Know your canines

Getting a rare dog may not be all that difficult but looking after them “in the right way” can be an uphill task. We took a look at some of those exclusive dogs and found out what’s best for them.

FRENCH BULLDOGS

French Bulldogs are a compact, muscular breed and have a smooth coat and snub nose. They are gentle, and, enjoy being in close contact with humans. These dogs need fairly minimal exercise, but do require regular daily walks.

Your Frenchie can be stubborn, and early and consistent obedience training is highly recommended.

Be careful about: French Bulldogs are prone to eye and respiratory problems. If overweight, the French Bulldog may have trouble breathing, because of a swollen abdomen.

Height: Ideally, 12 inches

Weight: 9-12 kg

Colour: It comes in various shades of gold, dark tan or cream.

Lifespan: 10 to 12 years

Price: Rs 15,000-20,000

ROTTWEILERS

Bold and protective, Rottweilers are massive and make good guard dogs. They are intelligent, friendly, devoted and very loyal, but need extensive and proper training, without which they can be aggressive, difficult to handle and, therefore, dangerous.

So, be warned: unless you’re sure that you can handle a Rottweiler, don’t go in for one—they have one of the highest bite strengths among canines.

Be careful about: Hips, heart, and eye ailments.

Height: 24-27 inches

Weight: 42-50 kg

Colour: Black with tan or brown markings.

Lifespan: 8 to 11 years

Price: Rs 30,000-40,000

GOLDEN RETRIVERS

Strong, easy to train, friendly, outgoing, happy, trusting and devoted Golden Retrivers are good hunting companions. They are intelligent, sensitive, self-confident and get along well with children.

They can, however, be aggressive with strangers and need obedience training. Although they are easily trained and extremely obedient, their friendly and gregarious nature make them a poor choice as guard dogs.

Be careful about: Cataracts and skin diseases.

Height: 23-24 inches

Weight: 30-35 kg

Colour: Gold, brown or fawn

Lifespan: 10 to 13 years

Price: Rs 10,000-20,000

GREAT DANES

Often called the King of Dogs, this giant dog breed is dignified, sweet and gentle by nature. Being extremely powerful and strong, they need lots of space, and plenty of food and exercise to keep in good shape.

In general, Great Danes are calm, well behaved, affectionate, loyal and intelligent. They are excellent watchdogs but do not bark much. They are friendly to children, pets and other dogs in the family and its friends but are cautious of strangers.

They need to be trained early in life. Great Dane puppies need proper nutrition and proper rest. They need a soft place to lie down and need to be brushed regularly using a rubber brush, especially when they are shedding hair.

Be careful about: Great Danes have a fairly slow metabolism. Bloat (a painful distending and twisting of the stomach) can affect Great Danes and results in death if not quickly addressed.

Height: 30-32 inches

Weight: 45-55 kg

Colour: Black with white markings or white with black spots or yellow streaked with a black mask. Other colours are fawn, blue and harlequin.

Lifespan: 9 to 11 years

Price: Rs 25,000-80,000

MASTIFFS

Mastiffs are powerfully built, with a massive body, broad skull and a squarish head and is a combination of grandeur, and courage; calm and affectionate to their master, but ferocious when provoked or when they see their master threatened. This makes them particularly good guard dogs.

That said, they also make well-mannered house pets, extremely loyal and good with children. Since they are large dogs, they require special dietary care, lots of room and regular exercise. When purchasing a purebred Mastiff, it is recommended that the dog undergo tests for hips, elbow, eyes and thyroid.

Be careful about: Mastiffs are prone to hip dysplasia and gastric torsion.

Height: 27-32 inches

Weight: 80-90 kg

Colour: Apricot-fawn, silverfawn, fawn, or dark fawnbrindle, always with black on the muzzle, ears, nose and around the eyes

Lifespan: 9 to 11 years

Price: Rs 35,000-45,000

ST BERNARDS

This legendary mountain rescue dog was first bred by the monks of the St Bernard Monastery in Switzerland, from where they got their name. It’s cruel to expose St Bernards to the sweltering Indian summers, so they’re best kept in air-conditioned rooms.

Three short walks daily and an occasional chance to run free and a long walk are enough to keep a St Bernard fit and happy. They are big, loving, very friendly, good-natured, and intensely loyal.

Be careful about: They are prone to eye disorders and ear infections.

Height: 27.5-35.5 inches

Weight: 60-100 + kg

Colour: Saint Bernards may have dark masks and are generally red in colour with white markings. It is advisable to check that they have white on their legs, chest, and the tip of their tails.

Lifespan: 9 to 12 years

Price: Rs 45,000-50,000

CHIHUAHUAS

This tiny, cute dog — the smallest canine breed in the world — is just adorable. Chihuahuas are much loved by kids and adults alike, and have apple-shaped heads and big moist eyes. Healthy but fragile, they cannot tolerate cold weather for long. Meant for indoors, they are restless by nature and bark a lot. Generally speaking, they form a close bond with one person only.

Be careful about: This breed requires expert veterinary attention, especially in areas such as dental care.

Height: 6-10 inches

Weight: 2-3 kg

Colour: Available in mostly all colours

Lifespan: 8 to 18 years

Price: Rs 30,000-1,20,000

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DOG

Remember, a dog is like a child who will never grow up. So, getting one becomes a lifetime commitment. These are a few issues you should keep in mind:

• The most elementary test of canine good health is a cool, wet nose tip. A dry or warm nose tip indicates the presence of some ailment. Observe your dog for a few hours. If you notice a loss of appetite or any unusual behaviour, contact a vet immediately.
• Brush your dog’s coat every day. This not only keeps him clean and well-groomed, it also helps prevent fleas and ticks making his body their home.
• Do not keep your dog chained; let him roam free around the house.
• Get your dogs vaccinated against rabies, distemper and other diseases at the correct time. They also need to be dewormed at regular intervals.
• Walk your dog twice a day.
• In public places, keep your pet on a leash.

VACCINATIONS

Dogs, like children, need to be vaccinated at regular (usually annual) intervals. Maintain a calendar of anti-rabies, anti-distemper and other shots and mark out the dates when the next doses are due. Most vets will give you an innoculation chart in which they mark out the important dates.

SHEARING

Dogs, especially those with thick coats, should be sheared in summer. Yes, they'll look like plucked chicken for a while, but shearing makes life much more comfortable for them. Tell your vet; he (or his assistant) will do the needful. And while he is at it, ask him to clip your pooch's nails as well.

MATING

Breeding your dog is a very important decision that you take for your pet. The first and the most important thing to do is to choose the right mate. The Indian Kennel League is working to provide mates for rare breeds. Before zeroing in on the mate, check its pedigree; check the dog for physical robustness. Consult your vet at every step on how to proceed.

PICK OF THE LITTER

According to convention, when a bitch delivers a litter, the owner of the sire (dog) gets one pup of his/her choice and the rest of the litter goes to the owner of the bitch. However, some dog owners prefer to divvy up the litter more equitably and arrive at an (usually) verbal agreement at the time of mating.