Looking After Pets

Best Free Advice For Looking After Your Pets
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    October 17th, 2011adminPets Advice

    The dogs which take their name from the island of Newfoundland appeal to all lovers of animals.There are now 2 established variations, the black and the white and black. There are bronze-colored dogs, but they're rare. The black range of the Newfoundland is black in colour; but this doesn't mean that there may be no other colour, for most black Newfoundlands have some white marks. In fact , a white marking on the chest is said to be typical of the true breed. Any white on the head or body would place the dog in the other than black variety.

    The black colour should preferably be of a lifeless jet appearance which approximates to brown. In the aside from black class, there might be black and tan, bronze, and white and black. The second predominates, and in this color, wonder of marking is extremely important. The head should be black with a white muzzle and blaze, and the body and legs should be white with large patches of black on the saddle and quarters, with presumably other little black spots on the body and legs.

    Apart from colour, the kinds should concur with the same standard. The head should be broad and great, but in no sense heavy in appearance. The muzzle should be short, square, and clean cut, eyes rather wide apart, deep set, dark and small, not showing any haw; ears tiny, with close side carriage, covered with fine short hair (there shouldn't be any fringe to the ears), expression full of intelligence, dignity, and kindness.

    The body should be long, square, and enormous, loins powerful and well filled; chest deep and broad; legs quite straight, slightly short in proportion to the length of the body, and dynamic, with round bone well covered with muscle; feet huge, round, and close. The tail should be only long enough to reach slightly under the hocks, free from kink, and never curled over the back. The quality of the coat is very important; the coat should be really dense, with lots of undercoat; the outer coat somewhat tough and quite straight.

    The appearance usually should indicate a dog of great strength, and extraordinarily active for his build and size, moving unreservedly with the body swung loosely between the legs, which gives a slight roll in gait. As regards size, the Newfoundland Club standard gives 140 lbs. To 120 lbs. Weight for a dog, and 110 lbs. To 120 lbs. For a bitch, with a standard height at the shoulder of 27 inches and 25 inches respectively; but it is doubtful whether dogs in correct condition do conform to both needs.

    When rearing puppies give them soft food, for example well-boiled rice and milk, as quickly as they may lap, and, right after wards, scraped lean meat. Newfoundland puppies require plenty of beef to prompt correct expansion. The puppies should increase in weight at the rate of 3 lbs. A week, and this needs masses of flesh, bone and muscle-forming food, lots of beef, both raw and cooked. Milk is also good, but it requires to be strengthened with casein.

    The secret of growing full-sized dogs with plenty of bone and substance is to get an excellent start from birth, good feeding, warm, dry quarters, and freedom for the puppies to move about and exercise themselves as they wish. Forced exercise may make them go bad on their legs. Medicine shouldn't be required apart from worms, and the puppies should be physicked for these soon after they are weaned, and again when three or four months old , or before that if they don't seem to be flourishing. If free from worms, Newfoundland puppies will be found quite hardy, and, under correct conditions of food and quarters, they are simple to rear.

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    August 14th, 2011adminPets Advice

    Golden Retriever Health Problems

    There are many common health problems that your Golden Retriever will experience from time to time.  Most of these ailments are nothing serious, providing you know how they should be treated and prevented.  Below, we will take a look at the most common ailments, and tell you how to prevent your Retriever from getting them.

    Distemper virus
    The distemper virus is an airborne disease that poses a high risk.  This virus can be prevented by getting your Golden 3 different vaccinations when he is between 6 and 16 weeks of age, along with his regular annual booster shot.  The symptoms from this virus include fever, cough, diarrhea, and vomiting.  If your Golden Retriever has these symptoms, you should immediately take him to see the vet.

    Heartworms
    Heartworms are among the most common ailment with all dog breeds.  They can reach lengths of up to 12 inches in the heart and the lung arteries, leading to heart failure, a decrease in blood circulation, and even death in some cases.  The symptoms with heartworms may not appear until it is too late, so you are better off preventing them with the correct heartworm medicines. 

    Heatstroke
    During the summer months or hot days, your Golden Retriever can get a heatstroke.  You can prevent this from happening by giving your dog plenty of water, and never leaving him in direct sunlight.  If you are playing together on a hot day, you should give him plenty of time to rest so he doesn’t overdo it.  The symptoms indicating a heatstroke include a lot of panting or drooling, dark gums, a glazed expression, rapid pulse, and even vomiting.  If your dog starts to show any of these symptoms, you should immediately take him to the vet.

    Rabies
    Rabies is one of the more serious ailments that your Golden Retriever can get, as it has an adverse affect on your dog’s nervous system.  Normally, dogs get rabies through a bite of another animal that is infected with the disease.  There are rabies shots that helps to prevent the disease, and your dog should get them at least once a year.  The symptoms of rabies include seizures, aggression, and foaming at the mouth.  If you suspect your Golden has rabies, you should call the vet immediately.

    Tapeworms
    Tapeworms are normally caused by fleas, and affect your dog’s stomach.  The symptoms for tapeworms include a loss in weight, diarrhea, and even biting of the rectal area.  You can easily prevent your Golden from tapeworms by using a rigid flea control.  If your Golden Retriever exhibits symptoms for tapeworms, you should take him to the vet immediately.  If the vet catches them in time, he may be able to kill the tapeworms with an oral medicine.

    Hookworms
    Hookworms result from your Golden coming in contact with feces, his mother, or the worm simply burrowing under exposed skin.  You can prevent your dog from getting hookworms by cleaning his living area and keeping his skin clean.  The symptoms that accompany hookworms include a dry coat, weight loss, weakness, and blood in the stool.  As with all other ailments, you should immediately contact your vet if your Golden Retriever starts to show any of these symptoms.

    Although these are just some of the most common ailments for Golden Retrievers, there are other ailments and health problems that your dog can get.  If your Golden starts to show any signs of ailment, disease, or health problem, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact your vet and set up an appointment.  Some of these diseases and ailments can be pretty serious – although they can be treated if you catch them in time.

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    August 13th, 2011adminPets Advice

    Toy dogs are generally kept as companions. Instead of being utilized by the owner to do various tasks, the owners would be the slaves of the pet. Pet parents carrying toy dogs in their arms or in trendy designed tote bags are not uncommon sights. Another toy dog breed that has gained enormous acceptance is the Russian Toy Terrier. Russkiy Toy, Moscow Toy Terriera and Muscovian Miniature Terrier are the other names of the Russian Toy Terrier, the breed that is well accepted in Russia and in other dog loving countries of the world.

    The Russian people have always been dog lovers. Ownership of a purebred dog is a kind of status symbol that allows the owner to rub elbows with the aristocracy. The Russian aristocracy has kept popular breeds of hunting dogs. Even the ladies of the royal family have favorite dog breeds too. Keeping miniature dogs was a trend among the aristocracy during the 17th and 18th centuries. These small dogs are the favorites of royal ladies thus they were dubbed as Lady’s Dogs. It has been a custom for aristocratic ladies to be photographed with their miniature pets. The Russian Toy Terrier is immensely popular during that era.

    The Russian Toy Terrier is indeed a very small breed as it only weighs about 6 pounds and measures 8 to 10 inches at the withers. This makes this toy dog one of the smallest if not the smallest dog breed in the world. A Russian Toy Terrier has two variants – a smooth coated type and a long coated variant.

    The small head and muzzle, the big doe-like eyes and the pricked ears that appear too big for its head as well as the four long thin legs make the smooth haired variant of this breed appear like a small deer. The long haired type is very similar to the smooth haired type. The ears of the long haired type is covered with long hair. This type has ears that appears like the wings of a butterfly because of the long plumes of hair.

    These miniature dogs make good pets. It would be very easy to love this dogs because they have a sweet and loyal personality. These miniature dogs are ideal pets for les active people and for people living in apartments. The dog would not need extensive exercise as even inside the home they can take care of their exercise requirements on their own. Ownership of this toy dogs would evoke pride and satisfaction every time the attractive pet is noticed by people.

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    August 9th, 2011adminPets Advice

    The dog is regally trotting like a thoroughbred horse. The dog’s smooth and silky all white coat as well as the pinkish nose and the golden eyes would attract anybodies attention. This attractive noble looking breed that looks like a smaller version of a Great Dane is a Rajapalayam Dog. A Rajapalayam Dog has a muscular and strong boned body. The dog does not have dewlap and wrinkles on the face although the skin is rather loose. This dog has the habit of holding it head high so that it would appear as if it has a snooty and indifferent attitude.

    In its country of origin, the Rajapalayam Dog is also known as Paligar Hound and Paleiyakaran. This breed of scenthound is believed to have existed since the 17th century. This dog breed is favored by the royalty that are into hunting boars. The dog became a favorite hunting companion of the aristocracy as the dog is an outstanding hunter noted to have a high prey drive and an ultra sensitive scenting ability. This breed of scenthound is an expert in hunting wild boars and other small animals. The Rajapalayam is indeed a ferocious breed. These dogs were in fact utilized by the Indians to fight the British Cavalry during the 18th century Carnatic Wars.

    To the consternation of its owners, a Rajapalayam dog has the habit of abandoning the chase as it gets distracted easily. A Rajapalayam that is trailing a prey would suddenly veer away from the trail to follow another interesting scent. The Rajapalayam is a versatile breed and apart from being a hunter, the dog has as well excelled being a home companion and a guard dogs. Rajapalayam dogs are now utilized as guard dogs because the massive size would already be intimidating to an intruder. This dog breed that is wary of strangers would lay its life on the line to protect its family.

    This dog forms loyalty only to one man. Although the dog will show affection to other members of the family its love and loyalty will be given only to one person. The dog will only have eyes for its favorite person and would follow wherever the master goes. This dog though form a legendary bond with the children so that the attention for the master is lessened when the dog is in the company of children. A Rajapalayam Dog has great affection and tolerance for the young members of the family.

    A Rajapalayam is a low maintenance breed as occasional brushing will be enough to maintain the good condition of the coat. Owners of this breed have to ensure that sufficient exercise opportunities are provided if they want to avoid dealing with a hard to control pet.

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    August 1st, 2011adminPets Advice

    The scenic Italian Alps is a rich pasture for grazing livestock. Livestock industry on the Italian Alps is structured by the season as the flock would have to be moved to higher pasture land from June till October and moved back again to graze on the Maremma plains until they have to be moved again to higher pasture. With this kind of setting, a breed of dog that will be the shepherds helper would be most necessary. The Maremma Sheepdog, dubbed as the wolf slayer is a dependable helper of Italian peasants.

    The Maremma Sheepdog is a large livestock guardian noted to have a profusely abundant white double coats. A short thickly ruffed neck as well as the large bear-like head are the distinctive features of this livestock guarding breed. The white or creamy coat gives the dog an attractive appearance but it has another important function…that of protecting the dogs from all kinds of weather so that the dog can stay with the flock at all times.

    Maremma Sheepdogs are independent thinkers. Even without the intervention of the shepherd, this dog would instantly resolve a situation that can be potentially dangerous to the stock it is protecting. However, the dog’s independent nature as well as the bond it forms with the animals it is protecting can be a problem. Some Maremma Sheepdog owners find it difficult to restrain the dog when it is time to sell stock especially if the dog has not undergone obedience training. Oftentimes, the Maremma Sheepdog has to be kenneled or chained as it would be very difficult to restrain a dog that would not be stopped from “protecting” the animals under its care.

    A Maremma Sheepdog was developed to be a working breed. Maremma Sheepdogs possess inherent abilities to guard livestock thus these dogs would be in their natural element if tasked to protect animals from predators. In recent years, some of these dogs have stayed away from the pasture and developed the ability to do other tasks.

    The dog’s protective nature is utilized not on livestock but on people as the breed has become family protection dogs. No longer tasked to protect livestock, these dogs are mostly kept indoors being the pampered family pet. As mentioned Maremma Sheepdogs are independent minded dogs with a stubborn streak but in the hands of a knowledgeable and strong willed owner, this breed can be molded into a loyal, protective pet that will form a strong bond with all the members of its human family.

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    July 28th, 2011adminPets Advice

    Bull Baiting and bear baiting are favorite entertainment activities in Great Britain centuries ago. Bull baiting and bear baiting are favorite sports of both the royalty and the commoners. Agile and ferocious dogs are developed to have excellent fighting skills as they will be pitted against bigger animals. The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier was developed from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the famed bull and bear baiter. The Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier has descended from a fighting dog breed thus it is expected that it would also have a ferocious temperament. Because of the dog fighting ancestry, a lot of would-be owners are asking – “Would this dog be a wonderful pet”?

    An Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not a large breed but the dog has an impressive well muscled and strong boned body. For its size, the dog is noted to have immense strength. Potential dog owners would think twice about getting this dog breed for a pet because of the intimidating appearance as well as its dog fighting ancestry. The dog can be a ideal pet but would-be owners would need to understand the history of the breed.

    Dogs that will be pitted with bulls and bears were developed from bulldogs and terriers during the early 19th century. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier was developed, a dog that was highly acclaimed for its ability to bring down a bull in seconds. Bull and bear baiting was banned but blood sport enthusiasts have developed another cruel sport – dog fighting. Dog fighting gives rise to the need for a leaner and taller fighting dog thus another breed was developed from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The resulting breed was given the name Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

    Starting out as a fighting dogs, the Irish Staff has later on evolved into family companions. An Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier would not be an ideal pet for a weak owner that will allow the dog to have its way. For the information of anyone wanting to have this breed for a pet, an Irish Sttaff is rather stubborn, difficult to house break and has the inclination to jump from heights and to be a destructive chewer.

    The dog would make an ideal pet that is affectionate and tolerant of the children as well as loyal to all the member of the family if from the start the owner has manifested his being the leader of the pack. The owner of an Irish Staffie has to obedience train and socialize the pet as early as possible to make the friendly, lively and affectionate personality of the dog come to the fore. An active family is the ideal owner of this dog so that it will be provided with sufficient opportunities to exercise.

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    July 28th, 2011adminPets Advice

    Who wouldn’t be amused to see a foot tall dog that deftly runs around the legs of the people and performs tricks like walking on its hind legs or rolling over and over like a fur ball? It is apparent that the dog loves the attention of people. The dog gains attention not only because of the tricks but also because of its attractive appearance. A living stuffed toy – this is what this dog appears to be because the longish black and white or white and gold silky coat that covers the well proportioned body give the dog an attractive and cuddly appearance. The beard and the whiskers add to the attractive appearance of the dog. This is the Kyi-Leo, the dog breed with a trademark affixed to its name.

    Kyi-Leo is a dog breed that resulted from the mating of a Maltese and a Lhapsa Apso. This copyrighted breed was developed in the San Francisco Bay area in the 1950s. Leo in the breed name refers to the Maltese which is also known as Lion dog and kyi, the Tibetan word for dog gives credit to the Tibetan Lhasa Apso.

    The Kyi-Leo is another breed under the lap dog umbrella. Just like other lap dog breeds, the Kyi-leo is people oriented. This breed has the ideal characteristics of an ultimate family pet. This affectionate dog bonds closely with the family. Apart from being a forgiving breed, this dog is also tolerant of the teasing of children thus it makes an ideal playmate of the kids. The dog loves being cuddled and petted by people it knows.

    Wary of strangers and endowed with sensitive ears, the dog makes a good watch dog. This little would not be a dependable guard dog because after barking to alert the family of the presence of an intruder, it would run in a corner to hide. This peace-loving dog will avoid any kind of altercations. Kyi-Leo would do well in apartments as the exercise requirements can be satisfied even indoors. This dog would make a lively playmate of the children but supervision is necessary given that these are delicate dogs and boisterous children can inadvertently hurt the dog.

    The American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) recognizes the Kyi-Leo as a legitimate breed. The fairly new breed is already established and has gained popularity. A lot of these dogs have become pampered lap dogs of celebrities. Mariah Carey owns two Kyi-Leo dogs.

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    July 21st, 2011adminPets Advice

    A Canadian Pointer is a medium sized dogs with a muscular body and a coarse coat that is about 1 ½ inches in length. Bred and developed in United States, the Canadian Pointer belongs to the HPR group (hunting, pointing and retrieving. This gundog that is utilized to hunt, point, and retrieve foxes, rabbits and other upland small game was the result of a crossing Labrador Retrievers, English Pointers and Portuguese Pointers in 1880s.

    This breed of pointer is about 30 inches tall and weighs from 48 to 60 pounds. The Canadian Pointer has inherited the physical features of its progenitor thus this breed that is also known as Adirondak Pointer is at times erroneously called English Pointer. People that have owned both breeds would know that the Canadian Pointer has shorter ears and a thicker coat. The thick coats of Canadian Pointers allows these dogs to hunt in the very cold temperatures of the mountains. The thick coat comes in three color combinations – light brown and white, black and white and dark brown and white.

    The Canadian Pointer is less agile as compared to other pointing breeds. Compared to English Pointers, Canadian Pointers are not so agile as the front and hind quarters give this breed a rather restricted stance. This fairly healthy breed has a life expectancy of about 15 years.

    Unlike other hunting breeds, a Canadian Pointer has an even temperament. These days, Canadian Pointers are commonly kept as home companions and weekend hunters as this breed is known to have the eagerness to please its human family. House breaking and obedience training will be a breeze as Canadian Pointers are intelligent, obedient and have the desire to please its human family. Aside from the ease of housebreaking, this dog easily learns tricks as well. Another plus factor in opting to have this dog for a pet is its low maintenance requirements.

    This hunter is endowed with a heightened scenting ability. This breed can be a dependable guard dog as it has a well developed instinct to protect the family. This is not a ferocious breed, this dog is noted to have a calm temperament but it does not mean that the dog would not move with alacrity if the family is threatened. Being a hunter, a Canadian Pointer would do well in an outdoor setting but it can also adapt to the life of being a home companion. This even tempered dog makes a good family pet as it can be the gentle and tolerant playmate of the kids.

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    July 14th, 2011adminPets Advice

    Different types of earth dogs have existed in Great Britain since the early 18th century. The dogs were generally called terriers or earth dogs. These small dogs have existed for years without being formally categorized into distinct breeds. The dogs were only categorized depending on the place of origin and appearance.

    Classification of terriers into distinct breeds occurred in the middle of 1800s when dog shows become popular. Existing terriers were classified and introduced to the canine world as a “new” breed. The new breeds were introduced complete with fictitious histories to attract the attention of dog lovers. The English White Terrier, a dog type that is already in existence was formally named and became one of the newly created breeds.

    The English White Terrier is a small dog breed weighing from 12 lbs to 20 lbs. This breed of terrier has a smooth all white coat, a muzzle that narrows to a black nose and a wedge shaped head and a rather flat skull. Set fairly close together are black oval shaped eyes. Owners of English White Terrier commonly crop the perfectly erect ears. Moderate in length, the tail that has a thick base tapers to a point.

    The English White Terrier also known as Old English Terrier is an outstanding breed and it could have become a popular breed these days where keeping lap dogs has become a fad but this breed is already extinct. Terriers are generally called earth dogs because of their propensity to follow the prey underground. Terriers have the ability to follow the prey into their underground burrows. English White Terriers are delicate and fragile dogs thus they are not very good hunters that can follow the prey in their burrows. This breed therefore is not an ideal hunting companion. This breed though has excelled in the show ring.

    This breed has a genetic disorder – an English White Terrier can be partially or totally deaf thus they do not make good hunters and working dogs. English White Terriers though make good lap dogs. These affectionate dogs would love being hugged and cuddled. The genetic disorder as well as the lack of utilization has caused the extinction of this breed. The English White Terrier is now an extinct breed but it has left an important legacy. This breed was recognized as the forebear of many present day terrier breeds. The Sealyham Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier and Fox Terrier have descended from the now extinct English White Terrier.

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    July 13th, 2011adminPets Advice

    The Greenland Dog, the breed that originated from the largest island in the world is also considered as one of the oldest dogs breeds. For more than 5,000 years, these sled pulling dogs that are also known as Eskimo Dog, Inuit, Husky and Esquimaux have existed in Greenland with the Sarqaq people.

    From the time these dogs were brought to Greenland they have been utilized by the people in the Arctic regions. A Greenland Dog is very much capable of working in the Arctic region as it is well muscled and strong boned body is thickly covered with a double coat. A Greenland Dog is well able to endure the freezing temperature of the Arctic because the waterproof coat as well as the bushy tail provide the dog protection. Greenland Dogs sleep outdoors all curled up with the face and the nose covered by the bushy tail. The coat and bushy tail protects the dogs from extremely cold temperature.

    The Greenland Dog also known as Gronlanhund has played a significant role in many Antarctic explorations. Roald Amundsen has recognized the important role his team of Greenland Dogs made in his success of capturing South Pole. The Greenland Dogs is an outstanding working breed but the popularity of these dogs started to wane at the turn of the last century. This condition arises when explorers have favored the use of other Northern breeds like the Samoyed, Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. The use of snowmobiles further caused the decline of Greenland Dog population.

    Sleds are the main means of transportation for the Eskimos and these dogs were widely used to pull sleds loaded with people and supplies. Living with the Eskimos in the harsh environment of the Arctic, these dogs were developed into hardy breeds. Being pack animals, these dogs are not as affectionate as other dog breeds given the fact they were not given the opportunity to bond closely with humans. Greenland Dogs are noted for their high level of intelligence thus after they have stopped from being sled pullers, these dogs have adapted well to the life of being home companions.

    Dogs are dubbed as man’s best friend because of their tendency to form a close relationship with humans. Greenland Dogs are noted to have the aloof temperament manifested by wolves but after the dogs were raised as pets, the typical affectionate nature surfaced. Greenland Dogs that are no longer utilized to pull sleds have adapted well to being loyal and affectionate pets. This breed though is independent and has a stubborn streak. To be an ideal pet, a Greenland Dog has to be trained by a dog-experienced person that would known how to handle the dog firmly.

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