Why Crate Train My Dog

By david smith
Why Crate Train My Dog?

A few years ago, before I decided to stay home with my kids, I worked as a veterinarian technician in an animal hospital. While at that job I saw so many clients who would bring in their dog and be upset because they had eaten something in the house, other than food, and were now sick. One client brought in her chocolate lab that had gotten into her sewing box and eaten a pincushion, pins and all!!! Off to surgery the dog went and the owner was out about $1,500. Case number two was a giant poodle that, while the owner was away, got into her closet and ate a pair of panty hose. Unfortunately this dog did not make it through surgery. The pantyhose got wrapped around its intestines and the doctor was not able to save the dog.

The above stories are a couple of really good reasons why you should crate train your puppy or dog, especially if you have a dog who likes to chew or eat things they should not be eating.

By putting your puppy or dog in a crate you are giving them a sense of security and a place they can call their own. Dogs actually like having a “den” to cuddle up in. By putting the dog in a crate while you are gone it will also give you peace of mind knowing that they are in a safe place, away from harm, and not doing any damage to your belongings or themselves.

Crate training will also help with potty training. Make sure you put your pet on a regular schedule for potty breaks and use the crate when you are gone or need your pet to rest. Dogs will typically not “go” in their home. They like to keep it clean and will hold it until you can take them outside to eliminate. Remember to always praise your pet when he eliminates in the area you want him to outside.

Puppies have very small bladders so they cannot physically hold it for very long. I would suggest that you take the puppy out every two hours. As puppies get older, naturally they will gain the bladder control and be able to hold it longer. Eventually this time should increase to 8 hours or more.

Another thing to consider when purchasing a crate is to make sure that you buy a crate big enough to accommodate the full growth of your pet. When your pet is a puppy and you are crate training, make sure that the crate has a divider panel. You can adjust the placement of the divider panel so that the puppy does not have full use of the crate thus creating the “den” feeling that will make your dog feel comfortable and cozy. In this situation the dog will not want to go in its den and will keep the area clean. If you give the puppy the full area of the crate it may be too large and the dog will make one area of the crate his potty area and the other area as his sleeping area. Adjust the divider panel so that the dog has enough area to get up and stretch but not enough room to eliminate.

Crate training your puppy or dog is just a smart thing to do for you and your pet. It will give you the sense of security and peace knowing that your pet is not getting in harms way while you are away.

Jenny Saylor
CratesPlus.com


About the author:

Jenny Saylor is the owner of CratesPlus.com , specializing in quality
dog crates, pet carriers, accessories, and more.
.


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German Shepherd - The facts every owner of this dog breed should know

By Robert Benjamin
Also known as the Alsatian, the German Shepherd is a 'young' breed, having only been recognized as a distinct breed in the last 90 years. The German Shepard can trace its roots back to a range of shepherding dogs in Germany, and some groups tried to informally breed this dog. This effort failed but in 1899, a new group formed. Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaeferhunde was founded by Max von Stephanitz, who wanted to breed an all purpose working dog.

The German Shepherd came to the United Sates in 1908 with soldiers impressed by the courage and abilities of this dog. German Shepherds will reach an average height of 22 to 26 inches, weight of 77 to 85 pounds and live an average of 13 years. There are a wide variety of coats in this breed. Some German Shepherds are longhaired and some are shorthaired. The color is most often black and tan, but can also be sable, all black, blue and liver and white.

The one thing all German Shepard coats have in common is that they shed profusely, and shed worse during their shedding season. Daily brushing usually helps combat the shedding, and German Shepherds should only be bathed occasionally. Almost all German Shepherds are described as self-confident and loyal.

German Shepherds are highly intelligent and often times used as police dogs, rescue dogs and guide dogs. German Shepherds make excellent guard dogs and are very loyal to their family. They make excellent protectors, barking when someone unfamiliar is approaching. German Shepherds do make good family pets and will guard the children of 'their' family. They will tolerate the poking and prodding children are prone to do. However, they are sometimes unaware of their size and power relative to a small child and may indiscriminately knock them over.

A German Shepherd and child should always be watched to avoid this. German Shepherds can survive apartment living if given enough exercise regularly and given enough activities. If left alone too long or not stimulated enough, German Shepherds will become bored and destructive. They enjoy being in the company of their human family but not other pets. As a working dog that likes to please, a German Shepherd will do very well with obedience training. German Shepherds are prone to some genetic disorders including hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, digestive problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and flea allergies.

There is a website that has great information on German Shepherds and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.


About the author:
Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

Seasonal Vacation Spots

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Jack Russell Terrier - The facts every owner of this dog breed ...

By Robert Benjamin
Originally bred in the 19th century by Parson Jack Russell, an avid hunter, selected traits that would assist him in hunting. Working dogs, Jack Russell Terriers were bred to be fearless and feisty to flush out prey from the forest, particular foxes. As a working dog, Jack Russell Terriers tend to have an athletic build and boundless energy. Jack Russell Terriers are very intelligent, but also willful and stubborn, which can make them extremely difficult to train without consistency.

As a hunting and working dog, Jack Russell Terriers do have the hunting instinct in them and have been know to consider smaller household pets prey. However, this does not mean that they cannot be good family pets. Jack Russell Terriers are usually very good with children and gentle with them if they understand how to approach dogs. Jack Russell Terriers live 15 years or more. They grow to an average 10 to 12 inches in height and 14 to 18 pounds in weight. Jack Russell Terriers have several different types of coats of the shorthaired variety (some are smooth, some are not) but all are easy to maintain with regular brushing.

Jack Russell Terriers are suited for all kinds of living, but do need to be exercised regularly, at least once a day, due to their seemingly boundless energy. Without regular opportunities to exercise and play, they will become bored and begin to bark at everything and become destructive. If a Jack Russell Terrier must be left alone for an extended period of time without the opportunity to exercise, it is recommended that they be crated until it is possible to let them exercise.

Jack Russell Terriers are fearless and will run off without thinking. A fenced in area is a must for a Jack Russell Terrier, but the fence needs to be deep enough as they are diggers, and tall enough to not jump over. An average sized Jack Russell Terrier can jump five feet quite easily. There are some health concerns with the breed. Some Jack Russell Terriers are prone to dislocation of the kneecaps, inherited eye diseases, deafness, Legg Perthes - a disease of the hip joints, and cataracts. Currently, there is some dispute about the breed and breed standards. The AKC does not officially recognize the Jack Russell Terrier, considered a working dog. It only officially recognizes the Parson Russell Terrier.

There is a website that has great information on Jack Russell Terriers and most other breeds of dogs. It has details that pertain to a dog breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.


About the author:
Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

Seasonal Vacation Spots

http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com


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Squirrel Dogs Are Great Companions for the Hunter of Squirrels

By Muna wa Wanjiru
For every hunter there are many items, tools, equipment and hunting dogs that can be used. For many hunters these hunting dogs are great companions to take along for the hunt. They will also provide the hunter with the ability of flushing out the game, tracking it down and in some cases retrieving the fallen game. For hunters of squirrels there is another type of hunting dog that can be used. These dogs are the squirrel dogs.

In general any type of dog can be used as squirrel dogs. The main purpose of these dogs is to seek out squirrels and corner them so that the hunter can arrive in time to make the kill. While it is possible to train any breed of dog to be a squirrel chasing dog there are some particular dogs that can be used for this branch of hunting.

The real squirrel dogs that have been used for many years are the Terriers, Dachshunds, Feists and also Curs. These dogs have been trained as squirrel hunting dogs for many generations. The best types of dogs to use to hunt out squirrels from these dog breeds are the Curs. These dogs have some kind of Terrier genes in their blood lines.

The main types of Curs that are considered as being acceptable for squirrel hunting are those of the American Leopard, Mountain, Blackmouth and the Treeing Tennessee Brindle. The many different squirrel dogs all help the squirrel hunter to bag the squirrel they want by locating the prey. The best and well trained squirrel hunting dogs will be able to locate the whereabouts of a squirrel simply by the noise they make.

As most squirrels can be found in wooded regions where their favorite food source is, this is where you should expect to see your hunting dog heading to. Once the dogs have found the squirrel they will chase the squirrel to a place where the prey will have some difficulty jumping to another tree or even hiding under some rocks. The hunters will be able to shoot the squirrels once they have found the hiding place on the tree and the dogs have been secured.

In addition to helping hunters find small game like that of squirrels, there are competitions that the squirrel dogs can be entered in. These contests demonstrate the level of training and skill that a squirrel hunting dog displays. The more well and trained and experienced the dog the higher chances the hunters will have of bagging their game.

While the many different breeds of hunting dogs are excellent for helping hunters, squirrel dogs are great companions for the hunter of squirrels. With these squirrel dogs as your side you will find that you can catch your day’s hunting of squirrels with ease and enjoyment.


About the author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Hunting for Years. For More Information on Squirrel Dogs, Visit His Site at Squirrel Dogs

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All About Dog Bowls

By Michael Brown
We are a nation of pet lovers. We often rate our dogs as a family member...their needs sometimes coming before our own. We buy them toys, beds, treats and special food. Clothing remains optional!

A necessity for any dog is appropriate dog bowls. Whether we decide to cave in to our own desires and look for a bowl that is compatible with our home décor or style the goal should be obtaining a dog bowl that is suitable for our pet. In order to determine what makes a bowl suitable we should first consider the size of our dog.

Large dogs need bigger bowls. A dog bowl should be big enough to hold a full feeding, but not much more than that. A bowl that is too big can lead to over-filling and that can result in your dog becoming overweight.

Most dogs love to eat and therefore they spend more than a little time at their food and water bowls. Emphasis should be placed on providing comfort for your dog as he eats. A bowl with a flat bottom will help to prevent any tipping and spilling of food. Many dog bowls are equipped with rubber rims or feet that help to keep the dish from sliding across the floor. Dog bowls made of dishwasher-safe materials are preferable because the high water temperature in the dishwasher aids in killing bacteria and germs. Your pet's bowls should be cleaned after every use - just as you would clean your own.

Research has shown that elevated dog bowls can be beneficial - especially for larger dogs. By elevating the bowls the dog is not required to bend his neck toward the bowl. This aids in posture as well as digestion. For an older dog this may help to alleviate pain from sore or stiff joints and/or arthritis. To determine the appropriate height for the elevation you will need to measure your dog's height at the top of his front shoulder. The bowls should be positioned about 6 inches below that level. For smaller dogs the bowls should be about 4 below that level.

The dog's water bowl should be about twice the size of the food bowl. Water is the most important nutrient for your dog, therefore he should always be encouraged to drink water and a larger bowl will assist with that. Dogs lose water through panting and elimination which means they constantly need to replace that water. The bigger sized bowl will also decrease the number of times that you will need to refill the bowl. Everyone wins!

Are you forgetful or are there times that you have to be away from home for longer periods of time than your dog can go without food? If so you'll probably want to invest in an automatic feeder. These innovative bowls hold a substantial amount of food that is slowly dispensed into the feeding dish. As the dog eats away the food in the dish more will fall into place. Similar water bowls are also available.

As responsible pet owners we all try to meet the needs of our dogs. By providing the appropriate dog bowls we can help them in various ways while helping ourselves at the same time. This adds to our dogs' comfort and contentment and also lets them know how important they are to us. Dogs really do rule!

Mike BrownGreat resources for dog bowlshttp://dog-bowls.org/http://dog-bowls.org/stainless-steel-dog-bowls.html

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