Labrador Hunting Training Archives

Chances are, if you own a purebred dog, you may come across a behavioral or health pickle that is specific to that particular breed. For instance, is your lab being too mouthy? Is your beagle driving you crazy with his roaming and baying? How can you  prevent back problems in your dachshund?

Aside from your dog’s breeder or veterinarian, one of the best sources of information and help is other dog owners.  Web communities, made up of forums, message boards, and groups, can be an invaluable source of information for the purebred dog owner. Forum and group members fraction their experiences in various areas of dog ownership, such as behavior and training.  If your dog is driving you crazy with his incessant barking or you’re having effort housebreaking your adorable new pup, chances are great that other dog owners have faced similar situations and will gladly offer advice and support.  Want to brag that your dog graduated valedictorian in obedience class? Your fellow posters will gladly join in the kudos.  If you’ve just had to succor your beloved dog cross the Rainbow Bridge, they’ll also share your sorrow.

Forum topics vary from community to community, depending on the breed of dog. For example, forums dedicated to the Labrador Retriever also have topics on Hunting and Field Trials. On most forums, irresponsible breeding practices and the purchase of pet store dogs are hot topics and tend to hurry up some heated debates. However, these are the most common topics of discussion:

Behavior and Training
Health
Breed Rescue and Adoption
Grooming
Food/Raw Diets/Recipes
Showing/Conformation/Obedience/Agility

Not only are these forums informative, they are also fun. Members may discuss the latest trend in fashionable dog collars or breed-specific accessories. Most forums have photo areas where you can upload those cute digital images of your purebred puppy. Others hold contests on a regular basis or conduct fun polls like, “Is Your Dog a Cuddler? ”

When you join a forum or group, hold in mind that it is a community in every sense of the word.  Read the rules and guidelines carefully, and abide by them. Your very  first post should be an introduction. Tell the forum or group something about yourself and your dog. No doubt you’ll be warmly welcomed to the community. 

So, without further ado, these are examples of purebred dog forums and groups, based on the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) ranking of the 10 most popular dog breeds:

1. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever Chatboard Forums
http://lab-retriever.net

2. Golden Retriever
Top Golden Retriever Sites
http://www.topgoldenretrieversites.net

3. Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkie Talk
http://www.yorkietalk.com

4. German Shepherd
Home of the German Shepherd Dog
http://www.germanshepherds.com

5. Beagle
A Forum For People Who Are Owned By Beagles
http://www.abeagleworld.com

6. Dachshund
Dachsie’s Bulletin Board
http://www.dachsie.org

7. Boxer
The Ultimate Boxer Resource on the Net
http://boxerworld.com

8. Poodle
An Online Community of Pet Lovers
http://furkids.net

9. Shih Tzu
For Shih Tzu Lovers Everywhere
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shih-tzu

10. Miniature Schnauzer
Simply Schnauzers
http://www.simplyschnauzer.net

Whatever forum you determine to join and whatever breed of dog you absorb, fair remember to be yourself and have fun.  Part your experiences, good and bad, and help educate others.  Most importantly, joining a community devoted to your chosen purebred dog will make you a much better owner and you’ll make some great friends in the process.

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The Top 10 Most Intelligent Dog Breeds

Dr. Stanley Coren is a professor at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Coren produced a book in the 1990s about the different levels of intelligence in different breeds of dogs. He observed 132 different breeds of dog with their trainers and based his findings on “understanding of new commands” and “obey first hiss.” Here is a expeditiously glance into Dr. Stanley Coren’s top 10 smartest dogs.

10. Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog is called by many names: the Queensland Heeler, the Blue Heeler and also the Red Heeler. It was originally bred to be a herding dog for cattle in the continent of Australia.

The Australian Cattle Dog is known to have a high level of energy. Owners of this breed need to provide daily exercise and even give them a “job” to do. It is common for non-working dogs to be interested in learning new tricks or participating in dog sports, or doing agility training. Like many dogs, if they do not receive the proper amount of attention – they will become destructive.

The Australian Cattle Dog is ranked 10th on the list of the most colorful breeds of dog.

9. Rottweiler

Coming in at 9th place on the list of most quick-witted breeds of dog is the Rottweiler. The Rottweiler was bred in Germany to be a war dog and a herding dog. They were utilized for carrying products to local markets, war time guard dogs and currently they are used as guard and police dogs.

Unfortunately for the Rottweiler, the breed has received a lot of negative publicity. It is the second breed responsible for deadly and fatal attacks on humans. Contrary to approved notion, the Rottweiler is taught this dangerous behavior by their owners and therefore they are often portrayed as negative, evil, or dangerous. They are generally not recommended for inexperienced dog owners.

8. Papillon

French for “butterfly,” the Papillon is known for its ears which are “large The Papillon is also the “minute dog star” in dog agility. They are extremely agile for their small stature and they’re equipped with great accelerate and an extremely tiny turning radius, making them a true competitor in the ring.

7. Labrador Retriever

Ranking at number 7, the Labrador (or Lab, for short) is considered to be “a type of gun dog.” It is the most well-liked dog in the world (numbers based on owner registration,) and it is also the most popular choice for assistance dogs in Australia, the USA, and several other countries. They are also widely used as police dogs.

They are known for their gentle, overall good nature, their intelligence and their compatibility with people of any age. They are especially good with children, due to their extremely high level of tolerance and patience. They are not a breed associated with destruction, aggressive tendencies, or being territorial. They are considered to be an excellent family dog.

6. Shetland Sheepdog

The small Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie is considered to be one of the more loyal breeds of dog. They are fantastic companions to anyone, especially when raised properly. They are intelligent, easily trained, willing to please and incredibly lively. They are extremely affectionate to their family.

They are also known for being vocal herding dogs, however it is fairly easy to insist your Sheltie to cut down on the barking. The Sheltie is an fantastic watchdog.

5. Doberman Pinscher

Intelligent, loving, loyal and gentle dogs – the Doberman Pinscher is extremely sportive and fairly unaggressive. In the past, the Doberman was used for guard dog and protection purposes. They are very commonly used for police or military work. There is even a memorial in Guam in honor of the 25 Marine War Dogs that died in 1944 at the Battle of Guam.

The Doberman, much like the Rottweiler; has an unearned reputation of sometimes being a vicious dog. However, you are in less danger of attack by a Doberman than you are of many other breeds. It is still possible – but unlikely, unless the dog was raised improperly.

4. Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever was originally developed to retrieve game that was shot down during hunting seasons. Their intelligence level allows them to be active in several different roles – including search and rescue operations, illegal drug detection, hunting dogs, guide dogs, and many, many more.

They exhibit an eager-to-please personality and they have great amounts of patience. They are also ranked among the most popular of family dogs (by owner registration) in the entire world. The standard of their temperament is described as “Kindly, friendly and confident.” Unfortunately, they are extremely trusting – which makes them a poor guard dog. It is uncommon for the breed to display hostility, aggressiveness or afraid behaviors – which are all considered faults by the upbringing of the animal and not the breed itself.

3. German Shepherd

Originating from Germany, the German Shepherd is a fairly new breed of dog. They are employed in police and military forces around the world due to their high level of obedience, their strength, and their higher intelligence. They are extremely active and described as “self-assured” by the breed standard.

The German Shepherd is noted for their “willingness to learn, and an eagerness to have a purpose.” They are extremely exact, but can become over-protective of family members. They are often misunderstood as aggressive breeds, but again this is generally due to a poor upbringing and common misunderstanding of the dog breed itself.

2. Poodle

The Poodle is the ranked as the second most smart dog by Dr. Stanley Coren’s studies. The poodle can be found in any size range – from toy, to very large sizes; as well as several different colors. They are fantastic dogs for agility, obedience, occasionally herding and tracking. They are known for being alert, active and extremely intelligent.

The Poodle has also been performing for circuses for centuries in countries around the world. They are considered to be well-behaved watchdogs – and they bond well with families. Daily exercise is a must for the Poodle, as well as plenty of playtime and exercise. They are also considered to be one of the more easy dogs to potty-train.

1. Border Collie

Ranked number one in the Top 10 List of Most Bright Dogs is the noted Border Collie. Originating from the UK, they were most commonly used as herd dogs due their high levels of energy. They are a common sight on farms across the world. The Border Collie exhibits a desire to be conclude with their human handler and they work very hard.

The Border Collie needs a mountainous deal of exercise and playtime. However, they are not necessarily a pet recommended for any households. It is also sometimes not recommended that Border Collies live with other pets, such as cats – as they tend to indicate their herding habits quickly, which may cause issues with the other animals. They are also known to paddle cars, squirrels, bicycles or even try to herd the children.

And that is Dr. Stanley Coren’s list of the Top 10 Smartest Breeds.

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Sources Cited:

WikiPedia; “The Intelligence Of Dogs” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs_(book)#Brightest_Dogs

WikiPedia; “Australian Cattle Dog” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Cattle_Dog

WikiPedia; “Rottweiler” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottweiler

WikiPedia; “Papillon” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papillon_(dog)

WikiPedia; “Labrador Retriever” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Retriever

WikiPedia; “Shetland Sheepdog” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetland_Sheepdog

WikiPedia; “Doberman Pinscher” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doberman_Pinscher

WikiPedia; “Golden Retriever” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Retriever

WikiPedia; “German Shepherd” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd

WikiPedia; “Poodle” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poodle

WikiPedia; “Border Collie” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Collie

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