Animal Friends Home-to-Home Adoption Program presents: Bella!

Bella is a 4 year old American Stafford Terrier / Boxer / Afghan Hound mix (we’ve had her DNA tested) who weighs around 80 pounds. We adopted her from a shelter when she was 4 to 5 months old.  She has a redish/brown short hair with minimum shedding.  She has been spayed, is up to date on all her shots, and has been micro-chipped.    She has gone through obedience training with two private trainers in our home and is well trained on all basic commands and leash walking.  She has also gone through the “Fearful Fido” Class at Animal Friends.  She is crate trained and house trained and does very well for even long periods of time without any accidents. We have had no chewing problems and she demonstrates no destructive behavior.  She is invisible fence trained as well.  She is a quiet dog that only barks on occasion or when strangers enter the house or when she sees other dogs.  She has a medium energy level and is as happy laying at your feet as she is going for a walk.  When she is active she is very athletic and would probably be good at agility training.  She is a very loyal dog who always enjoys being around her owner. 

 

Unfortunately, we have to find a new home for her because she is very anxious, guarded, and sometimes growls around young children.   We have four children with one being seven years old and have a neighborhood full of young kids.  We have also experienced some guarding issues around food.   Given that we have worked with her for over three years with our vet and two private trainers, with a variety of methods, without any improvement we have no choice but to give her up to a good home without small children. She would be a perfect dog for a single person, couple, or family with teenage kids.   Please help us find an equally wonderful home for this wonderful dog. 

If you can help Bella find a loving home, please contact Frank at 412.736.5886

5 Ways to Celebrate National Dog Day

National Dog Day is on Fri., Aug. 26. Founded by an animal advocate in 2004, National Dog Day celebrates dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds. Whether you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate with your dog or you’re interested in adopting a new family member, here are a few ideas to help you make the most of National Dog Day …

5. Make a fun new toy.

Everyone loves spoiling their pooch by buying them the best food, treats, accessories and toys, but making a toy for your furry friend can be just as enjoyable! Toys are a fun way to help your dog get the exercise that is so important to keep them healthy. As vital as physical activities are for dogs, mental exercise is just as important. Enrichment is a form of playtime designed to work out your dog’s mind along with their body. Why not celebrate National Dog Day by making a fun enrichment toy for your favorite four-legged buddy? Here are some ideas to get you started!

4. Explore a new part of town.

Do you ever get the bug to explore a new place because you’re doggone tired of the “same old, same old?” Your dog feels the same way! Break out of the routine of the same walking route everyday by taking your pup somewhere new. There are plenty of parks and hiking trails that your dog would love to help you explore! If you’re not sure where to start, try hitting the trail with some fellow dog lovers.

3. Play in the sprinkler.

Although summer may be winding down, the hot weather hasn’t quite called it quits for the year. Running through the sprinkler isn’t just fun for humans! Try rewarding your best friend on National Dog Day by creating your own backyard water park to help cool them down on a warm August afternoon. Your dog will love chasing the water and you’ll get plenty of entertainment watching all the fun! Check out some other ways to beat the heat with your pet before fall arrives.

2. Eat at a dog-friendly restaurant.

More and more restaurants are inviting customers to bring their dogs along while they eat and drink with friends. Show your pup that they’re part of the family by choosing one of these dog-friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh if you plan on dining out on National Dog Day. You won’t have to worry about leaving your furry friend at home and many of these eateries even offer special menu items for pooches!

1. Adopt!

What better way to celebrate National Dog Day than by giving a home to a dog that doesn’t have one? There are so many at Animal Friends right now who are patiently waiting for their new family to come and give them the loving home they deserve! To help you and your perfect pup find each other, Animal Friends is celebrating National Dog day with a one-day adoption special. Come in on Fri., Aug. 26 to adopt a dog 2-years or older and you’ll receive $25 off the requested adoption donation! Click here to meet the dogs that are available for adoption right now at Animal Friends.

There are plenty of ways to help raise awareness on National Dog Day, plus it’s the perfect excuse to spoil your pup (not that you don’t do that anyway). Whether you’re adopting or just enjoying the day with your furry friend, be sure to snap a selfie and tag Animal Friends on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Thanksgiving Day Treats for your Dog

We’re always on the lookout for fun activities to share with you and we found a great one from our friends at the Outer Banks SPCA, located in North Carolina.(https://www.facebook.com/obxspca)

Last Thanksgiving, their shelter dogs celebrated by digging into these festive food bowls! Volunteers and kids had so much fun putting them together that the North Carolina agency has been serving up this Thanksgiving Day feast for two years and counting. Freezing the bowls allows advance preparation—and as a bonus, makes mealtime last longer for the animals.

 Share photos if you do this for your dogs on Thanksgiving!  We'd love to see!

Special thanks to ASPCA and the Outer Banks SPCA for this recipe.

Help Them Heal Challenge: Teddy

“What are you doing here fella,” murmurs a Good Samaritan. He found a 10-year-old Chow Chow mix, Teddy, on his porch on a frigid, winter evening. Teddy was wearing a collar without tags and dragging some-20 feet of cable. This fluffy, little guy was someone’s dog. Without identification the man had no choice but to set out to find the owners.

Alas, his search was fruitless – so he turned to Animal Friends.

Upon Teddy’s arrival, it didn’t take long for staff to notice he was alarmingly head-shy. So much so, he needed to be muzzled to complete his physical exam. The medical team found his ear canals to be in terrible shape – it’s no wonder he was incredibly sensitive to touching on and near his ears. Despite knowing the origin of his sensitivity, his chances of being available for adoption didn’t look good.

Before all animals (dogs, cats and rabbits alike) can be available for adoption at Animal Friends, their behavior must be assessed by our behavior team. This includes a few tests to find out more information about each animal so he can be best matched with potential adopters. When it came time for Teddy’s, it took the team two attempts. There were reports of growly and snappy behavior. Odds were stacking against Teddy.

But there was still hope. Every now and again, Teddy showed glimpses of his personality. Staff knew to fully bring him out of his shell surgery was the only viable treatment option.

We couldn’t give up on this dog, so, his surgery was scheduled.

Just six short days after his surgery, Teddy was a completely different dog! Happy, bright, wiggly and affectionate are only a few of the wonderful ways to describe him. With each passing day, his spunk – showed more and more.

Teddy has since recovered from surgery and found a loving home. But we can’t be sure where he would’ve ended up without Animal Friends and quite honestly, we don’t want to think about that.

At Animal Friends, we promise to make an investment in the health of every one of our animals regardless of their level of need. Yes, every single one. But to be able to provide this kind of care we need your help. Now through Oct. 10 – thanks to the generosity of Bob and Janine Fragasso – every dollar you give in support of our residents’ medical care will be matched 50 cents on the dollar up to $125,000. Click hereto help more animals just like Teddy.

Dingo

Beauty Of Animal | Dingo | The dingo is a free-roaming dog mainly
found on the continent of Australia. Domestic and pariah dogs in southern Asia
share so many characteristics with Australian dingoes that experts now consider
them to be, if not "dingoes" in the Australian sense of the word
(which implies an independent, wild animal, integrated into the ecosystem),
members of the taxon Canis

African Wild Dog

 

The Life of Animals | African Wild Dog | It 'the only canid species lack dewclaws on the front legs. This is the largest canid Africa, just behind the gray wolf, is the world's second largest wild canid exists. Animals in southern Africa are generally larger than the east or west. Has a dental formula consists of 42 teeth. Premolars are relatively large compared with those of other canids, so that a large quantity of bone, much like hyenas consume. The African wild dog has a bite force measured ratio (BFQ, bite force on the mass of the animal) at 142, the highest existing mammalian order Carnivora, although exceeded by the Tasmanian devil, a marsupial carnivore. Can kill at the age of 8-11 months small prey, but depend on the pack kills most of their food. Wild dogs reach sexual maturity at the age of 12-18 months.

The females of the pack of birth until 14-30 months old disperse and join other packs that lack sexually mature females. Among the wild dogs compete women access to males that. The practice may leave adults behind the guard puppies hunting efficiency in smaller packages to reduce The packages are divided into male and female hierarchies. Previously it was thought that if a division of alpha-chip package, but this was rejected (albeit on a small scale) by Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom, in which 6 dogs that had been raised in captivity (reached only 5 the island, a died of anesthesia) lost their two alpha, which purports to be fixed crocodiles, but the 3-pack and a new alpha male and the female were. In the group of women, the oldest will have alpha status over the others, so keep a mother her alpha status over her daughters and sisters. Among men, the father's brother and many others are dominant dominant without a father or a brother, the other to be the new dominant breeders.

If two to this lonely separate sexes meet, they may form a pack, if not correlated. Independent wild dogs are sometimes in groups, but this is usually temporary. In contrast, the wild dogs occasionally hostile independent experiments buy packages. In the Serengeti, the average dog density (prior to local extinction of the species) a dog for every 208 square kilometers (80 square miles), while in the Selous Game Reserve, the average density was 1 dog every 25 square kilometers (9, 7 square MI). In the Serengeti, the average range at 1,500 square kilometers (580 square miles) is estimated, although individual ranges overlap extensively. It once approximately 500,000 African Wild Dogs in 39 countries, and packs of 100 or more were were not uncommon. Smaller populations, but surely, apparently several hundred people in Zimbabwe (Hwange National Park), South Africa (Kruger National Park), and the complex Ruaha / Rungwa / Kisigo Tanzania. Isolated populations persist in Zambia, Kenya and Mozambique.

The African wild dog is to fight by human overpopulation, habitat loss and killing endangered predators. Used very large areas (they can only exist in large protected areas), and is strongly influenced by competition with larger carnivores that rely on the same prey base, particularly the lion and hyena. While adult wild dogs run faster pace than larger predators, lions often kill as many wild dogs and puppies to chew on the site, but can not eat. One by one the hyena is much more powerful than the wild dog, but a large group of wild dogs hunt successfully, a small number of hyenas because of their teamwork. Most of the national parks in Africa are too small for a pack of wild dogs, and tend to be expansion packs for protected areas, ranch or farm land. Breeders and farmers to protect their domestic animals by killing the wild dogs. Like other carnivores, the African wild dog is sometimes affected by outbreaks of viral diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. Although these diseases are no longer pathogenic or virulent for wild dogs, the small size of most wild dog populations to the risk of local extinction due to illness or other problems. 

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Tibetan Mastiff

 

The Life of Animals | Tibetan Mastiff | Currently, some breeders are two "types" of Tibetan Mastiff, Do-Khyi and Tsang-Khyi. Khyi-Tsang (which in Tibetan means "dog Tsang") is also called, type "monastery", described as generally taller, heavier, heavier boned with facial wrinkling and haw Do- Khyi or of "nomad". Dogs bred in western weighs 140 lbs (64 kg) and 180 pounds (82 kg), especially if they are in good condition and not overweight. Tibetan Mastiff is considered a primitive breed. Tibetan Mastiff coat one does not smell unpleasant "big-dog" that affects many large breeds. (Dog sterilization or bitch may dramatically affect the coat texture, density, and shedding pattern.)

Tibetan mastiffs are displayed in a standard in the West, but separated by the Indian breed standard into two varieties lion's head (or smaller, exceptionally long hair from forehead to withers, creating a necklace or mane) and Tiger Head ( Moreover, shorter hair). Native type of dog, which still exists in Tibet and other regions of the Himalayas (in Bhutan, Nepal and northern India), and race can vary temperament westernized, but not identical breeding dogs, all within "the same litter, raised in the same house. Some Western and Asian breeders are trying to create a replica of the legendary dog which they identify as "true Tibetan Mastiff" or Tsang-Khyi. Some breeders have crossed recognize Tibetan mastiff dog with Neapolitan Chinese curse, Chow Chow and other races in the creation of what is now called the market "dog. 

Inside socialized dog, you can thrive in a spacious courtyard, surrounded by a canine companion, but it is not generally suitable for an apartment dog. Breed dogs are generally more accommodating to the West, although somewhat aloof with strangers coming to the house. With hundreds of years of selective breeding flock protection and family guardian, the breed was recognized as a night watchman, keeping predators and intruders at bay, barking sounds for any over night. Tibetan Mastiff leaving one outside all night with neighbors nearby is not recommended. Are excellent family dogs good family. Lack of consistency, rational discipline can lead to dangerous dogs, unpredictable (even if this is true for almost all breeds of dogs).

Unlike most large breeds, life expectancy is long, some 10-14 years - at least a few lines. Others, clean lines more closely the production of short, dogs are not healthy. The breed has fewer genetic health problems than many breeds, but cases can be found of hypothyroidism, entropion, ectropion, skin problems including allergies, autoimmune problems including demodex, missing teeth abnormalities (bite or sting), disease problems heart, epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataract, and small channels, ear, with a tendency to infection. As with most large dogs, some suffer from hip dysplasia or elbow. Demyelinative canine hereditary neuropathy (NIC), a hereditary disease, he appeared in one of the prominent Tibetan mastiffs lines in 1980.

Hypothyroidism is quite common in Tibetan mastiffs, as in many large breeds "North". Many dogs of this breed have "low" thyroid values but no clinical symptoms. Veterinarians and owners of different views on the relative merits of medication dogs that test "low" but are completely asymptomatic. It is an ancient breed. A very questionable laboratory study of Nanjing Agricultural University Animal genetics and breeding Molecular Evolution in Nanjing, China, found that while most common dog breeds genetically diverged from the wolf approximately 42,000 years, the Tibetan Mastiff genetically diverged from wolf approximately 58,000 years Many Tibetan Mastiff breeders and owners (and their websites) says Marco Polo encountered the large Tibetan dogs in his travels and described all this "tall as a donkey with a voice as powerful as that of a lion.

After 1980, the breed began to gain popularity worldwide. Although the breed is still considered somewhat "rare, since most active farmers stood and produced a sufficient number of dogs, problems and show organizations (FCI AKC) began to recognize the breed. Initially the breed suffered as a result of limited gene pool of the original stock, but today's reputable breeders work hard to reduce genetic problems through selective breeding and the international exchange of new blood lines. In 2008, the Tibetan Mastiff competed for the first time at the Westminster Kennel Club. A woman in China was reported to have spent more than 4 million yuan to buy a 18-month-old male Tibetan Mastiff breed which he named Yangtze No. 2 Were there other similar reports of dogs are sold at astronomical prices, however, most of them seem to be trying to drive farmers to price their dogs.

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Welsh Corgi

 

The Life of Animals | Welsh Corgi | There are two types of Cardigan and Pembroke Welsh corgis, each named for the counties of Wales where they come from. Dog's undercoat is short, soft and thick. The dog fox head and a short tail, which is realized through breeding or docking. Historically, the Pembroke is a kind of natural bob tail (very short tail), and today, when Pembroke's tail at all, usually curly. Since the advent of the tail docking of dogs, bob tail is not aggressively follow the breeders instead of other characteristics, and the tail artificially shortened if necessary. Pembroke stand 10 inches (25 cm) and 12 inches (30 cm) and weighs about 28 pounds (13 kg).

Corgis of herding dogs and perform their duties in a puppy nipping at the heels, allows him to avoid kicking in the process. The herding dogs, corgis work livestock differently than other species. Instead of gathering livestock as a Collie would, by running around the livestock, corgis drive the herd forward their trail clamps worked behind semicircles. Welsh corgis also guarded children and were beloved pets

Cardigan Welsh Corgi Pembroke both dogs and among the healthiest and longest life in the Herding Group. Pembroke Welsh corgis susceptible to intervertebral disc disease, hip, progressive retinal atrophy and epilepsy. Cardigan Welsh Corgis, the average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, and the Pembroke Welsh corgis typically live 12 to 15 years corgis often compete in dog agility trials, obedience, staging, flyball, tracking and livestock events.

Cardigan and Pembroke corgis management basic instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials outside Wales, corgis as popularized by Queen Elizabeth II for his four suites at any time. The first corgi was named Susan. Currently, two states and two corgis Dorgis (Corgi / Dachshund cross). Some portraits of Queen Elizabeth II contain corgi. Corgis that the characters have to build a fantasy fairy Corgiville Fair, Corgiville The Great Christmas Kidnapping and Corgiville American author and illustrator Tasha Tudor. In 1961, the Walt Disney little lost dog, a Pembroke Corgi widespread publicity. The Korg Top Shelf comics in the folk tradition of the corgi as a draft animal fairy.  

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Saint Bernard

 

The Life of Animals | Saint Bernard | The ancestors of the St. Bernard share a history with Sennenhunds, also called Swiss Mountain Dogs or Swiss Cattle, dogs large estates of farmers and livestock guardians, herding dogs and dogs hunting dogs and projects , search dogs and rescue dogs guard. These dogs are considered descendants of the mastiff type dogs brought into the Alps by the Romans, and the St. Bernard is internationally recognized as one of the Hounds. The first written records of the St. Bernard breed are from monks at the hospice Grand Saint-Bernard in 1707, with paintings and drawings of the dog even earlier. The most famous St. Bernard to save people at the pass of Barry (sometimes spelled Berry), who saved somewhere between 40 and 100 lives. The classic St. Bernard looked very different from the St. Bernard of today due to the cross. The Swiss St. Bernard Club was founded in Basel March 15, 1884. The Saint Bernard was the first race in the Stud Book registered in Switzerland in 1884 and the breed standard was finally approved in 1888. Since then, the race was a Swiss dog The Saint Bernard is a large dog. The coat can be smooth or rough, with the smooth coat close and flat.

The Saint Bernard dog is no longer the alpine rescues finally recorded in 1897 was used. Also in 2004, the Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard still has 18 dogs for reasons of tradition and sentiment. Animals raised therein are trained to attract a variety of dog sports such as karting and weight involved. Dogs Foundation Barry are smaller than the growth Bernard The St very fast and the weight of a St. Bernard can lead to very serious deterioration of the bones if the dog does not receive proper nutrition and exercise. Many dogs are genetically affected by hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. The breed is also prone to epilepsy and seizures, heart disease called cardiomyopathy, and eczema.

Clubs in the United States and the United Kingdom to race put the average life expectancy of a Saint Bernard in 8-10 years. License Denmark 2003 (35 dogs), the average life of 9.5 years, while a British judge in 2004, this dog (53) the average life of seven years. San Bernardo went to England in the mid 19th century exported, where they were bred with mastiffs to create an even bigger dog. Commercial pressure encouraged breeding ever larger dogs until "the dogs was so great that the difficulties, one end of a show ring to another.

A 1895 New York Times mentions a St. Bernard named Major F. measures 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) long, which, if the allegations are true, it would be the longest in the history of the dog. Another St. Bernard named Benedictine V Schwarzwald Hof (Pierson, Michigan - USA) also reached 315 pounds (143 kg), which earned him a place in the 1981 edition of the Guinness Book of Records. The main character does not give his St. Bernard any brandy.

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Alaska Malamute

 

The Life of Animals | Alaska Malamute | American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard describes the natural range of sizes, with the required load 23 inches (58 cm) and 75 pounds (34 kg) for women and 25 inches (64 cm) and pound (39 kg 85) for men. Heavier individuals (90 lb (41 kg)) and dogs less than 75 pounds (34 kg), usually visible. Alaska Malamute coat is a double coat. In Nursing Alaska Malamute dog eyed, heavy, with a formidable character and structure Siberian Husky dogs are small and thin, with the ability to have blue eyes and brown bi-, is an excellent backbone and bred specifically for speed. Alaska malamute for power and force that its original function, and what the breed standard calls Alaskan Malamute breeders bred. Conventional color in different shades of gray and black, sable and white, black and white printing and white, red and black, or solid white. Alaskan Malamute almond-shaped eyes and various shades of brown, but the best dark eyes.

According to the AKC breed standard, Malamute tail is well feathered and on the back as "waving plume" performed. Welfare state malamute coat helps keep warm as they roll in the snow. Malamute is generally slower for endurance racing sled dog racing and less likely limited its usefulness for charter work or travel long distances at a rate much slower than needed for racing. Malamute retains more of its original form and function of many modern breeds. Personality Malamute is a strong independence. If a dog owner can not with a dog that does not comply with all orders of the owner can not cope, you should choose a resilient breed. Many owners malamutov noticed this behavior with smaller animals, though some believe it.

Malamute is sailing around furniture and smaller items, making them ideal house dogs, provided that they spend time outdoors meeting their considerable exercise to dogs if a year to make the Games a cool outdoor baby pool with cold water remains summer Malamute usually silent dog rarely barks. When Malamute vocalizations, it often seems that "talking" vocalizations "Woo Woo" sound. Malamute is a descendant of dogs Mahlemut (or more often than Kuuvangmiut Kobuk known) group than in Western Alaska Inupiat. These dogs had a prominent role with their human companions as a working dog, working, hunting dogs and live with the people for their excellent hunting abilities have been known and used for hunting large predators such as bears.

For a short period during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, Malamute and other sled dogs became extremely valuable recently landed prospectors and settlers, and often crossed with imported breeds. It does not seem to have had a lasting impact on the modern Malamute, and recent DNA analysis shows that malamute one of the oldest dog breeds genetically from other dog breeds. Malamute dog has a long history of helping Admiral Richard Byrd to the South Pole, and the miners who came to Alaska during the gold rush of 1896, when he was in World War II primarily as search and rescue dogs in Greenland and Dogs packaging charter and Europe used. This dog never destined to become a sled dog race, but for heavy loads, pulling hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds of supplies to villages and camps in groups of at least 4 dogs for heavy loads.Alaska Malamute is a member of the Spitz family of dogs traced back 2,000 to 3,000 years stem Mahlemuits Alaska. In 2010, Alaska Malamute the official state dog was named Alaska. 

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