Having bought a new puppy, the first thing was to sort out was insurance. I believe my puppy needs more than just love and affection. Moreover, after investing so much in my pet, getting insurance is not a bad idea. Pets are as vulnerable to illness as humans are and I didn’t want to be in a bad situation when my puppy wants me the most. Rather than spend hours trudging around town trying to find the best pet insurance plan, I decided to search the Internet to see what I could find.
Use these owner profiles to help you choose your ideal dog. Read each set of questions to find which profile best describes you, then read on to see which type of dog suits you best.
1. Do you live in an apartment in the city?
2. Do you want a dog as a companion?
3. Do you love sitting down with your dog on your knee?
4. Is your favourite pastime grooming and playing with your dog?
Your ideal dog is something small, cuddly and with a low exercise requirement. A Chihuahua is ideal if you are single and want a real lap dog (but don’t over-pamper). If you have children, check out the Bichon Frise – especially if you love grooming. Other dogs to look at include Dachshunds, Fomeranians and Pekingese Read more »
Your puppy will be much happier and more confident if you establish a routine for him early on. Knowing when he is going to be fed, when it is playtime, as well as where he is allowed to go in the house, will all help him to feel more secure.
Puppies are quite demanding of your time and attention at first, as are senior dogs, which will need more help as they grow older and less able to cope.
| Research
Studies indicate that puppies benefit from learning to be separated from humans. Separation anxiety can be avoided if a puppy is encouraged to interact with many different people, so that he does not become dependent on one particular individual. However, don’t overdo it when your puppy is very young, as this has been found to have the opposite effect. |
Are you looking for a hounding/hunting dog? Do you want a dog with keen smelling sense and good tracking instinct? Have you searched everywhere: dog clubs, internet, dog magazines, but haven’t got substantial information? No worries. Just relax; here is an end to your search.
I was having a hard time finding a desired breed. And, one day I came across dogchannel.com, which is an amazing site. It provides remarkable information on all dog breeds. The site provides you ample information to choose the right pet for yourself. It provides you extensive information on everything related to dogs, from dog breeders to dog adoption, from dog care to their life span. You just name and its there on the site.
Do you want a loyal and a quality companion? Are you seeking a family pet which is not a man-hater, is good to children and is equally courageous? Have you spent hours searching information on living with dogs, but find yourself back to square one every time you log off the Internet? Relax! Your search ends here.
I was one of you until I stumbled upon Dog Channel.com. I was looking for the right kind of dog for myself, but was confused with which breed to go for. I wanted a dog of power, passion and undying willingness. I preferred a breed, which is not a man-eater but, is strong and courageous at the same time. Dogchannel.com helped me take the right decision and I bought two Pit Bull puppies for myself. From the site, I got to know that a Pit bull puppy lives for about 13 years. The site also gave me all information on how to train a pit bull puppy and take care of my sweet pet.
The site is very interesting and simple to go through. It is jam-packed with articles that provide a perceptive subject matter. The site gives extensive information on almost everything from dog breeds to dog training, from dog care to dogs for sale. You name it and its there on the site. It is a platform where you can find dog magazines, links to sites selling dog products, dog clubs to discuss your pet related issues, and a lot more.
So, don’t think more! Just check out the site and add the loyal companion to your family.
If you are quite creative, love music and enjoy dancing, you might like to try the relatively new sport of heel work to music. This is now extremely popular all over the world and has evolved into many different divisions including musical dressage, heel work and freestyle.
Handlers may wear costumes and use some props, while dogs can wear fancy collars. Most dogs really enjoy dancing to music and it’s fun trying to find a composition that suits your dog’s personality and the way he moves.
Can any dog do this?
Yes: A dog of any breed or size, pedigree or crossbreed, can have fun with heel work to music. If you don’t want to compete, you can entertain your family and friends. Some people get pleasure from taking doge to perform for senior citizens or at a children’s home.
Is your dog very fussy about what he eats? Or is he so greedy that he steals food from your plate when you’re not looking? Food is such a staple of life that when we offer a meal to our dogs and they turn up their noses and refuse to eat, we can be left feeling guilty and frustrated, almost as if we’ve let them down in some way.
On the other hand, it can be very annoying if you are just about to sit down to lunch and turn your back for a moment, only to return and discover that your dog has helped himself! However, whatever the problem, there is always a solution.
| CAUTION
With any eating problems, it is always advisable to take your dog to the vet so that any medical cause, such as changes to the dog’s metabolic rate, can be ruled out |
FUSSY EATER
Owners who resort to spoon-feeding fussy eaters or constantly tempting them with different flavors and varieties of food, will actually be making the problem even worse.
To encourage your dog to eat, try putting down a daily allowance of balanced, complete food in a clean bowl. If he doesn’t finish it, don’t offer him anything else (particularly not snacks and treats), and just before you go to bed at night dispose of any food left in the bowl. Repeat this the following day and most behaviorists predict that you will see an improvement within a few days. Remember, you have his best interests at heart, so don’t worry that you are being mean.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with owning a mutt or mongrel dog, and the good news is that there is no evidence that they are any more or less happy than their pedigree cousins.
Mongrels can still be beautiful to look at, and even those that are not quite so aesthetically pleasing can have fantastic personalities and make brilliant pets and loving companions. The great thing about mongrels is that they are totally unique in every way – you’ll never see anyone with a dog that looks exactly like yours!
What’s the difference?
Pedigree: When you buy a pedigree dog you will receive papers giving full details of the dog’s family tree, going back at least three generations. Pedigree dogs are sometimes called purebreds.
There are a few essential commands that you should make an effort to teach your dog. Even if you teach him nothing else, he should return to you as soon as you call his name, be able to sit on command, lie down, walk to heel and be able to walk on calmly when he is off the lead.
This level of basic training will give you the confidence that you can control your dog in any situation. A happy dog loves learning something new: the mental stimulation helps to keep life interesting for him, and he too will gain confidence from his training.
Happy Dog Tip
If you have a toy breed, don’t think he is too cute to bother with obedience training. Toy breeds can be highly intelligent dogs and they enjoy learning quite complicated commands and tricks.
Agility is a fantastic sport for dogs and owners of all ages to enjoy. It is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, Western Europe and the USA. Using voice and hand signals, handlers are timed as they instruct their dogs to negotiate a series of obstacles such as tunnels, jumps and ramps.
If you’ve done some basic obedience work with your dog, you can take this to another level by having a go at agility training.
Can any dog do it?
Any dog – cross-breed, mongrel or pedigree – can take part provided he is over 12 months old, and is reasonably fir and healthy. Before starting any agility training, have a chat with your vet to ensure your dog is physically capable as the sport involves running at speed, jumping hurdles, balancing and negotiating various obstacles.
There are elementary, starter and novice classes available for dogs of all sizes including minis (dogs under 38 cm (15 in) high at the withers). There are also classes for young handlers, seniors and disabled participants.