The Collie dog makes an excellent sporting dog and can be trained to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter, as well as that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever. He can be trained to carry out the work of other breeds as well. It is smart at hunting, having an excellent nose, is a first-rate vermin-killer, and a most faithful guard dog and buddy.

Little is known with confidence of the source of the Collie, but his cunning and his outward looks would appear to indicate a relationship with the wild dog. Buffon was of point of view that he was the true dog of nature, the standard and model for the whole canine species.

He thought the Sheepdog superior in instinct and intelligence to all other breeds, and that, with a character which other breeds do not share. It is the only animal that is born completely trained for the assistance of man.

At the shows this kind of dog is almost always at the top of the class. He is thought to be the most tractable, and is certainly one of the most agile. The second most popular breed of this type is the smooth-coated variety, which is a hard-working, useful dog, well adapted for hill work and usually really fleet of foot.

He is not so amiable in temper as the black and white, and is slow to make friends. There is not a more graceful and physically beautiful dog to be seen than the show Collie of the current period. Bred from the old working dog, he is now almost a distinct breed.

The skull should be flat, moderately wide between the ears, and gradually tapering towards the eyes. There should just be a small depression at the bottom. The width of skull inevitably depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle; and the whole must be measured in relationship with the size of the dog. The cheeks should not be full or outstanding.

The muzzle ought to be of a decent length, tapering to the nose, and must not show weakness. Whatever the colour of the dog, the nose must be black. The teeth should be of a decent size, sound and level; very slight unevenness is allowed.

The jaws should be clean-cut and powerful. The eyes are a very important feature, giving expression to the dog; they should be of medium size, set a little obliquely, of almond shape and brown colour except in the case of merles, when the eyes are often (one or both) blue and white or china; expressing high intelligence, with a bright, alert look when they are listening.

The ears should be and moderately wide at the base, located not too close together but on the top of the skull and not on the side of the head. When in repose they should be carried thrown back, but when on the alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, with tips somewhat drooping in the attitude of listening.

The neck should be muscular, powerful, of fair length, and somewhat arched. The body should be burly, with well sprung ribs, deep chest, fairly broad behind the shoulders, which should be sloped, loins very powerful..

The front legs must be straight and muscular, leaning neither in nor out at the elbows, with a fair amount of bone; the forearm somewhat plump, the pasterns showing flexibility without frailty. The hind-legs should be muscular at the thighs, clean and sinewy below the hocks, with well-bent stifles. The feet should be elliptical in shape, soles well padded, and the toes vaulted and close together.

Its general character is to be a lissom, active dog, his deep chest showing lung power, his neck strength, his sloping shoulders and well bent hocks representing speed, and his expression of high intelligence. He should be a fair length in the leg, giving him more of a racy than a plodding appearance.

In a few words, a Collie should show endurance, activity, and intelligence, with free and deliberate actions. In height dogs should be 22 ins. to 24 ins. at the shoulders, bitches 20 ins. to 22 ins. The weight for dogs is 45 to 65 lbs., bitches 40 to 55 lbs. The smooth collie only differs from the rough in its coat, which ought to be hard, thick and very smooth.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is now involved with the canine distemper vaccination. If you want to know more, please visit our website at Distemper Vaccines

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Every dog likes to be given a tasty tidbit as a treat and every dog-owner likes to give them. But do you know whether the dog treats that you are giving are healthy or dangerous for your pet, because there are both sorts on the market. In fact, there are hundreds of types of dog treats of all sizes, shapes and colours.

No matter what you feed your dog, it is worth checking whether he has eaten it all and if not why not. There could be a number of reasons, but each dog owner ought to know how much their dog normally eats and what he particularly likes. Not eating normally is often a sign that your dog is ill or about to be ill. Some foodstuffs can cause this sign though as well.

Treats that are manufactured to scrub your dog’s teeth frequently come in the shape of a bone, not that that is relevant to the dog, He knows it is not a bone sure enough. But most dogs do like them. A difficult can occur if your dog has powerful jaws and tries to eat big chunks in one go.

These large, slightly soggy pieces can get wedged in the throat or intestines causing blockages. Often these blockages will dissolve away over a few hours, but if they are resulting in breathing worries or discomfort, you may have to take your dog to a vet.

Rawhide chews also come into this category although they come with concerns of their own too. Rawhide chews are useful for scraping plaque and tartar off your dog’s teeth that would otherwise lead to bacteria, bad teeth and bad breath, but they can also get lodged in the animal’s throat or intestines, so strive to buy treats that your dog cannot swallow but has to chew on.

Rawhide is an animal by-product, so it has to be preserved to prevent it going off. Attempt to find out what that preservative is and find out whether it is perilous or not. It has been reported that some countries have been using arsenic to conserve their chews, this is of course not a good idea and is one of the most dangerous dog treats.

Chocolate is lethal to dogs. Not many adults and very few children are aware of this, because you often see people giving their dog a square of chocolate. The reason these dogs do not die a terrible death is that most of the chocolate that we can buy these days does not contain much chocolate. It is chocolate-flavoured paste. Look on the list of ingredients on the wrapper of your next bar of chocolate to see what I am saying.

However, different countries have different laws concerning what can be known as chocolate. The European Union is fairly good, America not so good and Thailand is appalling. Usually, bakers’ chocolate is the most powerful, which makes a chocolate covered chocolate cake the most perilous for dogs – just the sort of thing they can take from the picnic blanket.

Sickness, uneven heartbeat, ‘craziness’, hyperactivity, a visit to the vets for a stomach pump or death are usually the result.

Dogs love bones and they are good for them too (which makes you wonder why so many dog chews are purchased). However, not all bones are healthy for dogs. Cats grind everything up small, which is why they can be safely given fish, chicken and turkey bones. But dogs tend to wolf items down, so never give these bones to your dog.

Fish bones are fine and sharp and can stick in the throat or gut as with humans needing surgery, but chicken and turkey bones splinter into these fine slithers too when crunched. Do not give them to a dog as a treat.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a variety of topics, but is currently involved with the canine distemper vaccination. If you want to kcurrently more, please visit our website at Distemper Vaccines

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The immune system is in the news. It is what the transfer factor is all about. If we humans could improve our immune system then we would be less susceptible to illness and disease. The transfer factor is one way people are trying to improve their immunity system.

However, we have to realize that no matter the efficacy of a supplement, people will not eliminate disease and illness merely by taking a pill. Like social security which was intended to supplement our retirement not be our retirement, diet supplements are only meant to help us be healthy not make us healthy.

You need discipline. That is a bad word for many, but the truth is you need to eat a healthy diet. You need to get seven to eight hours of sleep. And you need proper exercise. All of these healthy habits leads to a stronger immune system. So do not think of it as discipline think of it as adopting healthy habits.

But there is so much for you to do to stay healthy besides taking supplements. When you go to the supermarket take a good look at what is sold and then read about the increases in cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. You will see chips, cookies, soda pop, frozen foods with all sorts of preservatives. You will see beer and alcohol and tobacco. You will see the ingredients for illness and disease on sale all day everyday in your local supermarket.

And on your drive home you will see a chain of fast food outlets all with convenient drive through so people do not have to even get out of their cars to buy burgers, fries, soda, and deep fried apple pies. And as good as exercise is for us all still only a small percentage of people actually get exercise.

More people are killed on the road by people falling asleep at the wheel than by drunk drivers. Where is the outrage about that? It is illegal and irresponsible for getting drunk and getting behind the wheel. But if you fall asleep at the wheel because you were watching television until one in the morning and getting up at six in the morning, well we know what that is like. So that is all right.

Sleep restores your body. Lose sleep day after day and your immune system has not time to repair itself. Think of a road crew that has to work when traffic is zipping in and out. When you are asleep the immune system road crew can perform repairs without having to watch out for oncoming cars. If you think of is this way you are more apt to get enough sleep each day.

But without proper diet, proper sleep, and proper exercise, those walls start showing signs of wear and tear. And as illness and disease constantly batter your wall of immunity they start wearing it down. Once your immunity wall breaks down, illness and disease makes it way into your system and breaks your walls down from within. Picture this in your mind and you will have an incentive to improve your life. Transfer factor is one of many supplements on the market. But the best way to improve your immunes system is to do more than take a pill.

Want to find out more about your immune system, and how to get the best 4life transfer factor products, then Click Here.

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Allergy is an ongoing growing plague in the modern world. As nobody can heal it, it gets worse in time and it evolves to becoming lethal, in case of anaphylactic shock.

However, allergy is not typical for our species. Cats and dogs may get affected by allergies as well. Dog allergies are frequent and the symptoms can manifest when the dog inhales or eats the allergens such as pampas grass, dog food, human food, fleas or other parasites.

In case you suspect your dog developed an allergy, get on your quest with a practical source for symptoms that fuel dog allergy. There is no obvious reason for the allergic reactions. I agree that I should not like to forget about this topic forever. Elimination diets can get you on the right track.

Each time people find interest in dog allergy they surely own allergic dogs. This is briefly what I think about this matter. That way there is a guarantee that you will confirm the allergy to food, then just take that food out of your dog’s diet.

Be aware that food allergies can be addressed from more than one angle. I do imagine that I would like to leave the allergic dogs bandwagon. For sure the solution of allergic responses is to be obsessed with dog allergy.

This is why I tackle this topic with care when I discover good vets. As each allergic reaction can be unique, good veterinarians will know how to test the suspected pet, in order to disseminate the allergens that harm him.

As a golden rule, never feed a dog human anti-histaminic drugs. There’s no endorsing study that histamine is the one that produces allergic reactions in dogs, so you may end up by doing more harm than good. Take this to heart: there is no recognized authority in dog allergy.

Symptoms which you need to watch in your dog, if you think of an allergy: continuous scratching, massive shedding, red eyes, swellings, or sneezing almost all time.

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Most of us do not pay much attention when our dogs scratches it ears or belly as we think that it is just relieving an itch, just like how we do. If your dog is scratching and licking itself most of the time, it may be suffering from some allergy that can be caused by a variety of factors. Here is a small list of possible causes for your dogs incessant scratching and licking.

1.Fleas, ticks and other types of parasites are some of the most common causes for your dogs itching and licking. The bites of these parasites causes great discomfort for your dog and if left untreated, may lead to serious healthy problems like anemia. There are many ways to control your dogs flea problem. For starters you could start giving your dog a good bath with anti-flea shampoo at least once a week. There are also many other products such as dog collars and dry shampoo hat can be very effective in controlling parasites.

2.Allergies are also another common cause of itching on your dogs. Just like human allergies, it is pretty difficult to pin point and find out what our dogs are allergic to. Airborne particles, foods and even certain household chemicals can cause allergies among dogs.

To prevent such problems, you should keep your home as clean as possible. Although many pet owners feed their dogs with commercial pet foods, home cooked meals are the best for dogs as they are much additive and preservative-free. A healthy and wholesome home cooked diet will keep your dogs healthy and keep allergies at bay.

3.Environmental allergens also cause allergies among dogs. If you dogs are allergic to pollen and mold, you will notice that their scratching and itching usually intensifies when they are outdoors. Besides keeping the dogs indoors, there is little that we can do about this form of seasonal allergy.

The best way to prevent all forms of allergies is to keep our dogs clean and by feeding them a balanced diet. If your dogs allergic reactions do not improve over time despite all your efforts, you should bring your dog to the vet as soon as you can.

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According to veterinary experts, the majority of physical ailments experience by pet dogs are linked to allergies. Unknown to many, allergies can greatly affect the health of pet dogs, causing a host of ailments and illnesses. When the dog is experiencing some form of allergic reactions, it weakens its immune system, causing further health problems for the dog.

Fortunately, there are many early symptoms that we can look out for before the condition becomes hazardous for our dogs. Common symptoms include excessive hair loss, ear and skin infections. If your dog is experience any of such symptoms, it is best to bring it to the vet immediately to receive prompt treatment.

When a dog has a healthy immune system, parts of the dogs body like the eyes, mouth, ears and skin (that are exposed to germs and bacteria) are kept free of infection as the bodys antibodies keep the bacteria under control. When the dog is experiencing some allergies and the immune system is weakened, the increasing amount of germs and bacteria would cause infections and illnesses.

Most dog allergies are made up of a condition known as atopy. This condition is caused by allergens like dust, pollen and other airborne microscopic particles. When this condition arises, your dog would incessantly scratch its ear, tail and armpit, sometimes causing abrasions that lead to infections. Keeping your house (especially your floor and carpet) clean and having a good air purifier will help control this allergy problem.

Fleabites cause another type of less common dog allergy, known as flea allergic dermatitis. Certain types of fleas can cause skin infections and in certain cases cause chronic allergic reactions (such as respiration problems) that can lead to death. To prevent such reactions, bath your dogs regularly with anti-flea shampoo.

Another common type of dog allergy is caused by certain foods. Poultry, beef and corn are some of the most common causes of food allergy among dogs. You should switch to a different type of feed immediately if you find that your dog is allergic to those foods. Compared to atopy, this is a relatively uncommon form of allergy, making up only 5% of all dog allergy cases.

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According to veterinary experts, the majority of physical ailments experience by pet dogs are linked to allergies. Unknown to many, allergies can greatly affect the health of pet dogs, causing a host of ailments and illnesses. When the dog is experiencing some form of allergic reactions, it weakens its immune system, causing further health problems for the dog.

Fortunately, there are many early symptoms that we can look out for before the condition becomes hazardous for our dogs. Common symptoms include excessive hair loss, ear and skin infections. If your dog is experience any of such symptoms, it is best to bring it to the vet immediately to receive prompt treatment.

When a dog has a healthy immune system, parts of the dogs body like the eyes, mouth, ears and skin (that are exposed to germs and bacteria) are kept free of infection as the bodys antibodies keep the bacteria under control. When the dog is experiencing some allergies and the immune system is weakened, the increasing amount of germs and bacteria would cause infections and illnesses.

Most dog allergies are made up of a condition known as atopy. This condition is caused by allergens like dust, pollen and other airborne microscopic particles. When this condition arises, your dog would incessantly scratch its ear, tail and armpit, sometimes causing abrasions that lead to infections. Keeping your house (especially your floor and carpet) clean and having a good air purifier will help control this allergy problem.

Fleabites cause another type of less common dog allergy, known as flea allergic dermatitis. Certain types of fleas can cause skin infections and in certain cases cause chronic allergic reactions (such as respiration problems) that can lead to death. To prevent such reactions, bath your dogs regularly with anti-flea shampoo.

Another common type of dog allergy is caused by certain foods. Poultry, beef and corn are some of the most common causes of food allergy among dogs. You should switch to a different type of feed immediately if you find that your dog is allergic to those foods. Compared to atopy, this is a relatively uncommon form of allergy, making up only 5% of all dog allergy cases.

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Chronic diseases like allergy are an evil we have to learn to live with and try to minimize its effects on our lifestyle. This is why scientists develop symptomatic medication, in order to alleviate symptoms of such ailments. These are not cures, but alleviations.

Since each human body may have a different reaction to various stimulants, there is no such thing as an universal allergy relief. Each sufferer will know what works best fopr him and he will take care to take the medication every time he might be in danger to get exposed to the allergens he is sensitive to.

Diagnosing allergic patients has been a challenge for doctors for many years now. This happened because allergy is tricky, disguising itself like a common cold. Many sufferers thought they were catching too many colds a year, without suspecting they might be suffering from something else.

Almost everything in nature or made by humans can be an allergen. Dust is well known to give skin reactions in many people, as well as molds and mildew. Foods can also initiate an allergic response from the human body. Pollens threaten many allergic persons lives each spring and fall. There is a potential allergen in everything.

A popular belief indicates nettles as the best natural remedy against allergy and many sufferers tend to give it a try. However, scientific tests have not been developed on this issue. Until then, allergic people should stick to their antihistamines medication as prescribed by their doctor.

Allergy symptoms cover a wide range of manifestations, from respiratory ones such as coughing, sneezing or running nose, to cutaneous reactions such as skin rashes, hives or urticaria, red and running eyes, and in severe cases even death by suffocation due to internal organs massive swelling.

The rapid life saver in case of anaphylaxis is epinephrine. If the shot is taken immediately after the shock occurred, it will most probably save the patient’s life. Every single minute matters a lot in such cases, this is why allergic people carry with them epinephrine pens, so they can act fast if necessary.

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