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Do Greyhounds Make Good Pets?

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Greyhounds are devoted, brave, sensitive, intelligent, and often fairly laid-back dogs. They are great for young families with children, and are very obedient. This breed is mostly known for their speed and agility which makes them exceptional racing dogs. Other talents they possess include being good watchdogs, sighting and hunting, so Greyhounds do make a good choice of pet.

They have a lovely even temperament in both show and racing lines but are often undervalued due to their character, as at times they can be rather bashful towards strangers and sometimes their owner. Often they are very sensitive to the tone of voice being used, they have been known to be unresponsive to communication if they sense they are stronger minded, and do not react well negative punishment. Greyhounds are tall with a long slender build with flexible spines. Their long graceful necks and small folded back ears are a part of their distinct profile. They also have impeccable straight front legs with contoured muscular hind legs.

This breed can run at remarkable speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Male and  vary some what in height and weight. While a male might be up to 30 inches and weigh up to 70 pounds their female counterparts are only up to 28 inches in height and can weigh up to 65 pounds. Their smooth coat is short and their colors vary from brindle, black, white, fawn, gray, fallow and blue or a combination of these colors with a white coat. Due to their short coats they are simple to maintain as long as they combed weekly. They don’t need to be shampooed regularly only when necessary as they are fairly clean dogs, good for people who normally have allergies as these dogs don’t produce the dander that other breeds do as they have more oil in their skin making them almost shed –free and odorless. These dogs don’t mind urban living environments but still need regular moderate exercises on a daily basis.

They are indoor dogs but also enjoy the freedom of outside play. Their dietary requirements aren’t strict but it may be best to feed them two to three small portions each day instead of the one main meal. Greyhounds may be susceptible to bloating and have been known to be quite sensitive to insecticides and some medications. Some are allergic to anesthetics. Their skin is fairly sensitive so you may need to be mindful of this as it can tear easily. Check with your veterinarian first, before using certain products on your dog, as some flea treatments may be harmful to your pet. Like few breeds, Greyhounds aren’t prone to hip dysplasia and can normally live up to 10-12 years of age. Many retire from their racing prime from 18 months to 4 years old and generally adopted to good homes. These former racing dogs make great pets and have been crate trained, so house-training should come easily. The cost of these dogs will vary accordingly to their bloodlines, racing or show statistics.

Do Greyhounds Make Good Pets courtesy of Dog Articles.

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Helping Your Elderly Dog

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There comes a time with our dogs when we have to start considering some of the effects of age on their diet.  They may need different food.  They may not have the same appetite they had when they were younger.  They may have some dental issues.  Even their eyesight can affect their eating habits.  However, with some care and consideration on your part, you can help your elderly dog through some of these problems and see that she continues to get the very best nutrition possible.

For many years dog food experts maintained that older dogs should have their protein intake limited in the belief that their kidneys could not process protein very well.  We now know this not to be true.  It’s perfectly all right to feed your older dog good quality protein in his diet as long as he doesn’t have any pre-existing kidney problems.  The key is to make sure that you are feeding a good quality food with good quality protein.  Recent research indicates that older dogs may need more protein than younger dogs instead of less.

You should also look for a food that is lower in carbohydrates with moderate amounts of fat.  It’s not necessary to completely eliminate fat from your senior dog’s diet.  Even if your dog is a little overweight, if you completely eliminate fat from his diet you will leave your dog feeling hungry all the time which can lead to other problems.  If your dog is thin (and some older dogs can have trouble keeping their weight), a little additional fat in the diet won’t hurt.

When looking for a senior dog food it’s fine to buy a commercial food but make sure you read the label carefully.  Some senior foods are formulated to keep weight off senior dogs.  If your dog is already thin you don’t want a dog food that will cut his calories.  You may need to look for a dog food that is higher in calories.  If your dog is plump you may want to get one of the senior foods that will keep his weight down since too much weight can worsen conditions like arthritis.

Many senior dogs can have some dental problems which leads them to walk away from their food.  They may nibble and be unable to eat much.  If your dog has trouble eating you should examine her mouth.  Ask your vet to look at your dog’s teeth.  It may be necessary to have a tooth pulled or to scale your dog’s teeth.  Pulling a tooth or even having a root canal done can often solve the problem and your dog will be back to eating like a younger dog again.

Most older dogs also begin to experience some dulling of the senses.  They no longer smell and taste things as acutely as they once did.  Food is no longer as appealing to them.  You can make their food more tempting by adding some tasty canned food to their dry food to make it smell and taste better.  You can also do some home cooking for your dog.  Most dogs like to eat whatever you’ve cooked for yourself.  Things like chicken and sweet potatoes, or beef cooked to tenderness are often favorites.  As long as you don’t make this home cooking more than 30 percent of his diet you won’t be upsetting the vitamin balance that he gets from his regular dog food.  It’s also a good idea to wet his regular kibble with something like chicken or beef broth to make it more appealing.

Older dogs can also begin to have some eyesight problems.  They may look at their feed bowls oddly at times and refuse to eat.  Don’t be surprised if you have to resort to hand feeding once in a while.

You should also take your senior dog to the vet for a senior health check periodically.  Your vet will be able to identify possible problems and tell you about any special things you should be doing to take care of your dog.

Just because your dog is getting older doesn’t mean she’s ready to leave you.  Your older dog is merely going through some physical changes.  You can help her with these changes by being watchful and trying to figure out the kind of help she needs.  Let your dog’s actions and appearance guide you.  You can do a lot to help her live many more happy years.

Helping Your Elderly Dog courtesy of Dog Articles.

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Beagle Training Guide For New Owners

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For anyone who has possibly had a Beagle you know that they are quite the uncooperative canine. If you’re a new Beagle master, you ought to be aware that Beagles are little more persistent when compared with many other canines. Therefore you should keep that at heart when you begin your own Beagle dog training. In order to train a new beagle the right way you’ll need to possess a single very important characteristic: you would need plenty of patience within your beagle training methods.

Remember that the Beagle breed of canine was developed as a mix type involving several other kinds of hunting dogs in Britain. Based on files, the beagle has been developed for just one distinct reason – to hunt. Getting bred for hundreds of years as hunting dogs is just what provides the Beagle his or her stubbornness. Hunting dogs have a more powerful sense of smell then many other dogs which means that they will be fascinated by each and every brand new scent which comes to his or her nose. This could cause you to get overwhelmed with all your beagle obedience training. Any time schooling any Beagle you must show her or him the essential commands foremost. These fundamental commands are Sit, Stay, Heel, & Lay Down. Just about all dogs, not just beagles require training within their daily life.

Dogs are pack animals, and they will certainly accompany you exactly where you go, therefore it would certainly convenience you overall to teach your current Beagle these simple instructions. Beagles in most cases answer very effectively to food rewards. You should try a loved toy as being a incentive when doing your beagle training. One beneficial tip I would give to virtually any Beagle dog owner is usually to direct their beagle training toward managing ones dogs begging. As talked about prior, Beagles make use of a solid sense of smell, meaning they’re going to always be exactly where your meals are. Any time beagles are around foods they’ll perform a number of duties as to attempt to acquire your attention, along with the food not surprisingly.

They’ll weep and whine at you, leap, stand on their own hind legs, as well as just about whatever else to have itself just a little treat. Plus let us not overlook your Beagle offering you those huge puppy dog eyes! Other sorts of beagle training advice I would like to give all owners is always that, beagles are extremely energetic pets. They love to run all over along with play and should you not discipline your own beagle properly at the start, you are usually in for a difficult time when they get older seeing that your own beagle will be set in his or her methods once and for all.

Establishing yourself along with other members of the household as pack leaders ought to be a critical part of your own beagle training from the launch. When your Beagle correctly follows your instructions reward him for it, and also get it done everyday. Beagles find superb pleasure in having the ability to satisfy their own masters. Beagle training is usually extremely rewarding, but also extremely irritating at the same time. Beagles spanning various ages require stability, instruction, behavior training and perform and act the way you want them to.

Beagle Training Guide For New Owners courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a throw blanket showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com

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Why You Should Rescue Dogs

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It is an amazing fact but Benji in the movie “Benji: Off the Leash” was actually an adopted dog.  He came from the Humane Society of South Miss.  Benji came to be at that humane society when he was found wandering around the streets.

Of course, most dogs won’t have such good fortune to be movie stars, but they will certainly be glad to be rescued.  And the person who rescues them can rest easy that they’ve done the right thing.  It’s not hard to find a dog to rescue either; there are thousands of animal shelters all over the United States.

Some people think that rescue dogs are unhealthy and unclean, or that there must have been a good reason for the previous owner to give them up.  While this is true in some cases, it is more often that it was the owner’s fault and not the dog’s.

If you’re on the fence about buying a dog from a shelter there are three good reasons you should consider getting one.

1. There are shelters all over that are filled to the brim with these great pets.  When you adopt a dog you will be freeing up room for the shelter to save another dog.

2. You will be saving a lot of money.  It can cost a lot to buy your dog from a pet store.  When you buy from a shelter you will only spend in the neighborhood of $45 to $160.  If you choose to buy from a breeder you could end up paying in the thousands for the same kind of dog.

3. You are saving a dog’s life when you rescue a dog.  There are no two ways about it.  When these shelters get overcrowded they have no choice but to put some dogs to sleep.  When you buy a shelter dog you will literally be saving its life.

Of course, not everything is always so rosy.  There are some negatives to buying a dog from a shelter as well.  Many of these concerns are physical and behavioral reasons.

1. The dog you rescue might be physically disabled in some way.  Even if you don’t notice these problems at first they might show up stronger down the road.  One example is Hip Dysplaisa.  This is kind of like dog arthritis and can impair your dog severely.

2. If your dog is hurt in some way the pain can cause them to act out in ways they would not normally.  If you have small children this can be a bad situation for everyone involved.

3. Behavioral issues are also a problem because you never know what kind of life the dog had before it was in the shelter.  If the dog was malnourished or abused in its previous home you might run into a lot of problems and odd behaviors.

4. It can be hard to train a dog that you find in a shelter.  These dogs might be set in their ways and not willing to learn.  House training is a must and it can be very difficult with a dog that is wary of training.

It’s best not to get discouraged despite all of these seemingly negative problems.  There are ways for you to overcome physical and behavioral problems with your dog.  Try going to your local Humane Society or ASPCA.  There are also specific breed animal rescues that are likely to be in your area.  Rescuing a dog means getting a brand new member of the family.

Why You Should Rescue Dogs courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love an ornament showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com

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Which Dog Bowl Is Right For Your Dog?

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When you became a dog owner you became responsible for his care in every way. This includes feeding him as well as meeting every other need in his life. While the process of caring for a dog is not complicated many people do not give as much thought as they should about some of the basic care. This includes things like training your dog basic commands that could literally save his life, and learning about proper nutrition for your pet so you can insure that he gets a proper diet. Taking that one step farther, consideration should be given to the type of bowl that your dog will eat from.

Nowadays there are lots of choices available when it comes to dog dishes. We can find bowls that match our décor, personalized styles, or even self-feeding type bowls. They are also made from various materials, including everything from plastic and ceramic to metal.

Ideally the dog bowl should be easy to clean. Plastic bowls may not be a good choice for puppies because young dogs sometimes like to chew on things, including their food dish. A more durable bowl may be safer for them.

Size really does matter. The size of the bowl should be right for the amount of food that you feed your dog. Using a bowl that is too large can easily lead to over-feeding. Obviously, that can result in your dog becoming obese and unhealthy. Using a bowl that is too small can mean more work for you since you will have to feed your dog more often.

Another very important consideration is the depth of the bowl. If your dog has a short face you will need to use a shallow bowl. But dogs that have long muzzles can eat from deeper dishes without difficulty. One more issue related to the dog’s comfort when eating is the elevation of the dish. When dishes are raised up at a higher level, so that the dog does not have to bend his neck downward as he eats and swallows, eating is more comfortable for the dog. This is especially true for larger dogs. Dishes can be purchased in small raised holders or you can improvise with your own devices.

If your dog has a tendency to scoot his bowl across the floor you may want to consider looking for bowls that have rubber feet that will keep them in place. Another option is adding the rubber pads yourself or simply using a rubber mat to place the bowls on. Self-feeding bowls are the ones that have a dish that is continually filled. The reservoir is filled with a large quantity of food that drops down as the dog eats.

Which Dog Bowl Is Right For Your Dog courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a throw blanket showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com

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How to Identify Canine Health Problems

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It’s a truism that our dogs can’t talk to us.  They can’t tell us how they feel or if there is something ailing them. In fact, most dogs tend to hide ailments.  Your dog may have an injury or be in pain and you might not know it for several days unless you are paying close attention to any departure from his normal behavior.

You can learn to tell if your dog has a health problem by doing the following:

1.  Pay attention to your dog’s daily routine.  Did he finish his food?  Did he follow his usual bathroom habits?  Is he drinking his normal amount of water?  More?  Less?  All of these things can tell you important information about your dog’s health.  They are often first indicators that something may be wrong with your dog.

2.  How is your dog’s overall condition?  Has he lost weight?  Gained weight?  Is his coat shiny or is it looking bad?  Again, these are important indicators that your dog may be experiencing a change in his health.  Watch them closely.  It can be easy to miss your dog gaining or losing weight since it may happen gradually, but if your dog begins losing hair or having other skin problems, these are usually very noticeable and they can be an indication of thyroid problems, allergies or other conditions.

3.  How is your dog’s energy level?  Is he as active as he usually is or does he lie around more?  Is he lethargic?  Is he hyperactive?  A change in your dog’s energy level can indicate a change for the worse in his health.  Lethargy could be an indication of anything from hypothyroidism to heart failure.

4.  Is your dog sensitive about his ears?  Ear problems are very common with dogs, especially long-eared breeds and breeds with long hair.  Ear problems can take the form of yeast and bacterial infections.  If left untreated they can even lead to hearing lost or require surgery.

These are some of the things that are easily observable.  You can also check your dog’s gums to see if they are healthy and pink.  If they are too pale that could be an indication that your dog is not processing oxygen as well as he should — perhaps a sign of hemolytic anemia or a cardiovascular problem.

If your dog is limping for more than a few hours you may need to take him to the vet to see what the problem is.  Dogs can twist or sprain a limb the same way people can, but if your dog limps for more than just a short period of time he could have a bony growth or be feeling some form of arthritis.  Your vet would need to make the diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.

With dogs, as with humans, there are so many possible health conditions that it’s hard to say what might be wrong with your dog just by looking at him.  However, you can usually tell by looking at a dog if something is wrong, even if you don’t know exactly what it is.

You know your dog better than anyone.  If you sense that something is “off” or just not right with your dog you should trust your instincts and take your dog to the vet.  Better safe than sorry where the health of your dog is concerned.

How to Identify Canine Health Problems courtesy of Dog Articles.

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Should I Feed My Dog A Vegetarian Dog Food?

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Although dogs are considered to be omnivores their bodies require a great deal of protein in order to stay healthy.  They are not the obligate carnivores that cats are (an animal that must eat a regular meat diet in order to survive), but even as scavengers dogs have a preference for meat.  Ethologists never get tired of telling us that dogs are descended from wolves.  As such they are predators and they hunted animals for food.  They were able to get by on eating other things, but they preferred to eat meat when they could kill it.

For the most part, dog foods which contain a great deal of corn or other grains are considered inferior products.  Corn is usually a cheaper source of protein than meat sources, such as lamb and chicken.  For this reason some dog food manufacturers use it as a filler ingredient in one of its forms, such as whole yellow corn, ground corn or corn gluten.  It does provide protein but dogs can only digest 54 percent of the nutrients in corn.  The rest passes through the dog and is deposited in your backyard or when you walk your dog.  Dogs fed diets high in cereal and grains typically have large, soft stools because they do not digest all of the food.  On the other hand, dogs fed food that is higher in meat protein can digest much more of the food.  Stools are smaller and firmer because the dog is able to digest much more of the food.

There is currently a popular move toward feeding grain-free dog foods.  The thinking is that all grains are bad for dogs and that dogs should eat food that has as much meat protein content as possible.  This is probably an over-reaction.  It’s not necessary for a pet dog to eat dog food that is 40 percent protein.  The government’s nutritional guidelines for feeding dogs recommends that an adult dog eat food that is 18 percent protein.  A performance dog should have food that is 25 percent protein.  Even a racing sled dog is only recommended to have food that is 35 percent protein.  It’s a mystery why any dog would need 40 percent (or more!) protein in his diet.  As others have pointed out, meat is the most expensive ingredient in dog food so when you buy dog food that has all of this extra meat protein, without a good reason, you are simply paying for the meat.  Why buy it when your dog doesn’t need it?  You can buy a steak for your dog cheaper than you can buy some of these grain-free dog foods.

Vegetarian foods are not recommended for dogs.  They do require meat content in order to be healthy.  Make sure that you are buying dog food that has named meat sources, such as chicken meal, lamb meal, beef and so on.  Be careful about buying the “exotic” protein sources, such as kangaroo meat, duck, venison, etc.  These novel protein sources are really intended for dogs that have allergies to the common sources of protein for dogs.  If you feed your dog a regular diet of duck, kangaroo and other unusual meat sources, what will you do if he develops an allergy to them?  You will have no more exotic meat sources left to try.

If you are a vegetarian and you have a dog it’s recommended that you do what is best for your dog, regardless of your own beliefs.  Take into account his health and welfare and feed him a good dog food.  If it makes you feel better there are many good foods that feature holistic sources of meat.  Some foods are even made from free range chicken or come from meat sources grown by small producers.  You may not find a food you like in the large pet superstores but if you look online or visit a small boutique dog food seller they may be able to special order a high quality dog food for your dog.

Should I Feed My Dog A Vegetarian Dog Food courtesy of Dog Articles.

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Does My Dog Have A Yeast Infection?

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Dogs can exhibit many kinds of skin problems and infections.  Some are serious while others may be a temporary reaction to something and nothing to worry about.  When you hear the term “yeast infection,” however, you usually know that you’re dealing with something that can be significant.

Yeast infections in dogs usually manifest themselves as either recurring ear infection that are very difficult to get rid of; or they can show up as one of a couple of kinds of infections plaguing your dog’s skin. In either case the situation can be serious and your poor dog may be miserable.

If your dog has a chronic ear infection you may have been treating the problem in various ways.  You may have even been to the veterinarian with your dog.  Many vets will prescribe antibiotic ear drops for an ear infection and that’s fine, as far as it goes.  It will clear up the obvious infection.  But a yeast infection is often a secondary infection — a fungal infection — and antibiotics will not kill the yeast/fungus that lives deep in your dog’s ear.

In order to clear up your dog’s recurring ear infection you will need a medication that kills yeast.  You’ll also need to make some changes to your dog’s diet so his immune system will be more capable of fighting off yeast infections.

If your dog is experiencing a rash or itching and it turns into itching, crusty, smelly skin, he probably has a yeast infection.  The skin may thicken all over or in certain places to have an “elephant” appearance — grayish and flattened.

Yeast is always present in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract.  When your dog is healthy and his immune system is functioning properly they are not a problem.  There are plenty of good bacteria in your dog’s system to keep the yeast under control and yeast serves some positive purposes in your dog’s body. One such yeast, Candida albicans, lives in your dog’s digestive tract and eats sugar and fats.  However, yeast is considered to be an “opportunistic feeder.”  That means that when something in your dog’s body gets out of balance, such as the balance of bacteria or your dog’s immune system, the yeast will begin proliferating.  They can grow out of control and begin causing your dog’s system problems, such as itching skin.  They can also result in allergies, bladder infections and ear infections.

Yeast is also present on your dog’s skin, and on most surfaces around us.  When your dog’s immune system is compromised it produces changes in the skin which allow the yeast to run rampant.  Your dog’s skin can produce too much oil.  This often happens with allergies, which go hand-in-hand with immune system problems.

If your dog is showing signs of having a yeast infection — itching, crusty skin, a distinctive musty odor — your vet has several ways of confirming the problem.

– He can take a smear on your dog’s skin with a microscope slide

– He can use a piece of tape to collect samples from your dog’s skin

– He can do a skin scraping with a razor blade

– He can use a moistened cotton swab on your dog’s skin

– He can do a small skin biopsy

All of these methods have the same purpose.  They are intended to collect yeast from your dog’s skin and identify the Malessezia pachydermatis fungus.

There are several approaches to treating a yeast infection and they can be used in conjunction with each other.  Your vet may prescribe antibiotics if your dog has other infections along with the yeast infection, but antibiotics will not cure the yeast infection.  Instead, you will need to use a drug such as Ketoconazole or Itraconazole to treat the fungus.

There are also shampoos for the outer condition.  Benzoyl peroxide shampoos and sulfur/salicylate shampoos are usually effective and help remove the skin oils that feed the yeast.  There are also several good anti-yeast shampoos.

With yeast infections it’s very important to treat the underlying cause of the problem, otherwise the yeast will overgrow again and the infection will return.  In many cases the problem is poor nutrition.  If you are feeding a good quality food then your dog may have some kind of allergy to the food.  If the problem is not the food then your dog may have a flea bite allergy in which his body overreacts to just one or two bites from a flea and his immune system begins to work overtime.  Or, there could be some other allergy at work.  But food allergies are the usual culprit and the easiest to fix.  Some dogs have become allergic to some grains and common proteins found in many dog foods these days.  Luckily there are many brands which now offer grain-free foods and there is a wide assortment of foods with different protein sources now.  If your dog has been having yeast infections you can try some of these alternative dog foods and see if his allergic reactions improve.

The most important thing to remember about yeast infections is that they don’t have a chance of bothering dogs with strong immune systems.  Do your best to keep your dog’s immune system healthy with good food, sensible veterinary care, and lots of exercise and you will be less likely to have problems from yeast infections.

Does My Dog Have A Yeast Infection courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love an ornament showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com



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Dog Maintenance

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For anyone who’s considering getting a dog, please do your research first. Consider the care and maintenance involved in the breed you are wanting and whether or not you are able, willing to keep up with care for, train, seek medical attention for, grooming of and training of that breed. If you cannot or will not be able to meet the needs of the dog, perhaps another more maintenance free pet would be more suited for you, ie, a goldfish or a pet rock. The goldfish, you only need to throw food at and change the tank once in a while, the pet rock you only need to talk to.

Try this: pinch two pieces of skin close to one another on your neck, now take those pieces of skin and pull them tight together. How does that feel? Now imagine walking around with your skin pulled tight like that. That’s what a matt does and feels like to a dog, sometimes multiplied several times. This doesn’t allow the skin to breathe and can cause rashes and even tear the skin. If you already have a dog that needs grooming, brush it regularly. If it’s a coat that becomes matted, this will keep most of the matts away. If it becomes too matted, don’t try to cut them out yourself unless you know how to do it right.

Take it to a groomer and not after you’ve been attempting to groom it yourself. Ever let your hair go nearly a year before washing or brushing it and then spend six hours trying to detangle the mess without trimming out the tangles. That’s what happens to a long haired dog that’s not maintained and it doesn’t feel any better (probably worse) to the dog who has a groomer tugging and pulling at mats that an owner doesn’t want, to have a haircut. Now try this: Pound nails into your shoe so that they stick up into your foot, then walk around on them. Not comfortable? That’s how it feels to a dog that has toenails curled around and digging into the pads of their feet. Their toes will also become splayed apart and they will get painful joint problems throughout their legs. Ever get fleas in your hair? Now imagine yourself covered from head to toe with fleas biting at you.

Does it sound pleasant? It’s not to a dog either, in fact it causes rashes, sores and infections and disease. Have you ever seen a child who’s who was deemed unmanageable and has been bounced from one foster home to another because? That’s what it’s like for the dog that doesn’t get proper training and the owner gives him up and then he may see another couple of homes in their life or get euthanized in a shelter because he got out of hand. That holds true not only for the large breed, but also the small one. Misbehavior is not cute. People need a limited and balanced diet and exercise, so does an overweight dog.

Feeding an overweight dog table scraps and junk food, is stealing away part of that dogs’ life. It really does shorten their life, as they need care just like you or I do. Have you seen a child who is so scared and shy that they want to always hide or can’t get along with other children? Usually they haven’t been away from mom and dad or don’t have friends to play with and they may have issues later on. Having a dog and never allowing it the opportunity to look at, see or play with another dog or getting it out around other people from the time it is young is depriving it of much needed socialization. That dog will likely have either fearful or aggressive issues.

In my profession as a dog resort owner and dog groomer, these are just examples of situations I’ve encountered, from dogs in dire need of care from owners being too busy, not thinking about it, work and chasing their kids around. While these may be legit excuses, please keep in mind that your dog may be enduring daily suffering because of it. If you love your dog, the best way to show it is by helping him to live a long, happy and healthy life and he in turn will be your best friend for the duration of his life.

Dog Maintenance courtesy of Dog Articles.

Looking for a great gift idea? Who wouldn’t love a throw blanket showcasing their favorite breed? Check out all of the great doggie gift ideas on Amazon.com –doggieoftheday@amazon.com


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How To Choose A Dog That Will Make You Happy!

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If you choose a purebred puppy- and there are hundreds of breeds to choose from – you’ll know ahead of time how your puppy is going to turn out when he grows up. That’s the benefit of choosing a purebred as opposed to a mixed-breed or hybrid dog! You can find out before you even buy him: how much he’ll shed, how easy he’ll be to train, how much grooming he’ll require, whether he’s going to be a good watchdog or guard dog, how big he’s going to be, what he’s going to look like, how athletic he’ll be, and how he’s going to behave. Of course, every dog has it’s own unique personality and behavioral quirks. But in general, all dogs of a particular breed will grow up to act and behave like the other dogs of that breed. For example, you know that a German Shepherd puppy is going to grow up into a dog that striking in appearance, very easy to train, eager-to-please, athletic, protective, and intelligent: like all German Shepherd dogs are. Purebred dogs are man-made.

They wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for us. Pugs, Border Collies, Yorkies – every breed – wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for us humans creating them. To create a new breed someone decides what characteristics they want the breed to have. Then they only breed dogs together who have those characteristics. Lots of inbreeding then takes place. After years of selective breeding (breeding out the undesirable characteristics) and inbreeding a new “breed” is born. And when you breed dogs of that new breed together they produce puppies who grow up to be the same as the parents.

As I mentioned above the benefit of choosing a purebred puppy is that you know how your dog is going to turn out — in advance — even before he’s born. So assuming you’re going to purchase or adopt a purebred puppy or dog, here are some of the things to consider about the many different breeds: Shedding All dog breeds shed hair. They all shed different amounts of hair. Some breeds shed virtually no hair, some shed quite a lot, and some shed a lot of hair! If it bothers you finding loose hairs stuck to everything in your home then choose a low-shedding breed. Ease of Training Some breeds are easier to train than others because they learn training commands faster.

The easier the dog is to train the less time and patience you need to train him. If you want a dog who learns your commands quickly choose a breed that is easy to train. Grooming How much time you need to spend grooming your dog depends on the length of the coat and how much the coat sheds. If the dog breed you’re considering has a long coat you’ll need to either clip it short, or brush it often. If the dog breed you’re considering sheds lot of hair you might find yourself brushing the coat every day to remove the dead hair. Because what you remove with a brush doesn’t end up in the house! Want a Jogging Companion? Some breeds were made to be athletic and posses great stamina. If you want a dog who can accompany you on long walks, hikes, jogs and rides then you should choose one of these breeds.

Good With Children Pretty much all breeds are great with children. Thousands of people have small children and own Rottweiler, Pit Bulls, and other more aggressive dogs and they never have any problems at all. These owners will tell you that their dogs are the sweetest and most gentle dogs on earth. And it’s true. However, which dog has the ability to do more damage to a small child: a Pit Bull or a Pug? Obviously it’s the Pit Bull. So if you want to play it safe choose a breed who doesn’t really have the ability to harm a child or one who doesn’t have a bad reputation. And always supervise very small children and babies around the dog! Small children could inadvertently tease the dog and he could snap at them. Guard Dog or Watchdog Some breeds like German Shepherds and Rottweilers make excellent guard dogs.

They’re naturally very protective and suspicious of strangers. They have the ability to intimidate and deter an intruder. On the other hand, some breeds are just good at keeping watch and raising the alarm. And some little dogs have such a loud, deep bark they can even scare and intruder away. Size When choosing a breed consider size. Small dogs are make training easier because you can control them a lot easier than a big, strong and powerful dog. The small breeds also make less mess, and they coast less to care for.

How To Choose A Dog That Will Make You Happy courtesy of Dog Articles.

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