Category: Best Dog Blogs

7 Great Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds That Won’t Make You Sneeze

7 Great Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds That Won’t Make You Sneeze

Just because you are allergic to fur doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on owning a fluffy friend. There are hundreds of Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds, here are a few of our favourites.

Bichon Frise

Don’t be deterred by the soft puffy coat. These small marshmallows do not shed and are jolly and simple to train. The Bichon Frise is perfect for a family needing a little, cheerful dog as an easygoing company.

Schnauzer

These shed-less pups are excellent for an owner who loves to be the center of focus — or a child who adores playing “Follow the Leader.” Schnauzers love individual attention,  so expect to have a pal by your side at all times  They do need a firm hand, to balance their protective mood and his tenacious, filled with energy attitude. Schnauzers come in three sizes,  giant, standard and tiny

Yorkshire Terrier

Why is this strain a favored among allergy sufferers? These cute little dogs grow hair instead of fur. Hair has an extended development cycle in this strain, meaning that they shed less often. The only drawback is that these guys that are are going to need continuous dressing to prevent their hair from becoming a matted mess. Having a groomer shave them in a pup cut can supply a temporary low-care option.

Shih Tzu

Dog lovers with allergies shouldn’t be deceived by this strain’s long, glossy locks; in reality, the Shih Tzu sheds very little. Dog owners have two options for hairstyles.  Keeping the jacket keeping it long or short into a “puppy” cut. However, keeping it long comes at a cost: the coat needs regular combing and daily care.

Poodle

The poodle is cherished by many allergy sufferers. Poodles are famously smart and loyal breeds. This strain is also blessed with a non-shedding coat. The poodles tight and fluffy curls tend to maintain dander, keeping it off the floor and bed. Like many of other hypoallergenic dog breads, poodles need regular baths and haircuts.

Italian Greyhound

Perfecto! This small Italian breed has a layer has a very thin layer of hair, so while he just sheds, it is not difficult to keep him clean of allergens. The strain does not need a large lawn, and is quite lively and loyal. They are  quite sensitive to cold though, so this is not a great strain for a family living in a chilly climate.

Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese water dog made its way to the White House. After extensive research the Obamas had to find a strain that wouldn’t irritate family and staff members allergies. Like the poodle, this pooch has a low shedding speed due to his “curled hairdo, which keeps dander from accumulating on furniture, garments, upholstery, and the floor.

12 Dog Breeds Whose Names You’re Probably Pronouncing Wrong

12 Dog Breeds Whose Names You’re Probably Pronouncing Wrong

Like certain human names, some dog breeds are quite difficult to pronounce. And when you mispronounce one? The worst! But Nuzzle is here to help. Here are 12 dog breeds you’re most likely pronouncing wrong – and the correct way to say them.

Shih Tzu

One of the most widely mispronounced dog breed names is this pint size, fluffy breed. While you may have heard it pronounced “s**t sue” it’s actually pronounced shee-dzoo.

Bichon Frise

Another commonly mispronounced breed is this adorable ball of fur. There are technically two ways to pronounce this one: Bee-shon Freeze or Bee-shawn Free-zey, the latter being the traditional French pronunciation.

Dogue de Bordeaux

This French Mastiff’s name looks more difficult than it actually is. “Dogue” is pronounced like “Vogue” and “Bordeaux” is pronounced like the wine. So, it’s Dohg-duu-Bor-doe.

Norwich Terrier

Though this may not seem too difficult to pronounce, there are actually two different ways to say this cuties name. Nor-Witch or Norridge (the traditional English version) are both correct.

Bernese Mountain Dog

This one isn’t so much about the spelling but more about the fact that it sounds similar to people from “Burma”. Bernese Mountain Dogs are actually from the Swiss Alps and their name is pronounced like “Bur-Nees” not “Bur-Mees”.

Kuvasz

In this Hungarian sheep herding dog’s name, the “z” is silent, so it’s pronounced Koo-vah”.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Just looking at this name may make you want to bury your head in the sand – or at least avoid saying it at all costs! But with enough practice, you’ll become an expert in no time. Just keep practicing, Puh-tee Bah-say Gree-fohn Von-day-uhn over and over again!

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

The last word may throw people off on this breeds name as it’s actually pronounced Por-cha-geez Poe-den-go Pe-ken-o – not “Pe-ken-yo”.

Lagotto Romagnolo

Hailing from a sub-region in Italy, this Italian dog’s name is pronounced La-got-toe Rrrro-man-yolo and means “Lake Dog of Romagna”.

Berger Picard

Though it looks like “Burger Picard”, the correct way to pronounce this French herding dog’s name is Bare-zhay Pee-carr.

Cesky Terrier

This interesting-looking pup bears a resemblance to Schnauzers and originated in Czechoslovakia. The correct way to pronounce their name is “Chess-Key Terrier”.

Pekingese

If you pronounce this long-haired beauty Pee-kuh-neez, you’re technically right. But, there is a lesser-known version – Pee-king-eez – that is often considered incorrect. However, this breed was named after the Chinese capital city “Peking” (now known as Beijing), so that version is perfectly acceptable.

So next time you spot one of these pups, impress your friends and fellow dog lovers with the correct pronunciation of these dog breeds!

13 Dog Breeds That Require The Least Amount Of Exercise

13 Dog Breeds That Require The Least Amount Of Exercise

Most dogs are known for their high energy or affinity for long walks. Some breeds, however, don’t fit into that mold. Introducing the 13 dog breeds that require the least amount of exercise.

Bulldog

Probably the most well-known less-active breed is the Bulldog. Though athletic, the Bulldog is notorious for wanting no part in long walks or exercises. Their spot is on the couch and they’re perfectly happy there.

Chow Chow

No need for long hikes or walks for this breed. The Chow Chow is perfectly fine just hanging out with their humans all day.

French Bulldog

Similar to their counterpart the Bulldog, the French Bulldog doesn’t require a lot of exercise. While they love to play, they’d prefer to chill out with you on the couch.

Chinese Crested

This hairless breed may be more work to take care of than other breeds thanks to its non-existent coat, but they actually have quite a low need for exercise. Chinese Crested’s are also loving and friendly companions.

Bullmastiff

You may be fooled by the Bullmastiff’s size, but this breed is calm-natured and doesn’t require a ton of exercise. They were, however, bred to be guard dogs so they are constantly alert.

Bichon Frise

A daily walk is all this breed needs. The Bichon Frise would rather hang out with their humans anyway.

Miniature Pinscher

This small, adorable breed does not require a lot of exercise and is the perfect family companion – especially those who prefer nights in over nights out.

Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu’s, though playful and alert, were bred as companion dogs. So it’s in their nature to be around their humans at all times.

Pomeranian

Pomeranian’s weren’t always as small as they are today. In fact, they were bred to be smaller so they can fit in their owner’s laps. And now, they prefer to hang out with their human’s than play around outside.

Japanese Chin

Actually hailing from China, the Japanese Chin is a pint-sized breed with a playful personality. However, they don’t require much exercise and prefer to chill out with their owners.

Chinese Shar Pei

This wrinkly-faced breed prefers lounging to running and will be a great pup for Sunday’s spent on the couch.

Sussex Spaniel

Although they were originally bred as hunting dogs, the Sussex Spaniel has strayed away from their former responsibilities and is now known as a slow-paced dog that loves to lounge around all day.

Irish Wolfhound

Despite their size, the Irish Wolfhound doesn’t require a ton of exercise. They were originally bred as war dogs, but today they are family companions that enjoy just hanging out with their humans.

Pickles: The Pup That Saved The World Cup

Pickles: The Pup That Saved The World Cup

The History Making Pup

In 1996, England was preparing to hold the World Cup, which to the English, was kind of a big deal. Especially because they had a feeling they might win—which they did—so you can imagine how bummed they were when a thief stole the World Cup trophy just four months before the matches started.

The entire country immediately went into a frenzy to avoid international embarrassment and find the missing cup. After months of searching, and a failed ransom request Pickles, a curious collie saved the day by finding the lost trophy.

While on a routine walk, the pup sniffed something out in the bushes and wouldn’t let up. When Pickle’s owner took a look at what the pup had found, he discovered the missing World Cup!

In the aftermath of finding the Cup, Pickles meteoric rise to fame began. The press lavished him with attention, quickly becoming known as the hero dog that saved the Works Cup. The country even threw a banquet in Pickles honor.  Awarding him a bone and a £5,000 check —archive footage shows the check being shoved into his face, so we hope it was cashed by his master and not chewed to shreds.

Finding the world cup changed Pickles life forever. Once an ordinary dog, he became known as the pup that saved the world cup.  He starred in feature films, The Spy with the Cold Nose, and appeared on Magpie, Blue Peter and many other TV shows. The country named Pickles Dog of the Year.  A title that came with a year’s free supply of food from Spillers. There were offers to visit Chile, Czechoslovakia, and Germany.

Meet Cullen And Romulus, The World’s First Set Of Puppy Identical Twins

Meet Cullen And Romulus, The World’s First Set Of Puppy Identical Twins

We all know puppies are adorable. It’s hard to resist those fluffy coats and unbelievably cute faces. But, have you ever looked at two puppies and thought to yourself, “Wow, they look exactly alike?” Your eyes may no longer be deceiving you. For the first time in history, two puppies were born identical twins.

The Irish Wolfhound twins were delivered via C-section with their five litter mates by Kurt de Cramer of Rant en Dal Animal Hospital in South Africa. The two puppies were attached by their umbilical cords to the same placenta – not a common occurrence during the procedure. The twins, named Cullen and Romulus, had some slight differences in their white markings but blood tests confirmed that they were, in fact, identical twins.

Why the slight difference in markings? Though the twins share the same set of genes, each gene will be influenced by indirect environmental cues, changing how each gene is expressed. So, like human identical twins, Cullen and Romulus won’t look exactly alike.

Although it is not impossible, identical twins are very rare for non-human species.

Many people have suspected that domestic dogs could be identical twins, but Cullen and Romulus were the first confirmed case. There could certainly be undocumented cases of non-human identical twins, especially since scientists have only genetically tested a small sample of wild and domestic animals. The rarity could also be because two organisms living in the same placenta don’t receive the same amount of nourishment. In the wild, that could mean only one animal survives.

Although Cullen and Romulus were born slightly smaller and lighter than their siblings, the now twelve-week-old pups are thriving and enjoying life with the rest of the pack.

Do You Need a Pet Halloween Costume?

Do You Need a Pet Halloween Costume?

Guide to a perfect pet Halloween costume

We all love the idea of dressing up our pets for Halloween or for various other parties.  After all, if people can dress up in various costumes for the occasion then it only makes sense for our pets to do the same, right?

But that doesn’t mean that every pet should have a Halloween costume. While some pets might be fine with wearing something for the holiday, you should be very cautious when trying to get a good costume ready.

Some pets might be easily agitated by the added weight that comes from a costume. Heavy costumes can be bothersome to many pets.

Also, there are times when some parts of a pet Halloween costume might have small parts or attractive things that pets might chew on. This could be harmful to them in some cases.

There might also be times when your pet may be too active. A pet that can run fast and make sudden movements will not need a costume. Any pet that is too easily agitated by sudden actions might not need a costume either. This is important to see with regards to how a pet behaves and how it responds to a costume.

What If You Want a Pet Haloween Costume?

If you do wish to have a Halloween costume for your pet, it helps to see if your pet will be comfortable with it. It is typically a good idea to allow your pet to have a bit of time to wear it to get used to that costume. This is so there won’t be any unusual mishaps on Halloween.

Also, make sure the costume is one that is not going to easily slip off or be uncomfortable for a pet to wear. Anything that is rough or otherwise hard on a pet’s body will certainly not be something for the pet to wear.

Try not to be overly predictable either. It’s often easier to spot your pet if you have a costume for it that is distinguishable. After all, there are only so many dogs in hot dog costumes out there.

A get pet costume will certainly stand out when used right. Be sure to think carefully about whether your pet could actually enjoy wearing.  The last thing you want for Halloween is to bear with your pet not cooperating with a costume.

12 Wonderful Things Humans Have Done For Animals In 2016

12 Wonderful Things Humans Have Done For Animals In 2016

Whether 2016 was a great year for you or not, there is no denying that some pretty amazing things happened. It just so happens that 12 of these awesome things were animal related. Here are 12 wonderful things humans did for animals this past year.

Goat with anxiety wears duck costume to make her feel safe:

When Polly’s owner bought her a duck costume, she didn’t realize it would help with Polly’s major anxiety problems – and make for one of the cutest pictures ever.

Pup lives in his own Harry Potter-like room:

After moving to a new house, the Chihuahua’s owner decided to create a space for him. She turned the cabinet under the stairs into his very own bedroom – furnished with a dresser, tiny bed, and lots of snacks. Just like Harry Potter.

Chicken on bed rest gets to watch nature documentaries:

After an injury, a chicken, named Strawberry, was put on bed rest. So she wouldn’t get bored, her owners set up an iPad with shows for her to watch. Her favorites were nature documentaries and shows with other chickens.

Dog receives his own letters:

Pippa is obsessed with getting the mail for her family. So, if there isn’t any mail that day, her mailman will write her a letter she doesn’t go home empty pawed.

Cat gets wrapped in Christmas bandages:

When Missy was bitten by a snake, she had to be hospitalized. Her nurses wanted to make her time there more festive, so they put Christmas-colored bandages on her.

Pup takes last walk on beach with hundreds of new friends:

Walnut’s dad had to make the difficult decision of putting him down. He wanted to make Walnut’s last walk memorable, so he asked people on Facebook to join them. To his surprise, hundreds of people showed up!

Mice are given their own storefronts:

Thanks to a group of artists, some mice got to experience their very own trip to the mall. The artists wanted to build some storefronts with mice in mind. The mice definitely approved.

Dog that was abused gets stuffed animals that look just like her:

When Justice was rescued, her mouth and legs were bound with electrical tape, leaving her with a scar across her snout. The shelter that saved her wanted to raise awareness and money to stop animal abuse, so they created a line of stuffed animals modeled after her.

A family celebrated Christmas early for their dying dog:

After Scooby’s family realized he wouldn’t make it to Christmas, they decided to celebrate it early. They even decorated the house and gave him presents!

Shelter dogs get treated to Puppuccinos:

One shelter decided to treat their pups to some afternoon Puppuccinos. It gave the dogs something to look forward and improved their chances of getting adopted.

Man surprises cat by dressing up as his favorite toy:

A man decided to surprise his cat and dress up as his favorite shark toy. The cat seemed more confused than surprised, but it was a nice gesture to say the least.

Man surprises dog by dressing up as his favorite toy:

And finally, one of the top trending animal stories of 2016. Unlike the cat with the shark toy, Jolena was very excited when her dad surprised her dressed up as her favorite Gumby toy.

5 Best Dog Breeds For Apartment Renters

5 Best Dog Breeds For Apartment Renters

Space the final frontier, or the lack of space. I lived in a 600 square foot apartment for 5 years. They are 5 of only 8 years of my entire life that I didn’t have a dog. I’ve always had Golden Retrievers as an FYI. I always thought that you needed to have a ton of space to have a dog in an apartment but there are many dog breeds that thrive in apartments.

In fact, all dogs can become used to apartments, if you are able to give them the exercise they need and crave. We at Nuzzle do however think it is a little easier for some dogs to become used to the smaller space. These are our Top 5 dog breeds for apartment renters.

5 Best Dog Breeds for Apartment Renters

  1. Shih Tzu

Shih tzus are one of the best dogs for apartment living, even in very small apartments.

Their tiny body size and sweet temperament make them ideal apartment dwellers.

They are friendly, so this makes them one of the least yappy of the small breeds, a huge issue if you have neighbors that complain about barking.

Shih tzus do need a lot of maintenance for their hair, but other than that, they’re typically happy with one long walk per day.

  1. Great Dane

A dog that huge in an apartment?

Yes!

Great Danes are huge, powerful dogs, but they are true gentle giants. The breed is protective, but friendly. And, because they seem to be aware of their size, they only bark when necessary.

Great Danes are easily trained, and love a good walk, but don’t need an inordinate amount of exercise. This makes them a great apartment companion.

Note: if you have a very small apartment, the Great Dane is a bad option. Their size (100 – 140+lbs) requires that they have enough space to spread out a bit, and close-quarters living is not for them. But, if you have an average or large place, the Great Dane will thrive.

  1. Greyhound

Another big dog on the list.

Though they’re known for racing, most greyhounds just need a long walk and a place to lay down.

IF you adopt an adult or senior Greyhound, especially one rescued from a dog track, they’ll be thrilled to sprawl out on your couch, living the good life.

And, the best news for apartment living: Greyhounds are not big on barking.

Laid Back Dog Breeds

  1. Basset Hound

Basset Hounds are much more laid back than their Beagle cousins. Their larger size (they can be 70+lbs, though they’re not very tall), and work-only-when-necessary temperament slows them down and makes them great apartment dogs.

The Basset Hound does need a solid walk every day, not only for mental health, but because this breed can become very over-weight if you’re not careful.

But, if you’re looking for a Netflix-binge partner, look no further than the laziest of all hounds.

  1. Pug

The tiny pug seems made for apartment living. They’re small, loyal, and not yappy. The pug is known to be extremely loyal, and may follow you around your apartment constantly.

They can live in even the smallest of apartments, comfortably.

As with all breeds, the pug appreciates a daily walk, but is going to be thrilled when you get home and head for the couch.

Teaching Your Puppy to Walk on a Leash

Teaching Your Puppy to Walk on a Leash

Bringing a new dog into your home is one of the most exciting, rewarding things you can do. If they’re a rescue, they’ll surely reward your kindness with love, affection, and years of zany antics. If you’ve gotten a puppy or young adult dog (or an adult that was untrained), then getting them to walk on a leash can be challenging.

There is a small school of thought that preaches the belief that dogs walking on a leash should be allowed to roam freely, smelling and barking and playing how they like. There are other who believe that off-leash walking is possible, even in the city.

Don’t buy into it.

Why you Must Teach Your Dog To Walk On A Leash

The reality is that we need our dogs well behaved on the leash, not to satisfy our egos of being a good dog trainer, but instead to:

  • Keep our dogs safe – walking off leash in a city is dangerous, no matter how well trained or well behaved your dog is. Unless you have also trained all pedestrians, bike riders, skateboarders, and drivers, then your dog is at risk
  • Keep other safe – if you have a big dog, it doesn’t take much for them to jump up and knock someone down while out on a walk. This can lead to lawsuits, and your dog will be punished. You also don’t want to be pulled down by an unruly pup. That puts you both at risk for serious injury
  • Bond with your dog – Teaching your dog to walk calmly next to you no matter where you are can expose them to a myriad of fun things: dog parks, trips to the stores that allow dogs, adventures in the city, meeting other dogs at charity events and fundraisers, runs on the beach, etc.

But, how do you get an energetic, monkey-minded dog, especially a puppy, to behave while walking on leash?

Training A Puppy To Walk Good

  1. Don’t Let Their Energy Dictate the Pace

The biggest mistake dog owners make on the walk starts before the leash.

Dogs, especially puppies, become very excited at the sight of their leash. It means walks! Freedom! Friends and cars and people and all the cool smells the wind brings!

They’ll jump. They spin in circles. They’ll run around.

And, what do most of us do? We think it’s cute, leash them up, then start the walk. Before we even get out of the door they’re pulling us like a Clydesdale.

Calm Your Puppy Before The Walk

First, don’t start the walk until they’re calm. This will take patience on your part and theirs. You have to be willing to wait them out. Teach them to sit and wait calmly (it’s an excited calm, but it’s not jumping and running and spinning).

Once they’re calm, attach their leash/harness. Now, this will not happen on the first attempt. They’ll feign being relaxed, then get wild as you begin the leashing process. Back off, re-start. Keep going until they’re calm.

This one challenge will remove many of the behavior problems that occur on the walks. By putting your dog in a calm mental state, you teach them that – yeah, walks are cool, but they’re more fun when we do them as a team.

  1. Choose the Right Equipment

This is a highly individual choice. Rope leash vs nylon vs multiple-handle vs slip.

You’ll have to experiment.

However, a good rule is: if you have a large, powerful, or forceful dog, retractable leashes are not your friend.

A retractable leash will allow a dog to run at full speed before being stopped with a violent pull of their neck or chests. They allow for very little gripping power. Retractable leashes also break easily.

Leave retractable leashes to the Toy group.

  1. Off-Leash Training

If you have a yard, you can use the space to teach your dog that walking next to you is awesome. However, if you live in an apartment, you can try it indoors, too.

Put their leash on (when they’re calm). Walk away. When you’re about 10-feet away, call them with a quick command like “come on,” or “let’s go.”

Be cheerful. Let them know it’ll be fun.

When they reach your side, reward them with treats or affection.

Take hold of the leash and start walking. If she strays, use a gentle pull on the leash to put her back on track. Do not yank. These create negative associations.

Continue this exercise until you can make a lap or two around the yard (or apartment), then take the show on the road.

  1. Expose Them to All the Sights and Sounds

Once on the street, you and your puppy will be faced with many distractions. Exposure to cars, people, other dogs, cats, squirrels, etc. help your dog become desensitized to the stimulus. They’ll acknowledge the car or the other dog, but it won’t cause a negative behavior.

If she’s pulling or getting wild, simply repeat your command (Let’s go, come on, etc.) and walk in the opposite direction. Gentle pulls to get her attention focused on walking.

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Really Need?

How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Really Need?

Dogs, like people, need exercise. They crave movement. They need to get out of the house and explore the world.

Unfortunately, most dogs are under-exercised, and are suffering mentally and physically for it.

Lack Of Exercise Leads To Mental Strain

The old school of thinking believed that dogs were playful as puppies, then around a year old, they got lazy and boring. This lead to a lot of unhappy, destructive dogs. And, more sadly, it has led to many adult dogs being dumped in kill-shelters because they weren’t playing like a puppy anymore.

The truth is that dogs are pretty active at all ages. If they’re not sick or injured, a dog wants to move. Sitting in the house every day leads to boredom. Bored dogs become destructive. Or, depressed. They become lethargic.

Again, old school thinking about dogs led to the belief that they’re nothing more than dumb animals. But, the truth is that dogs are intelligent, emotional beings. They need mental stimulation.

Exercise As Mental And Physical Stimulation

Even seen a high energy breed like a German Shepard or a Husky destroy a house or yard? They’re under stimulated. These dogs are working breeds.

Keep a hound from exploring with its nose and you’ll have a sad, destructive dog.

Every breed, even mixed breeds, have things they crave. Exercise helps them satisfy this need.

Movement helps them physically, just as it does for humans. It controls weight, helps with metabolic rate, keeps disease at bay.

Walking Is Key

Waling is the best exercise for most dogs.

Daily walks of 20-minutes is minimal.

Two walks are better.

Know your dog – if you have a high energy dog, you’ll need to either walk more or run with them to use up their considerable energy.

What about dog parks and the back yard?

There are many experts that believe that running around a dog park or your yard is good for exercise but doesn’t provide the same primal mental stimulation that a long walk does. While this is debatable, the best option is to always include a walk whenever possible.

There seems to be something about moving forward, walking, that stimulates your dog’s brain, and helps them release a lot of mental stress. Walking could be tied into the act of searching for food and shelter that is embedded in your pup’s genetic coding.

If you can walk with them, and give them access to a yard or dog park, they’ll get the best of both worlds.

Bad Weather and Older Dogs

What if your dog is older and can’t handle long walks?

What About When It Snows Or Rains?

Do your best to get your dog out walking, even if it is for several short (as little as 5-minute) walks. Finding ways for them to exercise their minds with toys, bones, chew toys is important in these cases as well. If they’re up for it, play games with them. This will get them moving and thinking.

In bad weather, short walks can help. Some experts contend that a walk to the mailbox can help relieve mental stress and boredom. A short ride in the car can help. If you are confined to the house, turn to games using toys, treats, and simply being playful with your puppy can help them burn off mental and physical energy.

A Special Note For Puppies

In general, puppies are like toddlers – they have a seemingly inexhaustible energy supply.

Walking them multiple times per day, letting them run, and playing games with them are all necessary. If that energy is not put to positive use, it will turn negative. If you’d like to keep your couch, curtains, carpet, and shoes intact, get your new baby exercised.

The old adage that “a tired puppy is a good puppy,” holds true.

Want to Contact Me?

Hellonuzzle