north to Alaska

 

 

 

Husky

   The husky originated in Siberia with a tribe called the Chukchi.  It was a working job that was used primarily to haul sleds from one town to another.  The dog was strong and had exceptional endurance.  It was used mainly for transportation of supplies from village to village.  A the time of the Alaskan gold rush the gold miners adopt the dogs for the purpose of hauling gold and supplies in and out of wilderness areas.

 

  The Husky is a medium size outdoor working dog. It is not suitable for apartments.  It needs almost daily exercise in order to remain emotionally stable. This breed is also not a guard dog.  It likes to be around people and will not be sufficiently discriminate around strangers.  It is a large dog that makes a good house pet.  Husky’s get along with children that are old enough not to get knocked down by the size of the dog.

Huskies have a heavy coat which makes them not suitable for warm climates.  In the desert or tropics they are sure to overheat.

Huskies grow to about 24 inches in height and up to 60 pounds.

A relentless hunter

 

 

Bluetick Coonhound

The Bluetick Coonhound was a cross between four types of foxhounds, Bleu de Gasconge and a Cur.  If ever a dog was bred for hunting this is it.  This breed hunts by smell and is very relentless when tracking game.

  This hound needs to be exercised constantly and is not suited for an apartment.  It is good with children, strangers and other dogs.  It has a loud bark that can be heard for long distances.  This is an animal that was bred to hunt small game and is very motivated by the chance to go into pursuit.  This type of dog can get caught up in chasing pray at any time.  That is something to think about before obtaining this breed.  The slightest aroma of prey and it starts running.  This can complicate things in an urban environment.

The breed is very popular and has been in several movies.  A Blue Mountain Ticks have been the subject of several books, songs and at least two movies.  

 

Bluetick Coonhounds can weigh up to eighty pounds and reach a height of twenty-seven inches as measured from the ground to the shoulder blades

Hypoallergenic Dogs

What is a hypoallergenic dog and why would anybody care?  A hypoallergenic dog is a dog that is unlikely to provoke allergies in humans.  Some people have allergies problems.  If you have an allergy problem and you want a dog, then a Hypoallergenic dog maybe the best choice for you. What makes a hypoallergenic do unique?   Theses dog shed very little if at all.  This means that there are much fewer particulates in the air that may get in the nasal cavities and trigger the allergy.  These particulates that come of the bodies of animals are called dander. Some people are very sensitive to dander.  It triggers an undesirable response.

Examples of Hypoallergenic are Poodles, Water Dogs, Terriers,Bichon Frises,Hairless dogs, wirehaired dogs and corded dogs.  These are examples of breeds that people with an allergy maybe be able to tolerate.

It is recommended that people who have allergies problems foster a breed that is hypoallergenic before adopting it.  This it’s a way to determine if the dog’s rate of shedding can be tolerated.  It is also wise to consult with your allergist beforehand.

 As always owning a dog is a tradeoff.  Some of the hypoallergenic dogs are high energy dogs that require a lot of exercise.  Some of the breeds in question have serious grooming requirements. It always pays to do research before adopting.

 

Japanese National Dog

                                                                                                                                    

  The Akita is named for Akita Prefecture (state) in Japan.  Akita’s are very large working dog that was developed from the now extinct Miyagi dog.   The dog was originally used to hunt bear and later it was developed by Shogun Tsuyanoshi (military ruler) to be a guard dog for the Japanese Royal family.  The breed is a large dog that bonds tightly with its owner and family.

    Akita’s do not do well with other animals or children outside the owner’s family.  These are large dog’s that need a large area to roam in.  This breed needs daily exercised frequently.

   Akita’s are also known for their loyalty.  An Aikita named Hachiko went down the street every day to a train station to greet its owner.  Nine years after its owner died the dogs still went to the train station every day looking for its owner.  The owner’s relativities fed the dog until its death by natural causes.

Helen Keller was given an Akita that turned out to be a long term companion dog.

Akita’s can reach a maximum height of 28 inches as measure from the top of the shoulders and weigh up to 120 pounds.

The Gray Ghost

                                                                              

The Weimaraner is a medium size member of the sporting group.  Weimaraner was originally bred in Germany to assist in bird hunting. Weimar is the name of the city where the first of the breed were created. The Duke of Weimar bred several pointers with a bloodhound.  Since the Duke kept no records the exact paper trail is unclear.  It may be a cross between an English Pointer yellow pointer and a Bloodhound.

As a sporting dog this breed is exceptional.  It is fast and retrieves birds from the most extreme terrain imaginable

Weimaraners are often referred to as the “Gray Ghost” due to their Silver-Grey color.  This is a very people friendly dog that gets very attached to their owner and family.   An Owner must be prepared to spend a lot of time with the dog. They get along well with teenagers.  The breed’s energy, size and speed can be over physical with children. This is a high energy dog.  It is not suitable for apartment living.  This breed needs a lot of room to exercise and should frequently be taken on very long walks.

 Weimaraner’s are a maximum of 27 inches and can weigh up to 80 pounds.

   

The Bearded One

 

 The Bearded Collie was bred in 1514 by a Shepard in England. It is a cross between Polish Sheepdog, English  Sheepdog and a Komondor.  Bearded Collies are members of the working group dogs.  The breed is used primarily to herd sheep and farm animals.

As a domesticate pet the breed has a very mild temperament.  Bearded Collies are easy to train, fun and very child friendly.  Since Bearded Collies are very affectionate, they need a lot of attention.  A lack of attention may lead to the dog becoming neurotic.  This is a high energy dog and will need to be walked every day.

   Bearded Collies are not suited for apartment life.  The breed needs a large yard to run free and work off excess energy.  Bearded collies are outdoor type dogs and can sleep outside in moderate whether without problems. This breeds has a loud bark but has little disposition to be a watch dog.

A Beaded Collie can measure up to 22 inches tall with a maximum weight of 60 pounds.

The breed gets its name from its chin whiskers.  The hair on a Bearded Collies chin resembles a beard.

 

 

Borzoi Delight

                                                                       

Borzois are a member of the hound group of canines. The first Borzoi’s were a cross between Arabian Greyhounds and Russian Sheepdogs.  These types of hound were originally bred in Russia to hunt small game in a harsh environment.  Borzoi’s are sight hounds with little sense of territory.  When Borzoi’s are off lease they have a tendency to run off.

Borzois make good pets for teenagers and adults. Borzois are usually reserved around strangers.  They do not take well to roughhouse type playing that children sometimes engage in. They are loyal and friendly and can be easily trained.  Since they are relatively inactive indoors they can adapt to apartments.  Borzois need regular exercise to keep healthy.

Borzoi’s can be up to inches 28 inches in height and 105 pounds in weight.

 Borzoi’s resemble Greyhounds in their body structure

A dog that made it to the Border



                      Border collie

    Border collies are native to the border region of England and Scotland.  Border collies were descendants of dogs brought by the Vikings to England.  They were bred to herd cattle.

 Border collies are workaholics.  They do best when the have energy intensive tasks to perform.  This is a very high energy, hard driving working dog.  There high energy and drive makes them unsuited for apartment life. This breed needs a lot of space to roam in.  This is a breed that needs a lot of exercise or it may get neurotic. A large house or a ranch is a more suitable living space for a border collie.  This type of dog is usually friendly to people and rarely bites people.  Due to their high energy they are not well suited for small children.

Border Collies can be up to 21 inches in height and 45 pounds in weight.

Orchid

                                                    

    The Peruvian Orchid dog is a member of the hound family. It is a small hairless sight hound that was originally bred and owned by the Inca in Peru. The Spanish conquistadors spread the dog to other countries.  The Peruvian Orchid averages between 20-26 inches in high and can weigh up to 50 lbs.

   The dogs have a sunny disposition and make good pets. They need to be walked every day. They can be kept in the house or allowed out in the backyard. The backyard should be fenced in to foreclose the animal from taking off at the first sign of something interesting to hunt.  They main thing to worry about is that the dog is very sensitive to variation in the weather.  If you procure this animal you need to either keep it out of strong sunlight or put suntan lotion on the dog before it is left out on a day with strong sunlight.  This is to prevent the dog from harm due to normal ultra violet rays.  Since this breed has no hair it is also has little protection agonist winter cold.  During the winter the breed need a sweater to prevent catching pneumonia.

    Since Orchid dogs are hairless they are good for people who have allergies.  

 

From Jindo Island

 

 

The Jindo is named for the South Korean Island where it was discovered.  How it got there is not known. There is speculation that the Jindo came to the island during Mongolinvasion of Korea.  Jindo is a member of the miscellaneousdog group.   It is known for its intense loyalty to its owner and its ability as a hunter.  It has been brought to the Unites States by Korean immigrants.

 

Jindo’s grow to maximum heights of 21 inches and have a maximum weight of 55 lbs.  They come in white, red, fawn, grey, black, and tan, and brindle.

 

These dogs are used as hunters.  They hunt wild boar and deer. The have a keen sense of smell and are relentless.  They make good watchdogs.  They have problems with search and rescue activities due to their hunting instinct

As pets go there very well.  They are gentle in temperament and loyal to a fault.  One Jindo was given away to a friend.  This particular dog spent several days walking 300 miles back to its original owner.  

Chinese Shar Pei

                           

The Chinese Shar Pei is genetically one of the oldest dog breeds in existence.  From genetic testing it appears that it is a mutated third generation Grey Wolf.  Shar Pei is possibly distantly related to the Chow Chow breed.  It is originally from China.  It was originally bred as a guard dog for the imperial palace.

Shar Pei is between 18 and 20 inches tall; with a maximum weight between seven and eleven pounds. This breed has two styles of coats.  One is short and rough (Horse type). The other is long and rough (Brush type). It comes in many different colors.  This breed has folds in the skin that make it look distinctive.

This type of dog gets very attached to the family it is with.  It is small and very affectionate to familiar faces. It is a member of the Non-Sporting group of dogs.  Shar Pei makes very good guard dogs.

                                                             

Retrievers that are Golden

 

        Golden Retrievers were bred in the 1800’s by Lord Yellow Tweedmouth.  In the Scottish highlands he crossed the Flat-Coated Retriever, Tweed Water Spaniel bloodhound, and Irish setter.  Golden Retrievers are a member of the sporting group of dogs.  They were bred to retrieve birds for hunters.

 Golden retrievers have a maximum height of 24 inches and a maximum weight of 80 pounds.

   Golden Retrievers have turned out to be one of the best pets that a person can buy.  They are energetic and get along well with children. They are very intelligent and learn quickly.

They do need a lot of exercise. This breed needs to be walked often.  The Golden Retriever needs a lot of living space.  This means that a house or large property.  An apartment is too closed in for this kind of dog.

 

poodles

Poodles originated in Germany in the 1500’s. They were breed to be water retrievers and belong to the Non-sports or Toy Group. Group placement depends on size. When translated into English the name means puddle dog.

Poodles are used in bird hunting, dog shows, and as pets. They come in miniature, standard and toy sizes.  The Toy size has a maximum height of 10 inches and weight of 9 pounds.  The Miniature size has a maximum height of 15 inches and weight of 15 pounds.  The Standard size has a maximum height over 15 inches and Wight of 70 pounds.

 

In order to make poodles more versatile in the water hunters used to cut their coats leaving hair around the joints and other vital areas.  This became a motif for people who owned dogs.  May people who own poodles and don’t hunt still get there dogs trimmed in this manner.

 

As pets go a poodle is a very good choice. They adapt well to apartments.  They are very intelligent and take easily to obedience training.  They are often taught to do tricks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game hunter's Pointer

In the 1650’s a well off man named William Arkwright bred the English pointer from Greyhound, Foxhound, Bloodhounds and Bull Terriers.  The purpose of the breed was to have a dog could be trained to assist a hunter to find birds.  The dog would use smell to locate the quarry. Upon a visual sighting of the prey the pointer freezes and points its body in the direction of the bird.  This allows the hunter to aim and shoot the bird in question.

 

    The pointer is a member of the hunting group of Dogs. The average height of the breed is 23 to 28 inches.  The pointer can weigh up to 75 pounds.  Pointers come in combinations of black, lemon, white, liver, and orange.

    English pointers are high energy dogs.  They are not the type of dog to have in an apartment.  Although pointers are very sweet, they have a great amount of energy that they need to dissipate by exercise.  Their willingness to make friends with just about anyone makes them poor guard dogs.   

Tip #7

                                 

Do you walk your dog or does your dog walk you? If you have an issue with your dog walking you then I have a tip. One way to train a dog to walk at your side is too use food is a motivator.

Take a treat in your hand and keep it about waist level on the side that your dog is walking on.  Do this for a couple of weeks and most dogs will be walking with you instead of dragging you.  It’s called bribery. Just don’t try this with public officials.  

Aye Chipit

                                                

 A Chipit is a cross between a Chihuahua and a Pit-Bull. There is archeological evidence that the first Chihuahua’s were bred by the Aztec and Toltec Indians. The first Chihuahua’s came from the Mexican state of Chihuahua. This is where the breed gets its name. Chihuahua’s descended from a dog called Techichi around 300 years B.C.

    Around the turn of the 20^th century, Pit Bulls were bred from a combination of an Old English Terrier and English bulldog.  This became a separate purebred dog.

   In the twentieth century Chihuahua’s were crossed with Pit Bulls to create Chipits (also known as Pithuahua’s).  These are not considered purebred so there is no AKC breeding standard at this time.

Chipit’s have a variety of behaviors.  Since genetics’ is not an exact science, you can get very tiny dogs that are aggressive to the point of comedy.  You also could get Chipit with powerful jaws that recognize that they physically inferior to fight most creatures.  Usually you get something in between.

Rottweilers

In Ancient times a dog called a Droving dog marched with the legions of Rome.  It was a herding dog that kept the sheep and cows close to the Roman army with minimal supervision.  After the fall of the Roman Empire this animal was adopted by the town of Rottwell.  Its modern name was derived from the town.

   Rottweilers are good at tracking humans.  For some unknown reason, they have little interest in tracking non-humans.  They are good at being guide dogs, guard dogs, search and rescue dogs. They are agile, strong, territorial and very wary of strangers.

 Rottweiler’s are usually between 24 and 27 inches high and weigh up to 59 pounds.  This medium size breed is very muscular.  It has a smooth coat that comes in black, orange and tan markings.  Rottweiler’s have a good temperament and are compatible with children and family members.  Rottweilers are every burglar’s nightmare. A complete stranger invading the house will likely face a very powerful and determined animal. The determination of a threat to the family, leads the dog to be immune to all but the most extreme pain. This is why your guests should first meet your Rottweiler.  It’s better to be on the right side of a Rottweiler then in its path.

 Rottweiler’s need socialization early and often.

The Long sausage

Dachshund is German for badger hound. Dachshunds were bred in Germany in the 15th century to hunt badgers, rabbits and other small game.  This breed is built low to the ground which makes it easy to follow small game through the brush and down into rabbit/badger holes.  Sometimes the hunters pull out the Dachshund by its hind legs with the badger in its mouth. These are scent hounds that primarily hunt via the smell of their prey.

   Today Dachshunds are bred both for hunting and show. Dachshunds come in three types. There is a standard, miniature and a toy size. There are also three coat types; smooth, long and wired haired. This makes for nine different possible variations of the Dachshund.  

   Dachshunds come in a large variety of colors.

The Toy Dachshund is up to 12 inches in height. It weighs a maximum 8lbs.

The Miniature Dachshund is up to 14 inches in height and to 11lbs.

The Standard Dachshund is between 14 and 18 inches in height. On average the Standard Dachshund weighs above 11 lbs.

The Dachshund is a popular breed. It is also suited to apartment living or a house with a small yard. Dachshunds need to be regularly exercised.  They make good lapdogs.

Dachshunds have feisty personalities.  They make good watch dogs and have no qualms barking at intruders. This breed is known to take on animals of bigger size.

If you plan to get a Dachshund, remember that they are prone to back problems.



The seven year scratch

There is a myth that goes around the world that, one year in the life of a human is strictly equivalent to, seven years of a dog’s life.  It sounds educated and simple, but this rule of thumb is more often inaccurate.  The reality is much more complicated.  The first eighteen months chronologically of a dog’s life, are approximately the first eighteen years in human maturity.  That’s more like a 12 to 1 ratio. 

Dog life expectancy is tied to several factors; Breed type, weight, diet, exercise and physical stature.  On the average, small dogs live the longest and age the slowest. Large dog’s age faster and usually are the first to go to the great dog park in the sky.

   A major factor is weight and anatomy.  A Great Dane has more weight and volume than a Yorkshire Terrier, so its cardiovascular system must work harder. This leads to heart problems that are more severe and occur earlier.

 A study of 250 dogs indicates that, seven dog years per human year is not valid.

 The first chronological year in a dog’s life approximates twelve years of a human’s life. When a dog is about three and a half years chronologically aged, it is equivalent of a 30 year old person.

After three years (see chart above), the curves diverge from each other.  The graph indicates that dogs greater than 90Ibs age at a rate of 7.8 years of life for every chronological year.  Dogs between 21-90lbs age at the rate between 5.2 and 5.5 years/year. The dogs that are below 21lbs tend, to age at the slowest statistical rate (4.7Human yr/Dog yr).

  Life expectancy can be improved my exercise and proper nutrition.

Butterfly Dogs

Marco Polo brought back a little dog from China in the eleventh century.  The dog was named a Continental Toy Spaniel and was very popular in Europe for centuries. The ears of a Continental Toy Spaniel appear like butterfly wings.  Papillion is French word for butterfly, hence the French changed the name.  Papillion dogs were a favorite of Marie Antoinette (Queen of France) before the French revolution.

Papillion are a member of the Toy Dog group. These dog measure eight to nine inches in height.  Its average weight is between three to nine pounds.   The Papillion has a very good temperament and makes a good house pet, but they need a moderate amount of exercise.  Their coats should be brushed ounce a week.

Papillion’s are feisty and intelligent. They are physically a very fragile dog due to their bone structure. A potential owner needs to be wary of their tendency to take on animals much bigger them themselves. Life Expectancy is about 13-14 years.

Taking in on the Chin

The Japanese Chin is a dog that was developed either in Mainland or Korean. The first mention in Japanese history is about 732AD. The Japanese Chin is a member of the Toy family of dogs.  A genetic study of Japanese Chin indicates that two breeds have been crossed to get the basic Japanese Chin.  Chins are cross between a Tibetan spaniel and a Pekinese.  The breed was very popular among the royalty and was bred all over Japan.  It was considered a breed apart from other dogs by the Japanese.

Later the breed was introduced to the world by Portuguese sailors and Captain Mathew Perry during the late 19^th century.  Mathew Perry brought several home to the United States.

The Japanese Chin is between 7 and 11 inches tall.  Standard weight is between one to seven pounds for small Chins and large Chins range between seven and fifteen pounds.

Chins are very family friendly breed. Chins play well with children.  They are very intelligent and tend to take on the moods of their owner.

Is it Flash or a Grayhound

The Greyhound is a sleek member of the hound family that is used for hunting, racing and being domesticated pet.  The history of greyhounds is very controversial.   There apparently was a greyhound- like animal in the Middle East about 4000BC. A grey hound creature is described in Homer’s Odyssey. Testing of the modern day greyhounds genetic structure, suggests this breed is related to herding dogs.

 These dogs are visual hunters, known as Sight Hounds. They originally were bred to hunt small animals. The name is not related to their color.  The Greyhound is also one of the faster animals on the planet. Speeds of up to 40 miles per hour have been recorded.  Greyhounds were used as racing dogs. They would race on courses and tracks while the customers would place bets.  This often shortened the Greyhounds lifespan.  

     Greyhounds are very friendly dogs. They respond best to a light touch while training. This is a breed that is very gentle and sweet as they make excellent family pets. Grey hounds are slow learners as it takes time to teach proper behaviors.  This breed has problems learning the sit command.

   Greyhounds have a big prey drive. They usually do not play well with cats, hamsters or other types of animals.

Comments and questions are solicited (No rotten tomato’s please)

Water dog Supreme

In 1807, an English brig shipwrecked off the coast of Maryland and two Newfoundland dogs were rescued from the cargo.  When bred to local retrievers, including the English Otter Hound, Flat-Coat and Curly-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Retriever developed.  Bred to work on land and water, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever originally hunted waterfowl in rough and icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever became the ultimate water dog.  It is an all weather dog, bred to retrieve ducks in the cold turbulent waters of Chesapeake Bay.  The breed’s weight averages between 80 and 100 pounds. The Chesapeake averages between 21 and 26 inches in height and has a wavy coat.  Its coat is uniquely water repellant and is actually two coats in one.  The outer coat is very wavy, while the inner coat is smooth like wool.  The oil in the coats has a limited but impressive ability to repel water.  While literally being a good bird dog, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not the best house pet.  They tend to be domineering dogs, leading to be a poor match with children, disabled and elderly people.  Chesapeake Bay Retrievers need a large living area because they are a high energy canine. If they do not get enough exercise they may bark excessively out of frustration.

   This dog is best suited for hunting families and people pursuing outdoor lifestyles.

Tip #6

   A dog park is a great place for the average dog to play. It is not a place to bring aggressive or overly shy dogs.  In a dog park, the owner must be present to intervene if necessary.  Dropping off your dog and going shopping at the mall is irresponsible.  Pay close attention to the dog park entrance before you enter.  If you sense any hostility at the entrance, then defer entry into the park.  Either wait until the situation calms down or take your dog elsewhere.  Pay close attention to your dog’s playing style.  If your dog is aggressive or afraid of another dog’s behavior, remove your dog.  Your dog’s favorite toys should be left at home to avoid unnecessary territorial conflicts.

   Be prepared to separate your dog if it conflicts with another.  Leaving dogs to resolve the situation on their own, can risk serious canine injury.

  The nice thing about dog parks is the space for the dogs to run free and frolic, as they are leash free.  Some dog parks have ponds or lakes to paddle in.   Some play Frisbee catch with their dogs, while other dogs just romp with each other.

Feedback on this blog is welcome.

Rin Tin Tin and other German Sheappard's

    The German Sheppard is a recent new comer to the Dog world.  In 1891 a breeder named Max Von Stephanitz bought a herding dog. This dog was the product of several generations of selective breeding. Stephanitz brought the dog home and renamed the breed, German Sheppard.  The dog was from a group of working dogs that was used to heard sheep and other animals. These dogs were often called Sheppard Dogs;    because they were used by Sheppard’s to keep the sheep in the heard. The dogs were bred in Germany so the breeder decided to affix the name German to the front of the dog’s nickname.  Since the owner also authored a dog registry, he entered the dog name into the registry. Eighteen years later the AKC followed suit and started their own registry for dogs.

   German Sheppard’s are big, agile, aloof and very loyal. This breed averages between 22 and 26 inches in height, with a usual black and tan color.  German Sheppard’s have excellent patrol skills.  They are very intelligent, trainable and have become the predominant breed of dogs used to guard people and places.

   The adventures of Rin Tin Tin was a TV show in the fifties that stared several German Sheppard’s. The film’s  narrator told the story of a German Sheppard’s travels around the country.

Tip #5

        For energetic dogs, a harness connected to a leash maybe more appropriate for walking.  A harness distributes the load over the dog’s body, making it less likely that the dog’s back or neck will be injured. The dog will continue to pull against the leash, but there is less likelihood of injury. Orthopedic problems that are common to the breed may be deferred for a while.

Ain’t Nothing but a Hound Dog

Blood Hounds make their living mainly tracking people. sometimes these people are lost or trying to lose their persuers

  This breed was originally developed in a French Abbey of Saint Hubert around 1000AD.  Dogs that had exceptional ability to scent hunt were cross bred, leading to a breed that was highly specialized in tracking scents.   A pack of Bloodhounds were given to English Monarch, James I by French King, Henry IV.  These dogs were then introduced to most of Europe.  In England, Bloodhounds were used by hunters and law enforcement personnel.  In medieval times, it was rumored that Robert the Bruce and William Wallace were hunted by the king’s Bloodhounds.

     During the 19^th century, Bloodhounds were introduced from England to America.  The Bloodhounds were used for finding lost people, tracking escaped slaves and ferreting out criminals.

   Today the bloodhounds have a niche in society, tracking people who need to be found for one reason or another.

    Blood Hounds come in Black, Liver, Red and Tan colors. The breed ranges from 23 to 27 inches in height. These dogs weigh on average between 80 and 100lbs.  Average lifespan is about 6.75 years.  This is a breed that is extremely affectionate and makes a good pet.

      The olfactory glands on a Bloodhound are hypersensitive.  The average human being has 4 million olfactory receptors, while the average Bloodhound has about a billion receptors.  This gives a Bloodhound the ability to process  smell with just a few molecules.

     The name Bloodhound comes from the dogs use by  English aristocracy. They were considered dogs owned and used by royal blood.