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Once again I want to stress that buying your puppy from a reputable English Bulldog puppy breeder is an important step to take to ensure you get a healthy pup. A good breeder will carefully plan each mating, breed from good quality stock and screen for hereditary disease.

English Bulldogs typically live up to 10 years of age - they do suffer from a wide range of health problems. Your Veterinarian and breeder are the best people to give you specific health care advice but here is a list of common health issues:

English Bulldogs are very sensitive to extreme temperatures - both hot and cold. A nice mild climate is best for a happy and comfortable Bully.

Keep a close on the weight of your English Bulldog. Overweight dogs are susceptible to a long list of health problems that fit and healthy dogs are not. Make sure you feed a good quality fresh diet and provide adequate exercise (English Bulldogs do not require too much exercise).

It’s also important to clean out the loose face folds on your dog’s face. Use a soap and water solution every day or so to avoid the build up of moisture which can lead to infection.

Depending on what you feed your English Bulldog puppy you may need to brush your puppy’s teeth every couple of weeks.

Their flat face and also soft palate causes many English Bulldogs to have breathing difficulties.

Other health problems can include - hip dysplasia, allergies, cherry eye, cataracts, senotic nares, inverted tail, shoulder luxation and there’s others….
One other thing! English Bulldogs are not good swimmers - be especially careful with your Bully around water.

Training
Lets be honest here, English Bulldogs are not one of the best obedience training students - but don’t be fooled, they are capable.

It’s important that you establish yourself as your English Bulldog puppy’s leader. Give him/her clear guidance, in a positive non violent manner. Be consistent in your training, use plenty of encouragement and always enthusiastically reward desired behavior.

Below are some training issues you and your English Bulldog puppy should practice together:

As soon as your puppy arrives home you need to begin teaching him/her proper household etiquette. This includes things like chew toy training (Bulldogs love to chew!), puppy house training, preventing food stealing and other basic tasks. Preventing problems before they arise is always a better alternative than trying to rectify established problem behaviors.

Crate training is a good way to supervise and confine your puppy - for your benefit and your puppy’s wellbeing. It is also a useful tool to use when housebreaking your English Bulldog puppy.

All of the basic obedience commands are easily learned by Bullys. They should be taught sit, stay, down, heel, come etc.. Your puppy will enjoy these training sessions and you will build a very strong connection with your dog during the training process.

Training your puppy to walk nicely on a loose leash is an important skill to master. English Bulldogs grow to be big powerful dogs, so it’s crucial to educate your puppy how to behave on the leash.
English Bulldogs can be a bit stubborn or some may say indifferent towards training but if you keep your training sessions short, intense and fun you’re sure to achieve pleasing results.

About the author: English Bulldog Breeder of fabulous quality puppies.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Everybody loves the Bassett Hound! These lovable, short-legged dog with floppy ears gets along well with those around them and are welcome in many homes.

Bassett Hounds were originally bred in France during the Middle Ages by monks for hunting purposes. The word Bassett is derived from the French word “bas” which means low. Eventually these dogs were bred to the hound we know in England where they were even mentioned by Shakespeare in one of his plays. It is claimed the fame of the breed truly came in 1863 when it debuted at the Paris Dog Show.

The dog excels at hunting with a nose that is so keen that George Washington himself may have owned a few. It is a great hunter when flushing prey from their den and even in the open country. The Bassett is really adept at fox, opossum, rabbit, and pheasant hunts whether alone or in a pack.

The appearance of the hound is easily recognizable. He is short-legged, with a heavy bone structure and a large head. Most Bassetts are less than 14 inches tall, and weighing in at 45 - 60 pounds. Contrary to popular belief these dogs are not small! The skin on the head is fairly loose and creates several folds on the skull. Two prominent features of the breed are the eyes and the ears of the dog. The eyes are usually dark in color with a soft, sad appearance which prompts many “ahs” from pet lovers. The ears are very long creating the appearance of a clumsy short dog about to trip on its own ears.

The coat on the Bassett Hound is extremely short and very smooth. The skin is very elastic and loose on the body, and can be easily pulled up in bunches. Colorings are usually combinations of white, brown, and black. Officially any hound colorings are accepted by the kennel clubs though. The coat also sheds very heavily for a short-haired breed, and this deters some potential owners.

Overall the Bassett has a very sweet, peaceful disposition and makes a good family pet. The dog is extremely tolerant and very loving making it great for families with very small children. The one negative part of their personality is the tendency to be very stubborn. This sometimes makes training the dog tough, but with consistency and patience you can mold this breed into a well-behaved pet.

This is one dog breed which does well living in an apartment. When indoors the animal tends to be fairly mellow to the point of laziness. Yet when outdoors they will run for hours if given the opportunity. So it is very important to ensure the dog goes out frequently and gets plenty of exercise. You also need to groom them daily to reduce the shedding of the coat. It is also very important to ensure the coat under the chin is dry and clean otherwise Bassetts tend to get yeast infections this way.

Care must be taken in feeding this breed to make sure not to overfeed the dog. If given the chance Bassetts will be lazy and any extra food will pack on in harmful weight. This weight will put extra pressure on the legs and spine which can result in lameness and paralysis.

About the author: If you are considering a Bassett Hound as your next pet, you can search for Bassett Hounds for sale online from the top breeders at Find A Pet Online. If you breed Bassetts and would like to advertise your pets for sale on the best pet classified ads site online please check out our affordable ads and consider listing your kennel today.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

The Labrador Retriever is an active and multi-talented breed of dog. It is expected to carry out various roles to be of service to people. In countries like United States and Australia, the Labrador Retriever is considered as the most popular breed of assistance dog and also makes excellent pets and working dogs. With all the happiness and countless help this breed offers, it is just right to give them what they deserve. For sure they will never ask for anything other than your attention, care, praise and love. Show them how much you love them by taking good care of them, providing toys and activities to entertain them, giving them a comfortable place to sleep, water to drink and food to keep them healthy and active.

The health of your Labrador Retriever depends on you. Choosing the activities they must do, how often they should take a bath and what foods to eat are some of your several responsibilities to your dog. Many issues concerning dog foods are coming out from all corners of veterinary world. Some claims dry dog food to be the best dog food because it has various health benefits for your dog. Others go for semi moist food because it taste better.

There is really no specific answer when somebody ask what is the best dog food. The answer will always be “it depends”. Each dog has is own specific dietary needs depending on its breed, age, size, activities and health condition. Puppies and older dogs may need different amount of calories. Same with normal and overweight dogs. A dog with health problem, even as simple as fever, has different dietary requirement compared to healthy dog.

For some reasons, most owners consider dry dog food as the best. One obvious reason for sure is the convenience this type of food brings. Feeding your dog is a no sweat process in this type of food. All you have to do is grab one from grocery stalls, tear open the package and pour the contents into your dog’s food bowl. Aside from that, dry dog food is known to contain the most nutrients your dog needs. However, this food contains 10% water making it hard to chew especially to older dogs. You can wet the food to make it easy for your dog. Dry dog food is also said to benefit the dog’s teeth and mouth condition by preventing tartar buildup.

Not all dry dog foods are proven safe for Fido. Some brands contain unknown ingredients and are mainly fillers such as soybean meal, corn meal and corn gluten meal. Food colorings are also present in dog foods. These food colorings can be made from chemicals and can cause health issues.

Make it a habit to carefully read the product label. Check the ingredients making sure that meat is included in the list. Meat is important because it is the source of natural protein for dogs. Nutrition greatly affects your dog’s health. Lack of it can cause high cholesterol, obesity and countless other ailments that could eventually shorten your dog’s life.

About the author: Richard Cussons writes articles about dogs. This site about Labrador Retriever contains valuable Labrador training tips.
Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com