Archive for the ‘Dog Breed Information’ Category

The Pros And Cons Of Finding German Shepherd Rescues

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

German Shepherds are not only beautiful, but they are also intelligent, loyal and easy to find in many countries of the world. Unfortunately, they are not the right breed of dog for everyone. Each year, thousands of German Shepherds (also known as Alsatians) and German Shepherd mixes are abandoned or surrendered to animal shelters. Most of these dogs wind up there through no fault of their own. Many people are not aware of the significant time and money investment needed to care for German Shepherds.

To help find homes for these magnificent animals, many selfless volunteers have turned their homes and hearts over to German Shepherd rescues. These breed specific rescues can be found in several countries and almost every state in America. None of these German Shepherd rescues are under any parent organization, not even the Humane Society of the United States, so finding a suitable one in your area may take a bit of research.

Good German Shelter rescues will work very closely with each dog in their care and take time to get to know the dog’s preferences and quirks. Good German Shepherd rescues will never let you adopt a dog right away. You will have to fill out a lot of paperwork, often give them a letter on your character written by your vet, and answer a lot of questions about your (possibly lack of) German Shepherd information. Be very suspicious of any organization that calls themselves a German Shepherd rescue and that ships dogs to you without asking you any questions. The dogs for sale might be stolen or very sick dogs.

There is no parent German Shepherd breed organization or even a national directory. The American Kennel Club and the Humane Society of the United States are really too busy to help you out. In order to find a good German Shepherd rescue in your local area, you will have to sniff them out yourself. You can also expect to fill out a lot of forms, meet with many different dogs and maybe even get a character reference from a veterinarian before your application for adoption is accepted.

Always contact the German Shepherd rescue before you visit. Don’t drop in unexpected and expect to drive off with a dog. The best German Shepherd rescues will have you fill out a questionnaire and quiz you about your knowledge of German Shepherd information.

You will need to do some traveling to these homes. Be sure to make an appointment, as you are entering somebody’s house. By meeting the dog and the person who is caring for him or her, you get a good idea of what to expect.

Don’t just agree to take a dog right away over the phone or email. That should never happen. You need to meet the potential dog a couple of times before you are allowed to adopt the dog. When you visit the dog, you are also visiting what kind of place the German Shepherd rescue is.

While the adoption process crawls on, be sure to read up on all the German Shepherd information you can find to insure you know what to expect from your new furry friend.

About the Author:

What Goes Into Caring For Pug Puppies

Friday, October 24th, 2008

As a puppy and an adult, the Pug is best known for their large and outgoing personality. The Pug also has a unique appearance due to their wrinkled and flat face. Pug puppies are often chosen for their personalities, but you also need to consider other factors before you make the final decision to add a Pug to your household.

Since the Pug is good with children they are an excellent choice for a family pet. Pugs will get along with other animals, but you should carefully consider the other pets and breeds already in your home before adding a Pug, because jealousy is always an issue.

While Pugs are good watchdogs they will bark at anything that gets close to the house so you need to keep this in mind when considering the breed. Because of their small size, Pugs are an excellent option for those living in a small apartment or house. They are playful yet don’t require a lot of space.

Next you want to consider the high level of maintenance required for Pug puppies before making your decision. You won’t have to trim the Pug coat since it stays short, but you will have to brush them regularly and trim their nails since they shed a lot and their nails grow fast. Due to the wrinkles that make them unique you will also have to clean their face more often than other breeds. So you may want to consider another breed if regular grooming is an issue.

The Pug is also an excellent choice for those who want a dog that will be around most of the time. As a human friendly breed the Pug will often attach himself or herself to one person and eventually start following them from room to room. As a result if you ignore them for too long they will start to demand your attention. Because of their strong and outgoing personality this can be annoying at times.

If you are going to add Pug puppies to your household then you need to make sure that you can provide them with a steady and safe indoor environment. Not only does the Pug like to be near other people, but they can also experience a variety of health related issues if they are left outside and have exposure to the heat, cold or the outdoors in general.

The Pug is also highly prone to allergies and colds as result of their wrinkled and flat face. There is also the common problem of excessive weight gain with Pugs so you should carefully monitor their food intake and ensure that they get enough exercise.

Before deciding if the Pug is a right breed for you and your household you should carefully think over all the pros and cons of having a Pug dog. Making sure you have the right dog can make all the difference between a positive and a negative match. Never choose a breed without doing the proper research first.

About the Author:

What To Know What Raising A Beagle Pup

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

A beagle pup is a great thing to get for you and your family as they make great family dogs and can be a lot of fun to raise and watch grow up. But beagle puppies require a lot of patience and beagle puppy care is not as easy as it may seem. Take the time to do some research on how to raise your beagle pup the right way so that it stays healthy and grows into a great family dog. Always keep your vet involved with regular appointments and consultations if something should go wrong.

A beagle pup develops in stages just like any other new born animal and if you expect your three month old beagle pup to be doing things it shouldn’t be able to do until it is ten months old then you are setting yourself and your puppy up to fail. Find out what the correct developmental expectations are for your beagle pup and keep them in mind as you try and train your beagle puppy to be what you want it to be and do the things it will need to do to get through life.

If you are caging your beagle pup to try and housebreak it and the process is not working then there is another way that may do the trick. Set aside a 48-hour period where you and someone else can take the dog out every hour on the hour and take it to the spot where you want it to do its business. Reinforce to the puppy that this outside spot is where to do these things and that the inside is not a good place. If this alternative does not work contact your vet.

Beating the puppy or chasing it around your house in anger rarely solves behavioral problems in beagle pups. If your puppy barks constantly, pointing at it and giving sharp one word commands such as “No” or “Stop” could be very effective. It is important that you dominate your pet through positive reinforcement and not through fear or physical violence.

Teaching your beagle pup good manners at a young age will greatly decrease the chance that any other problems will arise later in life. Teach your puppy the proper way to walk on a leash and they will keep that for the rest of their lives.

It takes patience but you need to make sure that all negative behavioral traits are eliminated when they are still young enough to learn.

A beagle pup is like an empty book waiting to be filled with information. If you wait too long to address behavioral issues then those issues become patterns in adulthood and negative behavioral patterns are much more difficult to stop.

Remember that when they are puppies they are a clean slate than is waiting to be filled, if you wait until they are too old to correctly address their behavioral issues then you will be spending the rest of your beagle’s life constantly trying to back track in its behavioral training.

About the Author:

Naming Your Bulldog Puppy

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Consider all Bulldog information when you are naming your new Bulldog puppy. Your Bulldog’s personality should play a role in the name that you choose. Although, Bulldog puppies have a wide range of personality types, you will want a name that you can be proud of using and that will befit your great Bulldog puppy. Your Bulldog puppy will grow into a gentle companion with whom you will spend many hours.

Your Bulldog wants to be in your company and you should give your Bulldog a name that will be suitable for your intelligent canine friend and that you will feel comfortable using in a public area.

According to Bulldog information, Bulldog puppies grow into intelligent adults. Knowing that the Bulldog is intelligent does not make it easier for young Bulldog puppies to learn their name right away. You will have to help your Bulldog puppy learn its name by following a few tips when choosing a name.

Bulldog information confirms that the Bulldog is an intelligent dog but this does not mean that Bulldog puppies will understand everything that is said. You will need to make it easy for your Bulldog puppy to learn its name. You can do this by choosing a short name that is one or two syllables. You should also choose a name that starts with a letter that is easy to distinguish at a distance.

Your Bulldog puppy will have to be able to hear its name and separate it from the other noises around it in order to respond to its name. You can make it easier for your Bulldog puppy to hear and understand its name by choosing a short name that is not longer than two syllables.

Bulldog information makes it clear that you should not give Bulldog puppies a name that rhymes or is similar with any command that you give to your dog. You should also avoid a name that rhymes or is similar to another name that is used in the household. If you use a name that too closely resembles someone else’s name, the dog can get confused about it.

The hard consonants, D, K and T are sounds that are easy to distinguish from a distance. These hard sounds in the Bulldog’s name will also draw your dog’s attention to you when you need to get your dog’s attention. Examples of short feminine names for Bulldog puppies include Dotty, Dora, Cara, Coco, Tammy and Trina. Short masculine names that are suitable include Duke, Davy, King, Kevin, Timmy and Tony.

For example, female Bulldog puppies could be named Dina, Daisy, Darlene, Kathy, Kayla, Taffy and Tara. Male Bulldog puppies could be named Dale, Daryl, Carl, Keefer, Taylor and Teddy. You can also find inspiration for your Bulldog puppy’s name from the color of its coat or other appearance details. You will be pleased when your Bulldog puppy learns it name quickly because you have chosen a name for that purpose.

About the Author:

Take Great Chihuahua Pictures

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Wouldn’t you love to have a picture of your Chihuahua on a coffee mug, a mouse pad, or a calendar? You can create the requisite Chihuahua pictures for these items by learning how to photograph your Chihuahua with a digital camera. Once you decide on the shot you like, you simply take the file to a kiosk specializing in personalized gifts and let them do the rest of the work.

Taking Chihuahua pictures is a fun activity for you and your pet. Whether you use an inexpensive digital camera or the very latest camera phone, digital photography is ideal for taking pictures of pets because you only pay for the pictures that turn out. The “delete” button takes care of blurry shots, shots with red eyes, and shots where your Chihuahua doesn’t look his best. Be sure to start each photo session with fresh batteries and a fresh memory card.

Once your camera is ready, loaded with fresh batteries and a fresh memory card, choose the setting for your Chihuahua pictures. If you have a fenced garden or other area where you can safely photograph your Chihuahua outdoors, then you can take pictures in daylight without using a flash. This will result in brighter, more natural looking pictures.

After you get your camera ready, set the stage for your photographs. The background for your Chihuahua pictures should be neutral and uncluttered, with nothing to distract from the subject of the photo. If your Chihuahua has light to medium colored hair, a dark background will provide an interesting contrast in the picture. If you have a dark-haired Chihuahua, a light background is best.

Experiment with fabric with different textures and sheens to see how different fabrics look when they are photographed. A Chihuahua is so small, you only need a small amount of fabric to place the dog on for its portrait. A scarf will probably be big enough. Avoid shiny fabrics and instead look for fabrics that absorb light, like velvet or suede.

Now that your camera and background are ready, all you need is your Chihuahua. If you are taking your Chihuahua pictures outside, grab your camera and be ready to shoot. Your dog will interact naturally and playfully with the outdoor surroundings while you capture that perfect shot-the one with the neutral background and colorful foreground.

On picture day, make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise so he or she has a chance to release energy before a period of sitting still. Don’t worry that your dog may be too drowsy; some of the best Chihuahua portraits are taken of dogs that are yawning or are about to fall asleep. Keep your dog’s attention by holding a favorite toy or a treat behind the camera. Be sure to reward your dog at regular intervals during the photo session.

After you finish taking pictures, review them all and pick out the best ones. These are the photos that deserve to be printed and framed, or shared online, or saved as your computer wallpaper to be admired every day.

About the Author:

Persevere With Pomeranians Training

Friday, October 10th, 2008

The Pomeranian is a cute and courageous animal that will win your heart not only because of its affectionate and adorable nature, but because it is a great watch dog as well and despite its small size, it is not going to back down when confronted with danger. However, it is not so easily housebroken and Pomeranian potty training is something for which you need plenty of patience and also a great deal of perseverance, especially in the first few weeks when a new puppy comes into your home.

The first step in Pomeranian potty training is to keep it in a playpen that also has clean newspaper down and where its food and water are kept along with a comfortable bed where it can sleep. It is a good idea to begin its potty training by taking it out when he wakes up in the morning and show him the area where he should go.

The same can be done after each meal and when he does the right thing you should always reward him to reinforce the training. There is no doubt that accidents will often occur, but with patience and perseverance you should be able to see things through. However, make sure not to physically punish or rub its nose in an accident, as these won’t do your pet any good.

There is a lot more to Pomeranian training than taking it out to where it should go, because good potty training will also require you to clean up after it and when doing so to ensure that you clean up all traces of the accident so that no trace of it lingers. In fact, there are also some products available on the market that smell just like urine and by placing these where you want your Pomeranian to go. You will get good results because your pet will readily associate the smell with having to go potty.

Another useful tip as far as Pomeranian potty training goes is that when you catch your Pomeranian doing his potty where he shouldn’t remember to clap your hands loudly and to also say no forcefully and loudly, after which you can pick him up and take him outside. The effect of your voice should awaken him to what he is doing wrong and also make him stop, and once he is taken outside, he can complete his business once more.Once he does that, you should praise him and even give him a reward.

There is not much to Pomeranian potty training if you address it in the proper manner ensuring that your pet pick it up quickly. However, remember that if you catch your pet having an accident and more than a few seconds have passed since the act, there will be no sense in punishing it because pups can only understand what has just taken place.

Accidents will happen and whether you catch it defecating or find out later, you should never rub its nose in the dirt or use physical reprimands, since the end result will be to make it fearful rather than properly potty trained.

Once more than a few seconds have elapsed since your Pomeranian has done something wrong, he will forget and not be able to associate his past actions with any discipline that you give. Thus, you should not harp about what has already happened. Just clean up the mess thoroughly and continue your positive reinforcement training.

About the Author:

Taking Good Care Of Your Labrador Puppies

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Labrador Retriever puppies grow up to be bouncy, cheerful, and quite sizable adults. They are very gentle. Their gentleness is manifested at the way they will hold your hand in their mouths because you won’t even feel a thing. If you want an active dog that has a feverish zest for life then this dog is for you.

Most Labradors are not prone to the common problems that most breeds have. Labrador’s are not insecure or whinny, their not territorial or destructive, and they are also not hypersensitive or difficult. They will not be difficult to train because they are eager learners and love to please people. The other great thing is that if you have other pets, Labradors are very patient with other animals as well as other breed of dogs.

However if you’re a couch potato choosing a lab for a pet won’t suit you. Labrador Retrievers need and love vigorous exercise to prevent health problems and hyperactivity. So, if you’re not up to playing catch or running around with a Frisbee, then you and your dog will definitely have a problem with each other. It is best to buy Labrador Retriever puppies than those that are already mature. If you want to really form a bond with your Lab then purchase one that’s still relatively young. Not only will the time you spend rearing him be good for your bond, but you will also have more time getting to know each other’s personality and quirks.

Labrador Retriever puppies also like to chew on things such as shoes, slippers, etc. So you might want to get them plastic bones for them to chew on and play with. They have to be potty trained for them not to soil or ruin your carpets inside your home.

Now potty training a puppy may be a bit difficult. It takes time and a whole lot of patience. Labrador Retriever puppies tend to understand humans in time. There are books available on how to train your Labrador Retriever puppies. You can browse through them to get a thought or get different techniques. As for health concerns, you must watch what you feed your Labrador Retriever puppies.

To ensure that a Labrador’s fun loving won’t get out of hand, train them early. Female Labrador Retriever puppies can grow up to be more independent than their male counterparts. Excellent care and training should be given if you see that your Labrador is a bit too aggressive than she should be.

Giving them the proper nutrients and diet will help them grow and mature more quickly. For the first five weeks of life, the Labrador Retriever puppies need a high quality colostrum based formula because they are not able to wean at birth. This can also help in increasing the bioavailability and the absorption of nutrients in the body.

Until eighteen months of age is the most important stage of development for the Labrador Retriever puppies, this means it is crucial for them to accumulate high quality prepared food. It may not be easy having Labrador Retriever puppies as pets, but in the end it seems to be worth it.

About the Author: