Sand and salt may help prevent our falls on slippery sidewalks, but they can be harsh on a dog’s unprotected feet.

When your dog goes outside this winter, he should wear paw protectors of good
quality such as the Muttluks brand. All the chain pet stores sell them or
comparable brands.

If you do let him outside without boots, or if he won’t tolerate wearing them,
be sure to clean his feet as soon as he’s ready to come back inside.

For any time of year, Louise Louis of www.ToyBreeds.com recommends making a
cleaning solution by dissolving one teaspoon of table salt in one pint of
boiling water.

Let the water cool and then put it in a spray bottle or use a bowl if you prefer.
Wash his feet and dry them THOROUGHLY after each outing.

This also works great in the summer after he’s been on grass or ground covers.
It’s amazing how many skin irritants a dog can come into contact with in the
great outdoors. Some fertilizers and insecticides can be poisonous to animals.

Chronic sore feet are usually caused by allergies, infections or parasitic
infestations and will require a veterinarian to identify and recommend a
course of treatment.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and
creator of the popular website on small dogs,
ToyBreeds.com ToyBreeds.com

One of the first stuff to educate your puppy is to lie down upon command or sign. If you can tutor him to do this at an early period, life will be a lot easier for both of you. There will be many times throughout the course of the day when this easy exercise will show its worth.

Have a nylon choke or buckle necklace on your puppy and add a short leash to it. Have your puppy sit as you stand straight in front of him. Seize the leash short in your left hand as you provide him the vocal command “Down” in a calm but solid tone of voice. Also provide him the down gesture by raising your right hand where he can see it as you drag him down with the leash. Swiftly put a treat between his paws as you pat him on the withers saying, “Down, good. Down, good.” Try this three more times, provide him a treat each time and praising him in a pleased tone of voice.

The fourth time you try it he will most likely go down by himself. Get thrilled and inform him what a good boy he is, using an extremely enthusiastic tone of voice accompanied by a treat. Just be certain that your puppy looks at the palm of your hand when you provide him the down signal.

This train will make your puppy feel extremely special. Just be certain that he does not crawl onward but drops straight down. Try this numerous times the first few days so that he will study to drop on either your tone or the hand gesture. A week or so afterward try giving him the down command a few feet from you. Then slowly raise the distance until you are about ten feet from him. You should keep on to run up each time he drops and praise him very passionately and provide him his treat reward.

When you have accomplished this, try teaching him to lie down off leash. You have to keep on praise him generously and present him the treat. At first it is best to teach him to down inside. Then, when he is consistent, train him outside. Several months later you can instruct him the drop on recall, but be cautious not to exaggerate it. Puppies should be very enthusiastic and willing to do straight recalls before they are trained the drop on recall.

In the start it will be required to bend over a little as you provide the signal. Afterward when he knows the exercise, you can stand up straight and present the gesture. When you drag the puppy down, you should pull the leash either straight down or faintly back away from you. If you drag the leash down toward you, the puppy will travel forward. You do not want him to do this or he will crawl between your feet. He ought to go down precisely where he is sitting without moving forward.

Johannes Tan, your independent guide for askdrdog.com/category/dog-training dog training.

The importance of choosing the most suitable type of dog breed for your personal circumstances, preferences and limitations simply cannot be stressed enough. While dogs are like people, in the sense that no two dogs have the same personality, it is also true that different breeds exhibit different behaviors and, in fact, are often bred in such a way as to heighten these particular traits. Therefore, it is possible to have a fair idea of how a potential pet will react to different situations on the basis of the breed chosen. A true dog lover will make a special effort to take into consideration all factors to ensure that the breed selected as their pet adapts well to their needs.

Anyone for a Dalmatian?
The first thing to bear in mind is that the type of dog chosen must fit in with your current – or projected – lifestyle. The Dalmatian can serve as a good example. This breed is well known for producing cute little puppies, but what many dog owners don’t realize is that they’re going to need a great deal of exercise and playing even well into their mature years. So, if you choose this breed, you have to be aware that your dog is going to need the attention and love of a master, or mistress, that has the time for it. It’s going to need plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation to be a truly healthy and happy pet. As you can imagine, this is no easy task.

Considerations
Before you decide on a breed of dog, consider the following questions, as a minimum:
* How much time can I, or my family, spend with the dog or puppy?

* How often will the dog be left alone, and for how long?
* How big is the yard or exercise space?
* Is it fenced?
* Do I want the dog to be inside the house or outside? For how long?
* How much time do I have to walk or exercise the dog?
* Do I want a dog that is playful and friendly with everyone or one that is a good watchdog?
* How often am I prepared to groom and maintain the dog’s coat?
* How much time can I spare to work with the dog for training and obedience?
* Will there be any small children around the dog?
* Are their other pets in the family?
* How much money am I prepared to spend on getting – and maintaining – the dog or puppy?

Once you’ve answered these questions, and any more that may be relevant to your particular situation, you can then start looking at the different dog breeds and their characteristics, in the knowledge that your choice will be based on sound reasoning.

Make sure you get it right
If you’re planning to get a new dog or puppy, the breed chosen definitely does matter, both for you and for your future pet. If you spend the time and effort to ensure a good match, you can be much more confident that both you and your pet will be happy – make sure your dog can fit easily into your lifestyle, so that you can give it, in return, the lifestyle it deserves and needs.

Terry Roberts has always been interested in dogs and the way people and their pets get on.
If you’d like to read more about dogs and our relations with them, visit his website at
livingwithadog.com/ livingwithadog.com

Taking your dog or puppy to the vet doesn’t have to be traumatic provided that it is handled and managed well right from the very first encounter. Most puppies will already have been to the vet at least once, about a the six to ten week stage to get their first set of vaccinations and to have a quick physical examination. However, some breeders may do their own vaccinations depending on local regulations and laws regarding the sale of some of the vaccinations.

Even if the puppy has been to the vet with the breeder it is still important to start your puppy or dog’s relationship with your vet as positively as possible. This can be done by following a few simple steps and avoiding any trauma or stressful conditions while in or at the veterinarian’s office.

To prepare your puppy for the vet visit first:

· Take your puppy or dog for a good long walk prior to going to the veterinarian’s office. If you are concerned about worms, and with a puppy this is definitely a concern, try to bring a fresh stool sample in a small zip lock plastic bag. The vet needs the sample to check for microscopic worms, eggs or larva in the stool. Just a small amount is required but it will speed up the process and prevent you from having to make another trip on at a later date.

· If your puppy or dog is used to a crate be sure to put them in the crate both for the ride over as well as to go into the vet’s office.

· If the puppy or dog is not crate trained or is too large for a crate be sure to have them on a lead or a leash. Even well trained dogs may become frightened and run, or may become aggressive with other animals in the vet’s waiting room.

· If you know that your dog is aggressive towards other pets leave them in the car, notify the staff that you are there, and then wait to bring the dog in until the vet is ready.

· Stay with the dog in the examination room and pet and talk to the puppy or dog in comforting tones.

· Bring a few treats and let the vet give the treats to the dog or puppy. Most vets will have their own “healthy” dog snacks and this is a great way for the dog or puppy to enjoy a trip to the vets.

Be aware that the vet will weight the dog or puppy, take a rectal temperature reading, check the dogs ears, eyes and skin, check the genital areas, palpitate the abdomen and listen to the dog’s heart and lungs with a stethoscope. In addition the vet will check the dogs teeth and gums and may also take samples of skin cells, blood or other body fluids if they are concerned with issues such as mites, heartworm or other parasites.

These examinations do not cause the dog any pain, and even the vaccinations are just a slight needle prick, not anything painful. By making the first visit positive and enjoyable for the dog or puppy you are establishing a great relationship between the dog and the vet that will be ongoing. Always make a big fuss and give lots of praise to the dog for a good trip to the vets. On the way home consider a stop at the park for an extra bit of exercise or play as a great way to wind up the trip.

If your puppy behaves nicely at that first trip to the vet, reward him with a cool looking ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/dog-beds dog bed or ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/elevated-dog-feeders dog feeder from Oh My Dog Supplies!