One of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S., the boxer dog has won the hearts of many. This energetic, medium- to large-sized dog breed is playful, affectionate and loyal to its family.
Here are five things you may not have known about boxer dogs.
1. War Dog
The boxer breed was originally and exclusively a working dog, utilized during World War I as a messenger, pack carrier, guard dog and attack dog.
The breed’s popularity began to rise following WWII, after soldiers brought the dogs home with them and integrated them into families.
2. Run, Boxer, Run!
The boxer breed can trace its roots to the now-extinct Bullenbeisser, a dog of mastiff descent, and the English bulldog.
The Bullenbeisser, also known as “Boxl,” was trained to hunt large game such as bear, boar and deer. The breed was fast and had a solid reputation for its powerful jaws, making it an exceptional hunting companion.
The modern day boxer dog is still regarded as athletic: it can run up to 38 to 45 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest known dog breeds.
3. World Record Holder
Did you know a boxer dog holds a Guinness World Record for the longest dog tongue in the world?
In January 2002, a 7-year-old boxer dog named Brandy was granted the Guinness World Record for having the longest tongue ever on a dog. Brandy’s tongue measured 17 inches!
By comparison, the Guinness World Record holder for current (and living) longest tongue goes to a Pekingese in Texas. Puggy’s tongue measures a mere 4.5 inches.
4. No Such Thing as a Black Boxer Dog
You might own a boxer that looks black but there’s really no such thing as a “black” boxer dog.
Boxer dogs are either fawn (tan) or brindle (a tan coat with black stripes). Boxer dogs with a brindle pattern that is heavily striped gives the appearance of "reverse brindling"—fawn stripes on a black coat. These dogs are sometimes referred to as "reverse brindles," but that is actually a misnomer—they are really fawn colored with a large quantity of black stripes.
The boxer dog breed does not carry the gene for a solid black coat; therefore, purebred black boxer dogs do not exist.
5. Common Health Concerns for Boxer Dogs
The most common health conditions for the boxer dog breed, based on Nationwide pet insurance policyholder claims are, in order of pervasiveness:
- Allergies and skin infection
- Ear infections
- Benign skin tumor
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Cystitis or urinary tract infection
- Mast cell tumors
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Corneal ulcers
- Cardiomyopathy
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Page 2
Sure, they’re cute and look like cuddly bears, but how much do you really know about Shiba Inus?
1. Shiba Inus’ Ancestral Roots Are Really, Really Old
DNA analysis reveals that the Shiba Inu is one of the oldest dog breeds, dating back to the 3rd century BC, part of the Classical era. During this time, the Roman Republic was dominating the world, the Chinese Terracotta Army was being buried in Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb and, along with the introduction of wet-rice agriculture in Japan, an Asian spitz-type of dog was born.
2. First Shiba Inu Import Years in the Making
The first Shiba Inu brought to the United States arrived with an American armed forces family in 1954. That’s more than 2,150 years after it was born in Japan! The breed’s popularity began to grow and, a little over 20 years later, the first Shiba Inu American litter was born in 1979. It is currently ranked as the 46th most popular dog breed by the American Kennel Club.
3. Shiba Inu Goes Down in Modern History
According to the Guinness World Records, one of the world’s oldest-living dogs was a Shiba Inu named Pusuke, who died at age 26 in 2011, three months shy of his 27th birthday. Described as being very active up to his last day, Pusuke passed away five minutes after his owner returned home from a morning walk. The family believes Pusuke waited for her return to take his last breath.
4. Pretending to be Ninja Warriors?
Quick, nimble and alert, the Shiba Inu has been likened to a ninja warrior — making the dog a good escape artist (make sure your Shiba Inu has a collar with tags and a microchip in case he makes a beeline for the great outdoors). A fierce guardian of possessions, Shiba Inus often display territorial behavior; like a three-year-old child, they’ll refuse to share toys. Their fiery nature can be tempered with routine socialization training, which is best started at a young age. Like a ninja, the Shiba Inu is also very loyal, devoted to guarding family members from suspicious strangers.
5. In Good Health
Shiba Inus are generally known to live long, healthy lives. However, the breed is prone to certain conditions for which you should be on the lookout. Some of these include glaucoma, kneecap issues, and hip dysplasia. If you are adopting a Shiba Inu from a breeder, make sure your pup comes with certified health clearances.
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Page 3
Jack Russell terriers are tough, tenacious, athletic, and super friendly. This energetic dog was bred to be a working dog and still displays the cleverness that made it a highly-sought after hunting dog back in the early 19th century.
If you own a JRT you know your pup thrives on attention and completing tasks. After all, this breed is also one of the most successful “working” dogs in Hollywood, often landing plume roles such as Eddie in the long-running sitcom Frasier, Milo in The Mask, Friday in Hotel for Dogs and as the dog in The Artist.
Here are few things you may not have known about Jack Russell terriers.
1. Couture Coiffure
The Jack Russell terrier originally had a brown fur coat. It’s now nearly all-white coloring was strategically bred to differentiate the dog from the fox game it was hunting.
2. From Namesake to Name Change
The Jack Russell terrier was named after Reverend John “Jack” Russell, an avid fox hunter who bred hunting dogs in England during the mid-1800s.
The breed has since been renamed, sort of, three times. Confused? We were, too. Here’s the lowdown:
The Jack Russell terrier was the first hunting dog that Reverend Russell bred. After his death, the breed evolved into the Parson terrier (“parson” is another word for “reverend”). This breed had longer legs — 12 to 15 inches versus the JRT’s 10 to 12 — an intentional development so the dogs could better navigate the hillier areas where they hunted.
The Russell terrier is the newest offshoot of the Reverend’s original terrier breed. Known as the “Shorty JRT” the breed has the shortest legs of all three types of the lineage: eight to 12 inches tall.
The three breeds do look alike with a few differences, such as their body height and shape. The Parson terrier has a square body while both the JRT and the Shorty JRT have rectangular bodies.
3. Short Dogs Can Jump
Did you know Jack Russell terriers can jump as high as five feet? These pups are also known for their endurance: they can run long distances and can even burrow underground and wait for days on end to chase out their prey (not an ideal situation due to dehydration).
4. Genetically Prone to Deafness?
The Jack Russell terrier’s white coat has been linked to the pigmentation genes associated with deafness. Does this mean that all JRTs will have a propensity for deafness? Not necessarily, says the National Institutes of Health. According to their research, the prevalence of deafness in JRTs is lower than initially reported. If you are the owner of a Jack Russell terrier, it’s always recommended that your dog has routine checkups to ensure the quality of his health.
5. Common Health Conditions for Jack Russell Terriers
The most common health conditions for Jack Russell terriers, based on Nationwide pet insurance policyholder claims are, in order of pervasiveness:
- Skin allergies
- Ear infections
- Benign tumors
- Arthritis
- Hypothyroidism
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