Dog Kennels: Select the Right One for Peace of Mind When You’re Out of Town

For most dog owners, choosing among the many dog kennels that are out there is one of the hardest tasks to do, especially because you are already faced with the prospect of going away from home without your best pal.

No matter where you decide to leave your dog, no one will be able to take care of them like you can, so you want a place that is as comfortable and as close to home as possible for your dog.

Remember that some dog kennels are going to be pricier than others, as some of the more expensive facilities considered “dog boarding spas” will very much cater to your dog’s individual needs. Not everyone can afford these expensive facilities though.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help you find an affordable dog boarding facility that is right for your pooch…

Requires Vaccinations: Remember that your dog will be boarded alongside other pets, so it is best to find a facility that requires dogs to be updated on vaccinations before kenneling. This is to protect your dogs as much as it is to protect the staff. The two most important vaccinations are rabies and bordetella. The bordetella shot protects dogs from receiving “kennel cough,” a common cold that is passed from dogs who are boarded in close proximity.

Meets Your Dog’s Needs: Unfortunately there are some dog boarding kennels that are just overwhelmed with too many dogs and too little staff. This means your dog will probably get the basic necessities like being let out to go to the bathroom on a minimal basis and getting two meals a day. A good facility will make sure your dog receives necessary medications, special foods for their diet, as well as adequate outdoor time.

If you are going out of town and have a new puppy, you may also want to consider finding a place like a puppy kennel that specifically takes care of puppies or at least a facility that has adequate staff to watch over a potty training puppy.

A Clean Facility: One of the most important factors you should look for is a clean facility. This means that the kennels are hosed down on a regular basis to remove any urine or feces. As well, the facility is cleaned with disinfectants and the animals are cleaned immediately in the case of an accident. When you stop by to check out the facility, if the kennels and dogs there don’t seem clean, trust your instincts.

Adequate Exercise Facilities: Many experienced dog owners will tell you that the most frustrating experience with dog kennels is coming home to find their dog bouncing off the walls. Although they will inevitably be excited to see you, this can also mean that they didn’t receive any exercise while you were gone. While it might be nice to board your pet at a veterinarian’s office because of the comforts of having a pet doctor nearby, many don’t have any backyard space for exercising the dogs.

If your dog has medium to high level exercise needs, you should look for a place that has a fenced in play yard or one that offers special services for extra prices, like a game of fetch twice a day or an extra walk for fifteen minutes. Although dog kennels will never be home to your pet, they shouldn’t be a traumatizing experience either. Finding a place that treats your pet right will help you enjoy your time away from home.

When Richard Livitski isn’t busy digging up information about dog kennels, he’s working on his dog names website http://www.dog-names-and-more.com where dog names as well as grooming, training, and dog care tips can be found.

Caring For Your Bulldog The Right Way

The Bulldog is one of the most popular purebred dogs. It is popular among celebrities and families. The broad shouldered,stocky bulldog with it characteristic under bite and pugnacious gait has long been a mascot of sports teams and military units.

Similar to its personality ,the bull dog care is also unlike any other dog.But their docile,even tempered personality that belies their tough guy image makes them good pets for families with young children. They are so expressive. If one looks into their eyes one can almost see what they are thinking.Their growing popularity with celebrities have added to their publicity. The breed is the second most popular dog in Los Angeles.

An English bull dog puppy makes a great companion. A prominent characteristic of this breed is that they are attention seekers and get along well in a home with children and other pets. If they are given proper care and attention ,you are ensured of a very loyal and loving pet in return. Nevertheless,the care of an English bull dog puppy requires a bit of firmness. It will be difficult to deal if you spoil them. In case they are used to a lot of attention and loses it ,for instance,when its owners’ have a baby, it can act out by barking or biting. Therefore, attention needs to be consistent and firm, so that the dog senses its place in what it sees as its group.

It must be remembered that an English bull dog they become less interested in exercise as they age. While these dogs are short and stocky they should be put through regular exercise on to prevent obesity. As they are exhausted by exercise they should be given water often. Another peculiarity of this breed is that it has so many folds. Therefore, cleanliness is really important in the English bulldog care routine. If not cleaned well it can cause bacterial or fungal infections.

On the other hand,an American bull dog is a breed of working dog developed for catching livestock and for protecting property. Though larger in size, they are the closest surviving relative of the old English bulldog. There are generally considered to be two types of American bulldog, the johnson type and the Scott type, named after the breeders who were influential in developing them, John D. Johnson and Allen Scott. These are more commonly known as Classic or Bully type and Standard or Performance type. The American Bulldog is a stocky, strong-looking dog. Its coat is short and either white or white with patches.

The growing popularity of bull dog has a downside. Thy can suffer from breathing problems and should only be treated by experienced veterinarians. Bull dogs are also unable to swim. Breeders use artificial insemination and caesarean sections when breeding the dogs to reduce the high risk of injury caused by the large size of the dog’s head in proportion to its hips. The elaborate precautions required when breeding bulldogs puts the cost of a typical purebred bulldog care on the higher side.

Choosing a Right Dog – Tips and Things to Consider

As we see healthy and lovely dogs around, it really seemed so exciting and so much fun getting in-love to have one. It was really nice feelings to have a loyal companion and friend that’s always there to cheer you up. But before you decide what kind of dog want to be with, it is always better to be well-prepared and make best decisions to ensure a good quality of life for you and your pet. There are thousands and millions of dogs suffering and being euthanized around and it is really hearth-breaking, so instead of becoming part of a problem, let us be a part of solution. Be responsible enough and equip ourselves with good information and education. A dog is a part of the family for a dozen or more years; the commitment to feed, shelter, and nurture a family friend for that amount of time should be based on rigorous analysis of an appropriate breed for the family circumstances.

Here are some points to consider when choosing a dog that’s perfect for you. First is the size, a large dog is not suitable for an apartment, for elderly owners, or for mild-mannered women because of their strength and incredible energy and exercise need. Large, agile dogs adapt well to apartment or condo living as long as they get a daily walk, and some are gentle enough that anyone with a firm voice and manner can easily handle them, they are good for house with children. Small dogs may be unsuitable for families with active children or elderly or infirm relatives who could trip over a small, bouncy critter. Some dogs are lethargic and others are very energetic and needs enough exercise a day to let these energy settle down. Those who fail to give enough exercise for very energetic dog, dogs tend to bored and divert it on unnecessary behavior like being too destructive, aggressive and many other behavior problems. Active families would be happier with a pet that can jog, hike, and play ball, and more sedate folks would most likely prefer a quieter animal. Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and Corgis are not jogging companions, and Airedales, German Shepherds, and Border Collies are not typical couch potatoes, they love to walking and usually likes to perform agilities around. All dogs need some exercise to stay healthy. Most adult dogs will not exercise themselves, so time for walks and other activities is important. Some breeds are fairly easy to train, and some are quite difficult. If you lack time and patience to deal with a dog that is difficult to train, then an older dog from a rescue service may fit your bill as well as a pup of a breed that is traditionally easier to train. Intelligence is not necessarily an indicator of trainability; smart dogs often have their own agenda and require firmness of purpose on the part of their owners. Smart dogs bored easily, specially on activities that are repeated, have some different routines and activities to do, or a higher level of training like on agility training class where they can show what really they got. As a rule, terriers, hounds, and northern dogs are tough to train because of their intelligence and independent natures, and sporting and herding dogs are easier to train. The sharpest-working obedience breeds are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Border Collies, German Shepherds, and Shetland Sheepdogs, breeds that developed to closely with humans.

Dog barks, they range from a lovely small bark of a puppy into annoying barks that are so embarrasing and might turn into hating neighborhood, too much barking can lead to noise laws or even pet limit laws. Terriers and scent hounds use their voices to broadcast their progress in chasing prey animals. Shelties and Collies bark to tell the sheep to git back to the barn. Canaan Dogs bark to alert their families to potential intruders. Barking dogs do not endear owners to their neighbors in apartments, condominiums, and close-knit suburbs. Dogs bark if they are too bored so ensure you have enough time and ability to train, walk and have playtime with your pet. There are some special collars available to deter barking dogs and some training methods that can help in some cases, but if potential owners take the noise factor into consideration, problems are more likely to be minimized. Owner’s capabilities and commitment always have a dog with good behavior and temperament. Breed and group temperament can be described, but there is latitude within that description for individuality. Thus Akitas are declared to be tough animals, loyal, aloof, dominant, aggressive to other animals, and often challenging. However, many Akitas are sweet and cuddly, love small critters, will climb in laps if allowed, and are anything but aloof and dominant. Terriers are scrappy, yappy, tough, and independent, but Airedale Terriers bond very closely to their humans and are somewhat protective. Hounds follow their eyes or noses and are often oblivious to human presence, but Dachshunds bond closely with their families and Greyhounds and Whippets are sweet, gentle pets.

Meticulous housekeepers and folks with little or no time for grooming will be happier with dogs that don’t accessorize the living room with dog-hair dust bunnies a couple of times a year. Double-coated dogs may also have longer, stiffer guard hairs that can penetrate bare feet like splinters. Long-coated and double-coated dogs shed, shed, and shed some more, leaving tufts of hair to float about the house and land everywhere. Dogs with oily outer coats can develop a doggy odor that can be unpleasant, dogs with heavy coats may suffer in southern climes, and dogs with short coats may shiver in the north. Brushing is needed to remove the dead hair from wire-coated terriers, poodles, and poodle relatives, and professional grooming is necessary to maintain texture and color in wirehaired terriers. These breeds are generally better than heavily shedding breeds for owners with allergies. Your environment, dogs can be destructive to gardens, lawns, and landscape plantings. Common problems such as urinating on lawns or shrubs, roll in flowers, chomp on vegetables and branches, dig holes, and generally cause havoc unless they are restrained from doing so. Sturdy fences will keep dogs from entering gardens if they are tall enough so dog owners use underground radio fences or wireless fences.

On health, have good knowledge on what to feed for your dog. Ask or look for some comments or testimonials about certain dog food before giving it to your dog. Dogs in the wild naturally eat raw food, it was natural, healthy and cheap so consider them, ask your vet about it. A good vet will say about dog raw food, if they always recommend those process food then look for a new vet that could suggest. Although purebred dogs are sometimes denigrated as harboring all sorts of genetic abnormalities and mixed breed dogs are sometimes claimed to be healthier than their purebred cousins, the truth is that all dog have the same range of health problems. Some of these problems are genetic, some result from exposure to disease or parasites, and some are the result of non-inherited birth defects or injuries. Joint problems, including hip and elbow dysplasia and loose kneecaps; eye problems; cancers; skin diseases; heart and other organ diseases; and more affect canines of every size and background. Some dogs have additional problems caused by short muzzles, long backs, giant or diminutive size, or other physical features. When you finally decide on what kind of breed, research everything about this breed. Make sure you get the dog on the right place, visit first rescue or shelter house where then can study if the dog will be perfect for your lifestyle. Also make sure you are getting the dog on true responsible breeder, they should have all the papers and required shots, etc.

Dog Training Tools How to Choose the Right Dog Training Tools

Having the right dog training tools will make a huge difference in your success as a dog owner. Choose the wrong tools, and you can end up with more dog problems. The wrong equipment or tools used the wrong way can make your dog uncomfortable and distressed, which is not conducive to training.

There are some things to consider first.

1. The breed of dog (size, strength, physical peculiarities)

2. Your dog’s level of training

3. The purpose (walking, playing, unsupervised restraint)

Most likely, you will need more than one leash and collar. If in doubt, ask your dog supply provider which is best for your needs. For specialized collars as those needed for agility training, seek the advice of a dog training professional to be sure you get the right information.

Flat Collar

These come in varying styles and are made from leather, nylon or other fabric. A proper fit allows you to slide two fingers between the dog’s neck and the collar. This particular style does not give you much control and can be slipped off easily by dogs that are determined to be free. It is the best choice for young puppies because they are not yet at the stage when strong correction or restraint is necessary.

Choke Chain

The choke chain is usually made from links of chain with a large ring on each end. The chain is slipped through one of the rings to form a loop that is then slid on over the dog’s neck. When the chain is pulled, it tightens on the dog’s throat encouraging it to stop pulling. It’s effectiveness lies in how the handler applies any correction. However, as a training tool, it is one of the worst choices.

Some dogs learn to ignore the choking and pull anyway. If the chain is allowed to hang loosely, it can fall over the dog’s head when he sniffs the ground.

It is essential that the choke chain be put on and used correctly, otherwise injuries to the dog’s throat and neck can occur. If it is put on backwards, the chain will not tighten and release properly as it is tightened.

The Halter

The halter is one of the better dog training tools because there is little if any chance of harming your dog. This style fits over the dog’s muzzle like a horse halter, giving you control over your dog’s head. It is great for redirecting your dog’s attention, especially if your dog tends to become focused on what he wants to do rather than on what you want him to do.

There are other collars available that are designed for agility training and other types of activities. You want to make sure you have the right one so there is no risk of your dog’s collar getting caught and causing injury.

As with any dog training tools, a collar alone will not provide training. You must put your dog through the proper lessons and use the collar as a tool, otherwise you will have a dog that walks fine with the collar, but has little to no obedience without it.

Discover How to Select the Right Agility Tunnel

Okay, so you’ve decided you want to do some agility training with your dog. That’s great! You’ve seen some competitions, know you need some dog agility equipment, and decide to go to the pet store looking for some of the standard training items such as a tunnel. When you get there what you find is there are a lot of options to choose from but you really have no idea which one would suit you and Fido best. Not so great.

Well fortunately, here is some information that can help. This is the information you need to know how to select an agility tunnel.

Tunnels come in several different types. The basic selection for competition comes in 10 ft, 12 ft, 15 ft, and 20 ft lengths. They can be 4 inch pitch or 6 inch pitch. The Pitch refers to the amount of space between the metal that structures the tunnel inside. It can be heat sealed or sewed. Sewed is better for a hot climate like Az. The rip stop industrial strength fabric is very durable. The sun can actually make a heat sealed one fall apart after a while.

Various Agility venues have different requirements for the pitch. AKC, and USDAA, for instance requires 4 inch pitch. The pitch lends durability, stability, and weight to a tunnel. The heaviest weight may be required when hundreds of dogs are running through one, but for your own training needs at home to practice, a 6 inch pitch will usually work just fine. It really depends on your level of competition and the wishes of your trainer for you and your dog.

All sizes of tunnels are used on an agility course. You need longer ones to do a U or L shaped tunnel. You also may bend them underneath other pieces of contact equipment like an A frame or dog walk to teach the dog to discriminate between two obstacles. Most dogs find tunnels really tempting, so it is a distraction of sorts.

There are also collapsed tunnels or they are also referred to as Chutes. These are attached to a barrel and clamped on to form a flat or collapsed tunnel which is usually more challenging for the dog and it also takes longer to get through. You should never leave a chute unattended in your back yard as a dog can get tangled in one and there may be dire results of injury or worse. It is only to be used with handler supervision. Most dogs like these with practice.

If a person is in a puppy class or has a young dog and they want to do some back yard fun training, a practice tunnel made of light weight nylon type material is available for this type of activity. It is less expensive and easy to transport or store.

In order to stabilize your tunnel, you should ideally have tunnel weights or fasteners that look like straps on both ends and possibly the middle to keep it from moving or pitching when a fast dog runs through it. Milk jugs filled with sand and a rope or cord may have the same effect if you don’t want to immediately purchase tunnel bags, but that is what they are designed for-to keep your tunnel stable.

Tunnels can be a multitude of colors. You can mix and match and have fun making your course colorful.

Now a trip to the pet store to purchase dog agility training equipment won’t be so overwhelming since you know how to select an agility tunnel.

Secrets to Great Dog Health Care: How to Choose a Vet That’s Right for Your Dog

How to choose a vet

Your vet is a pretty significant figure in your dog’s life – and thus, in yours. Hopefully, you’ll only ever need him or her for routine checkups and preventative procedures; but just in case, it’s worth taking the time to develop a good relationship with a suitable vet, before you need their services.

WHERE AT LOOK

Sure, you could just pick a vet at random from the Yellow Pages or from an Internet search; but having the right vet is crucial to your dog’s health and happiness (and, presumably, this plays at least some part in your own happiness and peace of mind as an owner, right?)

Think about it this way: if you were trying to choose a doctor for yourself, would you be happy to just select one at random from an impersonal list?

Probably not. You’d want somebody who comes highly recommended – somebody you feel like you can trust.

Your vet isn’t just your dog’s doctor; he or she is also the dentist, manicurist, psychologist, and – hopefully! – a friend. When you roll all these things up into one, you can see why it’s necessary to spend some time confirming that you’ve made the right choice.

The best place to start looking for a vet is by word of mouth. If you have any friends or relatives who take good care of their dogs, then that’s a great place to start: ask them who they’d recommend, and why. This last one is particularly important, because everyone has different priorities: for example, perhaps they like their own vet because he/she is a specialist in their own particular breed; or they don’t charge very much; or the clinic is only five minutes’ drive … their priorities are not necessarily yours, so it’s a good idea to make sure that your values coincide with the person giving the recommendations.

Another great place to find a vet is through local training clubs (Schutzhund, agility, herding classes, police K-9 academies, etc.) These organizations are almost guaranteed to place a great deal of importance on high-quality veterinary care, because the health and well-being of their dogs is such a priority.

Once you’ve got a list of vets that you’re interested in pursuing further, all you have to do is call up the clinic and explain that you’re looking to find a regular vet for your dog(s): can you come in for a quick chat, introduce your dog, and have a look at the premises?

HAVE A LOOK BEFORE YOU NEED TO

Before you decide to align yourself and your dog with a particular clinic, test the waters first. Ideally, you want a chance to talk to the vet, and discuss his or her philosophies and approach to pet care.

This is really important. If your dog ever really needs vet-care (if there’s an emergency, or if she needs an urgent short-term appointment), you want to be sure that you’ve made the best possible choice as far as her health and comfort levels are concerned. Neither of you should be subjected to any unnecessary extra stress at a time like that – and you can avoid a lot of grief by spending a bit of time in preparation.

THINGS TO ASK THE VET

While you’re at the clinic, you’ll want to be assessing your potential vet’s overall attitude and approach to health care and animals; and you’ll also probably want answers to some specific questions.

Here’s a list of useful questions to help you on your way:

- How many vets are there on staff? If you need to make an urgent appointment, you don’t want to be waiting around while precious minutes tick past. Ideally, there’ll be at least two qualified veterinarians on hand (not just technicians or assistants.)

- What kind of testing and analysis capabilities does the clinic have. If they have to send away to a lab for this kind of stuff, it means that the results are going to be delayed. If your dog is very sick, time is an important factor: it’s best if the clinic has at least blood-analysis testing on hand.

- What after-hours services are available? A lot of clinics close the doors in the evenings and on weekends, which means that if there’s an emergency, you’ll have to go somewhere else – and subject your dog (and yourself) to an unfamiliar vet. (If you don’t mind this, then that’s fine; but be aware that in a high-stress situation when emotions are running high, it’s reassuring for your dog and yourself to deal with someone familiar.)

- What’s their price range? How are payments made? Is there a facility for payment plans in case of unexpected vet bills? The payment-plan option is particularly important. Even with pet insurance, vet bills can sometimes be astronomical – and not everyone has the resources to deal with large vet bills straight away. Ask the clinic how they cater for situations like that.

- How up-to-date is the staff with advances in the industry? Do the vet, the technicians, and the assistants attend seminars and workshops regularly? The field of medical care is always moving forward – responsible vets make the effort to keep up with the times, and see that their staff do, too.

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

When you choose a vet, you’re balancing convenience and quality. There’s no right or wrong vet for you and your dog – which is partly why making the choice can be so confusing. There are lots of vets to choose from, and they’re all different!

Even though it’s tempting to go for the one right around the corner with the rock-bottom prices, it really is worthwhile taking the time to shop around. Your dog is utterly dependent on you for her healthcare – and if you take her seriously as a companion and member of the family, you’ll want to do the best thing by her.

A good vet knows how to take care of you as well as your dog. The relationship that you have with your vet will hopefully be one that’s based around a healthy mutual respect and positive synergy – there should be very little scope for misunderstanding. When the two of you see eye to eye, it makes caring for your dog that much easier.

FURTHER READING

For a complete survival guide on stress-free dog care, including detailed information on when your dog needs to see the vet, how to respond to pet emergencies, dog First Aid, and all common health problems, check out The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health. It’s a complete handbook on dog health care, and teaches you how to take a proactive and prepared approach to knowledgeable dog ownership.