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Before purchasing a Boxer–or any dog–you should consider various aspects to decide if this is the right breed for you. The worse thing you can do as a dog owner is not research the potential dog. If you don’t, you may find yourself surprised, or overwhelmed and unable to work with the breed. Boxers have their own set of challenges so it is important to understand them.

One: grooming. With its short coat, the Boxer is an extremely easy breed to groom. This is a low maintenance dog that only requires a quick brushing every day; bathing need only occur when necessary. Also, Boxers are fastidious creatures that will clean themselves, like cats. For those looking for an easy to care for pet, the Boxer ranks high.

Two: exercise. The Boxer is an active breed so those looking for just a house dog should reconsider. Though this dog will want to be in the house with you, it will want plenty of time outdoors for play. Boxers, being very energetic, respond well to structured ctivities like games of fetch or frisbee. They do not do well by just lying around the house. If you are not able to spend the time with them, this is not the breed for you.

Three: health concerns. Larger dogs always have certain health risks and the Boxer is no different. This breed runs the chance of: cardiomyopathy, sub-aortic stenosis or hip dysphasia. Also, after the age of eight, this breed is more likely to develop tumors than other dogs. This is why you must buy your Boxer from an experienced breeder. With these potential risks, all dogs must be properly screened, and regular trips to the Vet should be planned.

Four: temperament. The Boxer’s temperament is both its greatest advantage and its potential downfall. This is a highly playful, spirited dog that becomes greatly attached to its owners. This is also a dog that suffers from mischievous instincts (such as the need to chew) and separation anxiety. When you own a Boxer, be prepared to find a devoted, though sometimes stubborn, breed that will want to go everywhere with you.

Five: protection. Many assume that, because of the Boxer’s sturdy frame, it makes an excellent protector. This is both correct and not so. The Boxer is, generally, a friendly pet that will welcome strangers. But, if it feels its family is threatened, it will take down an intruder. What you must take note of is: some areas require that you register larger breeds, like Boxers, and will charge money for their presence. While you can use a Boxer as protection, you must be careful–many cities will fine you for any suspected offense.

Richard Cussons is a champion for dogs of all breeds but Boxers in particular. You can find out more about boxersavvy.com/ Boxer dogs at the boxersavvy.com/boxer-sitemap.html Boxer Savvy web site.

The appearance of the Bernese mountain dog is beautiful. They are a tri colored and large dog. He is a sturdy dog that has a great balance to them. They are usually very intelligent and strong to do many strenuous things for many people. They are very muscular and will appear that way as well.

The size of the Bernese mountain dogs and appears to be square and is slightly longer in body than they are tall. They have the sturdy bones and that is important for the dog to have. Their eyes are dark brown and slightly oval in shape with close fitting eyelids. Their ears are medium in size and are set up higher than usual. Their skull is flat on top and broad with a slight defined look to it.

The Bernese mountain dog has a thick and long coat. They are usually blessed with a bright, shinny coat, and will be extremely curly as well. They need regular grooming and should be maintained well. They will need the proper vitamins and other nutrients to keep their coat in the best possible condition that it can be.

The Bernese mountain dog has a great temperament. They are a very self-confidant dog. They are alert and have a good sense about them. They are not too shy or too outgoing. They are in the middle when it comes to they way they want to be perceived. They are a great looking and wonderful dog to have in any situation. In some cases, they are not happy with strangers and may be cautious. This is good trait for a great watchdog.

These Bernese mountain dogs are a great dog to have in a family situation and especially a good one for a farming atmosphere. There is so much that one of these dogs can do. They are a wonderful animal to have in and to love. You may pay a lot for one of these dogs, however that is not a problem for anyone that desperately wants to have one of these great looking animals. They can be found from a breeder or at some of the pet shops that are in some areas.

Having a dog is a wonderful pleasure for most people. They can bring love and joy to a person that needs to have a companion to have around for a long time. Getting a Bernese mountain dog is just one breed that can make a lot of difference in anyone’s life.

bernese-mountain-dog.net bernese-mountain-dog.net

With the right crate, constant supervision and patience, you can housebreak your puppy in a week. It’s important to make sure someone is at home with him during this week. Puppies are creatures of habit, and keeping to a schedule is important. Enlist the entire family if possible.

Young puppies cannot physically control their bodily functions as well as a grown dog. It’s important to remember that even after your housebreaking appears to be a success. Not many four-month-old puppies can go eight to 10 hours a day without having an accident. Allowing your puppy to not get a “potty break” for more than a few hours is nothing but poor dog owner training.

To effectively housetrain your dog you must have a crate, if you didn’t purchase one when you brought your puppy home. The reason crate-training works is that a dog will avoid urinating and defecating in his den. If his crate is too big, then your puppy won’t associate it with his nest. That’s why it’s important to partition part of a larger crate if you bought one to accommodate your puppy’s full adult size. Your assignment, if you choose to accept it, is to teach your puppy that your entire home is his den.

Here are some housebreaking tips.

1. Feed your puppy in the morning and in the evening - do not leave food out for him all day. Dogs will normally need to relieve themselves within minutes of eating. After he eats, take the dog outside. When he relieves himself, praise him. Then put him in his crate with some chew toys.

2. The first and second day, take him out to do his business after every meal and every hour. The third day, increase the time to 90 minutes; the fourth day to two hours, the fifth day to two-and-a-half hours, the sixth day to three hours, and the seventh day to four hours. Praise him when he goes outside. Keep him outside for at least 10 minutes during each “potty break.” Distract him if he wants to go in before the 10 minutes are up. If he doesn’t relieve himself during the “potty break,” put him back into his crate until the next break.

3. If you catch your dog in the act of urinating or defecating, say “No!” and take him outside. Keep your puppy, or grown dog, tethered to you while you are housebreaking him if possible. This allows you to see what he’s up to and helps you bond.

4. If you find an “accident,” don’t correct your dog - only correct him if you catch him in the act. Clean it up with a pet deodorizer. It is important to use this product rather than household cleaners because your dog will smell his waste despite the household cleaner, and smelling his waste stimulates him to urinate and defecate - right where he isn’t supposed to.

5. If you have to miss a scheduled “potty break,” put your dog in a bathroom or small room that can be closed off from him until his housebreaking is complete. Put down newspaper or puppy pads so you can easily remove any waste and minimize the odor that your dog will be able to smell later.

6. Take puppies that are under 16 weeks old out when they wake up at night. A young puppy can’t go all night without relieving himself. Keep both puppies and dogs being housebroken in their crates overnight.

Marilyn Burnham

Author: ‘Dog Owners Boot Camp’

The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don’t Want You To Know!

For More Information On accelerated-dog-training-health-grooming.com/ Dog House Training.

Marilyn Burnham was the owner operator of 4 successful dog grooming stores in British Columbia, Canada for more than a decade. To spend more time with her children Marilyn made the decision to sell her business in the mid 90’s. Get a copy of her book: ‘Dog Owners Boot Camp’ The How To Guide, Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don’t Want You To Know!

They say a dog is “man’s best friend” . . . but they left out the animals that are best friends for many, many people—Cats! I say we need a cliché for our fuzzy friends, too! Cat lovers everywhere, take a look around on the internet for helpful hints on how to choose cat care products, how to take care of your cats and kittens, and what kinds of cat accessories, cat toys and other items for your cat.

A cat lover’s cat is like any other member of the family. If you are like me and your cat is very important to you, your cat becomes a member of the household very quickly—almost like a child. After adopting a cat there are many types of cat accessories, cat supplies, cat toys, cat furniture and much, much more, that you will need to have—and check out our website if you want only the very best for your cat.

I have always owned cats—almost my entire life—and as much as I love dogs too, my cats bring another kind of joy to my life. However, when you are caring for cats and kittens, there is much to know, especially when caring for newborn kittens.

There are a wide variety of cat supplies you will need when caring for a cat. Not only are my cats special to me, but they love my friends, and other animals as well. I like to watch them play and have fun, and there are several types of cat toys, cat collars, leashes, cat beds, cat furniture and even cat clothing and cat jewelry to choose from.

You may like to dress up your kitty with cat clothing that is comfortable and looks adorable too! Or perhaps you just want some cat jewelry, such as rhinestones on your cat’s collar. There are thousands of options on the market today, and many can be found in the internet.

When you love your cat or cats, you love to watch them play and be happy, and you also want the best possible cat accessories. Whether necessary—like a litter box, or unnecessary, like a giant piece of fun cat furniture for your cat or cats to enjoy—you want the very best for your cat or cats.

Loving these cuddly and beautiful creatures is easy to do. So, so much for “man’s best friend.” My best friend (and perhaps yours too) is a soft, playful and fluffy kitty with a personality all his own. You never know quite what to expect when you have a cat—but you can count on the pleasure that your cat will bring into your life. Look around online and find out what kinds of items and ideas will enrich your life even more as you see your cat become happier too!

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles about pet care please visit absolutely-cats.com Cats and Kittens.

The Komondor is a gorgeous sheep dog from Hungary where she was bred to fight off bears and wolves. This is a no nonsense dog that makes a serious watch dog and guard dog. She is not a barker and her ears do not move much so she may not communicate that she is disturbed and about to defend. She is generally good with farm animals but can be very aggressive with people not in her immediate family and other dogs, including your kids friends. She can tend to be a one person dog and needs early extensive socialization. She may be too aggressive for suburban life. Farmers have taken notice of her due to the population explosion of coyotes.

Approximate Adult Size

The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Komondor is 26 to 32 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 80 to 135 pounds.

Special Health Considerations

Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Komondor is no exception. Be on the look out for Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), skin problems and bloat (Gastric Dilation-Volvulus, the second leading killer of dogs, can kill within the hour, this space is too limited for a complete explanation but you should read up on this). Feeding more then once a day and avoiding exercise right after meals may help guard against bloat. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

Grooming

The Komondor should never be brushed or combed. It can be washed but may take almost a day to dry. She needs to be set up on a grooming schedule with a professional but she may be very aggressive to someone that she does not know. A better solution is for her owner to learn how to groom her from a professional and do it themselves.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.

Life Span

The Komondor can live between 8 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

History

The Komondor comes from Hungary where they were used to protect sheep from wolves, bears and dogs. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1937.

Some Registries

Komondor Club of America
UKC United Kennel Club
NKC National Kennel Club
CKC Continental Kennel Club
APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
AKC American Kennel Club
FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
KCGB Kennel Club of Great Britain
ANKC Australian National Kennel Club
ACR American Canine Registry

Litter Size

3 to 10 Komondor puppies

Category

Working

Terms To Describe

Strength, dignity, agile, light feet, dignified, suspicious

SPECIAL GOOD POINTS

Makes a very good watch dog.
Makes a very good guard dog.
Little to no shedding.

SPECIAL BAD POINTS

Requires professional grooming.
She can be very lazy.
They need firm obedience training.
Can be a one person dog.
Not a barker.

Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

About the Author

Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com petpages.com, a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info. petpages.com Petpages.com also offers information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.

We have all heard the expression that “dogs are man’s best friend.” This is because when you need him or her they are there for you, always wanting to help and with a happy attitude. They are always happy to see you and be with you. Dogs are the number 1 choice of pet owners because they are faithful, loving and extremely smart.

While the dog provides us with many pleasures and happiness through the years they have one thing in common with us. They are getting older with each year and will need pain relief, just like we do. Here are some of the problems that a dog will face as he or she get older and some common canine pain relief.

Common Canine Disorders

The first thing you may notice is arthritis. A dog will need arthritis pain relief, just like we do. Canine arthritis pain relief can be avoided by making sure your dog receives the correct vitamins and supplements as well as any drugs needed for pain relief.

Natural treatments for pain relief for your canine are probably the best option. There are no side effects and your canine can continue to do their daily activities

Prescribed canine pain relief such as antibiotics will help temporarily relieve pain, but the side effects may cause damage to the joints and other parts of your dog’s body such as the kidneys, stomach and digestive system.

Natural Canine Pain Relief Treatments

The most common natural pain relief for dogs is acupuncture, just the same as we get as humans. Acupuncture pain relief works with your dog’s immune system to boost and stimulate it from within in order to ease the pain.

You must understand if you decide to use acupuncture for pain relief for you dog, this will not happen in one session and you must plan on more than one session and possibly some herbal pain relief to go along with the acupuncture. The herbal pain relief will complement the acupuncture therapy.

Other natural canine pain relief is: herbal Glucosamine blend, which is administered to humans who suffer from arthritis pain. Vitamins B1, B2, B6, MSM, as well as vitamin C.

Another Helpful Tip

Canine pain relief can be eased by exercise and a balanced diet to keep the muscles and bones strong. Regular check ups at the vet will warn you if you need a special diet or add vitamins to the dog’s diet to avoid putting your dog in pain at all.

Every stage in your dog’s life is the same as in humans. It requires special care and treatment. Your vet can guide you to what is necessary. If your animal does require some type of canine pain relief, your vet will know what to do at the different age and stages in your animal’s life.

For more information on pain relief for dogs or other pain relief topics visit:

“People don’t own dogs, dogs own people.”

My thought’s for the day, since this morning have been waning. My mind has been distracted since the moment I awoke. Looking around my personal world I am quite content, to a degree. Let’s not forget that there is always room for improvement. Regardless of whom you are. Driving through town the other day I read a great billboard that really got me thinking and I’d like to share the quote with you.

“Your dog thinks your the greatest person in the world, so be the person your dog already thinks you are.”

Being a dog owner it really made me laugh, because it’s so very true. We treat our pets like royalty because they have unconditional love. Be honest now, after a bad day you know when your pet (dog or cat) is waiting for you at the door, in my case Keisha jumps up all over me for at least 5 minutes, it’s usually because she’s so happy to see me, sometimes she has her leash ready, sometimes she’s hungry. But she’s always happy when I walk in the door. What a wonderful world the world would be if we all treated each other with the same love and happiness we treat our pets with and vice versa.

Something else about dogs at least that’s worthy of noting. Dog is man’s or woman’s best friend as well all know. Isn’t it interesting that dog spelled backwards is God? Just a thought to consider.

Garret Belisle is a blogger offering a family friendly website which updates at least once daily. Be sure to sign up for the daily motivational tips. It’s fresh and crisp..Please feel free to visit
need-to-get-some.blogspot.com need-to-get-some.blogspot.com

If you have an adult dog who has never been housetrained, or is just stubbornly using the indoors as an outhouse, you can easily correct this dog behaviour.

You may not know your dog’s history, especially if she was adopted or rescued from a dog shelter. As a result, you may be dealing with an adult dog who lived outside, was never housetrained at all, was insufficiently housetrained or even incorrectly housetrained. Your adult dog may be dealing with some behaviors that have been reinforced through time and experience, so the most important thing to keep in mind is that you must be patient with your dog.

You should keep an “eagle eye” on your dog and observe her actions when she is in the house. Does she head off to a specific room or corner prior to relieving herself? If so, you’ll want take her outside whenever she makes a move toward her “indoor outhouse.”

Once outside, give her time to take care of doggy business. When she is done, give her a small treat and say “Good Dog !”. Your adult dog will start to associate going outdoors to relieve herself with getting a treat.

This technique has worked for us with multiple dogs. It does take time, several weeks to a few months of constant repetition, but your adult dog will catch on.. Once she is conditioned to go outside to relieve herself, you will have conquered the task of housetraining your adult dog.

Here’s a few tips to help you easily housetrain your adult dog.

• Keep your adult dog under supervision indoors until housetraining is accomplished. You may want her to prevent her from access to some rooms such as the laundry room, bath rooms, bedrooms or other places where she can cause a little doggy havoc.

• Don’t give her food and water late in the evening. If she needs to relieve herself during the night she may do so while you are dreaming of happy days at the dog park. You want to be alert to her needs to go outside during the housetraining process.

• Look for ways that your adult dog communicates when she needs to go outside. One of my dogs will tap my foot with her paw. Another will sit by the door. Each adult dog has her or his special way of “talking to you”. Listen to your do when she talks. Her housetraining will progress at a much faster pace.

• When you go outside, take your dog to the same area each time. Your adult dog will start to associate that place as the designated doggy bathroom. She’ll become conditioned to using it and this will make your time outside for this activity short and productive.

• When you take your adult dog outside, give her a verbal cue to complete her task. We say “ Hurry Up” in an upbeat and happy voice every time we take our dogs out. They get the tone of your message and it will become part of the conditioning process that tells them what you want them to do.

• Housetraining an adult dog is not as hard as some folks believe. It simply takes some time and patience . The rewards are certainly worth it, both for your and your adult dog.

• Never physically abuse or punish your adult dog or any dog. This is inhumane and counterproductive. Your dog will not understand what is happening as the event that provoked the punishment is already a past event for her. It is not on her mind and she can not relate to your anger. As a consequence, the unwanted housetraining challenge will get worse. So stay calm and show your adult dog love, patience and proper training. You and your adult dog will both be happier in the long run !

Does your dog pee in the house? Does she come to you when you call? Tear up the house or yard when you leave home? For tips and help to solve your dog behaviour problems dogs-4life.com/disobedient-dog-help.html dogs-4life.com/disobedient-dog-help.html

This article may be reproduced intact with the author’s link displayed.

We are writing this article is to keep the public fully informed about the various breeds of dogs available to them. This article will focus on the Chow Chow in particular. Lots of people decide that they want a dog strictly because they like the look of the breed. This is not a horrible thing if they can truly look after the breed of dog well, however for some individuals the care for specific types of dog breeds is not possible. The only way to avoid any surprises after the adopting or purchase of a dog is to understand the breed and what it takes to care for it. We will go over some of the basic characteristics of the Chow Chow to help you get a better understanding of the Chow Chow as a breed and possibly a new addition to your family.

The Chow Chow is a very independent breed by nature. They are very loyal to their owners but usually do not respond well to strangers. They have a strong following; and require a lot of attention for those that are not very educated about the breed. The Chow Chow is usually hard to get excited about much. They live comfortably and quietly by themselves and rarely see the need to move with any considerable speed, therefore demand very little exercise. This breed is not very demanding with regard to food as the only weigh about 59 lbs and stand 22 inches tall. The bulk of their size is fur which can be deceiving, and that is why the grooming of a Chow Chow is a very demanding task. Often considered an ill tempered breed, the Chow Chow is not a very good family dog and the owner should be weary of this dog around small children.

We hope that we have assisted you I your quest for knowledge and understanding of the Chow Chow. Please look below for some additional resources. The first thing you will want to do is see what the Chow Chow looks like. The next thing you will need to do is house train your Chow Chow. We find that one of the most common reasons that someone will get rid of Chow Chow’s is that they are not house trained. There is a wonderful manual that can be used and you will find the link below. Lastly we want you to show off your new Chow Chow. There is a wonderful online dog community complete with a forum for you to post pictures to. Check it out.

The key to success is to love your Chow Chow and nothing will help you achieve that more than bonding with them. Spend time with your Chow Chow and make them a happy and healthy addition to your family.

Learn about

Today more than ever it is important to provide our canine companions
with a safe living environment regardless of where we live. Many states
and cities require dogs have proper housing both inside and out.

Neighborhood associations are jumping on this bandwagon and requiring
that dog owners keep their dogs confined to their yards using outdoor
kennels that are surrounding by fences.

Whatever your thoughts on the subject providing a nice kennel set up
for your dog is a great way to give them a secure way to enjoy the
outdoors or for keeping them out of trouble during the night in your home.

We have a lot to cover so lets jump right in shall we…

Tip #1: Location, Location, Location.

If you are planning to put the kennel outside you will require a different set
up than if you want to set the kennel up in doors.

Indoor kennels are bit smaller and are made of either wire, chain link, or plastic.

Outdoor kennels are usually larger and are made of chain link fencing. Either way
you need to know where you want to put the kennel before you decide on what kind
of kennel you want to buy.

Tip #2: Size.

Kennels both indoor and outdoor should be big enough for the dog to move around in.

Outdoor kennels should offer plenty of room to move around in so the dog can move
from one side to another easily and have plenty of space for resting as well.

Indoor kennels will be a bit smaller but should still offer your dog plenty of room
to move around in so they don’t have to lay in their own mess or if the water spills
they won’t get soaked to the bone.

The final size of your kennel depends on how much room you have and how big your
dog is.

Tip #3: What is the kennel made of.

You will find dozens of different materials used in the creation of kennels but
the more durable and tough the material the better.

Indoor kennels made from plastic are easily destroyed by some dog breeds. Wire
kennels offer more freedom of sight and are stronger than their plastic counterparts
but some dogs can still escape from them.

For indoors wire, chain link, and plastic are options but I would suggest you go
with a wire or chain link indoor kennel before you go plastic. However, if space
is an issue the plastic kennels are an option.

For outdoors chain link is the most popular choice. You can get custom kennels
made by some companies the prices for those are quite a bit more than a regular
chain link kennel.

Tip #4: Comfort.

If you are going to put up an outside kennel be sure to provide a roof or some
cover from the elements.

Putting an igloo dog house with a flap over the front
will give your dog a nice place to seek shelter in bad weather and putting
a top on the kennel will shield your pooch from the sun.

In the end, there is more to a dog kennel than some fencing and a dog. Put some
thought into your set up to ensure your dog has a secure, happy, home to live
in.

For more information on the various types of