Braque

A handsome dog. Energetic and alert. Strong but not coarse. Strong and agile, with the strength and agility necessary for a herding dog. A dog lacking these traits, regardless of its coat, will be punished.

Braque is a very ancient breed among French working dogs. It was depicted in tapestries from the 8th century and mentioned in literature from the 12th century. The accurate description of the breed dates from the 12th to the 16th century. In its early days, Braque was primarily used to protect goods from wolf attacks and theft. However, after the French Revolution, with the division of land and an increase in population, Braque began to transition into more peaceful tasks such as guarding poultry, keeping sheep on unfenced pastures, and protecting the owner's property.

Recommended for dog lovers

1. Heart Disease

Dogs with heart disease are often associated with obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, it mainly shows symptoms such as easy fatigue and difficulty breathing. Heart disease in dogs is difficult to detect and often when the owner notices, the dog is already seriously ill.

2. Infectious Diseases

Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common and highly fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that are not vaccinated in time are prone to these two infectious diseases, and once infected, they may show symptoms such as lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, and vomiting or diarrhea.

3. Kidney Disease

Speaking of common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The terrible thing about kidney disease in dogs is that the onset process is imperceptible, and when the owner realizes it, the dog's renal cell damage has often exceeded 75%. When a dog's kidneys have problems, the symptoms generally include bloody urine, abnormal urine color, changes in urination habits, etc.

4. Parasites

Intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms, as well as heartworms, are common parasites that infect dogs. When a dog is infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, passing worms, and pale gums. Heartworms are parasites that live in a dog's heart. When a dog is infected, symptoms such as decreased vitality, coughing, anemia, dyspnea, and ascites may occur.

5. Canine Pneumonia

Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is mostly a complication of other diseases and often occurs in dogs with abnormal upper respiratory tract, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral influenza, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Cough, nasal congestion, and fever are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.

Newborn period: The newborn period is when the dog is just born and relies mainly on breast milk. The body cannot regulate its temperature and needs the mother's warmth. For the first 1-2 days, the puppy has no hearing or vision and can only find the nipple through weak touch. The eyes open around day 13 and hearing develops around day 15. Teething starts around day 20. From day 21-28, the amount of breast milk is not enough, and the puppy needs to transition from liquid food to semi-solid food. It is easy to develop diarrhea and constipation during this time, so it is important to feed lactase, probiotics, or give them goat milk powder/pet milk powder. If constipation occurs when consuming milk powder, a small amount of vegetable oil can be fed and massaging the abdomen can help with bowel movements. Deworming should be started at 14-28 days old.

Puppyhood: From 1 month to 2 months old, the puppy's digestive system is not fully developed, so it requires careful care from the owner. Generally, the puppy should be fed at least 3 times a day, with small meals according to the puppy's condition. Soak the dry food in warm water or goat milk powder and feed it little by little. Do not overfeed, as it can lead to poor digestion. Make sure to provide fresh water for the puppy and avoid feeding milk, as it can cause diarrhea. Giving probiotics to regulate the gastrointestinal tract can be beneficial. During this time, puppies have low resistance to viruses and bacteria, so they should not be taken outside or come into contact with sick individuals to avoid getting sick. Immunization should start at 6-7 weeks old, with the final immunization at 3 months old. It is recommended to wait until after immunization to give the puppy a bath. Dry cleaning powder can be used for bathing initially. Teeth start to grow at 19-28 days old, and all deciduous teeth should be present by 2 months old. Puppies have a certain level of learning ability and can begin potty training.

Adolescence: From 3 months to 6 months old. Puppies at this stage can gradually transition from soaked dog food to dry dog food. The eating schedule should be adjusted gradually, and meal times should be regular. During this time, puppies are still fed dog food and given fresh water. However, their bones and muscles grow rapidly, requiring a high protein and calcium diet. The puppy's coat starts to change, entering a critical phase for coat care, but they may also go through an awkward phase. The dominance period begins, where puppies start to establish their own territory and try to dominate their owners. Destructive behavior increases. Puppies experience rapid body growth, so regular exercise is necessary to maintain their body development.

Sexual Maturity: From 8 months to 14 months old, dogs enter sexual maturity and have their first heat cycle. The first heat cycle may cause hormonal imbalances and disorder. Prolonged heat, no heat, or false pregnancy can occur, resulting in low fertility and a high rate of difficult births. Supplements that promote reproduction should be provided, such as vitamin E, organic chromium, and folic acid. It is important to note that mating should be avoided during the first heat cycle. Hygiene during the heat cycle should be maintained to prevent infections. If the dog is not intended for breeding, neutering can be performed after the heat cycle ends.

Adulthood: Dogs from 1 year to 6 years old. Dogs reach adulthood at 1 year old and their physical development is almost complete. Their size and body proportions will not change significantly afterwards. During this stage, they can continue to eat dog food without any specific restrictions. However, it is still important to supplement with nutrients, avoid feeding chicken or duck bones to prevent skeletal problems, avoid salty or spicy foods, feed cooked food instead of raw food, and avoid animal fat. If the dog catches a cold or gets sick, it should be taken to a pet hospital for treatment. Do not self-diagnose and use medication without professional advice, unless you are a veterinarian.

Elderly Stage: From 8 years to 18 years old. Dogs over 8 years old are considered senior dogs in human age, equivalent to being over 50 years old. In this stage, the dog's organ functions decline, and age-related diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney dysfunction, and bone and joint problems can occur. It is important to supplement with calcium. Consumption of soy products and cartilage or using calcium supplements available in the market can be beneficial. Regular sun exposure and exercise are also necessary. Pay attention to hygiene and cherish the time with your beloved dog.

1. Do not bathe frequently

When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene situation. In hot weather, you can bathe the dog one or two more times, while in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed five times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Brush regularly

Dogs shed their fur almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Seasonal shedding is more severe. To promote good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use a special comb for pets to help the dog clean the naturally shed fur and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.

3. Sunbathe

Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. At the same time, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit while sunbathing, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.

4. Deworming

Poor fur quality is closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from a dog's body, depriving it of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to deworm the dog internally and externally. Moreover, deworming medicine can cause great harm to the dog's gastrointestinal system. Therefore, it is advisable to feed probiotics together with deworming medicine to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet

If you want your dog to have beautiful fur, you must lay a good foundation of nutrition and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food. Choose a dog food that is suitable for the dog and has sufficient nutrition to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can feed the dog with lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil in moderation.