Bernese Mountain Dog for sale Ireland

Paul | blog | December 14, 2011

On a recent blog I mentioned that we have been on a real roller coaster ride since launching the Pedigree dogs web site nearly 2 years ago.

The Dog side of the site, to me, is quite simple. Stick to what is right, and not much can go wrong.

The other side of the site is the techie side, the actual working of it, dealing with things such as search engine optimisation, google pay per click ad’s etc, etc. Before launching the site I had never heard of Google Analytics, but now I visit the site every day, as it lets you in on information like, how many visitors landed on your site on a certain day, was it their first time to visit your site, how long did they stay on the site, and what words did they search under or Google in order to land on the site.

Well yesterday, one of the high ranking search terms on Pedigree dogs was, “bernese mountain dog for sale ireland”

On a Blog back in July of this year, we mentioned how certain media attention, in this case a TV advert could increase a certain breed of dogs popularity with the public.

I wonder if the fact that our recently appointed president Mr Michael D Higgins, taking on 2 Bernese Mountain Dogs and the media attention it received, has anything to do with yesterday’s increase on our site for this search term.

Let’s hope that if people are truly interested in this breed of dog, that they have done sufficient research in to the breed, by way of it’s requirements regarding exercise,training,grooming,feeding and housing requirements of the breed.

Let’s also hope that if they do decide that this breed is the perfect choice for their family that they go down the right channels like Michael D, and get in contact with the Bernese Mountain Dog Club Of Ireland who are one of the clubs that are linked under Breed Clubs on our blog. By doing this they can be pretty certain that they will be put in touch with an owner / breeder that carries out all the breed specific health checks for the breed, and that a pup from one of these people, will have had the best possible start in life, with the add on of a lifetime’s worth of assistance at the other end of a phone.

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Dog walking versus gym membership

Paul | blog | November 29, 2011

We have blogged here before about dog owners being healthy, and to back this up, on the Telegraphs web site today it states that most dog owners are getting more exercise than somebody with a gym membership.

The experts that wrote this piece also state that the major difference in walking your dog versus going to the gym is that the later can feel like a chore whilst the majority of dog walks can be seen as enjoyable.

Another notable difference is that it’s easy to find an excuse not to go to the gym, but when you have a big pair of brown eyes staring up at you with the tail wagging, and the leash in mouth, it’s hard to say no.

And in case you needed more convincing, when out with your dog, you are enjoying the fresh air, and also maybe taking in some breath taking scenery, instead of being cooped up in an air conditioned environment, next to a sweaty old man who is wearing ill fitting shorts !

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On a lighter note….

Paul | blog | November 25, 2011

Yesterday’s blog seemed to rub some people up the wrong way, so we have decided to play it safe today with a little joke !

A man took his dog to the vets and asked the vet to completely remove the dogs tail.

The vet confused said “Why do you want me to do that? the dogs tail is perfectly healthy.”

The man replied “Well the wifes mother comes this weekend and I want to make sure there are no signs of any welcome!!”

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Bargain basement pups for sale

Paul | blog | November 24, 2011

As they say, there is nothing as queer as folk !

Thankfully, I don’t have that many people to buy for at Christmas, and one that I do is for my godson who lives in Donegal.

The question had been asked, and the response that came back was a couple of games for the Nintendo DS.

Easy peasy…Headed into Smyth’s toys on Monday, and must say, I was taken aback buy the huge amount of people who were handing over large wads of hard earned cash on the latest plastic gadget, that is made in China or Japan. There were trolley loads leaving the store heading to the packed car park…and this is still November.

Anyway, what has all this got to do with Irelands number 1 dog web site I hear you ask.

Well, yesterday I got a text message from a person who advertised a litter on the site wondering if they should display the asking price, as they have had a few phone calls from visitors to pedigree dogs, but when the conversation got down to brass tacks, all interest was lost.

My advice was to have a read of the following Blog and feel free to use the comparison if faced with this situation again.

So….It seems it’s Ok to spend a fortune on plastic junk made in China or Japan just because it’s the latest craze, but when it comes to buying a dog, the majority of people in Ireland want a knock down bargain, even though this purchase should last 15 + years and give huge amounts of  unconditional love & loyalty in return, and hopefully not end up on the scrap heap like the majority of the toys being bought for this festive season.

You could say that when it comes to buying a dog,most Irish people wouldn’t spend Christmas !

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Dog food TV ad, that targets your dog !

Paul | blog | November 23, 2011

The following advert, developed by one of the major pet dog food companies, uses high frequency sounds to attract dogs’ attention !

On hearing the sounds that are only audible to our dogs, as dogs hearing is far more sensitive than us bipods, the dog food manufacturer hopes that dogs will sit up and take notice, and thus draw us humans into thinking that if the dog likes it, we’ll buy it

The advert is being aired in Austria at the moment, and based on its success, it may hit TV screens across the UK and Ireland next year,

Haven’t tried it yet with my pack, but will do later when working from my lap top, and keep you posted re the results.

Whatever will they think of next

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Dogs & the art of walking in the rain

Paul | blog | November 17, 2011

Regular visitors to this blog will know that from time to time we review books that are dog themed, and one such one was The art of racing in the rain

Well, the weather forecast for this week end is not looking the prettiest, and I think that is something we have to look forward to for the foreseeable future.

On days like this when the wind is blowing and the rain coming at you horizontally, it can be quite difficult to don the wet weather gear and bring our dogs for their daily walk.

A walk with your dog has major benefits for both you and your dog.

I tend to have some of my best, (and sometimes not that good) idea’s when out walking with the dogs, as it’s a great way to switch off from the day to day routine, and let the mind wander

Now from your dogs point of view, getting out for a walk everyday, brings new experiences and let’s them explore all the sights,sounds smells that the great outdoors has to offer, and they return having fulfilled this basic need

Not getting your dog out for a walk or some off lead exercise, deprives your dog from this, and it’s totally unfair then to expect them to behave “normally” if they haven’t had a chance to use up the energy that we sometimes pump into them with high protein diets.

Getting our dogs out for regular exercise therefore goes a long way to having a well balanced and well behaved dog, and unless you want your dog to be # 5 on Irelands 5 most dangerous dogs get your wet gear on, and go and enjoy that walk.

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Are Dog Breeders in Ireland getting a Raw Deal ?

Paul | blog | November 11, 2011

The debate that is ,whether to advertise your dog or pups on one of the well known online general classifieds raised it’s ugly head again recently.

The two sides to the debate are “not over my dead body ” versus “you have to post on these sites to let the public know that there are responsible breeders out there”

I think regular visitors to pedigreedogs.ie know where I stand on the issue.

There are other ways of letting the public know that there are responsible breeders out there.

Attending Pet Expo which was held last month in the RDS with your breed or club is one way. The organisers of the 2 day event have advised that this was the highlight of the Expo for many of the visitors.

Breed clubs setting up their own web sites is another. We have Blogged about this issue before, and it is quite easy to rank well with Google etc, for specific search terms like “shar pei club of ireland” etc

This as well as individual kennels having their own sites is another fantastic way of attracting Joe Public to kennels that promote responsible dog ownership, and rear healthy well socialised pups.

With that in mind, I am going to showcase an individual kennel each month from the list of show kennels that can be found under this title to the right hand side of this blog.

All that will be required is a little speel about your kennel, breeds owned and maybe how you got into them etc, and maybe some advice to people who are interested in getting into these breeds, health checks etc

The article can be as long or a short as you like, and will carry a direct link back to your website.

Novembers Kennel is already working on the piece, and will be appearing on our blog and Facebook / Twitter pages soon.

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It’s a Dogs life in Europe

Paul | blog | November 10, 2011

During the Celtic Tiger years Ireland went through a major transformation.

People everywhere wanted more from their lives, and would do anything to keep up with the latest trend.

Streetside cafe’s sprung up all over the place, and a law was even tabled where alcohol could be served at these premises late into the evening.

This trend was of course mirrored on the European system, that works so well.

Why is it then that we are prepared to freeze sitting outside a cafe in the middle of November, all in the hope of looking more trendy or European, but we don’t adopt their practices when it comes to keeping dogs.

Dogs would be allowed into these premises in Europe, and there dogs are considered an integral part of the family unit.

That in my opinion is the crux of the problem re dog ownership in this country, as in Europe the dog is considered as part of the family, but here in Ireland, the majority of people just see a dog as a pet or less, and something that can be discarded when times get tough.

I know of people in Holland that keep and breed Standard Smooth Dachshunds, and never have a problem in finding excellent homes for the pups, and develop a friendship with the new owners for the life of the dog and beyond.

Here in Ireland, people that own this breed, or any less popular breed of dog, would only consider a litter of pups if they had a large waiting list, as if you had a litter without the same you couldn’t be sure of where they may end up, and the chances are that after the novelty has worn off, just like sitting outside a cafe in the middle of November, the dog would be dumped or sent to the pound.

When it comes to responsible dog ownership in Ireland, as they say at recent Eurovision Song contests – Ireland – Nil Points !

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Buying a dog for Christmas ?

Paul | blog | November 9, 2011

I was asked recently to give an opinion on whether Christmas is a good or bad time to introduce a dog to the family.

It’s a question that raises it’s head about this time every year.

Rather than just give my own views on the matter, I asked followers of the pedigree dogs Facebook page to give their views on it.

We got a great response, and answers covered the full spectrum, from “never,never,never” to “I got my first dog as a Christmas present & it was the best one I ever received”

After reading all the comment’s I posted the following – “Would it be safe to say that a puppy to the right home at Christmas is far better than a puppy to the wrong home any other time of the year ?” which met with a general acceptance.

As the picture above proves, different dogs are suited to different lifestyles / households, so whatever time of the year you are introducing a new puppy or dog to your household, please make sure that you have carried out in depth research into the breed, and ascertained what the breed of dog requires by way of exercise,feeding,grooming and housing.

Kennel Club events like Discover Dogs being held this week end in Earls court London, are a great opportunity to see over 200 pedigree dog breeds on display, and a chance to see your chosen breed/s in the flesh, with all the coat and slobber that may go with ownership of this breed of dog.

So if you are in the London area this Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th November get yourself on down to Earls Court 1, London for Discover Dogs, sure you would be barking mad to miss it.

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Where do all the Lurchers come from ?

Paul | blog | October 28, 2011

Having had lurchers whilst growing up, it is very depressing to see the amount that are continuously flowing into the dog pounds and rescues in Ireland.

The history of this cross breed of dog is a bit patchy, but due to governments in Ireland & the UK banning commoners from owning sight-hounds, like Irish Wolfhounds,  Deerhounds, and greyhounds, these breeds were crossed with collies & certain terriers depending on their use, and this got around this ban.

They were traditionally kept by the travelling families of Ireland, as a pot filler, and although few families rely on dogs today to hunt as a provider to the table, they are still kept and hunted by the families that travel our country.

Over the last 20 odd years or so, they have also become very popular with the male teenage set, and used for rough hunting both at day and night. They can be seen as a status symbol based on results in the field, much like the gangs across the UK that keep dogs for fighting and as another form of weapon.

Very few lurchers would be licensed, and it’s my opinion that the dog wardens of this country tend not to target the owners mentioned above.

If you google “Lurcher” the first result that came back to me was from Wikipedia, and upon reading down through the text the following line can be found “Unfortunately, some breeders kill or turn loose lurchers that are not successful hunters or have physical or behavioural problems”

What’s the solution to this problem ? Would mandatory microchipping of all dogs be a start ? All dogs registered with the IKC have to be microchipped, and even if the new owner doesn’t transfer the chip details, if a dog does end up in a pound, at least the breeder can be located, and maybe the person tracked down if the dog escaped on them, or in fact they dumped it !

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SOS – Save Our Sealyhams

Paul | blog | October 27, 2011

Even though the Mail online in it’s headline hereunder got the country of origin incorrect for this breed of Dog, at least they are bringing the seriousness of this situation to the man on the street.

Even the FCI /  Kennel Club (London) breed standard states that the Sealyham should be sturdy, game and workmanlike, alert and fearless but of friendly disposition

“The dog that’s almost had its day: English terrier that’s as rare as a tiger” Of course the Sealyham breed was founded in Wales by Captain John Tucker-Edwardes between 1850 and 1891 at his home Sealyham House, in Pembrokeshire. More details can be found here

Now there were only 49 of the puppies registered in the UK last year

As one devoted owner states “Everyone flies the flag for a tiger or a bear, but this poor little British dog is being ignored.”

Here is a breed of dog that was developed by a person that had an extreme knowledge of dogs, that went about creating a dog breed for a very specific purpose, and eventually one that breeds true from one generation to the next.

This is a far cry from the gangsters of today that cross one breed of dog with another just so they can label them as a “Designer breed” selling them to the un knowledgeable person, and cashing in on the current gravy train

As they saying goes though, a fool and his money is easily parted.

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Dogs on the menu

Paul | blog | October 24, 2011

I was watching Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on Channel 4 last night in River Cottage Veg Everyday, where there was not 1 single recipe with either meat or fish contained.

This is a total turn around as we are most used to his old style of rearing livestock from birth to dinner plate.

So what has this got to do with dogs you might ask.

During the show his gardener and himself spoke to a horticultural society about their up coming fair, and maybe holding some classes for the most tasty vegetable.

Prior to this, all of these shows held what might be considered as confirmation classes for the vegetables, as they would be judged on size and appearance.

They thought that as the main aim of growing vegetables was to eat them, surely the most important fact re the same, would be how good they tasted, more so than how they looked.

Let’s look at this from a dog showing perspective.

At present we award the class win, best of breed and best in show to the dog that most fits it’s individual breed standard. This like the vegetable show is based on size and appearance etc.

Again if the main purpose of the specific vegetable is to be eaten, and obviously the tastier the better, then is not the original role of the dog more important than how they look today ?

Of course this all has to do with how people perceive breed standards, and we have Blogged here at Pedigree dogs about same, but surely fit for original function, should prevail in the show ring, and to some extent like the carrot, as long as it is orange, with a green top, the “tastiest” one should win !

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Miniature Schnauzer Information Ireland

Paul | blog | October 20, 2011

First Meeting of Miniature Schnauzers and their owners in Ireland is scheduled to take place in Dog Training Ireland at 12.00 on Sunday-October the 30th! All Miniature schnauzers/ Mini Schnauzer Crosses welcome. Dog Training Ireland has a fully enclosed outdoor area as well as an indoor play area where the dogs can have a run around and get to know each other while their owners have a cup of tea and a chat. D.T.I is near The National Aquatic Centre and the shopping centre in Blanchardstown. Hopefully a  miniature Schnauzer Walk will be organised for later in the year.

For more information join the Miniature Schnauzer Information Ireland site on facebook  www.facebook.com/groups/148634851826133

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Pet Insurance – Is your dog covered for life ?

Paul | blog | October 19, 2011

Did you know that Lloyds TSB & Halifax are both pulling out of the pet insurance market in the UK ?

Pet owners will now have to pay significantly more to arrange alternative cover, and in a lot of cases will not be able to get cover for existing illnesses or injuries.

Some of these owners had paid huge premiums for what they considered “Lifetime” cover, but this will now cease.

The thing is, pet insurance is an annual contract, and if you need to switch companies for one reason or another, it may be difficult to source an new pet insurance company if you have already made numerous claims.

Some policies offer the option of resetting the benefit limits each year, based on previous claims etc, so you have cover for existing conditions, but if the company decides to cease trading in the pet insurance market, you have basically paid an elevated premium for something that you may have been led to believe as lifetime cover for your pet.

These two companies are not the first in the UK to exit the stage re pet insurance, as some have already ceased offering the service after their underwriters pulled out, and if a new underwriter was found more often than not they refused to cover dogs and other pets if they had previous claims on their policy.

An independent financial research company in the UK advises that there are 86 pet insurance service providers in the UK offering over 400 different policy options.

The last few years has seen a few companies withdraw from the market, and spiralling veterinary fees has been quoted as one of the reasons.

How long will it be before insurance companies offering pet cover in Ireland, decide to bail out ?

We have Blogged about Pet insurance here before on Pedigree dogs, but I think the message to be taken from the above is that “Lifetime” cover does not guarantee cover for the life of any pet, and like all insurance make sure you read the small print in relation to policy limits and what isn’t covered, and maybe more importantly what is covered.

(“oh yes!” and Churchill above has nothing at all to do with Lloyds banking)

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Dog Talk

Paul | blog | October 18, 2011

I think after the recent Pet Expo I am all talked out.

Sometimes it’s nice if some people do the talking for you, so that’s why I have posted the following comments that came in during the last week re Pedigree Dogs

“so glad you have this site because I despise the DD site”

“I currently have some pups advertised on your site and want to thank you, 3 of them found great homes from your page and I am thrilled.  I have just one little girl left now and I have updated the ad to say that.  I have them advertised on DD too but I do find that the enquiries from your webpage are from much better informed people who seem to be more conscientious about the background of their puppy, which I wholeheartedly encourage. ”

Here are some older ones that I have archieved….(Always nice to look back on)

“hi just to say how impressed i am with your site – lovely lay out with lovely healthy looking dogs and puppies for sale keep up the good work

“Keep up the good work.”

“I think the site is great.”

“Love the site! It’s about time there is a site that people dedicated to their breeds can use, and for prospective buyers to buy well bred,well reared, well socialised quality puppies.”

“its a great site, especially since it is just for registered dogs, well done and thank you”

“Best of luck with new site. Badly needed. Will promote it in our hospital.”

“Had a look at your website – I’m very impressed – it’s a good idea
and much needed, I agree – I see that you do have an excellent page of information for people who click on “Advice: purchase/ advertising”

“Just a word of congratulations! The usual advertisement media for dogs in Ireland is usually full of poorly bred dogs, mis-information and irresponsible people trying to make a quick buck from their dogs, it’s great to finally come across a website that truly supports responsile dog breeding and ownership”

“Well done and Thanks”

“Hi there i think your site is fab well done”

“It’s a good site in my opinion.”

“Hi site is cool”

” Congratulations, I think it is doing a great service”

“I would like to Congratulate you on your Site Well Done and may it be a great success .”

“Congrats on the great website.”

“again i think so far its a great site.“

Feel free to add your comments, and I’ll publish the nice ones on a blog in the future.

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Dog Lovers In Ireland – Is it a Fairy Tale ?

Paul | blog | October 17, 2011

I was given a present of a book over 15 years ago, but only at the week end did I pick it up to read.It’s called Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens who was born in Dublin in 1880

The first story that I opened up was called The Birth Of Bran. This story is about Fionn ( A descendant of Noah after the great Flood) who unlike Fergus Fionnliath, was a great dog lover, and Bran was a special dog to Fionn

It says that he knew everything about dogs from the setting of the first little white tooth to the rocking of the last long yellow one. He understood all things to do with dogs because he loved dogs, for it is by love alone that we understand anything.

Then it goes on to say among the three hundred dogs that he owned, there were two to whom he gave an especial tenderness.

Three hundred dogs !!!!….(Even back in Celtic mythological times it seems that there were people in Ireland that kept too many dogs)

Getting back to this Fergus Fionnliath chap, he detested dogs and when he saw one he threw rocks at it until it was out of sight. But the power that protects all creatures had put a squint in his eye, so that he always threw crooked.He gave prizes to servants who disliked dogs, and when he heard that a man had drowned a litter of pups he used to visit that person and try to marry his daughter.

Now this is a fairytale, and of course has a happy ever after ending, whereby Fionn sends Fergus a special pup and within a week that young hound became the very pulse of his heart.

There is also a message in this short story, that the past must always be reckoned with; it is seldom as far behind us as we could wish: it is more often in front, blocking the way, and the future trips over it just when we think the road is clear and joy our own.

Based on the above, our past has characters that kept over 300 dogs, and ones that hated the sight of dogs, and rejoiced when litters of pups were drowned, so even if this is a fairy tale, it looks like our past has well and truly caught up with us.

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French Bulldog Video & FCI Breed Standard

Paul | blog | September 21, 2011

Not 100% accurate, but gives a good idea of what the breed is like, and what type of home they would suit.

ORIGIN : France.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 28.04.1995.

UTILIZATION : Companion, watch dog, pleasure dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. :Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs.
Section 11 Small Molossian Dogs.
Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Probably issued, like all the mastiffs, from the Epirus and the Roman Empire molosses, relative of the Bulldog of Great Britain, the Alans (tribe of the Middle Age), the mastiffs and small type mastiffs of France, the bulldog we know is the product of different crossings done by enthusiastic breeders in the popular quarters of Paris in the years 1880.
During that period, the Bulldog being a dog belonging to butchers and coachmen of « les Halles » (market place), he soon knew how to conquer the high society and the artistic world by his particular appearance and character. He then rapidly propagated himself.
The first breed club was founded in 1880 in Paris. The first registration dates from 1885 and the first standard was established in 1898, year in which the « Société Centrale Canine » of France recognized the breed of the French Bulldog. The first shown dog was from 1887. The standard, modified in 1931, 1932 and 1948, was reformulated in 1986 by H.F. Reant and R. Triquet (F.C.I. publication 1987), then in 1994 by the committee of the Club of the French Bulldog with the collaboration of R. Triquet.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Typically a small size molossian. Powerful dog for its small size, short, compact in all its proportions, smooth-coated, with a short face, a snub nose, erect ears and a naturally short tail. Must have the appearance of an active animal, intelligent, very muscular, of a compact build with a solid bone structure.

BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTER : Sociable, lively, playful, sporty, keen. Particularly affectionate towards his masters and the children.

Continue reading »

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Dachshunds,Diabetes & Doris

Paul | blog | September 20, 2011

On the following Blog I advised that Doris our oldest Standard Smooth Dachshund was diagnosed as being diabetic

We were aware of diabetes being on the increase in dogs around the world, but to be honest didn’t think we would be affected, as our pack are kept at a healthy weight and receive the required amount of exercise for the breed and the individual dogs age.

Initially, we were very worried about the diagnosis, mainly having to administer the insulin by injection every morning.

I have administered different vaccines over the years by way of syringe, but these instances were few and far between, and now I would have to be doing it every morning for the hopefully very distant future.

You can imagine my delight then, when I came across the following news that the head of biotechnology and cosmetics company Phosphagenics, Dr Ogru has joined Swiss-based Novartis Animal Health to perfect patches that will deliver an insulin gel through an animal’s skin.

The technology that has been researched for 10 years is called targeted penetration matrix (TPM)

Apart from the obvious advantage of administering the daily dose of insulin in this way compared to intravenously injected insulin, TPM allows a dose to be delivered in a constant dose over a period of time through the skin, and not only that but the patches can be used to deliver a range of drugs for pain, and for arthritis.

Now like most things, I’d imagine that this technology and these patches will take forever before they appear on the market here in Ireland, but maybe some of the pups being born right now that go on to develop diabetes, will benefit from this huge advancement in this area

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It’s competition time….

Paul | blog | September 8, 2011

It’s competiton time here yet again at Pedigreedogs.ie

Pedigreedogs.ie & Whites Premium are delighted to announce the following competition.

Every person that places an ad on Pedigreedogs.ie for the month of September will be entered into a draw at the end of the month, and the one winner will receive 1 x 15 Kilo bag from the Whites Premium range of Dog Food.

This prize will be delivered to your door, as per the normal service offered by Whites Premium

We would like to thank Whites Premium for this fantastic offer, and hope to continue with it going forward.

So that’s an ad on Pedigreedogs.ie that lasts for 60 days, with a chnace of winning a 15 kilo of top of the range Dog Food, and all this just for €3.00 !!

Click Here for more information on the full range of product available from Whites Premium

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