Dog Rescues & Shelters

Article Title: Dog Rescues & Shelters
Author: Kelly Marshall

One of the saddest experiences for many dogs is becoming lost,
separated or abandoned by their family. Often dogs become
homeless when an owner has to move to a new town or city and is
not able to take the dog with them. Many times when owners pass
away the family doesn't want to keep the dog and turns them
over to a rescue.

There are many different breed rescues located all around the
world. These organizations are usually staffed entirely by
volunteers that rescue abandoned dogs and care for them while
looking for suitable homes. Often the volunteers choose to
provide homes for the dogs so they are not kept in kennels.
This process also allows the volunteers to get to know the dogs
and see how they interact with children and other pets within
their household. Some of the "foster" homes also offer some
basic training for the rescued dogs if they do not have a good
understanding of the basic commands.

Dogs that are brought into the rescue with a known history are
often easier to find homes for. Usually puppies are not brought
to a rescue, but there are often a high number of senior dogs
left at rescue shelters that are very hard to find homes for.

Benefits To Getting A Dog From A Shelter

For those families that would like to get a dog that already
has basic training, is housebroken, and also is spayed or
neutered a dog from a rescue is a perfect option. Often these
dogs are very well trained and there is a good record of the
interaction that they have with their foster families. These
families work to socialize the dogs as well as find out if they
are good with children, other dogs as well as pets. Volunteers
that work in the shelters are very familiar with the breeds and
their characteristics.

The dogs from shelters are always spayed or neutered. The cost
to adopt a dog from a shelter is often less than most vets fees
are for just the spay or neuter. All vaccinations are up to date
and the dogs are usually treated for fleas, parasites and
heartworms prior to adoption.

Dogs from a rescue are often very loving dogs that are eager to
find a good home and a permanent place to live. Many people that
have adopted a dog from a shelter report that the dogs are very
affectionate and loyal, almost as if they realize that they
have been specially chosen.

The cost to obtain a dog from a rescue shelter is usually
between one and two hundred dollars. Often dogs that have
required a lot of veterinarian services may require an
additional amount of a donation to cover the added expenses.
All the fees obtained from the adopted dogs are used to buy
food, provide shelter and veterinarians services as well as
advertise and find homes for other dogs in the shelter.

If you want to get a dog of a particular breed consider
adopting one of the many dogs currently in a rescue shelter. If
you have a shelter in your area you also may wish to volunteer
to help dogs in the shelter or even become a foster family for
dogs looking for permanent homes.

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Good Shih Tzu Bathing Techniques Are Essential For Healthy Coats And Skin

Article Title: Good Shih Tzu Bathing Techniques Are Essential
For Healthy Coats And Skin
Author: Connie Limon

A good bathing technique is essential for keeping your Shih
Tzu's hair in good shape and keeping skin problems at a
minimum. A lot of Shih Tzu owners say they have skin problems.
This is a problem I have not encountered a lot in my existence
with the Shih Tzu. However, it does happen more in some
bloodlines. Follow the instructions in this article and you
should have no problem in keeping a nice smelling and clean
Shih Tzu in your presence at all times.

Gather together everything that is needed before you start to
bath your Shih Tzu. This is always handier than having to run
here and there gathering up your supplies and tools once the
process begins.

The first bath you give your Shih Tzu may be traumatic. It
truly is best to delay bathing Shih Tzu puppies until they are
at least 3 months old. For the first bath you might try using a
small bowl, dishpan or the kitchen sink rather than the bathtub.
Always be sure the water is neither too cold or to hot. Shih Tzu
puppies react violently sometimes to either extreme. Be careful
your Shih Tzu puppy does not jump or wiggle out of your hands.
If the temperature of water is "just right," there will be less
chance of the Shih Tzu puppy wiggling out of your hands. Use a
mild shampoo especially formulated for dogs that is "tearless."
Regular baby shampoo can be used. I have never had a problem
with dry skin when I used baby shampoo. It is just harder to
rinse out. Shampoo formulated especially for dogs and puppies
is usually easier to rinse out. I do like using Fluffy Puppy
shampoo for puppies and even on the faces of my older Shih Tzu
because it is tearless.

Pouring water gently over your Shih Tzu puppy in the kitchen
sink, a small bowl or dishpan is much less alarming than using
a high powered sprayer. Once your Shih Tzu puppy is use to his
bath, you can try using the spray attachment which is much
better and faster at getting out all the shampoo. You can also
use a gallon milk jug (when it is empty and rinsed out of
course) to first pour water over the puppy. After being washed,
the Shih Tzu puppy must be dried off completely before being
allowed outside again.

An older Shih Tzu can be washed in the bathtub using a shower
attachment. Place a rubber mat in the bottom of the tub to
provide firm footing just as you would for yourself. Your
choice of shampoo and conditioner depends upon the type of coat
your Shih Tzu has. Avoid using human shampoo on your Shih Tzu. I
have used Pantene, but like the baby shampoo, it is harder to
rinse out of the hair and I just don't like the way it leaves
the Shih Tzu's hair looking dull. Many Shih Tzu are allergic to
human shampoo. I have found them to be "itchy" after a bath with
human shampoo. I switched over completely to shampoos especially
formulated for dogs. Some human shampoos have been known to coat
each hair and build up after use, which is probably what causes
the itching. There are so many really good brands of dog
shampoo on the market these days; there is truly no good reason
to use human shampoo on your Shih Tzu. In summertime it is a
good idea to use a shampoo to fight against fleas.

Be prepared to get splashed as your Shih Tzu gets older in the
bath. Either wear grooming aprons made especially for this
function or wrap a large towel around you.

If you are afraid you might get water in the ears of your Shih
Tzu, plug the ears with cotton before beginning the bath.
Getting water in the ears can cause ear infections.

Really wet down the hair of a Shih Tzu good before applying the
shampoo. Pour the shampoo down the middle of the Shih Tzu's
back. As it runs down each side work it into the hair with a
squeezing movement of the fingers. Do not rub or massage. The
coat is more apt to become tangled with rubbing movements. The
best way to get the cleanest hair is to gently squeeze the
shampoo through the hair really working up a thick, good
lather. You will need to pour a little extra shampoo on each
leg and foot, the tail, chest and stomach areas. Lift your Shih
Tzu up by the front legs to shampoo the stomach and then wash
the chest. Wash the head and face last using the tearless
shampoo.

If you are bathing a very dirty Shih Tzu, you will need rinse
really well and repeat the process, then rinse really good
again.

A good human hair dryer works find for the Shih Tzu. Brush the
hair while blowing drying in order to make the hair straight.

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 a variety of colors,
the small AKC standards, imperials and teacups at reasonable
prices.