Shih-tzu:-a-dog-that-takes-your-heart

By: Mike Mathews..



While choosing a small dog breed, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration and one of them is the looks. The Shih Tzu has the look that will make you take him back home with you. When those imploring eyes are going to look straight at you, you will feel weakened in your knees.

Despite its miniature size, the Shih Tzu possesses a hearty and courageous attitude in defense of itself and its master. Although he may look like a toy of a fur ball, members of the breed are highly energetic and playful you'd think they run on Die Hard batteries! They are very lovable and friendly and would gladly give back all the attention and love that is showered on them.

Shih Tzu dogs revel in their importance and glory in the attention that is accorded to them. They desire attention so much that they would go to any extent to catch their master's attention any time by running around, jumping up and down and performing antics just to make you laugh. They are a cross between Beijing gou and the Tibetan Lhasa Apso; their history goes back almost two thousand years!

Compatibility and Usage: The breed is categorized as a toy group. It feels at home in almost any surrounding and does not require much exercise due to its diminutive size.

Physical Appearance: A small sturdy dog covered with an abundant double coat of long hair. It has a round head, a generous beard and mustache, short hairy muzzle and generally, a black nose. Their eyes are large, round and wide-set, and pendant ears that are covered with hair and a tail curled over the back. Any color is acceptable for the Shih Tzu. Their height anywhere from 9 to 10 inches and an adult weighs between 9 to 16 pounds.

Temperament: The Shih Tzu is very observant and animated and behaves in a stately manner although it can also be very stubborn. Since they bark incessantly when strangers are around, they also make a good watch dog. They totally enjoy the attention and babying they get from their owners and children. They can provide hours of fun and enjoyment for children and all members of the family.

Caring & health: A Shih Tzu has a maximum life span of 11-14 years and within their life span they can be prone to different types of diseases and suffer from mostly portosystemic liver shunt, hip dysplasia and renal dysplasia. Eye problems are also frequently seen especially when they age.

As a family dog, the Shih Tzu will surely liven up any home especially if you live in the city or a small house. Choosing a Shih Tzu will surely be one of the best decisions you have made.

Article Source: http://www.acmearticles.com


About the Author: Mike Mathews is the owner and editor of the acknowledged Dog-Breed-Facts.com website. His new ebook titled "Choosing a Dog For Your Lifestyle" is a great resource for the new dog owner.

A-guide-to-dog-diseases

By: Gerry Ronson



Taking care of your dogs is extremely important. You will find that dogs need to be taken care of to avoid certain diseases and that some of the other diseases are genetic. With genetic diseases you will find that they are difficult to prevent, which means that if your dog is susceptible you will be unable to prevent the disease, but there is much that you can do to help your dog through such diseases. When you are talking about prevention of dog diseases you do need to understand the inner workings of some of the more popular ailments of dogs. We will look at a brief overview of some of the dog diseases that you can prevent.

First it may be a surprise to you, but there are many dogs that have issues with the ears and eyes. Most of the dog breeds that suffer from ear or eye infections tend to have long hair that gets in the way of these two areas. Dogs that have long fur tend to have hair that will grow around the eyes and fall into the eyes. While the hair is part of their body it can cause infections based on the oils as well as the dirt that may be on the hair. You will want to make sure that when you groom your dog you remove any hairs that are near the dog’s eyes. Poodles, some terriers, and English Sheepdogs tend to be a few of the breeds that suffer from eye infections. To prevent these eye infections grooming around the eyes should be done once a month. In other words that means that you should check their eyes daily for infection and remove any hairs that have grown in the way, and once a month you should trim around the area. For ear infections you will find that ticks and other small insects can get into the ears. This means that you have to keep the ears clean on a daily basis. You should check to make sure there are no insects in the canals and that any dirt is removed. Hair can also cause ear infections in certain breeds like the Mexican Chihuahua that tends to grow hair in the ears and cause infections. When you are worried about eye and ear infections for your dog breed you should make sure to use a soft wet cloth around the areas each day to prevent any such infection from occurring.

Another dog disease that can be a difficult is hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common ailments you will find in large dogs. Hip dysplasia is caused when the hip bones do not form properly. There really is no reason for the bones not to form, but most believe it has something to do with a calcium deficiency during the puppy stages. Hip dysplasia can be treated in a variety of ways. In English Sheepdogs they tend to cut the tail short to prevent the issues. In some cases they offer nutrition and calcium supplements to help your dog grow the bones as a puppy that they need.

Diabetes is another common ailment in dogs that has been seeing an increase like it has in people. You see with most diabetes cases there is a direct link to an improper diet as well as improper exercise. Diabetes is luckily treated with medication as well as changing the diet of your dog so it can be prevented. In some cases after a dog has suffered diabetes and the nutrition and exercise has been fixed the dog may not need to have medication for life. You will find that most dog breeds can suffer from this disease.

Article Source: http://www.acmearticles.com


Gerry Ronson has been working with dogs for over twenty years and now works as a writer for the websites dog supplies and dog beds.

The-dog-or-the-owner-who-is-in-control

By: Amy Nutt



It is common sense to think that people are in control of their dogs. We feed our dogs, walk them on a leash, tell them to sit and stay, and give them the love and affection they crave. But some dogs display dominant behavioral traits, insist on doing things their way and try to take power away from their masters. These are called Alpha dogs.

An Alpha dog is predisposed to be the leader of the pack and expect to be in charge. If your dog routinely tries to intimidate you or other dogs, is aggressive around food or generally disobedient, you probably have an Alpha dog.

Ultimately, well-trained dogs should believe their owner is the Alpha, not them. Some people think they can regain Alpha status over their dogs by being mean and aggressive. This can put even more strain on the dog/owner relationship and lead to more problems.

Here are some good ways for you to gain control over your Alpha dog once again.

Play games with your dog that encourage cooperative behavior. Fetch is a great example. When you throw a ball or stick for your dog to retrieve, the game can only continue if the dog brings the object back to you. This shows the dog that you are not an adversarial figure.

Do not play tug-of-war with your dominant dog. This game encourages adversarial behavior, pitting you and your dog against each other. And if your dog routinely wins tug-of-war matches, he is learning that he is stronger than you and that his teeth are powerful, which will encourage more disobedience and aggression.

In a pack situation, one of the ways Alpha dogs express their dominance is by eating before all other dogs. If you can, try to feed your Alpha dog a few minutes after you begin eating your own meal. This will teach the dog that you come first in the pack and encourage patience and obedience.

Do not be overly affectionate to your dog. One very common mistake people make with Alpha dogs is constantly petting, rewarding and using baby talk with the dog. Doing so gives the dog a very powerful message -that he doesn't need to earn your respect and love. This will lead an Alpha dog to yet more dominant, disobedient acts.

Use your affection and attention as a training tool. As you teach your dog to come, sit, stay and heel, reward him with a moment of your affection for each success. Treats can be a powerful incentive too, but the best way to teach your a href="http://www.barkbusters.ca/">dog obedience is by using yourself as an incentive, rather than a treat that you can run out of. Dogs absolutely love our attention, and when you use it as a reward you will see definite results.

Use your dog's sense of territory to show your dominance. Keep certain areas of the house off limits to the dog, and keep the dog off certain pieces of furniture. If the dog breaks these boundaries, show him that he has encroached on your territory. When you go through doors and thresholds, walk ahead of your dog. The pack leader always walks in front. By placing yourself in front of your dog, you will show your Alpha status.

Hopefully this article will help you sort out your dog dominance issues. Remember, the best way to train your dog to respect you is to start young.

Article Source: http://www.acmearticles.com


Bark Busters offers in-home dog training and puppy training solutions across Canada for all dog breeds and ages. Get results in less than three hours!

The-psychology-of-dog-abuse

By: Gerry Ronson



Dogs are one of the most wonderful pets you can add to a home. Not only do they show a lot of affection, but they can also be therapeutic for children with issues. Dogs should be loved and treated well, but as we all know that is not always the case. There are over 12,000 cases of animal abuse in the abuse database. Of that amount you will find that more than half is usually dog abuse. We may feel badly about the dog abuse that has been inflicted, but if you are considering going to a rescue shelter to adopt one of these dogs you have to be prepared for certain ramifications. Dog abuse even though it is physical can have lasting psychological effects on the dog. We will explore some of the psychological effects for dogs that have been abused below.

First dog abuse is usually considered to be yelling, screaming, hitting, or injuring the dog in some way. This means that most often dogs who have suffered abuse will have at least some type of psychological effect from verbal abuse and may also have physical damage. In some cases physical damage can actually leave the dog handicapped for the rest of its life or at least with severe health problems. When adopting an abused dog you have to be prepared to Dogs are one of the most wonderful pets you can add to a home. Not only do they show a lot of affection, but they can also be therapeutic for children with issues. Dogs should be loved and treated well, but as we all know that is not always the case. There are over 12,000 cases of animal abuse in the abuse database. Of that amount you will find that more than half is usually dog abuse. We may feel badly about the dog abuse that has been inflicted, but if you are considering going to a rescue shelter to adopt one of these dogs you have to be prepared for certain ramifications. Dog abuse even though it is physical can have lasting psychological effects on the dog. We will explore some of the psychological effects for dogs that have been abused below.

First dog abuse is usually considered to be yelling, screaming, hitting, or injuring the dog in some way. This means that most often dogs who have suffered abuse will have at least some type of psychological effect from verbal abuse and may also have physical damage. In some cases physical damage can actually leave the dog handicapped for the rest of its life or at least with severe health problems. When adopting an abused dog you have to be prepared to take care of all aspects, especially the health issues they may have. So, if you feel you are prepared for the physical demands of the dog care needed for abused dogs let’s look at psychological effects.

Psychological effects generally present themselves as shy or aggressive behaviors. The behavior of the dog may also be extremely destructive to your physical property. Let’s look at the shy behaviors first. In most cases the dog will shy away from being touched or petted. They will hide under beds, in closets, or other spaces they feel you will not notice them in order to keep them from being harmed as that is what they were trained to recognize as human behavior. In some cases the dog may latch onto one person of the household. Typically if the dog has been abused by a male they will be extremely shy and will not approach or be in the same room when a male is present. It is the same if the abuser was a woman. In some cases the dog may stay in the room, but they will not allow the gender of the person to pet them unless they are sitting down. For an example a German Shepherd mix was abused. The history is unclear, but it was plain to see the dog was abused by the behavior of avoiding any large man in the room unless they were sitting down. Only then would the dog hesitantly approach to be petted, even though the dog had been in the vicinity of this person for several months.

Aggression is another way to show the effects of abuse. In most cases the dog will snarl at anyone who tries to approach and they may even attack. In this case of abuse or psychological break it is best to have the dog enter a training course to be rehabilitated. Dogs that have psychological issues can have a behavior therapy that will re- teach them proper behavior. It will also help them to overcome their fears. Lastly when discussing dog abuse we need to look at destructive behavior. Some dogs may not display destructive behavior right away in a new home. It may take time to come to the forefront. In the same example as above a dog began to slowly destroy things around the home. In one instance the dog actually broke through the backdoor. Part of the problem was that the dog needed attention during the day that the owners were not supplying, but the other part was the actual abuse. They needed to show destructive behavior in the hopes that they would get any attention and that it would be several hours worth of that attention good or bad. Again therapy is needed as well as a more active roll.

Article Source: http://www.acmearticles.com


Gerry Ronson has been working with dogs for twenty years and now writes for the website dog training.

Search-and-rescue-dogs

By: Gerry Ronson



Did you know that there are a lot of private owners of search and rescue dogs? Well there are. Many people find they need to do something during catastrophes and because they love dogs they decide to adopt and have a dog trained for search and rescue. If you are interested in adopting a search and rescue dog or just in knowing how to care for one you will want to read the below article.

Search and rescue dogs are very hard working heroes. They can work in earthquake aftermaths, hurricane rescues, and even as water rescue dogs. They are very loyal, lovable, and determined dogs. They also require special training, handling and care above other dogs. You will find that most often a search and rescue dog will go through training on a daily basis to make sure they have not forgotten any skills and to keep the dog’s minds active. In some cases new training is added. As a private owner of a search and rescue dog you have to keep them in tune. This means you need to go through the class with them, and provide as much support and skill to the session as they do. You should also know that a search and rescue dog usually thinks of the training and actual rescue situations as play. This means that if they aren’t having a little fun, and being useful they will want to quite- in other words it is too much like work.

There are certain dogs that work really well as search and rescue dogs. First the dog have to be a good tracker, hunter, hound, and good swimmers. Since dogs often have to smell for blood, or human scent they have to have great noses. This means that bloodhounds, Labradors, German shepherds, Old English sheepdogs, and St. Bernard’s are usually the best. Golden retrievers are also really great at working as search and rescue dogs. Keep in mind that the dog thinks it is a game; for the owners you have to be sure you can handle the issues you will be dealing with. Most people are great in rescue situations, but some individuals may have lasting problems of the death and destruction they have had to deal with. So it is not just find a dog to go with the owner, but making sure the owner can handle the job required as well.

Most of the time search and rescue handlers are volunteers, like the private dog owners we have been discussing. This means they show up when they can and must also be physically fit. They are going to be training with the dogs, working a lot of hours at a seen, and of course need to have a handle on rescue criteria for survival as well.

Training as mentioned above is very important. You can not just watch a video and say “I have a search and rescue dog.” In fact what you need is a training facility that will help you learn how to be a handler as well as how to train the dog. You must have certification as well as rescue equipment. Training will last for the dog’s lifetime in the service. This means that you must keep up with the training on a daily basis and be extremely committed. Search and rescue dogs are heroes and so are their handlers, but remember you should be fully prepared for the tasks at hand.

Article Source: http://www.acmearticles.com


Gerry Ronson is a writer for Kong Dog Toys and Accessories for Dogs.