The Curious Compendium 2023-2024: Golden retriever!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Lop eared rabbits!


There are several breeds that have developed but I will share general lop-eared rabbit facts. For one, they are the most easily recognizable given their floppy ears and have become popular pets. They come in nearly any color and pattern, and several body sizes depending on the exact breed too (even the length of their ears varies!). Because of their large ears, its important to keep them warm in about 80° F since they have difficulty regulating their body temperature. They are often friendly, social, calm, and can even be readily litter trained.

Any of our rabbit enthusiasts, if I got something wrong or there is something you would like to add here- please do! I know a bit about rabbits but not nearly as much as you can share. I for one, would love to learn more!

[bmathison1972]

The placement of the figures in that pic is good; you wouldn't want the image to appear lop sided...

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Ha, nice one! I do *try* to balance the figures for images.

Siberian huskies!

The breed originates with the Chukchi people of Siberia in eastern Asia- potentially as far back as 3,000 years. Here, they became hardy dogs that coukd withstand -100°F, intense blizzards, little food, and long daily work hours as sled dogs. The Chukchi people revered their dogs, believing that 2 huskies gaurd the gate to heaven and they judge a man by how he treated dogs in his life. The real breed spread in popularity and became a versatile animal of utility and later of strikingly wolfish good looks. The most famous instance in their history is of their involvement in the epidemic of diptheria in 1925 in Nome, Alaska. The closest reserve of medication was in Anchorage, over 600 miles away. 20 mushers and over 100 dogs formed a relay to move this precious cargo; Leonard Seppala and his lead dog Togo traversed the longest and the most dangerous portion of the relay- Togo led the team to safety during a dangerous blizzard in the Norton Sound, keeping the cargo safe as well. Gunnar Kaasen with his lead dog Balto was the team to make the final leg of the journey; and for years got most of the credit for this undertaking. Regardless, this is a breed that has energy to run and is known to be "escape artists" if not occupied mentally and excercised thoroughly. The breed is now a flashy pet for many, though they often end up being more than your average pet owner can handle. Intelligent, stubborn, full of energy, and ready to go on a moment's notice- this breed is now appreciated in many parts of the world.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

 bulldogs!


Developed in England during the 14th century they were originally used as the muscle needed to handle livestock in livestock yards and around butcher's- hence the name of "bulldog". The breed was stocky, tenacious, and feared nothing; not even an angry bull. They quickly began to be used in a variety of bloodsport- putting up a ferocious bull dog against a variety of animals including domestic and wild caught. This practice was not ended until 1835, at which point the breed fell off in popularity. Victorians then developed the breed to be less outwardly aggressive, and to exaggerate other physical features making the short legged, extra wide and stocky, brachycephalic (short-faced), and wrinkly breed known today. Unfortunately, this breed suffers a myriad of health concerns due to this including requiring reproductive assistance (with insemination and cesaerean section of pups), as well as breathing, dental, and vision concerns. There is a recent modern movement to return the breed to previous physical traits (such as longer legs and snout). It began in the 1970s by David Leavitt to recreate a healthier and more viable version of the "Regency period bull baiter"- it was recognized in the United Kennel Club in 2014 as the Olde English Bulldogge. There are some hopes that perhaps, this remodeled version may be reintroduced to the highly inbred population of English bulldog to save it from further damage.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

German shepherd!


Developed by men with eternally long names, this breed came on the scene in the 19th century due to the want of a German heritage sheepdog. A wolfish dog was purchased at a dog show in 1899 and is the founder for the breed. Early on, line breeding was a focus (also known as inbreeding, siblings were bred to each other in the effort to isolate and continue specific traits)- today, most German shepherds can trace their ancestry to only a handful of the first generation sires. Historical timing lended a hand to this breed's infamy- due to the early focus on purity and militaristic breeding rituals it quickly became a popular working animal for the Nazi regime and even Adolf Hitler himself. The dog made its way outside of Germany, even to far off places like the US and Australia where the wolfish appearance, strong sheep herding instinct, and adaptability to other working tasks made it valuable. This was the first popular breed for military work, as seeing eye dogs, and more. Unfortunately, this breed suffered more stereotype damage as it became linked to crime lords and drug runners. This is often considered the first breed to have suffered significant "breed specific legistlation" around the globe- Australia at one time wanted all existing GSDs in the country to be sterilized. Since then, they have gained good PR and have now become quite popular once again- though as with the husky this is NOT  a first time dog owner choice. Athletic and highly intelligent (nearly always scoring in the top 3 in variable studies) they need lots of excercise and stimulation to maintain mental and physical health. They also suffer from some health concerns common with large dogs- arthritis, displaysia, etc. AKC standards have also bred their animals to have restricted movement in their hindlegs in order to achieve a sloping back; this causes concern for the mobility of the animal, as well as radiating pain in addition to premature age related diseases in the breed.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Siamese cats!


They come from Thailand (once known as Siam) and royalty bred them (for a hobby, to give as gifts, allowed to live in temples with monks etc.). They are striking for their coloration and come in some 33 different shades and combinations. They are often crosseyed to some degree and this is related to their eye structure. The breed is very friendly, vocal, and playful, making them popular pets. They gained recognition in the US in the 1870s when then president Rutherford B Hayes' wife, Lucy, received one as a gift from an American diplomat. Evidently, because they have genetics related to albinism , the breed's coat can change color somewhat depending on ambient temperature around them.

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Chihuahuas!

This breed may date back as far as 100 AD- small toys fashioned to look similar have been found. The modern version of the breed descend from a type of dog called a Techichi; a type of dog kept by natives in the region of Mexico, Central America, and parts of northern South America. This small dog was kept by ancient Aztecs and Toltecs and when someone died, their small companion would also be sacrificed amd buried with them because they believed that the dog would guide their owner in the afterlife. This breed can be very small indeed; the current smallest dog record holder is Milly from Puerto Rico weighing less than a kilo and measuring at a whopping 10 cm tall! This small size can cause dental issues as their small mouths are often crowded with teeth. They are easy first time dogs for owners as they eat very little, need very little grooming, and can suffice with 20-30 minutes of excercise. Beware though- they are very vocal with strangers and can pack an attitude!

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Neapolitan and misc. no breed mastiffs!


Neos, as they are often called, date back as far as 3000 BC in Rome! They have their beginnings from an extinct breed, the Molossus of ancient Greece. This history indicates that they were used as war and gaurdian dogs, Alexander the Great is credited with refining the breed by taking these large mastiffs and crossing them to short haired dogs from India. At this stage, they began to be used in Colloseum blood sport against both Gladiators and wild game. After this, they slowly lost popularity as time went on, nearly going extinct around the WWII era. Luckily, a journalist reintroduced them to the public and with modern refinement they again became the pride of Italy and were recognized by the AKC in 2004.

The other 3 mastiffs (below) I can't confidently assign a breed (the tan is most likely a neo also) but I thought I'd ask- any other suggestions?

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Checkered giant and Netherland dwarf rabbits!


Checkered giants (or giant papillion) date back to France's 19th century and were developes by crossing spotted rabbits with the Flemish giant rabbits. They are quite large, getting up to 11 or 12 pounds and are considered a "running rabbit" breed and it is reccomended to have lots of space for them to excercise. They closely bond with owners and make great pets.

Netherland dwarfs are the smallest breed coming in at 1.1-2.5 lbs on average. They have thick and dense coats that come in solid colors like sable, white, brown, etc. They were developed from Polish rabbits being bred in the Netherlands; because of their small size they are often shy initially, but will open up and bond with owners. They tend to get overgrown molars and enamel spurs- they need lots of roughage to chew on and regular checks on their teeth. Lastly, to keep the breed "breeding true" there are some difficulties; 25% of offspring will not survive, 25% are false dwarfs (longer face, ears, and body), and 50% will be true dwarfs (showing the flat face and small ears and the "cobby body" specified for the breed).

[Saarlooswolfhound]

Golden retrievers!

Developed during the mid 19th century in Scotland to be game bird retrievers. Early on, darker coated dogs were preferred and the golden color was viewed as undesirable.  The modern breed is often one of the most popular around, and considered some of the smartest. They are also easy to train due to their drive to please their owners- this also makes them easily adapted to become therapy or service dogs. There is a golden in Australia that holds the world record for the loudest bark; at 113.1 decibels it is louder than a chainsaw!