Dog General Care - Pet Advice

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Dog General Care - Pet Advice

There's No Such Thing as a No Shed Dog

November 3rd 2009 18:30

In reality all dogs shed. Whether it be a few hairs while in grooming or constantly throughout the year. All dogs shed. There really is no such thing as a dog that never loses a hair. I have three degrees of shedding. 1) A yorkie with minimal shedding; 2) American Pit Bull Terrier who is a low-medium shedder; and 3) a St. Bernard/Collie mix who is a heavy shedder.

You can easily have a low shedding dog, such as Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, and Schnauzers. Some may even claim American Pit Bulls and Staffordshires as low shedding dogs, but, there is no such thing as a non shedding dog.

A non-shedding dog would be one who never lost a hair. You could cut off the hair, but never naturally lost one hair from brushing or just being a dog. That's just not possible.

As for hypo-allergenic dogs, well... That really doesn't exist either because Poodles, which are one of the most popular "hypo allergenic" dog breed, can affect the allergies of some people. It's all in the dog dander, not the fur. Not all dog breeds will affect everyone the same, and not all dogs affect everyone the same.

List of Dogs That Do Not Shed- Low Shed Dogs

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Dog General Care

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Prepare a Dog for a Dog Show

July 12th 2009 19:03

When you're a beginner competitor, you may not know all the tricks of the trade when showing your dog and preparing him to look his best. Well the tips are pretty simple, but they can make a big difference in how a judge sees the dog. And, you want your dog to look his best. Perfect.

Tips for Grooming A Show Dog

When showing and grooming your dog for a dog show, you want to make sure that you still make it fun for the dog. The more that the dog thinks of it as work, the less entertaining it will be for him. And, in order to get your dog to do his best and to look like he's having fun, you have to make it fun for him.

If you're just starting out, you'll find that it'll be easier for you if you find a mentor. Otherwise, you may find yourself and your dog looking sloppy in the ring. Even if his coat, nails, and overall appearance is perfect, if you don't know what you're doing, then it's just not going to look good.

Make sure that you have a professional groom take over and show you the tips, but for touch ups, the simple snip here and there should be all that you'll need when the day comes.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Dog General Care

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Underground Pet Fences

October 14th 2008 18:55

There are many different ways that you can fence in your dog, with the more traditional method being a wooden or metal fence. Otherwise, you may want to consider the more modern option of an underground or wireless pet fence.

There are many different options and brands that you can choose from, but the one thing that you want to remember is that even though they can successfully keep your dog in your yard or within the designated boundary, the underground or wireless fences can not keep other dogs and animals from entering your yard.

For example, if you have a female dog in heat, you can easily prevent the female from getting out of your yard, but an underground pet fence will not prevent a male from entering your yard and knocking up your female.

So, before you spend the money on an underground or wireless pet fence, you want to make sure that you weigh the pros and cons

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Dog General Care

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Plastic Surgery for Dogs

July 19th 2008 18:01

Generally, if people don't like something about themselves, they spend the extra money and hire a plastic surgeon to get the breast augmentation, the butt lift, or the tummy tuck. Well, believe it or not people do the same thing with their dogs... Well, kind of...

Dogs can get plastic surgery, but it's not to the extent that people get done. People commonly put their young puppies in surgery to cut off their ears or tail, which is known as hear cropping and tail docking.

My Personal Opinion:

Although you can read my full opinion and the facts that back up my opinion, when you read "Plastic Surgery for Dogs: Dog Ear Crop and Tail Dock," here is the brief break down...

By removing the tail and the majority of your dog's ears, you are removing vital and essential communication skills that you dog needs in order to better communicate with other animals and even you. By removing the tail, leaving a small nub, it can be very hard to distinguish how your dog is feeling. 90% of your dog's communication is through his body, and if you remove the tail and ears you remove at least 75% of the means of communication for your dog.

Also, the surgeries are completely unnecessary for the amount of pain that your dog must deal with, and yes the dog does feel the pain, they just have a higher pain tolerance than a person. Think about it, in the wild sick pack members were often left behind and left out because they had the potential to hold the pack behind. Although, there is no need for this in captivity, dogs still sense some of this, which is why they seldom act sick until they are truly, severly ill.

If you disagree with me and feel that you dog does not feel the pain when he bumps into the wall, hits his head, and yelps, then by all means that's your opinion.

But, anyway... There ARE reasons that tail docking can be beneficial, but that doesn't mean that you should run out and ask your vet to dock your dog's tail. The main reason that is medically a benefit to dock the tail is that some breeds have a taught tail skin, which when the tail hits something hard, it can cause an abrasion. The abrasions can be painful to deal with, and prevented with a tail dock, but this is the only medical reason to get your dog's tail docked.

As for ear cropping, some people claim that by cropping the ear, there is less potential for ear infections. Well, yes this is true, but if you regularly clean your dog's ears and take care of yoru dog, you can preven ear infections a lot easier and cheaper than surgery.

There is no reason, even if you show your dogs in competition to crop or dock the dog, as even the AKC accepts natural dogs in their dog shows. It is no longer mandatory to have your dog 100% to the basic standards.

Plus, in many countries, these surgeries are illegal. I want to say the U.S. is one of the few countries that still allow the surgeries.

Anyway... The link that I posted above will give you tons more information about the basics and procedures and how they are done. Plus you will see pictures of all natural Rottweilers, Boxers, American Staffordshires, and a few others.

My goofy APBT with her stupid ear standing for all to see...

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Dog General Care, Dog Health

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Dog Grooming Tips

June 11th 2008 14:23

Gromming your dog is very important for the health and well-being of the dog. A well groomed dog not only looks healthier but is healthier. By regularly grooming your dog, you can easily prevent dental disease, fleas and ticks, and so much more.

The first step to grooming your dog is bathing him. You want to choose an all-natural dog shampoo that is free of chemicals that can potentially irritate your dog's skin. By bathing your dog you can remove the unnecessary oils that can cause oily skin; you can also help alleviate dry skin, which can cause dandruff and itching.

Brushing your dog with an appropriate brush and/or comb will help remove tangles, which can grow into matts. Matts and tangles pull at your dogs skin making walking and every day activities uncomfortable. Also, by regularly brushing your dog, you move around the natural oils that build up, which deter fleas from setting grounds.

You also want to keep a pair of electric clippers on hand, even if you have a short coated dog. You can use small clippers for small emergencies. If you dog has a cut, you can shave around the cut so that you can clean it up. Or if your dog has something stuck in his coat, you can shave the area to better assess the situation. But, remember that you should only do small exams while at home, and always contact a vet.

Cutting your dog's nails is another important grooming aspect. You don't want to let the nails get overgrown, as it can make walking uncomfortable and even painful. You want to purchase the right pair of nail clippers, whether they're the guillotene style, scissor action, or electric. Yes, you can purchase electric nail clippers; well, they're more or less a rotary dremel tool manufactured for pets. They're a great way to get your dog's nails super short; the heat pushes the quick back so you can use them more often in order to get the nail super short. Otherwise, you may want to purchase the "quick detecting" nail clipers, or just regular nail clippers. It's up to you, but trimming your dog's nails is very important.

And, lastly for now, is brushing your dog's teeth. By purchasing a dog safe, vet approved toothbrush and toothpaste and brushing your dog's teeth daily, you are helping to prevent dental disease.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Dog General Care

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Exercise Your Dog

May 31st 2008 16:10

Exercising your dog is very important to keep him well behaved and fit. Dogs that do not get enough exercise can have behavioral concerns such as destructive chewing, as well as a number of other problems. You may see an onset of separation anxiety and hyperactivity. Remember that a tired dog is a well behaved dog. If your dog is busy resting after a long, hard walk, he will be less likely to destroy your home when you're at work, or school.

Also, proper exercise will keep your dog fit, reducing the risk of obesity, which will raise a number of other health concerns. And, a simple way to minimize those extra vet bills is to exercise your dog regularly

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Dog General Care

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Caring for Puppies

May 23rd 2008 15:10

Puppies are cute and cuddley, but they're a huge responsibility to any person or family. When you decide to bring home a new puppy, you are bringing home years of training, socializing, and care, so make sure that you're ready to raise a puppy to the best of your ability.