Of course they’re cute! All puppies are! Should you pay hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars for one? Certainly not! The offspring of a mating between two purebred dogs of different breeds is a mongrel; a mutt. And if you have one, you should love it, train it and care for it as if it had the bluest blood of the canine kingdom.

Every dog breed, and there are hundreds in the world, was “created” by humans. Each breed was developed for a specific purpose – whether that original job was guarding the flock or being the ideal lap-dog. There’s no reason that development shouldn’t continue. If there is a need for a dog with particular characteristics, enterprising individuals will come forward to fill that need.

However, it takes many generations to “breed true.” Compare yourself to your siblings. Do you all have the same looks, same personality, same interests and strengths? Chances are, you don’t. Each of you has some of the “best” traits of your parents. But those may not be the same traits. And each of you has some of the worst.

Two of the best-known mixed-breeds out there now are the “Golden Doodle” and the “Puggle.” The thinking behind these crosses is fairly obvious: wouldn’t it be nice to have a Golden Retriever’s personality and willingness to please combined with the Poodle’s non-shedding coat and intelligence? Wouldn’t it be equally delightful to have a small dog without the breathing issues of a Pug, but quieter than a Beagle?

But there is no way of knowing you won’t get a high-strung, noisy, stubborn, slobbering mutt who sheds like the dickens!

If you are considering spending the kind of money that these “hybrids” are commanding, be sure to research all of the traits of the contributing breeds. You will get a mixture of the two. And an equally adorable mixture may be waiting for you at your local shelter – the size you want, with the coat you want and the adorable face that melts your heart.

If you require certain characteristics in your puppy – whether a family member has allergies, or you have a very small, or no yard, or your household requires a quiet, “easy keeper,” or if you wish to fully participate in the world of canine competition, consider a pure-bred animal. There are over 150 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Research them at www.akc.org. Surely one of them is right for you.

Animal-assisted therapy can be an effective alternative or addition to traditional therapy models, whether it’s physical therapy, occupational therapy or cognitive behavior therapy. Even though animal-assisted therapy may not be able to fully heal a person or cure their disease, this life-changing interaction and companionship can improve a person’s mobility, increase their self-esteem, foster learning and simply make life more enjoyable.

Here are 10 inspiring animal-assisted therapy programs:

1. TN Safety Spotters” Animal Friends Teaching Children”: whose goal is to introduce children into the world of deaf therapy dogs. Trained deaf Dalmatians travel all over the Mid South area with their owner, trainer and handler, Patricia Belt, teaching children about Fire Safety and Dog Bite Prevention for example, how to stop, drop and roll, and how to safely approach and pet a dog. These special Dalmatians hear with their heart and not their ears. They visit schools, libraries, hospitals, Fire Stations, camps, and special events sharing smiles and joy to all. These dogs are registered Therapy Dogs, R. E. A. D. ® dogs AND they do lots of tricks, making learning fun.

 

2. The Gentle Barn: Whose at-risk program works by bringing inner city kids and at-risk youth to their facility to build self-esteem, learn positive values, heal their pasts, discover their inner selves, and reach out for bright futures. They do this by uniting the children with our 130 rescued animals. Since children naturally identify with animals, and because animals are living beings like us, they can use their interactions with them to teach children how to behave towards other people.

 

3. Island Dolphin Care: Island Dolphin Care in Key Largo, Florida, is a truly inspiring and unique animal-assisted therapy program that uses dolphins to assist children with special needs, including physical and developmental disabilities, emotional challenges and illnesses. The unconditional support and gentle, fun-loving nature of dolphins eases children’s nerves and helps increase their self-esteem. In addition to swimming with the dolphins, children will also learn a great deal about dolphins and improve their communication skills in the marine science and dolphin education program.

 

4. NARHA-Therapeutic Riding: NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) is a national organization that specializes in therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with special needs. NARHA’s equine-assisted therapy programs have been shown to improve flexibility, balance and strength in people with physical disabilities, as well as increase their self-esteem and help them achieve goals they never thought were possible.

 

5. Breathing Space Thailand: Breathing Space Thailand, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Thailand, has taken an innovative approach to helping people overcome their addiction and achieve sobriety with the help of elephants. This elephant-assisted therapy program is based on current equine and canine therapy models, but adds a different element of bonding through feeding, bathing and daily interactions within the elephant sanctuary. The gentle, fun nature and unconditional love of elephants helps clients overcome emotional issues, improve their mood and reduce anxiety as they recover.

 

6. Hearts in Harmony: Hearts in Harmony is a pet therapy organization located in East Texas that provides support and comfort to abused and at-risk children and adolescents using cuddly canines. This early therapeutic intervention program will help children cope with emotional issues and allow them to relax and receive unconditional love from the Hearts in Harmony dogs and volunteers, who are specialized to teach children about trust, respect, compassion and humane treatment of animals.

 

7. Therapet: Therapet is a non-profit animal-assisted therapy program that uses dogs, cats and miniature horses to help hospitalized patients with acute or chronic diseases feel better inside and out. Therapets serve a special purpose for patients during the rehabilitation and healing process. With the direction and supervision of therapists, these animals can help patients improve mobility, strength and balance, as well as increase self-esteem, reduce stress and anxiety and reach recovery goals.

 

8. Helping Hands: Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled is a touching program that places specially trained capuchin monkeys to assist patients suffering from severe spinal cord injuries, mobility impairments and other disabilities. These monkeys help people with daily activities that they might never be able to do otherwise. In addition to being excellent helpers around the house, capuchin monkeys also provide companionship, love and support for their owners and help them feel better inside and out.

 

9. Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas: The Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas provide a fun-filled alternative to traditional animal-assisted therapy. These easygoing and friendly llamas bring a great deal of happiness and joy to their admirers at hospitals, schools, rehab facilities, day care centers and nursing homes around Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA. Patients interact with the llamas in a number of different ways, helping individuals improve mobility, reduce stress, combat loneliness and calm their nerves.

 

10. HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response: HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response is a truly unique and inspirational program that uses dogs to provide support and compassion to people affected by disasters and traumatic events. HOPE canines and certified handlers report all of over the nation to bring joy and comfort to people during the recovery phase. Simply playing with and petting a dog during tough times can reduce stress, improve your mood and help you cope more easily.

 

11. Kitty Angels Foundation: Kitty Angels is a one-of-a-kind cat-assisted therapy program located in Massachusetts that assists the disabled, elderly and ill through fun-filled feline visits. Trained handlers visit hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes and bring their cuddly cats along for people to pet and play with. Often, patients develop close, meaningful bonds with the kitties and they experience increased mobility, decreased blood pressure and are less lonely.

 

12. The Family Farm: The Family Farm, located in Twisp, Washington, provides farm-animal assisted therapy to children, adults and families who are in need of physical and emotional healing. From pigs, horses, goats and hens, The Family Farm gives clients the opportunity to work with one or all of the animals and assist with feeding, brushing, bathing and exercising. The animal-human interactions on the farm help people increase their strength, improve communication skills and motivate them to achieve goals.

 
Contributed by Anna Miller
of Online Degrees
With a couple of my own additions at the beginning

Walmart, and other outlets throughout the US, UK and the world in general, are selling rawhide dog chews called Exer-Hide. These chews are been causing major seizures and even deaths among many dogs. When I searched the Internet, I found screens of reports going back to December last year in volume, and one was dated May 2007, yet Walmart and the other outlets are continuing to sell this lethal product unabated.

These chews are manufactured in Brazil. The symptoms after dogs have eaten the chews are: severe diarrhea and vomiting, causing dehydration, difficulty breathing, fever and seizures. My search revealed many deaths.

I also read repeated reports of people contacting Walmart and warning of the dangers associated with Exer-Hide Chews, yet they remain on the store’s shelves for sale.

I have a couple of official sources where I shall be reporting this issue, and I’ll update this post should there be any further developments. I the meanwhile, DON’T BUY Exer-Hide products, and pass this warning on to your friends and family with dogs.

**Additional Information**
4PetsOnline has made an official report to the FDA about Exer-Hide Chews. I shall await with interest to see if these products are added to their list of official recalls.

Whilst on the FDA website, I also found the following pet products under recalls:

• Digger’s Natural Chews – Pig Ear Pet Treats – Salmonella
• PrimeTime, KC Beefhide – Pig Ears – Salmonella
• Keys Manufacturing Company – Pig Ears for Pet Treats – Salmonella
• PrimeTime brand – Premium Pig Ears – Salmonella

It really does seem that at the moment, you need to pay particular attention to the safety of the dog treats you are buying for your pets.

Keep watching for any further updates on this issue…

At the time of my posts, Patricia had two wonderful therapy Dalmatians of her own: eighteen month old Dora and Lottie Dot. Both were deaf and successfully trained by Patrica to respond to hand signals. Dora had been adopted from a breeder who realized she was deaf, and who thankfully, did not subscribe to the opinion that she should be destroyed. Lottie Dot had been rescued off the interstate during a snowstorm at 8 weeks old. Probably dumped following discovery that she was deaf.

Then, just a few short weeks ago, Dora’s liver began to rapidly fail. She was now two years old. She underwent expensive tests to further diagnose and treat her liver condition and the day before she died, veterinarians operated on her and removed an entire lobe of her liver. These procedures were extremely expensive and Patricia quickly accumulated a bill of $4,000.

Patricia not only volunteers much of her time with TN Safety Spotters, she also campaigns on behalf of deaf dogs, especially deaf Dalmatians.

Please, can everyone reading this post donate just something to a fundraiser set up in memory of Dora to help with this crippling financial burden?

Just use the widget below to visit the GiveForward website to make a contribution. Every dollar helps and you can change the suggested figure below to any amount you wish

Many dogs do not like their mouths touched. It is important for you as a dog owner to desensitize them to being handled like this at a very young age. The veterinarian is always going to need to examine your dog’s mouth and you do not want to have problems with this. The best way for you to get your dog used to having his mouth touched is to begin touching it when you first get your pup. Make sure to touch the lips, open the mouth, and touch the teeth in a calm and relaxing way for about five minutes each day until your pup is used to being handled in this way. Make this a regular part of your interaction with your dog so he remains calm when you are doing any kind of preventive dental care.

Most veterinarians recommend brushing your dog’s teeth daily. Many manufacturers make special toothpaste and brushes for dogs. You do not ever want to use human toothpaste on dogs as it may be harmful to them. To get your dog used to having his teeth brushed, you may want to start by putting a dab of dog toothpaste on a cotton ball and rubbing it over his teeth. Toothpaste for dogs is usually quite tasty to them, so he shouldn’t mind this. You can then try a finger brush, available at your veterinarian’s office or pet supply store. Eventually, especially for larger breeds, you will want to graduate to a regular dog toothbrush. Regular brushing will help prevent the buildup of calculus and debris on your dog’s teeth.

Another way to help prevent calculus and buildup on your dog’s teeth is by using rawhide chews specially formulated for dental care. Many companies manufacture these chews. One of the best available is by C.E.T. Most veterinarians carry C.E.T. dental health products. C.E.T. chews are formulated with an enzyme that helps keep plaque from forming and prevents the buildup of bacteria. Also, the natural abrasion of rawhide chews helps keep teeth healthy. C.E.T. also makes a chew that contains chlorhexadine which has antimicrobial properties.

Some companies also make special dental health food, which may be recommended to you by your veterinarian to help prevent dental problems.

Even with proper preventive measures, most dogs will eventually need a dental cleaning from your veterinarian. If your veterinarian recommends a dental cleaning, it is important that you follow through. If your dog develops dental disease, harmful bacteria can pass through into the bloodstream causing potentially serious problems such as kidney infections and infections involving the heart valves.

A dental cleaning performed by your veterinarian is much like a human dental cleaning, however your dog will need to be sedated. The anesthesia is light and with today’s technology is extremely safe. Many veterinarians have anesthesia monitoring systems just like those used in human medicine. A thorough exam will be performed to determine if any teeth need to be pulled or repaired. Some veterinarians will do x-rays of the teeth to find any cracks or diseased teeth. After this, a trained member of the veterinary staff will perform a dental cleaning. First, they will scale the teeth to remove the tartar above and below the gum line. This will be done with both hand instruments and ultrasonic scaling equipment. After this, the teeth will be polished, which will make them smooth and help prevent plaque from adhering to them. Most veterinarians will also do a fluoride treatment. This is to help strengthen the enamel and prevent plaque from forming. If any teeth are diseased or broken, your veterinarian may pull them. Some veterinarians who specialize in dental care will perform root canals and other intensive dental work. Most veterinarians will put your dog on a treatment of antibiotics to help prevent bacterial infection.

It is very important to take good care of your dog’s teeth to keep them healthy and to prevent infections. Always follow your veterinarian’s advice and I also recommend another great source of information at VetTech.org — They have recently posted an excellent article on dental care for your pet:

• 25 DIY Tips and Products to Improve the Health of Your Pet’s Teeth

Many companies provide perks for their employees: free soda pop; clothing such as shirts, hats, and jackets; someone to give neck and back massages to relieve tension. Perks are now expanding to where some companies allow employees to bring their
pets to work. A survey conducted by the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association revealed some interesting statistics. They learned that one in five companies are pet-friendly. Two-thirds of people surveyed said they would work more hours in
a day if they could bring their pet to work. And, amazingly, half of them said they would switch to a different job if the other job allowed them to take their pet to work.

The survey showed several benefits from having pets on the job. It found that employers felt that bringing pets on the job lowered absenteeism. Additional benefits included increased friendship and camaraderie among workers, high morale, and increased productivity and sales. People were more likely to be creative and less likely to smoke while at work. Employees thought that it was
easier to work long hours or odd shifts if they were allowed to have their pet at work with them. Scratching Fido behind the ears or nuzzling him increased job satisfaction!

Another survey conducted by Simply Hired and Dogster.com found that many dog owners would take a 5 percent cut in pay if they could take their pet to work. Lets look at 5 businesses who have taken the leap:

1. Google: Everyone knows that Google employees get free hair cuts, free food, have a gym filled with exercise equipment, can swim laps in a pool, play foosball, pin pong, or pool, and visit on-site medical staff if they are feeling ill. A lesser-known perk is the ability to bring their pet to work.

2. Dragon: In Massachusetts, employees at the popular speech recognition software company, Dragon, are allowed to bring pets to work. Around 135 of the 270 employees participate in the program. While some bring gerbils, lizards, and cats, most of them bring a dog to work.
3. RDA: The employees at Research Designed for Agriculture in Austin, Colorado, bring their dogs to work. They also take things one step further. When co-workers are out of town, they will dog sit for each other. In fact, the QA inspector helped a co-worker when he was out of town by stopping at his house everyday and taking his tog to work. In the evenings, the inspector took the dog back to his home and then picked him up the next morning.
4. Law Firms: A law firm in Canadaigus, New York, lets employees bring their dogs to work. Employees claim that it is the best benefit they have ever had. They love dogs with a passion and are happy that their pets are welcomed in the workplace.
5. Real Estate: In Mansfield, Texas, a real estate office allows employees to bring their dogs to
   work. Customers play with the dogs instead of waiting impatiently in the reception area or being bored while flipping through magazines. The company feels that this is a great way to increase customer satisfaction.

If your place of employment doesn’t allow pets in the workplace, mention that June 20th has been established as Take Your Dog to Work Day and ask if you could bring your pet to work!

Brendan Cruickshank is the Vice President of Client Services for Job Search Engine. He has been in the online job search and recruiting industry for the past 8 years. He is regularly quoted on topics in employment and jobs trends in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and US News & World Report.

Having been around dogs and other animals all of my life I can tell you that these lovable companions have emotions just like you and I. All you have to do is look at them, watch them, and listen. Watch their faces change expression and their tail and body showing signs of communication in connection with people and other animals. Common sense can clearly show that what a dog displays on the outside tells an enormous amount of information of what’s going on inside.

Most animal behaviorists start their research with the thought of what it would be like to be a dog. Skepticism is the initial drive which these men and women spark their research with. They wonder if dogs and other animals actually “feel” anything inside. As you can probably guess, since you cannot place an emotion under a microscope, most scientists dismiss the idea.

However, as time goes on, more and more people are becoming less skeptical about the idea of dogs and other animals having emotions. For example, there are scientific journals that are considered prestigious publications who have reported such findings as rats experiencing joy, mice that have empathy, and elephants which feel grief. Now with this information is clearly founded that yes, your dog and mine, has emotions.

Now the big question is, why? Why have emotions evolved in certain species as adaptation tools to their environment? The answer could be in the possibility that these emotions have evolved to become somewhat of a “social sticky” which glues the bond between animals and each other for a variety of social reasons.

Interesting Examples

We know that emotions allow animals to be flexible and adaptable to there behavior through a variety of venues. An interesting study has reported that mice are empathetic, yet they’re also fun loving. Other reports show that iguanas seek pleasure, baboons become angry, and elephants – surprisingly enough – have flashbacks and post traumatic stress disorder. That’s not all, we have reports that fish are sentient and that otters show affection as well as grief.

Many researchers also concluded that animals which are living as companions to humans, especially dogs, can develop specific emotions due to our relationship with them. There are quite a few common emotional traits that are shared by both dogs and people alike.

Animal Assisted Therapy is part of a formal and carefully designed treatment program with specific and measurable objectives that matches one animal to one patient. Under the guidance of a trained medical professional, patients with severe mental and/or physical disabilities are encouraged to interact with a “therapy dog” under the supervision of a trained dog handler. The patient’s interaction with the dog is increased gradually. Initially, the patient may merely observe the dog or touch it. As the patient becomes more responsive and confident, activities may include brushing, attaching collars and even walking the dog. Progress records are maintained as milestones are met and exceeded.

Studies have shown that therapy pets motivate people to participate in therapeutic interactions. Dogs are not judgmental, they don’t hassle or pressure their partner and they have endless patience. Further, simply because they are animals and require care, the patient grooming them or walking them is made to feel useful.

The benefits and expectations of animal assisted activities, or pet visits, vary according to the needs and conditions of the patients being visited. Pet visits are less formal; they do not follow a particular treatment plan or schedule and they are not usually set up on a one pet to one patient scenario. Pet visits are common to hospitals, assisted living homes and nursing homes. They are often nothing more than a way to entertain people or to change their routine and brighten their day. On the other hand, when visited by a pet, some people who have basically shut themselves off from human interaction will begin to work their way back to reality. Apparently, the pet stirs emotions in them that have been lying dormant. Examples have been given where patients who have not spoken a word in over a year will begin to talk to the visiting dog.

Now that pet therapy has become a proven and documented reality, institutions are beginning to capitalize on this phenomenon with the “resident pet.” This term refers to a cat or a dog that becomes a permanent resident of a particular facility and is usually given free run of the place. Each resident benefits from a proprietary interest in the animal and looks forward to assisting in its care. In some cases, a full course of therapy has been designed around the care and feeding of a resident pet. The residents meet to discuss what must be done and develop their own charts and schedules to accommodate the pet’s needs. However, staff must be constantly on the alert to avoid problems of jealousy and feuds over the pet’s affections.

The attributes and characteristics that comprise a good visiting dog or therapy dog have more to do with temperament than training. Not to say that the dog will not need training in basic obedience, but that is normally sufficient except in extraordinary situations. Patients and residents react to the dogs in a variety of ways. Some are effusive, some impulsive and others are shy. Therefore, the dogs must be ready for anything. It surely wouldn’t do for a dog to lunge away or growl if a patient makes a loud noise or reaches for them abruptly. When selecting a dog for these purposes, you would not necessarily want an animal that is high strung or one that is too laid back to get up and socialize.

Numerous studies have documented the benefits of pet therapy. Pets have been used in treating AIDS patients, cancer patients, the elderly and the mentally ill. One study determined that petting a dog can lower blood pressure and another found that pets can reduce stress related illnesses. A study at City Hospital in New York noted that heart patients who owned pets lived longer than those without pets. Owning a pet was found to be more significant to long term survival than the presence of even a spouse or friends.

Pets make us feel good. They comfort us, allow us to be ourselves and give those of us that need it, a reason for living.

Photo courtesy of TN Safety Spotters

To read this directive, Click Here.

Being a transplanted Brit myself, when doing any research I frequently draw comparisons between documentation available in both the US and UK. My findings show all too clearly that the AKC is way more unaccommodating than the British Kennel Club. The AKC bans deaf dogs from ALL forms of competition, while on October 19, 2010 the Daily Mail (a major UK newspaper) ran a feature on Zippy, a two year old deaf Boston Terrier who had just received the British Kennel Club’s highest award for obedience.

A spokesman for the British Kennel Club said: “Passing the highest level of the GCDS is a great achievement for any dog and even more so for a dog that has a disability such as deafness.” To read the full story, Click Here.

This leads me to the question: How can you morally justify putting to sleep deaf but otherwise perfectly healthy puppies and proclaim it to be good breeding practice?

I agree that deaf Dalmatians should probably not be accepted for showing in breed standard classes any more than patched or blue-eyed dogs would be, but from research and my own experience it is absolutely clear that there are plenty of examples of deaf Dalmatians that have escaped the death penalty and are now living happily as loving, well trained companion animals. (NOTE: In the UK, patched Dalmatians can be shown under the new breed standard, and interestingly, patched Dals are never deaf; they do not carry the deaf gene.)

But why should they also be barred by the AKC from companion and obedience events? This ruling is stupid and archaic. The British Kennel Club, who used to advocate euthanasia, now actively encourage the judiciously placement of deaf puppies in carefully selected homes.

The general public seems to be totally misinformed about Dalmatians generally; a quick search on Yahoo Answers listed several questions from people who presumed ALL Dalmatians to be deaf, while others responded with opinions such as “Dalmatians are untrainable,” and “Dalmatians are unpredictable and vicious.” It’s also noticeable that the people writing cannot even spell “Dalmatian”.

From my research I discovered a theory that in the US, deafness is a trait that was deliberately bred into Dals so that they would not become alarmed by sirens when riding on firetrucks. I’m not sure about the validity of this claim because there are deaf Dals all around the world and they are only known as “Firedogs” here in the US. In England they are known as “Coaching Dogs” because the gentry always used to have a Dal running alongside their horse drawn vehicles.

Two genes are culprits in congenital deafness in dogs: the merle pigmentation gene and the piebald or extreme piebald gene; the latter being the one that affects Dalmatians as well as the Bull Terrier, Samoyed, Greyhound, Great Pyrenees, Sealyham Terrier, Beagle, Bulldog and English Setter. Furthermore, deafness in Dalmatians does not appear to be dominant since deaf puppies result from hearing parents.

If you have a deaf Dalmatian, or are thinking of getting one, I recommend A Deaf Dalmatian—which provides lots of training advice. Another excellent resource is: D2Care.

If you are on FaceBook, I also encourage you to join the group: Stop the Killing of Deaf Dalmatians.

Please leave your feedback on this issue and contact me if you need any help or advice.

My deaf Dalmatians are registered therapy dogs, teach Fire Safety and Dog Bite Prevention and are Reading Education Assistance Dogs. My non-profit organization, TN Safety Spotters, Inc tries to promote what wonderful companion animals deaf dogs make!”

When she wrote to me, Patricia did not realize she was “preaching to the converted.” I have adored Dalmatians all my life—over the years I’ve owned six, one male, all the rest females. Two were abused, rescue dogs who had been abandoned at kill shelters; one had been abused to the point where the city was bringing a cruelty case against her previous owner.

I was also able to tell Patricia that I have had experience with deaf Dalmatians. Tansy, one of my girls, was not deaf at birth, but lost her hearing completely when she was around ten years old. It has always been my policy to train my dals both by voice and with hand signals, backed up with positive reinforcement, so her disability presented few problems. She lived happily for more than eight years unable to hear.

Senna and Tansy

Hunting dogs and agility dogs nearly always receive this form of “dual training” so that their handlers can communicate with them over wide distances. Dogs always tend to be very receptive to body language and quickly learn to respond to hand signals. You will discover that your dog will focus more on you. When he or she knows he has to watch you for a command, he will be less distracted by everything else and surprisingly, will be easier to train.

So—I believe I’m in a very good position to agree with Patricia’s claim that deaf Dalmatians make wonder companions. It’s a tragedy that healthy Dalmatians are being euthanized because they are deaf. All that’s needed is a specialized approach to their training and they are no different to any other Dalmatians.

Having made that statement, I think I need to qualify it by addressing anyone who believes that owning a dog involves little more than picking up a puppy and relegating it to its own devices as a “backyard dog.” Maybe I’m wrong, but I honestly cannot see how a deaf Dalmatian could adapt to that kind of neglectful ownership.

Senna, the severely abused Dalmatian my husband and I adopted had been a backyard dog. Frustrated by the lack of attention she received, she had resorted to chewing up her owner’s redwood garden furniture and was soundly beaten for it. They had even wired her mouth shut to prevent her from chewing. She was emaciated, dehydrated, covered in fleas and terrified of people. During her first year with us she cowered away whenever we walked close to her with anything in our hands—she assumed we would strike her with it. Had she also been deaf, I think that may have been one burden too many for her to bear.

With time she became one of the most devoted, loving dogs we have ever owned. It was tragic that after six all too short years she collapsed one morning with a fatal heart attack. We always believed that all that abuse eventually took its toll, but we are so very thankful that our paths crossed and we were able to give her six years of unreserved love. She was a joy in our lives.

In addition to Patricia Belt’s Tennessee Safety Spotters, I also recommend the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund, who do a wonderful job of explaining how to train a deaf dog using hand signals.

Poppy and Tansy

Your Choice Of Fences

The quality and type of fence you can expect to enclose your yard area in will depend on a few factors: What is your budget? How big and strong is your dog? If he is a puppy then how large will he grew up to be? Does your community have any specific restrictions concerning installation of backyard fences? Where your expectations?

The most attractive fences to use, and most expensive, are made out of wrought iron, masonry, or wood stockade. On the other hand, slightly less attractive and a little more affordable would be standard farm type or chain-link fence design.

Electronic fences, otherwise known as Electronic Pet Containment Systems are a unique option that have a hidden or buried wire system. Although I prefer a well-built, wooden fence construction, these invisible electronic fences are a perfect solution for those communities that will not allow you to install standard fences or any other visual barriers between your property and the next.

Electronic Fence Warning: There are many cases when a dog that has a strong innate desire to chase an animal or a car will prod right through the invisible barrier while seemingly ignoring the warning beeps of the structure and ultimately absorbing the electronic shock that is initiated. Your dog may then be uninterested in reentering the yard after the chase is over.

Another issue to be concerned about is that electronic fenced-in areas do not protect your dog from other strangers or animals that can come into the yard. While your dog cannot pass through the invisible barrier, anybody or anything could freely walk inside and become a potential threat to your dog, or vice versa.

Other Fencing Details To Keep In Mind

Consider the size of the spacing that runs between the bars or wires of a farm-type fence or iron fence. Although it seems like preventative common sense, I have seen an entire fence go under construction and finished within a week’s time only to prove unstoppable for the owner’s puppies. The spacing was too wide! This simple detail in planning would have made all the difference in the world.

Another aspect of having a fence built specifically for your dog is to consider the design in connection with your dog’s climbing abilities. Pit bulls and other dogs such as the huskie will require fences that cannot be climbed or easily torn up.

A perfect solution here would be a 5 ½ to 6 foot tall stockade fence or masonry wall. This construction will also help prevent your dog from seeing through to other properties and other dogs, which could lead to territorial behavior problems.

Having been around dogs and other animals all of my life I can tell you that these lovable companions have emotions just like you and I. All you have to do is look at them, watch them, and listen. Watch their faces change expression and their tail and body showing signs of communication in connection with people and other animals. Common sense can clearly show that what a dog displays on the outside tells an enormous amount of information of what’s going on inside.

Most animal behaviorists start their research with the thought of what it would be like to be a dog. Skepticism is the initial drive which these men and women spark their research with. They wonder if dogs and other animals actually “feel” anything inside. As you can probably guess, since you cannot place an emotion under a microscope, most scientists dismiss the idea.

However, as time goes on, more and more people are becoming less skeptical about the idea of dogs and other animals having emotions. For example, there are scientific journals that are considered prestigious publications who have reported such findings as rats experiencing joy, mice that have empathy, and elephants which feel grief. Now with this information is clearly founded that yes, your dog and mine, has emotions.

Now the big question is, why? Why have emotions evolved in certain species as adaptation tools to their environment? The answer could be in the possibility that these emotions have evolved to become somewhat of a “social sticky” which glues the bond between animals and each other for a variety of social reasons.

Interesting Examples

We know that emotions allow animals to be flexible and adaptable to there behavior through a variety of venues. An interesting study has reported that mice are empathetic, yet they’re also fun loving. Other reports show that iguanas seek pleasure, baboons become angry, and elephants – surprisingly enough – have flashbacks and post traumatic stress disorder. That’s not all, we have reports that fish are sentient and that otters show affection as well as grief.

Many researchers also concluded that animals which are living as companions to humans, especially dogs, can develop specific emotions due to our relationship with them. There are quite a few common emotional traits that are shared by both dogs and people alike.

All dogs need exercise:

Studies as well as experience have shown that dogs who are getting adequate exercise are healthier and happier. They are also more social when they are in public places. When dogs are given regular exercise, they are more calm at home and are less restless when left alone. However, just like feeding, choosing the right amount of exercise for your dog should depend on several factors. These factors are age, size, and type of breed.

Age: Puppies require daily exercise for proper muscle development. Their high energy levels need to be released in some form of constructive activity, and giving them their daily exercise is the best way to do it. Not being able to release their pent-up energy can lead to destructive behavior such as chewing or digging. On the other hand, a mature, aging dog needs less exercise because of their lower energy levels.

Size: Large dogs do not necessarily need more exercise than small dogs. In fact, many large breeds like the Mastiff or Great Dane would rather relax and sit on the porch all day then go out for a 2 mile run. Nevertheless, they also need their daily exercise, perhaps one or two 30 minute walks everyday. On the other hand, many types of small breeds such as the Jack Russell Terrier or Chihuahua still keep on going even after a three-mile walk.

Type Of Breed: Your dog’s breed is also a big factor on the amount of exercise required. For instance, dogs that were originally bred to herd such as the Australian Cattle Dog, Border Collie, and German Shepherd need to be exercise daily. Another example of a breed that requires daily exercise are those that were originally bred to hunt (hunting dogs). Examples of these dogs are the Beagle, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and German Hunt Terrier. And finally,sled dogs such as the Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Alaskan malamute share the same high level of energy as the herding dogs and hunting dogs and therefore, need to be exercised on a regular basis.

A microchip is a small computer chip that has an identification number programmed into it. It is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. Once implanted, the I.D. number cannot be altered or removed. Once the chip is implanted, a layer of connective tissue forms around the chip preventing it from moving about.

Some people are hesitant to microchip their pet because they are afraid it will hurt. The procedure is simple, routine, and painless, and it doesn’t require any anesthesia. Your pet simply gets an injection just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades; it’s a lot like getting vaccinated. Most animals don’t react at all. Long term studies have shown that the microchip is very safe for your pets.

The chip contains an identification code that is unique to your pet. Most veterinarians and animal shelters have scanners that can read that identification code. Most use universal scanners that will read all brands of microchips.

There are two major manufacturers of microchips. One of the most popular is the AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices) microchip. When you get an AVID microchip implanted in your dog, you will register with PETrac. Your veterinarian will have the application information to send in to PETrac. If you do not receive this information, or if your information such as address, phone number, or veterinarian changes, you may call PETrac directly at (800) 336-2843 to make the appropriate changes. Your dog will also receive a tag for his collar with his AVID microchip number prominently displayed. When your lost pet is found, they will be scanned and the information will be called in to PETrac. Their database will bring up your information and you will be notified immediately.

Another popular brand of microchip is the Schering-Plough HomeAgain microchip. Once your pet is microchipped with the Schering-Plough HomeAgain microchip, you will register with the American Kennel Club (AKC) Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program. This program maintains a national database and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Just as with AVID’s PETrac system, when your lost pet is found, they will be scanned, the number will be called into the AKC-CAR (1-800-252-7894) and you will be notified immediately. A microchip provides permanent identification unlike tags alone. When you register, you provide information to the AKC-CAR – your contact information, your veterinarian‘s information and an alternate contact. The program personnel will call the other numbers if you cannot be reached. Remember to contact the AKC-CAR if you any of the above information changes.

The system works! More than 1 ½ million pets are enrolled in the AKC Companion Animal Recovery program and 97% have HomeAgain microchips. 126,034 lost pets have been reunited with their owners thanks to this program which has a 100% success rate. Every found pet in its system has been identified.

The American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (ASPCA) also supports the use of microchip IDs for animal identification. They feel that it is the most reliable system for the recovery of lost pets.

Ideally, leashes, fences, and doors would be enough to keep your pet safe at home, but in the real world, accidents happen, and your pet depends on you to protect him or her against the things that could go wrong. With a little effort now, you can take a big step toward ensuring that your pet will be with you in the future.

Daisy charmed herself to a New York City family on vacation at a lake approximately thirty miles from the city. The family befriended her and gave her all of the food and love she demanded. After a short time, Daisy delivered four healthy puppies, which also received the love and care of the adopted family.

When the summer ended and the human family had to return to their home in New York, they gave Daisy and her puppies to a permanent resident neighbor. They felt that Daisy and her puppies would be happier in the freedom and space that the country offers, rather than their Manhattan apartment.

About three weeks after their return to the city, they heard a scratching at the apartment door. When they opened it, there was Daisy, carrying one of the puppies in her mouth. It was a happy reunion and nothing was too good for Daisy and her puppy.

The next day, Daisy was gone. The family scoured the neighborhood but with no success of finding Daisy. About five days later, Daisy came back with another puppy. This went on until she had her four puppies under the roof of her human family.

How in the world was she able to find her human family in an apartment she had never seen, in a city the size of New York? Nobody has a clue, and ESP would seem to be the only answer.

There are many, many more similar stories that are documented, including the one about the famous Shepherd named Prince. During World War I, Prince swam the English Channel to find his owner in one of the thousands of trenches in France. This story became very famous and received international acclaim.

There are also stories on record of dogs being able to sense their own danger. One such case involves an old hunting dog named Flash. Whenever Flash’s owner picked up the shotgun, Flash was out of the door and into the field before the gun was loaded. But the sad day came when the dog, old and decrepit, was to be “put out of his misery”. This time when the gun was picked up the dog disappeared under the house and was found in the farthest corner trembling with fear and unresponsive to commands or coaxing.

Another case involves a German Shepherd and his owner. The man took off in his private plane from an airport in Georgia to fly to New England and left his dog at home with his parents. Flying over Pennsylvania, the plane crashed. The dog’s owner was found by a farmer. He was alive but unconscious and taken to the hospital where he regained consciousness about twelve hours later.

Back home in Georgia, at the time of the crash, the dog disappeared under the house. With the flashlight he could be seen lying motionless and dazed and was unresponsive to commands or water or food. He remained in this state the whole time his owner was unconscious. When his owner regained consciousness, the dog came out from under the house, ate, and appeared perfectly normal.

Brushing Your Dog’s Hair

Regardless of your dog’s coat type, his hair needs to be brushed regularly. If you have a long- or medium-haired dog, the best way to maintain a clean and manageable coat is to keep it clipped, unless of course you enjoy styling your dog’s hair, like many Poodles or a Lhasa Apso dogs. Short-haired coats are easier to maintain and only needs to be brushed once or twice a week.

There are many types of brushes available for your dog’s grooming needs. For smooth coats, a regular rubber brush and bristle brush are often used to loosen and remove dirt and dead hair. For short coats, a pinhead brush gets rid of knots and mats, followed with a bristle brush to remove the dirt.

To brush a long-coated dog, start with a comb or a pinhead brush to detangle matted hair, then use a wide-toothed comb for the finishing touch. Dogs with silky-coats need to be combed or brushed using a pinhead brush, followed by a bristle brush to bring out the coat’s natural shine.

Other Types Of Brushes And Combs

A nylon bristle works great for your short or medium-haired pet, and a slicker brush easily removes mats and dead hair, which is ideal for everyday brushing. A shedding comb removes loose hair, and a massage brush gives your pet extra pampering. A soft pin slicker is specially designed for dogs with fine, silky, and sensitive skin.

A long-coat comb works best for small or toy breeds. An oblong pin brush is used on fine or coarse coats with undercoats, while a regular pin brush comes with wire pins to help detangle mats. A flea comb has fine teeth and a plastic handle to remove fleas and their eggs from your dog’s coat. Finally, a dematting rake removes dead and loose hair from innermost layer of the dog’s coat while leaving the outer coat untouched.

What About Odor Prevention?

Some of the new advanced dog brushes like the Zilo-Pet brush have bristles made of stainless-steel alloy that claims to neutralize molecules that cause odors on your dog’s coat.

Where Can You Buy Top Quality Grooming Tools At A Great Price?

• You can buy all sorts of grooming brushes, combs, clippers, etc. from Amazon. At the moment, with a purchase of $25 or more they include free shipping and you also won’t have to pay sales tax.

May I Also Recommend …

• How To Groom Your Dog At Home—Simple And Easy Grooming Steps That Will Help You Create A Loving Bond With Your Dog — Click Here

1. You’re Always Really Busy with Work and Don’t Have Much Downtime

In order for your new dog or puppy to bond with you and properly acclimate to its new surroundings, you’ll need to set a lot of time aside just for him. You can’t just pick out a puppy, bring it home, play with it for a while and then forget it. You need to spend quality time with your new family member. This means lots of playtime (especially for puppies), two or more walks outside every day and obedience training. If you don’t spend time with your pet, you’re just asking for trouble. Often, neglected pets will act out by engaging in destructive behavior. Furthermore, if your pet is alone too much, he will not be properly socialized. This may result in his being unduly fearful of strangers and other animals which, in turn, may cause him to become aggressively defensive towards them. If you are too busy to spend quality time with a pet, then wait until your life is a little less hectic before you adopt one.

2. You Live on a Very Strict Budget and Can Barely Afford to Pay All of Your Bills Every Month

Dogs are never really free, even if you are given one as a gift. First, you have to pay for a good quality dog food. If your dog is a very small breed, this may not be of much concern. If your dog is a large breed, however, food can cost over $100 a month. Second, you’ll need to provide your dog with routine medical care like spaying or neutering, annual vaccinations and exams and dental care. You also have to be prepared to pay for any emergency medical services. Third, depending on the breed of dog, you may need to have it professionally groomed and this can cost a lot of money. Even if you groom the dog yourself, you’ll still have to pay for the grooming supplies. Fourth, you’ll need to be able to afford miscellaneous items like dog dishes, toys and other goodies. If you can’t afford to take care of your dog in an appropriate way, then you should put your puppy adoption plans on hold until you are in a better financial position.

3. You Only Want a Dog for Protection Purposes

A dog, even one that has been specially trained to guard your home, is more than just a security device. It is a living creature who deserves to be loved by the people who adopt him. He should be treated as a part of the family and should be treated respectfully. Guard dogs need consistent and caring interaction with their owners. Otherwise, those same qualities that make them great at guarding their territory (alertness, aggressiveness and possessiveness) can turn them into “bad dogs” if left on their own. If you are not prepared to accept a dog as part of your family for the long haul and socialize it appropriately, then you should not adopt one. If security is truly a concern, you should have a security system installed in your home.

4. Your Kids Need Something to Play With

If your kids are bored and need something to entertain them, then buy them more toys. Don’t buy your kids a dog unless they really want one and can see it as a living creature instead of as a toy; and, certainly don’t buy your kids a dog unless you want one too. Let’s face it. You may say that the dog belongs to the kids, but the adults in the household will ultimately be responsible for its care, feeding and medical expenses. Don’t bring a dog into your home unless both you and your kids understand that adopting a dog makes him a part of your family for life.

5. You Want a Dog Because You Want to Breed It and Make Lots of Money

First, successful and reputable dog breeders are in the business because they love the dogs they work with. Often, someone develops a breeding business only after years of having had many dogs of a particular breed as pets. Good breeders have years of experience with the breed and know everything there is to know about its traits, history and physical characteristics. They also love to educate others about the breed. Second, the bills associated with the feeding and care of the dog far surpasses any income he will generate, especially for the first few years. Buy a dog because you love the breed and cherish him as a part of your family. Maybe a business will come from it later on.

A pet sitter takes care of your pets in the place they love the most – your HOME – rendering them the same care you provide and lots of TLC! A pet sitter’s goal is to be the next best thing to you in your pet’s life, and give YOU “Peace of Mind” when you are away.

Most professional home pet sitters advertise their availability through national companies such as SittercityJoining this excellent organization can be a double bonus because they also have many thousands of highly qualified baby sitters on their books with CPR and first aid training.

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If you have a smaller dog (under 15 pounds), he may be able to fit inside a crate or carry-on luggage designed for pets which can fit under the passenger seat. But if you have a large dog, he will have to be put inside the cargo of the plane. The inside of the cargo has no heat and no air-conditioning. This can be very uncomfortable and scary for your dogs. There have been cases of dogs that have died inside the cargo from overheating due to delayed flights.

Below is a list of additional precautions you should apply when traveling by air with your dog:

1. When traveling with your dog, always book a direct, non-stop flight. Avoid plane transfers when possible.

2. On the day before you leave, confirm your flight schedule to make sure that there have been no changes.

3. On the day of your flight, give your dog a walk before leaving for the airport.

4. Talk to your vet about feeding instructions. The vet will likely recommend that, for your dog’s comfort, he should be on an empty stomach during the flight. The vet will also give you instructions on proper feeding during the flight. This will vary depending on your dog’s age, size, his regular diet, and the length of the flight.

5. To prevent dehydration, make sure that he gets enough water and that it is accessible to him during the flight.

6. Get to the airport early.

7. If you absolutely have to place him in an airline-approved crate, make sure that he gets his potty time right before he goes inside the crate. To make your dog feel more secure, you should put him in his crate, and not have the airline staff do it for you.

8. Stay with your dog as long as possible before the flight and personally take him to the gate.

9. Upon boarding the plane, inform the flight attendant that your dog is inside the cargo.

10. When you get to your destination, the first thing you should do is go to the baggage area right away and pick up your dog.

The purchaser is then invited to read the additional precautions printed on the reverse side of the package. Over 50% of the dog owners polled about their knowledge of flea collars admitted that they either did not read the directions, or if they did, simply did not pay much attention to them.

Be Careful

Flea collars should be buckled securely, but not tightly, around the dog’s neck. A collar buckled too tightly will cause greater levels of the active ingredient to be absorbed into the bloodstream of the animal. This condition usually manifests itself by neck irritation, followed by a loss of hair under the collar.

When first placing a flea collar on a dog, the owner should observe the neck area for the first few days and be alert for signs of irritation. If irritation occurs, the collar should be removed immediately.

Additional precautions on most packages point out that each collar is intended as an insecticide generator and is not to be taken internally by man or animals. One might ask who in his right mind would want to eat a flea collar for breakfast. No “man” in his right mind would, but a dog (especially puppies) might consider such a collar an intriguing chew toy!

Playful puppies enjoy chewing and gnawing on anything, including each other! It is for this reason that manufacturers include the following precaution on each package containing a flea killing device: “Animals should not be allowed to chew on this collar”

Because the active ingredient used in flea collars is absorbed into the animals’ bloodstream, some animals may show allergic symptoms. Some dogs, like humans, are allergic to certain medications, while others can accept the medications with relative impunity. It is for this reason that each animal wearing such a flea device for the first time be observed closely for any signs of adverse reaction.

If an animal appears lethargic or refuses to eat, you should remove the collar at once. Dogs who have an allergy to these pesticides have been known to die. Such deaths need not occur if the owner takes a few moments to read the directions and properly observe his pet, should any side effects develop.

A dog wearing a flea collar will be more reactive to anesthetics, and a number of anesthetic deaths have been attributed to the use of these devices. The finger of guilt must ultimately be pointed at the dog owner for his failure to observe the precautions as set forth by the manufacturer.

Most of these outdoor injuries are minor and although your dog may experience some discomfort, these small bites and stings will pass after a day or two. But if you are a little more concerned about your dog safety and the possibility that he may be suffering more pain than he lets on, the following information can help you prepare for these types of injuries:

When your dog is stung or bitten by insects

Most insect bites are just a minor annoyance to a dog, similar to how it feels when you or I get bit by a mosquito. There is just a small red spot with some swelling, but life goes on, and after a day or so, the bite mark subsides. On the other hand, if your dog is allergic to the bite or sting that he experiences, this may cause a severe reaction that is often proved to be life-threatening. You’ll know if your dog is allergic to specific types of insect bites and stings if he is showing such conditions as joint pain, vomiting, swelling, diarrhea, and fever.

On the extreme side, if your dog is highly allergic to any number of bug bites and stings, there is the possibility that he will go into respiratory failure. If this does happen, there is a real chance that he could die within minutes. There is a term for this reaction and it is called “anaphylaxis” which requires the immediate attention of your veterinarian.

When your dog is bitten by a snake

Snake bites are rare in most locations but in some areas where there is an abundance of bushes and trees, and even streams of water, snakes may pose a serious threat to your dog. The good news is that most makes are not poisonous and many dogs suffer only mild pain for a few days after being bitten. However, there are those venomous snakes which can cause severe illness if your dog is bitten by one.

How can you tell if the snakes in your area are poisonous? You will know if you are living around poisonous snakes by reading the following basic guidelines:

1. In North America, most of the snakes that are solid in color or have stripes that run down the entire length of their body are considered to be nonpoisonous.

2. Poisonous snakes in North America include water moccasins, cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, and copperheads. Most of the snakes will display stripes of color that run around their body. Blotchy color patterns are also signs of a venomous snake. And of course, the classic diamondback design on a snake is a most definitely a poisonous threat to your dog.

Exercise is also an excellent approach for you to bond and spend some quality time with your beloved pal. In addition, exercising your dog is also a great benefit for you personally to stay fit, active, and get your heart pumping. So all in all, exercise is an activity that can benefit both you and your dog and is part of the joy of being a dog owner.

Walking

A simple exercise that you and your dog can enjoy is walking. Your dog requires daily exercise, and walking is an excellent activity that both you and your canine friend can be a part of.

The slow, gentle movement of walking helps you and your dog in several ways: It tones your muscles, provides oxygen to your heart, and is beneficial to your lungs. If your dog is not used to walking or if he is a little overweight, start him off with a short 15 minute walk. Slowly built up the pace as he gets more used to it.

If you are the type of person who loves to just go out for a walk and feel the breath of fresh air, then a 1-2 mile of daily walk is all it takes to keep your dog fit, and maybe even more if you are up for the challenge. Your dog will certainly love it, especially if you have one with a high level of energy.

However, if you do not have the time for long walks, or maybe the idea of walking for 2 miles is simply not your idea of fun, then your dog will be just as happy if you can only take him for a quick walk around the block twice a day.

To the pet owner, the grooming process is just business as usual – but to a pet unused to this type of activity it an be a very big deal. No matter if your new canine companion is a puppy or a full grown shelter adoptee, from the day he enters your home you should make it a practice to “groom” him. Even if he doesn’t need to be bathed or brushed at the moment, he does need to become accustomed to your right as his “person” to examine him closely.

A dog not used to such attention may be frightened and may growl or shy away from you. This is a sign of fear and can happen with dogs who are timid by nature but also with dogs that have had harsh treatment or little socialization.

If your dog is highly resistant to having you examine his paws, tail and ears, don’t force the issue. Reassure him and then put him on a leash and lead him into a corner or small area. Talk to him, pet or massage him and again look at his paws and look in his ears and mouth. With his back to the wall, the dog is much more likely to quietly submit to you. Once he realizes no harm will come from this handling procedure, his behavior will improve.

Make it a habit daily to just look at his ears and feet so that he accepts your right to do so whenever you want. That will also help greatly in his health checkups and your veterinarian will have a much easier time. In addition, your regular inspection of your dog will often reveal health problems such as cuts, infections, ingrown nails or lumps before they become major health issues.

Tools needed for this activity are minimal. A good quality nail trimmer is a good investment as it will make nail trimming fast and easy for you and your pet. One of the best brushes I’ve found is one with nylon bristles and a base that slides up and off the bristles for easy cleaning and clearing out the fur. For long hair, double coated or rough coat breeds a steel serrated shedding tool is useful as it quickly removes lose hair from the coat. Ears are the most often ignored part of the grooming process and this can result in painful bacterial and yeast infections, particularly in animals with ears that cover the opening. A mild cleaning solution made for the purpose, q-tips and cotton balls make cleaning the ear a simple task.

Make this process a pleasure for your dog and he will come running whenever he sees you getting out the dog grooming tools.

The IQ Test for Dogs

“Isn’t he clever!” How often have you heard that said about one of your friend’s dogs? Well, now you can test out that claim with the IQ Test for Dogs.

This isn’t just one of those gimmicky gadgets either. The test has been devised by Dr Stanley Coren from the University of British Columbia, where he’s a leading authority on the behaviour and intelligence of dogs. The test is comprised of 12 tasks, with a scorecard and stopwatch included to ensure that you can accurately mark your dog.

For a gift which has such a large amount of research and science behind it you would expect that the price would reflect it. However, in actual fact at the time of writing the IQ Test is priced at just £4.99 in the UK. Buying it is almost a no-brainer!

Photo Shoot for Dogs

We’re used to the idea of having a professional photo shoot when we reach different milestones, whether it’s for graduation, getting married or simply reaching an 18th birthday.

However, you can now take this a step further and have a professional photographer capture your dog looking its best with a photo shoot for dogs. What do you get with this gift? A one-on-one session with a professional photographer and at the end of the session you get to pick out your favourite photo to take away with you.

It’s a lasting memory that any dog owner would really appreciate, and there’s no reason why the owner can’t also get in the picture with their dog.

Dog’s Eye View Camera

This is one of those bizarre pet gadgets that come along every now and then. Have you ever wondered what your dog gets up to when you aren’t around? Perhaps he disappears when you take him for walks and you’re not sure where he goes, or you’d like to see what he gets up to when left with a friend for the day.

Now you can do all that with the Eye View Camera. It’s a digital camera which can be clipped to the collar of your dog and set to take photos every 1, 5 or 15 minutes. At the end of the day you can plug it into your computer and see what adventures your dog got up to. Although the camera looks to be fairly large it’s actually extremely lightweight. After a short time most dogs forget that it’s even there. At the moment it’s a digital camera but I wouldn’t be surprised if a video camera version was released before too long.

If you’ve come across any unusual gifts for dogs feel free to mention them in the comments below.

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This is a guest post by Charles Cridland who runs a gift ideas site, where you can find gifts for every occasion, including birthdays, weddings and anniversaries.

Though it’s fun to own multiple pets, if you own more than one dog, it is likely you’ve encountered dog on dog aggression yourself. It is often a simple spat where two dogs growl, bark, or tussle for a few seconds and the problem is then over. As long as the dogs are evenly matched and it is over quickly, this isn’t a major problem.

If you own large and small breeds, you can be in dangerous territory before you know it. It’s crucial that you understand your animals and identify the reason for fighting. Most common, of course, is a simple territorial dispute over a food bowl or a favorite dog bed. It may be as simple as one animal being awakened from a nap quickly by another and automatically going into a defensive mode.

Serious aggression can occur when the object being protected or claimed is the owner himself or when, in dog body language, one dog has asserted rights the other animal is not willing to concede. Some breeds will be so involved with their owner that they will take it upon themselves to reinforce the owner’s commands to other pets. One example of this I’ve seen is a dog guarding the trash container. The owner had previously disciplined that dog because it was getting into the garbage. Later, when another pet approached the container, that dog would immediately growl and threaten. The animal had learned that area was off limits and took it upon himself to project his owner’s wishes.

A small dog can cause aggression by placing himself higher than the larger dog in the household. This is instinctive pack behavior and not easy to control.
Crises can be averted when an owner understands what is occurring and stops it immediately. If your pets are fighting or a larger animal is attacking a smaller one, you must get the problem under control. This is not optional and must be done carefully as owners have been bitten severely in attempting to stop a dog fight that is out of control.

It’s easier to understand if you realize the bodily clues given by your dogs. A large breed will often establish dominance by standing over the smaller animal. This is a clue to the little guy to shut up, move or stop whatever he is doing. Many dogs will get the hint and subordinate immediately and thus fighting never becomes a problem.

Other small breeds will recognize the threat and growl in response. The growling may be fear rather than challenge, but the result may well be an attack from the larger animal. Once an attack has begun, the smaller animal will often be the harder to control as the fear and pain can drive them to an hysterical response of biting anything that is near them.

Fighting between dogs unevenly matched in size simply cannot be tolerated at all. There will be injuries and once such a fight occurs, it is likely to happen with increasing frequency. Owners have an obligation to prevent this from happening and in some cases the only alternative available is to keep the animals separated. This is especially true if the aggressive behavior is caused by devotion to their master where two animals are competing for the space closest to the owner.

Discussions with a trainer of attack dogs will help you learn methods of preventing or stopping such dog fights. One of the most common methods recommended is to lift the back legs of the attacking animal, thus throwing it off balance and getting it’s attention. This technique is most useful when the larger animal has a firm grip on the one being attacked. Keeping his balance and maintaining the grip is not possible and will almost always result in a release.

Extreme cases of dog on dog aggression may require re-homing of one of the animals. In most cases, it is possible to balance the presence of the animals by use of a wire cage muzzle for the larger animal when it is in the presence of the smaller one and a room, kennel or crate where the smaller pet can spend some time. Knowing how to stop a dogfight can keep the owner from being bitten by accident

This skin affliction is very common amongst the dogs regardless of the country and origination that they belong. In this article, we are going to talk about all the possible ways of treating your dog’s allergy. Consequently in the article we are going to discuss about the most effective and easy ways that can help you in overcoming this disorder. In the below lines we are going to discuss about some of the effective tips which an ensure you an allergy free dog.

1. Make sure that your dog bathes at least once a week.

2. It is very much essential that you make your dog clean with a soft towel after giving him a bath.

3. Don’t allow your dog to roam around in dirty areas or backyards.

4. Always take the help of a vet and wait for his prescription after asking him for a helping hand related to dog’s allergy.

5. Make regular visits to the vet’s clinic.

Above are some of the natural tips to cater your dog so that it may not be a poor victim of the cruel allergies. After considering these tips we will go to talk about the products that can help you in doing so.

Pet allergy shampoo: Well, it is an excellent product for reducing the dust mites from the body of your dog. This helps your pet to stay away from the fleas and ticks. It is really costly. But believe me it is really worthy investing.

Allergy relief product: Nothing can be as suitable as this is in the complete dog care section. It provides ample minerals and iodine to your pet.

Cleansing wipes for your beloved dog: We all know that cleaning your dog regularly is of utmost importance. Therefore use the best suitable products to make your dog bath. Cleansing wipes can be used while making your pet bath. You can use this surprising product to lightening up or to make the dog’s skin alive.

Finally it is all about the dog allergy and the possible cures. Be a smart pet owner and read this article at least one. It could certainly provide you some help.

Is your dog suffering from allergy ? Skin problems and allergies are some of the most common conditions that affect dogs.For more information read about Dog Allergies and Allergy Relief for Dogs

If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will normally ask is if the pet is on a flea-control product. Flea allergies are quite common and are the easiest to control. Dog owners have many options available from high-street and online pet stores.

Once flea allergies are ruled out, food allergies are the next thing to be checked. Food allergies are not related to a season, whereas many atopic allergies start out as a seasonal problem.

Dogs that develop atopic allergies typically show symptoms between 1 and 5 years of age, but food allergies can crop up at any time. They are high up on the list of suspects when a dog first exhibits itchy skin at an age less than 6 months, or over 5 years.

When testing for food allergies, the dog is put on an “elimination diet” for at least 10 weeks. This means it is fed food, which is high in protein and carbohydrate. which it has not eaten before, such as duck, venison, and potatoes.

Veterinarians offer these special foods, and some may be found in pet stores. Another option is to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods recommended by the veterinarian.

If the dog’s itching subsides by at least half, the allergen is considered to be one or more food ingredients. To confirm this, the owner can reintroduce the regular diet to see if the symptoms return.

To check for atopic and contact allergies, veterinary dermatologists use an intradermal allergy test (also known as a skin reaction test). The dog is mildly sedated, a small area on the side of it is shaved, and small amounts of common allergens are injected into the skin on the shaved area. Should the dog be allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become slightly inflamed, showing that the cause of the allergy has been found.

Next : How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Food Allergies?

You will probably observe your dog scratching the spot given that the ringworm rash is extremely itchy. Dogs can easily spread their infection to other parts of their body by itching. In humans ringworm can be seen as red circular rashes with healthy skin in the center of the rash. scratching can spread ringworm in humans as well. It can also be spread through blankets and bedding in both humans and dogs.

If your dogs is showing signs of ringworm it is in all probability time to take it to your local veterinarian. The vet will be able to take a sample of the skin and make a correct diagnosis. As soon as the diagnosis is confirmed, which may take a number of days, the vet can then prescribe the proper cure. There are various treatments available. None are grueling. But perseverance in application is the key to victory. Since ringworm has a 10 incubation period between exposure and actual signs to the rash, it can be tough to fully stamp out. Diligence in cleaning of the all potential areas of contact is essential. Always follow your vet’s prescribed treatment to the tee. The most common prescribed medication is an anti-fungal shampoo. Anti-fungal creams do not work well on dogs as they will lick them off. Shampoo will eradicate the fungus spores from the hair and treatment is applied all over the dog’s body at once helping to abolish fungus spores that have not yet revealed symptoms. Most likely more then one bath treatment is considered necessary to rid your dog totally.

Along with the treatment of the dog itself, it is essential to take care of your house for ringworm. Clean your dog’s bedding daily with bleach and hot water. Steer clear of direct contact with your dog to avoid becoming infected yourself. If you have other dogs or cats living in your dwelling make sure that you treat them as well. The shampoo provided by your vet can be used to wash the dog’s bedding. The one thing above all else you ought to do is stick to the treatment agenda totally to the end. Once the fungus is gone it may be a excellent idea to take your dog back to the vet for a follow up examination just to make sure the ringworm fungus is totally gone.

Effectively spotting ringworm in you dog is crucial to proper treatment. For additional information click on the link http://RingwormRemedy.com.slhost3.com and while your there sign up for our free email mini-course “10 Steps to Curing Ringworm”

Before you make a plan, it’s important to realize a couple of things. One, fleas on your dog are only about 5% of the total fleas in and around your house. Two, live fleas are also only part of the infestation – flea eggs, larvae and pupae will all be present, and even when all live fleas have been killed, those eggs, larvae and pupae will develop into more fleas over the next two weeks unless they are dealt with as well.

1 – Get rid of the fleas in your house – get as many fleas out of the house as possible, which means removing your dog while you are treating your house. Fleas live on and around the floors, in cracks and crevices, and on objects that your pet has been in contact with. Pick up any objects that can be washed, and launder these items using the hot cycle. This will include your pet toys, dog bedding, throw out any dog food that is in or around the dog bowl, your clothing, bedding, cushions etc. Any where it is possible for fleas to live, or lay eggs, needs to be cleaned.

Now do a thorough cleaning of your entire house, using the vacuum on all carpeted and upholstered items, and soap and water on all hard surfaces. Steam cleaning your upholstery is a good idea if you have access to a steam cleaner. One thing to be careful of after vacuuming is to dispose of the vacuum bag so that fleas or larvae do not re-emerge and create a new infestation. Remember that surfaces in your basement, garage, and patio also need cleaning if your dog is in contact with these areas. One last place that is often forgotten about is the car – you will want to vacuum or steam clean the upholstery to get rid of fleas that have taken up residence in your vehicle. Once you have cleaned all surfaces, have a professional flea treatment done of your entire house. Make sure you and your pets don’t return until the recommended amount of time has passed.

2 – Get rid of the fleas outside your house – fleas that are in the areas outside your house that your dog visits will re-infest your pet the second he goes outside again. Arrange to have a flea treatment for your yard and garage at the same time that you treat your house. Make sure that you get to all areas that fleas like to hide, such as dark humid places like underneath the patio. Fleas prefer dark places, so treat crevices and corners especially well.

3 – Get rid of fleas on your dog – now is the time to get rid of the adult fleas on your dog. Give your dog a bath with dog shampoo, and then thoroughly dry him. Once he is dry, double check that all fleas have been killed by going over your dog with a flea comb. It’s probably a good idea to throw your dog washing clothes in the laundry, just in case some fleas jumped to you for safety during the bath.

4 – Kill fleas for the next 2 weeks to prevent re-infection – 2 weeks after the initial treatment, any fleas in the larvae stage which were impervious to the chemical treatment will now hatch and reinfest your home. After the initial treatment, make sure to follow up with vacuuming, floor washing, laundering and pet bathing regularly over the next two weeks, and your chances of catching young fleas before they have a chance to re-infest will be greatly increased.

Visit this great Dog Fleas website to read more about how do I get rid of fleas on my dog.

One of the best ways to avoid dehydration is to always have sufficient shelter and fresh, clean water available for the dog. Heat stoke is a common cause of dogs becoming dehydrated. There are other causes of dehydration, such as severe vomiting or diarrhea or fever.

Heavy panting is generally the first sign that a dog might be becoming dehydrated. Checking the condition of the dog’s skin and gums can also give an indication if dehydration is a serious risk. By gently pinching up a fold of skin on either the dog’s neck or head you can gauge how dehydrated the pet is. When a dog has plenty of fluids the fold of skin will return to its place very quickly, when the dog is dehydrated it will return slowly. The dog’s gums should be moist and slick. If a dog is dehydrated the gums will be sticky and dry.

If you think your dog is dehydrated, you need to quickly determine exactly how bad the situation is. More serious dehydration shouldn’t be handled by an amateur, so if the situation appears serious seek out a veterinarian immediately. IV fluids are a very important part of treatment in severely dehydrated dogs. Dogs with a serious fluid loss can not drink enough water to correct the loss of electrolytes and fluid. If dogs drink to much water they will vomit and loss even more fluids.

Take it slow when you try to rehydrate a dog. If possible, use an electrolyte supplement rather than plain water. Avoid sport drinks since they have more sugar than a dog can handle properly, instead using a canine equivalent such as pedialyte. Give the dog small amounts of the fluid at very frequent intervals. If the dog is unable to drink on its own, use a medicine syringe and place the fluids in its mouth.

In addition to dog food selection, Taylor Martinerin writes about selecting an outdoor dog bed or a large dog bed.

Today I came across this really great sweepstakes for all dog owners. All you need to do is click on any of the “Feed Your Friend For A Year” banners on this page and provide your email address, contact information, and answer a few questions and your name will be entered in a random drawing to win a year’s food for your pet.

Entries close on January 31, 2010 at 11:59:59PM PST and the name of the winner will then be randomly drawn and published.

In these extremely difficult times, an opportunity like this could be a godsend to a hard pressed pet owner—think of it, the winner won’t need to buy food for their pooch for a full twelve months. It could be you, but for that to happen, you first need to enter!

To protect themselves from predators, animals naturally hide their pain. It’s a trait that has been inborn since the beginning of time. Your seemingly healthy pet may be suffering even though he isn’t showing obvious signs. Observing your pet’s behavior is vital to managing your pet’s health.

Watch how your pet acts and behaves. There are numerous indicators that their health isn’t what it should be. Since they are used to, and for the most part, quietly dealing with pain they will in fact make an effort to conceal or minimize the effects of any pain they feel.

If your pet shows abnormal chewing habits, he may have a dental disorder or a mouth tumor. Additional signs include weight loss, bad breath, or excessive face rubbing. A loss or thinning of hair could be another sign of internal distress. A normal, healthy pet should not show any of these signs.

Take your pet to the dentist. Not your family dentist, of course, but to a veterinarian who is experienced in examining and performing minor procedures to ensure long-term dental health. This type of preventive care can eliminate serious problems later, and is highly recommended. Many vets now have dental care kits including pet toothbrushes that you can use at home.

Good health is directly influenced by your weight and eating habits. Animals as well as humans carrying excess weight have an increased chance of physical illnesses and damage. Weight gain due to lack of exercise also can be a signal of arthritis pain. Joint disease is the most common cause of pain. Pets that limp may be reluctant to go up or down stairs, exercise, or play.

Your pet will experience greater pain from joint diseases if they are overweight. Just helping them lose a few pounds can take pressure off their sore joints and allow them to function better. You can find a number of excellent pet nutrition products designed to be tasty but low-calorie. These will help.

Just because your normally healthy pet doesn’t express pain through their eyes or vocally doesn’t mean they are not hurting. You should watch for even small differences in their normal behavior. Having a strong awareness of your pet’s normal habits can assist your pet’s doctor in diagnosing and treating their pain. Be safe. If you notice any differences in your pet’s normal routine, call your vet and discuss or take them in for an exam as soon as possible.

Find out how to take care of and have fun with your pets. Information and help for pampering and keeping your pet content. Let there be no doubt – a healthy pet is one of the great joys of life!

Labrador retrievers are statistically one of the most popular dog breeds in the world with a huge proportion of dog owners having a lab at home. Its friendly, placid, bright, and bouncy good nature makes it a wonderfully delightful companion as well as being perfectly suited for other tasks outside the home such as police work.

The Labs friendly nature and desire to please their human masters makes them ideal assistance dogs for the disabled or the deaf and they often used as therapeutic aids for people suffering from all manner of both physical and mental ailments.

Labrador retrievers typically love water and they are incredibly strong swimmers. Their coat and otter like tail make them feel right at home in the water and they like nothing more than splashing around in ponds, rivers or in the sea.

Unsurprisingly Labs are great retrievers and their breeding as gun dogs has left them with the ability to carry even the most fragile of objects in their mouths without damaging it. My Lab often brings me my reading glasses without a problem and it is said that they can carry an egg in their mouths without breaking it. Though they are likely to eat the egg as they do have quite ferocious appetites!

In general Labs are not markedly prone to having some of the negative traits found in some breeds. These include but are not limited to being hypersensitive, aggressive, insecure, pining nor territorial.

Labrador retrievers are especially wonderful with children because the Lab has an intense desire to not only please, but its desire to play is almost equal with its desire to eat! Children can spend hours playing catch with a ball, or a Frisbee, and the dog will appear to be tireless. They seem to literally thrive on human interaction, affection and attention.

Labs, as a breed, are exceedingly intelligent making them highly trainable though it is certainly true that they have great independence and can be quite stubborn in their behavior.

Blessed with a great degree of inquisitiveness Labs will often follow any new scent or person they come across and can be quite determined in their pursuit, especially if they thing there is a tasty treat at the end of the trail.

Because of these attributes, they sometimes can be easily go missing or be lured away from their owner. Because of this it is highly recommended that Labs be micro chipped as well as having the name, address and phone number of their owner on their collar.

Labs are basically a healthy breed, though they are highly prone to becoming overweight as they have a tremendous talent for begging or finding food. But, like all dog breeds, Labs are susceptible to certain conditions and they can be prone to hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and other joint problems as well as suffering from diabetes.

Of course most Labs will live long and healthy lives with out any health issues and, as far as their owners are concerned, they really do make the ideal family pet.

The Labrador Retriever Guide is the ultimate online information center about Labrador Retrievers with articles, information and hints for all owners of Labs including training tips, food … nutrition and all aspects of Labrador Retriever health

The ASPCA suggests that owners who have bought a pup produced by a puppy mill need be made to understand the unique challenges they may have to face. Despite much publicity, the average person shopping for a pup still fails to appreciate the unfortunate fact that that if you buy your puppy from a pet shop, it was most likely produced at a puppy mill under atrocious conditions. Puppy mills are extremely abusive places and pet shops purchase the majority of their animals from them.

Puppy mill puppies are also sold directly to the public via the Internet, newspaper ads, or at the mill itself. If you are thinking of buying a new puppy, especially with Christmas coming up – take the Humane Society’s Buyers’ Pledge!

The dogs are prisoners of greed. They are locked in small cages where they freeze in the winter and swelter in the summer. The dogs never get out of these prisons or enjoy any form of human interaction. They are bred over and over again until they die. The only way to free them from the misery of these vile puppy mills is to eliminate the demand for their puppies by refusing to buy a puppy in a pet store and boycotting all pet stores that sell puppies.

It is likely that the puppy may have been separated prematurely from its mother and spent little time outside a cage for the first eight to 12 weeks of life with little human interaction, which means socialization could be an immediate issue.

Owners should be aware that many new elements as basic as walking their pup and meeting strangers can be terrifying for him at first.

The ASPCA warn that these pups should not be rushed and that “patience and understanding” is key to helping them adjust to a normal doggie life.

“If you take things slowly and go at the puppy’s pace, you’ll reap the reward of watching your shy dog overcome its fears”.

For the same reason, the pup should have a “safe area” – a bed or corner of his own where he can retire to get a grip on his new life.

In the UK, the Kennel Club has attempted to dissuaded people from purchasing puppy mill pets at all – but once the mistake is made, animal lovers may want to take the opportunity to guarantee a better life for a puppy mill pup.

Puppy Mills breed misery, boycott pet stores that sell puppies. Adopt! Don’t Shop See also this website >>Pet Store Abuse.

Wanting to keep your pet happy and healthy is something we all strive for. Keeping our children safe and healthy is also a concern. Chemical flea treatments are something we have all heard can be harmful to both our pets and kids.

You can start with an age old method of brewers yeast and a little bit of garlic mixed into their food. For cats, eliminate the garlic due to the fact that onions and garlic are toxic for cats. For a sweeter option, try squeezing lemon juice or orange juice on their fur and rub it in; acting as a natural repellent.

Regular brushing will keep flea infestations down. When bathing your dog, use a citrus smelling dish soap to also act as a repellent. Fleas don’t have the ability to hold onto the hairs so hosing your dog or cat down with water in a tub works to keep the fleas off.

If your home has carpeted flooring, then it’s best to remember that you must vacuum regularly. There is a worm called a beneficial nematode, which is different than the worms that cause heart worms, and they feed off the larva of fleas. These can be put in your yard to control fleas outside.

To protect your pest from ticks, you can do one simple thing to make it more difficult for the ticks. They live in wooded areas in tall grass and are not able to grab onto the hair of your dog. A good thing to do is take your old T-shirt to cover the dog’s body and belly, socks like leg warmers for his or her legs, acting as a deterrent.

Using a T-shirt to cover your dog’s body and belly will not keep the ticks away, however, it slows their progress to uncovered places as do the socks. By covering the hair it hinders the tick’s access to the warm b therefore acting as a deterrent. And talk about a chick magnet; this might work better than a cute puppy.

A natural tick repellent is rose geranium oil. Rub some on the inside of your dog’s collar and on their coat to ward off those pesky critters. Not recommended for cats because cats will have a severe reaction to these essential oils.

Now that you have a few alternate means of combating fleas and ticks, you can feel confident that your pets will remain bug-free throughout the year. Summer time is a particularly hard time where fleas and ticks are concerned so keep your pet happy and critter free by using these safe and environment friendly tricks. Just remember that proper removal of ticks is essential.

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#1 – Keep Dangerous Poisons Out Of Reach

Your canine’s appetite isn’t limited to the meals you provide him during the day. Given the opportunity, he’ll eat items that are not meant to be consumed (at least, not by him). For example, he may begin eating antifreeze if it is left within his reach. He might also start eating mouse bait, pesticides, and your own medications. Each of these items can lead to significant health issues. Keep them out of his reach.

#2 – Tag Him

You may think it could never happen, but many owners have learned that their dogs are always willing to explore if they’re given the chance. One of the reasons animal shelters in many cities are overflowing is because canines get loose and roam until they’re found. Put a collar and tag on your pooch. Also, consider microchipping him. Then, once a week, check to make sure his collar and tags are secure.

#3 – Keep His Head In The Car

It is a rare dog that doesn’t love to ride in a car with his head sticking out of the window. The problem is that it invites bugs and debris into his eyes. Plus, if you’re involved in a traffic collision, your pooch can be injured. If he’s going to ride in the car with you, keep the windows up enough to prevent him hanging his head outside.

#4 – Make Him Ride In The Cab

Owners will often place their dogs in the exposed bed of their trucks. This is incredibly dangerous for a few reasons. First, the stopping and starting can throw him off balance, often into the sides of the vehicle. Second, taking a sharp turn while your pooch is elevated on the side of the vehicle can throw him from the back into traffic. If you own a truck and you’re bringing him along, keep him in the cab.

#5 – Have A Veterinarian On File

The worst time to look for a veterinarian is when your dog desperately needs one. You should have the name and contact information of a trusted vet within reach. That includes his or her office phone and an emergency number. You should also have a back-up veterinarian that you can take your canine to in the event your primary vet is unavailable.

Your dog’s safety is at risk from accidents. Whether he’s getting into rat poison, becomes lost, or is riding in the back of your truck, you don’t expect him to get into trouble. It happens unexpectedly. Take the time to make sure he’s as safe as possible.

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Just like humans, dogs need regular exercise to maintain good health. Sometimes our busy lives get in the way of providing the necessary exercise for our dogs. Whether you live in the city or the country, have a tiny yard or lots of acres, live in an apartment or a mansion, your dog must have exercise every day. The amount and type of exercise are dependent upon your dog’s age, health level and sex. Even senior dogs will chase that ball a few times before needing a nap.

A fenced yard or local park is ideal for exercising your dog. All dogs love a good game of fetch so bring a ball or other dog toys to liven things up. Just as exercise strengthens our heart, lungs and muscles, it will do the same thing for your dog.

Feeding your animal off the table is ill advised. Nutrition for your dog depends on a number of factors. If ill, feed your dog back to health by feeding him beef liver. It’s not just rich in iron, but rich in protein, B complex, and Vitamin B12. Feeding issues is of the more difficult dog health questions to answer because there isn’t a complete answer. Ask your trusted vet if you have any concerns. They can also help you determine the best food choice for your dog.

Prevention involves, above all, regular veterinary checkups and professional cleanings beginning early in your dog or cat’s life. It is possible to maintain oral health at home, but it’s impossible to do a thorough cleaning on an animal who’s awake. Preventive treatment should include such imperatives, e.g., vaccination, dental care, parasite removal, etc. This will ensure that your dog enjoys good health at all times.

Learn more about how to care for your dog’s health. Stop by All Your Dog Health Questions Answered where you can find out all about OnLine Vet Services and what it can do for you.

Some common signs that your dog is suffering from canine arthritis include: limping/favoring a limb, hesitance to walk or maneuver stairs, lack of interest in jumping or playing, falling behind on walks, trouble getting up from a resting position, and resistance to touch.

Some common causes of joint pain and pet arthritis include: Degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis, dysplasia, obesity, over strenuous exercise, and poor diet.

Suffering from joint pain or arthritis is unfortunately all to common for dogs at some point in their lives, especially larger breeds. Fortunately there is help and it is not expensive or time consuming. One of the many ways is giving glucosamine for dogs as a supplement.

First, your dog should be kept at their ideal weight. This will help minimize impact on joints and support their overall health in general. To achieve this you may want to switch to a lower calorie dog food. Remember to choose a quality brand with minimal fillers and added omega 3′s.

Excessively strenuous activities can lead to an increase in the pain your dog experiences, so limit exercise to two or three daily walks of moderate intensity and distance.

And last, you should consider supplementing you dogs diet with glucosamine for dogs. Glucosamine for dogs can help regenerate joints and has anti-inflammatory properties, thus reducing pain. Since glucosamine for dogs has mild side effects if any, it is a great supplement to use. Remember that as with most natural supplements you may need to give it 2-4 weeks of daily use to see the most benefit, although it is not uncommon to see dramatic improvements within a week.

Our beloved pets deserve our best effort to keep them safe and free from pain. By supplementing with glucosamine for dogs we can keep their joints in optimal condition and help them lead the happy life that they were made for.

Glucosamine for dogs is a safe alternative way to relieve the terrible symptoms of dog arthritis and joint pain. Before you buy a dog glucosamine product come by www.PetArthritisRelief.com and read our assessment of the best glucosamine products for dogs.

Dogs who have kennel cough will have a dry, hacking cough about 3 to 7 days after they have been exposed to the ailment. It sort of sounds like the dog is trying to clear his throat, and can be triggered by any physical exertion.

Some dogs will unfortunately cough all day long for what seems like an eternity. In general, there will be no fever or other symptoms such as loss of desire for food. The symptoms of kennel cough will typically last about 7 to 21 days.

The coughing sound can be very annoying for both the owner and the canine. It is rare, however, that kennel cough would be life threatening. Nearly all dogs will recover on their own over time, however there are supplements and medications that can help lessen the symptoms.

The spread of kennel cough happens much the same way as the passing of a cold does in people. Airborne organisms are carried through air and water vapors. If the dog breathes in these small particles, they can get kennel cough rather easily. The organisms love the warm, moist surface of the trachea lining and upper airways of the dog.

The disease is called kennel cough because it points to the fact that when dogs are confined together in areas such as a kennel or animal shelter, it is especially easy for it to spread. The same thing is true of humans: during chilly winter months when humans are inside more, it is easy to spread a illness from person to person.

One little known fact about kennel cough is that the infected dog can continue to spread the organisms for days or weeks after they have totally recovered. For this reason, an infected dog should be kept away from other healthy dogs for a good period of time.

It is important to note that kennel cough can happen in the cleanest of settings. Do not necessarily blame the kennel owner for the disease. As stated above, many times a seemingly recovered, healthy dog can still pass the organism on to other dogs.

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Signals you should look for when determining whether your dog is suffering from arthritis or joint pain are: limping, reluctance to walk or climb stairs, change in playtime behavior, difficulty rising from a resting position, and aversion to touch.

There are many causes for joint pain and canine arthritis including: Obesity, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, hip dysplasia, excessive exercise, and improper diet.

Suffering from joint pain or arthritis is unfortunately all to common for dogs at some point in their lives, especially larger breeds. Fortunately there is help and it is not expensive or time consuming. One of the many ways is giving glucosamine for dogs as a supplement.

Always try to achieve a weight for your dog that is close to their ideal weight. Impact on joints is greatly reduced as a result. Choose a food that is low in calories, rich in omega3′s, and absent of excessive fillers, if your dog is indeed overweight.

Second, you will want to avoid excessive or over strenuous exercise. Moderate exercise such as frequent walks of less than a mile will be beneficial in preventing and alleviating the pain associated with arthritis in dogs.

Consider supplementing their diet with glucosamine for dogs. By utilizing glucosamine for dogs anti-inflammatory and joint regenerating qualities you can reduce their pain considerably. As with many natural supplements you may have to wait two to four weeks of everyday use to achieve the maximum benefits, although many people see dramatic improvements in the first week. Glucosamine for dogs provides incredible results with very few side effects, if any.

We all want to see our dogs live healthy and happy lives free from pain. As their trusted caretakers I think we owe them our best efforts in keeping them healthy. Using glucosamine for dogs can play an integral part by keeping your dogs joints in optimal condition.

Volunteer Judy Walker fostered Art for about three months until he was ready for a new, permanent home. He had to grow and put on weight before he could use a wheelchair. He now has a new home, a new name, and new mobility. Hope is now called Art and lives an active life with three other dogs and a retired veterinarian. And he gets around just fine!

“I just fell in love with him,” said Art’s new owner, Robert Weigle, a retired veterinarian. “He’s taught me more than years of veterinary training ever did, and a lot about life priorities.” At 10 months old, he weighs 25 pounds and has adapted beautifully to his new name and home.

Robert added: “He’s just a happy dog and he’s very intelligent and if one thing doesn’t succeed, he’ll work around it and find a way that does”.

Weigle built Art two makeshift wheelchairs, one with four wheels and one with two, which Art uses when he leaves the house.

“He really isn’t overly-fond of either of them, unless we’re in a strange area where he gets around and socializes with people,” Weigle said.

When he’s at home, Art prefers to be free of his wheelchairs. “He travels about perfectly well on his own,” Weigle said.

Recently, Art’s former foster caregiver, Judy Walker, had the opportunity to visit Art for the first time since he left her home in March. “He’s happy and that’s all I wanted,” Judy said. For her it’s come full circle: Art the abandoned puppy born with two legs is happy, healthy and amazingly active.

“It’s amazing what love can do, especially with animals,” she said.

In the same way that millions of people cope with diabetes, so too, does the disease affect canines. Specifically, the disorder is called diabetes mellitus (DM). An insulin deficiency prevents your pooch’s body from metabolizing glucose effectively. There are two varieties of DM: Type I and Type II. The former is the most prevalent type (99% of dogs with DM suffer from this type) and occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. The latter occurs when insulin is manufactured but your pooch’s body isn’t able to use it properly.

In this article, we’ll describe the warning signs that may suggest your canine has developed diabetes mellitus. It’s a potentially life-threatening condition, so catching it early is critical. We’ll also explain how the disease is diagnosed and treated as well as what you can do at home to help your dog manage the disorder.

Possible Warning Signs

The most common symptoms of DM include a marked increase in the amount of water your canine drinks and as a result, the frequency with which he urinates. You might also notice that he is losing weight even though he maintains a strong appetite. Other signs include a general apathy or decrease in physical activity and the sudden onset of blindness.

Treatment After Diagnosis

The health of your pooch can decline rapidly once diabetes mellitus develops. His body’s inability to process glucose effectively can lead to severe dehydration and other health issues. It is important that you have a veterinarian perform a full physical exam if you notice any of the warning signs described in the section above.

The veterinarian will ask you about your dog’s eating routine as well as his elimination activity. You’ll also be asked to describe any changes in his weight and disposition. Then, a urine analysis is performed to identify possible infections and review glucose levels.

Once diabetes mellitus has been diagnosed, your veterinarian will teach you how to administer daily insulin injections for your pooch. He or she will also create a diet and exercise routine that will help your canine manage his weight. During the first several weeks of treatment, the amount of insulin administered will likely change. Most veterinarians prefer to start cautiously with small doses and increase them gradually.

What You Can Do At Home

Providing care for your dog involves administering daily insulin shots (sometimes, twice daily) as well as any other medications that your veterinarian has recommended. You’ll also need to be vigilant regarding your canine’s eating and exercise routine in order to ensure he maintains a healthy weight level. If your dog experiences an insulin overdose (he might seem weak or disoriented), give him food right away.

As noted, diabetes mellitus can be potentially deadly. However, once it has been diagnosed, you can help your dog live a healthy, happy, and problem-free life.

The 10½ year old Belgian Malinois will remain under the care of his partner and handler Sergeant Dean Swartzlander. “I have had him longer than I’ve had my oldest child, so it’s like retiring one my kids,” Swartzlander said. A retirement ceremony was held for Rudi Wednesday afternoon at the Criminal Justice Center.

Happy retirement Rudi— you’ve most certainly earned it!

Canine lymphoma, also known as lymphosarcoma, is a type of cancer that affects the spleen, lymph nodes, liver, and other organs. Dog lymphoma most commonly affects dogs that are middle aged and older.

Many dog owners are concerned about dog cancer since cancer poses a serious health risk to dogs. About fifty percent of the deaths of dogs are caused by cancer. Approximately twenty-five percent of all dog deaths are cancer related.

The causes of canine lymphoma are not well understood. Canine lymphoma causes different symptoms depending on which parts of the body are being affected by this cancer.

Dog lymphoma affecting the lymph nodes may cause a hardening of the lymph nodes and a formation of lumps in the area of the lymph nodes. The dog may not experience other symptoms of cancer.

Other tumors from lymphoma may cause diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Other types of lymphoma in dogs may cause shortness of breath, lumps on the skin, or bumps in or near the mouth.

A veterinarian may do blood tests or biopsies to diagnose lymphoma. Ultrasound or x-rays may also be used to diagnose canine lymphoma. The severity of the lymphoma may be classified by how many lymph nodes have been affected by the cancer.

There are five stages of dog lymphoma with stage I being the least severe. If the cancer is only affecting one lymph node, this is typical of stage I dog lymphoma. If the dog lymphoma has spread to multiple lymph nodes, bone marrow, and at least one organ, this is classified as stage IV canine lymphoma.

Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for lymphoma in dogs. During chemotherapy treatment, the dog may receive weekly injections of chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide.

Dog lymphoma is a life-threatening type of dog cancer. A dog that has been diagnosed with dog lymphoma and is not receive treatment typically lifts four to six weeks after diagnosis.

If the dog receives chemotherapy treatment for the dog lymphoma, the dog may live up to a year after diagnosis. Sometimes, the dog may respond exceptionally well to the chemotherapy and live more than a year after diagnosis.

Dog owners who own dogs with canine lymphoma should not feel guilty about the dog’s cancer. Though the cause for dog lymphoma is not known, it is not caused by any actions or neglect of the dog owner.

No one wants to lose the family dog and a GPS dog collar can help in that area. There is nothing worse than having to tell your child that your dog is never coming back after they escaped from the backyard. As a locator, the dog collar is invaluable. However, the collar can be used in tandem with consistent guidance and training to teach your dog where his running area is. With consistent training your dog may very well surprise you.

For those that have experienced this, they can tell you that it is like losing a member of the family. Some people do not have to have the experience to be able to imagine what it would be like to lose their beloved dog. But what if there was a way to track your dog?

With a GPS dog collar you can pinpoint your dog’s location. Most of us are familiar with how a GPS tracking system works. For those who are not, there is a transmitter in the dog’s collar that emits a signal. The satellites that orbit the Earth can pick up that signal. The satellites will then send their information back to your display unit or computer, thus giving you the coordinates of your dog’s location.

You can set up two different boundary lines so that Fido when crosses the first line, you will be alerted and can be ready for when he crosses the next one. Repeated firm, verbal reprimands should be enough to remind him of where he is. However if your dog is a runner, you might want to use a long lead that is tied to something sturdy until you have recall control.

This technology will not only help lose who have lost their dog but hunters will find this to be invaluable tool when they are out in the woods. Many of us love to take our dogs on our outdoor adventures and just want to allow our pet the freedom to roam. This GPS technology will take away the worry of your pet roaming too far away from you.

Using a GPS dog collar does not mean that you should not follow leash laws or allow your pet to wander around unsupervised. However, this can eliminate the electric shock collars that are sold to prevent dogs form wandering off their property. With good, consistent training and the use of this technology, you should be able to train your dog so that they know when they have traveled too far off your property.

If you are an avid bird hunter, you may find this technology useful. You will know where your dog is at every minute and not have to worry about the dog running off after an animal and not being able to ever find them again. If you like to hike with your best friend you can let them wander off and not have worry about losing them.

A dog is a best friend to every member of the family. He is faithful, loyal, and loves you in your worst moments. Safeguarding your dog from the ails that can hurt him out in the world is a lot easier now that you can equip him with a GPS dog collar.

Terriers are not delicate lap dogs, so if you want a small dog that does not behave like a cowering wreck every time you look at it, a Boston Terrier may be the ideal dog for you. They have a short shiny coat which is easy to care for, a short snout, droopy jowls, lovely round, expressive eyes and love to play.

Not every breed of dog is an ideal choice for everyone, but if your heart is set on owning a Boston Terrier, nothing we say here will be able to stop you. Be careful when you buy yours, that it is from a reputable breeder and has not come from a puppy mill. Don’t support pet stores as these may be mill dogs, and this heinous breeding methodology must be wiped out. A good breeder will allow you to inspect their premises and you should be happy with the way you see the dogs being taken care of.

Boston terriers may also be put up for sale by people who have no idea how to breed them. In other word they have no knowledge of how to breed a dog with a good temper. Behavioral advisers and dog obedience instructors see many Boston Terriers who are neurotic and yap mindlessly, are aggressive or hyperactive. So good breeding is essential!

Most terrier breeds are quite highly strung, but they are also very intelligent and learn quickly. It fact that they are highly strung is what attracts many people to the terrier breeds, it is part of their charm. Boston Terriers require a good deal of training as they don’t like being told what to do, but with love and perseverance, this is simple to achieve. They may be difficult to house train, and experts agree they take 4 – 6 months, but I don’t think this is excessive for any dog.

They make noises which some people (like me) think is endearing, while others may not like it at all. They snuffle, wheeze, grunt, snort and snore, this is because of the short snout. They have quite loose jowls because of the short snout and may drool when they have eaten or drunk.

As any dog owner knows, dogs, just like people are prone to flatulence, some more than others, just like people. The Boston Terrier can send you screaming for cover, but if they are fed on a diet of proper meat and other good fresh food, this helps with the problem. It is all about the correct diet.

Health problems may arise, aging because of the short snout, as well as over-breeding problems. It is not always possible to know the entire history of your dog’s breeding, so it is best to educate yourself on any health problems so you are aware of them.

Like all dogs, each and every Boston Terrier has their own unique personality. You get very energetic dogs and also very calm Bostons. Some are as hard headed as heck and others, sugar would not melt in their mouths, some Bostons are very serious, while others are total goofballs. But whatever your Boston’s personality, the most important thing is that they will always love you and care for you, so make sure you love them and care for them too.

To enjoy a well behaved Boston Terrier is simple when you follow the proven training methods which this breed responds to. With just ten minutes a day you can have a perfectly trained Boston Terrier.

Years ago, a bath and recent dog grooming used to be the trendiest that a dog would be. These days, designer dog fashion and pampering have become the standards for trendy dogs.

How to be a trendy dog is mirrored in the spotlight on celebrity dogs. Designer dog accessories, designer dog clothes, and designer dog carriers are becoming increasingly popular.

Many designers have seized the popularity of dog pampering and offered their own solutions to how to be a trendy dog. Dog hoodies and t-shirts from designer labels are available for trendy dogs.

Designer dog carriers allow dog owners to take their trendy, small dogs in public and show them off. Several designer labels make dog carriers. Since designer dog carriers cost hundreds of dollars, some dog owners may choose to purchase a trendy dog carrier that is not from a designer.

For larger dogs, some dog owners push them in stroller-like dog carriers. Some trendy dogs enjoy riding motorcycles with their owners. There are several different dog carriers specially designed for motorcycles.

While some dog owners enjoy dressing their dogs often, some dog owners buy dog costumes just for special occasions like holidays. A large variety of dog costumes can be found by doing a search on an Internet search engine for dog costumes.

More emphasis has been put on dog grooming in recent years. The increase in the popularity of dog grooming could be due to televised dog grooming competitions in the United States. Dog owners often choose to have their dogs groomed to the dog breed standard accepted at dog shows.

Color, much like hair dye applied with air brushing, can be added to the dog’s coat. A trendy dog may have the tip of its tail colored. Creative coloring and dog grooming can be a fun expression for dog owners.

Dog owners often look for small touches to make them feel as though their dog is trendy. Polishing the dogs’ nails is an option for dog owners who may not be able to afford designer dog fashion and dog accessories.

Trendy motorcycle dog carriers matched with unique dog collars will definitely make you lovely doggy the talk of the town wherever you bring it to. Let your precious baby be the centre of attraction at dog gatherings.

There are a few things that will need to be carefully considered before you proceed to buy one.

What you need to feed them: You must consider the size of the food you buy them from the grocery store as they won’t be able to eat the normal type of food ordinarily purchased for a regular size pooch. Buying a kibble for example must take into consideration the size of their jaw so a smaller one will be required which you may not find in just any store. Fortunately, canned food should not be a problem and will definitely be easier to obtain.

How to contain them: It is easy for them to run around and go to the toilet outside providing the area is secure isn’t it? Smaller dogs are much more nimble that larger dogs and what might be a secure environment for one is not necessarily for the other. It is also important to remember that fences can not provide top protection where you might find hawks eyeing your tiny pet as they are known to come down fast and sweep away minute dogs and puppies. A simple answer to this problem is to construct an enclosed play area which should stop this from happening.

Training your dog: While the training methodologies may be the same for large as well as tiny and are not any harder, but canine experts confirm that more often than not, the smaller counterparts are usually over-mothered. No matter if he fits in a purse or a pocket, your small dog still sees the world in terms of pack behavior, and if you’re not leading the pack, he is. It’s a wise idea to make sure your pet is thoroughly house trained, no matter how small and inconsequential the mess might seem when he misses. To make the dog obey your commands, dog experts recommend that the dog must be made to work for you. Have him sit or do tricks before you give him a tasty treat or even his meal.

Your dogs appearance: Small dogs have some particular requirements when it comes to grooming you need to bear in mind. One such specific need for a minuscule pet is that he needs more frequent nail trimming than his larger counterpart since he hardly walks or runs on uneven surfaces which would have naturally shaped up his nails. As they are eating more canned food, their teeth will need to be brushed more regularly (at least twice per week) to eliminate unwanted and harmful deposits. The above makes it clear that it does not matter whether you are taking care of a small dog or a large dog the methods are pretty much the same. The differences between each dog, may look minor and insignificant, but when you pay extra attention to each one aspect, it can provide the correct answer to a dog’s specific requirements.

For additional info and to get a free Dog Training Course visit tclarkpetsolutions.com

You can also teach your children (if you have) the essence of being affectionate to other creatures particularly to a puppy. Having a puppy to be with you while you are growing up will surely give out a lot of fun memories to recall. When you bring home a pup, not only that you’ll experience all the joy that it can share to you but also and more significantly, some other things that you really cant get way with – such as toilet schooling, walking on a lead, chewing toys instead of designer shoes and other typical puppy behaviors that drive owners to the brink of insanity.

Just like any precious things that you own, having a pup would always call for a lot of attention. Spending time with a puppy especially at some early stage would surely ask a lot of your time than that when you take care of an older dog. The shelters are crowded with dogs – and many of which are starting to depart the stage of being a pup.

It may be subject to the breed of the dog or to its past experiences, there would be no difficulty knowing which dog is best for a household with kids or merely those dogs which are better off with adults since the seller or adoption facility will surely recommend you with what you need according to the facts about the dog. Without delay, knowing the full size of the dog will be possible and really helpful for you since you will be able to determine whether the dog can fit into the place where you live. You can visit the dog and take him for a walk before making up your mind. There are a lot of puppies that can only be a waste, so, if you don’t want to end up with a trash, be sure to assess the dog first through its parents. The thought of knowing the possible traits that your pup is more likely to have particularly when it grows up would surely bug your mind.

A puppy will have the most advantage of enjoying the comfort of your house without any difficulty, where as a mature dog would tend to react, still, that won’t give the conclusion that a mature dog is not likely to feel comfortable with your home. puppies and older dogs each have their own specific demands. Schooling a pup should start from the fundamentals. A mature dog might already be trained, but could have more vet bills if it’s not a entirely healthy more mature dog. Or maybe, the aging dog became unruly and no longer had the disposition towards kids like it used to be when it was just younger.

Depending on your reasons for getting a new dog, giving a mature shelter dog the home and loving family that it needs is something that you might like to do than spending much of your time and money bringing home a pedigree pup. But if showing or breeding is your aim, a puppy with papers might suit your needs more.~A pup with complete documentation can surely cater to your desires if you want to show it off or breed in the future.~If you plan to show off your dog or have it breed in the long run, then getting a puppy with all the applicable records can surely go with whatever you want or require.

For additional info and to get a free Dog Training Course visit tclarkpetsolutions.com

Here are a few factors that you need to think over. Bettering your communication skills is vital if you want to convince buyers to patronize your services therefore it’s your first chance to take part in the dog breeding business, you should endeavor to absorb as much knowledge as you can. You can read texts about dog breeding or you can perform a search on the Internet, plus the’re even E-Books on canine breeding. You ought to be in a position to create a friendly setting for your dog so while grooming, you’ll be able to provide with a safe environment. Find a certified vet in your region as you will require such an expert if you wish to make sure that your dog is well. You cannot plan to make big cash instantly so patience is necessary as this endeavor takes time and remember that participating in this business ethically will never generate a great deal of money.

If you do not know anything about dog breeding, you should set about researching because it is not a wise idea to be in a business which you cannot handle effectively and by being equipped with the right tools, you’ll achieve a greater chance of success. Educate yourself on the various breeding methods and you could even consult an expert dog breeder who can work as your guide because you cannot learn everything by a book, working experience is critical.

Obtaining your initial dog is important and there is a lot to understand, like information on the canines adequate feeding, training, and nursing however consistent vet appointments are additionally required so issues can be noted as quickly as workable. You must additionally start buying the different canine accessories as well as appliances such as kennels also their home must be devoid of muck, debris, and other unsound elements. Be sure to maintain a tidy dog so that prospective buyers will be attracted once they see the pups.

Keep in mind that it is a bad idea to keep your dog chained all the time though giving them excessive freedom can make them overly playful and friendly. Pregnant dogs should be well attended too as well as the nursing dogs. Make sure you give adequate attention and special care to the puppies however sometime, you might become attached to these puppies therefore be ready since you’ll part with them in a short time.

Staying moral in this business may not give you tons of cash or benefits though you can be certain that you’re dogs are happy. Other individuals will even like your work and whose to say – you might be able to sell the breeds effortlessly since ethics are very important to ensure success the proper manner. Amass as much information as possible so you will absorb all you possibly can regarding dog breeding and that way you’ll be a step ahead of those who do little to educate themselves on the topic.

For more info and to get a free Dog Training Course visit tclarkpetsolutions.com

This fall, Duke University anthropologist Brian Hare is opening the Duke Canine Cognition Center, where he plans to test hundreds of dogs brought in by their owners. Marc Hauser, a cognitive psychologist at Harvard University, recently launched his own such research lab and has 1,000 dogs lined up as subjects. Other facilities are operating in the U.S. and Europe.

What they’ve established out so far is that dogs can learn over 200 distinctive human words, but they may mean different things to a dog than to humans. And the intelligent, friendly, and obedient behavior we see in dogs evolved because those things are advantageous to the dog, even though we see them as advantageous to us.

If your dog licks her paws, she might an allergy that leads to fleas or ticks. You want to be on the look-out for your dog sneezing or scratching itself, your dog licking its feet or rubbing its face, or hair loss and scabs and sores. One treatment is to give your dog regular dog baths, at least once or twice a week, along with a regular rub down with a wet cloth. Fleas can carry other parasitic organisms, such as tapeworms, and these tapeworms can lead to allergic reactions, anemia, hair loss, and infections. Ticks can carry the deadly Lyme disease.

Worms take second place in the list of possible dog aliments, after fleas that is. The worms may come in the form of heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, or whipworms. If your dog has worms, some of the symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, lost weight or lethargy. Worms are typically not noticeable without stool examination or blood tests. Take your dog in for an annual check-up for worms, and other infestations.

Canine Distemper affects the nervous system and organs. Its a good idea to vaccinate your dog for this disease as it can be fatal. Rabies is also preventable through vaccination. Rabies happens when one infected generally transmitted by the bite of an infected animal to non-infected animal. It is almost always fatal and can be transmitted to humans. Coronavirus, Kennel Cough, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, and Parvo are diseases that include symptoms such as coughing, labored breathing, and weight loss, as well as vomiting or diarrhea.

Early detection is the best way to keep your dog a fit and happy dog. Take your dog to the vet and ask about vaccinations. A lot of diseases can be prevented by a simple vaccination. Not only will you help keep your dog happy, but you’ll do yourself good as well. After all, humans are not immune to dog diseases. If your dog gets fleas, you might find yourself starting to itch.

Diet is equally important. You might want to start buying hypoallergenic dog food from the vets or start making your own home-made dog-food.

To learn more about how to keep dog healthy be sure to check out our site today.

Before birth, puppies receive some antibodies from their mothers through the placenta. For the first two days after birth, the puppies continue to receive antibodies in the mother’s first milk.

If a puppy is vaccinated before this natural immunity from them maternal antibodies wears off, the vaccination will be in effective. A common recommendation is for the puppy to begin receiving vaccinations at six to nine weeks of age.

Parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis, and hepatitis vaccinations are the vaccinations for puppies that are typically required. Vaccinations for rabies and kennel cough may be recommended by the veterinarian.

Parvovirus is a potentially fatal virus that causes abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, depression, vomiting, and refusal to eat or drink. Canine distemper can cause lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, coughing, runny nose, and eventually seizures.

Infectious canine hepatitis is a virus that attacks the liver that can quickly lead to death. Symptoms of canine hepatitis include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, fever, and lack of appetite.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that causes abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, bloody diarrhea, increased thirst, and fever. A dog can die from leptospirosis within hours of the onset of symptoms.

A highly contagious upper respiratory infection that causes a slight fever, loss of appetite, dry cough, and lethargy is called kennel cough. Dogs that spend time in a kennel may be required to have the vaccination for kennel cough before they are accepted for boarding.

The final stages of rabies causes the dog to foam at the mouth and drool. Rabies can lead to paralysis, coma, and death from respiratory failure. Rabies can also affect people unlike most dog diseases.

Dogs can also be vaccinated for coronavirus, parainfluenza, Bordetella, and measles. The veterinarian may recommend these vaccinations and others if the dog is to spend a significant amount of time with a large group of dog such as in a kennel.

Following some vaccinations, the puppy may not be allowed to be exposed to other dogs. The veterinarian may provide information on possible side effects and any other precautions related to the vaccinations.

Moses Wright has been a lover of dogs for many years. He set up this site to provide information on non allergic dog breeds and symptoms of dog diseases to help fellow dog owners learn more about their pets.

If you have children, image the fun they would have if their 4 legged pal was dressed up with them. Picking a theme and finding the costumes is fairly easy. There are hundreds of humorous costumes that will put a smile on the face of youngsters and adults alike. You can bring the family pet along while you let your youngsters trick or treat. The exercise will be good for the dog, and the thrill of having her or him along will make your child beam even brighter.

Look online and you are bound to find the perfect costume for your pooch. They range from bugs to nutrition to different animals. Why not make your dog a hotdog for Halloween? You may even get a Dracula costume for your pooch. There are hundreds of different costumes to choose between, ranging for both male and female dogs.

If it’s a female dog you have, try dressing her up as a princess or a cheerleader. The chances for dog costumes are absolutely endless. Many of these costumes are cheap, and if your dog is full grown part or all of the costume can be employed again the next year, which saves money.

Dressing up is not just for youngsters. If you plan to stay at home and pass out candy with your four legged friend, why not dress up and dress your pooch up too? Pick a theme and find costumes that go together for a funny and fun filled evening for you and all the kids that will come knocking on the door begging for treats.

Halloween can be amusing for all, including your dog. There are tons of sites dedicated to dog costumes, and you are sure to find one that you like for your pal. Take pictures of your pooch in his Halloween costume and remember the fun and excitement that was had by all.

Dog costumes are a cool way to add to your Halloween. They are inexpensive, quick and easy, and are sure to get some laughs and grins from those around you.

If you need a fun, cheap dog Halloween costume for your dog this Halloween, let us help! We have cute, comfortable and affordable dog Halloweens. You’ll get a chuckle when you take a look at the dog Halloween costume pictures at Gifts For Dog Lovers.com

At the 237th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Joseph A. Bauer, PhD presented findings, building on more than 60-years of research effort to developing a B12 based attack against cancer.

The story starts with a dog by the name of Oscar, a ten year old Bichon Frise who unfortunately had an aggressive type of cancer known as anal sac adenocarcinoma.

After being treated with the standard chemotherapy and radiation, with no improvement, poor Oscar was left unable to walk and with about three months to live.

As a last hope, Bauer gave the sick dog a cancer killing medicine known as nitrosylcobalamin (NO-Cbl for short).

Within 14 days his cancer had improved significantly and he was back on his feet.

This compound has now been given to other dogs with equally promising results and no negative side effects. This drug targets cancer cells like a “Trojan horse”, delivered by being hidden inside something that looks harmless or beneficial.

The medication is made of nitric oxide that’s attached to vitamin B12. Researchers know that receptors on cell surfaces will attract the vitamin and assist it in getting into the cell.

Cancer cells have extra B12 receptors; the drug spots these and is taken in by the unsuspecting cancer cell. Once inside, the nitric oxide is released and the cell dies. Genius, pure genius.

Bauer’s and his team is ultrasound and MRI imaging to monitor tumor sizes in all three of the dogs currently undergoing treatment.

After 9 months of NO-Cbl the spinal tumor of a 6 year old golden retriever, Buddy, has been reduced by 40%, and the inoperable thyroid cancer of a 13 year old female giant schnauzer by 77% in just ten weeks of treatment.

A fourth dog, Haley, also a golden retriever, is being treated for a spinal tumor. And once the team treated ten dogs successfully with the drug, they’ll attempt to get FDA approval to test the medication in people.

Bauer believes firmly that what works in these animals holds promise for treating their humans as well.

He points out that people and dogs are genetically similar – enough to make a successful case for approval from the FDA.

Interesting to know that the National Cancer Institute has data on pets.

After all, they breathe the same air; drink the same water and eat processed foods just as we do.

“We are one of the few research groups that is offering to treat dogs with cancer that otherwise have no hope,” Bauer states. “With no other options available, most people in this situation opt to euthanize so that their pets don’t go through the pain of disease and trauma of surgery.”

The good news for dog owners is that this new method may also offers hope for a faithful friend who might be one of the estimated 6 million dogs in the U.S. alone diagnosed with cancer each year.

It’s a rare thing for research to uncover a treatment that can be used for animals, and yet holds realistic promise for people as well.

Next – just head on over to the Daily Health Bulletin for more information on how to fight cancer, plus for a limited time get 5 free fantastic health reports. Click here for the automated video on this study on how to fight cancer.

Choose the Right Size

Dogs do not come in one size. The chew toy that you pick should be just right for the size of your pet. If the product is too big, your dog may not like to play with it at all. On the other hand, if the toy is too small, he might accidentally swallow it and choke on it. You really should know about your dog’s breed and size well to get the appropriate toy size. Many reputable chew toy manufacturers will have clear warnings on their labels to help you decide on whether a toy is appropriate for your pet.

Make Sure the Toy is Safe

Apart from the size, you also need to make sure that the toy is neither too hard nor too soft. Hard texture may damage the teeth of your dog while excessively soft toys might lead to accidental ingestion of torn or chipped parts. You also need to avoid toys with small beads, buttons, strings, wire, bells and fake fur. Chances are you puppy will swallow all these small pieces, which in turn will result in choking, mouth wounds and even damage to the intestines and constipation.

Reserve A Variety Of Toys

Puppies can easily get bored, and it is always a good idea to keep a few varieties of the toys for rotation. From time to time, you may also like to give your dog toys with edible treats in them. This way, your pet will be encouraged to play with them.

Keep an Eye on the Dog and Toys

Your dog is just like a small baby and can accidentally swallow a non-edible part. However busy you are, you need to at least keep an occasional eye out on your pet when he is at play.

You also need to inspect the toys from time to time to spot on any signs of wears or tears. Just like anything else, dog toys have their life spans and the sign of damage may indicate to you that you need to replace it. Never never put your dog’s health or life at risk.

Listen To Your Veterinarian

You don’t have to talk to your veterinarian only when your pet is sick. Many veterinarian have very good knowledge about dog toys and can give you great recommendations on brands or retailers.

As you can see, in selecting dog chew toys, we should never sacrifice safety for fun. In the end, giving him toys is our way to show our love and affection. Because of the love, we want our pets to be both happy and healthy.

Do you wish to have an obedient dog? Get the true advice on dog training and find out how to house train dogs properly. You may also like to check out this related article about natural food for dogs.

The mouth, or oral cavity, is a very important part of the digestive system in dogs. This is where digestion begins. As a dog chews, food is broken up into smaller particles for better digestion by enzymes in the stomach and small intestines. Teeth, therefore, play a very important role in digestion. The tongue and front teeth help a dog pick up pieces of food and teeth in the back of the mouth grind food into smaller particles.

In total, a dog has 42 teeth. They are comprised of the incisors and canines which are located in the front, and the premolars and molars which are located in the back. Each of these teeth have a part that is visible above the gum line called the crown as well as a part below the gum line called the root. Enamel covers the crown which is the hardest substance in the body. The dentin is below the enamel as well as the pulp which makes up most of the tooths blood vessels and nerves.

The gingiva is the soft tissue that surrounds the tooth at the gum line. This is also attached tightly to the jawbone. In some cases, a tooth can have only one root or several roots attached to it.

What are Plaque, Tartar, and Gingivitis?

Just like us, food, saliva and bacteria remain on the teeth after eating. This is commonly referred to as plaque. While this is perfectly normal, it does need to be removed which can be done easily with brushing. Plaque releases toxins which can inflame the gum line. When this inflammation occurs, it is referred to as Gingivitis.

When plaque stays on the teeth for long enough, it will harden and turn into tartar or calculus. Tartar allows more bacteria and debris to accumulate. This makes inflammation of the gums worse. As gum inflammation gets worse, the gum recedes away from the tooth, the tooth becomes loose, bacteria and inflammation spread to the jawbone underneath the tooth, and eventually the tooth falls out. Tartar can accumulate above the gum line where it can be seen and also below the gum line where it cannot be seen.

Dogs and cats probably do suffer from heat cramps and heat exhaustion like us humans but the symptoms are mild and we don’t recognize them. The condition that we see, and may cause the death of a pet, is heat stroke.

The type of car you drive is also relevant. Those with large glass areas such as hatchbacks and those that are dark in color heat up more quickly than other cars. Studies on various makes of popular cars have determined that dark colored hatchback cars heat up the quickest with temperatures reaching 163 degrees Fahrenheit during testing. This was almost double the outside temperature. In six minutes the temperature of most cars is up to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dog is in the car at this temperature, it will be near death.

Prevention – Never leave your pet in a parked car in sunlight. The car heats up to be like a sauna even on mild days.

- Always leave your windows open in your car if you take your dog with you.

- Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh cool water (the water should be placed in the shade) available at all times.

Management of a heat stressed dog:

If owners are nearby – Immediately bring the animal to a shady spot.

- Slowly cool the animal by placing it in cool, NOT cold, water.

- Reduce body heat gradually.

- Apply ice packs to the head and neck.

- Take the distressed pet to the nearest veterinarian as soon as possible.

- Treatment for dehydration and other serious problems will be necessary.

Dog trackers have become very popular these days. What it essentially does is it helps the dog owner in keeping trail of their pet and in case it strays out of its usual route or area, it quickly and most efficiently helps the dog owner in finding his pet. The GPS dog tracking system, which is essentially born out of the Global Positioning System, has been developed and promoted by the US Defence Department. It has the ability to pin point a location with extreme accuracy through its satellite based system.

As per the findings of the Council of Pet Population Study and Policy, only 20 percent of dog owners are able to retrieve their pets. A GPS dog tracking system helps in protecting the pet not being run over by a car or assaulted by other bigger animals by quickly being able to alert the owner so that the pet does not stray further. Most dogs are retrieved by the usage of tags, micro chips or tracking technology. Therefore, it is most essential for most pet owners to invest in a good GPS tracking system as it would only increase his chances of finding his dog. It may apparently seem slightly expensive initially at the time of purchase, but any dog owner who owns a GPS tracking system would vouch for it as it immensely helps in increasing the safety and well being of the pet.

There are two kinds of GPS dog tracking system. The one which works with the cellular carriers, generally transmit the location information of the pet through cell phone transmissions, enabling the owner to track their dog by the help of their phone or by checking the Internet. However, this tracking methodology does not work where cell coverage is not there and would require continuous service charges.

The other GPS tracking system works by using the standard radio waves, which are freely available. However this system is heavily flawed due to simple fact that the transmission inside a given area is highly restricted. The radio waves transmit vital information to a hand held gadget, which in turn exhibits authentic information about the pet.

So how does the global positioning system work for the dog tracking system? Usually the collar worn by the pet has a transmitter fitted which sends warning signals to the dog owner, informing that the pet has strayed. The fact that the dog is lost is being transmitted through a transmission system. Like in any automobile tracking system, the owner is first informed about the lost dog and then the regular updates are sent, until the dog has been recovered. In several other GPS tracking systems, the information is passed through telephone help-line services, which in turn, press into service their local representatives to pursue the dog and pass on relevant information to the owner.

It is only a pet owner who loves his pet dearly would tell you how much of a help these GPS dog tracking system could be. The system not only keeps a check on the safety of the pet but also informs the owner at the right time so that they are found quickly and before any mishap takes place. With time the GPS dog tracking system is increasingly becoming popular and prices are also slowly coming down. It not only saves the pet a lot of unnecessary hassles but also ensures there is no heartache. Hence not only do these dog tracking systems help the dog owners’ but also benefit society largely by ensuring lesser number of strays on the road.

But before going in for a purchase of a GPS dog tracking system, it would prudent to do an extensive research. The critical elements that one would require to find out are on the extended battery life, weight, coverage area, waterproofing and ability to manage extreme temperature fluctuations. In case of a small sized dog, it is very important to find out about the weight of the collar, as prolonged use could seriously injure and damage the back and neck of a small dog.

When left to their own devices, dogs love to engage each other in a bout of playing. To the uninitiated owner who observes the interaction, the behavior can seem cute, odd, and even worrisome if things seem to be getting too rough. The fact is, canines enjoy this type of contact with each other and rarely does the contact get out of hand. In a way, it is a social dance they perform with one another from the time they are puppies through adulthood.

Below, we’ll explore why canines play with each other. You’ll learn about their motivations and triggers as well as the types of play in which they engage.

Understanding The Motivations

Many types of pack animals play with others within their group when they’re young. However, once they reach adulthood, they usually stop. Dogs are different. For some reason, they never lose their juvenile tendencies. Even well into adulthood, assuming they are not prevented by an illness or other health issue, canines will continue playing with one another.

Veterinarians suggest that one of the reasons canines interact in this manner is because they are rehearsing their roles as adults. For example, you might observe puppies wrestling over resources or with each other – behavior that may be necessary later in their lives. You will also see them biting or humping.

Another motivation is a simple desire to engage their mind and body. Your pooch needs mental stimulation and exercise in order to remain happy and healthy. Playing with another dog provides a perfect outlet.

Social Interaction

Just as young people must learn to interact with each other without exceeding acceptable social limits, canines must also learn proper social skills. This type of playing occurs most frequently when they are puppies. They’ll jump on one another, chewing and biting playfully. If one of the “players” goes too far (for example, bites too hard), the other will let him know. This is how they learn what is acceptable and what is not.

Sexual Interaction

When dogs play sexually, their interaction usually manifests as mounting. Studies have shown that if a pooch reaches adulthood without having had sufficient mounting experience, his initial attempts at mating can often prove unsuccessful. When there is no play partner present, dogs will mount furniture or even a person’s legs. The latter complicates the relationship between an owner and his pooch because the act of mounting is a dominant one.

Being A Predator

Canines are, by nature, predatory pack animals; certain characteristics are imprinted upon their brains. These characteristics manifest during play through chasing balls, sticks, and other objects. You’ll often see dogs jumping and pinning things that are moving only to release them before attempting to pin them again. They are sharpening their predatory skills in a playful environment.

Your dog has a playful streak that is nearly impossible to suppress. As an owner, try to provide him with an environment that gives him the opportunity to enjoy himself, build his skills, and interact with playmates.

As part of the campaign, the companies expect to donate a combined $150,000 to animal welfare organizations. They also plan to recognize six pet lovers’ stories in a nationally televised special this fall.

“Nestlé Purina is committed to promoting responsible pet care, humane education, and community involvement,” said David Tornberg, marketing manager for the St. Louis pet food manufacturer. “Our project with Kroger enables us to further engage pet lovers with a program that gives back to the communities in which our consumers live and allows us to share endearing stories about the human-pet relationship.”

The campaign, which runs through November, invites pet owners to share their favorite stories about their companion animals online at TalesForThePetLoversHeart.com. For each story submitted, Nestlé Purina and Kroger will make an additional donation to animal welfare organizations on top of their $150,000 donation.

Stories submitted before Aug. 31 will be considered for inclusion in the “Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart” TV special, slated to air in November. In addition to those selected stories, the special will include stories about former racing Greyhounds becoming pets, how dogs sniff out danger, and how an animal trainer prepares cats and dogs for show biz.

To support the campaign, Kroger is rolling out specially-designed “Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart” displays and circular coupons across its family of stores.

“We’re proud to support the ‘Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart’ program,” said Bill Dankworth, a Kroger vice president. “Aligning our family of stores with one of the world’s leading pet food manufacturers allows us to recognize the special bond our customers share with their pets.”

It is not unusual for pet owners to allow their pets to sleep with them at night. In fact, one third of pet owners have at some time, permitted their pets to sleep on their beds. Dogs provide a companionship that can’t be given by any other kind of animal. But this doesn’t mean to say that it is unlikely for some people to let their cats and another pets sleep with them too.

It is facilitated too by dogs having a sleep pattern which is rather much like our own. Dogs often have complete trust in their owners, which makes them a lot more relaxed during the night. This goes a long way to explaining why most dogs fall asleep easily and even enter into a deep sleep where REM sleep activities can occur. In deed, once a dog goes into this phase, the owner often has to call them several times before they can be woken up completely.

I’m sure, lots of us have already seen a dog paddling during sleep or at times, barking with his eyes closed. These dogs are believed to be dreaming. Breathing patterns can also be observed among dogs. For instance, there are breeds which breathe more heavily while there are those who breathe very lightly. The heavy breathers are much more prone to snoring than those who do not breathe as heavily.

Often, dogs that snore can be rather a nuisance during the night, depending on the degree and frequency of the phenomenon. Like with humans, there are various reasons why dogs snore, although most deal with the obstruction of the passage of air in the windpipe, which in turn is caused by the collapse of certain areas along the throat. It is the same problem as with humans.

A dog that snores very loudly should be examined for different issues to determine which treatment could be best provided. Some dogs are especially susceptible to specific allergies that can cause constriction in the airway. It may also be that there is some excess tissue in the areas that are inhibiting proper breathing. It is best for a veterinarian to check out different factors through careful evaluation of the dog’s anatomical features and physical symptoms in general.

Is you dog overweight? I ask this because, like with humans, obese dogs are more likely to snore than thin ones. This is because they have more tissue surrounding their windpipes. Therefore, they have excess fat hanging around the throat which can potentially cause obstructions. Once this problem is corrected, the risk of snoring will be decreased. This would not only be healthy for your dogs, you may actually enjoy a decent night’s sleep too.

The facial features of the dog in general affect the amount of snoring too. For example, some dogs have squashed faces which narrows their nasal passages to a certain degree. The construction of their nasal passages also largely contributes to their problems of breathing. They are very much like humans with the flu, who are forced to breathe using only twenty-five percent of their nostril capacity. Dog breeds with shorter faces need to expend lots of effort to breathe properly. It costs them more effort to breathe and they are also more likely to snore loudly.

Minor surgery can afford your dog great relief. Be sure though that before any decision is made, you are well informed about the potential risks and consequences of surgery to stop a dog snoring. Most are irreversible, so careful thought must be given to any operation you allow. In fact it is best to accept the guidelines provided by your veterinarian.

With a history of domestication stretching back more than two millennia, the Mastiff dog has been a popular breed since the days of the Roman Empire and likely even longer than this. The Romans were in fact quite fond of these dogs – the Emperor Julius Caesars favorite pet was reputedly a Mastiff and they were widely trained for the hunt and for guard duty. The Mastiff was introduced to Britain with the Roman occupation of the British Isles and these dogs were the ancestors of the English Mastiff. Mastiffs were also popular with the Carthaginian general Hannibal, who brought Mastiffs with him as he crossed the Alps. The breed was also known in Asia, where Kublai Khan reportedly kept thousands of Mastiffs.

The Mastiff dogs remained a favorite of British royals, guarding castles and estates. Mastiffs were used for bear baiting between the 12th and 19th century. This was a very popular sport at the time. The dogs were used to attack chained bears, tigers and bulls.

Mastiffs arrived in the new world in the 17th century, though it wasn’t until nearly 200 years later that the breed became popular in the Americas. Today, mastiff dogs are trained to be working dogs performing duties including search and rescue, guard duty and law enforcement as well as household pets. These dogs are among the very largest breeds, often weighing in at more than 200 pounds and with a height of 30 inches at the shoulder. These are very muscular and powerful dogs; they have fur which may be pale orange, fawn, silver or brindle with black ears and muzzles.

The Mastiff used to be trained to be fearsome warriors and hunters, but now these dogs are trained to be loving, gentle pets and helpful working dogs. Of course every dog is a little different, but most Mastiffs are exceptionally calm and even tempered animals. However, they can be a little stubborn, especially once they get older and set in their ways (not to mention very large). It’s best to make sure that your Mastiff is well trained while they’re still very young.

If you’re considering a Mastiff dog for your home, you’ll need to be prepared for some drooling and some snoring and snuffling as they sleep. However, they more than make up for this fault due to their loyalty and natural aptitude for guard duty. These dogs very rarely bark, but they will hold any intruder at bay until told that things are under control. Mastiffs also make excellent companions for children. While you’ll want to keep an eye of very young children while playing with Mastiffs, they love children and are very patient and gentle with even energetic kids.

They’re just as good of a choice for adults. No matter what you’re doing, your Mastiff will be there with you if you let them. They bond closely with their families and love spending time with them above all else. A Mastiff is not one of those dogs that are content to do its own thing in the yard all day they prefer quality time with their family.

These dogs are often shy when meeting new people and will usually just sit quietly until being formally introduced. Mastiff dogs usually get along with other pets, as long as they’ve been properly socialized as pups. If your Mastiff dog hasn’t learned how to behave around other animals, you’ll need to teach them or simply keep them away from other animals unless they will be closely supervised.

One of the mysterious dog breeds in the world is probably the famous Shetland Sheepdog or simply known as the Sheltie. Its direct ancestor is undefined and the reason behind its temperament is vague but whats certain is the fact that the Sheltie first appeared in the rocky terrains of Shetland Island of Scotland. The Sheltie looks like a small Collie but according to some, the Sheltie is not the result of intentional breeding that will result to a miniature Collie.

The Sheltie was said to be the result of various breeding between the Scottish Rough Collie, Pomeranian, Greenland Yakki (now extinct), and the King Charles Spaniel or is a direct descendant of one of these breeds. In Shetland Island, the Sheltie was believed to do herding tasks just like the other Collies. Contradictions supply, however, that the Sheltie was not used for herding but rather for chasing small creatures such as ducks and squirrels.

Today, the Sheltie is a well-known family pet and companion and it excels in this field outstandingly. Moreover, additional likable disposition of the Sheltie is its eagerness to please the master, obedience and extreme loyalty. With proper and correct training, the Sheltie is a potential skillful dog and reliable household companion.

If not often exposed to people in the beginning, this breed has the tendency to become aloof towards strangers when it grows up. It does well around people especially children and therefore should be socialized at a young age. The Sheltie is a superb watch dog as well, barking as a signal when there is an approaching human or car towards the house.

Even though the Sheltie has never been bred to become herders, it still possesses a natural herding instinct and this brings puzzlement to a lot of breeders. This herding energy should be released through various activities such as running and chasing in a wide area. Doing this will also help the Sheltie become healthy and fit mentally and physically.

The average height for the Sheltie is 13 to 16 inches while its weight ranges from 14 to 27 pounds. The Sheltie has an outer coat and an inner coat as well. The outer coat is long, rough and water-repellent and serves as a body guard while the inner coat is softer and serves as a comfort against hot or cold weathers.

The generally accepted colors of the Sheltie are sable, tri-colour and blue merle. Sable can be golden or mahogany while tri-colour is a combination of black, white and tan. The blue merle color is composed of grey, white, black and tan.

In 1909, the English Kennel Club first registered the Sheltie. In 1911, the first Sheltie was registered in the American Kennel Club named Lord Scott. The Sheltie is an adorable and fascinating little breed and because of these and its many positive features, it became a favorite of many families around the world.

White German Shepherd dogs are well known for their distinctive characteristic as being fearless and direct. They are also alert and eager to provide any assistance whenever needed. In whatever circumstance, they are the kind of breed that is always associated with being friendly.

These breed are also known as the American-Canadian White Shepherd which was later developed as a companion dog and as a performer in dog shows. Although they were not qualified to compete because of their color that was associated with albinism, these dogs were later recognized in America. Soon after that, various White German Shepherd organizations emerged.

Aside from possessing a very playful personality, these dogs are also active. Depending on how they were raised as litters, they are intelligent and can perform various tricks. White German Shepherd dogs are very respectful making them easy to train.

The White German Shepherd dogs are not albinos. Like any ordinary German Shepherd dogs, they have normal features such as the colored eyes, eyelids, nose and the pads. What makes them unique is the remarkable white coat when compared with the traditional German Shepherds.

It was in 1917 that the first trace of the White Shepherd breed was registered by the American Kennel Club. Anne Tracy imported them into the United States making the white strain breed known. Although the said father of all the German Shepherds lived as early as 1890s, litters emerged a little later.

Although these dogs may appear like dominating ones, males are less coarse and females are not overly refined. As opposed to the negative exaggerations associated with the White German Shepherd dogs, they can become very good companions. If properly raised in a good home, these canines can live up to its full potentials for about 14 years.

Studies show that the white code found in the genes of the White Shepherd dog is an integral part of the whole conformation of the breed color. Albinism or any other abnormalities were never related to the white coat. As what the breeders fear, having the white color is perfectly normal.

The very reason why White German Shepherds were not allowed to compete in dog shows before is due to its unique white color. They were mistakenly referred to as Albinos. But later, these dogs were recognized in America are now commonly known as the American-Canadian White Shepherd.

Twenty years ago, the hybrid Puggle came in to being and since then its popularity rose to unexpected heights that it is now known today as the most famous of the hybrids. The Puggle is the result of intermixing a female beagle and a male pug and this was done during the 1980′s when the US was focused on developing new breeds of dogs. Dog breeder Wallace Haven developed the Puggle in Wisconsin, USA.

The Puggle is famous as a lap dog and many famous people such as Uma Thurman and Julianne Moore are known to own one. Countless of articles pertaining to the Puggle are also said to have contributed to the fame of this hybrid. Finally in 2000, Wallace Haven began commercially breeding the Puggle.

At a glance, the Puggle can be likened to an English Mastiff only several times smaller because both hold similarities in appearance and behavior. These two, except for size, have almost the same broad snout, short coat and dangling ears. For the Puggle, however, there is no set standard for its appearance and behavior because each can have differing traits depending on what and how much it inherited from the parent breeds.

Commonly, the Puggle weighs 15 to 30 pounds and stands 10 to 15 inches at the withers. Some Puggles may also have larger and fuller heads while some have it thinner and smaller. The tail of the Puggle is also long like the beagle but curls up like the Pug and that some may have the Pugs underbite and some may not have it.

The body of the Puggle is generally stocky with a short and smooth coat and that its forehead is wrinkled and its legs short. The common coat colors for this dog are fawn, white, black, and some varied combinations of two or three colors such as brown and black. The Puggle is also a heavy shedder and so it is not recommended for the allergic people.

Due to this dog’s heavy shedding, daily coat brushing is necessary and bathing occasionally. The eyes also produce discharge that might get into the wrinkled skin and under the eyes so it is best to clean these parts with a warm washcloth. The nails also grow fast and so regular nail clipping is necessary together with tooth brushing and ear cleaning.

The Puggle is a highly energetic dog and it has an independent spirit and a curious sense of smell. One of its critical needs is daily exercise in the form of walking, running, or playing in a well-spaced yard or in the park. Like the Beagle, the Puggle also loves to dig and howl and like the Pug, it likes to wander off on a mission to follow a distinct smell.

The Puggles are widely known to be highly sociable creatures that love meeting and interacting with new dog breeds and animals. They are very affectionate towards humans and they love to have some attention from the family and new people especially little children. These dogs have a great desire for closeness that they like to lick, snuggle and bond with humans.

When you hear the name or see the remarkable creature Labrador Retriever, you can’t help but agree to the distinctions given to them as being gentle, friendly, family- oriented, trustworthy and intelligent. They are in fact one of America’s most favorite pets according to the American Kennel Club and everybody can agree to this. This breed is wonderfully pleasant, kind-looking, and gentle in temperament that you will probably make them your favorite dog the instant you meet them.

Originally from the icy territories of Canada specifically Newfoundland, these useful and lovable gentle dogs spread in fame at places such as North America and the world all over. Before their present fame, however, going back to Newfoundland, they were great companions to fishermen and game hunters in the region. This breed tagged along side the fishermen to haul in fishing nets and captures back the jerking fishes that are trying to escape the perils of the nets; with hunters, they swam freezing lakes and other bodies of water to retrieve the game quickly and efficiently.

Also lovingly called as “Labs”, the Labrador Retriever is a superb family pet of thousands of households all over the world. How can they not be noted as superb when they are inherently cheerful, sweet spirited, amiable, soft-hearted, energetic, and never aggressive? Not only are they suited with children’s play and spirit but are suited also in socializing with strangers and other pack of animals or dogs.

The Labs are of high intellect, tractable and have the eagerness to please their masters that’s why training sessions with them are a piece of cake. They do as they are trained and told to do, too, and they do these tasks with gusto and with an aim of being applauded and liked by their owners. This breed is just useful in hunting, at play, and at competitions and you will never be disappointed with their performance every time.

The standard and only acceptable colors of Labrador Retriever are yellow, chocolate and black; any other color or combinations of the primary color is tagged for penalty by various kennel groups. Touching the fur, it would feel a bit hard or course as it is dense with short and thick inner and outer coats. This system of coat protects the Lab from harsh weathers and water temperatures and in fact, the coat is weather-proof and water-resistant; through this coating the Lab has been able to survive the conditions of Newfoundland.

As playmates to children, Labs make the perfect candidate for they are naturally fond of playing, running, are affectionate, kind, and friendly. Inside the house, this breed is a qualified watchdog and loyal companion; guarding tasks are not suited for them for they tend to be constantly friendly and welcoming to strangers and other dogs. In the outdoors during hunting, they are inherently retrievers meaning; they are quick, agile, have a high endurance, intelligent, and an excellent swimmer.

The Labrador Retriever is unquestionably great in terms of family affairs and their skills and talents are just overwhelmingly versatile and efficient that people of different sectors trusted them with other critical stuff. Now, this breed is not merely a favored family companion but a trustworthy and credible aid of the society in fight against disabilities, crimes and drugs. Labrador Retrievers are great for police work, narcotics detection, and guide for the blind, service dog for the disabled, search and rescue, sledding, and carting.

Being versatile and excellent in almost every field they are placed in, the Labrador Retriever was categorized in to two groups accordingly; the show lines and the field lines. Show line Labs shows a heavier weight as they are honed for obedience competitions mostly while the field line Labs are more active and requires a more intense form of exercise as they are prone to restlessness without it. Labrador Retrievers are without doubt docile and gentle creatures and just like any other breed, in order to bring out the best in them, must be raised with a consistent and skillful leader.

Just like the English Cocker Spaniel, the American Cocker Spaniel is also a medium sized breed of gun dog. Originally, this breed was developed in the United Kingdom as a small game hunter particularly of the woodcock, which is where the term cocker came from. In the US, the cocker breed was further developed until it became a distinctly different breed called the American Cocker Spaniel.

In the US, this breed is simply known as the Cocker Spaniel. In Canada, Europe and other parts of the world, it is called the American Cocker Spaniel. In its early days, this breed was a reliable gun dog but today, although that hunting instinct is still as excellent, this breed is more taken in as a family pet.

Spaniels in the UK were originally brought from Spain and were later developed to become superb hunting dogs. These hunting Spaniels then bore the Cocker Spaniel and Springer Spaniel in one litter and were only separated during adulthood as different types of Spaniels. But through the use of the English Setter, the Cocker Spaniel was able to be solidified as a different breed.

One of the primary differences between an American Cocker Spaniel and an English Cocker Spaniel is that the American breed is smaller compared to the English variety. The coat of the American Cocker Spaniel is also particularly long than the English Cocker Spaniel. The head of the American Cocker Spaniel is rounder and its ears are dangling while the English Cocker Spaniel’s head is rectangular and the ears shorter.

The ideal size of the American Cocker Spaniel is 15 inches and any dog which stands any higher than 15.5 inches is considered disqualified. The weight is generally 25 to 35 pounds although the males can be a bit heavier. The American Cocker Spaniel lives up to 12 years and is outlived by the English Cocker Spaniel by a year.

As a pet and as a dog show competitor, the luscious fur of this breed should be carefully groomed and maintained. The coat should be soft, smooth, long, flat and double coated. There are four categories that the coat colors of this breed fall under and these are: Black, ASCOB (Any Solid Color Other than Black), Tricolor, and Parti Color.

Describing this breed as a pet, one can say that it is affable, sweet and cheerful. As a gun dog, it is an eager worker, an obedient companion and a courageous hunter. This dog is noted for its gentleness, devotion and sensitiveness that’s why harsh reinforcement is not recommended.

The American Cocker Spaniel is fairly active and has an infinite stamina and so daily exercise should be given to it. Keeping the fluff healthy and beautiful requires daily brushing and shampooing. Additionally, regular nail clipping, coat trimming, and eyes cleaning should also be implemented.

In North America, the wolf hybrid is also known as a wolfdog. It is the subject of much controversy. It is borne of crossing a domestic dog with a wolf, and the name is also used to describe their consequent offspring.

Critics argue that breeding the striking, mysterious wolf hybrids will create animals that do not make good pets, are dangerous and unstable. Another concern they have is that there are no available rabies vaccines for wolves and their hybrids. Those who support the breeding of wolfdogs claim that the wolf hybrids makes an excellent companion pet and that once you’ve gone wolf hybrid, you’ll never go back to owning an ordinary dog.

Wolves and dogs are being increasingly and purposely crossbred in North America and in some parts of Europe, although until recently such hybrids were uncommon. In 1998 the United States Department of Agriculture approximated the US to have the highest wolfdog population in the world. Some polls say the numbers are around 300,000, while others have estimated it to be as numerous as 500,000.

The wolf hybrid has become something of a “fad pet” over the years. This is due to the growing popularity of wolves and their hybrids, mostly due to media exposure. To create the first generation hybrids, gray wolves were crossed most frequently with dogs that also resembled wolves, such as German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes or Siberian Huskies, because the subsequent offspring possessed an appearance that appealed most to owners looking for an “exotic” pet.

The controversy about wolf hybrids centers around breed-specific legislation”meaning there is debate on whether they are to be considered protected native wildlife, and about their perceived danger. The Humane Society of the United States, the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Ottawa Humane Society, the Wolf Specialist Group of the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Species Survival Commission, and The Dogs Trust are all organizations that consider wolf hybrids as wild animals and unsuitable pets. There are many U.S. states and municipalities that forbid the breeding, importation and ownership of wolf hybrids, while others enforce regulated ownership”many European countries also follow this policy.

When it is born a wolfdogs physical attributes may be difficult to predict, just as with mixed-dog breeds. Hybrids embody a wide range of physical appearances. In fact, some hybrids may resemble domestic dogs without a drop of wolf blood in them at all, others can look like full-fledged wolves, and others may look like an even mix of the two.

Wolf hybrids have smaller heads than their wolf ancestors. They do not have coats as dense and possess larger, pointier ears. Their fur markings are not as evenly mixed and are more distinctive.

Wolf hybrids are affected by fewer inherited diseases, because unlike most pure dog breeds they are genetically healthy animals. In the Soviet Union observations found that high content hybrids have longer canines than dogs of similar size, capable to biting through the toughest padding like a knife through butter, according to the South African Defense Force. Their outstanding sense of smell rivals those of recognized scenthounds and they show a higher stamina during the hunt.

Terriers are a very loving and energetic breed that demand a great deal of attention from their family members. They love to make noise and most enjoy being a typical “lap dog.” Terrier training can be a bit difficult if you aren’t persistent, therefore you’ll need to be prepared to be firm and corrective with your terrier pup. If your interest is in breeding terriers, you should do plenty of research and speak to a vet to ensure that you are prepared for the responsibility. This article lists a few of the responsibilities you can expect when raising a terrier.

In order to be a great dog owner, you need to carefully pay attention to your relationship. Caring for the dog won’t be hard as long as you know your responsibilities of caring for them. That means bathing, taking them to the vet and feeding them. Some have different coat styles, and require more grooming than others. Training may be more difficult with some. For instance, Boston terrier training may be a bit more difficult than other terriers as they can tend to be hard to housebreak. The feeding for your dogs can vary depending on what type of breed you have. With the terrier breeds, you have both small and large dogs that need different amounts of servings of foods.

The type of food you feed your terrier is very important. If you’re able to, find out from the dog’s previous owner what type of food they were feeding him. If you can help it, try to keep the dog on the same brand of food, as this can prevent a possible upset stomach, diarrhea, etc. If you can’t find out what food the dog was previously eating, just do your bed to sort through various brands, taking care to read the nutrition label.

One of the very first things you should do if you get your terrier as a puppy, is to get his vaccinations administered as soon as he is old enough. This is ideally done between 9 – 18 weeks of age. The older the puppy becomes, the more likely his body is to develop an immunity. After your puppy has had the initial injections and booster, you should generally follow up with a yearly booster shot and check up.

Caring for a terrier isn’t altogether different than caring for a dog of any other breed, a little training effort and a lot of love go a long way. To purchase a terrier, you can find breeder listings in your newspaper or local pet shop. You can also do an Internet search, such as “Westie puppies for sale” which will display the sites of many breeders or rescue organizations in which you can contact.

The Hungarian dog breed, Vizsla, is popularly known as an elite type of sporting dog and as a dependable animal companion. During Eighth century, this breed has been depicted as a hunting companion on wall paintings of the Magyar tribe, people who once roamed parts of Hungary. From those times until now, the Vizsla is still the same breed that’s recognized by a lot people as an excellent sporting dog.

The Vizsla is a distinguished hunter and has been accompanying legions of hunters during hunting trips for centuries. These fanciers discovered that not only does this breed have a great skill in smelling but in retrieving and pointing as well. So together with the fact that it is the smallest breed of its type, the Vizsla is being recognized as the smallest of all all-round pointer breeds.

In terms of body build, the Vizsla is robust, light and lean with defined musculature; and stately in posture and bearing. However, this breed is often mistaken for a Weimaraner, Redbone Coonhound or Rhodesian Ridgeback since they all seem to share similar body build and coat colors. So in order to point out the real Vizsla, remember that it must possess a nose that is of reddish shade, which blends with the coat color.

Moreover, the nails and eyes of a real Vizsla should also blend with the coat color. The standard coat color for this breed is solid golden-rust but there are some litters that are born solid rust-colored. Copper or brown, gold and dark sandy gold are some shades that are acceptable for this breed.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the coat of the Vizsla “should be short, smooth, dense and close-lying, without woolly undercoat”. The lack of an undercoat also makes this dog susceptible to cold and thus it shouldnt be left hanging out in the open for too long. This condition also suggests that the Vizsla is less of a threat to people who are allergic to dog hair.

The Vizsla also gives off a distinct “smell” that’s easily recognizable by humans and that it is a self-cleaning dog that’s why bathing is only required as once in a while. Additionally, the breed standard requires this dog’s tail to be docked by 2/3 of its original length for safety issues. If left undocked, this breed’s tail tends to split and bleed, eventually leading to a more painful amputation later in life.

In the dog sporting world, this breed is considered outstanding but inside the house as a pet, it is considered as magnificent as it is caring, affectionate, lively and loyal. It is the type of companion that always feigns for the master’s love and affection. Because of this, the breed was named as the “Velcro dog”.

The Vizsla should not be provoked or threatened because, even though it is sweet and caring, it will fight back without second thoughts. It is also an intelligent and highly biddable breed but also very sensitive so as to not be handled with harsh criticisms or negative reinforcements. It is also a superb swimmer making him not only an excellent land retriever but in water as well.

Buying a puppy can be likened to buying a used car. When the cars history is not known, smart shoppers demand a Car Fax report. Whether you are buying a used car or a puppy, the less educated you are, the more likely you will have expensive problems. The only way you will know for certain how a puppy’s mother was cared for before, during, and post litter is to know the Breeder. Alas, buying direct from a Breeder is no guarantee that your puppy will be healthy! Breeders are often as ignorant of how to properly feed and supplement, as is the majority of MDs and Veterinarians in this country.

Pet Store and Rescue Facility puppies are a high risk to develop weak immune systems. The greater the risk, the greater the probability they will require advanced vet care throughout their lives. Why? Most of the animals sold in rescue facilities were either abandoned, or from feral (wild) mothers. Feral females are often impregnated before they are physically mature, and often become pregnant again, while puppies (or kittens) are still on the teat! Feral mothers survive by scavenging for food. Scavenged food is likely to harbor pathogenic bacteria. At best, this bacterium causes mild diarrhea, however, more likely it will cause chronic diarrhea, which leads to dehydration and fever, quickly followed by more advanced digestive and immune diseases, which compromises the milk.

The unquenchable appetite of Empty Nester’s to buy puppies for companionship has resulted in an out-of-control business known as Puppy Mills. They are Big Business, and as such are run like businesses whose prime interest is stock-holder profits. The living conditions in puppy mills has been documented, but nothing has been done to legislate and monitor their facilities. Breed dogs are often treated like feed animals. Instead of getting proper nutrition and supplements to keep them strong, so they can produce and nurse healthy pups, they are fed lowest quality food and shot full of medications when they are sick, which is most of the time. They are highly stressful environments.

Every aspect of a Puppy Mill is stressful; living conditions, food, sickness, and premature weaning. This is followed by, how pups are handled when shipped to pet stores all over the country. They are stacked in cages, given little food or water, no light, extreme weather conditions, lying in the own urine and feces for days, listening to other pups crying in fear. Once they arrive at the pet store, they are exposed to a whole new set of stresses. If they adjust the stress begins again when you take them home.

Bringing Your Puppy Home One of the common signs of stress is diarrhea. Unfortunately, the common treatment prescribed for diarrhea is antibiotics, more complicated cases also get steroids. This is a poor treatment plan for a healthy dog, let alone a stressed out puppy. The 21st Century approach is to administer the opposite of antibiotics, or probiotics. Dogs instinctively know they are digestive aids, and eat them by pulling at the roots of grass, where soil-based probiotic organisms (SBOs) thrive. SBOs are clinically proven to quickly and safely resolve diarrhea, as well as most digestive disorders.

Contrary to what you have been lead to believe, the best food for your puppy does not come in a bag, or in a can, unless you are shopping in a holistic pet store, and even then “Buyer Beware”! Two important nutritional facts to know and act upon are (1) 90% of your puppy’s total immune system is located in their digestive system, and (2) 80% of all chronic disease is caused by an unhealthy digestive system.

Your puppy is a meat eater. Manufactured dog food lacks human-grade animal protein and digestive supplements any dog needs to grow up healthy, and stay healthy. If your puppy is already weaned, the best food to help their young bodies and immune systems to develop properly is food that comes as close to their wild relatives diet as possible- high-quality animal protein. People who have switched to a raw diet report improvements in health, energy, and behavior: however, no matter what diet you choose, it needs to be supplemented with digestive enzymes, soil-based probiotic organisms (SBOs) and a complement of omega 3-6 oils; all are essential to develop and sustain a strong digestive/immune system.

Much of the responsibility for the health of your puppy depends on you. The internet provides a wealth of information, as well as disinformation. It should not be hard to connect the dots between manufactured pet food convenience and the millions of dogs today suffering from poor health. Unless you personally know that the Breeder has a working knowledge of what the right foods and supplements to feed the mother and the pup are, you would be better off to avoid getting a puppy until you do.

Having possession of a pet is not an easy job. You have a series of duties to fulfill so that they can develop into well-mannered adult creatures in just a few years. These duties include fulfilling their basic needs as well as their whims. From their food to their dog house, from their grooming to their health necessities, all these tasks will be yours to worry about as soon as you have the contract signifying ownership of your pet. It is no different from being a good model to a human baby.

Dogs rank high on the list of the most wanted pet in the record of mankind. They are faithful, effortless to train, highly intelligent and fun to be with. Whether you like guard dogs like German shepherd or pit bulls, toy dogs like poodle or Chihuahua, sport dogs like Dalmatian and St. Bernard, you will surely be having the moment of your life if you spent it with these brilliant creatures.

If you think your dog can offer numerous advantages in your life, doesn’t it follow that you should also do everything possible to keep them in an ecstatic state? It’s the least you can do for all the fun moments that they have shared with you. Here are some cool ways to make your canine happy. Read on.

The first thing that you should do to keep your dog in a state of nirvana is to provide it with the requisite food, water, exercise, dog house and a regular visit to the friendly neighborhood veterinarian. Make sure that you are presenting them with nutrients that are appropriate for their breed and age. Bigger dogs need more calories and protein than their smaller counterparts. In the same manner, puppies have slightly different nutritional requirements than their adult counterparts. Dogs with thick and fluffy coat also need more zinc and other minerals compared to those with thinner and finer hair.

An exercise routine every day or very week is the way to go in terms of bodily activities for these four-legged canines. Walking them in the park or playing Frisbee with them three times a week for a minimum of at least 30 minutes per session is enough to give their cardiovascular system a high-quality calisthenics. This will avert them from getting obese or developing diseases like atherosclerotic hearts.

A dog house is necessary to protect them from the scorching heat of the summer sun. It will also act as their refuge during the biting cold of the winter season.

A regular trip to the medical veterinarian will help maintain their health. Be particular of their needed vaccinations. Take note of all the required immunizations so that you won’t experience any untoward problem as they grow up. Regard your vet’s advice as the rule to follow because they are aware that each dog breed has varying needs.

You may also give them a treat once in a while by giving them luxurious sessions in a dog spa. Cool shower baths, extensive nail clipping, fur conditioning, tooth brushing and other related services will make your pet dog feel so pampered. Consequently, these hygienic activities will also help remove the fleas that might have gotten stuck on their skin.

Spend quality time with your pooch. Aside from your bonding moments during your exercise session, make time to cuddle with him as soon as you get home from work. You may also try talking to him like you would any normal person. Studies show that relating with animals lower the stress hormone cortisol in the body. Therefore, this seemingly simple task will then give long-term benefits to both of you.

Lastly, dog-proof your home so that accidents can be avoided or at the very least, minimized. Make sure all electrical appliances are kept or installed in safe places. Be meticulous about dangling wires and sharp or heavy kitchen tools and utensils spread just about anywhere. Place your things in their proper locations so that your pet dog won’t trip on it.

Keeping your dog looking nice is an essential part of caring for him. But many dog owners wrongly assume that dog grooming is an option, not a necessity.

It’s more than just a dog wash, experts will tell you. While brushing your dog is important, and counts for some grooming, the reality is that your dog needs professional dog grooming.

Why is Dog Grooming Important?

Professional dog groomers can bring an expertise to the job that no matter how hard you try you just can’t. They have access to dog grooming equipment that you might not, and they have experience and perhaps even training that gives them essential skills in keeping your dog’s fur healthy and attractive.

In addition, they often can provide your dog with a true grooming experience that goes beyond what most of us can do in our backyards or bathrooms.

Good dog groomers can ensure that your dog is clean, and that his fur is in good condition. But because a dog groomer will likely spend more time caring for your dog’s fur than you might, he or she might also see skin conditions that need care, or other conditions that need attention.

Beyond that, dog groomers have equipment you don’t have at home, including special dog wash treatments and the know-how to use them. They may also use dog clippers that are of better quality than those you might buy for home use.

How to Find a Dog Grooming Service

Dog groomers can be found in a variety of places. Here are some ideas:

* Ask at the vet’s office for a recommendation; sometimes a good quality dog grooming service is available on site at the vet’s. * Purchase an ebook, DVD or CD and learn do do at least part of the grooming yourself (will save you some money and helps build your relationship with your dog) * Head to the local pet store and ask about their offerings; dog groomers can often rent a space at the pet store and provide grooming while the dog’s owners shop. * Look for independent dog wash facilities; sometimes these are located in suburban neighborhoods. You might help with the wash, or the dog groomer might do all the work.

You can just drop your dog off at any groomer’s facility, but you might want to ask a few questions of the groomer first. These can include:

* Has the groomer taken any dog grooming courses? This can assure you of a high quality dog wash and grooming session. * If the dog groomer took dog grooming courses, did they include a discussion of how to look for skin conditions and what to do about them? * Does the groomer provide puppy grooming? If you have a young dog this can be a relevant question since a puppy’s grooming needs can be different than an adult dog’s.

Grooming Your Dog at Home

If you need to save money or you just don’t want to take your dog to a dog grooming service, you might think that you can replicate a professional dog grooming session at home.

It’s a little hard to do in the beginning, but you can give your dog a good grooming session at home. Here are some ideas:

* Purchase an ebook, DVD or CD and learn do do at least part of the grooming yourself (will save you some money and helps build your relationship with your dog)

* First, make sure you have the proper equipment. This goes beyond a good dog brush, though that is important. Also have on hand high-quality dog shampoo (not the shampoo out of your own shower) and flea dip medication if that’s needed. Also have fresh clean towels and dog clippers.

* Be patient with your dog. Many don’t enjoy baths or being brushed and groomed. One advantage of taking your dog to a dog grooming facility is the dog can be leashed to the table, which makes the job much easier.

* Groom your dog on a regular basis. How often he needs grooming is dictated by his breed, but read up on the breed’s grooming needs and try to keep within that schedule. Otherwise, his fur could get out of hand and you’ll have no choice but to take him to a dog grooming service.

Your dog’s grooming needs generally aren’t excessive unless they are a high-maintenance breed. Be willing to do what’s necessary to keep him groomed, whether that is using a professional dog grooming service, or giving him a groom at home.

A breed that has several lines which all originated from the US is what the Blackmouth Cur is. Each of this line has a special skill that has been useful for a lot of people in the US such as farmers, ranchers, families and many more. This breed is called multi-purpose for reasons that it is skillful in many fields such as treeing, hunting, herding, guarding, search and rescue, and more.

These different lines are: the Ladner Yellow Blackmouth Cur that originated from Mississippi. This line was the first Blackmouth Cur dog to be registered in a kennel club, the National Kennel Club in 1964. This particular Blackmouth Cur is good in treeing and hunting squirrels, raccoons, bobcats and other game; hunting and herding, and search and rescue efforts.

The Red Blackmouth Cur came from Alabama originally. It has served as an excellent home protector, herder, and hunter. During the 1940s, these dogs were owned by the courthouses of Howardtown, Alabama.

Another line is the Wetherford Ben Blackmouth Cur which originated from Texas and was used mostly for herding. The Florida Blackmouth Cur is another line that originated from Florida that was used primarily for herding, too. The Blackmouth Cur breed is considered as a multi-purpose dog in the United States and its fame now reaches to countries as far as Haiti, Russia, India and some pats of Europe.

For decades, the Blackmouth Cur has been called by different names like: farmer’s dog, Shepherd’s Hound, cow dog, and Herdsman’s Dog. The Cur name of this breed has also been spelled in different ways like Cu, Curre and Kurre. The American Kennel Club does not recognize any lines from this breed as an official member but the United Kennel Club recognizes the Red Blackmouth Cur as the standard picture of the Blackmouth Cur.

The Blackmouth Cur is very good at treeing and hunting, and possesses an outstanding skill in jumping and climbing. For this reason, it is important to confine this active dog in a fenced area that are as high as six meters or more. The Blackmouth Cur is also noted for its courage and strength as it never backs down in encounters with other large animals even bulls and bears.

This dog is very loyal and loving when it comes to the family that owns it. It makes an excellent watchdog and guard dog because it is protective of the master, his family and his property. This breed also loves to please the master and so teaching it some commands will be easy as it is a fast learner and is an intelligent dog.

The coat of the Blackmouth Cur is short and can be either smooth or coarse. The coat color of the breed can be red, black, white, yellow, buckskin or fawn, or brindle. The feet of the Blackmouth Cur are similar to the Catahoula Leopard’s as they are also big and webbed.

Everyone knows what a Cocker Spaniel looks like but be in the know that there is actually an English Cocker Spaniel and an American Cocker Spaniel. These two are completely separate breeds but with seemingly similar uses. Both are most often used as gundogs or as conformation show contenders.

The English Cocker Spaniel is considered as a gun dog but has two varieties which are the working/field cocker and the show cocker. The working cocker is a companion during hunting but instead of retrieving the game, it actually flushes them towards the guns. The show cocker on the other hand joins conformation shows most often joining in agility and obedience competitions.

This breed has been nicknamed as the “merry cocker” because of its perpetually wagging tail in manifestation of its happy disposition. However, this dog can be stubborn although it is highly trainable, too. Moreover, the face of this dog should be a manifestation of intelligence and alertness.

The English Cocker Spaniel is a sturdy, compact and well-balanced dog. It has dark eyes and floppy ears that should reach the nose tip when pulled forward. The tail is usually docked to give its body balance especially in hunting but docking is not allowed in other countries.

There are a lot colors for the English Cocker but some are unacceptable depending on its variety. The show cocker can only have some specific colors but the field cocker can be of any color. There are cockers found in solid colors but there are also some that are found in tricolor and roan.

Some of the solid colors are black, silver, tan, chocolate, blue, red, gold, copper red and white. Some of the color combinations are black and white, black and tan, blue tick, blue roan, chocolate and tan, lemon and white, orange and white, red and white, and so much more! Both the field and conformation varieties may be found in the same colors but hunters prefer their cockers to have a white color for more visibility.

The adorable English Cocker may also become domineering and stubborn but it is also extremely loyal to the family, does not like to be left alone, and loves to get close with only one person in the family. This breed is also loving, optimistic, intelligent and adaptable. This breed also ranks 18th in Stanley Cohen’s the Intelligence of Dog as a measure of the breed’s excellence in working, obedience and intelligence.

Studies revealed that the temperament of the cocker spaniel has relevance to its coat color. According to a study by the University of Cambridge, the solid-colored cockers are more likely to be aggressive than the others. Additionally, a separate study have shown that the Red/Golden colored cockers are the most aggressive towards humans when they are being disciplined or sometimes even for no apparent reason at all.

Each day thousands of pets wander away from home and get lost. This leaves the family to post ads in the paper and put up lost posters in hopes that someone has seen their beloved pet. None of these pets would have gotten lost if their owners had a pet GPS system.

This groundbreaking means of keeping track of your pets utilizes GPS tracking technology to monitor your pets whereabouts at all times. All you will have to do is log into the system from your computer or cell phone, and within minutes you will be able to find where your pet is. That is a lot better than walking around your neighborhood asking people if they have seen your pet, or even having to put up posters.

How pet GPS systems work

You will find the pet GPS system to be an easy to use and hassle free system. You will simply put a collar, containing a small microchip, onto your dog. The rest is up to the system.

You will be able to set the distance around your home that the pet is allowed to wander, once out of that safe zone the GPS will automatically alert you. This is especially helpful to anyone who has a pet that tends to wander off.

You will be able to check your pet’s status at all times through an online tracking system. This will automatically map out where your pet is at any time. Many people find this very handy when they are away from their home, and when they let their pet out at night.

Set up

Getting the pet GPS system is one of the easiest things you will ever have to set up. If you do need help with set up their is usually tech support professionals who can guide you through the process on the phone or even make a house call if you need them.

When set up is finished your worries are over. You can relax in knowing that your pet is safe. If you do start worrying or call for your pet and they don’t show up, you will be able to log into the system and see where your pet is.

You will immediately feel at ease and be able to go on about your life with less worry.

Values of this system

No matter your reasons for getting a GPS system for your pet, the advantages will be noticed instantly.

Letting your pet out in the dark of night or during a heavy snow will no longer be an issue. You can feel free to just open the door and let them out. You won’t have to bundle up or get dressed.

There is never any need to have anxiety with the GPS system. Your pet will not be able to wander into the road since you will be notified the moment they are outside the stipulated area.

There is not going to be a time where you have to go looking for your pet. You can simply pull the GPS system up on your pc or cell phone.

Pets bring us love and joy. They are well worth implementing a system that brings them a bit of safety and security.

Dog owners will explain that there is no proven method for selecting a good name for a new dog or puppy. Whether they have to come up with girl or boy dog names, they will normally pick a name that sounds trendy or a name they like rather than putting some thought into what the name really means. Popular boy dog names have meanings, as do human names, so more often than not the meaning will not suit the dog it is given to. Here we give a guide to the top five boy dog names and what they actually mean.

Generally, first thing you have to do when you obtain a new dog or puppy is pick a name for him or her. For most dog owners, this doesn’t require much thought. They just choose a dog name out of thin air and that is the name by which the unfortunate animal will be known forever. However, there is something you should think about when going through dog names in order to make sure that you choose a suitable one.

First of all, dogs can sense attitude and tone of voice better than we are able to. If you choose a dog name for comic value or after someone you don’t like, your dog will know by your tone of voice that something is not right. As a result, their attitudes may change towards you or they may refuse to respond to your commands. Dogs’ names should mean something but should not be detrimental to their training, so you should really take the decision of the dog name carefully.

Although dogs are very clever animals, they can’t understand the same amount of data that we can. Therefore, dog names ought not be more than two syllables long. If they are more than that, most dogs will not respond. Max, Sam, Becky, Lady, Molly and the like are excellent dog names because they are short and the names are easily heard. They understand these dog names and that will improve your chances of training them successfully.

However, dogs’ names should help them mould a character of their own. Popular names don’t really allow them to do that, so finding something simple but unusual can help their characters grow a great deal without reducing their ability to respond to a command.

Max: This is perhaps the greatest boy dog name and the meaning is probably the reason why most people choose it for their hound. It literally means “the best”. After all, every dog owner thinks that their dog is the best.

Jake: Jake is short for Jacob, which means “champion”. This is an apt boy dog name, if your puppy has taken over the whole house within a short time of getting inside it!

Buddy: Buddy is a variation of Budd, which means “messenger”. This boy dog name may be apt for a working dog, or one you can train to bring in the newspaper every morning. It is a popular boy dog name and can be very widely found within the US.

Bailey: The boy dog name Bailey is French and means “steward”. This is pretty apt if your dog is responsible and sensible, so it is apt for a Newfoundland or collie puppy.

Sam: Sam seems to mean “an answer to prayers”. This is a good boy dog name for dogs that are easy to train and are largely quiet!

Few new dog owners consult a name’s meaning when picking a boy dog’s name, so instead of just going ahead with your first idea, it would be worth taking the time to choose a dog’s name that is really apt for your dog. After all, it doesn’t cost you anything to spend some time considering your dog’s name.

“When is a puppy fully grown?”

That is probably not a question that is foremost in your thoughts when you bring a new puppy into your life. That precious little face, those huge soulful eyes, and that cute wiggle in his walk are what come to mind when thinking about your new puppy. But eventually, as your puppy gets older and probably somewhat destructive, you may find yourself wishing that he would grow out of some of those youthful traits and begin acting more like an adult. By the time he’s chewed your third pair of designer shoes you’ll probably begin to wonder…

“When will my puppy be fully grown?”

Although there are some similarities between early development stages of puppies and human babies, the process is considerably quicker for canines.

Your newborn puppy will develop rapidly during his first three weeks . He opens his eyes, takes his first steps, and begins to act like a tiny dog. During this early stage he will not really be aware of the world beyond his “mom” and his brothers and sisters.

Somewhere between the third and fourth week, your puppy’s senses of sight, smell, and hearing rapidly develop. All of a sudden he’ll discover that there is more to his world than just his canine family. His relationship with his new human family begins to take shape. This is a critical time for the development of your puppy’s personality and behavioral traits. Take care to avoid stressful or traumatic experiences as they may significantly influence how your dog will behave as an adult.

Your puppy will begin learning proper pack “etiquette” during the fifth through seventh weeks. If he begins to bite too hard or play too rough, his canine “mom” will correct him. These early lessons allow him to develop some of the social skills he will put to use as he interacts with humans and other dogs.

During the first three months of his life your puppy will experience many new things. Whenever possible, try to make these learning experiences positive. In doing so you are much less likely to encounter behavioral problems as he approaches adulthood.

After about three months your puppy enters his “toddler” stage of development. He gains more independence and explores his world as he sees fit, not at the prompting of his mother or his human family. Shoes, furniture, books, and just about anything within reach will fascinate him. He will also learn what they taste like when he begins teething. This is a good time to begin very basic obedience training and establish yourself as pack leader.

Your puppy reaches adolescence at around six to eight months, on his way to adulthood. Although the transition from adolescent to adult varies, depending upon the breed (or mix of breeds), you can be pretty sure that he has reached adulthood by the time his second birthday rolls around.

That’s when a puppy is fully grown.

The Treeing Walker Coonhound gained recognition as an independent dog breed in the mid 1940s. The breed is an offshoot of the Tennessee Lead, a dog whose origins cannot be traced, and the Walker Hound. It is a direct descendant of the English Foxhounds imported by Thomas Walker of Virginia in 1974.

The foxhounds were said to have been imported to Virginia in Walker’s attempt to establish the infamous foxhunting tradition of the Englishmen in the New World. However, foxhunting did not become a tradition until a few years later. Treeing Walker Coonhounds chase and catch raccoons, roof rats, squirrels, skunks, opossums, bobcats, cougars, and even bears.

Coonhounds are born hunters. When trained well, they will learn to howl in a distinctive manner that will tell its human hunting companion that their prey has been cornered and that the chase is almost over. Because hunting is natural to them, they can be really good at it but they cannot be the best urban or suburban companions.

Coonhounds are naturally affectionate and are completely efficient aside from being unstoppable and untiring. They are natural athletes and are a lover of warm climates and they love to run around and swim. Agility is one of their most remarkable traits so you would rarely see them lying around to sunbathe or take naps.

Average people would often mistake Walker Coonhounds for oversized beagles. Their shoulders are sturdy, legs lean and straight; their coats are of two or three colors and are typically short and smooth. Body width is usually at 20-28 inches and weight is at around 50-70 pounds and their ears are larger than their heads.

Coonhounds become restless when they lack physical and mental exercise. Owners thus have to make time taking them to walks or to a dog park where they can play and run around. Because they are lovers of the outdoor and outdoor activities, they are not very suitable for life in apartments.

Training Walker Coonhounds are good companions aside from being excellent working and hunting dogs. Although they are fast learners and can catch tricks and routines through examples, they can ignore their trainers to follow their noses at times. As scent hounds, they have an excellent sense of smell and they have distinctive howls so they can be easily identified by their owners.

The average life span of Treeing Walker Coonhounds is at 12 to 13 years. Although they are not prone to major health issues, their ears should be regularly checked and cleaned to prevent infection. They also have to be bathed occasionally and the need for grooming is minimal for this particular dog breed.

What makes the Coton de Tulear utterly adorable are its fine and cottony coat, little body and constantly cheerful mode. This breed has been introduced to the dog-loving community only recently but its popularity has exceeded that of other breeds. This bichon-type of dog, which is also called the royal dog of Madagascar, is without a doubt a pet to watch out for.

It was a visiting doctor who discovered the existence of this cuddly little dog in the island of Madagascar. Before long, the breed was traveling towards United States and Europe. During the many decades of seclusion in the island, the Coton lived among the rich people of the society.

This fluffy breed, like its Bichon contemporaries, is every bit lovable and stately in disposition and form, and French in expressive facial emotions. Most Cotons are found in colors of white and black, pure white, and tri-color which is a combination of white, black and brown. True to its name, its body is wrapped with a fluffy and soft-as-a-cotton coat all over its body.

The Coton is one breed that commands regular grooming and cleaning in order to maintain the health and beauty of its low-shedding hair. The hair should be constantly brushed and combed in order to remove the dead ones and the excess growth on the inner ears and foot pads should be trimmed. Once or twice a year, the Coton should be bathed.

Having a Coton for a pet is certainly a great joy because this breed loves to entertain and please its master and other people. Often, it performs tricks which are self learned including standing, walking and jumping with its two feet. It is also a very amiable dog as it gets along quickly with other dogs and animals especially children.

This little breed is also good-hearted, affectionate and cheerful. It is devoted and attached to the master and thus it quickly catches separation anxiety whenever the master has to be away. Despite the size, however, the Coton is intelligent, very easy to train and has a mind of its own.

It is also alert and in fact is good as a watchdog. This dog has an innate stubbornness thus sometimes it won’t listen to commands much. Moreover, this breed is also very vocal as it tends to give out a grunting sound whenever it is displeased or a cheerful noise whenever it is having fun.

The ancestors of the Coton de Tulear have been brought by pirates to Madagascar, an island which long ago was a favorite haven of these people. Pirates and sea bandits usually come to this island to hide or stock their stolen goods from the ships they hijacked. For centuries, the Coton lived in the island with the Merina tribe and the islanders consider it as a national dog.

The Golden Labrador breed is one of the many crossbreeds that conquer the dog-loving society of today, however, controversies and disagreements surround the existence of this breed. When people hear the term Golden Retriever, two ideas come to mind. It’s either the breed is a golden-colored Labrador or a crossbreed of Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever.

For one, there is confusion as to whether there really is a golden colored Labrador. A yellow Labrador Retriever is of existence but would it be possible to have a golden Labrador? If you know or have heard some people trying to sell a golden colored Labrador, be warned for this is a wrong and deceitful way of describing a Labrador Retriever variety.

One cause of the confusion is the idea of having a golden- colored Labrador. Is this idea possible or just another scam from crooked breeders? The answer would be, a golden-colored Labrador is a deceitful and misleading idea to dispose of a yellow Labrador in a most fashionable way.

If breeders insist that there is such a thing as a golden Labrador but wishes to sell one, authorities advise to steer clear from them because they most probably are scammers. There have been instances where buyers who indeed bought the said golden Labs were surprised to realize that their golden Labs and yellow Labs are just the same variant. Some deceitful sellers would even state that DNA testing has been done in order to prove the existence of a golden Lab but experts say there is no truth to this.

Now that the golden-colored Labrador has been proven wrong, the only truth behind the existence of a Golden Labrador is the fact that it is a crossbreed between the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. These parent breeds are without a doubt excellent pets and have millions of enthusiasts combined around the world. But this new hybrid, albeit a newcomer, is slowly starting to have its own set of followers around the world, too.

A cross breed of two or more different purebreds generally comes out as multi-faceted dog in terms of temperament and may inherit different physical attributes from both parents. In temperament, it is never that 50% disposition is taken from one parent and the other 50% is taken from the other one. Each characteristic of the hybrid may be taken from either parents or it may develop its own but it is never likely that the distribution will be 50-50.

The Golden Retriever is a well-known water retriever and is an excellent swimmer. The hybrid Golden Labrador may get this skill from the Golden Retriever but may not be as excellent. On the other hand, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular pet in the US for reasons that it is highly trainable, gentle and amiable. It is also great in scent detecting and in fact, is used in many police and military works.

The Golden Retriever may inherit this efficient nose of the Lab but in some cases, it may completely not possess this skill, too. Moreover, a hybrid may come out manifesting an apparent likeness from one parent while less from the other parent. Physically, the hybrid may inherit a great deal of likeness from one parent but only a little from the other one.

The Chow Chow is a Chinese dog breed that’s perceived as noble as a lion, as whimsically amusing as a panda, as adorable as a teddy bear, as graceful and independent as a cat and as loyal and devoted as a true dog. It has been in existence for more than 4000 years and therefore is one of the most ancient of dog breeds appearing originally in Mongolia. The Chow Chow flourished mainly in China and numerous ancient Chinese arts depicted this fact.

Recent scientific studies have revealed that indeed, the Chow Chow is one of the oldest breed of dogs and that it is one of the first breeds to have evolved from the wolf that inhabited the northern part of China and Mongolia. There are also some speculations which state that the Chow Chow have come from the Arctic Circle and migrated to Mongolia, China and Siberia. Some scholars theorize that the Chow Chow is the forerunner of other breeds such as the Samoyed, Pomeranian, Keeshond and Norwegian Elkhound.

In ancient China where this breed was firstly seen, it was used mainly as a hunting dog, a cart-puller and a boat guard. According to history, one emperor was so fond of this dog that he owned as many as 2500 Chow pairs, all of which accompanied his 10,000 hunters. Its meat was also eaten by the Chinese and is considered as a delicacy. In more recent times, popularity of the Chow Chow was manifested through famous people’s adoration of it just like President Calvin Coolidge’s Chow named Timmy.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the Chow Chow and therefore many of this breed experiences mishandling and wrong treatment. As a result, Chow Chows that experience this kind of environment become ill-tempered towards strangers, animals and even to the master himself. The Chow Chow is a unique creature and requires a rather special kind of care so if you’re a novice in handling a Chow Chow, be sure to research good in order to provide the correct terms of care it needs.

The Chow Chow is a naturally independent and generally aloof kind of creature. Saying this, however, does not mean it doesn’t like to socialize because it does love to be around people only if it was trained to be so at an early age. The Chow Chow can live peacefully in a house with cats and other creatures so long as it is trained to live harmoniously with them in puppyhood, however, when it reaches adulthood and the owner failed to introduce it to other kinds of people and animals, it may become aggressive and unwelcoming to new faces.

A Chow owner must be a good leader and by this it means that the owner should be consistent, firm, confident and patient in handling and training the dog. If the owner fails to impose that he/she is the leader of the pack, the Chow will manifest bad behaviors and these include aggressiveness, irritability and small dog syndrome wherein it tends to act as the leader of humans and not the other way around. The Chow is also interested in new activities and will love to participate in training sessions so long as it is not repetitive as Chows tend to get bored easily.

The Chow Chow is not one of the best breeds in terms of obedience and intelligence and in fact it only ranks 76th in Stanley Cohen’s The Intelligence of Dogs. For the most pat of the day, the Chow is rather inactive and just stays indoors to rest and be placid. This temperament allows it to be suitable in an apartment style of living; however, it still needs daily exercise in order for it to be healthy mentally and physically.

What gives the Chow Chow a lion-like appearance is its big ruffle around its neck and its double coat of dense hair all over its body. It is also unique physically through its bluish-black/purplish tongue, stiff gait due straight back legs, and a hairy and curled tail. The Chow often appears in shades of red, black, blue, fawn or cinnamon, and cream.

It seems as if that every maritime vessel in Canada feels the imperative need to include a Newfoundland in their crew. To those who know the Newfoundland, this fact is indisputable. For those who does not know this wonderful breed that well, be ready to get to know the greatest dog breed of the waters, the Newfoundland.

The Newfoundland is a breed of dog that was developed in Canada’s Newfoundland territory. It is said that this breed is the descendant of another Canadian native, the St. John breed. The Newfoundland is said to have been established as a breed as early as 1400s and this is backed up by records that state the sightings of a superb swimmer and intelligent working dog in the Great Banks of Newfoundland.

Water rescue is the Newfoundlands forte and when it comes to swimming, it remains the champion. There are several records that prove of the Newfoundland’s supremacy in the water and it is further proven by many rescue events of today. One account shares a girl named Anne Harvey from Isle de Morts, her father and her Newfoundland Hairyman who altogether helped rescue 180 Irish immigrants from a ship wreck.

During the early 1900s, a Newfoundland single-handed saved 92 people from a sinking ship during a blizzard. Famous people are also recorded to be helped by the Newfoundland and this includes the famed Napoleon Bonaparte when he nearly drowned in his escape from the island of Elba. A Newfoundland of a fisherman jumped in to the sea and helped Bonaparte safety.

The famous explorers Lewis and Clark also had a Newfoundland pet named Seaman which they kept as a company during their exploration of the Wild West. Sgt. Gander, a Newfoundland breed, was made a mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada in commemoration of its heroic act during the Battle of Hong Kong. Sgt. Gander allegedly carried away a grenade that was hurled at some wounded Canadian soldiers.

Some see the Newfoundland to look like the St. Bernard but it is actually the other way around. What separates the Newfoundland, however, is the fact that its feet are webbed and this helps him swim accurately and with great speed in the waters. Its lung can also endure severe long distances of swimming and this has helped him be successful in many rescue missions.

Its coat is dense, oily and resistant to water that’s why he is able to stay in the freezing water even for hours on end. Other dogs swim in a “doggy paddle” but the Newfoundland swims in a breast stroke motion and this gives his swim more power and speed. Its lips and flews are droopy and it gives him the tendency to drool overly during hot days but in swimming, it allows him to breathe even if his mouth is full of water.

The Newfoundland is called the “gentle giant” by many and this is attributed to its supreme benevolence, kindness and gentleness to all creatures. This breed is brave, intelligent and protective of its master without being ferocious towards any creature. The words of Henry David Thoreau for the Newfoundland in Walden are “A man is not a good man to me because he will feed me if I should be starving, or warm me if I should be freezing, or pull me out of a ditch if I should ever fall into one. I can find you a Newfoundland dog that will do as much.

One of life’s great mistakes is taking your children into a pet store if you aren’t serious about purchasing a pet. You shouldn’t be stunned seeing your children getting hooked and bonded with the cutest pup that they can find. With the shameful acts that your kids can do in the public especially at the pet store, you just can’t say no their wants added with the sweet face a puppy can project once it is passed down to you.

So while you are floating in the midst of listening to the pleading of your children and recalling the memories you had when you were still young and had a household dog, shopping for the needed stuff of your dog is something that you would end up doing and more importantly, taking the dog home.

When you buy a dog in an impulse is when you will realize all the regrets of doing so. Only then, after several days of bonding with the dog, that you will find out that the personality of the dog is not something that could match your home’s way of life. Walking with the dog and the everyday acts of feeding him even if it would mean canceling an appointment are no longer the things that you would like to do.

It’s like having another child that you didn’t plan. You become more annoyed with those little accidents caused by the pup, its habits of barking during night, his chewing of your furniture and other typical dog traits. For these reasons, dogs are more likely to endure some sort of force in the hands of abusive owners to the extent that they will abandon their dogs.

Many dogs who were victims of an impulse buying done by some families or an adult taking for granted the true heart of owning a dog usually end up in shelters. Being educated about certain facts that has something to do with the dog such as its traits and possible future size was not the thing that those kinds of owners considered since they were so amused with the cute and sweet features of the puppy.

In a matter of months, the conflict begins. Many dogs coming from the shelters can actually become the best pets if only they would go to the home that truly fits their needs. The dog’s only “crime” was being chosen by individuals who were not prepared to include them into their household.

The degree to which dogs demand, differs from one breed to another. Each day, they may need increased hours of interaction and fun through training, exercises and bonding times. If you don’t provide it, they find it on their own – and it usually involves chewing or barking. Some kinds of dogs want a space where they could freely run and play each day.

These kinds of dogs can actually become best pals of your children. Even dogs that play well with older children may not have the patience for young kids or toddlers. That is why it is very crucial to have the facts about which breed of dog can really accommodate the kind of character you have, or perhaps your home and the amount of time that you can give to take good care of them.

Slow down as you visit breeders or pet stores and spend time seeing the dogs. Yes, it’s hard to leave those big brown eyes and nervous bark, but you want to make sure that when your dog comes home, this really becomes home for the dog, and not just another place to pass through.

Let your children stay at home if you don’t want to commit any errors of taking the wrong dog home since you can really gather a lot of information involving the dog’s breed and other important details concerning it without any further troubles.

The cute term Labradoodle is the name of one of the latest breed to have been conceived and developed in the 21st century. The first appearance of this breed was in Australia in the year of 1988 or 1989 and today, after just 2 decades, the Labradoodle is one of the favorite dogs of many around the world. The perfection and stability of this breed is being sought continually and so experimental breeding are on going to this day.

Wally Conron was the first person to breed the Labradoodle and he did so with an aim of developing a dog that is intelligent to carry out and obey instructions and hypoallergenic enough to be safe with every kind of person. This idea was brought on by a woman in Hawaii who requested to be given such quality of a dog for she is blind and her husband is allergic to dog hair and dander. After a few samples of hair and saliva were sent to Hawaii for testing, none of it returned with successful results.

It was then that the idea of mixing a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle occurred. The Australian Guide Dog Association got interested with this idea and so they supported this venture. The first breeding produced three puppies and hair and saliva samples were immediately sent to Hawaii for testing and the result was successful.

Because the breed is new, it is natural that they dont have an existing standard of temperament yet. However, no matter how varied, each Labradoodles character is found in their parent breed which is the Labradoodle and the Standard Poodle. The continued aim for this stability resulted to the conception of the Double Doodle, Tri Doodle and Australian Multi-Generational Labradoodle, all of which are the result of offspring cross breeding.

The general traits that can be found in all Labradoodle are friendliness, affection and inclination to families and children and highly energetic spirit. Almost all dogs of this breed manifests an affinity to water and a superb swimming talent just like how their parents are, superb swimmers. Even if the characteristics of each dog varies, however, if you look closely at them, you will realize that it can only be from the characteristics of either the Labrador Retriever or the Standard Poodle.

Both Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle are applauded for their impressive intelligence and superb training abilities. These traits are two of the most important factors that make the Labradoodle a desirable pet for almost everyone around the world. This new breed is quite adept in learning and executing verbal and sign language commands making them perfect as a guide dog for the disabled and handicapped people around the world.

The Labradoodle is also magnificent in varying sizes and coats as there is a toy Labradoodle, miniature Labradoodle and standard Labradoodle. The coat also may appear wiry, straight or curly and smooth, soft and course. The colors are often in chocolate, cafe, parchment, cream, gold, apricot, red, black, silver, or chalk.

Because of the varying temperament and the growing popularity of the Labradoodle, the need to establish a concrete standard on this breed was realized. In view of this, two breeding and research centers for Labradoodle had been founded in Australia namely the Rutland Manor Labradoodle Breeding and Research Center in Darnum, Victoria and the Tegan Park Breeding and Research Center in Seaspray, Victoria. Both institutions test and qualify healthy and stable Labradoodles but it was the latter that introduced the Miniature Labradoodle.

Boston Terrier background – Boston Terriers originate from the United States of America. It is noted that the first Boston terrier was called Hooper’s Judge. He was a cross between English Bulldog and White English Terrier bred somewhere in the 1860′s. Boston’s where originally bred for fighting purposes.

Features and appearance – Boston Terriers also known as Boston Bull Terriers are small breed dogs. They are rather stocky with broad chests and arched necks. The terriers have short, rather small, fat faces with boxy noses and very pointy ears. They have dark, bright eyes, prominently positioned. Pelt colors range from mixtures of black and white, brown and white or brindle and white. They are very easy to groom with no shaving and minimum brushing required. These little dogs are clean-cut with no mess or fuss.

Height and Weight- Boston Terriers are about ruler and a half high and weigh approximately 5-11 Kilograms. These dogs are known for their body builder look. There are however prescribed International show dimension for dogs. Standards are as between 5 Kilograms and 12.5 Kilograms, anything under will qualify and underweight and over as over weight or even obesity. Weight and height falling within the specified parameter will be perfect BMI for the dog.

Personalities- Boston Terriers have great personalities being both friendly and strong in nature. Unlike other terrier breeds that are aggressive and bad tempered. However just as humans, temperaments can range from owner pleasing to total rebels. Neurotic behavior including constant yapping and hyperactivity are commonly associated with the breed. Good news is that the dogs are rather easy to train due to their sensitivity to voice tone, eagerness to learn and extreme intelligence. All the owner needs is little patience and endurance during training process that can last approximately three to six months. Avoid harsh training methods as the will lead to the dog feeling intimidated and bullied, rather employ methods that are positive, gentle and encouraging. The dogs are excellent house dogs after proper training.

Health problems- Due to inbreeding and poor breeding practice Boston’s generally have more health problems than other dogs especially in the form of mental retardation. Some chronic problems include snoring, grunting, drooling and breathing difficulties. Eye problems are common due to the prominent positioning of the eyes. Natural births are very rare due to the narrow shape of the pelvis and large head-size of the puppies.

Healthy pet- Balance is key to keeping your doggy happy and health. Work out a balanced exercise and dietary program to eliminate over-activity and illness. Long walks, running and playing is a must to the fitness regime. Severe gases and obesity can be cause be fatty and high fiber diets.

Living conditions- Boston’s are not fussy about living conditions especially not the size of their home or playground. In small areas all that’s required is a street or park for regular walks of at least twice a day.

Age Expectancy- The dog’s age expectancy is dependent upon his or her diet and level of activity. Your little yank companion can reach age 15 years and older.

If you follow the hit series Sex and the City intently, then you wouldn’t fail to recognize the classy and diminutive dog breed that Charlotte York always tots around- the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Just like the characters of the show, this breed is also the epitome of fashion, class and glamour. This breed itself looks regal and classy with its long and wavy locks, and tiny frame of a body.

This breed, also called as Cav or Cavie, is noted as the world’s “ultimate lap dog” and the “love sponge of dogs”. It belongs to the diminutive group of dogs called the toy group and is said to be one of the most favored toy dogs in Europe. This breed lives for companionship of either human or animals and so it is not advisable to leave them alone for a very long time.

One of the great things about this dog is that it is inherently welcoming to children and animals and is totally oblivious of the fast paced lifestyle of the city. Because of this, it makes a perfect pet for those living a busy and urban kind of life in the bustling city. Being calm and well-behaved, the Cavie also brings relaxation and happiness to its master.

This breed looks elegant and aristocratic presumably because of its medium-length haired body and smooth textured coat. It has ears that are distinct for being densely haired, pendulous and long. Its face, aristocratic and classy, has a differently shaped snout and inquisitive large, round eyes.

The texture of its coat is fairly smooth and always appears medium in length, and fairly wavy but never curly. The coat comes in colors of Blenheim, Tricolor, Black and Tan, and Ruby which are the widely accepted colors. As a young dog, the Cavie does not really possess a hairy body but reaching adulthood, the hair grows tremendously all over particularly on its ears, chest, legs and tail.

Affectionate, fearless and outgoing; this dog will socialize without hesitation to any group of animals and humans. In some cases, this can be good for you know you won’t have any problems with the Cavie starting a fight or growling with another pet. The downside, however, since it is too friendly, it might not realize the fact that some larger breeds are vicious and so will end up as an unaware prey of the meaner dogs.

This creature has a funny way of welcoming new friends, too, as it usually licks the hand of the new comer first before being deeply acquainted with them. It also has an impulsive trait of chasing whatever it deemed as small game in its surroundings such as butterflies, birds, squirrel or cats. In this case, it is a must to watch over them intently when you are going for a walk for this dog is oblivious of the speeding cars around it and might just jump out on the street in its chase of the mesmerizing butterfly.

When it comes to exercise, the Cavie does not need much unlike the bigger dog breeds. Take them for a daily walk and regular frolic on ample spaced areas so as to keep their mind and body healthy. The coat is also low maintenance as it needs occasional bathing or dry shampooing only and frequent coat brushing especially on the ears areas.

The Catahoula Leopard can be considered as a native American breed since it is where this breed was developed. Originally coming from the Catahoula Parish county of Louisiana, this breed is known all over North America as an outstanding farm and ranch dog. Its skills are used for hunting and tracking big or small animals; and herding various animals herd.

The history of this breed started in 1536 during the time of Hernando De Soto’s quest for gold and treasures in America. It was said that De Soto brought with him the massive breeds of the Mastiff and Greyhounds and left some of them wounded when they retreated from the battles. The Native Indians took these damaged war dogs and cared for and socialized them with the Red fox, a hunting fox used by the Indians by that time, and this led to the conception of the Indian fox dog breed.

When the French settlers came to Louisiana in 1700, they noticed this new breed of dog and were mystified by their mottled coats and strange glass eyes. These so called Indian fox dogs were rampant and popular all over Louisiana and they were known to have great agility and skills in hunting big and small animals. With the French’s own breed called Beauceron, they managed to inter-breed these two kinds of dogs and the outcome is the present day Catahoula Cur.

The Catahoula Cur breed was famous and is said to have affected the lives of many known personalities such as the brothers Jim and Rezin Bowie who were believed to adore this breed so much they let them sleep in on their beds. Teddy Roosevelt also favored the Catahoula as hunting companion and the then La. Gov. Earl K. Long collected and bred Catahoula. Because of these inclinations to famous people, the breed became a household name all over the country and in 1979, it was made the official state dog of Louisiana.

Some breeds are measured for their coats, height or weight but not the Catahoula. This dog is given importance according to its characteristics and abilities while its coat, although beautiful all its own, is accepted no matter what color or texture. The Catahoulas coat can come in different varieties and colors such as black with mottles of blue and gray, red or brown with a light touch of red or liver, and any other colors with a touch of blue or gray merle.

The coat does not only vary in color and patterns but in texture as well, such as: slick, coarse, shaggy or wooly. The course coat is easy to maintain but takes longer to dry when wet, and looks fuller and longer than the other coat types; the slick coat, often referred to as the wash n’ wear coat, dries very quickly when wet and gives the impression as if the coat is painted on the dog. The wooly and shaggy types shed rather rapidly and grow out again as a course coat or double coat.

As quoted by breeder Don Abney, “You must be ready to teach and exercise a Catahoula. If not, he will eat your house. The Catahoula will not let you forget that you own a dog.” This breed is impressively intelligent, strongly energetic, makes an outstanding ranch or farm dog, and makes a very dear and excellent family companion and playmate to children. They can become insistent and demanding but they are not aggressive by nature.

Because of its nature as an intense worker, this dog needs a regular outlet of energy in the form of daily exercise, house or farm chores or an ample amount of playtime. Without these activities that keep them busy, they tend to suffer physically and mentally. As they grow older, they have a negative tendency to over protect their territory from other dogs and animals which often results to fights and deaths.

All of us had been exposed to the presence of this one particular breed in almost every historical event in the world. From historic battles and rescue operations to lively entertainments, this dog is just everywhere showing off a natural ferocity and aristocratic posture. The instant someone sees this dog, he or she can exclaim the name Doberman.

It used to be that the Doberman was viewed as a fearless and intimidating dog and so it was often assigned as a watchdog, guard dog and police dog. However, some breed enthusiasts persisted on transforming this breed in to a calmer and more loving breed. As a result, the Doberman of today is indeed suitable as family pet or friendly companion of different types of people.

Selective breeding played a major role in the alteration or minimization of the temperament of the modern day Doberman. Additionally, according to studies the Dobermans found in North America are by far calmer than their counterparts in Europe because of different breeding strategies. As of today, the modern Doberman scores high in playfulness, fair in bravery and inquisitiveness, and poor on aggressiveness.

The Doberman has an innate self-assured and fearless stature that’s why people mistake them as barbaric. The truth is, this dog is loyal, intelligent and watchful and you can depend on it at any situation given the proper training. This is a breed not to be scared of but to be proud of instead, for they only want harmony and love from the family that owns them.

The Doberman comes in a medium sized and squarely built body. It has an obviously compact, sinewy and muscular frame that is wrapped by a body tight, short, coat. A Doberman often comes in colors of black, black & tan, blue-gray, red, fawn and white.

The Doberman breed is said to have started in Apolda, Germany in 1890. A local tax collector and dog catcher named Karl Freidrich Dobermann bred the first Doberman in a desperate need to have a companion that is fearless and loyal that will accompany him to his routines on the dangerous German areas. Having access to the dog pound, he had a plethora of dog breeds to choose from.

It was believed that Dobermann devised his new breed to possess the useful characteristics of various dogs and these included the now extinct old German Shepherd, Pinscher, Beauceron, Rottweiler, Thuringian Sylvan Dog, black Greyhound, Great Dane, Weimaraner, German Shorthaired Pointer and Manchester Terrier. How Dobermann was able to breed the Doberman and what ratios or mix he used remains clouded with uncertainty. However, experts suggest that at least four of these breeds had been the major contributors to the conception of the Doberman.

When Karl Dobermann died, two Doberman ardent breeders took over the improvement of the breed. Because of Otto Goeller and Philip Gruening, we have a calmer and more sociable Doberman today. Currently, the quest for the further development of the Doberman still persists and it is clear that one of these days, we will be able to witness a Doberman that is better and smarter than the Doberman of now.

If you bring a dog into your home, the activity level that the dog requires to remain physically and emotionally healthy should be one of your priorities. Getting the kind of exercise that they’ve always been avoiding to deal with is the mere thought that some lazy adults would think of if they tend to have a dog that needs a frequent walking twice a day.

Idle individuals are not likely to change their ways enough to make a good fit between them and active dogs. The dog will be the one to endure the consequences of having a lazy owner as he won’t be able to get what he genuinely calls for in a regular outside time since the owner is more likely to slacks off on walking.

Giving your dog enough physical exercise is not equivalent to giving him the amount of daily activity that he needs. You should give your dog his required time to walk, run, jump and relax for each day. You might as well go to the park for a walk with your dog on a leash or even just around your block. You don’t have to put your dog on a leash to let him enjoy the freedom of running and playing if you have a home with a fenced yard.

Mobility limitations can sometimes be a problem of some older adults and if this is the case, choosing a dog that calls for a lesser daily physical activity is the best thing to do. people who relish spending time outdoors for recreation or to relax after a day at work are ideal keepers for active dogs. Meeting at the end of the day is what both the owner and the dog gladly anticipates, when they can play chase in the park or go for a run together.

You should be aware that the trend to be more physically active goes with those dogs of bigger sizes. Those dogs with the heritage of being working or hunting dogs can be sited as examples of these dogs. The desire of getting busy and working off their energy is just some of their built-in traits. Dogs such as Irish Setter, Doberman, Beagle, German Shepherd and Greyhound are built for movement and agility, thus, it is natural for them to need some kind of physical exercise everyday.

Size can fool you as the exceedingly large dogs like the St. Bernard and Bull Mastiff, who can easily outweigh their keepers, are low physical activity dogs. Rescuing a missing skier or other things related to that might have been the main activity that a St. Bernard does according to the movies, what you don’t know is that to sleep in front of the fireplace is the physical activity that ordinarily takes up most of the dog’s time.

Small dogs like Poodles, Pekinese and Chihuahuas can live in small places and forgo the daily long walk in the park, but their nervous temperaments cause them to be high in physical activity around the house. Some of the natural actions that they keep on doing may include the unstoppable running at all directions and jumping or bouncing on you or your guests, but they do calm down when the energy burst is spent. That’s the point where the little dogs crawl back on your lap or on their plush pillow for a well-deserved nap to recharge.

There are a lot of things that you need to think about just before you decide on buying a dog. Take time to evaluate your living space, personality, and individual physical activity level so that you can come up with the best dog profile that can be compatible to you thus will give you a lasting and harmonized human relationship.

Although called Australian Shepherd, this fair- length pelted pet did not originally appear in the land down under. Studies have it that this breed came from the mystical Pyrenees mountains of either Spain or France or somewhere in between these breathtakingly beautiful countries. The breed arrived in the US in 1800s and it is there that it became popular and in time, improved and flourished.

The Australian Shepherd, also interestingly called Aussie, is noted not only for its high intelligence and bursting energy but most importantly, for its innate and outstanding herding and guarding abilities. These qualities are forever planted in their souls that even if those breed that weren’t actually reared for such jobs or environment, the inborn instinct for herding and guarding still comes out whenever they chance upon a flock.

In a farm, the Aussie is an excellent work dog doing every task industriously and masterfully such as herding livestock, searching and rescuing lost cattle, and obeying the master whole-heartedly. Inside the house they are affectionate and loyal to the family and infinitely playful to the children, however, they are intrinsically suspicious of strangers but this temperament makes them a prime guard dog. The Aussie is also distinct in having a possessive and protective nature towards its masters that’s why you will see them always adoringly tailing and following their masters around!

Being an innately over-hyper dog, the Aussie have the tendency to be limitless thus running, frolicking, chasing, and endless running again are its natural activities. Neglecting these potentials can be a damaging thing for they will direct this unguided energy in to unreasonable romping (it may cause damage to properties), obnoxious barking, chewing on things, and others. They may also become adamant and careless and will demand time and constant attention from the masters and this can be quite unbearable and annoying at times.

This breed, just like any other breeds, needs to be exercised mentally and physically daily. The absence of these activities in their daily regimen will cause negative and problem behaviors in them such as improperly channeled energy, chewing, loud and annoying rough-housing, and other damaging- to- properties kind of acts. Their active spirit and untiring energy must be matched by an active lifestyle in able to instill focus and teach good behaviors in them.

If situated with a not-so active family, the Australian Shepherd must be given special activity instead, in respect to their natural active self. They should be given opportunity to run around and play heartily in an open field, if not everyday, at least at regular intervals. When not at work or at play, this breed must be kept limited to a safe range for the sight of flock of animals and children will automatically trigger the innate herder and trafficker in them.

Aussies, also known by an array of names such as Spanish Shepherd, Pastor Dog, Bob-Tail, Blue Heeler, New Mexican Shepherd, and California Shepherd; are wonderful dogs and are clearly great companions. For those who have an outgoing and active lifestyle, this dog can undoubtedly keep up with the intensity; actually they will really love it. With proper training and good exposure, they can win not only your heart but everyone else’s as well.

Many Labrador owners will at some time or another considered breeding their Lab Retrievers, but there are many things to consider before taking the plunge into canine breeding. There are various reason why owners would want to breed their Labs. One of the main reasons is to produce a litter for themselves or their family, the second is to be able to sell the pups commercially.

Whatever your motivation it should be remembered that not all pregnancies result in a happy, healthy litter. And, if you have the female dog, breeding a litter at home can be a great experience for the first time breeder or it can be an unmitigated disaster. It is obviously very important to make sure you have the best possible pairing of dogs. Each dog must have a good temperament, be in top physical shape and free from disease. Each animals lineage should be checked to ensure there are no inherited problems such as hip dysplasia.

The temperament of the breeding pair is just as important as their health. Labradors inevitably end up in a family home so it is essential that they are temperamentally suited to sharing a home with children as well as adults.

Inbreeding must be avoided, so it is essential that the pedigrees of each breeding pair is checked to avoid the danger they are too closely related. If the pair are closely related it can be detrimental to the health of the puppies, poor temperament and weaken the bloodline.

Before mating it is advisable to let the dogs get to know each other and, ideally, each dog should be over two years-of-age. By this time any temperamental or health issues should be apparent. Breeding Labrador Retrievers is not a decision to rush into but it should be remembered that finding the right pair of dogs is only the beginning of the process. Once the mating has taken place and pregnancy is confirmed the real work begins.

The care of a Labrador retriever during pregnancy and also the whelping process can prove to be hard work. Once the pups are born that hard work will most certainly continue. The puppies have to be cared for and finding new homes for them can be time-consuming and expensive.

Finally, the importance of finding suitable new homes for the Labrador Retriever pups cannot be underestimated. Potential buyers who cannot guarantee and loving and caring environment for the puppies should be rejected.

These are bad dogs? Perhaps, but they are only as bad as the kids next door who have never been given a good upbringing. What else other than bad behavior can you expect from animals and kids when the concerned adults have no idea what they are supposed to do? Sensible owners take the help of dog trainers who teaches them proper handling methods without breaking the natural spirit.

You need to ask at the vet’s office or local pet stores for names of trainers who hold private or group sessions with the pet and owner; or you could instantly access an online course and nip any behavioral problems in the bud right away.

This training could teach owners how to be in command of their pets. Trainers have been heard to comment that dogs are easer to train to be obedient than their handlers. You want to leash train your dog before you take him out in a park or public but before you do this you must get them accustomed to it first.

One of the behavioral traits is barking; however, this will often annoy almost anyone that can hear it. Shouting or punishing your pet for engaging in this normal communication is counterproductive – as well as confusing to the animal.

When a dog needs something to eat or drink, even to be played with, they will begin to bark. Completely suppressing a dog from barking will not help to prevent a burglar from trying to enter your property! Remember not to promote barking when he is a puppy and then get all worked up when he continues to bark even more as he gets bigger.

You could learn from your trainer how to reinforce certain behaviors in a puppy, which you desire, by giving them the occasional gift for being good. You could start rewarding and motivating your puppy so he will continue with the good behavior; most animals will normally stop doing things for which they get reprimanded.

Remember that you can not coach a dog to adapt to certain behaviors which are not part of his genetic make-up. The best option for getting certain specific behavior is to acquire your pet from a breed which displays those traits. When does a dog become good? Well, when you train them with patience, resolve and of course, a great deal of affection.

Originally a hard working gun dog used to spending its days hunting the Labrador retriever has an altogether different image today. Now, Labs are considered to be ideal family pets and if you want the perfect picture of doggie cuteness than a Labrador puppy will fit the bill. Labs are loyal and faithful companions for their owners.

Statistically Labs are one of the most popular breeds amongst dog owners and it is estimated that 6 out 10 dog owners in the UK have a Labrador. That popularity is reflected throughout Europe and North America which is hardly surprising as the Lab, by its nature, is a trusting and fun loving companion.

They are also regularly used as companion dogs for the hard of hearing or for the disabled. The therapeutic value of Labrador retrievers is well known and they are used extensively for those who are physically or mentally handicapped.

Labs are tremendous swimmers and fittingly have an otter-like tail. Their coat is grown in an interweave pattern, making them ideally suited to spending time in the water.

And, as their name suggests, Labradors are excellent retrievers and one of their surprisingly pleasant attributes is the fact that they have extremely soft mouths. Apparently, a Lab is able to carry an egg in its mouth without breaking it though I have to say if my Labs got an egg in their mouth they would simply eat it. They have capricious appetites!

Though they were bred as hunting dogs Labs do not have the inherent aggressiveness and poor temperaments of some other breeds and have very few, if any, negative traits in their nature.

Labrador retrievers are especially wonderful with children because the Lab has an intense desire to not only please, but its desire to play is almost equal with its desire to eat! Children can spend hours playing catch with a ball, or a Frisbee, and the dog will appear to be tireless. They seem to literally thrive on human interaction, affection and attention.

As a general rule Labs are very easy to train as they are highly intelligent and adaptable. But they can also be stubborn and more than a little mischievous ” which I suppose makes them all the more lovable!

Labs are also very curious creatures and they will happily investigate any new surroundings with great glee. If something attracts their attention, particularly the scent of food, they will determinedly seek it out. Similarly they will happily trot after a person they havent met before simply to check them out.

Because of these attributes, they sometimes can be easily go missing or be lured away from their owner. Because of this it is highly recommended that Labs be micro chipped as well as having the name, address and phone number of their owner on their collar.

When it comes to health issues Labs do have a tendency to put on weight because of their enormous appetites and need regular exercise to help them keep in shape. Other health concerns include hip dysplasia as Labs are prone to suffer problems with their joints and hips and often develop arthritis in their later years.

Of course most Labs will live long and healthy lives with out any health issues and, as far as their owners are concerned, they really do make the ideal family pet.

Do you have a dog that you love? Do you lack the time or inclination to keep your pup well groomed? Possibly you should consider a pet grooming service. A professional pet groomer can make your dog feel great, smell good, and look fabulous. A pet groomer will provide more than just a good wash. You can get your dog massaged, their ears checked and cleaned, nails trimmed, teeth brushed, and so much more.

Any dog, no matter what breed, needs a bath from time to time. No one wants to pet or cuddle a dirty, stinky dog, and since they’re capable of spreading harmful diseases, it’s important to keep them clean. Besides, a clean, well-brushed dog just looks better! With the expertise, supplies, and tools an experienced dog groomer uses, you can be sure that your pup will be properly shampooed, dried, and brushed.

Picture one wiggly, suspicious dog, plus a novice dog owner coming at it with a pair of scissors or clippers, and what do you envision? Probably not a well-clipped pooch! A haircut will help your dog look and feel good, especially during the sweltering summer months, but this task is often one that should be left to someone with some experience. A professional groomer has all the right tools, as well as the expertise to do a nice job. They also know the proper length to cut your dog’s coat. Too short can be just as bad as too long. Besides, your pup deserves to look nice.

Grooming of your dog should also include proper dental care. You dog needs to have his teeth brushed the same as humans do. It is important that you have this done by someone who can do a good job. If you’re not qualified to handle this task, take your pooch to a professional dog groomer. There your pup will receive a good thorough teeth brushing, and the results will be healthier teeth and better smelling breath.

Good nail care is absolutely essential for the comfort and health of your dog! However, you must be very careful when trimming your dog’s claws so you don’t take off too much of the tip. If you trim too far down, it will create pain and some bleeding. If you don’t feel comfortable trimming your pup’s nails, your local dog groomer can do it with the proper tools and expertise. It’s a safer, easier way to accomplish what could be an unpleasant task for both you and your dog.

One vital service that your dog groomer can offer is to regularly check and clean your dog’s ears. Since a damp environment creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, often leading to painful sensitivity, redness, swelling and infection, keeping the dog’s ears clean is important. Before cleaning the dog’s ears, the groomer will inspect for potential problems. He will take note of any matter in and around the ear canal, particularly excess wax, which may be a sign of ear mites. All potential problems will be handled with the proper solutions and other materials.

If you love your pet, give him the attention he deserves. If you have no time or just can’t do the job of dog grooming at home, then you can always hire the services of a grooming company. That’s one way to a healthy and happy dog.

You need to ask many questions when you are considering adopting a dog. After all, a dog is a lifetime commitment that you need to prepare for.

A. How old is the puppy?

B. How long will it be before you can take your dog home? Your dog needs to be at least eight weeks old before they can be taken to their new home.

C. Ask if the breeder has a waiting list for their animals. Most breeders that are good will have a waiting list for their dogs.

D. Have the dogs received their first shots and had their initial Vet examination? Puppies should receive their basis vet care before they are allowed to be adopted.

E. Does the breeder require the dogs to be fixed? Good breeders will require pet quality dogs to be altered.

F. Did previous litters suffer any genetic diseases? If so, what type of genetic diseases were present?

G. What return policy if any? A good breeder will always allow you to bring the puppies back to her home.

H. How long have they been breeding this particular dog breed? A breeder should have a few years experience. By asking this question you maybe able to weed out back yard breeders.

I. How many breeds? Legitimate breeders generally do not breed more that two different types of dogs. Avoid puppy mills!!

J. How many time a year is the dog bred? A breeder that is good will only breed their dog one time a year.

One of the great things to know in order to be a successful dog trainer is to understand how a dog is thinking. While there are many skills that you are going to be required to know, reading a dog spots may be one of the most important traits to learn. The better you can understand the dog’s body language the better you will be able to communicate.

Just like humans and other animals, a dog will show intention by using body language. There are actually 3 parts to keep an eye on. They are the head, tail, and posture. We are going to take a look at the three parts.

It is important to look at dogs ears. Depending on the dog’s mood, he will hold his years in a different position. When the dogs ears are pointed forward it usually means that he is alert to something. Also, take a look at the dog’s mouth. If the dog is making a grin by squeezing its skin in muzzle area and focusing its eye’s on something, it means it is threatening the object of focus.

Also, if the dog is showing teeth and the sides of it’s mouth are pulled back into a grimace, the dog is probably showing some kind of fear and lack of confidence. Use these tells to interpret what the dog is thinking. Again, never stop observing the body language.

Another major factor in dogs body language is its tail! There are hundreds of different emotions which can be shown by dogs tail from playful happiness to deadly sorrow. Make sure to keep a watchful eye on your dogs tail in different situations and you will learn to literally read your dog.

Some of this is common sense. When the dog’s tail is between its legs it means that it may be embarrassed. Everyone knows what I happily wagging tail means also.

Finally, the posture a dog poses is equally important. When a dog is stiff and is standing on its paws, this usually means a dog is threatened and it is not a good idea to approach. In general, when a dog is feeling comfortable and relaxed its musculature does not look flexed.

It is important to keep your attention at dogs posture, face expressions and tail when reading the body language, but more importantly you have to learn to combine all three together to make a full picture of what your dog is thinking and saying to you and other people!

The Brazilian Mastiff is a bloodhound/mix. A very interesting combination indeed; These are mastiffs who also have some of the traits of the bloodhound. This includes the legendary noses of that breed. They also possess the gentleness of the mastiff. Originating in Brazil, these dogs are also known as Fila Brasiliero in Portuguese. Once used as guards for Brazilian plantations, they were brought to what is now the U.S. by conquistadors.

These gentle giants can easily weigh over 100 pounds, and stand up to 30″ tall. Having the flabby neck and long face of bloodhounds, their fur varies in color from reddish to black, even yellow. Brindled specimens are the most popular however.

As most of their cousins in the Mastiff family, the Brazilian Mastiff is very loving in nature. They can be aggressive as well. They are gentle with children and very protective of them. Mastiffs are very obedient to their masters and very easy to train as well. The have great pride and courage.

Brazilian Mastiffs still are seen in hunting, being as good at the job as their bloodhound relatives. They specialize in tracking down and catching prey while waiting for their owners to catch up; in fact, the “Fila” in “Fila Brasileiro” is from Portuguese and means “hold”.

These are an athletic breed although some Mastiffs are not athletic at all and they even are known to become obese. Again they get their athletic abilities from the bloodhound side. The guarding side comes from the Mastiff. Mastiffs are very watchful dogs and although they aren’t aggressive in nature, they will guard their family.

In fact, the Brazilian Mastiff is well known to not like strangers at all. It doesn’t matter if they are intruders or not. You have to be around them when they are puppies and as they grow if you plan on becoming someone they won’t attempt to attack or become aggressive towards. Extremely loyal to his family and will be as gentle as he could be around children.

It is best to keep your mastiff locked up if you will have houseguests, as Brazilian Mastiffs have been known to attack without provocation – this unfortunate quality extends even to mastiffs entered in dog shows and the judges.

Remember to be careful as you choose your new Brazilian Mastiff puppy. You want to make sure that the breeder is a good and trustworthy one. Some breeders have other agendas when selling their puppies so it is wise to get references first hand.