it's puppy love

2011-05-09T07:30:00.001-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2012382155067&comments

2011-04-28T19:05:00.002-07:00

My house was broken into last night by two robbers who locked me in the bathroom, and proceeded to steal all they could carry. My watchdog, "Killer", did not alert me, and for this reason I am giving him away. I no longer want a dog - I´m installing an electric fence and detection devices with alarms. They´re cheaper and more reliable. For those interested in adopting the dog please send an e-mail urgently.

Two very well behaved dogs

2011-04-28T19:05:00.001-07:00

http://tinyurl.com/5t699v3

a few cute pictures

2011-04-24T14:04:00.001-07:00

2011-04-10T12:12:00.001-07:00

Twelve Helpful Hints to Avoid Your Child Being Attacked by a Dog

Author: James Parrish

Victims who are bitten or attacked by dogs or other animals can experience a great deal physical and mental stress and injury. This holds particularly true for kids and those employed as parcel shipping and postal service letter carriers throughout the United States. On an average day, up to 10 letter carriers suffer from dog related injuries. Nationwide, more than 4.0 million people suffer from dog related injuries each year and of those, children are the most commonly victimized. The next largest groups of those bitten are the elderly and postal service letter carriers. Each such class represents a disproportionately large cluster of citizens who are victimized by dog attacks and bites. The very large number of dog bite-type injuries has become one of the most commonly reported public safety concerns in modern day America.

If you're not a letter carrier or the parent of a child, you may be wondering how this issue affects you. Dog bite awareness is important to everyone in the general public and especially to dog owners because each year municipalities are enacting stronger laws assuming greater liabilities designed to penalize owners who cannot manage their dogs responsibly. Even if you are the owner of a family pet and believe strongly that your dog could never harm anyone, experts suggest the psychological relationship between letter carriers and the dogs that bite and attack them is in fact deeply rooted. Dogs frequently believe they are successfully protecting their homes and owners by exhibiting aggressive tendencies towards delivery personnel, who leave the dog's property after being confronted with such behavior. Over time, dogs establish dominance of and experience increased confidence with persons viewed as intruders on their property. But if that dog gets loose, there's a good chance it may attack and injure someone.

Dog ownership carries a number of responsibilities and potential liabilities for actions of and injuries caused the animal; especially in neighborhoods where an owner knows that children may be present and certainly that letter carriers travel by foot daily. Dog owners have a responsibility to their community to do everything in their power to ensure that their pets are properly socialized and if any aggressive behavior is shown by the animal, it is essential that the dog is safely and securely maintained. An owner should never allow their dog to be presented with a new situation where it is unclear how the animal will react. It is in these situations where even one moment of carelessness may cause life-threatening injuries to children and liability to others such as postmen for the victim's pain, suffering, and medical expenses.

There is a wealth of written information available for individuals to educate themselves about responsible dog ownership, including the risks associated with a dog bite on a child and other people in your neighborhood. Teach your dog appropriate behavior for every situation. For example, owners should refrain from playing aggressive games with their dogs such as wrestling and tug of war, and discourage their children from doing the same. This type of play in fact mimics a dog's natural instinct to run down prey and assert his dominance, which could lead to a serious dog attack. In order to prevent injury, it is essential that your dog recognizes family members as dominant figures whose authority should never be challenged. Sadly, many instances of dog bites in children and mailmen are preventable.

Below are some helpful tips issued by the United States Postal Service to help make your neighborhood safe for the letter carrier, yourself, and the children who live there.

Dog Bite Prevention Tips for Letter Carriers and Children:

1. Find out what time the carrier usually brings your mail.

2. When the carrier is due to visit your house, check to be sure your dog is inside. Keep the dog inside until the letter carrier is gone.

3. If someone needs to open the door to sign for a letter, first put the dog in another room and close the door securely.

4. If you have a mail slot, keep your dog away from it so the carrier's fingers don't get bitten.

5. If your mailbox is inside your fenced yard and so is your dog, keep the dog on a reinforced leash that is away from the mailbox during the time your letter carrier delivers the mail.

6. When you and your dog are outside, never walk up to the postman and ask for your mail. Your dog may think you are being threatened and attack or bite.

7. Report dogs running at large to your local authorities as soon as possible. If you are a child, tell your parents and don't follow after the animal in any circumstance.

8. Never, ever approach a strange dog that you don't know. Remember: if there is no owner, than there is no petting. When you approach a dog with its owner, make sure it is on a leash. In that case, never reach your hand out to pet the animal until after asking the owner's permission (and if you are a child, your parents' permission as well) to let the dog sniff you first, and then allow you to pet him.

9. If a strange dog comes near you, stand like a tree, or if you are on the ground, curl up your legs, cup your hands over your ears and lay still like a rock!

10. Never run away from a dog that is chasing you. Instead, stop and stand still with your arms at your sides, try to be very calm and quiet, do not scream or make any loud noises, and walk away very slowly while facing the dog, but never looking at it directly in the eyes. Children especially must learn that they should not stare at a dog in his eyes.

11. Don't ever go near a dog that is in a car, behind a fence, or tied up — even if you know him.

12. Finally, teach your children that all dogs may bite, even your own dog; and that dog bites can be very dangerous and sometimes even deadly to children.

We certainly hope this information helps children and others avoid being bitten and teaches dog owners some easy strategies for safe handling of their pets.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/twelve-helpful-hints-to-avoid-your-child-being-attacked-by-a-dog-4573047.html

About the Author Jim Parrish is Virginia lawyer who focuses his practice on helping people injured and damaged as result of dog bites, car crashes, motorcycle accidents and other vehicle collisions. Because he used to work for insurance companies, he knows how to keep his clients from being taken advantage of by their "traps" and "scams." Please visit his website for lots of VALUABLE and FREE information about accident claims: http://www.theparrishlawfirm.com/

2011-04-09T23:17:00.000-07:00

4 Dog Training Tips For Dog Owners

Author: kdine

For dog owners, dog is their precious family members. In fact, they are so lovable till the point we want to hug them so badly. However, there is one issue should be a concern by every dog owners; it is their dog misbehaviors. Without a proper dog training, your dog may cause you many problems and frustrations that may be hard to overcome. When it comes to dog discipline, we, as the dog owners should not be lenient. No one is born with the knowledge to train a dog, and it is also not some kind of information that you can learn from your school. You need to learn how to teach your dog from somewhere else. Luckily, there were many dog experts or researcher who willingly do the test on every dog training method, and share with everyone. If you go to nearby bookstore at your town, you can find many dog training books. So, if you really want to train your dog, at least read one of those dog training books before you do so. A wrong method can make your dog acting more aggressively and problematic. Here are some of tips/information that you need to know before you train your dog. 1) First of all, you need to establish your position as the boss or leader to your dog. This is a must when it comes to training. Of course, it is does not means that you need to be strict or harsh to your dog. If the dogs understand its position and you are the one who in charge, it will become more docile. 2) Consistent. Always remember to be consistent when you train your dog. If the dog is not allowed to sit on your sofa, making an exception will only confuse your dog further as it will believe that it is the 50-50 chance of getting scolded when it sits on the sofa. In its point of view, it will hope for the best result. 3) Dog training should be a calm and happy experience. So, acting aggressive will only encourage your dog to respond with more aggression. It is because he thinks this is the best way to please you by emulating your action. 4) Plan a schedule for your dog. If your dogs are so used to pee on your car park in the evening, then make you let your dog out to the car park when the time comes. If your dog wants to pee, he will pee. If it is unable to make it out its desirable location, he will pee in your house. It can be very hard on your dog if you are blaming him for making this mistake that caused by you for not letting it out on time. Teaching your dog needs a lot of patience and dedication. The reward for all troubles are extremely rewarding, if you are successfully eliminated your dog misbehaviors. No more headache or frustration that will be caused by your dog in your house when you didn't pay attention to it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/4-dog-training-tips-for-dog-owners-4570744.html

About the Author

If you want to learn more advanced training method for your dog, then you should get the star-info2.com/secrets-to-dog-training">Secrets to dog training guidebook. For complete review about this dog training guide, please visit this link: http://star-info2.com/secrets-to-dog-training

Treatz

2011-03-22T16:56:00.001-07:00

Here's pictures of our puppy, her name is Treatz. She's 5 years old and the greatest dog ever! She's

a chocolate lab

bulldogs

2011-03-22T06:43:00.001-07:00

English bulldog makes your fall in love with them

Author: alex

We human have always loves the idea of living together. We always feel great when someone is with us. Domestic animal has always been a part of our life from the earliest of time. In ancient civilization's manuscripts we often come across content where we find that humans have kept several animals with them and domesticated them with time. There are various animals which have been domesticated by human being in all these years. The list is in reality unending, some of the prime among them can be cow, elephant, horse, pig, hen, duck, etc. All of these have been with us from time immemorial. We have benefited from them in various ways. Some of them have offered us ride, some has offers food and some have provided with dress. Talking about sheep, they have offered us with their warm wool, which has been used by us to keep our body warm.

Dog in this whole set of list can easily be out at the top. They are the best pet which has been and which will be. Different breeds of dogs have their skill sets. Some of them are really good in offering security to our houses and some are really good sniffers. Even many have great in saving human lives in adverse conditions. One such example is that of the polar dogs saving man lives buried deep under ice.

We all simply love to have them as our partners all the time with us for these qualities of them. If you are looking to have a pet of your own, the best pick is for sure that of a dog. Now the question comes, which breed to go with? The most genuine way to decide is to check over your requirements. If you are looking for a cute and caring breed English bulldog is perfect for you. English Bulldog is also good in many other ways. Looking into the modern society's condition, they are the most adaptable one. We all have to lead a very fast life; there is not much time that we can spare for our pets. In such a situation this breed knows how to take care of itself. You do not have to look after it all the time. They are not just cute in the look; they are also a very smart breed of dogs. With their cuddly body figure many among us simply love to keep playing with them for hours. English Bulldog can turn out to be your best friend as they are very friendly natured.

Buy English Bulldogs always from an authentic supplier. Check whether you are getting value for your money. The purity of a breed comes first while making the purchase. A pure breed gives you all the desired characteristics. If you are in search of a genuine supplier, do a thorough research in the internet. Light up your house with the presence of this nice creation of nature. They are so very cute that even god might be having them as his pet. They are simply most adorable pet of the world.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/english-bulldog-makes-your-fall-in-love-with-them-4453866.html

About the Author

Get the best English Bulldog from the house of Milde kennels. They have been offering English Bulldogs for quite some time now. They are simply the most authentic supplier of this particular breed. buy English Bulldogs from them now.

2009-05-31T17:36:00.001-07:00

Overview of Washington State's Dog Bite Laws - Part #2

Author: Christopher Davis

Liability Imposed Against the Dog's "Owner"

Washington's dog bite statute only imposes liability against the "owner" of the dog. So occasionally a dispute arises about who actually owns the dog. For instance, if the person who harbors and takes care of the dog is not the true legal owner of the animal, can this person still be liable for the injuries inflicted by the dog? The answer is usually yes. Although the dog bite statute refers to liability of the dog "owner," there are court decisions that broadly define the owner to include one who possesses and/or cares for the dog.

In one case that occurred back in 1988, the dog was purchased and "owned" by a young woman. But the woman kept her dog at her grandmother's home. The grandmother resided with and cared for the dog during a three-year period before the dog bit and injured another person. The question was whether the grandmother could be held liable for the injuries when she was not necessarily the true owner of the dog. A Washington State court answered yes. The grandmother's conduct of harboring and caring for the dog over a three-year period was sufficient conduct to make her an "owner" of the dog for purposes of imposing liability under the statute. The court seemed to focus on the fact that the grandmother acted like the owner of the dog over a long period of time. Perhaps this case sends the message that if you act like the dog's owner, or if you hold yourself out to others as the owner of the dog, you may be responsible for any injuries or damages that dog inflicts upon others.

Furthermore, there may be various local regulations and ordinances that also broadly define the owner of a dog. In King County a dog owner is broadly defined as "any person having an interest in or right of possession to the animal, or any person having control, custody, or possession of an animal...or by reason of the animal being seen residing consistently at a location, to an extent such that the person could be presumed to be the owner." This definition is broad enough to include any person who harbors or keeps the dog for a period of time that is sufficient to cause one to believe that the person may be the true or legal owner, even if that person is not.

The question may arise: what period of time is sufficient to cause one to believe that one who harbors the dog is the true or legal owner of that dog? This is a factual question that may need to be resolved by a jury. Certainly, the longer a person acts like the dog's owner, or engages in conduct similar to the owner, means the greater likelihood that this person may also be legally responsible for the dog's dangerous or vicious propensities toward other human beings.

Although the dog's "owner" may be defined quite broadly, there are certain limitations that exist. For instance, the question has been raised whether a landlord can be considered an "owner" of the dog for purposes of subjecting the landlord to liability under the dog bite statute. Washington courts have clearly stated no. A landlord will usually not be considered the dog's owner just based on that person's status as a landlord. Thus, if the dog owner is a renter or if the dog attack occurred on property that was being leased, the victim cannot rely on the dog bite statute to attempt to impose liability on the person who either owns or controls the property, unless that person also shares the responsibility of keeping, feeding and harboring the dog - tasks usually performed by the dog's true owner.

About the Author:

Christopher M. Davis is a Seattle attorney focusing on personal injury cases. He is also known as a animal attack and dog bite lawyer and has written the book 'When The Dog Bites' as a legal resource for dog bite victims. For more information about Washington State dog bite law visit: http://www.injurytriallawyer.com/practice_areas/dog-bites-animal-attacks.cfm

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Overview of Washington State's Dog Bite Laws - Part #2

2009-05-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

Dog Training Tips for the New Dog Owner

Author: Andrew Bicknell
Let's face it, for many people training their dog is a struggle that sooner or later leads them to just give up and let their dog do whatever he pleases. Then they ask themselves why they have such a disobedient dog. More experienced dog owners know that dog training is something that is always going on. Whenever they are with their dog they are always training him. Going for walks, playing in the park, even just relaxing around the house are all opportunities to teach. Dogs by nature are curious creatures who get easily bored. If there is not a proper outlet for this boredom they will find something to do. And to a dog who doesn't know the difference chewing up a shoe or digging holes in the yard is neither good nor bad. It's just something to do. The more a dog learns to please himself and do whatever he wants the less control his owner will have. A disobedient dog does not just happen; by ignoring, mistreating or being lackadaisical about training him he will learn all sorts of bad behaviors all by himself. Dogs love to please their owners but without feedback they have no idea if they are doing right or wrong. Everything is the same to them. This is why it is important to praise a dog when they are being obedient. Positive reinforcement is one of the most powerful dog training tools a dog owner can use. Many people do not realize the amount of work needed to train some of the more amazing dogs they see on TV or here about in news reports. Police dogs, seeing eye dogs, military dogs can take a good year of intense training to get them to the point where they can even start working in that capacity. And their training never stops. Dogs do not come trained and they will not learn simply because they inhabit the same space as their owners. Dogs have no inborn sense of right and wrong; everything is the same to them, unless they are taught. Dog training is all about teaching a dog good behavior. Repetition is the name of the game when it comes to having an obedient dog. Combined with praise for a job well done a dog will soon learn what its boundaries are and who is actually in charge. The first thing every dog should learn is their name. This is what gets their attention and simply saying it should stop them dead in their tracks from whatever they are doing. From there on a dogs training should be a daily routine; housetraining, sitting, staying, not barking or jumping up on people, these are things that will make life with a dog easier and much more enjoyable.About the Author:

For more dog training tips and tricks visit the website Worfdog.com by clicking here.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Dog Training Tips for the New Dog Owner

2009-03-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

Yorkie Barking: 5 Ways to Stop Yorkies That Bark Alot

Author: Luke Blaise

Yorkies seem to bark a lot more than other dogs. Whether they do this for social reasons, protection, or to get attention, we don't know. What we do know is that we love these little dogs, but after a while the barking can become annoying and also can lead to problems with neighbors. Here are 5 tips to keep your Yorkie from barking

1. Set firm boundaries about when you will and won't give your dog attention. Dogs love schedules and when you make one and stick too it your dog will know what to expect attention and not to. It is important that you stick to this schedule if you have any hope that your stop barking plan will work.

2. More exercise is always a good idea. Many dogs bark because they have too much excessive energy. Talk your dog for a walk or play with them. If a dog has been resting all day and when they see or hear something interesting they have lots of nervous energy to get rid of. Take your dog for a walk in the mornings, afternoon or evenings. Also play with your dog more to get them tired out. If you know of a situation where your dog regularly barks, then try to tire them out with exercise first.

3. Make sure your Yorkie is aware that there are negative consequences when they do bark. This could be in the form of no treats, being ignored by you, or no toys. Do not use physical punishment. Hitting your dog will only lead to more problems.

4. Any good dog trainer will tell you that the best way to change a dog's behavior is with positive reinforcement. So when your dog does not bark when it normally did, you have to reward them for a job well done. This could be in the form of a treat or positive attention. Over time the old behavior of barking will gradually disappear and you will have a quieter Yorkie.

5. As a last resort you could try citronella collars. This is a dog collar that sprays a small amount of citronella when the dog barks. Dogs do not like this smell so it is a good deterrent. This collar works very well and is much more humane than shock collars. The main problem with these is that at the beginning you have to refill the citronella very often due to the large amount of barking. But over time you will not have to do this as often because the amount of barking will decrease and stop.

If you have trouble with your Yorkie barking too much, realize that you are not alone. Yorkies are the number two most popular dog breed in the United States According to the American Kennel Club, so you can only imagine how many other people are having the same problem.

Yorkies love to bark, but as you can see there are numerous ways to try and change their behavior. It is always easier to change their behavior when they are young, but even older Yorkies can have their behavior modified.

About the Author:
Learn more here about Yorkie Care. To learn more about breeding Yorkies visit: How To Breed Yorkies

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/yorkie-barking-5-ways-to-stop-yorkies-that-bark-alot-828035.html

2009-03-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

Give Special Attention to the Diet of Your Sick Pet Dog

Author: Kelly Marshall

When the body temperature of the dog rises above normal, the dog requires extra energy to cope with the illness. As you would know, the diet of the dog plays a very important role in the regulation of its health. The diet of the dog should be regulated accordingly.

If the diet of the dog is not improved, the extra energy requirement of the dog shall be met by the utilization of the reserves of the body. To prevent such a scenario, make changes to the diet of the dog immediately upon the discovery of the fact that the dog is ill.

The change in the diet can be calculated by estimating the additional calorie requirement of the sick dog. The general rule is that for every degree of temperature above normal, the dog should be given three calories per pound of body weight.

If the temperature is 1 unit above normal and the body weight of the dog is 25 pounds, the normal diet of the dog should be supplemented to provide for 75 calories of extra energy. The easiest way to enhance the calories supplied to the dog is to add corn oil to the diet.

A single tea- spoon of corn oil provides 45 calories of energy. Further, corn oil enhances the taste of the food and will also help the dog eat more despite its poor appetite due to the illness.

Fevers of prolonged duration result in a loss of body protein as well as energy consumption. The protein being lost can be replaced by adding three ounces of cottage cheese or one hard-boiled egg to every pound of canned food or every tour ounces of dry food.

A body of a sick dog not only requires extra energy to cope with the illness but also extra protein to restore the body protein lost due to the illness. The best way to replace protein is to add:

3 ounces of cottage cheese, or

one hard boiled egg to

every pound of canned food or

every four ounces of dry food.

No changes need to be made to the diet on account of the illness except for the additions mentioned above. The supplements should begin as the illness begins and ends only when the fever subsides. Begin the protein supplement if the fever persists for more than 3 days.

If the fever is caused by an infection, the vet usually prescribes a course of antibiotics to cure the illness. The prescription of antibiotics for the dog will also lead to changes in the diet.

Humans are more vulnerable to bacteria as compared to other living beings including dogs. In fact, many beneficial bacteria living in the intestine of the dog produce essential vitamins like Vitamin B- complex. This vitamin is very important for the health of the dog

Antibiotic therapy, as the name suggests, destroys the bacterium causing the illness in the dog. However, the therapy will also result in the removal of many beneficial bacteria residing in the dog. This deficiency may lead to a fall in the production of vitamins.

Add water-soluble vitamins to the diet of the dog to enhance its vitamin intake. Further, add a gram of brewer's yeast per ten pounds of the weight of the dog. This will not only restore Vitamin B- complex in the body but also improve the appetite of the dog.

About the Author:
Authored by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - the place to go for dog steps in all shapes and sizes

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/give-special-attention-to-the-diet-of-your-sick-pet-dog-803345.html

2009-03-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

Dogs Cannot Understand Human Language, Or Can They?

Author: Kelly Marshall

It has been noticed that well trained dogs easily distinguish many different words. Some dog owners swear that their dog understands the meaning of every word they say. While this is not impossible, it certain seems highly improbably that dogs would understand the meaning of human words.

There is a difference between identifying a word with a particular action and understand the meaning of the word. Training involves teaching the dog to react in a particular manner when given a particular command.

Does the dog actually understand the meaning of the words 'sit-stay' or does he comply merely because he has been taught to react in a particular manner when these words are spoken?

A command given over the intercom will not have the same effect as a command given in person. The dog often relies on contextual cues like our body language to understand the command. A faceless and nameless voice giving instructions is not likely to be obeyed.

There is a huge difference in the way we use language as compared to animals. Humans use language not just to fulfill an objective but just because it attracts the attention of another human being.

A baby points to a ball and calls it a ball not just because it wants the ball. It may do so because this helps the baby get the attention of others.

On the other hand, animals, even the language trained chimpanzees, never progress beyond using language to achieve an object.

A chimpanzee which has been taught to create sentences using computer symbols or sign languages focuses on obtaining food, toys and attention using the language. It does not learn to use language as an end in itself. Language always remains the means to an end.

There is no evidence that they identify that the symbols stand for concepts. For them, the symbols are merely means to an end. On the other hand, humans identify the symbols and their underlying concepts and also understand that they are interrelated.

Dogs respond to their name not because they are aware that they have a name. They respond merely because they understand that we humans expect them to react when we utter what we call their 'name'/

However, dogs still have the capacity to surprise us all with their ability to distinguish different words. Russian speech scientists have concluded that dogs are capable of identifying the distinction between 'a' and 'i' even when attempts were made to confuse them.

The funny thing is that dogs do not identify variation of consonants. Use the command 'fly clown' instead of 'lie down' and your dog will obey. However, they are capable of distinguishing between vowels even when they do not utter vowels themselves.

A generic explanation could be the fact that mammalian ears have been in existence for more than tens of millions of years. On the other hand, human speech is a recent development. It is just 100,000 years old. Only humans have the physical and mental equipment to speak.

About the Author:
Provided by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - the biggest selection of raised dog bowls online

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dogs-cannot-understand-human-language-or-can-they-803369.html

2009-02-18T16:49:00.000-08:00

5 Tips on Housebreaking Your New Puppy

Author: Amy Nutt

Puppies can be a lot of fun, they're cute and cuddly and positively adorable. However, a new puppy can also require a lot of work, particularly if you are keeping it in the house. Housetraining a puppy requires patience and consistency, much like toilet training a toddler does. The end result, a dog that is free to enjoy life as a house pet and one that will let you know when he or she needs to go outside, is well worth the initial effort.

1.Be persistent. Right from the start, you need to make sure you teach your puppy the rules. And the number one rule is not to do his business in the house. Obviously, a new puppy won't really get this at first, so you'll need to be very persistent to reach your goal of having a housebroken puppy. Training your dog to go outside is going to take some time and you'll be cleaning up some messes, so be prepared.

2. If you don't see it, don't punish it. It's going to happen. You'll walk into the room and find a puddle or a nice little pile of doggy doo waiting for you. This is NOT the time to express your displeasure with your puppy. He won't understand since the act has been done and he doesn't know what you're upset about. The only time you should punish your puppy for making a mess indoors (and by punish, I mean scolding and perhaps shutting up in his box) is when you actually see it happen. Act immediately, or the entire thing will have vanished from the puppy's mind and you won't be doing any good at all.

3. Follow a routine. Dog training mostly relies on consistency in order to work. If your puppy knows what to expect, he will be better able to do as you want him to. At first, you'll need to tailor your timing to the puppy. Most puppies need to head outside right after a meal, so make it routine to do that. As your dog gets older, you'll be able to lessen the number of trips outdoors and your dog will learn to hold it or let you know if there is a need to be filled.

4. Keep it contained. You will have less to clean up if you keep your puppy in one area of the house. In fact, one form of puppy training involves using a crate to keep the dog contained. The crate can be placed anywhere in the home. If you decide not to use a crate, though, you can still put the puppy in a specific room, particularly at night. Laundry rooms often work well for this since they are easy to clean and warm. Your puppy will also feel more comfortable in a smaller space at the beginning.

5. No food at night. By making sure that your puppy isn't eating at night, you'll save yourself a lot of hassle. You can remove food and water a couple of hours before bedtime and take the puppy out for a walk before turning in for the night. This will work to prevent too many bathroom trips during the night.

As long as you are consistent and patient with your puppy, you'll find that he is eager to please and will do his best to learn bathroom rules quickly. Dogs really do want to make their humans happy and if heading outside when nature calls is what makes you happy, then you can bet that's what your puppy will try to do.

About the Author:
Dog training can take some time and house training is no exception. When looking for Puppy training in Toronto to not pull on a lead, in-home dog obedience training to improve your relationship between you and your dog.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/5-tips-on-housebreaking-your-new-puppy-779354.html

2009-02-17T07:29:00.000-08:00

Dogs Are Our Companions and Our Friends

Author: Omar Reyes

Dogs are unique animals. They have the ability to immediately become a part of our families. You know this is true, especially if you have had your dog for a long time.

Since prehistoric times, there has been a strong connection between humans and dogs.

Just imagine for a minute, a prehistoric hunter out in the woods, finds a lost wolf cub and brings the cub home and cares for it. Eventually, he and his family may realize that the wolf cub is a great addition to their household. Furthermore, the hunter probably found that the wolf was helpful for a variety of other reasons.

One of the main reasons is because wolves and dogs in general have similar social systems. Their social systems are similar to those in humans. There is a dominant adult male who leads all others in the pack to ensure their survival. If the leader fails to fulfill his duties, a strong female will step in.

Just like in your family, a pack of dogs must work together to survive and to thrive. There are social bonds and loyalty on both sides. Even if a pack of dogs fight, they will always come together when it matters most to ensure that they survive.

Dogs possess a variety of strengths and abilities. They have a strong sense of smell and are incredibly alert. Some of them are efficient hunters.

Of course, the pack of wolves that men in prehistoric times would have encountered would not have been as gentle and kind as our dogs are today. Wolves possessed just the right type of personality that suited the prehistoric people. In the same way, dogs today have traits and personalities that make them suitable to be a part of our families and homes.

By domesticating dogs we made them more and more suitable to living with us. This happens more and more with each passing generation.

This intertwining of dog culture and human culture has become very strong over time. It doesn't matter what kind of dog you have, it is a friend that will stick with you for life. She will offer you unconditional love.

You probably do not depend on your dog for your survival like many groups of people did so many ages ago. However, it is highly likely that your dog has its own role in your life and in your household.

Some of the many roles of working dogs today are..

Herding stock

Detecting drugs

Helping lead the blind

Guarding homes

Search and rescue services

Beyond these important jobs, your dog can develop a special and emotional bond with you and the other members of your family. Your dog will be there to comfort you and play with you. They will pick you up when you are down. They will comfort you when you are scared.

In order for your dog to thrive you must nurture and care for it. You have a friend for life as long as you feed them and provide them with the attention that they need.

Our dogs are more than just pets. They are our friends and our companions.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dogs-are-our-companions-and-our-friends-777152.html

2009-02-16T06:17:00.000-08:00

Dog Food Nutrition For Healthy Canines

Author: Lori Matthews

Whether you have a new puppy that is full of energy or you have an older dog that you are trying to keep as healthy and strong as possible, you'll find that one of the most important things that you can do is check out what is going into their dog food. Just like humans, dogs need good, healthy food to thrive, and though they can get by for a long time by eating food that is just so-so for them, you'll be surprised by how much difference good food can make.

Take a look at the ingredients in the dog food that you are currently buying. Just like with human food, the first ingredient is going to be the one that makes up most of the food. When you see corn, or soy or wheat as the first ingredient, this is your first hint that you will need to switch foods. You will also find that if your dog has a weak stomach or has issues with eating or digestion, this may be the cause. There are many dogs that have undiagnosed allergies to the food that they eat, and you may notice a real improvement as soon as the food is switched out.

Protein is very important to canines and should be the first ingredient. Moreover it should be a protein that is from an animal and not grain. It should not be anything "by products." These can be body parts of animals like the neck, head, guts, feet, lungs, and bones.

Believe it or not some pet food manufacturers substitute meat protein by using corn, gluten, and wheat. These ingredients in fact commonly cause allergies in pets. When your dog food contains too many grains your dog is not getting the nutrients that he or she would need to thrive.

Another thing to consider is what preservatives are being used. Try to avoid foods that contain the preservatives BHT, Ethoxyquin, or BHA. These can be harmful to your pet in the long run. Instead, look for dog foods that contain natural sources like vitamins as a preservative.

Just like humans, dogs are what they eat. A good healthy foundation of nutritious food is vital for your young puppy or senior. Dogs also age faster than humans so it is important to feed a healthy and balanced diet to help the immune system ward off free radicals and all that comes with aging.

Something else to keep in mind is the cost of food. Usually when something is more expensive it might be assumed it a better quality of food. This is not always the case. Ingredients are important, where the ingredients come from and how they are formulated to make the brand. If you are beginning to check labels make sure you follow some of the guidelines above.

Healthy treats are just as important. When you start feeding a premium dog food, don't forget about the premium treats. You might also find that your canine may like some veggies as treats!

If you are interested in your dog's health and want to see him thrive, take some time and review the ingredients in the food and treats that he/she is eating.

About the Author:
Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please click here if you would like more information on healthy dog food

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-food-nutrition-for-healthy-canines-772917.html

2009-02-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

How to Train a Dog to Fetch

Author: Janet Nusbaum

Having a dog can be a fun and rewarding experience. There are many fun activities you can do with your dog to grow upon the enjoyment that you both have. One of the most popular games to play with a dog is fetch. This simple game of retrieving a ball or some other item can lead to hours of fun. There is one catch to this simple game, you have to train your dog to be able to fetch. Do not worry; this is not as hard as it may seem at first glance. With a little persistence and work on your part, your dog will be playing fetch before you know it.

THE FOUNDATION

Your dog will naturally be drawn to running after a ball that is thrown. This is a natural instinct that you have probably seen many times in your dog. This is one of the most elementary things that your dog needs to be able to do to play fetch. If you have never seen your dog do this, grab a ball and throw it to see if he runs after it. Most dogs will run after the ball, grab it, and then start towards you. The reason that this is not fetching a ball is that they usually stop and start playing with the ball. Once your comfortable with this, you can move onto the training aspect of getting your dog to fetch.

TRAINING

You will need to have two balls to make this training work. It is important that your dog is interested in these balls. There are dogs that will chase any ball that you throw. There are other dogs that are picky in what they chase. Know which group that your dog falls into.

Throw one of the balls and let your dog chase after it. Keep the other ball that you have hidden. It is important that your dog is focused on the ball that you have throw.

As your dog runs toward you, choose a point near you to tell your dog to drop the ball. You will want to give this command in a stern but friendly voice. Make sure that the point that you choose to do this with your dog is close enough to be your dog giving you the ball. Odds are that your dog will not do this on the first try.

If your dog does not drop the ball, take out the second ball. Ignore your dog and start playing with it. Act like the ball that you have is the most interesting thing that you have ever played with. This will cause your dog to drop the ball that he brought to you and want the one that you have.

Throw the second ball so that your dog has to run and get it. Place the first ball into your pocket so that your dog does not see it. Repeat the command to drop when your dog comes to you with the second ball. If your dog does not drop, repeat this process over and over again until your dog brings you and drops the ball on your command. Reward with a treat as your dog is learning and when he completes the task on command. It will take some time for your dog to get comfortable with playing fetch with you. It may even take a few training sessions.

In the end, your dog will enjoy playing fetch with you and be happy that you spent so much time with him.

About the Author:

EPETSTUFF.NET is your on-line destination for domestic Pet Stuff! From fresh articles on pet health, care, training, behavior and breeds, and product listings and reviews about all things domestic pets, http://www.ePetStuff.net is designed by pet lovers for pet lovers.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-train-a-dog-to-fetch-771583.html

2009-02-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

A Historical View of Paisley Dalmations

Author: Joe Troyer

For over a century, an intense bond has existed between the British dog buffs and the Dalmatian. Canine experts have knowledge of the breed's presence for durations exceeding the previous two-hundred years. Historically, a theory among such experts has risen, making a claim that the origin of Dalmatians being, in part, a descendant from the early breed of those hounds used for hunting, namely, the Talbot breed. Commonalities between these two variations of dogs are found to be in hunting prowess, traits and type.

Hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota, Dave and Sue MacMillan, who are proud owners of Paisley Dalmatians, exhibited their dog, Paisley Preterit, to the completion of his final round in the spring of 1985. That top honor in confirmation made this dog the fiftieth winner of either being bred or owned at Paisley. During the same spring, another dog of the same breed, Paisley's QindaBritt, received recognition as a Dalmatian, competing in the compliance division, to have been recognized with the thirtieth C.D. degree.

It is possible that at some point within the past two centuries, blood from the linage of Talbot bred hounds saw an infusion into dogs of European breeding. The evolution of such dogs, due to their distinctive look, captured the sights of those traveling from Great Britain. By way of these unique dog's guarding nature and recognized intelligence, tourists from Britain chose to bring such canines to their homeland. Through credible research, there is not a single dispute, in support of the facts, in being that the Dalmatian breed, at large, has been traced back to the ancient periods. Evolutions, within this breed, are expansive.

Classified as a medium-sized breed of dog, Dalmatians, in shoulder height, generally measure from twenty-two to twenty-four inches, with a weight range that usually spans between fifty to sixty-five pounds. Above all, this breed is highly notable in having a readily identifiable coat, which possesses a white base, with distinct spotting. The spots vary in either one of two colors black or a variation of a brown, appropriated classified as liver. When it comes to the color of these spots, either shade is considered in compliance with the standards of Dalmatians, and, upon selection, merely boils down to the fancier's choice.

The original intent behind the breeding of the Dalmatian was for their service as coach dogs, based upon the breed's extensive endurance. By heritage, this breed has a nature towards protecting their owners and possessions.

On a personal level, Dalmatians exhibit affection, as well as presenting a rather boisterous personality. However, when strangers are present, these dogs will initially convey manners that are more dignified and restrained. Once a Dalmatian becomes familiar with a guest, friend or visitor, he or she will reveal the intimate side of their traits. Addressing traits, the smile of those within the breed will appear in the form of their bearing the front teeth. Where the distinctive color pattern of such dogs originated from is still a mystery.

Dalmatian, as the name dubbed the breed in 1888 by the AKC, is derived from a geographic locale in western Yugoslavia. Information on the Paisley breeding of Dalmatians is most accessible. Should you be researching online sources, search engines, such as DogPile, Google and Yahoo can provide extensive date. A number of well-received articles, blogs, links and videos on the breed exist. For bound or encased reference materials, ranging in a variety of mediums, are available, at affordable pricing, through the online sources of Amazon and Barnes and Nobel, as well as eBay. Upon conducting your searches, implore key phrases and words, which will provide you with a full array of listings to choose from.

About the Author:
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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/a-historical-view-of-paisley-dalmations-762594.html

Review Of 3 Bird Hunting Dogs

2009-01-31T14:37:00.000-08:00

By: Razvan Marian Jr

Beagle – this dog is one of the most well-known scent hounds in the world due to its energy and lovely disposition. The breed was born by mixing the Harrier with other famous hounds in the Great Britain. These animals have been used in packs or alone to hunt not only pheasant but also other birds. The Beagle is a sturdy dog and a squarely-built hardy small hound that has a quite easy-care and sleek short coat. This coat can come in any hound color, take for example the following possibilities: tri-color, black & tan, red & white, orange & white or lemon & white. The Beagle is similar in appearance with the English Foxhound. The dog has a square shaped muzzle that is straight and the skull is broad and a bit rounded. The Beagle hound has wide ears that are pendant and the brown or hazel eyes have an unique pleading expression.

Mountain View Cur – this breed was developed for a long period of time and entire generations of very strict selection and also line breeding, starting with the original Mountain Cur were born. In the present, these dogs are known to be the purebreds but also thoroughbreds of the cur dog world due to the uniformity as an entire breed, a truly remarkable bird hunting breed that is used for almost all bird hunting expeditions in the world. The main reason for this is because the breed is very healthy with no genetic deformities, making them almost perfect. Why they are so good at bird hunting? The answer is quite simple, because they are very fast and agile, that is exactly what you need on a bird hunting adventure. They need a lot of exercise to drain that great amount of stamina as they are a very active breed.

Golden Retriever – this dog was first developed in the British Isles by combining a yellow Flat-Coated Retriever, a rather light-coated Tweed Water Spaniel, a Bloodhound, the Newfoundland and other spaniels, a truly complicated procedure. When the dog saw the daylight it was known as the Golden Flat-Coat and got famous thanks to its bird hunting abilities, making him one of the most popular bird hunting dogs along with the already presented Mountain View Cur. The Golden Retriever is quite a sturdy and extremely beautiful dog with a very well-proportioned body and a lovely gold colored coat. The Retriever’s outer coat is water-repellent and the undercoat is quite dense. The Retriever has a head which is broad with a wide and extremely powerful tapering muzzle. The dog has a scissors bite and a clear frontal stop. The dog has a black nose and his brown with dark rims eyes have a kind and peaceful expression.

We presented only three of the most famous bird hunting dogs in the world but you must know that there are others as well, like the American Water Spaniel, the Border Collie or the English Springer Spaniel, the choice is up to you as the choice of a bird dog greatly depends on the hunting style.

Article Source: http://www.freeforallarticles.com

Razvan Marian Jr. currently manages www.birdhuntinginfo.com which offers a complete guide about bird hunting.

Buddy The Great Dane Rescue Dog

2009-01-30T07:48:00.000-08:00

When Buddy lived with his first owner and family he was unfortunately not treated very well. The children were not taught to be considerate and gentle with him. At one time he was pushed down some stairs and his leg was seriously hurt, possibly broken. He was not taken to the veterinarian for treatment and it healed crookedly.

After spending about six months with this family they wanted to get rid of him. They blamed the dog for the bad behavior they had trained him to have. He was either going to be placed in a new home or be euthanized. Good fortune came into the life of Buddy in the person of the guy who adopted him. But oh what a series of trials and tribulations the new owner went through with this maladjusted dog.

Buddy is a Great Dane. If you are going to go through problematic situations with a dog it is much easier to deal with if the dog is small. As the name implies, the Great Dane is not anywhere near being small.

Often referred to as a gentle giant the Great Dane is one of the tallest breeds. In fact they are noted in the Guinness World Records as tallest dog. On the American Kennel Club website it states that the male is required to be 32 inches tall and not less than 30 inches tall. He is well-proportioned to his height with a somewhat square body. He must weigh at least 120 pounds to be qualified as a show dog.

The female must be 28 to 32 inches tall with at least 30 inches being preferable. She should be well proportioned with a slightly longer body than her male counterpart. There are six colors that are acceptable in a show quality Great Dane. They are:

* fawn - yellow gold with a blue mask
* brindle - fawn and black with chevron shaped stripes
* blue - pure steel blue
* black - glossy black
* harlequin - white with black patches irregularly placed
* mantle - black and white with a solid black blanket

Dogs similar to Great Danes appear in ancient Egyptian literature as well as that of Greece and Rome. It has been theorized that the breed was developed from the Medieval Boarhound. Others posit development from a line of Mastiffs bred in Germany. The modern Great Danes are about 400 years old as a breed. Their history remains debatable. One expert on the subject, Barbara Stein said, 'The breed originated in Germany, probably from a cross between the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound.'

The debate regarding origin is likely to continue indefinitely.

As for Buddy, he is a brindle measuring 31 inches at the withers and weighing about 95 pounds which is slightly underweight for the male of the species. He is a survivor of neutering as an adult dog and several serious illnesses which required veterinary care. Although most dog aficionados would consider him unsuccessfully socialized, he is very devoted, almost worshipful towards his current owner. Since he cannot understand what expenses and problems he's presented, this exemplifies the fact that a dog loves his human unconditionally.

He's now relatively calm and well behaved although he continues to require muzzling around children. Much of his unacceptable behavior has been alleviated if not eradicated and he has overcome more than any dog should have to deal with. The rescue and rehabilitation of Buddy the Great Dane should be considered a huge success...

Tom Chapman This article is written by the authors of www.petstuffgalore.co.uk Pet products - Pet Supermarket For All Your Pets Needs.

How to Know If Your Dog Has Ear Mites

2009-01-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

Ear mites must be one of the most annoying health concerns your pet may acquire. Ear mites are parasites dwelling on your pet’s ear.

Once they’re there, they would thrive on the wax and dirt found in the ears. The moment they reach a certain number, infection would show. And that’s when you observe the abnormal discharges and smell foul odor on your pet’s ear.

Actually, it is almost impossible to tell ear mites apart from all other types of ear infections and parasites. Ear mites are microscopic organisms. Without the right equipment, it is hard to know for sure. The best and surest way to go about the problem is to bring your pet to the vet. However, there are certain things that may indicate that your dog indeed has ear mites and that you could would help alleviate the condition if you use some anti-parasite medications on its ears.

First, check the discharge. Ear mites create a dirty, usually reddish-brown or dark brown discharges or debris on the ears. Try to inspect it closer with a swab of cotton. Be careful though. The discharge is going to have a foul odor. Make sure that you don’t go deep inside the ear as you take a swab.

There will also be black crusts forming on your dog’s ear. Try to see whether the crusts are already clogging the passages to your dog’s ear. If it already does, you really have to take your pet to the vet for proper medication. Your dog’s ear need proper air circulation or else the problem would only aggravate.

The ears of your dog will generally be moist, dark, and warm. Needless to say, it would look far from normal. And your dog would exhibit pain and irritation by scratching its ears a lot or by shaking its head too much. When all of these symptoms appear, you have to do something to eliminate the mites or else they may proceed to damage your dog’s eardrums, which would lead to total loss of hearing.

The usual treatment for ear mites involves flushing the ear with an anti-parasite solution. Normally, vets do this as the procedure inside their clinics as it is a little too tricky for the untrained. Improper flushing may push the mites deeper into the ears. The liquid may also clog the ear canal, causing further damage to the middle ear.

Other form of treatment for ear mites in dogs involves the use of oral antibiotics. Don’t attempt to give your dog any of these without consulting a vet first. Antibiotics are helpful if given correctly. Otherwise, it can do more harm than good to your dog’s health.

You also have to know that ear mites are not necessary concentrated on the ears of your pet. During medication, they may find solace on other parts of the dog’s body like the neck and head. Be sure to treat your pet thoroughly. You don’t want these parasites coming back after some time. You also have to clean your pet’s bedding at all times. Keep it fresh and clean because the mites could be lurking inside them.

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About the Author: Visit DogEarMites.Net for dog ear mites articles and information. Read also the articles on treatment for ear mites in dogs and the main causes of ear mites .

The Problem Of Urticaria In Dogs

2009-01-24T09:44:00.001-08:00

Urticaria or Hives is hypersensitivity or an allergic reaction to certain drugs or chemicals or something that the dog may have eaten.It has been known in some cases, even sunlight can lead to urticaria in a dog. While urticaria is not life-threatening, it may affect the throat making breathing difficult. Allergic reactions in dog breeds vary from mild to severe and one of the most severe of all allergic reactions is anaphylaxis. This allergic reaction affects various dog breeds and has life-threatening symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, sudden and drop in the dog’s blood pressure, swelling in larynx leading to obstruction of breath, and heart failure. On the other hand, urticaria leads to fast and furious swelling and redness of the dog’s lips. The allergic reaction also affects the area around the eyes and makes the neck region highly itchy. In some cases, hives can also appear. Typically, extreme cases of urticaria may lead to anaphylaxis.

About Urticaria
Urticaria is a reaction that is triggered by certain antibodies made by the immune system of the canine. When these antibodies are released in the system, they make basophils and mast cells (these are inflammatory cells) to release other substances leading to an allergic reaction in the dogs body

Allergic reactions from urticaria can happen in any dog breed profiles, age, or sex. While the impact of urticaria can be life-threatening in dog breeds, it can be treated with much success leading to long-term wellness and health in the animal.

Symptoms of Urticaria
Caused as a hypersensitive reaction to chemicals, drugs, food, and sometime even sunlight, urticaria affects the skin in form of small bumps. Many times, the dog’s hair will stand up from these bumps and they can be itchy. Generally, urticaria develops within 20 minutes of the dog breed being exposed to an allergen!

Though, urticaria isn’t dangerous to life, it tends to disappear, just as rapidly as it appear, by itself. Some things you need to watch out for in case of urticaria include:

F Vomiting
F Diarrhea
F Difficulty breathing
F Staggering/weakness
F Collapse
F Itching
F Hives
F Rapid swelling, redness in the lips, eye and neck areas

Diagnosis and Treatment of Urticaria
There is no standard diagnostic procedure to determine urticaria. However, vets can quickly examine various dog breeds physically to determine the nature of the allergy. Since, urticaria occurs quickly after dog breeds have been exposed to allergens, you must take your pooch to visit a vet who may recommend a prompt physical examination followed by treatment using oral antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Urticaria can be treated successfully with the help of injectable corticosteroids (form of steroids) like prednisolone/ dexamethasone.

Finally, you must remember that various dog breeds develop an allergic reaction soon after being exposed to an allergen, but you may not be able to realize this. And for those severe allergic reactions that are rare in nature, prevention may be questionable. But there is always wome thing out there a vet can give to help it.

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About the Author: If you need further information on dog breeds visit our online resource centre. We also have a great section of dog breed profiles with information on all dog types.

Dog Diarrhea – A Disturbing Time For Your Dog

2009-01-24T09:40:00.000-08:00

A rather common health condition, the severity of the illness can vary extensively. You dog will pass liquid-like stool on a frequent basis and the consistency of the faeces can tell a vet about the nature of the problem. Every dog owner prides him/herself because they believe they know everything about dog health. While pet health is a vast subject, knowing about some of the most common conditions that can affect dog health will help you keep your pet healthy and active in the long run. Dog diarrhea is one such condition. Diarrhea in a dog is not really a disease; rather it’s an indication of numerous different diseases that may have plagued your dog.

Mild diarrhea can be treated rather quickly with some precautions and simple treatments. However, some other forms of diarrhea such as acute diarrhea can occur as a result of other dangerous sicknesses like cancer. If your dog health is affected by diarrhea then you must ensure that your dog doesn’t become dehydrated and nutrient levels in the body are restored as quickly as possible.

Dog diarrhea often spells a time of trouble for the canine. Moreover, the several varying reasons of this condition can flummox even the most experienced of vets, while overwhelming any dog owner. A pet health scare, diarrhea and vomiting, usually are pretty harmless and your dog can be nursed back to health within a couple of days. Nevertheless, it’s always in the best interest of your dog to visit a veterinarian just to ensure it’s not serious in nature.

To anyone who has experienced or heard about diarrhea, it conjures an image of water-like stool. Actually, diarrhea is much more than just watery stool. If your pet is passing abnormal stool (stool that is softer than usual) or if he has to strain himself to defecate, or only passes gas, or the stool is soft-formed, or has abnormal color or obnoxious odor, the pet health has been affected by diarrhea.

Our furry friends often eat items that are found lying around or scavenge for food. Dogs are omnivorous animals and eat just about anything whether digestible or not. Such bad eating habits lead to diarrhea. So, it can be safely said that the most common cause of diarrhea is food intolerance or food poisoning, in other words – upset stomach. When a dog eats unfamiliar items that are alien to his normal tastes, his body in an act of rejection pushes the food out of the system in the form of vomit or diarrhea, leaving the pooch terribly sick. In order words, diarrhea is an attempt of the dog’s body to heal itself by removing unwanted or harmful toxins.

Dog owners should understand that diarrhea is a sign of health in their dog and should not be considered a disease. In case of diarrhea, your dog health can be restored by home treatment and doesn’t really call for a visit to the vet. That being said, diarrhea can cause damage to the pet health in case the dog becomes:
F Very Sick
F Lethargic
F Has Bloat Or Abdominal Pain
F Is Feverish (Rectal Temperatures Over 103.5 Degrees F)
F Is Dehydrated
F Vomits Persistently
F Passes A Lot Of Blood During Stool

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About the Author: If you need further information on dog health including dog diarrhea visit our online resource centre. We also have a great section of pet health articles for cats and horses.

Changing Your Dogs Diet

2009-01-23T07:54:00.000-08:00

Adding energy in a dogs diet is indeed necessary when you notice lethargic behavior in your dog. Some people prefer to feed their dog a homemade food for energy. They also require protein for energy in their diet to build muscle. Like people, dogs get energy from vitamins and minerals in their diet. While some need attention from a veterinarian, you can try home or natural approaches to help overcome energy problems and add energy in a dogs diet. Adding charcoal to your dogs diet can help detoxify some of the noxious gases while they are still inside the intestine.
Dogs are able to get energy from carbohydrates in their diet as well as from protein, which is why we are able to feed them diets high in carbohydrates. Feed them too much and they get fat and develop serious health problems. Feed them too little and they become scavengers and eat anything that looks like it might have a taste. Corn, soy and wheat are three of the biggest culprits as far as food allergies in dogs go and finding a brand of dry dog food that is free of these ingredients can be tricky. A change in diet done gradually makes for a more comfortable dog.

Indeed, most dogs eat commercial dog food and most of these foods provide a fairly balanced diet. If your dog has special dietary needs due to a health condition, talk to your veterinarian about the best brand of food to feed your dog. Puppies should be fed a brand of food formulated specially for puppies because they need more protein and fat in their diet than adult dogs.
It is not the same thing as just feeding your dog table scraps, which you should not do. If you want to feed your dog a homemade diet, take the time to learn about nutrition for dogs first. A homemade diet can be very healthy for dogs but it is important that you educate yourself about your dogs nutritional needs. Dogs, if left in the wild would eat primarily protein foods with carbohydrates making up no more than 25% of their diet.
However, commercial dog foods contain anywhere from 25-60% carbohydrates. If dogs get more carbohydrates than they expend in energy, the carbohydrates turn to fat and the dog gains weight. Excess carbohydrates can be unhealthy for your dog. The kind of carbohydrates dogs need for energy are soluble carbohydrates. Soluble carbohydrates are the starchy part of a plant that can be easily broken down in a dogs digestive tract. If they get more protein than their body needs for energy and muscle, it is excreted in the urine.
Also, a change in diet done gradually makes for a more comfortable dog. This means that we have absolutely no intention of incorporating whole grains into their diet. You should know what foods to give that can be eaten to assist weight loss in your dog and what foods should be avoided at all costs. Eating a lifetime diet of processed food places a great demand on their pancreas to produce digestive enzymes.
Nevertheless, behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, listlessness, short attention span and the ability to learn can also be affected by your dogs diet. Be very mindful of what vitamins and other nutrients to add in their foods.

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About the Author:Obinna Heche. Los Angeles - California An acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on dogs diet by visiting.. http://www.biggsmall.com.com

Dog heartworms, dog fleas and other dog parasites

2009-01-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

Heart worm, fleas and other parasites in dogs need to be eliminated by following appropriate medications in them. Many products have come up in the commercial fields to protect the dogs from heart worms, fleas and other parasites like hook worms, whip worms, round worms, lice, ticks.
Among the heart worm, fleas and other parasites, the fleas produce the hyper sensitive reactions in the affected animals. Hence, the animals infested with fleas start severely scratching of body. Many times, the scratching is so severe and the skin becomes more hyperemic and dermatitis occurs in the affected areas.

Animal will not lie down or sleep comfortably due to the constant bites by the fleas. Hence, animal looks as if affected by some severe skin disease. If the animal is not properly attended for this tick bite problem, there will be often secondary bacterial invasions in these sites and there may even be a bad smell emanating from the skin areas.

Close observation of the dog is highly essential to rule out the occurrence of fleas disturbing the animal to a greater extent. Similarly, the skin of the animal needs to be tested for the presence of ticks, lice. For this, the hair materials need to be separated and the close observation with patience is required for the proper diagnosis.

In many incidences, if anemia is present, the blood protozoa need to be ruled out in addition to the hookworm problems. The clinical problems like anemia, loose motion, pot belly etc. might be recognized by the dog owners themselves and however, the dog needs to undergo the routine health related examination involving fecal examination, hematological examination and blood smear examination.

Many commercial products have come up in the market, which are useful to deal with all these conditions by single dose. Drugs like Ivermectin are highly useful and are available in both injection and oral form in addition to the solution form that can be applied on the skin. These drugs in dogs can lead to the prophylaxis of these conditions also.

DogHeartWorm.Org – dog heartworm articles dealing with the main dog heartworm symptoms and dog heartworm treatment options.

Breeds of Hypoallergenic Dogs

2009-01-03T06:31:00.000-08:00

Submitted by jared lansky
Sun, 23 Nov 2008

Hypoallergenic dogs are ideal for dog lovers who suffer from allergies. Although there are no dogs that are 100% non-allergenic, some dogs are more "low-allergy" than others. Though these kinds of dogs shed little to no hair and less dander than typical dogs, all dogs will still shed some dander, even includes hairless dogs. Generally, dogs without hair or with continuously growing hair tend to be the most hypoallergenic. However, a lot of these dogs will need to be kept on a high-maintenance grooming schedule.

There are certainly other alternatives to hairless dogs, and that includes hybrid dogs. Hybrid dogs are the result of controlled cross-breeding. Dogs such as labradoodles and goldendoodles, which are poodle mixes, tend to take on hypoallergenic qualities. Dogs that are mixed with known hypoallergenic breeds can sometimes be considered low-allergy, but it is nearly impossible to know the true makeup of a mutt and whether or not it is really low-allergy.

Jared Lansky recommends that if you suffer from allergies, but happen to find a mixed-breed dog that you think might be hypoallergenic, try spending some time with the dog to see how you react before committing to it. There would be nothing worse than taking home a dog you love and having to give it away because your allergies are affected and you didn’t realize it at first.

Depending on the severity of your allergies, you may still be able to live happily with dogs. The ultimate key is to minimize the amount of allergens in your home. Vacuum your rugs and upholstery frequently and wash your curtains and drapes often. Consider using some type of air purifier. You can also talk to your physician about medical therapies. It really just depends on your particular severity.

Those with very severe allergies may still not be able to tolerate hypoallergenic dogs. If you are allergic but love dogs, consider some of the hypoallergenic dog breeds listed below. If you decide one might be right for you, Jared Lansky suggests spending some time around the breed to see if you have an allergic reaction before you decide to get one of your own.

Some good breeds of hypoallergenic dogs include: Basenji, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested, Coton de Tulear, Havanese, Irish Water Spaniel, Kerry Blue Terrier, Maltese, Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog, Pail (Pulik), Schnauzer, Shih Tzu, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Xoloitzcuintli, and Yorkshire Terrier.

As you can see, it is not such a small list after all, and there really are a lot of choices. If you are allergic to dogs, hopefully you can still find one you love and that doesn’t cause too much of a reaction.

Dog Training Hand Signals

2008-12-27T16:54:00.000-08:00

When you are training your dog to respond to your verbal commands, you can train him to respond to hand signals also. These can be learned in conjuction with the verbal commands and can be very usual in certain situations. There are a few common hand signals that you can teach your dog.

When you are training your dog, the very first command that you should teach him is the sit command. Teach him the verbal command first and then you can incorporate the hand signal. The hand signal for sit is to start with your right arm at your side, bend your arm at the elbow with the palm facing up. Slowly bend the arm until it is above the dog's head. Do this while giving the verbal sit command. Once he seems to have that mastered, do the motion without the verbal command. If he follows the hand signal, praise him immediately and give him a treat.

Once he has the sit command mastered you can teach him the down command. This command will have the dog lay down with head up and paws forward. This is one of the first verbal commands that has a hand signal. Once your dog learns the down command, incorporate the hand signal into the lesson. The hand signal for down is palm down, fingers together and you slowly lower your hand to the ground. Keep your dog focused on your hand signal as he obeys your verbal command. Slowly, verbalize the command in a softer and softer tone until he is able to do the command on hand signal alone.

The next hand signal that you can teach your dog is the come signal. When teaching your dog to come on command use his name first and then say "Come." If he comes right away, praise him greatly and give him a treat. If he doesn't come you may have to pull his leash toward you while saying his name and the word "come." Once he has the verbal command mastered, just add the hand signal. The hand signal for come is the same as the hand signal for a person to come. Bend your right arm at the elbow and move in backward toward your left shoulder in one sweeping motion. Make sure you have your dog's undivided attention when using the hand signal.

Teaching your dog hand signals along with the verbal signals can be very usual if you need to get your dog to obey you in a crowded, noisy area. It can also be usual as your dog grows older and his hearing declines. The most important thing is to never hit or spank your dog. You do not want your dog to associate your hands with pain. Be patient with your dog and before you know it he will be obeying your every command!

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Steps to Toilet Train Your Dog

2008-12-23T05:08:00.001-08:00

The last thing any dog owner wants is a lot of nasty messes to clean up all over the place. If you take the time to toilet train your dog, you'll not only avoid stepping in an unpleasant surprise as you head to the bathroom at night, you will confine all mess to a specific area. However, it does take some time and patience to teach your dog, particularly if you are starting with an older canine.

How to Toilet Train Your Dog

Your dog instinctively prefers to stay clean. If you watch a puppy that has been tied up or left in a kennel, he will automatically defecate away from where he eats and sleeps. You will be able to use this to your advantage when training your dog to use one particular spot for his or her physical needs.

Step One: Creating a Bathroom Area

It's a good idea to choose one specific spot where your dog will be eliminating before you even bring the puppy home. The best way to do this is to pick a spot, perhaps in the corner of the yard where your dog will be comfortable defecating. Some dogs prefer to do their business on grass, while others will actively seek out dirt. If you know ahead of time which type of area your dog prefers, this will help you prepare a nice spot.

Step Two: Establish Living Areas

Your dog will instinctively avoid defecating or urinating within living areas, so you'll need to make sure he understands that the entire house is considered a living area. If you are crate training, you can simply move the crate from room to room, while keeping the dog inside. Otherwise, establish one spot as a sleeping and playing area and then begin to move the dog's bed and toys from room to room until he has accepted that the house is his home. Be sure to progress slowly so the dog has a chance to get used to each area.

Step Three: Be Regular

Dogs do very well on a schedule and this goes for a feeding schedule, as well. If you are starting with a small puppy, you'll notice that he needs to eliminate after each feeding. So, once he has eaten, simply take him to the assigned toilet area and let him do his thing. Your dog will catch on very quickly that this is where he should be defecating.

Step Four: Rewards and Consistency

It will take some time to toilet train your dog. Be sure to allow him frequent access to the toilet area and never leave your dog too long in his crate or alone in the house, since this will result in training issues as your dog won't be able to hold it.

Rewards every time your puppy uses the assigned elimination area will help increase his interest in the toilet training. You don't necessarily need to use edible treats, simply responding with a fun toy or verbal praise is often more than enough to let your dog know that you are pleased with him.

By staying patient, not getting upset when your dog slips up and being sure to let him know that you are happy when he uses the toilet area, you'll find that most dogs pick up the idea of house training rather rapidly. Confusion or being shut up indoors can cause delays in the learning process, so be sure to be consistent and calm about the whole thing. Your dog wants to please you and by using his natural instincts, you are encouraging traits that will come naturally to your pet.

Be Merry & Paw-sitive

2008-12-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

Be Merry & Paw-sitive

Author: Sheryl Matthys

While the economy may not have us so cheerful - dogs always help us to remember to be happy! It's been proven petting a dog can relieve stress - so now is the best time to bring a dog into your home. Give yourself the perfect present that will have you a better person for others ? and that truly is the best gift for everyone in your life.

Now, even though the pet industry has more than doubled in ten years, reaching more than 43 billion dollars in sales -- don?t worry ? you don?t have to spend a fortune. First, look to your area shelter to adopt and lift your spirits as well as be the hero to a dog.

How does a dog lift your spirits? Laughing and playing with your dog can lead to: reduced risk of heart disease, decreased stress, lower blood pressure, a boosted immune system, a natural painkiller for your system, massaging of your abdominal organs, a natural anti-depressant, and reduced blood sugar levels which will help keep diabetes at bay. We may want to ask ourselves what?s stopping us from gaining all these benefits right now? Start bringing in the laughs and play ? even if it feels stilted at first.

And, the best benefit (I think) is that laughing can actually make you look younger and that?s reason enough to do it more! While laughing, your facial muscles are working out, which increases the blood flow around your face.

So back to the dog itself that?s going to bring you stress relief. It happens in a circuitous manner with your first mate drooling at the bit to help. Here?s the key - don?t think pet and owner; don?t think master and beast; don?t think pack leader and follower ? in this instance, think friend and partner; think counselor and co-conspirator. This will start you off in a new direction by improving all your relationships. Remember, this is not just about slowing down and communicating with your dog; it?s about learning how your dog communicates, and seeing the world through your dog?s eyes to help you have better relationships with human beings ? the people we love, cherish and want to understand better in our lives.

Stress Relief To Do List:

1. Adopt a dog ? Be a hero!

2. Participate in dog training classes, agility, Reiki, dog therapy, T-touch ? A great way to learn something for you and your dog while meeting others.

3. Talk with your dog ? Dogs don?t judge what you say and they won?t throw it back in your lap later.

4. Walk with your dog ? Dogs need about 30 minutes of exercise everyday and so do you!

5. Socialize with your dog ? Dogs are the perfect ice-breaker and take part in social communities to make more connections with dog lovers world-wide.

All the above items bring relief to one?s physical, mental, and emotional well being ? more than going to the gym three times a week. With a dog you gain the benefits of a workout, the results of a shrink, and the social activities to put that spark back in your life. Just ask Bruce Goldstein, author of Puppy Chow is Better than Prozac. He claims getting a dog saved him from the black hole of depression.

To think that dogs can comprehend so many of the complexities of human emotions without ?speaking our language? Dogs ?read? our emotions, our tears and fears, our anger and our hurt through our body language.

Perhaps that explains why so many women feel completely comfortable bringing their dogs into social situations they might not otherwise be comfortable in alone. I met Wendy and her dog at a Leashes and Lovers event. I asked her, ?Did you come by yourself?? ?I did,? confessed Wendy. I inquired, ?Would it have been difficult for you without your dog by your side?? Wendy agreed. ?When I have my dog, it makes it much easier for me?Guys want to talk to you, and girls want to know where you got your dog?s sweater?? And, with her dog by her side, she can hear ?behind the words? for the truth into others? intentions.

About the Author:

As the Dogsexpert, and Founder of http://www.LeashesandLovers.com , Sheryl Matthys talks with dog lovers on how their dogs impact their personal relationships. Leashes and Lovers offers online connections http://www.FetchaFriend.com where dog lovers can search and connect around the world for friendship, doggie playdates, same breed of dog, and possibly love!

Sheryl has two children, two greyhounds and is a certified dog trainer.

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The New Classiest Trend in Dog Housing

2008-12-06T06:49:00.000-08:00

True dog lovers always like to provide their canine familiars with the best treats available in the market. For the most dedicated luxury dog houses are one of the best and classiest ways for the owners to show their love for their pet. Luxury Dog houses are easily becoming a tendency among the classiest dog-friends.

As they become ever more popular among the buyers, so does the offer of this product grows and luxury dog houses come as varied as the client’s taste and wallet; If you are out to get one for your beloved dog all you need is a little market research and you will find plenty of places already selling and/or making you a fully customized dog house.
If you don’t know where to start looking, the internet might be just the perfect place to start looking for luxury dog houses, as there are already many websites dealing with this kind of specific product and the offer keeps getting more advanced and attractive.

Some companies who offer custom dog house building even offer you the possibility to specifically choose all the type of materials involved in the building of the house. The available offer of custom features is immense and they range from actual wall paper, window covering, interior and exterior special wall painting , specific dog furniture- including beds, sofas and even some design pieces that serve also as dog toys- to lighting and air conditioning. The outside of the luxury dog houses have not been forgotten , and if you think your beloved dog deserves it, you can even manage to build him his own private dog house garden, with his own lawn , sand boxes and even a pool . The possibilities are truly virtually infinite.
As long as you keep it functional in the dog’s point of view, you can really build your hearts desire. It is important to keep the dog’s perspective in mind when dealing with custom luxury dog houses. Some features are beautiful and look really good on human’s houses but for the obvious reasons, just don’t work with dogs. Remember you are trying to spoil your dog and make him as happy as possible, not making his life harder.

Popular among this new trend is to build the luxury dog houses in accordance to the dog owners´ own house, including matching the architecture and the design of both the interior and the exterior of the house, thus creating a visual harmony.
The prices of such houses vary as much as the price of houses for human habitation. It will all depend on the level of luxury you are willing to offer your dog; nevertheless it is not an inexpensive business to build luxury dog houses. If you really want to bring something special home to your dog, you need to be ready to loosen up your wallet. This houses can be come a very expensive gift but they are also a great and classy way to show some love to your furry friend.

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3 Types of Natural Dog Food

2008-12-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

The best way of providing your pet dog healthy living is to keep him on a nutritious diet. The basis of good health is healthy food. When a dog is fed well, he has a better chance to maintain good health. Healthy dog food is the same as what nutrition experts tell us to eat; an assortment of fresh foods which are filled with critical nutrients like vitamins and minerals. This is considered to be the better type of diet your pet dogs can have which could add years to their lives.

If you wish your dog to eat the best foods, start by feeding him with some natural and newer food ingredients. Fresh foods have minimal processing. The less the processing, the healthier the food is because fewer important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are lost. A fresh food diet might include home created dog food, a raw diet or dried food. Dr. Richard Pitcairn, a veterinarian who has done extended research in natural pet care, advocates feeding pets a healthy diet of home cooked foods created to the specific needs of the animals.

Raw foods are gaining acceptance with many pet owners. These pet owners are gradually coming to know the goodness of raw foods. Raw foods are proving to work well in the treatment of conditions like long-term allergies as well as other ailments. Rather than feeding Fido a raw bone from your butcher, you can now access wholesome frozen raw foods from specialty stores. Raw foods are now made in frozen form where the dog food is freeze-dried or 'cold processed'. This process ensures the more vital components like enzymes, amino acids and probiotics stay whole.

Another source of natural dog food is the dried diet. These foods are preserved and protected through an action of drying at low temperatures, similar to the ready-made soup mixes which we buy from the store. Since the action involves minimal heat, the built-in enzymatic activity are suspended until such time as the food is rehydrated. The action of dehydration only loses about 3% to 5% of the foods' nutrients. Other food preservation processes like canning or kibble making, the nutrients lost can be in the range of sixty percent or more.

While home-cooked foods are a good healthy option for pet dogs, this may not always be possible since it is tough to keep the ideal ratio and balance between meat and vegetable components of the dog's diet. The good news is that there are pre-mixes now available that take the guessing out of creating homemade dog food. All you need to do is add some water and fresh meat to make a yummy meal for your four-legged friend. Just like we enjoy a delicious meal, it should not be any different for our furry friends. When we pay attention to the freshness of the components, the variety in what is served and the quality of food that we offer our pets, they will not only enjoy their eating experience but will remain happy and healthy, too.

Test Your Canine Acumen

2008-12-02T20:29:00.000-08:00

1. According to tests made at the Institute for the Study of Animal Problems in Washington, D.C., dogs and cats, just like people…
A. Worry about what they will wear to work in the morning.
B. Enjoy reading while eating breakfast.
C. Need a retirement plan.
D. Are either right-handed or left-handed-or rather favor either their right or left paws.

D. Are either right-handed or left-handed-or rather favor either their right or left paws.
TBD: Very, very, interesting, don't you think?

2. Jackals are different from dogs and wolves in what way?
A. They live on a different continent.
B. They are really alien life forms.
C. They are canids.
D. They have one more pair of chromosomes.

D. They have one more pair of chromosomes.
TBD: Even though they may look like alien life forms, they are Canids just like dogs and wolves.

3. Most dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with their ears. However, a few breeds have only about 10 expressions. Can you name those breeds?
A. Bulldogs and Pitbulls
B. Labrador and Golden retrievers
C. Poodles and Dachshunds
D. Beagles and Chihuahuas

A. Bulldogs and Pitbulls
TBD: Due to their breeding, dogs such as Bulldogs and Pitbulls have fewer facial expressions and so are often misinterpreted by other dogs which leads to fights. Poor misunderstood pooches.

4. The fear of dogs and/or rabies is called what?
A. Rabodogophobia
B. Dogophobia
C. Cynophobia
D. Canophobia

C. Cynophobia
TBD: Hey, don't blame us, that's what the research says!

5. Of the more than 300 breeds of dogs that exist worldwide, how many does the American Kennel Club recognize?
A. 300
B. 212
C. 145
D. 101

C. 145
TBD: Gee, I wonder why you would have answered 101?

6. Jack London wrote this story about a dog named Buck. Can you name it?
A. A Dog Named Buck
B. Buck's Marvelous Adventures
C. Don't Pass the Buck
D. Call of the Wild

D. Call of the Wild
TBD: Gosh, we tried to make it easy for those nonliterary types out there… After all, there is even a movie! We read the book, however.

7. The Dalmation was named for the place where the breed first originated, can you name it?
A. Mount Dalmation in Africa
B. Dalmation coast of Croatia
C. Dalmation Island in the Thousand Islands
D. The tiny country of Dalmatia

B. Dalmation coast of Croatia
TBD: The other places are only a figment of our imagination, so far as she knows anyway…

8. Can you name the dog featured in the Grinch Who Stole Christmas?
A. Who
B. Max
C. Rudi
D. Suzi

B. Max
TBD: Phllllbbbttt! To those who didn't know. It was Max who stole the show, don't ya think!

9. The English Romantic poet Lord Byron inscribed this passage on a gravestone "Beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, and all the virtues of man without his vices." Can you name the object of his tribute?
A. His beloved Newfoundland Boatswain.
B. His wife Anna Isabella.
C. His daughter Augusta Ada.
D. His granduncle William.

A. His beloved Newfoundland Boatswain.
TBD: Come on, be real! This is a quiz about dogs!

10. Can you name the dog who caused so many problems for Foghorn Leghorn in the Looney Tunes?

A. Rufus Wufus
B. Barnyard Dog
C. Just Dog
D. Spotted Dog

B. Barnyard Dog
TBD: That was news to us, too.

11. Which animal was first domesticated by humans?

A. Goat
B. Cat
C. Dog
D. Horse

C. Dog
TBD: Apparently some argument can be made that the goat might have come first in some areas, but the dog is Numero Uno for most evidence of early man!

12. Ralph and Sam, the Looney Tune wolf and sheepdog cartoon character adversaries, would engage in what activity between their bouts?

A. They would punch a time-clock.
B. They would have tea.
C. They would play bridge.
D. They would roller-skate.

A. They would punch a time-clock.
TBD: They would punch in at the beginning of each shift and out at the end as well as for their lunch break.

13. The Beatles son "Martha My Dear" was written by Paul McCartney about…

A. His sheepdog Martha
B. His mother Martha
C. His sister Martha
D. His veterinarian Martha

A. His sheepdog Martha
TBD: If you guess wrong, we sincerely hope you guessed "D" because this is a canine quiz after all.

14. Domestic dogs vary widely in appearance and size, but despite these differences all breeds of the domestic dog are essentially identical in anatomy. Which is NOT an anatomical characteristic of the dog?
A. An average of 321 bones in their skeleton.
B. Thirteen pairs of ribs in the rib cage.
C. A spine with seven cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, seven lumbar vertebrae and three sacral vertebrae.
D. The presence of a dewclaw, an extra digit on the paw.

D. The presence of a dewclaw, an extra digit on the paw.
TBD: Apparently not all breeds have a dewclaw and this why the average number of bones in the skeleton varies!

15. Can you name the dog on the Cracker Jack box?
A. Jack
B. Bingo
C. Cracker
D. Prize

B. Bingo
TBD: Just think of all the knowledge we share to make your life more meaningful!

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About this Article Author:

You can enjoy more trivia created by Deanna Mascle at A Trivia Break, The QuizQueen, and Trivial Topics.

The Other Ways To Reward And Keep Your Dog Motivated Other Than Food And How To Keep Your Dog To Sta

2008-12-01T07:48:00.001-08:00

Keeping the attention of a dog while training is not always easy. Dogs can be easily distracted, and it is important to not allow the training sessions to be sabotaged by boredom. Making training fun for the dog and the human alike is vital to creating a happy, well adjusted and well trained dog.

Providing random positive stimuli during the day is a great way to keep the interest of the dog. Doing things the dog enjoys, like walking in the park, riding in the car, and playing with other dogs, is a great way to keep the dog’s attention and reward him for small successes.

For instance, in order to reward the dog for coming to you, for instance, ask the dog to come to you, without giving any clues about a walk, a car ride, or other treats. After the dog has come to you and obediently sat down, attach the leash and start the reward. This can be either the aforementioned walk in the park, ride in the car, or anything else the dog likes to do.

Providing some kind of reward, whether a treat, a special outing, or just a scratch behind the ears, every time the dog does something you want, is a great way to keep your dog motivated. If the dog knows something great is going to happen every time he obeys your command, he will be motivated to please you every time.

Distraction Training
When training any dog, it is important to not let distractions disrupt the training. The dog must be taught to ignore distractions, such as other people, other dogs, other animals and loud noises, and focus on what is being taught These types of distractions can even be used as rewards when training the dog to come when called.

For instance, if your dog enjoys playing with other dogs, whether in a local dog park or with the neighbor’s dogs, let him play freely with those other dogs. Then go into the park or yard and call your dog. When he comes to you, provide lots of praise, treats and other rewards, then immediately allow the dog to go back to playing with his friends.

Repeat this several times and praise the dog each time he comes to you. The dog will quickly learn that coming to you means good things (treats and praise) and not bad ones (being taken away from the park).

If the dog does not master this particular type of training right away, try not to get discouraged. So called distraction training is one of the most difficult things to teach. Dogs are naturally social animals, and breaking away from the pack is one of the most difficult things you can ask your dog to do. Most dogs will be understandably reluctant to leave their canine companions, but it is important to persist.

Training the dog to come to you may require some creativity on your part at first. For instance, waving a favorite toy, or a lure, is a great way to get your dog’s attention and put the focus back on you. If your dog has been clicker trained, a quick click can be a good motivator as well.

Once the dog begins to get the hang of coming when called, you can begin to reduce and eliminate the visual cues and focus on getting the dog to respond to your voice alone. It is important that the dog respond to voice commands alone, since you will not always have the availability of a toy or other lure.

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Discover How You Can Train Your Dog With Immediate Effective Results Using Proven Simple Steps For FREE Click Here => www.absolute-dog-training.com

Succeeding with Puppy Potty Training

2008-11-25T07:34:00.000-08:00

Puppy potty training or housebreaking can be accomplished successfully if you keep a few things in mind.

Right Age

A puppy under eight weeks old is not physically or neurologically ready to be potty trained. If your puppy is younger than eight weeks, it will only frustrate you to try to housebreak or potty train him. Resolve yourself to the idea that you will have to clean up after him for a couple more weeks until he's ready.

Paper Training

Some people choose to begin puppy potty training with paper training. Most experts advise against this because in essence, you are teaching your dog to do his business on your floor. A dog is not capable of telling the difference between a newspaper put down for his purposes and a report you've been working on for weeks that happens to be on the floor next to your chair. Having your puppy learn to use a paper, then expecting him to unlearn it when you want to housebreak him is unreasonable.

Puppy Crates

Crating your puppy can be very helpful. Dogs naturally like to den, so a comfortable crate gives your puppy a secure place to call his own. Under normal circumstances, a dog will not soil his bed so crating a puppy at night after he's been given the opportunity to go outside to potty will help prevent accidents.

Feeding

Puppy potty training begins with proper feeding. Choose a high quality dog food,even if it is more expensive. Not only does it provide better nutrition for your growing puppy, it does not have all the filler cheaper dog foods use. This filler is indigestible and causes gas as well as making your puppy need to move his bowels more often. Feed your puppy at the same times every day then take him outside 15-20 minutes after he's eaten to relieve himself.

Communicating With Your Puppy

Watch your puppy's behavior for signs he needs to relieve himself. Whining, sniffing around and restlessness all indicate a dog that needs to go. Get him outside quickly then praise him for doing well. Establish a word you will use with your dog for potty training. When you praise him, use this word. "Good boy to go potty outside" will help your dog associate what he just did with your pleasure. Dogs love to please.

http://www.pottytrainingtipsonline.com/ provides articles and information if Your Child is Ready for Potty Training for new parents. Great free help, links and more.

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Tips On True Nutritional Value Of Ingredients In Dog Food

2008-11-25T07:30:00.000-08:00

The evolution of dogs has gone from one of a being a strict carnivore to an omnivore digesting both animal and plant tissues. Dogs are no longer similar to their relative, the wolf, which is a strict carnivore subsisting on only meat. Although dogs do have a preference for meaty diets, they are able to live on vegetable protein as long as they supplemented with additional amino acids and other missing nutrients.

Good nutrition and a balanced diet are essential for your dog's health. People often have questions on dog food. Here is some dog food information that should help. What and when you feed your dog early in life will shape its preferences when it is older. This applies to time of day, odor, texture and taste and meal temperature. Up to fifty percent of an adult dogs diet can come from carbohydrates such as grain.

It is important to feed and water your pet on a regular basis. To prevent overheating and dehydration, water should be available to your pet at all times, especially during periods of high activity. Puppies need to eat often, while adult dogs can be fed once or twice each day. For pet owners interested in feeding their dog a homemade diet, dog food recipes are available on the internet under the dog information section.

Life's Abundance food for dogs can be obtained in either the regular formula or a special formula designed to help obese dogs trim down. Overall dry dog food outsells all other types. Typically, dry food contains about ninety percent dry ingredients with about ten percent water, blending some grain, meats, meat by products, fat, minerals and vitamin content. Life's Abundance is a premium type dry dog food that contains no meat by products, instead containing a high protein mixture of meat, grain, dried veggies, fruits, and herbs.

There are some dogs that like canned food more than dry. The scent, taste, and texture of dry foods don't seem as appealing to them as those of the canned product. It has been noticed through time that less tartar accumulates on the teeth of canines that eat dry food, and they don't suffer as frequently from gingivitis. They are also not as likely to be overweight. Because of the gum swelling that accompanies a canned food regime, the tissue around the teeth recedes and the teeth themselves become loose. Renal and hepatic damage can occur as well, due to the gradual passage of bacteria from the infected gums into the blood stream.

Each specific dog has its own specific dietary requirements. This means that no two dogs will need the same amount of food to maintain good weight as well as health. Active dogs, and the breeds they come from, function with a greater need for calories than less active breeds. To this end, many dogs today are overweight. While the weight almost never shows on legs, dog's loin and lumbar areas become consumed by fat. Growing dogs and puppies do require more food per pound than adult or senior animals, but there are special foods for all stages of your pet's life, making your job as a caretaker, easier.

Check the dog food if you find that your dog has less energy, dog food nutrition and visit this website for more detail www.DogFoodReview.net

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2008-11-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

Dog Care

By: Erik Willis

Below are some summer dog care tips we’ve compiled to help make life for both you and your dog happier and healthier.

Problems with Fleas

Biting and scratching on your dog’s lower back, tail, and abdomen are the most common signs of flea infestation and a dermatitis will often flare up in these areas. Eggs may be laid on your dog but usually fall off the dog and into the environment where conditions are right for them to develop into adult fleas. Consequently, it is possible to have a serious flea problem although you have only identified a few fleas on your dog. Egg and larval stages can survive in your home all year and in your yard from spring through late fall (even year long in warmer climates).

Flea control involves treatment of the pet and the environment by means of shampoos, sprays, dips, spot ons, powders, oral medications and collars. Your vet can recommend the most appropriate flea prevention/treatment program to ensure good dog care. Fleas also carry tapeworms so be sure to ask your vet to check your dog for these intestinal parasites as well.

Ticks

Ticks are another parasite that are a common problem for your dog during the warmer summer months. Ticks are not only an irritant and nuisance to your dog but may also transmit several debilitating diseases. Many flea treatment and prevention products will also help with control of ticks.

Additional dog care tips include suggestions that owners of dogs with substantial exposure to ticks should also ask their vet’s advice about the Lyme disease vaccination. It is also suggested that you consult your vet to show you the proper way to remove ticks from your dog (it is not a good idea to try to do it yourself).

Heart worm Disease

Heart worms are parasites transmitted by mosquitoes and can potentially be fatal to your dog. Have your dog tested for heart worms by your vet and ask about recommendations for heart worm preventatives which are often easy and inexpensive to provide. The fact that your dog only goes outside to urinate and defecate does not eliminate the risk of this disease. Mosquitoes are everywhere, so provide good dog care and protect your dog from them!

Pesticides and Lawn Care Products

Many products are potentially toxic to your dog. Be sure to store pesticides and lawn care products where your dog cannot access them. After treating lawns and outside areas, restrict your dog from these areas until exposure danger has passed (check product labels for details). Remember that many types of summer foliage can also be toxic to your dog. Do your best to prevent your dog from having access to eat any potentially harmful plants.

Housing and Travel

High temperatures are no more comfortable for your dog than they are for you. Heat prostration is a common cause of summer illness that can kill many beloved pets each year. If your dog spends a substantial part of its day outside, be sure that you provide a cool, shady spot for it to escape the heat and plenty of cool, clean water to drink. Some of the worst summer tragedies involve pets that are left in vehicles in the sun with the windows partially or even completely rolled up. Temperatures inside a car rapidly climb to more than one hundred degrees and can cause death sometimes in as little as ten minutes!

For more information visit http://www.animal world.com.

Author Resource:-> http://animal-world.com/ will strive to provide accurate and timely information. The knowledge we have today will surely be expanded upon and modified as new studies and discoveries uncover new facts. For more information on dog care visit http://www.animal-world.com/.

Article From Free Article Publishing

2008-11-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

So, will ear mites propose a danger to my dog? The simple answer to this question is yes. Ear mites may affect your dog greatly.

While it can rarely cause accidental death, it would certainly affect your dog's joyful nature. Ear mites are small inconveniences for your pets. Worse, they are living organisms that are thriving on their body for food.

It is possible to find ear mites in dogs and cats, as well as other small animals. Ear mites can be considered as parasites, which actually feed on the epidermal wastes of your pet's body. In this case, they found food in the ears. And there they will stay for as long as they are getting the proper nourishment.

Ear mites may or may not be seen by the naked eye. There are species that are big enough to be seen floating about the hair and the skin of your pet. However, there are also some that can only be observed under a microscope. But then again, you don't have to see ear mites just to know whether or not your dog is suffering from it. There are telltale signs to watch out for.

Dogs that are very irritable and are scratching their ears a lot are most likely to be suffering from this condition. And most of these dogs would have brownish discharges coming out of their ears. The discharges are excessive ear wax. The mites trigger its production.

Generally, you don't have to clean the ears of your dog frequently because they can do it by themselves. So if you see a build up of ear wax in your pet, there's every reason to be alarmed. Your dog could be suffering from ear mites and you have to provide a quick solution to it.

Ear mites rarely lead to death. But that doesn't mean that it is not possible. The most common problem with ear mites is the fact that they can trigger the loss of your dog's hearing. Mites penetrating deep into the ears may cause damage to the ear drums. Keep in mind that the ear is responsible for keeping the body's balance. This is true with both dogs and humans. Ear mites could disrupt that balance and cause seizures to your pet. And if your dog suffered from a bad case of seizure, that's when sudden or eventual death may arise.

Ear mites are highly contagious. So you definitely want to keep your other pets away from the infected ones. This is also the reason why it is very important to address the problem early on. If you are not careful, the disease may spread to all of your pets. And in which case, the mites become harder to eliminate.

Keep your dog clean. That's the first line of defense against ear mites. Make sure that it gets is daily bath. Groom your pet as frequently as required. A healthy, hygienic dog is not likely to acquire any type of diseases - especially not ear mites.

DogEarMites.net - resources and articles dealing with the ear mites in dogs infection, how to prevent ear mites in dogs and how to treat ear mites in dogs

2008-11-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step.

Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step. Dogs should only be allowed off their leash after they have become masters of all the basic obedience commands, such as walking at your heel, sitting and staying on command.

Another skill that must be completely mastered before the dog can be taken off the leash is the come when called command. Even if the dog can heel, sit and stay perfectly, if he cannot be relied upon to come when called, he is not ready to be taken off the leash.

Taking any dog off the leash, especially in a busy, crowded area, or one with a lot of traffic, is a big step and not one to be taken lightly. It is vital to adequately test your dog in a safe environment before taking him off his leash. After all, the leash is the main instrument of control. You must be absolutely certain you can rely on your voice commands for control before removing the leash.

After the dog has been trained to understand the sit, stay and come when called commands, it is important to challenge the dog with various distractions. It is a good idea to start by introducing other people, other animals, or both, while the dog is in a safe environment like a fenced in yard.

Have a friend or neighbor stand just outside the fence while you hold you dog on the leash. As the friend or family member walks around the outside of the fence, watch your dog's reactions closely. If he starts to pull at the leash, quickly tug him back.

Repeat this exercise until the dog will reliably remain at your side. After this, you can try dropping the leash, and eventually removing the leash and repeating the distraction. It is important to vary the distractions, such as introducing other animals, other people, traffic, rolling balls, etc.

After your dog is able to remain still in the face of distraction, start introducing the come when called lessons with distractions in place. Try inviting some of the neighbors, and their dogs, over to play. As the dogs are playing in the fenced in yard, try calling your dog.

When the dog comes to you, immediately give him lots of praise, and perhaps a food reward. After the dog has been rewarded, immediately allow him to go back to playing. Repeat this several times throughout the day, making sure each time to reward the dog and immediately allow him to go back to his fun.

After the dog has seemingly mastered coming when called in his own yard, try finding a local dog park or similar area where you can practice with your dog. It is important to make the area small, or to choose a fenced in area, in case you lose control of the dog. If you cannot find a fenced in area, choose an area well away from people and cars.

Practice with your dog by allowing him to play with other dogs, or just to sniff around, then calling your dog. When he comes to you, immediately reward and praise him, then let him resume his previous activities. Doing this will teach the dog that coming to you is the best option and the one most likely to bring both rewards and continued good times.

Only after the dog has consistently demonstrated the ability to come when called, even when there are many distractions around, is it safe to allow him time off leash. Off leash time should never be unsupervised time. It is important, both for your well being and your dog's, that you know where he is and what he is doing at all times.

It is easy for a dog to get into trouble quickly, so you should always keep an eye on him, whether he is chasing squirrels in the park, playing with other dogs, or just chasing a ball with the neighbor's kids.

For more information please visit http://about-animals.info/

Boston Terrier Breeders And The Ones You Should Avoid

2008-10-28T05:35:00.000-07:00

October 28, 2008

Anyone can throw on a big fake smile, tell you the things they think you want to hear, and try to sell you a Boston Terrier you may not want. A reputable Boston Terrier breeder is someone that you can ask a lot of questions of and they will not be offended and a reputable breeder is going to insist that you do your homework before buying. You will find that an honest breeder will hide nothing from you because an honest breeder has nothing to hide.
The first thing you can do to weed out the shady breeder is to check and see what national breeder registry they are listed with. The gold standard is the American Kennel Club but there are other registries so find out which one your breeder is associated with so you can see what kind of breeding standards they use when doing their business. Also check to make sure they are really listed with the registry, do not take their word on it. Remember you are checking someone out so do your own work.

You will never get better advice about any aspect of your dog’s life than from your vet. If you do not have a vet yet then the time to start a relationship with a vet is when you are looking for a Boston Terrier breeder. Your vet may have opinions on the breeders you are considering and may also have breeders to recommend to you. Always consult with your vet prior to dealing with any Boston Terrier breeder or any dog breeder of any kind.
It is not a common route to take, but you should also probably have a talk with your local law enforcement officials about the breeders you are considering. If the local law enforcement officials in your area are very familiar with a particular breeder then it would probably be a very good idea for you to avoid dealing with that breeder for your good and also to protect your family from any future problems with your new pet.

After you have gone through asking everyone else what they think of your prospective Boston Terrier breeders it is now time to talk to the breeders themselves. See what their attitude is about breeding and determine by their actions and attitudes whether or not this is someone you want to do this very important business with and stay in touch with for many years to come.
Make sure that they will be available for consultation after the sale is over and just see if this is a person that you would be comfortable getting a pet from. We all know that a pet is part of the family so make sure you are making the right choice and ask your prospective Boston Terrier breeders a lot of questions.

The relationship between breeder and owner goes on for many years and if you make the wrong breeder choice then that is something you may wind up regretting for a very long time.
You need to do the right thing and make sure that you are choosing the right breeder for you and your family because in the end that relationship between you and your breeder is what is most important for the health of your dog and the happiness of your family.

Bad Dog Food: The Rise of Cancer in Dogs

2008-10-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

They say that dogs are a man’s best friend. It’s true, isn’t it? There is nothing better than waking up to slobbery kisses first thing in the morning, or getting jumped in the excitement of you coming home to your dog. Dogs absolutely love their owners and the owner’s love their dogs and whenever a dog has a serious medical issue is almost the same as having a family member or relative having a serious medical issue. Some medical issues in dogs are extremely similar to the ones people have, and one that is on the rise is cancer.

Bad Dog food not bad dog Cancer is more prevalent in dogs these days than ever. Believe it or not, the current rate of cancer in dogs is much higher than it is in humans. It’s commonly known that part of the problem is when the majority of dog owners switched to kibble as opposed to natural food. There are several factors that can go into why dogs are getting cancer. The least controllable one is genetics. If the parents of the dog or any dog in the family line have had cancer that means the dog is more susceptible to getting it, just like in humans. The environment can affect this as well, if dogs are around a lot of smoke or pollution.

You are what you eat - even if you are a dog Then of course, their nutrition and diet is a huge part of keeping a dog healthy in general. This is the one we have the most control over. It’s important, just like us, to have healthy eating habits. Yes, it’s easier to just scoop a cup of kibble or dry dog food into their bowl and let them eat, but it’s not always the best thing. Consulting with a nutritionist that specifically deals with animals is the best way to see what kind of nutritional options that is out there.

There are even herbal and vitamin supplements that can help give your pet the nutrition they need. It’s understandable that feeding a dog steak every night is out of the question, no matter how much the dog would love it. Of course not all dry food is the same for your dog but if you don’t do your research you could really be harming your dog. Just like keeping your body healthy, keeping your dog healthy is a great way to keep them happy, and in turn having them around longer will make you happy as well. Exercise everyday, along with proper feeding habits is a great way to battle a potential thread of the ever-increasing cancer in dogs.

About the Author
Tom Peters is a dog lover and owner of Birkdale Medicinals. He created a healthier dog food and herbal supplement line after losing his beloved Banjo to cancer. Keep your dog healthy with a pet mix created for ultimate dog health with Organic pet food

Dog Parvo - The deadliest viral disease of dogs

2008-10-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

The dog parvo virus is probably the most common viral illness of dogs at the moment. The virus is extremely small (the Latin word for small is "parvo") - just a few grams of stool can contain millions of virus particles. The dog parvo virus has been known and identifiable since the late 70's and can be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with vomit or diarrhea from an infected dog.

The Canine parvovirus (CPV), also refered to as "the dog parvo", attacks the intestinal tract, white blood cells, and in some rare cases the heart muscle. The common form of the dog parvo has a predilection for rapidly dividing cells (similar to cancer) such as the cells of intestinal lining and that is why it causes diarrhea and ulcerative enteritis. When the virus lashes out and attacks this type of cells, it makes dogs and puppies not being able to assimilate or absorb nutrients or liquids.

Symptoms of the dog parvo can take anywhere between 7 to 10 days before they are visible. In the early stages, symptoms that are likely to be noticed by the dog owner are a lack of energy and a loss of appetite. As a result, dogs infected with the parvo virus will soon show clear symptoms of dehydration and malnutrition. As the virus spreads, the dog parbo symptoms are characterized by high fever, severe diarrhea, quite often bloody, vomiting, lethargy and severe dehydration. If your dog, but especially your new puppy, begins exhibiting any of these symptoms, see a veterinarian right away. Because even though the dog parvo virus can also infect adult dogs, it is more often found in small puppies because of their low immune system. Parvovirus requires swift action to help an infected dog survive as when parvo is involved, every hour counts.

The severity of the disease depends upon the age of the dog, presence of maternal antibody, size of the virus dose and the breed of the infected dog. Though many dogs become highly ill due to this viral disease, breeds like Doberman Pinschers and Pit Bull Terriers may reveal clinical symptoms to a very severe degree.

According to conventional veterinarians, there is no known cure for the dog parvo. Conventional treatment is, therefore, mostly supportive and consists of maintaining the dog's body fluids, balancing electrolyte levels and maintaining body temperature. But even if a dog survives the initial bout of dog parvo, there is still a high risk of collapsing during the recovery period. You should get your dog immunized to protect them in case they come into contact with dogs that have the illness. Most veterinarians recommend that young puppies to be vaccinated every 3 to 4 weeks beginning when the pup is 6 weeks of age and continuing until it is 20 weeks old.

The dog parvo virus is most common in places where dogs congregate, such as parks, animal shelters or even at dog shows. Dogs may take in the virus from sniffing or consuming contaminated fecal matter, from cleansing himself, or from consuming food off the ground or flooring. That is why dogs that spend their time confined to a house or a yard and are not in contact with other dogs have much less chance of exposure to the canine parvo virus. You must also be aware of the fact that the dog parvo virus may be even brought home to your dog on shoes and even automobile tires. If you allow your dog to live outside, then remember to alter drinking water on a regular basis because there is a chance that the water can contain parvo virus (carried by birds on their feets or feathers or in their feces).CPV is very resistant and can remain in feces-contaminated ground for five months or more if conditions are favorable.Be aware of the fact that the dog parvo symptoms resemble other diseases (like poisoning or worms) and are often misdiagnosed. The only way to know if a dog has the Parvo virus is through a positive diagnostic test.

About the author:

For more information, visit http://dog-parvo.blogspot.com, a website dedicated to inform pet owners about Dog Parvo. The website contains articles on symptoms, treatments and prevention. Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Hunting With A Dog

2008-10-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hunting along with a dog is a rather controversial sport these days and there are some dogs better at it than other, some dogs are better “at” a specific type of hunting than others, that is why hunting with a dog is a popular sport among hunting enthusiasts. There aren’t any specific groups registered in the American Kennel Club ( AKC ) for hunting alone other than the hounds which are known to have an ancestral background in their lineage in the hunting domain.These traits vary from dog to dog: some have a very developed scenting ability while others have very good stamina and so on.

Some of the most famous hounds would be the: Beagle, Norwegian Elkhound, American Foxhound, Black And Tan Coonhound and others as well. The widely known AKC Sporting Group is a rather large group of hunting dogs for those hunters that enjoy hunting along with a dog in a woody or watery environment.

Some of the dogs that belong to this group would be the: American Water Spaniel, Golden Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer and others as well.

Moving on to the interesting part, the exciting aspect about the above mentioned dogs ( and the rest of them, of course ) is that each breed has its own natural behavior. Hunting along with one of these dogs will surely improve your hunting efficiency but choosing the most appropriate type of dog is crucial as some dogs excel at fox hunting for example while other are best to be used for squirrel hunting. The terriers were originally developed for hunting small games and killing vermin and if you plan on hunting squirrels for example, a working terrier is the best way to do it. The hunting dogs are most recommended for any type of hunting as they will prove their efficiency if properly trained.

The main disadvantage regarding hunting dogs is that the training procedure is rather complex and might not show up the expected results when hunting for the first time with the dog. Regarding the aspect of training a hunting dog, it is also a matter of time because training a dog properly for hunting purposes can take up to one year and in some cases you will have only one chance to do it because some mistakes are irreversible. An example of an irreversible mistake would be the lack of early socialization. We recommend that you do a little bit of research before choosing your hunting dog ( keeping in mind the type of game you are going to use the dog at ), start the training from an early age and things should go smoothly.

All things considered, hunting along with a dog has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of using a dog is that if the dog was properly trained from an early age, the chances of catching more animals is higher as this dogs will do some of the work for you. The main disadvantage would be that the entire training process takes some time and every dog is different in its own way so there is no such thing as a standard training procedure applicable for all breeds.

Summary: Hunting with a dog can be a very exciting and entertaining experience but training a dog for hunting takes a lot of time and practice in order to do it properly.

About Author: Razvan Marian Jr. is the owner of www.huntingdogsreviews.com where you can find useful but also interesting facts about hunting dogs.

6 Different Dog breeds you don't know

2008-10-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

Everybody has heard of the basset hound or the beagle. This type of dogs has proved to have many qualities or has been advertised a lot. The influence plays also an important role:if one of my friends. to whom I compete has just bought a pitbull, I should definitely bring about a Tossain. How about the Polish Owczarek Nizinny? i know nothing about it so this shouldn't be my choice. There are many breeds of dogs left on this planet which prove to have more qualities, yet, are unpopular. This article will present you some of these breeds.

The affenpinscher
This is the smallest dog in the breed which also presented us the schnauzers. The affenpinscher is thought to be the most suitable for a family pet as it is very intelligent, easy to train of a good demeanor. They have a dark fur and have always shown affection to human beings.
The anatolian Shepherd
This dog breed is of a medium size and has proved to be very courageous. This breed is very powerful and loyal and it is used in U.S.A especially for military and hunting purposes.

The basenji
The dogs from this breed are medium sized muscular dogs and are also named the Africa Barkless Dogs. What is funny is that they ever bark because they don't want to do so as researches have shown they are not mute.They are extremely known in Africa for their hunting skills.They are not suitable as family pets but their aversion to humans can be diminished if they are handled properly from an early age.

The Bouvier des Flandres
This small and steady dog breed is somewhat similar to the terrier one . Their fur is generally in dark shades and they have proved to be very calm. At the beginning they were bred as herders in France but nowadays they are used for police and military purposes, as well as guidance for blind persons.

The central Asian Ovtcharka
The Central Asian Ovtcharka includes only large and muscular dogs. They appear to be very loyal and fearless dogs with strong protective instincts which makes them being used as watchdogs. As any other large dog they have their ears and tail cut from an early age.

The Polish Owczarek Nizinny
This dog is of a medium size muscular dog with a long fur which covers its eyes. It can be used as a family pet, being very loyal, yet they shouldn't be left alone because they are notorious for the 'disasters' they cause in this situation.
All in all what we do know is that many dog breeds are not so famous but they prove to have some qualities which cannot be surpassed. They may be great hunters or family pets; the idea is that we should pay much attention to them as they are really fantastic.
For great information about dog breeders, dog breeds, dog books, dogs for sale, stud dogs, dog names, dog rescue, dogs wanted and missing dogs just visit us at http://www.Doggies.ca

About The Author
Doggies.ca Admin
Everybody has heard of the basset hound or the beagle. This type of dogs has proved to have many qualities or has been advertised a lot.

5 Shocking Facts About Commercial Dog Food

2008-10-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

After publishing an article online about my dog Joe and his battle with Canine Liver Disease, I was inundated with e-mails from dog owners worldwide whose pets were suffering from diseases of the heart, kidneys and various chronic digestive problems.

In many cases, after simply changing their pets diet I was fascinated to note there were major marked improvements in the health of their dogs across a wide range of canine diseases.After many hours of research I made a series of shocking discoveries about the commercial dog food that many people feed their much-loved pet……here is just a sample of the information that I was amazed to find

· Meat or Poultry by-products are very common in wet pet foods. The better brands of pet food, such as many “super-premium,” “natural,” and “organic” varieties, do not use by-products. On the label, you’ll see one or more named meats among the first few ingredients, such as “turkey” or “lamb.” These meats are still mainly leftover scraps; in the case of poultry, bones are allowed, so “chicken” consists mainly of backs and frames—the spine and ribs, minus their expensive breast meat. The small amount of meat left on the bones is the meat in the pet food. Even with this less-attractive source, pet food marketers are very tricky when talking about meat

· So-called “4D” animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled) were only recently banned for human consumption and are still legitimate ingredients for pet food.

· Contrary to the myth propagated by pet food companies, dry food is not good for teeth. Given that the vast majority of pets eat dry food, yet the most common health problem in pets is dental disease, this should be obvious. Humans do not floss with crackers, and dry food does not clean the teeth.

· A claim that a named meat (chicken, lamb, etc.) is the #1 ingredient is generally seen for dry food. Ingredients are listed on the label by weight, and raw chicken weighs a lot, since contains a lot of water. If you look further down the list, you’re likely to see ingredients such as chicken or poultry by-product meal, meat-and-bone meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, or other high-protein meal. Meals have had the fat and water removed, and basically consist of a dry, lightweight protein powder.

It doesn’t take much raw chicken to weigh more than a great big pile of this powder, so in reality the food is based on the protein meal, with very little “chicken” to be found. This has become a very popular marketing gimmick, even in premium and “health food” type brands·

Feeding recommendations or instructions on the packaging are sometimes inflated so that the consumer will end up feeding — and purchasing — more food. One of the most common health problems in pets, obesity, may also be related to high-carb, high-calorie dry foods. Both dogs and cats respond to low-carb wet food diets. Overweight pets are more prone to arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.To find out more about what YOUR dog is REALLY eating and what YOU can do about it please visit:www.moredogfoodfacts.com

Warning: Don't Let Your Child be a Dog Bite Victim-use These Helpful Tips

2008-10-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

There are many factors which can increase the chance of your or your child being a victim of a dog bite or dog attack.Owners of dogs, teenagers, grandparents, babysitters, caregivers of all types and especially parents of young children, must keep in mind all of the factors that can result in or lead to aggressive and harmful behavior in dogs.

Of course, the greater the number of these factors which are present will increase the likelihood that a damaging or injurious bite or attack can occur.
For example: If a canine is continuously kept on a leash or chain, then there is a much increased chance that such a dog will be aggressive and/or lack proper "people skills."Not surprisingly, male dogs are more likely to exhibit aggressive tendencies and account for a higher percentage of bites and attacks on children and adults.

Notwithstanding the previous fact, dominant, poorly trained and socialized or fearful female dogs will, and often do, bite children and their caregivers.If there are two or more dogs in a yard without the dog owner present, then there is a significantly higher chance of encountering or experiencing dog bites or dangerous do behavior.

The greater number of dogs that are present equals a much higher risk for attacks, bites, or maulings , which are associated with pack behavior.
Non-neutered or un-spayed dogs typically demonstrate higher levels of aggressive behavior.
Some additional evidence shows that the number of dog attacks and bites goes up during the warmer months of the Summer due the higher volume of people outside and in the presence of a greater number of dogs.

Disturbingly, the single, most common cause of deadly dog bites and seriously harmful canine attacks is the owner of the dog, who does not properly train, supervise or care for their animal.
As a father of two young children and a lawyer who handles injury claims associated with dog bites/attacks, I want to do everything I can to keep my kids safe and avoid them being hurt by a dog.
As a fellow parent, sibling, aunt/uncle, or friend, I know that you also want to keep all the children in your lives safe from dangerous dog behavior.

To help us all achieve this very important goal, I have compiled the following list of things that all children should be taught about dogs:
-Don't chase or tease dogs.
-Wait to be introduced to the dog by the dog's adult owner.
-Ask the dog owner's permission to pet their dog first, before trying to pet the dog.
-Wait for a dog owner's permission to pet the dog and then teach your child to let the dog sniff the child's hand first, before petting the dog.
-Pet the animal gently after the dog sniffs his/her hand.
-Never pet a dog while it is eating or sleeping.
-Never approach a dog that has puppies or is nursing puppies.

Learn the items on this list and then teach the children in your life these valuable tips and hopefully you and your children will avoid be another victim.
-Never pet a dog while it is playing with a toy.
-Never try to take a dog's toy away from the dog.
-Don't play rough with dogs.
-If your child is outside and a stray dog approaches, then teach your child to not run away, but to try backing away slowly. The dog will always be able to run faster than the child and could chase your child and attack.
Put these tips into action and keep yourself and your children safe around dogs.
Don't wait.
You never know when a dangerous situation will present itself.

Flower Dog Collar

2008-10-12T21:07:00.001-07:00

Dog Outdoor Floormat

2008-10-09T09:29:00.001-07:00

German Shepherds - The Family Watch Dog

2008-10-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of different breeds of dogs, but among the world's most popular dog breeds there are a few that have been singled out as the most loyal, hard-working and intelligent. German Shepherds have long been valued for these qualities and more.The German Shepherd is a newer breed. It originated in 1899 in Germany and was used for herding sheep.

The breed was created when German ex-military member and veterinary student Max von Stephanitz saw a dog with admirable working qualities. The dog was strong and intelligent, with a superior sense of smell and fierce loyalty.Von Stephanitz purchased the dog and bred it with his own working dogs. Eventually, he created the breed we now know as German Shepherds. Every German Shepherd today can be traced back to von Stephanitz and his breeding efforts.The name of the breed has been a source of several controversies since its inception in 1899.

The original name given to the breed by Max von Stephanitz translated literally to "German Shepherd Dog." In the 1940's, the Kennel Club officially changed the breed's name to Alsation Wolf Dog. The change was due to the fear that the breed would become unpopular because of widespread anti-German sentiments during WW2.Not long after this name change, the general public began to fear that Alsation Wolf Dogs were actually wild and aggressive half wolves. While this was not true, the public's fear was enough to prompt the Kennel Club to change the name again, this time to simply Alsation.Dog lovers in various countries pressured kennel clubs for another name change in 1977.

This time, they asked that the breed revert to its original name. Since then, the official name of the breed has been German Shepherd Dog.The original German Shepherd Dogs were used to herd and protect sheep on working farms in Germany. Since then, German Shepherds have been used in a variety of working capacities. Perhaps most well-known is their use as police and military working dogs. In rural settings, German Shepherds are extremely useful for search and rescue missions. Their keen sense of smell and dedication to pleasing their masters make them diligent workers.In a more urban environment, German Shepherd Dogs are extremely useful for locating drugs, explosives and fleeing suspects.

The strength of the dogs makes them ideal for taking down dangerous or running suspects. They are often used in airports and mail processing facilities to sniff out contraband in luggage and packages.In recent years, some concerns have been raised about the safety of German Shepherd Dogs. There have been some reported cases of the dogs turning violent or attacking people. However, most of these cases are based on anecdotal evidence.

Dogs tend to react aggressively when mistreated or threatened, or when protecting their masters. This has been the cause for many of the so-called German Shepherd 'attacks'.Overall, German Shepherd Dogs are very safe to have around. In fact, they make outstanding guard dogs. They are protective of their owners and will often put themselves in danger to save their masters. They are currently the third most popular dog breed in the United States and enjoy popularity all over the world.In Spain and the Balearic Islands especially, dog lovers appreciate the loyalty and beauty of this regal breed.

According to licensing records, in fact, the German Shepherd Dog is the most popular dog breed in Menorca - the popular holiday island has a reputation of being extremely safe. That reputation is thanks, in part, to these gentle working dogs. They are always on the job, protecting their adoptive families and keeping watch for any signs of trouble such as housebreakers.

Dogs Are Our Best Friends and with Good Reason

2008-10-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

Why are there so many dog lovers out there ? Dogs share our lives in a way that most other animals can't, and they're so commonplace that it's easy to take their faithful companionship for granted. The purpose of this article is to remind us of why we love dogs so much, to spare a few minutes and to spare a few words in praise of "man's best friend," the dog. Dogs are friendly and they love human companionship. Whose ego would not be gratified at the sight of a happy dog who can't wait to greet you at the end of a hard day ? Your dog waits for you by the door, face smiling, mouth open and tail wagging, ready to dote on you, his best friend in the world.

Dogs are loyal and, as pack animals, they respond to the presence of a leader - you !
Dogs are eager to please you in any way they can. When you're feeling blue your dog will remain by your side silently comforting you. When you're happy and excited, your dog will leap about you and share in your joy. Dogs are playful. They love physical activity such as going for walks, fetching sticks, leaping into ponds, and racing wildly to and fro. Dogs will join you for a jog or for a day in the park or even for an exhuberant game of frisbee. Yet dogs can also be soft and cuddly and ready at anytime for a loving pat and a reassuring hug. They're affectionate and they're soothing to stroke, plus most dogs can also remain calm when necessary and be tolerant of small children who don't yet know how to be quiet or to behave gently around animals.

Dogs can be trained so that they can easily cohabitate with us in our human-built dwellings. They can also be trusted to act appropriately around other people and in public. Dogs can learn to save nature's call for outdoor walks, to walk on a leash when on public roads where cars lurk, and to sit and to stay whenever and whereever necessary.

The family dog is as much a part of daily life within a home as is any human household member. Our dogs are always there for us, day and night, sharing in every activity from breakfast time through a cozy evening spent watching TV. They can share both our indoor and many of our local outdoor activities, but that's not all. Dogs also play a big part in family life even when the family isn't at home. They can readily go places with us in cars, everywhere from a romp in the local park to a family vacation. Because they can travel with us, they can be a part of our lives in a way that most other companion animals can't. As dogs can participate in many of our most unusual experiences and outdoor adventures, they become forever associated with many of our most treasured memories.

Dogs, in all of their various shapes and sizes, are also beautiful animals to admire and to look at. From their big beautiful eyes and lovely faces, to their soft, sleek, shiny coats, to the tips of their joyfully wagging tails, dogs are a pleasure to behold. With so many different breeds to choose from, everyone can choose the dog whose appearance most appeals to them, whether large or small, short or long-muzzled, short-haired or long-haired or curly or straight-haired, with a muscular build or a slim build, with an elegant face or a comical face, and in any number of colors.

Each family can adopt the perfect dog to suit their taste and lifestyle by considering factors such as a dog's size and temperment. Does the family have a large fenced yard where a big dog can romp in safety, or a cramped apartment suitable for small dogs only ? Can the family pet care budget support a large dog with a large appetite ? Are there lots of flower beds that might be dug up and ruined by a breed such as a terrier ? Are there children in the house who require an extra gentle dog who'll tolerate the uninformed tail-pulling of a pre-schooler or the roughhousing of a ten year old ?

Does the family have the time available to give a dog all the love, attention, exercise and play that he deserves, or will he be alone all day ? How about two dogs to keep each other company when the human members of the family aren't around ? Perhaps a loveable mutt or two would be the ideal choices ! The local dog shelter is likely to be harboring many abandoned dogs who are sad and lonely and desperately in need of a second chance to find true happiness with a loving family.

Dogs give us the best of themselves: their love, loyalty, unconditional acceptance and affection, playfulness and companionship. In return, we owe them our best and the best care that we can give them, including a healthy, well-balanced diet, constant access to clean water and shelter from the hot sun or extreme cold, regular brushing and other grooming, ongoing veterinary care, plus annual vaccinations. Dogs should also be spayed or neutered, so that they do not contribute to the tragedy of the pet overpopulation problem.

A safe environment is, of course, a must. Indoors, be sure that cleaning products, medications, houseplants and other potential poisons are kept safely out of reach. Upper floor windows need secure grills or screens if they are to be opened. Heavy objects must not be left where they might fall on and injure dogs.

Outdoor yards need secure fences if there are roads with cars nearby. (Please don't chain dogs outside and deny them their freedom of movement.) Antifreeze and other poisons mustn't be allowed to leak where any animals might have access to them and try to drink them.

A leash should be used for walks where traffic poses a threat to safety.
Don't skimp on daily exercise and provide lots of opportunities to run around and play but, if a little dog has short legs, remember to slow down and not force him to overwork his little legs in trying to keep up with your larger stride.
Don't force dogs to hurry past every tree when out for a walk, either. Sometimes dogs just need to sniff, so don't rush them too much. Above all else, dogs deserve gentle handling and an abundance of our time and attention. Love can make a dog's world go round as much as love makes our world go round. When we give our love freely to our dogs, we receive their love in return.
Dogs can truly be man's and woman's and children's best friends, and we should feel honored to be theirs, as well.
Source: Free Articles

Beware of Dog

2008-10-07T07:48:00.001-07:00