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A word on size.
AKC has many different terms that they use officially for the size of various breeds. Most breeds do not have size groups, but of the
breeds that do, AKC uses the terms TOY, MINI, STANDARD and GIANT. These categories can give someone a handle on the size that
they can expect the puppy to grow to.
Many breeders have taken this a step further and have coined such size terms as micro teacup, teacup, tiny, and royal as well as the
AKC's terms of toy, mini, standard and giant. The typical consensus of most breeders is that teacup is the smallest that a breed can be.
However, many toy breeders have a more constrictive definition of teacup as any dog that will mature to under 4 lbs. and 8 in. tall. I have
seen the term teacup applied to breeds such as cocker spaniels and mini schnauzers (just to name a couple) which would not mature to
the toy "standard" of teacup. Micro teacup is one step down from teacup and generally refers to an extreme teacup which general
standard consensus would place it at under 3 lbs. and 7 inches at maturity. Tiny is generally said to be under 6 lbs. and 9 inches. AKC
says toy is under 10 1/2 in. and most people would agree that a toy should mature to under 10 1/2 lbs. AKC's standard form mini is
generally under 14 in. and standard is at about 25 in. Giant would be the next largest, and her again many breeders use the term Royal
for a dog that will mature larger than the giant size. This is just a general synopsis of terms, and is not to be quoted. I just want to be able
to help the general public to understand the size terms that are being thrown around and many times totally misunderstood or totally
confused and missused! I have had several people tell me they want a mini poodle that will be no larger than 5 lbs. This is so frustrating
to me! What they are wanting is a toy poodle, but are for some reason confused as to the correct terms for the size of poodle they are
looking for.

A word on dog registries
There are many registries with which dog breeders can register their puppies. Of course the foremost registry in the USA is the AKC. The
AKC is a pure breed dog registry. The AKC will not register puppies if the parents of the puppies are not registered in full with the AKC
even if the puppies are pure bred. AKC also requires DNA's to be done on all sires that are frequently used. This is to help to insure that
bloodlines stay pure.   There are many other registries, some well known, and some not so well known, and some being developed by
someone who feels like starting a registry just about any day of the week!!! Most other registries will register an AKC dog with them, so that
the dog can be double registered.   Also, many of the registries will also register mixed breeds if the paperwork is in order! The better
known registries are CKC, APRI, ACA, UKC, only to name a few. There are also single dog breed registries both for pure breeds and mixed
breeds. There are also registries that have to do with dog obedience, hunting, and the like. Most registries require some type of a
pedigree. A pedigree is basically just a dog's family tree.

BOY OR GIRL?
The majority of people looking for a new puppy ask if we have females. A few want only male, and some are fine with either sex. I have also
had people come to see the girls and go home with a male that just stole their heart! (The following discussion about gender is assuming that
the puppy is spade or neutered which is a procedure that we highly recommend for your puppy around the age of 4 months!)   Just as in the
fact that there are differences in the sexes in people, there are differences in the sexes in dogs. However, even as the analogy is not
perfectly harmonious between the two species, the fact that is parallel is that most of the differences are only general. So having said that,
generally speaking, females are more scrappy, territorial, bond more with one person, and have to urinate more often. They generally enjoy
long sessions of grooming more than males do.   Males are generally nicer looking, (Remember, we are talking animals here, not people!
LOL!) bond with the whole family, live and let live type of attitude and are more curious. In many instances they are easier to house train, and
grooming makes them want to sleep! Some people are worried about "humping" behaviors and marking in males. Neutering at the proper
age as soon as your vet recommends it is the best answer. However, this may not totally solve the "humping" problem. And I have also seen
females displaying this trait!   A little known fact is that "Humping" is not even sexual! It is a show of dominance just like the kiss of the kissing
fish is a show of dominance and has nothing to do with affection! So, the best recommendation for "humping" behavior is discipline! Start
early to show the puppy that he or she is NOT boss! Help your kids to exert authority over the puppy firmly, yet gently! This is very important!
Also, enrol the puppy into puppy training classes at the earliest possible time. This is how we have overcome this problem in our own pets.

If you are looking to purchase two pets it is generally recommended that you would purchase two males or a male and a female as opposed to
two females. But then again many females get along just fine with other females, and some males can be antagonistic with other males even if
he is neutered.

What about allergies?
I am very familiar with the problem of allergies. Most of my family suffer from them moderately to very severely. My parents have never
been able to have a dog in the house, not only from being allergic to dogs, but the dust and other allergens that they bring in with them!
There are some breeds of dogs that are much better than others for allergy sufferers, but don't think for one moment that a particular
breed will never cause an allergic reaction! Some people are allergic to all breeds of dogs. It is best to have your allergies tested by a
specialist before you adopt a dog if there is any question in your mind about your allergic response to a dog.

If you have been tested for allergies and were cautioned to choose a hypoallergenic breed. And you have studied the breeds, and have
found a breed of dog that you feel would be a perfect fit for you. There are many things that you can do to reduce allergens at the source.

1. Keep your dog in top condition by feeding a high quality food and supplementing with herbs and vitamins.
2 Keep your dog clean. There are many dog shampoos that can be used frequently, but be cautious about highly scented applications
as these sometimes can produce an allergic reaction to either the dog, or yourself!
3. Keep yourself in top condition by eating right, exercising and supplementing with herbs and vitamins.

I know that there are sources that recommend visiting the dog or puppy that your are interested in several times before purchase to ensure
that you are not going to have an allergic reaction to the dog. However, in my experience this has not been reliable at all. Sometimes
there are allergens in the home, or yard that you are reacting too, and many times the allergic responses to the dog may only come with
prolonged exposure. Allergic responses are worse in the evening hours when you are more tired, than they are in the morning, or mid
afternoon when you are refreshed. I hope this has helped. I do not have all the answers. Sometimes there are no answers when it comes
to allergies, and one must decide to live without a doggie companion for their own health, or the health of a loved one..

'JUST A DOG'
From time to time, people tell me, 'lighten up, it's just a dog,' or 'that's a lot of money for just a dog.'
They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for 'just a dog.'
Some of my proudest moments have come about with 'just a dog.'
Many hours have passed and my only company was 'just a dog,' but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by 'just a dog,'
and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of 'just a dog' gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's 'just a dog,' then you will probably understand phrases like 'just a friend,' 'just a sunrise,' or 'just a promise.'
'Just a dog' brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
'Just a dog' brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of 'just a dog' I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it's not 'just a dog' but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
'Just a dog' brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not 'just a dog' but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being 'just a woman.'
So the next time you hear the phrase 'just a dog,' just smile, because they 'just don't understand.'

(I do not know who wrote this, but many people have emailed me to say they really could relate!)

Miscellaneous puppy
related Information

Pure bred or mixed?
There has been a lot of discussion about the merits of puppies that are a mix of two different pure bred dog breeds. I am of the oppinion that there
are many advantages to the mixing of two established breeds, and indeed, even science shows that a mix can be healthier than that of a pure bred
puppy. Even though a mixed breed puppy can have health issues, he is much less likely to because of having a larger gene pool. To be
continued...