If you want a dog that is a marshmallow with your children, but a strong deterrent to criminals, you may want to take a look at the Boxer. The Boxer gets its name from its habit of using its front legs to box when it is fighting. These powerful dogs were originally used as hunting dogs, although they quickly became popular as police and military dogs in Europe. As people began to discover how devoted and loving the Boxer was to its family, this dog breed turned into a companion dog, as well. Interestingly enough, the versatile Boxer didn’t become popular in the United States until men returning from fighting in World War II brought some of these dogs home with them.

Although Boxers are considered to be medium sized dogs, they have the strength of a big dog. A young, healthy Boxer is all muscle and energy and weighs in at fifty to eighty pounds. These dogs have a broad chest, a wide skull and a face similar to that of a Bulldog. Their big brown eyes are very expressive and these dogs are not above using a pitiful ‘poor me’ look to get their own way.

Boxers should be fawn or brindle with black mask like markings on their face. A dog with white markings is considered to be flashy. However, if a Boxer has more than one third of its body covered in white or is completely white, it will be unable to compete in the show ring. Also, white Boxers are prone to deafness, as well as other health problems.

If you live in an apartment, a Boxer may not be the right breed for you. These dogs are high energy animals and really need to be able to exercise frequently. A home with a securely fenced yard is ideal for a Boxer. You will need to be sure the fence is high enough and secure enough to prevent your dog from escaping, since a Boxer can easily jump over lower fences.

Although most Boxers get along well with other dogs, you may not want to buy a Boxer if you have a small dog or cat. If you do have other dogs, consider neutering your Boxer at six months to keep aggression toward other dogs in check. Small children and Boxers get along quite nicely, although your Boxer may be too energetic to play with toddlers until he matures. After all, a young, exuberant Boxer can easily knock an adult flat with an overly enthusiastic greeting.

Since Boxers are so high energy and so powerful, these dogs need to be enrolled in obedience training while they are still easy to control. Puppy classes can also help you socialize your Boxer and will teach him to play nicely with other dogs. These dogs are eager to please and should pick up basic obedience commands quickly. You may want to consider advanced obedience and agility training for your Boxer, as well.

Boxers require very little grooming. Simply brush through your dog’s sleek coat once a week to remove loose hair so you don’t have to vacuum it off of your floor. You should also clean your dog’s teeth and check his nails to see if they need to be trimmed.

Boxers are hearty eaters. You should consider feeding your dog a food formulated for large dogs, since Boxers are prone to hip dysplasia. These dogs have relatively few other serious health problems. You may want to check for a history of heart or thyroid disease before buying a puppy.

So, if you want a dog who will be a devoted friend and companion, then a Boxer may be the perfect choice for you.

More than one traveler stranded in the snowy Swiss Alps owes the ponderous Saint Bernard his life. Monks in the Alps actually developed this massive dog to be used as a rescue dog. The Saint Bernard breed is quite an old one, going back as far as the 1700s.

The American Kennel Club places the Saint Bernard in the Working Group. These big dogs weigh from one hundred twenty to two hundred pounds and stand twenty six to twenty eight inches tall. This breed can be short haired or it can have a long haired coat. Originally, all Saint Bernards had a short haired coat, since snow did not stick to the short hair easily. However, when these dogs became popular as pets in Victorian England, Saint Bernard fanciers bred them to have longer hair. They also worked to make them bigger and bigger.

Unfortunately, some breeders today still are more concerned with appearance than they are with personality. Before buying a puppy, make sure that your prospective Saint Bernard’s parents are outgoing and sweet tempered dogs. Otherwise, you may end up with a fearful or aggressive dog. Please don’t underestimate the importance of choosing a puppy with a good temperament.

The Saint Bernard is usually a gentle giant and plays well with children and other dogs. However, a young Saint Bernard and small children is usually a bad combination, since these dogs make awkward, clumsy puppies. More than one toddler has been accidentally knocked down and injured when trying to play with a Saint Bernard puppy. Older dogs are usually more graceful and are careful not to knock children down.

The Saint Bernard does not do well in apartments or town homes. These dogs need a lot of room and are not happy without a home that has a fenced yard. If they do not have enough exercise, Saint Bernards tend to get into a lot of trouble. A bored puppy of this size can sure make a lot of damage.

Saint Bernards are loyal, loving dogs with a strong desire to please. However, their enormous size means that they can be hard to control. You may want to consider enrolling your puppy in obedience classes while you still outweigh him. These classes will help you train him, but they also play another important role, socializing your puppy. He will meet plenty of strangers and their dogs in the classes.

Saint Bernards eat a sizable amount of food, so it is no surprise that feeding a Saint Bernard increases the grocery bill. Since this breed suffers from hip dysplasia, you may want to use a food that is formulated to help large breed puppies grow healthy and strong. Saint Bernards are also prone to heart disease and tumors.

Short haired Saint Bernards need very little grooming. Even long haired dogs don’t require too much work, since they are not heavy matters. Just be sure you brush through your dog’s hair once a week.

The Saint Bernard is a wonderful companion dog. As long as you don’t mind having a dog who is bigger than most people, a Saint Bernard may be the right choice for you.

If you watch television, you’ve probably seen celebrities like Paris Hilton toting around tiny dogs with big poppy brown eyes. These dogs, called Chihuahuas, are one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. The Chihuahua first appeared in Mexico and does well in warmer climates. Of course, a doggy sweater can make one of these small dogs feel warm and cozy during winter months.

The Chihuahua weighs in as a lightweight at one to six pounds and stands only about five inches high. These little dogs come in a wide range of colors, although tan or black and tan dogs are most common. They have prick ears, an alert expression, and big, slightly poppy eyes. This breed has both short haired and long haired varieties.

The American Kennel Club considers Chihuahuas to be part of the Toy Group. These dogs were bred to be companion dogs and they excel at this task. This breed hates to be alone and thrives when it is in the thick of things.

Chihuahuas are ideal apartment dogs, since they do not take up much room and do not need a ton of exercise. Some people even train these little guys to use a litter box. This doesn’t mean that a Chihuahua won’t enjoy living in a house with a yard, though. This breed enjoys exercising and playing outdoors on warm days.

The Chihuahua can sometimes be nippy with small children, especially if it is accidentally injured and has reason to fear being handled by them. This breed also tends to be bossy and easily spoiled, especially if the dog’s owners allow it to get away with aggressive or angry behaviors. If you have other dogs, you will need to be sure that your Chihuahua does not bully them. These dogs will pick a fight with much larger dogs, since they sincerely believe that they have the size and strength of a Rottweiler. In fact, the Chihuahua is a wonderful guard dog and will also take on human intruders.

Because they have a tendency to be self centered and badly behaved, Chihuahuas should receive puppy obedience training. After all, even a tiny tyrant can be unpleasant to be around. Puppy classes will help your dog to learn basic obedience, but they also have another important purpose, socializing your puppy. He will learn at an early age to get along with people and other dogs. Despite their size, these dogs are quite intelligent and do well with obedience training. Some of them even go on to take agility classes.

Chihuahuas eat very little, but feeding costs can still be a bit high, since these dogs are often picky eaters. Also, this breed is so delicate that some dogs have trouble eating hard, dry food. Chihuahuas are prone to dislocated jaws, fractures, epilepsy and rheumatism.

Short haired Chihuahuas require very little care. Long haired Chihuahuas need a bit more grooming, but still do not need to be brushed more than once a week. With their tiny jaws, it is no surprise that some of these dogs have dental problems, so you may also want to brush your dog’s teeth daily.

If you want a dog who is small enough to tuck into your pocket, but has the heart of a much bigger dog, then a Chihuahua may be the right dog for you.