Choosing the Best Dog Breeder

When you have decided that you want to add a dog to your family, then next choice you have is where to buy the dog. You might want to go to a rescue center and find a dog that needs a home. However, if you have your heart set on a particular breed, then you should buy from a breeder.

You shouldn't just go out and find the cheapest breeder. You need do your research and find a reputable breeder who has looked after their dogs and knows what they are doing.

If you just find the cheapest breeder, then you will be promoting a person or company who don't look after their dogs and are being cruel to animals by breeding dogs that are going to have health problems. Keep reading for tips on finding reputable breeders.

Tips

1. Assured breeders - If you have found a breeder and think that they are a good match for you, with the breed you want, then make sure that they are members of assured breeders. This will mean that they stick to breeding guidance and that they care about their dogs. Their dogs will be healthy and are not cruel to their animals.


2. Screening - Once you have found a breeder and they are members of assures schemes, ask that the puppy go through health screening first. A good breeder will have no problem doing this. Make sure the tests look for hip and eye problems, and generally anything that will help you predict the future health of the puppy.


3. Meet the puppy first - A genuine breeder will let you meet the puppy first and with its mother. This is to make sure that the puppy is correctly raised and you will have a good idea of what the puppy will look like in the future.


4. Conditions - Ask to have a look at the conditions the puppy is living in. If the breeder is keeping the puppy in bad conditions or the puppy is unhappy, then report the breeder for animal cruelty and look elsewhere.


5. Guidelines - If you are a new dog owner, then you are able to ask the breeder for some guidance on training of the puppy and generally towards the care of the dog. A breeder who cares about their dogs will have no problem giving you this advice. If they have a problem helping you, then you should look elsewhere.


6. Love for the dogs - You should make sure the breeder cares about the dogs and they are not just using them as cash machines. Ask to visit the dog breeder and see how their dogs live. A happy mother is what you are looking for. Generally, breeders who offer their dogs on the cheap are the ones that you should avoid. You should expect to pay a few thousand dollars for a healthy and well looked after dog. Good breeders are not just after a quick profit, they want their dogs to go to good homes.


7. Lifetime contact - A good breeder will want to get to know you and where you live so that they know you will be a good owner. They will feel a responsibility to make sure you are suitable for their dog. They should want to keep in contact with you over the years and get some updates about the progress of the dog. Bad breeders are more likely to take your money and run and you will never see them again. So, ask if there is a way to keep in touch with them. They will most likely give you their email address and you should send them pictures and updates, a few times a year.

Worms - What They Do To Your Dog

It is not unusual for your dog to come down with worms. One third of all dogs will be infected by various kinds of intestinal parasites in their life. There are many types of worms that can affect your dog including roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms. As a caring owner of a dog, you should be aware of what to look for when it comes to worms. If you are aware of the symptoms, you can take the necessary measures so that your dog will remain active and healthy.

Symptoms in dogs affected by worms

When a dog is affected by worms, it can suffer from a distended belly. The stomach might be in bloated condition. If the infection is serious, there will be vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea as well. It is possible to see some worms in the dog's stools. The most common way that worms are spread from one dog to another dog is through the stools. Some worms will be transmitted to your dog through the infected ground.

Tapeworms are probably the most common worms that you will find in dogs. There will be very few clinical signs when a dog is affected by tapeworms. If there is a heavy infestation, there could be weight loss and intestinal upset as well. There will be segments of tapeworms which can be found in stools, which actually look like pieces of rice. The most probable cause for the spread of tapeworm is the ingestion of fleas. It is possible that tapeworms might transfer to other pets as well.

Facts about worms

You should know some important facts about intestinal worms. Healthy dogs can be affected by worms. Some dogs will not show any symptoms even though they suffer from worms. You can find noticeable itching in the anal area in some dogs and some dogs will have increased appetite levels, diarrhea and weight loss symptoms.

In some instances, the worms from dogs can spread to human-beings as well. Hence, extreme care should be taken. The roundworm larvae can migrate through the blood stream and it can also reach the eyes. In such cases, there will be loss of vision. If children are living in poor hygienic conditions, this kind of situation might happen.

Prevention

A dog can catch worms from other dogs. Infected feces of other animals, raw meat and fleas are a great source for the spread of worms from one pet to another. In order to control worms in your dog it is important to take your dog for regular checkups with your vet to keep your dog healthy and happy.

Everything You Need To Know About Taking Care Of Your Canine Friend

Knowing how to take care of your canine friend is a great way to show them how you truly love them. As a dog owner its your job to make sure that your pet is healthy and well fed. A well looked after dog will bring joy to both the owner and the pet and your relationship will be unbreakable.

There are lots of ways to taking care of your dog with some covered below:

- Dog Train: Almost every dog requires the owner to train them in order for them to behave the right way. The first thing to do is teach your pet their name. Other things is potty train them so they don't mess all over the place. After each training you should reward your dog with something nice to eat so they can know that they are doing the right thing.

- Exercise: Just like humans dogs need to exercise and play to stay fit. To help them exercise you can take them for a walk around the park or play some Frisbee with them in your yard provided your yard is large enough. Some pet owners even swim with their dogs which they enjoy very much.

- Check Ups: To ensure that your pet is healthy not only on the outside but the inside as well you should take him/her to a veterinarian every once or twice a year to make sure all is well. Another thing you shouldn't forget is to update their vaccination.

- Good Shelter: Shelter for your pet is very important because this is where they will be protected from the rain and take cover from too much heat. You can either buy a dog house or you can build it yourself if you know how. Don't forget to clean it every once in a while and put a nice soft blanket to keep him/her warm at night.

- Wash Him/her: Your dog needs to be washed to stay clean. Washing your dog will help in fighting fleas and ticks and reduce the chances of him getting skin infections. And since your kids will be playing with the dog its better that it stays clean so they don't get any germs.

- Diet: Giving your pet a proper diet is very important for their health. You should watch what your dog eats, the food you give him should have the right nutrition's and make sure you don't every feed them. Also let your kids know of what type of food they can feed your dog because stuff like chocolates can be toxic to dogs.

- Pet Tag: Although its not something you maybe thinking about but in case your pet does get lost you should make it easy for them to be found. To do this you should put a collar and tag with your contact information so you can be easily contacted when they are found.

Group Versus Private Dog Training Lessons

If you are considering a career as a dog trainer you may be wondering if you should focus on group classes or whether you should offer private obedience classes. Actually, both classes can offer great benefits to you. They each have their advantages for you, the dog trainer, and for owners and dogs.

Traditionally, group classes have been the way to go for most trainers. They allow you to give one lesson to many people at one time. All of your clients are paying you for your training expertise at once. You are getting the maximum return for your work. If you are using a facility - perhaps renting a space - you can reduce the number of nights you have to rent it. If you are giving group lessons on the weekend you can give them all on one day. Your expenditures are kept to a minimum with group lessons. From a business standpoint group lessons offer many advantages.

With group lessons you can also offer as many or as few classes as practical for the number of students. It's up to you to determine the best working number of dogs and owners in a class. However, it's usually possible to fit in one or two more students and their dogs if necessary, so you have a great deal of flexibility. You can also set up classes to appeal to special groups, such as puppy kindergarten classes, classes for older owners, classes for new dog owners, and so on. There are good reasons why group lessons have always been popular with both trainers and owners.

Yet there are some good reasons to consider giving private lessons, too. For one thing you can give these lessons during weekdays on a day and time that is convenient for you and the owner. You will usually go to their home so you would not need to use your own facility. Private lessons can be a way to supplement your dog training income at very little expense to yourself.

Additionally, many owners are willing to pay more for private lessons. They may have dogs with a problem that can't be addressed in a group lesson - some issue that isn't resolved with simple obedience lessons yet which is well within your scope as a dog trainer. It could be housebreaking problems that wouldn't be an issue in a group obedience class. It could be a problem that is only triggered in the home environment, such as excessive barking in the backyard.

Some owners are simply more comfortable receiving one-on-one instruction and they are willing to pay extra for your time and attention. They can be inhibited in a group session and will be able to focus on learning and training their dogs much better with private instruction.

Likewise, some dogs may learn better in a private training session since there are fewer distractions offered than there are in a group lesson. It may be easier for a dog to focus on learning without being surrounded by several other dogs and people in an unfamiliar setting.

While group classes offer the trainer the advantage of having many clients in one place at one time, private lessons can be very lucrative for dog trainers since you're offering a more specialized service tailored to an owner's needs. Specialized services can almost always command higher rates. Your time and effort spent working with one dog and one owner in a private lesson can be a great supplement to your income as a dog trainer.

Easy Dog Training Tips

This article is loaded with tips on how to begin training your best friend to behave better. You will find a good assortment of ideas that will help the new dog owner become an expert when it comes to dog training.

The easiest way to crate train an adult dog is to make it fun. Put the crate in a room and use the crate to play games by throwing in a toy and allowing your dog to go in and get it. By using this method, the dog learns that the crate is a fun place where good things happen. You can also make a game out of throwing a treat in the crate an allowing the dog to go after it.

Dogs can be a real pain when it comes to jumping up on you or company. I use a simple spray bottle to humanely teach the dog not to jump. A very effective and humane way to eliminate this problem is by using a water bottle. Simply adjust the spray bottle to have a jet like stream. When the dog approaches to jump give the command "no jump" as you spray the dog between the eyes with two sprays from the water bottle. Three or four rounds using this technique will teach the dog that jumping is not allowed.

Sometimes thinking like a dog can help you solve some of the problems that your dog is exhibiting. Dogs are different that humans and they need to be treated using what makes sense to them.

When training your dog the stay command, take small incremental steps. First tell him to sit and then stay. When he has held that position for 15 or 20 seconds, give him a bunch of praise. Repeat the process, praising him after he stays a bit longer with each repetition. Make the sit-stays longer and farther as he gets better. When your dog is doing the sit-stay well then move onto the down-stay using the same simple steps.

As a good dog owner you want to provide plenty of physical stimulation as well as mental stimulation daily. Training sessions keep your dog busy and with physical exercise like walking and playing fetch you will keep your dog active. Remember that a trained dog is a happy dog and an exhausted dog is even happier.

If your dog doesn't like car rides, you can teach him to enjoy it. Simply get your dog used to car rides in small steps. Start by going for a rides around the block. After you have done this a few times you can start to make the rides a little longer. Make each trip longer and in no time your dog will love to take rides in the car.

Hopefully this assortment of tips will give you a head start when it comes to having a well behaved dog. These tips should help you begin to develop your skills as a dog trainer by having a well-behaved, obedient dog.

How Can I Make Money Working With Dogs?

Dogs are so popular these days that there are lots of people who would like to create a career in dogs for themselves. They love dogs, they enjoy spending time with them, and they feel they have something positive to offer to both people and dogs by working with animals. Fortunately there are many dog-related careers available to people. Here are five good ways to make money and earn a living working with dogs.

As a job, dog walking has become very much in demand in the past few years, particularly in larger cities with many apartment dwellers. People who live in apartments or in homes without sizable backyards, and who work during the day, are often in need of a good dog walker for their dogs. A dog walker will come by the home and take the dog out for a good walk, usually while the owner is at work. Many dog walkers will walk the dog for about an hour. For some dog walkers more vigorous exercise is involved, such as jogging. The good thing about dog walking for the dog walker is that he can walk multiple dogs at one time and have several clients per hour which improves his income. You can become a dog walker anywhere that there is a demand for such a service, though dog walkers are usually found in urban areas. You could also walk dogs for the elderly or the disabled in smaller towns or rural areas.

If you decide to become a dog walker it's a good idea to get some insurance and consider becoming bonded since you will be responsible for other people's pets. Decide how many hours per day or week you want to devote to the work. You can be flexible if it's a part-time job, but you must be reliable. Keep good financial records and have a written contract with your clients. It's a good idea to have extra collars and leashes with you when you walk dogs in case one breaks. Always pay close attention to the dogs and know where to take them for veterinary help.

Like dog walking, pet sitting has become very popular. Many people prefer to hire a good pet sitter rather than take their dogs to a boarding kennel. A pet sitter can come to someone's home and take care of the dogs without causing them the stress and upset of sending them to a strange kennel with unknown dogs.

In order to become a pet sitter you should do many of the same things discussed for becoming a dog walker: get insurance and become bonded. You will be in your clients' homes and you don't want to be blamed if anything should be missing or broken when they return home. Your insurance and bonding will cover you in case of any accidents. You should also keep good financial records and have a written contract with each client that details your services. Make sure you have contact information for your clients when they are out of town and that you have contact information for their vet. You should also know about any medications or special foods their dogs get. It's a good idea to visit with the clients and their dogs, in their home before they leave so you have a chance to meet the dogs and assess them. It also gives the dogs a chance to get to know you a little.

As with dog walking, a pet sitter is able to have multiple clients at any one time. It's usually only necessary to spend an hour or so with each client dog or dogs to handle feeding, play time and to make sure the dogs are all right. You may wish to visit twice a day in some cases depending on feeding schedules. These are things to work out with your clients.

Tips for Handling Dog Aggression

No one wants to have an aggressive dog in their home. You can't allow an aggressive dog to take over your house, especially when you know you should be the leader of your pack. As soon as you see signs of any aggressive behavior in your dog, use the following tips to stop it.

1. Assume the Alpha Position. Most of the time if your dog is exhibiting aggressive behavior he is trying to assume control of the household, making a challenge toward your alpha position. Even if your dog isn't trying to challenge you, life will be easier if you have a clear pack order.

Take charge, make your commands clear, train your dog with care, and show your dog that you are the one in charge at all times. Even if this doesn't stop the aggressive behavior it will make it easier to manage.

2. Separate Problem Dogs. If you have more than one dog that is causing problems or if your dog has issues with guarding food, get rid of the issue. If you have two dogs that fight over food, for example, feed them in separate rooms. If you have two dogs that can't walk together, walk them separately.

Don't be too concerned. This kind of solution isn't usually permanent. But they do work in the short-term and prevent more serious problems.

3. Obedience Training. Obedience training is a good way to teach your dog how to follow specific commands and to respect your authority.

4. Keep Your Dog Busy. In some cases a dog will become aggressive if they don't have anything to keep them busy. If they are bored, have too much energy, lack focus, or anxious, they can become aggressive.

This is an easy problem to fix. When your dog is behaving well you should pay attention to him, give him plenty of exercise, and provide him with toys to keep him busy when you are away.

5. See Your Vet. In some cases aggression can be caused by a health problem. If your dog is sick or lacking in proper nutrition you should take him to the vet. These issues can cause your dog to behave aggressively.

6. Your Dog Needs Plenty of Exercise and A Good Diet. Good training won't help your dog unless he is also getting plenty of exercise and eats a good diet. A cheap dog food may not cause aggression but a lack of nutrients can make your dog's behavior worse.

7. Avoid Triggers. If you know something triggers aggression in your dog, avoid the trigger. If your dog doesn't like children or has problems with leashed dogs, or acts up when a truck drives by, avoid those negative stimuli.

8. Reduce the Fears in Your Dog's Life. Fear can be a cause of aggression. To reduce the fear in your dog's life, don't use negative punishment to change his behavior. Correct behaviors instead of punishing them.

If your dog has any phobias, don't reinforce them by giving him extra attention or care when he is upset by them. This will only emphasize to him that there is something to fear.

9. Work with a Good Dog Trainer. If you aren't making good progress with your dog's aggression, hire a professional. There are many good dog trainers who are experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to handling dogs with behavior problems, including aggression. Contact a good trainer before your dog does something to hurt someone. Don't wait until it's too late.

Unlike many dog behavior problems, aggression is serious and it can't wait. It needs to be handled right away. Aggression can lead to worse problems such as biting or attacking. It typically makes the entire family uncomfortable. If your dog is suffering from problems with aggression, take care of it right away.