janggut! You're interested in dogs!? Cool! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/party.gif" alt="" />
And, in fact, dogs and cats are not necessarly incompatible. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
About the smell, I'm not sure about anything, but I'll try to get some infos and will post it here a bit later. But know that the different breeds are reacting differently to the temperatures. For example, in a general way, the dog breed's resistance to cold goes along with the proportionnal lenght of their muffle. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" /> I know it sounds funny but it really seems to be true; most dogs with flat noses are very sensitive to the cold but deal very easily with the hot temperatures. There are three different people owning boxers in my neighbourhood, and all threes do the weird thing to sleep clung on the electric heating plinthes in winter. On of them even does it with the "wood stove". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />
Anyway; that was to say that different breeds have different climate adaptations. If you plan to get a dog and are disturbed by the smell, probably that a breed that is adapted to hot&humid climates would bring you less problems on that point. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
As for the baths, it is very important not to wash a dog too often. It brings skin problems if yo do. Personally, I wash my dog once per season if she doesn't need more (like when she played all the way in the swomp, or tried to sneak in a cat & skunk fight... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/memad.gif" alt="" /> )
The bath frequency should ideally be around that: 4 to 6 times a year; but again, that depends much on the breed. Same thing for the "guard dog" potential.
If you plan to get a dog, you have everything to win by choosing your breed wisely and carefully; it can count as much as its innate temper/the social position he has towards other dogs and his litter.
Tell me if ever you intend to do so; it would be a pleasure for me to help you in the process.
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