Best breeds for guard dogs – Part 1

First thing to think about with a guard dog, do you have room for a larger dog?

A large dog no matter what breed, will be intimidating to a stranger just based on size and bark alone.

One thing to consider, is any dog will more than likely bark at any disturbance they sense within their territory. So, if someone is trying to break in, that person has no idea of the temperament of the dog so they might be just scared off by the barking alone. So, its not always necessary to think a particular breed is necessary.

When considering a dog for long term companionship and safety, it is proven fact that a mixed breed will be healthier and live longer. Especially when considering the following breeds that have known health issues, great danes (life expectancy is 8 years) same with dobermans. All full pure breeds have known health issues, and it is always good to consider this before choosing your dog.

Many dogs, all breeds aside, have the instinct to protect their family, its not always what your dog is but HOW your dog is.

But, as the question was asked about what breeds without a doubt will be good watch dogs then you have a few options:

-pit bulls

-chow chow (very territorial, often over looked as a watch dog)

-german shepherds

-mastiffs (very intimidating)

-dorbermans

-giant schnauzers (schnauzers do not shed and are impossible to be allergic too)

When in doubt research, research, research! And call a veterinarian and ask their opinion. Its very important to know what you’re getting into with a specific breed

for the safety of your family and the health and well being of your pet.

Finding the right diet for an overweight dog – Part 6

An overweight dog, just like an overweight human, is vulnerable to several other health problems. To avoid further damage to your pet’s health, it’s important to reduce the burden on the dog’s joints, heart, and the risk of diabetes.

The simplest dietary change is to decrease the amount of food your dog eats on a daily basis. So, no more candy, cookies, bread or butter. If you feel you MUST share your food with your pet, make it small bites of meat, chicken, fish or vegetables.

There are low-fat, low calorie dog treats designed with their specific dietary needs in mind. These treats come in a variety of flavors, and sizes for your particular dog’s needs and preferences. A small peanut butter flavored dog biscuit is far healthier than a spoonful of fatty, salty human peanut butter.

Adjusting your dog’s feeding schedule from one big meal into two or three smaller meals a day can make it easier for your dog to adjust to a reduced volume of food. Be sure to check the recommended daily amount of food on the package of your dog’s current food. If you’ve been feeding them on the upper end of the recommended daily amount, you can switch to the lowest amount.

Switching to low fat food can take the weight off your dog in a short amount of time. There are many brands of reduced fat food on the market, so if your dog doesn’t like one brand you can try different brands until you find one that your dog does enjoy.

The important thing is to get your dog to a healthy weight as soon as possible. Healthy dogs will live longer and have a better quality of life.

Dog Breeds – Part 1

Experts disagree on the exact number, but estimate there are more than 300 breeds of dogs. Each is valued by someone or by a group of people. In fact, they exist because they were bred to have characteristics that make them well suited for specific tasks. Over thousands of years, dogs were bred to meet a variety of human needs.

Toy breeds are the very small types of dogs, often weighing less than ten pounds. This group is the only one in which the dogs were bred to be mainly companions and “intruder alarms” rather than perform physical labor. Natural “lap” dogs, these cute canines are great for small dwellings.

Dogs in the Hound group were all originally bred to assist with hunting. Many hound types have an amazing sense of smell; others are best known for their stamina during the chase. Their talent for hunting is the main trait these dogs share, since hounds come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

Working dogs have the size and strength that makes them well suited to guarding property, pulling carts and other intense physical tasks. They are well known for their extremely high intelligence and deep devotion to their human companions. German shepards, Doberman pinchers, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, Giant Schnauzers and Boxers are just a few of the better known types of working dogs.

Like the Hounds, dogs from the Sporting group were bred to assist with hunting. Alert and active by nature, sporting dogs fit in well with active owners. If you plan on adding any type of Sporting dog-spaniels, pointers, setters and retrievers-to your family, keep in mind that these high-energy dogs need frequent exercise.

The dog breeds included in the Non-Sporting group vary greatly in appearance and abilities. Dalmatians, because of their amazing stamina and strong sense of territory, were set to run alongside carriages to guard the travelers inside. Later, firemen employed these unique dogs to guard fire wagons. Poodles, which most people associate with high-society, were originally bred as work animals. In addition to pulling small carts, poodles were used to retrieve items from the water.

Terriers are known for their distinctive personalities. Tenacious by nature, these lively dogs require owners willing to provide lots of physical and mental stimulation. Their group name is derived from the Latin “Terra,” meaning earth. Bred to hunt vermin, terriers are instinctive, active diggers.

Sight hounds were bred to assist the hunter by virtue of their excellent eyesight. Instead of finding prey by scent, these lean hunters spot their quarry from a great distance. They have amazing stamina and energy and all members of this group need plenty of exercise.

Today, most breeds are partially “unemployed.” Many of their jobs have been taken over by machines. Yet, no machine can comfort you when you’re down, make you laugh with its antics or see into your soul the way a dog can. Until a machine is invented to fill the human need for companionship and devotion, dogs will always have a place in our homes and hearts.

Americas most popular dog breeds – Part 2

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC, founded in 1884), the top 10 most popular dog breeds in America in 2006 (not 2005, not 2004, but just last year) are as follows:

1. Retrievers (Labrador)…123,760

2. Yorkshire Terriers……48,346

3. German Shepherd Dogs….43,575

4. Retrievers (Golden)…..42,962

5. Beagles……………..39,484

6. Dachshunds…………..36,033

7. Boxers………………35,388

8. Poodles……………..29,939

9. Shih Tzu…………….27,282

10. Miniature Schnauzers…22,920

However, according to the United Kennel Club (UKC, founded in 1898) the top 10 most popular breeds for 2006 are:

1. Treeing Walker Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

2. American Pit Bull Terrier (Terrier Group)

3. Bluetick Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

4. English Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

5. American Black and Tan Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

6. Redbone Coonhound (Scenthound Group)

7. Labrador Retriever (Gun Dog Group)

8. Beagle (Scenthound Group)

9. Plott Hound (Scenthound Group)

10. Jack Russell Terrier (Terrier Group)

Notice the differences between the kennel clubs? There’s even a National Kennel Club (NKC, founded in 1969) that (along with the UKC) registers purebred dogs that the AKC doesn’t recognize.

What makes the AKC such an authority? Is a dog registered with the NKC or UKC truly any different from one registered with the AKC? Does a dog being listed as one of the most popular breeds influence its continued growth?

Time usually tells…

Caring tips for long ear dogs

When I come home from work and my mixed breed Cocker Spaniel Misty comes running up to me with her long floppy ears flopping up and down, I bend down, open my arms and she licks me all over my face. Its the best part of my day, and hers too.

I take her health seriously, and I even go as far as to cook her own special home made food. She’s a vegan just like me and I attribute her good health to the healthy non-meat diet she eats. I truly believe that the dog food on the market is not healthy. That’s why I see so many overweight and non-healthy dogs.

Since she has floppy ears, I take special precautions to make sure she doesn’t get any ear infections. Floppy ears can limit the airflow going to the ear canal and harbor more moisture in the canal where fungi and bacteria can grow.

I have had her since 2002 since she was a puppy, and she never had an ear infection. Her ears have always been the same healthy pink color. I attribute this to the healthy diet she eats.

About once a week, I inspect her ear canal for any change in color, and I sniff it to see if there are any foul odors. So far, her ears have stayed healthy and I am especially grateful for that. Every time she goes to the vet for a checkup, I also make sure the vet examines her inner ear with an instrument as well.

If Misty does happen to develop an ear infection, it will be either bacterial or fungal according to Dr. Michael Levine, DVM. (Does My Dog Have an Ear Infection? Mia Carter Suite101) http://dog-care.suite101.com/a rticle.cfm/ear_infections_and_ your_dog

He goes on to say in an article titled “Ear Infections and Your Dog” on Suite101.com June 4, 2008 that there are really two types of infections, either bacterial or fungal. a bacterial infection is treated differently than a fungal infection.

So, how do you know if your dog has an ear infection? According to Dr. Levine, a bacterial infection will have different symptoms than a fungal infection. The symptoms of a bacterial infection are: discharge, redness, swelling and pain. (Does My Dog Have an Ear Infection? Mia Carter Suite101) http://dog-care.suite101.com/a rticle.cfm/ear_infections_and_ your_dog

The symptoms of a fungal infection, which is also a yeast infection are: discharge, redness, swelling, scaling, dryness, oozing and intense itching.(Does My Dog Have an Ear Infection? Mia Carter Suite101) http://dog-care.suite101.com/a rticle.cfm/ear_infections_and_ your_dog

So, if your dog happens to have the symptoms of an ear infection, they won’t go away on their own according to Dr. Levine. (Does My Dog Have an Ear Infection? Mia Carter Suite101) http://dog-care.suite101.com/a rticle.cfm/ear_infections_and_ your_dog

Early treatment is the key. Cleaning your dog’s ears twice a week will catch any early signs of an infection. All you need to do is take to time to inspect your dog’s ears frequently and you won’t have any ear problems.

Dogs that dont shed

This might come as a big surprise, but dogs shed. Birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim and dogs gotta shed. All dogs shed (even the mostly hairless ones). But some breeds of dog shed a lot less than others. These tend to be dogs with a harsh feeling or curly coat.

Poodle Types

Any breed or half-breed that leans heavily on Poodle ancestry will not shed very much. However, the dead hair just stays on the dog. If not clipped every one to two months, their coats will become horrifying. They get so matted and tangled that the dog can get sick from dirty coats. These breeds are, thankfully, very trainable and eager to please.

Breeds include all three types of Poodles, the Bichon Frise, the Bedlington Terrier,the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portugese Water Dog. Designer or hybrid dog types include Chi-poo, Cockapoo, Malti-Poo, Pekeapoo, Labradoodle and the Schnoodle.

Schnauzer Types

In this case, Schnauzer type dogs have coats that have the same characteristics of the Standard and Miniature Schnauzer harsh topcoat and a dense undercoat and very little shedding. You don’t have to clip Schnauzer types, but their coats need to be stripped twice a year (preferably in spring and fall). You need a professional dog groomer to do this or you will have one angry doggy.

Breeds include (of course) the Schnauzers, the Brussels Griffon, the Airedale Terrier and the Affenpinscher.

Hairless Types

There’s hardly any hair at all on these dogs, but they often grow fine hair on their heads and tails that does minor shedding. Still, there’s not that much to shed. Breeds include the Chinese Crested Hairless, the Mexican Hairless (officially known as the Xoloitzcuintle) and the American Hairless Terrier. A controversial designer dog breed that seems to be gaining in popularity is crossing Chihuahuas with Chinese Cresteds (which can often result in deformed mouths).

Dreadlock Types

The coats on these dogs don’t shed onto your clothes or furniture, because they stay on the dog. They grow coats of very long dreadlocks (which look identical to human dreadlocks). Breeds include the Hungarian Puli and the Komondor.

Terrier Types

There are a lot of little terriers who shed very little, and not just because there’s less body area to grow hair. Their coats usually grow extremely long and should be clipped annually (unless their being showed). They sometimes have a double layered coat. People with allergies to dog dander tend to do well with these types of dogs.

Breeds include the Cairn Terrier, the Lowchen, the West Highland White Terrier, the Tibetan Terrier, the Lhasa Apso, the Shih-Tzu, the Yorkshire Terrier, the Silky Terrier and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

A Dog Diet Can be the Answer to your Pet’s Problems

Animals are very sensitive beings. Their health state depends on many factors and we should act appropriately when our pets or animals that we care of are not well. A dog diet exists now for every health problem that could affect a dog. Veterinary specialists also recommend the improved formulas for horse wormers.

The most frequent health problems for large, strong animals such as horses are worms that affect the intestines and damage the digestive system. For this exact problem, there are now innovative formulas for horse wormers strongly recommended by specialists. These are constantly improved medicines for affections of the digestive system caused by parasites and intestinal worms. Various companies produce these treatments and recommend them to help treat the frequently encountered problem of worms.

However, horse wormers are not all when it comes to what needs doing in order to treat a sick horse or pony. There are special actions that the person caring for the horse needs to perform in order to avoid as much as much as possible re-infection or aggravating the animal’s condition. These health problems occur when the environment where the horse lives and where it receives food do not benefit from appropriate maintenance.

It is important to alternate pastures at the same time as horse wormers are used to treat worms. Depending on the season and the horse’s exact illness there are different sorts of treatments to apply. It is advisable to alternate pastures, clean, and disinfect the place where the horse is kept as often as possible. Horse wormers are prescribed taking into consideration the horse’s weight, height and sometimes breed. These treatments have been around for some time and are constantly developing in order to be as efficient as possible.

Just like any other pet, the dog needs proper care, in its turn. The meals need putting together and administration by taking into consideration the dog’s weight, physiological condition, activity and other particular aspects. Contrary to what many may think, specialists recommend that the dog’s diet should not vary. It is difficult for canines to adapt constantly to new types of food. Their digestion is not as easy to please, as we may like to think.

One must carefully put together a healthy dog diet and it would be best to ask a specialist. In this way, you make sure that your dog is getting all the right attention. The elements that have represented a healthy and complete dog diet have changed along the years. Magazines and websites concerned with pets and animals in general suggest that the more constant a dog diet is, the better it is for our canine friend.

However, it is not important just to feed the dog one type of food and neglect its needs. We must choose a type of food that contains all the necessary ingredients for a healthy and complete dog diet. We must also consider the dog’s personality and way of life. For active puppies, there are special products that contain extra vitamins and proteins.

Our point is that a good diet is just as important for any animal. Except for the food, other types of products are important to treat ordinary illnesses like worms: horse wormers are a researched and tested pharmaceutical group for horses.

The Healthiest Dog Food For Your Puppy

What is your puppy eating?

Have you ever taken the time to find out?

Many people think that the food available in stores these days are highly processed and full of a lot of preservatives. You should seek advice from your veterinarian on what is the best food for your pet and also do some research of your own. There are a lot of foods that are available for dogs, but try to find out what really is the best for your puppy. For you to approve a pet food for your puppy it must prove that it can provide sufficient nutrients. The ratio for a dog’s food should be 40 % meat, 50 % vegetables and about 10 % grains or other carbohydrates. You should always ensure that protein sources are high on the list such as chicken, lamb and beef. Grains can be a long term source of energy, fibre and minerals. Grains that can be used and considered good for puppies are rolled oats, barley, millet and brown rice.

Dogs are carnivores by nature but they can survive on a vegetarian diet, however, they would not thrive on it. When purchasing food for your puppies look out for the ones that display high protein and fillers in the ingredients. This is because there is usually a lot more in the fillers than can be seen. One way to ensure your puppy is getting the right ingredients is to prepare the food yourself; it’s quite simple and recipes are available in book stores and internet sources. Preparing food for your pet is much cheaper than purchasing from stores and other pet shops. However it is vital that you are careful and know exactly what you are doing, otherwise you could be doing more harm than good.

One way to know whether you are doing the right thing is to always check the outcome in your pet’s droppings. It should normally be firm and have no traces of mucus or blood. Choose foods that use vitamin E or C as preservatives and avoid those that use chemical preservatives, such as BHT, BHA and Ethoxyquin. Cheap brands of foods are usually not healthy, so choose economy brands instead. Keep in mind that what is not good for you is also not good for your pet. Some people tend to throw sweets and all sorts of foods for the puppy to eat, but bear in mind that it is not good for them.

Just the same as with humans and what we eat, there is not any one brand of dog food that is healthy for all breeds of dogs of different ages and health conditions. Dogs also have food preferences and likes and dislikes, so try to find out which food is best suitable for your pet dog, but make sure it is a healthy one. Your puppy is what they eat, so if you provide them with a healthy and nutritious diet they will live longer with much less suffering, disease or illnesses. Always consider what you feed your pet and you will have a wonderful time with them.

Puggles and Designer Dogs – The Truth about the Puggle

Puggle Dogs are a fairly new mixed breed. They’re a half breed combined with a pug and a beagle. They are one of the cutest mix breed dogs out there today. They have a very mellow, loving temperament. Puggles are ideal family pets, because they do so well with young children. They’re all around lovable, and not normally a one person dog as are pugs. Puggles become attached to anyone that will give them the time of day and feed them. This breed is also very easily trained. This makes it great for that always terrible training period in a young pups life. Anyone that has experienced raising a dog from infancy knows that you go through a period of potty training. Some dogs are better than others during this stage. Some breeds are very easily trained and you never have much of a problem with them, while others are not always so. Puggles learn to obey commands well, while many breeds never seem to grasp this key concept. This makes the chewing stage a little more easy to cope with as well. They will most certainly go through that chewing stage like any puppy, but they seem to learn the word “no” very well, and obey commands earlier than most.

Puggles don’t posses the eye’s that pop out or the completely flat noses that make breathing often times difficult for the pug. They seem to be the perfect cross between two dogs with several flaws. They also don’t have the miserable howl, like beagles do. They’ve got the perfect combination of good looks and great characteristics. All this combined is the ingredients of the perfect companion. There are so many breeds of dog out there today, that it can be hard to choose the one for you. As time goes on there is continually more and more breeds being discovered and created. The first known breed of dogs stemmed primarily from the wolf in the northwest region. In Egypt one of the first dogs was the basenji. The basenji is a compact hunter whose ancestry is depicted in Egyptian tombs dating around 5,000 years old. The interesting thing about this dog is that it doesn’t bark. It makes little chortles and yodels, and snarls. This dog, like the wolf can only be bred once a year. Most dogs can be bred twice a year. Here are a few of the older breeds known to man;

• Saluki
• Afghan Hound
• St Bernard
• Alaskan Malamute
• Lhasa Apso

Many modern day cross breed dogs stemmed from one or more of these older dogs.
After these dogs came some more breeds that pushed the evolution of dogs a litter further. They are as follows;

• Miniature Poodle
• Pembroke Welsh Corgi
• Mountain Cur
• Australian Shepherd

And so began the cross bred dog. Some say that cross breed dogs are not a good thing. They believe that these designer dogs are a fashion statement to many. In turn, this excludes all other breeds from having homes. The majority of people nowadays want some sort of cross breed. Whether it be a puggle (pug & beagle mix), a labradoodle (Labrador retriever & Poodle mix), or a Schoodle (Miniature Schnauzer-Poodle mix). Many dog owners argue that these mixed breeds aren’t a real breed, merely overpriced mutts. Many press the point that before you go buying a designer dog to go down to the local shelter and see what’s available. Although these mixed breed dogs are adorable, you don’t always have to pay that designer price. Often times these mixed breeds can be found at shelters as well, and for less than half the price! There are hundreds to thousands of dogs each year that are homeless, and are taken to these animal shelters in hopes of finding homes for them. Just because they aren’t a purebred mix doesn’t mean they won’t be the best companion ever! The puggle is a recognized purebred mix.

A man by the name of Gary Garner is the president of the American Canine Hybrid Club. His company offers certificates of authentication for a mere price of $20. These are available to anyone who can prove that they are owners of the offspring of two different breed purebred dogs. He gets letters upon letters of hate mail coming from many purebred owners. Although this seems to angry many, hundreds are getting this done every day.

The best piece of advice for anyone considering getting a dog as a pet, is to do the research. Research each dog you think you may want, and compare them to one another. Here are a few key things to consider when shopping for the breed that’s right for you:

• Size?
• Easily trainable?
• Shedding? (little, average, constant.)
• Coat? (Wire, thick, long, short, etc.)
• Grooming? (weekly, daily, moderate.)
• Aggressive characteristics?
• Family dog?
• Good with everyone, or one man dog?
• Common characteristic habits with this breed?
• Health issues common to breed?

Many celebrities have taken a liking to the puggle as well. Here are a few new owners of the breed; Jake Gyllenhaal, James Gandolfini, Sylvester Stallone and Julianne Moore. Anyone who discovers this new furry friend can’t control the urge to get one of their own. Time to get out there and find the perfect breed for you! Oh wait, you already found it…….The PUGGLE!

Puggle Dogs

Puggle Photos

Puggle Puppies

Dog Training Tips – Rules for Dog Trainers and Dog Owners

Similar to other human endeavors, the success of dog training and dog behavior modification efforts involving both a dog trainer and a dog owner is dependent upon acceptance of responsibility and good communication. Here are some dog training tips and rules of the road for such situations.

To start, Dog Trainer, you must always remember to ask as many thoughtful and pointed questions of the owner as possible. This is an absolute necessity if the dog trainer is to have a good understanding of the animal before beginning the first dog training session, to start on the right foot. You never have a second chance to make a first impression in the dog world.

Dog Owner, you have a responsibility to be detailed on both the good and the bad in your pet. Only then can the dog trainer – dog behaviorist diagnose the problem fully and take the best remedial steps. You must also speak out your full expectations so they can be accomplished.

Some areas you should cover and amplify include:

1- Historical information about your dog — Age, how old he was when adopted, where you got him, etc.

2- The dog behavior problem — Full description, how it manifests, under what circumstances, and how often.

3- What happened the first time? — What did the dog do first, how did you handle it at that moment and right afterward, how did the dog respond, how old was the dog, other factors, and how much has the behavior increased since then?

4- What have you done about it since then? — Also, what have other family members done about it, what are you doing now, how has the dog reacted each time, etc.?

5- Information about your dog’s environment and exposures – e.g., your home, yard, doggie door and yard freedom or always out on a leash, neighborhood, parks, other pets, other family members and ages, kennel trained, etc.

6- You dog’s daily exercise — e.g., how often, when, how far, is it “free time” or focused and disciplined (mental challenge), etc.?

7- Any other things you do not like about your dog?

Expose everything pertinent to the pet and circumstances that you can think of. Don’t forget allergies and health issues that might have an effect.

Dog Trainer, point out issues right away, explaining dog behavior problems to the Owner. For example, if the dog displays dog dominance behavior such as claiming something, the Owner needs to be made aware of what is really going on. This is not just some cute little annoyance, but the seed of a major dog behavior problem!

Dog Trainer, do not in any way intimidate the Dog Owner or make him feel foolish. Be understanding. Recognize that he called on you because he realizes and acknowledges the need for your experience. Commend him, for that takes courage.

Dog Owner, never lie to a dog trainer if your dog has certain tendencies. Especially if your dog is aggressive or fearful, the trainer needs to know the tendency of his reactions. Otherwise, there may be a nasty dog bite, and the results you seek may be impeded.

Dog Owner, listen to the dog trainer. Do not become surly or sarcastic with one who is trying to help. Do not waste the trainer’s time if you are not going to follow her directions and be consistent. Do not try to blame the trainer if you are not consistent.

Dog Trainer, do not tell the Dog Owner: “People need training, not dogs.” It is called DOG TRAINING for a reason!

Dog Trainer, realize that people need to be instructed in how to read dog body language, to become the leader of the pack, and how to follow through with your instructions … How to train a dog! People need encouragement, not criticism. Sometimes, the problem is the DOG!

Dog Trainer, hear the Dog Owner out and listen to all he says about the dog. Eat every word, and draw out every piece of information you may need. Remember, you need to feed the Dog Owner if he is stuck. You need to be a skilled interviewer, to draw out all you need to know about the dog and the circumstances.

Keeping these thoughts in mind makes it easier for both the Dog Trainer and the Dog Owner. It is no more fun for a Dog Trainer than a Dog Owner to deal with someone who is full of himself … That is counterproductive. Keep you eye on your goal — dog behavior modification and dog training.

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