Showing posts with label small dog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small dog. Show all posts

Monday, November 3, 2008

Secrets The Pros Use Housebreaking A Puppy The Easy Way

Learning to train a puppy will be much more effective if you track and test your progress along the way. That may sound very simple and basic but don't let that put you off, as it will be a big help when you come to review your progress, and look to teach your puppy new tricks as he gets older. These notes show exactly what works and how your puppy responds to various techniques, along with areas that either need improvement or a completely different technique. And just like anything else in life, planning is time well spent to ensure hitting a home run more times than you get it wrong.

Making a plan is your first task when you start train a puppy, because it can only improve the process of relocating a young dog or puppy from his happy and playful home to his new and unrecognizable surroundings. Puppies can become very stressed and anxious when parted from his family, and then is suddenly moved to strange and confusing habitat with a whole range of new and unknown faces and scents.

Fully grown dogs are not immune to bouts of anxiety caused by everything new that happens to them when they get relocated. Don't forget your dog will need lots of reassurance when you take him away from his old home; he'll just notice that his friends are gone and he doesn't recognize anything.

If humanly possible, go visit your new dog at his existing home. There will be some familiar ground for him then, when he does finally move to your place. This will mean that when you start, training your puppy your training program will be more effective as he's more comfortable with you from the start. If you really can't fit in a few visits, try taking home something from the current owner that the puppy is familiar with - like a blanket or toy of some kind or just something that will remind him of home and get used to being in an alien environment without the familiar smells and faces.

The perfect time to bring your new dog home is when you will be available to set aside a block of time to spend with him. During the holidays is ideal - providing of course you're at home and not on vacation. Please don't move you dog in, then home him in kennels while you go on vacation. Spending lots of time with him when he moves in will pay dividends in building your relationship and go a long way to beating his home sickness and stress of leaving his friends.

As humans, we prepare, decorate and equip the home for a new baby by creating a checklist of things to do and equipment to buy, tips for training a puppy needs to be given the attention to detail. Having a different number of legs shouldn't mean you get less priority.

Ideally, fence off an area of your kitchen for your new puppy. This will be his home, and will help when you start house training your puppy as well because any accidents are easier to clean off hard floors. Normally, the kitchen makes a great new home because we spend a lot of our time in these rooms, which will make a big difference in helping your puppy get acclimatized quickly.

In his previous abode, your puppy had the friendship of his littermates. Since they're not there any more he'll get lonely - so one of your new jobs is to make up for his loss of friends and keep him happy. At the same time, you shouldn't allow him free reign round the home for his first week or so and then lay down rules that prevent him doing those things when you start training him. Puppy potty training tips needs to start on day 1. The day you bring him home, start his training.

Your puppy will get mixed signals if he isn't being taught the rules right away, because it only confuses the puppy. Much of these techniques for training a puppy work well for puppies and fully grown dogs too. All dogs can experience loneliness and separation anxiety. It's up to you to help them through it. When you bring a new dog home he or she will need to learn the rules from the start. All dogs need discipline and affection in equal amounts. Having said that, your puppy will love you for it.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

American Eskimo Dog Breed

American Eskimo Dog Temperament

When talking about the American Eskimo dog we are referring to a very energetic and playful dog breed. The dog loves to play and comes with a lot of spirit, curiosity and courage. Keep in mind that the American Eskimo dog breed can get bored if you are not providing entertaining and you could end up with a dog that has a destructive behavior on your hands. We are dealing with a dog that is quick to learn and intelligent, strong willed and very independent. It can do a lot of tricks and solve problems and is usually comfortable with dog training. Remember that the dog loves to dig and bark so the pet is not suitable for individuals looking for a peaceful companion. The good part is that the breed is recommended for both experienced and inexperienced dog owners. American Eskimo Dogs are perfect with most children and are good with most pets and dogs even if they do tend to become predatory when faced with rodents and birds. Never neglect the fact that this breed can become jealous and that it is alert, thus being a good watchdog.

American Eskimo Dog Breed Appearance

You will find three possible size variations in the American Eskimo Dog Breed. We thus have the standard American Eskimo dog, the toy American Eskimo Dog and the miniature American Eskimo dog. The miniature one weighs around 10 to 20 pounds and is 12 to 15 inches high. The toy one weighs between 6 and 10 pounds and is 9 to 12 inches high. The standard is of 25 to 35 pounds and 15 to 19 inches tall. Talking about coating the accepted colors are buscuit cream or white with it being harsh and straight and presenting a softer, dense undercoat. The dog breed's eyes are blue and heavy shedders is a reality. Keep in mind that dog grooming will mean you brushing at least 2 times per week and even more when shedding is more intense.

American Eskimo Dog Breed Health

American Eskimo Dogs usually live between 13 and 15 years. Health problems associated include luxating patella, diabetes, seizures and even epilepsy.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Cavalier King Charles Dog Breed

The Cavalier King Charles dog breed can be characterized as a small Spaniel that is highly popular among pet owners and even breeders. It is just 30 cm high and weighs around 5 to 8 kg but any Cavalier King Charles owner will tell you that although small in size we are talking about a dog that is big in heart. In fact, this dog breed is one that is perfect for any individual that gets attached to pets as he/she will get attached to you as well. It can easily be trained and is known to be intelligent. The only thing that the Cavalier King Charles really hate is not having contact with humans or other pets during the day as this does make him/her sad so do not leave your small dog alone.

The Cavalier King Charles has its origins in hunting dogs. This basically means that the pet will love to run in the wild. We recommend holding him in a leash at all times when going for walks and you might want to know that some individuals will use the breed for hunting trips. Cavalier King Charles is characterized by four silky coating colours: tan with black, Blenheim, three coloured or ruby. This dog breed is also easy to spot due to a long tail and ears and a muzzle of conical shape combined with a flat skull.

Cavalier King Charles is a dog breed that is prone to develop some health problems. You should pay attention to back problems, infections around the eyes and ears, syringomelia and hearing problems. Pay attention to the pet’s weight as he/she will immediately put on pounds if you feed the dog too much and there is a necessity of exercise. We recommend that the owner owns a yard although it is not compulsory for it to be big. The life expectancy of the Cavalier King Charles is between 9 and 14 years and all depends on the evolution of its health.

Keep in mind that you must be ready to care for your Cavalier King Charles, just as you would with a child. He will not be happy if you do not pay enough attention and ever since this dog breed appeared there has been a very strong connection between the pet and the owner. We are talking about a very beautiful dog that looks at everyone as a friend and is very gentle.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Toy Dog Breeds - King Charles Spaniel

It is said that King Charles the 2nd of England had such affection towards this dog that he was always absorbed by the play with this dog so much that he never paid attention to the affairs of State.

Dog Breed Appearance.
This dog has a straight, long, shiny coat, with a silky feel when you touch it. The colors are black with tendencies towards red, ruby-red, tricolor and blenheim. The head is convex; the muzzle is short, with prognathism ; the nose is black. Its eyes are big, dark colored and outstripped. Its ears are very long, pointing downwards (looking like a nobleman’s wig) reaching its cheekbones.

Dog Breed History.
The origins of this dog could be found in China or Japan. In the XVI th century it arrived in England from France, where it was used as a hunting dog. At the beginning of the last century he was also used for hunting wild birds, but through an intervention in the breeding process it was transformed in a dog used for company, with a great character and very gracious.

Dog Breed Temperament.
It is a loving dog, balanced, kind to children and very easy to train. It is peaceful towards other dogs. This dog’s coat needs to be constantly and carefully groomed. It does not require a lot of movement, although it loves to walk. It is suitable to live in an apartment with a family.

Dog Breed Health.
The King Charles Spaniel suffers from the same serious health problems as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The King Charles Spaniel may have health problems such as heart defects, eye problems, patellar luxation (kneecap slipping), and fused toes, which can cause incorrectly grown toenails. They tend to live 10 to 12 years. “Episodic Falling” is an 'exercise-induced paroxysmal hyper tonicity disorder' meaning that there is increased muscle tone in the dog and the muscles are unable to relax. Although it is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy, the dog remains conscious throughout the episode. Severity of symptoms can range from mild, occasional falling or freezing to seizure-like episodes lasting hours. Episodes can become more or less severe as the dog gets older. Onset of symptoms is usually before five months but may be noticed only later in life.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Small Dog Safety Vests

Dog safety vests are usually used for hunting dogs, especially when doing night hunting or hunting in areas that do not have a lot of visibility. It prevents the dog from getting accidentally shot. What few people realize is that dog safety vests can be very useful even in cities and not only in remote locations. Also, small dog safety vests are not to be avoided. People tend to think that the dog is too small and will not have him wear them although it can be quite dangerous for the small pet as well.

In most cases small dog safety vests are needed when you take your dog out at night. It will aid by making him highly visible to both you and other individuals. Many small dogs are hurt or even killed every single month by cars due to the fact that the driver does not see them or sees them too late to avoid the accident. A small dog safety vest can avoid this type of problem. To make it even worse, late night walk with your small dogs can be problematic as bicycle-dog collisions also happen very often in parks and fields. In such cases it is clear to understand why the chosen dog safety vest needs to be reflective so that the rider/driver can have enough time to take the needed evasive action. You can save your dog from a lot of problems and even death with special dog vests.

The best part about this topic is that dog safety vests come in all sizes for all dog breeds out there. You can even shop for them online although buying one from a local shop is recommended. This basically means that your dog can try the safety vest on and see whether or not it is comfortable for him as this is highly important. You wouldn't want your small dog to be sad and not like it when you take him out, would you?

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Rare Dog Breeds - Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a Northern rare dog breed that is a part of the spitz family. If we were to translate "Klee Kai" we would understand that it actually means "small dog" and this dog breed was developed in order to be a companion sized version of the more known and common Alaskan Husky. The result is a very intelligent, energetic and apartment sized dog breed that looks very much like the Siberian Husky.

When it comes to weight, Alaskan Klee Kai dogs weigh between 10 and 22 pounds and come at a height between 10 and 17 inches. It comes with a double coat and shows hair that is short to medium length. The Alaskan Klee Kai is very active and loves to be around a family, being good natured. If you want to use him as a guard dog you should not do so and even as a watch dog he is only moderate skilled. If you buy such a dog, expect him to live 12 to 16 years.

The Alaskan Klee Kai does look like a small husky. You will find it in three size variations: Toy, Miniature and Standard. Their colors are white and black, gray and white, solid white and a rare variation of red and white. Alaskan Klee Kais are not usually barkers although some will bark and they might come with soft vocalization, called talkers. Coat blowing happens once or twice per year and there is minimal shedding visible in the rest of the year. Early and consistent socialization is necessary with this breed and on the whole, the Alaskan Klee Kai can be a great companion dog.

Monday, November 5, 2007

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.

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.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

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.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

The Japanese Chin

Also known as the Japanese Spaniel, this small dog is a lovely and playful companion. Perfect for the apartment, he finds in small spaces the comfort he needs and doesn’t bark to complain about it. Although energetic, the Japanese Chin acts gracefully and is sophisticated, giving his master the time to relax and feel calm when at home.

Intelligent and affectionate, this dog is known to be very loving with his master and with children, but reserved when surrounded by strangers or unknown places. Although he loves children, it is best to teach the little ones to be nice and gentle with your pet because he is sensitive and every act of aggression can harm his feelings. Besides humans, the Japanese Chin gets along with other animals too, because of his kind and pacifistic manner.

If you want a smart dog that would learn fast and easily, then the Japanese Chin is the perfect pet – he has a mind of his own, maybe sometimes making him a little stubborn, but he never does something without thinking. This will make you love him more and bring him to the center of attention, and don’t think he will mind it - not at all!

This breed is not a barker; he likes to be elegant and gentle in every move, so he will give very little problems in taking care of him. Also, house training is actually easy because he has a way of wanting to be clean most of the time, so you will not spend a lot of time and stress to teach him to behave. He loves the attention so he will be glad to let you teach him many tricks and then perform them for you, to get treats and applauses.

The Japanese Chin is a great dog for the apartment: loving, caring and sensitive; he will get joy in only pleasing you! He doesn’t ask for more; he doesn’t need a lot of outgoings to bother you in those cold mornings but he likes to take eventual walks to shake his puffy tail down the street. He’s gorgeous – why shouldn’t he be glad of his aspect and pleased when other dogs drool at him and kids stop to stroke him? Sounds like the kind of attention you like to have when you go out and get all dressed up. He will also love to be groomed so be sure you do this as well!

The Brussels Griffon

Small, fluffy fur from the neck up and short down, cute little tail – sounds like a curious animal. This is one way of describing the Brussels Griffon, a loving and very energetic dog that will always give you the opportunity to have a play companion.

This breed resembles the terrier because of his constant energy to play, jump, run and chew different objects in the house that seem to him like interesting toys. Because of his size, he makes a wonderful apartment pet and a devoted companion for his temperament. He is loyal and intelligent, with a strong and feisty personality that makes him simply adorable. Just think how cute he is, so small and puffy, thinking he is a great animal ready at any time to protect his master even from a lid!

Having this personality, they tend to love everyone and they end up being the centre of attention, but the Brussels Griffons sometimes are moody because they think so highly of themselves or their masters spoil them. They show their intelligence by learning quite easily tricks and being curious about everything in their reach. Be sure that if you have this dog, he will know the house better than you, always sniffing around. Also, if something is wrong, he will be the first to know it and alarm you about it. This makes him a pretty good watchdog!

He loves the attention so usually he will become spoiled, and if you don’t have the time to do so, he will suffer because he is sensitive. This breed feels best surrounded by family and will always be happy to play with kids. He even gets along with other animals like cats, living in some cases in perfect harmony with them! Not many dogs make these compromises just to be loved by their masters; and he even doesn’t feel pressured to act like this, it’s just his nature.

Nick – named “monkey-face” because of his appearance resembling a human face, the Brussels Griffon can be a wonderful pet if he is taught right so that he behaves and calms down when he overdoes it, to do funny tricks in exchange. If you are careful about his temperament, he won’t be too spoiled and acts as you like, don’t be too controlling because he has a strong personality, and eventually pout.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Affenpinscher Facts

When you see an affenpinscher for the first time you would rather say it's more like a cat than a dog. It's weight varies from 6 to 9-10 pounds(that's 3-4 kg) and it's height is aproximately 10-11 inches (which is 25-30 cm), and the Affenpinscher has a rough and thick coat and monkey-like expresiveness(you could've guessed even from the first part of the name because Affe means monkey in the German language)

Considering the Affenpinscher's colour, black seems to be the all-around acceptance for it but there are plenty of clubs that accept red gray with the black hair mixed or even silver/tan as breed colours.

The Affenpinscher's activity level is way up high so it may require a lot of training in order to teach him the rules of the house and of the family. This is mainly because he may get bored fast if you don't ensure he has a varied training session. This may lead to the owner saying the dog is stubborn but in fact the affenpinschers tend to think independently like their terrier forebears.

It is not recommended as a guard dog but they excel at being watch dogs. Unfortunatelly this means they are also very teritorial when it comes to their toys or food so if you have small children in the family it is best to consider another breed from the pinscher-schnauzer family.

The history of the affenpinscher is very interesting dating back to the first man who bred one in Lubeck, Germany in the 1600's. As their size grew smaller they became pets for the ladies who had problems with mice in their homes and also for families who liked a show once in a while (because of their active personality affens tend to offer such a show to anyone giving them any kind of interest...they throw toys in the air for long periods of time or sit on their hind legs with the front paws lifted in the air just like any monkey you see in the zoo).

Grooming one of these dogs is really easy since it doesn't take a lot of your time and if you are patient and persistent then your little monkey dog can attend shows and competitions in no time and with the minimum amount of effort on your part.

So if you would like a dog who is alert, inquisitive and with great loyalty towards it's master, small but fearless toward any agressor even if it's a bigger one than itself then the affenpinscher is the best adition to your family.

Friday, October 19, 2007

English Toy Spaniel

Small, cute black button nose, long fluffy fur… does it ring any bells? That’s one way of describing the English Toy Spaniel, a lovable small size dog that loves the attentions and also likes to give you the inner warmth you need from an animal companion.

The English Toy Spaniel comes from a royal breed that once was available to the wealthy, its actions are elegant and gentle and its temperament is joyful and playful but still sensitive. Social with people and other dogs, but still sometimes timid, the English Toy Spaniel is a dog that requires attentions but is easy to take care of.

This dog is great with children, ever being open to playing and entertaining you when you are down. If you want a watch dog, you can find one in it, but this breed is usually considered be better as a companion. This is why it will be very comfortable in an apartment, doing quite well without a yard to run around on. What you should be attentive with is its known habit to be picky about the food, but once you’ve found out its favorite type of food, it will be shaking its little furry tail all day long.

Brushing its fur is one of the activities that the English Toy Spaniel will surely enjoy, and more than that, you or your kids will too. Pamper it and besides giving joy to your pet, you become calmer and more relaxed, releasing the daily stress. You feel better when you come home and nobody is there but your lovely pet is shaking its tail being glad to see you home at last!
Another good thing about the English Toy Spaniel is that it can live longer than other pets, accompanying you a rather long period of your life – either the pet is for the kids, or for you, when you are retired and have the necessary time to take care of it properly.

So far, the English Toy Spaniel seems to be a perfect pet to keep in the apartment. He is not messy, not loud, funny and sentimental – it can give you and your family the warmth that you have always wanted from a quiet but loving companion. Next time you have to decide what kind of pet you want to get, keep in mind the English Toy Spaniel and its cute black button nose!