Archive for Dogs

Havanese Rescue – Did You Know That Some Puppy Mills Use Rescue Groups?

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

For the longest time, animal rescue has been shouldered, for the most part, by breeders and others genuinely concerned about animals. You could say it was not, prior to their spread, a popular undertaking, but it was needed just the same. In recent years, many animal rescue groups have surfaced, which may be a good thing if all of them actually took part in rescues and did not serve a fronts for puppy mills. The number of Havanese rescue groups have seen an increase recently, and these organizations will prove vital in your search for a good Havanese dog to adopt. What you need to cultivate is some healthy skepticism toward these Havanese rescue groups, since not all of them are what they claim to be.

You may not believe this, but there have been reports that some puppy mill operators pose as rescue groups, which then charge people a higher than normal fee for their supposedly rescued pups, or pass their unhealthy dogs at heavily discounted rates. Puppy mills are only after profit, not prioritizing the avoidance of hereditary conditions to the bred pups, breeding runt to runt for design pup whims, and are not to be trusted with health and breeding documentation they may offer (it’s likely those are false).

Various rescue groups operate in largely similar ways, at least on the surface – rescuing dogs, taking care of them, interviewing adoptive owners, and having the dog’ adopted; but there are way in which they operate differently. There are also variations in how rescues evaluate possible candidate adoptive home. That’s why you should be asking a lot of questions in case you are planning to support a rescue, take part in their operations through volunteer efforts, or adopt from them.

Ask them about their rescues, how do they get them, what procedures are in place, what criteria are used. About the potential adoptive home, does the rescue group regularly perform their screening before dogs are placed in them. About donations, how do they solicit them and how are the donations being used? It’s good to be clear on how the funds are primarily being used – for maintaining the needs of the group, or for the dogs.

In case you’re not aware of it, donated funds could also be used to buy dogs from puppy mills on the cover of saving them. You could always say this is a noble cause, as it “saves” dogs, too, but it’s also one revenue source for those unscrupulous people. Think about it, if rescue organizations did not buy dogs from puppy mills, then puppy mills would not be having another sector to sell their pups to. Which is why breeding clubs and kennel clubs usually do not support this kind of rescue group fund usage.

Though this one can be intrusive with the group’s financial spending policies, ask whether they prefer to use donated funds to help treat animals through expensive stations rather than use such amounts for rescuing more dogs.

Shih Tzu Breeders – How To Tell If You’re Ready To Raise Shih Tzu Pups

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

If you’re looking for Shih Tzu breeders, then you’re probably leaning on buying a specific breed of puppy, and raising it to adulthood, instead of getting an adult Shih Tzu. No one is dismissing the possibility that you can get discounts, or a good deal, when buying puppies from Shih Tzu breeders, but you need to be sure you’re buying from legitimate ones. Legitimate breeders, those who breed dogs according to healthy breeding standards, are often part of breeding clubs. Such breeders are capable of providing you with registration of the pups’ bloodline and even the inoculations and deworming sessions they’ve undergone.

For those who are really interested in specific dog breeds, legitimate breeders should be your first option. You could of course try looking for a pure bred Shih Tzu in animal shelters, and even in Shih Tzu rescue, but it’s unlikely to find one in those place – they take in any orphaned dog, and may not be too choosy. If you’re also looking for puppies to raise, then a breeder is what you’re looking for. It’s possible some shelters chance upon pure breed dogs and puppies, and take care of them while screening potentially qualified new owners, but you might need to scout a lot of shelters to increase your chances of finding pure breeds Also, if you intend to participate in dog shows, which of course has certain conformation rules to adhere to, then getting legitimate breeds from a reputable breeder may be the only way to go.

Breeders of the legit line usually have references you can check. A trustworthy breeder will volunteer right away, when you interview them, their references which you can of course check – they want you to see right away they are not part of some puppy mill that’s after only profit. Don’t be surprised if the breeder you sought out to interview will also extensively interview you as well. These questions are in line with the breeder’s aim to sell well-bred pups only to those who can provide a good home for them.

A home that’s ready to take in new pets should have clean and sanitary areas for the pups, relatives that understand this breed, an owner financially prepared to shoulder the needs (pet bedding, premium dog food, vet check ups, inoculations, deworming sessions, medical procedures, grooming items, etc.), and a devoted heart on the part of the owner. These factors must be present, since, like other small dog breeds, Shih Tzu are susceptable to some health problems; also, they crave to be adored.

Grooming this small dog breed and the necessity to routinely bring it outside (or to the designated area) can take up a lot of time. So now you understand why a breeder would ask you all those questions – he wants to know if the dog or dogs will be in good hands. If you’re a responsible owner, you can of course imagine that you’d have the same stringent screening process if you were selling your dogs.

Dog Tricks Training – Fun Dog Tricks To Impress Your Friends

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

Among any other domestic animals, dogs are considered the most lovable and clever. They make great pets for they appeal to people’s emotional needs. Statistics have shown that thirty-seven percent of American homes possess at least two dogs. What makes this even more interesting is that a normal American spends a figure of $200 to $400 for their dog grooming maintenance, health, and nutrition.

Dogs have different abilities according to their size, weight, and breed. Dogs can differ according to intelligence and how quick they can grasp a command, but all dogs can be trained. Be careful with larger and antagonistic breeds though such as the Rottweilers. Here are some sure tips of how you can train your clever pets a few simple tricks.

The “kiss” trick

The first is the “kiss” trick. This is where you teach your dogs to lick your hands. You have to say a word that conveys kissing for them to refer to the act of kissing such as saying “kiss me”. Dogs will identify the act of kissing to the word of kissing that you have conveyed. Make sure to give your dog praises such as “good boy!” while touching his head. The dog will feel that his owners appreciate him and are proud of his learning. A dog loves to be rewarded.

The “paw” trick

The next trick is the easiest to perform. This trick involves shaking your hand with your dog’s paw. You can begin by making your dog sit, and then reach out your hand to hold your dog’s paw. Upon reaching his paw say “paw”. He may not understand the word “paw” but the dog will associate the sound or tone of your voice saying “paw” to his paw. If the dog reached out his paw it means that he is begining to get it. If the dog is apprehensive, make sure to gently pat his head to give him assurance.

The “catch” trick

Now let’s go to the most popular trick for most dogs – the “catch” trick. Dogs are active animals and they love catching things for their owner. You simply cast your dog’s favorite toy and he will, for sure, go after and catch it. Just make sure the treat is big enough for them see but small enough to be unconsciously swallowed. Do this repeatedly for them to develop the trick and their agility but always practice due care.

The “fetch” trick

This is another simple trick that is very easy to teach to the dogs because fetching is their inherent ability. This trick has the same instruction to the “catch” trick but, here, you will be using a toy instead of a treat. Any toy will do for the fetch trick. Dog owners often use a colorful frisbee or sometimes a short stick to teach their pet how to fetch. Do this repeatedly in an open area especially if you are talking your dog out for a walk. This trick makes for a good dog exercise and activity. Make sure to reward your dog with a treat every time he does it right.

The “beg” trick

Among all the other tricks in this list, this must be the more complex one. Start off by making your dog stand on his hind legs. Then make him and hold a dog treat in front of his nose then slowly bring it farther from him. Make sure that you continuously say “beg” then give him the treat. Again, he may not understand it but he will recognize the tone of your voice as a command to do something which is to beg for his treat. Do it repeatedly while waiting a little longer before handing the treat over for the dog to identify a closer association of your command in human language to the action it conveys.

Smart as they are, dogs can be taught a lot of tricks be it simple, complex, or just simply funny. Dogs are generally smart. You just have to be patient and hardworking when training those tricks. Make sure also that the tricks matches the dog’s breed. Consult first to dog experts like veterinarians and dog breeders before starting to train you dog on some tricks.

Need assistance in disciplining your pup? Find the finest website to get dog training tips, grooming techniques and everything you need to know about your treasured pet. Start early and learn how to train and care for your puppy today!

What Options Are Available For Dog Seizures Treatment?

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Many dog owners will never worry about the effects of a seizure on their beloved dog. These are more common than a person might think that they are, there are several different dog seizures treatment options that can be used in the effective treatment of a dogs seizures. There is the issue of dealing with these when they occur. If this is a first time, then this can be a gut-wrenching experience for a dog owner to have to watch.

The first thing that you need to do is to understand what exactly causes a seizure in a dog. The number one cause of these is due to epilepsy; this is a condition that can affect a dog as much as it does a human. As with a person, there are several varying degrees of the seizure that a person needs to know about.

These tips will assist a person in making sure that you and the dog are able to get through the ordeal in a manner that will make it easy on the both of you. Know that your vet is able to prescribe medicine that you can give your dog that will help to prevent them from having a seizure.

There are also several natural treatments that are safe for a dog to use that will also help to reduce the number of seizures that they have on a regular basis. These can be bought at a large number of pet stores and great taste and the dog will never know that it is medicine. The easier that it is for a person to give the do its medicine, then the better this will be for the both of you.

There is however going to be the first time your dog suffers a seizure. This is something that will be devastating for a person to watch. This is often described as one of the worst things to watch a dog go through, while this will be difficult for a person to watch, there are some things that needs to be done to assist a person and a dog.

The first thing is to make sure that they are not around anything that they can hit their head on. This will help to make sure that there is no more damage done to the dogs head. Try to get the dog to an area that has a lot of padding, such as a couch or chair. If this cannot be done, the grab some of the pillows and cushions from the couch and try to pad the dog during the seizure.

Make sure to never try to do anything with their mouth during the event, this can lead to them clamping down during the seizure and cause serious injury to you as a result. Let the dog be and just allow things to take their course. This will help you and the dog from being injured any further.

Never try opening their mouth, this is a very bad idea as often times this will lead to there being damage done to the dog as well as them biting down during the seizure and injuring you in the process. Following these tips will assist a person to get the best dog seizures treatment option for their dog.

The Beginnings Of Dog Wheelchairs

Saturday, April 9th, 2011

As the popular saying goes, “necessity is the mother of all invention.” This was perhaps what dog owners were thinking the time they created the first moving contraptions that help their injured and aging dogs.

 

Maybe as a final attempt to hold off their beloved pets’ failing health, whether it’s paralysis, joint pains, or a few other disease that usually comes with aging dogs, dog owners slowly found their way to constructing a mobility aid that came in the form of a wheeled devise.

 

From its humble start, other uses of dog wheelchairs became clear later on. Such mobility support helps your old dogs who are trying to recuperate from some injuries, as a post-surgical healing aid, and as support for dogs born with missing limbs.

 

Dog wheelchairs have grown and expanded into more categories to be able to answer some more dogs’ needs. You can find now dog wheelchairs to suit dogs of varied sizes, breeds, and genders. There are customized dog wheelchairs and adaptable ones. Models that assist dogs with hind leg or fore leg problems are now available. Most importantly to dog families, at least, you can find dog wheelchairs for different budgets-with providing right care for their pets they have expenses for veterinarian visits and medications; and as great an idea as dog wheelchairs are, they would be useless to dog owners if they are not affordable.

 

You can find also a variety of dog wheelchair plans accessible for free for owners who’d rather not purchase one. Based on feedback, most are not as intricate to build as they seem, but savings on cost-the major reason why most pet owners try this route-vary. Some report substantial savings on DIY dog wheelchairs while others only encountered marginal savings and realized that buying a reasonably priced dog wheelchair will be a better investment to work for a long time.

 

Alleviating pain, giving back mobility and the feeling of independence, bringing about a full life (and for some dogs, literally providing them with a chance at life). It may not be a total cure for all health-related concerns of your pet dog however for pet owners and dogs alike, dog wheelchairs are indeed a excellent invention.

How To Protect The Dog From Lice

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Dogs can suffer from several kinds of parasite infestation. Aside from fleas, mites and ticks, the pet can have another unwanted guest – LICE! A dog owner that maintains a regular grooming routine for the pet should not be surprised if lice is found on the dog’s fur as this parasite can be found even on very clean dogs.

Both humans and dogs can be infested with lice. Both dogs and humans can be infested with lice but a dog owner need not worry that the parasite that infests the dog can be transmitted to the human family or vice versa because the kind of lice that live on humans is different from the ones that live on dogs.

Dog lice are beige, gray or tan colored wingless parasites that measure about 12th of an inch. Unlike fleas that can jump and move very fast, lice are slow moving and even stationary parasites. The lice that infests the dog can be a biting kind or the kind that feeds on the dog’s blood. The dog can have the kind of lice that bites to feed on skin flakes or the lice can be the kind that thrive on the dog’s body by sucking blood. Both biting and blood sucking lice would have unwanted effects on the dog as the first would cause immense itching while a severe infestation of the blood sucking kind can cause anemia.

Direct contact with an infested dog is the most common form of lice transmission as unlike fleas, lice cannot jump into the dog. Using the brushes and combs of a lice infested dog to another dog can also spread the infestation. A female lice can lay up to 100 eggs thus it is possible for the infestation to grow rapidly if prompt eradication measures are not administered.

Excessive scratching is one of the signs of lice infestation. Lice wold be seen attached to the skin on the dog’s neck and shoulders, on the anus and on the ears. The eggs called nits will be glued on hair follicles and would appear like particles of dusts.

Lice infestation is easy to eradicate as these parasites are not resistant to insecticides. Adult lice are eliminated by bathing the dog with insecticide shampoo. The nits, just like the eggs of other parasites are resistant to insecticides thus the treatment has to be repeated to break the life cycle. Washing the beddings and the toys of the pet in hot water would kill lice that have managed to escape from the dog’s body.

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Care And Management Of Carts For Dogs

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Buying carts for dogs, outfitting their own homes, as well as training their dogs. These are typically a few of the factors a dog’s loved ones does indeed for their incapable dogs. Regardless of whether it’s for a short-term or perhaps permanent situation-recovering from an accident, or perhaps lack of using limbs due to an injury, or even a degenerative illness-dog lovers carry out their full capacity to adapt and look after their own four-legged loved ones.
Carts for dogs could be a big blessing for disabled pets. It can benefit them go back to almost usual mobility. As pet-owners, people make their best to give back to be able to independently move around to their pets. Although, with the acquisition of a cart and also the rest of the stuff that go toward using it, there is also the maintenance.
For you to keep it operating as it really should as well as helping your own pets securely and easily, you might have to try and do correct maintenance. This is specially needed if your dogs will be employing the cart long-term or maybe for good.
It’s finest to time the cleaning of a cart having a pet’s washing daily schedule. This may make certain that at some point-or if your dog is privileged, a several times-in their week, your dog go on a cart as refreshing and neat as he or she is.
Luckily, maintaining your pet’s ability to move support is not complex. You are going to will need some warm water, some sort of rag, as well as a bit of detergent. Should you usually have trips outside the residence or in case your dog plays in the garden, your pet’s cart will really pick up some mud and filth. A swift hosing of the frame will take good care of cakey mud, but an occasional clean down making use of water and a rag will deliver a correct cleanup. Make sure to obtain in to the groves and pits, make use of cotton bud to get into little cracks the rag can’t get.
Clean other components of the cart by using soapy water. Saddles and also straps attached to carts for dogs are usually exposed to perspiration, sometimes, to pee, and at times, to poo. Therefore, just a little extra proper care as well as treatment needs to be given to them. A rinse, a fast soapy rinse, along with a careful final rinse are all it takes. Dry out fully prior to the next use.
These basic techniques will certainly maintain the pets shifting about on their carts for a longer period, safer, and also more happy.

Electronic Collar – Buying Guide

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

As a responsible dog owner, you have to show your dog what is and is not approved behavior around the house. Regardless of dog size, age, or breed, an electronic collar can greatly ease in training your dog to shed his unwanted behavior. But before you hop online and look up models and prizes, think it over calmly – how will you train your dog?

You have to keep in mind that getting an electronic collar is only half of the work that needs to be done. Talk to your vet about it. There’s probably no one more knowledgeable in your immediately circle about various dog collars, the benefits of using one, and which is the recommended model suitable for your dog. If you’re not careful, you could get overwhelmed by choices – plain buckle collar, pinch collar, bark collar, remote training collar – the list probably doesn’t end there. The easiest way to sort through these options is to let your vet share his wisdom with you.

You have to make time to train your dog – who else will do this for you? An electronic collar is not a magic pill that, when you feed to your dog, you’ll wake up the next morning to a dog who doesn’t chase cars, doesn’t chew on the carpet, and doesn’t scare little kids out of the house. Your dog needs to get used to wearing the collar, and you have be there every step of the way.

Find out more about training your dog. You could always sign up for a class and learn from certified dog trainers on how to properly use the collar for obedience training. The class instructor will inevitably tackle the ins and outs of dog training, and in particular, may even recommended certain models bases on his or her handling experience. You could also simply dig up as many dog training articles you can find online.

When you visit a dog supply store, make sure you talk to the attendant. You want to know all that you can find out about taking care of your dog. So it will be prudent to visit a pet store convenient to your location and chat with the attendant on the various models of collars they have. The more you know the better decision you will make when you purchase a remote electronic collar.

The features walkthrough. Electronic dog collars are safe for all dog breeds, but they vary in certain features. These include range, battery rechargeability, battery status indicator (for both transmitted and receivers) on the transmitter’s display screen, user-friendliness, resistance to wear and tear, expandability (can accommodate more than one dog), and transmission clarity (whether the transmitter can effectively send signals through woody or building-filled areas).

Electric Collar – What To Look For

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

It’s always more prudent to research before you make the purchase, especially when you’re planning to get electric collar for your pet. Here are some of those features.

Just the right transmission range. Decide on this first, because it affects everything. Maybe you just need a training collar for your backyard, when you bring your dog out there. If you have working dogs or sheep dogs, you may need a considerably longer range. Remember that some models carry heftier prices because of their capacity to work in great distances and on multiple dogs, so the choice is really up to you.

Feature that tells how much power the batteries on the transmitter and collar remains, and how far your dog is from the transmitter. It’s handy to have a feature that tells you how far your dog is from you, when you’re holding the transmitter; that way you can call your dog back when it tries to leave transmission range. If you’re out on the park or are using the remote training collars in a large area (such as a farm on some hunting ground) this features might come handy. The battery indicator feature shouldn’t underestimated, either 9if the batteries run out unexpectedly, you want to know before that happens). This is so that you can see immediately when you need to cancel your hunting, or any activity, owing to the possibility your dogs could run off while the collar’s batteries are dead or dangerously low.

Audible signals. It’s always reassuring to hear a sound after you pressed or clicked on something, as a way of knowing that something happened. That way when your dog’s collar is within earshot, you can also hear the beep on the collar, so you can immediately tell if your dog is nearby.

Batteries you can keep recharging over and over. Some electric collar models come with detachable batteries – the standard kind that needs to be replaced with new ones. Since not every dog owner keeps bringing with him or her new sets of batteries, it’s better to go with a model with batteries you can recharge both in your home and in your own car.

Clear transmission all the time. You may want to get models that rely on FM signals for very clear transmission. That means your transmitter can reliably send signals to the collar even when you find yourself in hilly, wooded, and urban areas with so many buildings.

Multiple dog capability. You might want an electric collar package that already has many collars – and one transmitter – or at least the capacity to buy more collars later on, in case the number of your dogs increase.

Controls you don’t need a degree to figure out. In the age of the iPhone when user interface and ease of use can make or break a product, you want a transmitter for your electric collar that won’t give you a headache just to figure it out. So shop one that you think, after reading up on reviews about some models, offers an intuitive user experience.

Female Dogs

Friday, December 24th, 2010

Spaying of the female dog is undertaken to control the unwanted pregnancy by crossing of some unknown or country or non-descript dogs. The spaying of the dog reduces the aggressiveness of the dog. By spaying, one can reduce the incidences of the commonly encountered reproductive diseases like pyometra.

 

Spaying also helps to control the population in case of stray animals and many nations are doing these operations by removing the ovaries from the female animals.  Experienced veterinarians are required to do the spaying in case of female dogs and the postoperative care is to be given more emphasis.  If proper control measures are not taken after the surgical operation for the removal of ovary, then the infections may start setting in and the animal may end up in development of peritonitis and then toxemia sets in, causing unwanted health problems.

 

Death of the dog may finally occur, if the dog is not provided an effective and proper veterinary care.  A female dog that is spayed before the occurrence of first heat will have almost a zero chance of development of mammary cancer, which is more common with the dogs that are not spayed.

 

A female dog generally comes to heat once in eight months or so. During the heat occurrence, there is bleeding from vagina and the dog may cross with the unwanted male and the spaying activity prevents all these. In case of aged dogs, the dog may often get signs of increased thirst, anorexia, vomiting etc. that are so common with pyometra.

 

Pyometra means the presence of pus in the uterus.  Once pyometra occurs, it involves many discomforts to the animal in addition to the cost factor involved for the therapy also. Such pyometra is totally prevented by spaying because in the case of spaying, you are removing both ovaries and the uterus.

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