English Bulldog Breeders: 2012

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

English Bulldog Breeders - Finding One of Quality

Puppies are great. They are lots of fun and let's face it they are usually just so darn cute. Just about everyone loves a baby. If you are considering purchasing and adopting a purebred puppy then it really does all come down to the breeder. If you are looking for a "bully" puppy then you need to be sure that you find a reputable English bulldog breeder before you spend all that money on the puppy.

There are several things you need to look for when you are researching an English bulldog breeder. First off, the best way decide who to choose is by looking locally. If you find a local person then you can go and visit with them. They can show you paperwork and documentation proving that both the male and female are pure bred dogs. They can explain their procedures for breeding and how often they breed out the dog. You can get to know the dogs before you commit to purchasing one of the puppies.

If there isn't a local English bulldog breeder, which can happen, then you will have to take your search to the internet. Once you find a few breeders send them an e-mail or call them. You will still want to know some of the same information. If you are interested in acquiring papers for your pup then you will need to have verification that the breeder is using registered dogs. You will also want to know how often the same female is bred in a given year. Most of these dog lovers will have several females and males. That way they can offer more puppies per year without wearing out the one dog.

You want to make sure that the English bulldog breeder is willing to offer you some sort of guarantee or paperwork on the health not only of the parents but of the babies as well. You want to make sure that they can verify the health of their puppies. You don't want to pay all that money only to find that the little one is sick and will have problems later in life. If you are planning on showing the dog as it gets older then having a sick puppy or any type of birth defect might make showing the dog impossible, and breeding the dog later can prove problematic too.

There are lots of English bulldog Breeders all over the country. By taking your time to research them, you will be sure to find a puppy that is healthy and was raised in a loving environment.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Reversing Bad Habits in English Bulldog Puppies

Some English Bulldog puppies have bad habits - some are easier to deal with than others. And some are just downright embarrassing, destructive or annoying. There is hope! With proper training and unique techniques, you can reverse these habits and put them to an end forever!

Accidents in the house are a popular problem with English Bulldog puppy owners. Even when they go through the proper house training steps, they still find their puppies are eliminating indoors. The fix is easy! Always keep a close eye on your puppy to be sure you know where he is and what he's doing at all times. If you see the "gotta go" behavior of sniffing around, turning in circles or going finding odd areas of the house to "hide", immediately usher him outside until he does his business. If you never allow him to go to the bathroom in the house and always have a close eye on him, he'll never learn that going in the house is the place to go. And if he's already started to have accidents in house, carefully watching him will cut down on the possibility of it happening again.

Humping is a bad habit that can be extremely embarrassing to those who own English Bulldog puppies. While humping is not necessarily a sexual reaction, it is still a behavior that is not acceptable. Watch your puppy while he is around other dogs to keep an eye on his behavior. As soon as he starts to exhibit humping behaviors, pull him away or make a sharp, loud sound such as "eh". Your puppy will eventually learn that these behaviors are unacceptable and will stop trying.

You walk in the door at the end of a long, stressful day, arms full of groceries and paperwork. Your puppy greets you by jumping up all over you, knocking everything out of your hands and papers and groceries go flying. Sound familiar? Jumping up, although a sweet gesture to show how excited he is to see you, should not be one that is allowed. Stopping this behavior is simple. When you come home and your puppy is jumping, excited and running around, pay him no attention. Once he is settled and no longer acting crazy, you may stoop to his level to pay him the attention he deserves. If you and the members of your family keep up this consistent behavior, your English Bulldog puppy will eventually learn that jumping up gets him nothing and calm behavior gets him what he wants - you!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

About English Bulldog Puppies

English bulldog puppies are about as cute as they come. Everyone falls in love with these pups from the moment they lay eyes upon them. Their faces with the extra folds of skin and the small under bite that all English bulldogs have, is part of the reason they are so irresistible.

The English bulldog belongs in the house with their master where they feel the most comfortable. They need this companionship more than other breeds of dogs. This type of dog will do very well in an apartment since they are very laid back and are content just to lay by the owner. They make a great pet for kids also, while usually getting along with other pets in the home.

Your best bet when buying your puppies is to watch the litter interact and choose the one that you like the best. Since English bulldog puppies are not known for protection dogs, you do not have to be so choosy about the pack leaders in the litter.

English bulldog puppies are extremely stubborn and bull headed. The family needs to establish quickly what the social order is around the house. Once the dog learns this, they stay in line without problems. The dogs do take up to two years to reach maturity. So for the first couple of years, the puppies will be quite active. After that, they becomes very lazy. They are also known to drool, slobber, be messy eaters and snore quite loudly.

English bulldog puppies come in a lot of different color patterns and it is up to the individual as to what they like. They have a nice slick coat that is easy to care for and are in the normal shedding range. Even though the dog looks small in stature, they are quite massive and thick. The dog seems to be aware of its own power and strength and so does not feel the need to project that image.

Make sure you take your new puppy outside about every hour until you are able to house train it. Give the puppy chew toys to occupy their time and help with the cutting of more teeth in their massive mouth. It is important that you do not let your dog get overweight. English bulldogs are prone to breathing problems, poor eyesight, very susceptible to heat strokes, skin infections, hip and knee problems and flatulence if fed anything other than their regular dog food.

The average life span of English bulldog puppies is only about 8 years, which is less that most other breeds of dog. You should have a good veterinarian in case you run into any of the health problems listed.

English Bulldog Breeders - Finding One of Quality

There are lots of English bulldog Breeders all over the country. By taking your time to research them, you will be sure to find a puppy that is healthy and was raised in a loving environment.

Easy Tips to Finding the Best English Bulldog Puppies

Many people today get captivated in how lovable a new pet dog can be and often don't fully understand all that ultimately goes directly into taking care of the pet. Various dogs will likely have varying needs. For instance, if you consider purchasing one of the many affordable English bulldog puppies for sale, make sure you already know what's applicable to be able to handle such a pet. The awesome stuff is that they're somewhat relaxed, but then with almost any newborn pups, it's vital to keep a few tips in your head when you want to make everyone's lives a lot easier.

Miniature English Bulldog

When you are looking for English bulldog puppies for sale, remember to keep in mind that for the most part, these awesome little pets have big, soft textured, short-faced heads, smooth coats and ultra-powerful arms and legs. They are extremely easygoing and charming, leaving them outstanding pets for kids. In spite of this, they can slobber, snore and are notorious for flatulence. The great thing is that even with all this, many puppy owners wouldn't trade these canines for the entire world. Their loving character and brave spirit can charm even the most critical potential buyers.

Prepare Ahead Before Seeking for an English Bulldog Sale

Similar to any new-found pet, you'll really need to ensure that you have necessary supplies to really care for the new puppy. Stuff like a location to nap, treats, dishes, toys, a training collar, leash and even more are basic needs when taking a pet home. On top of that, if you're house training the family pet, be totally sure to get a whole lot of newspaper in order to help keep things clean. There might be very little incidents, that's why it is advisable to spend money on your English bulldog puppy from the dependable and prestigious pet breeder that house trains the dogs.

After looking over an array of English bulldog puppies for sale, you eventually understand you absolutely wish for one of these family pets. If ever you do get hold of one, it's vital to carry out your pet's trip home as convenient as possible. These breeds can definitely be jumpy or restless with unwanted actions and voices that are coming from the car. They could possibly even get ill to their little bellies or perhaps wet themselves. So try to be sure they use the bathroom before entering into the car. Aside from that, make it a point to drive at a secure, consistent pace to make the journey home as stress-free and sleek as possible.

Your Guide to Miniature English Bulldog Puppies

Miniature English bulldog puppies are celebrated for their cute and irresistible characteristics. People can't help but fall in love with them once see how loving and cute this breed can be. The folds of their faces and their underbite make them more endearing and appealing.

The English Bulldog blends well in a comfortable home. They value friendship and company most. They are mellow and not difficult to please. They would be a suitable playmate for your kids since they are very humorous by nature.

If you intend to pick a new pup from the litter, just choose the one you like best. There is no need to choose the most prevalent one since English Bulldogs are not protection or guard dogs by nature.

How to Get Along With Your English Bulldog Puppy

An English Bulldog can be bull headed and at first, you may encounter issues with how he would follow you. Now, as a dog owner, it is best to enforce social order around the house. By doing this, your pet will little by little adjust to his new environment. Because Bullies take up to two years to mature, they may be active for the first few years. After that, you will notice them grow sluggish and indolent as the years go by. For a fact, bulldogs are messy eaters. Aside from that, they drool, snort and slobber!

Once you bring your new pet home, establish a routine by bringing him out of the house every hour until he is house trained. You wouldn't want him doing his business on your couch or rug, right? It is advisable to provide him with a chew toy to keep him occupied and to aid with the growth of his teeth.

Do not let your dog grow overweight because Bulldogs often have problems with their breathing. This will be magnified if they grow too big. They can also be prone to heat strokes and skin infections.

Purchase Your Pet for a Reasonable English Bulldog Price

The best determinant of something is not always the price. If you intend to buy a new pet and if you are attracted to its low cost, think again. There are far more important things to consider aside from the price.

Reversing Bad Habits in English Bulldog Puppies

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Mixing Poetry with Prose

In writing modern, or contemporary verse it is easy for anyone to make fun of, or point out what they feel is obscure to their eyes in poetry, as it can be in any writing I suppose, but verse seems to get its share of pro and con, in more than sufficiently amounts, normally attacked, mostly by those not all that interested in verse in the first place. I am not about to turn this writing into some kind of account, but I do want to say a few words on this issue. Some modern poetry is what I call defeatist, grant you, and perhaps too fantastic, and too abstract, or too unreal or perhaps too eccentric--beyond the psychological reality of mans mind. I try not to go in that direction, but I do like plays and prose mixed with poetry, a good narrative in poetry is real life at its highest expressions. And produce good ideas in verse. This freedom I use, and others have, is not new, it was used by Homer, and even the poem of Gilgamish, have threads of this mixture; Shakespeare does it quite well also.

Yes, it is obvious that poetry and prose are different. Prose can flow actually better, free from poetic hang-ups; Poetry on the other hand seems to have more solid points to it, and is slower to read usually, and write of course. In prose you can bring up issues, or matters in the moment, in poetry, you are working on moving the individual, emotionally, more so than in thinking. Nowadays, people have a hard time understanding modern poetry, in comparison to thousands of years ago. Perhaps we lost the plot, theme and insight into much of the story in poetry, and need to make adjustments, and so in prose mixed with poetry we can do that, as long as we remember the poetic value resides in the solid elements it brings.

Poetry and Prose - The Confusion

This page addressed the confusion between poetry and prose, storytelling and the writing of fiction in general.

The Simple Facts

Writing Fiction is about telling stories.

Telling stories is the core and primary form of communication either written or oral.

The form of a story contains not only the subject and predicate (what about the subject) but the intention or purpose for making the communication in the first place.

The purpose, although implied in the communication is not necessarily visible in the words which is why linguists and grammarians missed this most important element and having failed to identify it, therefore give it no importance.

Poetry

Poems are a style of storytelling with roots reaching back probably to the very beginnings of time although the word does not appear until the 13-1400's.

The conventions of rhyme and meter associated with "poetry" (or more appropriately the poetic style of storytelling) were created and developed by bards, minstrels, recounters, shamans and priests for a very simple reason; it was easier to remember the story that way. And storytellers of all descriptions had to rely on memory for a long time before written language evolved. And even after "writing" was invented it was a very long time before writing and reading reached down to the lower classes which comprised the bulk of the storytellers.

Long before man learned how to write, telling stories was a completely oral tradition.

And then just to add a little more interest to the telling, music was added as an accompaniment.

Hence the invention of the song.

Which is easy to understand if we consider a song as a poem set to music.

So, the core is communication, which consists of expressing a complete thought about something.

That thought consists of a subject and what about that subject or what grammarians call the "predicate". This we were taught comprises a complete sentence. However there is one other very important element that our English teachers left out of our lessons; simply because the Linguists left it out of their considerations regarding language.

The missing element is the reason for the communication in the first place.

This is the single idea or thought that comes before the words are selected to form the sentences.

Behind those words and sentences is a purpose that the speaker had for wanting to communicate to his audience in the first place.

His purpose for communicating and what he is communicating are two separate however related things. Simply put; first there is an intention and then the words.

The intention is the underlying purpose for the communication and what the linguists and our English teachers failed to mention. While concentrating on just the words they missed what is arguably the most important part of the whole deal.

The single word that best expresses this purpose is the word "Premise".

The Premise is the Purpose for the communication

The roots of the word premise (the derivation) go back to ancient Latin but the concept can best be described as simply, "What's the Point?" of the communication. What is the desired effect of the communication? What does the speaker wish the audience to do with or about the communication? What is the desired effect?

While one could assume that the purpose is simply to convey an idea - that falls short of the mark. Because the speaker is communicating with the intent of causing something. His purpose is to cause the audience (the receiver of the communication) to do something with and therefore because of the communication.

Communication is not just about passing information from speaker to listener. The purpose of the communication is to get the listener to DO SOMETHING with the information or idea.

While grammar tells us that the expression of a complete thought (called a "sentence") consists simply of "subject" and "predicate" there is a third element that has not been addressed - intention.

Is Prose Superior to Poetry?

Over the years there have been many occasions when I have heard somebody ranting about the superiority of prose, particularly fiction, over poetry. By contrast, rarely have I heard anyone suggesting the poetry is superior to fictional prose. Does this say something about the supporters of one as opposed to those of the other? Is there an underlying difference between fans on prose and fans of poetry, and are fans of poetry, as an audience, more mature and open-minded?

I would venture to say there may be a little of this involved, but only a very little. My hunch is this: that people who value poetry will, by and large, value prose too as those who enjoy and are able to read poetry will also have the ability to enjoy and read prose. By contrast there is a distinct possibility that those who enjoy prose will not, by necessity, understand poetry. Poetry and prose are entirely different breeds of art which are like largely only in that they share the same tools.

I have heard it said that poetry is for those who cannot write sustained prose, and that the real skill of an author is in writing at length while retaining depth and keeping the reader interested. However, I would immediately like to interject on this point. For whoever holds any such opinion is missing something of dazzling clarity: what kind of prose writer is able to write at length in a manner or style akin to most poetry?

Poetry's aim is different to that of prose, and in this difference is in no way lesser to the skill of writing prose. Most poems want to convey with great weight a particular issue in a way which calls for the readers close attention. It is this attention which grants the poem a great emotional force without a huge narrative to underpin it.

The answer to the question: is prose superior to poetry? is that prose and poetry are two distinct entities which are relatively incomparable but which both require degrees of astuteness and skill in their authors if they are to be successful. Writers of poetry are just as skilled as writers of prose, and its worth remembering that many poets are also successful authors (such as Leonard Cohen). As such, the view that a prose author is superior to one of poetry says more about the knowledge and capacities of the one holding the view than it does about any real differences between the two literary forms.

Onika Pascal - Poetry and Prose Writing at Its Finest

In her poetry and prose book titled, "Bardvillian Symphonies," Onika Pascal reveals how the life of one individual can come as a revelation to the unitiated reader and bring joy to the poetry enthusiast. The practical style of the poems is very pleasing to the eyes and allows each reader to actually feel what each line is expressing to them. Within each poem you will find the design and structure very easy to read. Her innovative style of writing also makes the poems very interesting and inspiring.

Beginning with the first poem in this excellent book, "Listening To God, 1985," with such words as, "I'd listen to Him the way I listened to him back in 1985. Like a child," set the stage for a refreshing and an encouraging read. Here she presents to us how important the power of prayer is and that calling upon God can be done by just listening to the humming of voices that surround you.

Another great poem is, "Half Past Noon." This is also an enchanting and touching poem to read. Pascal says, "When buckets of rain poured from God's well at half past noon on any given day...Our waterfall laid dab smack in the middle of Heavens Triangle." Imagine the rain coming down upon you like a waterfall from Heaven. Speaking to the mind, body, and soul; can you imagine the purifying feeling that accompanies that?

In her poem "Proud Girl", she speaks to women of all race, creeds and colors. Her message is to empower women and to show each and every one of us the true meaning of womanhood. In her poem, "Tongues of Women 1825," she dives much deeper into the aspect of courage of women in a particular time in history. She speaks soundly of the power of women in the lines, "Please forgive the gibberish that rolls off my tongue, for I know not the law of silence, but have the strength to pull rain out the sky to wipe my eyes."

In her titled poem, "Bardvillian Symphonies," she shows her humbleness and expresses to the world her desires for giving and receiving love. Throughout the lines of this spectacular poem, you will find yourself thinking of how important it is to have love in your life and having that special someone to grow old with. The stanza that reads, "With you I can count all the stars in the sky, use the clouds to create a path to bring God down from Heaven, to bless our love to live until he call us home." Who wouldn't want to have a love so strong with another that it is blessed and protected by God? This is a very touching poem. A poem all poetry lovers will surely appreciate and enjoy.

Onika Pascal is a writer that any avid poetry lover or would-be poetry lover will enjoy reading the works of. With stories that connect to your conscience and allow you to feel exactly what she was feeling in the moment of the stories. If you are not already a fan of Pascal's work you are sure to be once you've put this book down. This is a must-have for your literary and poetic collection.

A Prose Poem Treatise To Christ

The Holy Spirit, whose grace knows no bounds, gives freely of its knowledge to any mind and heart that will believe and love Him and His only begotten Son, Whom He gave to us, that we might be saved. The knowledge and wisdom given through the spirit gives true sight to the closed eye of the mind, and gives true hearing to the deaf ear of the heart. In this new infusion of life and spirit, a whole life is transformed and given new meaning. God gives to us new life, out of His boundless love for us. God gives to us wonderful new dreams to live out. Such a joy it is to work for the Lord!

That is not to say it will be any easier; there will always be struggles while we are in this world. Yet, we must remember that God has put us here to teach and chastise us, as any good father would. We must remain steadfast in our faith in and love for God and one another, as we rely on God to help us, and do according to His will.

Indeed, there are many things that a believer has to go through to succeed in this world. Fortunately, all we have to do to succeed in Heaven is believe and love. It's a sad, bitter fact that the world does not, and can not, boast such a thing, for the world is given to human nature, to the weakness of the flesh. This weakness is the beginning of our problems, as temptation and cruel emotions are often hard to resist acting upon.

Truly, those who listen only to the flesh are foolish and ignorant. There are many temptations hurled upon it by the forces of evil, the dark beings in constant spiritual war with the forces of good, to gain way into your soul. Since almost the Beginning, it has been such ignorance that has caused unending strife for the believers and the workers of the faith. Too many times, people envy, fear, even hate what is different from them, or what they do not understand.

The most notable example of this, of course, was the life of Christ, God's only Son. Any worldly-minded person would look down upon His life, calling it poor and without much means. Yes, Christ was born in a manger, but of what use is such a fact in determining a man's worth, especially a man such as Jesus? Jesus was neither poor, nor without means, for God always provided all He needed to fulfill His task. He would provide for us as well if we would have faith, and be willing to put in time and effort.

Nonetheless, it was even His own people that crucified Him upon the cross. Yet, Jesus touched more lives than any other man could ever hope to. In life, Jesus worked many great miracles, and healed many people. Any lost person willing to open their hearts was won over by His beautiful messages about God's boundless grace and love. In death, Jesus gave Himself for us, that we might live. Yes, there is unending beauty in not only God's Word, but also His acts of love. It is the example of Christ that we should always look up to and try to live up to.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Reversing Bad Habits in English Bulldog Puppies

The Olde English Bulldog Fact, Fiction Or Ancient History

What is the Olde English Bulldog? Is it even a breed? It is said that the Olde English Bulldogge of today is as a re-creation of a Bull-baiting type dog that existed in England during the 13th century. It was an English Gentleman by the name of William, Earl of Warren who introduced the sport of Bull baiting in the year 1209 at an annual Pre-Christmas Festival after witnessing a group of the butchers' dogs pursuing a raging bull clean trough the town. The pure determination of these dogs amazed the Earl he declared it a yearly event! The bulldog was bred to attack a bull by grabbing its nose and not letting go, it was written in history that people of this time believed that the meat of the bull was tastier if the animal had been baited before it was butchered. Some people found this most entertaining and it is because of this cruel spectator sport that the bulldog was originated. This tenacious breed was known by many names, such as Oldie Bulldog, Olde Tyme Bulldog, Pit-bulldog and even the Olde English Bulldog term was used. There were many other names used depending on owner, breeder, area and time era they lived in. After the sport of Baiting was outlawed in 1835 the breed may have been extinct, but the Bulldog had many admirers. The ferocity has been bred out of the bulldog after years of selective breeding. The original athletic bulldog was crossed with dogs like the Pug to alter the attitude to make him easier to manage by new owners. The bulldog's appearance had also been drastically changed to fit the mold of the modern day Show Ring. The original look of the bulldog has changed so much that the breed is almost unrecognizable. With these changes come great health issues.

The Olde English Bulldog is like no other! Different types of this rare breed were being developed in the late 1960's to the early 1970's by individuals like Greg Hermes, The Wilkinson's, David Leavitt and others. These like minded bull breed fanciers were focused on re-creation of the 18th century Working type Bulldog. This recreation is very alert, friendly, courageous, and loyal breed. They make very good family guardians because of their intelligence and trainability. Some say that this recreation has the appearance of a Gladiator with their thick body, broad chest and massive head, with the Courage to match! Because of these fine qualities the breed has derived a very large and loyal following. This new breed is now a very healthy, active breed that can do any thing asked of him or her. On average the life span of a Bulldog is over eleven years. Thanks to the select group of breeders that stayed true to there goal they are now producing Bulldogs that are superior to its counter part! It is now up to the future generation of breeders to produce a Bulldog with only the best health and temperament! I think that the Olde English Bulldog has a very bright future and the rest is History.

Easy Tips to Finding the Best English Bulldog Puppies

Miniature English Bulldog

Prepare Ahead Before Seeking for an English Bulldog Sale

The English Bulldog - Traits to Look For

There is much debate about how we came to know the Bulldog, the predecessor to today's English and French Bulldogs. Many canine historians believe it is the result of cross breeding a Pug with a Bullmastiff. Indeed, we can see similarities in an English Bulldog's "smashed in muzzle" to that of the beloved Pug. We can also see a close resemblance between today's Bulldogs and Bullmastiffs, especially in their hindquarters.

If you have ever seen a photo of the early bulldogs, they resemble little the English Bulldog we know and love today. Shorter in stature, by nearly half today, what was once a more angled head is now round, wide with a protruding jaw.

Although English Bulldogs have only been recognized as a breed since 1902, they share many common traits with their cousins and grandparents, the Bulldogs. Bulldogs, as they name might imply, were bred to bait bulls in the bullring. Dating back to the mid 1500s in England, people, in their infinite wisdom put bulldogs in the middle of bullfights to entice the bulls into doing what they do, thanks to combination of testosterone and people's need for a show. In the process, these dogs were often pinched, abused and even eviscerated.

Although it would take 300 years, the British eventually outlawed this inhumane act in 1835. This left an entire breed of dogs with no job. Cruel is it sounds, knowing that every dog is bred for a job and now this dog's job has been eliminated, now what?

Loving certain physical traits of the Bulldog, but not the temperament, breeders went to work to create the one we adore today. Indeed, a far kinder version of the ferocious one who held his own against a bull, English Bulldogs are without a doubt, one of the sweetest of breeds.

Although more prone to hip dysplasia, overall, are larger breed dogs, such as German Shepherds, Akitas and Australian Shepherds, the English Bulldog has a chance of developing the hip dysplasia in his lifetime. This can be directly attributable to favoring the shorter, stockier bulldog over the taller version of the 1700 and 1800s.

Hip dysplasia is what happens when the hip socket, called the acetabelum, is malformed, causing the spherical end of the femur to rub against it, because it's no longer fitting in properly. This causes arthritis, which if you've ever suffered from, you know that it's painful.

It's a chronic condition that over time tends to worsen because the more the two bones rub against one another, the more inflamed the point of contact becomes, which results in throbbing discomfort.

There are myriad of treatment options available to both prolong your companion's life and minimize his suffering. From analgesics to acupuncture to surgery, you have many alternatives to consider.

If you are considering getting an English Bulldog, you are thinking about bringing one of the sweetest breeds into your home. While it can be argued that while selectively breeding for a smaller, stockier bulldog of yesteryear, one trait that is indeed favorable is the temperament of the English Bulldog.

English Bulldog

Bulldogs have been used to fight in the past but now they are friendly companion dogs for adults and children alike. Three of the most popular kinds of bulldogs are the American bulldog, French bulldog and the English bulldog.

Origin/History of English bulldog

The English bulldog was originated in the British Isles, a descendant from the ancient Asiatic Isles. It has short legs and wide, medium sized body. Although its appearance can be intimidating, yet it is one of the gentlest dogs. It has been so popular since 1800 as an excellent and devoted pet.

It is chosen as a symbol of a nation and chosen as an emblem by organizations by some individuals worldwide. The original purpose in breeding this animal is to help butchers in controlling violent and unruly oxen and to act as guard dog during hunting while showing its tough looking appearance. The name Bulldog comes from the word "Bull" because of its use in "Bull Bating" and that resembles a little bull too. This breed was very popular among noblemen and royalty.

Characteristics

English bulldog has a big head and a short snout. Because of its low energy, this dog enjoys lounging around the house in the company of the human family that makes it an admirable and a lovable pet especially with children. Due to its placid nature, bulldog can tolerate being prodded by children without being annoyed. It is described as affectionate and very dependable animal. Developing a relationship with a bulldog is easy due to its adaptable and loyal nature. It is a dog breed of extreme excellence despite of its stubborn nature due to its very docile characteristic.

This breed loves to chew on anything so it is advisable to provide the breed with chew toys to prevent destruction. It is very difficult to train bulldogs due to its lazy nature and stubbornness despite of its intelligence. The character and personality of this kind of breed is misunderstood by many people.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Peafowl Species, Colors, Patterns and Varieties

SPECIES

The two species of peafowl most commonly bred in captivity, which most of you are familiar with, are the Pavo cristatus and the Pavo muticus peafowl; better known as the India Blue and Green peafowl. Both species of peafowl are native to South Asia. The green peafowl, Pavo muticus, consists of three very similar, but distinct subspecies: Pavo muticus-muticus, Pavo muticus-imperator, and Pavo muticus-spicifer. These subspecies may also be known by their English names: Javanese Green (m. muticus), Indo-Chinese Green (m. imperator), and Burmese Green (m. spicifer) peafowl. Although many experts concur that there are several more subspecies of Green peafowl, as many as 10, identification of the three most common is sufficient for this article. The three subspecies of Green peafowl are very similar in appearance and can be differentiated by an experienced breeder or most accurately by DNA testing. Most people refer to the Green peafowl generically as Java Greens, which is inaccurate, but for the purpose of this article I will refer to them simply as Green peafowl. I will also be referring to the species Pavo Cristatus simply as India Blue peafowl.

COLORS

There are currently nine different colors of peafowl in addition to the India Blue and the Green. The neck of the cock bird determines the color of the bird. Therefore, as most of you know, the India Blue peacock's color is blue and the Green peacock's color is green. So, where did all the other colors come from? All other colors of peafowl are the result of genetic mutations that have occurred in the India Blue peafowl. A mutation occurs in the genetic makeup of a bird that affects the coloring of the feathers and results in different colored peafowl. The chance of a genetic mutation occurring is 1 in 1,000,000 and most of them go unnoticed. However, there are nine known distinct color mutations that have occurred in the India Blue peafowl. These colors, although not all yet recognized by the UPA, are White, Cameo, Purple, Charcoal, Opal, Bronze, Peach, Midnight, and Jade. These colors are the outcome of mutations that have occurred in the India Blue peafowl, (which if you recall is a different species than the Green peafowl), and as a result are all recessive colors. Recessive means that if these colored birds are bred to an India Blue, the dominant color Blue would be expressed and all the offspring would look like India Blue peafowl (some exceptions apply as in sex linked genes, but this info. will suffice for the this article). There are no records of any color mutations occurring in the Green peafowl. Although there have been rumors of a white mutation, I have yet to see any convincing evidence thereof.

In summary, all peafowl currently known are one of two species P. Cristatus or P. Muticus, or a hybrid between the two, and can be categorized as being one of these nine color mutations: White, Cameo, Purple, Charcoal, Opal, Bronze, Peach, Midnight, and Jade, or one of the two natural occurring colors: India Blue or Green. These nine color mutations plus the two wild occurring colors make the 11 possible peafowl colors.

PATTERNS

Another differentiating physical trait in peafowl is known as the body pattern. Patterns and colors refer to two very different aspects of peafowl and genetically act completely separate from one another. Peafowl can carry and express a particular body pattern and it will not affect the identifying color of the cock birds neck. A body pattern can be described as the way the colors of the peafowl's body feathers are patterned. For example, the India Blue peafowl have what is called a barred wing pattern. This is the distinctive vertical black and white zebra like stripes on the wings. A peacock's wings are also commonly referred to as the shoulders. The barred wing pattern is the original pattern and is present in the two wild occurring species birds. This barring pattern is present in the Green peafowl, but usually only occurs on the inner most feathers of the wings, is much darker in color, and is far less distinctive than on the India Blue's.

Much like color mutations described in the previous section, there have been four known pattern mutations that have occurred in the India Blue peafowl. These four pattern mutations are known as Black shoulder (Solid winged), Pied, White-eyed, and Silver pied. The Black shoulder pattern mutation changes the pattern of the wings of the India Blue cock bird from barred to solid colored. It affects the hens by changing their overall body from a brownish color to a creamy white with colored speckles throughout the body, but the identifying color on the back of the hens neck remains the same.

The Pied pattern mutation creates a lack of pigmentation in the bird's feathers and causes the birds to have random splotches of white throughout the entire body, both on the hen and the cock. Pied birds are most frequently about 60% colored and 40% white.

The White-eyed pattern mutation causes the ocellis, or eyes, in the cock bird's train to be white. It also causes a varying number of body feathers to either be white or turn white as it matures. The White-eyed pattern mutation is much less distinct in the hen because the lack of a train, but does cause some body feathers to turn white and gives the overall tone of the body a frosted look. This frosty look is also present in the cock birds. The easiest way to identify the white-eyed gene in hens is to look for the distinctive flickering of white at the end of body feathers that are usually spread throughout the bird's body. The White-eyed gene is more complicated than what is discussed in this article, but this information gives you a general idea of how it works and how to identify it.

Leopard Gecko Morphs - Variations of Color and Pattern in Leopard Geckos

The leopard gecko is one handsome lizard indeed. These unique animals are usually yellow with black dots, but may be found in a wide variety of color and pattern variations. Gecko breeders actively breed geckos for different colors and patterns, often resulting in some surprising looking animals.

There are a few terms we should cover quickly here: pattern, color and phase (or morph). By color, we mean the basic color of the gecko. For instance, yellow in the case of most leopard geckos. Pattern means the way that the black dots on the animal are arranged. Phase (or morph) covers the entire range of appearance traits that the gecko has been bred for.

A pet gecko is one thing where you should choose based on appearance. You'll want to select a lizard which you find to be aesthetically appealing. There are many different leopard gecko morphs around to choose from. The following are some of the most popular morphs.

Jungle Leopard: This is the first type of gecko bred to have stripes. This is a varied phase which can produce some very unique-looking animals. There are two subcategories of this morph; "four eyed" and "bandit". The four eyed variety has two white spots, generally with a black dot in the center over each of its eyes. The bandit variety has a dark band between its eyes and over the nose, much like a bandit's mask.

Albino /Amelanistic: These geckos are off-white with pink eyes. There are many gecko owners who prize these reptiles for their unique look. There are regular albino geckos as well as Amelanistic (patternless) albino geckos available.

Blizzard: These geckos are a variant which have no patterns. Their eyes may vary in color from black to blue and are found in colors including white, the rare and highly prized blue-black (midnight blizzard), yellow (banana blizzard), brown and even purple!

Wild: This is the ordinary pattern seen in wild geckos. These animals feature dark transverse bands across their body as well as 3-4 dark rings on their tail. They have dark spots on their head and body which may also be mixed with tan.

What Makes 250cc Motorcycles the Greatest

Whether a novice or an experienced rider, 250cc motorcycles provide all the thrills of larger displacement motorbikes, with fewer costs, ease of use, and higher average resale values.

Simple but edgy designs give 250cc motorcycles advantages over the other motorbike classes. With most two hundred fifty cubic centimeter motorcycles easily tipping the scales sub 400 lbs., this lightweight advantage breeds excellent agility, control, confidence, and lower operational costs. For the novice motorcyclist the importance of control and ease of use is second to none. The last thing you want to do is be messing with the clutch lever and having to tach the gas just right to get that smooth shift, you want forgiveness. 250cc motorbikes offer this forgiveness: with smooth shifting gear boxes, upright seating positions, low seat heights, and lightweight controllability, these combinations are unavailable elsewhere in the market. This forgiveness spawns confidence with its operator; it will make you a better motorcyclist as you are able to push the motorbike safely to new limits. Besides being stylistic mirrors to their larger displacing brethren, one of the first things you will notice is the price, or lack there of.

A key component of two hundred fifty cubic centimeter motorcycle popularity and success is the low out of pocket and operational costs. Let's face it, you wouldn't go out and buy a Ferrari as your daily commuter and expect it to cost less to maintain and get better gas mileage over a well designed sedan built for these purposes, motorcycling is no different. Why blow all that money to get 30 or maybe 40 miles to the gallon on that $15000 sport bike, cruiser, or chopper, when you can have equal the fun getting 70, 80, and even a 100 mpg. 250cc motorcycles offer this stellar advantage, with equally sized gas tanks, that's twice the range, less stops, and more time to enjoy riding, it's a win-win scenario. These motorbikes new range $3000-$5000 that includes dealer fees and assembly, a steal to say the least. Whether you prefer a 250cc sport bike, 250cc cruiser, 250cc chopper, 250cc dual sport, 250cc dirt bike, or even a 250cc scooter manufactures have been producing and will continue to produce these superbly designed motorbikes for years to come.

The used two hundred fifty cubic centimeter motorcycle market is probably one of the most over looked bonuses of 250cc motorcycles. Due to their high dependability, lower operational costs, and ease of use everyone from entry level riders to budget conscience gurus are looking for used motorcycles or motorbike parts driving the high demand. Whether you choose a new two hundred fifty cubic centimeter or a used 250cc motorcycle you can be reassured a return on your investment. Looking forward, one of the most promising new demands for 250cc motorcycles are women.

Eggs - Naturally Filling Food That Tastes Great

Eggs are one of the most convenient and easy to cook foods in the market. By cooking them with a variety of ingredients and in different ways, you can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even a midnight snack! They're very affordable and you can cook them with almost everything. The best thing abouot them is that they are good for you and naturally filling. Eggs contain vitamin C, riboflavin, folate, vitamins A, D, and E, iodine, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, and iron.

You've probably noticed that eggs come in different sizes and the shells come in different colors. These differences don't have an affect on the amount of vitamins and minerals they have in them. The only factor that should concern you is the grade of the eggs, some are graded A and others are graded AA. The 2 things you need to check before you purchase your eggs are the condition of the eggs, and the expiration date. They have to be placed in the refrigerator from the day it was delivered to the store to the day they're sold.

The color of the shells and the egg yolks depend on the breed of the hens. A large breed will lay the brown eggs and they're sold at a high price because it costs more money to feed these hens. The color of their yolks depend on what they eat regularly.

The yolks actually have more vitamins and minerals than the whites do and they are good if you have very low cholesterol. Another convenience is that if you're always on the go and you want to eat healthy food that can be cooked fast, you can always rely on eggs. You can even take a bag of hard boiled eggs with you to satisfy your hunger. Who would have thought that only one small dish can fill you up in little time? You can even add them to give a little more to snacks that may not be so filling. Try adding hard boiled egg on a salad with low fat dressing and even as a meal, it will be filling.

Even professional athletes eat eggs to keep their protein levels where they should be. It's perfect to eat one before and after you exercise because it'll help you get leaner sooner. To avoid getting salmonella, it'd be best to cook them until they're well done. That's how I cook my eggs and I've never had this bad bacterium in my body. You have to be careful with the amount of time you cook them to make sure they don't burn or become rubbery. This fact should be taken seriously because the eggs can lose its nutrients when you keep them on the stove too long.

Bed Bugs Reproduction - Multiplying The Clan, For Bad!

Bed bugs are ruddy brown, tiny, flat and oval-shaped insect without wings which at night feast on human blood. Bed bugs are deemed to be night-time insects as they are mainly active at midnight.

Bed bugs are dispersing very rapidly in houses, motels, inns, buses, taxis and railway stations. You now speculate as to how many eggs the bed bugs can lie as they are spreading very quickly

Bed bugs are similar to other insects in that they reproduce very fast. And they lay many eggs too. You may now inquire, bed bugs lay how many eggs??

Bed bugs suck human blood. Several types of bed bugs feed both on humans and bats. Therefore if there are bats in your attic a possibility that your abode is infected with bugs is there. If you your attic are cured of bats occupancy, you can afterward effortlessly deal with the bed bugs invasion.

Bed bugs hatch from eggs. After hatching from the eggs they develop into nymphs

How many eggs are laid by bed bugs? In a year the feminine bed bug lays a minimum 300 (three hundred) eggs and 1000 (thousand) eggs during its lifespan. After mating it lays in a day a maximum of three eggs. In around ten days the eggs of bed bugs are hatched.

The life of a bed bug is lengthy. Bed bugs might also live eighteen months without eating. Picture that! Eggs of Bed bug can endure on any surface, but prefer paper, wood or cloth more than metals and plastics, whereas the nymphs can survive without feeding for nearly six months

Which are the probable spaces for female bed bug to lay the eggs? The Bed bugs will lay its eggs in tiny and slight cracks to guard the eggs from damage. Female bed bugs conceal the eggs under the beddings, on crevices in the headboard, beneath the crease in the nightstand next to the bed, within the other wooden furnishings and bedroom wallpaper in the vicinity.

The number of eggs laid by the bed bug determines the rate of invasion. A bed bug ridden mattress full of its eggs implies hundred's of bed bugs are everywhere laying eggs, and they are being hatched daily

But if we destroy the bed bugs, the eggs of bed bugs also should be destroyed. If you leave the eggs unharmed, they can hatch and grow into either a male or female bed bug which can produce a thousand eggs. If there are more than a thousand female bed bugs there in your house, you will not know further how many eggs bed bugs can lay.

My Chocolate Labrador Retrievers and Their Puppies

We live in Jarvisburg, N.C., 8 miles north of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. My labs (Ana, Bear, Brandy, Carolina, Duke, Mia, Midnight and Sunshine) enjoy the best of two worlds-Quiet country living in Currituck County and daily sunrise runs on the beautiful beaches of the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

As a labrador breeder my goal is to produce a sound labrador retriever that has the beauty which defines the breed while capturing the temperament and trainability that makes the labrador a versatile breed. It is important to me that my dogs and puppies will be good working citizens (seeing eye, narcotics, search and rescue, hunting, field trial, show etc.) as well as great pets and companions.

Chocolate Labrador Retrievers have been a part of my life since 1984,when a friend ask me if I would accept responsibility for a six month old chocolate lab whose owner was moving. It was love at first site for both of us. Jake and I were best friends and running partners for fourteen years. In 1998 when Jake passed away, I was devastated and swore I would never own another dog.

In the fall of 2002, Jake came to me in a dream and ask me what I had against chocolate labs and why I didn't have another dog. The next day I drove to Norfolk,Virginia and fell in love with Bear. Three months later I drove to Va.Beach, Virginia and fell in love with Ana. And as they say-the rest is history!

Midnight was born in Ana and Bear's first litter on December 3rd,2003. Carolina, along with Luke, was born in Ana and Bear's second litter on June 15th,2004. Duke was purchased from a national field champion bloodline from Windsor, North Carolina on January 15th,2005. Brandy and Sunshine were purchased on July 28th,2006. Mia, younger sister of Brandy and Sunshine, was purchased the day she was born, January 19th, 2007 .Between Brandy, Mia, and Sunshine's mother and father there are forty eight national field champions in their bloodlines.

Real Blokes Have Back Sheds

There was once a time when every decent backyard had a shed.

In Australia the back shed was a sacred place where a bloke could work on his favourite projects without any interference from the wife, the boss, the kids, or anyone else for that matter.

It mattered not if you brewed your own beer - made your own wine - or distilled your own spirits, or whatever, the back shed was a secret blokes place where real men got down to business. Many hours, sometimes days could pass by without notice, such was the intense nature of the back shed project business.

Many great inventions have evolved from the midnight oil burning sessions spent in the back shed, crikey, what would mankind do without the inventive nature of the back shed tinkerer, it is such a lot of fun when

you gather a shed full of tools to make all kinds of things from wood or metal.

Are you one of the new breed of real blokes who's rediscovering the wonders of the back shed? Oh, how I pity some of those blokes couped up in high rise luxury pens where all they have to look out on is the thousands of other lost souls couped up in hundreds of other high rise luxury pens.

I wonder if some of the men living there wouldn't wish for a backyard shed to tinker in, but then again, it's a bit hard to walk out to the back shed after the evening meal when your living twenty floors up, isn't it!

Still, I guess they have the expensive hi-fi gear to listen too, or the super wide plasma on the wall to look at, but is that really enough, do not they have an ounce of creative practical genius in them?

Could they not apply their hands to simple tools to bend and shape metal, or to cut and shave timber? Working with tools is one of life's simple but very rewarding pleasures, just ask the blokes that already do

this; they are amongst the top ten percent of happy satisfied people on earth, simply because they have a creative outlet for their inner talents and desires, not to mention the wonderful practical things they make

using simple hand & machine tools and equipment all housed in the ordinary blokes back shed.

If you ever have the urge to try your hand at creative metal work, then let me introduce you to hobby metal casting, of course you'll need a back shed before you even begin to gather your tools & equipment, but the personal rewards and satisfaction go way beyond the doing.

It is derived from the fact that you are creating with your mind - your hands - and a few simple tools... it may not sound like much, but ask anybody who creates stuff in the back shed, and you'll soon begin to

understand why.

Singapore Travel Guide: Zoo and Night Safari

Singapore remains as my favorite tourist destination from my childhood. It is the developed country has many treasures for travelers. People from all around the globe visit this beautiful Island. You can find many people lives in Singapore are from different countries. It has people from India, China, Malaysia and countries across the world. It has bounded with many culture and values.

Some of my friends are working in Singapore and they shared about various tourist spots. Among all, I liked Singapore zoo. It plays two different roles. I would love to visit the night safari and Singapore zoo. I am planning to spend my winter holidays in Singapore. Singapore zoo is top listed in my itinerary. It is the hub of different animals and birds. You can enjoy exploring rare species closely.

I would like to talk about my friends experiences of the Singaporean Zoological Garden and night safari in this report. The below are the experiences that my colleges have shared with me.

Singapore Zoo:

You have to choose between two types. If you visit during the early hours, you can glory in seeing the "daylife" animals and birds. It will be open till the midnight. In the late afternoon it turns to Night Safari. It brings even more fun.

Singaporean Zoo is known as zoological garden. The Singapore Zoo is as big as 28 hectares. The Zoological Garden follows the today's movement of open constructions. You are able to view every animal rambling nearby. It is the unique occasion they have in Singapore zoo. We can relish the living tour live path of investigating animals. They Are housing in straggly and sweeping brawns. They live detached from the human by either dry or wet rills.

The Singaporean Zoo has a huge variety of animals which includes White Rhinoceros, White tiger, African hunting Dog, Sumatran Orangutan, banded Mongoose, maned wolf etc. You can to find also a reptile Garden. There you are able to see western diamond backed rattle snake, green iguana, king cobra etc.

One thing that most visitors are going to remember is €œBreakfast with an Orangutan". It entertains young people a lot. All travelers can enjoy this action. I can't wait to explore it myself. Everyone is able to closely view trained orangutan in that attraction. Animal shows are also popular in this zoological gardens.

It is the award winning Singapore Zoo got many honors from the Singapore tourism, ASEAN tourism association awards etc. It is the first animal park in history to breed a polar bear so near to the equator. Yes, people who do a visit Antarctica are able to see watching Polar bear in the zoo.

Rides:

The rides are the famous attraction. It offers different types of rides. You can relish the rides on trams, animals, boat, pony and horse carriage rides. There are also different event venues available. They are Forest Lodge, Pavilion-By-the-Lake and Garden Pavilion.

My friends liked it very much exploring this zoo and the food was well inside the Singapore Zoo.

The Egyptian Mau - Small Cat With a Big History

If there is any sort of valid claim to being the cat of ancient Egypt and the Pharaohs it must go to the Mau. After all, the word "mau" means cat. What better credentials could a fantastic feline have?

Well, what if the particular breed of cat can be clearly seen in ancient Egyptian artwork? Even better, what if Hollywood itself has given its stamp of authenticity to the breed? In the 2004 movie, "Catwoman", Halle Berry's character, Patience Phillips, is killed, but is brought back to life by a Mau named "Midnight", which was actually played by three different cats. It's not surprising that they turned out to be movie stars, however, because they are known for not only their striking appearance, but for their personality and charisma as well.

When you go as far back into history as the Egyptian Mau, you are bound to come in contact with some wilder, less refined ancestors. The Mau is directly descended from wild African spotted cats. These ancestors were domesticated, by the ancient Egyptians and may be, as some believe, the starting point for all modern breeds of domesticated felines, from the pretty Persian kitty to those backyard balladeers...the alley cats.

Though many years removed from its ancestral strain, the Mau has retained the spots which are one of its trademarks. In fact the spots are even more a part of the Mau than just a hair color. Its skin is actually spotted as well! Another note on spots is that this cat breed is the only naturally spotted breed. All other known spotted cats have been bred to produce the spots in their fur.

The Mau is a smallish cat, only weighing in the vicinity of five to about eleven pounds. However, don't let its size fool you. It still has the graceful hunter's moves of its wild ancestors. It is also one of the fastest breeds of domesticated cats, and a natural design in the skin which allows its long hind legs to take longer strides than other cats is the same feature found in another cat relative...the cheetah. This small pet cat has been clocked at 30 MPH! Even with its small size, however, the Mau possesses a working cat's muscles in an overall sleek package that is topped, or bottomed, off by a graceful tail which may be as much as two thirds of its total length.

A feature that particularly endears this breed to me is that it tends to chuckle or chortle when happy, rather than mewling. It also becomes quite animated when happy and expresses its pleasure with rapid tail movements and kneading with the feet while chuckling to itself.

The Mau is a great family cat. It is friendly but protective, and is devoted to its family. A possible drawback here is that they tend to like a lot of one-on-one companionship and plenty of play. In the absence of a stay-at-home human, they are graciously willing to play instead with other cat friends. So, if you cannot be at home as often as your Mau would like, you may have to get him or her a pet!

Living with the Mau is the least of your problems, however. A Mau does not come cheap, with one site I visited quoting a starting price of $400, and it goes up from there, of course. The other issue is the scarcity of the breed. They are a popular breed with a limited supply, so you may be on a waiting list for some time.

Bulldogs - A Guide to the Breed

The term "bulldog" was first used around 1568 and might have been applied to various ancestors of modern bulldog breeds. The ancestors of the Bulldog were the ancient breed called Bullenbeissers. These were a Mastiff-like dog used for guarding and attacking wild animals in Greece, Egypt and Rome. These dogs came in various sizes and were used by Teutonic and Celtic tribes. In England the originally large Bullenbeisser were bred smaller around the 13th century to begin a career as bull baiters.

Over the years this breed was perfected to become the ideal bull baiter, it was incredibly tenacious and impervious to pain. Also the bulldog's weight is primarily in its head so that when the bull shock the dog was less likely to break its back. In 1875 The Bulldog Club was formed in England and the members of the club met regularly at the Blue Post Pub on Oxford Street, London. They wrote the first standards for perfection in the breed. Fortunately Bull baiting and dog fighting were banned in England in 1935, so from then on breeders began some selective breeding to eliminate some of the aggressive nature of the breed and produce dogs that were more good-natured pets.

Bulldogs are still often determined, stubborn and difficult to train but they are intelligent, devoted and amusing. A firm handler is required to train Bulldog but as they are very sensitive to the voice so will not react well to be shouted and screamed at. In fact it is more likely to go and curl up in a comfortable spot and ignore the owner completely.

The bulldog's compact, stocky body results in particularly unique and recognisable gait. They are also well known for their short muzzles and saggy skin on their faces creating the trademark frown. They come in a variety of colours and have a smooth short coat; a typical weight for a fully grown male is around 25 kilos. The bulldog has an unmatchable temperament and is an excellent family dog that will get on with children and other pets. The breed is a little too friendly to be a good guard dog but can defend a family member in need.

As with most pure breed dogs the Bulldog is prone to some health problems. Some have breathing issues due to the shape of the lower jaw and shortness of muzzle, this usually make them snore. They can suffer from cysts between the toes, these cause discomfort be can be treated by a vet, and in older bulldogs hip issues sometime occur. It is important to clean a Bulldogs face fold daily to avoid infection due to moisture accumulation and regular brushing of teeth with a soft human toothbrush is recommended.

As with all dogs, bulldogs need regular exercise to keep their weight down and reduce the chances of health problems related to the lungs and heart. The breed is also very sensitive to heat and great care should be taken of them during warm periods making sure shade and water is always available.

Due to their famous strength and tenacity, Bulldogs have been adopted as the mascots of many sports teams and universities. They have also appeared in many TV shows, cartoons and movies. Some examples of famous Bulldog characters are:

Spike the Bulldog and Butch the Bulldog are animated cartoon characters in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes Merry Melodies and Disney cartoons. Spike is also the name of Tom's nemesis in Tom and Jerry. In this series, Spike was often accompanied by a puppy, his son Tyke
Butch is Droopy Dog's nemesis in the theatrical Droopy Dog cartoons.
Uga V was a University of Georgia mascot and the first live college mascot to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine (April 28, 1997) and was named College Mascot of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine. Uga V also earned a co-starring role in the feature film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, directed by Clint Eastwood. Uga V also gained notoriety in the media when during a football game on November 16, 1996 he lunged at an Auburn University receiver in an apparent attempt to bite the rival player and bring him down. Uga V, March 6, 1990 to November 22, 1999, was buried in Sanford Stadium with the epitaph "Defender of his Turf."
Handsome Dan, a bulldog, is the athletics mascot at Yale University.
Winston, who Davey Boy Smith often brought to the ring during part of his singles career in the World Wrestling Federation.
Meatball and Matzohball, are Bulldogs owner by Adam Sandler
"Mr. Beefy" from 'Little Nicky' movie
The movie Van Wilder features a well-endowed bulldog

Nome, Alaska Birdwatching: There's No Place Like Nome!

Nome lies on the Seward Peninsula, jutting into the Bering Sea. It's a frontier town in a world where few such curiosities remain. Accessible only by boat and airplane, bordered on the West and South by the Bering Sea, and the North and East by miles of trackless wilderness just below the Arctic Circle, Nome is a fascinating and challenging destination. During June, the midnight sun is at its brightest, the tundra is in full bloom, and the birds and mammals are breeding by the thousands. Nome has a road system of about 300 miles, primarily dirt or gravel roads, that allows exploration of the remote and beautiful high tundra of the Seward Peninsula where only birds and mammals roam.

Nome was a gold mining boom town at the turn of the century, and it still continues to produce significant quantities of gold. Our major interest, however, is in the huge number and diversity of birds that fly to Nome during the Spring to breed. Many of them, such as the Arctic and Aleutian Terns, fly thousands of miles round trip in order to nest in the high tundra surrounding Nome. Bar-tailed Godwits, a large shorebird, are believed to migrate non-stop longer than any other bird (about 7200 miles), and farther than any animal without feeding. It's migration takes it from New Zealand to Alaska and back each year before it settles into the mountains above Nome to breed. The Bristle-thighed Curlew breeds only in the high tundra around Nome and the Yukon Delta. It migrates from Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. The tiny songbird, the Bluethroat, makes its annual pilgrimage from Southeast Asia where its only breeding population in North America is found around Nome.

It's difficult to exaggerate the beauty and solitude of the tundra and mountains surrounding Nome. Unlike many national parks and refuges, where encounters with wildlife seem almost zoo-like, animals seen around Nome are very definitely unaccustomed to humans and very wild. Grizzly Bears, wolves, wolverines, fox, moose, muskox and other mammals are seen, but usually only from a distance. They are often encountered, though usually at a distance.

Of course, most people have read about the diphtheria epidemic of 1925 in Nome. Twenty mushers and 150 sled dogs braved the winter blizzards and cold of the Alaska Range and the Yukon to relay antitoxin 674 miles to Nome, saving many lives. The Iditarod Race is a re-enactment of the serum run, but it takes the longer route of over 1000 miles from Anchorage. Fortunately, a trip to Nome isn't so difficult as it once was, and it's no longer necessary to take a dog-sled, Alaska Airlines now provides three daily flights to Nome by jet. And, there are comfortable hotels and restaurants available as well.

The town is much smaller than it was during the gold rush when there were about 20,000 residents. It only has a few streets now, some of them, dirt. During the summer when it stays light for most of the 24 hours, residents including children are very active throughout the night. They say it's necessary to make up for lost time during the nearly continuous darkness of the winter. It certainly appears that everyone is enjoying themselves!

A trip is Nome seems a step back in time. The town still retains its frontier persona. The surrounding wilderness is stark, but beautiful. Nome may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for birders and adventuresome spirits, it's a wonderful destination.

Travel to the Arctic or Antarctica - When to Go

The best time to visit the Antarctic is during the peak summer months, which is from late November to early March as it is in the southern hemisphere. As the winter thaw allows us to enter this surreal and empty land for a time, the opportunities for interacting with tuxedoed penguins, exploring pristine ice caps and marvelling at this wonderful and diverse world is what a trip to the Antarctic is all about. Here's what to expect:

• Late Spring November / early December

The thick winter pack ice is at last beginning to break up and melt, making the area more navigable. The scenery is white and pristine, with massive icebergs and ever-changing pack ice formations. The colder weather offers bright white snowscapes and breathtaking scenery. Like elsewhere the world over, spring is the mating season for penguins and seabirds. Expect to see some flamboyant displays and courtship behaviour in the penguin rookeries as penguins begin building their nests. Elephant and fur seals will be seen establishing their breeding territories and spring flowers will be in evidence on the Falklands and South Georgia.

• Summer mid December / January

These are Antarctica's warmest months and the receding ice will give greater access for exploration. The extraordinarily long days (lasting up to 20 hours!) and superb lighting create great photo opportunities. Penguin fans will adore the cute penguin chicks and seal pups will be visible on South Georgia and the Falklands. This is the most popular season when the expeditions will be fully booked.

• Late Summer February and March

The further receding ice allows ships to venture even further south. Many fur seals will be seen in the Antarctic Peninsula. Penguin chicks will start to fledge and whale sightings are at their best as they frolic and breed in the nutrient rich waters.

Arctic

The only golden rule for visiting the Arctic is to avoid the period from November to March when it can be completely dark, very cold and the wind-blown snow can be blinding. Most Arctic expeditions run from June through October and offer fantastic experiences and the chance to view wildlife "in the raw". See whales, polar bears and caribou going about their daily life in a bid to survive this inhospitable environment which they have adapted to.