Is the world getting you down? Do you need something cute and fluffy to cuddle? Try one of these for your Kissable, Huggable, Loveable moments.
Bichons are a member of the clan of little white dogs formally known as Barbichon types. Theories have it that this ancient breed came from Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. They are a member of the Non-sporting Group of dog breeds in the U.S., and a member of the Toy dog Group in the United Kingdom. The Bichon type arose from the water dogs, and is descended from the poodle-type dogs and either the Barbet or one of the water spaniel class of breeds.
With their black eyes and fluffy white coat, the Bichon looks almost like a child’s toy. These adorable little dogs are small, but cheerful with a love of mischief and a lot of love to give. They are lovers, not fighters, and operate under the assumption that there are no strangers, just friends they haven’t met yet. Bichons are super playful and intelligent, so they need plenty of playtime and activity. They don’t care for being left home alone for long hours of the day. They relish being the center of attention. Lots of hugs there!
Then again you could try something different with the White Silkie Hen. The Silkie is a breed of chicken named for its unusual fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk and satin. Silkies have been called fluff-balls, aliens from another world, teddy bears and many other things in between.
Their strange appearance, friendliness and mothering skills are surely what endears them to many folks. The Silkie is a very old breed, probably of Chinese origin. It is believed by some that the Silkie dates back as far as the Chinese Han Dynasty, in 206BC.
They were first mentioned by Marco Polo (around 1290-1300) on his journey across Europe and the Far East. Although he did not see the bird, it was reported to him by a fellow traveler and he reported it in his journal as “a furry chicken”. The Silkie made its way westward either by the Silk Road or by the maritime routes, some think both.
When the Silkie was first introduced to the European public it was alleged to be the offspring of a chicken and a rabbit – a not so unbelievable thing back in the 1800s. Many unscrupulous sellers sold Silkies to gullible folks for curiosity and it was used as a ‘freak show’ item in travelling side shows and exhibited as a ‘bird-mammal’.
Silkies have oval shaped turquoise blue earlobes and dark colored wattles and black eyes. They have five toes instead of the usual four with the outer two toes feathered. The feathers lack barbicels (the hooks that hold the feathers together), hence the fluffy appearance. The main feathering looks just like the under-down of regular chickens. Because the feathers do not hold together; Silkies cannot fly. The feathering is not waterproofed so a wet Silkie is a pathetic sight to see. They loved to be towel dried or blow dried tho.
Underneath all that fluff, the Silkie has black skin and bones. This makes them a food delicacy in parts of the Far East. The meat is used in Chinese medicine as an anti-aging ingredient, since it contains twice as much carnitine as other chicken meat.
Silkies are poor performers in the egg laying department. If you get 120 eggs in a year you are doing well. This equates to about 3 eggs each week. Silkies are known to be calm, friendly and docile. A Silkie is the ultimate in kids’ chickens. They are cuddly, fluffy and tolerant, love sitting in your lap and even enjoy cuddles. They’ll follow you around and ‘talk’ to you.
The Silkie chicken always brings a smile to peoples’ faces. All in all, these funny little birds are a joy to have and give much pleasure to their owners. So, is it hug a chicken today?
Then we have the Koalas. They are so cute; doesn’t everyone want to hug one? They aren’t as sweet as they look tho. Koala experts say the creatures’ behavior most often varies between mildly cranky to downright bad-tempered.
Koalas look soft, but their fur feels like the coarse wool of a sheep. They may seem cuddly, but koalas aren’t tame, and don’t make good pets.
Koalas live in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and a small area in South Australia. Most of these areas don’t allow you to hold one. Only trained accredited rangers are allowed to hold a koala. This is actually pretty sensible because it protects the koalas from being stressed when a human wants to give it a hug. Koalas are wild animals and have a natural fear of humans, especially humans who they don’t know.
They have strong, razor-sharp claws that can cause severe injuries and can bite tremendously hard. Although they may appear docile, they are capable of lashing out very quickly when threatened.
“The koala’s enduring popularity indicates that, as in our love lives, good looks can blind us to severe personality flaws.” You just might be better off hugging the stuffed Koala Bear for Hugs & Love or just giving yourself a hug.