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The Hound Group includes dog breeds with a wonderful sense of smell and/or great athleticism. These breeds were developed to follow game either by sight or by smell. Sighthounds include the fast and streamlined Afghans, Greyhounds and Salukis. Sighthounds need lots of exercise but some breeds like the Borzoi, the Greyhound, the Irish Wolfhound and the Saluki can adapt to being left alone during the day if they get lots of exercise before and after work. Scent hounds include the slower Bloodhounds, Bassets and Beagles. The dogs in this group have a great size variation and range from the tiny Miniature Dachshund to the extremely tall Irish Wolfhound. The top ten most popular hound dogs in the US are the following. The number in brackets is the rank of the breed out of 154 breeds registered by the American Kennel Club in 2005.

1. Beagle

The very popular (#5) Beagle is one of the oldest hound dog breeds. The small-sized Beagle is calm, loyal and excellent with children and other dogs. The breed is cheerful and happy and they make good family pets except for the nose. Once a Beagle picks up a scent it will follow it to the exclusion of everything else. Beagles are fairly difficult to obedience train because of their independent or stubborn streak.

2. Dachshund

Dachshunds are small dog breeds with a long body, short crooked legs and large floppy ears. The very popular (#6) Dachshund comes in two sizes Miniature and Standard and three varieties of coat Shorthaired, Longhaired and Wirehaired. Dachshunds or Doxies are playful, fun-loving and inquisitive. Doxies are fine with older children but do not like the rough handling they may receive from a toddler. Dachshunds can be independent and stubborn and are difficult to housebreak and train.

3. Basset Hound

The medium- to large-sized Basset Hound is a short legged, loose skinned and powerfully built dog with a great sense of smell. Bassets are one of the easiest-going and best-natured of all dog breeds. The popular (#27) Basset is very gentle, friendly and trustworthy. These hounds adore their masters and children and get along well with other animals and strangers. Bassets can be stubborn, especially when they are investigating an intriguing smell.

4. Bloodhound

The very large and powerful Bloodhound is known for its keen sense of smell which is the most acute of all dog breeds. The Bloodhound is a kind, gentle and loveable dog. The breed is fairly popular (#50) and is gentle and affectionate with his family and children. The Bloody should be supervised around small children and pets as he can be possessive of his food and toys. Bloodhounds are prodigious droolers.

5. Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a lean, well muscled and magnificent, large dog breed. The Ridgeback gets its name from a characteristic ridge running down its back, where the stiff hair grows in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat. The Ridgeback is fairly popular (#54) and is dignified, trustworthy, loyal, intelligent and makes a great family pet. It is extremely protective of its immediate family and wary of strangers and other animals. Ridgebacks are good with children if raised with them but young Ridgebacks can be too rambunctious for small children and toddlers

6. Whippet

The Whippet (#61) is a medium-sized sight hound that looks very much like a small Greyhound. The Whippet gets along well with children and makes a good family dog. This breed is good natured, gentle and very playful. As well this dog can be easily trained, sheds very little and is a great size for an apartment. Although it is important to know that Whippets do like and even expect to sit on furniture - so that should not be a concern if you are considering this breed.

7. Basenji

The Basenji (#81) is an unusual small, elegant and athletic dog that trots like a horse and keeps itself clean by fastidious licking like a cat. Basenjis dont bark but make other unusual sounds like a yodel, howl or chortle depending on its mood. The Basenji is high spirited, affectionate, demanding and almost cat-like in its cleanliness, lack of bark, grace of movement and inexhaustible curiosity. This breed needs an experienced owner and lots of walks and playtime to prevent it from getting into trouble.

8. Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound (#87) is the largest sighthound and one of the biggest and strongest of all giant dog breeds. This breed makes a wonderful family dog as it is reliable, patient, sweet-tempered, intelligent and good with older children. The Wolfhound adores its family and is not aggressive towards strangers or family pets. Toddlers must be supervised carefully around young Wolfhounds as they are in danger of being accidentally knocked over. Fully-grown Wolfhounds can be left alone during the day as long as they get some moderate exercise before and after work.

9. Borzoi

The Borzoi (#94) or Russian Wolfhound is a tall, lean and aristocratic looking large- to very large-sized dog that belongs to the group of sight hound dog breeds. Borzois are kind, gentle and well-behaved indoors. This breed likes lots of attention and loves to recline on a soft bed, a lap or even a couch. Borzois enjoy the company of other sighthounds but the breed is not good with small pets and young children unless raised with them. Borzois dont need an excessive amount of exercise and should not be let off leash because they still retain a high prey drive.

10. Afghan Hound

The large Afghan Hound (#95) has a dignified and somewhat aloof disposition but is also very loyal and affectionate dog. Afghan puppies and adolescents require a lot of knowledge and patience to train and need firm and gentle handling. This breed can be difficult to housebreak and train so professional training may be advisable. The Afghan needs a lot of exercise but still retains a high prey drive and will run off if you let it off leash. The Afghan is suspicious of strangers but can adapt to older children if raised with the family. However the Afghan should be watched around small children as this dog can have a bad temper in adolescence.

Mike Mathews is a contributing writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: http://www.dog-breed-facts.com. He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog breeds, dog health, dog grooming and more. As well be sure to check out his free report on Dog Training.

Genetics of German Shepherd Coat Colors

Concerning the GSD and German Shepherd coat colors, the breed standard from the SV specifically states: "The color of the GSD is in itself not important and has no effect on the character of the dog or on its fitness for work and should be a secondary consideration for that reason. The final color of a young dog can only be ascertained when the outer coat has developed."

Of all undesirable things to try to eliminate and to consider in a German Shepherd Dog, coat color should be at the bottom of the list. Good pigment should be sought after but many factors such as health and temperament, to name a few, should be much more important than coat color which should always be subordinate to structure, gait, type, and character and should never take precedence over the working ability of the dog. Eye color should be dark and nose pigment should be black as well.

Concerning the coat coat of the German Shepherd, the SV breed standard states the following: "The normal (stock) coated GSD should carry a thick undercoat and the outer coat should be as dense as possible, made up of straight hard close lying hairs. The hair on the head and ears, front of the legs, paws and toes is short. On the neck it is longer and thicker, on some males forming a slight ruff. The hair grows longer on the back of the legs as far down as the pastern and the stifle, and forms fairly thick trousers on the hindquarters. There is no hard or fast rule for the length of the hair, but short mole-type coats are faulty." "No good dog is a bad color" -- Max von Stephanitz (breed founder of the German Shepherd Dog) concerning German Shepherd coat colors

Ask just about anybody to describe a German Shepherd Dog and they will almost always mention the "saddle Back" markings. It is also just as possible for the GSD to be one solid color such as black (solid white is considered a conformation disqualification for showing by the AKC) or sable. Sable German Shepherd coat colors are easily identified by multi-colored individual hairs all over the body. Sable GSD's may also be masked by dark or black guard hairs.

German Shepherd coat color patterns may include any of the following: black & tan, black & red, black & cream, solid black, solid white, (considered a conformation disqualification), sable (also called agouti or wolf gray, in various colorations), black & silver, liver (rare - conformation fault) and blue (rare - considered a conformation fault).

Richer pigmentation is preferred, color wise. While I won't delve deeply into the science of genetics (feel free to do that on your own if interested), just know that the liver color comes as the result of matched recessives in the black series and the blue color happens as the result of matched recessives in the dilution series.

German Shepherd coat colors and inheritance in the GSD is very complex and controlled by several series of genes. Following is a very brief description and summary of the various gene series in the GSD responsible for color based on information from "The German Shepherd Dog: A Genetic History" and "Practical Genetics for Dog Breeders", both by Malcom Willis. Both of these books should be considered as required reading for any serious German Shepherd fan and even more importantly for breeders. Another suggested resource is "The German Shepherd Today" by Winifred Strickland and James "Jimmy" Moses.

THE AGOUTI SERIES

The basic body color of the German Shepherd is controlled by the genes. The order of German Shepherd coat colors dominance is as follows: golden sable, grey sable, saddle marked black and tan, bicolor* black and tan (bicolor is where the dog only has tan on the legs and face, not on the body), and black.

Additionally, know that the black gene is recessive to all the other colors in GSD's.

Solid black German Shepherds bred to solid blacks German Shepherds will only produce blacks. The sable colors are dominant over the other colors and patterns in the German Shepherd breed.

THE BLACK SERIES

This gene controls the black pigment formation on the GSD, not the hair color. The German Shepherd coat colors order of dominance is exactly as follows: Black pigment including nose, eyerims and pads; Carrier for liver color; Liver color - brown black colors, brown nose, eye rims and pads.

Note: most GSDs are considered black pigment including nose, eyerims and pads.

THE WHITE SERIES

White coat color in the German Shepherd Dog is recessive to all other colors. In order to get a white coat color in the German Shepherd, both parents must carry the white gene (either be white themselves or be carriers.) The order of dominance is as follows: Melanin is produced. (Standard GSD's colors have this); Partial albinism (not seen); White coat with dark eyes and nose (not albino); Yellowish coat collar (proposed).

THE COLOR SERIES

This controls the intensity of the non-black coloration. The order of dominance is as follows: Lightest tan (cream); Intermediate tan (tan); Darkest tan (red).

The intensity of the color series determines whether GSD's with color (i.e. not all- black or all-white recessives) will be black & cream,black & tan or black & red.

Coat Lengths in GSD's

Short-coated German Shepherd's maintain a short coat, which lies close to the body.

These dogs usually have less undercoat.

"Plush" Coated GSD's have a medium length coat with a thin, fluffy under coat.

These dogs do not have any feathering as in the long coated GSD's.

Long coated German Shepherd's have much longer fur around their ears, on the backs of their legs, chest and tail (feathering) than other German Shepherd's.

THE DILUTION SERIES

This controls how intense the black pigment will appear on your German Shepherd.

The order of dominance is as follows: Dense pigment; blue dilution.

Black pigment combined with blue dilution will produce a blue coated German Shepherd which looks as though it has a dusty or flour sheen.

THE MASK SERIES

This controls whether or not a mask appear on your German Shepherd.The order of dominance is as follows: a black mask on the face; dark coat with no mask; Brindle (rare, will be seen as striping on the legs); clear tan.

All these genes put together determine your own German Shepherd's coat colors.

Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com, is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Need to promote your dog related website and get additional in bound links? Check out pedigreedpups.com , total-german-shepherd.com or http://www.pedigreeddogs.com (purebred dog breed directory) for more information.

For the absolute novice the foray into creating a money making online business can be quite daunting. Most don't know where to start let alone know what to do or how to do it. The one common theme, no matter what their circumstance, is "I want to make money!"

The key to having an online money making business is a change of mindset from employee to business owner or entrepreneur.

The employee clocks in every day, does the required tasks, clocks out again and spends their pay check; sometimes years in advance if they have accumulated credit debt.

The business owner however takes a wider view. He or she has a business plan, sets goals and initiates strategies to achieve them. The business owner forecasts their income in advance.

One of the first things to do, to avoid information overload, is to sit down with pencil and paper and plan your business.

Begin by defining what sort of business you want:

1. Physical products

This could be based on something as simple as your favourite craft or hobby. My teenage daughter, for example, loves making her own jewellery; so much so that our home is literally littered with her "creations". Therefore I built a website for her to sell it.

2. Electronic Products

If "making" a physical product to sell seems like too much work, how about creating a "How To" ebook about all you know on your favourite hobby, craft or area of expertise. Electronic products are very popular with those who want information but don't have the time to do all the research. Gather all your knowledge up in one package and sell your efforts again and again and again.

3. Affiliate Program Products

If you are really stuck for an idea of a product to sell, affiliate marketing is a good place to start. Affiliate marketing is selling someone else's product for a percentage of the sale. The secret to this kind of business is find products that you really love; it will be easier to succeed if your heart and soul is in your business.

There's no reason why you can't do all three - eventually - but for a start choose just one. Once you have decided, plan out ways to implement this new business. Break the plan into smaller, easy to achieve tasks. For each stage of implementing your money making business work on bite size pieces.

For example: "I need a website" can be refined into:

- Registering a Domain Name
- Find a web host
- Find an Auto-responder service
- Find a web designer or for the do-it-your-selfer, lessons on website building
- Find a payment processor

A certain amount of single-mindedness is required as it is easy to become distracted. You might find ideas popping into your head as you are working away. Great! Write them down in your ideas vault and get back to business. They can always be developed later when you have finished the task at hand

All good business owners work within time-frames. Use this to measure your effectiveness and productivity. Schedule time for your tasks, set a completion date, review your progress, and then adapt to make improvements.

While overseeing your business as a whole and focusing on the tasks required, your online money making business will take form and you'll find you will make money.

Dee-Dee MacLeod-Wilson (http://www.wanttoworkfromhome4life.com) is a Kiwi work from home mom with a holistic approach to helping like minded parents become successful work from home families.

Creative signatures of the human brain, depicting horizons of creativity and imagination, online flash and shockwave games are catching up for their entertainment and educational value. The contributions of the multi-billion-dollar industry is commanding attention, respect and interest from all age groups, be it a toddler or an eighty year old.

Quenching your thirst for excitement and action, the online games come in an overall enchanting package. The superior multimedia support to the bright, colorful and vibrant graphics, in tempting combination with a whole spectrum of brilliant game ideas, renders the online games popular and far-reaching.

In a further deadly combination, the games are available free of cost that do not need to be subscribed to for an instant play on site or for a download, to suit the preferences and requirements of the game enthusiasts. The economical nature of these online games is further gratified by their group presence and availability. These games can be found in a one-stop shop manner on almost all games sites that may be dedicated online games sites like pogo.com or games offered as a clever diversification of the website to attract web traffic, like Yahoo games.

In order to keep up with the ever-elevating expectations and thirst for more excitement and fun from a new game, the industry witnesses use of the state-of-the-art technologies in development of online games. The industry ensures delivery of mesmerizing three-dimensional true to life graphics coupled with equally realistic multimedia support, to complement a sound logic and an overwhelming game plan.

The popularity of the free online flash and shockwave games stands bolstered up by natural instincts and inclinations of human nature. As human mind is naturally attracted to a taste of excitement, challenge, achievement and an opportunity to prove oneself better, the flash and shockwave games capture the fantasy of young and old alike as a superior time pass.

Furthermore, the orthodox blemishes as regards the harmful and evil nature of these games are fading steadily and incessantly as the studies reveal their better sides to the corporate world. It is increasingly being accepted in the employment arena that proficiency in computer games is an evidence of a sharper and quicker mind. So much so that companies are actually incorporating computer games as a part of employment strategy leading to full-time absorption of a candidate into the company.

The age-old beliefs as regards the detrimental effects of computer games on health are also being defied with science revealing computer games as an exercise for eyes and the brain. Now computer games are being looked at more than means of entertainment, as studies portray online computer games as a means to nurture logical thinking faculties of human brain, sharpen problem-solving skills, increase brain function, improve hand-eye coordination and enhance social skills.

Thus, these online games allow players to explore and refine certain skills and traits of ones personality, in terms of reflexes, logical thinking, ability to work hard, patience and resolve. The tempting online games are coupled with its delivery of a fancy world so real and engrossing, presenting an irresistible challenge for the brain.

The free online flash and shockwave games also present themselves as a boon for parents looking out for a suitable time pass for their child, such that he/ she spends time keenly sitting at one place, without requiring someone to baby-sit and even learning in the process.

At last but not the least, the virtual competition offered by the free online flash and shockwave games is an unforgettable experience. Playing in anonymity with hundreds and even thousands of players simultaneously logged in worldwide, you find the taste of a win the sweetest.

Jonathan White, owner of http://games.simplysearch4it.com & SimplySearch4It UK Play Free Online Internet Games

The sun hangs leaden in the sky over the frozen tundra of the high arctic. Flat expanses of land are dotted with low-growing shrubs dusted with frost. From the south a herd of musk oxen loiter along, digging away the icy surface of the ground to reach nutritious lichen and ground plants, oblivious as eight stealthy white figures move in around them. As the wolves get closer, the herd snaps into action, forming into two rings, with younger calves in the middle protected by the adults facing outward. The circle would be impossible for one wolf to penetrate, so the pack must work as a team. Back and forth race the wolves, snapping at the legs of creatures five times their weight. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the musk oxen hold their ground, using their massive horns and hard skulls to throw off the charging wolves. The wolves tear from one side to the other, shifting the disoriented herd, until one infiltrates the circle. The herd scatters as wolves give chase. The race does not last long, for musk oxen overheat and tire easily, unlike wolves which are able to maintain high speeds over much longer pursuits. A weakened musk ox falls back from the herd, and the wolves focus in on it. The largest of the pack, the alpha male, leaps and grasps its victims neck in a desperate hold. The mighty animal collapses in a heap.

Statistically, only one in ten wolf attacks are successful, and it has been several days since the pack has obtained such a large kill. They will each eat up to 20 pounds of meat at this meal, leaving nothing of the animal behind, neither bones nor fur. A few miles away the alpha female cares for her month-old cubs, waiting for the herd to bring back food. The pack shares in the responsibility, even regurgitating meat for the cubs to eat.

Arctic wolves, also known as polars and whites, have thrived in the high arctic for thousands of years, one of the few mammals able to tolerate the sub-zero temperatures and five months of darkness. Indeed, they have been more successful than their gray cousins to the south, who have barely escaped extinction due to their encounters with man. There are few differences between the arctic and gray wolf subspecies. The white wolf is slightly shorter, standing 25-31 inches high at the shoulder. But they are bulkier; an adult male can weigh up to 175 pounds. Smaller, rounded ears and thicker fur are physical adaptations that have allowed the arctic wolf to weather its inhospitable terrain.

To survive, wolves live in small packs of 7-10. The family group consists of a breeding pair (the alpha male and female), their pups, and their unmated offspring from prior seasons. A strong hierarchy exists within packs, and the dominant animals will force inferiors to cringe or lie on their backs to show respect. Lesser wolves hold their tails at a lesser angle than the dominant male. Males reach maturity at 3 years old, but they may strike out on their own anytime after their first year. Lone wolves are at great peril, and they will avoid contact with other wolves unless its a potential mate. Then the male will find and claim an unoccupied territory, marking it with its scent.

Wolf territories are vast (as large as 800-1,000 square miles), as they must roam areas large enough to supply the amount of food needed by a pack. Their primary food source is musk oxen, caribou, and smaller mammals such as lemmings and hares, but wolves will eat anything they can catch. They may follow migrating caribou south in the summer. Arctic wolves are found all along along the northern edge of the North American continent, and along the eastern and northern shores of Greenland. They are sometimes confused with another distant cousin, the tundra wolf, of northern Europe.

Wolves may be the most misunderstood and maligned animal in the world, due to their elusiveness and to superstitions stretching back to prehistory. However, their pack structure, hunting methods, and general curious and friendly natures suggest that wolf and man may have more in common than was ever imagined.

Emma Snow has always adored wild animals. Emma provides content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com and Riding Stable http://www.riding-stable.com.