Exercise With A Boxer Dog

A lot of people wants to own a Boxer dog. Despite the fact that dog ownership means great responsibility, that doesn't hinder thousands of dog lovers around the world from having a pet dog, especially a Boxer dog. What is in this breed that a lot of people are after? By simply looking at a Boxer dog, one will think that this breed is brave and strong and modest, which is actually true. By having one lurking around you, you can somehow feel that you are protected. This is just one of the benefits of having Boxer dogs.
Another benefit that some people may not seem to notice is the dog's contribution to his master's good health. Dogs need exercise right? By taking your dog for a walk, you are not just giving him his required dose of exercise, you are doing yourself a favor to stay healthy as well. The activity helps you and your dog to control weight at the same time maintain a healthy heart, lungs and muscle tissue. Plus, you will be given the opportunity to inhale fresh air or avoid the traffic rush. The result - a healthy dog and a healthy you!
If exercise is new to you and your dog, go slow at first. Consider your dog's age and size. Remember that Boxer dogs are athletic dogs and they need proper exercise and conditioning. Start with short periods of activity at slow speeds then gradually increase the time, speed and distance. A daily 20-minute walk and some free-run in a secure place would be enough. Teach him to fetch ball or flying discs if he has more energy than you do.
Be responsible when exercising your Boxer dogs. These dogs do not do well in extreme weather conditions. Too much heat as well as too much cold makes them uncomfortable so it is better to set aside outdoor exercise and activities during those times. Keep your dog's nails trimmed to prevent tears as it runs and you should always remember not to exercise your dog before and right after meals. Exercise or other strenuous activities with stomach my cause digestive upset and worst, killer bloat. Water should be given before and after exercise but only in small amounts. After exercise, check your dog's coat, ears, eyes and paws for burrs, ticks and other unwanted objects that he might have picked up along the way.
Bond with your dog at the same time stay healthy through exercise.
By: Richard Cussons
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Richard Cussons writes articles about Boxer dog. Visit boxersavvy.com and learn more about Boxer dog training.

Boxer Dog Health Problems You Need To Know About

If you want a boxer dog, you should know the health problems that they can suffer from. This breed of dogs can last up to 10 years of age but they can have a shorter life if they are afflicted with a major health problems. There are three particular ones that can be quite devastating. These are: cardiomyopathy, SAS and CHD. Since you care for your pet like a member of the family, it is important for him/her to be checked out once a year. Should your boxer be suffering from a disease, the best thing you can do for him/her is catch the problem early. Your vet can do very detailed exams for cardiac problems, hip dysphasia and thyroid issues. They can also tell you if your boxer is suffering from uncommon health problems including degenerative myelopathy or a brain tumor.

Boxer dogs can suffer from five very frequent genetic conditions. They are aortic stenosis or sub-aortic stenosis (AS, SAS), hyperthyroidism, hip dysplasia, boxer cardiomyopathy and corneal dystrophy. 


AS or SAS

If your boxer dog seems to get tired easily or you notice faint heart murmurs, then he/she could be suffering from aortic stenosis or sub-aortic stenosis. This condition occurs when the aorta tightens, lessening the blood flow throughout the body including the heart. When there is a restriction of blood flowing through the body, the heart has to work even harder. The vet can diagnose this condition for you and your pet.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a genetic condition that can alter the way your pet looks and acts. Some of the more common symptoms include: the loss of the hair, persistent skin conditions, stunted growth and a lifestyle that is slow. Hyperthyroidism can be treated with medications so that the thyroid begins functioning correctly.

Hip dysplasia

Among many other common ailments boxer dogs suffer from is hip dysplasia. When the boxer’s hip joints seem to wear out, he/she is likely to be in a fair amount of pain and have severe rigidity. This situation is compounded worse as the dog matures until old age. There is no cure for hip dysplasia and if the problem is too severe, a hip replacement may be necessary.

Boxer cardiomyopathy

It can be very scary to learn that your pet as boxer cardiomyopathy. Only when you learn it, it is likely you’ll be burying your dog. Cardiomyopathy is deadly because it causes the heart to beat unusually. Usually noticed in dogs of mature age, a vet’s routine exam is likely to overlook this fatal condition. As a pet owner, you should ask your vet to do an exam explicitly looking for this problem. 

Corneal dystrophy

When your boxer dog has been diagnosed with corneal dystrophy, do you know what that means? It is a condition that causes the corneas of the eyes to be uneven. If there is unevenness, ulcers can appear, causing complete blindness or have vision loss. You can do pain management techniques or even have surgery to correct the condition.

By: Jason Rusch

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Jason Rusch is a Boxer Dog owner and enthusiast that has guided many Boxer owners through the essential steps of training and caring for their Boxer. To find out more about what it takes to train your boxer puppies properly, take a look at www.boxerdogessentials.com/blog

How To Housetrain A Yorkshire Terrier

By : Michelle E. Arthur
Housetraining Yorkshire Terriers can be a lot trickier than many people think!

To be successful in housetraining your Yorkshire Terrier, you have to set up a schedule. Your Yorkie isn't going to do that for himself. It takes your effort and monitoring for several weeks to a few months for this to occur, so that your Yorkshire Terrier learns a routine.

You can help your Yorkshire Terrier know when it's the right time to go potty by repeating that routine consistently. When most people wake up, they usually go to the bathroom soon afterwards.

It's no secret that your Yorkie will need the same thing! So do your dog a favor and don't dilly-dally...take your Yorkshire Terrier out as soon as you're up and moving. Just think that she has been holding it all night, and how you might feel if that were you!

This morning potty break should be short. Next, allow your Yorkshire Terrier to eat breakfast as you're getting dressed and ready for the day. Next, take your Yorkie out for a potty break once you've had your breakfast and are ready to go out for the day.

If he's had some time to eat and let the food settle, he'll be ready for elimination before going into the crate or the room where he spends the day. With a puppy, you need to come back for a mid-day potty break and a mid-afternoon break if possible.

If you're at work all day, you need to arrange for a family member or friend to handle those breaks for you. Ensure that whoever does this follows the routine you have created precisely. Ideally, the potty breaks should be short, about 5 to 10 minutes, and should not be confused with play time. You want the Yorkshire Terrier to understand and know the difference between potty and play.

Try to maintain the same housetraining schedule for dinner. So, take your Yorkshire Terrier out the minute you get back. Establish a schedule to feed the Yorkshire Terrier at the same time each day, and try to not go more than thirty minutes off your schedule.

Your goal is to feed your Yorkie early enough in the evening such that he has time for the food to digest and be ready for a potty break before going down for sleep. And you'll want to follow the same pattern and schedule for housetraining the next day, and the following day, and so on.

As you're housetraining your Yorkshire Terrier, keep notes of the times. You can even create a simple checklist to post on the refrigerator. Then anyone who feeds the Yorkie or takes him for potty breaks can make note of the time. This is helpful in noticing what the Yorkshire Terrier's natural elimination patterns are.

When your Yorkshire Terrier completes his potty break, remember to give him praise and affection. You can offer a Yorkie biscuit, but it's not necessary. He's just as happy with your approval. Instead of the old training methods that punish a Yorkshire Terrier for making a mess in the house, you take the more effective positive approach to show him approval for getting the job done during a scheduled potty break.

Since your Yorkshire Terrier wants you to love him, he will be willing to try his best to please you. Just don't make it difficult. If you're running late and miss his potty break, clean it up and get back on track without scolding him. Your Yorkie depends on you for many things, including staying on target for housetraining. He doesn't want to mess in his space - or in yours - so help him do the right thing by sticking to a schedule.



Author's Resource:

Get free videos on housetraining Yorkshire Terriers produced by acclaimed Yorkie training staff at Ultimate-Yorkie.com.

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

Discover The Best Of Boxer Dog

By Richard Cussons
It was in 1895 when the Boxer dog was first exhibited and a year after when the first Boxer club was being founded. As the years go by, people are becoming interested in this breed that it became the sixth most popular breed of dog in the United States based on the 2007 American Kennel Club statistics.

There are definitely very good reasons why the Boxer dog breed gained its popularity spot in the AKC standard. The role as working dog is probably one of the reasons for this popularity. They are widely used as guard dogs because of their suspicion to strangers, alertness, agility and of course, strength. Apart from that, they have also been used as service dogs, guide dogs for those with physical impairment (more particularly seeing eye dogs for the blind), therapy dogs, police dogs and sometimes in herding cattle or sheep. The usefulness of Boxer dog doesn't just end being working dogs. Their friendly and lively nature makes them popular pets to a lot of dog lovers. They are very good with children and patient with smaller dogs and puppies. But, take note that this active breed should not be left alone doing nothing for they become extremely destructive when bored. They will most likely dig and chew furniture, household items and plants to ease the boredom they are feeling. Better provide them with lots of toys to play as well as games to keep their intelligent minds and energetic bodies working. This breed earned the reputation of being headstrong, thus obedience training is necessary to deal with it. Boxer responds better to positive reinforcement techniques rather than training based on corrections.

This breed can live for 10 to 12 years provided there is proper exercise, conditioning and care necessary to continue the health and longevity. They may be prone to some illnesses such as cancer, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, bloat, intestinal problems and allergies, but these can be easily prevented with proper care, proper diet and more importantly, careful breeding. Before breeding, breeders should make sure that the breeding stock does not carry various diseases in its genes. This is to decrease the spread and occurrence of various diseases in future generations.

When it comes to looks, one cannot truly say that this one has the least beautiful appearance. The head, the most distinctive feature of this breed, must be in perfect proportion to the body. The ears are cropped and erect and the tails are docked, however, these traditions have been prohibited in some countries now because of veterinary associations and animal rights groups, seeing the process as being inhumane or cruel to animals. An adult female boxer dog typically weighs between 50 to 65 pounds and stands 21 to 24 inches at the withers. The male can be taller and heavier than the female.

Whether a family dog or a working dog, this breed really deserves to be one of the most popular dogs, not just in the AKC standard, but perhaps in the world.

About the author:
Richard Cussons has written various articles on dogs. For information about Boxer dog and Boxer dog training, check out boxersavvy.com.

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Adopt A Boxer Dog In Your Area

A Boxer dog breed is an epitome of a strong dog with excellent working abilities, great love and loyalty to his master and the bravery to protect his master in times of danger. Who wouldn't want to have this kind of animal as a pet or as a part of the family? Perhaps almost everybody will have arms wide open to welcome this versatile breed. But how come that some of this breed's fellows are being abandoned and turned over to shelters or rescue groups or worst, being left behind to wander on their own until they die due to dehydration, starvation or sickness?

There are many reasons or excuses why some of these formerly loved and adored beautiful creatures are abandoned by their previous owners. It could be inability to house and provide the animal with the physical and social needs in order for him to grow healthy and happy, or the lack of understanding of the cost of being a responsible dog owner. The list of these reasons or excuses goes on, each owner may have similar or different reason from another.

There are lots of homeless dogs out there who have been abandoned, neglected or abused by their previous owners. They need a good home with loving people that can provide them with their daily needs, be it physical, social or emotional. However, getting a new owner doesn't happen at a snap of the fingers. Some people seem to think that abandoned dogs are abandoned because of health or behavior problems, thus won't make good pets. But people should always keep in mind that not all abandoned dogs are problematic dogs. In fact, there are many advantages of adopting a dog, especially the adult one. Most dogs in the shelter are already housetrained, thus eliminating the time and frustration associated with it. Most of them have completed their vaccination shots and have been spayed or neutered. In addition, by adopting a Boxer dog in your local shelter, you are being helpful to your community by freeing one space for the shelter to accommodate another pitiful dog. You help lessen stray dogs that could possibly destroy plants or public and private property in your area.

By adopting a dog, be it a Boxer dog or any breed, you are making a difference to the life of that pitiful creature. You give that creature the opportunity to continue living in the environment where love and care reside.

About the author:
Richard Cussons has written various articles on dogs. Visit boxersavvy.com for great information about Boxer dog and effective Boxer dog training tips.

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Tips In Choosing A Boxer Dog

By Richard Cussons
You learned that the Boxer dog is one of the most popular breeds today. Upon research, you discovered that this breed possesses characteristics you want for a pet. Well, who wouldn't be enthralled with the idea of having a strong working dog as a pet? There are many options as to how are you going to acquire this strong-willed Boxer dog. You can look in the newspaper and choose from lots of puppies for sale. You can even have one without leaving the comforts of your home. All you have to do is go online and let your hands and the search engines do the work. The list of available dogs will be right in front of you. What should you do? Are you going to take home a new pup immediately?

Wait! Don't do anything yet! Or least, don't rush into taking home that pup who stole your heart. Deciding to get a puppy is one of the most important decisions you will ever make concerning a dog's life, deciding what breed and which among those adorable dogs is perhaps another. Prior to making your decision of getting a puppy, you must identify your reason or reasons why you should get one. Is it your deep love for animals that motivated you to finally decide to have a pet? Do you need one for companionship? Your reason for getting a new pet greatly affects your decision as to what breed you are going to choose.

If you have a family and have kids, then Boxer dog is definitely safe for you. Boxer dogs are known for their faithfulness to their masters and have good temperament with children. But beware for this breed distrusts strangers, especially those he perceived as threat to his family. A Boxer dog will devote his life to protect his master in times of danger. They are sensitive to extreme elements of weather, so you must take that into consideration. Learn the personality of an individual dog. Notice signs of hyperactivity, aggression or shyness.

When you are planning to buy a Boxer dog, buy one from a reputable breeder. Background check the breeders carefully. Better ask about his education or experiences and ask if they are members of breed club or obedience club. Ask if the breeding stocks are carefully screened before breeding. Ask other dog owners or anybody that can testify the reputation of your potential breeder. A good and reputable breeder will ask questions about you and your family. Don't be surprised if they do because it is their way to ensure that the one they are selling their dogs is responsible and can provide proper care this breed needs.

Plan carefully and be ready for whatever consequences that may arise. Choosing the right breed, the right dog will prevent you from being stuck in a situation both you and your dog won't like.

About the author:
Richard Cussons has written various articles on dogs. For information about Boxer dog and Boxer dog training, check out boxersavvy.com.

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Before Adopting A Boxer Dog

By Richard Cussons
There are many advantages of adopting a Boxer dog. But before the excitement of taking home the not-so-fortunate abandoned dog urge you to rush to the nearest shelter, you must consider many things. Here are some points to consider before you finally go for it.

- Identify your reason why you need a pet. Do you want a pet that could protect you and your family? Or do you prefer a working dog that is a good guide dog, hunting dog, service dog or therapy dog? Another reason could be because of companionship, someone you can cuddle, stroke lovingly, comfort you in times of turmoil, listen to you or will just spend some quiet moment with you. The reason why you want a pet is often the basis in choosing what breed suits your needs. Some breeds, like the Boxer dog breed is perfect for any household because of its versatility. A strong working dog that is safe to the family, even with children and will protect you even if it will cost him his life.

- Aside from breed, as well as size, fur length and age, think about the behavior of the dog. Choose a more aggressive or at least, strong dog if you want protection for your home and your family. If you simply want a dog you could play and hang around, then you might want to settle in getting a small toy breed.

- Think about your lifestyle. Remember that a dog, especially Boxer dog, requires vigorous exercise and activities to keep up with his active stamina. If you are busy as a bee and cannot provide your dog the proper exercise as well as care and grooming he needs, then you may not be ready to have this animal right under your care, or at least, right under your roof. Lack of time is one of the reasons why owners abandon their dogs in shelters.

- Consider your resources. You should be capable of providing things for the continued health of your dog. There are dog foods, dog beds, food and water bowls, leashes and other stuff to buy. You must also bear in mind that dogs do get sick sometimes thus necessitates the need for veterinary appointment. Veterinary bills could rise up especially if the disease requires a lifetime treatment and if there is no pet insurance to pay that mounting bill. Most owners only realized this when they are faced with the situation and there available option is to turn over the dog at the nearest shelter or euthanized the poor animal.

- Ask the family, or your companions at home if they all agree with the idea. Nothing felt better than having everybody welcome you and accept you as a new member of the family.

Don't rush into taking a dog home. The best thing you could do is to think carefully the consequences of what you intended to do.

About the author:
Richard Cussons is a writer with knowledge on Boxer dog and other breeds of dog. Discover more Boxer dog training tips at boxersavvy.com.

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