Shih Tzu Puppy. via Wikipedia

The Shih Tzu is a small and lively dog that makes and excellent watch dog. They are beautiful little dogs that generally get along well with other dogs and other pets. They love older children but should be socialized with them. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Shih Tzu is 8 to 11 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 8 to 15 pounds.

*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Shih Tzu is no exception. Be on the look out for genetic kidney disease, slipped stifles and teeth problems. Their large eyes can also be injured or irritated. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

*Grooming. The Shih Tzu has a double coat. The inner coat is soft and wooly. The outer coat is long and flowing with some having a slight wave. She should be brushed daily. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.

Her ears should be checked once a week and be kept clean. If you have her professionally groomed, make sure ear cleaning and inspection is part of the package. No water or excess fluid should get in the dogs ears, and do not try to irrigate the ears. Ear cleaning is too complicated and critical to instruct here. Look for hair growing in the ear canal, excess wax, or moisture. If her ears have a discharge, foul odor or she seems to be in distress and you suspect an infection, or tumor, consult your veterinarian.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet.

*Life Span. The Shih Tzu can live between 10 and 14 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

*History. The Shih Tzu come from Tibet where they were used as a family pet. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1969.

Some Registries:
*American Shih Tzu Club
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry

Litter Size: 2 to 4 Shih Tzu puppies

Category: Toy

Terms To Describe: Loyal, alert, lively, sturdy, arrogant, friendly, outgoing, happy, affectionate

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Makes a good watch dog.
Good dog for allergy sufferer.

*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
They can snore.
Can gain weight fast.
Can be stubborn.
Makes a poor guard dog.
May be difficult to housebreak.

*Other Names Known By: Lion Dog, Chrysanthemum Dog,

*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

Mitch Endick

Technorati Tags: American Kennel Club, Australian National Kennel Council, Kennel club, New Zealand Kennel Club, Shih Tzu, Shih Tzu Puppy, United Kennel Club

Norfolk Terrier Puppy via Wikipedia

The Norfolk Terrier is a loving, hardy and active little dog that makes a great pet. They can easily be kept in an apartment as long as she is afforded frequent long walks. A properly fenced in back yard with provisions for a digging dog would be the ideal exercise situation. She was bred to be a hunter and ratter so she should be socialized with small pets very early on. She is generally very good with older, considerate children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog. She makes a great watch dog but can tend to be a barker if left outdoors with nothing to do for long periods of time.,

*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Norfolk Terrier is 10 to 10.25 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 11 to 12 pounds.

*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Norfolk Terrier is no exception. Although considered a very hardy breed, be on the look out for dry skin if kept indoors, genetic eye disorders, back problems and heart murmurs. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

Norfolk Terrier, Image via Wikipedia

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

*Grooming. The Norfolk Terrier has a silky, feathered medium length coat that sheds lightly. She should be bathed once a month or so. She should be brushed regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.

*Life Span. The Norfolk Terrier can live between 12 and 14 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

*History. The Norfolk Terrier come from Great Britain where they hunted vermin. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1936.

Some Registries:
*Norwich & Norfolk Terrier Club
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry

Litter Size: Around 3 Norfolk Terrier puppies

Category: Terrier

Terms To Describe: Friendly, fearless, loyal, active, affectionate, intelligent

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Good watch dog.
A very personable dog with personality.
They like horses.

*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Poor guard dog.
She is a digger.
She will leave on an adventure.
She can be a barker.
Should be under control when walked.

*Other Names Known By: Cantab Terrier, Jones Terrier, Trumpington Terrier

*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

Mitch Endick

Technorati Tags: American Kennel Club, dog, Kennel club, New Zealand Kennel Club, Norfolk Terrier, Norfolk Terrier Puppy, Norwich Terrier, Terrier Group

Dog Training can be a game, via Wikipedia

Dog training games can be use to complement your daily dog training activities to teach your dog basic commands and cultivate desirable behavior and at the same time foster your interest in learning new things.

Many studies have also shown that dogs tend to learn faster and respond more positively to the training when the lessons are fun and innovative.

Using games during training, you will also provide your dog a natural healthy channel to expand out any excessive energies that might otherwise be use to chase animals, bark at neighbors or dig around your yard.

There are several innovative games you can play with your dog however these are the 5 more popular training games that you can start using immediately:

Game of Exchange: Teaches your dog his name and the “Come” command at the same time by recalling your dog to come back to you in exchange for a reward like a pat or treat. Can be easily play throughout the day, your dog will soon be able to recognize the verbal command and come back towards you even without any rewards.

Game of Fetch: Throwing a frisbee or ball, you teach your dog to follow and retrieve the item back to you. Allow your dog to exercise, develop enthusiasm and their natural retriever instincts. Also helps teaches your dog both the “Fetch” and “Drop It” command.

Game of Tug-of-War: As the name suggest, a tug-of-war for the blanket or rubber toy – this game develops your dog physical prowess and helps build up his confidence (if you let your dog win most of the time).

Game of Hide and Seek: A very useful indoor game to teach your dog the “Wait” and “Seek” command during rainy days. You hide a treat or an object (preferably his favorite toy) and ask your dog to search for it. It also encourages the use of your dog’s natural curiosity in constructive explorations and helps create familiarization around his/her surroundings.

Game of Socialization: Spending time with people or other animals. This game develops the social skills of the dog and its connection with other animals and people.

There are also many benefits when you incorporate games into your dog training, such as:

The games are good exercise and help your dog to keep fit, strong and healthy.

The training games develop agility, responsiveness, attentiveness, vitality, and manners in your dog.

The playing time create a great bonding opportunity for you and your dog to spend quality time together.

The games help the dog to cope and adapt better to the changes in his life.

The games helps you to communicate your commands to your dog more effectively as the process is less boring or stressful.

The games is also an important aspect in social development to cultivate your dog curiosity and exploration instinct.

In all, dog training games are really a wonderful way for your your dog get stimulated both physically and mentally. Your dog will also actually be looking forward to his next training session once it realizes how much fun the training was.

James Lee

Technorati Tags: dog, Dog Games, dog social development, Dog training, Dog Training Games, fetch, Socialization

Dog Training via Wikipedia

Dogs are not easy to train. You will have to dedicate time and effort in order to train the dog.

Remember that dog training is better when done by professionals. But if you really want to train your dog at home, you will have to make sure that you have learned a few things before beginning.

One you have learned enough to begin, you can start with curing the basic problems. All the dogs have some common issues which you will have to solve. If your dog barks a lot, you will be in trouble. You will have to cure dog barking to start with. You will keep on doing the other things like the dog social training and dog obedience training along with all this.

When you are trying to stop your dog from barking, keep it in mind that dog barking is natural. You can not ask your dog not to bark. But yes, you can reduce it. Your dog will bark as this is the only way a dog knows to express himself. You should start by understanding why your dog barks. If you will know this, you will be able to train him more efficiently.

One important thing to keep in mind is never to reward your dog for his barking. The dog training is all about making the rules and then following them. You will have to make it clear to your dog that you will not be allowing any behavior which breaks those rules. Keep the same rule going with the dog barking. Tell your dog clearly that you are not going to reward him when he barks. This will help you to train him even better.

The other major problem with the dogs is digging. Many dog owners are worried by this habit and they want to get rid of it. But the proper time to teach your dog not to dig unnecessarily is the first few weeks. You will have to teach your dog to learn alternatives. The dogs love digging and they should do it. But you will have to make them understand that they can not dig anywhere they like. You can specify a time and a place for them to dig. Most of the good dog trainers take their dogs out and give them time to dig. This helps the dogs and they do not do it in the home.

You dog will behave properly if you are training him well. There are various training methods which you can use. You can learn these methods and see what works best for you and your dog. Some times the same method does not work on all the pets and you may have to find an alternative according to the nature of the animal.

Technorati Tags: Bark (utterance), Dog barking, dog problems, Dog training, Major, Obedience training, pet, problems, training

The modern canine diet is improving along with the available supplements needed to fill in the nutrient gaps where needed.

As the humanization of the family dog progresses, the progression of the canine diet including nutritional supplements has vastly improved. Dog health is the biggest beneficiary from these progressions; increased quality of dog food, health care, and lifestyle are increasing a dog’s lifespan.

The senior stage of a dog’s life has become more complicated, no longer is there a rapid decrease in activity followed by death, many veterinarians and dog owners now face decisions on quality of life and life extending medical treatments.

The modern veterinarian hospital is capable of many of the same types of life saving operations available to humans. The obligations of veterinarians and doctors are drastically different. The humanization of pets may affect the dog’s health care experience on the surface, however veterinarians are not compelled legally or ethically to treat your beloved dog other than an animal. For this reason owners need to become strong advocates for their dog’s health care. Being an effective advocate involves much more than having the sentiment that your hound is one of the family. You need to become versed in the areas of dog health that usually face all owners and their veterinarians at some point.

When medical care decisions are being discussed with your veterinarian issues of costs, amount of care for recovery or cases of being disabled and a veterinarian’s own bias towards the value of a dog’s life can overwhelm your desired care.

Becoming a strong advocate for your dog will ensure the level of medical treatment you always intended for them will be crystal clear when the time comes. The tools you utilize to establish yourself as your dog’s health care decision maker will also provide you with important information resources on chronic disease preventative. In general the health and well being of your beloved hound will be what you always intended it to be.

Use the following steps to prioritize your efforts in establishing the skills needed to be a strong advocate for your dog’s health and well being:

1. Record notes on your dog’s demeanor and general physical appearance every 6 months (remember that’s a long time in a dog’s life expectancy). Keep copies of all medical records.

2. Record their diet

3. Use a simple ear thermometer to record their temperature when their feeling especially good and when their feeling especially poor.

4. Utilize the web and bookmark forums devoted to information on dog health. Use these forums to educate yourself on the most common areas of canine biology, disease, nutrition, etc.

5. As you develop knowledge in certain areas of dog health incorporate you diagnoses of your dog’s current state of health into your notes in step 1.

Technorati Tags: Advocate, care, dog care, Dog Health Care, Dog Health Care Advocate, dog's current state of health, dogs, health, veterinarian, veterinarians

Older Dog in Sun by ex_magician via Flickr

As dogs age, they can experience some of the same pain related medical problems that humans do. Their mobility may become restricted or limited. Eating habits of older dogs change. As a caring per owner, you want to provide your aging dog with the best care and maximum level of comfort possible. There are many products available to help you with that goal.

Orthopedic, memory foam beds offer aging dogs a more comfortable place to sleep. They come in sizes appropriate for the smallest breeds of dogs to the largest breed. The beds have removable, washable covers and come in numerous colors and fabric choices. Orthopedic bolster beds are a good option for older dogs. They have some extra security and comfort when snuggling against the bolster side of the bed. Certain styles of bolster beds are also designed to address not only arthritic issues but incontinence issues. They have a water resistant liner and washable cover. Orthopedic beds help keep you pet warm and comfortable. However, sometimes, a dog suffering from hip or joint pain needs additional warmth to soothe the pain.

Heating pads designed for humans are not appropriate for a dog. However, there are various ways to add soothing warmth to your pet’s bed. A electric heating pad, designed specifically for use with dogs is an affordable option. They use only 6 to 13 watts of electricity. There are also heating pads available that you can place in the microwave for about five minutes then tuck into your pet’s bed to keep them warm for hours. If your dog stays outside, you can find heated pads that are safe for outdoor use.

Orthopedic beds are not the only way to make your aging pet more comfortable. Supplements are available for dogs with joint problems. Vitamins are also available. There are dog foods that are made specifically to meet the nutritional needs of an aging dog. Treats are also available that offer dental protection.

If your dog likes to ride in the car with you but has difficulty getting in and out of the car, you can purchase a ramp that will make the process easier. You can use a ramp or specifically designed dog steps to make it easier for your dog to join you on the sofa or on your bed if they are used to sharing it with you.

Technorati Tags: Aging dogs, Cats & Dogs, dogs, Heating pad, life, older dog issues, per owner of older dog, smallest breeds of dogs

Labradoodle by dogsbylori via Flickr

These Labradoodles are actually a crossbreed of a labrador retriever dog plus a poodle dog. They were crossed to bring together the finest of all their qualities; the lower shedding off coating of a poodle with the mildness as well as ease of coaching associated with the Labrador dogs.

Generall y speaking Labradoodles will be of a couple of sorts: An Australian Labradoodle and also basic Labradoodles. Now, while we are looking to adopt a Labradoodle we may notice words and phrases like F1, F2, F3 and so forth. F1 means being the earliest mix of a lab plus a poodle dog. F2 is the term for a labradoodle both of whose parents are essentially F1 and so on. A mating between Labradoodles over a few generations, provides Australian Labradoodles or Multigenerational Labradoodles.

Referring to the look of this particular canine, its appearance is normally unspecific and could range considerably as a result of breed of dog being quite recent; it hasn’t yet been possible to unfailingly produce a 100% pure lineage of Labradoodles. A handful of Labradoodles possess wavy fur, which usually is the most prevalent type; and some often have fur from being straight or perhaps having a fur with wire-like curls, just like that of a poodle dog. A normal labradoodle, which belongs to just about any generation, usually has an probable lifetime of about thirteen to fifteen years of age.

Of course, when thinking of buying a new dog one of the primary and the most crucial considerations would be the pet’s overall health. The labradoodle’s medical problems may be a lot like that surrounding a lab and/or a poodle; such as hip dysplasia as well as other joint problems, together with numerous eyesight problems. It’s also encouraged to refer to your vet regarding possible hereditary and congenital anomalies associated with this breed of dog, such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (or PRA); that is rather prevalent amongst this canine. It is strongly recommended that you get a thorough bodily check-up immediately after taking on a pup.

Appropriate diet together with nutrients are certainly essential for any doggy’s health and wellbeing. However, selecting a certain type of diet regime for your labradoodle might be a knockout task. There are a couple of important things that ought to be taken into consideration; first, there’s simply no one single food that is “perfect” for just about each and every doggy, since it may vary from one to the other dog. And secondly, as all dogs are carnivorous together with animal meat proved to be a naturally healthy food item, it is adviced to be on top of your own puppy’s diet plan.

Certain pups might happen to be hypersensitive or intolerant towards some food supplements; accordingly, experimentation might have to be practised; to pick high quality foods to match your puppy best. In addition to giving cereal, try and add more mixture to the meal, to fill out all the dietary gaps that one food could possibly be lacking in. When it comes to labradoodle pups, aim to keep the eating plan in limitation since surplus eating encourages the pups to develop prematurely causing bone along with joint pain. Proper meals in the correct quantity does the trick.

So, for anyone who is thinking of buying one of these dogs, you really should do it. The Labradoodles are really cute and a lot better than the best of Labs or poodles. They are really lively, trainable, smart as well as absolutely gentle. And if Jennifer Aniston has got one, perhaps you’ve got nothing to be concerned about; so do you??

JimmyVelastanez

Technorati Tags: About, Designer, Designer Dog, dog health, dog problems, Find, Jennifer Aniston, Labradoodle, Labrador Retriever, Poodle

people in the household unknowingly encouraging jumping.

Learn more about how to train dogs not to jump up on people

with tips from an animal behavior expert in this free dog training video.

Expert: Donna Bainter Contact: www. SPCATampaBay.org

Bio: Donna Bainter has been a feline and canine behavior trainer since 2000.

Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Technorati Tags: animal behavior, Dog training, free dog training video, jumping, pet, Preventing, Reinforcement, tips, training

natural dog food, organic dog food, royal canin dog food,

eagle pack dog food,canidae dog food, innova dog food and

wellness dog food. Get the best dog food delivered to your door.

dogfoodhere.com

Technorati Tags: best, dog food, dog health, food, health, Pet food, Pet Supplies, Royal Canin

As a part of obedience training, we would ask our pets to perform a few commands

for us before rewarding them with their meal. Here, FurFur performed the following commands:

Lie down Roll over (with his own spin on it) Gluteus Dancing

Go get your food Leave it Come here Sit If you enjoyed this, please visit our blog at SweetFurr.blogspot.com

and also subscribe to our channel www.youtube.com .Thanks! =)

Technorati Tags: Dancing, dog, Gluteal muscles, Obedience training, puppy, Shih Tzu, Shih tzu training, Toy Group, training