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Dog Word of the Day: Spaniel Dog

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The world of dogs breeds is quite vast and in order to keep some sort of order, dog breeds are often divided into several categories often based on the type of work they were bred for and the spaniel dog sub-group is one of them. What is a spaniel dog? Spaniel dogs were hunting companions who were selectively bred to accomplish precise tasks to help out hunters in areas of dense bush. Today, there are several dog breeds listed under the spaniel dog category. On top of being used as hunting companions, spaniels dogs share some general distinctive physical traits which makes them quite easy to identify when compared to other types of dogs.

Francis Wheatly painting, Duke of Newcastle seated on his horse and four Clumber Spaniels.

What Were Spaniels Bred For?

As mentioned, spaniels dogs were bred for helping hunters. What did they do though exactly? Spaniel dogs are a type of gun dog, meaning that they assisted hunters using shotguns. In particular, spaniels were employed to flush out birds from dense bush.

Basically, spaniels would be quartering in close proximity to the hunter, sniffing around with their powerful noses in search of quarry in a zig-zag fashion. If the spaniel did find the birds, he would then drive them out of their hiding spots in dense bushes so that the hunter could aim and shoot.

The term used for depicting the action of driving the birds out of their hiding spots is “flushing” but the term “springing” can also be used. A spaniels’ flushing is therefore quite a different task and much more dynamic compared to the motionless pointing typical of pointers and the setting typical of setters.

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Some spaniels were mainly used on land, while the larger specimens were also trained to retrieve downed birds from lakes and streams. Several of these spaniels had curly, water-repellent coats.

Spaniel Dog Traits

On top of being bred to flush birds out of bushes, spaniels share some physical traits that make them distinguishable from other dogs. Spaniel dogs typically have long, drooping ears and a long silky coat. The coat is wavy, particularly on the ears, chest, abdomen and legs.

Spaniels are known for having a a gentle expression courtesy of their soulful eyes and their stubby or long tails are often wagging quickly.

When it comes to personality traits, spaniels are known for being highly intelligent and affectionate. Of course, these are general traits considering that it is difficult to narrow down specific traits when every spaniel is blessed with its own unique personality. Even within a litter of spaniels the differences between one pup and another despite being of the same breed can be quite broad.

Spaniel Dog Breed List

What dog breeds are categorized as spaniels? The American Kennel Club lists most spaniel dog breeds under the sporting group which encompasses pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels. The spaniels found in the American Kennel Club sporting group therefore consist of the following:

The American Water Spaniel

                  The Clumber Spaniel

   

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   The Cocker Spaniel

 The English Cocker Spaniel

                                                                                 The English Springer Spaniel

     The Welsh Springer Spaniel

 The Field Spaniel

 The Irish Water Spaniel

                                                                                The Sussex Spaniel

   The Boykin Spaniel

Other spaniels include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Blue Picardy Spaniel, German spaniel, Russian spaniel, and there are several more.

Did you know? The Brittany was once known as the Brittany spaniel but the word spaniel was then dropped because it turned out this dog was more of a pointer than a flusher. Since the 1980s the Brittany is therefore considered a pointer and the word spaniel is no longer used.

 

References:

The Sporting Spaniel Handbook, By Loren Spiotta-DiMare

Photo Credits:

  • Wikipedia, chien d’eau americain Awsguy1 – Own work CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia, Clumber Spaniel during show of dogs in Rybnik – Kamień, Poland Pleple2000 – Own work CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia, A black American Cocker Spaniel in a show cut. Томасина – Own work CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia, 1.5-year-old English Cocker Spaniel, Simon Gergely Vass CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia, English Springer Spaniel Elf  CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia, A Welsh Springer Spaniel Udo Tjalsma – Own work CCO
  • Wikipedia, Field Spaniel during World Dog Show in Poznań, Poland. Pleple2000 – Own work CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia, Irlandzki_spaniel_wodny na Światowej Wystawie Psów Rasowych w Poznaniu Pleple2000  CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia, Sussex Spaniel Pleple2000– Own work CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia, Boykin Spaniel Boykinspanieling – Own work, CCBYSA4.0

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What Dog Breed is Nicknamed the Jumping Up and Down Dog?

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Among the world of dogs, there are a variety of colorful terms used and some dog breeds are known by their nicknames. Have you ever heard about a dog breed nicknamed the “Jumping Up and Down Dog?” This nickname is quite curious and it may bring mental images of dogs jumping up and down like kangaroos or some dog on a pogo stick. Here’s a little hint: as one may assume, it would take quite an agile type of body for a dog to jump up and down. So today’s dog trivia question is

 

What dog breed is nicknamed the “Jumping Up and Down Dog?”

A Whippet

B Italian greyhound

C Australian Kelpie

D Basenji

The correct answer is: drum roll please…

 

 

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The correct answer is D, the dog breed nicknamed the jumping up and down dog is the basenji.

Origin of Name 

Perhaps most people know the basenji by his other more popular nicknames “the barkless dog” or “the soundless dog” which obviously refer to this breed’s tendency to yodel rather than bark, but the jumping up and down dog nickname merits some attention too.

Curiously, this nickname derives from this breed’s African name “m’bwa m’kube m’bwa wamwitu” (now try to pronounce that!) which translates to the “jumping up and down dog.”

Of course, the next question is “why are basenji known as the “jumping up and down dog” in the first place?”

 

Basenji Hunting Style 

The basenji dog breed is quite an ancient breed originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. Basenjis have a history of being used as hunting dogs, chasing animals and flushing them into nets for their hunters. Basenji were also used to keep the rodent population under control.

Their nickname “the jumping up and down dog” derives from this dog breed’s tendency to leap high over the tall grasses of his native land  so to take a quick peek around, checking for prey while airborne. Many basenji owners also report seeing their dogs stand on their rear legs,in a meerkat-like manner when their dogs are curious about something.

” It is marvelous to see one jump up and down in five feet high elephant grass, he almost seems to hover in the air at the top of his jump whilst he has a quick look around and scents the air. Hence, one of the African names M’bwa M’kube M’bwawamwitu, the jumping up and down dog.” ~Basenji Club of Great Britain

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A Body Built for Hunting

If we looks closely at the basenji, we will see a dog breed that was purposely designed for hunting. Curiously, the American Kennel Club bred standard informs us that this breed hunts both through sight and scent.

The whole facial features of the basenji denote alertness. The basenji’s ears are erect, ready to capture the faintest sounds. Courtesy of this breed’s smooth musculature, basenji move in an effortless gait that is depicted as resembling a racehorse trotting.

Interestingly, basenji are known for lacking the typical doggy odor of many dogs, a trait that may have helped them go undetected by other animals when hunting. The fact that basenji are bark-less may stem from their primitive heritage as silent hunters. Barking was a trait that was selectively bred by humans so dogs could alert them about the presence of animals or intruders. A dog’s ancestors were quiet hunters.

Did you know? Because basenji are silent on the trail, Congolese natives have them wear a bell made of wood, or iron, or the shell of a Borassus nut so they are aware of their whereabouts.

Not Everyon’es Cup of Tea

A dog that doesn’t bark but yodels, that’s virtually odor-less and that’s blessed with exotic looks, is sure to draw attention and many people may feel tempted to open their hearts and homes to a basenji, but they’re not everyone’s idea of the ideal dog.

Basenjis do cherish time with their families, but as a primitive breed with a history for hunting, they have characteristics that can make them not everyone’s cup of tea.

Basenji are very inquisitive, energetic, highly intelligent, independent and have a strong prey drive. They are escape artists who will do what it takes to get to the sight or scent of something that attracts them regardless if it means jumping over, crawling under or digging his way out. And when it comes to training, you really have to work on making it fun and worthy of his attention. Fail to do that and your basenji will walk away and look for something better to do.

Did you know? The Basenji Club of America offers a Basenji University guide for owners. The guide has interactive tests to help learn the basics about this breed.

 

References:

  • The Mythology of Dogs: Canine Legend, By Gerald Hausman, Loretta Hausman, St. Martin’s Griffin (December 15, 1997)
  • Basenji Club of America, Nature’s Masterpiece

Photo Credits:

  • Flickr Creative Commons, fugzu, Basenji in libertà CCBY2.0
  • Flickr Creative Commons, fugzu Barak e il giovane elefante 1 CCBY2.0
  • Pixabay, Dog Jumping Silhoutte Public Domain

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I am Your Dog’s Gums

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Unless your dog is yawning, you dog’s gums are for the most part hidden from plain view, but just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they are a part of your dog’s body that you should neglect! “Out of sight, out of mind” is a saying that shouldn’t apply to your dog’s gums. Forget about this important body part, and the impact can have a negative effect on your dog’s overall health, sometimes even causing debilitating conditions. Your dog’s gum are an important piece of dog anatomy and can provide quite some relevant information about your dog’s  overall state of health. So, don’t forget about your dog’s gums and make it a habit of paying  attention to how your dog’s gums look and feel when he’s healthy so that you have a baseline to refer to as needed.

Introducing Your Dog’s Gums

Hello, it’s your dog’s gums talking! Feel free to just call us gums, but if you want to be more technical you can also call us “gingivae.” Who are we? We are simply that lining of tissue that surrounds your dog’s teeth forming a tight seal around them.

Just like in humans, we are normally a healthy pink color, but unlike most humans, it’s not abnormal if you happen to notice some pigmented spots on us.

Some dog breeds and dog mixes have black in their mouths either on our surface, roof of the mouth or tongues or generally all around the dog’s mouth. Of course though, if your dog has developed a totally new spot you have never seen before, best to have it checked out by a vet just to play it safe!

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We Play a Protective Role

When we are nice and healthy, we form a tight, firm seal around your dog’s teeth. As you already know, your dog’s mouth is used to chew and ingest food and our job is to prevent food particles and bacteria from invading vulnerable underlying tissues along with the roots of your dog’s teeth.

Pink gums in healthy dog

We Provide Hints on Health

Because we are normally slimy and vascular in nature (we’re closely related to your dog’s circulatory system), we can give you some insights into your dog’s overall health. Dogs don’t get pale skin on their faces as humans do when they are sick, but take a peek at us and we can provide several hints as to how your dog is doing. Now, this explains why your vet skips feeling your dogs’ nose when your dog’s feeling under the weather and instead goes straight to taking a peek at your dog’s mouth instead.

Normally, when dogs are healthy, we are of a nice bubble gum pink color. This pink color is great news as it means your dog is getting enough oxygen circulating in his bloodstream. Any other gum color in dogs may be a sign of trouble and in some cases even an indication that the dog needs immediate care.

Knowing your dog’s normal gum color and how to check your dog’s gum can turn helpful should you  find yourself one day calling the emergency vet wondering if you need to take your dog in and they ask you to check the color of your dog’s gums.

Training your dog from an early age to have his mouth checked with praise and treats is extra helpful. Also because you may want to also learn how we feel. We are normally wet, slippery and slimy in healthy, well hydrated dogs. If we feel dry and sticky this can a sign of dehydration which can be seen when dogs are vomiting a whole lot or sick and in need of prompt veterinary treatment. Last but not least, don’t forget to learn how to check your dog’s capillary refill time.

When Things Go Wrong

Remember how we said that when we’re healthy we form a seal around your dog’s teeth to protect them? Well, problems start when we loosen up and that tight seal is lost. Why do we loosen up? It all starts with the presence of a sticky, bacterial bio-film.

After your dog eats, a sticky film made of a combination of bacteria, carbohydrates, food particles, and saliva forms and sticks to your dog’s teeth.

This sticky bio-film is commonly known as plaque. You can detect plaque forming on your teeth when you fail to brush your teeth on time, the same happens in dogs.

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Inflammation of Dog Gums

Unless your dog’s teeth are brushed on a routine basis, this plaque will keep accumulating and will stick around your dog’s teeth, the gingival grooves and under the gum line. When we detect this plaque getting in our way, our first reaction is to become inflamed. We will therefore become angry and red, swollen and we may even bleed, all symptoms of condition known as “gingivitis.” If the plaque is not removed in a timely manner by brushing, courtesy of minerals in a dog’s saliva, this plaque will start to harden, and in a few days, it will calcify turning into what’s known as tartar or calculus, an unsightly yellow/brown coating that is difficult to remove. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible with thorough teeth cleaning and polishing along with the owner’s daily care, as no bone loss has occurred at this stage, explains veterinary dentist Dr. Jean Hawkins.

Red gums and tartar

Receding Dog Gums

Left untreated, gingivitis worsens and will develop into periodontitis, a condition that affects anything surrounding a dog’s teeth including all the structures that hold the teeth in place. So when us gums are affected, we will no longer adhere to your dog’s teeth like a cuff. Instead, we will start pulling away from your dog’s teeth (gingival recession) up to to point of exposing the roots which are normally covered by us.

Soon, since we are no longer holding on tightly to provide our protective role, bacteria will start reaching the roots of the dog’s teeth and the jawbone, releasing toxins that eat away bone tissue.

Bone loss will weaken all the dental structures that keep a dog’s teeth anchored in place such as connective tissue fibers and ligaments, providing less and less support. Next, the bone around the tooth is destroyed leading to loose, painful teeth which can affect the dog’s ability to eat properly and even digest.

“It’s not unusual for middle aged dogs to lose teeth. In most cases this occurs when there is gum disease (gingivitis) which can then spread to the tissue that holds the tooth in (periodontitis).” Dr. Pete

Did you know?  According to the American Veterinary Dental College, by three years of age, most dogs have signs of periodontal disease

Systemic Disease

Remember how we talked about our importance in a dog’s health and how neglecting us can lead to serious disease? Well, here are the hard to swallow facts. Because we are very vascular, bacteria can easily gain access though us to a dog’s bloodstream and circulate throughout his body. While these bacteria may be filtered out by the dog’s liver and kidneys, tiny abscesses may develop on these organs which disrupts their normal functioning leading to liver or kidney disease. And should these bacteria happen to attach to the dog’s heart valves instead, they can cause endocarditis, a serious  inflammation of the inner layer of the heart. Definitely, something to be aware of!

“As the animal chews its food, the infected and inflamed gums bleed, and a shower of very aggressive bacteria enters the blood stream. These germs are carried throughout the body and can cause infection in many areas.”~ Dr. Fraser Hale, veterinary dentist.

Lumps, Bumps and Growths

As with other parts of your dog’s body, we may sometimes have odd lumps, bumps and growths growing on us.

Sometimes we may enlarge causing  a condition known as gingival hyperplasia. Epulis, also known as gum boils and viral papillomas also known as oral warts, are examples of some benign growths that may grow on us in a dog’s mouth, but unfortunately, sometimes cancerous growths may grow on us as well.

Malignant melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas and fibrosarcomas are cancerous growths that may grow on us. If your dog has a suspicious lump, bump or growth on his mouth, please have him checked out promptly.

 As seen, we are important structures, meant to keep your dog’s mouth and body in good health! Keep us in good shape by protecting us from the accumulation of plaque, and while you are it, remember to take a good peek at us so to get to know our normal color so, if need be, you can readily recognize early signs of trouble. I hoped this has helped you understand us!

 Best regards,
Your Dog’s GumsDog Pawprint

Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your dog has a problem with his gums, please see your vet for diagnosis and treatment.

Photo Credits:

  • Wikipedia Commons, Blausen gallery 2014“. Wikiversity Journal of Medicine. DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 20018762. – Own work CCBY3.0
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Discovering Dog Breeds With Wrinkles

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When you think about dog breeds with wrinkles, perhaps thoughts of adorable rumpled little puppies come to mind. If you find dogs coming in a wrinkly-skinned package irresistible, rest assure you are not alone. Countless dogs lovers are drawn to those corrugated pumpkin faces; however, it’s important to recognize that all those wrinkles may need some TLC. Also, when considering opening your heart and home to a new dog, it’s important to look beyond appearance and consider whether your lifestyle is a good match for those dog breeds with wrinkles. Following are  dog breeds covered with wrinkles along with some interesting discoveries about the purpose of those wrinkles.

1) The Wrinkly Shar-Pei

Say the word wrinkles and images of Chinese shar-pei come often to mind. Some people nickname these dogs “little hippos” or “the dog in need of ironing” because of these dogs’ wrinkly appearances.

When shar-pei are puppies they are adorable piles of wrinkles. As they develop though, they tend to “grow into” their loose skin, and it’s time to say bye-bye to the skin folds on their legs flanks, and bellies. However, the profuse wrinkles on the head, neck and withers are there to stay–and for good.

Shar-pei are quite ancient dogs originating from the south of China and dating back more than two thousand years. What’s the purpose of shar-pei wrinkles? It appears that the shar-pei’s loose skin and prickly coat was developed to help them fend off wild boar. Later on, when shar pei were employed for dog fighting, their loose skin once again came handy, making them capable of turning and biting back the opponent.

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Did you know?According to research by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona the recent increase in thickness and wrinkles in the shar-pei dog breed is the result of an inherited skin disorder known as cutaneous mucinosis which causes a build-up of mucin in the layers of the skin.

“The loose skin and wrinkles covering the head, neck and body are superabundant in puppies but these features may be limited to the head, neck and withers in the adult.” American Kennel Club

2) The Wrinkly Pug

These small dogs are blessed with wrinkles and a clown-like personality that is likely to brighten most people’s days. And this is not surprising if we look back at the pug breed’s history.

The Pug originated from China and is quite an ancient breed that has been known since before 400 BC. Pugs were selectively bred to provide companionship to Chinese emperors, making them much cherished and pampered lap dogs. These fortunate pooches were highly valued and there’s belief that they were even guarded by soldiers.

Later on, pugs were spread to other areas of Asia and in Tibet, where they provided companionship to Buddhist monks who kept them as pets in their monasteries.

Why do pugs have wrinkles? The features of pugs along with their wrinkly faces have been selectively bred by Chinese breeders because they were appealing, or better adorable to say the least.

Did you know? According to Animal Planet, Chinese breeders were hoping to create a wrinkle pattern on the pug’s foreheads that reminded them of the Chinese character for “prince.”

“The head is large, massive, round – not apple-headed, with no indentation of the skull.The wrinkles are large and deep.” ~American Kennel Club

3) The Wrinkly Neapolitan Mastiff

You won’t likely see these dogs much around as they’re not too popular abroad, but they are sure to leave an impression on those who see these wrinkled fellows for the first time.

First off, these dogs of Italian descent are massive, often weighing over 150 pounds.

Secondly, those wrinkles are quite impressive! The wrinkles are every where so much so you’ll  literally see them rolling as the mastiff dog moves about, but they are especially noticeable on the head and dewlap.

The presence of wrinkles and skin folds in some parts of the face are so typical of the breed that their absence is considered means for disqualification in the show ring.

Neapolitan mastiffs derive from ancient molosser bloodlines that descended from Roman war dogs. They were then employed as loyal estate and farm guardians.

Why do Neapolitan mastiffs have wrinkles? The wrinkles along with this breed’s other unique features are the result of years of selective breeding. With a history of war dogs and then estate and farm guardians, most likely the mastiff’s wrinkles were appreciated because they gave these dogs an imposing look. According to the book  “The Complete Dog Book” by the American Kennel Club, there are chances that farmers of the Neapolitan area of southern Italy purposely bred an “alarmingly ugly dog” with looks that would have repulsed any invaders. But they’re far from being ugly, aren’t they?

The face is made up of heavy wrinkles and folds. Required folds are those extending from the outside margin of the eyelids to the dewlap, and from under the lower lids to the outer edges of the lips.” American Kennel Club

4) The Wrinkly Dogue De Bordeaux

Does the movie Turner and Hooch bring any memories? Hooch was a Dogue de Bordeaux (French mastiff) and he played the role of a troublesome pooch who managed to tear police investigator Scott Turner’s house apart and chew on his car. Also known as French mastiff, just like the Neapolitan mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux descends as well from the ancient molossers and inherits their massive body and large head.

Dogue de Bordeaux are one of the most ancient French breeds but their origins are a bit shrouded in mystery. Some believe they derive from  bullmastiff and the bulldog, others believe they derive from the Tibetan Mastiff or the Dogues de Bordeaux of Aquitaine. Regardless, they have quite a colorful history being used for guarding flocks, hunting bears and foxes, bull-baiting and even as war dogs.

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“The head is furrowed with symmetrical wrinkles on each side of the median groove. These deep ropes of wrinkle are mobile depending on whether the dog is attentive or not.” ~American Kennel Club

5) The Wrinkly Bulldog

Another dog breed known for its wrinkles is the bulldog, a dog breed originating from the British Isles. Originally bred as a butcher’s dog for the purpose of subduing animals for slaughter, the bulldog was then employed in the bloody sport of bull baiting, a cruel practice that was fortunately outlawed in England in 1835.

The bulldog today has changed a lot in both looks and temperament and has now becomes a beloved companion.

The American Kennel Club breed standard depicts the bulldog has having the head and face covered with heavy wrinkles and two loose pendulous folds of skin forming the dewlap.

Why do bulldogs have wrinkled skin? There are many theories, a common one is that in the old days of baiting, those wrinkles helped channel blood away from these dog’s eyes, but there are other explanations out there. According to Animal Planet their wrinkles may have helped them better fight against their opponents. As with the shar-pei, even if they happened to be gripped by an opponent, their loose, wrinkly skin allowed maneuverability, so that they could defend themselves and fight back. The Bull Dog Club of America also mentions that the loose skin came handy when bull baiting preventing penetration of the bull’s horns.

Did you know? The big skin fold often found between the bulldog’s nose and eyes is known as the “nose rope.”

“Every point of conformation was selectively bred into the Bulldog to prevent it from injury as it went about the business of overcoming a bull…Forehead and face wrinkles directed the bull’s blood away from the dog’s nose and eyes…The looseness of the skin of the Bulldog’s body often served as a deterrent to penetration of the bull’s horns. “~Bull Dog Club of America

6) The Wrinkly Bloodhound

The blood hound was selectively bred for its wrinkles and for a very good reason: those wrinkles helped these fellows out in their jobs!

No, contrary to what the name may suggest bloodhounds weren’t used for the bloody sports as several of the other wrinkly fellows we have seen. Instead, there’s belief that bloodhounds were bred by monks of the Abbey of Saint Hubert for the purposes of tracking deer and boar.

Specimens of these hounds were often given as a gift to the King of France. Their name derived from the fact that they were were full “blooded” hounds and prized gifts among kings and nobles.

Why do bloodhounds have so many skin folds? It’s likely that, along with their pendulous ears, droopy jowls, saggy skin folds, the wrinkles help these dogs track scent. Basically, the long ears act as “brooms” sweeping up scent particles upward to reach these dog’s potent noses, while according to PBS Nature, that loose skin and wrinkles on the bloodhound’s face and neck help trap some of those scents.

Did you know? The brow wrinkles in the bloodhound may have a protective function. Since these dogs are perpetually tracking with their heads low to the ground,  those wrinkles may help protect their eyes from the dangers of sharp vegetation.

“The head is furnished with an amount of loose skin, which in nearly every position appears superabundant, but more particularly so when the head is carried low; the skin then falls into loose, pendulous ridges and folds, especially over the forehead and sides of the face” ~American Kennel Club

Basic Dog Wrinkle Care

While all those wrinkles may look appealing, as mentioned, wrinkles in dogs may need some care. Dogs with deep wrinkles and skin folds are prone to getting food, dirt and moisture trapped within all those nooks and crannies. On top of trapping dirt and debris, wrinkles are also prone to constant friction.

Wiping the wrinkles with hypoallergenic baby wipes or wipes especially designed for wrinkly dogs can help keep the wrinkly coat clean and prevent annoying skin infections. Areas that are particularly prone to annoying irritations and infections and that require more care include the lip folds, facial folds, arm pit areas and the base of the tails.

References:

  • PBS Nature, The Bloodhound’s Amazing Sense of Smell, retrieved from the web on December 18th, 2016.
  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. “Why Shar Pei Dogs Have So Many Wrinkles.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 November 2008.
  • American Kennel Club, Breed Standards, retrieved from the web on December 18th, 2016.
  • Encyclopedia of K9 Terminology, By Edward M. Gilbert, Jr, Patricia H. Gilbert, Dogwise Publishing 2013

Photo Credits:

  • Flickr Creative Commons,  Syuuki Oneimauo A11 CCBY2.0
  • Flickr Creative Commons, Muggsy & Debbie P9121572 CCBY2.0
  • Wikipedia Commons, A “blue” Neo puppy The original uploader was Phil2511 at English Wikipedia CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia Commons Stenotic nares (pinched nostrils) may cause breathing problems. Ewa Ziemska CCBY3.0
  • Flickr Creative Commons Tammy Lo, Lazy Bulldog CCBY2.0
  • Flickr Creative Commons, John Leslie, Bloodhound Trials Feb 2008 -79 CCBY2.0

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Impact of Exercise on Puppy Growth Plates

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By Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA

When it comes to puppies, it may be tempting to exercise them so to drain that boundless puppy energy, but it’s important to consider the impact exercise may have on puppy growth plates. When can I take my puppy jogging with me? When can my puppy start competing in agility classes? When can my puppy follow me on a bike? These are all important questions that puppy owners often ask. While there’s no question about the fact that puppies love romping and moving about, even up to the point of exhaustion, as with most things in life, too much of a good thing can have an impact, and in this case, the impact can have deleterious effects to the the pup’s developing skeletal system.

What are Puppy Growth Plates?

Puppy bones are surrounded by layers of soft developing cartilage tissue that are found towards the end of most long bones. These areas of soft cartilage are known as growth plates or more technically, epiphyseal plates.

Scottish surgeon John Hunter studied growth plates in great detail in the late 1700s. His studies on growing chicken revealed that bones do not develop from the center outwards, but rather bones grows lengthwise as new bone is generated at the end of long bones, right where the growth plates are located.

John Hunter’s studies granted him the nickname of “father of the growth plate” and his contributions have surely helped both humans and animals.As one may imagine, since growth plates are made of soft, developing cartilage, they are vulnerable and can be quite prone to injury.
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Puppy Growth Plate Damage

When it comes to the skeletal development of puppies, it’s important that the puppies’ bones go through even growth, basically, synchronized growth that occurs evenly and as close to the same rate as possible.

If an injury to a growth plate occurs, the growth of damaged cells may slow down and come to a halt meaning that there may no longer be growth on one side. When the growing of the affected side is delayed and stopped, the unaffected, healthy side may continue to grow and this unevenness may lead to potential deformity.

Most commonly, the forearm area is the affected. When the injured growth plate of the ulna stops growing, the radius bone will keep growing potentially leading to one bone that is slightly longer than the other and causing bowed legs, explains veterinarian Dr. Gary.

Puppies are particularly prone to injury during strenuous exercise because they lack coordination and don’t have a lot of muscle strength. On top of from excessive strenuous exercise, injury to a puppy’s growth plates may occur from a fracture as can happen from a fall or being hit by car. While these fractures may heal, the bone may grow unevenly which, as we have seen, can lead to a deformity of the bone. If you therefore suspect injury to your pup’s growth plates or witness any abnormalities, see your vet at once.

Did you know? Some dog breeds have a mutation in their genes responsible for transforming cartilage to bone. This causes shortened legs, a condition known as achondroplasia as seen in basset hounds, dachshunds and corgis.

Too young for agility?

Preventing Puppy Growth Plate Injuries

Puppies need proper exercise as they grow and develop, but moderation is key. It’s therefore important to be careful especially with high impact activities such as repeated jumping as to catch a Frisbee, hurdling through obstacles or jogging, especially over hard surfaces such as asphalt or concrete. Turf offers a more forgiving surface and better traction compared to hard cement or asphalt. Sustained vigorous exercise, leg-twisting activities or very rough play should be avoided.

When can my puppy start competing in agility? Many puppy owners may find it surprising when trainers tell them that their puppies are too young to start competing in agility. However, puppy owners may start their puppies on some pre-agility basics such as getting familiar with agility obstacles and other skills/ foundation exercises that aren’t high impact and therefore won’t put strain on those delicate growth plates. Consult with your vet and agility trainer for when you can get started.

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Did you know? In a study involving 203 agility dogs, it was found that the tibia, radius and ulna were significantly longer than the femur and humerus, respectively, in dogs that were spayed or neutered at or prior to 8 months of age as compared to intact dogs.( Source: M.C. Zink)

When Do Puppy Growth Plates Close?

As puppies develop, their growth plates close as calcium and minerals harden the soft areas but exactly when do these puppy growth plates close? Since dogs develop at different rates based on size and breed, there is no one rule that fits all.

For example, growths plates in a Chihuahua will close much sooner than a larger breeds such as a great dane. Generally most skeletal growth occurs when puppies are between 3 and 6 months of age. Afterward, longitudinal growth decreases, and by 10-12 months or up to 18 months in the large/giant dog breeds, most growth plates have fused and closed. However, some suggest the process can taken even up to 20 months.

How can a dog owner know for sure whether a dog’s growth plates have closed or not? The best option is to talk to the vet before starting puppies on any rigorous exercise or sport training regimens.

For the best peace of mind, consider than with an x-ray it is possible to see whether the bones have fused or not. On an x-ray the vet will be able to tell whether the growth plate has morphed into a solid, integral part of the bone leaving its only trace of existence under the form of an epiphyseal line, as seen in the picture on the right.

“Most sports medicine veterinarians recommend to not begin training until growth plate closure which depends on the size of the breed and can be anywhere from 10 months to 18 months of age.”~Dr. Wendy Baltzer

Effects of Hormones 

Hormones are known for playing a role in a puppy’s growth plates and skeletal development. As we have seen, growth plates tend to generally close when a dog is 12 to 20 months old depending on breed and size. This coincides with the end of puberty, therefore in intact dogs growth plates close after exposure to hormones.

Male and female sex hormones are known to play key roles in closure of bone growth plates. Therefore, if a dog is altered (spayed or neutered) prior to puberty, there is a delay in the closing process, which causes affected dogs to develop a rather leggy appearance which makes them more likely to suffer from orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia, CCL injury and possibly even bone cancer.

Delaying  neutering in larger dog breeds may help reduce the incidence of these orthopedic conditions.

“The effects of neutering during the first year of a dog’s life, especially in larger breeds, undoubtedly reflects the vulnerability of their joints to the delayed closure of long-bone growth plates, when neutering removes the gonadal, or sex, hormones.” ~Benjamin Hart
Did you know? A Salter-Harris fracture is a fracture involving the growth plates. This classification system categorizes dog growth plate fractures into several types as seen in the chart below.
 References:
  • Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH (2014) Long-Term Health Effects of Neutering Dogs: Comparison of Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers. PLoS ONE 9(7): e102241. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102241
  • O’Brien, T. R., Morgan J.P., Suter P.F. (2008). “Epiphyseal plate injury in the dog: a radiographic study of growth disturbance in the forelimb.” Journal of Small Animal Practice 12(1): 19-36.
  • Von Pfeil DJF, DeCamp CE. The epiphyseal plate: physiology, anatomy and trauma. Comp Contin Ed 2009;31:E1-7.
  • Carrig CB. Growth abnormalities of the canine radius and ulna. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 1983;13:91-115. 25.
  • Smith RN. The developing skeleton. J Am Vet Rad Soc 1963;9:30-36. 26. Hare WCD. The age at which epiphyseal union takes place in the limb bones of the dog. Wien Tierärztl Monatsschr 1961;49:210- 215.
  • Joint disorders, cancer and urinary incontinence in early neutered German shepherd dogs, Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, 2016, 29, 10, 7

Photo Credits;

  • Wikipedia Commons Xray of lower leg of 12 year old child showing growth plates by Gilo1969 at English Wikipedia, CCBY3.0
  • Salter Harris Fracture Types SalterHarris.png: Dr Frank Gaillard (MBBS, FRANZCR) The original uploader was Benweatherheadat English Wikipedia derivative work: Zerodamage – This file was derived from Salter Harris Fracture Types CC BY-SA 3.0

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Discovering the Effects of Testosterone on Dog Behavior

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A dog’s endocrine system is composed by several glands that are meant to produce hormones which are then transmitted through the bloodstream where they have several effects on the dog’s body and mind. The hormone testosterone, in particular, is secreted by the male dog’s testes and is known for producing several physiological and behavioral effects. So today let’s discover more about the effects testosterone has on dog behavior, and surprisingly, on female dogs as well!

Testosterone Starts in the Womb…

Testosterone generally flows at a pretty steady pace during an intact (not neutered) male dog’s life, but there are two specific times during a dog’s lifetime during which this hormone significantly impacts the dog’s brain. The first time likely takes place very early in development, when the puppy is still in the womb.

During this time, testosterone is spread from the amniotic membrane and through the blood flowing from the uterus until it reaches the pup’s brain. Once in the dog’s brain, it’s as if testosterone turns on an imaginary switch that prompts the brain to undergo anatomical changes and turns on the “masculine”  button.

Also, it appears that the hormone creates a predisposition for hard-wired behaviors in male dogs that may remain dormant until the next testosterone surge switches on later in life.

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“In the uterus, testosterone can diffuse through the amniotic membrane and through uterine blood flow. Once it reaches the male dog’s brain, it brings about gender-specific structural changes that then relate to later development of sex-typical behaviors… These changes masculinize the male brain structure.” James O’ Heare

And May Affect Female Dogs Too!

Wait, what does testosterone have to do with female dogs? Isn’t testosterone exclusively a male dog hormone? While testosterone is associated with maleness and typical male dogs behaviors, there are chances it may affect female dogs too. How is that? Well, here’s an insight into what may be happening

The phenomenon is known as androgenization, and it takes place in the uterus (yup in the womb). What’s likely to trigger this is a matter of the position of female dogs in the mother dog’s womb. If a female dog happens to be positioned between two males, there are chances her brain may be influenced (masculinized) courtesy of the diffusion of testosterone through the amniotic membrane, explains James O’Heare in the book “Aggressive Behavior in Dogs: A Comprehensive Technical Manual for Professionals.”

“Strong experimental evidence suggests that female embryos situated between males in the uterus are more likely to develop male-like aggressive tendencies and scent-marking patterns than are counterparts otherwise situated. Some suggestive evidence regarding the effects of perinatal androgenization of female dogs has been reported by Coppola. ~Steven Lindsay

But it’s During Puberty That Dogs Get the Big Surge.

Back to male dogs, the second surge of testosterone occurs when the male dog reaches puberty. According to a study by Pathirana IN et al 2012, the levels of testosterone in dogs starts to rise in dogs just prior to puberty, around the ages of 4 to 6 months old, and then reaches a surge once the dog reaches puberty, generally when the dog is an adolescent between 6 and 12 months. Afterwards, testosterone levels maintain a state of little or no change, generally from when the dog is one to five years old and then those levels starts declining when the dog becomes senior.

As Expected, Testosterone Triggers Male Behaviors…

During the puberty surge in testosterone, there is often an increase in sexually dimorphic behaviors, basically behaviors that are mostly seen in male dogs. This is often when owners of intact dogs start noticing behaviors such as roaming in search of a mate, lifting the leg to urine mark, mounting, and competition with other male dogs. These behaviors are often what causes dog owners to consider neutering their dogs.

But there Are Chances Neutering May Reduce Them.

When a male dog is neutered (castration) the removal of a dog’s testes causes the production of testosterone to come to a halt. With testosterone levels reduced, there is often a marked decrease in behaviors driven by hormones such as urine marking, roaming in search of a mate and competition with other male dogs.

For those looking for statistics, a study has found that after neutering, roaming behavior decreased 90 percent, aggression between male dogs decreased 62 percent, urine marking decreased 50 percent and mounting decreased 80 percent.

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However, there’s not much good news for dog owners expecting to see their male dogs calm down and settle after castration. That’s likely never going to happen any time soon because excitability and unruly behaviors are seldom driven by testosterone, explains Mat Ward, a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviorist. On top of that, owners must consider that, despite the statistics appearing promising, neutering does not necessarily have total control over stopping sexually dimorphic behaviors.

But a New Study Says Neutering Won’t Likely Do Much to Stop Aggression.

Many people consider neutering their dogs because they feel that testosterone plays a role in aggression, but how true is that? For many years, and in many cases  still as of today, the advice to neuter a dog is given out by dog trainers and veterinarians when presented with an intact male dog showing signs of aggressive behavior.

Neutering therefore has been commonly recommended throughout the years and has been a strong selling point to solve aggression problems, but it’s not that easy to justify the common notion that neutering is a cure-all. So does neutering stop dog aggression?

Karen Overall in her book  Clinical behavioral medicine for small animals, talks about testosterone acting as a behavior modulator causing intact dogs to react more quickly, more intensely and for a longer period of time compared to neutered dogs. However, she also warns that when it comes to aggression, neutering a dog may lower the tendency to exhibit aggression towards other dogs (which can be hormonally driven); but there’s not enough data to show the effects neutering may have on other specific types of aggressive behaviors.

Indeed, in most cases, neutering won’t fix dog behavior problems such as territorial or fear-induced aggression,resource guarding or food aggression. This is likely because there are several other factors at play other than hormones when dogs behave aggressively such as the impact of the environment in which the dog is raised, the dog’s genetic makeup, the dog’s history, and so forth. However, it’s also true that testosterone has been known to affect anxiety behaviors; for instance, among humans men who fail to produce enough testosterone tend to be more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression and testosterone treatments tend to alleviate these.

Interestingly, for those looking for data, a study using a large sample of dogs conducted by Parvene Farhoody and M. Christine Zink, found strong correlations between neutering and aggression, with neutered dogs exhibiting high levels of fear, anxiety and excitability, regardless of when the dog was neutered. And this is quite impressive data, especially considering the increase in aggressive behaviors seen in the past years in our companion dogs and considering the fact that a large percentage of aggressive behavior in dogs stems from fear, which coincidentally correlates with the modern trend of neutering dogs.

” Our data showed that the behavior of neutered dogs was significantly different from that of intact dogs in ways that contradict the prevailing view. Among the findings, neutered dogs were more aggressive, fearful, excitable, and less trainable than intact dogs. “~Parvene Farhoody & M. Christine Zink

References:

  •  Hopkins SG, Schubert TA, Hart BL. Castration of adult male dogs: effects on roaming, aggression, urine marking, and mounting. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1976;168:1108–1110.
  •  Overall KL. Clinical behavioral medicine for small animals. St Louis: Mosby Year Book Inc, 1997.
  • Cooley DM, Beranek BC, Schlittler DL, et al. Endogenous gonadal hormone exposure and bone sarcoma risk. Canc Epidemiol Biomark Prev 2002;11:1434-1440.
  • Howe LM, Slater MR, Boothe HW, et al. Long-term outcome of gonadectomy performed at an early age or traditional age in dogs. J Amer Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:217-221.
  • Pathirana IN et al (2012) Plasma insulin-like peptide 3 and testosterone concentrations in male dogs: changes with age and effects of cryptorchidism. Theriogenology77(3):550-557
  • Farhoody, P. Behavioral and Physical Effects of Spaying and Neutering Domestic Dogs. Smmary of findings detailed in Masters thesis submitted to and accepted by Hunter College in May 2010.
  • Hart, B. L., & Eckstein, R. A. (1997). The role of gonadal hormones in the occurrence of objectionable behaviours in dogs and cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 52, 331-344.
  • Aggressive Behavior in Dogs: A Comprehensive Technical Manual for Professionals, James O’Heare, Dogwise Ebooks; 2 edition (April 17, 2014)

Photo Credits:

Flickr Creative Commons Renee , Roxie supports breast cancer awareness, CCBY2.0
Flick Creative Commons, Andrew Vargas I’ll flick you up if you login one more time! CCBY2.0

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What’s Up With Dogs Walking in a U-Shape?

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Among the variety of odd things dogs do, a dog walking in a U-shape is one of those behaviors that make us wonder what on earth may be going in Rover’s mind. As with any odd behaviors in dogs, it’s always important to evaluate whether the behavior is one of those things dogs do in certain specific contexts or if perhaps it’s a behavior that may stem from an underlying health problem and that therefore warrants a trip to the vet. As usual, behaviors that are unusual for a specific dog, and that start out of the blue, should raise a red flag.

 A Greeting Behavior

Some dogs will curve their bodies when they are greeting you such as in the morning or when you come home from work. With the head and butt facing you, ears back and tail wagging, your dog is likely celebrating your return and letting you know you’re special.

This U- shape walking is just temporary and in context with these greetings and other happy moments. At other times, the dog walks normally.

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Why does the dog assume this typical U shape?  Most likely it’s the dog’s way to present both his face and anal area for inspection as a sign of friendship or in more technical terms, a willingness to engage in affiliative behavior. As we have seen in a previous article, dogs engage in different dog greeting behaviors, and often these entail mouth and rear end investigations.

A Sign of Apology

Dogs cannot tell each other “excuse me” or  “I am sorry” the way we do. Instead, they must rely on their body language to prevent misinterpretations and potential conflict.

Well-socialized dogs are often pretty good in resolving conflict, sending and acknowledging messages that have a pacifying purpose and  show an intent to not cause harm.

It could therefore happen that an incident takes place that could potentially appear as a challenge and lead to misunderstanding, when it is not.  In this case, the dog may adopt active appeasement signals to prevent possible conflict that could lead to aggression. A dog may also assume such signals with the owner upon noticing signs of the owner being upset or angered.

Walking around in a U-shape, C-shape or banana shape may be therefore a dog’s way to send an “apology” or calm down another dog or owner. Typically, the dog approaches in a crouched posture with the ears back and tail low and between the legs (Shenkel 1967). The tail wag may involve the whole rear end area. If with another dog, the dog may also nudge his muzzle towards the other dog’s face and give several brief licks geared toward the mouth or lips. According to Shenkel these appeasing signals are reminiscent of the days when dogs were young pups engaging in infantile food- begging behaviors.

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Medical Conditions

A dog who in walking in a U- shape or a dog walking in a curved C-shape can sometimes be suggestive of a medical problem. For example, a dog who walks curved may be experiencing back problems, such as IVDD, a progressive deterioration of the discs in the spine, but it could also be a sign of a dog with some digestive issue or even gland problems.

If your dog is suddenly walking in a U shape with an anrched back and curved body  and it doesn’t seem like it’s part of greeting behavior or an appeasement signal, please see your vet to determine if there may be something medically going on.

Dogs can be quite stoic in not showing signs of pain, and the only signs of dog pain we may see at times is limping or an unusual posture.

“When a dog arches the back the way your dog is doing is because of pain either in the abdomen (belly) or in the back (pinch nerve or pulled muscle)”~ Dr. Peter

References:

  • Schenkel R. 1967 Submission: its features and function in the wolf and dog. American Zoologist  7. 319-329
  • Aggressive Behaviors in Dogs, James O’ Heare, 2007 Dog Psych Publishing Ottawa Canada p 86.

Photo Credits:

  • A vet examines a dog in New York, Archivist1174 – Own work, Photo of New York State Assemblyman Dr. Stephen M. “Steve” Katz at the Bronx Veterinary Center.CC BY-SA 3.0

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Dog Word of the Day: What is a Dog’s Topline?

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In the world of working dogs, body conformation is important and the dog’s topline has played an important role in allowing dogs to perform the tasks they were bred for, but exactly what is a dog’s topline? You may have heard this word before perhaps at dog shows or among breeders, but the term is often used vaguely without giving out much information about what it truly depicts. So today we will be taking a closer look into what a topline is in dogs and its importance.

What is a Dog’s Topline?

So what is a dog’s topline? A dog’s topline is the profile line that goes from the dog’s shoulders to the base of the tail, tells us Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist Dr. Christine Zink in the book “Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete.”

Imagine drawing with a pencil the profile of the dog’s body from the withers (where the shoulders meet the neck, right over the scapula blades) to the tail. That’s the profile line of the topline.

The topline therefore includes the back (area between withers and loin), the loin (from end of the rib cage to the pelvis) and croup (area behind the hips and below the tail).

As mentioned, not all toplines are designed equally. If you were a graphic artist, therefore, that line may be straight, arched or sloped depending on what breed you were drawing. What difference does a straight, arched or sloped topline make in dogs? Let’s discover the effects these different types of toplines have on dogs.

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Did you know? The profile line that contours the brisket (the front part of the chest) and the abdominal floor is known as “underline.” Another term that often generates confusion is “backline.” Some people use the term backline to exclusively depict the profile line drawn from withers to tail, and top line to depict the whole silhouette of the dog from the dog’s occiput to tail. In this article we decided to use the term topline because that’s what the American Kennel Club‘s glossary uses to depict “ the outline from just behind the withers to the tail set.”

Straight Topline in Dogs

The topline can be straight in some dog breeds. So if you were drawing these dog breeds that profile line would be for the most part straight from the shoulder area to the tail.

In the world of conformation, a straight topline is referred to as being level. Most dog breeds are meant to have a level topline, therefore the majority of dogs tend to fall under this category.

Examples of dog breeds with a straight topline include the Skye terrier, Yorkshire terrier, Chihuahua, Labrador retriever, chow chow, Golden retriever and many, many more.

What effects does a straight topline have on dogs? A straight topline allows dogs to efficiently trot at consistent speeds.

Arched Topline in Dogs

The topline can be arched in some dogs breeds. So if you were drawing these dog breeds the  profile line would arch towards the loin area.

The most notorious arched loins are found in many sight hound dog breeds such as the Scottish deerhound, borzoi, Italian greyhound and the whippet, as seen in the picture.

In these dog breeds, the arched loin allows flexibility of the spine so that the rear legs can be tucked well under at a gallop allowing them to cover more ground with each stride.

If one observes closely, in these breeds at a gallop, the rear foot is almost able to nearly pass the point of shoulder, as seen in the picture below. When a dog’s arch is continuous affecting also the croup, it tends to lead to the low tail set often seen in many sight hounds.

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When it comes to arched toplines, it’s important to make one important distinction though. No American Kennel Club standard calls for a topline in sighthounds starting to rise from the withers, points out dog show judge Patti Widick Neale. It’s the back that rises a little at the loin area and not the whole topline, as often seen in several Art Deco statues depicting greyhounds!

“The key to the arch is flexibility essential in the double suspension gallop allowing the dog to double up on the ground and straighten in midair.”~Lisa Dubé Forman

 

Did you know? A faulty topline that arches starting from the withers is known as “wheelback” and affected dogs have a bouncy, energy-wasting gait that interferes with flexibility.

Sloped Topline in Dogs 

The topline can be sloped in some dog breeds.  So if you were drawing these dogs breeds, the profile line would slope towards the loin area, a bit like a mountain slope. Some people refer to this tendency as sagging or roaching back.  Dogs with a sloping topline tend to have more angulation in the rear legs which results in a lowered rear.

A notorious dog breed with a sloped back is the German shepherd. However, excessive sloping is  sadly a new trend that strays away from the breed standard. Max Von Stephanitz, the creator of the German shepherd breed, described the German shepherd as having a back that was “straight and powerful.” And then, he further added “curvature of the spine diminishes the power of endurance and speed, and is therefore, an especially serious handicap for efficiency..”

The new trend is mostly seen in the show lines of this breed. According to Louis Donald, a working dog judge, the curved spine seen in German shepherds dogs is fruit of a ”very small number of very influential people” that go by the name of “breed authorities” who promoted this feature at dog shows. The breed’s conformation therefore shifted from a straight, powerful back to sloped with an exaggerated hind leg angulation, features that would perhaps make respected Von Stephanitz roll over in the grave. The American Kennel Club doesn’t even call for a sloping back in the German Shepherd breed and actually refers to it as a fault.

“The back is straight, very strongly developed without sag or roach, and relatively short.”~ German Shepherd breed standard, American Kennel Club

 Did you know? German shepherd dogs with sloping backs are now often nicknamed ” the hatchback, “downhill dog” and “dog in front, frog in back.”

 

References:

  • An Eye for a Dog: Illustrated Guide to Judging Purebred Dog, By Robert W. Cole, Dogwise Publishing, (June 1, 2004)
  • Golden Retriever, By Jeffrey G. Pepper, Kennel Club Books (July 31, 2012)
  • Encyclopedia of K9 Terminology By Edward M. Gilbert, Jr, Patricia H. Gilbert, Dogwise Publishing; 1st edition (September 18, 2013)
  • Peak Performance – Coaching the Canine Athlete, by M. Christine Zink DVM PhD (Author) Howell Book House (October 1992)

Photo Credits:

  • Flickr Creative Commons, Calsidyrose, Running Dog photo from “All About Horses,” by Marguerite Henry CCBY2.0
  • Wikipedia Creative Commons, Scorch, son of Torch owned by Maureen StrenfelTaken Feb 22,2004 at the SMART/USDAA dog agility competition in Salinas, CA. Photo by Ellen Levy Finch (Elf). CCBY3.0
  • Yorkshire Terrier by Pelz – Eigenes Werk, Yorkshire Terrier Rüde CCBY3.0
  • Wikipedia Creative Commons, The show-line dogs usually have an extremely sloping topline, revista de monogràfiques del pastor alemany, Copyrighted free use
  • Lateral view of a dog skeleton Wilhelm Ellenberger and Hermann Baum – University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Animal anatomical engraving from Handbuch der Anatomie der Tiere für Künstler’ – Hermann Dittrich, illustrator. Public domain.

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What Dog Breed is Nicknamed “The Gamekeeper’s Night Dog”?

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When it comes to the world of dog breeds, many of them are provided with nicknames and some of them are plain cute, others are more on the honorable side while some others portray what the dog breed was used for. We therefore have dogs nicknamed the “Firehouse Dog” or the “Dutch Barge Dog” and then we have the “Gamekeepers Night Dog.” As the name implies, these dogs likely pulled guard duty at night and therefore were dogs who must have looked quite imposing. Can you therefore guess this trivia question?

What dog breed is nicknamed “the Gamekeepers Night Dog?”

A The Rottweiler

B The bullmastiff

C The great dane

D The Doberman

The correct answer is: drum roll please…

drum

 

 

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The Correct answer is B, the dog nicknamed the gamekeeper’s night dog is the bullmastiff.

The Gamekeeper, by Richard Andsell, 1815-85.

What is a Gamekeeper?

To better understand the nightly duties of the Gamekeepers Night Dog, one must first understand exactly what is a gamekeeper.  A gamekeeper is basically an individual employed by a landowner who is responsible for managing an area of the countryside.

His main job is to ensure that there is enough game for shooting or fish for fishing. Gamekeepers, therefore, monitor farmland, woodland and moorland, to ensure that game birds, fish and wildlife in general are not threatened.

Poaching, the illegal capturing of wild animals, was a problem back in the days when impoverished peasants were searching for  sustainable food. In the 17th and 18th centuries poaching was considered a serious crime that could have lead to imprisonment or even death by hanging.

Back in those times, the nobility had exclusive rights to hunt and fish on the lands they ruled and any intrusion by poachers was considered a serious intrusion of those rights.

Introducing the Bullmastiff

Thorneywood Terror. Source: “Sporting Dogs. Their Points And Management In Health, And Disease”, by Frank Townend Barton.

As one may imagine, a gamekeeper had to pay a lot of attention to his surroundings, but no worries, here comes the bullmastiff!

The bullmastiff is a large dog who was purposely developed by 19th century gamekeepers to help them guard large English estates. Standing between 25 and 27 inches at the withers and weighing between 100 and 120 pounds, the bullmastiff provided quite an imposing presence.

Bullmastiffs were created by crossing mastiffs with the early ancestors of the bulldog. Mastiffs were large but they were too slow, while bulldogs were fast and tenacious but they weren’t much imposing, so they combined these two breeds and got the best of both worlds. And the rest is history.

Bullmastiffs were known for their fearless and confident demeanor and for tracking quietly covering short distances quickly. While bullmastiffs today also come in a fawn coat, back in time when poachers abounded, the brindle coat was particularly cherished as it worked best for camouflage in the forest at night.

Did you know? A bullmastiff going by the name of Thorneywood Terror (picture above) had a history of being known as the best night dog ever. Mr. W. Burton, of Thorneywood Kennels, Nottingham, bred bullmastiffs and challenged people to try to escape from Thorneywood Terror. He therefore would muzzle his dog and then give volunteers a 10 minute head start into the forest.  Thorneywood Terror never failed to catch and hold the volunteers and Burton made much money this way!

“The Poacher at Bay” by Richard Andsell, 1865

Bullmastiff Guardian Style 

Silence was a virtue when looking for poachers on estates, therefore the bullmastiff has a history of not barking much.  The American Bullmatiff Association describes bullmastiffs as being independent thinkers. They had to make their own decisions at times but their job wasn’t to maul people. Instead, they would knock down and hold poachers until the gamekeepers arrived.

This breed’s large and square head worked perfectly for the task of  pinning the poacher down and holding him. Also known as “Poacher’s Nightmare” these dogs were quite effective in deterring poachers and keeping them at bay, so much so that poachers feared them often more than the gatekeeper himself!

“The original gamekeeper’s night dog was appropriately brindle, and this original color of choice is for obvious reasons: a brindle dog could blend well with the vegetation, with the dark muzzle and ears further providing camouflage even when his head was lifted up to sense, smell or sight the poacher. ” American Kennel Club

The Bullmastiff Today

After a while, poaching declined and the bullmastiffs took a whole new role as guardian dogs. Because it was no longer necessary to camouflage in the dark, the fawn coat with a black mask became common.  Today, bullmastiffs are used mostly to fill the role as loving companions. These devoted dogs require loads of early socialization and training.

It’s important to invest time in teaching bullmastiffs to become accepting of strangers when welcomed by their owners. Ideally, when the door bell rings, a well trained mastiff should accompany the owner at the door and patiently wait behind the owner or on a mat with a “wait and see” demeanor. When the person is accepted in the home, he should accept that. Failure to provide sufficient socialization may lead to a bullmastiff is suspicious of everyone, which can lead to fear and defensive biting.

While bullmastiffs are large, despite their fleetness of foot they are overall calm and quiet as adults, once the boisterous puppy times are over. Many may find it appealing that these dogs are in need of moderate exercise and are generally pretty much mellow fellows.

“Fearless and confident yet docile. The dog combines the reliability, intelligence, and willingness to please required in a dependable family companion and protector.”~ American Kennel Club

Photo Credits

  • Picture of a Bullmastiff, author Kumarrrr, CCBY2.5,  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
  • The Gamekeeper, painting by Richard Andsell, 1815-85.
  • “The Poacher at Bay” painting by Richard Andsell, 1865

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I am Your Dog’s Chest

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Unless you are in the dog show business spending lots of time studying conformation, you may have never paid particular attention to your dog’s chest. Perhaps you may have found yourself occasionally taking measurements of your dog’s chest (girth) when shopping for a harness or you may have seen your vet listening to your dog’s heart with a stethoscope through your dog’s chest wall. A dog’s chest though has much more to offer and there are many interesting facts to discover. So today, let’s discover more a bout a dog’s chest, its important functions and any associated problems with this body part.

Introducing Your Dog’s Chest 

Hi there, it’s your dog’s chest talking! I am happy you are interested in hearing my story. I have a lot of little pieces of information to share with you. First, let’s start with my name. I also go by the medical name thorax, which derives from the ancient Greek word thorakos meaning “breastplate.” You might also be interested in learning more about your dog’s thoracic cavity (chest cavity) and thoracic wall (chest wall). Where am I located? I am right between your dog’s neck and his abdomen.

You may find it interesting that my length, width and depth may vary between one breed and another.  You may therefore have breeds such as the greyhound equipped with very deep and narrow chests and then you may stumble on dog breeds with a very wide chest area but barely deep (for example the bulldog.)

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What does a deep chest exactly mean though? In dogs, a deep chest means that it extends to or below the dog’s elbows as seen in dobermans, dachshunds and Irish wolfhounds. A deep chest therefore depicts depth, not width, points out Carina Macdonald, in the book “Knack Dog Care and Training.”  Because dogs were selectively bred to carry out different functions, my structure therefore has been morphed to meet specific needs.

Did you know? Deep-chested dogs are more predisposed to developing a potentially life threatening condition known as gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV). Why are deep-chested dogs more predisposed to bloat and (GDV)? A deep chest allows more room for the stomach to move and twist on itself. See picture below.

I House Important Organs

I am home to your dog’s heart and lungs which are critical to your dog’s life. Mother Nature has made sure to protect these vital organs enclosing them in a cage made out of ribs.  In an animal crafted for sprinting at high speeds such as the greyhound, I was purposely crafted to allow maximum expansion of the lungs. That’s why I am so deep and narrow in this running breed.

Learning how to perform chest compressions is something that all dog owners should learn how to do and is a must for those dealing with dogs on a daily basis such as pet sitters, dog trainers and dog walkers. Chest compressions  entail pushing down on the unconscious dog’s chest in hopes of getting his heart pumping. When artificial respiration is given along with chest compressions it’s called cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. CPR classes for pets are often taught in veterinary offices, pet stores, training clubs  and are sometimes even organized by the Red Cross.

When Things Go Wrong

While I am overall pretty sturdy, I can only take so much. Traumatic injuries to the chest wall are unfortunately not uncommon in dogs. They may stem from being hit by car, kicked by a horse or a stab/impalement wound such as running into a branch, but in many cases the trauma to the chest area area in animals is due to bite wounds sustained by small dog breeds.

Thoracic trauma may lead to complications such as broken ribs and penetrating wounds may affect the pleural lining of the thorax (a thin sheet of tissue that lines the chest and wraps around the dog’s lungs) leading to pneumothorax, hemothorax, diaphragmatic hernia and pleural or pericardial effusion.

I can sometimes accumulate fluids within my cavity. When fluids collect, they either collect within the lungs or between the chest wall and the lungs, explains veterinarian Dr. Hunt. An X-ray can help differentiate them. Accumulation of fluids in the dog’s chest cavity may be due to bacterial or viral infections, pneumonia or heart failure. In some cases, a swollen chest may be a sign of low protein due to an underlying liver problem.  If your dog is showing symptoms of chest congestion or fluid accumulation, he or she definitely needs checked out by a vet.

As seen, I play quite an important role in your dog’s life! Please keep your pal safe from injury and see your vet promptly if you see any signs of problems.

Yours truly,

You Dog’s ChestDog Pawprint

Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your dog is sick or not acting right, please see your vet for proper diagnosis and treatment.

 

References:

  • Knack Dog Care and Training: A Complete Illustrated Guide to Adopting, House-Breaking, and Raising a Healthy Dog, by Carina Macdonald, Globe Pequot Press; 1 Original edition (July 15, 2009)
  • DVM360, Pulmonary contusions and other thoracic trauma (Proceedings) retrieved from the web on December 11th, 2016
  • DVM360, Pleural space disease and chest taps and tubes (Proceedings) retrieved from the web on December 11th, 2016

Photo Credits:

  • Photo By Ruth Lawson. Otago Polytechnic.The original uploader was Sunshineconnelly at English Wikibooks – Transferred from en.wikibooks to Commons by Adrignola using CommonsHelper. CCBY3.0
  • The greyhound in 1864: being the second edition of a treatise on the art of breeding, rearing, and training greyhounds for public running …By John Henry Walsh Edition: 2 Published by Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green, 1864 Public Domain

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