Taking care of any dog can be rewarding and fun. But there is a great deal of responsibility as well. Small dogs can require more attention from their owners, they cannot be left alone for more than a day, and they may have health problems as they age. Smaller dogs also do not require as much exercise as other breeds. Small dog breeds such as the poodle, maltese, shiz tu, and bichon frise are considered hypoallergenic because they do not shed as much as other breeds and they produce less dander.
Small dog breeds want to spend a lot of time with their owners. This may mean being in the same room, sitting on your lap, or being next to your bed at night. Depending on your dog’s personality, you may need to adjust your schedule in order to spend more time at home with your dog. As your dog ages, it may need less attention, but as a rule, small dogs will demand a lot more of your time than larger breeds.
You will have to keep your dog occupied with toys and games so that it does not get bored. Some small dogs enjoy completing tasks and are considered ‘working dogs.’ If you notice that your dog seems lethargic or does not want to play with their toys anymore, you may need to buy them some new ones. Playing fetch everyday mimics a task which will keep your dog happy.
When you need to travel, you should board your dog so that it will not feel lonely. Dogs that are left alone for a few days will usually not eat their food in order to conserve it. They may become angry or nervous and destroy your home or they may make themselves sick with worry. If you do not want to board your dog, you should have someone pet sit or at least check in on the dog everyday.
As small dogs age, they may be susceptible to many health problems. Because of their small frame, they may suffer broken or fractured bones, arthritis, and other motor skill problems. Loss of eye sight, sense of smell, and hair loss are also common. While these breeds tend to live fifteen to eighteen years on average, they may have health problems for a few years.
If you are looking for a dog to run with on the beach or take for long walks, then you may need to look elsewhere for a dog. Small breeds, even though they love to run, play, and jump, do not need as much exercise. Walking the dog around the block is enough as the dogs will become tired and agitated. Some small breeders such as the terrier can walk and run for a little while longer, but they still do not have to energy that larger breeds have.
When looking for a hypoallergenic dog, you should consider your lifestyle and what you want from a pet. If you want to walk your dog short distances each day and play fetch, then a small breed may be for you.
Tags:
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Bones,
Dog Ages,
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Lonely Dogs,
Maltese,
Mimics,
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Poodle,
Sense Of Smell,
Shiz Tu,
Small Dog Breeds,
Small Dogs,
Time At Home,
Working Dogs
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Jun 26, 2010 | | Dogs
If only we could get our pets to brush their teeth regularly! Well you know that can’t happen . . . but we can help our dogs take care of their teeth and gums. They don’t, of course, realize how important dental care is to their health (and maybe you didn’t realize it either).
Following are some facts about dental problems that may either be causing your dog discomfort right now or might soon affect your dog’s health; we’ll also give you some tips on treating those problems.
Gingivitis: Gingivitis is a gum disease that occurs when gum tissue becomes inflamed. If not treated, gingivitis will lead to periodontitis (described below); if it is not treated, gingivitis will cause your dog to start loosing teeth.
Periodontitis: Periodontitis is an advanced gum disease that attacks not only the gums but also the bones that underlie the gums. Commonly called periodontal disease, this is the most common dental problem for dogs. Even relatively young dogs may have Periodontitis or the earlier-stage gum disease, gingivitis.
Imagine a year or two of buildup on your dogs teeth — buildup of plaque, food particles and bacteria. If your dog has gum disease you may not have to imagine it, you will probably be able to see a near-white substance coating the teeth and gums — that’s the result of the bacteria.
Tooth fractures: Dogs love to gnaw on things like bones and when they do they might develop small breaks -fractures of their teeth. Endodontic disease is the name for infections that develop inside these fractures.
Preventing the problems mentioned above is as simple as keeping your dog’s teeth clean. Clean teeth means less bacteria and less bacteria means less disease . . . and the extra bonus of no more ‘doggie-breath.’
Brushing your dog’s teeth. The best way to keep your dog’s teeth clean is by brushing them every day. That may sound like an impossible task but its really not. Over time, if you approach it slowly and lovingly, your dog will accept tooth brushing as an enjoyable daily activity.
Important: If you think that your dog has gum disease or fractured teeth take the dog to a vet to have the condition treated and cleared up before you try brushing the teeth yourself. If the dog has diseased gums, any attempt at tooth brushing may be painful and from then on the dog will associate tooth brushing with pain.
Ideally, you should start brushing a dogs teeth when its a puppy. As a puppy this will be more of a game than a threat and, over time, it will turn into an activity the puppy loves.
If your dog is older and has healthy looking teeth and gums, introduce it to a tooth brush by coating an old toothbrush with something the dog likes to taste; one suggestion is a paste made out of garlic salt and water. Let the dog lick it and even chew on it for just a second. The next day, the dog will recognize the tooth brush in your hand and come running over for another treat. Gradually work your way into brushing it’s teeth like that, day-by-day.
Eventually you’ll need to get a toothbrush and toothpaste that is made specifically for pets; you’ll find both in any good pet supply store. It is especially important to find toothpaste that is made for pets; don’t try to use toothpaste made for people. Human toothpaste isn’t intended for ingestion and since your dog can’t ’spit it out’ you need to get a toothpaste that won’t make the dog sick when some amount is swallowed.
There are two types of pet toothbrushes, one looks like a human toothbrush that is designed to brush a small child’s teeth and the other is a finger brush. A finger brush looks like a large thimble with a pad or bristles mounted on it. Both types of toothbrush are fairly inexpensive so you may want to purchase one of each and see which one works best for you. Either way, as long as the toothpaste tastes good to your dog, it won’t mind you ‘messing around’ in it’s mouth and, eventually, it will even look forward to the daily ritual.
Have your dog’s teeth professionally cleaned. If, for whatever reason, you don’t want to or you can’t brush your dogs teeth yourself, take it to a veterinarian and have the vet give the dog’s teeth a professional cleaning. The vet will sedate your dog and do all the necessary scraping and cleaning of the teeth while the dog is sleeping.
Give your dog a checkup. Its a great idea to give your dog’s mouth a regular checkup. You’ll be looking for any broken, chipped or cracked teeth or any signs that the gums are not healthy. If you see any problems, get the dog to a veterinarian as soon as you can.
Protect your dog’s teeth. Sometimes dogs need to be protected from themselves. A dog will chew on anything and the really hard things like some bones, rocks and other very hard items may eventually crack or break the dog’s teeth. Get rid of the hard stuff and buy your dog some softer chew toys.
Buy some mouthwash for your dog. Nope! Not kidding! There are mouthwash products for dogs and just ignore that mental picture of trying to get your dog to gargle. You just add some of the mouthwash to your dog’s water dish and the mouthwash will not only improve your dog’s breath, it will keep the do’s teeth clean and free of tarter.
As you can see, dogs have dental problems that are very similar to human dental problems and they benefit from dental care just like we do. For all the products suggested here for your dog’s dental care, ask your veterinarian for his or her recommendations on the best products to use. Your vet is your dog’s doctor and should be trusted like you trust your own doctor.
Tags:
Bacteria,
Bones,
Brushing Teeth,
Dental Care,
Dental Problem,
Dental Problems,
Dog Teeth,
Doggie Breath,
Dogs Teeth,
Food Particles,
Fractures,
Gingivitis,
Gum Disease,
Gum Tissue,
Impossible Task,
Loosing Teeth,
Periodontal Disease,
Periodontitis,
Plaque,
Teeth And Gums
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May 05, 2010 | | Dogs
How To Be A Good Dog Owner
Before making the decision about buying a new dog, here are some points you should consider :-
1. Is someone at home for most of the day ?
A dog, especially a puppy, should not be left on its own for more than a few hours at a time. If you are out at work from 9-5 don’t get a dog unless you can make satisfactory arrangements with a friend to let the dog out.
2. What about holidays ?
It is sad to say that more dogs are destroyed at holiday time than any other. Unless you have a helpful family to look after your dog, be prepared for the expense of boarding kennels. Because of the increase in running costs, reputable kennels now have to make a higher charge – don’t forget to book well ahead.
3. Are you prepared for the cost of keeping a dog ?
This includes not only the cost of food, and kennels at holiday time, but also the cost of vaccinations and also possible veterinary fees in case of illness. A dog, like a child, can fall ill quite suddenly and unexpectedly, so be prepared for any eventuality. Take out pet insurance for peace of mind.
4. Exercise
To keep healthy and happy, dogs need daily exercise, and this means a good run in a field or park, or a game with a ball, not just a stroll round to the shops on a leash. If you love your dog, be prepared to sacrifice some of your leisure time each day, whatever the weather. If you can’t provide this kind of exercise to a dog, consider giving a home to an older dog. Your local dogs home may have just the right one for you.
5. Family circumstances
Dogs and children usually love each other and get on well, but don’t make the mistake of buying a young puppy for a small child. Young children can be very cruel and a puppy may be badly thrown about. Worse still a young pup’s bones may easily broken if a child treats it like a toy. Wait until the children are older and a little more responsible.
6. Grooming.
If you don’t have much time to spare, choose a dog with a smooth or wire coat which needs little attention to keep it tidy. Long and curly coated dogs look beautiful, but they need daily grooming to keep them this way. Poodles need regular trimming, as well as grooming, so unless you are able to do this yourself be prepared for extra expense.
Author – John Moore – Please use my link http://www.pet-dog-cat.com As a responsible dog owner myself, I’ve experienced many of the problems mentioned in this article – I hope you’ve found it helpful.
Tags:
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Bones,
Cost Of Food,
Dog Owner,
Dogs And Children,
Eventuality,
Exercise,
Family Circumstances,
Holiday Time,
Leisure Time,
Mistake,
Peace Of Mind,
Pet Insurance,
Pup,
Puppy,
Running Costs,
Satisfactory Arrangements,
Vaccinations,
Veterinary Fees,
Weather
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Apr 13, 2010 | | Dogs
Part of being a loving, responsible Pit Bull owner is providing him with the proper diet to ensure he stays healthy. Many owners believe just because they purchase the most expensive brands of dog food for their Pit Bull that he is getting all of the vitamins and nutrients he needs, but often times, that is not the case. Humans cant meet all of their nutritional requirements by eating one particular food, and neither can your Pit Bull. You are the one who is in control of this day to day aspect of your Pit Bulls life, so essentially his health is up to you.
It is important to try to make sure your Pit Bulls diet consists of all the vitamins and nutrients he needs to be healthy. A lack of vital vitamins and nutrients can cause your Pit Bull to have stomach problems, bones that break easily, and have weight problems. You can take the best care of your Pit Bull, but if he doesnt have a proper diet, it isnt going to make any difference. Diet also plays a role in your dogs ability to fight off disease and infection, much the same as it does with humans. Your veterinarian can help made recommendations to help you provide the best diet possible for your Pit Bull.
When purchasing food for your Pit Bull, you should get a variety. Mixing up dry food and canned food will help give you a good mixture of ingredients and nutritional value that should help you to cover all the bases. Your dog will also enjoy the different textures of the food. They also enjoy bones and meant flavored treats.
Pit Bulls prefer dog foods made of meat, as they are primarily carnivores. Meat is a good source of energy and helps your Pit Bull grow, but he also needs fiber and carbohydrates to help with food absorption.
Many Pit Bulls also love to eat vegetables, hard to believe, huh? Check with your veterinarian first to make sure it is okay, then try it out. If your Pit Bull likes them, he will be getting plenty of additional vitamins and nutrients that dog food alone may not offer. It will also help to add some variety into his diet.
Making certain your Pit Bulls diet is up to par is one of your responsibilities as a loving owner. It is important to talk to your veterinarian to see what his thoughts are and what he recommends, but whatever you decide, your Pit Bulls health depends on you making smart choices on his behalf.
Tags:
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Canned Food,
Carnivores,
Diet Nutrition,
Dog Food,
Dog Foods,
Dry Food,
Nutrients,
Nutrition Tips,
Nutritional Value,
Pit Bull,
Pit Bulls,
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Stomach Problems,
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Apr 11, 2010 | | Dogs
Dog training-possessiveness with food
Though sometimes would like to believe otherwise, food is a dog’s first priority, so the first step to successful training is to establish yourself as the leader, this can be acheived by showing him that he can only have his food at your discretion and command. Give him his dinner, allow him to eat for a few seconds, then take his bowl away from him. Use an appropriate sound each time you do so, such as “leave” or “stop”, and keep the bowl for a few seconds.Provided he didn’t show any aggression as you removed the bowl, tell him how ‘good boy’,give it back and allow him to continue eating. Repeat this two or three times during each meal for a few days, then once or twice a week for a few weeks.
Some dogs are never possessive with their food, but you may find if your dog came from a large litter, the only way he could obtain his share of the food was to threaten his brothers and sisters. Finding this action acheived the desired result (getting more food),he may well try it with you.If you don’t sort this out very early on, this possessiveness will transfer to other things, such as bones, toys, furniture and so on, perhaps even to other members of the family.
To stop him being aggressive with his food, don’t give him possession of it! By this I mean feed him by hand for a couple of weeks. Prepare his food in the bowl as usual, but don’t put the bowl on the floor for him. Simply feed him a handful at a time. The bowl of food on the floor almost instinctively makes him want to guard it, so if he is not put in this position of needing to guard, he will not bite!
Feeding by hand also helps if your dog is dominant in other areas. It makes him completely reliant on you for the most important thing in his life,his food,and this will reinforce your position of pack leader, as he is only receiving the food from you and not from the bowl. You can also use this period of hand feeding to your benefit by making him perform some minor order from you for some of the food. Get him to sit first before one handful, or to lie down for the next, and so on. Don’t make him run around for the food as this could cause digestive upsets.
You will find that after a couple weeks of this regime, his general attitude over possessions will change. You can then try giving him his food in a bowl again, and, provided there is no sign of aggression, continue to feed him normally.
For dogs that are food possessive, do not give them bones or toys, as they will attempt to guard these in the same way. Once the food possession has been sorted out, you can try introducing a toy, but make sure the dog understands that it is your toy, and he is only allowed to play with it with you, and when you decide the game is to end, you must end up with the toy.
Tags:
Aggression,
Benefit,
Bones,
Brothers And Sisters,
Discretion,
Dog Food,
Dog Training,
Dogs,
Few Days,
First Priority,
Furniture,
Good Boy,
Handful,
Members Of The Family,
Pack Leader,
Possession,
Possessiveness,
Successful Training,
Three Times,
Toys
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Feb 12, 2010 | | Dogs
Designer Dog Beds and Leash and Collar Sets Make Fido Jump for Joy
Make your little Fido jump for joy with a beautiful, lush bed by Two Simmons Studio. The beds are available in three sizes and many colorful and playful patterns that you and your pooch will love. The beds are also available with an adorable quote on the side, such as, If my dreams would come true, bones will rain from the sky. But your favorite feature may just be the extra space on the sofa that your dog will give up in favor of the fluff-filled splendor on the floor. The cover zips off for easy cleaning.
As much as your dog loves his new bed, however, nothing beats going for a walk in style. Everyone knows that a new jacket or a new pair of shoes makes you want to show them off the same is true for your dog with her new collar. Two Simmons offers sassy leash and collar designs for the manly mutt as well as for the glamorous girlie-dog. There are many patterns to choose from, whether your dog prefers to express himself with dots, plaids, stripes, or even prints. Best of all, the leashes and collars wash up beautifully in the machine, which is an important factor in case your angel pup ever was to find herself in a mess.
So for an upcoming doggie-birthday or just an everyday gift to yourself and your furry companion, Two Simmons products are the perfect way to let your dog know hes loved. Be sure to check out these fabulous products your canine friend will thank you. You can order these online from http://www.traditionsstyle.com.
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Designer Dog Beds,
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Fluff,
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Prints,
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Jan 05, 2010 | | Dogs
Dogs seek out people and take obvious pleasure in their company. They often fulfill a childlike role and are dependent in their owners for most of their life. This dependency works both ways and your dog becomes part of your family. It makes sense to try to match your lifestyle and preferences to the temperament and needs of the dog.
You may be looking for a dog with behavioral characteristics such as the ability to guard, herd, retrieve, or just sit on your lap. Other questions youll need to ask yourself are what age? size? sex? pure breed or not. For most pet parents, the age is considered first.
What age of dog? Of course, a puppy is delightful, especially if youve got children in the house, but there may be reasons why an older dog is better. If youre looking for a good companion right from the start, a young adult dog may be best. A puppy requires someone around all day to properly house train and to develop a good relationship. If you choose an older dog, make sure it is house-trained, a dog that has been kenneled for a long time may not be.
Size is the next important consideration. Large breeds are both expensive to buy and to feed, they need a lot of space and a lot of exercise and arent well suited to city living in an apartment. Small and toy breeds need far less space and exercise, they eat less too! But you must take care with young children, as toy breeds bones are fine and fragile and children can accidentally hurt them seriously. Large breeds also age quicker than the smaller breeds and most dont live beyond 14 years, while the smaller breeds can live to be 20 years old.
Male or female is the next consideration, and most owners have their own preferences. Females are usually more demanding of attention, but they are easier to train and develop a more solid attachment to their owners. Male dogs are usually more consistent in their temperament, but are more difficult to train due to their independent nature. Males may become so aggressive or wander so much that neutering is called for. This isnt always successful and can change the dogs character.
Pedigree or not? Non pedigree dogs sometimes called mongrels, have a lot in their favor. While they arent as predictable in terms of looks and temperament, they are much less afflicted by inherited diseases than pedigree dogs and seem to avoid some of the more common ailments. Pedigree dogs can develop ailments that are common to their breed that gets passed to each new generation. You should look into the hereditary defects of any pedigree you are considering. Most of these ailments dont occur until the animal is old, but they will occur.
No matter what type, breed, age, size, color, or other choice of dog you make, just remember, they will all need part of your time and space. Owning a pet and becoming a good pet parent is a commitment, but it can be one of the best and happiest commitments you can make, for both of you.
Tags:
Apartment,
Behavioral Characteristics,
Bones,
Companion,
Exercise,
Family Dogs,
Females,
Good Relationship,
Herd,
Independent Nature,
Lifestyle,
Long Time,
Male Dogs,
People,
Pet Parents,
Pleasure,
Puppy,
Temperament,
Toy Breeds,
Young Adult
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Dec 23, 2009 | | Dogs