An Australian Terrier circa 1915

Australian Terrier‘s are a descendant of the hardy terriers that the British brought with them when they made the epic journey Down Under to start new lives in the early years of the 19th century. Something of a mixture of all the different breeds that immigrants brought with them, including the Skye Terrier, Cairn Terrier, and even some smaller dogs such as the Yorkshire and Irish, the Australian has now developed into its own very identifiable and completely separate breed.

Australian Terrier History

Early Australian Terriers actually came from Tasmania, and the breed was first recognized in 1892 ; though the Kennel Club and US Kennel Club did not follow suit until 1933 and 1969 respectively. The Australian is only a small dog, growing to an average height of 25 centimetres and weighing just 6.5 kg. The short and often coarse fur is usually sandy brown in color, though some dogs have darker coats and others have been known to have hints of red.

Australian Terrier Puppies

Some Australian Terrier puppies can have white or lighter brown markings on their face, and all dogs have a tuft of hair on the very top of the head, which needs to be groomed regularly – especially if your pet spends a lot of time exploring the countryside as terriers love to do. In the past, it was fashionable to dock the tails of Australians, but the practice is no longer so popular.

Australian Terrier Temperament

When it comes to temperament, the Australian Terrier is a typical terrier. Often described euphemistically as “lively” or “spirited,” the dogs need a lot of attention and a lot of exercise to prevent them from becoming too aggressive. While they do not get on so well with other dogs, they are very friendly towards people and make excellent family pets, even if there are small children in the house.

The phrase “his bark is worse than his bite” could have been written about an Australian Terrier. They are noisy, chatty dogs who love to tell their owners when they want attention, or if there is something untoward going on. If this habit is not cracked down when the dog is a puppy, you could easily end up with an annoying, yapping pet. Luckily, the Australian Terrier is very easy to train and responds well to commands.

As with many small dogs, it is easy to spoil the Australian Terrier; something else that can lead to overly aggressive behavior in the dogs. Do not be tempted to fuss over them too much, and make sure that you treat them as a pet and not your baby, otherwise you will have a hard time socializing them with people and other dogs.

Although the Australian Terrier needs a lot of exercise to get rid of all that excess energy, their size makes them ideal for city living dog owners. They can even live happily in flats and apartments, provided that the owners take their exercise regime seriously. If you decide that an Australian Terrier is the pet for you, these tough little pooches can often live for 15 years, and owners who decide to breed their dogs should expect litters of up to four puppies.

Resources

Australian Terrier Grooming Supplies

Australian Terrier on Wikipedia

Australian Terrier Videos

Brushing your Yorkshire Terrier

The important steps to groom a Yorkshire Terrier is to brush your Yorkie every day, if thats not possible then make it a habit of brushing your Yorkie every alternate day. There are many brushes available in market for your Yorkshire Terrier. Try to look for brushes which are made from tight wire bristles. Always take the best brush which suits your hand perfectly! Before brushing remove all clothes and collars your Yorkshire Terrier may be wearing. Now using a brush or a doggie comb, gently brush the fur to remove any knots or tangles. You can use a scissor to cut the knotted fur of your pup. Always replace the brush if they start to wear.

Bathing your Yorkshire Terrier

Bathing is very necessary for your Yorkshire Terrier. You must bathe your Yorkie once in a month. Fill half of your bathtub with lukewarm water. Place your Yorkie in the bathtub and pour some water over the fur. Once your dog is wet use a mild soap or a dog shampoo, after completing this procedure use a cup to rinse your pup. It is very important to remove all soap or shampoo from your pup’s hair. If not removed properly it may cause irritation or skin problems for your dog. Make sure you dry your Yorkie properly with a clean towel, you can also use a dryer but make sure that the heat level isn’t set to high! There is more to grooming rather than just brushing the hair. You must decide about the types of hair cut necessary for your Yorkie, as we properly maintain our hairs, so the same also lies with your Yorkshire Terrier. Their hair should also be maintained properly and well trimmed. If you don’t want to take all this headache regarding maintaining your Yorkshire terrier, then it is important to invest some money in getting the right tools to groom your Yorkie properly. Don’t think about the price you will invest, think about your Yorkshire Terrier instead who will look good and be healthier after you invest money for the quality groom!

Resources

Yorkshire Terrier Grooming Supplies Yorkshire Terrier on Wikipedia

Yorkshire Terrier Videos

According to the American Humane Association, Americans love having pets in their homes with 75% of their households owning either a dog or a cat. In fact, of the 20 major countries in the world, America has the highest percentage of homes with dogs or cats. As such, it is inevitable that one would want to find the best dog for a companion and for security, and what better dog than the American Staffordshire Terrier. This dog has an impressive tough physique that makes it suitable as a family watchdog. It loves being around people and will give its all to protect the owners. In addition, it is quite loveable and so much fun to have around.

American Staffordshire Terrier History

The American Staffordshire Terrier has quite an interesting history. Although there are many versions of its origin, it is in agreement that its roots are in Staffordshire, England. It is here that the bulldog and several kinds of terriers were crossed. In the 1800s this dog found its way into America where it was known through such names as the American Bull Terrier, Pit Dog, and Yankee Terrier among others. In 1936, the dog was registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as Staffordshire Terriers, and later on had its name changed in 1972 to the American Staffordshire Terrier. Due to its popularity and powerful stature, it was used to depict strength and dignity, as a representative of America in the 1900s. Moreover, such a dog ‘pete the pup’ was featured in the ‘Our Gang’ comedies in the 1920s.

One Side of the Coin

The American Staffordshire Terrier is even tempered, very outgoing, and good with both adults and children. In addition, this breed thrives most when part of a family. Apart from their strength, they are also known for being intelligent, brave, loyal, and quite graceful. Since they love being outdoors, they are perfect as companions when taking strolls or even when you want to go biking or running. In fact, it is best that you find your AmStaff (as it is referred to casually) something to do because when left idle, they are known to be rowdy and overly excited, and may cause a lot of damage to your home.

The Other Side of the Coin

On the other hand, the American Staffordshire is quite protective of its owner and it thrives well when it has an interactive owner. It is best to train it keenly especially on obedience, and this can only be done when the owner spends time with the dog, plays with it, and in the process trains it. However, it is also imperative that the owner establishes authority, as the dog can prove to be quite imposing due to its exuberant nature. Consequently, it is also wise to supervise children when they are playing with the dog to prevent any injuries to the children.

Loves Exercise

Taking care of the American Staffordshire Terrier is easy but emphasis is put on exercise. The dog has insurmountable levels of energy and it is good to take it for long walks or even jogs, and play vigorous games to release this energy. Such activities will be enough to meet daily requirements of exercise. The American Staffordshire Terrier also requires occasional grooming such as brushing one or two times a week. Apart from having such hereditary health problems like cataracts and heart diseases, the dog is generally healthy with few health concerns.

Conclusion

The American Staffordshire Terrier will not only make a good companion and best friend but also a loyal protector. It is highly intelligent and since it learns fast, it will be easy to train the dog. If one is on the lookout for such traits, then the American Staffordshire Terrier will prove to be the best dog ever.

Resources

American Staffordshire Terrier Grooming Supplies

American Staffordshire Terrier on Wikipedia

American Staffordshire Terrier Videos

The Brussels Griffon is a dog of sturdy build up. Its head is dome shaped with a undershot jaw, a very short nose and glittering eyes. Their head appears to be large when compared to its body. Brussels Griffon’s sulk is comparable to human expression. Some also compare it to a small Boxer. The Griffon Bruxellois comes in rough coat and soft coat as well, with red color. The Griffon Belge also is a rough coated dog, but with colors barring red. This variety of dogs appears with black and tan, black and blank and red mixed. The Petit Brabancon variety has smooth coat and appears in red, black and tan, black or black and red mixed.

Soft Coated or Rough Coated?

The Brussels Griffon comes in rough coat and soft coat as well, with red color. The Griffon Belge also is a rough coated dog, but with colors barring red. This variety of dogs appears with black and tan, black and blank and red mixed. The Petit Brabancon variety has smooth coat and appears in red, black and tan, black or black and red mixed. These varieties are bred among them. These details in one way help to decide on the grooming needs for these dogs…

Brussels Griffon Classifications

Broadly classifying, the Griffon comes under two types, namely, soft coated and rough coated. The grooming needs much depend on the type of hair the dogs have. If the dogs have dense hair, grooming is to be done on routine basis. If they have short hair, the grooming efforts will be less. As far as Brussels Griffon dogs with smooth coat are concerned, a brush and a comb are sufficient for grooming them. Anyway, you have to groom them routinely, so that they look smart after the groom. The difficulty is with the rough coat dogs only.

Groom Your Brussels Griffon Regularly

You have to work hard to make rough coat dogs look smart. You have to maintain the harsh coat of these dogs in a proper manner. You have to hand-strip the coat. This job is a continual one. If you are patient enough to do it or if you have no time to do it, you cannot make your rough coat dog looking smart. If you need an alternative to it, you can clip the coat and leave it, without doing hand stripping. Yet, this means that you are compromising on the look of the dog. Some dogs may appear smart even with clipped coat, but their harsh coat is not available then, which may be required for them in the show ring. Also, the clipped coat looks very lighter, hiding out the natural colors. The rough coat of these dogs collects dust and dirt easily. It is therefore very essential for you to groom the rough coat dogs regularly.

Take your Griffon for a Walk

The Brussels Griffon doesn’t need a heavy exercise program. They can manage with mild exercises, unlike other breeds. You can take your Griffon for a short walk, which is enough. These dogs are, however, robust in nature and can walk along with you for greater distances without feeling tiredness. This implies that Griffon Bruxellois is a very healthy breed. The only caution you have to exercise is on the problems related to the patella of the dog, for which you may have to visit a veterinary doctor with your Brussels Griffon for regular check ups.

Brussels Griffon Resources

Brussels Griffon Grooming Supplies

Brussels Griffon on Wikipedia

Brussels Griffon Videos

Brussels Griffon History

The Griffon Bruxellois breed would have existed from the 16th century in Belgium. The ancestors of this breed were stray dogs in Brussels and were utilized as rat catchers in the coaching stable where they were known as “Griffons d’ecurie”. It is said that the Flemish artist Jan Van Eyck has portrayed the picture of this breed in the 15th century. They accompanied the coachmen on their journeys as mascots. In Brussels, even today one can notice the stickers of Brussels Griffon in the taxi cabs. It is in the air that the current day Griffon has been bred through Yorkshire terrier and the Irish terrier in determining the temperament and behavior. The Pug is also identified as the contributor to one of the breeds of the Griffon family, namely the Petit Brabancon, a smooth coated Griffon. This breed was first introduced in Britain in the 19th century.

Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon Belge and Petit Brabancon

There are three variations of the Brussels Griffon breed. They can be listed as Griffon Bruxellois, the Belgian Griffon also named as Griffon Belge and the Petit Brabancon. The Petit Brabancon, a smooth coated dog, is a breed of the Pug from Victoria and the Belgian dog and is named after the Belgian National Anthem. Also, when Charles Spaniel and ruby varieties were bred with the Belgian dog, a rough coated tanned Brabancon was developed. All the three breeds were developed from its ancestor known as the Smousje. Smousje is a small terrier like dog with rough coated skin, primarily used in the stables as a watchdog to eliminate rodents. The Griffon Bruxellois gained popularity in the late 1800s among the working societies and the noblemen in Belgium. In 1883, the first Griffon Brussels was registered in the Kennel Club Studbook, Livre des Origines Saint-Hubert. The popularity of this breed was further promoted when Queen Marie Henriette, a dog enthusiast, showed interest in the dog exhibition shows held in Belgium. Attracted by the nature of the dog, she started breeding the Griffons, thereby exposing the Griffons to international fame.

Brussels Griffon Used to Hunt Vermin

It was at the Brussels Exhibition of 1980 the Brussels Griffon came to exposure for the first time. However, Van Eyck, the Flemish painter, had depicted this breed resembling the early examples of Brussels Griffon. In the 17th century Brussels were kept by cab drivers. It was first used for hunting vermin. Brussels Griffon is also known as Belgium Griffon and Griffon Bruxellois. Brussels Griffon is a toy dog. The modern Griffon breeds also contain the contribution of Yorkshire and Irish Terriers for breeding. However, the history of the three breeds of Griffons is not clear. You can find Griffons, but sporadically. The lovable and small Griffon Bruxellois is sensitive too. It has more affinity to humans than to any other living beings. However, all these are general clues and you should get into details of the Griffon Bruxellois that you would like to buy.

Brussels Griffon Saved from Extinction

War time is always a danger to any breed. First and Second World War were no exceptions. After the First World War, the recovering number of this breed declined significantly as no breeding was done to avoid the dogs being born with webbed toes. By the end of Second World War, Belgium was left with no native Griffons. The dedicated breeders of England were vigilant enough to save the Griffons from extinction. In 1910, the Griffon Brussels was recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Though this breed was not widely popular, it is gaining its place as a house dog in the recent times. One reason is that the popularity of toy dogs is on the increase. Moreover, its appearance in the movie “As good as it gets” has brought this breed to the limelight. Consequently, it was taken into role for many other Hollywood movies like Sweet November, Gosford Park and so on.

Brussels Griffon = Intelligent

Brussels Griffon are intelligent. Their temperament resembles that of terriers. Griffon Bruxellois dogs are cheerful and they are good companions. Brussels Griffon are charming and affectionate to everyone. In general, they are lively and curious dogs who are good with other animals, surprisingly with cats too!

Please browse through Terrier Grooming for more Brussels Griffon breed information, and we hope that you enjoy your stay and find the site useful.

Brussels Griffon Health & Behaviour

There is a number of health problems associated with the Brussels Griffon breed. They include the luxating patella, seizures, Legg Perthes, cataracts and heart problems.

Do not feed Brussels Griffon table scraps. They may become insatiable and may develop interest in picky eating. The downside is that it is not easy to housebreak these dogs. However, they are good watchdogs. Brussels Griffon learn tricks easily. The facial expression of these dogs has earned them the nickname ‘monkey face’. These dogs are sometimes treated as little human beings, but this can develop Small Dog syndrome in them, and this encourages them to believe that they are the owners of the house. Such Brussels Griffon may try to act as your boss. So, they may behave badly with mischievous children. For these reasons, Brussels Griffon’s need mental and physical exercises in a sustained manner. However, these behaviors are not their nature, but they develop such behaviors if you treat them at par with you.

Brussels Griffon Resources

Brussels Griffon Grooming Supplies

Brussels Griffon on Wikipedia

Brussels Griffon Videos

We are very proud to announce the next step in the evolution of TerrierGrooming.com – A brand new layout, and we have huge plans for the future! We’ve been quiet for quite some time, and updates and improvements have been neglected for way to long. But now it´s time for a change!

First of all, we’re the first ones to admit that TerrierGrooming.com has been outdated for a while now. Both in terms of fresh new content and the look and feel of it. But now is the time for a change of that. Today we bring you a new layout, “tomorrow” we give you a more complete and frequently updated site!

Terrier Grooming v3 – aka TG2011

For most of you it might not seem like such a big change, but for us it´s monumental. Although the colors and overall setup might seem similar to the old design, it really is a fresh start for us. This layout has been custom build for our site, whereas the old one was a modified/tweaked version of a free theme. Being custom build, it gives us more opportunities to have it operate just as we want, and most of all it is more flexible towards our needs. It is also a step into more modern solutions of web development, thus old/standards neglecting browsers will not experience all of the “eye candy” but the function of it is just the same on “all” browsers (tip of the day for users of old versions of Internet Explorer – Upgrade to Firefox, Chrome or Safari).

Plans for the Future

Our first step is to optimize all the current articles for this new layout. Even though it works fine as it is right now, we want it to be perfect, thus we have to go through every article and adjust it.

Apart from this our plans go quite far in regards to the development of our site, but to keep some of the mystery alive we’ll hold on to those plans a little further. So make sure that you re-visit us soon, follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our RSS feed to not miss out on whats to come!

Grooming From Puppy to Old Dog

Some of the things which the video go through include clipping puppies, grooming old dogs safely, several different breeds which require different cuts and grooming styles, and even goes over the best way to handle different kinds of toenails, something which many dog owners find very tricky to deal with. The most important aspect of this DVD is that it is so easy to use that even someone who has never groomed a dog before can have a nicely cut and combed dog.

Groom Your Own Dog or Open up a Salon!

You can purchase this DVD through wholesalers like Amazon for around $26.00, though it can also be found in other stores and places like libraries and movie rental places. It’s definitely worth searching for if you own a dog and want to do the grooming yourself or even if you want to learn how to groom dogs and open up your own grooming salon. Regardless of your reason for purchasing this DVD, this one is well worth adding to your library and should be in the collection of any dog owner.

Although their temperament makes them suitable for even novice owners, their coats are very unique and require special care and even more care must be taken if you’re going to show this dog because they have a very distinctive appearance and shape.

Brushing Your Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Every day, you’ll have to brush a Dandie Dinmont Terrier’s coat with a sticker brush, a pin brush, and a bristle brush. This is because this terrier has a very soft overcoat and a softish undercoat, both of which need to be carefully brushed and have the dead hairs pulled from them. With regular care, this breed of dog hardly sheds at all, so if you want to keep from having fur all over the place, regular brushing is a must.

Plucking and Hand Stripping

A couple times a year, a Dandie Dinmont Terrier has to be plucked and hand stripped, either by a groomer, or you can do it yourself. It’s very important with this breed to have a professional do it at least once so you can see how it’s done. This is because of that this breed of terrier has a very distinctive shape and appearance, which can only be seen through careful stripping and plucking. You should let a professional do it first to see how it’s done before attempting to do it yourself. Every couple of months you’ll have to trim your Dandie Dinmont Terrier with thinning shears and a #4 or #5 blade to get rid of clumps of matted hair and to clean up your Dandie Dinmont Terrier’s appearance, especially along the back and sides to maintain the ‘weasel like’ appearance; that is, the long appearance of this particular terrier. A #10 and #15 blade is used for the stomach and feet because this fur is much softer.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is a great companion

Dandie Dinmont Terriers don’t need a lot of bathing; you’ll mostly just have to wash yours if it gets into something smelly. Use dog shampoo and lots of patience and make sure to rinse out shampoo carefully as dried shampoo is itchy. Dandie Dinmont Terriers make great companions as they do well even in apartments where they can’t get a lot of exercise. However, they do have particular grooming needs so be certain to either have a groomer you trust or that you learn how to do it yourself so that your terrier looks great all the time.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier Resources

Dandie Dinmont Terrier Grooming Supplies

Dandie Dinmont Terrier on Wikipedia

A Good Overview on Dog Grooming

This DVD is as comprehensive as ninety minutes will allow, but of course some things are missing. For example, while you will learn how to do basic trimming and cutting, you won’t be as guided on specific things such as legs, which could be problematic if you own a breed where the leg fur has to be carefully cut and styled. Instead of getting specifics, you will be getting a good overview of what you need to know in order to cut your dog at home and make it look tidy, but certainly not ready for show or anything like that. However, if all you are looking for is information on making your dog look tidy, then this is the DVD for you.

You can find Doggie Cuts at wholesalers such as Amazon for a very reasonable price, considering the amount of information you will be receiving. It is well worth looking into purchasing this video for your library if you own dogs and want to groom your own pets instead of paying someone to do it for you. You can even use this video as a foundation for becoming a groomer yourself; it’s a great beginner’s guide to basic cuts, though it doesn’t go into the same level of detail as many other grooming books and movies.

Related Links

• Doggie Cuts DVD on Amazon.com

Glen of Imaal terriers have a very rough outer coat which is weather proof and needs to be combed with a metal comb or a slicker brush when the dog’s fur is longer. After a cut, you should use a slicker brush because it’s gentle on the dog’s skin. This should be done at least twice a week in order to get any knots out and prevent matting. You also have to wipe your dog’s beard every day to get rid of the dirt accrued from a day of eating and sniffing and getting into things.

Hand Stripping a Glen of Imaal for Show

A few times a year, a Glen of Imaal needs to be hand stripped and plucked in order to maintain the integrity of its coat and its appearance. Show dogs must be hand stripped and plucked, but if you don’t intend to show your dog and you aren’t as finicky about appearances then you can do a thorough cut and trim a few times a year in order to get roughly the same effect. If you’re uncertain about stripping your pet, then you can have a professional groomer do the stripping for you, but be certain that you specify what you want and that the groomer is versed in hand stripping and plucking otherwise you won’t get what you want.

Don’t Bath your Terrier to Often

Glen of Imaals should not be bathed more than once every few months because frequent bathing ruins the weatherproofing effect of the dog’s coat. When you do have to bathe your dog, be certain to use dog shampoo and rinse thoroughly as dried shampoo is an irritant. Finally, make sure to clip your dog’s nails routinely and check his ears for ear wax or other irritants so that his ears stay healthy. You also have to clip the hairs around his ears and bum too so that your dog can more easily stay clean.

Glen of Imaal terriers are very attractive dogs and you can keep this appearance by following a proper grooming routine. Both you and your dog will benefit from taking care of it, and we´re sure that your dog and you will enjoy the bonding time that a grooming creates!