October 30th, 2007 at 04:03pm
Under General
Thinking of introducing a new dog into your family? Well, before you go out to choose a dog and bring into your home, just know that caring for dogs requires a lot of responsibility from you.
It’s a good idea to have a family discussion and decide who amongst your family members will have the major responsibility of training and taking care of the new dog.
Ensure also that you get a qualified vet preferably one near your home. Costs should also be taken into consideration since proper maintenance of dogs requires money. Other things to have around in the home include supplies such as toys, crates, bowls, beds, collars and a leash before the dog comes home. What other factors do you need to consider?
Another issue to think about is the different dog breeds out there so you need to know if they are compatible with your lifestyle. For example, huge or large dogs will not fit comfortably with people living in apartments or with the elderly folks. Small dogs on the other hand will not work well with people who prefer a lot of activity with their dogs.
Have you thought about the age of the dog you will be getting? Do you prefer a puppy or an older dog? Other dog breeds have health issues like eye problems or hip dysplasia. As you can see there are many factors to think about before choosing a dog.
For those who prefer purebred puppies, visiting your local kennel club can give you access to breeders in your area that specialize in certain breeds. The local kennel club can also be a good starting point for those looking for older dogs. Don’t forget your vet! He or she can greatly assist you since they probably have worked with area breeders.
Sporting breeds of dogs are suitable for those who prefer hunting with dogs. The Labrador Retriever & the Golden Retriever are the most popular sporting groups of dogs. They are good with children and easy to train.
A lot of people prefer dogs from the AKC’s working group. Some of the breeds of dogs that belong to this group include the Giant Schnauzer, Rottweiler, Bullmastiff the Siberian Husky and the Akita.
These types of dogs require owners that are experienced and know how to establish leadership. They have thick undercoats and shed a lot. Make sure that you get your dog from a reputable breeder since hip dysplasia affects these types of dog breeds.
Toy dogs are popular especially with celebrities who like to show them off. The sizes of the dogs can easily fool you. These seemingly cute little dogs have huge personalities!
Some of the dog breeds in this group include the Shih Tzu, Pug, Maltese and the Pomeranian.
They require training and need to be exercised. They also fit quite comfortably with apartment dwellers and families with older children.
For farmers who own livestock, I would suggest you choose your dog from the herding group. Examples of such kinds of dogs in the herding group include The Australian Shephard, the Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog and the Australian Shepherd. A dog like the Border Collie which is quite intelligent requires that you exercise it a lot both physically and mentally.
Mixed dog breeds are also a good choice since they are such lovely companions of the family as much as purebred dogs.
Don’t be in a hurry to choose a dog. Take your sweet time and research on the different dog breeds out there. Take the time and seek the advice of pet store owners, vets, dog groomers and breeders. Consider all angles of dog care as this will ensure that have a happy time with you and your dog.
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By Gerald Njuguna
October 30th, 2007 at 03:37pm
Under Dog Health
Dogs being naturally curious and scavengers, tend to eat almost anything. The danger is that there are potentially dangerous substances lurking in your home that could kill your beloved dog.
I have compiled a list of 8 common household items that you need to keep out of the reach of your dog.
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He teaches over 1,000 safe, natural and effective solutions for healing your pet that are easy to understand. You don’t need a degree in Veterinary Science to implement them 
I highly recommend this definitive manual if you are searching for information on vets, dog health and illnesses. To get more info, visit his site by clicking here->The Veterinary Secret …ok then.. back to the article..
1) Chocolate:
Chocolate! How can chocolate kill my dog? One of the ingredients of chocolate is a chemical by the name of obromine which is quite toxic to dogs.
There are two types of chocolate that are especially dangerous to dogs; Baking chocolate & dark chocolate.
It normally takes huge amounts of chocolate to kill a dog but in some cases ingesting smaller amounts can poison and kill the dog.
If your dog has been poisoned by chocolate, it will start to vomit, diarrhea and urinate more frequently.
If this is not treated immediately, the dog will start having seizures & unusual heart rhythms.
2) Antifreeze
You may not realize this but antifreeze kills a lot of pets every year. Its sweet smell and lovely taste appeals to many dogs. Ethylene glycol, which is a key ingredient in antifreeze, is toxic and kills many animals if ingested.
Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning include the dog vomiting, having seizures, stumbling and being lethargy causing it to have kidney failure. Please ensure that you keep your antifreeze away from your pet and should the dog ingest the substance, take him to the vet as soon as possible.
3) Bleach
Household bleach is toxic to dogs. All products that contain bleach need to be kept away from the dog’s reach.
Dogs that have been poisoned by bleach show symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting and drooling.
Please don’t induce vomiting if you suspect that your dog has ingested bleach.
Contact your veterinarian immediately.
4) Tylenol
2 regular strength Tylenol tablets are enough to kill a small dog.
The reason is that dogs don’t have the appropriate enzymes in their liver necessary to break down acetaminophen.
Dogs that have ingested Tylenol will start to drool, become lethargic and have abdominal pain.
Contact your vet immediately if you suspect that your dog has ingested Tylenol.
5) Fabric Softeners and other detergents:
At some level, all household detergents are harmful to dogs but fabric softeners are far more toxic to dogs.
Dogs that have been poisoned by softeners and detergents exhibit symptoms of vomiting, have burns in the mouth, drool, their muscles become weak and can even go to a coma.
Do NOT induce vomiting if your dog has ingested any detergents or softeners. Contact your vet immediately.
6) Moth Balls:
Moth balls are lethal if ingested by dogs because they contain a substance that causes the central nervous system of the dog to be excited resulting in seizures.
When the chemicals in the moth balls are metabolized, they cause the liver of the dog to fail! A dog that has been poisoned by moth balls will start to vomit and also have seizures.
Do not induce vomiting if the dog looks poisoned but seek proper medical advice from a vet.
7) Batteries of Watches:
Watch battery acid causes fatal ulceration in the stomach of the dog within 12 hours after ingestion.
Also, other alkaline batteries are toxic to dogs. A dog that has swallowed battery acid will start to drool, lose appetite, vomit and also become lethargic.
Seek immediate help from your vet.
Household Plants:
You might be having a popular household plant in your home and are not aware that it’s poisonous to your dog.
Good example of plants that are poisonous to your dog include; Poinsettias, Lilies, Ferns, Devil’s ivy, Aloe and Ivy
If we are cautious, we can prevent our lovable dogs from swallowing poisonous substances that can be fatal to them.
The internet has lots of information that will help you be wiser regarding your pet and how to care for your pet in order to prevent such disasters from happening.
If you suspect that your dog might have eaten something poisonous, the best advice I can give you is you ensure you contact your vet immediately and if possible take your dog to the nearest emergency pet clinic.
Dont forget: Read more info on “Veterinary Secrets Revealed” book written by Dr Andrew Jones. Discover simple secrets on how to safeguard your pet’s health, Slash Vet Bills, and even save your pet’s life! Learn over 1,000 safe, natural and effective solutions for healing your pet that you can easily accomplish in the comfort of your home..no Veterinary Science degree required here!! Visit his site here-> The Veterinary Secrets
By Gerald Njuguna
October 24th, 2007 at 04:18pm
Under News
Came across this story from DailyPress.com…A guy by the name of Oscar Allen from Richmond pleaded guilty that he was a cohort & advisor to NFL star Michael Vick in his dogfighting ring.
It also further adds that he pleaded guilty to the charge that was brought up against Michael and his 3 co-defendants; that they conspired to to aid illegal gambling and sponsoring dog fights.
At this day and age i cant understand what fun a grown up gets by watching dogs tear each other up. To be totally honest, when i used to be a kid i love watching cocks fight in our neighbourhood so i might be sounding like a hypocrite here when i say this but you get out of it as you grow up. My opinion is that dog fighting is a brutal and savage sport…
By Gerald Njuguna
October 20th, 2007 at 12:45pm
Under News
Can you place a price tag on your dog? How much will you be willing to pay to find it should it get lost? Well, a San Antonio woman was willing to part with her customized 91-96 Ford Mustang to anyone who would find her lost bulldog. And she kept her word after her pet, “pork chop”, which disappeared from her front yard was discovered by a gentleman whom she never got his name after he dropped the pet at her house
At first she offered a cash reward of 500 dollars to anyone who would find here pet and after getting no response, she changed tactics and decided to offer up her car. Sure enough, someone called her and told her he had found her dog.
More on this interesting story here: http://wfmz.com/view/?id=162669
By Gerald Njuguna
