Dog Grooming and Dog Care
August 23, 2007
Dog grooming is relatively simple for most dogs. I have a greyhound and spend about 5 minutes per day on dog grooming. For dogs that have short hair, they need to be brushed, maybe once per week. For dogs with long hair, the grooming is more time consuming. This is an important consideration when selecting a breed. Beyond regularly brushing your dog’s coat and giving him or her periodic baths, you may want to consider a few other things.
Certain dogs’ nails grow faster than others and need to be clipped. It’s not enough to walk your dog on the street in hopes that the nails will wear down. If the nails get too long, it could be uncomfortable for the dog and might make it difficult to walk. Either clip the dog’s nails yourself, but be careful not to clip too much off, or go to your local groomer who will clip the nails for roughly $5.
Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 3 of 3
August 22, 2007
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that you just can’t decide where to begin? If so, let’s break it down and sort through all the options. In Part 3, the final article in this three part series, we’ll continue looking at the seven Groups of dogs that are acknowledged by the American Kennel Club. We’ll learn what it is that brings various breeds together to form a Group. Learning about each Group will narrow down our search for the best Breed(s) for us.
How to Use this Guide: Highlight each piece of information that is most important to you and compare the number of highlighted traits when you have finished reading about each Group.
Group: Herding
Group Traits: Self-thinkers; anticipatory; fast moving, visually stimulated, high stamina
Likes: Need a job
Dislikes: Harsh reprimands; boredom
Behavior Indoors: Moderate to active
Behavior Outdoors: Active
Physicality: Moderate
Territoriality: High
Relations with Children: Good to very good
Relations with Strangers: Moderate to very good
Relations with Dogs: Moderate
Relations with Other Animals: May chase or herd
Guard dog inclinations: Low to moderate
Vocalizations: Moderate to high
17 Tips Thatll Safeguard You and Your Family From Dog Bites or Attack
August 21, 2007
Did you know that more than one million north americans will be bitten by dogs this year, and about one million dog bites will go unreported.
Its sad but most of the victims will be children. These dog bites will come from animals known to them. Unleashed dogs will account for most of the bites inflicted.
What Makes Dogs Bite
Not being educated and pet owners not being committed on training their pet is what leads to most of these dog bites. We must realize that dogs don’t normally become a part of our families already trained.
Why Then Do Dogs Bite?
1. They will bite if scared, angry, or threatened. Even a dog thats friendly will bite.
2. If he feels he’s cornered or crowded.
3. They will protect what they think belongs to them. Like their food, toys.
4. Dogs will protect their space such as sleeping area, yard, porch, cars and home.
5. Dogs are predatory by nature and love to chase and attack.
6. A stray dog may feel upset being lost or hurt and bite with alot less provocation.
7. A dog being startled may lash out and bite.
Whos Pulling On The Leash, You Or Your Dog?
August 20, 2007
Hopefully no one is pulling the leash. The ideal situation is that you and your dog are equally enjoying the walk and neither is pulling and tugging the other in any certain direction.
If your dog tends to be pulling you off into its own direction a large amount of the time you are walking, you can train the dog to stop doing this. What’s interesting is that you have actually been training the dog to do this behavior not only by allowing it but by supporting it without realizing it.
There are various reasons that cause a dog to automatically pull on the leash. For example, when a beagle sees a squirrel or other animal scurry quickly across in front of him, he is going to go berzerk. You can count on that. So be ready to hold on strongly if you plan to keep the beagle in tow in a situation like this.
Just holding the dog in tow is not enough, though, since this will reinforce the dog’s desire to pull. Think of it as a training opportunity! To use it as a training opportunity, you’ll need to know exactly how you’re going to train.
Pet Adoption: The Right Choice
August 19, 2007
Pet adoption is a fabulous option if you’re seeking a companion animal. You’ll be able to select from a wide variety of different breeds and ages as well as save a life. However, I fully realize that if you plan to show or breed your animal, it would make more sense to purchase a young animal from a breeder.
I purchased my first three animals, two dogs and one cat, from breeders. Each animal ended up being a reasonably good house pet. As I’ve got older and wiser, I’ve realized the incredible number of great animals in shelters that need homes. Therefore, my most recent dog is adopted from a greyhound rescue group. My greyhound has been the best companion dog of all! I fully expect my next animal will be an adoption as well.
There are a few things to think about when adopting an animal from a shelter. First, make sure that you’re prepared to accommodate an animal that may need a little more tender love and care in his or her first few months. As you know, it’s quite a transition going from a shelter to a home and a neighborhood.
Analysis of Cat Behavior
August 18, 2007
The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior of your cat is that your pet is not a human. Cats are not rational beings and their actions are not based on emotion. Changes in his behavior are not stemmed from any repressed anger with you; your cat is not trying to get revenge on you for being away from home too much or bringing a new baby into the house.
Negative changes in cat behavior are typically cause by stress or anxiety for the cat. It is easy to see why pet owners tend to conclude that the cat’s feelings toward them are causing the behavioral differences; it is human nature to correlate two unrelated events. In reality, there is a missing link: your behavior may cause the cat physical anxiety, thus the cat’s behavior alteration is based on physiological changes in his body.
One common complaint among cat owners is that their cat has suddenly chosen a new favorite place to deposit wastes instead of his litter box. This could be a result of a few factors.
Boston Terrier - The Costs Of Owning A Boston Terrier
August 18, 2007
Having a dog is a little like having a baby. Before you rush out to the nearest breeder or shelter you must consider the costs of ensuring that your new pet remains contented and happy with his home life.
Cost not only refers to finances but to your time as well. You should remember that Boston Terriers are animals that thrive on attention and need regular exercise. If your plan is to tie your dog up outside and only go out to give him food and water, then forget it! This is not the dog for you! If you are incapable, for whatever reason, of taking part in physical activity, then a Boston Terrier is a very bad idea.
Below, you will find some points to consider before you decide upon getting a Boston Terrier:
Financial Implications:
Your terrier will require regular vaccinations and booster, which can be quite expensive.
Your terrier may need regular health checks and/or treatment for illnesses, which can also be very expensive.
You will need to purchase a variety of items for your dog, such as bedding, toys, bowls, leash, collar, grooming items, pet carrier, and crate.
Boston Terrier - Special Concerns For This Adorable Breed
August 17, 2007
Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits and defects that you must always be mindful of. In order to keep your dogs’ health in tip-top condition and ensure that he leads a healthy and happy life, you must ensure that you are aware of the breeds special requirements and of potential dangers.
There are a fair few illnesses that a Boston, particularly a pure bred, is susceptible to. This is why you should ensure that you get your Boston from a good, reputable breeder who can tell you all about the dog and his family line. You would be surprised at how much your breeder has to do with the Boston’s happiness and yours.
Some of these special concerns include:
Genetic illnesses such as: luxating patella (slipping kneecap), heart problems, mange, breathing problems, Cushings syndrome.
Extreme weather sensitivity: Bostons can suffer heat stroke if they are exposed for long periods to extreme heat, stuffiness and humidity. They are also sensitive to extreme cold and must not be exposed for long periods to this weather either. This is one of the reasons that this breed is classed as an indoor breed.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
August 16, 2007
Many pet owners often wonder if it’s worth it to purchase pet insurance. The way I see it, there are two main considerations, your opinion when it comes to risk-taking and the expected health of your pet.
Are you a risk-taker or are you conservative? If you are a risk-taker when it comes to insurance and would be okay covering any health-related costs yourself, you shouldn’t bother getting pet insurance. Right or wrong, this is what most pet owners do. However, if you are conservative, and want the peace of mind knowing that most major health costs you incur for your pet would be covered, pet insurance might be right for you!
The second consideration is the expected health of your pet. Of course, it’s impossible to predict with any level of precision how healthy your pet will be, but if you have carefully researched the lineage of your puppy, kitten or foal, and have sound information about the health of the lines, then that’s valuable information for you to use when making this decision.
Cold Weather Pet Care
August 15, 2007
As we find ourselves in the middle of winter, it’s important to pay particular attention to our pets when they’re outside. When temperatures get into the twenties and below, with whipping winds, pets can suffer serious health problems. Besides not leaving your dog, cat or other animal outside for too long, there are several other precautionary measures you can take to care for your loving pet.
I generally don’t favor going nuts over buying every trinket imaginable for my pets, but there are a few that make a lot of sense when it’s cold and windy out. For dogs and horses, it’s a good idea to purchase a coat. I have an all weather coat for my dog that’s made of a nylon material on the outside and fleece on the inside. This provides warmth as well as protection from the snow and rain. It attaches via one Velcro strap that goes from one side to the other side of the dog around his or her belly. As for cats, they don’t often take kindly to coats, but do your best to keep them inside during winter storms. They can easily get disoriented under very bad conditions. I’d rather have more litter box duty to handle, than find myself driving around the neighborhood trying to track down a cold, wet cat!
