Dog Name Origins and Trivia Part 2

Chihuahua. This dog was named after the Mexican state, Chihuahua. The dog was also called Chihuuhenos. When some were brought to Europe, they would sit on the owner’s lap to keep the person warm, especially in big homes and castles. 

The artist Botticelli painted a Chihuahua in the Sistine chapel (above).

The Chow Chow is from China and its name “songshi quan” means Puffy Lion Dog. The chow likes feet, and will be happy to sit on your feet to keep them warm and kiss them. Chow Chows also have a blue tongue.

Cocker Spaniels are so called because they were used to hunt Woodcock birds. It is believed these dogs came from Spain.

Cocker Spaniels tend to be more interested in people than dogs. This is the potential girlfriend we found for Remington Steal Your Heart. But it turns out, she might like Remington’s human better…anyway, if she barks Tagalog the moment of serendipity will have no comprehension….

Dalmatians are named after Dalmatia, a region in Croatia. They are great if you are allergic to dogs because they won’t trigger symptoms. These dogs are great in hunting rats and pests, which is why in London they were kept in stables and firehouses.

Golden Retrievers have a soft mouth, which made them perfect for retrieving game undamaged. They are colored in varied tones of gold. They love water. They can be trained as hearing dogs for the deaf, guide dogs for the blind, search and rescue dogs and illegal drug detectors. They have a gentle temperament. In a dog show, this Golden Retriever seemed to take a liking to my hubby Ed.

The Jack Russell was named in the 18^th century by a parson, Reverend John Russell, who liked to hunt. After World War II, there was less need for hunting dogs, and they became family dogs.

One famous Jack Russell is Nipper, who was the inspiration for the classic painting of a dog looking into a phonograph. The painting was later renamed His Master’s Voice and was used by recording countries including RCA, EMI and The Gramophone Company. 

The painting was done by Englishman Francis Barraud and it was purchased by Berliner to become a trademark on Victor record catalogues. 

Llhasa apso- This dog was named after Llhasa, the capital city of Tibet. Apso means bearded. Llhasa Apsos stayed in Buddhist monasteries as guard dogs.

This is the Llhasa apso with untrimmed but neatly combed hair. When Llhasas are happy they rub their head on their owners or sit at their owner’s feet.

Spiderman’s Aunt May owned a Llhasa Apso named Ms. Lion.

 Pekingese were only allowed to be kept in the Chinese Imperial court, and its name comes from the city Peking, which is the former name of China’s capital city, Beijing. If anyone stole a Pekingese, the penalty was death. I fell in love with this Pekingese puppy at a dog show, but it’s not mine.

 Bulldog – The bulldog got its name because it was used in England to bait bulls. The game involved tethering a bull, placing two bulldogs on the bull’s back, and people would gamble on which dog would succeed in biting the bull’s nose and pinning it to the ground. A lot of bull dogs died in this way. In the 1500s they were spelled Bolddogge and bondogge. Later the game became illegal. Today, bulldogs are docile and good with children. They are great apartment dogs as they don’t need much exercise. They would rather sleep on your lap than run after a ball.

Of course, I must add our beloved Askal. This is my askal, Winniechurchill. The name Askal comes from the Tagalog words, Asong Kalye and refers to street dogs with no owners. Askals are essentially mongrels. In the provinces, farmers keep them as guard dogs. In the city, I noticed that a lot of askals get fed by friendly people. When I had my car washed, two workers were eating their lunch but gave some of their food to an askal hanging about. The maid who works in the house next door, Brenda, goes out on her bike every afternoon with food to feed askals and pusakals (street cats). Some people tried to raise the dignity of askals by naming them Aspins, or Filipino dogs. But I like the sound of Askals, and we have a great soccer team, Azkals which has been winning a lot of games lately. So it seems now, that being called Askal is a good thingJ 

The Shar Pei is from China and its Cantonese name, sa peih means “sand skin.”  I personally am inspired by the Shar Pei because it has lots of wrinkles which work to its advantage. If a dog tries to bite it, the internal organs are protected because the dog will bite the wrinkles and the Shar Pei is able to strike back. A study in the University of Washington, Seattle said the enzyme of the Shar Pei is a key component of skin. I am no longer afraid of the wrinkles developing on my face. They have served the Shar Pei well. 

What’s in a name

 By Mona Sabalones Gonzalez

I looked up some names of dogs and found their origins. Here are some:

 Shih-Tzu – Chinese for “Lion Dog” (pronounced Shirr-dze). Another version, “XiShi quan” refers to the most beautiful woman in legendary ancient China.

Pug – from the Latin word, “Pugness” meaning fist.

Beagle – from the French term “be’guele” because the dog bays when chasing game during hunting.

Terrier – from the French word “terre” meaning earth. The terrier dog burrows during hunting to unearth an animal hiding underground. Mocha Barney, my wire haired dachsund, is arguably a terrier because it digs.

Schnauzer – German “schnauzen” which means “to snarl.”

Huskies – A derivation from “Esky” which is short for Eskimos, who raise them as sled dogs.

Poodle – surprisingly, this dog is not French but German. It comes from the Low German word “pudelen,” meaning to “splash around.” 

Kat and Dog playing

Kat and Mocha like to do this.

The Sweet and Protective Newfoundland Dogs

By: Ed Gonzalez

Newfoundland dogs are sturdy and well built dogs. They have heads that are wide and heavy plus they have a slightly curved crown. Their necks and backs are brawny. These dogs have wide muzzles that are extensive. It is deep and somewhat short. Dogs of these kinds have middle of the road stops. Their noses are commonly black with exception to bronze colored dogs who have brown noses. The teeth of these dogs are conformed to a level or scissors bite. These type of dogs have have dark brown eyes and they are deep setting. The ears of these friendly dogs are triangular in shape and they do have rounded tips that are simply small. They have muscular looking legs which are straight and well aligned. You can remove their dewclaws. These dogs have tails that are powerful and are wide at the base. Their tails are hanging downwards. Newfoundlands have cat – like feet that are webbed. They have double coats which are flat and water – resistant. These dogs have oily outer coats that are rough and they are a bit long. Their outer coats are wavy or straight. Dogs of these kinds have thick undercoats that are oily and soft. If these dogs live indoors, they will lose their undercoats. Coat colors are usually black with blue, highlights, black with white markings, brown, gray and white with black markings just like the landseers. The landseers and newfoundlands are considered of the same breed in England and the U.S,A.. In other parts of Europe they are branded as different breeds because their legs are longer and they are not so massive in built. They are considered sporty dogs in other European Countries and they do compete separately in shows.

The Newfoundlands are dogs which have characteristics that are superior, possessing a sweet temperament, brave, considerate, peaceful and very loving dogs.. These are mild – mannered, calm and very patient dogs. They are considerably well behaved with house guests. Dogs belonging to this breed are very obedient to their masters. They are loving and dedicated to their owners.. Newfoundlands hardly bark, but they are very protective and courageous when the situation arises. If ever these dogs get hold of an intruder, this intruder will be held at bay because these dogs will tarp them into a corner. They can use other ways like placing themselves in between the suspected thief and the family, instead of doing an all out attack. These dogs are so intelligent because they know when someone is threatening their pack and they who are not doing so. They are very sociable and kind dogs. Dogs of these type are suitable for children because of their gentle nature. Newfoundlands can be rather messy when drinking water because they really drink a lot. They like to swim and they can save someone who is drowning. It is said that Napoleon Bonaparte fell off his ship but a newfoundland dog jumped to the sea and saved his life. At times, they can be difficult to train . You must make sure that when you train them, it must be done in a gentle but well balanced manner. Any owner must be calm but determined in order to have a well balanced dog. Owners must must have rules that their dogs must follow. They are quite sensitive to the voice of their owners. Adult Newfoundlands eat as much as a labrador but their puppies eat much more.

The height of male dogs are 27 – 29 inches and female dogs are 25 – 27 inches in height. The weight of the male dogs are usually between 130 – 150 pounds and the female dogs will weigh from 100 – 120 pounds. They are susceptive to hereditary heart disease called sub – aortic stenosis and hip dysplasia. They must not get fat.

These dogs will do good living in apartments but they must be given the needed exercise that they need. They are quite inactive indoors. A small yard will utterly satisfy their needs. Newfoundlands like colder weathers and they do not do well in hot climates. You must make sure that there is sufficient water for them to drink and there must be a shaded area for them to lay down

Giant Dogs of these kind are contented to be inactive when they are in the house. When they are walking their dogs must be beside them or behind them.. The owners must be the leader of the pack.
The average life of these dogs are from 9 – 15 years.

Owners must brush their thick, rough double coat with a hard brush and this must be done weekly. Their undercoats do shed twice a year during spring and fall. You must be quite careful at this time. Heavy shedding happens during spring time. Do not bathe them during this time unless it is necessary.. It will remove the coats natural oils. Use dry shampoo from time to time.

Some say that these dogs originated from the Viking bear dogs or nomadic indian dogs. Others believe that these dogs are relatives of the labradors. Many say this because there are similarities between the two breeds. One proof is that the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador are close to each other. This might be a possibility because the labrador is an exceptional swimmer and it was able to swim the Strait of Belle Isle or cross on foot when the water was frozen. Others do say that it originated from crosses of the Tibetan Massifs brought to Canada by British or European fishermen.

These are just perfect dogs for you and your family. They are close to children and they are so ever loving.

A Potential Girlfriend for Remington Steal My Heart?

 We found what we think could be a potential girlfriend for Remington Steal My Heart. We felt she had this saucy, spunky quality and the air of an independent woman who could be supportive of a manly dog like Remington Steal.

 We thought her fashion sense is quite daring. Certainly, she doesn't play it safe. But then, it was a fashion show. We don't know her name or her contact info, we were just watching the show with our humans. But she seemed to have an X-Factor of sorts.

This is her profile. Well, there are some obstacles to her and Remington Steal My Heart ever getting it together. After all, she lives an ocean away and being Filipina, we don't know if she speaks dog English or if Remington would know how to speak dog Tagalog. But moments of serendipity have occurred in this world now and then.

We are sure everyone knows Remington Steal My Heart, but just in case, this is his website: http://our-remington.blogspot.com/ . What do you think? Might they have a serendipitous moment anywhere in their future?

Mom's Got her Mojo Back!

 As the cutest (and most diplomatic) dog, it has become my job to announce that mom has gotten her mojo back. It wasn't that bad. Since Christmas she had a triple whammy of what was potentially a quadruple whammy of antibiotics that drove her a bit, er, nuts.

First, because of the mean virus (at Christmas). That kept her in bed a lot, but she was able to go out sometimes and all, but not as much as usual. Then, she had a tooth extraction that called for some bone removal. Ouch! That hurt and put her on another round of antibiotics (overlapping the first)!

Just when Mom thought things were going back to normal, er, my sisters fought. That's why I am the most diplomatic dog. I never fight. My Mom freaked out and knowing she was gonna get bit, DID THE WRONG THING ANYWAY and got in the middle. So, she got bit and realized once Ashley Pumpernickel and Winniechurchill were appeased, that they didn't even have any bites ont them! So she got two tetanus shots and one skin test and....ANTIBIOTICS.

In between all this she was still active but on a lower key, if you get my drift. The fourth whammy was when Ashley fell into a sewer pond. She immediately had Ashley cleaned by the groomer and the car washed totally. She was advised to see a doctor but IN NO WAY WAS SHE GONNA GET ANY MORE ANTIBIOTICS.

Besides, she feels fine. And Ashley looks good too. And she has gotten back to her normal activity level and things are good. And she had some GREAT cards (ho hum, she still thinks they're hers) that kept her happy when she had to rest.

Mom got an amazing card from the FiveSibes, Harley, Gibson, Wolf, Chloe, and Bandit with the cats SMokie and Binx. Even the people sent their greetings -- Mom, Dorothy and Hu family:) Then another came from Dory, Jakey and Bilbo with their people Beth and Ed, Bailey and Nala sent another Snoopy card (Mom's favorite cartoon character), and BOY has Remington Steal My Heart been playing in the snow. That one made Mom laugh:). Finally, Brando, Humphrey and Ziggy sent a card too.

So Mom wants to thank all of you guys who gave her reasons to smile in between bouts of ANTIBIOTICS and man, she is BAAAAACCCCKKKKK. (We are lettin her think the cards are hers, even if they're ours, since two of the three--not including the most diplomatic dog-- were part of the reason she had been down for awhile).

Wonderful Christmas Cards

Hello everybody! As the biggest (not the eldest) dog in the family, I felt it was my job to report to you that mom has been bedridden for the past week, but she's getting better. At least, she can blog while she is stuck in her room with us:)

One thing that REALLY cheered her up was all the Christmas cards we received. They were OURS but Mom thinks they are hers. Here's Mocha Barney posing with the cards.

There were also cards that were received by email! They were so fun, great pictures of our pals, and some had music and were moving, too.

Mom sent out as many cards as she could, and then she got this mean virus. But she will be on her feet in time for Christmas:)

She really loved all those who sent us photos of our pal dogs in different countries! And Snowmen, Santa Clause, Peanuts (her favorite cartoon character -- Snoopy) and so much more. So we would like to say Merry Christmas to Finn, Maggie Mae and Max, Erica and Blair, Koda, Sophie, Indy and Jack, Fred and Gloria Gilbert, Oskar Hoerauf, Freedom, Casper & Nikki, Magic, Caoimhe, Alfie Crybbe and Aoife, Leigh and Judith, Sarge and his Peeps, Frankie Furter and Ernie, and our friends who sent cards online (another post on that, next time):)  Mom plans to print out even the online cards and then make a scrapbook of Christmas 2011, the first time she spent with lovely greetings from her (OUR!) blogger friends.

Some of the cards Mom sent by mail may arrive late, because she was sick and also Philippine Snail Mail has its own version of Snail Mail ergo.....really slow snails sometimes.  She also hopes to send out more cards by email. Her goal is to send them to everyone on the list:)

Here's a scanned version of the card. Mom thinks she is a designer, and she designed the card personally. We, uh, well...it's not Andy Warhol. Then like a true newsperson, she actually made the mistake of choosing GLOSSY paper which looks nice on magazines, but she discovered later, not really apropos on cards. But it's her, mistakes and all.

And then Mom made her own Christmas poem. Well, Shakespeare it ain't. But it was made with lots of love to all of our wonderful blogger pals. We hope she gets to send to everyone at least by email on the list before Christmas:)

Lotsa Christmas love, slobbers and licks,

Ashley Pumpernickel (because I'M sending this out as the biggest -- not eldest -- dog), Mocha Barney and Winniechurchill