Posts from — June 2008

Cats experience anxiety and get stressed out just like us human staffers. Unlike people, cats don’t have a lot of creative ways to express their feelings. Unfortunately, when cats suffer from stress and anxiety, they generally communicate it in a very clear way that can really turn humans upside down. They usually tell us by not using the cat litter box.

And since we can’t speak meow, and cats don’t talk, the challenge is to figure why our cats aren’t feeling right. Usually when a cat stops using her litter box, it’s a medical problem. But if it isn’t, one of causes high on my list is stress and anxiety.

What do cats get anxious about? Here’s a partial list:

- Moving to a new home

- Gaining a new household member, animal or human

- You change jobs and start a new schedule

- You bring new furniture into your home

- Kitty’s favorite person moves out, and she misses that individual

- Construction and/or remodeling of your home

- Relocation of her cat litter box(es)

- Change in type of cat litter

This list is not complete. Felines are complicated creatures, and almost anything can set them off.

If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box out of the blue, eliminate any medical causes first. If kitty gets a clean bill of health, examine the list above, and think about any recent changes you’ve made to your home. If it appears to be a coincidence, it probably isn’t.

This can be a tough problem to solve, but once you figure out the cause, you can start developing solutions. If the stress-inducing situation is temporary (such as the last three items on my list), they can be dealt with.

On the other hand, if the problem appears to be one of the first five, you’ll need plenty of patience and a strategy to get kitty right again.

Often, once kitty gets used to the change, she’ll calm down and start to use her litter box again. During her adjustment period, it may work to confine her to one room with her food, water, litter box, bedding, and toys. This limits the amount of damage done to your home, and as kitty realizes the changes mean her no harm, she’ll get back to her good cat litter box habits.

You can also help kitty calm down by purchasing synthetic feline hormones. These will reassure her that life is still OK. You can also administer homeopathic remedies that are completely natural and cause no side effects.

Many feline owners get an anti-anxiety prescription for kitty, but if your cat freaks out over being pilled, this will increase her stress. If this is the case, rely on the synthetic hormones and homeopathic remedies to solve this problem.

Consult with your vet on the best course of action to help your kitty quickly get over her stress and anxiety. Reassure your cat with lots of extra attention and love, and this too shall pass!

Nancy stopped the cat urine odor problem at her home, and kept the kitty that caused it. “18 Ways to Stop Cat Urine Odor Problems” saves you money, time and frustration by solving your cat urine odor problem – permanently.

stopcaturineodor.com stopcaturineodor.com

The popularity of penguins is at an all-time high. It is in large part due to the hit movie The March of the Penguins, that such interest in penguins has been raised recently. Until this movie was released in theatres, most humans never knew that penguins could be such a strong and determined animal. This brief article is to give you a short overview of penguin facts.

Penguins are unusual looking little birds, with their tuxedo-styled plumage, and waddling walk that makes many people think the birds are clumsy. For most of us, that perception changed when the movie The March of the Penguins came out and made us take notice of the Emperor penguin species. The movie tells a story of the amazing trials and hardships these emperor penguins have to go through just so they can have a family and be parents. If you are one of the few people that have yet to see this movie, you should check it out soon. It’s humorous in some scenes, and can make you cry in other scenes. After watching the film, you’ll have an entirely new respect and awareness for these birds.

Mostly, penguins have a limited habitat. They primarily are thought of as living in Antarctica, but there are a few penguin species that can be found on the cold coastal regions of South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. There is also a kind of penguin that lives on the Galapagos Islands, and they are called Galapagos penguins. However, no penguins live in the Arctic.

The biggest kinds of penguins are the Emperor Penguins, which can get really big as an adult, and reach an average of 48 inches when full-grown. The smallest penguin is known as the Rockhopper penguin, which only reaches twelve inches in height on average.

Penguins do their hunting and feeding in the water. There isn’t much food to be found on the frozen Antarctic ice, so they have to go underwater to find food. A standard penguin diet is made up of fish, squid or krill. A penguin is a great swimmer and can dive very deep underwater, holding its breath for several minutes underwater.

As The March of the Penguins movie revealed to us, Emperor penguins have a very unique and interesting breeding cycle. Penguins breed only once each year, and then only in specially chosen areas known as rookeries, which serve as breeding grounds for the penguins. Much like some other creatures, a penguin returns to the same rookery each year to breed. Penguins will sometimes travel 60 or 70 miles or more just to reach the rookery.

Once the penguins get to the breeding grounds (the rookeries), the male and female penguins will start flirting with each other and finally find their perfect match for a mate. The female penguin only lays one egg. After laying the egg, the female penguin carefully gives the egg to the male, who then holds it on top of his feet so it won’t touch the ice. The male penguin hangs his big stomach over the egg to cover it and keep it warm from the high winds and freezing cold climate.

The male penguin will do this for nine consecutive weeks and will not eat food the entire time. During this nine weeks, the male will lose almost half of his body weight, and the mother penguin takes the opportunity to go out to sea and find food for herself, so she can to replenish her own resources, which were drained during her pregnancy and while laying the egg. The female will later return to the male penguin, usually just about the same time as the egg is due to hatch, and will trade places with the male penguin. He will then go back out to sea for himself and hunt for food to regain his strength.

There is much more to know about penguins though! Check out the website

1) What exactly is separation anxiety? Separation anxiety in dogs is the fear of being away from their owners or left alone for any given amount of time. This fear of isolation often results in undesirable behavior. Separation anxiety is one of the most common causes of canine behavioral problems. It is the fear of the owners’ departing and the dog not having a companion for any given amount of time.

2) In what types of dogs and in what social environment/history do we see this condition?

Separation anxiety is usually seen in dogs that had little or no socialization when they were puppies. Dogs that may have been moved around a lot or rescued from a neglected situation or from abuse also tend to have this condition. Socialization is a huge factor in sep anxiety; if dogs are raised with exposure to changes from puppy-hood, and learn to adapt to different situations and people, their coping skills are much better than those of a dog that has not had to develop any social skills.

3) What factors seem to be the precipitating cause? One of the contributing factors to separation anxiety can be an abnormal predisposition to dependence. Traumatic events can also be a catalyst for sep anxiety. Removing a puppy from its mother and litter mates too early can be a cause as well. A sudden change of routine or environment, such as the death of the dog’s owner or a new baby entering the household, can cause sep anxiety.

4) What are some of the signs exhibited when a dog has SA?

Some dogs will only exhibit one or two behaviors relating to sep anxiety, while others engage in many behaviors. Usually it starts with pacing; then the dog might start following you around every where as you start your routine for departure. They might start whining and whimpering and become very mouthy. Some salivate and shake. Others can get aggressive with you as you start to leave by nipping or even in some cases growling at you. Usually, destructive behaviors such as chewing and ripping things apart to climax within 20-30 minutes of the owner’s departure; then, after some time, excessive barking and howling might occur. In some cases dogs will defecate or urinate in places that they have never done before, such as your bed. Some dogs will not eat until the owner returns. In rare cases dogs have been known to self-mutilate.

5) What type of treatments are available for SA? Medically, there are a few useful drugs my veterinarians have prescribed for my clients’ dogs. “Clomicalm” seems to have proven results. It is also prescribed for fear aggression. “Bu Spar” takes two weeks to become effective, but it also has had great results in aiding sep anxiety. The most effective behavioral treatment is desensitizing the dog to departures and routines of their owners.

6) What are some of the non-drug based therapies available? One is systematic desensitization to departures. Perform all the routine behaviors that you would normally do before you leave, but do not leave. Open and shut the door, then do something around the house; repeat this several times. Ignore the dog’s pacing and panting behaviors. You can also depart for very short periods of time, starting with 30 seconds and building up to 1 minute, and then return; the next time, leave for 2 minutes, and then gradually build up to an hour. You can also feed your dog only out of interactive toys, so that the dog has to work for all its food. There should be a reward connected with your leaving. Do not give your dog any attention or exuberant greetings when you come home. Say hello, pet a little, and then go about your business. Once the dog is calm, then you can greet with excitement. A common mistake many owners make is saying over and over again that “it’s okay, it’s okay”. This only reinforces the fear.

7) At what point does SA become a problem that we need to do something about? Sep Anxiety is a problem once the dog shows noticeable behavior changes or begins destructive behaviors. Start management immediately by doing socialization exercises when they are puppies and have your dog learn coping skills at an early age.

What behavioral methods do you recommend? Training and socialization exercises.

9) In what breeds do you most commonly see Sep Anxiety? I see it in any dogs that have not had to develop social skills or coping skills. It does not seem to be breed specific.

Susie Aga, atlantadogtrainer.com” target=”_blank Atlanta Dog Trainer

About the Author:

Susie Aga is a Certified Canine Behavior & Training Specialist and a member in good standing with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has four rescue dogs and donates much of her time and services to Rescue Organizations. Susie hosts The Animal Hour Radio Show which can be heard through her site, and is Turner Brocasting’s Featured Pet Expert.

5 Simple Facts Why the Top Dog Foods May Be Killing Your Dog

Have you ever stopped to think that the top dog foods on the market may be, in fact, bad for your beloved dog?

If you are like most people, no, you haven’t. Humans, like dogs, are very trusting in their nature. We see, read, and hear all the ads that the producers of the top dog foods put out, and we believe them? Why?

1.) Because we just do

2.) We can’t understand the labels that are on the bags or cans of any of the generic or even major brands of top dog foods.

Now, not all dog food companies produce unhealthy dog food. But, if you actually did the research on it, you would probably find that the vast majority of the dog foods are not what they really should be.

Here are some reasons why:

1.) The dog food label may say that the food contains the essential nutrients for your dog. However, this is misleading. Depending on who you talk to, there may be 30 or 40 essential nutrients, but in many of the top dog foods, you are lucky to get maybe 10.

So, yes your dog food has the essential nutrients, but only a small percentage of them.

2.) Dog foods are loaded with preservatives so they don’t spoil so quickly.

We can understand how preservatives affect our dogs if we look at humans and the studies done on preservatives and dieting. It is common knowledge that most dieticians say to avoid highly processed foods with a lot of preservatives. Why? Because too much is unhealthy.

High amounts of preservatives in dog foods, when consumed daily, store themselves in the dog’s body and eventually start to destroy it, causing weakened and unhealthy pets susceptible to countless disorders and diseases.

3.) Labels are often misleading when they say the food is chemical and preservative free.

You may think – how could this be. Simply stated, dog food producers don’t make all the ingredients themselves. They might not add any special chemicals, but when they purchase an ingredient from some other company, it may very well have the chemicals and preservatives already added in.

4.) All proteins are not created equal.

Many manufacturers state that their food contains proteins necessary for your dog. But there are different kinds of proteins and some are better than others, so which are in your dog food? The good ones or the bad ones?

5.) You might agree that this happens in the generic dog foods, but it probably happens in the brands of top dog foods also – and that is some of the ingredients are …, well, they are too disgusting to mention here. You can find what these ingredients are by looking on the net or simply keep reading. But believe me. They are horrific and not good for your dog. We humans would never consider eating them!

In summary, you have just read 5 facts to consider when purchasing name-brand top dog foods or cheap generic brands of dog food. All of these facts have a major impact on the health and longevity of your dog.

Your dog’s health and livelihood are based upon what it eats. A good diet will increase your dog’s life, and give him better health, a better coat of hair, better teeth, a better character, a better disposition, and many many more benefits.

So the next time you are out shopping, don’t just automatically buy one of the top dog foods product, but read the label and start to understand what is really in the food you are feeding your dog.

Lastly, please remember that the producers of the top dog foods do not necessarily have the health of your dog as their number one interest.

To learn how to improve the health & longevity of your dog, and, get 5 free simple things that you must do to protect your dog from death by disease & extend her life by years, please visit. lomist.com/Top_Dog_Foods_a.html lomist.com/Top_Dog_Foods_a.html

There is more to being a loving cat owner than just feeding and playing with your little feline friend, a lot more. You have to do those things to, but you are also responsible for ensuring your cat’s health, and that includes taking care of your cat’s dental needs. Sure, you take your cat to the veterinarian when you are supposed to, and of course, he cleans and checks your cat’s teeth when you are there, but you should really be performing cat dental care at home as well. When it comes to your own dental care, you couldn’t go to the dentist twice a year and then walk around the rest of the time without ever brushing your teeth, or eating a breath mint…well, technically you could, but you would probably have a severe case of halitosis, not to mention be missing a few teeth sooner or later! Just as you can’t get by with that kind of dental care, neither can your cat!

When it comes to cat dental care, it is very similar to your own dental care. Food and plaque build up on your cat’s teeth and gums, and if left to sit there for long periods of time, will slowly start to eat away at your cat’s teeth, leading to tooth decay, oral infections, lost teeth, and even gum disease. All of these conditions are very detrimental to your cat’s health, impacting his ability to eat properly, leading to poor nutrition, and even more health problems, all that could be avoided with some general cat dental care.

When you take your cat to the veterinarian, he is placed under general anesthesia for his dental care, so it may take him some time to get used to you messing around in his mouth at first. At the veterinarian, your cat gets his teeth cleaned, and examined for any potential problems. Most of the time, this doesn’t get too expensive, unless you have neglected your cat’s dental care, in which case more extensive dental care may be required. So, not only can you protect your cat’s health by performing home dental care, you can also save yourself a lot of money in veterinary bills as well! Just another reason why you should take the time to clean your cat’s teeth, just once a week will make a big difference.

You can brush and care for your cat’s teeth at home, and should do so on a regular basis. Talk to your veterinarian for his suggestions, and follow his instructions. You can purchase small cat toothbrushes that fit on the end of your finger from your local pet supply store, and toothpaste designed particularly for feline use. If you have not brushed your cat’s teeth before, he may not be very happy with this procedure. You should start by letting your cat get used to having your finger in his mouth, and once he accepts that, then move on to getting him use to the toothbrush, before you even try to brush his teeth. Once he accepts the toothbrush in his mouth with minimal fuss, you can add the toothpaste and start brushing his teeth.

If you don’t have the time or desire to care for your cat’s dental needs at home, you should take him to the veterinarian for regular dental care, as his teeth still need to be properly cared for. If you have pet insurance, it may not be as expensive as you think, definitely not as expensive as having to have major cat dental work done, which is what will happen if you neglect your cat’s dental needs.

So, whether you provide your cat’s dental care at home, or you have your veterinarian do it on a regular basis is up to you, but it is part of your responsibility as a pet owner to make certain your cat’s dental needs are being met, however you choose to do it. Don’t put your cat’s health at risk just because you don’t have time or want to brush his teeth!

Jean Morgan is a writer of articles concerning pet health and the owner of natureshealthypet.com natureshealthypet.com
For a free pet treat recipe book visit natureshealthypet.com natureshealthypet.com

Meaty Treats Category

Mega Meaties

Category: Meaty Treats
Serves: 30 Treats
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Healthy Hint:

If your pup is watching his weight, you know, getting a little big on the waist line or just a little heavy to live the best life, then why not use Chicken or Beef broth instead of the stock. Try to find some low-sodium or light dog treat recipes as they contain fewer calories but keep all of the flavour locked in so your dog will love them.

Ingredients:

1.3 Ltrs (5 1/2 cups) of whole wheat flour

120 ml (1/2 cup) of buck wheat flour

360 ml (1 1/2 cups) of cornmeal

480 ml (2 cups) wheat germ

120 ml (1/2 cup) dry milk

1 package of yeast, dissolved

250 ml (1 cup) chicken stock or broth

250 ml (1 cup) beef stock or broth

1 egg

Preparation & Cooking:

To start with you will need to combine all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl and then mix in the yeast and broths.

Then knead the mix until you a stiff dough is formed.

Then grab your rolling pin and roll the mixture out into a 1/4 inch thickness.

Then, with your cookie cutters, you might want to get some dog themed one’s, cut out your cookies.

Get yourself a baking tray and grease it lightly and then lay out your cookies with about 2 cm’s between each one.

Pop them in the oven and let them bake for about 45 minutes at 180°C (300°F).

Turn off the heat and allow them to cool overnight in the oven. Don’t take them out as the heat will continue to cook them for a while and will add that special something that your dog will love.

Remember to never serve them hot to your dog, you might just burn his tounge and then you will be up for a visit to the Vets.

Justin Bryce is the Proprietor of dogtreatrecipes.com.au dogtreatrecipes.com.au
Stop by for dogtreatrecipes.com.au over 400 dog treat recipes and fantastic dog health and care tips plus way’s to spoil your dog.

Now he’s responding to the ‘click’, you are ready to teach some basic commands.

Clicker Training is a completely hands off approach – we are going to allow the dog to use his brain and work out what we are asking him to do. And we all know that the best way of remembering how to do something is to teach ourselves; Clicker Training is so easy because the dog is almost teaching himself!

Sit command

This is an easy command to train and should take no time at all with the clicker.

With your dog standing in front of you, get his attention by saying his name and letting him know that you’ve got a treat in your hand (and be ready with the clicker in the other hand!).

Remember that we will not use the command ‘sit’ at this stage.

Slowly lift the treat over his head so that he looks up to follow the treat. Keep the treat moving slowly back over his head, and as his head continues up to follow the treat, his bottom should automatically move towards the floor.

At this stage, he doesn’t have to sit – if his bottom moves towards the floor at all, click and treat.

Continue in this manor, but become more selective with the click and treat; only click and treat when his bottom is very close to the floor, or is actually on the floor. And once he is sitting with reasonable regularity, only click and treat when he is actually sitting.

He will quickly work out in his own mind that by sitting, he earns a click and treat.

This should be very quick to teach – within just 1 or 2 sessions, he should have the idea.

When he appears to know what we want of him, this is where we introduce the verbal command. As the treat is moving over his head, say, “Fido*, Sit”. Practice this with short, frequent sessions, only clicking and treating when he sits on your verbal command.

*NOTE: Before giving a command, we should say the dogs name to get his attention.

For a short time, he’ll try sitting even when you haven’t given him the verbal “Fido, sit” command, but he’ll soon get to grips with the fact that he only gets a treat when he does it following the verbal command.

Further short sessions should work on improving the quality of the sit. We are looking for him to respond quickly to our command, and we should only have to say it once.

So, if we are trying to achieve a quicker response, we should be more selective and only click and treat when he sits down immediately after our verbal command.

The key to dog training is the understanding that all dogs are different, so what works for one may not work for another.

It may be necessary to alter the method slightly for each different dog, so although we follow the same basic rules for Clicker Training, if you find something that really works well with your own dog, you should embrace it and consider how you can make it work for other commands.

Once he is sitting well, and appears to do it without really thinking about it, the clicker does not have to be used every time we ask him to sit. For a time, it is a good idea to have a refresher session occasionally, with the sit command and the clicker, to reinforce it, but on the whole, it should be very well instilled in his mind.

Now, you are ready to move on to DOWN command.

Stephanie has written a series of articles on kennel-corner.co.uk” target=”_blank Clicker Training which are available at kennel-corner.co.uk” target=”_blank Kennel Corner.

Ringworm is one of the most common diseases in pets, especially dogs. Unlike its name, Ringworm is not a worm but fungi called Dermatophytes that thrives on dead tissues present on skin surface and follows circular path to spread infection.

Ringworm is an infectious skin disease and your pet usually picks it up from his surroundings like kennels, rodent burrows or from other animals who are already infected. There are about 35 species of ringworm that can affect dogs. The most common is ‘Mircosporum Canis’, which accounts for majority of ringworm cases

One symptom of ringworms in dogs is a lesion on the skin that looks like a rapidly growing circular patch of broken hair. The patch may look inflamed and may appear to have dandruff-like flakes on it. The most common areas where it can occur are face, ear tips, tails and paws.

If you find any of these symptoms, take your pet to the veterinarian. He may diagnose the disease by plucking hairs from the infected area and examining it under ultra violet light. On finding fungi traits, he may advise some anti fungal pills or topical medications for your pet

Humans need to take some precautions since ringworm is an infectious disease. Be sure to keep kids away from an infected pet, and adults should wear gloves when handling any items that have come in contact with the animal. Also keep your dog neat and clean and clip his hairs short since longer hairs promote unhygienic conditions.

Although, ringworm is a mild disorder the problems due to its infectious nature and slow recovery time can be problematic.

e-ringworm.com Ring Worms provides detailed information about ring worm, human ring worm and more. Ring Worms is affiliated with i-dryskin.com Dry Skin Lotion.

You are bringing home a new family member – this one with four legs, not two – and he will need a place to sleep.

Everyone needs a space to call their own. Managed properly your dog’s crate will become his room, a cosy place he goes for privacy. Think of it like a toddler’s cot or playpen.

What must I know about puppies and dog crates?

Growing puppies alternate between periods of activity and sleeping. As long as you have a regular schedule of toileting, feeding and exercise, your puppy will be happy to use his dog crate for a bed.

Just don’t expect your puppy to stay in his crate unless he is sleeping: remember he needs lots of love and attention. If you intend to keep him in his crate for long periods perhaps you need to re-consider whether you are able to commit to a dog right now.

How will older dogs and dog crates work?

If you have an older dog you think you may like to crate – perhaps you are giving a new home to an older animal from a refuge shelter – you can still happily use a dog crate as a bed.

Let him investigate the crate. Just as with a puppy, put in soft bedding and a treat, and let him get used to things while the door remains open. Once he is accustomed to his crate you will most likely find he will take himself off there to sleep or to get away from noisy children or visitors.

What should I put in my dog’s crate?

Put washable bedding – perhaps a favorite blanket – in the crate to make it comfortable. Put the favorite toy of the moment in as well and perhaps a rawhide bone to chew on.

I have found my dog will happily chew her rawhide bone as she is dropping off to sleep in her crate and again when she wakes. Especially first thing in the mornings this can give me a much appreciated extra fifteen minutes of sleep!

It is a good idea to give your dog some treats when you put him in his crate, to reinforce positive feelings: a little snack before he settles down to sleep would go down well.

If your dog wears a collar make sure you remove it before he goes into the crate. Dogs have choked to death when their collar or Id tags have caught on the crate’s bars. A good idea is also a crate bumper, which is very similar to a cot bumper.

How can using dog crates for beds help toilet training?

Puppies have an instinctive desire to keep their sleeping area clean. Using a crate takes advantage of this and helps your puppy learn to control his bladder between trips outside. He will have accidents, of course, but by using a dog crate as a bed and combining it with a regular toileting, feeding and play schedule, toilet training will be quicker and less stressful – for everyone involved!

Just remember never to use the crate as a form of punishment. If you shout at your dog or smack him and then put him into his crate he will see his crate as a place to be feared: those associations are the last thing you want to create.

How big should my dog’s crate be?

You don’t want your puppy to toddle off into a corner of his crate to go to the toilet, so get a crate with a divider. This can be moved as he grows, and discarded once he is grown and/or completely housetrained.

If you are getting a dog crate as a bed for a dog that is already fully grown, make sure the crate is big enough for him to stretch out, stand up and turn around comfortably.

What type of dog crate should I buy?

A wire crate is a good option if you’re buying a dog crate for a bed. It is a good idea to get a crate bumper for comfort and safety. Many dogs also prefer a covering over the back and perhaps the sides of the crate to give them a greater sense of privacy. This doesn’t have to be expensive: we have a blanket draped over our dog’s crate.

Using a dog crate for a bed doesn’t mean that you can’t be stylish as well. There are many crates that are both comfortable for your dog and will fit with any décor. Check out the wicker-look versions, or the very upmarket Bauhaus, and you will never think of crate and cage in the same sentence again!

If you want a dog crate for travelling by airplane you will need one which is approved by the airlines. These will generally be molded plastic, and are lightweight and portable. Look for a crate which has a carry handle and which you can collapse for storage when you get back home. Always check with the airline you intend to travel with, as their regulations may vary.

Dog crates for beds: “my” place

Some of us initially balk at the idea of putting a puppy or even a grown dog we love very much into what can be perceived as a cage. However, used properly your dog’s crate will come to be seen by him as a place of comfort and privacy: a place of his own to go to when he wants to sleep, or just wants time-out.

At puppyindulgence.com puppyindulgence.com we review dog crates, fancy dog collars, dog beds, dog jewelry, pet carriers and dog ramps and stairs, revealing where you can find the best. Visit puppyindulgence.com/dog-crates.html”target=”_new puppyindulgence.com/dog-crates.html to discover the best and safest puppyindulgence.com/dog-crates.html dog crates

When you are sure a dog would be very welcome in your house, it is time to decide which breed is best for you. A dog can be a great friend, but realize not every breed is a good match for your lifestyle.

Do not make a impulsive decision, for instance do not choose a Dalmatian because you enjoy the Disney movie “101 Dalmatians” so much. This type of dog is not a good choice when you are living in a small apartment or don’t have time to take the dog for a long walk and give him quality playtime. Sadly enough a lot of this dogs end up in shelters because of an impulsive buy from the owner.

Before you make a final decision which dog is best for you try to learn as much as you can about the breeds you like most.

* What does the dog need, is it the right choice for a family with children?
* How old are the children, realize small children cannot handle a dominant dog breed.
* Can the dog stay alone for a few hours?
* When going on a holiday do you know someone who wants to take care of your pet,
if taking your dog with you is not an option?
* Does the dog need a lot of exercise.

* How about the size of the dog.
* A long coated dog needs more grooming then a short coated dog.
* Are you confident you can train and socialize your dog?
* Some breeds need a firm leader to stay healthy and obedient.
* Think about the costs, a St. Bernard eats a lot more then a tiny Chihuahua.
* Pets need check-ups too, need vaccinations, need treatment when they get problems with their health.

Always remember when you buy a dog it is for a lifetime, too many unwanted dogs end up in a shelter. A dog needs your commitment, your love and care. When you see your dog as a family member in his own way, he will be a wonderful friend.

Author: Isabella Vreeken
Owner of dogsgiftsandcare.com dogsgiftsandcare.com
Dogs Gifts and care has a large collection of dog related products and helpful information. We have gifts for all ages, natural dog remedies, books, multimedia, dog fun, the dog daily and a lot more