Monthly Archives: August 2015

Hairy Dog Breeds

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Quite a few potential dog owners insist on getting a dog that isn’t too hairy. Most complain about the hair certain dog breeds leave all over your house, and some people are actually allergic to the hair. Then there are people who are specifically looking for long haired dog breeds because they love taking care of their hair. Here is a small list of hairy dog breeds.

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The Maltese dog is an excellent choice if you love hairy but clean looking dogs. The Bichon Havanese is a rather scruffy looking dog if you don’t take care of its hair often. But they sure have character! Yorkshire Terriers are small dogs that you can easily take with you, including all their beautiful long hair. The German Keeshond has a wonderful two layer coat of silver and black hair, a medium-sized dog.

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Now if you’d rather have a larger hairy dog breed as companion then the Afghan Hound certainly fits your requirements. It has a thick silky coat and is easily recognisable.

Border Collies : Intelligent loyal friends

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If you are currently looking for a dog, and prefer one of the more intelligent breeds, then perhaps you should consider the Border Collie.

Border Collies were originally bred as a sheepdog, a companion to the shepherd. They are not merely able to keep the herd in check, however. They have a gentle side as well and are quite good at playing the role of “mentor” when dealing with younger animals. As you can imagine Border Collies do require plenty of exercise. They certainly do not appreciate being kept in a small flat 7 days a week! They also demand plenty of attention, and want to feel like they belong in your household.

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It would be wrong to say that Border Collies are very demanding dogs even if some sites on the Internet suggest they are. A decent walk every day, and some interesting mental stimulation will keep them quite happy. This breed does require a strong leader who can teach them how to behave and set clear boundaries. If you are able to provide them with the above then you certainly should consider getting a Border Collie. If treated properly you will gain a loyal friend.

Birds of Prey

They are magnificent creatures, and are able to spot prey from great distances. Birds of prey include eagles, hawks and falcons.

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The name “eagle” can refer to many different kinds of birds. Over 60 species are known. The white-tailed eagle can have a wingspan of up to 220 cm.

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The hawk is a small-to-medium sized bird of prey with the ability to see beyond the visible colour spectrum into the ultraviolet. Just like female eagles, female hawks are larger than their male counterparts.

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Falcons have light thin wings that allow them to change direction at immense speeds. A certain type of falcon, the peregrine falcon (shown below), has been recorded diving at more than 300 kilometres per hour.

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There are many additional types of birds of prey including ospreys and owls. They all have a common ancestor that split from another group over 40 million years ago.

It is no suprise that these amazing birds are often favourites among bird watchers.

Common European Birds And Population Decline

Here is a small list of birds commonly found in Europe that have seen their numbers drop. In 2014 a study revealed that bird populations across Europe have been falling dramatically. According to the study there are over 420 million fewer birds in Europe than 30 years ago, which is a startling figure!

The house sparrow suffered the biggest losses, at 147 million.

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The starling also saw its population decrease.

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And the European skylark population dropped by nearly 50% over the last 30 years.

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If you want to read more about why bird populations are declining, then check out Exeter University’s web site for all the details concerning their study.