Monday, November 5, 2007

Puppy Toilet Training

In every dog owner’s life comes a period when you have to toilet train your dog. Most people like to have their dog from their first days of his life because they are very cute in these moments. It’s best to start training your pup as soon as you can because the sooner he learns, less problems he will create.

It’s best to know something about your doggy’s needs to help you train him. Puppies want to eliminate after the usual activities: sleeping, playing, eating and drinking. This usually occurs after 30 minutes so you should be on the lookout! They usually need to eliminate every 3-4 hours at first but after he gets older his organism will get more controlling.

They key to making him “go” where you want him to, is giving him treats and praising him. First you have to be attentive to his signs of wanting to eliminate: circling, sniffing the floor, sneaking off and heading for the door. This is when you have to take him as fast as you can to the spot where you want him to eliminate. If you don’t get to him as fast as you should, take him anyway there to finish. It is important to take him to the same spot every time so that he gets familiar.
Don’t get angry when he eliminates in the house because he will then hide from you when he wants to go and that is not a progress. Your behavior will be considered by him as punishment and the last thing you want is him to fear you. He needs to be in loving and protective environment, to feel like a member of family and fearing you can even turn into shyness and then aggressiveness!

For each good step give him a treat and praise him gradually until he goes by himself and eliminates there. You need patience and consideration for the pup because if you don’t, he won’t be able to learn and will eliminate wherever he wants. Expect mishaps because he is like a baby now, he’s not really controlling his body and doesn’t know good from wrong. With your help he will get the idea and you will have a well trained dog. Think of your puppy as a child that has to learn everything and you are the one that has to show him how things stand in the house.

House Training your Dog

Getting a dog should be like greeting a new member in the family: he brings a lot of joy and happiness in the house, means responsibility and also he must be acquainted with the way thing work around here. As opposite to a child, you can’t expect your dog to rationalize his acts so you have to train him. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t think dogs are stupid, it’s just it’s better to understand their instinctual rather than thinking ways.

What do you want him to learn? To have his own place where he sleeps and not in every room, to eliminate only where he should and at least try not to destroy the furniture – just to behave, I bet you’re thinking! Well it’s more than that for him because he doesn’t know what behaving is; he just is in it for the love, the food and playing. You must be the one that helps him behave so take patience in one hand and love in the other and brace yourself!

As a loving but instinctual creature, your dog has the need not to soil his eating place or where he sleeps. You surely noticed that dogs want to hide their eliminations; they do it on concrete, but on grass or soil too in order to be able to cover his mess. As soon as you will teach him where to eat and where to eliminate, he will follow his instincts.

The first thing he needs to learn is where his place is, where he sleeps and nothing more. For this you have to manage bed out of a blanket, a cardboard box or some other thing you like or think of that will suit. He will eliminate at first here but after getting used to the idea that he will sleep there and only there, he will look for another place to do that. In order for him to get attached to his sleeping place, you should let him stay there for some time and then move the bed in another room - he will surely look for it.

Regarding the place he must eliminate, you should get him used to one place – and place only and when he makes improvements to give him treats and praise him. He will understand that “this is place where if I do my business I will get a treat”. Treat your dog with love and understanding!

Dog Tear Stains

One of the problems that dog owners are confronted with is tear stains. Usually it is more concerning for people that have white coated companions and take them to shows, but as I will explain next, you will see that this can be a serious problem and can affect your dog’s health no matter what his color is. Most dog owners think that these stains are from excessive tearing and it is not a big deal. Sometimes this can be true but still you have to take him to a vet to be sure that everything is alright.

Vets believe that tear stains are due to the eye form of some breeds or genetics in other cases. The problem with these stains is that they create a proper environment for bacteria and leads to yeast infections. So if you are just worried about your dog’s appearance before the contest, just think that this could be a more serious health problem and so you should take matters into your hands and protect him.

One of the solutions is surgical procedures on his eye duct to normalize his tearing. This a method suggested by some vets but if you think it’s going too far and the problem is not so bad, you can try alternative methods that are not so harsh to your loving companion. You can try medicines prescribed by your vet or eye specialist veterinarian, or home remedies. You can also consult your groomer where you usually take your doggy.

If you just don’t want to try medicines because you are worried about his liver problems, you can try some alternatives to them in the comfort and familiar surroundings of you home. One way to get rid of tear stains is vinegar. Just put a teaspoon of cider vinegar in your dog’s water to help his pH to change and stop tearing. He might not like the smell or taste so you should begin with a small doze like a drop or two and then increase. Other remedies are found in milk of magnesia, corn starch or peroxide.

Taking care of this matter is more than an appearance problem in dog shows and you should act like that and take your dog to the vet as soon as you discover his disorder. It might not be very bad, but it’s best to be on the safe side.

Siberian Husky Dog Facts

If you enjoy the winter season more than summer then the Siberian Husky may be the dog for you. Raised at first to pull the sleds way up north in the Siberian tundra, now this type of breed is grown for sled-races or companionship. What you should know first is the biggest misconception about them and that is: not all Huskies have blue eyes. The color may vary from brown to amber to blue and even combinations reaching so far as having bi-colored eyes (half blue half brown)

Being a working dog, it is very agile and nimble and some would say that when it walks it has a finesse rarely seen in other dogs. His northern heritage is suggested by a medium sized compact body, well furred body and pointy erect ears. Resembling a wolf, the dog willfully accepts a harness and pulls its master on skis or pulls the sled.

Now when it comes to sizing up a Husky there is a large variation of breed standards all agreeing that height and weight should be proportionate. Male huskies should be approximately 21 to 23 inches high and measuring between 45 to 60 lb while females though having the same height 20 to 22 inches they should weigh around 35 to 50 lb.

Another quirk Huskies tend to have is that in the cold season their noses might present the hypo-pigmentation phenomena which is a slight discoloration of the nose turning from black to a lighter shade of brown or even pink. The color should return to normal in the hot season.

Although they look like any wolf you might see in the zoo the Siberian husky has quite a gentle temperament and that’s why for some the phrase “sheep in wolf’s clothing” might apply. Having a very energetic attitude and enjoyment of the new areas they explore is part of their working dog persona. Quite gentle with children and extremely affectionate, curios and open to stranger influence make them a bad choice for guard dogs but their striking appearance has made them a top choice for show dogs and pets.

The resemblance to a wolf comes from the pack instinct which means it is better paired with another dog and not left alone for long or it will get lonely. Also the heritage of being bred and raised in the north is shown by the dog’s tendency to attack small house pets. They might get along with house cats if raised together with them from puppyhood.

Shih Tzu Dog Facts

Well, if you want history living in your own house then Shih Tzu is the dog breed you want. Recent studies confirmed that they are one of the oldest breeds around, also known as the Chrysanthemum Dog (because of its face resembling that of a flower) or the Snow Lion dog (as old Tibetan monks used to call them holy dogs that used to guard the Imperial palace back in the day).

Like all toy dog breeds they have a positive, lively attitude and a lot of intelligence is to be found in their eyes. The most important attribute is the long flowing double-coat, which can be cut down like a summer coat or left long as compulsory for conformation shows. What is more interesting is that the Shih Tzu doesn’t actually have a fur but hair just like humans, which they loose gradually while being groomed.

Because of their lively attitude they make great watch dogs. However, poorly trained dogs from this breed can be noisy, rambunctious and stubborn. The only purpose of the Shih Tzu is not that of a house pet as they should instead be happy, outgoing, affectionate and trusting towards all.

The official breed standard stands about 9-10 inches tall and weighs between 9-15 pounds. The life span ranges from 11 to 15 years although some variation can exist depending on the care they receive and on their fitness and also health. The main problems known to the breed range from renal dysplasia to hip-dysplasia and they might also beget some eye problems.

As to the perfect family for him, it should be a household with older children or only adults mainly because the Shih Tzu is used to being the king of the family and being treated as one. If you don’t know why to purchase one, its gentle nature should be enough to steer you along that direction but it can also be quite snappy when being treated poorly by children.

As was pointed out earlier, Shih Tzu has a great history with the first evidence of its existence being from during the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 A.D.). It is also known that the Shih Tzu was a house pet during most of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 A.D.) being highly favored by the royal house. Unfortunately by the time the communism came to China the Shih Tzu breed was close to extinction for even today most of the breed can be traced to fourteen dogs (seven female and seven male dogs).

Basics of Puppy Training

Ever heard of the expression “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”? Well this should tell you that basic training of commands and behavior should come at the early ages of puppyhood and should continue well into the teen ages of a dog.

If you don’t know the basics of training a dog then ask the person who sold you the dog. He should be your first mentor when it comes to puppy training. Up to the first 21 days of his life a puppy should be left alone and the owner should only base his training in the way of enforcing his love and trust on the puppy. Usually a puppy is given into care of a new master after four weeks and after it got its first lessons in where to and not to relieve itself.

Now even if it’s a puppy do not hesitate to show authority and let it be known who is actually in charge because if this cannot be established in the early stages of puppyhood then at a later stage rambunctiousness and bad behavior are to follow. Now the main thing to care for is to make sure not to use any form of punishment while training a puppy since it usually surmounts to nothing else than the puppy getting hurt. What should be done is stating a clear “no” to the puppy and also using the hands to block the pup’s negative actions. In case of rewarding a positive action treats are to be used as well as touching and making sure the puppy understands he did a good thing in its training.

Another thing to be kept in mind is working only for short periods of time since the younglings can get bored quickly. Also, repetition of a certain exercise is very good since it gives the puppy more chances to learn the difference between doing it right and doing it wrong. Once you started training a puppy you should keep in mind that patience and confidence go a long way towards building a strong bond with your dog. While training you should also keep it simple and always talk to the puppy. Simply hearing your words should keep the dog’s attention alert and keep it eager to please and learn.

If in the early stages of puppyhood it should be hands on technique and when a bit older you should try the reverse, meaning when it does something wrong no treats or caresses for it.

Pomeranian Dog Facts

Well, as soon as you hear Pomeranian you should think of a fox-like rabbit meaning a wedge-shaped head and tiny pointed erect ears that resemble those of a fox. Also, the Pomeranian is a toy-dog breed because of its size, measuring 3 to 7 lb (1.4 to 3 kg). The American Kennel Club recognizes only the dogs that are cubby, meaning they are as tall as they are wide. If you can’t understand try to picture the dog inside a square or inside a circle, meaning the Pomeranian should be a balanced dog which fits together logically and in proportion.

The main thing that stands out in a Pomeranian is its coat, being its pride and glory. The American Kennel Club is recognizing well over thirteen colors or color combination ranging from black, black & tan, blue, blue & tan, chocolate all the way to orange, red, red sable, and sable.

As a small history, the Pomeranians originated from the sled dogs of northern Lapland and they were brought into Europe in Pomerania. At first the breeders concentrated their attention only on improving the coat and training the dogs for city living and not paying too much attention on the size. But when the breed reached English breeder hands, with the help of trial and error experiments and also Mendelean theories, it didn’t take long for it to reach the current size. The Pomeranians started gaining popularity with the high nobility only when Queen Charlotte and her granddaughter Victoria returned from a vacation from Italy with one little dog called Marco which was from the Pomeranian family.

Considering the shape of the dog a lot of people consider the Pomeranian intelligent and also has an alert character but they also behave accordingly. They do need a lot of attention and at times they can be quite stubborn. Even though at times they seem to think they are bigger then in reality and don’t back out of a challenge of attacking a bigger dog they definitely don’t make good guard dogs but considering their active personality and loud bark they make for a perfect watch dog.
Also, if you are considering getting your Pomeranian in shape and groomed you should realize that like all the other toy breeds they tend to have a problem with bad teeth and also you should take care of its coat on a weekly basis. But most importantly being a loyal dog they tend to follow the master from room to room therefore they do need extensive training in order not to meddle around people’s feet because they can be stepped on with ease and being such a tiny dog they get injured easily.

What do I do with dog flea problems?

Getting rig of these pesky pests that make your dog itch is not really easy but with the help of your vet and some prevention and maintenance methods you will succeed. With no such problems anymore your dog can be as happy as he can be and will accomplish his goal to make you happy.

The easiest way to keep fleas out of your dog’s hair is to prevent this from happening. These pests like humidity and heat so you have to take care of all places in the house that can get these characteristics. Vacuum and dust as often as you can, mostly in corners, cracks and basements. Be careful to dispose of the vacuum cleaner bags because adult fleas can escape and start over the colony.

Take care of his bed as well because this is where most fleas like to sit and perpetuate. Wash it weekly or even two times a week to be sure all the pests are destroyed and cast away. Check the dog too for fleas because if he is itching and scratching a lot it’s likely that he has some. Use a fine-toothed pet comb to remove the fleas and then drop them in hot soapy water to drown them.
Also be careful who your dog plays with because he can catch fleas from other animals. Sure it’s fun to see them enjoying the park and themselves but think about the trouble both of you will get into if you’re not careful.

Dust, humidity and other animals are not the only factors that can bring fleas into your dog’s life. He can get then while walking outside or playing. Be sure to give him baths with flea shampoo as often as you consider best. If you are living in a house at a farm or in the suburbs, the danger of your dog having fleas is greater – one way of preventing flea developing is to keep the grass trimmed to let the sun get closer to larvae because they cannot survive hot places.

The most important step in preventing and treating flea intrusions is to contacts your vet and discuss the proper treatment. Usually doctors do not agree with home remedies and prescribe medicines. Although you might not agree with medications, you should still take in the doctor’s advice! It’s for the dog’s and your best!

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Havanese Dog Facts

The Havanese breed is truly the embodiment of the toy dog. Even the American Kennel Club recognizes its character as being rather playful than decorative so no grooming is to be allowed when entering a show except some trimming of the fur around the paws to give them a round aspect. As much as it is desired a Havanese should look as natural as possible and looking as much as a toy in size only. Therefore no bows or knots in its hair or grooming of its fur is accepted either.

While a toy dog breed and a companion, its character is that of a hearty dog and sturdy as well when compared to the size it presents, never giving out the appearance of being delicate. The accepted size is around 8 to 11 inches and what is interesting is that all coat colors are accepted at a contest bearing in mind every dog should have a patch of black in the fur.

With such a friendly temperament the Havanese should be the number one choice as a pet in families with well behaved children and also other pets. You will never or almost never see it shy away from new things or new people and more than once it will be able to catch the attention of somebody by performing quick tricks of cleverness. While acting very lovingly towards certain types of people even following them to the bathroom or anywhere else they aren’t as possessive of that person, not usually showing acts of aggression or jealousy towards a different pet if it enters its own space.
It is also well known that some Havanese dogs don’t like eating alone. I mean who actually enjoys it anyway, right? Once they receive their food and that person leaves the room and no one else stays with it, they grab a mouthful of food and follow the person and eat it bit by bit in the room where it can find company. Also the breed is known for its keen sense of smell, playing the game “find it”, going around from room to room sniffing everything until it can find the bit of food the owner hid.

If you’re interested in the Havanese history the name should be more than enough to catch a small glimpse of it. Developed uniquely in Cuba, either from Spanish trading or gifts to other countries, they found their way to European aristocrat families where it was known to be the companion of the little children on a certain estate. After the Cuban revolution and loss of interest the Havanese was close to disappearing when Americans became interested in them.

Giving Your Dog Medicine

Every dog owner knows and feels the pain when his favorite pet is ill. They also know how hard it is to make it swallow the pills or the medicine it needs to get better. I mean you can have better luck with a stubborn kid who doesn’t want to eat (at least with them the airplane move should do the trick once or twice… in the case of dogs they don’t know what an airplane is).

Anyway, a few methods are known to be effective when it comes to administering medicine. First of all try and see if your dog won’t swallow the pill just as it is. I mean these dogs will eat anything so why not pills. If they do you can say you’re the happiest person on earth and don’t have to go through the next methods I will lay down. Also, your dog, though it may not know it, got off easy.

The second method is concealment. If they don’t want to swallow the pill whole trick your dog into thinking he isn’t swallowing a pill but eating one of his favorite treats. Owners usually hide medicine in pieces of hot dog, cheese or even hidden inside a spoon of peanut butter. These are the favorite types of food used anyway. Bread or liverwurst can be used as well or whatever you have handy and you know the dog will eat it without looking at it twice.

Well if you’re still reading, it means concealment didn’t work either so you have two options left. First one is for smaller dogs and it consists of liquefying the medicine by carefully grinding the pill into powder then mixing the dust with milk or water. Put the resulting solution in a syringe then prepare for the hard part. Keep your dogs head lifted in the air then raise one of its lips on one side. Ease the syringe at the back of the throat then release the liquid in a slow, steady rhythm. This operation might require two persons if you’re inexperienced. One will be holding the dog gently and soothing him while the other will administer the medicine.

The last mode of getting your dog to eat a pill is this: gently pry your dog’s jaws apart and then tuck the pill at the back of its throat on the base of the tongue. After, holding the jaw shut and up in the air gently blow into his nose while massaging its throat. This is why you should hope you don’t have a dog that eats the hot dog but leaves the pill uneaten.

German Shepherd Dog Facts

The Alsatian (also know as the German Shepherd Dog) is a very popular breed of dog, being highly intelligent, agile and used to working environments. Their work may consist of various activities from police duties to guarding or even finding corpses. Therapy treatments use them as well as the military. So, as I’ve said a well rounded dog with plenty of abilities to tap into. This is proven by the fact that in America they are shown to be the third most popular breed families adopt (according to a 2006 American Kennel Club study). Besides working they make lovable pets and also loyal companions. Even though they might need socialization, while young they are the most receptive breed to obedience trials.

As a bonus German Shepherd is the most widely used dog breed in a ton of works concerning scent or based on scent. Among these you can find dogs working in explosive detection, narcotics, search and rescue.

As personality traits this breed has a few standards set in place: it should be fearless but never hostile, always poised and having an air of self-confidence surrounding it. Its willingness to serve must always be seen when the need arises. Considering it is used by blind people to lead them, used as a watchdog or even as a herding dog it should always know what its job is and complete it thoroughly.

The breed’s height is between 22 and 26 inches and the desired proportion between length and height should be 10 to 8 halves. Now as color goes there are a few accepted with black and tan being spread more among the dog breed. White is accepted as well but harder to find and most of the kennel clubs consider the dogs as a separate breed. The coat can be worn short or long and the life expectancy of a dog of this breed is around 15 years.

The original title of the breed was the German Shepherd but after the World War I Anti-German sentiment were so high that in order for these dogs to gain popularity in England they were renamed to GSD or Alsatians.

Very common with most of the large breeds, elbow and hip dysplasia is present in the German Shepherd as well. Other common problems may be a few skin allergies or teeth problems. You should also watch for eye problems or even ear problems.

Among the mediated dogs you should all remember Rin-Tin-Tin from the 1920’ to 1930’ and also Kommissar Rex from the Austrian TV series.

Fun Dog Activities

A dog isn’t called man’s best friend for nothing. Even from infancy we start playing with other kids without even needing an introduction and we call them best friends. Same goes for human – dog relationships. It shouldn’t matter what breed of dog you have, all that matters is that you want to have some fun with it. The main question is why should I actually play with my dog? Actually the question is why not? Tests have shown that the greater the range of activities you do with your dog the more chances that dog will be happy and the family happier too. Also, these activities tend to teach the dog proper manners in a certain situation and an owner how to better communicate with his mutt. Considering this, it should reduce the chances of a dog being abandoned by its family because of bad behavior or misunderstood commands.

Now a fun activity may consist of you and your dog entering a competition and trying to win it or it may consist of taking him with you on your routine relaxation tours.

As competitiveness goes there are a few sports you are able to do with your dog like: dog agility, which is a sport where the owner must lead and direct the dog through a series of obstacles in a certain amount of time. This is a very good way of testing what the dog learned in the early stages of his training; yet another sport is obedience in which the dog is put through a series of commands to show how good he can master them. Unlike the agility course here we have no obstacles unless we count the problems in owner to dog communication skills. Other fun type of activities can be Frisbee, fly ball or herding (if you’re an outdoors kind of guy).

Now that we’ve seen what you can officially do with your dog let’s look at the unofficial list which includes: taking your dog with you on the long walks through the park, taking it with you while going camping or in any outdoor area; the simple game of fetch… it gives a dog a terrific sense of usefulness when an owner says “good boy” for bringing the stick back. Try taking your dog in a dog park and let him socialize with the other dogs which should make your dog feel more fulfilled and not so lonely.

There are a lot of activities you can do with a dog, the main thing is to make the time for it.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Rough Collie Dog Facts

From the multitude of Collie breeds like: Rough Collies, Smooth Collies, Border Collies or Shetland Collies the most famous one is the Rough Collie. I mean who among us hasn’t seen the feats of bravery, loyalty, friendship and courage of a certain dog called Lassie? True the temperament and the intelligence were greatly exaggerated in the show with the same name but ever since the 1930’s till the present Lassie has been a constant in the television shows and films. Even before the shows, the companionship and the temperament of collies were ever present in some novels and works of art. This should be understandable considering the high training level a collie can receive and also because of its gentle, loyal character.

At first the collie was trained to be a herding dog and even today a lot of sheep herders train them just for that because of the easiness and malleability a dog from this breed has while being trained. These cattle herding types tend to be stockier than the general breed. As a rule collies should weight around 10 to 25 kg, it’s height around 56-66 cm and the fur should be short, flat or long. Also, its life expectancy is around 14-16 years. Among the accepted colors of the American Kennel Club there are black, black and tan, red and sable.

As an overall bundle of characteristics they can be compared to the Energizer bunny being very agile, energetic with loads of stamina in all kinds of terrain. Like all dogs they are intelligent and eager to work at every opportunity they get. These working type dogs unfortunately aren’t well suited as pets as they may become unhappy or badly behaved if they aren’t given enough challenges, mental or physical, by the owner.

As far as the grooming goes the collies with long fur shed heavily twice a year and they also need weekly maintenance to their coats. Exercising is a must, being an active dog so a big yard in which the dog should be let loose for a run or in a park is a must. Daily long walks are to be taken if the space isn’t available.

And finally as a parallel between watch dogs and guard dogs they tend to go towards guard dogs more especially if the family has a small child, the dog considering the child his own and not letting strangers getting too close to him.

Cairn Terrier Dog Facts

To understand the history of the Cairn Terriers you should first learn that cairn in the old English language translated into a heap of stones meant as a land-mark or a monument. So considering that over 200 years ago in the Scottish Highlands the ancestors of today’s Cairn Terriers were working for their keep by routing rodents and vermin from the rock piles around the farmlands. They were mainly bred for their working ability and also sturdy bodies covered in weather-proof furs making the terriers able to withstand the rough weather patterns found in Scotland.

The historical evidence points to one of the oldest strand of Cairn terriers, the “Short-haired Skye Terrier”, being as old as the 1800’s when a certain Captain Martin Macleod was using them for his favorite sport otter hunting, before immigrating to Canada.

The ideal size accepted for a Cairn would be around 13 or 14 pounds and also 9 to 10 inches in height. Its length should be around 15 inches from chest to back legs and should have a very proportionate body, well muscled but not too fat or too thin.

As said before, the Cairn terrier has a rough, weather resistant outer coat and its accepted colors may vary from cream, sandy, gray or red or any variation of these colors. What is funny is that pure black or white aren’t accepted by many clubs as being pure Cairns. A peculiar characteristic of this breed is that they may frequently change color throughout their lifespan.

As temperament goes they are intelligent, strong and very loyal. They are stubborn just like most terrier-based breeds and also strong-willed. Providing a correct training an owner can safely circumvent the adjective “disobedient”. Even though they are still used as working dogs in some parts of Scotland a lot of people get a Cairn just because they’ve seen “Toto” from the Wizard of Oz and apply that picture on the dog. Unfortunately that’s a common misconception the breed being neither a lap dog nor one that would happily sit all day in a basket.

And as far as grooming and health goes the dog does not need excessive bathing or excessive care. The main thing to remember is not to use a pair of scissors or shears when grooming because this might ruin the coat but instead they should be hand-stripped. With a lifespan of 15 years in average the health issues that arise in a Cairn terrier are mostly hereditary.

Boston Terrier Facts

The little but strong Boston terrier is considered to be a part of the utility dogs group. Initially raised for running competitions, they were used later in dog fights as well but now they are mostly bred for companionship.

Not being a dog with big issues considering food it should be watched anyway because one of this breed’s tendencies is to become greedy. Therefore diet should be measured and not very rich. If you give in to his demands being an intelligent breed they will ask for more and more seeing the demands are being satisfied.

As a small history, in 1865 a coach driver started breeding different types of dogs and from one such breeding came out Hope’s Judge. Judge being a cross between white English Terrier and an English Bulldog, he became one of the forefathers of the Boston terrier. They started gaining popularity in 1889.

The breed measures from 10 to 24 lbs and stand between 15 to 17 inches tall. They have a small compact frame, well proportioned with short tails, erect ears and a short muzzle. As for colors white should cover the chest, around the neck and halfway up the legs. Due to the resemblance of its colors to the formal wear and the gentle characteristics of its personality another name for the Boston terrier is also the “American gentleman”.

Considering they were bred for fighting and then trained as house pets and companions you should always keep in mind that the ancestry might surface if another big dog trespasses on the dog’s territory and violent fights might occur. But a typical Boston terrier should be gentle, expressive, alert and well-mannered. Bostons enjoy being around people and with training they do get along with children, other dogs or even other non-canine pets.

As training goes Boston terriers are very sensible to voice tones and they learn new things easily and with pleasure. They do not need a lot of exercise the regular walks or playing inside a pen being enough. Its short fur doesn’t take too long to care for, it doesn’t require bathing unless needed. The face should be wiped daily and the eyes taken care of as well, ears too.

With a lifespan averaging around thirteen years, Boston terriers should have an easy life concerning health issues. One of the problems occurring is the extreme temperatures combined with excessive exercises. Having a short snout they tend to have problems in extreme conditions.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Animal Hospitals

He’s lovely when he’s running in the park with you or playing with the children… but he is down and nothing appeals to your dog, something is wrong. He may be sick and because you don’t have the ability and the necessary knowledge to figure out what he has, you should take him to a vet.

In the best scenarios, your vet can give him a treatment and make him well again. Sometimes though, the problem is more serious and you have to take him to the hospital. This is mostly for tests, recovery or surgery that the vet can’t do. So take you pup to the hospital with confidence because he will be in safe and loving hands!

For those that have never taken the dog to the hospital, maybe by your fear of do doctors or his, or just because there was never the case, I will give some details about animal hospitals. They usually look like ordinary normal hospitals for human, the difference is that all the doctors specialize in treating animals and the equipment is adapted to them. Don’t worry for a second that just because your dog is not a human patient he will be treated worse or less professional by the doctors. They are fully qualified to help him and take trainings all the time to be up to date with all the problems that might occur.

Each hospital has its own policy but the one that never changes to one another is the love and commitment to your pet’s health. It is needless to say that all the building and those who work here are germ free and sanitation is in its home. You can’t cure someone if you have an unhealthy and infested environment. I said someone because here animals are referred and thought as any other living being.

Each animal has his sheet with his problems in the past, shots and tests so it’s easier for the doctors to figure out what his problem is and also be careful at what makes him allergic. All the members of the staff are prepared for each problem your companion might have and will treat him with a lot of love. This is very important because it will calm him down and won’t make him feel like abandoned and tortured with shots. At any hour of day or night these specialists will be in guard to help your dog, so don’t hesitate to ask their help!

The Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd, also known as an Aussie, has a vague history. It is believed it originated in Spain then brought to America where by countless merging of breeds the ancestors of this breed emerged. Breeds didn’t appear until late Victorian times so shepherds used to breed dogs based on how hard working they can be. They never looked at appearance or maintaining the status quo of a certain breed. They just wanted a hard working dog, which could perform well, given the climate in which they worked. When the Gold Rush hit America in the 1850’s a flock of people hit the western coast and they brought with them the Spanish descent dogs and herds of cattle. Mingled with the breeds already existing in the region the Australian Shepherd appeared.

Just like collies, the Aussies can be split between show dogs and working dogs. The working dogs tend to have shorter fur whilst the show dogs have long fur and different criteria for description, according to breed standards. These standards tend to differ from opinion to opinion. Some general standards do apply and these are: height between 18 and 23 inches while the weight should be 35 to 75 pounds. Even here some say that the miniature type of breed should be considered a different one and not an Australian Shepherd. Among the eight colors accepted the most common are blue merle, red merle, black and red.

A great variety of Aussies come when talking about eyes. An Australian Shepherd is also know as a “ghost-eyed dog” since the eyes can be blue, brown, hazel, amber or even green. They can be of different colors or even bi-colored, which means a half green half brown eye. This is linked mostly to the fur coloration according to some experts. Any combination of these eye colors are accepted in a competition as long as the eyes are healthy.

When it comes to temperament and behavior the Aussie is unique. There are mainly two types of personality you should be aware of. In general the breed is very active playful, intelligent (it may invent games to play if bored) quickly catches new tricks but it may need to run a lot, even full out. If you want one as a pet you may need to search for one properly trained or bred for a household since the working ones tend to nip at running children and strangers and have a general frightening behavior towards someone who doesn’t know its temperament. As far as guarding duty the Australian Shepherd tends to bark warnings about neighboring activity but it doesn’t tend to get too obsessed with it.