Overview The American foxhound has its descendence directly from the French and English hounds. They were brought to America in 1650, and more than a hundred years later they were bred to a French hound. This dog was sent from Lafayette to George Washington as a gift. These dogs were used to seek out Indians in the seventeenth century. They also became very good at hunting wild animals. The American foxhound has a very good nose and they also possess a lot of speed. It was never intended that this breed should just be a pet. The rich people that enjoyed fox hunting regarded these dogs very highly.
Temperament Although these dogs are intense and courageous warriors when hunting, they are also very gentle and loving dogs when at home. The American foxhound gets along very well with children, as well as with other dogs. Not all the foxhounds are friendly toward strangers - some can be very protective. These dogs should be fenced in, as they will easily take off after an interesting scent. This breed will not always be ideal as a house pet seeing that they have a history as outdoor pack kennel hounds.
Care The grooming needs for the American foxhound is not very high. They have a smooth coat that is easy to groom. It can be combed with a form hair brush once in a while, and this will also be good for their skins. The American foxhound should only be bathed when it is really necessary. These dogs are average shedding dogs.
Training American foxhounds are very intelligent dogs, but not always very receptive when it comes to training. They are very brave dogs, and also very fun-loving. These dogs are quite open for positive reinforcement, but will not respond well to punishment as it will often leave them confused. This breed is fairly difficult to housetrain. The American foxhound should also be socialised well to make sure they are not shy later on. This dog will perform at his best if the training environment is fair and consistent.
Health problems The American foxhound is a very healthy dog, and in general these dogs do not have any defects or inborn conditions. This dog also doesn't suffer from any unbearable hip and bone disorders that you find in some of the large breeds. But some hip problems are up-and-coming in the breed as they are being bred larger and larger. If you have a foxhound that is very tall, extra care should be taken to ensure they do not run to hard.
Breed group: Working
Weight: male: 110-150, female: 80-120 lbs
Height: male: 29, female 27 inches
Overview This breed has its origin in Turkey where they have been used as guardian dogs for property and livestock. The Anatolian Shepherd dog is an ancient breed that is more than 6000 years old. These dogs were famous for their capability of making independent decisions, and also for their ability to survive in harsh climates. This was required for the nomadic lifestyle they were a part of. The Anatolian Shepherd dog is regarded as the national emblem of Turkey.
Temperament This breed is a very devoted breed that is also commonly used as guardian dogs. The Anatolian Shepherd dog is very intelligent and highly trainable. They pick up new skills fairly easy, but not appropriate for beginners. The Anatolian Shepherd dog will require an owner that is dominant and able to control the dog. These dogs are very calm, courageous and independent - they are also not aggressive but can be a bit wary of strangers. Seeing that this breed is a natural guarding dog, they can become very possessive. The Anatolian Shepherd dog is also very tough on it self, and can at times be very stubborn. It is important that these dogs should be socialised properly - they are also slow in reaching maturity.
Care The Anatolian Shepherd dog doesn't have high grooming needs, and requires a thorough brushing about twice a year when they are shedding. During the rest of the year they do not require a lot of attention. The Anatolian Shepherd only shed heavily on a seasonal basis.
Training The Anatolian Shepherd is requires an owner with some previous dog ownership experience. The owners should be dominant and take control in training sessions. The best results will be achieved when the training is firm, consistent, and done with a loving approach. Training should be started when these dogs are still young as it is difficult to correct them later on as they are too strong and big. These dogs should be socialised from early on, and should also have basis obedience training. You will find that these dogs will not respond positively toward rough or heavy-handed training methods. The training environment should be one that is fair, firm and consistent.
Health problems The Anatolian Shepherd dog usually has a low immunity, and can take a bit longer to develop than some of the other breeds. Some medical conditions that potential owners should be aware of include hip dysplasia, sensitivity to Anaesthesia, inversion of the eyelids and hypothyroidism.