From the monthly archives:

November 2008

What You Need To Know To Raise A Shar Pei Rescue Dog

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


Deciding to adopt a Shar Pei rescue dog and give an abused pet a second chance is a wonderful and humane thing to do. Once the dog gets settled into your home you will start to see that personality come through that Shar Pei dogs are known for. But in the meantime you need to be ready to deal with some of the traits and behaviors that dogs recovering from an abusive situation go through and that can take time. You will need to keep an eye on the dog and work with it to get rid of any lingering bad traits and behaviors and let it become the dog that it wants to be.

Give your dog some space just for a little while. Your dog will never truly be comfortable unless it can get a feel for where it is and have a chance to take in all the new sights and scents of your home. Once the dog realizes it is not in the abusive situation anymore it will start to relax but give it that chance first.
When your Shar Pei rescue dog is getting adjusted to your home you need to reduce the commotion, noise, and sudden movements that are going on in the home to give the dog a chance to get used to your home. A Shar Pei does not like a lot of sudden movements and can get a little confused and even frustrated when there are a lot of things going on and a lot of activity coming at it. So for the benefit of your new dog you may want to keep the clatter down for a little while until the dog gets used to its new home and new family.

The Shar Pei is one of the most intelligent dogs there is and they take to training very well. However an abused Shar Pei is going to be cautious at first and may seem like they are hesitant to be trained. Be patient and do not punish the dog. You should use only positive reinforcement when training your dog and also be prepared for later on when that hesitation can turn to boredom as your dog gets bored of the repetitive nature of training.
When the Shar Pei was first being bred in China it was bred as an aggressive but intelligent dog. Your Shar Pei rescue dog will more than likely have some of that aggression going on as defense mechanisms to what it has been through. They are also very loyal dogs that become very attached to their family and if you show enough patience and love towards them then eventually they will drop the aggression and move to being the loyal family dog they really want to be.

You have made a wonderful choice in getting a Shar Pei rescue dog and if you use the right amount of love and patience you will soon start to see all of the wonderful traits that other owners love about their Shar Pei. Just give it time and you will have a happy and healthy family pet that will be loyal to you and your family for many years to come.

You can use the information in this article to train your Shar Pei rescue dog. If you need good Shar Pei information then use this article and any other you can find.

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It’s A Beagle Rescue Dog Charlie Brown

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


Arguably, the most famous Beagle on Earth is Snoopy, the dog star of the long running American comic strip “Peanuts”. However, in the last fifty years, the characters frequently remark that Snoopy was bought from a puppy mill. If “Peanuts” had been created today, Charlie Brown would have gotten Snoopy from a Beagle rescue shelter. Beagles are intelligent, resilient, friendly, and will sneak up to lick your lips, just like Snoopy.

Most Beagle rescue dogs will not look like Snoopy and will not walk on their hind legs or hang out with really funny looking yellow birds. Most are tri-colored, meaning they are brown, white and black. There are those ticked with little blue spots. Sometimes this varies, and those that are mostly white with a few black spots like Snoopy are extremely rare. Beagle rescue dogs should be kept inside with the rest of your family and will not sleep on top of a doghouse.
If you adopt a Beagle rescue dog from a small animal shelter – especially one that lives in a foster home – they are ready to move into your life with a minimum of fuss. Beagle rescue centers are available all over the country and in most states. Most Beagle rescue centers will not ship a dog, so you may have to do a little traveling, depending on where you live.

The Beagle rescue dog will not be free. The adoption fee is usually under $300. This is still a fraction of the cost of a very young puppy that still needs shots, neutering and training. The fee is also to discourage animal abusers and those who sell dogs to laboratories. Beagles are considered the first choice in animal experiments involving dogs, because of their agreeable nature, compact size and huge appetites. In fact, your Beagle rescue dog may have been rescued from a lab.
Most Beagle rescue dogs are given up by their first owners through no fault of the dog. This means your prospective Beagle will already be trained. If they have any behavior problems, the shelter usually will retrain the dog until it changed. Small Beagle rescue shelters will try their best to meet your specifications for a good dog. Any dogs with chronic debilitating health problems are usually never put up for adoption.

You have to do your part, too. Learn all of the Beagle information you can. Generally, Beagles worship food, love company and are easy to groom. They will shed, so expect it. They make great watchdogs and will let you know if anyone comes onto your property. Beagles learn quickly how to play with children and (unless they’ve had a traumatic past experience) love the company of other dogs. Your heart is in good “paws” with a Beagle rescue dog.

Some of the biggest inspirations to write are Beagle rescue dogs and the people who rescue them. Tthere would be less need for Beagle rescue shelters if people buying Beagles would know basic Beagle information.

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Things To Do When Taking Rottweiler Pictures

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take professional looking Rottweiler pictures. You could use an expensive, 35-mm. single-lens reflex camera or disposable camera to take pictures of your Rottweiler, but a digital camera works even better because it gives you the option of deleting your bad shots instead of paying to have them processed and printed. With digital photography, you get instant gratification, and digital cameras are more environmentally friendly than disposable cameras.

Taking pictures of a pet can be problematic. You have to get your Rottweiler to sit still and pose, and your dog probably doesn’t have much of a vocabulary beyond the commands sit and stay. There are lighting and backdrop issues to deal with, and you need to be sure you’re shooting at your dog’s eye level. Don’t worry. You’re going to get five great tips that will solve all these problems and get you started taking fabulous pictures of your Rottweiler.
Tip one is to prepare in advance for your Rottweiler photo session. Before you start taking your Rottweiler pictures, you should make a list of all the equipment you’ll need. First, make sure there’s a fresh memory card in your camera with plenty of storage capacity so you don’t get a card full message when your Rottweiler finally strikes that perfect pose. Start with fresh batteries, too, and keep a spare set handy. Decide whether you’ll take pictures of your Rottweiler inside or outside, and secure the location if you decide to shoot outside so your dog can’t run into traffic. Make sure all your backdrops and props are ready and close at hand.

Tip two is to ask someone to help you. Trust me, when you’re trying to take great pictures of your Rottweiler, you can’t also be the one staging the dog, posing the dog, chasing the dog, grooming the dog, lighting the dog – you get the idea. Ask a friend who likes your Rottweiler to act as your assistant for a few hours and help you take pictures of your Rottweiler. After the photo session is over, give your helper a framed print of your Rottweiler as a thank you gift.
Tip three is to plan your background carefully. Nothing is worse than taking great Rottweiler pictures in front of a cluttered background, with laundry, dishes or newspapers competing for attention with your dog. To avoid clutter, use a solid-colored background to make your Rottweiler pictures the best they can be. Many photographers agree nothing looks better than a background of water – the ocean or a lake.

Tip four is to use dog toys and other props. Props are required when you’re photographing a Rottweiler puppy, and they add detail and interest to pictures of older dogs. Place a brightly colored ball or stuffed toy near your Rottweiler, grab your camera and wait for the perfect shot.

Tip five is to get down to your dog’s eye level. The best Rottweiler pictures are taken at the dog’s eye level. Don’t be afraid to get down on the floor with your dog and take pictures. If you’ve been taking pictures standing up, you’ll be amazed at the difference in the pictures you take at your dog’s level.

With these great tips, soon you’ll be taking amazing pictures of your Rottweiler.

Plan your Rottweiler pictures before you take them by loading your camera with fresh batteries. Enlist a friend to help you by staging your Rottweiler for pictures. This Rottweiler information about picture-taking will help you get the very best pictures possible of your beloved dog.

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Important Information For Looking Up A Pomeranian Rescue Center

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


If you know of a Pomeranian dog that is abused or abandoned then you are going to want to try and find a way to get that dog to a Pomeranian rescue center. No pet should be left to suffer for any reason and the humane thing to do is to locate the Pomeranian rescue center nearest to you and then get that little dog there so it has another chance at a good life. But how do you find a Pomeranian rescue center? There are many ways and here are some good ideas.

The Internet is a wonderful resource for finding just about anything you need to find and you may be able to find a local Pomeranian rescue center or you can find a national organization that has a local satellite that they will direct you to. Either way you can use the Internet as your resource for finding a Pomeranian rescue center.
If you have pets then your vet may be able to point you towards a local Pomeranian rescue center. Your vet is concerned about the well being of all animals and is a collection center for a lot of important animal rescue information. If you do not have any pets then you can go ahead and contact the vet closest to you for that information. Most vets will be able to supply you with advice and guidance on how to find a local Pomeranian rescue center.

Your local newspaper is a great resource for a lot of important local information that you may not have thought of. Many local papers publish animal rescue organization contact information weekly and if they do not publish it, there is a good chance that they still do have it available for anyone that needs it. Contact your local newspaper for this important information right away.
Many reputable Pomeranian breeders do not mind acting in the role of a Pomeranian rescue center. If you contact local Pomeranian breeders you may just find one or two that would be willing to help you get that little dog the help it needs and they may even be willing to take care of the dog and find it a new home as well. A reputable breeder cares about all pets and not just the ones they are selling. So try contacting a breeder to help you care for that little dog.

Whether you log on to a computer, call your local newspaper, or just pick up a phone book and start looking you are doing the right thing by trying to find a local Pomeranian rescue center to give a poor little dog a second chance. Helping animals in distress is the only humane thing to do and you will feel better for doing it when that little dog is getting the help it needs.

You can use this article for ideas on finding a Pomeranian rescue center. This article contains helpful Pomeranian information that can help in your search for rescue centers.

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The Good Things About Raising A Chihuahua Rescue Dog

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


Taking in a Chihuahua rescue dog and saving it from an abusive situation while at the same time giving it a new home is a wonderful thing. Your little dog may never understand how to show you how much it appreciates what you are doing but if you stay patient then the rewards will come for years and years. You will need the right people to help you out and you will need to know what to expect from your Chihuahua rescue dog so take the time to do some reading and become an informed owner.

There is nothing more important to a pet than a good vet. You will need to find a vet that can help you understand and get through to your dog because your little dog has been through a lot and will probably have some very special needs for some time to come. A good vet can help you get through the initial stages of getting your new dog used to the fact that it is safe and loved now instead of abused and abandoned.
It may be a long shot but you can contact the local Chihuahua breeders and ask them if they would mind being a resource to you while you are raising your Chihuahua rescue dog. Some breeders do not mind helping out any Chihuahua owner with any advice they may need while other breeders do not have the time or do not make it a practice of offering free advice. All you can do is ask and you may be able to find someone else you can turn to when you have a question.

The Chihuahua is a very proud dog and when it comes out of an abusive situation it more than likely had that pride destroyed by the abuse. It will take a lot of love and patience to bring that pride back and you will have to just do your best to be there for your dog. A Chihuahua needs that high sense of self for it to really be comfortable so be patient and be ready for a tough battle.
Probably the biggest challenge you will face will be housebreaking your Chihuahua rescue dog. If you are fortunate enough to have received a dog that is already housebroken and wants to show you how it can be a good dog then you are in luck because one of the toughest parts is done for you. But some Chihuahuas do not housebreak very well and for a rescue dog you may want to consider a litter box if they are not housebreaking. Fill the litter box with shredder paper and praise them when they use it. For what your dog has been through it may be the best option.

Never punish your Chihuahua. This is true with well-adjusted Chihuahuas and this is especially true with rescued Chihuahuas. They will get tense and defensive if you start to punish them and they may start to bite. Remember that your little dog has been through a lot so be patient with it and use a lot of positive reinforcement to get the results you want.

This article offers good advice on raising your Chihuahua rescue dog. This article is full of helpful Chihuahua information.

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The Signs Of A Good Shih Tzu Rescue Centre

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


When you see an abandoned or abused Shih Tzu the first thing you think of, if you approve of the humane treatment of animals, is to get that little dog to a situation where it can have a chance at a better life. Many people might think that a great place to get an abused or abandoned Shih Tzu is a Shih Tzu rescue centre and they may be right. A facility such as that would have everything the little pup needs to heal any wounds it may have and then find a home that will love and care for the dog like a proud dog such as the Shih Tzu needs.

One way to find a Shih Tzu rescue center is to ask your vet for advice or even contact your local animal control center for a facility they may recommend. If you do not have a vet because you have no pets then just contact any of the local vets you find in your phone book, as they would be more than happy to help you find a safe place for an abused animal.
It is easy to take the local newspaper for granted. It is there everyday and not everyone wants to know about the local guy that grew the biggest pumpkin so you don’t always take the time to read it. But the local newspaper is a central holding place for much of the communication information you are looking for and even thought they may not publish the contact information for any Shih Tzu rescue centre, but that does not mean they do not have the information available if you just call them.

You can find anything on the Internet and that includes local information for national groups. If you search the Internet for a local Shih Tzu rescue centre and all you find is information on national rescue centres then contact the national groups anyways. They may have a local contact point that they do not list anywhere else and that may be a great help to you.
A great place to call and check on a Shih Tzu rescue center is any local dog breeders or any breeders that specifically deal in the Shih Tzu breed. A dog breeder is not just someone that breeds dogs for sale to new owners, but they also care about all pets like any owner would. Many Shih Tzu breeders will also take abandoned and abused Shih Tzu dogs so they can help them out and find them new homes. They do a great service so be sure to contact a breeder if you need help saving a Shih Tzu.

Never let a pet suffer either through abuse, neglect or abandonment. There are always options and until you exercise all the options you should never give up on trying to help the poor defenseless animal. If you know the abuser, or the person that abandoned the animal, then turn them in to the authorities as abusing or abandoning animals is a crime that is punishable. That is the way it should be.

You can find helpful information on Shih Tzu rescue in this article. Shih Tzu information can be found in this article in relation to Shih Tzu rescue.

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Adoption And Rescue

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


Concerned pet lovers, specifically fans of the breed of dog called the Havanese, have created Havanese rescue centres. Named for Havana, Cuba, the Havanese is a breed of small, “toy,” dog that originated in Cuba. Havanese may date as far back as the 16th century. These dogs were popular in aristocratic Spanish families. Later, their popularity trickled down to the Cuban middle class and crossed the ocean to Europe and America. The popularity of the breed, as well as the high price for a Havanese puppy, is the reason behind the illicit breeding and sale of the Havanese and the necessity for Havanese rescue centres.

Havanese’ have specific traits that make the breed easily discernible from other toy breeds. These dogs have a rectangular shape, and a distinctive, heat-resistant coat of silky fur. Their long hair is lightweight and smooth in texture. Havanese dogs are also recognizable by their charming, family-friendly and fun personalities. Though small in size, Havanese are hardy dogs and historically served the purpose of herding chickens and other poultry as well as acting as child-friendly pets.
There are several important functions of Havanese rescue centres. These centres work to find and buy Havanese being sold in illicit puppy auctions. Members and volunteers often use their own resources to travel across country to rescue Havanese pups. Members then work to match rescues with foster or adoptive families. Havanese rescue centres also serve the purpose of raising awareness and funding the cause of Havanese rescue.

Havanese rescue centres work in tandem with the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and the AKC (American Kennel Club) to raise awareness of animal cruelty and mistreatment of the Havanese and other breeds. Reputable rescue centres have websites and legitimate contact information for research and verification. Resources and other helpful information such as ways to help the cause of Havanese rescue are also provided on their websites. An agency’s legitimacy can be verified with a quick phone call or email to the centre.
The ultimate goal of Havanese rescue centres is to ensure that every Havanese has a chance at a happy life. Supporters donate generous amounts of money and time to save Havanese from the puppy mills. They arrange for rescued dogs to be spayed or neutered before adoption or fostering. The purpose of this is to make sure future puppies are also saved from the puppy mill life.

A social breed Havanese dogs are meant to be part of a family group. Fans of the breed will tell you that Havanese consider themselves four-legged members of the family. Due to the breed’s social and fun-loving temperament, the threat of being raised in a puppy mill is a major concern as it takes away the chance for the dog to ever be socialized and receive the love and affection it needs. Please help support Havanese rescue centres in making sure that the lovable “Havs” aren’t delegated to a life of “Hav nots”.

Havanese rescue centres are doing their part to protect members of the breed from animal cruelty. Havanese information and Havanese rescue centre information are both contained in this article.

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Potty Training Tips For Puppies

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


Is your precious 4 legged friend more of a deliquent than a well behaved pooch? Has training gone awry and you’re going more bald with each day? I assure you that your dog is not trying to be mean, vindictive, or even a deliquent by not following house training!

Wrong! The common misconception that your dog is trying to be vindictive and countermine your house training efforts by refusing to follow the rules is a complete myth.

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Dogs only have the thought for simple emotions such as being sad, scared or happy. Their brains can not comprehend was to hurt you or seek revenge against you.

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So take a deep breath and acknowledge that some dogs do however make associations with past experiences. Perhaps your dog has associated something negative with going to the bathroom on the paper or going outside. Perhaps there is some sort of anxiety that is preventing them from doing what they need to do. Don’t forget, your dog by nature, wants to please you and it’s family!

In other words, lets say that you punish your dog for urinating on the front porch. If you continue to scold him for this behavior then eventually your dog will become fearful of using the bathroom outside. All he knows is that he is “outside”, not on the front porch. Your efforts will countermine your house training goals.

Here are some tips for helping with house training. Your dog is going to have accidents, so never punish or yell at your dog when he uses the bathroom inside the house. Most housetraining problems actually stem from owners who completely instill fear in their pets when they go potty on the floor. This creates enough trauma to completely unravel all your efforts into successfully training your dog.

The key is trying not to react. Instead, remove your dog from the room and take him outside in a very calm and relaxed manner. Be sure that he does not see you cleaning up his mess. Quietly clean the area and be sure to use an enzyme-containing house cleaner. Vinegar or liquid soap will do just fine as well. By completely removing all of the older, this helps reduce your dog’s need to urinate and mark the same spot over and over.

Tip: Avoid using ammonia because the smell is very similar to that of a dog’s urine and can stimulate him to pee in the same area.

When all else fails, schedule a visit with your veterinarian so that the doctor can do a complete health checkup of your dog to make sure that there is not a health-related reason for his inability to become house trained.

Some dogs can be harboring illnesses that may prove to be the cause of not having the ability to control their bowel movements. Such illnesses could be caused by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or the most common reason: a urinary tract infection.

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Dog Agility - A Technique in Showing the Solidity of Dog Owners

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


Dog agility, what is that? Dog agility is another type of dog contests all over the world. The dog agility contest involves the unleashed dogs which have to run through a sequence of obstacles without making any error. To be the champion of the contest, the dog should not make any mistakes and have high speed in getting through the course. The proprietors or the handlers of the dogs are prevented to do anything, but yelling out or making any gestures to make their dog run faster through the course of obstacles. They could also run behind their dogs.

The dog agility courses are filled with various obstacles, e.g. tunnels and ladders. The courses are generally about one hundred by one hundred feet and the obstacles are given with numbers to show the sequence that the dogs have to complete.

Complicated Courses

The dog agility courses are usually made to be complex and are usually too difficult to be completed by the dogs without the coaching obtained by their handlers. The owners need to analyze the course and develop a particular strategy to make their dogs run quickly through the course without making any mistake. Utilizing a map of the course is allowed to help the owners enhance their strategy for the dog agility competition.

Scoring Technique

It is accustomed to the dog to have only one opportunity to complete the course throughout the race. While the dog is rapidly running through the course the owner of the dog is frequently running behind their dog giving out commands. The score the dog received is based on the number of faults it made throughout his run through the dog agility course.

In dog agility, there are also some punishments that will be given to the dogs if they do some violations. If the dogs do some blunder, such as knocking down a bar or failing to run through the obstacles, the dogs will also be punished too. Moreover, dogs will also be punished with time faults if they take to much time in passing through the obstacles. Some aspects which take into account in the quantity of time allocated are the level of course problem, the level of dog agility contest and any other factors.

In conclusion, dog agility contest will give not only an amusement to the owners of the dogs and also the spectators, but also many others. The contest could also challenge the dog owners and the dog handlers to prove how far they work together each other, how far their training and achievement, and how far they could handle their traumatic situation facing with many audiences. Do you want to show how solid you are with your dog? Probably you can participate in this contest and prove you and your dog’s ability.

Still being curious about dog agility? Let’s explore more on the links here and you will get much more about the agility of dogs as well as other things related!

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Avoiding Labrador Allergies

by Pet Care on November 26, 2008


Labrador allergies related to food need some detective work on your part. If your Labrador starts to scratch constantly then you know it is suffering from an allergy. Labradors do shed a lot but if hair starts to fall out in clumps and you see red or exposed skin then you know it has an allergy. The only problem is that all allergies, whether food or contact, manifest in itchy skin. The same way a human might have a runny nose when they are allergic to pollen a dog will have itchy skin when it is allergic to something.

If you vet thinks that it is a food allergy then you should to feed your dog proteins and carbohydrates it has never had and see if the condition improves. If it does then your dog has definitely been suffering from a food allergy. Your vet will then advise you about what foods to avoid and what diet to put your dog on. During the food elimination test you should not give your dog any treats that you usually give it.
Labrador allergies can result from several things including food, environmental allergens, parasites and fleas. All these things can cause your Labrador to break out in hot spots, itchy lesions that appear after your dog has been chewing itself because of severe itchiness. You will be able to recognize the hot spots on your own but the underlying cause for hot spots is harder to find. Your vet will need to do this to give your Labrador care that it needs.

One of the more common causes of Labrador allergies is flea infestation and the vet can easily find out if fleas are the reason your dog has an allergic reaction. Even if your dog is usually inside it may still have fleas that you can bring in from outside. If fleas are not the problem then a skin scraping to determine if a parasitic problem is making your dog ill is the next step. If either of this is not the problem then allergy testing will have to be carried out, this is expensive but may be your only option to finding out what is wrong.
Labrador allergies are manageable once you know what the problem is. If it is an environmental factor then you can eliminate this factor from your home to solve the problem. If the problem is related to pollen then you can keep your dog indoors early in the morning and early in the evening. If your dog loves swimming then make sure to take off its collar and dry your dog as much as possible as soon as it’s out of the water. You should also clean your dog’s ears with a cleaning solution from the vet.

If food is the problem then you should talk to your vet about what foods to cut out. Try not to feed your dog table scraps as some table scraps can cause your dog to have Labrador allergies. Proper Labrador care means avoiding table scraps in your dog’s diet no matter how pleading your dog may look. You should also use anti-flea medications to avoid flea infestations and eliminate constant scratching.

Labrador care becomes easier once you know about Labrador allergies and how to deal with them. Once you read this article about Labrador allergies you will learn how to choose a vet for your Labrador.

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