Published Tuesday June 01 2010
The most common three dog breeds that are easily confused are the Collie, Border Collie and Shetland Sheepdog. While each is its own breed and has its own distinctions, they also have some similarities as well. The following information outlines the most common differences and similarities between these three dog breeds.
Collies:
Developed in Scotland to be a herding dog, a Collie comes in two varieties: rough coated (long haired) and smooth coated (short haired). They stand between 20-25 ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Monday May 31 2010
Who can resist Chocolates for Valentine's Day? Your dogs health
depends on it! (resisting, that is). We humans get to indulge
because most of us know when to stop. But your dog won't quit
after just a few. Give her a chance and she'll down the whole
box of Godivas in one gulp. So on Valentine's Day, you're
actually being kind to your best buddy if you eat all the
chocolates yourself!
**Why is chocolate harmful to a dogs health?** Chocolate, as you
know, is made with cocoa beans. And cocoa beans ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Sunday May 30 2010
Dog breeders have a huge responsibility, when you consider the number of dogs in shelters today, some of which are there due to poor or no breeder management or planning.
It takes no thought to put two dogs of the opposite sex together and produce a litter of pups. The thought process should begin long before that decision is even made and consider the overall picture and the big effect produced by lack of thought to proper mating, not just for that litter but the offspring produced by each in ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Friday May 28 2010
The head collar has become an increasingly popular dog training
tool in the past couple of years. Two of the most well known
brands of head collar on the market are the Gentle Leader and
the Halti, but there are many other brands that incorporate the
basic head collar concept.
Many people find the Gentle Leader easier to fit that the Halti,
and in addition the Gentle Leader is designed to fasten around
the dog's neck. The advantage of this design is that even if the
dog is somehow able to ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Thursday May 27 2010
Dear Mr. Katz:
I have two cocker spaniels that are one year apart. The red and
white female (Cassie)is almost two and spayed. The buff male
(Peanut) is just one 1 years old and neutered. Peanut was
rescued from a cocker shelter in October of 1999. He is
incredibly devoted, a very good listener and quick learner. He
is the ideal dog as he is very eager to please. Cassie on the
other hand is the most independent and stubborn dog I have ever
encountered (you've probably seen worse). She used to ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Wednesday May 26 2010
First, if your dog barks because it is bored, it needs some exercise. Many dogs will need lots of exercise. Take your time to play with your dog and give it the attention it needs. Dogs that are constantly outside are especially prone to feeling lonely and bored. Give your dog chewing toys to keep it busy. You must also interact with your dog as often as possible. This will also alleviate its loneliness and boredom.
Maybe you should consider getting a second dog. Some dogs need company. ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Tuesday May 25 2010
We have a long history with domesticated animals and even the
nay Sayers can't deny their roll in society past and present.
There is evidence that as long as 10,000 years ago the Native
Americans had domesticated dogs as depicted in early rock
paintings. Apparently, the dogs in the painting look remarkably
like the Carolina dogs of today.
It has been well documented that dogs and horses of past have
been bred to assist us in various ways whether it be pack dog,
work horse, hunter or herder. ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Monday May 24 2010
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owner wrote to me with the
following question:
"Dear Adam:
We recently got a four month-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
We can't seem to housebreak him. I've tried what your book and
tape said to do. He goes "#2" in his crate. I have been doing
what you suggested, but would like some advice on the crate
issue. Thank you.
-Brenda
Dear Brenda:
The best solution to this problem is to build an outdoor kennel
run on grass or pea gravel so that the dog can get ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Sunday May 23 2010
Training your puppy to eliminate outside you home, and not in it, typically starts from six to nine weeks of age. Puppies as young as one month have been put on a housebreaking plan but at that young age, hardly any have developed the power to succeed.
The trainer's patience is just as important as the dog's temperament for the duration of any dog training regimen. Basic commands, such as stay, sit, and others can usually be learned within several days. Toilet training generally takes weeks - ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Thursday May 20 2010
Basic small dog care is much the same as for larger dogs, but
owners need to make a few adjustments to best meet their small
dog's needs. Consider the following daily dog care routines, and
how they're adapted to meet the needs of your pint-sized pup.
Feeding Your Small Dog
Naturally you're going to feed your dog daily, but the
standard-size kibble at the grocery store may be too large for
your small dog to eat comfortably. You'll need to be sure to buy
a kibble designed to fit his smaller ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Wednesday May 19 2010
Though the most common use of
puppy training pads is puppy housebreaking, these pads can be useful for dogs who have become incontinent either through aging or through some sort of injury or illness. Just as puppies tend to want to please their owners by pottying in the proper place, adult dogs can feel as frustrated as the people in their lives if the dog loses control over his or her bladder. In addition to the stress on the animal, the cost and time involved in constant ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Tuesday May 18 2010
Puppies are like tiny tornadoes. They are so full of energy and joy that it sometimes takes a bit of work just to keep up with them or clean after them. They never cease being cute and adorable even when they start biting, which is a problem, considering that it's not the kind of behavior you want to encourage and you have to stop your puppy from biting.
Why puppies (and dogs in general) bite?
Biting for the members of the canine family is a basic behavior meant to establish dominance. This ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Monday May 17 2010
It's never too early to train your pup to walk on a leash. As a matter of fact it's often a bad idea to wait until the pup has grown a bit to get them used to being on a leash. Young dogs take time to adjust to wearing collars and leashes so make sure that you start this practice as soon as possible. The sooner they get used to the idea of wearing a collar the easier it will be on both them and you.
Buy a good pup collar with an id tag on it before you start training. Personally I always have ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Sunday May 16 2010
The Basenji is a medium sized dog with plenty of affection and working abilities. The Basenji was developed in Africa as a working dog. They are good hunters and sight dogs. This dog breed is considered to be in the hound breed group. Typically their height is 22 to 24 inches, and they weigh 16 to 17 pounds. They have a small, agile body with pointed ears, a medium length snout, and a curly tail. The Basenji is usually red, black and tan, or brindle. Most often you will find they have white ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Saturday May 15 2010
Vetcharity in Dharamsala and Bodhgaya, northern India are using
the ABC program designed by WSPA and WHO to improve the health
and control the population of dogs. ABC stands for animal birth
control program which is a catch and spay program, coupled with
a rabies vacination program.
Previous to using the ABC method, catch and kill programs had
been widespread in India. These programs were not effectively
controling the street dog population even though they being
killed in huge quantities. ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Friday May 14 2010
Key Facts:
Size: Large Height: 54 - 57 cm (21.5 - 22.5 inches) Weight: 25 -
35 kg (55 - 77 lb) Life Span: 15 years Grooming: Easy Exercise:
Demanding Feeding: Reasonable Temperament: Friendly &
intelligent Country of Origin: England AKC Group: Sporting
Physical Characteristics:
General Appearance: Solid, strongly built and friendly. Colour:
Black, yellow or liver/chocolate. Coat: Straight, dense, short,
hard and weather resistant. Tail: Tapering and carried fairly
high in action but should ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Thursday May 13 2010
There are of course many reasons for owners to want a calm,
obedient and faithful dog. For one thing, obedient and trained
dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with
people or with other dogs. Another reason is that many
communities require that the dogs living in their neighborhoods
be well trained. This is especially true for many breeds thought
to have aggression and behavior problems - dog breeds like pit
bulls and rottweilers for instance.
And of course, training your dog ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Tuesday May 11 2010
If you are thinking of getting a dog or puppy, you have to remember that this is a lifelong commitment. Preparing yourself for the responsibilities of dog- ownership is the beginning of a happy and rewarding time sharing your home with a pet. If you treat a dog well, you will be repaid with a lifetime of unquestioning devotion. With training and care, a dog will obey your commands and be a valuable part of the family. But what are the considerations? As this is a partnership and not a ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Monday May 10 2010
A well chosen rescue dog can make a great pet and companion, but you before you choose to get one then you need to consider a few aspects. I owned a great Springer Spaniel rescue dog. He was perfect for me and my family, but what are your personal circumstances? Do you have a family or live alone? Do you have for a pet, and do you have space for a dog? Rescue dogs may need patience and some re-training. These questions are considered here and may help you decide.Firstly, the ...
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Posted in: Home and Family
Published Sunday May 09 2010
Whether your dog has a short coat (Boxer, Basset Hound, Labrador Retriever), long coat (Lhasa Apso, German Long-haired Pointer, Samoyed) or one that falls somewhere in between, he'll need to be groomed on a regularly.
All dogs need to get used to being groomed, and starting as early in its life as possible. Good pet grooming habits will prevent future grooming problems from happening later on in their adult lives.
One Size Does Not Fit All When It Comes To Dogs
There are a variety of coats ...
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Posted in: Home and Family