Dogs

Dogs

There are a lot of dogs in the world, in some places there are even more dogs than children! Right now I have a yellow lab named Rookie. She is a girl, just thought I would let you know. But there are more types of breeds than just labs. And there are different types and colors of each breed of dog too. There are even dogs that are two or more breeds mixed together! Dogs can be agressive, shy, tall, fluffy, skinny, short, fat, bald, playful, or lazy, just depending on their dog breed or genes. Did you know that  there are over 340 dog breeds in the world? 

If you look at the picture to the right you can see three different labrador retrievers. There is a chocolate lab, a yellow lab, and a black lab. They are different colors, but they are the same breed. That is because of their genes and parents. The same breed of dogs can also come from all over he world. For example, my dog is a mix of an English lab and an American lab. Since they are  from different parts of the world the two types of dogs look a little different. As I said earlier, labs are not the only types of dogs in the world. 

On the left there is a picture showing a some of the most common dog breeds. No way is that near all of them, though! Some examples of small dogs Pug, Beagles, Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, Dachshund, French Bulldog, and Teacup Poodle. Some examples of medium size dogs are Bulldog, Boxer, Lab, Pumi, Shetland Sheepdog, Shar-Pei, Border Collie, and Dingo. Some large dog breeds are German Shepard, Golden Retrievers, Rottwieler, Alaskan Husky, Doberman Pinscher, Great Danes, and American Bulldogs.  Those are just a few common breeds.
Dogs of different breeds can look similar, but they are not the same. This partly has to do with where the dog breed originates. Most huskies are from very cold places where there are many predators and so they have thick fur and are strong. Another example is that a chihuahua comes from a very warm place were there are also predators so they have short fur and have a loud, warning bark. But, a dogs looks are not all about their origin, it also has to do with what work they do.
All dogs are meant and bred to do different jobs. Some of those jobs include dogs that show looks, dogs that do tricks in show, dogs that herd animals, or help fireman, pull sleighs, or help the disabled. A good show dog is smart, has beautiful fur, and follows its masters instructions. Dogs that are good at herding animals are brave, fast, and powerful. If the dog has to pull a sleigh over the Alaskan tundra it has to have a heavy coat, be strong, and fast. Sometimes dogs are good at a lot.
A lot of dogs have health problems just because of their genes or breed. If two dogs are incorrectly bred the puppies could be white, deaf, blind, or have seizures. Small dogs such as the Basset Hound have more heath problems. Some heath problems weaken the immune system, it can also get a bleeding disorder and glaucoma. Small dogs tend to live longer than big dogs, but they usually have less health problems. There is no type of dog that is immune to health problems, but if you take good care of your dog and take it to a vet, it should be fine.
Some dogs have saved peoples lives, and some save peoples lives everyday. A service dog is a dog that helps people with special needs. They could be deaf, blind, in a wheelchair, or have mental disabilities. Without that dog the person would need someone to help them full time, or they would have to live on their own, and could get injured. I think that service dogs are hero's because they are loyal, and will do almost anything to protect their master. It is really true that dogs are a mans best friend.