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Archive for July, 2009

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What are the basic principles for attaining the three main attributes associated with a happy, healthy dog, a wet nose, a wagging tail and a shiny coat!

No dog is too old or too young to begin a regular grooming regimen. Make your companion shine.

 Clean, well-groomed fur, trimmed nails, clear bright eyes, and clean teeth, each breed  requires  some type of grooming. While not every dog will be as high-maintenance as a Shih-Tzu or Poodle, all dogs minimally need to have their teeth brushed and cleaned, nails clipped and coats brushed.

 Appropriate grooming is not only important for a dog’s appearance but for his health and well-being as well. Some key supplies for do-it-yourself dog grooming include brushes, combs, clippers, shampoo, and nail clippers. Regular brushing and combing  remove dead hair and dirt and avoid matting. Dogs who are repeatedly groomed tend to have a healthier and shinier coat because it stimulates the blood supply.

You will be able to examine your dog closely for any problems while grooming. Move the hair to the side and examine the skin closely for signs of fleas, ticks or skin irritations. Look for any abnormal problems with the coat such as mats, tangles, dandruff, etc. Mats and tangles can be carefully removed while grooming.

  All dogs have sensitive areas that need to be groomed a little more gently and carefully than others. By paying special attention to these areas, you will help make your dog more comfortable while being groomed, and he will not resist future grooming sessions.  

The best time to start proper grooming habits is as soon as you bring your puppy home. The earlier you start, the better adjusted to grooming your dog will be. If a puppy is young, baths might not be necessary; still, there are other things you can do to begin conditioning your dog to future grooming. Dogs who are never handled or groomed at home will battle the process until they get used to it. To get your dog adjusted try handling him consistently. Rub his ears, move his gums to examine his teeth, move his legs, hold his paws and engage in other activities that imitate a visit to the Vet or the groomer. when the time for grooming arrives, you will be glad that you handled your dog in this way, he will be much better off.

  If you dog’s coat is very short you can try a brush made entirely of soft rubber. This will provide follicle stimulation and do away with excess hair, but will not hurt the skin. If your dog has a longer coat, take into account a bristled brush or a slicker brush with curved metal teeth. This will ensure that the hair is detangled, as shorter rubber bristles will not comb through this type of coat.

Happy grooming, take good care of your wonderful fury friend.

 

 

 

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The health and care of your dog begins even before you bring your puppy home.  Whether you get your dog from the pound or from an accredited breeder, you need to begin caring for your dog’s health from day one.

Whether you get a new puppy from a breeder, or adopt a dog or puppy from the pound, you need to choose a good veterinarian with whom you and your dog will feel comfortable with for all of your dog’s health care needs.  Before you bring your new puppy home it is important that you know what vaccination and de-worming program your puppy had previously.  You’ll need to continue on this program until your puppy is fully vaccinated and protected from puppy illnesses like parvo and distemper.  If you are getting your dog or puppy from a shelter, they also need to be started on a good health care regime, so see your veterinarian right away. Good nutrition is also important in your dog’s health: again, check with your veterinarian; they will be able to recommend the best food for your dog or puppy.

Once you have established a relationship with your veterinarian, they will tell you when to bring your dog or puppy back to be spayed or neutered.  Spaying and neutering prevents unwanted puppies and may also avoid problems later on like urinating or marking by male dogs, and heat cycles in female dogs.

Another essential part of your dog’s health is exercise. Giving your dog daily or twice daily exercise is very important not only for your dog’s health but also for his happiness.  Dogs of all sizes love to go for walks with their families.  Exercise is good not only for weight maintenance but to release excess energy and build strong minds and bodies.

Maintaining a good health care program can maximize the life of your pet and ensures that your pet will lead a quality life in your home.

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Airedale, Bedlington, Cairns, Cesky, Fox, Jack Russel, Irish, Yorkshire (Yorkie), American Pit Bull, and bull terrier are just some of the terrier breeds. These dogs are very popular throughout the world. As you read this article, you are going to learn about to of the best terrier breeds. Terriers as pets (type of terriers including Yorkshire Terrier) is what you will be reading about.

The American Pit Bull Terrier is one of the most popular types of terrier. Unfortunately, this breed has gained a somewhat notorious reputation as being vicious when they became a popular choice for dog fights. This poor breed would be intentionally bred for quantity, rather than quality, and some owners would even abuse them as pups to raise them to be ferocious in dog fights in which they would bet on the dog. This is a very unfair and limited portion of the pit bull’s history. What about Sergeant Stubby—the pit bull who took part in World War II? He began as a morale boost for the 102nd infantry, yet soon became a valued soldier when he began warning his unit of poisonous gas, found wounded men in “no man’s land,” and could warn of the incoming artillery shells.

Next, we are going to tell you about the Yorkshire Terrier. This is a pretty little creature that has a silky coat that is very long and parts down the spine. They have a head that is rather flat with V shaped ears. These pets, just like any of the other terriers are eager to go on an adventure.

If you are looking on more information on terriers, then there are many sites you can turn to. These breeds are high energy, loyal, brave and are all ready for an adventure. They make perfect family dogs as well. They come in both big and small groups. If you are looking for a pit bull or any other, then we highly recommend you first taking a look in the animal shelter. You should also make sure you are ready for a dog.

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There are so many different things that you should know about when it comes to premature puppy care, and so whether you are a veterinarian or not, you should still know at least something about premature puppy training, so that if the situation ever arises where you need it, then you will be prepared and ready.

About Premature Puppy Care

One of the first and most important things that you need to know about premature puppy care is the fact that they are a lot like humans; premature puppies need warmth, and loving, and you also need to make sure that they do not get dehydrated.

Especially with the constant heat that you have to have surrounding them, they can often get incredibly dry, and so you have to make sure that they are taking in enough fluid to keep themselves healthy.

As for the heat, you are going to want to make sure that you have them in a mildly heated room, with lots of blankets covering them. This is because, in order to provide the proper premature dog training, you want to make sure that the room itself is not overly humid, but that there are enough blankets to keep every part of them warm.

If you found more than one puppy, then the best idea is to let them sleep all together and then cover them with the blankets, because not only will this keep them even warmer, but as well it will help them to get better quicker because they will have the company of another dog there beside them.

As for food and nutrition, premature puppies will not, for the most part, eat a lot of food. What they need to be drinking at that point anyway is milk, and so if their mother is not around then you are going to have to provide the milk for them.

You will most likely have to feed them out of bottles until they are old enough to feed on their own, and this means making sure that you put them on a feeding schedule so that they can get enough milk, and so that you will not forget when or how much to feed them.

Love is one of the most important factors of all here, and so as long as you love the puppies and treat them well, they are most likely going to make some sort of positive progress.

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Christmas is a special time of the year. Get Fido into the spirit with his very own Christmas ornaments and a stocking to hang on the mantle. Don’t forget your canine friends when shopping for Christmas, as there is a wide array of holiday gifts available for all of your four legged friends.

There a unique selection of Christmas ornaments for nearly every breed of dog available, so we can decorate our trees and homes with beautiful ornaments displaying our favorite breed.  Some ornaments show the breeds of dogs on both sides so that as they are hung on the tree, the picture can be seen from any angle. You can find gold or brass ornaments etched with the dog breed of your choice, even tiny velvet stockings holding glass figurines of your dog would be adorable on your tree. You can personalize round ball ornaments with your dog’s name, or ornaments that look like little bones.  There are even hand-beaded ornaments or glass domed ornaments displaying your breed of dog. Many different kinds and shapes of ornaments are available to show your love for your dog, it will be difficult to choose and you will want to get more than one.

Now Fido and Fifi were all snug in their beds, while visions of chew toys danced in their heads. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care… That’s right, there are stockings for your dogs, too!

A fun way to give your dogs their raw hide treats and chew toys is in their very own stocking. Stockings can come in a variety of materials and styles that can again be personalized with both your pet’s name and a picture of his breed.

If you have more than one dog, why not personalize a stocking for all of them? Fill their stockings with a variety of dog toys and treats. Put a new dog bed with a squeaky toy in it under the tree, and with the stockings and Christmas ornaments, it will be a day they will dream about for many nights to come!

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Lab puppy care will make a significant difference in the life of a dog.  People usually get their dogs when they are little puppies so the training and care of this puppy can be important to the long life of the dog.  Lab puppy care should start from the choice of the breed.  Lab puppy care is quite easy compared to the care of these dogs grown to full size.  A Lab puppy is usually an adorable bundle of soft hair that eats a little bit from a bowl carefully placed on the kitchen floor.A full grown Lab can be a huge, monstrous dog that is filled with unbelievable energy.  Anyone looking for a new pet should check out the full grown animals.

Lab puppy care should start with choosing an expert breeder.  These people know how to produce great dogs, and they start training the dogs properly at a very young age.  This training could make a difference in the behavior of the dog from the very beginning until the dog ages gracefully.  Lab puppy care will be much easier if the breeder has done the proper dog training from the birth of the dog.  When the dog has grown completely, this proper training should make a huge difference when trying to control a huge, full-grown Lab.

Lab Puppy Care Includes Serious Training Methods And Proper Nutrition

Nothing is more important in Lab puppy care than proper healthcare.  Each puppy should have some shots before they are turned over to the new owner.  These shots should be followed up on a regular basis with periodic visits to a qualified veterinarian.The proper shots from a doctor will help to avoid serious problems with each puppy.  Lab puppy care should include special attention to the eyes of the puppy.  Labs are often susceptible to eye problems so this is very important. 

Lab puppy care includes a place for exercise because Labs are very frisky and energetic.  These puppies should be able to get enough exercise.  A Lab puppy who gets some attention with a game of fetch will not get into other mischief.  Lab puppy care requires some basic puppy training including staying happily on a leash and sitting when commanded.  All the members of the family should take part in the training of the puppy or the puppy will respond to some members and not others.

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Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States today, primarily because their friendly disposition makes them an excellent choice as a family pet. This dog was originally bred in Newfoundland, Canada, and was used by fisherman to jump into icy waters and pull up nets. These dogs turned up in England in the 1800’s, and this is where the retrieving instincts of the breed were sharpened. Today, in addition to being a popular family dog, the Labrador retriever is used as a service dog for the disabled and as a drug detector for law enforcement organizations. If you are considering this type of dog for your next family pet, there are a few basics that you need to know about Labrador puppy training.

The Temperament of the Labrador Retriever

This breed of dog is extremely social and energetic, so a big part of your Labrador puppy care will be to provide your dog with plenty of room for running and lots of playtime with you. A large fenced yard is the best place for this type of pup to play, and you will want to have a few toys on hand that you can use to play fetch with your pup. Another important part of Labrador dog traing is to take him on many walks, but never allow your dog out of his confined space without a leash. Because Labrador retrievers have so much energy, the more exercise you offer to your pup, the easier it will be to train him.

Labrador retrievers are intelligent animals, so training needs to begin as soon as your puppy comes home. An obedience class is a good idea as part of your Labrador puppy care as well, and should be done as early as possible for best results. House breaking your puppy is one of the first types of training that you will do, and will require plenty of consistency and patience on your part for the best results. For more specific information about house breaking as a part of your Labrador puppy care, you can contact your breeder, veterinarian or consult sites on the Internet.

Socializing your Labrador Retriever

Labs are social and friendly creatures by nature, so most do very well in families with children and even other pets. Keep in mind that while this dog may bark if a stranger approaches, it may not make a particularly effective guard dog. Because of their social nature, these dogs can become bored and destructive when left to their own devices too often. If you are considering a Labrador retriever as a family pet, it is important for you to be prepared to spend plenty of time with your new pet as a part of your Labrador puppy care. This will ensure that you and your pup will start out a relationship on the right foot – or paw, as the case may be.

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Being faced with the prospect of giving away your beloved dog can be very traumatic. Of course, nobody adopts a pet with the intention of giving it away. But sometimes our life changes course unexpectedly and we are forced to find our dog a new, loving home. Perhaps you have to give away your dog due to new living arrangements or financial concerns. Maybe your dog has recently had a litter and you have to find each one of the puppies a new home!

People often place ads in the newspaper or online in order to give away their dogs and puppies. The trouble is, though, how do you know if you are giving these animals a good home or not? Newspaper and Internet ads reach many people, and some folks with bad intentions comb through these ads with the intention of finding animals. You really never know if you are putting your dog in the care of an animal abuser, a dog fighter, or someone with similar intentions. No animal lover wants to think of these possibilities with any animal, especially man’s best friend.

Keep in mind that while you can always have conversations with the person or family who is interested in taking the dog, you can never really know what kind of people they are. While they may seem friendly, how can you be sure? There is a way, though, to check a person’s background to see if they have ever been convicted of animal abuse. Click this link to read about doing a people search by phone number to be able to tap into detailed people reports about someone.

If you have the phone number of the person to whom you are considering giving your pet, you can start with a reverse phone lookup. By obtaining the owner’s name and current address, you can verify if he is who he says he is. Then, you can stay in the reverse directory’s website and run other reports like background and criminal reports. Read more about the essentials of reverse phone lookups here.

Certainly, nobody ever wants to be forced to find his or her dog a new home. And, without question, nobody wants to give dogs to someone who may treat them badly. It is unthinkable, but it is true that many animals are abused every day. By doing a little research on the person who might take ownership of your dog, you can have peace of mind and be assured that your animals will be safe. Seriously consider doing a reverse phone number lookup for the sake of your pet’s safety.

All dogs need to be loved, fed and played with. When you give away an animal, wouldn’t you want to be sure that it is going to be treated well? Since dogs can’t stick up for themselves, it’s up to us to be their advocates.

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Crate training benefits both your dog and yourself, the loving dog owner.  Your dog will be more loving and affectionate towards family members when he understands his boundaries.

Housebreaking Will Be Much Easier

Housebreaking your dog becomes considerably easier when crate training because no dog likes to soil where they sleep (dog cages). Confinement to a dog cage helps the dog gain better bladder control by associating going outside with the act of relieving themselves.

Your dog will learn to get control of his need to eliminate since they do not like to rest in the area where they soil.   Dogs are den animals that like to have their own quiet place and they’ll do everything they can to keep it clean. But remember, Puppies need to go out frequently to eliminate, so do not keep them in the crate for long periods of time.

Destructive Behaviors Are Limited

It is natural for your dog to enjoy chewing.  They need to be taught what are acceptable things to chew on and prevent them from chewing on the wrong things, like chair legs, shoes, socks, etc. Consequently, your job is not to stop your dog from chewing, but provide the right things to chew on in the right place. By providing safe chew toys to your dog in his crate, you accomplish two things: you make the crate a wonderful place to be in and you teach him what are the acceptable chew toys in the house.

Dog Crates Protects Your Dog from Household Hazards

A house contains hundreds of potentially lethal objects for your dog. If you let your dog roams freely in the house unsupervised, you are really asking for trouble and you unnecessarily put your dog in danger.  Your dog may not realize that chewing on electrical wires or eating plants or certain foods can potentially be dangerous.

Proper crate training of your dog provides more confidence that your dog will limit getting in trouble even when you are not around to supervise.

A Crate Makes Car Rides Safer

Your car trips will be safer and more peaceful if your dog is resting contently in his crate. A crate trained dog will eliminate any possible distractions as you drive.

Crates provides you dog security when he desires to rest or be alone.

Dogs are, by nature, den animals and feel secure in small, enclosed spaces. Most dogs will seek out a place in your home that will mimic a den. You will often find them sleeping under a table or desk. Dog crates make excellent dens and can serve as a refuge, a hangout and a bedroom. By simply crate training your dog, you give him the tools to cope with any potentially stressful situations like going to the vet.

Crate training a dog is not only good for your dog - but also good for you. Do yourself and your dog a favor, buy a dog cage,  and start crate training him today!

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Beagles are popular dogs for family pets due to their friendly nature, eagerness to please their owners and intelligence. If size is an issue then the medium size of a Beagle fits well into most families. Beagles are hounds and were originally bred for hunting due to their well developed sense of smell. It can be a challenge to train a hound as well as a very rewarding experience. Beagles can be stubborn and to make training time productive you will need to be on the ball so your dog does not become bored. If you have small children then a Beagle is a good choice for you. Their placid nature and robust demeanor means a large capacity for tolerance of noise and activity. Beagles are happiest when they are with company and don’t like to spend large amounts of time alone. Some owners buy two Beagles so they have each other for company.

See some training options below. Your schedule and lifestyle are considerations when choosing from the Beagle training options below. Get extra tips about Beagle Obedience Training at DogHelpdesk.com.

Training without attending classes

Training techniques and materials are readily available for interested dog owners who prefer to train their dog without attenting a class. It’s a good idea to chose wisely-materials developed by experienced dog trainers. By chosing to train your dog yourself you’ll have the advantage of being able to fit training times in with your busy schedule. A disadvantage of training alone means you won’t be exposing your dog to distractions such as other people and dogs. Important for the development of your dog. For more tips on dog-training and handling (very handy if you are considering training your Beagle yourself), take a look at Dove Cresswell’sPuppy and Dog Training Online‘: packed with valuable information, straight from the mouth of an experienced dog-trainer.

Puppy training classes

Group training provides an opportunity for you and your dog to get used to distractions. You will need to be armed with strong smelling rewards to keep your Beagle focussed on your commands. You don’t want to spend the whole training class with your dogs nose in the ground! Beagles can be stubborn and won’t bend too easily if they find something more interesting to do. Plenty of praise and positive rewards will help to keep you firm and consistent with your instruction. Beagles respond well to and learn quickly from instruction, particularly if they are enjoying training sessions. Training a Beagle is very rewarding.

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