting a calm-assertive energy. Don't shower your dog with affection when you walk through the door. This kind of attention is wonderful for a human child, but not for a dog. Remember dogs are animals, and the kindest thing you can do is to treat your dog like a dog and communicate in a way he'll understand. Correct dog jumping problem behavior. The dog’s mom, the ultimate pack leader, would never tolerate inappropriate activity. If she sees something she doesn’t like, she stops it by moving the puppy out of the way in a calm-assertive manner. The puppy learns an important boundary from the lesson, and her firm and unambiguous leadership balances the puppy’s submissive role in the pack. When your guests arrive, ask your dog to sit patiently. Your dog will follow your commands when he respects you as his pack leader. Remember, the animal pack leader doesn’t negotiate to get what he or she wants. You can't be a leader only some of the time. Leadership is forever; inconsistency triggers confusion and anxiety in a dog and hyper dog behavior. Animal pack leaders never waver from their leadership role, and neither should you! Taken from; http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/problembehaviors/jumping-on-guests Hey there dog lovers! So we’ve been learning a lot from the previous Dogs of the Month here at the Resort and it seems they all enjoy bragging a little bit about their famous relatives… but do they have royalty in their blood lines?.... Being an ancient breed we’ve had our fair share of celebrities in the Cavalier family, one of the oldest known was owned by Mary Queen of Scots. She was beheaded in 1587 and it’s believed she had a toy spaniel under her skirt at the time. She had a beloved pooch who never left her side and is understood that it was an early forerunner of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Obviously, The King Charles’ played a big role in the Cavalier’s lives. King Charles I had his devoted pal Rogue who also never left his side and accompanied the king to his execution in 1649. King Charles II, known as the ‘Cavalier King’ was always seen with a number of spaniels with him wherever he went. There were complaints in the courts about his dogs but in Charles’ time he made it clear that no public building could be ‘off limits’ to a spaniel, including Parliament. Charles II brother James II was equally impressed with the toy spaniels and is quoted as shouting at sea during a severe storm, ‘Save the dogs and the Duke of Monmouth (the king’s son) !’ John Churchill, the first duke of Malborough breed toy ‘Malborough Spaniels’ at Blenheim Castle, given the name Blenheim which is used today for chestnut and white Cavaliers. Today, pure Blenheim Cavalier’s will have the characteristic ‘brown mark’ on the top of their head. The Duchess of Marlborough is credited for this, with the story saying that she rubbed the head of a pregnant spaniel with her thumb out of worry for her husband whilst he was in France. This is believed to have led to his troops victory against Louis XIV at the battle of Blenheim. So there’s some interesting history of the royals in the Cavalier family. We hope you treat you pooch like a true King or Queen – especially if they’re Cavaliers!!! Have a great weekend, Tommy, Benny, Sammy and Warnie!   The English Springer Spaniel is a medium sized compact dog who was the original founder of all English hunting spaniels. They were considered the ideal companion for the European hunter during the Renaissance and became very popular throughout American from the 1700’s. The Sussex, Welsh, Field, Irish Water and Cocker Spaniels were all developed out of the Springer Spaniel. At one stage the Cocker and Springer Spaniel were considered the same breed as they were born in the same litter. The smaller of the dogs were Cocker Spaniels and used for hunting woodcock. The large were Springer Spaniels and used to spring on game – hence their name. It wasn’t until 1910 that the English Springer Spaniel was recognized as its own breed.
Their extreme drive and talent for tracking, retrieving, watchdog, agility and obedience was what made them the ideal mate for hunting. They have a very gentle nature, are very sociable and are great with kids so are ideal for a family. They are quick learners so very easy to train but their rules need to be made clear and they thrive best with an owner who can give them consistent structure. If it isn’t made clear who is in charge they can be argumentative. They require a lot of mental and physical stimulation so daily walks are a must. Plenty of games are required to keep their mind busy and a lot of socialization with people and other pets will help with that, keep in mind as they are natural fowl hunters they shouldn’t be trusted with birds. It’s always best to remember what this dogs roots are, they love to retrieve and love to swim! There are two types of Springer Spaniels, field lines and show lines. Field spaniels are bred for hunting and trial work, show spaniels are bred to show off their appearance and have more liver or black in their coat, their coats are also longer and fuller. Both types of Springer Spaniels are very intelligent, energetic though field lines have a higher energy level and drive. The coat of a field Springer is quite easy to maintain and regular brushing will help to keep it healthy. Show Springer’s require more attention, their coat needs daily brushing to avoid matting. Mats occur once the long coat is wet and if not attended to immediately will tighten and become more painful as they get wetter. Due to the fact this breed loved water this is a regular job. They are prone to ear infections so their ears need to be checked regularly and it’s best to shave the underside of the ears. Bathing should only be done when necessary and they are an average shedder.  We've come across this fantastic article written by the great, Cesar Millan, on humanizing our pets and how unhealthy some behaviours actually are;
One of the most important things I want to get across is that dogs are dogs — not humans!
Understanding and projecting a pack leader’s calm-assertive energy will create a positive and lasting connection with your dog. This arctile was found at; http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/basics/humanizing-your-dog  The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small, eager and lively little dog. The breed originated in the late 1600’s and are the result of the King Charles Spaniel being crossed with the Pug, making them a smaller dog with flatter noses, upturned faces and rounder heads. They were named for King Charles II and in the 1920’s a large amount of money was offered by Roswell Eldrige, an American desperate to find someone that had a dog similar to those appearing in Van Dyck’s painting of King Charles II, before the Pug’s were bred in. It wasn’t until the 1940’s that they were classified as their own breed and there for given the prefix Cavalier, to differentiate them from their forbears.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as we know them today, are the product of the late 1920’s American breeders, though the modern breed in the true heir to the royal spaniels of King Charles II. They make an excellent addition to any family, they are an affectionate and happy dog. Always eager to please they are fearless and respond well to gentle obedience training, they need to rules to follow and must know their limits. They are said to be naturally well behaved and get along well with not only other dog but non canine pets too. They love people and need constant companionship and shouldn’t be left alone all day. At any time they are going to be left alone it’s best to take them for a walk before you leave, this will put them in a natural rest mode. Due to their hunting background they have the instinct to chase, with their remarkable eye sight and sense of smell they are great for short hunts in open country. It’s best to socialize them well from a young age to avoid them being reserved with strangers as they can be a very pleasant companion dog. They are great to apartment life and are moderately active indoors so are happy enough with a small yard. They do have some common health issues to keep an eye on, eye disease can be hereditary in the breed as well as back trouble and dislocating patella (knee caps) Ear infections can be common and they do gain weight easily so they’re not a breed to over feed. A serious genetic heart condition, Mitral valve disease, can also cause early death. They don’t tend to cope well in warmer weather and need to be monitored in these times. It’s best to check the medical history of the previous generation if possible; if not make sure you regularly keep check with your vet. Play times will take care of most of their exercise requirements although all breed do require their primal instinct to walk, a daily walk is enough the Cavalier. Their coat is easily maintained with regular brushing and only bathing when necessary. The long hair between their pads needs to be trimmed and their ears are prone to tangling and matting so need to be brushed daily. Cleaning inside of the ears regularly will also help to prevent ear infections. You will find Cavalier’s in a variety of colors; Prince Charles – Tri colour. King Charles – Black and Tan Ruby – rich mahogany Red. Blenheim – Red & White.  Bruce The Basset Hound is a short, relatively heavy dog. They are an old breed, a direct descendant of the Bloodhound and their nose is almost as outstanding! Their name comes from the French word ‘bas’ which means ‘low.’ Some say that the Basset Hound originally came from ‘genetic dwarf dogs’ that were born in different litters of hunting dogs.
Their popularity began when a Basset Hound was first presented in a Paris dog show back in 1863. They were even mentioned by Shakespeare, who described their ears as ‘ears which sweep away the morning dew.’ It didn’t take long for them to become popular in England, then to America where they felt they could be companion dogs, show dogs and hunters. In 1885 they were recognized by the American Kennel Club as dogs that can hunt in pack or alone and were brave enough to hunt in the den or out in the open. Although their reflexes are slow they have a superb sense of smell and were good for hunting fox, hare and pheasant. Because they are slower to move on their feet they were also easier for their hunters to keep up with and were less likely to scare their game out of reach. It is believed George Washing owned Basset Hounds. The Basset Hound fits well into a family lifestyle. They are a very sweet, peaceful and devoted dog who is naturally well behaved. They are never vicious or harsh and would only show behavioral issues if they felt they were the pack leader, they require a firm and confident owner who can set rules and stick to them. They are a mild mannered dog but not timid and are great with children and very affectionate with their owner. They can be difficult to house train but with patience and positive reinforcement they can be taught anything. It can be difficult to keep their attention if their nose becomes distracted! The Basset can easily gain too much weight so do require daily, long walks – this will also help to keep them mentally stimulated. Off leash should only be considered in a safe, secure environment, if their nose picks up a scent they may not even hear you calling them back! If given the chance they will run and play all day long. Their weight needs to be closely monitored so along with good exercise their food should be of good quality and not over fed. Too much weight puts a lot of stress on their spine and legs and they are prone to paralysis, they are better to be kept on the lighter side. Another issue for the breed is Bloat so it’s best to feed them multiple smaller meals during the day instead of one large meal. Their smooth, shorthaired coat is easy to groom though their ears should be cleaned regularly as well as having their toe nails clipped. |
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