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

Akita

There are two types of Akitas, the original Japanese Akita breed and now a separate designation for American standard Akita's. The weights and sizes are different and the American standard allows a black mask, where as the original Japanese breed standard does not allow for a black mask. According to the FCI , in Japan and in many other countries around the world the American Akita is considered a separate breed from the Akita Inu (Japanese Akita). In the United States and Canada, both the American Akita and the Akita Inu are considered a single breed with differences in type rather than two separate breeds.

     

Akita 

 

Akita 

Akita 

 

Akita 

Japanese Chin

Japanese Chin stand about 20 to 27 cm (8 to 11 in) in height at the withers and weight can vary from a low of 4 lbs to a high of 20 lbs, with an average of 7 to 9 pounds being the most common. The American Kennel Club and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale give no weight requirement for the Chin. 

This breed's flattened face contributes to a few Chin suffering from breathing and heart problems, as is common with brachycephalic breeds. Because they are a brachycephalic breed, temperature extremes (particularly heat) should be avoided. Luxating patellas (knees) and heart murmurs are other genetically predisposed conditions. The oversized eyes are easily scratched and corneal scratches or more serious ulcerations can result. Mild scratches benefit from topical canine antibacterial ointment specifically for eye application; more serious injury or ulcerations require urgent medical care. The Chin, as with most small breed dogs, can also have a risk of hypoglycemia when under the age of 6 months; this concern can continue in Chin that mature at 4 to 5 pounds or less. Some Chin do have seasonal allergies.

Japanese Chin

Japanese Chin

Japanese Chin

Japanese Chin

Miniature Foxies

A balanced, smoothly-muscled dog breed, the Miniature Fox Terrier has a distinctive head with erectile ears that can stand straight up or fold at the tips. Another distinguishing feature is its articulate, oval-shaped foot. The breed standard has always allowed for the dog's tail to be docked or undocked. Natural bobtails are known to occur. There are only three permitted colour combinations: black and white, tan and white, and tricolour (black, white, and tan). The coat of the Mini Foxie is always short and fine. Weight is 3.5 to 5.5 kilograms and height at the withers is 9.5 to 12.0 inches (24 cm to 30.5 cm).

Miniature Fox Terriers are closely related to the Toy Fox Terrier, a breed that developed along similar lines in the United States. Some Toy Fox Terrier owners can trace their dogs’ pedigrees to "Foiler", the first Fox Terrier registered by the Kennel Club in Britain, circa 1875-6. Other related breeds include the Jack Russell Terrier, the Rat Terrier, and the Tenterfield Terrier.

Miniature Foxies

Miniature Foxies

Miniature Foxies

Miniature Foxies

Venomous Snakes

  They are snakes.  They are poisonous.  They bite.  None of this is a good combination.  In Cincinnati a man was bitten by his rhinoceros viper snake, which is one of the world’s deadliest snakes.  He did receive anti-venom and survived.  But who really wants to take that risk?

Turtles

A turtle may seem harmless enough, but did you know that they actually carry salmonella?  It seems that the main concern is the baby turtles.  It is not that the little guys have more cases of salmonella, it’s that the smaller they are the more attracted little kids are to them.  And we all know how little kids can be; they will stick just about anything in their mouth – including their fingers after touching the turtles and the turtles themselves.

Turtles

Turtles

Turtles

Turtles

Scorpian

Keeping scorpions as pets is becoming increasingly more popular. They are relatively inexpensive to buy and require very little maintenance, much in the way of set up, or care. Scorpions can be easily found at pet shops, reptile shows and online dealers and breeders. If you are looking for an interesting and unique pet a scorpion makes an excellent choice.

There are approximately 1,500 different species of scorpions roaming the world right now. Scorpions live in a variety of habitats including rain forests, woodlands, deserts, grasslands and everywhere in between. Most scorpions prefer warmer tropical or subtropical climates. They prey upon a wide variety of animals and insects and all have the ability to sting. Even though a sting can hurt, very few scorpions are dangerous to humans.

Scorpian

Scorpian

Scorpian

Scorpian