Euro Puppy BLOG

So many people feel that a dog belongs on a leash. They either don't have the time, or patience to keep up with a young dog that's running around all over the place, so they make the dog stay in the backyard on a leash.

That is just not right. A dog wasn't made for people to tie up permanently. They were meant to run wild, be free, and explore.



Keep in mind that tying up your dog for extended periods of time, or as a habit is a sure way to ruin the dog's temper. They're not healthy, both mentally and physically. They are likely to get aggressive and bolt at the first opportunity - Wouldn't you?

Having a dog is a responsibility. If you've bought a dog by mistake and realize too late that you don't have the ability to care for him or her, then at least try and find a good home that will take care of them properly. It's no shame to you. Everyone makes mistakes. But you must take responsibility to correct those mistakes.

All too often, choices of what dog to buy are based on seeing a puppy picture. The puppy wins over your heart, and your hand steals to your wallet.

But wait! Remember that ALL puppies are cute, and while puppies are a delight to be with, remember that when they grow up, they will lose all their puppy qualities and take over the mantle of the breed they belong to. The puppy you are about to buy will resemble to one or both of the parents. If that is what you want GO FOR IT!



Your choice of dog should depend on many factors including what sort of dog you finally want - large, hairy, playful, aggressive, and whether or not you are ready for one.

Look at your house, your surrounding, your family and your future plans before deciding to commit to a dog which is no less of a responsibility than a baby.

For puppy and adult photos please visit Euro Puppy USA.

Hundreds of years ago cropping (surgically changing the shape of the ears) was done for practical purposes. For example, to stop the ears being snagged in rough territory and being injured while hunting or working. For dogs that were bred for fighting it gave less for an opponent to grip on to rip off and sure gave a real “don’t mess with me” look. For guarding breeds, it made them look very alert and in tune with everything around them. Some of those purposes have carried on through to today and it’s an important part of the breed’s feature for many people, for aesthetical reasons (they like the look). It can be looked at as a breed’s trademark so to speak and has been said to have even given the upper hand in the show ring on more than the odd occasion. However, nowadays, I must mention that it is becoming less and less popular generally with an ever-growing resistance and controversy to it and even banned in some countries, especially in Europe such as Germany. This is rather interesting, as many of the breeds that typically have the ears cropped, originate from there. In Great Brittan, dogs with cropped ears are actually barred from entering shows.

Types of Crops?
Long Crop: skinny and tapered at the end and here are some typical breeds that experience it. Usually taping, splinting and bandaging will occur with this crop and it is not always guaranteed to hold that perfect erect posture, especially if done poorly of course.

- Doberman (pictured)
- Great Dane
- Schnauzer (Giant – Miniature)
- Boxer
- Miniature Pinscher



Short Crop: Cut rather short and no taping required, but may need a support moulded inside the ear for a while. Even with this cut there is a difference between being good or bad and show judges will look for perfect crop true to set breed standards.

- Cane Corso (pictured)
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Caucasian Mountain Dog
- Canary Dog
- Dogo Argentino



By whom and when should it be done?

You will hear various different ages for various different breeds. For this reason, it is better to seek good advice from experienced breeders and specialist veterinarians that actually do perform crops on the breed you are considering as they will shed the best light on the subject. Many vets will actually not go near cropping for various reasons. A couple being, awkward after treatments such as infections or complaints about the look. Early puppyhood most will agree on to get the surgery done and let’s say between the tender age of 7-12 weeks old typically to give you an idea. Ear cartilage sets early in dogs so this explains one reason why needed so soon. The puppy goes under general anaesthesia during the surgery (made to sleep), which always poses a risk of the puppy not waking up!

Taping your dog's ears will be required after the long crop (for Dobermans, Great Danes, Schnauzer, Boxer and Miniature Pinscher). Here is a great blog post on "How to actually tape your dog’s ears!"

Many of you may have seen the the sloppy star of an American film named Turner and Hooch, which had Tom Hanks in it. Well, I can tell you that not until this film came out, did this breed attain much recognition outside of France where it originated from many centuries ago (hence its other name, French Mastiff and the region it’s from, Bordeaux). The below information is a guide to help you make an informed decision if seriously contemplating owning this breed.

Who is suited to this breed?

This breed was first used guarding and believe it or not, game hunting, dog fighting and animal baiting. Today this breed is still used for guarding, but more so companionship as is extremely loyal, patient and devoted to those that are close. It does not need so much exercise (A daily walk and a bit of light play is usually sufficient as it’s a heavy breed) and not so athletic, but its messy eating manners, drooling and large size make it a difficult, but not impossible dog to keep inside a home. Ideally a small yard is better suited to it and non-extreme hot and cold weather conditions. A Dogue de Bordeaux can posses formidable traits, such as relentless strength, wariness of strangers and an inclination to intimidate unknown people. This makes it a first class watchdog and has natural instinct from a young age. It is suited to an owner that is prepared to spend plenty of quality time, and has a real enthusiasm for this large, fast learning and impressive looking breed. It is often said for good reason, that this breed is best in the hands of an experienced owner.

Male or female?

This breed can be aggressive to other dogs especially males. A dominant alpha male can be a hard nut to crack. Neutering can settle it down somewhat but may not solve all problems. The French Mastiff needs early socialization and obedience training is recommended whether male or female to alleviate future problems. This is very important! A shy or reserved Mastiff due to lack of socialization could be a big mistake. Many owners will find a female DDB cleaner (not marking its territory on every available occasion) and easier to handle with a more relaxed/submissive disposition. This would make for a possible better family choice, while the male as a courageous guardian. The male being noticeably bigger as a rule, highlights better the true DDB traits, which is a big draw card for some. Some males may even get up to 75kg (165 lbs) as big, lion-hearted and looking Carlo below!



Colors

French Mastiffs come in several shades of fawn from light to dark. They can often be described as red and rust, and the deeper, richer the color, the most desired usually. However, some people prefer light fawn, and this shade should not be overlooked if other traits are positive. Solid color is popular, but there can be white on the tips of their toes and a patch on the chest, nowhere else. Many people like this also, so it’s just a matter of personal preference of course.

Conformation

Often conformation (shape) is overlooked and color and markings take preference. However, conformation is very important and here are some traits to notice when buying your puppy (Although changing fast at a young age, these early traits are likely to be carried through). Good puppies usually have plenty of facial wrinkle on a large proportioned head and some loose skin on the body. A downside to this wrinkle is that more care and cleaning is required by the owner as it can lead to problems such as skin infection. A short, furrowed muzzle on a puppy is an important factor to look for along with a dense/thick bone structure and deep chest. Being a large breed, it should take a rectangular shape, but not to be as long as a train so to speak. Many people look for large feet as an omen for big things to come. Early large size can also have a downside as too much weight on the legs and hips at this important growing stage can lead to problems such as dysplacia later (HD/ED). Seeing both parents (dam and especially sire) is beneficial as they will give good foresight to how your puppy will look fully grown. Below is a pup that illustrates many of the important characteristics to look for. As a guide, Just start at the head and then work your way over the bone structure.



People will buy this breed to show, guard, breed or just as a family pet. Regardless of purpose, it pays to get a Dogue de Bordeaux true to the breed standards and attractive. This is one breed where there is a vast difference between top and bottom shelf and there is no shortage of not so good looking dogs out there unfortunately. It is neither a cheap dog to buy (1800 USD upwards usually) nor care for. There is a tendency that the best ones come from Europe or have strong European heritage.

I hope this helps your decision? If still unsure, have questions or ready to get your dog, contact an expert at Euro Puppy and check out our Dogue de Bordeaux puppies for sale!

A lot of people I have seen have an inability to properly make their dogs understand when something is bad. If a dog has done something wrong and you've found out about it after a while, there is absolutely no good in disciplining them at that time since their brain is such that they don't understand what they did wrong.

For example, if you come home and find that your dog has chewed up all the papers in the house, and you yell at him, he will not understand why you are angry. Only that you are angry.



In order to effectively make your dog change their behavior, you need to catch them in the act. Either that, or just as they are about to make their move so that it's crystal clear what is happening.

I love dogs and always view them with respect and friendliness. But there are some ground rules. You must never let any doubt remain in the dogs mind as to who is master. A dog who is unsure of who is master is likely to push you around and take advantage of your weakness.

It is important you instill a sense of leadership in yourself as far as your dog is concerned. Basic rules for your dog like "It is unacceptable to show aggression to any kind of human, no matter how small", can keep a dog from bossing around or even frightening a baby just because it is small and weak.



We must never forget that dogs are still animals who have been domesticated. They need to have a leader to follow, and you must provide that leadership. Otherwise you will face unwanted and undesired behavior

Loving your dog doesn't mean you have to get overly indulgent. Otherwise you may find out that you're not the leader anymore!

Okay, you’re seriously thinking about buying a Neapolitan Mastiff, but before you do, you might want to take some of the following points into consideration to make sure you get the one that is the most suitable for you. After all, it’s a big decision, and the better informed you are, the easier the choice.

Who is suited to this breed?

This breeds originates from Italy a very long time ago (Antiquity) and was first used for dog fighting and livestock guarding. Today this Mastino is mainly used for companionship and security. It does not need frequent exercise and not so athletic, but its messy eating manners, drooling and sheer size make it a difficult dog to keep inside a home. It is better suited to a small yard with an adequate doghouse or property such as a place to protect as it is excellent at this task (you may not find much better). It is suited to an owner that is prepared to spend plenty of quality time, and has a real enthusiasm for this large, intelligent and beautiful breed. It is often said for good reason, that this breed is best in the hands of experienced dog handlers.

Male or female?

This breed can be dominant and this especially applies to males! A dominant alpha male can be very tough case indeed. Neutering can settle it down somewhat but may not solve all problems. The Neapolitan Mastiff needs early socialization and obedience training whether male or female to alleviate future problems. This is very important! Many owners will find a female Neo cleaner (not marking its territory on every available occasion) and easier to handle with a more relaxed/submissive disposition. This would make for a possible better family choice, while the male as a courageous guardian. The male being noticeably bigger as a rule, highlights better the true Neo traits, which is a big draw card for some. Some males may get up to 90kg (200lbs) as big Marco below.


Colors

Basically it is just a matter of personal choice. Often there can be white on the tips of their toes and a patch on the chest.

-Blue (often referred to as grey and the most common and popular color)
-Black
-Brown (known as tawny or mahogany. Very rare and more expensive)

These colors can have some brindle through them also, where the coat is streaked, not a solid color.

Conformation

Often conformation (shape) is overlooked and color and markings take preference. However, conformation is very important and here are some traits to notice when buying your puppy (Although changing fast at a young age, these early traits are likely to be carried through). Good puppies usually have plenty of facial wrinkle on a large head and loose skin on the body, especially around the neck and chest area. A downside to this wrinkle is that more care and cleaning is required by the owner and it can lead to problems such as cherry eye (the eye tissue protrudes more than normal and becomes red and inflamed). A short muzzle on a puppy is an important factor to look for along with a dense/thick bone structure. Being a large breed, it should take a rectangular shape, but not to be as long as a train so to speak. Many people look for large feet as an omen for big things to come. Early large size can also have a downside as too much weight on the legs and hips at this important growing stage can lead to problems such as dysplacia later (HD/ED). Below is a blue pup that illustrates many of the characteristics to look for.




People will buy this breed to show, guard, breed or just as a family pet. Regardless of purpose, it pays to get a Neo true to the breed standards and attractive. This is one breed where there is quite a difference between top and bottom shelf and there is no shortage of not so good looking dogs out there unfortunately. It is neither a cheap dog to buy nor care for. There is a tendency that the best ones come from Europe or have strong European heritage.

I hope this helps your decision? If still unsure or ready to get your dog, Contact Euro Puppy and check out our Neapolitan Mastiff puppies for sale!

I wonder how dog owners buy dog toys for their beloved furry friends. Honestly, I never really paid attention whether a toy is safe for a dog or not. The primary aim has always been that my dog should enjoy playing with it. One of the most popular games is "throw and fetch". A tennis ball will do it. Yet, there are several custom designed dog balls out there. Would you believe that some of those toys can kill your dog?

I recently stumbled upon a fellow dog fancier's blog - EuroDogTraining Blog - and read an article "Dangerous toy".

"a 10 year old labrador mix named Chai was playing with this toy when his tongue got stuck in the hole of the ball, leading to the amputation of his tongue. While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created which sucked his tongue into the hole of the ball."

Please read the story above by following the link. Next time, you go to buy a toy for your dog you will remember to research which are safe toys for your dog.

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on a personal level: I recently spent 4 days in Brussels and enjoyed it. Beautiful city with excellent restaurants, food and hundreds of good beer! Sorry, I didn't taste any famous Belgian Chocolates...

Many times while walking along a road, you will come across a cute or handsome dog being walked by his owner, and you will want to go upto them and pet them.

This may be dangerous. First, look at the dog. Does he look happy, or afraid? A dog can be nervous of strangers and can react oddly out of fear. It usually helps to ask the owner - "Is he friendly?", and if she says yes, you can usually go ahead and make friendly overtures - but not too friendly if you sense that the dog isn't ready yet.



Interestingly, I find that the dogs in countries where there are a lot of humans around like India, are more friendly than countries where contact with humans is more restricted. In India, there are people all over the roads and in the vicinity all the time, and this seems to make them more comfortable around humans in general. I have found most of the dogs on a leash in India friendly and apt to wag their tail and joyously make for even a stranger when I see them approaching.....not in America, where the canines seem more cautious.

Okay, you’re seriously thinking about buying a French Bulldog. But just before you do, you might want to take some of the following points into consideration to make sure you get the one that is the most suitable for you. After all, it’s a big decision, and the better informed you are, the easier the choice.

Male or female?
Men are from Mars and Women from Venus, the gender issue. Although usually clownish and sweet, this breed can exhibit same-sex aggression. This is more likely to be with 2 intact and full-blooded males, but not totally limited to them. If you already have a male in the household you may think of getting a female, especially if he is a little dominant. This makes it not easy, but early socialization in the puppyhood will help to alleviate future problems whichever sex you decide on. Of course if there is a female and the male unneutered, you may have to keep them apart for certain times of the year if you catch my drift. As you know or will learn quickly, turn your back on them and they will take full advantage of the situation (Frenchies are opportunists).

Generally, males (even more so if intact) are a little more rambunctious than females. This suits many people as could be argued as having more character and get up and go. They are also considered as being nicer in look as the typical French bulldog traits are more pronounced (you will read more about this below). Females, on the other hand don’t cock their leg on every 2nd upright thing to mark their territory and often people find them cleaner and sweeter in character.

French Bulldog Colors!
Frenchies are getting rather colorful these days. There is
- black
- brindle
- white
- cream
- fawn
- chocolate
- blue
- pied. Pied means having patches of a certain colors, such as: brindle pied, fawn pied.



Brindle dogs are said to be the healthiest, while pure white more likely to have problems (sensitive skin and deafness). Fawn is probably the most common. Black is usually not accepted if you’d like to show, there should be a little brindle in there (the coat is streaked instead of a solid color). If you’d like a French Bulldog in an unusual/rare color such as blue or chocolate, keep in mind that you may not be able to get one immediately and will be more expensive. In addition these are not recognized colors by FCI or AKC.

Conformation
Lastly, I’d like to touch on a few important conformation qualities to look out for when buying this breed. Look for compactness! What I mean by this is that the back should be short and not like a locomotive train. The legs should not be like a fashion models, but rather stocky instead. A useful tip is that the back line and the legs should be about the same length forming a square box as the below picture illustrates. Note also that this pup has a very nice deep chest.



Look for a large square head in comparison to the body even in a pup. A flat and wrinkly muzzle is also a must. Although changing fast while a puppy, these are early traits to notice as likely to be carried through. Being lean yet muscular is also an important factor but this will be seen more so on a quality adult male more of obvious reasons.



Frenchies are known for their distinct “bat ears” People usually like them as large as possible and standing to attention as on this 12 week old pup. Sometimes the ears will take a little time to be strong enough stay up on some puppies (late developers).

I hope this helps your decision? If still unsure or ready to get your Frenchie Contact EP and check out our French bulldog puppies for sale!

Do you want to learn more? Send us your questions!