Havanese Dogs Are Fun To Own

Article Title: Havanese Dogs Are Fun To Own
Author: Fiona A Kelly

The Havanese dog is a breed that came back from a crisis in the
last century to become a popular family pet today. This dog is
especially popular in the United States, with some breeders
still charging up to $1000 for a pup, despite the fact that the
Havanese dog is becoming more readily available today. The
reason for their popularity is mainly in their personality:
Havanese are fiercely loyal, eternally playful and consistently
cute entertainers. This makes them a good choice as a family pet
for many families, including those with children and other
animals in the house. These dogs are also quite brave, despite
their small size, and can make excellent watch dogs. One of the
best things about this breed is the fact that they never seem to
lose their zest for life that they have as puppies. You will
rarely see a grumpy adult Havanese dog, but you are likely to
see one that is always ready to play.

Intelligent, submissive and eager to please his master. These
characteristics are typical in the Havanese breed, which makes
it easy t train most of the time. However, housebreaking a
Havanese can be a more challenging process than with other types
of breeds. Most breeders and Havanese owners will advise someone
purchasing a Havanese puppy to allow plenty of time and patience
to complete the housebreaking routine. One reason is because
Havanese pups do not always leash train well, meaning they may
not complete their "business" when enjoying a walk with you. If
you are having a hard time getting your Havanese pup
housebroken, one method that has worked with some Havanese
owners is the use of a litter box that is designed for use with
toy dog breeds. Do not ever use regular cat litter in your dog's
box, since he could eat it and get sick. Instead, you can use a
hard, cylindrical paper pellet that will actually attract your
dog to his box. It is also important to make sure that you spend
plenty of time with your puppy, since a lonely dog can easily
turn into a chewing dog.

If you are looking for a new pet for your family, and you are
hoping for a dog that will be easy to train and fun to own, a
Havanese puppy might be the right choice for you. This dog is
submissive by nature, eager to please, and intelligent to boot.
He is generally a pup that will always be ready to play with
your family, and never lacking in energy. Often Havanese are
natural performers and your pup may entertain you frequently
with his antics. He will be loyal and loveable, and despite his
small size, he may make a fairly effective watchdog. Most
Havanese tend to be fearless, and even fierce when the situation
calls for it. If you are thinking that a Havanese puppy might be
the right dog for you, there are plenty of Havanese breeders
available who can offer you one of these pups in good health and
with good breeding. To find a breeder, you can search online or
ask friends or your veterinarian for recommendations. It is also
a wise idea to continue to research the breed, so that you can
learn everything possible about the Havanese dog.

About The Author: Fiona Kelly,breeder of Havanese dogs offers
plenty of good information on the website. For a
playful,loveable family pet, consider a
http://www.havanese-puppy-guide.com/ Havanese dog. For
everything you need to know about this breed,there is plenty of
good http://www.havanese-puppy-guide.com/Havanese.html Havanese
information available.

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The Importance Of Pet Insurance

Article Title: The Importance Of Pet Insurance
Author: Jason Hulott1

While most of us never think twice about getting home contents
insurance – after all, it is not compulsory – it is surprising
how many pet owners do not take out pet insurance.

Yet, you are three times more likely to need to make a claim on
your pet insurance (if you have it) compared to your contents
insurance!

Many cat and dog owners see pet insurance as unnecessary, yet
every year, one in three pets make an unexpected trip to the
vet, meaning their owner will need to find the money to pay for
their treatment. These costs can literally run into hundreds –
sometimes even thousands – of pounds.

As example, when 12 year old Timmy - a Bombay cat - was adopted
from a local rescue by the Ashcroft family, they immediately got
him checked over by their vet and then took out pet insurance at
a cost of £10.85 a month.

Mrs Ashcroft says: "Having been a cat owner for many years, and
knowing how vets bills can mount up, it seemed the natural thing
to insure Timmy. We are so glad we did now. Just four months
after we took out the insurance, a routine check up showed up a
heart murmur. Diagnostic tests to discover just how the bad the
problem was, plus ongoing medication and visits to the vet cost
us well over £700 in just a year.

"After that, further tests revealed a thyroid problem.
Medication, tests and a operation the following year cost us
another £700-odd. Thankfully, our insurance covered most of
these costs - we only had an £80 excess to pay. Timmy will be on
medication for the rest of his life and will need twice-yearly
check ups, and the insurance policy will pay for this. It's
comforting to know that we can afford to give him the best
medical treatment and attention for the rest of his life".

There are many specialist insurance companies offering pet
insurance for your pet, from rats, rabbits and reptiles through
to cats, dogs and horses, at affordable prices. And while cover
varies from provider to provider and depends on the type of pet
you are insuring, as a basic rule, injuries and illnesses are
covered. (You should note that preventative treatment, such as
vaccinations or dentals are not covered).

Each time you claim for a separate injury or illness, you will
be expected to pay an excess - rather like your car or home
insurance.

When choosing the right policy for you and your pet, bear in
mind that while the concept is the same for all the insurers,
each has its own terms, conditions and criteria. The following
should be taken into consideration:

• Check that there is no limit on how long you can claim for
each illness. For example, if your cat need tablets to control
heart problems, or your dog has arthritis, the problem will need
to be controlled for the rest of their life, not just a year or
24 months

• Check that the limit per illness is realistic - over time
treatment for a single illness can cost hundreds of pounds

• Check that your pet will still be covered in later life when
they will need it most. Some insurers terminate policies when a
pet reaches a certain age

• Look out for special discounts, such as those offered in
multi-pet households and for pensioners

About The Author: Jason Hulott is Business Development Director
of Protection Insurance (http://www.protection-insurance.com),
an internet based insurance business dedicated to getting
consumers the best rates and the best products.

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Exercise With Your Pet For Greater Health And Companionship

Article Title: Exercise With Your Pet For Greater Health And
Companionship
Author: Melanie McVarney

As the holidays approach, a level of apprehension continually
grows in each person's mind: `how can I not gain weight this
holiday season?' people ask. `How can I quickly lose weight
after the holidays?' is another question that
health-conscientious people have asked themselves each year.

Weight gain is not only a problem for people during the
holidays. Dogs get new bones or new tasty treats and biscuits.
Sometimes, dogs are even allowed table scraps so they can be a
part of the family festivities. Because it is most likely cold
outside, there may be a warm fire in the fireplace, or maybe the
family has decided to sit down and watch TV for the day, so the
family pet joins in the relaxation and leisure of the holidays.

So, what should you do? Enlist your doggie to be your exercise
partner! For many people, having an exercise buddy helps them
stay on track and get the exercise they know they need. This is
a win-win situation. Your dog can get the exercise he wants, and
you will have a companion, an accountability partner, and you
may even lose a pant size or two!

Dogs are born with an inherent desire to run, play, and get
exercise. Though they are often happy to sit on your lap as you
relax and watch TV, if it is beautiful outside, they want to be
outside as well, romping around in the fresh air and chasing
after squirrels.

Before you formulate your workout plan with your dog, be sure
you check with your veterinarian first. They will be able to
help you decide on a program that fits your dog's current level
of fitness, and you then will be able to formulate a plan that
works well for both you and your dog.

So, don't wait…get started! Begin by taking your dog on two
walks a day. Slowly increase the length of walking of time, as
well as the pace. This way, you will be able to work up your
goal fitness level. Be sure to switch up the routine some
days…take your dog to a park (where pets are allowed, of course)
and play chase or fetch with a tennis ball or flying Frisbee.
This will allow your dog to run around without a leash and they
will be able to romp around freely.

Once your dog becomes accustomed to taking daily walks
outdoors, they will hold you to your commitment. It is just like
mealtime; you dog lets you know when it is time to eat (in this
case, when it is time to exercise!). How will you be able to
resist those big brown pleading puppy eyes? The whimpering that
begs, `please walk with me!' is also hard to ignore. Listen to
your dog; you will most likely find that taking a walk two times
a day is relaxing and fun. You will get to spend time with your
pet, you will probably meet other people in your neighborhood
who have pets, so it is a great opportunity to get some fresh
air and clear your mind.

After the holidays, choose to lose the few extra pounds you may
have gained and formulate and exercise plan for you and your
dog. Your pet will hold you to the routine, and you won't regret
it! So, get started, and good luck!

About The Author: http://www.dog-training-collars.org
http://www.gbem2004.com/

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Learn The Secrets Of Why Your Pet Wont Eat

Article Title: Learn The Secrets Of Why Your Pet Wont Eat
Author: Melissa Turner

Pets can sometimes be finicky when it comes to mealtime; cats
are especially known to be picky about their food. Sometimes
your pet may have a raring appetite and may beg to be fed…other
times, they may simply glance at their dinner and choose to not
eat. What is the cause of this inconsistent appetite? Chances
are, if you have a pet with problems eating, the cause may not
actually be your pet, but you.

If your pet consistently refuses to eat or eats very little, it
may be a sign of illness. If your pet used to eat regularly and
consistently, and now you have noticed a pattern of refusal to
eat, this is cause enough to take your pet to the vet. If you
have noticed other symptoms, take your pet to your local
veterinary clinic to assess your pet's state of health
immediately.

Although people need variety and wide selections and
combinations of food, cats and dogs are not built the same way.
This is often a mistaken belief that people have when it comes
to feeding their pet. If they give their pet different types of
food each day, they are teaching their pet that they can have an
opinion, thus causing them to possibly not eat and hold out for
a food choice they prefer more. Dogs and cats are not built like
humans. They can get all of the proper nutrients and vitamins
they need from only one particular dog food. Once you realize
which food your pet likes best, just stick with it. Your pet
will thank you for it!

Another reason that pets may not eat could be a family member
who enjoys giving the pet `people' snacks from the dinner table.
If a dog gets pieces of `people food,' that may very well
satisfy their hunger until the next day. So, when you try to
feed your pet, they are simply not hungry because they were
already fed from the table. Not only can feeding from the table
ruin your pet's appetite, it is also bad for them. Again, humans
and animals have different nutritional needs, and human food may
actually be more harmful to pets than is often realized.

Many dogs have an inherent nature to please their owners.
Oftentimes when a pet eats their food, their owners praise them
and show their dog that they are happy with them. Though this is
fine, it can sometimes encourage dogs to overeat. Similar to
humans, overeating can cause discomfort or bloating. If a pet
later refuses to eat, they are simply saying they can't hold any
more food and they are blocking it out in an attempt to be more
comfortable.

Whatever the problem may be, it is always a good idea to visit
your veterinary clinic and discuss your pet's eating habits with
a professional. Your vet will be able to recommend a certain dog
food type, as well as defining the amount of food and how many
times a day your pet should be fed. Soon, you and your pet can
find something that works for the both of you. Good luck!

About The Author: http://www.dog-bed.org/
http://www.lveproductions.com/

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Three Reasons Your Dog Is Brought Into The Back At The Vets

Article Title: Three Reasons Your Dog Is Brought Into The Back
At The Vets
Author: Daniel Beatty, DVM

You are at the veterinarians office with your dog. You are
waiting to see the vet and when your turn comes you get into the
room. Then you are asked to wait in the room, while your dog is
taken into the back to have blood drawn, the vaccines, or some
other procedure. Or you get into the room the veterinarian comes
in does an exam and notices that your dog is a little agitated,
he asks to have your dog brought into the back. You ask
yourself, why? Why is my dog going back there, what is happening
to my dog back there, you might even hear a yelp and you know it
is your dog...what are they doing? Why does my dog need to go
back there why can they not do the procedure in the room or why
can I not go back there to see what is happening? All these are
legitimate questions and I have three reasons why.... attitude,
insurance and training.

Attitude - Most dogs do better without their owner present.
There attitude completely changes when they are away from their
owner for two reasons. The first is that dogs just like people
can feel stress and tension. They are acutely aware when there
is a problem, they may not be able to fully understand the
situation and therefore may not respond appropriately. All the
dog knows is that it is away from home in a different and
sometimes scary place (they get hurt here) and that their owner
is a little anxious or nervous, so they know something is wrong.
Now you as an owner may not be nervous about the procedure but
rather nervous because the dog is nervous, you feed off of each
others anxiety which then makes the dog difficult to deal with
in a safe manner. If you take the dog out of the situation, away
from the owner, so it can not directly feel the tension, the dog
actually calms down. The second reason is that some dogs try and
protect their owner from anything they consider a threat. Some
dogs are well known for not trusting anyone, except for their
owner, and that becomes much more evident when they are in a
strange environment or in an environment in which pain was
inflicted upon them - shots hurt. In this case, when the dog is
taken away from the owner and he no longer has anything to
protect his attitude improves dramatically.

Insurance- Money and lawyers that is what insurance is all
about. Lawyers trying to figure out the "what if" situations and
how much money it will cost if that "what if" should occur. In
veterinary medicine, it is spelled out that if when doing a
procedure on an animal and the owner is injured or bit the
veterinarian is held accountable. Insurance companies know this
and if a client is injured then there is no coverage or minimal
coverage; however, if an employee is injured then the employee
has workers compensation insurance plus the standard insurance
would not dismiss their claim due to negligence of the
veterinarian. That is correct, it is considered negligence on
the veterinarians part if you hold your dog and you are injured.
So in order to protect himself, the veterinarian will and should
require certain procedures to happen away from the owner using
trained individuals, which brings us to the third reason why
your dog is brought into the back at the vet's office.

Training- There are trained individuals in the back room for
procedures. Many veterinary exam rooms are small and most back
rooms are quite large. In order to have as many trained
individuals working with your dog in enough space to properly
work, your dog must be brought into the back room. Properly
trained individuals know how to draw blood or more importantly
know how to restrain your dog in the most effective way and
minimize the chance of hurting themselves or your dog in the
process. Not only are they trained professionals but they deal
with situations like this everyday, with the same team of
people, which also makes it safer for the people and the dog.

So when your dog is asked to go into the back room, it is not
because the vet wants to do mean nasty things without you
knowing. They do not want to do treatments without your
knowledge, they really have the concern for the safety and
health of your dog. Bringing your dog into the back room usually
eases your dogs attitude, reduces insurance woes, and utilizes
trained individuals.

About The Author: What? You didn't know you should not be
vaccinating your dog every year??? You can find more information
about this and other topics of dog health care at Dr Dan's
website - http://www.evetclinic.com or his blog
http://healthyasadog.com

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