Sunday, December 13, 2009

Learn How to House Train a Dog

By Matt Bournston

Okay, so you want to know how to train a dog. In this article I am going to look at the first step to house training your puppy, then take a look at why dogs have accidents, and then talk about how to house train your doggie.

House Training a Dog - The First Step to Take

Before you actually start training your dog, you must observe your dog carefully, in order to spot his/her habits. If you are able to see a pattern to when the accidents happen, it's well worth making a note in a diary for future reference.

By doing this, you may be able to get to the root of why he/she has accidents at certain times. For example, you may notice that he/she only has accidents when you're away from the house for long periods.

Why Dogs Have Accidents

There can be a number of reasons for your dog having an accident, including:

* When it gets upset. For example, when it hears thunder.

* If your dog doesn't want to go outside in bad weather, it might sneakily make a mess in the house.

* If your dog only soils in the house whenever you are away, then this could be a sign of separation anxiety. To solve this problem, it could be just a case of taking it out for more walks and generally giving it more attention when you are around.

How To House Train A Dog

The most essential factor when training your dog is in establishing a clear toilet place and routine. Take the dog on a leash to the outside toilet area at regular times throughout the day. If it does its business in the designated area, then give it a treat and make a fuss of it.

If your dog does not soil outside in the special toilet area, then take him/her back inside and repeat later. If you discover any doggie mess inside the house, then try restricting the dog to fewer rooms in the house, and continue regularly taking the dog outside until it gets the message that this is its proper toilet area.

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High Rated Pet Care Insurance

By Barry Mcgee

If, like so many other devoted pet owners, you've decided that pet care insurance is an option you wish to explore to ensure the continued and excellent care of your beloved pet, then you're undoubtedly wondering how to go about wading through the sea of pet care insurance companies out there. One of the best things you can do to assuage your worry is to learn--with the help your veterinarian, the Internet, and other pet owners,--what the highest rated pet care insurance companies are.

What are the markings of a highest rated pet care insurance company? Many reputable, trustworthy companies have been around for many years-perhaps even before the pet insurance fad got underway. However, as the pet insurance trend continues to grow, the competition could become stiff, with more companies emerging and offering great rates for better services.

While there is no official rating system for pet insurance, a simple web search will yield several websites that will allow you to do multiple side by side comparisons of pet insurance companies and plans. Some of these websites also offer pet care insurance clients the opportunity to chime in regarding the quality of the companies they've used or are using.

You'll usually find the good, the bad, and the ugly on these sites, and while you can't trust everything you read on the Internet, a number of good or bad comments regarding a certain company should tip you off as to whether or not you would be making a wise investment.

In the midst of tragedy-be it your beloved dog being hit by a car, your cat being diagnosed with cancer, or your bird eating a poisonous plant-the last thing you need is to be further drained by having to deal with red tape, incompetence, or misleading fine print from a disreputable pet insurance company. Taking the time to find and do business with one of the highest rated pet care insurance companies is insurance unto itself-insurance that allows you to breathe easy and get down to the more important things in life, like spending more quality time with your finned, feathered, or furred family members!

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What Makes The Miniature Pinscher Dog A Great Pet?

By Ned Dagostino

You may have heard some bad things about the Miniature Pinscher and if you didn't know any better, you may have even believed them. Perhaps you were told that the dog barks too much and is bad with children. Maybe you heard they are too hyper. It's possible you were even told they are miniature Dobermans. None of that is completely true.

The fact is that the Miniature Pinscher is nicknamed the King of the Toys for a very good reason. You'll have a hard time finding a more fun loving, yet loyal dog anywhere.

There's no question that this breed has a bit of an attitude. They are courageous well beyond what their 10 pounds would indicate. They seem to think they weigh much more than that. You'll notice it in their proud walk with their high steps and head held high as well.

Combine the pride with the Miniature Pinscher's fierce loyalty to his owner and his tremendous courage, and you have a great watchdog. But in all fairness, they can also be a handful.

That's why it's so important for a Min Pin owner to make sure the dog knows early on who is in charge. The Miniature Pinscher will think he is until he realizes otherwise. And because he's so cute and comical, you may be tempted to let him get away with the occasional bad behavior. Do this and your dog will become a tyrant, running your home the way he sees fit. But don't let this tendency bother you because Min Pins are very intelligent and easy to train.

And if trained properly they are incredible pets. They are loving, loyal and very playful. And quite simply, they are fun to watch. They are the stand up comedians of the dog world.

And while the Miniature Pinscher is certainly not a fragile breed, he does only weigh about 10 pounds. That means that kids can at times have a tendency to play too rough, especially since the Min Pin acts bigger than he is. Children may need to be reminded that the dog is still small.

As for loyalty, the Miniature Pinscher can and will get along with everyone in your family. But they do tend to pick one person to become extremely attached to. You'll have a hard time finding a more loyal breed.

If you want a pet to entertain you, love you, be loyal to you, and just be fun to be around, the Miniature Pinscher would be a great choice. The breed remains very playful even into its old age. You may think you need a lot of energy to keep up with them, and to a certain extent that's true. But they love to play by themselves with you watching. And while they do need exercise, because of their size they can get plenty of it just running around your home or apartment.

And when play time is over they'll be happy to sit there right next to you. So if you want a family pet that's loyal, fun, smart and easy to care for, the Miniature Pinscher may be just the breed you're looking for.

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Saturday, December 12, 2009

12 Things A Dog Owner Should Know

By James Bogaa

It's not only your dog who requires good behavior and discipline, but as a dog owner, you do too. Owning a dog is a lot of fun. But don't forget that it's also a big responsibility. It isn't all fun and games. Caring for another living being, such as your dog is important. Please don't take this responsibility lightly.

Your dog is totally dependant on you for his health and wellness. Make sure you live up to this important job.

Here are 12 rules, as a dog owner, you should follow:

01. Obey the laws concerning your dog. Make sure to obey all vaccination, clean-up and leash laws.

02. Spend time with your dog. At least a half hour a day will help your pet to be happy and not feel lonely.

03. Know about the importance of spaying or neutering your dog. Learn more about it before you make any decision.

04. Don't forget to take your dog on regular visits to the vet. Yearly checkups, dental exams and vaccinations are all important.

05. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise each day. 30 minutes or more per day is best.

06. Get your dog's papers in order. Make sure he has the proper license and ID tags. It's also a good idea to get the implant chip for your dog. If he is lost, you can find him more easily.

07. You receive unconditional love from your dog. Treat him the same way. Be good to your dog and never beat or hurt him. Treat your dog with loving kindness and be a good friend to him.

08. To reduce the chance of illness and infection, always clean up properly after your dog.

09. Keep your dog groomed. Try to groom him several time per week. This is a great way to bond with your dog too.

10. Make sure your dog is getting the proper nutrition. Give him the best food you can afford.

11. Teach you dog to get along well with other animals and people. Take him to the park several times a week.

12. Train your dog. To feel fulfilled, you dog needs and want's to be trained.

I hope these rules for dog owners will help you to be the best dog owner possible. Be a good dog owner and your dog will love and respect you for it.

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Dog Training Basics - Teaching your Dog to be Social

By Greg Stannionis

Dogs and puppies enjoy social interaction, much as humans do. Dogs are generally friendly and do enjoy interacting with other types of animals from canines to reptiles. Of course, dogs are different just like people are different. Some dogs can be hostile with other animals including other dogs.

Regardless of their species, when you are a pet lover you may understand the value of having more than one dog. It can be challenging to keep a clean house, while dogs are defending their territory. Canine territorial conflict is not a pretty thing. For instance, while walking the dog after dark and a rival dog wanders by, are you able to make it back into the house without being covered in wet grass?

There are ways to remedy this. Your dog needs to be taught social behavior as soon as humanly possible. They're like children, and as children, their minds are more susceptible to learning. You remember how easily you accepted things when you were a child, right? They have not established the line between a friend and an enemy; they're just trying to learn, and you need to take advantage of that.

Take the time to introduce your puppy to other dogs, if you only plan to keep one dog as a pet. You can teach the dog that not all dogs are the enemy. In order for it to become used to being touched, you should touch and pet the puppy. Doing so reduces the chance of the dog biting as well as creates a friendlier dog.

While introducing your puppy to other dogs, keep a tight grip on the leash, until you are sure they are not going to fight. Sure, this is controlling, however, your puppy needs to learn between what is right, and what is not.

Puppies and dogs love to play, which includes biting, jumping and shoving one another. However, you can teach them not to do such things. They do these things while playing with one another; it is part of their nature. You just want to be sure that they are not really, hurting one another while playing together. Another distraction is having your dog or puppy jump on you continually, whether or not it is a lap dog.

Dogs bark, it is just part of their nature; however, it can get on your nerves when they bark continually. You can teach them not to bark all the time or you may want to distract them with a dog treat. It may not work to begin with, however you should keep trying. Teach the dog that you will give it a treat if it will stop barking. The dog will learn only to bark when necessary, when you use this method repeatedly.

You can train a puppy to be quiet by placing them on their back and then yelling in their face. It may not look so nice to others; however, it is a working method of many professional dog trainers. You can use this method with rescue animals as well to teach them to be quiet.

When you train a puppy as early as possible, he or she will make a wonderful friend and companion for many years. Remember this when you are raising puppies or a dog.

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Friday, December 11, 2009

Are Eskimo Puppies Good With Kids?

By Smith Tallam

The American Eskimo Dog is oftentimes called a Spitz in the U.S.. The American Eskimo Dog is an enjoying, energetic, strong, beautiful, social, and curious companion. She makes an excellent watch dog however can be trained to be not threatening or aggressive. It has a cream straight outer coat, with a dense undercoat. There is a lion appearance as the coat is longer and thicker around the chest and neck and has a strong tail carried on the back. You would not see any blue eyes in this breed as it is considered a defect or a problem of bad breeding.

She will stay well in almost any indoor place as long as she can get frequent long walks. She was carefully bred to be a house dog and they need a lot of family attention. She is excellent with children but of course, never leave very young children alone with any dog for any length of time without adult care. The Spitz refers to a group of breeds and not just an individual breed. It is a variety of breeds including the Samoyed, Pomeranian, Finnish Spitz, Siberian Husky and Shiba Inu. They can typically live 12 to 14 years with proper nutrition and care. There are also cases of these pets living over 20 year life spans. There are three sizes of the American Eskimo Dog tagged as Toy, Miniature or Standard. The Toy runs from 9 to 12 inches to the withers (which is the tallest point of the back), the Miniature runs 12 to 15 inches to the withers and the Standard goes 15 inches to19 inches to the withers.

The American Eskimo Dog, like many big dogs, are vulnerable to patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, flea allergies, hot spots, epilepsy, cataracts, and Leg-Calve-Perthes Disease. They have no allowance for fleas and can get severe flea allergies which can result in painful skin lesions. Their skin is typically dry so they should not be bathed more than once every two or three months. All dogs should have their teeth brushed once a week. The heavy coat is simple to groom and remember to brush twice a week with a firm bristle. They are a medium shed class, usually one in May or June and then second time around November or December. Many owners use an undercoat rake to groom which is available on line or check your main pet stores.

The American Eskimo Dog derives from the ancient Spitz family. They are renowned as the German Spitz in Germany. Hailing from the coastal regions of Germany, these dogs were once traded throughout Europe. When this family dog came to America along with German immigrants, they were used as family pets, watch dogs and circus animals. Circuses would sell puppies after performances and that was how they spread throughout the U.S.. They were popular during the 1930's and 1940's. Since we were at battle with Germany, they were renamed during World War I. They were established as a breed in 1913.

They can be quite protective but rarely will they bite. They groom themselves. They love to bark and is inclined to weight gain. They can react really poorly to harsh treatment and can take a bit long to mature, maybe up to two years. They must be trained early as a puppy to be more effective later on.

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Combinations Of Fish

By Roshan Goodman

Fish tanks can be very enjoyable to own, but finding the right combination of fish can be difficult. The wrong types of fish can cause many problems. Having the right types of fish can be very difficult to choose. This article will focus on some of my favorite combinations of fish. The types of fish you raise really depend on the tank you want, to have.

Raising fish to breed is a fun and most common way for raising fish. If you want to raise fish for breeding, I would suggest a bigger tank with lots of hiding places. The fish that I would first choose would be some Mollies and Guppies. Mollies and Guppies are very nonviolent fish and have many offspring. For bottom feeders I would suggest some Cory Cats and Bristlenose Plecostomus. Breeding tanks must be very peaceful for the offspring to survive.

Community tanks are, in my opinion, the funniest type of tank to own. With a community tank, you can have many types and varieties of fish corresponding peacefully. For a good community tank, there are many possibilities. I would suggest colorful fish that actively swim around the tank. Barbs, Angel Fish, Kribensis are my favorites. For bottom feeders, Loaches, Cory Cats and Plecostomus are my favorite.

If you just like a certain type of fish, or would like interesting fish to own I would suggest Cichlids. African Cichlids are very fun fish to rise, but can be very difficult. Finding the right type of Cichlids can be difficult and the wrong kind can cause fighting. Only get the same species of Cichlids in a tank, and you will be fine. Cichlids are egg layers and very protective of their young.

Many fish can be combined with others, but there are some types that just are a pain to rise, no matter the combination of other fish. Bala Sharks are very cool fish, but get ich very easily and can infect a tank, I would suggest not buying them. Chinese Algae Eaters are very good at eating algae, but aggressive and suck the slime off the other fish, I would never buy one. If you need a good algae eating fish I would highly suggest a Bristlenose Plecostomus.

If you are new to fish raising, I would suggest using a few of these combinations to start with, you can add more fish and experiment as your tank grows. I would not start out with aggressive fish, these fish can be very difficult to own even if you are experienced. Trying new combinations of fish is good, but after you add a new fish, watch the fish to for a while to make sure they fit in.

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