Choosing A Dog? - Check This Out First

 

By David Dee

on March 15, 2011 

 

One of the great joys of life is acquiring a new dog. Whether it is a lively fun seeking puppy or a mature dog from a rescue centre there is the excitement of collecting the dog and the eager anticipation of the pleasures of dog ownership to come. But how can you ensure a long and happy relationship? You need to learn about dog care and training as well as considering your own situation before you even start looking for a dog.

Considerations

 At HomeAre there children in your household.Do you have other pets.Do you have a reasonable sized yard or garden.Have you considered the dog's toilet arrangements.Are members of your family prepared to spend time training and exercising your dog.Can you fund good quality feed, some vet's bills, insurance and kennel stays if necessary

Dog Breeds, Size and Weight

You will sometimes need to handle your dog e.g. grooming, trimming nails, bathing or lifting onto scales for a weight check. Obviously, the size and weight of your dog will make this easy (Chihuahua at 2.70 kg to 3.63 kg) or near impossible (St Bernard at 75 kg to 91 kg)

Exercise

Exercise is a key factor in maintaining your dog's health. Small dogs like Jack Russell Terriers will not need as much daily exercise as a working breed such as a German Shepherd.You need to decide how much time can be given to the task. The less time available the more important it is to acquire a smaller dog.

Home Environment
If you like your house to be warm some dogs may find it distressing - a Shih Tzu dog for instance or a dog with a thick coat. If you have an immaculate home filled with expensive furniture, you will need to think carefully about the sort of dog you intend to buy especially if you want a puppy.

Grooming Your Dog
You need to groom your dog on a regularly. Size comes into it but so does the type of coat. A short coated dog is obviously going to pick up less dirt, and mud. and be easier to clean and groom. A muddy dog may require washing. This needs a facility such as an old fashioned tin bath. You could use your shower or even your own bath but it means a lot of cleaning up afterwards.

Temperament
You'll find that working breeds, a broad group, including everything from guard dogs to sheep dogs are often more stubborn and tough-minded. Terriers are often bossy and a little aggressive. Hounds are usually relaxed and friendly, but sometimes difficult to train.
Carry out some research into different breed characteristics. Do this on line and ask your vet's opinion. Dog breeders will normally promote their own breed so they are not necessarily the first people to ask for an opinion.

You will be looking to compare the following points.
Energy level
Activity and playfulness levels
Affection and Loyalty levels
Intelligence
Aggression (towards people/other dogs/other pets)
Ease of training
Heat and cold tolerance
Compatibility with people and other animals

Some Breed Comparisons:

Labrador
This breed is good with children and quite intelligent. They can be hyperactive if they do not get enough exercise because they are basically a working dog.

Golden Retriever
These dogs are similar in temperament to the Labrador but have less tendency to hyper activity
Poodle
An intelligent dog. It has an excellent temperament. It was used as a hunting dog in times gone by so it is quite tough by nature.

Beagle
Friendly, clever and not too big, making them suitable as a family dog. They can be over energetic if not exercised. They respond well to firm training.

Cairn Terrier
Busy little dogs that adapt well to children. They are usually of good quiet temperament

Collie
The Collie and the smaller Shetland are both calm, gentle and tolerant breeds that usually do well with children. They do need some constructive play i.e. fetching a ball etc.

German Shepherd
Very intelligent but it is a big dog and needs exercise and constructive play. It is loyal and a good guard dog. However, a German Shepherd must be properly trained.

Cross-Bred Dogs
Come in all shapes and sizes and typically should not suffer from in-bred temperament faults.
Owning a dog is great fun but you need to think carefully about management before you take on your new "best friend".

David Dee has spent his entire lifetime with dogs. He qualified as a dog training instructor many years ago developing his own dog friendly training methods which he constantly reviews and updates. He has owned many different breeds of dog including top quality pedigree dogs and various dogs from rescue centres. David Dee has written several books on how to train your dog and also various guides on the care and welfare of dogs. These books and lots of free stuff can be found at: Dog Care and Training You might also also like to follow Dog Diaries Blog on: The Dog Diaries

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Tips to Maintain a Healthy life for your Loyal Friend

By Lee Dobbiins
on October 21, 2010

Pet dogs are one of the most revered members of anyone's family; they are loyal friends and provide good companionship. Dogs are wonderful creatures and they pour out unconditional love to the owners. It is important for every dog owner to take care of their pet while at home or when they travel. dog care includes providing a balanced healthy diet, regular health check up at Veterinary hospitals and many more. Here are few tips to take care of your pets.

Foods Unsafe for Your Dog

Food plays an important part in dog care; all foods are not suitable for dogs. Most pet owners think that dogs can eat any food consumed by humans, but this is not true and does not apply every time. Certain foods that are consumed by humans are harmful to pets, especially dogs. For example, shelled fish is bad for dogs and can affect their digestive systems causing loss of appetite and many other disorders. Fruits like grapes can lead to malfunction of kidneys, while nuts affect the nervous system of dogs. Seeds from plum and peaches have to be removed before feeding the dog. These seeds can obstruct the digestive tract and can cause other ailments. Chocolate can be lethal. Foods which are free from preservatives are the best food and any natural foods is best for your dog.

Keep off parasites

A clean dog is always free from fleas and parasites. Kennels or places where dogs stay must be cleaned perfectly and hygiene must be maintained. These small bugs including ticks are more irritating to pets and they feel uncomfortable once they are infested by them. Regularly bathe pet dogs with non-toxic shampoo and soap which are completely safe for pet. Veterinary doctor's advice can be sought while choosing a soap or shampoo. Maintain your home free from fleas and other bugs by regularly disinfecting it.

Regular Grooming

Pet dogs need regular grooming to keep them healthy. Trim your dogs nails with a nail cutter regularly – use a cutter specifically designed for pets. Brush your pet regularly to avoid matting and make sure that you brush your dogs teeth twice a week!

Regular Vet Visit

Do not wait until your dog is sick to visit the vet. Regular check ups with the Vet are necessary for your pet to lead a healthy life and do not forget to vaccinate your pet at the right time. You can also get advice for parasite control and nutrition from you Veterinarian.

It is every owner's responsibility to take good care of their pet dogs. Providing the best of care for your furry friend will ensure that he lives a long and happy life.

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Few Proven Dog Care Tips

By Raquel Cervra

on May 26, 2011

 

It is the most common thing to find out when you are a dog owner that your family, friends and neighbors are not always in the mood to deal with a misbehaved dog, so you may lose social contacts because of this. Thus the importance of following simple rules to avoid this from happening. Here are few proven tips that will help you in not only enjoying your pet much more, but in having others do the same with you.

Let's begin with when you take your dog out for a walk to exercise, something we already know is a must when you have that kind of a pet. Some dogs tend to pull so hard on their leash that their owner is practically flying behind them. Some tendencies suggest using a choke chain, but that can be a dangerous thing if you have a really strong dog that you have not yet trained, since you can certainly hurt him/her. In fact, if the collar is too tight in the wrong spot, you could cause permanent damage to the windpipe and voice box of the dog, so watch out for this.

 

It is important first of all to learn what is the reason for this behavior. Guessing, or considering one dog's behavior should be like another's is one big mistake. Some dogs, for example, are natural "pullers", as found in the Working Class category. Siberian Huskies and Samoyeds are a good example. These animals are usually so happy to be out that their tendency is to show their dominance over the pack right away. Their nature is exactly that: to pull.

Others are scent hounds, like the Beagle, so their usual behavior is going after their "prey". Sniffing on the trail is what they do. Because there are several reasons dogs pull on their lead, you need to know which training method works the best for each reason. What works best for a dominant breed and a pulling breed is different than for an excitable dog or a hunting dog.

Since you have already seen there are always different reasons why dogs pull on their lead, it is important you make an effort and find out which is the training method you need to use to teach your dog to stop doing that. You will learn that what works best for a dominant breed or a pulling breed certainly is different than what works with an excitable dog or a hunting one. It will be an enjoyable activity to take your dog out on a walk once he/she has been trained to heel properly, but remember, each dog has its own time to learn, so just be consistent and you will see the results for sure.

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