Animal Chain......

[Henaynei]

Entlebucher​

(Entlebucher Sennehund)​

(Entelbuch Mountain Dog)​

(Entlebuch Cattle Dog)​

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This is Xanti of Ambers Pride, from Belgium.​

Pronunciation​

Ent-lay-boo-cur(with the emphasis on Ent)

Group​

Mastiff

Description​

The Entlebucher is a square, sturdy dog with typical working dog features. It has small, triangular ears and rather small, lively brown eyes. The head is well proportioned to the body, with a strong flat skull. The long jaw is well formed and powerful. The feet are compact supporting its muscular body. The smooth coat is close and harsh with symmetrical markings of black, tan and white. This tricolor coat has white on its toes, tail-tip, chest and blaze; the tan always lies between the black and the white. It has muscular broad hips. The hocks are naturally well angled. The tail is sometimes docked.​

Temperament​

The Entlebucher is a people person dog who loves to be surrounded by his people and friends. Alert and very eager to please. It was first used as a cattle driver, today it is used as a livestock guarder and a companion.

Height, Weight​

Height: 19-20 inches (48-51 cm.)
Weight: 55-66 pounds (25-30 kg.)

Living Conditions​

The Entlebucher is not recommended for apartment life.

Life Expectancy​

​

About 11-15 years​

Grooming​

An easy groom dog. Regular brushing will due. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin​

The Entlebucher is named after a town and region in the Swiss canton of Lucerne. It is the smallest of the Swiss mountain dogs. While its origin is not certain, it is thought to be descended form the fighting and guarding mastiffs of the Roman legions. This breed is popular in Switzerland, but is rarely seen outside its native land. This rare breed was saved by the diligent efforts of Franz Schertenleib. Schertenleib heard of the many different Swiss mountain dogs that existed. In the 1800's, with the help of a Zurich show judge, Professor Albert Heim, Schertenleib scoured the Swiss Countryside searching for mountain dogs before they became extinct.

 

[macspetra]

rabbit

 

[Dove101]

otter

 

[Pia]

parrot

 

[ChristianCandy]

QUAGGA
The Quagga is a recently-extinct relative of the zebra.

 

[Olga]

carriage-dog

 

[Mashley]

gnu

 

[ChristianCandy]

horse

 

[LegacyOfLove]

iguana

 

[ChristianCandy]

jaguar

 

[Pia]

koala

 

[kleptobismol]

lemur

 

[ChristianCandy]

mountain goat

 

[Henaynei]

Taigan
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​

Kirghiz mountain borzoi in Moscow
Photo Courtesy of Oleg.
​

​

For thousands of years Taigan (of Kirghiz «catch up and kill») has been extremely helpful in hunting. Now that hunting is no longer the way to survive Taigans are really close to sinking into oblivion. The number of Taigans amounts to several hundred species. The relic breed is on the verge of extinction.
​

 

[Henaynei]

Nentsi Reindeer

The Nentsi breed was developed by the Nentsi people. In the 1930's breeding work began on a large scale and considerably increased size, strength and productivity.
The Nentsi breed is reared in the north of Russia and to the east of the Urals, i.e. in the lower reaches of the rivers Ob and Yenisei. In the past Murmansk region was the breeding area of the Saami strain (Murmansk breed) but in the 1930's it was replaced by the Nentsi breed.

At present the Nentsi breed numbers more than 850,00 head. This is a homogeneous group of animals of average size (as compared to other breeds), strong body build and mainly light brown in color.

Natural and climatic conditions in areas where Nentsi reindeer are bred are relatively monotonous. This is a low-lying country, in the main, with occasional ranges of low and medium mountains (the Khibini Mountains, the Urals), considerable precipitation in winder and comparably warm summers. The average temperature fluctuates from -0.5 to 3.8c.

In summer the herds graze mainly on the Arctic coast in the tundra zone, which has abundant green vegetation, while in winter they are driven into the forest tundra with its profusion of feed lichens and protection from wind.

A characteristic feature of this breed is that they feed chiefly on reindeer lichens for 8 months (from October to May). As the lichens do not contain sufficient nutrients, the animals' weight falls sharply toward spring.

Rutting occurs at the end of September through October. Females usually give birth to one fawn. The fawn crop in years with favorable feeding and weather conditions is 85% and in pedigree herds up to 93%.

The typical diseases of Nentsi reindeer are gadfly strike, necobacillosis and pneumonia. Some animals are resistant to these disease, but the question still requires proper investigation.

Nentsi reindeer are perfectly adapted to local natural and climatic conditions. Transferring them to regions lying more to the south ended everywhere in failure. The animals perished within 2-3 years.
The Nentsi breed is the most uniform and fixed one. Bigger animals are to be found on Arctic islands such as Kalguev and Vaigach. According to scientists this is die to favorable feeding conditions and is not due to genetic differences. The use of island sires in mainland herds did not bring about an improvement.

There are 30 pedigree herds of the Nentsi breed with the area. For many years the breeds work was carried out in experimental production farms of agricultural research institute of the Far North, of the Murmansk experimental reindeer breeding station and of Yamal and Naryan-Mar agricultural experiment stations.

The Nentsi is considered to be the most numerous and successful breed. However, because of large-scale industrial activity in a number of regions the ares os lichen winter pastures is being reduced, which can have a negative impact on the local reindeer production.



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[Slina]

rat

 

[Henaynei]

TAILLESS RAT

Black Self Tailless rat owned and
bred by Jazmyn Concolor, photo ©1996 Craig Robbins.

Tailless rats may be shown in any recognized color, marking, or Variety. The distinct feature is the complete absence of a tail. Tailless rats may have a cobbier body and will have a rounded [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse].

American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association

[size=-1]OFR Skitter, Son of Bonita and Lewis from Bonnie Walters in S. CA.[/size]

 

[Roxa]

tiger

 

[Pia]

raccoon

 

[Henaynei]

Norwegian Forest Cat​

Pictured: Best of Breed GC, BW, RW VANIR VENUS,
Brown Tabby & White Norwegian Forest Cat Female.
Photo: © Helmi Flick

Bright emerald green eyes with a band of gold. Long flowing hair. Sweet-expressioned faces. Jaunty ear and toe trimmings. Each time you see a Norwegian Forest Cat is a feast for the eyes. Each time you touch their spun-silk soft coats is a delight to the fingertips.

These are the cats that explored the world with the Vikings, protecting the grain stores on land and sea, and which are believed to have left their progeny on the shores of North America as a legacy to the future.

These lovely cats are really two for the price of one, they can differ so greatly in looks from summer to winter. Some time in the spring they take off their “winter underwear,” the downy undercoat that provides warmth, and the long non-tangling outer guardhairs that act as protection from rain and snow. The contrast can be quite extreme. The inner-ear hair that deflects the wind and snow (and can be three to four inches long, curving out and around the ear like flexible racing stripes) remains all year. The tail is always magnificent, being as much as twelve inches or more when fanned to its fullest. Perhaps the most impressive part of the coat is the mane. On a fully mature cat, i.e. one over five years of age and which is challenged by the most adverse cold weather, the mane is nothing less than spectacular. It is long, dense and very, very impressive! This, unfortunately, may disappear in the spring, but rest assured that it will begin to lengthen again as the days begin to shorten.

Pictured: Second Best of Breed GC, RW AQUA DOLAGON ETOILE
Blue Tabby & White Norwegian Forest Cat Male.
Photo: © S. Daichi

These cats are designed by Mother Nature. They appear in coats of most colors, from pure white to deepest coal black, with every possible coat pattern and color combination in between, with the exception of the colorpoint colors as seen in the Siamese or Persian-Himalayan such as seal point or chocolate point. Darker cats require less coat to keep warm since they absorb more heat from the sun. Lighter cats tend to have fuller coats with more undercoat. Some colors change from light to darker tones with the seasons. Mother Nature is so thoughtful! And, finally, because they are a natural breed, their mature size will differ from line to line.

Is their Norse name accurate? Yes, the skogkatt, meaning forest cat, really did come out of the Scandinavian forests some time in the last 4,000 years. However, they are not feral but are among the most people-oriented cats. Of course their personalities differ, depending upon the type home in which they spend their early kittenhood. As with any other breed, a kitten handled and petted by many loving people from birth and which has been exposed to children, cats and dogs will be different from one born and raised in an isolated area with limited human contact.

A question frequently asked is about the care the long coats require. As one breeder is fond of saying: “Mother Nature does not have hairdressers in the deep woods, so she did not design the cat to require the daily attention necessary to some other longhaired breeds.” Very little, if any, combing is required for non-show cats, but is recommended during spring shedding.

The Forest Cat was presented to the CFA Board for registration acceptance in February 1987, and in 1993, these wonderful works of art from nature were accepted for full championship status.

Pictured: Third Best of Breed GC FUJI-FOREST AIKO OF K-PLEASURES
Brown Mackerel Tabby & White Norwegian Forest Cat Female.
Photo: © Chanan
Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.