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Leopard geckos have been popular pets in North America since the 1980’s. 

Instead of the adhesive lamella found on the feet of most geckos, the leopard gecko has tiny claws, giving them an advantage in sandy environments. Because of this, they primarily live on the ground and do not climb surfaces. Able to move their eyelids, they are unique from other gecko species.

Although they are popular pets, little is known about the leopard gecko in the wild. Their unique dots and coloring make them a perfect camouflage for natural environments, making them a challenge to find, and therefore, their population numbers are unknown.

Leopard geckos are the largest species of gecko, with adults reaching up to 8-11 inches. They can live to be 20 years or older, if cared for properly, although, there have been cases of leopard geckos living to be as old as 30 years.

Hardy, easy to maintain, and requiring little space, Leopard Geckos make great first pets for those new to reptiles. Since their natural environment consists of harsh conditions, including soaring temperatures and weeks without food and water, they have adapted to survive where other animals cannot. This makes the leopard gecko extremely hardy, and explains why many people believe them to be easy to maintain and take care of as pets.

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The Sphynx’s has a unique appearance and charming temperament. 

The breed possesses numerous personality traits. They are lively cats, performing monkey-like aerialist feats and wagging their tails like dogs. Despite their alien-like appearance, they come with all the mystery and charm that has fascinated humankind for thousands of years.

Although the Sphynx appears hairless, its skin is covered with a fine, almost imperceptible vestigial covering, giving the skin the texture of chamois. Their lack of fur make their wrinkles visible, although, this is a desirable trait in the show Sphynx. Although the Sphynx considerately refrains from shedding, it may still produce allergy symptoms, as they have an allergenic protein which they secret via saliva and sebaceous glands.

Although they lack the fur of other felines, they must be regularly bathed to remove collections of oily sebaceous secretions on the skin, which may cause skin problems. Their exposure to the sun must be limited, as they are susceptible to sunburns.

A true extrovert, the Sphynx will demand your undivided attention and hates to be ignored. It does well with other animals, and truly enjoys being a show-off. Curious, mischievous, and highly intelligent, the Sphynx is generally fun, well-behaved, and easy to handle, for these reasons this pet it’s a good company for the family.

Animal Lovers - 
How many are we?

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Have you ever asked yourself how many times a friend, a family member or a co-worker you visited was also a pet owner? This idea opens up two huge question marks for us. How many animal lovers are there in the United States? And, what animals make for the most popular household pets?

In 2013, a survey indicated that 68% of the households in the United States of America have at least one pet. We took into consideration the number of established households, approximately 123 million, and deducted that approximately 84 million households own at least one mascot.

The most popular and sought-after pets usually are: cats, dogs, birds and fishes. Dogs rank as the most popular species found in homes among this list of most popular pets. Curiously, dogs and cats can be found in 75% of animal lovers’ homes. A fun fact about cat vs. dog owners is that cat-lovers usually own two furry friends as opposed to dog-lovers who tend to care for one.

The third most popular pet is the fish, followed by birds, small animals and reptiles. Combined, these cute mascots make up for 25% of American household pets.

In the end, we can conclude that dogs and cats are the most popular pets on the block due to their high capacity to interact with their human family members. Thanks to their ingratiating qualities, dogs and cats easily bond with humans. Consequently, they become the furry family member friends, family and co-workers always wished for!

BRUSSELS GRIFFON

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The Brussels Griffon, is an intelligent, cheerful little dog. 

Affectionate, charming, lively and curious, they make great companion dogs, as they love everyone, including other dogs and cats. Because of this dog’s almost human looking facial expression, they are often nicknamed “monkey face”, or thought to resemble the Ewok from the Star Wars movies. 

By virtue of its appealing character, the Brussels Griffon became a companion breed. They grow to be 7-8 inches tall, weigh 6-12 pounds, and live to be 12-15 years old. Unlike most Toy breeds, the Brussels Griffon is not snooty or “pampered.” The coat requires a lot of attention, however, it sheds little to no hair, and may have its hair clipped. They should not be kept outdoors, as they are sensitive to heat.

Their active indoor lifestyle and small size makes them ideal for apartment life, however, like all dogs, they need to be taken for a daily walk to fulfill their primal instinct to walk. They are great watchdogs and can be taught to perform tricks. 

Due to its small size, the Brussels Griffon may develop Small Dog Syndrome, and begin demonstrating various degrees of behavioral problems. This is not a trait of the Brussels Griffon, however, as any breed of a small dog may demonstrate these traits if there is a lack of structure in the household. Small dogs, especially, need to have a firm understanding of who the “pack leader” is.

Four new dog breeds added to American Kennel Club

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(Reuters) - The American Kennel Club has recognized four more dog breeds, including a Spanish fishing dog and a South African guard dog, in a move allowing them to compete in prestigious canine competitions nationwide.

The Spanish Water Dog, the Cirneco dell'Etna, the Bergamasco, and the Boerboel have gained full club recognition and will be eligible to compete in its events starting Jan. 1, a club spokeswoman said on Thursday.

With the additions, the number of AKC recognized breeds is 184.The newly recognized breeds must wait until 2016 to compete in the popular Westminster Kennel Club show as entries for the February 2015 event are closed, the club said. The Westminster club is a member of the AKC.

The AKC, which started in 1884 with nine breeds, adds new breeds to its list once they meet certain requirements, such as a related breed club and a minimum number of dogs nationwide, said AKC club spokeswoman Jessica D'Amato.

The Spanish Water Dog is a herding dog with a curly coat, bred as a multi-purpose farm dog and used for herding, hunting and assisting fisherman. The Cirneco dell'Etna is a smart, short-haired hunter from Italy.

The Bergamasco, also from Italy, is a eager-to-please herding dog with a unique coat made of long mats. The Boerboel is a large, agile mastiff-like breed, originating in South Africa and used as a farm and guard dog.

Source: Reuters