Top Grooming Tips For Do-It-Yourself Dog Owners

Article Title: Top Grooming Tips For Do-It-Yourself Dog Owners
Author: Kelly Marshall

There are a few tricks of the trade that all professional
groomers use to give your dog that great look when they leave
the shop. These simple little steps help your dog feel more
comfortable and look better until the next trip to the groomer.
If you are not squeamish it is possible to complete these
grooming extras at home so that you can give your pooch that
just from the groomers polished look.

Eyes - often with dogs there is a tearing or staining effect at
the corner of the dog's eyes. This can be a serious medical
condition and should be checked by the vet, however there are
other dogs, and some breeds, that are just prone to tearing. To
remove discoloration on white and light colored dogs add a small
amount of hydrogen peroxide to warm water. Using a soft cloth,
and being extremely careful to not get too close to the eye
itself, apply the dampened cloth to the stained area, moving in
the direction of hair growth. If you do this on a regular basis
you will minimize the staining. Darker colored dogs will not
show tearing and just a soft cloth moistened with plain water
is all that is needed to remove debris and dirt that may
collect.

Ears - long hairs in the ears can collect wax and ultimately
dirt. By taking the time to look in the dog's ear and pull out
the long hair in the outside of the ear canal you can eliminate
the source of the wax build-up. Do this by firmly grasping the
hair at the base and pulling outwards. Pet stores sell
"stripping" fingers, which are small, rough sleeves that can be
placed on the fingers to provide more grip on the hair. Never
use scissors in a dog's ear or push your fingers into the ear
canal itself as this can cause permanent damage.

Toenails - unclipped toenails are both a safety hazards to dogs
and humans. Long claws can damage furniture and carpets even
with just walking or jumping. Long toenails can also cause
painful welts and even cut skin on humans or other pets.

To properly trim toenails buy a good quality dog nail trimmer
either in the guillotine style or a slotted scissor style. The
guillotine style is usually much easier to work with for most
people. Never use human nail clippers or regular scissors as
they will shatter the nail and possibly cause the dog pain or
at the very least leave ragged nails that will catch on fabrics
and surfaces. Hold the dog's paw still in one hand, and insert
the end of the toenail into the hole on the guillotine style
trimmer. Be careful to cut below the quick, the pinky looking
protrusion seen in light colored nails. The quick contains
blood vessels and nerves and is very sensitive, like the
cuticle on a human nail. Cut at a 90-degree angle so that the
nail will be parallel to the surface of the floor. If the dog
has dark nails and you cannot see the quick only remove the
very end of the nail and do not cut if the dog begins to show
agitation or try to pull the paw away when you apply pressure.

Anal glands - probably the least favorite task in grooming a
dog, anal gland emptying can be a bit messy and smelly, but
certainly helps the comfort of the dog. Dogs that "scoot" or
slide their bottom along the ground or carpet usually have
impacted anal glands, not worms as many people believe.

To empty the anal glands you will need rubber gloves, surgical
gloves are the best, a soft cloth and warm water. The steps
are:

. Have someone hold the dog facing away from you. Grasp the
tail close the bottom and expose the anus.

. Using the cloth and warm water heat up the area by holding
the warm, wet cloth against the dog's bottom.

. Remove the cloth and place your index finger and thumb
against the very outside and bottom edges of the anus, about ¾
of the way from the top on either side.

. Apply gentle pressure in an upward and inward fashion. You
should feel two hard balls or glands under the surface of the
skin and close to the anal opening. These are the anal glands.

. If they do not release a thick, smelly substance try the warm
water compress again and repeat the process.

If the glands do not empty it is important to get your dog to
the vets as soon as possible. Impacted glands are very painful
for the dog and cause tissue damage if not treated.

Providing these extra steps in your home grooming routine is a
great way to have your dog looking like they just came from the
professional groomers. If you have any questions or want
specific information on grooming consider taking a class or
doing some research on dog grooming practices.

About The Author: For a huge selection of unique dog supplies,
visit http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com today & register for an
immediate 5% savings

Getting To Know Chihuahuas

Article Title: Getting To Know Chihuahuas
Author: 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 Chihuahuas:

To breeders of the Chihuahua, this dog is known as the best of
the best and the worst of the worst. Although the Chihuahua is
small, adorable, and an excellent pet it deals with a myriad of
potential health risks. Unfortunately, with commercials
featuring this breed and a number of celebrity sightings, the
Chihuahua has been labeled as a "carry where you go," "easy to
manage" type dog when the truth is that it does require some
special care.

Yes, the smooth haired Chihuahua is fascinating and precious
but an accidental fall or drop could cause serious injury. For
this reason, it takes a knowledgeable and responsible pet owner
for this particular breed. When provided the appropriate diet,
environment, and attention, this dog is truly one of the best
companion dogs there is but without this, problems can and
likely will arise.

Physical Appearance

The smooth haired Chihuahua is alert with protruding eyes and a
smooth coat. Just as with the long-haired version of the
Chihuahua, the smooth haired breed is recognized by the
American Kennel Club. Show dogs will generally weigh between
four and six pounds but a purebred can be as heavy as 10
pounds. For show, weight is the most important factor since
height can vary dramatically, anywhere from 12 to 15 inches
from the withers.

Additionally, the smooth haired Chihuahua is found in many
different colors and color combinations to include:

* Solid White
* Solid Black
* Fawn (cream to light brown)
* Chocolate (light brown to rich mahogany)
* Blue Gray
* Tri-color (chocolate and blue or black, with tan and white
markings)
* Silver
* Merle
* Brindle

One important note - the Chihuahua of Merle color typically has
more health risks than that of other colors. In this case,
problems such as deafness, blindness, sterility, hemophilia,
among other things are possible.

Temperament and Personality

Words to describe the smooth haired Chihuahua would include
tiny, sweet, curious, smart, funny, and very, very devoted.
Because the Chihuahua is so small, it is best handled by older
children or adults. This particular breed does well around
children and other animals but they are somewhat suspicious of
new people, at least at first. Once the Chihuahua decides to
be your friend, it is your friend for life.

The Chihuahua is also a fearless dog, often not realizing its
small size. Seeing a four-pound dog defending its food from a
110-pound dog would be typical behavior. Not an aggressive
breed, the Chihuahua simply holds its ground. However, the
other side of this breed is the gentleness that owners love.

Health

The Chihuahua is so small that it is sensitive to cold weather.
Therefore, coats and sweaters are often used to keep the dog
warm, especially during the winter months. Some of the
concerns over the Chihuahua breed include problems with teeth,
pregnancy, birthing, seizures, and epilepsy. In addition, a
Patella Luxation is a potential health risk associated with the
kneecap.

You will also find that the Chihuahua often deals with a
collapsed trachea, which causes coughing and in severe cases,
trouble breathing. Usually, surgery or medication can help the
problem. The Chihuahua is also the only known breed to be born
with an incomplete skull. This means it has a soft spot in the
skull called the Moleras and while the area will grow together
as the dog matures, special care needs to be given during the
initial six months. Finally, this breed is prone to eye
infections because of the round, protruding shape.

About The Author: Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer
and author of SitStayFetch. See
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/chihuahua.php
for more on dog breeds.

Training Your Dog - The Basics

Article Title: Training Your Dog - The Basics
Author: 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.

About The Author: Colin Pederson is a self-confessed 'Dog
Fanatic' residing in California with his wife and black Lab
Casey. Learn more about dog training, dog aggression, how to
stop dog biting, dog chewing, digging and more at
http://dogobedienceadvice.com/dog_aggression

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Preserving The Show Dog Shih Tzu's Coat

Article Title: Preserving The Show Dog Shih Tzu's Coat
Author: Connie Limon

The Shih Tzu's coat for the show rings requires extra care.
Some show people actually keep their Shih Tzu confined and
caged to preserve the coat, or they wrap the coat or oil it.
Those who do keep their show Shih Tzu confined and caged pay a
price in loss of muscle tone in their dogs. Not all show people
practice these methods for preserving their Shih Tzu's long show
dog coats. It is also a myth that all show people do not allow
their show Shih Tzu to go for long walks, to play and just in
general to lead a normal life. For those who do allow their
show Shih Tzu do lead a normal life keeping the coat glamorous
requires a lot of extra effort, and much more grooming than for
the pet Shih Tzu.

Coconut oil is considered helpful as a means of preserving the
coat of a show dog Shih Tzu. If you do oil the show dog Shih
Tzu coat you must remove the oil completely before each show.
If you do not remove all the oil the coat appear limp and feel
wrong. It can also be uncomfortable to be around a Shih Tzu
that has been oiled. There are good oils on the market,
however, that do not have this effect on the coat and it may be
worth trying them if the Shih Tzu's coat seems to need it.
Wrapping the coat in tissue paper protects the Shih Tzu's coat,
but you lose some of the pleasure of seeing your dog in full
coat with his hair flowing as he moves. I do think this is a
beautiful, beautiful sight of the show dog Shih Tzu. The tissue
wrapping sort of reminds me of the days when women ran around
the house for house with their hair in curlers.

Probably the best thing to do if you are just starting out
taking care of your Shih Tzu show dog's coat is to experiment
with different methods of preserving the coat until you find
what works best for your dog. Much the same type of procedures
a pet owner must go through, although a lot more intense and
time consuming as the Shih Tzu show do requires so much more in
the way of grooming.

One thing is for certain if you start out with "bad hair" it is
virtually impossible to make it good enough for the show ring.
When purchasing your show potential Shih Tzu it is wise to
study the lines to find out which have good hair in their
genes. This way you can just continue to keep it looking good.

The topknot and whiskers also need very special attention on
the show dog Shih Tzu. The white whiskers on a parti-coloured
Shih Tzu must be really, really white to look good. It seems
this is especially true for the black and white Shih Tzu.

Some older methods of keeping the whiskers white was to wash
them at least once a day with a solution of boracic powder, a
teaspoon to a pint of water. This mixture is wiped into the
whiskers, being careful to get none in the eyes and then rinsed
away. One of the keys to keeping whiskers white is above all to
dry them immediately and keep them dry. An older method of
drying them was to work in some fuller's earth or talcum
powder, brushing this out and repeating until the hair was
absolutely dry. If you allow the Shih Tzu to dry his own
whiskers he will rub and rub until dry doing nothing but harm
to the length of the coat. Another problem you run into with
all this washing is that the hair becomes dry and brittle. You
will need to dress the whiskers with a little coat conditioner
from time to time.

A method of preserving the hair of the topknot is to use
several bands along the length of the hair to hold it to the
back of the head. You can also plait the hair to achieve the
same purpose. Use neither of these methods just before a show
as both methods will cause kinks in the coat of which you do
not want.

It is always wise to review the rules of the American Kennel
Club about the use of oils and conditioners on the coat of a
show dog. Any substance used to alter the natural color,
texture or body of the coat is usually prohibited.

About The Author: Author: Connie Limon. I raise Shih Tzu
Puppies for Sale. Visit us at http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
and sign up for our newsletters. We have the Shih Tzu in a
variety of colors, the small AKC standards, imperials and
teacups at reasonable prices.