Amerikennels


GEORGE, the WORLD’s TALLEST DOG
February 24, 2010, 9:11 AM
Filed under: Uncategorized

February 23, 2010 . . .

George is named the World’s Tallest Dog ~ also titled the Tallest Dog Ever ~ measuring in at 42.25 inches!  Wow, a virtual horse!

Giant George is making the circuit appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show.  He also has his own website.  I guess you gotta do that in this Internet age – why not?!?!

George was born November 17, 2005.  He currently tons in at 245 lbs, eats 110 lbs of dog food a week, AND he sleeps by himself on his very own queen-sized bed. Shouldn’t it be a KING???

See more photos of George on his site and on the Arizona Daily Star site.

In case you’d like to have a try, Guinness World Records is launching a search for record-holding pets in these categories:

  • Longest Ears on a Dog
  • Smallest Dog (Length)
  • Oldest Dog
  • Smallest Cat
  • Oldest Cat

For more information or to enter your pet for consideration, go to guinnessworldrecords.com

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The Smiler — An Eulogy
February 14, 2010, 3:53 PM
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Hunting, Vizsla

Life’s little diplomat of excitement, Teca was a prancer.  Bouncing off the couch at the slightest indication of muscle intent, she was sure it was for her – to let her out into the playground that was her yard, to be fed or praised or petted, for a treat, or to be taken for a walk . . . Whatever the intention, it was for her – she was sure of it, making you sure of it as well.  Announcing her excitement as though it was the first time for everything, she arrested the room with enthusiasm.  Akin to the movie “50 First Dates” whatever the activity she reacted like it had never occurred before.  Whether it was the first of the morning, a feeding, or returning home at the end of the day, her enthusiasm for every little task . . . every little motion was infectious. 

Teca’s eagerness for all of life’s little moments soon developed into yours.  Tossing the ball a distance into the pond, she would tear across the yard, halting at the shore line as the 3 Labs – her sisters — dove in.  Possessive of every characteristic to make her a water dog, dampness was not her preference.  Frolicking up and down the shoreline pointing on grass hoppers and frogs was — occasionally carrying one of her little treasures far into the yard, only to drop and nose nudge it all the way back to the water to start again.

 With skills inbred, she was an excellent bird dog — her vertical jump unsurpassed by even the most impressive MVP.  Bouncing through the fields like the donkey in Shrek, always cautious of being to far affront, Teca’s silhouette permeated the horizon as she bounded along. 

Bouncing, prancing, excitement and “firsts,” that is Teca’s eulogy. 

It is strangely quiet here, even with 3 other dogs.  No one sneaks into bed with me when Joe leaves for work.  I do not have to put warm water into anyone’s food.   I haven’t said the words “calm down” since she left us.  The emptiness left by her parting is evident with every first we perform – the first morning is silently vacant of prancing . . . the first feeding . . . when Joe signals a snuggle by a shift of his weight to one side of his chair, there is a painful absence of Teca on his lap.   

 Written in honor of her short, impetuous, excitement filled life, 5 years seems selfishly unfair. 

 In anticipation of the day that all memories be joyous and unaccompanied by tears,

Ameriken Magic Teca

December 17, 2004 – February 13, 2010

We love you.  May you rest in peace.

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TOP DOG HONORS GO TO THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER ! ! !
January 27, 2010, 10:45 PM
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, Labrador Retriever, Puppies

To all my puppy owners . . .more Labs in the Spring!

And the winner is – the LABRADOR Retriever! 

For 18 years running, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America.  According to the American Kennel Club® (AKC), more than twice as many Labs were registered last year than any other purebred dog.  I can attest to contributing to this number with Tilly and Inka’s puppies. 

Perhaps the number one characteristic that Labs posses making for a fabulous family dog is patience.  I have seen children sit on them, lay on them, pull on their ears and poke them in the eye.  They remain steadfast and loving.  They are intelligent, loyal, family members. 

In case you are wondering how the rest of the breds fared, here are the rankings of the most popular dogs in the USA:

  RANKING
BREED 2009 2008 2004 1999
Labrador Retrievers 1 1 1 1
German Shepherd Dogs 2 3 3 3
Yorkshire Terriers 3 2 5 9
Golden Retrievers 4 4 2 2
Beagles 5 5 4 5
Boxers 6 6 7 10
Bulldogs 7 8 14 21
Dachshunds 8 7 6 4
Poodles 9 9 8 6
Shih Tzu 10 10 9 11
Miniature Schnauzers 11 11 11 14
Chihuahuas 12 12 10 7
Rottweilers 13 14 16 8
Pomeranians 14 13 13 12
Doberman Pinschers 15 18 22 23
German Shorthaired Pointers 16 16 20 24
Pugs 17 15 12 16
Shetland Sheepdogs 18 19 18 15
Boston Terriers 19 17 17 19
Maltese 20 20 19 20
Great Danes 21 22 27 28
Siberian Huskies 22 23 24 18
Cocker Spaniels 23 21 15 13
French Bulldogs 24 26 49 73
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 25 25 32 58
Pembroke Welsh Corgis 26 24 23 30
Mastiffs 27 28 33 39
Australian Shepherds 28 29 34 38
English Springer Spaniels 29 27 28 26
Brittanys 30 30 30 31
Weimaraners 31 31 29 34
Havanese 32 36 52 92
Miniature Pinschers 33 32 21 17
Basset Hounds 34 33 25 22
Bichon Frises 35 35 26 25
West Highland White Terriers 36 34 31 29
Papillons 37 37 35 46
Collies 38 38 36 32
Bernese Mountain Dogs 39 40 48 59
Bullmastiffs 40 39 47 50
Redbone Coonhounds** 41 N/A N/A N/A
Vizslas 42 44 44 48
Bloodhounds 43 43 50 51
Bluetick Coonhounds** 44 N/A N/A N/A
St. Bernards 45 45 37 37
Newfoundlands 46 46 45 53
Chinese Shar-Pei 47 47 41 35
Rhodesian Ridgebacks 48 50 55 56
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers 49 48 46 41
Akitas 50 52 51 36
Scottish Terriers 51 49 42 43
Border Collies 52 53 60 71
Pekingese 53 55 38 27
Lhasa Apsos 54 56 39 33
Chinese Crested 55 54 57 68
Cairn Terriers 56 51 43 42
Bull Terriers 57 57 68 79
Alaskan Malamutes 58 59 58 47
Airedale Terriers 59 58 53 49
Portuguese Water Dogs 60 64 69 80
Whippets 61 63 62 63
Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 62 60 59 60
Chow Chows 63 66 61 44
Great Pyrenees 64 62 56 45
Shiba Inu 65 65 66 54
English Cocker Spaniels 66 70 75 76
Australian Cattle Dogs 67 68 74 66
Italian Greyhounds 68 61 54 52
Dogues de Bordeaux 69 41 N/A N/A
American Staffordshire Terriers 70 71 65 67
Japanese Chin 71 74 67 74
Brussels Griffons 72 67 63 84
Irish Setters 73 69 64 62
German Wirehaired Pointers 74 72 70 72
Dalmatians 75 76 81 40
Samoyeds 76 73 76 57
Staffordshire Bull Terriers 77 78 90 91
Silky Terriers 78 77 71 61
Old English Sheepdogs 79 75 73 64
Irish Red and White Setters** 80 N/A N/A N/A
Belgian Malinois 81 79 97 95
Border Terriers 82 80 82 88
Cardigan Welsh Corgis 83 82 85 86
Irish Wolfhounds 84 81 84 78
Bouviers des Flandres 85 83 83 75
Black and Tan Coonhounds 86 42 140 118
Parson Russell Terriers 87 84 72 N/A
Basenjis 88 85 78 69
Giant Schnauzers 89 87 80 82
Borzois 90 94 89 83
Afghan Hounds 91 93 86 85
Boykin Spaniels** 92 N/A N/A N/A
Schipperkes 93 91 79 55
Wire Fox Terriers 94 90 77 65
English Setters 95 86 95 89
Tibetan Terriers 96 96 96 94
Gordon Setters 97 92 87 81
Norwich Terriers 98 97 99 100
Standard Schnauzers 99 99 101 101
Toy Fox Terriers 100 88 94 -
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs 101 89 93 104
Keeshonden 102 95 91 70
Welsh Terriers 103 101 88 90
Norwegian Buhunds** 104 N/A N/A N/A
Norwegian Elkhounds 105 100 92 77
Flat-Coated Retrievers 106 98 100 99
Pyrenean Shepherds** 107 N/A N/A N/A
Wirehaired Pointing Griffons 108 105 112 121
Belgian Tervuren 109 103 106 98
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers 110 102 118 N/A
Tibetan Spaniels 111 104 105 106
Salukis 112 118 113 107
Neapolitan Mastiffs 113 112 40 N/A
Pointers 114 111 107 96
Anatolian Shepherd Dogs 115 110 114 117
Bearded Collies 116 109 102 93
Manchester Terriers 117 107 109 102
American Eskimo Dogs 118 108 110 97
Spinoni Italiani 119 114 116 N/A
Belgian Sheepdogs 120 116 115 105
Kerry Blue Terriers 121 120 108 109
Norfolk Terriers 122 115 117 110
Smooth-Coated Fox Terriers 123 106 103 87
Australian Terriers 124 113 111 103
Miniature Bull Terriers 125 124 129 129
Plotts 126 127 N/A N/A
Briards 127 123 123 112
Clumber Spaniels 128 117 125 124
English Toy Spaniels 129 125 124 119
Black Russian Terriers 130 121 98 N/A
Tibetan Mastiffs 131 128 N/A N/A
Irish Terriers 132 130 121 108
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéens 133 119 122 111
Affenpinschers 134 132 120 115
Bedlington Terriers 135 126 127 122
Welsh Springer Spaniels 136 122 119 113
Field Spaniels 137 140 138 127
Lakeland Terriers 138 131 126 120
American Water Spaniels 139 136 132 116
Greyhounds 140 129 131 128
Kuvaszok 141 135 128 126
Scottish Deerhounds 142 133 134 125
Löwchen 143 137 135 133
Ibizan Hounds 144 134 141 136
Curly-Coated Retrievers 145 138 130 114
German Pinschers 146 141 144 N/A
Beaucerons 147 139 N/A N/A
Swedish Vallhunds 148 149 N/A N/A
Pulik 149 142 136 123
Irish Water Spaniels 150 144 137 130
Dandie Dinmont Terriers 151 146 147 137
Pharaoh Hounds 152 148 139 134
Polish Lowland Sheepdogs 153 145 133 N/A
Komondorok 154 151 143 132
Skye Terriers 155 143 149 131
Canaan Dogs 156 150 142 139
Sealyham Terriers 157 152 146 138
Glen of Imaal Terriers 158 156 104 N/A
Sussex Spaniels 159 147 151 135
Finnish Spitz 160 153 148 140
Otterhounds 161 154 153 144
American Foxhounds 162 158 152 141
Harriers 163 155 150 143
English Foxhounds 164 157 154 142

NOTES:
** – New breeds entered in AKC registry in 2009.
N/A – Breeds not yet AKC recognized during the year indicated.

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I AM A LABRADOR PUPPY
January 2, 2010, 4:41 PM
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, chocolate, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Puppies, Renee Badall, Training, Uncategorized, yellow

  • Puppy-proof my new home.  I will chew on anything and everything to help me cut my teeth ~ help us both out and buy me some good chew toys  ~ hide everything that might be more important to you than I am at this moment (I’ll grow on you).
  • Introduce me to your family, but not all at once.  First the kennel ~ then a few rooms ~ next the house ~ then bring your friends and family over.  I love a good party! 
  • Don’t feed me human food ~ it’s not good for me.  Just like I’ll chew on anything, I’ll eat anything.  It is up to you to choose a high quality dog food and designate my eating times and amount.  I want to be fit and in shape ~ just like I’m going to make you!
  • Potty train me and you’ll like me a whole lot more!  Pay attention to me.  I’ll give you signals ~ like walking to the door and sitting or whining.  They’ll be brief, so act fast.  Take me out to do my business whenever I wake up for a nap (I take a lot of them) and every hour or so.  Praise me ~ I’m vain!
  • Socialize me.  After I settle in to my new surroundings and new family, I’m ready to meet the world.  I’m a social creature you know.  I didn’t get designated the most popular breed by accident!  Take me to the park and on play dates.  Let them pet me . . . woof . . . woof !
  • Teach me some manners.  Prove that you are the alpha dog and I’ll believe you!  Teach me to sit, stay, not jump up on people, fetch . . . We’ll make a great team.  I even like obedience school.
  • Get me ‘fixed.’  If you’re not going to breed me, save me from ‘all that’ ~ make The Appointment.
  • Exercise me.  We’ll all be a lot healthier if you do.  I like morning and evening walks, and don’t forget about those play dates!
  • Play with me.  I am a social pack animal and need your attention every day.  Throw me a ball, teach me new tricks, and cuddle with me I’m a great stress reliever.
  • Remember to reward my positive behavior ~ with healthy treats!
  • Oh, and that kennel ~ I like it.  It’s my safe haven ~ where I go to take naps and feel secure ~ you can keep me in there when you’re not home and know that I’ll be safe ~ even feed me in there.  It’s cozy!
2 Comments


NEW YEARS NEW PUPPIES — LABRADOR RETRIEVER PUPPIES
December 27, 2009, 6:11 PM
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, black, Breeding, holiday, Labrador Retriever, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, yellow | Tags: , ,

On October 17, 2009, our beautiful black Lab Tilly gave birth to 12 healthy puppies — 4 blacks, 5 yellows and 2 chocolates.   We soon lost one due to a birth defect and although she was only with us for 4 days, we cried as if she had been with us always.  We love our Dogs!  Seven of our puppies went immediately — on the 49th day — due to our fabulous reputation via word of mouth.  We still have 4 PUPPIES waiting for NEW YEAR’s NEW HOMES.  If you find and confirm me on Facebook (just send me a personal message saying who you are), you will find 2 albums full of pictures.  YES, I maxed out the first FB album finding out that it will only hold 200 pictures!  Well, actually we have 3 FB albums — Puppies, Puppies II and Puppies the New Adventure (a compilation of photos as they are sent to us from their new families).  I’ve attached a few photos here.  If you are not personally interested in a new puppy, I hope you will spread the word to other folks you know who may be looking for a quality, AKC, Labrador Retriever.

 This is Tilly and her baby boy

 

And we have yellows available

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Photographing Your Dog
December 1, 2009, 8:05 AM
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, chocolate, christmas, holiday, Labrador Retriever, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, yellow
 
 

 

Won't you be my parent?

Tip #1 – Personality

You know your dog. Be patient and watch for those special moments. Don’t try to force or over instruct. Wait for it to happen.

Tip #2 – Light

Look for the best light situations. Natural light allows the details to shine through. The prettiest light happens early or late in the day when the sunlight is warm and soft. So grab the leash and go outside! As an alternative, overcast days or wide open shade create excellent effect.

Tip #3 – Frame your photo

Carefully choose your shot, making sure that your dog is in focus.  It doesn’t have to be centered – just framed.  Get on the same level as your subject ~ sit or lay down ~ shoot up . . . Use the landscape and environment around your dog.  Experiment!  

Tip #4 – Experiment

Set aside time to practice and be creative. Keep things fun and unstructured. Try new locations. If it doesn’t work out, you’ve had a great time with your dog.

Tip #5 – Be patient

Getting a great shot of your dog is about the right place and the right time. Wait . . . play . . . praise. . . and keep shooting. Be on the lookout for special moment and special details. When it comes, you will be rewarded with a great memories and a great shot.

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Labrador Retriever Characteristics
November 29, 2009, 9:25 PM
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, Breeding, chocolate, christmas, holiday, Hunting, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, Training, yellow

LABRADOR RETRIEVERS ~ AVAILABLE 12.5.09

Loyal, loving, affectionate and patient, the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They are intelligent, good natured, lively and sociable ~ a fabulous family pet, great hunter as well as an excellent service dog.   Versatility is their middle name!  Loving to to play and please, if water is around, they will find it.  They are equipped for this by nature as their webbed feet allow for some superb swimming.  Amazing with children as well as other dogs, their highly intelligent nature and eagerness to please makes them exceedingly trainable ~ best done when they are a puppy.

Height:

  • Males 22-24 inches.  (Some males can grow to 100 pounds or more)
  • Females 21-23 inches

Weight:

  • Male 60-75 pounds
  • Females 55-70 pounds

Life Expectancy:

  • 10 to 12 years

Grooming:

  • Average shedders
  • Smooth short-haired double coat is easily groomed by brushing regularly with a firm bristle brush.  Pay special attention to the undercoat. 
  • Shampoo only when necessary.

Exercise:

  • Eergetic dogs. 
  • Love to work and play hard. 
  • Take them on a daily, brisk walk, jog or allow them to run alongside you when you bike. 
  • Train them to heel so that they see you as dominate ~ the leader or alpha dog. 

Feeding:

  • Labradors tend to gain weight. 
  • Do not over feed.  Check with your breeder or vet for specific instructions. 
  • Best NOT to feed them table scraps. 
  • Proper care and feeding will be rewarded by a long and healthy family member.
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DOG-DAY THANKSGIVING
November 26, 2009, 11:34 AM
Filed under: Amerikennels, holiday, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, Uncategorized

On this HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, we naturally want to embrace all our family members, including the dog . . .

While cooked turkey meat is safe for dogs to eat, but be extremely cautious when discarding items used to cook the turkey:

Skewers used to secure the turkey are the #1 trouble-causing item. 

Also be careful with the string, pop-up timers, and roasting bags. Swallowing such things can cause an intestinal blockage or perforation.

Turkey bones should never be fed to dogs. All poultry bones splinter easily, and, whether splintered or whole, they can lodge inside or perforate a dog’s intestines.

Turkey skin is something dogs love to eat, but consuming fatty food like poultry skin can lead to gastric distress and Pancreatitis, a serious inflammatory condition of the pancreas that causes vomiting and dehydration.

Caution your family and friends who may be tempted to share food with the dog, especially the small children who may find it hard to resist feeding the dog anyway; and, the dog who finds it too easy to steal food from little hands!

If you feel you must share with your dog on Thanksgiving Day:

A sudden change in diet, like a big bowl of full of turkey and all the trimmings could cause an upset stomach and diarrhea.

Add a few pieces of boneless, skinless turkey meat to their regular food.

Make something special ahead of time to give your dog on Thanksgiving Day – like Turkey Dinner Loaf or Turkey Gobbler Treats.

Give your dog a special new chewy, an irresistible new toy, or a treat filled Kong Toy or Buster Cube to keep him occupied during the meal.

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PUPPY DEVELOPMENT
November 14, 2009, 2:48 PM
Filed under: AKC, Amerikennels, black, Breeding, chocolate, christmas, Hunting, Labrador Retriever, Pet Care, Puppies, Renee Badall, Renee Rienas Badall, yellow

11.9.09 Tri-colors on the grass 2

    BEHAVIOR UP TO 3 WEEKS OLD

-A puppy is born blind, deaf and toothless

- During its first week 90% of a puppys time is spent sleeping and 10% eating. They are only able to crawl

- The puppy’s eyes, which are closed at birth, open when it is between one and two weeks old. It then begins to see

- The pups ears should open when it is two to three weeks old

- Puppies whimper when they are cold, hungry or uncomfortable

- Puppys grow while they sleep

- A puppy is reliant on its mother for the first few weeks for food, comfort and to learn basic dog requirements

    BEHAVIOR BETWEEN 3 – 7 WEEKS OLD

- A puppy will be weaned between the ages of 3 and 7 weeks

- During the ages of 3 to 7 weeks its first teeth, or milk teeth will appear

- A puppy is taught basic behaviour disciplines from its mother

- A puppy will continue to develop by socializing with other dogs and animals and people

- Puppies will stand up and start walking

- At the age of 3 weeks a puppy will develop its sense of smell

- At 3 weeks the puppy will begin to bark and show social development such as wagging its tail, growling and baring its teeth

- Up to the age of 4 weeks the mother will be with the puppy almost constantly

- The puppy has good use of its legs and is able to chase

    BETWEEN 4 and 5 WEEKS, THE MOTHER WILL GRADUALLY SPEND TIME AWAY FROM HER PUPPIES

-Rapid growth and development rate at this stage

-Interaction with litter mates leading to Order of Dominance

-After weaning puppies need to receive a series of vaccines in order to develop immunity on their own. Vaccinations for puppies generally include distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, rabies, and sometimes bordetella

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K-9 VETERAN’S DAY
November 11, 2009, 5:46 PM
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

military_dogs“He latched onto my hand. He gave me a friendly nip on the hand and looked at me. Wolf absolutely would not let me go by him. I looked straight ahead and not more than two feet was a tripwire. And I would have died right there with him if he wouldn’t have found that wire.” – Charlie Cargo, Vietnam dog handler
. . .
“There’d be a lot more than 50,000 names on the Vietnam Wall without these dogs, and I don’t think the average American even knows the role they played.” – Dr. John Kubisz, a veterinarian serving with the 764th Veterinary detachment in Vietnam.
. . .
“Bruiser was the hero that day. I was just a guy who was fortunate enough to be on the other end of the leash.” – John Flannelly, Vietnam dog handler. . .

Dogs have been used in the military since the Revolutionary War. Their keen sense of smell and hearing makes for duties of patrolling, searching for mines, following blood trails and sniffing out explosives. Currently, there are close to 600 dog teams deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
There is no group of veterans prouder than the dog. Thirty-five or forty years after being in combat with their closest buddy they will shoot out their dog’s Preston Brand number (serial number) without missing a beat
After thousands of highly trained dogs were left behind in Vietnam – 4300 served, hundreds were killed, barely 200 came out, and the rest were euthanized or turned over to the South Vietnamese army. Who can doubt that they became somebody’s meal?
In recognition of these 4-legged soldiers several positive actions were taken:
- The U.S. Military K-9 Corps was officially established on March 19, 1942.
- In November, 2000, President Clinton signed off on the military canine retirement program which allows retired military dogs to be put up for adoption rather than euthanized.
- During his tenure, President George W. Bush signed a Defense Appropriations Bill that allows military working dogs who retire early due to injury, to be adopted by their handlers.
So, today as you honor the memory of all soldiers who defended our country, take a moment to thank all the military dogs who gave their lives in defense of the United States. It’s the least they deserve!
NJ-War-Dog-Memorial

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