Petsmu

Whether you are adopting a dog from a shelter or from a breeder, there are several things you must keep in mind before you begin to look for the right dog for you and your family.

First, is your family on the go all the time? Do you have the time to spend training and working with a dog? Or will this dog be alone most of the time because your family is away a lot? If you plan on being home and working with the dog, or even using it as a jogging partner, then a high energy breed such as a Golden Retriever, Dalmatian or German Short-haired Pointer would work out great for you and your family. Each of these breeds are very high energy and need a ‘job’ or something to do, such as agility or running to keep them busy. They are not the type to sit about the house and wait for you to return.

If you live in an apartment or just want a smaller dog that you can keep small and walk when it’s convenient to your schedule or on the weekends, perhaps the ‘toy’ breeds such as Toy Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers and other Terriers such as the Jack Russell or Rat Terriers would make good pets for you and your family. They can be calmer than the larger dogs, yet some may require a lot of attention.

You can not always judge a dog by its breed. You have to look at the individual dogs and if you can, its parents before you decide if this is the dog for you and your family.

In the case of the shelter dogs, it is impossible to know what their parents are like and sometimes impossible to know what the dog or puppy itself will be like once you bring it home and away from the shelters kennels. Here you have to trust your instincts and gut feeling about the dog and decide for yourself what will be best for both you and the dog. The rule of the breed is usually correct in shelter situations more often than not. And a quick trip to the veterinarians will tell you if the dog is healthy or not and if he or she is in good condition.

Temperament is something you must find out once you bring the new dog or puppy home, especially if you have other animals like a cat or another dog in the house. A lot of times, if the shelter dog has been in foster care, they will be able to tell you if the dog or puppy gets along with other pets.

If you have another dog and want to bring home a new dog or puppy, you might want to introduce them before bringing the new pet home. All breeders and shelters will allow you to bring your dog to their facility to meet the new dog or puppy to make sure they interact well and can tolerate one another for at least a short period of time before bringing the new pet home.

About the author: Tristan Andrews is a freelance author who writes articles about Dogs and Dog News.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Golden retrievers have a special knack for stuffing their face with stuffed toys. They seem to be born with a craving for stuffed toys. I know my golden, Nikki, already had a penchant for stuffed toys at the age of six to eight weeks old.

She is an amazing Certified Therapy Dog but, she will steal resident’s stuffed toys if I would allow her to. Now, for those of you who are handy with the needle, you could remove the stuffing, and fill the toy with tough fabric instead, that way, it will last forever!

I think that dogs feel closer to being a dog when they actually have a stuffed toy in their mouth. They feel that they have caught it. They can carry it around, they can claim it, they can retrieve it (especially retrievers), and it is theirs. And, it feels good to them. After a while, the smell of this stuffed toy becomes awful to us, but great to the dogs.

Depending on the breed you have, some dogs will kill the stuffed toys, some dogs will love it, sleep on it and snuggle with it. Retrievers will consistently have it in their mouth when you return home.

By far, the cheapest way to keep your dog in stuffed toys is buying cheap, right sized stuffed animals at garage/yard sales. I wash them in hot water, and a bit of Solumel (Melaleuca household cleaner that helps get rid of bacteria and it is animal and nature friendly), this is very important! Then, I remove all the detachable; lose things like eyes, whiskers, etc. These toys are a very cheap alternative to expensive pet store toys.

Be very careful though that you check and make sure that this toy is not stuffed with small, styrofoam beads. Avoid those. You can easily tell by squishing the toy in your hand. Dogs often rip open their stuffed toys, and the styrofoam beads could become a hazard to your dog.

I know of some big dogs that shake their stuffed toy to so much that they are actually killing it. If you have more than one dog watch that the other dog doesn’t get hurt by the toy that is being shaken. It is easy to have your other dogs eye get punctured or hurt.

So to repeat the question, why do dogs like stuffed toys? Well, it seems that we all love stuffed toys. Adults have them, kids love them, cats play with stuffed mice, and dogs claim them to kill it, to claim it, or just to love it.

About the author: Ruth is actively involved with the internet. Her passions are people and pet health. She is a wife, a stepmom a dog owner and a business person. She is married for almost 30 years. One of her dogs is a Certified Therapy Dog. Her passions are dog care and dog training. Her Home PageHer Adopt A Dog Blog And Her Pet Blog
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Seasoned travelers who love to hit the roads with their dogs know that traveling with your pooch doesn’t have to be a stressful and tiring affair. The secret to being prepared for every eventuality on the trip is to plan ahead. If you’ve never dared venture out of town with your pet, there’s really no reason to worry. Just follow these simple tips and ideas for a safe and comfortable journey with your dog.

First on the agenda of course, is packing. Traveling with your dog is a bit like traveling with your kid, in that sense. There’s no question of throwing a couple of T shirts in the bag, and heading out the door. Make a detailed list of all the things that your dog uses when he’s at home, and pack all of these. His dog bed and feeder will have to go in the bag, and so will his water bowls, toys and brush. If he uses an elevated dog feeder at home, pack that too. Traveling is going to be hard enough for him; you don’t have to make it worse by forcing him to adjust to a new feeder on the journey. It’s the best way to push him off course. If he‘s used to an orthopedic dog bed, you absolutely must take his bed along or you’ll have a dog that’s cranky from not sleeping well at night. In short, whatever he’s used to at home, throw all those things into a separate bag that contains all his essentials.

Take tins of his normal dog food. The brand or flavor that he likes may not be available where you’re headed, and traveling is not the time when you want to introduce your dog to new foods, unless you’re prepared to spend your holiday tending to a pet with diarrhea.

Remember to take him to a vet before you leave, so you can catch a nasty oncoming illness before it flares up on the journey. Make sure you pack all his medication, and prepare a separate first aid box for him with anti bloating and anti diarrhea medicine.

If you’re traveling by air, make sure you are aware of their pet policies. Some planes allow only dogs that fit into a desired weight range on board. Read the fine print on the hotel’s dog policy – if they don’t allow large dogs above a certain weight, you might have to find another hotel

If you’re traveling by car, remember to take plenty of breaks so your dog can stretch his legs.

Traveling with your dog can be a fun and bonding experience for you and your pooch. Plan ahead, pack wisely and hit the road.

About the author: This author lives in Flemington, NJ with her husband and 5 month old daughter and is an expert contributing author for a luxury raised dog feeders boutique offering variety of dog beds and orthopedic dog beds.
This author and DogBedSupplies are also dedicated to providing valuable and informative articles on pet health, dog training, crate training, puppy breeds and more.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com