January Awards

Being at the end of January we’ve reached at a good point in getting acquainted with each other throughout the posts and comments the students have made. Once again, all posts are very interesting and show your efforts and surely your teachers are congratulating you for that. Willing to embellish your continuous presence on our blog, we came to the thought of choosing dogs for virtual prizes!!!!

Mikaela from Cyprus wins the famous Chihuahua with 15 comments on her post! Chihuahua is a very small-sized dog with a proportionately robust build and distinctive facial features. Their body is stout and just longer than it is tall, and they have straight limbs. They have a sickle-shaped tail that curls over the dog’s back or off to one side. They have an apple-shaped head with a short, tapered, pointy muzzle. Their large eyes are round, dark, and can sometimes be ruby or luminously-colored. They have large, triangular-shaped, erect ears that are a distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Chihuahua puppies have a soft spot on the top of their skull that closes as they become adults. There is a long-haired variety of Chihuahua, but the most common variety is the short-haired Chihuahua.

Second prize (14 comments on her post) goes to Maria from Spain and it is a Bulldog. Bulldogs have comparatively small statures, they are stout, exceptionally sturdy, and widely built. They have muscular legs that are set squarely and contribute to the breed’s “waddle”. Their heads are thick and very large-sized with cheeks that reach the sides of their eyes. The Bulldog’s muzzle is short and pug and features a broad black nose with wide nostrils. Their upper lips are pendent and close over an undershot lower jaw. Bulldogs have round dark eyes that are set far apart and a pair of small, thin ears that are folded back. Their short tails are carried low. The coat of this breed exists in a number of colours including red, washed-out red, white, brindle, pale yellow, or fawn. Many coats of this breed are a mixture of several of the above colours.

Third prize the Maltese is a toy dog with a compact build and an overall appearance that denotes vigour, eagerness, and affection. The height from the dog’s withers to the ground is equal to the length from the dog’s withers to the tail. They have sloped shoulder blades and well-knit elbows that are held close to the body. Their chest is comparatively deep and their loins are sturdy, taut, and feature a slight tuck-up underneath. The neck of the Maltese is long enough to enable a high head carriage. The breed’s back is level and the ribs are well-sprung. Their limbs are finely boned. Forelegs of this breed are straight, with their pastern joints devoid of any substantial bend. Their strong hind legs are sturdy and moderately angulated at the hocks and stifles. They have small, round feet with black toe pads and a plumed tail that is carried elegantly over the dog’s back. The Maltese’s head is of medium length and well in proportion to the dog’s size. They have a slightly rounded skull with a moderately defined stop. This one goes to Stefania from Italy (12 comments on her post).

Mikaela from Cyprus (again!) is the top commentator of this month (53 comments) and her prize is a Labrador Retriever. Labrador Retriever is a strong, medium-sized dog with an athletic, well-balanced appearance. They are a short-coupled breed with a body that is the same or just longer than it is tall. Their back is strong, their topline is level, and their wide, strong loin denotes flexibility. They have a comparatively long neck that is muscular and rises in an arch from the shoulders. Their underbelly is almost straight, with little to no tuck-up being present in adult specimens. Forequarters of this breed are well-muscled, balanced, and sturdy. They have shoulders that are well laid-back and form a 90 degree angle with the upper arm. In addition to enhancing mobility of the dog’s forelegs, this angle allows the dog to achieve a strong forward reach.

Second prize is a Pomeranian and this goes to Marianna from Cyprus (21 comments). The Pomeranian is a compact toy dog with a short-backed build and an alert, intelligent expression. The breed is curious and buoyant, and every move they make is sound and coordinated. Their medium-boned body is slightly taller than it is long, and the length of their limbs is well in proportion to the rest of the frame. They have a short neck that is set well into the shoulders to permit a high head carriage. Their top line is level and their ribs are well-developed. The distinctive tail lies flat and straight against the back. Their moderately muscled shoulders are sufficiently setback to provide support to their neck and allow their head to be carried proudly.

The American Cocker Spaniel is the smallest breed of sporting spaniels. They have a compact body with a short back and a gently sloping topline. Their legs are stout, straight, and well-boned. American Cocker Spaniels have a defined, round head with an abrupt stop and a square jaw. Their friendly eyes are round, dark, and close-set, and their strong teeth meet in a scissors bite. Depending on the colour of coat, an American Cocker Spaniel could have a brown or black nose. American Cocker Spaniels have a beautifully soft, lush, silky, feathered coat. The coat on this breed is of medium length and comes in a wide variety of colours. This last prize goes to Stefania from Italy (again...!) she sent 19 comments this month.