Labrador Puppy Accessories

Article Title: Labrador Puppy Accessories
Author: Anna Hart

Labrador puppies, especially little black ones, have become
very popular in the U.S. Breeders, pet stores, animal shelters,
and humane societies are good places to get Labrador puppies. If
you do not need an AKC registered puppy, you might consider
giving a loving home to one of those in a shelter.

Cost of Labrador Puppies

If you decide to get Labrador puppies from a breeder or pet
store, be prepared to pay $400 or more for each puppy. Show
quality Labrador puppies may cost as much as $1,000 each.

That is, of course, only the beginning of expenses involved in
raising Labrador puppies. There are accessories!

Labrador Puppy Accessories

Labrador puppy accessories can cost a great deal or they can be
minimal. You should determine your budget and actual needs
before visiting the pet store to avoid buying unnecessary
accessories for your Labrador puppies. The list below is meant
only as examples of Labrador puppy accessories you may want.

1. Collars: Labrador puppies need collars, but be aware of two
things. Labrador puppies outgrow collars rapidly. You should not
use a chain collar on a young puppy, as it could damage his
windpipe. Choose flat fabric or leather collars until your
Labrador puppies are at least 5 months old.

2. Leashes: You should train your Labrador puppies to walk on
the leash, even if they have plenty of space to run in safety.
There will be times, such as visits to the veterinarian's office
when you will be glad they are accustomed to the leash. Unlike
the collars, leashes for Labrador puppies should be chain so the
puppies will not chew them.

3. Crates: It is a good idea to have crates for your Labrador
puppies before you bring them home. Crates become the puppies'
dens. If you are away from home during the day, you can leave
your Labrador puppies in their crates to keep them safe,
comfortable, and relaxed. Since they will be relaxes, they will
not need to relieve themselves as often. The crate will be sure
they do not use an inappropriate spot when they do relieve
themselves. At night, Labrador puppies in crates sleep better –
and stay out of mischief. Select crates that provide just enough
space for a full-grown Labrador to stretch out when lying down.

4. Bowls: You can spend a lot of money on fancy bowls for your
Labrador puppies, but it really is not necessary. Plain steel
bowls are sturdy, unbreakable, and can be cleaned well. If you
use plastic containers, Labrador puppies will chew them,
possibly ingesting pieces of plastic. Some feed and water bowls
are said to be spill proof. This is a good idea when you have
energetic Labrador puppies.

5. Toys: Resist buying chew toys simply because they are cute
to humans. Your Labrador puppies will chew aggressively. They
can easily destroy plastic pet toys and, if no one is there to
watch carefully, could choke on small pieces. Give your Labrador
puppies sturdy Kongs and Nylabones to chew.

6. Playpen: Since Labrador puppies will try to eat anything
they find, it is a good idea to provide a playpen while they are
young and learning. This is especially recommended if the
puppies are to be outside unattended for any period of time.

7. Brush: Until your Labrador puppies are older, and begin to
shed more, use a bristle brush for weekly grooming. The brush
will remove dirt from the puppies' coats and keep them smelling
good.

Puppy Food

Food cannot really be classed among Labrador Puppy Accessories,
but it is one more cost to anticipate when buying Labrador
puppies. Ask the breeder or pet store clerk what food is best.
If you know what the puppies are accustomed to eating, you may
want to use that kind at first until they are comfortable in
their new home.

There are many other accessories available for Labrador
puppies, and if your budget will stretch you may want to
consider some of them, but these should get you started.

About The Author: ©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to
read more of her articles about lovable Labrador puppies at
http://www.lovablelabradors.com. Anna has posted additional
information about this popular breed on that site. If you want
more information on preparing to bring home Labrador puppies, go
there now and get Anna's perspective on the subject.

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Self Defense-Dog Attack Prevention

Article Title: Self Defense-Dog Attack Prevention
Author: Jack Krohn

For millions of Americans who walk, run, jog, or cycle in
public parks, city streets, or rural neighborhoods the threat
from a dog or a pack of dogs attacking is a daily reality. I see
more and more anecdotal evidence as I make the rounds in the
heartland-walking sticks, canes, anything long that can be used
as a weapon against a dog attack.

I even know of a couple in Colorado who are using a stun baton
to protect themselves and their dog when out walking.

Each year man's best friend bites that friend 4.7 million times
according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Of those,
800,000 Americans seek medical attention annually for dog
bites-half of these are children. Of those injured approximately
386,000 require emergency room treatment and about 12 die
annually again according to the CDC.

Now there are two tools that can be used as self defense
weapons for protection against dog attacks. The first is Mace
Canine Dog Repellent. This EPA approved product is a Mace spray
in a hand held flip top container with a Velcro like attachment
making it easy to attach to bikes, clothes etc. It has ten one
second bursts that go 8-10 feet.

The second is the Dog Chaser Dog Repeller. It uses high tech
ultrasonic technology that sends out high frequency sounds
audible to dogs but not humans. These ultrasonic sounds stop
approaching dogs up to 15 feet away. This device is useful for
training dogs as well.

These are both perfect solutions to an ever present problem of
dog attacks for anyone who walks, runs, jogs or cycles outdoors
or makes their living making deliveries-mail carriers, milkmen,
UPS and Fed Ex drivers, etc.

Find out more about this at the links below.

About The Author: Take action and purchase a
http://www.aaa-safetyfirst.com/dogchaser.htm DOG CHASER DOG
REPELLER or a http://www.aaa-safetyfirst.com/dogrepellent.htm
MACE CANINE DOG REPELLER http://www.aaa-safetyfirst.com SIGN UP
TODAY FOR FREE SELF DEFENSE TIPS AND SPECIAL OFFERS ON GREAT
SELF DEFENSE PRODUCTS

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Dog Bites: Lies You Hear Before Getting Bitten By A Dog

Article Title: Dog Bites: Lies You Hear Before Getting Bitten
By A Dog
Author: T. Peterson

As an injury attorney who has handled many dog bite claims in
Oregon and Washington State, I have heard a lot of stories that
would be funny if they were not so tragic. On several occasions,
dog bite victims have told me that the owner has said, "Don't
worry, the dog won't bite" right before they got bitten. On one
occasion, the owner went so far as to coax the victim into
petting the dog to "prove that this kind of dog is gentle."
Unfortunately, dogs are just doing what they think they are
supposed to do, which is protecting their owners. Also
unfortunately, dog owners do not know what is going on in their
pets' heads, and even if the dog has never bitten anyone, this
does not mean they won't suddenly bite. Owners are often even in
denial that their dog is a biter even after it has demonstrated
aggressive behavior such as nipping, barking and chasing or even
biting. Their dog gives them unconditional love and they want to
return the favor. Like parents of young children they can't
believe THEIR dog would ever do anything to hurt anyone. If you
watch the show Animal Cops on the Discovery Channel you can
sometimes see owners in court denying their dog has done
anything wrong even after a vicious attack that landed someone
in a hospital.

Dog Bites are Becoming More of a Problem

Dog bites have a documented 37% increase in medically treated
cases between 1986 and 1994. This is the case even though the
dog population has risen by less than 2%. Such data indicates
that dog bites are becoming more prevalent. In fact, dog bites
are an increasing serious problem in the U.S.

Dog bites are the most frequent type of animal attack. They are
a common reason for a trip to the emergency room, and are a
common form of injury for both children and adults, although the
number of recorded dog bites is greater in children.
Statistically, one in two hundred twenty-two people are affected
by dog bites, as opposed to one in every eighty-three children
between five and nine. Dog bites are the second most common
cause of injury in young children, topping the number of
injuries incurred on the playground. Dog bites most frequently
occur when the animal is provoked, regardless of whether it's
purposeful or not. This can happen, for instance, when people
are playing with dogs or when dogs are scared for some reason.

Dog Bite Injuries and Children

In addition to causing soft-tissue injuries, often to the face,
dog bites are frightening and traumatic experiences that
frequently have long-lasting effects for those involved. They
are considered contaminated wounds, and therefore require
surgical intervention, if it's necessary, as soon as possible
after the incident. Although dog bites are indeed an increasing
problem, they are largely preventable. It's very important that
children and their parents learn how to lower their risk of
being dog bite victims. The matter of dog bites should be
discussed with the child's physician during routine checkups.

Conclusion

So next time you or your child considers petting a strange dog,
think twice, even if the owner encourages you to do so.

About The Author: Visit my site
http://www.injurylaworegon.com/dog_bites.htm to find out how a
Dog Bite Lawyer can protect your rights if you were bitten by a
dog in Oregon or Washington State.

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The Development of Your Puppy

Title: The Development of Your Puppy
Author: Rex Lanigan

The Development of Your Puppy
Like people, puppies go through various developmental
stages. The following is what generally happens to a puppy,
emotionally, physically, and psychologically, over the
first ten weeks of life.

The First Two Weeks

A puppy is born blind and deaf, and for the first two weeks
of his life, he doesn't do a lot except sleep (around 90
percent of the time) and eat. While he can't hear or see,
he can feel and smell, and the combination enables him to
find the all-important nipples on his mother. The mother
dispenses milk that contains antibodies that help the pup
survive for six to ten weeks. Propelling the pup to his
mother are very undeveloped and weak legs. The puny legs
also allow the puppy to huddle together with his siblings.
The legs develop somewhat while the puppies are asleep
because they twitch, something called "activated sleep."

The puppy is nurtured by his mother, of course, which
includes his mom licking his belly, which stimulates the
little creature to defecate and urinate.

Depending on how the mother feels, human beings may or may
not be allowed to pick up and nurture the puppies every
day. When this occurs, it helps man and dog bond more
easily.

The Third Week

During this week, the puppy's other senses start to
operate. He can detect light and dark, as well as movement,
and will respond to large or sudden sounds. He will start
to interact with his brothers and sisters, and he starts
developing social skills by this interaction, i.e.,
touching them with his paws and mouth.

He learns to crawl, and his tail begins to wag. He can also
venture from his mother to urinate on his own. In some
cases, puppies, though not weaned, can be fed liquid food
suggested by a veterinarian.

The Fourth and Fifth Weeks

During this period, the puppy's muscular development
increases to the point where he can walk, run, and pounce
on his littermates. It is a period of endless exploration,
and the puppy's interaction with his siblings teaches him a
lot, including when he's biting too hard - which elicits a
tough response from a littermate - and where he belongs in
the aristocracy of the pack - he will alternately sleep at
the bottom and top of the puppy pile.

If the puppy is misbehaving, Mom occasionally may get
involved by growling at him. This discipline sharpens the
puppy's sense of right and wrong, which can make training
easier. If dogs aren't subject to this kind of discipline,
such as dogs who become orphaned, the human training
process becomes that much more difficult.

During this time, the puppy's teeth develop, and he may
stop nursing. Around the fourth week, he can start eating
food specially prepared by Mom, which is food she chews and
swallows and then regurgitates.

The fourth week is usually the time when fear is developed:
The puppy picks up his mother's fears and develops some of
his own, including becoming afraid of his handler if he is
treated poorly.

The latter portion of this time is when the puppy starts to
become socialized with the human family, becoming more
aware of the sights and sounds in the house, as well as
interacting more with individual members.

The Sixth and Seventh Weeks

This is a time of wonder and curiosity for the young pup,
but he is also very sensitive to emotional harm. His
emotions will be revealed; he'll start barking to get
attention, whining to show fear, and whimpering if hurt.
Take care not to scare or upset him in any way. It's best
that the dog be allowed to relate one on one with a human
being, allowing trust to start to build. It is also a time
of great fan. He should be given a supply of toys, because
he will be very rambunctious and needs them to interact. If
he goes too far when playing, his mother will put him in
his place. When the puppies are weaned, have their own
teeth, and can eat by themselves, the mother dog assumes
the role of alpha or pack leader. The mother will show her
puppies - using toys - when it's appropriate to bite.

Puppies will also attack each other to establish dominance
and to determine who the alpha is.

The Eighth Week

During the eighth week, the puppy will start to develop
bathroom habits. He will use his own place to go, and it
won't be near where he eats. He will search for a spot to
urinate by sniffing around. The eighth week is also a
crucial time in socialization - this is the time when fears
can be established. You should take care to make sure that
all the puppy's experiences are positive ones, or he may
carry around the fear for life. It is best to wait until
after the eighth week to take a puppy to his new home for
this reason. For example, if the puppy gets carsick, he may
be afraid of cars, and it will take a lot of training and
desensitization to get him to enjoy riding in one.

The Tenth Week

Now the puppies stop battling each other - the alpha and
omega in the litter have been established. This is the best
time to get a sense of a puppy's personality. Any anxiety
the puppy might have felt in a strange places ceases - he
is ready to find a new home.

About the Author:

Rex Lanigan is a canine enthusiast who has grown up with
and owned dogs all his life. Don't you want to increase
your knowledge about your best friend? For more great
articles, information and dog supplies go to: =>
http://www.YourHappyDogStore.com

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