Dog Pregnancy Symptoms: Is Your Dog Pregnant?
Pregnant dogs go through a certain stage. Surely, there would some signs that would tell you. The first, and the most common sign, would be changes in your pet’s appetite. It is quite natural for a pregnant dog not to touch its food during the first few days of pregnancy. Like humans, dogs undergo morning sickness too. Don’t worry though. Most dogs make up for their lost meals a few weeks into the pregnancy. If after the dog heat period your dog still refuses to eat, there are high chances that it had mated.
Pregnant dogs are lazy too. Lethargy is quite a common thing for some dog breeds when they are pregnant. A dog that is active before but had suddenly lowered its desire to run and play around is likely to be pregnant. This symptom would normally follow the mating period, when the dog continues to be lazy when it should be back to its old self. Pregnant dogs tend to experience exhaustion as a direct result of hormonal changes. These changes are caused by embryo production.
There would be a lot of physical changes in your dog too. Your dog’s nipple will begin to grow. Most of the changes that humans go through during pregnancy can be observed in dogs. Pregnant dogs would have plumper nipples in preparation for milk production.
There would be changes in the dog’s behavior too. Pregnant dogs can be on the extremes - they can either be very affectionate or want to be left alone. It is possible for your dog’s attitude to change for worse. All these are caused by pregnancy so be very patient. This is just a phase that your pet goes through. Try to know and understand what it is that makes your pet feel that way.
A few weeks in the pregnancy, your pet would have a flair for eating. This is when it gains back everything it has lost during the first few days. However, the extra weight will be seen in the abdominal area. Try to feel the belly of your pet. You should feel small bumps in there. This means that the puppies are starting to form. A dog’s abdomen is normally soft. But when it is pregnant, it will be firmer.
The increase in your pet’s abdomen would be more noticeable a little later on. After several weeks, you’d feel movements in the belly. The experience is going to be similar to babies forming and moving inside a mother’s womb. The puppies are moving as they prepare to get out of the womb.
At a certain point, there would be milk discharges in the female dog. A few days prior to the delivery, milk would start to come out of your dog’s nipple. This is a sign that the dog would soon give birth. Your pet would become very restless. It would now pick a spot where it would give birth and stay there often. You should make your dog comfortable by giving it warm blankets or some newspapers. This will help keep the pups warm after coming out.
During pregnancy, the dog would also go through some drops in its temperature too. The body heat of pregnant dogs may reach up to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. This is also the indication that it is going to deliver its puppies real soon.
Author Bio: Part 2 - For part two of this article, head on to http://www.guarddogtrainingonline.com where you can also find the shocking truth about dog food allergies and dog treatments.
Preventing Puppy Biting
If you are living with a new puppy, there are lots of things that both of you need to learn, but one of the most important lessons that he or she is going to have from you is that it is unacceptable to bite! Dogs, just like humans, are creatures of habit, and if they form habits early on in life, you will find them much more difficult to break the longer that they get ingrained. A puppy nipping at you is one thing. You may be able to ignore it, but a dog that continues to bite, even playfully, as an adult is a danger to himself and to others. Take some time to learn about puppy biting and what you can do to get rid of it.
First, be aware that biting is natural behavior for a puppy. A puppy that constantly bites and nips at you is not vicious; he is only exploring the world around him with the tools that are at his disposal. He is mouthing things and learning about them, and when he bites, he is also likely exercising his muscles and learning what kind of dexterity and strength that he has. Puppies who play with each other will play-bite at each other all day if they can.
When you are getting ready to take on puppy biting, remember that you should not punish your puppy unless you catch him in the act. Unless he is biting you when you reprimand him, he is not going to have any idea what is going on. You will also find that it is possible to correct him without striking him. A puppy who gets hit is going to one that grows up easily startled and confused and when you want to make sure that your puppy grows up healthy and happy, this precisely the wrong tack to take!
You can learn a lot from how to keep a puppy from biting by watching adult dogs deal with them. When a puppy bites its mother, the mother will utter a short sharp yelp. If the puppy persists, she will march off and refuse to play with the puppy for a while. You can take this precise technique and use it yourself. When you puppy becomes too energetic or stops paying attention to how hard he or she is biting, say “ow!” in a high pitched sharp voice. The idea is to startle the puppy into stopping. If the puppy starts up again, walk away and refuse to pay any attention to the puppy for a while. This will tell the puppy that too much biting will result in playtime being over.
When you are training your puppy not to bite, remember that you should not engage in games like tug of war with the puppy. This can be a confusing thing for a puppy to deal with, so just avoid games like this for the moment. Dress your puppy up in cute dog clothes, take them for walks, but avoid rough and tumble games for a bit.
There are lots of ways to stop your puppy from biting, so take some time and really consider what techniques you want to use!
Author Bio: Article by Kelly Perry of Oh My Dog Supplies, check for current specials on dog t-shirts online.
Deafness in Older Dogs
As your dog gets older it is possible he may develop blindness or deafness. You may not be immediately aware of this and can confuse the dog’s lack of response to your commands with bad behavior. Loss of sight or hearing will make an older dog anxious because it will affect his routine. His anxiety will increase when you leave him alone in the house because, just like humans, loss of our senses is frightening. If you notice that your dog is not responsive, don’t chastise him; look for the cause.
It isn’t difficult to test an older dog’s ability to hear and there are some easy ways to identify the problem. Monitor your dog’s behavior in his natural environment. If he is not responsive to sounds that he normally would be such as birds, vehicles passing by, children playing, other animal noises or he is sleeping through excessive noise, there is a reasonable possibility that he is losing his hearing. If he does not bark when a stranger comes up the drive or in situations when he usually would, this is another sign that points to hearing loss. If an older dog is becoming deaf he will utilize his other senses to get by such as his sense of smell, sight and vibration. This might make it more difficult for you to establish whether or not he has a problem with his hearing.
Try to find an opportunity to creep up behind your dog whilst he is awake making sure he is facing away from you. Stay a fair distance away from him because he may be aware of the movement of air or sense a vibration. You can then do any or all of the following; call the dog’s name, yell the dog’s name, jangle some keys, clap your hands, ring a bell or get someone to ring your doorbell. If your dog doesn’t hear any of these things, move a little closer to the dog and try again, but not so close that he can rely on his other senses to detect your movement. If your pet dog does respond at a certain pitch, try lowering the pitch and calling again. That will help you pinpoint how much it can hear but you need to give the pet some time in between to settle down while trying the different pitch levels.
If you suspect that your dog is deaf the certain way to establish this is for your vet to perform a BAER test but his lack of response to the above sounds is a clear indication of deafness.
It is not the end of the world if your dog is deaf. You just have to modify his normal routine. The dog should kept on a leash when outside because he won’t be able to hear anything that might cause him danger, particularly traffic noise. However, apart from some obvious safety measures there is no reason why you deaf dog cannot continue to lead a normal and healthy life.
Author Bio: Written by Jeff Nenadic from My-DogShop.com - the top place to buy dog beds online.
Protein and Your Dog
There is much speculation among animal nutritionists as to the way protein affects dogs. The dog is a meat eating machine and it is essential that he has a regular supply of high quality protein such as that found in animal tissue. Without this protein your dog will not be strong, his coat will not be in good condition and he most certainly will not be healthy.
Maintaining a healthy dog’s metabolism involves 23 amino acids. Of these, 10 need to be supplied in the dog’s diet. The remaining 13 will be produced internally in the dog’s liver. If a puppy does not eat the required amount of amino acids it will not flourish, may become ill and will possibly die. If a dog is mature and lacking in the 10 essential amino acids his strength will diminish.
Meat is by far the best food for your dog because it is high in amino acids. If you feed your dog with manufactured dog food make sure that it contains a large percentage of poultry, beef or fish. Look at the label for protein percentages to be certain that the food is suitable for your dog’s protein requirement. The same applies to dry “complete meal” dog food.
The importance of maintaining your dog’s protein levels cannot be stressed enough we have produced the following list of facts to enhance your understanding of the way protein works in your dog’s body.
Protein - the Facts
a) Protein is necessary for the development and maintenance of strong bones and muscles.
b) Protein deficiency will lead to a weakened immune system, weak bones and muscles and stunt the growth of your dog. Over a sustained period your dog will become susceptible to infections due to the lack of development of his immune system and its inability to fight disease. The immune system is reliant on protein so that it can protect your dog’s health.
c) The intake of the correct amount of protein will keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy, the nails strong and the skin free from dermatological problems. Protein deficiency is evident in a dog if clumps of fur are falling away from his coat.
d) Bonemeal is not high in protein but if you feed your dog on a dry complete meal you can occasionally increase the protein intake with some raw beef. Your butcher should have scraps of beef left over from cuts of meat he has sold and usually will not charge very much money, if any, for the scraps. You can get him to grind this for you or do it yourself at home and just add it to your dog’s normal dry food. If the scraps contain a little fat this is not a problem for your dog, he’s not likely to be looking in a mirror to see whether he has gained a few pounds or not.
e) If your dog is older, there is some valid research that suggests he may need a higher amount of good quality protein than he did when he was younger
Author Bio: Written by Jeff Nenadic from My Dog Shop - visit for more information http://www.my-dogshop.com
Preparing Your Home For Your New Puppy
The big day is here! You have chosen your puppy. Whether your puppy is coming from a shelter or a breeder, it really doesn’t matter right now. You have a precious young puppy coming to live with you and you need to get your home ready to receive him.
Do you have the thing you will need for your puppy? Do you have a bag of the same food that he has been eating? You don’t want to make any fast changes in his diet even if you don’t like his current food. Coming to your house will be a huge adjustment for your puppy and you want to keep his food the same to avoid any stomach upsets. Your puppy may have diarrhea anyway because of the changes and stress. No need to make things worse by changing food.
Do you have a collar and leash ready to go get your puppy? The collar should be big enough to fit snugly around your puppy’s neck and allow you to fit two fingers between the collar and neck. A leash that is four to six feet long is usually good. Don’t use a retractable leash at this point. They take some skill to use and you will have your hands full trying to watch your puppy and look out for him. Keep him walking close to you so he won’t stray into something he shouldn’t and become frightened. Nylon collars and leashes are fine. Your puppy is still growing so you probably don’t want to invest in expensive leather collars and leashes or fancy embroidered pieces yet.
Do you have bowls or pans for food and water? Ceramic bowls or steel pans are usually best. Avoid plastic bowls. The plastic can contain chemicals that irritate some dogs’ noses and skin.
Do you have a place for your puppy to sleep? There are many wonderful, soft dog beds for cuddling available online and in pet supply stores. These make great places for your puppy to sack out when he’s tired. It’s up to you whether you will allow your puppy to get on furniture or sleep on your bed. That’s an entirely personal decision.
Whether you intend for your puppy to sleep in a crate or not you should purchase a crate for crate training. Crating your puppy is one of the best ways to help in the housetraining process. All dogs should learn crate training since crating is the safest way for dogs to travel in a vehicle. All dogs other than Toy dogs are crated when they fly on airplanes.
Do you have toys for your puppy? Treats? What self-respecting new dog owner hasn’t brought home some goodies so they can spoil their new puppy?
Before you bring your puppy home you should go through your house and pick up anything that you don’t want destroyed: pick up shoes, remote controls, cellphones, cameras, and clothes. Pick up anything that your little pint-sized ball of terror will want to put in his mouth. Because — and this is the truth — your puppy is a mouth full of teeth with legs. The world is new to him and he is trying to explore it by tasting and chewing everything in it. He will eat anything that you leave lying around for the next six months, at least. Puppies make us better housekeepers. If you want to keep something, put it up high where your puppy can’t reach it. If you think it’s high enough, put it up a little higher because he can probably find a way to reach it. You will come home one day and find your little darling staring at you from on top of the dining room table.
You should also look through your house for places where your puppy can get into things that he shouldn’t. Do you have cabinets that don’t close properly? Do you have a closet that doesn’t shut right? Do you have a cat litter box? (Put it up. Your puppy thinks those are dog treats.) Do you have things hidden under your bed? Whatever it is, wherever it is, you need to do something with it before your puppy finds it.
One of the most useful things you can do is to get down low and try looking at your house from your puppy’s eye-view. You may start to see some tempting things that you don’t usually notice. Try thinking like a curious little puppy.
You will inevitably miss some things. Your puppy is going to get into stuff. Just remember how adorable he is when he runs up to you with what’s left of your contact lens case.
Author Bio: David Beart is the owner of the Professors House. Our site covers family related issues from raising children to dog information, relationships to cooking.
Prevent Your Dog From Biting
If your dog is nipping and biting continuously when he is just about sixteen weeks old, then you don’t have to bother, because this is absolutely normal. Pups usually mouth for everything right from playing to communicating what they want. If you find your dog mouthing, then it means that he is thirsty or hungry. Just as how babies cry when they want something, in the similar way pups nip. So when he is nipping, you have to think what he wants, whether he wants to remove the waste, or he might be tired, or he might want to play and the reasons can go on. If he continuously does this non-stop then he might want to go out and exercise. Below are a few tips to assist you to control your dog while is nipping and mouthing.
In spite of trying all your tricks to control him, if he still goes on nipping, then the best thing to do is to leave him alone with his favorite bone. Keep in mind that you are not punishing him, but just trying to calm him.
If your dog licks you, praise him immediately, and encourage him to do so by applying some butter on your hands.
When you find your dog nipping quietly, it is better you wait, if in case you remove your hand then it will think that you are inviting him to play and he will start nipping harder.
If your dog bites you hard, then immediately stop him by saying “Epp,Epp” and look into his eyes for about 2 seconds, and then continue with your work. If he still goes on doing it, then spray some bitter apple or fix the chain onto him, as you can hold the lead and let him get cooled by himself.
Just in case your puppy is more than sixteen weeks old and is still nippy then you have to check to immediately. Of course he will not stop immediately, but you have to make sure that he knows what he is doing is not correct. Here are a few tips to guide you:
Divide your dog on all kinds of challenging games, like teasing, tug-of-war, chasing and wrestling because you will end up giving him wrong messages. As these games train the dog to constrict down hard of objects like the clothing, dinner table, leash or sometime the skin too. Never encourage any kind of nipping from your dog. No matter if it is just a simple nibble on one of your fingers or it is a severe bite. Dog’s teeth are very poisonous to human skin.
There are lots of defensive items that you can buy from the market like the bitter apple spray, mouth spray and even a squirt gun. And make sure you don’t stare at him while you do that, as it will give him a negative impact.
Another thing what you can do is leaving your dog with the leash and direct him. At the same time avoid any kind of physical clash.
When he starts mouthing or nipping, immediately snap him on his head or use a spray on the area where he is nipping. Never stare at him as he will consider your actions as an invitation to play.
Even after doing all these things if your dog stills bites, then you have to question yourself whether your actions are efficient enough to train him not to bite. If your answer is no, then you might need some more training.
Author Bio: Written by Jeff Nenadic from My Dog Shop - check out our specials on chew resistant dog toys online.
Is a Designer Dog or Hybrid a Good Choice?
Ever since they burst on the scene in the 1990s Designer dogs have been in the spotlight and they’ve been much in demand. Any search through the Internet will bring up thousands of Designer dog web sites. They offer Labradoodles, Goldendoodles, Schnoodles, Puggles, and just about anything else you can imagine. These Designer dogs, or “Hybrid mixes” as they are called, have also been much in the news, sometimes with unflattering stories. Are they a good choice for potential dog owners?
The original hybrid mix was probably the Cockapoo. Cocker Spaniels were the most popular breed in America for 17 years during the 1940s-’50s. Some breeders crossed them with Poodle varieties to produce a very popular pet. Cockapoos are still being bred today. They are generally healthy dogs but they can inherit Progressive Retinal Atrophy from their Poodle parent. Reputable Cockapoo breeders should be able to provide you with evidence that they have CERF (eye) tested the parents of a litter. Cockapoos are somewhere in the process of trying to become a true breed. If you get a Cockapoo he could be from a Cocker Spaniel x Poodle cross or he could be from a Cockapoo x Cockapoo cross. Both breedings produce Cockapoos.
In the 1980s the Labradoodle was developed in Australia as a possible guide dog for the blind. Labradoodles are a cross between Labrador Retrievers and one of the three Poodle varieties (Miniature, Toy or Standard). It was hoped that the cross would produce dogs with the intelligence of the Poodle and the great trainability, gentleness and willingness to please of the Labrador. The dogs are often produced today because, in some cases, there are puppies in the litters which are very low-shedding and good for allergy-sufferers who want to own a dog. However, litters are not uniform. Puppies in a Labradoodle litter may have one of three types of fur or hair: wavy/soft, straight coat like hair, curly like their Poodle parent. Generally, however, Labradoodles will not shed as much as their Labrador parent. Labradors are considered one of the worst of all dogs when it comes to shedding. Labradoodles can inherit health problems from both Labradors and Poodles. Both breeds may have problems with hip dysplasia and Labradoodles may inherit a predisposition for the disease, too. Poodles may also pass on genes for Progressive Retinal Atrophy. When talking to a Labradoodle breeder you should ask them if they have had the parents of their puppies x-rayed for hip dysplasia and if the Poodle parent has been a CERF clearance.
The Goldendoodle was developed for many of the same reasons as the Labradoodle. They are a cross between a Golden Retriever and one of the Poodle varieties. Like the Labradoodle they come in different sizes depending upon which of the Poodle varieties was used in the cross. They are also favored by allergy-sufferers, but, as with the Labradoodle, they are not uniformly low-shedding dogs. They do shed less than a Golden Retriever but coat type can vary in a Goldendoodle litter. Their coats can be curly, wavy or straight. As with the Labradoodle, you should ask a Goldendoodle breeder if they have x-rayed the hips of the parents of a litter since both Golden Retrievers and Poodles can be prone to hip dysplasia. You should also inquire about the CERF status of the parents.
Other popular Designer dog breeds include the Schnoodle and the Puggle. The Schnoodle is a cross between a Schnauzer and a Poodle. These dogs may be almost any size, depending on which Schnauzer and which Poodle were used — Miniature Schnauzer, Standard Schnauzer, Giant Schnauzer; Miniature Poodle, Toy Poodle, Standard Poodle. As you can see, there are several possible combinations. Schnoodles can have the wiry fur of the Schnauzer, the curly coat of the Poodle, or a combination of the two. Puggles are a cross between a Pug and a Beagle. This is a shorthaired breed but it is not good for anyone who is fastidious about dog hair in the house. Pugs and Beagles are both heavy-shedding breeds and so is the Puggle. Both the Schnoodle and the Puggle can suffer from ailments common to their purebred parents.
Should you get a Designer dog? Many Designer dogs are very cute. Breeders are experimenting with various crosses to see what is produced. In truth, many of our purebred dog breeds began by crossing pre-existing breeds. However, those old crosses were usually done because there was a specific need for a dog — a dog was needed to kill rats in a barn or to herd sheep and a cross was added to try to improve performance. Designer dogs are being created to try to produce coats that shed less and to produce cute dogs. For many breeders breeding these dogs commercially there is not much concern for the health of the dogs that are produced. There’s also some concern (or envy) among purebred dog breeders because prices for Designer dogs are greater than prices for puppies from show champions. Is the public gullible to pay these prices? Perhaps. But we all know that when something is popular people can command whatever price they can get.
People who work with animal shelters like to point out that you can get any kind of crossbreed dog you want just by visiting your local shelter and it won’t cost you very much.
If you want a Designer dog there is no reason why you shouldn’t get one. However, you should go into it with your eyes open. Designer dogs are not breeds. They do not breed true. If you breed two Labradoodles together you do not get a dog that looks like the ones you bred. You may get a dog that resembles a Poodle or a Labrador or some mix. Designer dogs do not enjoy “hybrid vigor.” They are prone to the same health problems that existed in their purebred parents.
With all that said, Designer dogs are usually intelligent, gentle and willing to please, especially the dogs with a Poodle parent. Some of them may be possible dogs for allergy-sufferers. They can make very good pets if you do your homework and carefully interview the dog’s breeder before purchasing.
Author Bio: David Beart is the owner of the Professors House. Our site covers family related issues from raising children to pets, relationships to cooking.
At What Age Can Your Puppy Enter School?
Socializing puppies at an early age can prevent many adult dog behavior problems. Enrolling a puppy in a training school can prevent such future problems as constantly barking, running away, biting, fear of children, destroying items such as furniture, and much more. The best age to enroll your puppy in a training school is 8 weeks. By participating in a training school, your puppy will have the best chance to live a happy and secure life.
During the first sixteen weeks of life, a puppy will learn about the environment around it. A puppy will be exposed to new surroundings and experiences. If not properly socialized, this can be a traumatic time. Early and proper exposure will help a puppy adjust and become confident with new situations. It is important for a puppy to experience new situations and not isolate them so they do not grow up fearful of new places and new people. Fear often results in aggressive behavior such as growling and biting. Without proper socialization a puppy can grow up to be fearful of children, other dogs, crowds, loud noises, and strangers.
From the eighth week and on, a puppy’s brainwaves can be recorded. It is during this period that a lasting bond will develop between owners and their puppies. This is the stage where a puppy will establish confidence, accept gentle correction, learn respect, learn simple responses such as ’sit’ and ’stay’, begin housebreaking, and have a desire to explore the world around them. Since 8-week-old puppies have the ability to learn the same behaviours as older dogs, it is essential to teach them proper behaviours at an early age to avoid many years of frustration.
Many pet owners take their puppies to training schools that offer sound training and socialization programs. Some veterinarians advise owners to wait until their puppy is 6 months old and has had all of its vaccinations before taking a training class, however this is not necessary. The chance of contracting a disease from other healthy puppies in a clean environment is very low.
The best training program is one that does not use harsh techniques such as using physical punishment to correct disobedient behavior. A good trainer will use positive reinforcement techniques. The class will be clean and there will be a playtime set aside for puppies. The instructor should also be educated in animal diseases and parasites and should ask for health records before introducing a puppy to the training class. The instructor should also be well informed about such issues as housetraining and puppy biting. When choosing a training class, you should look for qualities that include: a training class that appears fun for the owners and their puppies, the instructor has the ability to meet individual needs, the animals are handled gently, the owners are comfortable with the techniques they are using with their puppies, and the environment is calm, controlled, and safe. The trainer should also be friendly, experienced, and knowledgeable.
When enrolling in a training school, the two most important things to consider are the quality of the training school and the age of your puppy. Do your homework when picking the right school. You can find trainers from a number of sources such as referrals from dog-owner friends, your veterinarian, and dog clubs. Always talk to the instructor before enrolling. You can ask to sit in on a class and watch the trainer.
It is the responsibility of the owner to help a puppy to develop into a kind and well behaved adult dog. If you help your puppy learn and socialize during its critical learning period, you will have helped shape his character and personality. Your reward will be gaining a loyal and loving companion.
Author Bio: Dog training can take some time and house training is no exception. When looking for puppy training to not pull on a lead, in-home dog obedience training to improve your relationship between you and your dog.
Traveling With My Cat
When traveling on an air line there is some very important facts that you must take under consideration when you travel by air. Pets that may have to be properly dosed with the use of tranquilizers at ground level may be overly sedated at altitude. The mechanism of death as it relates to sedation and air travel is not completely worked out. Knowing this fact you just might want to talk to Vet for sure about what meds to use as well as dosage, but it is always better to be cautious. There are many different types and shapes and sizes as well of pet carriers that will help keep your pet safe and in a secure environment.
You can go on the web and most diffidently find the web’s largest selection of both luxury and practical pet carriers for dogs, cats and other small animals. Pet stores, Web sites, breeders, and kennels usually sell cages that meet these requirements. You can contact the airlines, and also there are some airlines also that will sell cages that they prefer you to use.
While you are traveling please keep a check on the cat often during the trip to be sure he or she is not vomiting or in distress. Also when you are traveling be sure that your carrier has large opened sides for air circulation and it does not become overheated, as the temperature may be hotter in the carrier than in the rest of the vehicle. Check with your airline to get a recommendation for when you should arrive for your flight. The air lines will give you the correct information as to do’s and don’t about air travel. (NOTE) Basically airline would much rather you keep your pet home were it is safe, and not on the flight.
The airline is really concerned about the health and the welfare of your pet and they only want what is best for everyone. As cat owners we have to understand that our cat is very territorial animal, and it’s extremely stressful for them to be taken away from their territory. Believe it’s or not it is not at all uncommon for cats that are traveling with their people while under stress try and succeed in escaping and then they get completely lost.
Finally and one of the most important things is, all cats whether on the go or staying and being homebodies, need to have microchips. This process is a very simple to have done after all, they are really part of the family and our love ones! I know your thinking “why me I have an inside cat”, but if and when he does get out you will be glad you did.
Offer small amounts of water until an hour before travel. Depending on the length of the trip, water bowls can be left in the carrier or not offer water and a little food although it may not be interested in eating until it settles in a little more.
We hope that this has giving you some idea as to traveling on an airline with your pet weather it is a cat or even a dog.
Author Bio: We plan to post articles that are informative and helpful to other cat lovers. Having been “owned” by cats for years, we know they can be demanding, but also be very entertaining and fun. Visit our website for products your cat may enjoy http://www.besthousecatcare.com and our blog http://besthousecatcare.blogspot.com
Which Dog For Me?
There are an estimated 74.8 million pet dogs in the United States and many more around the world. Dog ownership is at an all-time high today. At no time in history have so many people shared their lives with dogs as companions.
People today also have many choices when it comes to what kind of dog they will choose as a pet. There are over 400 recognized breeds of dog in the world. They range from the tiny Chihuahua which originated in Mexico to the wide range of ancient breeds that came from southeast Asia, such as the Akita, the Chow Chow, the Pug, the Pekingese and the Tibetan breeds. They include the old spitz-type breeds such as the Malamute, the Siberian Husky and others; and the very old breeds of the middle east, such as the Saluki, the Afghan Hound, the Pharoah Hound, and the Greyhound.
In addition to all of the breeds of dogs in the world there are numerous Designer dogs being bred these dogs. Designer Dogs are intentional crosses of two purebred dogs. They may be bred for a special reason, such as to try to produce a low-shedding coat or more intelligence or trainability, or some other aspect of one of the parents. Or, in some cases, they are bred simply because they may produce cute puppies. Designer dogs have been in high demand in the last several years and can command enormous prices.
Besides these intentionally-bred dogs there are several million dogs in animal shelters each year looking for homes. Some of these dogs are strays, some are puppies from unplanned litters, and some are stray puppies and dogs imported from countries outside the United States for adoption here. Some of the dogs are young dogs that have been adopted once and returned because their owners didn’t know how to handle adolescent dog behavior.
All of this means that you have a huge range of choices when it comes to trying to decide what kind of dog you want. How do you even begin to narrow your choices?
The best thing to do when you consider what kind of dog to get is to consider your essential needs. Do you have allergies? Do you hate dog hair in the house? Do you want a dog that can go jogging with you? Do you live a quiet lifestyle? Do you live in an apartment or do you have land in the country? Do you have kids? Do you have time to spend on grooming a dog or will the dog go to a groomer? Do you want a low maintenance dog or do you enjoy fussing over a coat and grooming? Do you intend to train your dog to learn more than housetraining?
When you consider these questions and others like them you should try to be completely honest with yourself. You want to get a dog that will be a good fit for you personally. It’s a bad idea to get a dog because it’s the popular thing to do. Don’t adopt a shelter dog if you have allergies. Chances are that you will be allergic to the poor dog and have to return him. Instead you will need to identify the breeds of dogs that are usually better for allergy-sufferers. Even then you will need to meet some dogs on a one-on-one basis to see how you react to them.
Don’t let yourself be pressured into getting a dog that you don’t want. If you have always wanted a Greyhound don’t let somebody talk you into taking a Beagle-mix because the dog needs a home. There will always be dogs that need homes and you cannot save all of them. Chances are that you won’t be happy with a dog that you didn’t truly want. If you feel that you want to rescue a dog there may not be purebred dogs of certain breeds in animal shelters but there are often purebreds with purebred rescue groups. Greyhounds, for instance, have a very active rescue network. You could get the Greyhound that you always wanted and rescue a dog at the same time. You can find information about purebred breed rescue organizations online.
If you choose to get a purebred puppy or dog from a breeder make sure that you choose a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders do health screening on their dogs to make sure that they are good candidates for breeding. For many breeds this means that their hips are x-rayed for hip dysplasia. For some breeds their eyes may be checked and they receive a CERF certificate. Other breeds may have their hearing checked by BAER testing. The list goes on. Breeders in each breed take different precautions to make sure their dogs are healthy. You should do some homework about the breed so you know the potential health problems. That way you will know what to ask the breeder and what health testing should have been done.
Good breeders are willing to stand by the puppies and dogs they place. They should be willing to guarantee a puppy or dog’s genetic health. No dog will remain healthy forever. Dogs, like people, must all eventually die. But good breeders will make guarantees about the possible genetic problems in their breed and what they will do in the event that a dog of their breeding develops a problem. Will they replace a puppy? Will they refund money? Will they help pay costs to correct the problem? All of these things should be spelled out in the contract you have with a good breeder. Buying from a good breeder is, however, a two-way street. The breeder will also expect many things of you regarding the proper care of “their” puppy. Don’t be surprised when they put you through a gamut of questions about your fitness to own one of their dogs.
Adopting a dog from an animal shelter is often not as easy as it once was. Whereas you could once walk into a shelter, point to a dog and take it home, in many shelters things are a little more complicated nowadays. Some shelters require a lot more information about people adopting dogs now. Dogs (and cats) are often evaluated for temperament. Shelters try to match people with dogs that have temperaments that will suit people interested in adopting them. They hope that this will cut down on the number of dogs that are returned to the shelter. Fees for adopting dogs are also higher than they once were since shelters try to cover the cost of shots and spaying/neutering. The costs of adopting dogs through rescue groups are usually even higher. Rescue groups justify these costs by saying that they may not spend a lot of money on one particular dog but they may have a case where a dog has heartworms and they have to spend a lot of money on that one dog. So, they spread the costs to everyone who adopts.
There are countless wonderful dogs available, whichever route you decide to take. You can get a great dog at your local animal shelter or you may find your dream dog by searching for a reputable breeder. The important thing to remember is to identify the key points about your own lifestyle that you will be sharing with your dog. Focus on finding a dog that fits the way you live. Do what’s best for you and you will find the right canine companion.
Author Bio: David Beart is the owner of the Professors House. Our site covers family related issues from raising children to dog information, relationships to cooking.