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.

Master Copywriting and Reap the Rewards

A Job for all Seasons

Copywriters are a rare breed. They earn tons of money for writing a few lines that can trigger increased product sales. At the top of the heap are copywriters who get fat bonuses, travel privileges, and work less than 8 hours a day. If you are exploring new ways to cope because the economic crisis in your backyard, it might pay to know why should learn the tricks of copywriting.

Copywriting provides a cost effective or an affordable advertising campaign for online business. In the real world, copywriter positions are numerous. According to monster.com, as of February 10, 2007, 509 job openings were for copywriters and looking at the trend, the numbers is a hint of a growing need for copywriters.

In the USA, regions housing large advertising companies are always in need of brilliant copywriters, and these companies are ready to pay top price for the service. In your locality there are also smaller companies who require copywriters. Does it interest you know that almost all commercial establishments need full-time or part-time copywriters and these breed of writers can make $41,000 to $56,000 annually or even more?

The internet provides job opportunities for copywriters. In freelance writing, anyone with writing skills and are eager to master the craft can grab plum assignments or gain work-at-home copywriting for others. Copywriters can work at home, making the job attractive for stay-at-home moms, young people, and professionals. For those who have lost their jobs, the opportunity beckons and promises a steady stream of income.

More Benefits

No one becomes a copywriter overnight. It is hard work to come up with hot copywriting ideas. Beginners have to go through the hoops and burn the midnight oil relearning or mastering the art of writing which encompasses the use of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Once you have developed the confidence writing all sorts of articles, it is time to learn the tricks for effective copywriting - offline or online.

If you are already into writing, supplement your income from online revenues or get hired by people who need copywriters or blog writers. If you have a blog, post your top articles and your services. Better yet post your profile on job sites and add some articles (if allowed) to give prospective customers an idea of your writing skills.

Joining various article writing sites widens your sphere in the search for lucrative writing assignments. If you are lucky you can strike gold getting hired by big companies always on the lookout for local writers and these companies are ready to hire freelance writer aka copywriters to boost their online presence with regular articles or copies

The Real Consequences of Parenthood

Many States in the USA allow the parent(s) of a newborn to 'dump' the baby off at a hospital in order to reduce the risk of abandonment. And, according to the 'experts', it is a successful program. Successful in which way? I might ask. In encouraging irresponsible pregnancies?

The State of Nebraska enacted a similar law but forgot to put an age limit on the child that can be dumped, so parents have been dumping their grown children, including teenagers, at hospitals throughout the State. This includes people from other States, one of whom drove halfway across the country to drop off their teenager who was pleading with her not to go. (Why didn't they fly? And why didn't the teenager bale out of the car on the way? I suppose the child didn't know that their Mother was that determined and that desperately irresponsible). The problem has become so bad that the Governor of Nebraska is now begging, yes begging people to stop dumping their children and the law will be changed next week to reduce the age of 'non-consent'.

Yet again, this outrageous episode boils down to one thing - we are not told the truth.

As children, I would hazard a guess that most people are either encouraged, expected or educated into having children, most girls talk about it as if it's the only reason they are here and that the 'failure' to breed is a failure of their entire existence; most men are made to feel that fatherhood is a right of passage and without this they are not quite a man; a large number of you reading this might think that what I am about to say is a total disgrace. Good. This is a wake up call.

The truth is that too many people who breed are not built to be parents - a lot more people than we should accept have children with no idea about child-rearing, patience or education. Some people have children because they need unconditional love (they weren't able to find it by any other means); other people behave criminally towards their children (their bad temper was not enough of a warning sign); others still, have too many children because they think they are so wonderful that the world needs more of them, and others (that I have no name rude enough for) have children that they expect taxpayers to pay for. Let us forget the environmental impact a child has; let us forget the fact that many people have children as an emotional crutch for a boring life, a bad marriage or a way of holding onto a man; let us forget that too many people on welfare are 'permitted' to breed. As hard as it might be, let us forget these facts.

Let us look at the issue facing Nebraska and the message that is coming out of this: People are so desperate that they are literally throwing their kids away; they are so irresponsible, so disgustingly ignorant and so self righteous that they are unable to accept that the truth behind the reason they cannot handle their own child is their own damn fault. They are such low grade human beings that they think it's acceptable to let their problem become our issue.

Now, I have never had children - I always say I am not selfish enough to have kids - yes, that's what I wrote - I am NOT selfish enough to have kids - (think about it). I used to think that I would, I used to dread the thought of the responsibility, both financial and emotional, let alone the amount of time it would take away from me being able to stay in bed late with my girlfriend or relax without constant noise, constant questions, constant entertainment. But somehow, I was one of the lucky ones - I managed to work out that I was not built to be a parent. But how did I work this out? I spent time with other people's kids, I immersed myself in the reality of the situation, I saw the truth of child-rearing; and I learnt my lesson before it was too late... even though it went against everything I had been taught, everything I had been encouraged to do and everything my family wished for. Basically, I love kids, I like hanging out with them, having fun with them, enjoying them, it is just that I am completely aware of the amount of time a child needs, of the amount of responsibility it takes, and I am not prepared for that kind of life on a constant, day to day, minute by minute, forever basis.

Although I am a man, I know women who feel the same, who feel that, despite society's teachings and the stigma placed on a childless woman, they feel that they dodged the bullet, they are happy to be free from that responsibility; and I applaud them, I congratulate them, I respect them for listening to their own truth and not the fairy tale ideal that too many people fall for.

I know the parents out there, reading this, will comment that it's "different when it's your own", that you have "no idea what it's like until it's yours", but that's where the 'selfish' part comes in - I know that my kid will be just another kid to everyone else; I am not small-minded enough to think that my kid is any more special than my friend's kids; I am not ego-centric enough to think that it will make any difference to the world whether I breed or not; in fact, I know that I am more responsible for not having had a kid, it would ruin my life and it would ruin the kid's life, not to mention the added stress it puts on the planet, and all for what? My ego? No. I don't need that stroked by a child, I would rather do something constructive, like make a point that you disagree with, but a point that makes sense and might help someone else come to terms with their own truth. And, on top of it all, I don't have the nagging concern in the back of my mind that I just bred a kid who only lets me have my own space when I encourage it to watch a dvd or play a video game; I can proudly say that I didn't breed a waste of space.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am aware that some people are good parents, that they breed productive members of society, that I enjoy time with their kids because they are respectful, fun and individual. My problem lies with the mall rats, the gang bangers, the violent offenders, the unemployable, welfare scamming, overweight and destructive children that should never have been bred and should not be allowed to breed - these are the children who come from the parents who have nothing to offer but boredom, anger and junk food. They only breed 'more of the same'. These are the people that should consider abortion before they consider birth. If you consider yourself above these people, these reprobates who breed for the sake of it, for the thrill of it or for the stupidity of it, then limit yourself to one, maybe two 'ego boosts', there really is no need, no space and no time for you to have three of them.

Switching To Night Shift - The Painless Way

What are some things to consider before you give your cute little kitty it's name? Does he/she sleep in a certain way, does it play hard? Is it a finicky eater or does it gobble it's food? What about naming it for it's land of origin or it's breed? Good names can come from these clues. Does your pet have an unusual color? What about it's markings? Maybe you have a kitten that's all white except for a huge black spot on the underside of it's neck, you could name it Spot, a traditional name for a dog. Or Skunk could be a name for a pet who is all black except for a white streak between it's ears. The kitten might have four perfect little white "socks" on it's paws, so you call it "K.P." which stands for "kitten paws" instead of calling it "Socks". Prissy is a good name for a cat that is finicky about eating or who has to lick its fur every time you touch it. If your kitten is all black except for one white toe, name it "Toe". The ways to get names for your pet are endless. These are just a few.

Unique Cat Names

A good place to get some good names is from cartoon characters. Maybe Pebbles or Bam-Bam, Bambi or Flower, Mickey or Minnie or Popeye and Whimpy. Maybe your favorite movie is E.T. so you could call your cat Elliot. A Persian you could call Smush or Smash because of its smashed nose, or maybe Nosie. You can find names that are from different origins, such as Latin or Greek, Polish or Hebrew names. Or you can find them by meaning - Tom means twin, and Carma is garden.

Popular Cat Names

Murphy, Bo and Rocky are popular names for male cats, as are Molly, Missy and Lucy popular names for female cats. Midnight or Shadow for a black cat. Smoky for a gray cat. You can find names for the cats breed such as Bali  or Sam (Siam) for Siamese.

Good Female Cat Names

Is your cat pretty? Name her Jolie or Bonita. Is your favorite dessert a cookie? Then that's a good name. Your cat is sly and she likes to sneak up on you, name her Foxie. You love tennis and the Williams sisters, how does Venus sound for a cat's name?

Good Male Cat Names

If your cat purrs very loud, you might think he's a musical cat so you could call him Elvis. Or maybe Buddy, after the rock and roll legend, Buddy Holly. You could call him Logan, because that means small. Or monster if he's big. If your cat bosses you around, you might call him King or Prince.

Spitsbergen: Wildlife Capital of the Arctic

Nowhere epitomises the spectacular sights of the Arctic better than Spitsbergen, which actually means "pointy peaks". This heavily glaciated island with its breathtaking mountain peaks is the launching point for many expeditions into the Arctic, including those of Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton in the past.

Home of the Polar Research Station, this remote area has long held a strange fascination for pioneering explorers, modern-day adventurers and tourists who enjoy experiences which are more off-the-beaten-track of regular tourists. Nonetheless, this exciting adventure is accessible to all and reveals the beautiful sights and icy phenomena of the Arctic as a new and wonderful pageant which unfolds on an almost hourly basis.

Spitsbergen is approximately 2012km (1250 miles) north of Oslo and the North Pole seems almost within striking distance, just 966km (600 miles) away. This Norwegian island is the largest of the Svalbard archipelago, measuring 450km (280 miles) long and 225km (140 miles) wide at its broadest point and surrounded by the dark, freezing waters of the Arctic Ocean.

Popularly known as the Land of the Midnight Sun, and with good reason, this colourful community has almost continuous daylight from late April to August, when most tours take place. Visiting Spitsbergen will reveal diverse and wonderful scenery, unusual wildlife and interesting people with an amazing culture. Enjoy guided tundra walks amidst a carpet of wild flowers or explore the area by kayak or inflatable boat. There really is something for everyone in Spitsbergen, and that is just the start of your Arctic adventure!

Venturing north, the small yet luxurious cruise ships follow the receding ice pack. Explorers can expect to see a huge abundance of polar bears, whales, reindeer, walrus, seals and even Arctic foxes trotting across the packed snow. The South East Svalbard Nature Reserve is the protected home of many of these creatures. Spitsbergen is also a bird-watcher's delight; millions of seabirds breed here and raise their young in nests perched precariously on the steep slopes of the surrounding barren islands. It is no wonder Spitsbergen is known as the Wildlife Capital of the Arctic.

Other natural sights which you will enjoy as part of a trip to the rolling tundra of the Arctic will include ancient glaciers, icebergs, ice floats, stunning fjord landscapes with snow-capped mountains and fascinating wildlife, birds and even friendly natives.

Amidst this ever-changing landscape, the sense of peace, stillness and beauty are quite unmatched by any other place on the planet. The sky seems bigger, the daylight brighter and the stars closer than anywhere else on earth. A trip to the Arctic will inevitably leave you feeling humbled at the expanse and beauty of nature, and privileged to have seen nature at its most pristine. Seeing fox cubs roll and play on the ice, whales diving and giving a slow salute with their tail fin, seeing lichens and flowers thrive in this inhospitable area are all thrilling and life-changing experiences. Prepare to be surprised and delighted at every turn when visiting this beautiful white wilderness.

Havanese Puppy - What Pet Owners Should Know

If you just got your own Havanese puppy, then you should be making preparations to house train it. But first, congratulations on getting this small dog breed - isn't it playful? It's small size, playful character, strong sense of self, and the fact that it doesn't shed all contribute to why many pet owners love this dog. This breed will not consume hours on end per day in grooming, unlike other toy breeds. But we should really be discussing house training. This breed, by nature, is quite sociable, outgoing, intelligent, cheerful, and loves to learn new stuff - because of these traits it is also easy to house train.

There's really not much of a waiting period for you to start training your pups. The several months you will pout into house training is going to be worth it. It's hard to stay patient when your heart is not really into this. But rest assured this breed will not give you a heart attack trying to potty train. Also, housebreaking happens around four months of age.

Exposing your Havanese to training also lets you see the problem behavior early on, such as nuisance barking. It's only natural for Havanese to bark, but when it becomes a constant annoyance, you have to do something. It's annoying, when you take them out for walks, to have to keep yanking at their leash to restraint them from furiously barking at other pets nearby or kids running on the street. And you don't want to have to keep getting up at odd ours after midnight because your dog senses a presence - curtains shifted by the wind, a truck pulling close to the house, birds perched on a branch outside the house but visible through the kitchen window. A Havanese puppy, trained well, flows into adulthood without much incident.

Many kinds of dogs respond well with stimulus-response by way of punishment after a particular behavior; the Havanese is not like that. Instead, using positive reinforcement on this intelligent breed What you do is to maintain a routine of rewarding the pup every time it does what you say, or does something you approve of - such as holding on to its pee until it gets to the potty station. The goal is to have the pup think that certain behavior is rewarded, and to keep doing those. The rewards also tend to redirect the pup's bad behavior rather than punishing it.

When training your Havanese, there's a behavioral problem you want to avoid - small dog syndrome. You may have noticed that some small dog's grow to become aggressive, unfriendly to people, and bad with kids. The cause of this behavior has to do with what their owners let them get away with over the years. You want to avoid letting your small dog grow into an annoying bratty dog, and to do this you need habituate it to rules and boundaries, limits to behavior, so that it won't be doing whatever it likes.

Sleep With a Wool Duvet - Banish Those Midnight Arguments

Here I sit in an office in Bradford, England - one time centre of the global wool industry. It is hard to believe that wool which in 1930 had 20% market share of the global fibre market, now in 2009, accounts for only about 1% of a much larger market. Why then has wool been overlooked and forgotten?

Many reasons are given: - an itchy scratchy feel, difficult to wash, poor choice of bright colours, too expensive, but I think folks have just forgotten how much wool can do for you, and why our forefathers and mothers loved it. 

In this article, which I hope will be the first of a series, let us look at one particular end use. Wool in bedding: No other fibre is so uniquely adapted for this end use. What do you want/need in a bedding fibre? Firstly, warmth and insulation. Wool has this is spades, after all over a billion sheep can't be wrong! Look at the wool fibre closely and you will see that it is naturally curly. The degree of curl varies from breed to breed and is known as crimp. This is the facet of wool which allows it to trap still air. Still air is the best insulator there is. Think of a vacuum flask!

What about Goose down I hear you say? Goose down is even better at trapping air and is superbly light but it has the drawback of clumping when wet or damp. When moisture is trapped in a duvet, the humidity is increased under the cover, leading to restlessness and disturbed sleep. Wool on the other hand, allows moisture to be absorbed very quickly yet will not feel damp to the touch until it has absorbed more than a third of its weight in water. Synthetic fibres like Polyester and Nylon can only absorb less than 1% of water and so can not buffer or control humidity. Wool has such an appetite for moisture; it will condition the air surrounding it as it absorbs water faster than air. For those who wish to understand more about this aspect of the Fibre there is wonderful paper written by a British scientist A.B.D. Cassie in the 50's "The physics of fibres with special reference to wool" details how the chemistry and structure of wool allow it to act as a natural humidity controller.

For those who share their bed with a partner, banish those midnight arguments! Wool is so clever that it allows you both to enjoy your own unique under-cover environment at the same time.

Everyone has a different metabolism and accordingly perspires at differing rates. This can lead to poor sleep for one or both of you. If you become too hot, your body naturally uses perspiration to reduce internal temperature, but then if the air above you becomes too humid this perspiration will not evaporate, and you will become restless and may wake.  For a great night's sleep it is really important to get the balance of insulation and moisture management correct.

Leopard Gecko Morphs Are Becoming Quite Popular!

Leopard geckos are very interesting animals which make fascinating pets. While leopard geckos generally have a yellow coloring with black spots, they have been bred to exhibit a wide variety of different patterns and colors. Some gecko breeders have managed to breed some very unique specimens indeed.

Before we go too much further, there are a couple of terms which should be explained. These terms are color, pattern and morph (also called phase). Color is the basic color of the gecko's skin, while pattern refers to the arrangement of the spots (or in some cases, stripes) which the animal has. Morph is a general term which refers to all of the traits which the animal has been selectively bred for.

If you're looking for a pet gecko, you should choose one whose appearance you find to be attractive. There are a lot of different morphs out there, so you can find a gecko which appeals to your tastes, no matter what they may be. The morphs which follow are some of the more popular phases of leopard gecko.

-Blizzard: The blizzard is a patternless morph. Colors of these geckos may be yellow (banana blizzard), brown, purple, black, white and the rare midnight blizzard, which is a blue-black gecko. The eyes of these geckos may be blue or black.

-Jungle Leopard: These geckos have been specially bred to feature stripes. There is a lot of variation in this morph, including some very unique individual geckos. Jungle geckos may be of the "bandit" or "four eyed" variety.

- Bandit-style geckos have a thick dark band which runs across its nose and around its eyes, giving it the appearance of a cartoonish bandit. The four-eyed variant of gecko is distinguished by the two white spots (often with a black dot in the center) over its eyes.

-Wild: This is the natural pattern of wild geckos. These leopard geckos have dark bands across their bodies and three or four dark rings on their tails as well. They also have dark spots on the head and body, sometimes mixed with tan and off-white colors.

-Albino/Amelanistic: As you'd expect, albino geckos are a cream color with pink eyes. These lizards are prized for their unique appearance. Patternless albino geckos are also available, these specimens are referred to as Amelanistic.

English Bulldogs - A Famous Breed

If you mention an English Bulldog in conversation, most people will instantly know what the dog looks like. The English Bulldog, despite its negative reputation for its use in baiting bulls, is a highly adored breed of dog and its image is recognizable to people all over the world. It is a symbol of strength and virility.

Great Britain, this type of bulldog's country of origin, uses the English (or British) Bulldog as their national symbol. The U.S. Marine Corps also utilizes the image of a bulldog as a mascot of sorts named Chesty. The chose the Bulldog because of its strong stature and stubborn nature. The Bulldog portrays the message, we will not be moved.

Many schools in the United States and England proudly have an English Bulldog as the mascot for their football, basketball, baseball, and many other sports teams. In fact, the English Bulldog even plays a role in mascot history! The first live mascot ever to be used in the United States was Handsome Dan of Yale University. He was adored and revered by students and alumni alike. There have been several Handsome Dans over the course of time, but Handsome Dan as a symbol and a dog has made his mark.

Another first for English Bulldogs was Uga V, the University of Georgia mascot. Uga V was given the title of College Mascot of the Year by Sports Illustrated, and was even featured on the cover of the magazine in 1997. He was the first living mascot ever to appear on Sports Illustrated's cover. The University of Georgia mascot also made a cameo in Clint Eastwood's movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. In 1996, Uga V made a big splash in the public eye after he chased a receiver from the opposing team down the football field in an attempt to take him out. Because of stunts like this, Uga V had one of the most recognizable careers of any living mascot.

Today English Bulldogs are loved by all. Almost everyone has seen the skate boarding bulldog, something they a very good at because of their low center of gravity. Many celebrities purchase expensive European bred English Bulldogs as a symbol of status. The Bulldogs great nature and high intelligence makes it a perfect candidate for anyones home. If your interested in adding a Bulldog to your family, do plenty of research and find a responsible breeder. Some English Bulldogs can be quite expensive to own because of their health deficiencies.

How to Choose a Breed of Dog - What You Need to Think About

Learning how to choose a breed of dog is not a very difficult task. You simply need to determine what your lifestyle and requirements are, and find a dog breed that matches.

Some of the things that you need to match when you choose a dog breed are these:

1. Energy Level - If you are a person that is very active, choose a dog breed with high energy levels. A sporty person should choose a sporty dog who can keep up with extended levels of activity.

Likewise from a dogs point of view, an active, playful dog will get bored with a master who simply stays in the room without much activity.

2. Neighborhood - do you live in an unsecured neighborhood that makes you feel uneasy? If you are away from home for long periods, say you normally come home midnight, you may need a dog that can stand watch the whole time with minimal supervision. There are some breeds that you can simply leave some food, good for the day and they're okay.

On the other hand, in the same neighborhood, you may need a dog that can act as a companion, a bodyguard of sorts, when you walk the less secure streets.

3. Family - if you have kids, you may want to consider a dog that can be a companion or playmate to your children. Also, in the same manner, you will not want to have a dog known to serve only one master or with very undetermined temperament. You would not want to have a fierce dog suddenly lose temper and lash at your kids would you?

4. Health - If anyone in your family has allergies, you may want to get a dog breed that sheds less. If anyone in your family has allergies to animals, you may even want to forego getting a pet all together.

These are just of a few things you need to think about when considering how to choose a breed of dog. In the end, any dog you choose should be loved and cared for like any new member of the family.

Now That You Have Brought A Dog Home, What's Next?

Bringing a new dog into your home is always an exciting experience. However, there will be many challenges with living with your dog. Here are some things to consider to help you and your dog enjoy each other.

Know Your Dog

Get to know your dog so that you have an understanding of their personality and behavior. This way you will be able to tell when they are going to be aggressive towards people and other dogs. You also need to be aware of the changes your dog will go through as they age.

Obedience Training

If your dog is going to be living with you and other family members, you will need to be able to control them. This is where dog obedience training becomes valuable. Once he has gone through the training, realize that you will have to constantly remind them of what they learned. They need to know that you are the boss and are in control.

Be consistent when dealing with them. This will let them know what is expected of them and what is right and what is wrong. Be clear with your expectations and your own behavior. You should not feed them at nine in the night one day and the next day at midnight. This will only confuse your dog and encourage bad behaviors.

Keep Your Dog's Breed in Mind

Learn about the breed of your dog including why that breed came into being. Some dog breeds were bred for aggression and others for work. In some fields of work, certain dog breeds are used to haul heavy loads or to round up sheep and other animals. Others still are used to search for contraband while some breeds make great guard dogs.

Reaction to People

Be careful who you expose your dog to, as there are many people out there who are not dog lovers. Some people are not fond of certain types of dogs so you may have to reassure them about your dog's behavior.

However, your dog may still react in an aggressive manner towards people. This can often be a signal that there is a bigger problem. You must react quickly when the aggressive behavior occurs. Let your dog know firmly that the behavior is not appropriate. You may need to take your dog in for more training to fix the unwanted behavior.

Affenpinscher in the Modern Era

Jerry Zalon, who started with the Walhof kennels in the 1950s, founded the Eblon kennels in New York City in the '70s. He specialized in producing the various colors of Affenpinscher. His breeding program continued into the '80s with the help of Osmin and Marjorie Montjovier, whose Osmer kennel name is behind many of the dogs in Canada and the US. Their Am. and Can. Ch. Eblon Seal Noir was the top-winning Affenpinscher in 1976. This dog was often shown by Mrs. Jane Forsyth. During the late '60s Mrs. Zalon and Ms. Montjovier began writing an Affenpinscher periodical named Monkey Shines. This publication continued for only a short time, but it reflected the interest and enthusiasm for the breed.

In Canada, during the 1970s and '80s, Vicki Garrett-Knill started with the Osmar Affens and added the Hilane bloodlines to produce both fine show and obedience dogs. Her kennel name was Wicksteed. One of her breeding, which was owned by the author, Ch. Wicksteed's Red Capuchin, was one of the top-producing dams, with seven champions. She was out of Can. Ch. Wicksteed's Marmoset Rouge bred to Ch. Sharpette's Tiny Tim. Another of her contributions was in the red and wild boar or belge colors. These colored specimens were of excellent type. Vicki and Carl Knill and their family have moved to Georgia and are no longer active in the breed. Marjorie and David Reynolds continue with these lines in Canada under the prefix Reyson. A red female out of Ch. FMK's Zulu of Hilane and Wicksteed's Tekahionwake, Ch. Reyson's Sunshine Too V Hilane is behind some important and successful show dogs.

In the mid-1960s Mrs. Lillian Brandi, from Hackettstown, New Jersey, began with Affenpinschers from the Walhof kennels and Brandicreek dogs bred by Helen Barbeau. Mrs. Brandi showed her Ch. Walhof Blackberry Brandi to prestigious wins in 1967 and '68. She was credited with changing the grooming style of the show Affenpinscher by neatening and shaping the outline and reducing the amount of body coat. This new image for the breed gained her notice. Of course controversy ensued and the debate over what is the correct "look" for the breed continues today. Her breeding program continued into the 1980s with a dog that she bred, Ch. Brandicreek Frisky Whisky, who did some nice winning. Frisky Whisky was owned and handled by Howard and Joyce Stadele of Middlesex, New Jersey.

Mrs. Emily Kinsley of Easton, Pennsylvania was another who started her breeding program with dogs from the Harringtons. On June 25, 1966, This Week, the Sunday newspaper supplement, had a photo of Mrs. Kinsley's puppy, Aff-Airn A Go Go Kins, on its cover. This gave the breed some much-needed publicity. The top-winning Affenpinscher for 1966, owned by Mrs. Kinsley, was Ch. Aff-Airn Wee Winnie Winkie, who also came from the Harringtons. Winkie had her photo in National Geographic. This bitch won Best of Breed at the International Dog Show over an entry of 21, the largest entry for the breed at that time. She was also the second owner-handle Affen to place first in the Toy Group. For the next 25 years Mrs. Kinsley's Aff-Kin's line produced many champions and had a positive impact on the breed. Her Can. Ch. Aff-Kin's Licorice Chewy, owned by Mrs. Lorna (Thompson) Spratt of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, became the first Affenpinscher to win Best in Show in Canada. Later, in 1991, Chewy's and Ch. Hilane's Lonesome Cowboy's son Am. and Can. Ch. Ceterra's Rock-N-Robbie won a US national Best in Show. Robbie was shown by Mrs. Delores Burkholder, who is at the time of this writing an AKC dog show representative. More recently Robbie's son Can. Ch. Ceterra's Billy the Kid joined his grandmother to be the second Affenpinscher to win a Canadian all-breed Best in Show. Another of Rock-N-Robbie's sons, Ch. Ceterra's Little Black Sambo, out of Ch. Aff-Kin's Kischia Frolics, is the sire of several of the top show dogs today. Lorna Spratt and Sherry Galagan continue to breed and exhibit in Canada.

Starting with the Aff-Kin's Affens, Sue and Don Spahr of Scottsdale, Arizona developed the Su-Dawn line. Their most famous dog was multiple Best in Show and national specialty winner in 1992, Ch. Su-Dawn's Pee Wee Herman. This great show dog did much for the breed, especially in the West during the early '90s. Pee Wee's dam was Ch. Su-Dawn's Affins Krystal, bred by Emily Kinsley. She became a top producer with eight champions from another of their fine dogs, Ch. Su-Dawn's Where Thear's Smoke. Utilizing the Su-Dawn lines, Judith Benjamin also bred Affenpinschers in the Southwest. She owned Ch. Subira's Whoopie Goldberg, who did very well in the show ring in the early '90s.

Another important early breeder, Lucille E. Meystedt, who came from Missouri and later moved to Texas, began in Affenpinschers in 1962. Starting with a dog bred by the Kauffmanns named Walhof Hi Quotation and females from Cassel Hills kennel, who also go back to Walhof lines, she kept the breed going in the southern and western parts of the United States through the 1980s. In 1967 she brought in a dog from Germany. This male, Ch. Vinzenz v Greifensee, was the most titled Affenpinscher in the history of the breed. He had his International, German, American, Canadian, Mexican and Colombian championships. Another of her breeding, Ch. Balu's Arkady Herzchen Katze, who was called "Sugar, " became the fifth Affenpinscher to earn an all-breed Best in Show. Mary and Bill Wasson and George and Phyllis Willis of Texas owned Sugar.

Mrs. Meystedt's Balu kennels continued until her death in 1991. In almost 30 years in the breed she had a major influence on the Affenpinscher not only with her breeding program but also through her writing in the magazine Popular Dogs and as an AKC dog show judge. She exported dogs to England, Ireland, Australia and Germany. Lucille Meystedt showed and finished one of the first Affenpinschers with natural ears.

Another Texas exhibitor and breeder is Elizabeth Muir-Cham-berlain who began with dogs from George and Phyllis Willis. Soon she produced Am. , Mex. , World and Int. Ch. Perwinkle Godzilla, whose sire and dam are Ch. Cetera's Little Black Sambo and Ch. Tajar's Midnight Munchkin. Godzilla did well in the show ring and produced several of today's top show dogs. These include Ch. Yarrow's Mighty Joe Young, bred by Beth Sweigart, Letisha Wubbel and Doris Tolone and owned by Dr. and Mrs. William Truesdale, and Ch. Hilane's Harry Potter, the top-winning Affenpinscher in Canada, owned by Sandra Lex.

In New Mexico, Patricia Bouldin continues with the Balu bloodlines and added King's Royal dogs from the late Kay Wurtz. Bouldin's Tajar Affenpinschers have had an impact on England as well as America. Barbara and Jenna Gresser in Arizona have used and exhibited the Tajar dogs and dogs from Marilyn Holt in Oregon to develop their breeding and exhibiting program under the name Black Forest. Among their important dogs is Ch. Black Forest Cookie Monster.