7 fun facts about the Pekingese

Pet information

Pekingese - the Lion DogThe Pekingese is a very old breed, traditionally associated with Chinese emperors. Here are seven fun facts about the breed.

1. Visually, the little Pekingese with its soft coat and short nose doesn’t resemble a wolf. They are still one of the breeds closest to wolves genetically.

2. The breed has been traced back two thousand years, to the Han dynasty.

3. Today’s China doesn’t have lions, but the Pekingese, the Lhasa Apso, and the Tibetan Mastiff were all bred to resemble stylized Chinese lion images. The Pekingese is also called the lion dog.

4. Emperor Lingdi of Han ruled from 168 to 189. He loved his dogs so much he made his favorite Pekingese a member of the nobel cast, making it outrank most  people in the country.

5. During the Tang Dynasty, years 618 to 907, no one outside the Imperial Palace was allowed to breed or own a Pekingese. This was a good period of time for the little dogs; if an ordinary person met one of the dogs they had to bow and show respect.

6. The Pekingese are sometimes called “The Sleeve Dog.” This stems from being bred down in size so their owners could carry them in their sleeves. Allegedly a Pekingese in the Emperor’s sleeve was his last line of defense should enemies get into the palace.

7. It sometimes pays off to be small. Three dogs escaped the Titanic: one Pekingese and two Pomeranians.

Do you Doga?

Pet information

Doga is Yoga, with dogs. It combines massage and meditation with stretching, and is good for both dogs and humans. There are video classes allowing people to learn at home, and many places now offer classes where dogs and people can Doga together.

In Doga, dogs and humans work together as one unit. The humans help their dogs get into different poses, and in some cases the pets are used as instruments or weights as the humans perfect their poses. The dogs usually take to this quickly. Watch a dog stretch; it looks like a Yoga position.

Opponents of the idea claim that Doga trivializes sacred and ancient practices, and that the dogs interfere with participants’ concentration. Proponents claim that the practice is perfect, because it emphasizes unity and connection, strengthens the bond between person and pet, and might get some people to move who ordinarily wouldn’t.

Whether Doga should be considered “real” Yoga or not probably depends on the participants. Either way, it gives an excuse to do something together, to bond, stretch, and hopefully find harmony.

 

Pets gaining legal status in France

Pet information

France has the biggest pet dog population in Europe with nearly 9 million dogs. Up until now, the country’s legal system has shared the view on pets held by many other countries including the USA; they are considered furniture that moves.

Most pet lovers would disagree with the description. It is apparent that pets have feelings, and they’re not furniture. Now a petition with 700,000 signatures has inspired a change in the French legal system, giving cats and dogs better legal protection from animal cruelty. The new ruling is also expected to help courts decide custody battles with pets involved.

The new legal status describes pets as “living beings capable of feelings.” This new stance might also have an impact on the treatment of other types of animals. Taken to the next level, it might affect animal testing and other areas.

Awards for Canine Excellence

Pet information

The Awards for Canine Excellence – or ACE – are currently accepting nominations. The ACE awards are handed out by the AKC Humane Fund, and accepts nominations in five categories spanning over everything from family dogs to uniformed K-9.

Every entrant receives an AKC Humane Fund certificate of recognition. Some dogs will get an honorable mention, and this is awarded an engraved bronze medallion. The winner of each category receives a trip to the AKC/Eukanuba national championship in Orlando Florida, all expenses paid, $1,000 to a pet-charity of their choice, and a medal presented at an award ceremony.

To nominate a dog, follow this link and fill out the form.

The categories are:

Uniformed Service K-9
Dogs certified for law enforcement, military, and helping fire fighters.

Search and Rescue
Dogs certified to assist in tracking, locating missing people, natural disasters, etc.

Therapy Dogs
Dogs certified to provide comfort and affection to those in need.

Service Dogs
Dogs certified to help those with disabilities.

Exemplary companions
Dogs that are non-certified household pets.

 

Are there hypoallergenic dogs?

Pet information

Hypoallergenic means that something is less likely to cause allergic reactions. It doesn’t mean that the food, pet, or rug never causes allergies. The word hypo means lower than normal.

So, are there hypoallergenic dog breeds?

Not really. There are hairless dogs and dogs that shed very little, but allergies aren’t necessarily connected to the pet’s coat. Most allergies are caused by proteins in a pet’s saliva and dander.

A study at the Henry Ford Hospital has analyzed dust samples collected from almost 200 homes. Sixty dog breeds were involved in the study, and eleven of the breeds are considered hypoallergenic.

The conclusion? There is no significant difference between breeds in how much allergens are produced. There can, however, be a difference between individuals of the same breed. Thus, a person with allergies can be able to have one specific pet, even if they’re allergic to other individuals of the same breed.

Most dog lovers will argue that pets are good for children. This is true when it comes to allergies as well; exposure to a dog early in life will provide a certain protection against developing dog allergies.

Some tips to battle allergies:

  • Bathe the pet often. This reduces the amounts of allergen related proteins on both the dog itself and in the air. If a person in the household is allergic, bathing the pet at least twice a week can minimize the allergic reaction.
  • Clean and vacuum often. Use air filters, and consider constricting the pet to certain rooms, so the allergic person can have a safe haven.
  • Smaller dogs might produce less allergens than larger dogs.
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