Although a dog of any age and either sex may submissively urinate, this behavior is more common in female puppies. It can be triggered by any gesture of dominance by a human or another dog. A loud voice or excited greeting can cause it, and many times a person is unaware that they acted in any particular way at all. In any case the dog is displaying, in its instinctive way, that it is completely submissive and means no threat.

When a dog makes this submissive display, it may squat or roll over on its back while urinating. The dog may also “grin” by pulling back the edges of its mouth exposing its teeth. This facial gesture could be easily confused with an aggressive snarl. The exposed belly is a signal that the dog wants to “give up” the perceived challenge and is not displaying a desire to be petted. Reaching for an unfamiliar dog when this posture is observed can result in a snap at the fingers – a fear bite.

Puppies can usually be desensitized to submissively urinating over time. Greetings that initiate the posture should be avoided. The dog should be ignored when the owner first arrives home. A high pitched “hello sweetie” will cause the dog to urinate every time. Once the dog has settled down, the owner should move away from the dog and squat down to its level. Without saying anything, the dog is then allowed to approach. At the first hint of the dog squatting, the owner should turn away. Eye contact is a dominance display and can be a trigger for submissive urination.

Everyone who enters the house must follow the same steps to prevent the behavior. A dog that has a tendency to submissively urinate should be let outside before the front door is opened to a visitor. After the visitor is inside, the dog can be introduced slowly, but the visitor should be told to ignore the dog as well. Eventually, the dog will understand that there is no threat, and the submissiveness should subside. Most dogs grow out of this problem. Expect that a dog with this trait will act in the same way during new situations and around new people.

Bites from non-venomous snakes should be treated the same as puncture wounds. Bacteria from the dog’s skin and the snakes’ mouth are delivered beneath the skin by sharp, needle-like teeth. Because the teeth are so sharp, the skin may seal quickly over the puncture. The bacteria may then reproduce and cause an abscess. It may rupture and drain several days later. A large amount of tissue may slough off that was damaged by the infection. Oral antibiotics are usually prescribed prophylactically for non-venomous snake bites.

Venomous snake bites are a different story. It is important to get treatment for the dog as soon as possible. Try to keep the dog calm, and keep the bite wound below the level of the heart. Do not attempt to remove the venom yourself by any means. Venom from different snakes act differently on the body, so identification of the snake makes it easier to determine the appropriate treatment protocol. Initial treatment is symptomatic. Shock is controlled with rapid IV fluid therapy and steroid injections. Antivenin is a serum that neutralizes venom, but it comes with its own set of risks, so it must be known whether the antivenin will benefit the dog. This will depend upon which type of snake caused the bite. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and pain medications are all indicated. Some venoms cause intravascular coagulation, some cause localized tissue destruction, and some cause neurological effects. The dose of venom determines the severity of illness, therefore, small dogs are more at risk than larger ones because they will receive a higher dose of venom per pound of body weight. In any case, a venomous snake bite is a life-threatening emergency, and veterinary care should be sought immediately.

There is a vaccine available for venomous snake bites. It may be useful for hunting and working dogs. It causes the body to produce antibodies to the venom making the dog somewhat immune. The vaccine appears to be safe, but its efficacy and duration is limited. Even a vaccinated dog should seek medical attention immediately after a bite from a venomous snake.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Parson Jack Russell Terrier
• Hunt Terrier

Country/Date of origin:

• England
• 1700’s

Height:

• 10 to 13 inches

Weight:

• 11 to 15 pounds

Personality:

• The quintessential terrier.
• Alert, active, and feisty.
• Noisy.
• Always ready for a romp.
• As a pack hunter, it tends to get along well with other dogs, although it seems to relish a good scrap from time to time.
• Jack Russells have so much hunting instinct they are difficult to train in basic obedience.
• They mean well but they are just so busy they can’t spare the time it takes to pay attention to you.

History:

This is the working terrier.  For 250 years it has been the dog of choice of masters of Foxhounds and serious terrier men.  The breed was already well established when Parson John Russell (1795-1883) popularized them.  Everything about the Jack Russell is designed with fox hunting in mind.  In short, where the fox can go, the Jack Russell must be able to go.  The color is a white ground so that Foxhounds can distinguish the dogs from the dark colored fox or badger when they emerge from the dens.  The Jack Russell has the necessary courage, intelligence, and determination to do its job.  It is the working cousin to the more gentrified Fox Terrier that one sees in shows.

Body Type:

• A rugged, well-balanced, rather small, go-to-ground terrier.
• Button ears are not altered.
• Tail is docked.

Coat:

• Coat may be smooth, broken, or rough.
• Color should be predominantly white, with tan, black, or brown markings.
• Moderate grooming.
• These terriers are not prettied-up for shows.

Health and Wellness:

• Congenital deafness.
• Myasthenia gravis.
• Legg-Perthes disease.
• Patella luxation.
• Atopy.
• Demodicosis.

What you should know:

• Although it is not registered in either the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the United Kennel Club (UKC), the Jack Russell is extremely popular in the United States.
• It is a wonderful little terrier that has a special affinity for horses.
• Type varies widely from longer-legged roughs to short-legged smooths.
• The physical type is not fixed, but nobody seems to care as long as they can do their job underground.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Icelandic Sheepdog
• Friar Dog

Country/Date of origin:

• Iceland
• 1800’s

Height:

• 12 to 16 inches

Weight:

• 20 to 30 pounds

Personality:

• Intelligent.
• Easily trained.
• Loyal.

History:

This breed is believed to have been originally brought to Iceland by the Vikings where it was used as a herding dog.  It came close to extinction in the early 1900’s when it was almost wiped out by a viral epidemic (probably distemper).  Thirty years later, most of the Farehonds were killed to stop an epidemic of tapeworm that is communicable to sheep and humans.  A few of the breed were sent to England in the 1950’s and it has thrived there and on mainland Scandinavia.  It has been accepted for showing under Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) rules, and is now making in-roads back into its native Iceland.

Body Type:

• A small, Spitz-type dog.
• The tail is set high and carried curled over the back.  It is not altered.
• The ears are carried erect and are not altered.

Coat:

• The coat is thick and carried close to the body.  It may be either short or long in length.
• All colors are permissible, with a golden red being the most common.
• Moderate grooming required.

Health and Wellness:

• Generally robust

What you should know:

• Unlike most Spitz breeds, the Farehond is not a hunting dog.
• It does not have the roaming predilection of that group but the homebody propensity of the herding dogs.
• This is a lively dog that requires plenty of exercise.
• Should be socialized at an early age.
• It will be difficult to obtain a puppy in the United States.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Olpe Hound
• German Foxhound

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 19th century

Height:

• 16 to 21 inches

Weight:

• 35 to 40 pounds

Personality:

• Affectionate and friendly.
• Difficult to train.
• Not very intelligent.
• Bred for hunting skills.

History:

The Deutsch Bracke is an efficient tracking dog of the Foxhound family.  Developed in Germany, they have the same colors and markings of the usual hound and are used for the same purposes.  At the turn of the 20th century there were several breeds of pack hounds in Germany, but with the exception of the Deutsche Bracke, they are all virtually extinct.  In 1955, a standard was drawn up in Olpe, Germany to fix the type for show purposes.  Because of this, the breed is sometimes known as the Olpe Hound.  Small for a Foxhound, the Bracke is closer in size to the English Harrier.  He is closely related to the Stovare group of scent hounds in Scandinavia.

Body Type:

• Ears are low set and very long.  They are not altered.
• Tail is thin and quite long.  It is not altered.

Coat:

• Short hair is smooth and glossy.
• Marked in the traditional tricolor of the Foxhound (black, brown, and white).
• Low grooming requirements.

Health and Wellness:

• Generally healthy.
• Hip dysplasia.

What you should know:

• A pack hound, the Deutsche Bracke has a melodious voice like its Foxhound brethren.
• Most Deutsche Bracke are still in the hands of masters of Foxhounds and used in their traditional vocation.
• Not suitable as a house pet.  This is an outdoor dog.
• Finding a puppy to purchase will be difficult.

Other names/Nicknames:

• St. Germain Pointer

Country/Date of origin:

• France
• 1700’s

Height:

• 20 to 24 inches

Weight:

• 40 to 57 pounds

Personality:

• Rather reserved with strangers.
• Obedient and loyal to its owner.
• Not noisy, but rather quiet and gentle.
• A willing worker.

History:

This breed is said to have been created when King Charles X of France crossed an orange and white English Pointer that he received as a gift with a Braque Francais.  This laid the foundation of the breed.  Used for hunting large game, it was concentrated for a long time in the area around St. Germain, which gave it its name.  It is a rare breed even in its own country.

Body Type:

• Resembles the English Pointer, although rather leggy.
• The long tail is carried horizontally and is not altered.
• The hanging ears are set at eye level and are not altered.
• Nose is pink and the eyes are yellow in keeping with the coat colors.

Coat:

• Short, fine, thick, and glossy.
• The color is always white with a few bright orange patches.
• Does not provide sufficient insulation when wet, so the dog is not used for water retrieving.
• Minimal grooming required.

Health and Wellness:

• Generally very healthy.
• May be subject to hip dysplasia.

What you should know:

• A fine dog for hunting small game, but it is not a good choice for retrieving from the water.
• Makes a good companion dog for the family.
• Will be extremely difficult to find a puppy in the United States.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Suomenajokoira
• Finnish Stovare

Country/Date of origin:

• Finland
• 1800’s

Height:

• 20-1/2 to 24 inches

Weight:

• 55 to 60 pounds

Personality:

• Affectionate and friendly to all.
• Not as inclined to roam as other Foxhound types.
• High energy.

History:

Typical of Scandinavia’s Stovare-type of hunting hound, the Finnish version, called Suomenajokoira in its native land, is about a 100-years old.  It was created by crossing English Foxhounds, French and German hounds, and some of the older Stovare-types in Sweden.  By 1870, the type was fixed but appearance in this breed has never been as important as hunting ability.  Its quarry is the hare and the fox, which it flushes and pursues.

Body Type:

• A medium-sized hound of the Foxhound type.
• Long, hanging hound ears stand out slightly from the head and are not altered.
• Long tail is not altered.

Coat:

• A short, thick coat that is both coarse and rough.
• Traditional hound tricolor markings of black, red, and white.
• Sheds profusely for a shorthaired dog.  Otherwise, minimal grooming.

Health and Wellness:

• Exceptionally healthy.
• Hip dysplasia.

What you should know:

• Although the Finnish Hound is not often seen outside its native land, it is the most popular dog in that country.
• A puppy will be difficult to locate in the United States.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Bohemian Terrier

Country/Date of origin:

• Czechoslovakia
• 1940’s

Height:

• 10 to 12 inches

Weight:

• 16 to 20 pounds

Personality:

• Extremely loyal to its owner.
• A good watchdog.
• Good-natured and obedient.

History:

This breed was developed by the Czechoslovakian geneticist, Frantisek Horak after World War II.  A devoted hunter, he began by crossing Scottish Terriers with Sealyham Terriers in order to produce a hunting terrier that was lighter in build than the original breeds and that had the same enthusiasm to go-to-ground.  The breed was officially recognized by the Czech Kennel Club in 1963.  Though the breed was met with interest abroad, exporting a dog from behind the Iron Curtain was so difficult in the 1970’s that the breed remained largely in its native land.  It is now popular in many of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) countries and is making in-roads in the United States, where it is shown in the American Rare Breed Association shows.

Body Type:

• A typical go-to-ground terrier with a long head, large nose, and strong jaws.
• A solidly-built dog of substance, but not coarse or heavy.
• The body is medium long, and longer than the dog is tall.
• The medium-length tail is not docked and is carried low.
• The ears are pendulous, not too low set, and are never altered.

Coat:

• The coat should be soft, thick, slightly wavy, and have a healthy shine.
• Eyebrows and beard are fine and silky.  They are a breed hallmark.
• Non-shedding.
• Unlike most other terriers, the coat is clipped, not stripped.
• The color should be bluish gray or, very rarely, light brown with or without pale cream or beige tan markings.
• Moderate grooming is required.

Health and Wellness:

• A very robust little dog.

What you should know:

• Pronounced ches-kee.
• A rare quality is the pastel coloring of the coat.
• Puppies are born black (for blue-grey dogs) or deep chocolate brown (for light brown).
• Adapts easily to new situations and is not overly aggressive.
• Gets along well with other pets.

Other names/Nicknames:

• American Black and Tan Coonhound
• Treeing Hound

Country/Date of origin:

• United States
• 1700’s

Height:

• Females:  23 to 25 inches
• Males:  25 to 27 inches
  

Weight:

• Females:  55 to 70 pounds
• Males:  60 to 75 pounds
  

Personality:

• Very active dogs.
• Do better in a country setting.
• Friendly and even tempered.

History:

Generations of breeding have produced this raccoon and possum specialist.  Like the dogs it was created from, the Bloodhound, the Foxhound, and the now extinct Talbot Hound, the Black and Tan Coonhound is a scent trailer and works with his head down.  Coonhounds do not give excessive voice when trailing, but when the quarry is treed, they break into a lusty chorus.  One of the six breeds of American coonhounds, the Black and Tan was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1900 and by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1945.  Most are registered with the UKC, which holds many more field events than the rival AKC.

Body Type:

• A large, distinctively-marked hound with loose skin.
• Resembles a lightly built Bloodhound.
• Large, droopy ears are not altered.
• Long tail is held upright when the dog is alert.

Coat:

• Short, smooth, and glossy.
• Black is the predominant color and must be accompanied by tan patches above the eyes, on the chest, legs, and on the sides of the muzzle.  Should comprise about 10 to 15 percent of the total body area.

Health and Wellness:

• Generally healthy.
• Ear cankers typical of breeds with pendulous ears.
• Hip dysplasia.
• Progressive retinal atrophy.
• Blood disorder known as Hemophilia B is sometimes genetically transmitted.

What you should know:

• Each Coonhound has a distinctive voice, and hunters can recognize their dogs by sound alone as they follow a hunting pack.
• Puppies are born solid black.  The tan markings develop when the whelps are a few weeks old.
• Likes to wander off.
• The hunting urge runs strong in the Black and Tan.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Catahoula Hog Dog
• Texas Leopard Cowdog
• Blue Leopard Dog

Country/Date of origin:

• United States
• 1500’s

Height:

• 20 to 26 inches

Weight:

• 45 to 80 pounds

Personality:

• A one-person or one-family dog.
• Very protective.
• Tendency to dominate.

History:

The ancestor of this breed, with the haunting glass-blue eyes, may have been brought to the United States by Spanish explorers.  Legend has it that the Indians in the area took dogs left behind when the Conquistadors left, and bred them with the red wolf (though this is conjecture).  At any rate, the breeding activity has always been centered around the Catahoula Lakes in the parish of the same name in Louisiana.  Both a hunting dog and a herder, the Catahoula is tough enough to herd semi-wild cattle or wild boar into a capture pen and a good enough tracker to hunt down deer or raccoon.  It is categorized as a Herding dog by the associations where it is recognized.  In 1979 it was named the state dog of Louisiana.

Body Type:

• A compact, hound-type dog.
• The long tail is carried low and is not altered.
• The hanging ears are not altered.
• Has webbed feet.
• The eyes may be different colors.
• Glass-blue eyes are one of the breed’s hallmarks.

Coat:

• Short and dense.
• Any and all colors, including solid, leopard, and patchwork are permitted.
• The markings create a spotted pattern.
• Minimal grooming required.

Health and Wellness:

• Generally robust.

What you should know:

• Known for their athletic ability.
• Catahoulas can climb fences with ease and have even been known to climb trees.
• Obedience training is required in order to keep the upper hand.
• Once found only in its area of origin, this breed is gaining in popularity and puppies can now be located throughout North America and other countries, including South Africa.