The Neapolitan Mastiff Dog Breed

By : Ashley Peach
There are a few Mastiff breeds in the dog species. One of those breeds is called the Neapolitan Mastiff, which is also a working dog. They are large dogs growing to 165 pounds and at most 30 inches tall. They are a very muscular dog breed. The Neapolitan Mastiff is usually black, chocolate or blue in color. They have a short hair that is coarse and dense. You will find this mastiff is known by his massive wrinkles around the face and on his back. If you are ready to learn more just keep reading. We will tell you whether they will make a great pet or just a wonderful watchdog. You will also learn about care, temperament, and training needed.

First care with any dog is very important. You need to make sure you have the right dog food with the highest nutrition value, plenty of water during the day for them to drink when you are off at work, and of course that you take care in their grooming needs. As a larger dog you will find the Neapolitan Mastiff requires quite a bit of nutrients in their food. You will also find that grooming is very easy. You can brush them with a rubber brush to remove the dead hair, and help keep shedding to a minimum. You will also need to take a wet cloth to their winkles to keep that area clean, but for the most part they will keep themselves clean. This can make the care very easy for this dog breed as a pet, but the question remains are they really a great pet to have?

Their character or temperament is often seen as very watchful. They are a guard dog at heart. They will be very territorial, protective, but not aggressive. You will actually find them to be gentle and very affectionate. Despite the gentle side they will still stand guard around strangers. You may also be a little wary at having them around small children. As mentioned the Neapolitan Mastiff dog breed is very large. They are also very muscular which can make them a little scary for small children. You should introduce this breed into the family only if you have older children that can handle the massive size. You will find that around other pets and even children with the proper training and socialization they can be quite safe.

Training is very important so that you establish a dominance over the Neapolitan Mastiff rather than the other way around. You will need to socialize them with other animals as puppies to avoid issues and make sure they under stand house rules. You will need to be firm with a consistency they will understand. Their need to be protective can be a problem during training and especially if you don’t train them at all. You may seek a professional handler to help you learn the techniques you will need in order to train your Neapolitan Mastiff. Exercise is also very important to their care and training. You will find they need daily exercise, such as two walks in a day. They also need to have a large backyard to play in. Their great size demands a lot of space, even in a home. You will not want to keep them cooped up in an apartment, but rather have a large house with a backyard. While they are protective they can be happy spending time outdoors for a day while you are at work. Like most dogs they shouldn’t be left for extended periods of time or ever mistreated.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach is a writer for the websites dog, dog treats and dog leads.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

The Papillon Dog Breed

By : Ashley Peach
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes to make great family pets. There are always dog lovers out there that have a favorite breed, but how do you know what you may like if you don’t know the breeds peculiarities. If you have never really been around dogs you should always find as much information about them as possible including the breeds that are available and how you should interact with them. The Papillon dog breed is considered a toy. It is one of the smaller dogs among the list. You will find that it is also an older breed in European history.

Dating back to the sixteenth century you will find the Papillon was considered a lap dog for most of the nobles in Europe. The name means butterfly in the French translation and when you see this dog you will understand why it is an apt name. The ears really resemble the wind span of a butterfly with the shape and the hair that grows around them. In fact you could argue their ears are actually larger than their face. You will find the Papillon dog weighs nine to ten pounds and stands about eight to eleven inches. They have one of the finest coats in the dog breeds as well. They are usually white with patches of black, tan, and other colors. The coat is long and almost silky. You will find they are soft to pet and that their hair is going to be a little longer than most dog breeds. Luckily the hair doesn’t grow to long on their limbs, but they are fairly fluffy in appearance all around.

Like most dog breeds in the toy category you will find the Papillon dog to be extremely playful, alert, and affectionate. They are also well known for their elegance. They do not make a great guard dog as they tend to be overly affectionate with everyone. You will find they are not shy or aggressive. They like to be the center of attention, and despite their size you will find them to be quite sturdy. The Papillon likes to have plenty of affection and doesn’t do well with mistreatment; therefore older children are recommended before adding the Papillon to your family. You will also find they can be a little protective towards the family or owner, but they will never be dangerous.

Training is one of the easier options you have with this dog breed. Most dogs can display a stubbornness during training, but not the Papillon. They are eager to learn and like complex problems for their intelligence. If you are hoping to integrate them into a family you will need a little socialization training regarding other pets. They tend to like being protective and the attention seeker, which may cause issues. You will find the Papillon is often a show dog or used for therapy because of their temperament. You will also find they need to have daily exercise if you hope to keep them healthy and happy. They do need to have yard space or parks that they can go to for running and playing. You should never leave this dog in the backyard unsupervised though. They tend to have issues escaping.

Care for your Papillon requires weekly grooming for their hair. They are medium shedders and they tend to get a little tangled during the week. You will also find they are prone to ear issues and the paws need to be trimmed at appropriate intervals. Health issues you may find with these dogs are cataracts, petalla luxation, and Von Willebrands disease.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach is a writer for the websites dog accessories, dog beds and dog collars.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Using Homemade Dog Food Recipes for a Healthier, Happier Pet

By : Jennifer McVey
There are many places to find dog food recipes if you are considering making your pet's food. There are also important points to think about when you make their food like sticking to the recipe, talking to a veterinarian, and paying attention to how your dog reacts to the food.

Two common places to find dog food recipes are on the Internet and through your local veterinarian. The Internet is not always trustworthy though. You cannot be sure that someone who posted their own idea for a dog food recipe is the right meal for your dog. Some of the factors might include the type of dog that they have and the types of foods in the recipe. If the dog food recipes are coming from a credible place on the internet like an animal shelter, a veterinarian, or some other place you can trust then you most likely are safe to use the recipe.

The best place to find dog food recipes is through your local veterinarian. Your vet already knows your dog best. He or she knows their digestive tract and what kinds of foods you can start your pet off with and how you can transition your animal from traditional dog food to homemade food. Many veterinarians already have recipes they can give to you so you can go home and make your pets food. Working with your vet ensures the health of your animal.

Switching your dog over to homemade dog food is a big transition. Your animal may not take the food change very well at first. For instance, your dog may not seem as if they like it or they might not be eating as much. You will notice a change in their stools. Your animal may vomit for a couple of days because their digestive tract is not used to healthy food. Be sure during the transition your dog is getting plenty of water. One thing that might be recommended is that you slowly break your dog into the new dog food rather than do a total change at once.

When you make homemade dog food, even the vet will tell you not to change the recipe. You might think you are being creative or making your pet happy by adding bacon grease to the mixture, don't. You also should not substitute foods within a dog food recipe. Stick to the recipe. If the recipes are too expensive for you then you might not be able to afford feeding your dog homemade foods. Many people have made their animals very sick by not properly cooking the foods to save time or substituting foods to save money. For your dog's health, stick to the recipes.

Dog food recipes are fantastic when you find them from the right sources. You should only trust your veterinarian or a reliable source for a recipe and you should follow it exactly. The purpose of making homemade dog food is for your dog's health. So you should follow the recipes and pay attention to how your pet responds.



Author's Resource:

Learn about making homemade dog food and more dog food secrets at www.saferpetfood.com

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.