Axolotl

Adorable, loving and fairly easy to take care of, Axolotl’s make perfect pets. Also called Mexican Walking Fish or Water Dogs, they in fact act more like a dog than a fish. I think a fish stops being a fish when they gain the ability to walk and chew their food. Axolotl’s are fairly blind and are more than likely to try to eat any other fish that you put them in a tank with, as well as take a nip at your fingers when you feed it (don’t worry, they don’t have teeth.)

Axolotl

Axolotl

Axolotl

Axolotl

Somali

The Somali is a cat breed created from long-haired Abyssinian cats. The breed appeared in the 1950s from Abyssinian breeding programs when a number of Abyssinian kittens were born with bottle-brush tails and long fluffy coats. Abyssinians and Somalis share similar personalities — intelligent, playful, curious — however Somalis are more relaxed and easygoing than the more active Abyssinians.

The body type and markings of the two breeds are similar, however the fur length of the Somali requires more grooming than the Abyssinian. Unlike most long-haired cats, Somalis shed very little excess hair. Their coat is generally shed en masse, or "blown", once or twice a year, rather than constantly shedding like a Persian or other long-haired cat.

Somali

Somali

Somali

parrots

Parrots, also known as psittacines ( /ˈsɪtəsaɪnz/),[ are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes,found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae ('true' parrots), the Cacatuidae (cockatoos) and the Strigopidae (New Zealand parrots).Parrots have a generally pantropical distribution with several species inhabiting temperate regions in the Southern Hemisphere as well. The greatest diversity of parrots is found in South America and Australasia.

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong, curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly coloured, and some are multi-coloured. The plumage of cockatoos ranges from mostly white to mostly black, with a mobile crest of feathers on the tops of their heads. Most parrots exhibit little or no sexual dimorphism. They form the most variably sized bird order in terms of length.

parrots

parrots

parrots

parrots

Kea

The Kea (pronounced /ˈkeɪ.ə/; Māori: [kɛ.a]) (Nestor notabilis) is a large species of parrot (family Strigopidae) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. Measuring around 48 cm (19 in) in length, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large narrow curved grey-brown upper beak. The Kea is the world's only alpine parrot. Its omnivorous diet includes carrion but consists mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar, and insects. Now uncommon, the Kea was once killed for bounty due to concerns by the sheep farming community that it attacked livestock, especially sheep. It only received full protection in 1986.

The Kea nests in burrows or crevices among the roots of trees. Kea are known for their intelligence and curiosity, both vital to their survival in a harsh mountain environment. Kea can solve logical puzzles, such as pushing and pulling things in a certain order to get to food, and will work together to achieve a certain objective.

Kea

Kea

Kea

Kea

Boston Terrier

Boston Terriers, also called the Boston bull, are compact and well-muscled dogs. The body is short with a square appearance. The square looking head is flat on the top and in proportion to the rest of the body. The deep, wide, short muzzle is in proportion with the head. The nose is black. The stop is well defined. The bite is either even or slightly undershot giving the muzzle the square look. The large, round dark eyes are wide-set. The erect ears are small and either cropped or left natural. The limbs are straight and muscular. The legs are set somewhat wide apart, and the chest is broad. The neck is slightly arched. The low-set, tapering tail is short and either straight or screw shaped and is never docked. The short, fine textured coat comes in seal, brindle and white, black and white and some are born brown & white.

Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier

Borzoi

The Borzoi is similar in shape to the greyhound. It has a narrow, slightly domed head, with almost no stop. The long muzzle is slightly arched. The teeth meet in a level or scissors bite. The large nose is black. The dark eyes have a slant to them. The small ears lay back on the head. The back line is arched slightly upward and the chest is narrow, but deep. The front legs are straight. The tail is set low with a curve. The coat is long, silky, flat, or wavy. The hair on the neck, hindquarters and tail is is longer than the hair on the rest of the body. Comes in any color or combination of colors. Common colors include Black, white, tan, tan or gray with black markings, golden in either solid or mixed colors.

Borzoi

Borzoi

Borzoi

Borzoi

Black Russian Terrier

Black Russian Terriers are more than mid-size. This rare Russian breed is robust and strong with a good nervous system. Large, powerful, stable and alert. The blocky shaped head should be powerfully built with a broad skull and a long head. The mustache and beard add to the squaring off of the muzzle. The stop should be well-defined but not pronounced. The nose is large, and fully pigmented, black in color. The lips are full, rounded and black at the ridges and the jaws are large and powerful. The mouth should be meaty and if it is not, it is a major default in the show ring. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The dark eyes are medium-sized and set apart. Rims should be black and almond-shaped. The ears are triangular in shape with a rounded apex and pendular. Cropped ears are not acceptable. The length of the ear should reach the outside corner of the eyelids. The ears are set rather high. The neck should be thick, muscular and powerful. The length of the body should be in direct proportion to the height at the withers - giving it a square look.  The whithers raise over the backline and the croup is lightly descending to a high set tail. There should not be pendulous or excessive dewlap. The very large, bear-like feet have tough, black, thick pads and the nails are large and dark in color. The body is well proportioned with the trunk outline lying within a rectangle. Length of the body should be in direct proportion to the height at the withers. Topline should be level but not appearing flat or straight. The forelegs should be set straight and well-boned. Shoulders should be large, muscular, and well developed with blades broad and sloping. Elbows should be neither in nor out. The legs should be covered with 2 to 4 inches of coarse hair. The feet are very large, fully covered with hair and with large black pads. The hindquarters are well-boned and muscular with a high degree of angulation. The hocks are large and developed for spring and drive. The legs and feet are well covered. The appearance is full. The legs should be parallel to each other. The Black Russian Terrier has a strong, powerful, and well coordinated gait. They appear to be light on their feet. The tail is cropped and set high.  The waterproof coat should be black. White or brown markings are disqualifying. The appearance of individual grey hairs within the coat is expected. The coat may appear full or hand stripped. The texture of the coat should be somewhat coarse - the extent depending on whether it is full or hand stripped. The beard and muzzle should never be touched.

Black Russian Terrier

Black Russian Terrier

Black Russian Terrier

Black Russian Terrier

Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer is a large, powerful, compact dog. It looks like a larger version of the Standard Schnauz. The dogs height is the same as the length, giving it a square look. The head is strong and rectangular in appearance. The muzzle is the same length as the top of the head. The stop is slight. The large nose is black. The lips are black, not overlapping. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The oval eyes are medium-sized, deep-set and dark. The ears are set high on the head and are either cropped or kept natural. When cropped they stand erect with a pointed tip. When left natural the ears are V-shaped, carried close to the head. The back is straight. The front legs are straight when viewed from all sides. The tail is set high and is usually docked to the second or third joint. Note: docking tails and cropping ears is illegal in most parts of Europe. Dewclaws are almost always removed from the back legs, and may be removed from the front if they are present. The double coat has a wiry, dense hard, outer coat with a soft undercoat. The hair stands slightly up off the back, with coarser, longer, bushy whiskers, beard and eyebrows. Coat colors come in solid black and salt and pepper.

Giant Schnauzer

Giant Schnauzer

Giant Schnauzer

Giant Schnauzer

Belgian Tervuren

The Belgian Tervuren has a squarely shaped appearance to the body. When viewed from the side the topline of the moderately pointed muzzle is parallel to the topline of the skull. The stop is moderate. The black lips are tight. The medium sized, almond-shaped eyes are dark brown. The erect ears are triangle in shape with the height equal to the width. The chest is deep reaching the elbows. The legs are straight and parallel and vertical to the ground. The topline is level sloping slightly at the withers. Dewclaws are usually removed. The feet are cat-like in shape. The teeth meet in a scissors or level bite.The tail is strong at the base with the bone reaching to the hock. The double coat is weather resistant with long, abundant, close-fitting guard hairs. The overall length of the harsh coat is medium to long with the hair on the head, legs and outer surface of the ears being shorter. The undercoat is dense and the outer coat is straight with black tips. Males have a mane of hair around the neck that is not as prominent in females. . There is longer hair fringing down the back and front legs with abundant hair on the tail. Coat colors include rich fawn to russet mahogany, or shades of gray with black tips. The chest, toes and chin may have some white. The coat usually darkens as the dog gets older.

Belgian Tervuren

Belgian Tervuren

Belgian Tervuren

Belgian Tervuren

Canaan Dog

The Canaan Dog is medium-sized, and squarely proportioned. The head is wedge-shaped with a shallow, but defined stop. The muzzle is the same size or slightly longer than the skull, tapering. The nose is varying shades of liver depending on the coat color. The teeth meet in a scissors bite, and a level bite is accepted in the FCI standard but not the AKC. The almond-shaped eyes are slightly slanted and come in shades of hazel. The eye rims are varying shades of liver depending on the coat color. The ears are erect and mobile. The neck is well arched. The legs are straight. The tail is set high and may be carried over the back when the dog is excited. The cat-like feet have hard pads. Dewclaws may be removed. The Canaan Dog has a double coat. The outer coat is harsh, lying flat with a slight rough and the undercoat is straight and soft, lying flat. Coat colors include solid black, tan, brown, sandy, red, liver, white, or in a patched pattern of liver and white, brown and white, black and white, with a symmetrical mask matching the color of their patches.Solid colors may have white trim on the chest, feet and tip of the tail. Note: the FCI standard allows solid white dogs, but the AKC and the Canaan Club of American standard does not. Dogs with red coats are either born creamy white and then darken or dark reddish brown and then lighten.

Canaan Dog

Canaan Dog

Canaan Dog

Canaan Dog

Bloodhound

The Bloodhound is a very powerful, massive hound dog. The back is very strong for the dog's size. The head is long and narrow in proportion to the dog's length, and long in proportion to the body. The muzzle is long and the nose is black. The deeply sunk eyes are diamond in shape because of the lower lids being dragged down and turned outward by the heavy upper lips. Color vary's from a deep hazel to yellow. The thin, soft, drooping ears are set very low and extremely long. The Bloodhound has a lot of extra, wrinkled skin hanging excessively loose, even more so around the head and neck where it hangs in deep folds. The dewlap is very pronounced. The muscular, front legs are straight. The tail is carried high with a slight curve above the topline of the back. The folds of the skin aid the dog in holding in scent particles while tracking. The coat is wrinkled, short and fairly hard in texture, with softer hair on the ears and skull. Colors include black & tan, liver & tan, and red & tawny and red. Sometimes there is a small amount of white on the chest, feet and tip of the stern.

Bloodhound

Bloodhound

Bloodhound

Bloodhound

Bloodhound

Basenji

Basenji are smooth, muscular, athletic dogs on the small side. The head is wrinkled around the forehead and the muzzle is shorter than the skull. The skull is flat. The small, almond-shaped eyes are dark hazel to dark brown. The ears are straight, small, erect and open in the front. The dog's back is level and the legs are straight. The tail is set high and curled over to either side. The coat is short, shiny and fine and comes in pure black, copper, red, chestnut red, or tricolor in combinations of black, tan and white, or black, brindle and white. The AKC standard calls for the dog to have white on the feet, chest and tip of the tail. White legs, blaze and collar are optional. The Basenji does not bark, but rather makes a yodel noise. They also howl, growl and crow, depending on the dog's mood.

Basenji

Basenji

Basenji

Basenji

American Foxhound

In 1650, Robert Brooke sailed to Crown Colony in America with his pack of hunting dogs, which were the root of several strains of American Hounds. These dogs remained in the Brooke family for nearly 300 years.

George Washington received French Foxhounds, Grand Bleu de Gascogne, (which look much like an American Bluetick Coonhound) as a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette. Many of the dogs Washington kept were descended from Brooke's, and when crossed with the French hounds, helped to create the present day American Foxhound.

The American Foxhound is the state dog of Virginia.

Though there has long been a rumor that the new breed was originally used for hunting Indigenous peoples of the Americas, this is not true. The breed was developed by landed gentry purely for the sport of hunting foxes. With the importation (or migration) of the red fox, Irish Foxhounds were added to the lines, to increase speed and stamina in the dog, qualities still prevalent in today's dogs.

Today there are many different strains of American Foxhound, including Walker, Goodman, Trigg, July and Penn-Marydel. Though the different strains look quite different, they are all recognized as members of the same breed. Most show hounds are Walkers, many of the pack hounds (used with hunting foxes on horseback) are Penn-Marydel and hunters use a variety of strains to suit their hunting style and quarry.

American Foxhound

American Foxhound

American Foxhound

American Foxhound