So here we are at the end of the road!  It has been an exciting journey through the world of dogs via the alphabet.  Thank you for following along with me in honor of National Pet Month!  Once again I ran into some trouble as there is no 'official' dog breed that begins with Z so (getting creative!) I discovered a mixed breed....

Z is for Zuchon
(cross between Bichon Frise and Shih Tzu)

Y is for Yorkshire Terrier

Out of WWII came many stories about dogs (i.e. Kuvasz, Leonberger, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, etc.).  Some happy, some sad, but this one might be one the most heroic (and surprising!) of them all!  Click the picture below to read a Wikipedia article about Smoky the Yorkie...

X is for Xoloitzcuintli
(SHOH-loh-eets-KWEENT-lee)
aka Xolo, Mexican Hairless Dog

Two for one!  I am posting both V and W tonight. (On account I am very late in posting today and tomorrow will be unable to, so lucky you!)

T is for Tibetan Mastif

Hmm, very interesting:
-Unlike most large breeds, its life expectancy is longer (10-14 years!)
-They often sleep during the day to be more active and alert at night.
-In 2008, the Tibetan Mastiff competed for the first time in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
-They are thought to have been used to redevelop the Newfoundland and St. Bernard to combat the threat of their extinction after World War II.

S is for St. Bernard

These beauties got their name from the Great St. Bernard Hospice at an ancient pass in the Western Alps between Switzerland and Italy.  Because of the dangers of crossing this path, many St. Bernards have been credited with saving lives (though are not currently used for rescue there).

Ever wonder what that barrel was for so commonly depicted around a St. Bernard's neck?  Legend is that they are casks filled with brandy; avalanche victims supposedly drank the brandy to stay warm while awaiting rescue! (However, this is supposedly a myth perpetuated by the painting Alpine Mastiffs Reanimating a Distressed Traveler by the artist Charles Landseer.)

R is for Rottweiler

Obedience training and socialisation required! (along with love!)
These dogs have strong watchdog and territorial instincts both making them very devoted and loving to their owners as well as fantastic search and rescue dogs and police dogs.  As with any dog breed, there are potential dangers with this combination and add to that this dog's great strength it becomes essential to socialize & train him properly.  It is sad and quite unfortunate that Rottweilers have developed such a bad rap through tv/movie portrayals and media sensationalism--dangerous behaviors usually result from irresponsible ownership, abuse, and neglect.

How could you not love that face?!

P is for Pomeranian

Meet Jiff!  Chicagoland's very own Pom Pom celebrity/dog model/actor....he even spent six months training alongside canine police dogs in Grayslake!!

O is for Old English Sheepdog

There have been some famous Old English Sheepdogs!

N is for Newfoundland

The Newfoundland are known for their giant size, tremendous strength, calm dispositions, and
loyalty. Also, partly due to their webbed feet and water resistant coat, they excel at water rescue/lifesaving!  The story below is about Rigel, the Newf who belonged to William Murdoch (the First Officer on the Titanic); he not only survived but spent over three hours in the 28-degree water and helped in saving a boat full of people!

New York Herald, Sunday, April 21, 1912:
Survivor's Cries Weak, Dog's Bark Causes Rescue of Boatload 
     Rigel, whose master sank with the Titanic, Guides the Carpathia's Captain to Suffering
Passengers  Hidden Under Rescue Ship's Bow.
     Not the least among  the heros of the Titanic was Rigel, a big black Newfoundland dog,
belonging to  the first officer, who went down with his ship. But for Rigel, the fourth boat  picked up might have been run down by the Carpathia. For three hours he swam in  the water where the Titanic went down, evidently looking for his master, and was  instrumental in guiding the boatload of survivors to the gangway of the  Carpathia.
     Jonas Briggs, a seaman aboard the Carpathia, now has Rigel and told the story of the dog's 
heroism. The Carpathia was moving slowing about, looking for boats, rafts or anything which might be afloat. Exhausted with their efforts, weak from lack of food and exposure to the cutting wind, and terror stricken, the men and woman in  the fourth boat drifted under the Carpathia's starboard bow. They were dangerously close to the steamship, too weak to shout a warning loud enough to 
reach the bridge. 
      The boat might not  have been seen were it not for the sharp barking of Rigel, who was swimming  ahead of the craft and valiantly announcing his position. The barks attracted 
the attention of Captain Rostron and he went to the starboard end of the bridge to see where they came from and saw the boat. He immediately ordered the engines  stopped and the boat came alongside the starboard gangway. 
      Care was taken to take Rigel aboard, but he appeared little affected by his long trip through the
ice cold water. He stood by the rail and barked until Captain Rostron called Briggs and had him take the dog below.