Take care of your dog

A dog kennel is a great way for your dog or dogs to spend time outside without chains or tied but still secure and safe. This allows your beloved pets to see what is going on around them while still giving them plenty of room to run about and move around freely. A kennel keeps your pet safe and out of danger as well as keeping them from endangering others even if they are aggressive. This gives the owner peace of mind. Dogs are great escape artists and even with a completely fenced yard, they sometimes find ways to escape. Tying a dog up is a worry because everyone has read of incidents where they accidentally become tangled up or hang themselves, which is a frightening thought. Dog kennels also reduce your dog’s change of getting into a fight with another dog, contacting diseases or being poisoned. Unlike a cage, where the dog has very little room, dog kennels provide your pet with enough space to exercise, see the sights and enjoy some fresh air safely.

Here are some important precautions and guidelines to follow when building a dog kennel that helps keep your pet safe, healthy and happy:

·A dog kennel needs to provide shelter for your pet from the outside elements, such as extreme heat, rain or snow. If the dog will be outside for more than twenty minutes, provide shelter such as a doghouse or even indoor access.

·There should always be fresh water available, even if they are only outside for five minutes.

·Provide your dog with a comfortable place to lay or sit, such as a blanket, dog bed or even a piece of carpet.

· Kennel floors made of cement hold both heat and cold. Provide your pet with a place to stand that protect your dog’s paws from this.

Portable dog kennels are great for people that travel or visit a lot and love taking their dog along. Pet stores and large department stores usually carry a wide selection of dog kennels, normally in standard sizes. If you have a very large dog, you may have to ask them to special order one for you, that is big and secure enough. Portable kennels are quick and easy to set up and take down. Some come with a screen, to block the sun.

Permanent dog kennels are usually constructed of metal or aluminum screens and steel posts set into the ground. Often the floor is cement but some people prefer earth floors. For a dog or dogs that spend a fair amount of time outdoors in their dog kennel, some owners add a dog run to give their pets more room to play and exercise. Permanent dog kennels are sturdy enough to withstand a dogs jumping and pushing, without collapsing.

Custom made dog kennel are fabulous as you decide what shape, size or special items you want. Designed to your specification, some cost a bit more but are certainly worth the money. Many people have and enclosed area added to allow their dog to get out of the elements. Usually the company or people working with you on designing your pet’s kennel, install them also.

Dog owners are faced with a difficult choice when comes to the right food for their dog. Many owners simply do not know what makes a good dog food and assume that the higher priced brand must be better. Others will take the opposite view and see no reason to spend extra on a premium brand dog food. Of course we are not just talking about canned dog food. Dogs tend to prefer the moist, juicy food contained in a can but it is important for them to also to chew on hard crunchy dog food such as dry kibble and dog biscuits. Obviously the nutrition is important and that will come mostly from the choice of canned dog food but a dog’s dental health is also important and therefore their diet should contain a balance. Mixing canned dog food with dry kibble or biscuits may be the answer if your dog does not like to eat the dry food separately.

Good quality dog food should contain top quality nutritional ingredients and should offer a balanced diet of high protein such as fresh meat or meats and unprocessed grains, vegetables and fruits. It should contain natural preservatives and be low on fillers such as corn, soy, brewer’s rice and wheat bran.

In general terms, you get what you pay for. However, that is not always true and dog owners should learn about the best ingredients and read the label to ensure that those ingredients are there. You will find at the lower end of the price range, the dog food is low on nutrients and will recommend say 6 measures per day instead of maybe 2 or 3 measures of good quality premium priced dog food. So you can see that there can be a false economy in buying the cheaper dog food, most of which will pass straight through the dog and leaving the poor animal hungry for more. So the message here is read the label for ingredients and feeding instructions.

Finally, it is important to monitor your dog’s health. As with humans, healthy eating leads to good health. Eating junk dog food will cause obesity and other health problems. Look at your dogs teeth which can usually give an indication of poor diet. Regular check ups with your local vet will also point to any dietary problems.

Choose the right dog breeds:

In choosing a dog from all kinds of dog breeds for the family, it’s a good idea we keep the children in mind. Some dog breeds are not tolerant of children and can be a threat to them. There are many dog breeds of dogs out there to choose from. Do your homework to see which one works the best with your family and especially your children.

By far the number one best dog breed for children hands down, would have to be, you guessed it, Labrador Retriever. This dog is well accepted because of its good nature. It is not generally aggressive or hyper. It is playful, easy-going, intelligent and patient.

No wonder it is loved by the young and old. Because of its mild manner, it is first choice in working with the handicapped. It is has desire to please as if it knows its plight. The Lab is also a great pick if you have other animals. They are very accommodating.

A well taken care of Lab can live up to 13 years. In order to reduce boredom in these dogs, they should be kept active. These dog breeds love playing in the yard or taking walks.

Number two on the list is the Golden Retriever. They are similar to the Lab in their personality. They are also mild mannered, kind and they enjoy being around people. They too are a top pick for working with the handicapped as well as the elderly.

They too get along with other pets. These dog breed are intelligent creatures to train. Playing fetch is a favorite game for them. Because of their playful nature, this breed of dog would be great for an older child who enjoys the outdoors. Regular grooming is required because of their long hair.

The next pick is the Beagle. Even though they have a baying bark, they are not aggressive dogs. What their barking does say about them is they make great watch dogs. These dogs have a friendly demeanor about them.

Their tails seem to be in an unending wagging motion. Because friendliness comes natural with them, they do not like being left alone. They become bored when left by themselves for too long. They are great picks for smaller children because of their size.

Another great pick for children is the Basset Hound. They are generally docile, yet they’re known for their stubbornness.

They are also known for their gentleness and are quite sweet by nature. They’re great with children of all ages and enjoy attention from them.

The German shepherd is another pick. Again, these are probably best for older children who enjoy playing outdoors. Because of their size and strength, they are probably not suitable for younger children.

German Shepherds are known for their loyalty. Police often use this type of dog breed for search and rescue missions. They are protective by nature and are quite tolerant. It’s best to start training these dogs as pups. Without training, they can be a handful.

The black and white spotted Dalmatian is associated with fire trucks. But for a family, a Dalmatian would be a trusted friend. They are very outgoing dogs with lots of energy to spare. This dog needs companionship from humans.

The Bearded Collie is another great pick. These are active dogs and would do best outdoors. They like to have open space to run, so being confined to an apartment would not suit these dogs.

Then there’s the American Cocker Spaniel. They are sensitive and sweet dogs. They are generally obedient to their master and enjoy the attention of children. They are definitely a people friendly dog.

The Bearded Collie is known for its bounce. This dog is very playful and happy. They like to be around people and will not hide their excitement of being around you. Female Collie’s tend to be calmer, while males are more rambunctious.

Cockapoos not only are good around children, but they get on with other pets as well. They do not need a lot of space. Apartment life is OK with them.

In choosing the right dog breeds for your family, always remember that there are always exceptions to the rules. Each dog breed is an individual, and why for the most part certain breeds are more children friendly, you should always be cautious with your child around unknown dogs.

Having a hard time naming your dog?

History has shown us that people have been naming their dogs for as long as they have kept them. The earliest known pure-bred dog was the Saluki, named after the town of Saluk in Yemen. Rock carvings dated to 7000BC show a very strong resemblance to the Saluki. The earliest domesticated dogs seem to be the Egyptian Pharaoh Hounds which date back to at least 4000BC and who played a signifigant role in the Egyptian royal family. Archaeological digs from around the world have given us proof that mans best friend was given a name. We know many ancient Egyptian dog names from leather collars as well as reliefs, stele and statuary. They included such names as Brave One, Reliable, Good Herdsman, North-Wind, Antelope and even “Useless”. Other names come from the dog’s appearance, such as Blue or Snow, while still other dogs were given numbers for names, such as “Seven”. Many of the names seem to represent endearment, while others convey merely the dog’s abilities or capabilities.

Naming a dog today has become a challenge as more and more people become dog owners. We all want our pet to have that unique name which no one else has. However there are certain common sense guidelines that should be followed when naming your beloved puppy.

1. Remember, you will be using and calling out this name up to a hundred times per day and many thousands of times in the life of your dog. Choose a name that rolls off the tongue easily. Most trainers and breeders suggest a two syllable name. Your puppy will find it easier to learn and you will have an easier time saying it.

2. Choose a name that stays away from common command words (sit, go, down, fetch, no etc). Name like Brown, Sitah, Bogo, Fletch or Beau can confuse a puppy being trained to behave, as well as older dogs whose health and hearing are fading.

3. Remember, your dog will be with you for a long time, so a name that seemed cute and adorable while he was a puppy may not be such a great name in her later years. Poopsy or Stinky may not be appropriate names to use in public when your dog gets older. You will need to guide small children should they be allowed in on the process as they will always go for the cute and embarrassing.

4. Using your dog’s unique appearance, personality and capability are great ways to come up with a name. Your Beagle could be Patches, your Rhodesian Ridgeback could be Big Red, Ridge or Lion and your new Shar Pei could be named Wrinkles. A stubborn pet could be named Rebel or Renegade. A fast dog could be Swifty or Bullet and a beautiful and proud dog could be named Princess or Queenie.

5. Let your dog decide her own name by narrowing down the choices to a few, then calling the names to your dog. Whichever one he comes to could be the one. Conversely, you could place the chosen names on separate paper and let your dog decide by sitting on the name she wants.

6. Remember not to call out your dog’s name when you are angry or disciplining your dog as he will start to associate the name with unpleasant happenings and ignore the name when called. Name training should be done in a positive manner when you are playing with him, praising him and rewarding him. Use his name frequently so that he learns to associate his name with pleasant happenings.

However you decide to choose the right dog names for your new pets, be comfortable in the fact that you are not alone in the difficult task of choosing a name. Just remember to choose the name you and your dog are most comfortable with and you won’t go wrong.