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Robin has been a member since February 24th 2009, and has created 56 posts from scratch.

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About Caring for Dogs

Dog running on the wet sand during an ultra-lo...
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The Bond that can come between a person and a dog can be extremely strong, especially if that bond had been strengthened living with each other for many years, I have personally cried after losing our family dog that had been like a best friend to me from my birth till I as 15 years old, when he was hit by a car one morning.

Dogs serve many different needs for people. Some people get a dog because they are lonely and need a loyal friend or because they want a dog to protect the home. A dog that is taken good care of and given attention to regularly will give his life to help protect his home and his owner. For the blind a dog can be a pair of eyes to help them get around and for the police a dog can be an important tool and a loyal partner, with a nose that nothing can beat.

The first thing you need to know about taking care of a dog is that dogs need lots of exercise. This is the same for large dogs and small dogs. All dogs need to be let out at least once every 8 hours and should given at least a 20 minute walk to give the dog some fresh air, exercise and a chance to relieve themselves.

It is also important to play with the dog on a regular basis. This can mean going to the park on a weekend or day off and having a good game of fetch, tossing the ball around in your back yard or just wrestling on the ground with the dog, just make sure if you are ruff housing with a little dog that you don’t accidentally hurt the dog. Playing with the dog for a half hour a day, is not only good for the dogs physical health but a dig that is played with regularly is mentally healthier and less likely to become a depressed dog, it also lowers your blood pressure as well and it will form an unbreakable bond between you and your pooch, which will extend to your family if you should start having one after having the dog.

What you feed your dog is very important to the dogs continued good health. The better dog foods will be marked for what are groups the food is appropriate for. Younger dogs need certain vitamins and minerals in larger amounts then an adult dog, and the same goes for an elderly dog they need more calcium in their food to help protect their bones and joints. Feeding your dog the wrong food can stunt the dog’s growth and opens the dog to a larger risk of surgery when they are older.

Just like a person a dog should be taken to the veterinarian’s office every 6 months, and must receive their shots every year. Regular checkups and vaccinations will also help assure that your dog grows to be an old happy dog.

 

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Dog Training News

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Many dog owners are surprised to learn that quite a few cases of canine aggression could have been prevented if the dog’s owner had only known about this important aspect of dog training. Why Is Puppy Socialization So Important? …

How to Fit and Position a Martingale Collar or Half Check Collar …

After publishing the last article concerning the debate about the various types of choke collars, several readers presented the question of how does one properly fit and position the Martingale or Half Check Collar.

Dog Pet Adoption

Photo of a dog behind a chain-link fence at th...
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Impulse Purchases are for Shoes, Not Pets

So, if having a dog is such a huge commitment, why do so many people do it? Because there are also lots of enjoyments from having a pet. Witnessing their glee as they run after a ball, feeling comforted by their companionship, and stroking their soft fur after a difficult day are all things most people enjoy about their dogs. Besides, pets make great listeners when you have a problem and studies show that people’s blood pressure lowers when spending time with a dog.

All of these wonderful things set aside, it’s important to go into pet ownership with a clear head. While seeing an adorable pair of shoes that you “must have” may be an acceptable impulse buy, purchasing or adopting a dog on a whim definitely is not. But you may be surprised how many people end up with a dog or puppy based on just such an impulse!

There are some who do their research, meet with breeders and then can’t decide on just one puppy from the litter so they end up getting two or three. There are some who are going through a difficult time in their life so they get a dog because they want comfort, without taking into consideration the long term commitment. And still others who buy dogs at pet stores because they’re so cute in the window.

While some of these situations turn out fine, they are by no means ideal. For example, if a person planned on two puppies and thought it out ahead of time, they would already be prepared with two dog crates, two sets of leashes, collars, bowls and supplies, double vet bills, training and grooming bills, etc. Not to mention the chaos that can occur when two puppies actually live in your house. But for those who weren’t planning on this project and undertake it on impulse, this can turn out to be far more than the person bargained for.

Likewise for those who run out and get a dog on impulse, perhaps following the death of a family member or an elderly pet, a divorce or illness, or some other personal difficulty. Frequently, the person finds that the work involved with a new pet is not as soothing as they’d expected and instead leads to additional work and expense that they may not have been prepared for.

All in all, the point of this article is that pets are great to have. They can bring much joy to a person’s life and can be an important part of the family. But it is a big commitment that needs to be entered into with a clear head… not on impulse.

Before getting a dog, everyone in the household should be made aware of and agree to the work and expenses involved. You should be living somewhere that is pet friendly and if you are a renter, realize that if you ever have to move, it may be a challenge to find another apartment to accommodate you and your pet. Your budget should be examined to ensure that there is room for the additional expense of a pet, even if an unforeseen, expensive illness should occur. And your schedule should be such that your dog is not home alone more than an absolute maximum of eight hours per day.

By thinking it out ahead of time and going into pet ownership decisions with a clear head, much heartbreak can be avoided while ensuring that your circumstance does not end up contributing to the large number of homeless pets in the world.

Lori Verni is a freelance writer, Certified Master Trainer and owner of Best Paw Forward Dog Education in Holly Springs, NC. She also proudly brings you all of the free articles on FreeDogTrainingInfo.com, and has a book available: Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies & Adult Dogs. The book can be purchased at www.FreeDogTrainingInfo.com.

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And The Smartest Dogs Are…

Papillon photo taken in 2008. He is a 2 year o...
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Dog Quote: Money will buy a pretty good dog, but it won’t buy the wag of his tail.
….Josh Billings

And The Smartest Dogs Are…

While we would all like to think we have the smartest dog in the world there are some breeds that are generally more intelligent than others.
In this newsletter we will look at the dogs ranking from 6th most intelligent to tenth.
And then in the next newsletter we will look at the most intelligent dogs in the world.
Don’t be too concerned if your dog doesn’t appear in either of these lists, as sometimes it is not always an advantage to have an intelligent dog.
As expected, the more intelligent dogs generally need more stimulation or they will get bored and this can cause problems, particularly if they are left at home during the day when you’re at work.

More Information:
Dog Breeds

So lets start with the tenth most intelligent dog…

Tenth on the list is the Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog was originally bred for herding cattle, just as their name suggests.
Obviously to be tenth on the list they are very intelligent, but they need to be stimulated, as one would expect from an intelligent dog.
They are happy when they are working, as they need regular exercise and mental stimulation.

Ninth on the list is the Rottweiler.
Contrary to popular belief, the Rottweiler is actually a great family dog, and is not quite as fearsome as many people believe.
There are a highly intelligent dogs and respond well to training.

The eighth dog on the list of intelligence is the Papillon.
Like the Australian cattle dog the Papillon is very protective of its owner and makes a lovable and intelligent pet.
And as with most intelligent dogs they are relatively easy to train.

Number seven on the list is the Labrador Retriever.
These are one of the most popular family dogs because of their good nature, which allows them to socialize well with other dogs and more importantly, children.
Like the previous dogs on the list, Labradors need exercise, and particularly in their case, without exercise they tend to gain excessive weight.

Number six on our list of intelligent dogs is the Shetland sheepdog.
Like the Australian Cattle Dog the Shetland sheepdog was bred for herding cattle and sheep.
Obviously to do this well they need some intelligence and that is why they have ended at number six on our list.
They’re not quite as good at socializing with other people or children but are excellent pets in their own family.

More Information:
Dog Breeds
Dog Breed Info

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And the Top Five Dogs Are

Here’s Today’s Joke: Why don’t dogs make good dancers?
Because they have two left feet!

This newsletter looks at the top five dogs based on intelligence.

And at number five on that list is the Doberman.
It is important that the Doberman is trained early on in its life, as they can be quite temperamental.
If they are trained they can be great family dogs and really good with children despite their reputation.
They are highly intelligent, and like many intelligent dogs are very protective of their master and family.

Number four is the Golden Retriever, which is often regarded as one of the most popular breeds of dog.
They are great with children and are a very loyal and loving dog.
It is not uncommon to see Golden Retrievers winning dog competitions where intelligence is of importance.

More Information:
Dog Breeds

Number three on our list is a dog that is often associated with police work.
Yes, it’s the German Shepherd, and it is chosen for its police work due to its intelligence.
They make great family dogs and love children.
They need to be kept busy with work or some form of stimulation otherwise they can become depressed and unhappy.
They need to know who their master is from a young age to ensure both they and the family get the most out of their relationship.

The second most intelligent dog might surprise a lot of people. Not only for the fact that they are highly intelligent, but also because they are one of the easiest dogs to train.
And that dog is the Poodle.
Yes the Poodle comes in at number two on our list of intelligent dogs.
They love people, and because of this they don’t like to be left alone.
They are very protective and can become quite vicious if anybody encroaches upon their property or territory.

And the number one all-time most intelligent dog of all is the Border Collie
The Border Collie is another dog that is often seen winning competitions.
They’re highly intelligent, but along with that intelligence comes the need for them to be stimulated regularly.
They’re happiest when they’re working or performing in competitions or dog trials.
So there you go, if you have a Border Collie, you know you have the most intelligent dog in the world, provided of course, that you have trained it well.

More Information:
Dog Breeds