Latest news with #dogbreeds
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I'm a vet – here's the five dog breeds that shed the most and how to avoid a hairy home
DOG and cat owners are daft about their furry friends. But many have one big pet hate - how much fur they leave all over your home. A recent survey by Vileda revealed that three in five women would rather share the sofa with a pet than their partner when watching telly. But with many households struggling to keep on top of cleaning up after their fluffy friends, one pet expert has revealed the top shedding breeds that will wreak havoc in your home. Vileda, the expert cleaning brand behind the Pet Pro range, has teamed up with pet expert, and influencer, Cat The Vet to spill the beans on the breeds most likely to leave your home covered in fluff. Cat said: "Unless you've got a non-shedding dog breed like a poodle cross, you'll know all about the pet hair struggle. "While some breeds shed all year round, for most, their coats change with the seasons." She adds: "Did you know that how much your dog sheds is all down to their genes? "Some breeds are seasonal shedders, losing their coats twice a year in a big 'blow out' – think Akitas and Huskies. Others, like Labradors, shed non-stop!" Coming top of the list of doggy offenders are Labradors. These gorgeous dogs have a dense undercoat and a thicker outer coat. This allows them to regulate their body temperature - but also means they have lots more fur to shed. In second place is German Shepherds which also have a double coat. They tend to shed their coat fully twice a year, in spring and autumn. The Supervet's Noel Fitzpatrick reveals how a dog exposed man's affair in the most astonishing way Meanwhile, third on the ranking is an Akita. Another double coated dog, they tend to leave clumps of fair coloured hair during the main shedding season. But don't throw in the towel if you're struggling to win the battle against fur and dander. Cleaning expert Clare Bolland, from Vileda, has some brilliant hacks to keep your home gleaming, even with the fluffiest of breeds. She says: "On average, we spend more than four hours a week on cleaning tasks caused by our pets and 35 per cent of pet owners admitted they underestimated how much cleaning they'd have to do before getting their pet. "But there are loads of handy hacks to make cleaning quicker and easier – leaving you more quality time to spend with your pet.' Brush them OUTSIDE Clare warns: "Brushing your dog or cat regularly will seriously cut down on indoor shedding – and the trick is to do it outdoors. "Take them into the garden at least once per week to brush their coat. "Doing this inside might not seem like a big problem, but fine hairs will be dispersed in your home – then settling and creating more work to clean up later.' Fur-free forty winks Clare said: "We love our pets so much that 79 per cent of us let them sleep in our beds. "But here's the main tip: change your bedding every three to four days. Even if your dog or cat looks clean, they'll bring dirt and debris into your bed that hides in their fur or on their paws. That ends up on your sheets, pillows, and duvet cover." Stray pet hairs will cling to your bedding and fabric headboards. The expert added: "Leave it too long and it can become trapped inside your pillows, duvet, and mattress, making it even more difficult to remove later down the line." Her secret weapon is Vileda's Pet Pro Electrostatic Brush - which you can keep in your bedside drawer. Clare says: "A quick once-over of your bed each morning removes pet hair in minutes, so you can enjoy plenty of cuddles from your furry friend every night. And give your duvet and pillows a good shake when you change your bedding to stop fur getting embedded." Make cleaning a BREEZ E The expert said: "Having the right products on hand is vital to streamline your cleaning routine. "We designed the Vileda Pet Pro Always Clean Broom for ultimate ease and speed. Its rubber bristles attract and collect dirt and pet hair from any floor type – including hard floors, carpets and rugs. "The angled bristles make it quicker to reach and clean corners, and it's easy to clean: simply rinse it under the tap after use.' 2
ABC News
29-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Dog breeds can go extinct, and the reasons vary from fashion trends to job loss
Steven Wesselink loves his three Skye terriers: Sybil, Dot and Faith. According to Mr Wesselink, who is the vice-president of the British Terrier Club of NSW, the breed's short legs, long fur and gentle temperament create a "gorgeous" dog. "They're such a sweet, calm, quiet terrier," he says. "Most terriers are quite active and vibrant. The Skyes will just stand there and give you a kiss." Without an increase in numbers though, the breed could be headed towards extinction. This hasn't always been the case. In the 1878 book The Dogs of the British Islands, the author suggests that the Skye terrier was bred on the west coast of Scotland "for the pursuit of vermin", whereas in England, it was "very fashionable as a lady's pet". Queen Victoria even had a few Skye terriers — Islay, Dot, Cairnach and Dandie. But today, Skye terriers are one of the rarest dog breeds in the UK and Australia. There's a chance they'll join the Old English Bulldog and New Zealand Kurī on the list of dogs that have died out. Because while humans have been breeding dogs for thousands of years, not all have survived to the present day. And causes for extinction vary from fashion trends to reasons that are much more sinister. While all dogs — big and small — are one species of animal, breeds are types of dogs bred for different purposes or looks. Some, like the Skye terrier, have existed for hundreds of years, but "breeds" as determined by kennel club organisations didn't start until the 1800s for use in dog shows. These dogs have a specific set of physical and behavioural traits and can be traced back through a genetic lineage. Today, more than 300 pedigree breeds of dog are recognised by kennel clubs around the world. In Australia, the top dozen pedigree breeds might have thousands of births and registrations in Australia every year. For instance, golden retrievers and staffies add up to almost 10,000 of the pedigree dogs born and registered annually here. But most breeds have less than 100 registered births each year. Last year, the Skye terriers had just 15 registered births across Australia, and 70 in the UK. The Kennel Club in the UK keeps track of native dog breeds with less than 300 registered births per year as "vulnerable", and the Skye is on the list with 38 others. While it's unknown exactly how many Skye terriers are born each year worldwide, the Australian and UK numbers suggest their numbers remain low. "Our vulnerable native breeds originate from the UK and Ireland and these figures paint a picture of how these breeds have declined over the years in their native country," a spokesperson for the Kennel Club told the ABC. One of those breeds was the Paisley (or Clydesdale) terrier. It was closely related to the Skye terrier, but had a longer, silkier coat. The late 1800s were the breed's heyday, but by the 1920s its numbers had drastically waned due to its unpopularity in dog shows. By the middle of the century, the breed was extinct. Sometimes a breed will die out because it's high maintenance. Other times, they disappear because they're no longer useful. Whether it's scouting for trouble, helping hunt other animals, or going into battle with us, there are plenty of jobs dogs did that were once considered vital, but are now largely relics of the past. The otter hound — with only 40 births recorded in the UK and two in Australia last year — is one of those dogs that are rare due to a loss in function. Otter hounds, as the name suggests, are a type of hunting dog that was bred to be used in packs to hunt and kill otters. While the breed was always relatively rare, their numbers plummeted when otter hunting was outlawed in the UK. Many breeds of dogs used for blood sport — such as the Old English Bulldog, which was bred for bull baiting and dog fighting — went extinct when those pastimes were outlawed. Another dog that disappeared due to job loss was the turnspit dog. It was a long dog with short legs, similar to a dachshund, but strong enough to run on and turn a heavy wheel. The wheel turned meat cooking over a fire, hence the breed's name. Not much is known about the turnspit, as they were seen as lower-class working dogs, but they were used for much of the 17th and 18th centuries. Over time, mechanical spit turners took the place of turnspit dogs, and by the time The Dogs of the British Islands was published in 1878, the author suggests they were "almost or quite extinct". As people colonised parts of the world, they changed the genetics of those places — not just the human inhabitants, but also dogs, according to Angela Perri, a University of Durham archaeologist specialising in dogs. "Across the archaeological record, [there are] times where a human population and a dog population move into an area and very quickly take over genetically," she said. One example is the Salish Wool Dog. It was a dog bred by the Indigenous Coast Salish peoples in North America. Their white, wool-like fur was used to make textiles such as blankets. These blankets were also woven with plant fibres, feathers and mountain goat fur, and were of huge cultural significance. But according to Dr Perri, this distinct and important dog breed quickly went extinct when Europeans arrived. "We know from historical context, that European colonisers … had quite negative feelings towards Native American dogs, and were intentionally trying to snuff out these dog populations," she said. "They thought they were quite nasty dogs, they didn't want their European dogs breeding with [them]." Similar stories exist across the Pacific. The ancestors of Polynesian people brought their dogs with them as they settled across the Pacific Islands. Some breeds, such as the Kurī in New Zealand, were used to hunt, and were an important source of food and skins. But once Europeans arrived, their dogs did too, and interbreeding caused the Pacific Island breeds to go extinct. Once a breed is gone, it's not possible to bring it back exactly the way it was. As breeds become rarer their gene pool gets much smaller putting of them at risk of reaching a point where there is no return. Maintaining numbers of vulnerable breeds will help ensure existing populations have enough genetic diversity, the UK Kennel Club spokesperson said. "Smaller populations have lower genetic diversity, which can increase the risk that certain health conditions will begin to surface." For Mr Wesselink, a reason to protect breeds such as his beloved Skye terriers from extinction is simpler: "Variety is the spice of life." Check out What the Duck?! presented by Dr Ann Jones to hear about how we got from wolves to pugs, and subscribe to the podcast for more.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Top vet reveals why a 'dangerous' dog ban would be a huge mistake after a six-year-old girl was mauled at a park
An animal behaviour expert has claimed banning certain dog breeds wouldn't prevent attacks from the animals, following a series of shocking incidents across the country. In the latest dog mauling, a six-year-old girl underwent emergency surgery after she suffered horrific injuries during a frightening and unprovoked Staffy attack on Sunday. The harrowing ordeal unfolded while Margot McNicol and her family were at Nairne's newest off-leash facility, Woofside Road Dog Park, in the Adelaide Hills. Margot was playing with her puppy when an American Staffy leapt up and latched onto her head, sparking widespread calls for the government to ban the canines. 'Breed speaks for itself. Poor girl,' one Aussie wrote online, prompting another to agree that 'there are far too many ferocious dogs around' and Australia should 'just ban them'. One person took aim at the 'not the dog's fault nutters' who 'put a human life second'. And someone else had an issue with another breed, saying that 'it's always Pitbulls, always'. However, President of the Australian Veterinarian Behaviour Group, Dr Isabelle Resch, told Daily Mail Australia that 'there's been plenty of different studies that show banning breeds does not work' and that dogs like Staffys can be great pets. Dr Isabelle Resch (right) wants dog owners to be better educated on how to care for their pet after a six-year-old girl was mauled in Adelaide (left) Dogs that are currently banned in Australia are the American Pitbull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario. American Staffordshire Terriers are not banned in Australia. It was the same dog breed that mauled a five-week old baby boy to death as his parents slept at a NSW Central Coast home in 2021. Dr Resch has been a vet for more than 30 years but now works in the field of veterinarian psychiatry. 'There's been quite a few countries that have banned breeds like the American Pitbull and Japanese Tosa and it's failed to reduce the bite risk,' Ms Resch said. 'We need to look at community education and how we interact with dogs.' 'I look after the mental health of dogs and I guess I'm an activist in educating people in the community about how we can help the emotional welfare of dogs,' Dr Resch said. She said breed was 'not an indicator of behaviour' and that it was human actions that had a big impact on how dogs acted. 'There might be some genetic lines that are more prone to some behaviours but just the fact that you're a Rottweiler does not mean you're more likely to be aggressive,' she said. 'Aggression is saying 'bugger off and move away, I'm scared you're going to hurt me', so aggression is a normal response. 'People don't understand how we behaviour around dogs. Our body language often puts dogs in a position where they feel really threatened.' Dr Resch said data showed dogs that bite the most around the world are often smaller breeds like terriers. 'Chihuahua's don't make it to the media because they don't put people in hospital,' she said. 'I've seen more Labradors bite. In my career I have not seen any aggressive Pitbulls.' A report by the Sydney Children's Hospital in 2022 revealed a child was being admitted to a NSW hospital every week with a dog bite. The data took into account of 628 patients who presented with dog-related injuries from 2010 to 2020 and found their average age was just five-years-old. The breeds involved in the most reported attacks were Pitbulls (10.3 per cent), followed by Labradors (8.5 per cent) and Rottweilers (6.8 per cent). The top three were followed by Bulldog (6%), Border Collie (6 per cent), Jack Russell (5.1 per cent), Terrier (other) (5.1 per cent), Kelpie (5.1 per cent), German Shepherd (4.3 per cent) and others (42.7 per cent). So nearly half of all recorded dog bites over a 10-year period were from dogs whose breed could not be identified. The results were likely skewed also because many dogs are misidentified as Pitbulls. A victim may claim that it was a Pitbull that bit them when it was in fact a different breed. And that didn't surprise Dr Resch who made the surprising claim about identification of dog breeds. 'We can't tell by looking at a dog what breed they are,' she said. 'We've got some very good DNA tests available right now and even those of us who have worked with dogs our whole lives often find we're way off the mark (in guessing a breed) after a DNA test is done.' Dr Resch also said it was a myth that cross breeds were more aggressive than pure-bred dogs, saying they didn't behave any different. She also took aim at social media and how it promoted a lot of misinformation that gave Aussies a distorted view about certain dog breeds. 'It's an absolute fallacy that Pitbulls lock their jaws. We are so biased by online content that feeds us,' she said. 'If someone tells you often enough that Pitbull's bite, you believe it, and I can tell you it's not true. 'There's just so many different variables as to what bites occur, what breed is the breed that actually caused the bite and does legislation stop the bites? No, it doesn't. 'I'm a scientist so I look at the science and I look at the research and the research has shown that banning breeds fails.' Dr Resch said dog owners were the ones who needed to behave better around their pets. 'We need to teach people how to responsibly look after their own dogs and the body language of dogs,' she said. 'They need to get permission before they approach a dog. Don't let your child just walk up to a dog. I would never recommend unsupervised contact between any dog and a child.' Dr Resch said the most common bites were in young male boys and it was generally associated with food and treats. 'That suggests to me that we're not setting these kids up or the dogs up for success. We need to put the onus back on people,' she said.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘Handbag dogs' fall from favour as Brits seek ‘status symbol' breed
The British bulldog has become the UK's most expensive dog breed, with an average puppy price of £1,694, a 20 per cent increase in the last year. "Handbag dogs" like the chihuahua and miniature dachshund are declining in popularity, with a 43 per cent drop in sales. Other breeds which have seen a popularity decrease are the chow chow and labradoodle, which have seen prices fall by 9 to 10 per cent. Viewings of each British bulldog puppy on sale rose by 230 per cent over the past five years. Axel Lagercrantz, chief executive of Pets4Homes, said they were becoming a new 'status symbol'. The RSPCA warns that bulldogs are four times more likely than other dogs to suffer from various diseases and have an average life expectancy of only six years. 'Status symbol' dog becomes the UK's most expensive breed
Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Times
British bulldog becomes most the country's most expensive breed
For generations it has been a waddling, wheezing national mascot, the very embodiment of tenacity and Blitz spirit. But the British bulldog appears to have undergone a makeover. Trading grit for glamour, it has become a four-legged status symbol with a luxury price tag to match. The bulldog is now the UK's most expensive breed, according to recent sales figures, with the average asking price for a puppy standing at £1,694. In second and third place were the golden retriever, at £1,453, and the boxer, at £1,356. According to Axel Lagercrantz, chief executive of Pets4Homes, the online pet marketplace that supplied the data, buyers are eschewing once-trendy 'handbag dogs' — including French bulldogs, pugs and chihuahuas — in favour of the bigger British bulldog. Sales
