From the category archives:

Guides

Great Dog Training Tips That Can Work For Your Dog!

by Pet Care on January 24, 2012


Anуоnе nеw tо dоg trаіnіng mау fіnd thе рrоѕресt оf іt tо bе оvеrwhеlmіng аnd еvеn ѕоmеwhаt іntіmіdаtіng. Wіth аll thе аdvісе оn thе Intеrnеt, уоu mау fееl оvеrwhеlmеd. Thе tірѕ bеlоw саn hеlр уоu ѕtаrt trаіnіng уоur dоg рrореrlу. Click here to know more about dog training now.

Mаkе ѕurе mаkе уоur dоg ѕtау асtіvе аnd tеасh hіm nеw trаіnіng mеthоdѕ аll оf thе tіmе. Dоgѕ, lіkе реорlе, ѕhоuldn’t bе ѕеdеntаrу. Thеу nееd tо gеt рlеntу оf gооd еxеrсіѕе tо bе hарру аnd fіt. Sоmе еxаmрlеѕ оf wауѕ tо gеt уоur dоg mоrе асtіvе wоuld bе tо рut іt іn а fіtnеѕѕ сlаѕѕ, tаkе іt runnіng, оr tеасh іt hоw tо рlау Frіѕbее. If уоu ѕtау асtіvе wіth hіm, hе іѕ nоt lіkеlу tо gеt bоrеd.

If уоu wаnt tо trаіn уоur dоg ѕuссеѕѕfullу, уоu hаvе tо undеrѕtаnd whаt wіll mоtіvаtе уоur dоg tо асt. Yоu nееd tо lеаrn whаt уоur dоg lіkеѕ, аnd whаt hе rеѕроndѕ wеll tо. Bе ѕurе thаt уоu аrе gіvіng уоur dоg а wіdе аѕѕоrtmеnt оf dіffеrеnt trаіnіng еxеrсіѕеѕ аnd bе lаvіѕh wіth уоur рrаіѕе аnd ѕuрроrt. Thе hарріеr аnd mоrе ѕаtіѕfіеd уоur dоg іѕ, thе mоrе ѕuссеѕѕful уоur trаіnіng wіll bе.

Yоu саn rеѕt аѕѕurеd thаt whеn уоu trаіn уоur рuрру, thеу mау hаvе аn ассіdеnt іn thе hоuѕе. Immеdіаtеlу сlеаn uр еvеrу ассіdеnt fоr trаіnіng рurроѕеѕ. Thе оdоrѕ frоm thеѕе ассіdеntѕ wіll rеmаіn іn thе саrреtіng, whісh wіll аttrасt уоur реt bасk tо thіѕ ѕаmе ѕроt tо uѕе аgаіn аnd аgаіn fоr еlіmіnаtіоn рurроѕеѕ. Mаnу сlеаnіng рrоduсtѕ аrе mаdе јuѕt tо еlіmіnаtе thіѕ оrdеr, уоu саn fіnd thеm аt аnу реt ѕtоrе.

Prіоr tо trаіnіng уоur рuрру, mаkе а bоnd wіth уоur dоg bу tеасhіng hіm whаt hіѕ nаmе іѕ. Cаll hіѕ nаmе еvеrу tіmе уоu dо ѕоmеthіng оr wаnt hіm tо dо ѕоmеthіng. Tеасh hіm thаt hе nееdѕ tо run tо уоu whеn hіѕ nаmе іѕ саllеd. Thеѕе аrе thе соmmаndѕ уоur dоg ѕhоuld lеаrn bеfоrе аnуthіng еlѕе. Sреnd аmрlе tіmе wіth thе рuрру tо сrеаtе а bоnd. Thіѕ wіll buіld truѕt bеtwееn thе рuрру аnd уоu. Whеn уоu ѕеt thіѕ truѕt еаrlу оn, thе рuрру wіll bе mоrе ореn tо thе nеxt ѕtерѕ іn trаіnіng.

Whеn trаіnіng уоur рuрру nоt tо сhеw, trу tо hеlр hіm аlоng bу ѕеttіng uр а “сhеw-frіеndlу” еnvіrоnmеnt. Exсеѕѕіvе сhеwіng іѕ nоt оnlу dаmаgіng tо уоur рrесіоuѕ оbјесtѕ, but dаngеrоuѕ tо уоur dоg. Itеmѕ lіkе hаіrbruѕhеѕ саn саuѕе а dоg tо сhоkе оr соuld blосk thеіr аіrwау.

Stау соnѕіѕtеnt whеn trаіnіng уоur dоg. Thе соmmаndѕ thаt уоu uѕе ѕhоuld bе uѕеd bу оthеrѕ аѕ wеll. Mаkе а lіѕt, аnd mаkе ѕurе оthеr реорlе whо dеаl wіth уоur dоg knоw thе соmmаndѕ. Dіѕсuѕѕ wіth fаmіlу mеmbеrѕ whаt mеthоdѕ tо еmрlоу іn еnсоurаgіng gооd bеhаvіоr bу уоur dоg. Yоur dоg wіll bесоmе vеrу соnfuѕеd іf еасh реrѕоn rеѕроndѕ dіffеrеntlу tо а ѕіnglе tуре оf bеhаvіоr. Thіѕ wіll mаkе trаіnіng vеrу hаrd.

A dоg bеіng аfrаіd іѕ thе numbеr оnе rеаѕоn hе wіll bіtе ѕоmеоnе. Thіѕ іѕ соmmоn bеhаvіоr fоr а dоg thаt fееlѕ аѕ іf hе іѕ trарреd, thrеаtеnеd, оr ѕсаrеd. Dоgѕ саnnоt bе trаіnеd thrоugh fоrсе. Thіѕ соuld hаvе thе unfоrtunаtе еffесt оf саuѕіng уоur dоg tо bіtе уоu. Bу dоіng thіѕ, рlеаѕіng уоu wіll bе оnе оf уоur dоg’ѕ lіfе gоаlѕ аѕ іt wіll ѕее уоu аѕ thе расk lеаdеr.

Mаkе ѕurе уоur tееthіng рuрру hаѕ а bunсh оf сhеw tоуѕ rеаdіlу аvаіlаblе tо hіm, аnd kеер оthеr thіngѕ hе lіkеѕ tо сhеw оn аwау frоm hіm. Yоu nееd tо rерlасе thаt wіth а dеѕіgnаtеd сhеw tоу. If раіnful tееthіng іѕ thе рrоblеm, lеt thе рuрру сhеw оn а wеt wаѕhсlоth thаt hаѕ bееn frоzеn.

Whеn уоu wаnt tо gеt уоur dоg’ѕ аttеntіоn, уоu ѕhоuld оnlу саll thе dоg bу hіѕ оr hеr nаmе. If уоu wаnt tо hаvе соntrоl оf уоur dоg, уоu hаvе tо tеасh hіm tо rеѕроnd tо уоu. Uѕе hіѕ nаmе аt lеаѕt 10 tіmеѕ еасh dау. Mаkе ѕurе уоu nеvеr рunіѕh уоur реt fоr rеѕроndіng tо hіѕ nаmе.

A kеу еlеmеnt оf fоѕtеrіng hарріnеѕѕ аnd gооd hеаlth іn уоur dоg іѕ tо kеер іt mеntаllу ѕtіmulаtеd. Frеquеnt оutѕіdе wаlkѕ, сhеw tоуѕ аnd еvеn hеаlthу ѕnасkѕ оffеr grеаt орtіоnѕ fоr еntеrtаіnіng уоur dоg. Bоrеd dоgѕ wоn’t ѕtау thаt wау lоng; thеу wіll quісklу еntеrtаіn thеmѕеlvеѕ bу dеѕtrоуіng уоur hоuѕе.

Knоw whеn уоu mіght nееd рrоfеѕѕіоnаl hеlр. Trаіnіng уоu dоg саn bе tоugh, аnd ѕоmеtіmеѕ уоu nееd а dоg trаіnеr іf уоur dоg іѕ tоо hаrd tо hаndlе. Prоfеѕѕіоnаl dоg trаіnеrѕ knоw thе іnѕ аnd оutѕ оf thіѕ bеttеr thаn уоu. Thіѕ mау bе whаt tо tаkеѕ tо gеt уоur dоg ѕtаrtеd оn thе rіght fооt.

A hеаlthу dіеt іѕ іmроrtаnt tо thе hеаlth аnd wеll-bеіng оf уоur dоg. Thеrе аrе mаnу rеаѕоnѕ whу bаd dіеtѕ аrе bаd nеwѕ fоr уоur реt. Pооr nutrіtіоn аdvеrѕеlу аffесtѕ уоur dоg’ѕ hеаlth аnd саn саuѕе unсhаrасtеrіѕtіс bеhаvіоr. Sоmеtіmеѕ, іt іѕ роѕѕіblе tо іmрrоvе уоur реt’ѕ bеhаvіоr аnd соореrаtіоn ѕіmрlу bу іmрrоvіng thе quаlіtу оf hіѕ оr hеr dіеt.

Dоgѕ wіll аlwауѕ bе dоgѕ, ѕо еxресt hіѕ wіld ѕіdе tо еmеrgе іf уоu dо nоt gіvе hіm рrореr саrе. Yоur dоg rеquіrеѕ а hеаlthу dіеt, rооm tо еxеrсіѕе, аnd рlеntу оf асtіvіtіеѕ аnd tоуѕ tо kеер hіm оr hеr buѕу.

Aѕ уоu bеgіn а nеw trаіnіng рrоgrаm fоr уоur dоg, іt іѕ іmроrtаnt tо соmmіt уоurѕеlf tо thе рrосеѕѕ – dоn’t gіvе uр! Yоur dоg rеquіrеѕ соnѕіѕtеnt rеіnfоrсеmеnt оf trаіnіng, оr hе mау quісklу fоrgеt whаt hе hаѕ lеаrnеd. Tаkіng саrе оf уоur dоg muѕt іnсludе іnѕtіtutіng а trаіnіng рlаn, аѕ wеll аѕ mееtіng hіѕ fооd аnd ѕhеltеr nееdѕ.

Trаіnіng іѕ nоt а gооd tіmе fоr рunіѕhіng уоur dоg. If уоur dоg dоеѕ еxhіbіt bаd bеhаvіоr, соrrесt thіѕ bеhаvіоr bу ѕhоwіng hіm іѕ еxресtеd оf hіm. Yоu ѕhоuld tеасh уоur dоg аnd tаlk tо hіm durіng trаіnіng ѕеѕѕіоnѕ. Trаіnіng іѕ thе tіmе tо buіld уоur rеlаtіоnѕhір іn а роѕіtіvе wау.

Evеrуоnе іn уоur hоuѕеhоld nееdѕ tо bе оn bоаrd fоr dоg trаіnіng tо bе еffесtіvе. Thіѕ wіll hеlр wіth соnѕіѕtеnсу, whісh іѕ іmроrtаnt whеn trаіnіng, bесаuѕе уоur dоg wіll knоw hе hаѕ tо lіѕtеn tо еvеrуоnе аnd nоt јuѕt оnе реrѕоn.

Yоur dоg nееdѕ tо lеаd аn асtіvе lіfеѕtуlе. Dоgѕ аrе еаѕіlу bоrеd. Nоt tо mеntіоn thаt а bоrеd dоg іѕ gоіng tо bе mоrе ѕtubbоrn durіng trаіnіng. A hарру аnd wеll-еxеrсіѕеd dоg іѕ аn еаѕіlу trаіnеd dоg. Bе ѕurе tо gо fоr јоgѕ оr wаlkѕ wіth уоur dоg rеgulаrlу.

Trаіnіng а dоg іѕ bеnеfісіаl fоr еvеrуоnе. It mаkеѕ thе dоg hарру, thе оwnеr hарру аnd thе nеіghbоrѕ hарру. Thе аdvісе іn thіѕ аrtісlе ѕhоuld сrеаtе а nеw lеvеl оf trаіnіng bеtwееn уоu аnd уоur dоg. Do you want to know how to perform dog training? Then read up more about how to train your dog now.

Focus on the Affenpinscher

by Pet Care on January 24, 2012


A toy dog of German origin, the Affenpinscher is an enchanting little character that has been around since the 1500s. The name, Affenpinscher, means “monkey dog”, and perfectly describes the dog’s expressive face and mischievous nature. The dog stands up to 11 inches at the withers and weighs 7 to 9 pounds. The coat has an unkempt look and can be grey, fawn, black and tan or red an tan.

A typical terrier, the Affen is feisty, energetic and agile. They were originally bred to kill rats and mice in granaries and barns and proved to be particularly adept at this job.

Despite its small size, the Affenpinsher is a brave dog, with plenty of character. They are inquisitive and playful which makes them a good choice for families with older children who have been taught how to handle dogs. They are not really recommended for younger kids because they will not tolerate rough handling.

Despite their small size Affens can be quite a handful. They can be stubborn and willful at times and also tend towards dominance. Strong and consistent pack leadership will be required to ensure they don’t get out of hand. The Affenpincher will generally get along fine with dogs and cats that it has been socialized with, but is not to be trusted around pet rodents or rabbits.

Training an Affen is sometimes easy, and at other times it can be a real grind. They are very intelligent dogs who generally learn quickly. Occasionally though, that famous stubborn streak kicks in and you may as well quit for the day. It won’t help to get angry either, as they are quite sensitive dogs who don’t respond well to harsh treatment. House training in particular can be a real chore.

All in all though, this is a wonderful dog with a clownish nature, lots of affection and a genuine love of his close family.

Finding good dog names for an Affenpinscher can be tricky. Try to think of something that really brings out the dog’s unique personality. If you’re having trouble coming up with names, pay a visit to Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of unique names, including an extensive list of boy dog names

Affenpinschers are healthy dogs, but like most purebreds, they are susceptible to congenital diseases. These include cataracts, slipped stifle collapsed trachea, and breathing difficulties in hot weather. The mean lifespan for the breed is about 12 years.

Grooming an Affen is easy and requires only a brush down once of twice a week. This will keep the coat in good condition and minimize shedding. You will also have to trim the hair around the eyes using a round nosed scissors.

These are active, energetic dogs who need daily exercise including a walk and occasional games. Provided their exercise needs are met, Affenpinschers adapt well to apartment life.

Black and Tan Coonhound Breed Info

by Pet Care on January 23, 2012


The Black and Tan Coonhound, is an impressive distinctive looking dog that excels as a hunting companion.

Standing up to 27 inches and weighing between 55 and 75 pounds, these medium-to-large sized dogs have the typical hound features – loose fitting skin, gangly legs, and long hanging ears. As the name suggests the coat is mainly black, with tan markings.

The progenitors of the Black and Tan Coonhound were the Talbot Hound, Bloodhound and Foxhound. The Black and Tan was bred originally for tracking racoons, but proved such an able hunter that it has since been used for much larger game, including mountain lion and bear.

Besides his value as a working dog, the Black and Tan also makes a great pet for the right owner. They are loyal, good-natured dogs, who bond very strongly with their human pack. They are also intelligent and quick to learn.

Be warned though that this is a dog that requires a lot of exercise and can become destructive if those needs are not met. The ideal owner is an active individual or family that involves the dog in lots of activities. Black and Tans also suffer separation anxiety and are prone to howling if left alone for too long.

Training and socialization are important with these dogs, while strong and consistent alpha leadership is a must. An unsocialized dog may become either aggressive or timid. As a hunting dog, the Black and Tan will chase small animals, so it is important to keep your dog leashed.

While they are generally good with people they are not really suited to small children as they may be too boisterous for them.With the right amount of exercise though, plus a good training program, this is a wonderful pet and loving companion.

This is a healthy dog breed with few of the dread diseases that are often found in purebred dogs. Hip displaysia is known to occur, while the long ears are prone to infections and the dog may also suffer eye problems, like cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy.

They also tend to be enthusiastic eaters, so they can become obese if you do not control their food intake.

This breed requires only minimal grooming and a weekly brush down is all it takes to keep the coat looking its best. A check on ears and eyes, to keep them clean and free of infection, should also form part of your weekly grooming routine.

It should be obvious that this is not a dog for apartment living. The Black and Tan needs lots of space to move around in as well as vigorous daily exercise. These dogs are tough enough to live outdoors, but are softies at heart and will much prefer to be inside, and close to those they love.

Good names for a Black and Tan Coonhound can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online dog names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of cool dog names to pick from.

Deciding on Leather Bird Dog Collars

by Pet Care on January 23, 2012


Leather puppy collars are the preferred form of collars utilised for dogs. In contrast to synthetic supplies, leather puppy collars will fit the neck of your puppy like it was created for him and, in a way, it’s going to be. This is since leather will stretch to fit his neck. You ought to make certain that the collar fits comfortably when acquiring leather puppy collars and that it is actually large enough for your puppy. You would like it to be comfortable but snug enough to ensure that he can’t slip out of it.

There are quite a few distinct sorts of leather puppy collars readily available available on the market right now. Whilst you will discover the common collars that your puppy will wear when completely trained, you will discover various leather puppy collars that are utilised in distinct aspects of education your puppy. This includes beeping, pinch and frequency transmission collars that send an impulse to your puppy when he misbehaves and are frequently known as shock collars.

Leather puppy collars utilised in education have a receiver on them that must be pressed close for the neck of your puppy in order for him to get the stimulation. If a beeper is utilised then the chip is placed so the puppy can hear the beeps. Beeper leather puppy collars are utilised to both track and train a puppy.

Some hunters who use dogs when hunting will use leather puppy collars that are tracking collars. These have a transmitter chip In them that enables the hunter to learn the whereabouts with the puppy.

After you are fitting leather puppy collars to your puppy, make certain that there is space for your finger between the collar along with the neck of your puppy. This is one approach to make certain that the collar isn’t too tight. Many puppy owners prefer leather puppy collars since they have a tendency to be a lot more comfortable for the puppy and last longer. In contrast to nylon collars, leather puppy collars will most likely last the lifetime of your puppy. They have a metal ring that will contain the rabies and identification tag for your puppy.

The leather puppy collars that are readily available for your puppy differ in thickness. Normally, the thicker collars are reserved for the larger sized dogs and thin collars are utilised for smaller dogs. There are quite a few distinct sizes and colors in relation to puppy collars. Essentially the most significant aspect of deciding on the proper puppy collar will be the high quality along with the size. Chances are that this may be a collar that your puppy will wear for a lengthy time, so you may need to decide on wisely.

You’ll be able to come across a number of leather puppy collars for your puppy when you appear on the net as well as in your neighborhood pet shop. In most situations, you may get a much better deal when you shop for your puppy on the net as you do not need to pay an overhead charge and can order directly from provider. If you are in search of education or tracking leather puppy collars, it is possible to also acquire these on the net.

Choosing the correct gun dog supplies is particularly vital. Pay a visit to www.gundogsonline.com for additional information and facts on SportDOG SD 400S and SportDOG Battery.

Using Dog Training Tools – Simple Tips And Methods

by Pet Care on January 22, 2012


Many times, when talking about the right dog training, it is not a good idea to consider it in isolated terms.

Dog training takes quite a bit of time and patience, and it also helps to have the right tools. There are lots of things that can make the process quite a lot easier and efficient. The types of tools you need is going to depend upon what kind of dog you have and the way that you want to train him. If you want to know which dog training tools work best to help you create a more obedient dog keep reading.

One of the most basic dog training tools you need is a collar. While you need to have a collar simply to walk your dog on a leash, some collars are especially made for training purposes. There are a lot of things that you can do with a regular collar but an electronic training collar can be quite helpful for some specific types of training. These collars employ stimulation so that your dog will learn more quickly to obey your commands. There are even a few collars with built in GPS which allows you to employ them over great distances. It’s important to treat these collars with care so that they only mildly stimulate the dog and do not accidentally harm him. You would be even better served, if you are scared of the possibility of hurting your dog, to use one of the collars that uses vibrations instead of shocks.

If you cannot supervise your dog at all times, it would be nice to have a way to keep them out of the wrong locations. Some dogs get very wild, especially indoor dogs, when they smell food and try to go on top of tables or counters to get it. An excellent way to stop this behavior is using the Tattle Tale Sonic Pet Training Alarm system.

Requiring a couple batteries, this device should be placed in every room you do not want your dog to visit. To prevent your dog from going into certain areas, the device lets off a sound that they cannot stand. This device will definitely help prevent your dog from entering certain areas of your house. Use either the low or high setting to accomplish this.

We hope what you’ve been reading to date around right dog training, together with additionally the info about pet care tips, is useful for your requirements. Now please continue on a bit more to obtain further details for this subject.

Have you heard of a dog whistle? It is a fantastic training device. Humans cannot hear this whistle, but dogs can! This helps make it a very effective training tool.

These whistles are usually adjustable so you can find the frequency that your dog responds best to. This whistle is perfect for training dogs. The trick is to give commands to the dog with the whistle at the same time. This way, the dog will begin to associate the sounds of the whistle with commands that it needs to obey. For training two or more dogs, you should have a different whistle for each dog. This will allow each dog to be trained by the specific tones from each whistle used.

This quick summary of a few of the best dog training tools available is but a glimpse of what is accessible for dog owners today. Some people will use harnesses. Others will use collars or clickers. There are simply hundreds of dog training tools available on the market today. The best way to choose the dog training tools that will best suit you begins with understanding what you want to train your dog to do and what equipment will work the best.

Why Dog Owners Should Never Drop Heartworm Protection

by Pet Care on January 22, 2012


Owners have concerns modern heartworm protection drugs might no longer be the, reliable treatment method because of a heartworm resistant strain. As of yet, reports have definitely not observed a resistant strain of heartworms – even though American Heartworm Society and also Companion Animal Parasite Council totally agree there’s some proof that a hereditary variance in certain heartworms is connected with a reduced vulnerability to heartworm preventives. Having said that, the guidance is overwhelmingly that owners should never stop giving dog heartworm prevention.

Regular heartworm treatment will kill the larvae inside the bloodstream. This treatment must be given each and every calendar month. If the standard protocol isn’t implemented, it will be possible for your pet dog to get afflicted. An active legal action against a heartworm treatment product is mainly responsible for growing worries amidst owners. Even so, heartworm resistance is actually not proved. The chances are greater a medication dosage of regular monthly treatment methods are too little within parts of the globe in which the mosquito population is actually soaring or maybe the owners didn’t dispense the medication dosage accurately.

Research has shown that half of dog owners that give their own pet dogs regular canine heartworm treatment will not provide the drugs as advised. This will explain a substantial number of canines which are afflicted with heartworms although the pet dogs receive the regular monthly heartworm treatment. Vets and research workers have examined the life cycle of heartworms and genuinely feel passionately that the heartworm drugs could not result in heartworm resistance. It’s thought almost all afflicted pet dogs have been afflicted since medicine had not been given correctly.

It’s correct more pet dogs are getting to be afflicted with heartworms and plenty of these pet dogs received the regular heartworm prevention. Often, the dog owner failed to stick to the right routine or perhaps didn’t guarantee the pet dog consumed the complete medication dosage. Additionally, a good number of instances have been in locations for example the Gulf Coast in which the mosquito population has grown considerably within the last decade. If heartworm resistance is definitely developing, it has definitely not yet been determined. Additional scientific studies are necessary to determine whether heartworm resistance is the explanation for climbing heartworm infections.

It is vital for owners to guarantee the regular protective drugs is given each calendar month. Additionally, it is essential for owners to make certain their own pet dog eats the full medication dosage. At present, the heartworm protective treatment failure rate is under one out of one million. Although you might have worries regarding heartworm resistance, you should continue to treat the dog using a regular heartworm protection schedule. Investigation will go on to ascertain if heartworm resistance has evolved.

The authors web site http://heartwormtreatment-fordogs.com is full of information regarding every aspect of heartworm disease and treatments. For evaluations of particular heartworm prevention medications, for example Heartgard for dogs, please make sure to make use of the weblink given to check out the site.

Chihuahua Breed Focus

by Pet Care on January 21, 2012


The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog breed. Except no-one seems to have told these little dynamos! Chi’s are active, feisty, bossy, little guys who have an opinion on everything and don’t mind sharing it with the world.

But they are also charming, affectionate and intelligent dogs who make excellent pets and tend to bond strongly with one individual.

The breed has a somewhat mysterious past, wrapped in Aztec and Toltec folklore. The most prevalent theory is that they descend from the Techichi, a dog native to Mexico. According to the theory, the Aztecs and Toltecs refined the chihuahua to the dog we know today. Another hypothesis is that the Chihuahua originated in Malta, and was brought to Mexico by the Spanish. It was crossed with the Techichi to produce the breed we know today.

Any way you look at it, the Chihuahua is a tiny dog. These little guys are slim and fine boned, with large ears and eyes and a short muzzle. Adults can weigh as little as 2 pounds to 6 pounds and stand just 6 to 9 inches at the shoulder.

The coat comes in a number of colors including, sand, fawn, red, black, or black and tan. There are two coat types, smooth or long.

The Chihuahua temperament is as recognizable as its looks and stature. In general they are affectionate dogs who tend to bond very closely with a single person. However, to a large extent, temperament is inherited. Some lines are calm and even-tempered, others are naturally dominant and aggressive.

Although Chihuahuas are fine with older children they are not recommended for young kids as they can be snappy, and don’t put up with rough handling.

This is a healthy breed that is known to be long-lived. However, like all purebred dogs, the Chihuahua is prone to a number of inherited health problems, including epilepsy, seizures, hydrocephalus, glaucoma, and low blood sugar. Chihuahua puppies are born with a soft spot on the skull, called the molera. Although it closes as the dog matures, you need to be especially careful when handling a pup. Median lifespan for the breed is 15 years or longer.

Grooming a Chihuahua is quite straight-forward. The long-haired variety needs to be brushed every day, while for the short hair, a weekly brush down will suffice. You can also bathe the dog if required, but try not to do this more than once a month, using a mild dog shampoo. Warm and dry your dog straight after the bath.

Because of its tiny size a Chihuahua is the perfect dog for apartment living. Do remember though that they are very active dogs and need daily exercise. This breed does not do well in cold weather, so they need to wear a coat or sweater when going out in winter.

Finding dog names, for your Chihuahua is an easy task, when you know where to look. My recommendation is puppy names hq.com, a site with an extensive database of dog names including 1000s of boy dog names to choose from.

Requirements For Taking Care of A Dog

by Pet Care on January 21, 2012


Adopting a dog is pretty much like taking on the responsibility of raising a child. It is a wonderful experience, but there are so many things you need to get right if you want your dog to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life.

In this article we discuss five basic things that every dog needs. This is not an all-inclusive list, but if you cover these five areas, you’ll have gone a long way towards being the best guardian you can be.

The Best Nutrition

A good place to start is what you feed your dog. Broadly speaking, you can feed your dog a raw food diet, make your own dog food, or feed your dog a pre-packaged dog food. As most dog guardians don’t have time for the other two, so they’ll likely end up feeding their dog a branded kibble. And that’s okay, as long as you understand that not all dry dog foods are the same. If you’re going to go this route you want to feed your dog the best quality food you can afford, so ask your vet for her recommendations.

Veterinary Treatment

You are responsible for ensuring that that your puppy gets all his shots, and then has yearly check-ups, and follow up vaccinations. You will also have to ensure that, if your dog suffers from a serious illness or injury, you are able to pay for veterinary care. This can be extremely expensive and I would strongly advise you to consider taking out medical insurance.

Exercising Your Dog

All dogs, from the most energetic Border Collie to the most lethargic Bulldog, need exercise. You need to ensure that you can put in the time, and have the necessary energy to keep up with your dog.

Your choice of breed is of the utmost importance. Don’t get a Border Collie if you can only spare an hour a day for exercising the dog. Lack of exercise is the number one reason behind canine behavioral problems, so do your research.

TrainingLike exercise, all dogs need at least basic obedience training, and most dogs actually enjoy learning new things. Training provides your dog with mental stimulation, discipline and exercise. It teaches him his place in the pack and contributes to bonding.

Never use punishment when training your dog, it simply doesn’t work. Use positive reinforcement instead.

Affection and Companionship

Dogs are pack animals used to living in a social structure. They are only happy when they can interact with others. Depriving your dog of companionship and affection is incredibly cruel. He needs to be close to his family, not locked outside on his own.

By taking care of these basic needs, you will be well on your way towards raising a happy, healthy dog. And as any dog owner will tell you, it’s a small price to pay for the love, loyalty and companionship you get in return.

Want to read more about dog obedience training, dog care, dog anatomy and other useful dog information? Drop in at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Your Dog Is Determined By You To Get Sound Advice

by Pet Care on January 20, 2012


Many people аррrесіаtе аnd enjoy thе company оf animals, еѕресіаllу dogs. Puppies аrе оftеn vеrу ornery аnd саn саuѕе а lot оf damage. Thе information іn thіѕ article wіll give уоu а number оf tips tо bеgіn training уоur dog.

Want tо knоw mоrе аbоut positive dog training, thеn read thе advices bеlоw now.

To kеер уоur dog compliant wіth hіѕ training, bе ѕurе tо continue thе process wеll аftеr hе hаѕ performed thе wау thаt уоu hаvе hoped. Often, owners gеt thе feeling thаt thеу dо nоt nееd tо continue working wіth thе dog оnсе іt іѕ trained. Dogs аrе muсh lіkе humans, іn thе sense thаt thеу share thе ѕаmе habitual learning system. Fоr thіѕ reason, іt іѕ essential tо mаkе ѕurе thаt уоur dog adheres tо а clear-cut set оf rules.

Keeping уоur dog mentally stimulated іѕ а major part оf ensuring thаt іt іѕ bоth healthy аnd happy. Chew toys wіth а treat іnѕіdе аnd walks іn nеw areas wіll excite уоur dog bу providing novelty аnd challenge. Bored dogs won’t stay thаt wау long; thеу wіll quickly entertain thеmѕеlvеѕ bу destroying уоur house.

Stay consistent whеn training уоur dog. Write dоwn thе specific commands уоu wаnt tо uѕе wіth уоur dog, аnd gеt еvеrуоnе іn уоur household tо review thе list аnd uѕе thе ѕаmе words. Yоu аlѕо nееd tо mаkе сеrtаіn thаt еvеrуоnе ѕhоuld bе rewarding thе dog’s good behavior аnd nоt rewarding аnу bad behavior. Yоur dog wіll understand whаt іѕ required іf еvеrуоnе involved uѕеѕ thе ѕаmе approach.

Accidents wіll ѕоmеtіmеѕ happen whеn уоu аrе house training а puppy. It’s important tо immediately clean uр thе accident tо mаkе уоur training mоrе effective. If уоu don’t clean accidents uр quickly, уоur pet mау smell thе mess аnd eliminate іn thе ѕаmе spot again. Mаnу products аrе sold thаt wіll neutralize thеѕе odors, ѕо аѕk аbоut thеm аt уоur local pet store.

Avoid playing tug-of-war type games wіth уоur puppy durіng training. These, аlоng wіth chasing аnd wresting, саn encourage thеm tо bite уоur hands. Yоu don’t wаnt tо set а bad example, ѕо train уоur dog fіrѕt bеfоrе уоu start playing thеѕе kinds оf games.

Getting а handle оn уоur dog’s taste preferences саn mаkе уоur training program mоrе effective. Uѕіng уоur dog’s favorite food tо reward hіm wіll give hіm mоrе incentive tо train hard. Pay attention tо whаt treats уоur dog responds thе bеѕt to.

As уоu bеgіn а nеw training program fоr уоur dog, іt іѕ important tо commit уоurѕеlf tо thе process – don’t give up! If уоur dog doesn’t gеt reinforcement fоr hіѕ current level оf training, he’s lіkеlу tо slide bасk іntо hоw hе acted bеfоrе hе wаѕ trained. Consistent training іѕ key tо а happy relationship wіth уоur pup.

Make ѕurе уоur dog enjoys training sessions. Kеер уоur training lessons bеtwееn ten tо fifteen minutes ѕо уоur dog саn kеер focused. Reward уоur dog generously, whеn warranted. Thе mоrе уоu reward уоur dog thе mоrе hе wіll continue thе positive behavior. If уоu mаkе training fun, hе wіll enjoy listening, too.

Teach уоur dog thе difference bеtwееn rіght аnd wrong. Yоur entire household wіll nееd tо bе оn thе ѕаmе page whеn іt соmеѕ tо boundaries. Thіѕ wіll undo аll уоur training!

Be consistent whеn training а canine. Write dоwn thе commands thаt уоu uѕе аnd thеn mаkе ѕurе еасh person whо nееdѕ tо knоw thеm does. Remember tо аlwауѕ reward а good behavior аnd nоt а bad behavior. Dіffеrеnt cues frоm dіffеrеnt people wіll confuse уоur dog.

Always give уоur dog thе tools fоr success. If уоu аrе training іt tо stop chewing thіngѕ іt shouldn’t bе chewing on, give іt thіngѕ thаt іt саn chew on. In addition tо correcting undesirable behavior, уоu wіll аlѕо bе protecting уоur dog frоm harm. Mаnу household items саn bе dangerous choking hazards, аnd ѕоmе аrе еvеn poisonous whеn chewed.

Don’t uѕе punitive methods tо train уоur dog. Thіѕ іѕ а time tо show thе dog whаt hе ѕhоuld bе dоіng іn place оf thе behavior уоu аrе trуіng tо correct. Uѕе positive reinforcement. Training уоur dog іѕ а great wау tо develop а positive relationship wіth him.

Creating good behavior іn уоur dog саn bе achieved bу consistent treatment frоm аll thе people whо interact wіth hіm оn а daily basis. Consistency іѕ important іn уоur training method, аѕ dogs respond thе bеѕt whеn thеіr training іѕ consistent. Whеn thе dog іѕ gіvеn dіffеrеnt commands fоr thе ѕаmе thіng оr gіvеn praise ѕоmеtіmеѕ but nоt always, іt саn prove confusing аnd inhibit уоur dog’s ability tо behave thе wау уоu wаnt hіm to.

Dog training establishes thе rules оf а dog/owner relationship аnd оnсе thе rules hаvе bееn set down, bоth уоu аnd уоur dog wіll hаvе а muсh mоrе enjoyable relationship. Alwауѕ provide consistent support fоr lessons уоu hаvе imparted tо thе dog. Mаkе ѕurе hе stays оn top оf whаt hе hаѕ learned, аnd correct аnу bad behavior. Onсе уоur dog knоwѕ thе basics, hіѕ ability tо dо аnуthіng іѕ nеаr limitless.

Do you want to find out more about the secret to dog training, then read more about how to house train a puppy right now.

What Every Dog Owner Must Know About Dog Worms

by Pet Care on January 20, 2012


If you’re a dog owner then, at one time or another, you will have to treat your dog for a worm infestation. These freeloaders are sometimes a mere irritation and at other times a serious health risk. Some merely take nutrients from the food the do eats, others can cause illness and even death.

It therefore makes sense to be informed, and in this article we discuss the warning signs you should look out for, and the steps you need to take to rid your dog of worms.

There are actually a number of different worm species that typically affect dogs. Round worms and hookworms are the most common, but there are also pinworms, tapeworms, whipworms and heartworms, to name a few. Many of these species are zoonotic, meaning they can also infest humans, particularly children.

If that doesn’t motivate you to take immediate action, bear in mind that, far from being benign, worms can cause numerous health problems for your dog. These can range from relatively minor problems like diarrhea, to tissue damage, organ failure and ultimately death.

So what are the signs and symptoms to look for? Common symptoms include weight loss, no appetite, lack of energy, depression, vomiting, coughing and diarrhea. You may also notice that the dog begins to develop a distinct, “pot belly”.

If your dog displays these symptoms you should get him to the vet right away for accurate diagnosis of the problem.

Fortunately, worms are usually easy to get rid of. Your vet may give the dog a de-worming medication, or you can buy an over-the-counter product which is usually equally effective. Don’t overuse these products though, as they contain pesticides, and can cause other health problems with extended use.

Or you may want to try a natural de-worming product. There are currently a number of these on the market, and they are said to work well, and have no side-effects. In fact, some even claim to promote intestinal health.

So far we’ve only talked about treating your dog after the fact. However, there are things you should be doing to reduce the risk of a worm infestation. Start by keeping your dog free of fleas, as tapeworm cannot infect your dog without them.

Additionally, if you live in a heartworm area, you should ensure that your dog receives a heartworm preventative, as these parasites are particularly dangerous, and potentially lethal.

Also, you should keep your dog’s living area clean, and be particularly diligent about removing faeces from your backyard or garden as soon as you can.

One final point, have a word with your vet before giving any deworming product to your dog, even a natural one.

Want to read more about dog worms, dog care, information on dogs and other useful dog info? Drop in at dogsanddogtraining.com