A reputable breeder seeks to improve the breed with every litter they put on the ground, and a pup only gets to be a pet because someone who wanted a pet decided to ask that breeder for a dog, not because the puppy is inferior. The price tags are astronomical, they are too often bred from inferior stock (reputable breeders don’t knowingly make their dogs available to such people) and the rationale for breeding these is faulty — hybrid vigor does not always happen if you breed two inferior specimens to one another. If you buy from a reputable breeder, deal with a legitimate breed rescue group, or adopt from the MSPCA, Cape Ann Animal Aid, or other local shelter, you may actually have a better shot at getting a behaviorally sound dog. Is it really a good idea to buy a $2,500 dog whose parents were not health tested, especially when perfectly lovely mixed bred dogs are dying in shelters every day, or when you can buy from a breeder who has health-tested breeding stock five generations back? It’s never too late to train a dog, and it’s never too late to educate oneself about the dog industry before falling victim to a slick Internet site that masks a puppy mill, or doing business with someone who is not taking pains to assure that your hard-earned money doesn’t lead you to large veterinary bills and much heartache. read more

At least that’s the idea behind dog salons and boutiques like Charly’s Grooming Salon, conveniently located just a couple of blocks away from boutique heaven Tverskaya Ulitsa. In the waiting room of the salon, glossy magazines fan across a small table, their covers featuring not Russian movie stars, but Yorkshire terriers against backdrops of fancy dog homes. Locally, the breed even has an unofficial beauty contest, the “York Show,” where thousands of Yorkie owners rub elbows, show off their pets, and consider new lines in dog fashion. Experts advise that when trying on dog clothing, it is important for the dog to start walking. read more

The latest news from The Roanoke Times. Price for a kitty guaranteed not to make you sneeze? Please, someone tell me this is a joke. The danderless cats look like small leopards, the sneeze-free dog resembles a West Highland terrier, and the Titan Family Protector is a German shepherd dog. Consult your doctor if you have allergies and really want to find the best way to co-habitate with a furry friend. read more

Tags: list of hypoallergenic dogs, allergies, pets, cats, hypoallergenic dog treats westie, retail hypoallergenic dog food with exotic meats

Lifestyle Pets, makers of hypo-allergenic dogs and exotic âAsheraâ cats, this week announced the âavailabilityâ of the TITAN Family Protector Dog, the description of which sounds eerily similar to what most of us have long called German Shepherds. The Wilmington-based company’s founder, Simon Brodie, says there is already a waiting list of more than six months to get a TITAN Family Protector Dog. The price of a standard TITAN Family Protector dog? The TITAN Family Protector joins the company’s other pets, which include the ALLERCA GD hypoallergenic cat (priced between $6,000 and $31,000), the JABARI GD hypoallergenic dog (priced at $15,000) and different variations of the exotic ASHERA cat (priced between $22,000 and $130,000). Seems to me that these people are the same ones who’ll turn the dog into a shelter after a few months because they just don’t want a dog anymore. read more