Training Your Dog - The Basics

By: Colin Pederson

 

Having a dog as part of your family unit brings a sense of great joy and companionship. However, as a dog owner it is your responsibility to ensure your dog is properly trained and socialized to encourage healthy habits and behavior. Hence, it is necessary to obedience train your dog. When looking to obedience train your dog, there are a few basic aspects you need to look at such as house breaking, training your dog to 'come' when instructed, and walking on a leash without struggling.

Before and during the first stages of training your dog, use the following guidelines.

- never instruct your dog to do anything that he can evade. Frustrating your dog by being overly controlling or bossy creates a negative training environment. Respect your dog's personality and character and accommodate their behavior in the initial stages.

- Provide rewards, treats, or hugs and praise when your dog performs well and follows your instruction. This is an important factor for any dog training, you must always praise good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior. This boosts your dog's attitude, and encourages positive behavior, this also helps develop your relationship with your dog.

- NEVER punish or scold your dog during training. Punishment adds negativity to the situation, making your dog feel pressured, leading to frustration and failure.

- Penalizing your dog is ok. Penalize doesn't mean punish. A penalty can be anything that to teach your dog that he/she is doing something wrong. Ignoring him when he's on the leash, so there's no walk or just ignoring him when he's trying to get your attention. This would make him feel guilty and behave properly.

- Remember that for training purposes, Rewards work better than anything. Rewards can be anything from a verbal praise to petting, giving food, a ball or anything that turns him on.

You need to understand your dog, understand his/her personality and conduct your training accordingly. The small time investment spent learning about what triggers your dog will be time well spent.

Training your dog takes a lot of patience from you, the dog trainer. A vital thing for you to do is to learn that it's realistic to teach your dog what you want it to learn. Your dog is always learning, just as we are. You have to learn how to reward your dog so that it is inclined to do what you want it to do.

Stipulate a particular portion of daily routine to train your dog. Five or ten minutes at a time, two or three times a day is more than sufficient. There are certain rules that you must follow to stop destructive behavior of your dog.

- Put a ten foot rope on your dog and let him drag it around the house; if your dog dashes out the front door. Just before opening the door step on the rope, or, for your big dog, leave a loop in the end and loop it over the inside door handle. So, now you are left with a handle to jerk your door back in if the dashes out the front door.

- Try providing two collars to your dog. One should be a buckle collar and the other, training collar. The buckle collar must have your dog's tags on it. Never tie your dog up with his training collar or leave it on when he is alone.

Remember, you are training your dog to behave correctly around you, your family, and visitors, and to become part of the family. With this in mind, you need to ensure your training is a positive, enjoyable bonding experience for both you and your dog.

When you have determined the dog training program or method that you will be using it is important to take some time and get the dog training essentials that you need to start the process. While it is not important to get the most expensive items, it is important to get good quality products to avoid having to replace broken items. Depending on the size of your dog these basic essentials will change slightly, but the key elements will remain the same no matter what the breed may be.

Collar and lead

For younger dogs, it's ideal to use a soft-woven collar with a buckle attachment. The collar should fit around the neck with enough room to comfortably slide two finger between the dog's neck and the collar. Having the collar any tighter than this will create an annoyance for your dog, any looser gives your dog room to wriggle out of the collar. Let your dog get comfortable with collars, but don't leave the collar on when your puppy isn't supervised.

When your dog has grown up a bit, a nylon collar and leash is best. Use the same method for sizing your dog's collar as you did when he/she was a puppy. Allow room for 2 fingers between dog and collar. Retractable leash's are a popular option, giving you control, while allowing your dog the freedom to roam. Leash's are generally fully adjustable, so you can keep your dog closer in crowded or high traffic situations, and lengthen when going for a walk, or out in the open. A regular nylon lead works just as well and may be easier to train with than the slightly more complex retractable leash.

Choker-chains should never be used when training younger dogs. You should only ever use choker-chains as a last resort with stubborn adult dogs that won't stop pulling. Incorrect use of a choke collar can result in serious injury to the dog.

Smaller dogs are often controlled using harnesses instead of leashes. The small breeds may have issues adjusting to a collar and, so a harness tends to be a much more popular option.

An often over-looked aspect of dog training is learning about grooming. You should have a soft slicker type brush and a metal comb as basic tools. A good set of dog nail clippers is also essential. Never use human clippers as they will shatter the claw and can result in extreme discomfort and pain for your dog. If your dog has long hair, you will need something to keep the hair trimmed such as a set of clippers or scissors.

Most trainers and breeders encourage crate training for dogs, especially if your dog will be spending the majority of it's life inside the house or in a confined area. Your dog's crate needs to be large enough for the puppy or dog to enter and to rest in comfortably, taking into consideration claustrophobia and hygiene issues. The breeder or a pet store chart should be able to inform you what size crate you need for your puppy. Crate training is idea for housetraining your puppy or dog, and will also provide a space of his or her own for the dog. The crate is not a punishment area, so the dog views it positively.

Dog treats are one of the best ways to let your dog know he's done something right, and to encourage future behavior. Don't use sweet or human treats, these can have huge affects on your dog's health, instead offer small kibble or special dog rewards. If you wish to be very healthy you can even make your own at home, there are several recipes available for free on the internet.

Show That You Care Your Dog With Dog Insurance

By: JennyBlack

 

Illness, accidents, mishaps always comes uninvited and without giving any prior notice. This is true with human beings as well as your dogs. So why to take any risks? Just buy a dog insurance policy for your dogs now.

Nowadays, most households in UK have one or more dogs. They not only provide protection to your homes, but also warmth and companionship to you. But as said earlier you cannot predict when misfortune will strike you and your dog, and it falls ill or gets injured. One thing is for sure that you can at least overcome those misfortunes without emptying your savings account. All these can be carried out just by purchasing a dog insurance policy for your dogs.

Most people do not know that dog insurance policy exists because they assume that insurances are only for humans. But yes, they do exist and work on a parallel line as a human insurance policy; only the premiums are little less than any human health insurance policy.

Anyways, before deciding whether to buy dog insurance or not, you should ask yourself: do you consider your dog a member of your household? Will you leave your dog unattended if it develops some serious illness? What will happen if you have to shell out lots of your pounds in carrying out expensive treatments and even routine treatments to your pets? The answer to all these queries lies in dog insurance.

Apart from meeting the medical of costs of the treatments of your dogs; a dog insurance policy will also cover the cost if your dogs get lost or stolen. Again if you have more than two dogs at your homes, the cost of a routine examination can cost you a fortune. To avoid all these, you should in fact buy a dog insurance policy.

A dog insurance policy:

•Excludes working and dangerous dogs;

•Excludes pre-existing medical conditions;

•Must reside in UK;

•Must be in good condition when brought for insurance

Dog insurance is available with a large number of insurance companies and just like your normal health insurance policies, the more premium you pay, the more coverage you will get. It does not mean that cheap dog insurance won't give you the basic coverage; you will definitely get the basic coverage; only the extent of this coverage will differ.

You have to do a thorough research to find perfect dog insurance for your company. The internet has come up as the best way to shop around and buying a dog insurance policy. You can get your dog insurance policy delivered at your door steps by applying online.

Getting To Know The Rottweiler

By: Dan Stevens

 

Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed, and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance, personality, and health requirements. Here's what you need to know about the Rottweiler:

The Rottweiler dog, often referred to as a "Rottie," is an amazing creature that has been given a bad name over the years due to it getting into the wrong hands. This large dog is indeed powerful and robust but also sweet and eager to please. The Rottweiler originated from Germany although it has also been linked to Roman Empire days as well. With people traveling long distances with cattle, this breed of dog was helpful with herding duties, along with protection from prey or robbers.

Sometime around the end of the 19th century, the Rottweiler's popularity had dramatically declined. However, with the start of WWII, this breed's popularity level again began to climb, as the need for a strong, obedient, and intelligent dog was needed for police work. The Rottweiler fit the need perfectly. But something else happened. People also discovered that this breed of dog had an extremely loving and loyal side, which now made them a popular choice for families. By 1935, the American Kennel Club had official recognized the breed for show.

Sadly, we still see bad publicity associated with this breed of dog – not because the breed is ferocious or evil but because irresponsible owners get their hands on the breed, sometimes teaching them to fight. All of this has caused a serious misunderstanding about the Rottweiler, which is a real shame. The truth is that while this breed does tend to be protective, if the dog is socialized young, handled with a firm hand, and introduced to various situations it will make a wonderful, devoted pet that is great with children and other animals.

Physical Appearance

This breed of dog looks strong, proud, and almost like royalty. The Rottweiler is black with beautiful tan markings on the muzzle, cheeks, chest, eyebrows, and legs. When you look closely at the chest markings, you would notice upside-down triangles. Sometimes, a Rottweiler will also have a small patch of white in between these triangles. For a family pet, this marking is fine but for showing, it is not. Then, the breed's muzzle would be tan, with the color going down the throat. Over each eye, there would be a brown dot, which serves as the eyebrows. Other markings include any color on the leg not going up more than one-third, each toe should have a small black mark, and the area under the tail would be tan.

The Rottweiler also has black nails and there are even black splotches on the inside of the mouth. The one most prominent feature of this breed is the head, which appears to be a little over-sized. Giving the dog its look of being alert, the forehead is wrinkly. This dog also has teddy bear eyes, often with a calm but alert expression. In comparison to the head, the Rottweiler has small ears, laid close to the head. Even the coat of this breed is special, being of medium length with an undercoat that is waterproof.

Although a Rottweiler is born with a tail, these are generally docked extremely short. The reason is that Rottweilers used for working can have problems with the tail breaking and then getting infected from being in the field. In most cases, a reputable veterinarian will perform the minor surgery while the dog is still in the puppy stage, which allows less pain and a quicker healing.

Finally, this particular breed has a broad, strong chest. Because of the extra room, the lungs have much more capacity than that of other dog breeds. According to the American Kennel Club, the dog's back needs to be straight (no sloping) and for males, a height of 24 to 27 inches with the female hitting about 22 to 25 inches. Weight also varies, males averaging around 110 pounds with females around 95.

Temperament and Personality

If a Rottweiler is socialized when young, introduced to various situations, loved, played with, fed properly, exercised, and trained, it would make an outstanding addition to just about any home. However, because there are strong personality traits, people have taken an innocent dog, teaching them to guard drug houses, and even attack people.

Yes, the Rottweiler can be a little stubborn sometimes, even those carefully raised but overall, this dog is calm and they live off the attention of owners. The size and strength of the breed makes them a great watchdog. Even though this dog does not bark often, when feeling threatened or afraid, the powerful voice is heard. Keep in mind that this is a strong breed so you want the Rottweiler to be handled by an experienced dog owner.

Health

Fortunately, the Rottweiler does not have too many health problems. The things you want to keep your eyes open for or even have the puppy of interest tested for would include Hip and/or Elbow Dysplasia, Bloat, various forms of cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disorder, Von Willebrand's Disease, thyroid problems such as Hypothyroidism, and eye problems. Also keep an eye on their weight.

Getting To Know Your Bulldog

By: Dan Stevens

 

Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed, and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance, personality, and health requirements. Here's what you need to know about the Bulldog:

Originating in England, the Bulldog has an unmistakable face. Although the Bulldog is often called other things to include the British Bulldog or English Bulldog, they are all the same breed. This particular breed can be dated back to around the early 16th century. By the 17th century, this breed was used as bull bait, a barbaric form of death through suffocation for the bull. Because of its brutality, this use of the Bulldog was outlawed in 1835. The result of this ban was a large reduction in the number of Bulldogs people owned.

Today, the Bulldog is a great family pet, gentle, yet very protective. If you want a dog that is easy to care for, one great with kids, and one with an excellent personality, the Bulldog should be a consideration. With a frowning face and powerful looking body, this particular breed is often overlooked, which is a real shame because it makes an excellent family pet.

Physical Appearance

Even though the Bulldog is more on the small side, it is very stocky with a powerful and proud stance. For instance, an adult dog could weigh between 40 and 50 pounds with a height between 12 and 14 inches. Because the body is short and compact, it waddles when it walks. The muzzle is extremely short with saggy skin on the face. All Bulldogs have a short, smooth coat but colors vary.

Temperament and Personality

Unfortunately, the Bulldog has been wrongly labeled over the years as being a ferocious beast but in truth, this breed is amazing gentle with adults and children. In most cases, the Bulldog gets along well with other animals but early socialization is recommended. Sometimes, you may see a little bit of stubbornness and protectiveness out of your dog but at heart, the Bulldog love to play and is rather friendly.

Health

Due to the flat face and short muzzle, the Bulldog is prone to breathing problems, particularly during hot weather. Some dogs have trouble with the palate, which can collapse, cutting off a good air supply. The good news is that if your dog should experience this problem, it can be fixed with minor surgery. While a collapsed palate is not a physical emergency, if not corrected, you would notice loud breathing and snoring.

Another important factor associated with owning a Bulldog is that because of the body structure, it cannot swim well. Therefore, if you have a swimming pool or live near a pond or lake, you want to take extreme care. Keep in mind that this breed has a large head in proportion to the body. For this reason, giving birth is difficult, which is usually why puppies will be delivered via Cesarean section. Finally, Bulldogs can also experience cataracts, cherry eye, allergies, and problems with the joints, specifically the hips.

Feeding Your Pet One Meal-A-Day Keeps the Vet Away

By: Ward Johnson

 

How often should you feed your pet? Once-a-day? Twice-a-day? Free-feed? Ask around and you'll hear lots of different opinions on what is the optimal feeding schedule for your cat or dog food. So what is the correct answer? Well first off, rest easy as there is no hard and fast correct answer. That said, however, it's our opinion that free-feeding is the worst way to go.

The best comparison we can make is that free-feeding would be like a person having a full buffet in your house, stocked with food 24 hours-a-day. When you think of it this way, it's not hard to understand why pets that are free-fed tend to be sluggish, lethargic, and passionless about their pet food -- in addition to having a variety of dog health problems. After all, how excited would you be about that lasagna if you had a big bowl of it sitting in the corner all day long. In a dog or cat's life food is the #1 motivation they have. Sure, they love rides in the car, going for a walk, or getting a visit from the neighbor's pet. But nothing beats a great natural dog food. A critter with no passion for food is an unhappy critter. A pet should have a unbridled passion for food. They need to look forward to their next meal with anticipation and excitement. This lays the foundation for a well-tempered, happy pet. In addition the negative effect on disposition, having access to food 24 hours-a-day is not ideal for the digestive system. Dogs and cats in the wild have long breaks between meals -- far longer than humans who operate ideally on 3 meals per day. These breaks give their digestive system a chance to rest and prepare for the next meal. So if this is all true, why do some pet foods suggest free-feeding? For the same reason that your shampoo bottle tells you to lather, rinse, and repeat . . . to sell more shampoo. The sad fact is that many pet food manufacturers are far more concerned with the almighty dollar than the health of your pets.

So now that we've eliminated free-feeding, should you go with once or twice-per-day? (We don't suggest three meals for the same reasons that free-feeding is not ideal). Between once-a-day and twice-a-day, it's really a matter of convenience and preference. If you need a definite answer, we would go with once-per day. This allows for a long period of rest for the digestive system and has shown to produce the best results over the years as far as the health and attitude of the dog or cat. However, once-a-day feeding has proven difficult. Many dogs and cats drive their owners crazy begging for food throughout the day when on a once-a-day diet. Usually this type of behavior can be trained out of the pet of you stick with it for a couple of weeks. But it does take a lot of patience in those cases. That said, twice-a-day does work for many people and they still have very good results -- along with a dog that's not quite so obsessive about food throughout the day.
Whether you're trying to achieve once-per-day or twice-per-day feeding, the best way to do it is to be as consistent as possible with your feeding times. Put the pet food down for a specified feeding window and pick it up after around 10 minutes regardless of if they've finished or not. They will quickly conform to this new feeding window. The more you cave in to your pet's demands, the longer it will take them to become accustomed to their new feeding schedule. If you're going to do snacks during the day, we recommend feeding them as rewards only, and to use healthy foods like raw carrots or apples. Also, the more you stick to a routine of specific times and events for reward snacks, the less your dog or cat will beg between meals.

If you're doing twice-per-day feeding we suggest one meal in the morning and one at night. If you're feeding once-per-day, either morning or night will work. Also, keep in mind that these rules do not apply to puppies and kittens, which do need 2-3 smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to once-a-day feeding.

Antioxidants and Free Radicals - The Good and the Bad

By: Carol Stack

 

Free Radicals – Damaging our Bodies from Within

Even young people can be victims of unsuccessful aging if they are not providing their bodies with the necessary balance of having enough dietary antioxidants to fight off the free radicals. To understand the value and importance of antioxidants, you must first understand the destructive results of free radicals.

What are free radicals? Scientists have found that the body forms unstable oxygen molecules, called free radicals; every cell produces tens of thousands of them each day.

Free radicals are produced within the body every single day from the different chemical reactions which happen in each individual part of our bodies. Free radicals are produced outside of the body as well, reaching us through sunrays, toxic chemicals in our drinking water, second-hand as well as first-hand smoke, unhealthy foods, bacteria, viruses, radiation, and pollution in general.

The cells of our bodies are now increasingly subject to damage from free radicals due to the high levels of environmental toxins in our diet and the reduced levels of antioxidants in our food to combat free radical damage.

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are nutrients that help to lower the amounts of free radicals in your body by providing them with the oxygen molecule that they are missing and making them stable. Quite simply put, at the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate these free radicals.

In order to bolster the body's defense mechanism, and to counter this activity by free radicals, a lot of research is being done to study how the quantity of antioxidants can be included in the diet or added through a dietary supplement.

In light of the role free radicals play in the onset of aging and disease, it is important to ensure our diets include a rich and diverse supply of antioxidants to improve the health of our cells throughout our bodies and to protect our cells from the ravages of oxidation. But what are some of the best natural sources of antioxidants?

Great Sources of Antioxidants

Blueberries - Some of the healthiest fruits are berries, and blueberries are one of the top quality berries containing plenty of antioxidants while maintaining lower sugar content then most other fruits.

D, Chief of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston is working with blueberries to examine their potential to help improve motor skills and reverse the short-term memory loss that comes with aging.

Other fruits - Delicious fruits that are at the top of the antioxidant chart include strawberries, blackberries and grapes, besides blueberries.

Garlic - Garlic is a terrific source of antioxidants. Eating more garlic (in raw or cooked forms) is associated with a lower incidence of heart disease because of its antioxidant properties.

Extra virgin olive oil – This oil is another source of antioxidants. There is also significant data to indicate it may also lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and aid in the fight against colon cancer.

Conclusion

Recent studies have indicated that the antioxidants in fruit provide a whole host of health benefits: the anti-aging power of blueberries and the joint pain relieving properties found in cherries to name two.

This world is full of good, wholesome foods that are high in antioxidants. We just need to eat them.

Getting To Know Your Pomeranian

By: Dan Stevens

 

Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed, and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance, personality, and health requirements. Here's what you need to know about the Pomeranian:

One of the most fascinating aspects of this breed is that in its much earlier and larger incarnations it was used in Lapland and Iceland for pulling sleds. Eventually, the Pomeranian moved on to other regions along the Baltic Sea. At this particular time, the breed was still used as a working dog but then it started to increase in popularity as a family pet. The name given to this dog, which was originally Pommern or Pomore, means "on the sea."

The Pomeranian was introduced into English nobility. While somewhat popular, it became even more so after Queen Charlotte's granddaughter, Queen Victoria, returned from Italy with her new furry friend. Although the appearance was much the same, the earlier varieties of the Pomeranian were actually larger than what we see today.

This dog belongs to the Spitz family, which includes other breeds such as the Samoyed, Schipperke, and even Norwegian Elkhound, which surprises many people as they are all considered "toy" breeds due to the small size. Over time, breeders were able to fine-tune the Pomeranian, which led to a much better coat and smaller size. In addition, breeding experimentation provided a greater selection of color while not interfering with the breed's strong but sweet temperament.

Physical Appearance

Following the American Kennel Club's standards for the Pomeranian, the average weight is between 3 and 7 pounds and height is 8 to 11 inches. The appearance of the breed is quite distinct, having a wedge-shaped head. The result of the small body and head is a look very similar to that of a fox. In addition, the Pomeranian has small and high set ears and a tail that curls over the back while being held tall.

Although all of these characteristics make the Pomeranian the cute dog it is, the coat is without doubt its pride. In fact, this dog has two coats. The first is the soft, thick, and fluffy undercoat while the second is the straight and course overcoat. Every year, the male dog will shed the undercoat, as the female goes into heat, once a litter is delivered, and if experiencing too much stress.

As mentioned, breeding has resulted in a wide range of colors and color combinations - 13 in all. These options for the Pomeranian include:

Black
Black and Tan
Blue
Blue and Tan
Chocolate
Chocolate and Tan
Cream
Cream Sable
Orange
Orange Sable
Parti-color (typically white with other colors)
Red
Red Sable
Sable

In addition to the standard 13 colors for the Pomeranian, the American Kennel Club also recognizes the following:

Beaver
Brindle
Chocolate Sable
White
Wolf Sable

For the Pomeranian to fall within the standards set by the American Kennel Club, the dog should be well proportioned. This means the dainty head cannot be too large or small, but must balance well with the body type. Additionally, the Pomeranian's legs must be proportionate. In fact, even the breed's expression is to display alertness, intelligence, and pride.

Temperament and Personality

Like the Chihuahua, the Pomeranian does not realize it is a small dog. With a serious bark (or yelp as some may say), the dog is actually a great watchdog. This breed loves its family, enjoying good, quality cuddle time. However, it is also an energetic and agile dog that is relatively easy to train.

Because of the small body size, the Pomeranian makes a great pet for people without a yard or those with a small yard. However, because this breed also enjoys exercise, it makes a great pet for those who like spending time outdoors. In other words, the Pomeranian is a versatile dog - perfect for many types of families.

Health

Fortunately, the Pomeranian breed tends to be healthy but like most other dogs, there are a few possible health risks. With good care, a dog of this breed could easily live to be 14, 15, 16, or older. Some of the more common concerns with the Pomeranian include a Luxating Patella, dry eye, cataracts, and skin ailments.

Health risks that are not quite as common would be epilepsy, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, and hydrocephalus. Then on rare occasion, you might find a dog in this category dealing with Hip Dysplasia and Legg-Calve Perthes, a degenerative disease of the hip joint. Of all possible health risks associated with a Pomeranian, a collapsed trachea, or heart disease known as Patent Ductus Arteriosus are the most serious.

It is also important to keep this breed of dog well groomed. Otherwise, the undercoat can become tangled, pulling on the skin and causing blood circulation problems. Typically, brushing the coat two to three times a week is sufficient. Since this breed of dog is also prone to dental problems, most veterinarians recommend brushing, along with regularly scheduled cleaning, which would be done professionally and under anesthesia.

Akita Inu

Description
The Akita is the largest of the Japanese Spitz-type breeds. It's a powerful, solid, muscular, well-proportioned and distinctive looking dog with a flat, heavy head and strong, short muzzle. This breed has webbed feet and is a very strong swimmer. Originally Akita was bred to fight and hunt bears, it looks beautiful , but its temperament is "like a bear". It's independent, dignified, bold and very intelligent. It needs a physically fit natural leader who is very experienced in Working Dogs.

 

Other names:
Akita Inu, Japanese Akita
 

Country of Origin:
Japan 5000 BC

 

Group:
AKC Working Group

 

Height:
Dogs 26-28 inches (66-71 cm.)
Bitches 24-26 inches (61-66 cm.)

 

Weight:
Dogs 75-120 pounds (34-54 kg.)
Bitches 75-110 pounds (34-50 kg.)

 

Temperament:
This breed is friendly, careful and very affectionate with the family but sometimes spontaneous. It needs to be with the family. It makes a good companion for older children from its own family but may not accept other children. Children must be taught to treat these dogs with kindness. This breed should definitely be supervised with other household pets and children. If teased, Akita's may bite. The Akita may become very aggressive to other dogs and animals. Early socialization and obedience is a must to be assured that the Akita will not become aggressive. It needs firm training as a puppy. As Akita tends to get bored quickly its obedience training requires patience. Akita is the cutest dog, generally people fall in love with the look of the dog but they tend to forget to investigate and understand the character and temperament of the breed.

 

Colors:
Coats can be of any color including pure white, red and sesame without clear borders. A black mask is forbidden.

 

Coat:
Its double coat is composed of a thick, soft undercoat and a harsh, waterproof outer coat. As bathing removes the natural waterproofing of the coat bathe only when absolutely necessary. Akita sheds heavily twice a year.

 

Life Expectancy:
10-12 years

 

Litter Size:
5 to 7

 

Health Issues:
It's sensitive to vision problems, night blindness, inward rolling lids, hip dysplasia and anesthesia

 

Living Environment:
If it is sufficiently exercised the Akita will do okay in an apartment but will do best with a large yard. The Akita needs moderate but regular exercise to stay in shape.

 

Learning Rate:
High, intelligence is extremely high

 

 

Akitas

DVM, Dan Rice

Best Price $2.95
or Buy New $7.99

Privacy Information

 

Airedale Terrier

Description
The Airedale Terrier is known as 'King of Terriers' because it represents some of the finest features of this group. The Airedale Terrier is a large terrier with long flat head, deep chest and harsh wiry coat. The well-balanced dog stands square, with a level top line and very straight front legs. It's unbeatable for its size and weight when trained for a watchdog. It's initially suspicious of strangers, territorial, independent, energetic and has untiring courage. Excels in hunting, agility, eyesight and hearing. It's a sturdy, well-boned, well-muscled dog. Because of its athletic physique the Airedale Terrier makes a good jogging partner.

 

Other names:
Waterside Terrier, Bingley Terrier

 

Country of Origin:
Great Britain in the 19th century

 

Group:
Terrier, AKC Terrier

 

Height:
Dogs 22-24 inches (56-61 cm.)
Bitches 22-23 inches (56-58 cm.)

 

Weight:
Dogs 50-65 pounds (23-29 kg.)
Bitches 40-45 pounds (18-20 kg.)

 

Temperament:
The Airdale Terrier is very intelligent and responsive. It makes a loyal family pet and good companion for older children but needs a strong and confident owner who can combine firm discipline with patience and precision. It is not difficult to train but does not respond to harsh training methods. It needs daily exercise and proper obedience training. Responsive to training and the easiest to train of all terriers. This breed needs to feel loved and respected. It's naturally lively, intelligent and sensitive, spirited with a strong desire to please. Generally it gets along with household cats and other animals but sometimes may try to dominate other dogs.

 

Colors:
The coat should be tan with black (or dark grizzle) markings on sides and upper body. A bit of red in the black and/or a small white star on the chest are permitted.

 

Coat:
The Airedale Terrier has a non-shedding-double coat with a hard, dense and wiry outer coat and a soft undercoat. "Hand-stripping" is required which means pulling out dead hair by hand. It's necessary trimming hair between the pads of the feet.

 

Life Expectancy:
10-14 years

 

Litter Size:
5 to 12

 

Health Issues:
It may suffer from eye problems, skin infections and hip dysplasia.

 

Living Environment:
The Airedale Terrier is not recommended for apartment life, it will do best in a house with a fenced yard. The Airedale Terrier may become destructive if not given sufficient amounts of exercise, its owner should be an active leader.

 

Learning Rate:
High

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afghan Hound

Description
The Afghan Hound is an ancient, aristocratic, beautiful dog. It has been described as "a king of dogs". This breed was kept clean for centuries, and its exportation was prohibited. In Europe and the States it has become a luxurious pet. The Afghan Hound is a tall and slender dog with a long, narrow head, silky topknot and powerful jaws. It has a straight front, and proudly carried head. The whole appearance of the Afghan Hound is one of great style and beauty. This breed is a member of the Greyhound family. This dog was once a harsh hunter in its native land; it was used to hunt leopard, wolves, and jackals. It has now been breed to be a gentle and obedient dog.

 

Other names:
Tazi, Baluchi Hound

 

Country of Origin:
Afghanistan. It is one of the oldest breeds, c. 4000 years old.

 

Group:
AKC Hound, ANKC, CKC, FCI, KC, UKC

 

Height:
25-27 inches (64-68 cm)

 

Weight:
50-60 pounds (23-27 kg)

 

Temperament:
This breed is very sweet and affectionate. It has a low dominance level. Firm but gentle obedience training is required. It can be difficult to housebreak. The Afghan Hound is suspicious of strangers, but never hostile. It makes a wonderful companion to older, considerate children. This dog is reserved, lively and active. This breed is gentle, friendly and makes an excellent family dog. It needs plenty of opportunity to run, preferably off the leash, and a lot of regular exercise. It is an extremely fast and agile runner. This breed is an excellent sighthound. It was used as a hunter of deer, wild goats, wolves, and even snow leopards. This breed was also used as a watchdog and herder.

 

Colors:
All colors are permitted. White markings, especially on the head, are undesirable.
 

Coat:
This breed is an averages shedder. The long, thick coat demands a great deal of grooming. When showing, weekly bath is a must. In order to keep the coat shiny and long never brush in-between baths. Brushing a dry coat will damage the coat and make it more easily matted. Even if your Afghan won't be shown, weekly baths will make the coat less matted. Use a special air-cushioned brush or pin brush for grooming.

 

Life Expectancy:
12-15 years

 

Litter Size:
6 to 8

 

Health Issues:
This is a healthy, long-lived breed. It has a low tolerance of pain, thereby suffering even with minor injuries.

 

Living Environment:
This breed is not recommended for apartment life. It loves to be outdoors.

 

Learning Rate:
High

 

 

 

 

20 Dog Breeders Tips--part 1

Old Enough to Go Home

If you are purchasing a purebred puppy from a breeder, you should purchase a puppy that is between eight to twelve weeks old. A puppy should not be separated from her mother before eight weeks of age. If you are adopting a canine from an animal shelter or rescue group, any age you are comfortable with should be fine.

The Eyes and Ears

A puppy's eyes and ears are sealed when they are born. Generally the eyes and ears begin to open between 10-15 days after birth, when the puppy begins to stand. If your puppy's eyes appear unhealthy and still remain closed after 17 days consult your veterinarian.

Puppy Aptitude Test

In order to find a good working dog, you need to test for certain aspects of a puppy's personality. Check to see if a puppy is dominant or submissive by placing him on his back. If he fights, he is dominant. You generally do not want to pick a dog that is overly dominant, as they are not as trainable. Try testing the dog's retrieving instinct by tossing a ball or crumpled paper. He should show some interest in interacting. Also play with the dog and then walking away. Whether he follows you can be an indication of his pack drive. You don't want a dog that needs to be too independent.

Ask the Breeder Questions

You should always ask a few questions to make sure you're dealing with a conscientious breeder.
1.Ask the breeder for a history on the sire and dam of the puppy. Reputable breeders will screen the breeding pair for any genetic deficiencies.
2. Has the puppy had a veterinary examination and is she current on all her shots?
3. Where does the puppy spend its time during the day and is she being socialized?
4. Does the breeder have references of previous dog owners and is she willing to provide them to you?