Don't Get A Pug Dog...

Article Title: Don't Get A Pug Dog...
Author: Michelle Arthur

...until you've read this article, chock full of expert Pug
information to help you decide if a Pug is the right dog for you
and your family!

Here's the vital 411 you need to know on Pugs, from their
history to upkeep and health issues, before you bring one home.

Pugs are small in size and are members of the toy dog group.
But don't be fooled...though small in stature, these are quite
powerful and often heavy dogs! Adult pugs vary in weight from
approximately 15 to 25 lbs, with females weighing on the low end
and males on the high end. Pugs are "a lot in a little package"
and you shouldn't be afraid to horse around with them – they're
not delicate creatures, so feel free to play tug and roughhouse
around a bit!

Don't get a Pug if you want a silent dog...Pugs make a lot of
funny sounds, many of them quite loud! They will snort and snore
and make other wheezing noises due to their squished-in
noses…but they tend to not be barkers, so you'll be spared the
yipping characteristic of most other small breeds.

In terms of personality, Pugs are affectionate, loyal, playful
dogs with wonderful personalities. They love to keep your
attention and will do almost anything to keep you entertained.
Many people think of them as little clowns.

Do you have children at home? If so, good news...Pugs get along
very well with children and are ideally suited for a family's
home. Our two Pugs are terrific around our 6-month-old baby, and
they've also played well with our friends' toddlers. They are
not aggressive with other people – far from it! As far as other
dogs, Pugs usually get along well but just be careful as you
would with any breed until you and your Pug get to know the
other dog.

When it comes to training a Pug, be warned, this is a stubborn
breed! They're intelligent dogs and they aim to please, but once
a Pug has something in their minds, it can be tough to change.
The best bet is to use treats as an "ethical food bride" in your
training efforts and to try a positive training method such as
clicker training, which is ideally suited for this sensitive,
affectionate breed.

Don't neglect exercise for these dogs. Pugs need to have plenty
of exercise on a daily basis despite their small size. Daily
exercise will often do a terrific job of helping your Pug stay
healthy. And just a brisk walk for 20 to 30 minutes would be
ideal, so don't worry about running marathons with `em. Just
build some time into your schedule to let these dynamos stretch
their legs every day.

Here's some more good news...Pugs have a life expectancy of 12
to 15 years when healthy, and many live longer! So this means
you can look forward to a long time together with your Pug.
There are two major health issues that you need to keep an eye
on, however -- CHD and Pug dog encephalitis. Check with your vet
for more info on both issues.

This is all the Pug information you need to decide whether this
is the right dog for you...good luck to you!

About The Author: Michelle Arthur is a Pug owner, trainer and
lover. For free videos, training tips and expert advice on Pugs,
see http://www.UltimatePug.com

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Dog Training Tips

Article Title: Dog Training Tips
Author: David Beart

Everyone with a dog can offer you dog training tips. Often,
people in the street or at the puppy park believe they already
know everything there is to know about training a dog, after
all, look at their little precious. Well behaved or not, this is
the apple of their eye, and because they love them and think
they understand them, they believe their behavior to be just
normal, everyday dog behavior that is acceptable. Of course,
after you get through wiping the muddy paw prints off your shirt
that their large lab just mottled you with, you might be polite
and agree for argument's sake.

Training a dog is not a once and done deal. When you train a
dog, you are asking them to communicate in a language that is
foreign to them. If you've ever learned a foreign language you
know how impossible it is to retain the information if you never
use it. Your pup has the same issue. If you train him once to
sit and roll over and then ask him to do it again a year later,
he probably won't get it. He might sort of remember. But that
Johnny on the Spot immediate reflex we all admire in other
people's dogs doesn't come without constant work.

Dog experts and regular dog owners alike will never truly
understand the great depths of their dog. In fact, one of things
that attracts us most to them is their humanistic qualities
wrapped up in a package we can't completely understand. And when
we get a fleeting glimpse of it, such as their massive and
impenetrable devotion to their humans, we feel magically
connected to them on a deep emotional level. We want the best
for them, and so we convince ourselves that allowing them their
"spirited antics" is part of loving them. This is both true and
untrue.

You never want to "break a dog's spirit." You want to guide his
spirit so he can channel it into good, even great, behavior.
That's exactly why it is so important to pick and choose which
dog training tips you listen to. Anything that implores violence
should be discarded (that includes a well known television
program that attracts more attention than necessary) and softer
and milder methods can be used.

Your desire is to instill leadership in your dog, not fear or
threat. A dog will follow a good leader, and work hard to please
a good leader. Think about your daily routine. How often does
your dog take the leadership position? Every time you let your
dog scurry out the door in front of you or walk paces in front
of you, or cut you off as you try to make your way into the
kitchen, he is dominating you and you are permitting him to take
a leadership position. Simply making a concerted effort to be
ahead of your dog will start sending him a clear message.

Don't make it a race. You won't win. He is faster than you.
Instead, use verbal commands, like "wait," or "halt," when you
want him to let you pass. Release him when you're sure you will
arrive at whatever your destination may be before he does.
You'll notice he will try to beat you if he can figure out where
you're going. He'll speed up or down the steps just to get there
first. He is trying to take your leadership.

As your leadership skills improve, you should never have to use
your hands or even a leash to get your point across. Using your
hands to discipline you pup may give him issues. You want him to
associate your hands with good things like being loved and fed.
Use your vocal tones. Use disapproving guttural tones when your
pup is messing up and use high pitch happy tones when he's doing
a good job. You don't even have to use words, beyond those
necessary for commands, just tones.

When you and your pal embark out into the world on a walk, it
doesn't matter where you're going or how happy he may be to get
there, the leader's place is in front. If you want him to be the
leader, then allowing him to walk ten paces ahead of you will
suffice. If you want to be his leader, then he should remain in
a "heel" position throughout the entire walk, and even into the
home. Remember, you don't want him to be ahead of you when you
go into or out of the home.

Think like a pack animal for a moment. If there's danger to the
den, or there's suspicious behavior lurking about the den, the
leader goes first. The leader asses the situation. You need to
let your dog know that you have it under control, and that he is
to remain passive to your judgment. It may take a little time,
but these simple dog training tips will go a long way in
establishing your dominance. As he accepts your leadership, you
should begin to notice a marked improvement in the way he
responds to other, simple commands, like "sit."

There's nothing quite as pure and simple as the love of a dog.
They tend to bring out the best in us, even when we feel our
worst. The more you seek better ways to train and handle your
friend, the stronger your relationship with him will be. Being
cautious about the dog training tips you abide by is just
another part of being a diligent and thoughtful owner.
Considering all we expect of them and how little they expect of
us, it really isn't so much to put a little forethought into
their daily lives. After all, they live for ours.

About The Author: David Beart is owner of the
http://www.professorshouse.com , a site dedicated to dog
information, family, relationships and household issues.

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Breed Dogs, Earn Money - It's Not That Easy!

Title: Breed Dogs, Earn Money – It's Not That Easy!
Author: Moses Wright

Breed Dogs, Earn Money – It's Not That Easy!
The idea of surrounding yourself with cute puppies and dogs
all day and earning a living off it might seem enticing.
Dog breeding is a serious business and carries serious
responsibility. There are risks and surprises around the
corner for even the most experienced breeder. There are
many dog breeding concerns and considerations you should
think about before you decide to become a dog breeder.

To begin with, you must have high-quality parents when you
begin to breed. There are already an abundance of unwanted
mutt dogs in the world. Though some find places to live,
many of them end up being put down because there isn't
enough room in the shelter. Only by choosing high-quality
parents, you can ensure that your puppies offer the best
qualities of the breed and have better chances of finding
excellent owners for each litter.

The best way to find good parents is to review their
medical histories. The parents should both be free from
hereditary diseases and have been tested for infectious
diseases. Finally, the dogs should both display a good
temperament. You don't want to have puppies that are
unfriendly and unaffectionate towards their potential
owners.

Breeding is always risky for both the mother and the
father. E. Coli, strep and other bacteria can be common
problems when breeding in the country or on a farm. You
will need to take extra effort to ensure healthy mother and
puppies from these bacteria strains.

Not all of the puppies are sure to survive the birth or
time thereafter. Some puppies die during whelping, which
can be emotionally difficult. The effects of dying puppies
and sick moms are a risk that comes with breeding animals,
but should not be an overall deterrent.

Breeding and whelping the puppies can take time and cost
money. A whelping box is needed for the puppies, as well as
heat lamps, thermometers, hemostats and other medical items
to help the puppies and the mother during this vulnerable
time. You will need to practice using these instruments
before your new puppies arrive.

After the puppies arrive, the mother will look after them
for roughly 3 weeks. The mother will bathe and feed them,
generally keeping them out of trouble. The new puppies,
however, will need a safe and private place to stay during
this time so that the mom feels that her babies are
protected. She will also need access to go outside whenever
she wishes to avoid accidents. If she is housetrained and
on a schedule, it may be disrupted during this time and
sometimes, she will just need time away from the puppies.

You will need a lot of fresh newspaper or similar material
to keep the puppies and the area clean. The material will
need to be changed frequently in order to keep the area
safe from bacteria and other messes.

Puppies need to stay warm at all times. Hypothermia is the
leading cause of puppy mortality, so heat lamps with an
automatic thermostat are important equipments during the
upbringing of the puppies. You will need to keep the
puppies around 75 - 80F although the mother may get
uncomfortable and move farther away from the heat.

Most breeds will be continually attended by their mother,
but they often whine and bark at night. They will sleep an
hour, get up to go the bathroom and then want to play. They
will settle down, but you might be cleaning while they are
sleeping and not get any rest for yourself. Typically, this
pattern starts at the second or third week and lasts up
until the eighth or ninth week. If you ignore them all
night, you will have a large mess on your hands in the
morning and a higher risk of infection in the puppies.

You will need to bring the puppies in to be in to get their
shots and be checked by the vet. Then you will need to find
the puppies good homes. Be ready to experience some
emotional loss when you say goodbye to each puppy as they
venture off to their new homes. It's a bittersweet time for
puppy and owner.

If you can deal with all of these issues, being a dog
breeder is a rewarding experience. You can take pleasure in
the joy of adding a new member into a new family, as well
as create lifelong friendships.

About the Author:

Moses Wright is a pet lover and loves to help new pet
owners deal with their pet problems at home. You can find
more pet problems and solutions for free here:
http://www.petquery.com/

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Dog Food: Choice Is Important

Article Title: Dog Food: Choice Is Important
Author: Franske Nieuwenhuis

When feeding your dog, think about the following:

- The size of your dog
- The daily activity level of your dog
- The life stage of your dog
- Any health conditions that your dog may have.

If you don't take into account all of the above, you can be
setting your dog up for a major crash that you could surely
avoid by being smart and attentive to your dogs needs.

Too many dog owners care little about the foods they supply.
They buy the cheaper brands, which have little nutrition. They
feed their dog table scraps, which are poisonous to their dogs
and they just don't seem to care, either.

When your dog is fed all of these substandard foods, they are
set up for all kinds of sickness. Your dog can become lethargic
and lack energy. They can be listless and stop being frisky. You
might think your dog is tired, so resting more when in fact your
dog could be sick. It is so important that you feed your dog
right if you want your dog to be healthy.

The size of your dog will determine greatly the amount of food
that you should feed him. For proper feeding regulations the bag
will list approximate amounts, however if you are an experienced
dog owner you will find that these recommended portions are not
always appropriate for your specific dog. The label on the bag
is just a guide, a little more, or a little less will not hurt
based on your opinion. Trust your judgment when reading the
label and do what you decide is best.

Your dog will have individual needs. No two dogs are exactly
the same.

Certain breeds of dog have specific nutritional requirements
that must be met in their diet for them to live an optimum
lifestyle. Knowing this, dog food manufacturers have started to
produce breed specific dog foods. Royal Canin is the leader in
this regard and have a great line of breed specific dog and cat
food products on the market.

A high energy dog will need a high energy diet. Calorie rich
food will benefit a dog that is highly active, for example a
working dog, needs a high calorie diet, due to their active days
assisting their masters to perform important daily tasks.

Choosing a dog food according to your dog's stage of life is
very important to your dog's health. Your dog's nutritional
needs will very depending on his stage of life and depending on
your dog's size. Puppies need a high protein, high calorie diet.
Adults need a balanced blend of all of the necessary elements,
and senior dogs have specific food products with extra additives
to take care of their special needs some of which being but not
limited to joint maintenance, immune boosters, and ostio
strengthening.

Regardless of what your dog's special needs are there is a dog
food that fits. Your job is to find the food that is the best
for your dog.

About The Author: Frans Nieuwenhuis is the author of this
article. For more dog related articles please visit
http://www.petcarewatch.info

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