Children`s World - Pets (Dogs)

Beagle

The Beagle is a fairly old and stable breed that originated in England. It was first mentioned under this name in 1515 in the books of King Henry VIII, and a century later as the Small Beagle. It was bred for hunting, and one of its ancestors was the so-called Hubert dog. In 1890, the British Kennel Club recognized and described this breed. The breed was created exclusively for individual hunting, and especially for the pursuit of game in packs. The small ones were bred so that the horse hunter could carry them in a saddle bag.

Today, according to the standard, the beagle is up to 40 cm tall and weighs up to 18 kg, it is of a compact build with relatively small strong legs that enable speed and endurance. Its head is long with long drooping ears and it has an excellent sense of smell.

The coat is short and firm, and all colors except brown are recognized. They are usually bi-colored, but there are also tri-colored beagles. Another important thing is that the tip of the tail must be white and it must stand straight up like an antenna.

They are intelligent and have a strong character. They get along with other dogs when they establish a hierarchy because they will try to impose themselves as leaders.

In recent decades, hunting has been on a decline in England, so this breed found other jobs and purposes. Due to their excellent sense of smell and intelligence, they are used to detect smugglers.

Beagle's intelligence, playfulness and attractiveness have also contributed to them being a very popular pet.

When you decide to get a beagle, it is important to do it with a reputable breeder, which guarantees composure and good character. As soon as they arrive to your home, you need to show them who the leader of the pack is, because otherwise they will use every opportunity for it to be them. If you allow it, they will make a rumpus in your home. They like to play, solve tasks and do tricks. They require a lot of walking, so they are ideal for active people and families with children, who will find a true friend in this four-legged pet.

Dalmatian

The name of this beautiful breed speaks of its origin. The origins of the Dalmatian dog can be traced back to present-day Croatia and its historical region of Dalmatia. They are one of the oldest breeds; there are 4,000-year-old paintings on which a dog similar to today's Dalmatian can be seen. In history, they were also called the Dubrovnik hound and later the Dalmatian gun dog. They served as war dogs and as escorts to the Uskoks of Senj. They were used in hunting as bird hunters and retrievers, and they also knew how to guard flocks and hunt pests. They were often the forerunners and escorts of fire trucks. The International Kennel Club admitted this breed and prescribed a standard for it in 1955.

There is no other breed similar in appearance to the Dalmatian. Their hair is short, thick and shiny, and they shed a lot, so they get cold in winter. Their white coat is marked with black-colored spots and dots that must not be touched – the more evenly spaced they are, the more valuable the dog is. In the last couple of decades, dogs with brown dots have also made an appearance. They are medium-sized, strong and very muscular, and they grow up to 50–60 cm and weigh 25–30 kg. Their ears are glued to their head and can be both black and white. The eyes are round and shiny, usually brown, but can also be amber or blue. They are attached to their family, cheerful and playful and require company and a lot of movement.

After the animated movie 101 Dalmatians was released, the popularity of this breed increased rapidly all over the world, even more when a feature film about their shenanigans was made. This led to them starting to be mass-bred without paying attention to genetics which resulted in certain health issues and shortcomings. These problems have been resolved and if you want to get a Dalmatian, you should inquire about a kennel that has a good reputation and admirable results at dog shows, which is a guarantee that you will get a healthy and stable friend.

Scotch Collie

There are many breeds of dogs that are named after their geographical origin, but this particular breed was also named for their purpose. The origin of the breed has not been fully explored, but it is assumed that they came to Britain at the time of the Roman conquests. They did not look the way they look today, but they were used to guard cattle. They owe today's appearance to Queen Victoria, who brought several specimens from an estate in Scotland to London and started breeding them. They were originally black, but several color combinations were obtained by breeding and the black was lost. They have a beautiful long two-layered coat, a relatively small and narrow head, and almond-shaped oblique eyes. There are also short-haired varieties, but they are not as popular. In the mid-20th century, the first film Lassie Come Homewas made based on the fictional dog, which contributed to the great popularity of the breed. They are quite large; females grow 51 to 61 cm tall and males 61 to 66 cm, and they weigh 23 to 34 kg depending on the sex.

This is one of the most intelligent breeds, they are very elegant, gentle, loyal, affectionate, and excellent watchdogs.

They get along very well with children and are gentle with them, but it is not good to leave smaller children alone with them – nor with any other dog for that matter. They are very protective of their human family and will warn them of any danger or threat.

Due to their great intelligence, their mind must be constantly busy. They learn easily and will be overjoyed if they can guard the yard where they live. If you don't have a yard, they ask for a walk, so this is something to think about when getting a Collie.

They are excellent both as service dogs and as therapeutic dogs for people with special needs.

If you decide to get a Collie and you are an active family, find a proven breeder. Get to know the dog and start raising it from day one, which will allow you to make a loyal long-time friend who will only ask you for some tasks and jobs, in addition to occasional coat care.

Pomeranian

The Pomeranian is another breed of dog that owes its name to the area where it was first bred, i.e. Pomerania, an area in today's Germany and Poland. It is a miniature copy of the Spitz, the breed from which it originated.

The breeding of small dogs began in the 18thcentury, and it is known that Queen Victoria had a very small Spitz. Its height is 18–22 cm. It has a thick and dense coat consisting of two layers. Longer hairs can grow through the thick undercoat, which can be black, orange, gray, brown and white, as well as a combination of the above. The hair on the neck resembles a lion's mane and frames the face with a muzzle resembling a fox. Coat does not need special treatment because it has a natural fat that is excreted through the skin, and the hair does not tangle. However, they should be combed at least twice a week to remove dead undercoat. They weigh from 1.8 to 3.5 kg, but they are not aware of it and act as if they weigh 40 kg. They are excellent guards and respond to any threat with loud and persistent barking. They are otherwise very sociable and playful and easily befriend larger dogs, cats and people.

If you decide to get a Pomeranian, training and adaptation should start immediately from the first day because it is an intelligent dog who learns easily. It is not good to be lenient with them because they are capable of training us, which is usually neither good for us nor for the dog. Once they get used to the new home, it is recommended to walk the dog to allow it to burn energy, get to know the environment and meet potential dog friends. If you are often absent, you should gradually try to ease separation anxiety because this dog does not like to be alone. Also, if you have neighbors who might be bothered by barking, you should raise the dog to not get too excited about everything in its surroundings or maybe even think about getting a different kind of dog.

If you do decide to get a Pomeranian, you will have a real dog in a mini version that can, with the right upbringing, make the whole family happy.

Boris Cebović
breeder of small animals