Ten Important Things Your Dog Wants You To Know

If your dog could talk, these are some of most important things she would like to tell you...

1 - My life will probably only last 7 to 14 years.
It will hurt me more than you know if I have to be away from you for longer than a day or two.
2 - If you have patience with me and give me time to learn what you would like from me, I can promise you, you will never be disappointed.
3 - Trust me with your life and have faith in our future together.
If I don't feel that you honestly believe in me, I will suffer great emotional stress. My sense of self-worth is totally dependent upon your confidence in me.
4 - Don't stay mad at me for long or confine me to a cage to punish me.
You have your friends, your job, and your recreation. I HAVE ONLY YOU!
5 - Talk to me about anything you want as frequently as possible.
Even if I can't comprehend your precise words, I can understand the meaning of what you're telling me by the tone of your voice.
6 - Remember no matter how you treat me, I will NEVER forget it.
7 - When you consider raising your hand to hit me, remember I have teeth that could break the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8 - Before you scream at me for failing to respond to your commands as I usually do, take time to think about what might be wrong with me that would cause me to treat you differently.
Maybe I haven't been eating right or drinking enough water. Or maybe my age is catching up with me and I just can't do what I used to do.
9 - Take good care of me when I get old.
Someday you will be as old as me and you will see how it feels.
10 - Be there for me through good times and bad.
Never say you can't handle taking me to the vets for stitches or surgery. Nothing could make me feel worse. Everything in my life is easier for me to deal with when I have you standing by my side.
Remember my love for you is unconditional and it will last for your entire life

Caring for a Litter of Puppies

         Steps To Be Taken Before The Delivery Of Puppies

For those who are looking forward to their favorite companion delivering her puppies, they should be aware that quite a lot of effort will probably have to be expended for the litter to be successful. Puppies are born prematurely and are completely helpless - their eyes and ears are closed and they have only a limited ability to move.
It is possible to lose some puppies every litter but you can greatly increase the survival rate of your dog's litter if you prepare for every eventuality beforehand. Expect to spend a considerable amount of time caring for puppies, especially if the mother is unresponsive or absent.
If you have bred your female dog you will first have to prepare a nest box for her. This can be a cardboard box that will be large enough to accommodate her and the puppies. The box should be twice the size of the mama dog when she lies down. The sides should be low enough so that she can leave easily, but high enough to keep the puppies in.
A layer of newspapers should be put in the bottom of the box first, and then this should be covered with clean rags. It's a good idea to have an abundant supply of rags ready as it is inevitable that the puppies will soil the nest on a regular basis, and both mother and pups should be kept as clean as possible.
In some cases the mother will be unable or unwilling to care for the puppies, and the owner will have to take on some or all of the duties of raising the litter. Even a capable, alert mother dog will not turn up her nose at some help along the way. Before the litter arrives, the following supplies should be on hand, even if you don't ever have to use them. Canine replacement formula is available as a premade liquid or as a powdered formula. If the latter is used, use only distilled water or water that has been purified and boiled - the intestinal systems of puppies is extremely delicate and they will develop diarrhea if untreated tap water is used. Cow's milk will also give puppies diarrhea. Nursing bottles designed for newborn puppies should also be on hand.
A puppy heating pad can provide added warmth for the litter, even if the mother is present. Tiny puppies have no way of controlling their body temperature, so must be kept warm. Heating pads designed for puppies will not overheat - regular pads can become too hot and kill the puppies so be sure to use the correct ones.
Toilet tissue should be available to help the puppies go to the bathroom and to clean them up. Newborn pups need the stimulation of their mother's tongues or a moistened tissue to be able to urinate and defecate; this is a way to help keep the den clean. This should be done after every feeding and every several hours as well if the mother does not perform this duty herself.
Pasting can be a real problem; feces can accumulate on the rear end of a puppy and block normal processes. If a puppy becomes listless and stops feeding, check their hind quarters. Use a warm, wet cloth to loosen the hardened stool and remove it, but be prepared for an explosion.
Shallow puppy bowls should also be purchased for use when the pups begin to eat and drink on their own.
A scale, either one designed for this purpose or a postal scale should be used every day to weigh the pups. Record the weight of each puppy, and if one begins to lose weight, you will have to begin supplemental feeding right away.
Within about 2 weeks the eyes of the puppies will be open, and it will not be long before they will be able to begin eating food. Human baby food, such as rice cereal, mixed with canine formula will get the pups off to a good start, and you can then progress to puppy kibble that has been softened with warm water.
Helping to raise a litter of puppies is a lot of work, but the satisfaction you will feel at seeing those healthy, active, happy puppies makes it all worthwhile

Train Your Dog to Fetch or Retrieve

                                                   Dog Traning(Basic)

Before this Dog training is commenced it is extremely important that all dogs have reached a high standard of control.
Step -1
With other dogs present, where possible, a rolled up towel is thrown for the dog to retrieve. The handler then plays a tug of war game with the dog. This exercise is then repeated with each dog present. During this training, when in groups, all dogs will become excited, so utmost care should be taken to ensure that they are sufficiently separated, in order that they do not come into contact with one another.
Step-2
The dogs are again lined up with the trainer in front of them. The instructor (agitator) will excite the dogs with a rolled up towel, which is attached to a long lead. When he has a dog's attention, the instructor will run away dragging the towel behind him. The selected handler will release his dog with the command "fetch" and encourage the dog to retrieve the towel. The instructor will give the dog a short tug of war game before surrendering the lead to the handler who will play with the dog.
Step-3
Once the dog is proficient in this exercise, the dogs will be lined up in the same manner. The instructor will hold the towel in his hand and excite the dogs. When he runs, he will hold the towel and the handler will send his dog with the combined command "fetch rouse". When the dog reaches the instructor, the instructor will let the dog take the towel from his hand. The handler will then have a game with the dog.
Step-4
The dogs will again be required to be in a line. The trainer will attach a towel to his arm, excite the dogs and then run away. A dog will be released with the command "rouse" and will be encouraged.
Step-5
When all dogs are proficient, the trainer will exchange the towel, and the exercise will be repeated. Once the dogs have perfected the exercise, it will be advanced to the stage that they are capable of completing the exercise off lead. The object is that the dog will sit happily at heel off lead, whilst handler challenges. They must respond to all commands instantly e.g. "rouse" etc.

Pets Help People Heal

                                           Have a pet....Heal Yourself

Pets help people too when they are given the chance to do so. Many people are not aware that a lot of animals, mainly pets, are able to help people to heal in different ways. In many parts of the world we are discovering that pets are just 'not pets'. They are much more. They are a part of the family and the unit in whole.
Dogs have become the biggest helper of people. Many of which have come into the workforce without complaint. They are always willing to help no matter what job or challenge awaits them. Working dogs do not have to be any one specific breed as many would think. I have known some kindly mutts who were good enough to take time out of their busy day to help a child in need of a friend or a senior citizen just wanting to relax and be with an animal companion.
Some dogs have gone into our nations' armed forces. They help the men and women protect our land while in other countries. Many have come back with medals of honor and were able to retire upon their return.
Other dogs have taken to the streets helping their fellow officers when in need. They have become 'heroes' in their own right. They have also worked with the fire departments serving as a mascot and at times helping in rescue efforts.
Having a great 'sniffer', their nose of course, is a big deal in their world. They have helped track a lot of people who were under snow from avalanches. They have also helped find those who were in a building collapse or just plain 'stuck' somewhere. They are able to find those who may be lost. They also help us in our school systems. They are able to smell things that we cannot and therefore are good for tracking a lot of different things.
Dogs in the medical field have been trained to help the blind, to know when someone is going to have a seizure or any kind of medical emergency which may require assistance, and they have even been said to be able to sniff out cancer. Along with dogs, cats and birds have also helped out when it comes to senior citizens, the disabled and the mentally and/or physically handicapped.
This said, other animals have also come into the healing path. Some people have even been more relaxed and happier just by being able to see and watch animals that are in the wild. In theory, it doesn't really matter the kind of animal, the breed or the color. They can all help us heal in different ways within our world today.

Pet Choice-Selecting The Breed

If you’ve decided a dog is the right pet for you, congratulations. People with dogs tend to be healthier and happier, and suffer less from depression, stress, high blood pressure, heart disease, and loneliness than those without. A close relationship with a dog can provide you with years of protection, companionship, and unconditional love.
While the rewards of owning a dog are greater than any other pet, so, too, are the responsibilities. All dogs need daily outdoor exercise, regular medical check-ups, and a lot of attention from their owners. To make sure you find the perfect canine friend, it’s important to choose a dog that best fits in with your lifestyle.

 There are over 150 different types of purebred dogs, and an exponentially larger number of mixed breeds. You can narrow down your choices by realistically matching a dog’s “happiness factors” with your own. Hang around dog parks and talk to other dog owners. They can give you clues as to whether a certain type of dog will be happy with what you are able to provide.
                               
                                                      TYPES OF DOGS

1. Herding dogs (Collies, Old English Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds) thrive on a farm with animals to herd. To be happy and well-adjusted in an urban setting they need lots of exercise, a job to do, or to be involved in a sport such as agility or obedience.
2. Hounds (Beagles, Bassets, Greyhounds) naturally track other animals—and humans—by smell or sight. Sight-driven dogs move quickly, their speed and stamina making them difficult to catch if they get away from you. Smell-driven dogs move more slowly, but are prone to wander off to track a scent. They can be very vocal, howling or baying.
3. Non-Sporting dogs (Chows, Dalmatians, Poodles) seldom serve their original purposes—for example, Poodles hunted truffles, and Dalmatians were “coach dogs.” Non-sporting dogs are popular family companions when their individual activities levels and needs are a good match for those of family members’.
4. Sporting dogs (Pointers, Retrievers, Setters, Spaniels), bred to dash around all day finding land and waterfowl for their masters, are active, alert and require daily, invigorating exercise. They like to be around people, getting lots of attention. Labrador and Golden retrievers, both members of the Sporting group, are two of the most popular family pets.
5. Terriers (Westies, Fox Terriers, Wheatons) are energetic, tenacious, brave and determined… and they love to dig! Developed to hunt and kill rodents and foxes that raided farms, terriers are a feisty breed. Quite independent, they’re difficult to train. Although they can be friendly, loyal and stable pets, some may be “yappy” and will nip boisterous children.
6. Toy dogs (Cavalier King Charles, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers) are bred as companions—they only want to be with you! But even lapdogs need exercise. Small and fragile, they can be excitable and yappy, and can easily get under foot. Children and the elderly must take extra care around them. Loyal and intelligent, they love to learn tricks.
7. Working dogs (Akita, Boxer, Doberman, Great Dane, Newfoundland) are born to “work” at a specific physical job, whether it be guarding, hauling, rescuing or sledding. Many are not ideal as family pets, but can be with proper socialization and obedience training. Independent, strong willed and physically overpowering, they must be kept under control and gets lots of appropriate exercise.