Little Chihuahua

Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog and is so named for the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. Chihuahuas come in a wide variety of sizes, head shapes, colors and coat lengths, but typically weigh under 6 pounds. Many people adore Chihuahuas, but if owning one, you must be careful with temperament. Ill tempered Chihuahuas can be easily provoked to attack, and are therefore generally unsuitable for homes with small children. The breed tends to be fiercely loyal to one particular owner and in some cases may become over protective of the person, especially around other people or animals.

If you are ready for a BIG dose of cuteness check out the video below:

Our Sweet Girl, Martini

Now I have to say my husband and I love this video below.  It is of Martini watching TV, which she does all the time, while the X Files theme song plays in the background.  You will see her do that classic pug head tilt that her breed is famous for!  Every single time my husband played the show, WHICH WAS ALL THE TIME, Martini would go crazy!  It was so funny we just had to tape it.

Now the volume on it is a little low, so you may want to turn it up a bit when you watch.  Be sure to check out the classic pug head tilt:

The Brachycephalic Sisters

I adore Brachycephalic dogs.  They are so sweet and cute, but unfortunately because they are so cute, they typically have more health problems due to their adorable “smooshed-in” faces.

A brachycephalic skull is relatively broad and short. Dog breeds such as the Pug are sometimes classified as “Extreme Brachycephalic”. Brachycephalic dogs are very sensitive to high temperatures, as they cannot cool themselves like other dogs; therefore, extra care and attention is needed.

Some issues with Brachycephalic Dogs:

ELONGATED SOFT PALATE – Since the heads of a Brachycephalic pup are so small and short, it is difficult to fit the soft tissues of the canine mouth and throat into the short face. As a result, the soft palate, which separates nasal passage from oral cavity, flaps loosely down into the throat creating sometimes alarming snorting sounds. Virtually all brachycephalics suffer from this but actual respiratory distress is rare. I have three brachycephalic dogs and they all do this trademark snorting sounds.  It sounds uncomfortable for them, but typically never lasts long.  Excess barking or panting may lead to swelling in the throat which can, in turn, lead to trouble. Sometimes, the soft palate needs to be surgically trimmed.  Luckily, I have not had to have this surgery with any of my dogs.

STENOTIC NARES – This is basically a fancy name for teeny, tiny nostrils. The brachycephalic dogs begins by having very small nasal openings for breathing. If this is severe, surgical correction is neccessary. Our Vet suggested this for our French Bulldog, Bardot, and she had the surgery.  I think it helped with her breathing and after the surgery, her nostrils actually looked bigger.  Of course, this is not advised if you are going to “show” your dog, however, we have rescue dogs and that is not an issue.  To me it is more important for the dog to be happy, than pretty.

HEAT STRESS - The Brachycephalic dog is an inefficient panter. A dog with a more “normal” face and throat is able to pass air quickly over the tongue through panting – which in turn cools the body down. We take extra care to never leave our pups out when it is even slightly warm!  Honestly, in 70 – 80* temps the dogs get way too overheated.

WALKING- Since Brachycephalic dogs already have trouble breathing it is important to always walk them on a harness – a leash can shatter their trachea and harm the puppies severely.  I cannot stress this enough – these dogs need a harness!  Also, they truly cannot handle long walks.

Here is a list of Brachycephalic Dogs:

• Affenpinscher
• American Bulldog
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Brussels Griffon
• Bulldog
• Bullmastiff
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chihuahua
• Cane Corso
• Dogo Argentino
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• English Mastiff
• English Toy Spaniel
• French Bulldog
• Japanese Chin
• Lhasa Apso
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Pekingese
• Presa Canario
• Pug
• Shih Tzu
• Tibetan Spaniel
• Valley Bulldog

Don’t let this deter you from owning and loving a Brachycephalic dog! Personally, I have three: a Pug, a French Bulldog, and a Shih Tzu.  The most important thing is they are all INDOOR DOGS.  These breeds of dogs can not live outside.  They are too sensitive to the elements, and must be treated as an indoor family member.  Believe me, with a lot of love, and care, they make the most wonderful children around!

French Bulldog and Adorable Baby!

I have a white French Bulldog named Bardot.  She is the love of my life.  My husband and I have been obsessed with her since we got her a year and a half ago.  She is not perfect by any means, but she is our little angel!

A while back my husband showed me this video and I just loved it!  I don’t know which is cuter in the video, the French Bulldog or the baby?  Considering I have a French Bulldog, that I love very much, I’m pretty impartial to the dog.  Maybe if I had a baby it would be different?  I’m not sure, but without further adieu here is the video:

My French Bulldog, Bardot, dressed up like a blowfish

I have three dogs: a pug, a shih tzu and a French bulldog.  They came in that order.  The picture above is of my Frenchie, Bardot.  Until recently I hadn’t really seen many French Bulldogs.  They are a less common breed to many due to the fact it is very hard for the breed to procreate.  In fact all French Bulldogs have to be artificially inseminated! That in turn makes them very expensive as their litters are typically quite small.

French bulldogs are stocky and muscular and comically called the “Frog Dogs” because they jump around like frogs.  They are of small size and fall into the Non-Sporting group of dog breeds.  They were first bred for fighting and that is why they have the wrinkles on their faces – to help the blood run down from their eyes.  That is so sad and I can’t imagine the horror of watching a dog fight!

My French bulldog has had some aggression issues.  We recently put Bardot in dog training classes and she is doing much better!  We learned we have to be the pack leaders and set boundaries for her.  Seems so simple but it takes quite a bit of work; however, with a lot of love and patience she is truly one of the most wonderful things in my life!

My Pug, Martini.

I adore pugs.  I think they are the cutest little dogs in the world.  Full of personality and energy my pug is far from a couch potato!

I have a very sweet little pug named Martini. Martini is a fawn pug with a black mask and weighs around 12 pounds.  She is quite small for her breed size.  Pugs are from the Toy breed of dogs with a wrinkly face and curly tail. My Pug, Martini, has a double-curled tail which is coveted in the breeding world.  I don’t care though.  I didn’t get her for breeding or showing, I adopted her from the Humane Society.  The Humane Society has many wonderful companions from all kinds of breeds!

While looking around on youtube I found the most adorable video that must be viewed by all pug-lovers!  Of course it just happened to be filmed in Portland – my favorite city in the United States.  So without further adieu here is “Pug pushes stroller” – enjoy!!

Here’s a screenshot of this cute & retro doggie template:

"Pug Time" Dog WordPress Theme

photo credit: simax105

photo credit: marissabracke

photo credit: marissabracke

photo credit: bovinity

photo credit: marissabracke

photo credit: marissabracke

photo credit: NeitherFanboy

photo credit: A National Acrobat

photo credit: Mr. T in DC

photo credit: Toronja Azul

photo credit: wickenden

A beautiful pug and a beautiful shot!

photo credit: ?ellie?

photo credit: ChuckThePhotographer

photo credit: wickenden

photo credit: arturnauta

We hope you enjoyed these great pug shots – we sure did!  Check back next week for more of our flickr dog pics!

This Logo Pawprint Heart Sterling Pendant was created by artist Merry Rosenfield (each piece is designed by Merry and cast in the USA). Merry has been creating her wonderful animal jewelry for over 25 years. She started her company, The Magic Zoo, in 1989, and has many animal jewelry fans worldwide. The 1/2″ H X 3/4″ W sterling silver pendant, chain not included, is $28. Buy it here.

I have my eye on this adorable “Love is a Treat” Dog T-shirt, made of heavyweight, 100% preshrunk cotton and machine washable in adult sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL for $15.99 (add $3.00 for XXL and $4.00 for XXXL). Get yours here.

Get the coffee or tea lover in your life this “Let One Love You” 11 oz. white ceramic mug with the ASPCA logo on the reverse side for $9.99. Buy it here.

 
Chocolate is always a winner on Valentine’s Day, and this Grey2K USA one-of-a-kind Greyhound Chocolate is divine. Each hand-dipped, 4 oz. candy is made of sweet chocolate and measures 4 inches tall by 5 inches wide and costs $15. They are also Kosher and cruelty-free (vegan). Get one (or two!) here.

 If your sweetheart wants something to snuggle with (besides you or Fido, that is!) how about this greyhound toy doll in fawn or brindle? Each baby greyhound has been individually sewn, measures 5″ x 10″, and costs $25. Get yours here.