How to choose your dog breeder

July 3rd, 2009

A dog will definitely change your life in a positive manner and he is going to take up your time with his daily activities such as feeding, grooming, exercise and play. Dogs are very social animals and they need you to spend time with them so it is essential for you and your dog to make a good match. There are various types of dogs to choose from, pure and mixed breeds, dog information being available widely on the internet. Furthermore, online you will be able to find not only information about dogs but also pictures and everything you need to know about them in order to make an informed decision. The dog and the family it will have must be a perfect match if you want to have a loyal companion and someone your family can rely on as far as safety is concerned. Those of you who want a purebred puppy have to research the available dog information and to start looking for a reputable breeder. It is widely known that good breeders are committed to doing their best for improving the breed, having well-cared for dogs and belonging to animal organizations. Furthermore, these breeders are very careful with the medical exams they do to the dogs and they keep up to date information regarding vaccinations, canine medicine and genetics. One thing is certain: if you purchase your dog from a reputable breeder you will be more than pleased with the choice you made. In order to find a good breeder, you can browse the internet for dog information and also ask people you know for some referrals. Breeders know everything about their dogs, enjoy talking about them and they are more than willing to educate people who are new to a certain breed. Once you tell the breeder exactly what you are looking for and the features you would like to see in the dog, they can tell you what breed suits your needs and they will inform you about the personality and temperament of the puppy. Also, you will find this dog information very useful: the grooming requirements of the pet, special dietary needs if it is the case, is it accustomed to children, are there any genetic problems that affect the breed, how much money you will need for the proper maintenance of the dog. When you meet with the breeder, it would be useful to make an appointment and see the dog in its home setting and talk to the breeder about standards and practices. Inquire about the period of time he has been breeding dogs, whether he can show you any results of the tests, if the puppies have a health guarantee or a veterinary health certificate, if the dogs perform the tasks they were bred for and if he can provide references from other customers. A reputable breeder who is attached to his dogs will ask you several questions to make sure that his dog will be in a loving environment and well taken of. Also, he might ask you to sign a contract in which you agree to certain standards of care and also to return the puppy if there comes a time you simply can’t afford to keep it. After such stringent requirements, you can be positive you will get a healthy, socialized dog in exchange for a fair price and the dog information you need to make sure that you will be able to treat the puppy as it deserves.

Animal lovers will find a great feeling of reward when choosing a dog for their family. Furthermore, the dog information is meant to help you make an informed decision and be satisfied with it.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-choose-your-dog-breeder-1009256.html

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Shetland Sheepdogs Love Their Playtime

July 2nd, 2009

The Shetland Sheepdog is classified in the AKC Herding Group, which means that it is an intelligent, athletic dog. Though smaller in size, measure just 12 to 16 inches at the shoulder, the Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, has as much energy as many dogs two or three times its size. Shelties need lots of exercise and physical activity, which can be a big bonus if you lead an active lifestyle. They are a very affectionate and social breed and will have the most fun exercising or playing with people or other dogs.

The easiest option to play with your Sheltie is to have a fenced-in back or front yard where you can play fetch or tag with your pup. Shelties are impeccably good at catch, as well, and can be trained to play a mean game of frisbee. Some Sheltie owners have little scavenger hunts with their dogs where they will hide treats around the yard and allow their pet to run around and find them. This is not recommended for city dwellers, however, as trash can easily find it’s way into your yard and you do not want your dog thinking that it’s okay to eat whatever he finds! While your sheepdog will enjoy his or her time running around off the leash, it is important to not leave them unattended in the yard. The breed is quite good at clearing hurdles or digging and could escape.

If you are not fortunate enough to have a yard to play with the Shetland Sheepdog in, there are plenty of other options to get them the activity needed to keep them happy and healthy. Taking your Sheltie along for the morning jog or training him or her to run next to your bicycle is a fantastic way to get the much-needed exercise for your dog and for yourself. If jogging or biking is not an every day activity for you, a long, brisk walk can suffice, but they will need more indoor playtime as well.

If you are really enthusiastic about exercising your Sheltie, you can look into some dog sporting events. All herding breeds excel at agility competitions because of their dexterity, speed and intellect. While the trials alone aren’t enough exercise, the training process is rather intensive and can be a great source of exercise for the both of you, as well as a wonderful bonding experience. Finding a Shetland Sheepdog or agility club in your area is a good start to begin agility training, though if you do not plan on competing you can easily build or purchase a course of hurdles, tunnels, and A-frames in your back yard.

The Shetland Sheepdog is an intelligent and playful breed, and is best suited to owners with an athletic or active lifestyle. Your Sheltie will be happy to accompany you on errands or runs, and can even help encourage you to stick with that exercise routine! Getting fit with your new best friend is an experience every dog owner can enjoy. Shetland Sheepdogs love to please and will be a perfect fit for anyones home.

This article is part of the GreatDogSite Shetland Sheepdog collection. GreatDogSite offers the most comprehensive dog information on the web!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/shetland-sheepdogs-love-their-playtime-1009452.html

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Housebreaking a Dog - Do You Know How ToTrain Your Dog to Ask to Go Outside?

July 2nd, 2009

Housebreaking a dog is very important if you want to live a happy and long life with it. You will need to learn how to properly train it to go outside, and to even ask to go as well. Here you will learn the finer points of how to train a dog to ask to go outside.

The thing you must remember is that a dog will go in the same place over and over again. So, if in the past it had an accident, you need to clean it, and get rid of the odor right away.

It’s best to have a leash when taking your dog out, so get one, and keep it by the door. Not only will it be easy access, but your dog will remember the leash, and know what it’s for.

While your dog is inside, always keep an eye on it. To keep it easy, make sure it only has access to whatever room you are currently in. This way, you will be able to know when it is looking for a place to go.

There are some easy tell tale signs of when your dog wants to go out, the main one and most common one to look for is it will start to sniff around. This is your dog looking for a place to go, this is when you put the leash on, and take it outside.

A major thing you can do is to keep a bathroom break schedule with your dog. As soon as you get up, the first thing you should do is take your dog out for its morning pee. Now, if you can, come home for lunch, and take it out, and again when you come home. One last time should be a quick pee break just before bed.

All these things you just learned, will train your dog to eventually ask you to go out. It will not take time at all, especially if there is a routine involved. Not only will your dog know that it’s time to go out, it will ask you, even if it isn’t time, just that it needs to go.

Tired of finding those pee stains all over your house? Tired of the smell it leaves behind? Then you really need to learn about housebreaking a dog. You will learn that, and much more when you go to this site http://www.behaviorofadog.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/housebreaking-a-dog-do-you-know-how-totrain-your-dog-to-ask-to-go-outside-1007119.html

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