A Nation of Dog Lovers?

By Peter Tyler
Here in the UK, we like to think of ourselves as a nation of dog lovers. But according to a study commissioned by the Dogs Trust Charity, local authorities kill 150 stray dogs every week in the UK because their owners cannot be traced or a new home can't be found.
As dog lovers, what can we do to make a difference and prevent this from happening? It seems like such a huge feat to overcome such a massive number, but we can make a difference; perhaps just a small difference, but it all counts.
According to the Dogs Trust, the most effective way of reducing these numbers is through the use of neutering and micro chipping.
Neutering
Neutering is an extremely common procedure that your vet will carry out under general anaesthetic. In the majority of cases, your dog will be ready to come home with you on the same day and will be fully recovered within a few weeks.
Many of the dogs picked up as strays by Local Authorities are un-neutered males. Often, they will pick up on the scent of an in-season bitch, and they will escape to try and find her. Bitches may also be frustrated when in season and will look to find a mate.
Neutering can also have a positive effect on the health and well being of your much-loved pooch. Un-neutered females can suffer from mammary tumors and an infection of the womb, called a Pyometra. Both of these can, at best, be costly to treat, and at worst can be fatal. Un-neutered males are at risk of developing Testicular cancer. Neutering is also believed to assist with behavioural problems in both dogs and bitches.
Micro-chipping
When a dog is micro-chipped, a chip the size of a grain of rice is implanted beneath the skin. The micro-chip has an unique identification number, which can be read using a scanner. This is a painless procedure for the dog and is relatively in-expensive and just think; if everyone did it, the problem of stray dogs would be no more. Look out for schemes from your Local Authority, offering cut price, or even free micro-chipping!!
Remember: By law, your dog must wear an identification tag, even if he is micro-chipped!
So, do your bit! Get your dog neutered and micro-chipped and spread the word around the park!Visit the Kennel Corner website for more articles like this. You will find articles on Dogs Treats and Dog Treat Recipes, a Dog Obedience Schools Directory and lots more!
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Destructive Dog Chewing - 3 Tips to Stop Destructive Dog Chewing

By Steve SchulmanIt's great when your dog chews its own toy. But when dog chewing starts to focus on your possessions and household items it can be the beginning of a lifelong problem.
There Are Three Primary Reasons for Dog Chewing:Most dogs have a natural desire to chew. Dog chewing passes their time and it's fun.If a dog is bored, lonely or nervous chewing gives them an outlet. It's like comfort food for people and is quite soothing to an anxious dog.When dogs are under exercised, dog chewing gives them a way to burn up nervous energy and also gives them something to do.
There are some easy things you can do to prevent destructive dog chewing.
How to Stop Destructive Dog Chewing Before It Begins
If you can stop your dog from getting her first jaw full of a table leg, a running shoe or a pillow you're way ahead of the game because after her first chew she'll go after those things in the future.So confine her to a dog-proofed area such as a crate until you are sure she understands your rules.Keep things out of reach.
Since dogs like to explore the world with their mouths it's up to you to keep things out of reach.
Common targets in your home include shoes, clothing, books, eyewear and garbage along with small cameras, remote controls and cell phones.
Make them inaccessible to her climbing, jumping, and standing on her back legs.Give her lots of tasty alternatives to your things.
Remember that most dogs love and need to chew. If she's a puppy (less than a year old) or an adolescent (under three years old), her needs are even more pronounced.
So it's time to go shopping! Get a big variety of toys and give her two or three at a time to play with. Keep things novel and interesting for her by changing her toys every several days.These three ideas are a good start. And for the one thing you always need to do to stop dog chewing see 7 Ways to Stop Dog Chewing. For more great tips about training your dog, take a look at http://www.DogObedienceTips.org now.
(c) Copyright - Steve Schulman. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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3 Stages of Pregnant Dog Symptoms

By Candis Reade
The animals have several common natural phenomenons just like the humans have in their life span and pregnancy is one such natural phenomenon. It is commonly seen that most of the dog owners keep their pet away from being crossed with others, when they are on their breeding period. However in several cases even after much prevention, the pet becomes pregnant. There are several cases in which it is very difficult to know about the pregnant dog symptoms and in some cases it is seen that the owners do not want to pay stress on the fact that their pet is pregnant. There are several symptoms of the dog's pregnancy which one should know in order to keep them fit. For getting pregnant, the dogs need proper heat cycle, proper conditions and in addition the proper time for breeding. The time period taken for getting pregnant is normally sixty days, however it can vary according to the conditions of the surroundings where the pet lives. The symptoms of the dogs are divided into three categories. They are as follows:
• Symptoms at the early stage of pregnancy
At the early stage of your dog's pregnancy she will eat lesser and she will show less hunger which will easily provide you the clear indication of her pregnancy. At the gestation period of your dog, she will feel tired and due to the change in her hormones level for the process of embryo production she will do less activity. The other good pregnant dog symptoms at this early stage are the enlargement of the size of the nipples of the dog. After the breeding of the dog the pregnancy process begins to take place, the breast of the dog gets enlarge and starts the process of the milk production for the coming puppy.
• Symptoms at the middle stage of pregnant dog
After the time period of a month of pregnancy, the female dog starts showing different symptoms. Now the hunger of the dog increases and this even gradually gets away with the end of the heat cycle period. There will be an increase in weight of your dog at this period and you can easily realize it by touching the abdomen area of the dog which will be fat and rigid. These are the pregnant dog symptoms of the middle stage.
• Symptoms at the last stage of the pregnant dog
The abdomen of your dog would get larger and it will get rigid. It is so because now it carries the extra weight of the puppies and depends on the number of puppies which the dog is having. You can easily feel the puppies' movement throughout the last weeks of pregnancy and from this you can easily know that your dog will give birth to the puppies very soon. If you are willing to have more information about there are several sites available on the net which can provide you information about the pregnant dog symptoms.Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about 3 stages of pregnant dog symptoms, please visit My Pet Dogs for current articles and discussions.
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