Shiba Inus- Big Dog in a Little Dogs Body

A Shiba Inu is a Japanese dog breed that looks like a miniature Akita. The name means Little Brush-Wood Dog in Japanese. These dogs were originally used for hunting; specifically, to flush out birds and small animals from low brush in the woods.

We acquired our Shiba as a Grand-dog. Our son was in college, and his apartment building was being sold. The new landlord forbade pets. I remember to this day the tearful phone call as he pleaded us to take the dog temporarily. Mom, its only until I graduate from college! That was in 1999, and he graduated in 2000. We still have the dog, named Ohinnea, but known to everyone as Honey.

If you are looking for a canine companion who will follow your commands without question, and will try to please you, better look for another breed of dog. Shiba Inus require an owner with much patience, understanding, love and a stronger will.

The Shiba Inu is not your average dog. It is not normally compliant and obedient, like, for example, a German Shepherd. They have bad habits, such as charging the door when it is open and running outside and tearing and shredding things to make a sleeping nest- anything from an old blanket to my husbands $200 sleeping bag! They dont like to be fenced in, and will tunnel under your fences and landscape your yard with craters in an attempt to run freely around the neighborhood. They are usually not good with other dogs, even other Shibas, wanting to be only children. The Shiba understands I, me, my, and mine. To the Shiba, every member of the household in which it lives is a member of the dogs pack, and he/she is the Alpha Dog! Shibas are actually better around cats, as many Shibas think they ARE cats! These little dogs have great stamina and courage but rarely get taller than 15.5" at the shoulder and weigh in at under 30 lbs. 20 to 25 lbs. is average for a male. The females are generally smaller than males by 1" or 2".

Shibas can rightfully be described as sturdy, healthy little dogs, able to withstand the rigors of outdoor life as well as enjoying the comfort of indoor dwelling. However, they are prone to skin allergies, and can contract a horrible case of allergic dermatitis from the bite of one flea. So, flea control is essential to keeping this breed healthy. Our dog requires a diet of a lamb and rice based dog food, since certain commercial dog foods also trigger the dermatitis. Once started, the dermatitis is responsive to treatment with a course of doggie penicillin, doggie prednisone, and a sulfur-based dip, that Honey hates like the plague, and that makes her smell like rotten eggs. Older Shibas are also prone to hip dysplasia, making it difficult and painful for them to walk.

Stop Your Dog's Behavior Problems!

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Dottye Blake is a Realtor in Central Florida, and a wife, mother and grandmother. She is the published author of a book and several short stories, songs, articles and poems.

Facts About Horses

Depending on breed, management and environment, the domestic horse today has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. It is uncommon, but a few horses live into their 40s, and, occasionally, beyond. The oldest verifiable record was "Old Billy," a horse that lived in the 19th century to the age of 62. The size of horses varies by breed, but can also be influenced by nutrition. The general rule for cutoff in height between what is considered a horse and a pony at maturity is 14.2 hands(h or hh) (147 cm, 58 inches) as measured at the withers. An animal 14.2h or over is usually considered a horse and one less than 14.2h is a pony.

However, there are exceptions to the general rule. Some smaller horse breeds who typically produce individual horses both under and over 14.2h are considered "horses" regardless of height. Likewise, some pony breeds, such as the Pony of the Americas or the Welsh cob, share some features of horses and individual animals may occasionally mature at over 14.2h, but are still considered ponies. The difference between a horse and pony is not simply a height difference, but also a difference in phenotype or appearance. There are noticeable differences in conformation and temperament. Ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails and overall coat. They also have proportionally shorter legs, wider barrels, heavy bone, thick necks, and short heads with broad foreheads.

Light horses such as Arabians, Morgans, Quarter Horses, Paints and Thoroughbreds usually range in height from 14.0 (142 cm) to 16.0 hands (163 cm) and can weigh from 386 kg (850 lbs) to about 680 kg (1500 lbs). Heavy or draft horses such as the Clydesdale, Belgian, Percheron, and Shire are usually at least 16.0 (163 cm) to 18.0 hands (183 cm) high and can weigh from about 682 kg (1500 lb) up to about 900 kg (2000 lb). Ponies are less than 14.2h, but can be much smaller, down to the Shetland pony at around 10 hands, and the Falabella which can be the size of a medium-sized dog. The miniature horse is as small as or smaller than either of the aforementioned ponies but are classified as very small horses rather than ponies despite their size. The largest horse in history was a Shire horse named Sampson, later renamed Mammoth, foaled in 1846 in Bedfordshire, England. He stood 21.2 hands high (i.e. 7 ft 2 in or 2.20 m ), and his peak weight was estimated at over 3,300 lb (approx 1.5 tonnes). The current record holder for the world's smallest horse is Thumbelina, a fully mature miniature horse affected by dwarfism. She is 17 inches tall and weighs 60 pounds.

Horse breeding

Pregnancy lasts for approximately 335-340 days and usually results in one foal (male: colt, female: filly). Twins are rare. Colts are usually carried 2-7 days longer than fillies. Females 4 years and over are called mares and males are stallions. A castrated male is a gelding. Horses, particularly colts, may sometimes be physically capable of reproduction at approximately 18 months but in practice are rarely allowed to breed until a minimum age of 3 years, especially females. Horses four years old are considered mature, though the skeleton usually finishes developing at the age of six, and the precise time of completion of development also depends on the horse's size (therefore a connection to breed exists), gender, and the quality of care provided by its owner.

Also, if the horse is larger, its bones are larger; therefore, not only do the bones take longer to actually form bone tissue (bones are made of cartilage in earlier stages of bone formation), but the epiphyseal plates (plates that fuse a bone into one piece by connecting the bone shaft to the bone ends) are also larger and take longer to convert from cartilage to bone as well. These plates convert after the other parts of the bones do but are crucial to development.

Depending on maturity, breed and the tasks expected, young horses are usually put under saddle and trained to be ridden between the ages of two and four. Although Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse race horses are put on the track at as young as two years old in some countries (notably the United States), horses specifically bred for sports such as show jumping and dressage are generally not entered into top-level competition until a minimum age of four years old, because their bones and muscles are not solidly developed, nor is their advanced training complete.

Horses are adapted to grazing, so their teeth continue to grow throughout life. There are 12 teeth (six upper and six lower), the incisors, adapted to biting off the grass or other vegetation, at the front of the mouth, and 24 teeth, the premolar and molars, adapted for chewing, at the back of the mouth. Stallions and geldings have four additional teeth just behind the incisors, a type of canine teeth that are called "tushes." Some horses, both male and female, will also develop one to four very small vestigial teeth in front of the molars, known as "wolf" teeth, which are generally removed because they can interfere with the bit. There is an empty interdental space between the incisors and the molars where the bit rests directly on the bars (gums) of the horse's mouth when the horse is bridled.

The incisors show a distinct wear and growth pattern as the horse ages, as well as change in the angle at which the chewing surfaces meet, and while the diet and veterinary care of the horse can affect the rate of tooth wear, a very rough estimate of the age of a horse can be made by looking at its teeth.

Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://horse.about-animals.info A website that specializes in providing information on horses that you can research on the internet at your own pace. Please Visit http://horse.about-animals.info now!

VW Grille: A Legacy of Greatness

Quality has never been stressed by German automobile manufacturer VW. Taking its roots from the progressive principles of the Nazi regime, VW has produced various lines of vehicles that embodied the high-standard and supremacy of old Germany. Today, in its quest for being the best, VW has endured the test of time and has become the fourth largest automobile manufacturer of passenger cars and Europe's largest auto-maker. VW is responsible for the sale and service of Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini. Known throughout the entire world for its blue VW logo, the company redefined innovation and efficiency in every vehicle that they have released in the market.German ingenuity has become a standard in auto making. During World War II, the company started out as a mass production company for the German people.

The fuhrer Adolf Hitler commissioned Austrian automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche to make some changes to his 1931 original design of the VW Type 1, more commonly known as the Beetle. The most patriotic leader wanted a vehicle to suit the needs of the common working man. Keeping this demand in mind, the eager Porsche modified the Beetle with better fuel efficiency, reliability, ease of use and economically efficient repairs and parts. With these changes, VW became the vehicle of choice for the German people and eventually catapulted the company into global automobile leadership.

After learning the importance and function of a heater core, it must be a known fact that one should only trust the name of Volvo for this matter. Thus, the Volvo Heater Core is guaranteed to provide the efficiency that the car engine needs. The Volvo Heater Core cools the heated coolant from the engine, making it act as a radiator of the engine. The Volvo Heater Core is made up of small piping that has numerous bends. Clogging of the piping may occur if the coolant system is not flushed. Or sometimes, if the coolant is not changed regularly. If clogging occurs, the Volvo Heater Core will not function properly.

One of the many accessories that can supplement the automobile is the VW grille. Aside from being a remarkable aesthetic add-on, the VW grille significantly provides an effective optimization of the vehicle's engine performance. This is enhancement is accomplished by the VW grille as it assists the radiator in cooling the engine. Cool outside air is systematically absorbed by the vehicle by the use of the VW grille. This prevents the engine to break down to due to excessive temperature as the radiator is cooled down by the outside air that is circulated inside the hood. VW grilles are made out of high-durable plastic or metal. This ensures the the grilles withstand the atrocious heat.

It is good to know that there are parts and accessories that VW provides to consumers as many of them increasingly look for the ways to improve the performance of their beloved VW cars. What is more better to know is that these parts, the VW grille for one, are manufactured under the supervision of one of the world's best.

Here Are The Factors You Need To Consider When Choosing Wheels For Your SUV

Having the right tires and wheels is important on any vehicle but perhaps even more so on an SUV because they can drastically affect the comfort of the ride as well as handling and safety. Aside from the safety and performance issues most SUV owners choose custom wheels that will give their vehicle a personalized look that suits them. Some people just choose to stay conservative and just choose a plain chrome or aluminum wheel with normal tires. Other SUV owners may opt for the oversize look that is so in now with 26 inch rims or bigger and low profile tires.

Probably the first thing that anyone should do before setting out to invest in new custom wheels is decide on a set budget to spend. Custom wheels can be very pricey and you can find yourself spending several thousand dollars if you arent careful. If you dont set a budget you will have a tough time not divesting yourself of a huge sum of money just because you fall in love with a certain set of wheels. When you set a budget and stick to it you will only allow yourself to look at products that are in your budget and nothing else.

As with other vehicles, the custom wheels for SUVs come in a wide variety of metals such as stainless steel, chrome, and aluminum and custom color matched wheels as well. There is no right or wrong choice here, it is all a matter of what you like and what kind of look you want for your vehicle. Just bear in mind that the wheels will need cleaning to keep them looking good so choose one that is easy to maintain if you tend to be the type that doesnt like to spend a lot of time on maintenance.

In addition to the different choices in metal you also have an enormous variety of styles to choose from. When I was growing up there were only a handful of choices, now there are probably hundreds. Again there are no right or wrong choices to make here, it is all a matter of what kind of look you are after. You can choose a really thick spoked wheel that comes across as very mean looking or something that conveys more of a luxurious look. I think that the type of wheel one chooses really says a lot about them as a person and shows a lot of their personality.

You can find just about any kind of custom wheel you want for your SUV on the internet. What I love about some of the websites is that they have a virtual feature that will allow you to view what the actual wheels would look like on your vehicle. These companies usually have large inventories in stock but they will also find anything for you and custom order it if necessary.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about custom wheels as well as custom SUV wheels at http://www.vintagewheelsplus.com