House Hound

Bracco Italiano

The Bracco Italiano is a very rare breed of verstile hunting dog that originates from Italy.  This dog is one of my new favourites.  They seem to look like they are a mix between a blood hound and a pointer, although unlike them in temperment or behaviour.  In fact it is thought that this breed originates from ancient mastiff and coursing hound lines.  They can be dated back as far as the 4th and 5th centuries BC. 

As like all hunting dogs these guys will need a lot of training.  They were bred to work and hunt with a gunmen.  A walking mans dog.  Because human company is rooted in their breed makeup, they make great companions.  This kind of breed does best with a very active family or leader.  A Bracco owner must commit to spending time with their new dog.  As an owner of a gun-dog it is critical that you exhaust their hunting instincts through a variety of activities.  An urban Bracco Italiano would find a fun game of hide and seek with its humans in the park a blast.  It would also love to retrieve a ball.  It is a breed that loves to use its nose and loves to sniff things out.  Bracco’s have a lot of patience and can often outlast most humans in their antics.

As an adult, a Bracco can weight around 50-85 pounds. Although this dog is more common is Europe, it is still considered very rare in North America.  Because it is fairly rare, the lines of this breed have been maintained over the years.  Because of cautious breeding by professionals the breed has limited health concerns.  Although it is not common, health issues that have been found in the breed are:

Dysplasia - Where joint ball and sockets degenerate

Bloat/Gastric Torsion - Occurs in deep chested breeds.  Simply put, gases in the stomach cause the stomach to turn over onto itself, shutting down blood supply.    

Common Eye Problems & Ear Infections

It is best to research a breeder and ask as many questions as you can regarding health testing and past experiences that they have within their own lines.  I always tell people to consult your vet and do your research. Many breeds, including this one, have local breed clubs which are a wealth of knowledge and can hopefully refer you to an exceptional breeder.  

best way to contact me is via email  info@thehousehound.ca

BREED ALL ABOUT IT!

Once a week I will showcase a breed and feature it along with information for all dog lovers. 

If you are considering adding a dog to your family then I would of course suggest that you choose wisely.  A breed of a dog is just that.  “Pedigree” dogs, or what you might consider purebreds, are one of the options available to you.  In showcasing a breed I hope to help you understand the original purpose of the dog, what its most common characteristics and temperament are and related information.  Many of the hundreds of dog breeds have specific health related concerns that are more common, but not exclusive, to a specific breed and I will also explore these topics. 

I can confidently say that most people are attracted to a specific breed first because of its looks and size. Some people even disregard specific breed instincts, characteristics and even health concerns, purchasing the puppy based solely on its esthetic.  Keep in mind that most purebred dogs are available for adoption through your local shelter or rescue organization.   Feel free to ask me via email if you are having a difficult time finding these resources online. 

I would also suggest that if you are a first time dog owner or haven’t had a puppy around for a while to read Cesar Millan’s new book

the best way to get in touch with me is via email: info@thehousehound.ca

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” - Gandhi

“Craig what’s HOUSE HOUND”?

People often ask me “Craig what’s HOUSE HOUND”?  the simple answer is “It’s my brand” 

I have two great passions in life: real estate and well dogs.  Its funny because Toronto seems to have more and more dogs every day.  When I first moved back to Toronto from Vancouver Island I was so worried about what neighbourhood I would choose to live in because I was bringing with me a 14 week old Weimaraner puppy named Smokin’ Lily.  Knowing how much exercise she would need I choose to move to High Park (Bloor West Village). 

When I became a Realtor a year later I asked myself, “can someone’s pet effect what neighbourhood they reside in?”   After exploring more, I found out that it in fact a pet does effect not only where people choose to live but the housing type, the amenities and often the size.

As a Realtor, I also found that dog owners become quite stressed when dealing with selling their home.   Truth is, most dogs stay home while people work, which causes a problem when a home is listed for sale.  Alternative arrangements must be made for Rover when your home’s for sale due to showings.  Not everyones boss is going to welcome Rover with open arms.  

I have also seen Real Estate deals gone to the dogs literally.  Condo restrictions need I say more!  I worked in an amazing Royal Lepage office in Leaside where an experienced agent was working with clients that owned two Yorkies.  These clients fell in love with what they were considering to be their new home.  They made an offer and later found out that, due to restrictions, only one of the Yorkies was allowed to live within the condo unit.  I don’t think that I need explain what happen to the condo.  SOLD!   

Real Estate is a fulfilling business with so many elements.  It’s my mission to take unique care and create solution for my clients and their dogs when buying or selling their home or condo. 

Craig Sakula

Sales Representative . Keller Williams Advantage Realty Brokerage.,

best way to communicate with me is via email: info@thehousehound.ca

Am I that far behind?

I have recently been inspired to work on my “social media” presence since… well, to be honest I don’t really exist in the world wide web.  Sure I have a few websites, a facebook account, a twitter page and god knows what else but after having a little insight about what and where the internet is going in the very near future, if it hasn’t already scares me.  Now that was a run on sentence or in the least a long one.  Grammer isn’t my strongest point!

Well it is kinda amazing that communicating in terms of what used to take days a few years ago now takes us seconds.   Our tweets, facebook status and blogs can not only take seconds but can circle the globe a few thousand times. 

I’m confident that a bunch of tweenages are out there and if they were to read this blog entry they would have a chuckle about just how far behind I am truely am.  To be honest I think most of the world hasn’t even realized the powers that blogging has and the opportunities that it can create for you. 

In my honest opinion people are nosy.  The world of knowing everything someone is up to all the time!   I always thought that being noisy was wrong.  My mother is nosier than nose itself.   She would peer out one of the house windows every time there was a peep that was out of norm. My dad would sneer and called her Gladys Kravitz.  If any tweetanagers are out there Gladys Kravitz was a fictional character on the television show Bewitched (1964-1972).  She was the across the street neighbour of the main characters Darrin and Samantha Stephens.  Having been born well after the last episode of bewitched aired in 1972; I didnt even know who or what Mrs. Kravitz was.  I was confident that it was some old woman who was nosier than average.  Thinking about it now maybe she was just really ahead of her time.  People closest to me know that I dislike twitter.  Why would I want to share my every moment with the world?   Readership of strangers.  But I have now learned that its the newest form of communication.  For those who don’t decide to imbrace it will be left far behind! 

So here I go!

Best way to communicate with my is email: info@thehousehound.ca

Cheers,

Craig Sakula