Dogs are man’s best friend. There’s no doubt that dogs are incredibly loveable and increasingly loyal to their owners. Treat a dog with care and respect and he will stick with you through thick and thin.

From cute and cuddly to large and rambunctious and everything in between, dogs come in all shapes and sizes, giving us humans the opportunity to pick and choose based on our own criteria. There are hundreds of breeds that exist in the world, and that’s not even taking into consideration the mixed breeds.

Of course, the main thing that many people worry about is training; specifically, house training. As much as you love a dog, you don’t want it piddling around the house. It’s important and necessary to set boundaries, and make use of modern housebreaking tools such as UGODOG. While every dog can be house trained, some breeds tend to be more stubborn than others. These stubborn breeds might take a little more time and a bit more coaxing. The key is to start training when they’re young.

If you lead a busy life with lots of time constraints, or if you’re a novice dog owner, you may want to go with a dog breed that is easier to train. Here are some of the best dog breeds for house training.

Border Collies

The Border Collie is known as the smartest dog breed available. They are also easy to potty train as puppies. Initially bred to herd livestock, Border Collies are just balls of physical and mental energy. They learn quickly, which makes house training a breeze.

However, Border Collies are prone to trouble if not properly trained, so make sure to train them early. They also get bored quite easily if not physically or mentally engaged, so give your Border Collie something to do every day to avoid any disasters in your home.

Labrador Retriever

Known to be helpful, loyal, and courageous, Labrador Retrievers are a very common pet. Labs were originally bred to retrieve fish and fishing nets. Loveable and affectionate, Labradors always seem to have smiles on their faces.

Labradors are big bundles of energy but they’re also incredibly intelligent. You can begin training them as early as six months of age. Labrador Retrievers are eager to please, so house training should be a cinch.

Australian Shepherd

As you might guess, these dogs were bred to herd sheep, so they are full of energy and smarts. Australian Shepherds are a bold, confident, and independent breed. Similar to the Border Collie, Aussies need a good physical and mental workout every day to allay any boredom. An under-stimulated Aussie will try to herd anything, including children, other animals, and even cars.

Your Aussie should pick up house training quite easily. Just make sure he gets enough exercise while he’s at it.

Papillon

A smaller breed than those mentioned above, the Papillon is believed to have originated from the Dwarf Spaniel in Italy. The breed we see in the current day was developed in the 1800s by Belgian breeders. Papillon comes from the French word for “butterfly,” which describes this breed’s characteristic ears.

Papillons are probably the perfect lap dog with their small size and affectionate demeanor. They are also very clean and very intelligent, so house training should almost be second nature to them.

Australian Cattle Dog

The Australian Cattle Dog was bred in the 1830s as a mix between a Smithfield and a wild dingo. This was then crossbred with several other breeds, including the Collie, Dalmation, and Australian Kelpie. Such a dynamic mix has led to the Australian Cattle Dog we know and love today. Like all other herding dogs, the Australian Cattle Dog craves physical and mental activity.

The Australian Cattle Dog is a smart, reliable breed and full of stamina. Start house training early and it shouldn’t be a problem.

Toy Poodle

The Toy Poodle is the tiny version of the standard Poodle we all know, but don’t let size fool you. Toy Poodles are playful, sensitive, and alert. They are incredibly affectionate, though some can be initially reserved around strangers. Toy Poodles may also bark and yap a bit.

These tiny dogs are full of energy. They are smart, but what makes poodles so easy to house train your is their sensitivity and eagerness to please.

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Are you proud of your dog and want to share his or her qualities with the world? Here is your chance. While browsing CBS.com I found this new series which puts teams of dogs together in search for America’s Greatest Dog. We are obviously dog lovers so I thought it would be interesting to look into this new series that is beginning soon. It sounds like a hit to me, and I’m sure any other dog lover will agree. I am curious to see what type of exercises and games these dogs will participate in. I’m thinking the show will be similar to American Gladiators, but for dogs. There is no official starting date, but I have already submitted my application to participate, and I am looking forward to the show. Below is a overview of the show:

About the Show:

Calling all talented dogs! CBS is looking for the most extraordinary teams of dogs and owners across the nation to compete for the title of “America’s greatest dog.” From purebreds to mutts, show dogs to stunt dogs, Pugs to Great Danes and agility dogs to dogs who dance the Tango - we want all types of talented canines. The winning team will walk away with bragging rights and a significant cash prize!

Do you brag that you have the most talented dog in America? Well here’s your chance to prove it! CBS is looking for the most extraordinary teams of dogs and owners across the nation to compete for the title of “America’s Greatest Dog” (working title). Owners and their pets - from “pageant dogs” to those simply trained at home - will live together and compete against each other in games that put the dog’s rapport with their trainer to the test.

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NEW YORK - Barking and baying, a precocious beagle called Uno took his first winning steps at Westminster. Uno easily took the best of breed Monday at America’s No. 1 dog show, bounding around the ring and trying to grab the lead out of handler Aaron Wilkerson’s hand.
 
“Snoopy would be proud,” Wilkerson said.

A perfectly trimmed toy poodle, a top Sealyham terrier and prize-winning Akita were among the 2,627 entries. The dogs came in 169 breeds and varieties, and there were four newly sanctioned types — the Tibetan mastiff, Beauceron, Swedish vallhund and Plott.

Tri-colored and nearly 3, Uno moved into Monday night’s judging in the hound group. While best in show will be presented Tuesday night, the playful 15-inch beagle certainly earned one title at Madison Square Garden: noisiest in show.

Uno sounded off every chance he got and clearly became the early crowd favorite, wagging his white-tipped tail and taking a flying leap at one of Wilkerson’s cooked pork loin treats.

“He was being his merry little hound self,” Wilkerson said.

While the movie “Underdog” was a big winner last year, a beagle is always a long shot on the Garden’s green carpet.

The best in show award has been presented 100 times by the Westminster Kennel Club and a beagle has never won. Part of the problem is the breed’s engaging, friendly nature.

“Great show dogs often have an air about them. It’s like this is their world and we’re just living in it,” Westminster TV host David Frei said. “But beagles want to be in our world.”

They also have another disadvantage: They’re far from the fancy-cut, froufrou dogs that often win.

“To some, a beagle may not look as spectacular as the Afghan hound, flying around the ring with all that hair,” Frei said.

With pleading, golden-brown eyes and plenty of tail-wagging personality, Uno could break out of the Westminster doghouse. No beagle has even won the hound group since 1939.

“To have the general public see an average dog going and competing and actually winning would send a signal that everyone can do it,” said Eddie Dziuk, one of Uno’s co-owners.

Uno came with his favorite stuffed frog toy and the fluffy pillow he sleeps on, the one with a Hollywood star. His official name is K-Run’s Park Me in First, and he bested 12 other entries in the 15-inch category.

Beagles also come in the 13-inch variety, though both types can come from the same litter. In show parlance, Uno is a “big beagle.”

Judge J. Donald Jones, former a dean at Emory University, will point to his choice as the champion right before 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Uno already has earned 32 best in show titles, and finished 2007 as the sixth-ranked show dog in the country. He took the hound group at the AKC/Eukanuba show in December.

A Sealyham terrier with a gray splotch over his left eye won that big competition in Long Beach, Calif. Called Charmin, he wound up as the No. 4 dog last year.

Also in contention will be a neatly primped white toy poodle born in Japan. Vikki has won 83 best in show ribbons and enters as the nation’s top dog.

An Akita that reached the best in show ring last year in New York will return. Missing will be James, an English springer spaniel who retired after winning last February.

USA Network and CNBC will split the coverage the first night, with USA doing the second night alone. Frei was hesitant to pick a favorite, though he did offer a prediction.

“What better choice could there be to win America’s dog show than an all-American dog?” he said. “A beagle winning would bring down the house.”

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bolstered by its popularity with celebrities and families, the Bulldog is back on the list of the 10 most popular purebred dogs after a 75-year absence, the American Kennel Club announced on Wednesday.

The Bulldog ranked 10th in the Kennel Club’s annual ranking of popular dogs from the 157 different breeds it recognizes.Bulldog back on top 10 dog list after 75 years

Topping the list of most popular dogs was the Labrador Retriever — top dog since 1991 — followed by the Yorkshire Terrier, the German Shepherd, the Golden Retriever and the
Beagle, the Kennel Club said.

The broad-shouldered, stocky Bulldog with its characteristic under-bite and pugnacious gait has long been a mascot of sports teams and military units.

But their docile, even-tempered personality that belies their tough-guy image makes them good pets for families with young children, dog breeders say.

“Their personality is unlike any other dog. They are so expressive. If you look in their eyes you can almost see what they are thinking,” said Tammy Hollock, 36, a part-time Bulldog breeder from Delran, New Jersey.

Bulldogs have been growing in popularity with celebrities including U.S. actors Adam Sandler and George Clooney, adding to their public appeal, Hollock said. The breed is the second-most popular dog in Los Angeles, the Kennel Club said.

The growing popularity of the Bulldog has a downside, according to Hollock and officials from the Kennel Club. Bulldogs can suffer from breathing problems and should only be treated by experienced veterinarians.

They are also unable to swim and breeders typically use artificial insemination and Caesarean sections when breeding the dogs to reduce the high risk of injury caused by the large size of the dog’s head in proportion to its hips.

The elaborate precautions required when breeding Bulldogs puts the cost of a typical purebred bulldog puppy at $2,800, Hollock said.

Coming in at No. 6 on the Kennel Club list is the Boxer, followed by the Dachshund, the Poodle and the Shih Tzu.

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Our blog is officially alive….Hooray!!!  The purpose of this blog is to give our customers (and all pet lovers) useful tips, articles and info about pets. There are so many pet-related topics to explore that I don’t think we’ll ever get bored. We hope that everyone enjoys this blog…please check back often for the latest in the pet world.

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