Before buying a dog, it is important to do lots of groundwork, research and preparation. The single most important thing to remember is that once you buy a dog, you only get out what you put in. In the vast majority of cases aggressive dogs or behavioural problems are a direct result of how the owners have looked after their dog.

Questions you should ask yourself before buying a dog include: -

1 – What is the main reason we want a Dog?

2 – Are we ready for the responsibility of keeping a Dog?

3 – Do we have sufficient time to spend with our Dog?

4 – How will it interact with other family members and/or pets?

5 – Can we afford a Dog?

6 – Where should we buy a Dog from?

1 – If your reason for getting a dog is because they look cute, your friend/a celebrity has one or you are the type of person who easily loses interest, then perhaps a Dog would not be ideal for you. If on the other hand you are ready for the commitment and highs and lows this journey will bring, then go for it!

2 – Owning a Dog is a huge responsibility. Not just to the Dog itself, but also those around you. Having an out of control Dog or one who is aggressive or constantly barks, can put a great strain on your relationships. How many times do you hear of people complaining that their neighbours dog barks all day long whilst they are at work? This is the responsibility of the Dog Owner to control. Don’t be put off by this, if you take the right steps from the moment you are introduced to your Dog then this need never be a problem.

3 – Most Dogs want a routine and whilst the amount of time on each will vary from breed to breed, the activites will remain the same. These can be broken down into: -

Sleep/Rest Food/Drink Exercise Play Love

The order is not necessarily in importance, but if you can give a regular sleep and eating pattern it will help any new Dog settle into its surroundings. Exercise is an absolute must, if you are not prepared to take your Dog out 2-3 times per day in all weathers then you may find they become bored, restless or agitated. Encourage exercise with their play and give them sufficient love without being over-the-top. If you give too much love, your Dog will begin to think it is in control of you and it has to be the other way round.

4 – If you have young children or are expecting a baby, then please think carefully about the type of breed you want. Make sure you have enough time to spend with both your Dog and family, so neither feel neglected.

5 – Dogs can be very cheap or very expensive to look after – a lot depends on the ‘luck of the draw’ when you buy your Dog. I would certainly recommend Pet Insurance as soon as you buy your Dog. Once they become an integral part of your life you will want to do anything to help them should they become ill so this should keep any medical problems financially covered.

6 – You have to decide whether you want to buy a puppy from a breeder, a Dog out of the local ads or a Rescue Dog from your nearest centre. There are pro’s and con’s with all of these and we will be covering them in our Blog shortly.

I hope that you reach the right decision when you are Buying a Dog and that our article has been of help to you.

Being considered as a family member it is but natural for dog owners to allow the pet to eat the food eaten by the family. A lot of dog owners though are not aware that some human foods are toxic to dogs. After all, if the food is good for humans it must be good for the pet as well. However, because of a different constitution, dogs cannot tolerate some foods that are safely consumed by humans.

One of the favorite human snacks given to dogs are popcorn. Expect the pet of a popcorn-loving family to love this snack too. The dog will be seen lying on the feet of the master or lounging with the kid on the couch while the family is watching TV. The pet that is lounging on the coach with the master will also receive its share of popcorn from the family members.

Popcorn is actually one of the humans food that can be safely consumed by the pet. Popcorn is not one of the human foods that cannot be tolerated by the dog’s system thus this snack can be safely given to the pet. Dogs, like humans would benefit from the carbohydrates and the fiber popcorn contain. Because dogs love this treat, popcorn would make a good training incentive. Dogs are food motivated and the sight of the popcorn on the hand of the master will entice the dog to follow the commands. Dogs are indeed are cunning but endearing pets!

It is hard to refuse the pleading look in the dog’s eyes but there are times when saying no is necessary so as not to cause the dog harm. Dogs are known to have huge appetites and a bowl of popcorn will be gone in an instant! A dog that eats large amounts of popcorn can have diarrhea. Regular consumption of large amounts of popcorn can lead to dog obesity. The unpopped kernels that remain at the bottom of the bowl will still be consumed by the dog. The ingested unpopped kernels of corn can cause rectal blockage, a condition that is most dangerous in toy dog breeds.

Yes, popcorn are great treats both for humans and dogs. Can dogs eat popcorn? Definitely. But not all foods are good for dogs. Find aout which foods are toxic to dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

If dogs can talk it would probably say “Why should I refuse to eat chocolates”? The mouth watering goodness of chocolates is addicting. Humans can eat all the chocolates they want but not dogs as this melt in the mouth delicious food is poisonous to dogs. Chocolates has a chemical Theobromine which is poisonous to dogs. Theobromine in chocolates causes the poisoning as dogs do not have the specific enzyme necessary to metabolize this chemical.

A dog that has ingested substantial amount of chocolate would have stomach pains, would vomit and appear intoxicated. The dogs would appear intoxicated as it would have a wobbly gait and would find standing up difficult. Dogs poisoned by chocolates would have bluish gums, rapid pulse and can at times seize.

What should a dog owner do if the pet was seen eating chocolates? Chocolates are potentially fatal to pets and dogs that have ingested this human food must be given immediate medical attention. Dogs have different reactions to chocolates. In some dogs, the sign of toxicity would be seen after chocolate ingestion, in others, symptoms of poisoning will surface several hours after chocolate was consumed. This is due to the fact that poisoning would depend on the dog’s weight and on the amount of chocolate and on the kind of chocolate ingested by the dog.

Dog owners should not wait for symptoms to appear. Dogs that have eaten chocolates especially, substantial amounts, must have professional medical attention at once. Before leaving for the vet, it would help if the pet eats blackened toast as this will help bind the poison. If the pet has not yet vomited, the vet would induce vomiting to remove as much of the poison as possible. Activated charcoal will be administered to neutralize the poison and to prevent it from being absorbed by the body .

Dog chocolate poisoning is a searious matter. Learn more about what to do if your dog eats chocolate, why they cannot have chocolate and chocolate toxicity in dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

02/25/20111 Grand Forks, ND – Ashton White is the owner of a dog who died of cancer and she reveals what she experienced. “It was difficult, I had to say goodbye to our pet dog who I loved so much,” said White. “The doctors did all doable, but it seems like the cancer malignancy was too far progressed already. I wish I could have spotted signs and symptoms of her cancer malignancy earlier and I most likely could have bought her some much more time.” White also was present at the launch for the website – http://www.weimaranerproblems.com/crate-training-weimaraner/.

One owner inquired the question of whether or not she should still enforce crate training weimaraner on her dog who has recently been diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. I say that there is nothing wrong with it and the choice needs to be found out by how far the dog has progressed in training. If the animal was trained to stay in a crate for years, then go and keep with it. Crates act as a family dog’s den and by this time, it can be the place where they feel the most relaxed so there is no need to amend their patterns if they are relaxed enough where they are.

When a dog is identified with lymphosarcoma, the first thing that an owner can do is to ask their local vet about the therapy options. Vets will probably be explaining what stage the dog’s cancer is in. In the early stages of the disease, chemotherapy and surgery are still valid options. In the later stages of the condition where there is a very good deal of metastasis, it might be a great idea to think about euthanasia and about keeping the dog as comfortable as achievable in its last few days.

Most pet owners are likely to take their dog home and give it the love and ease while the condition runs it course. A majority of dogs who are not treated will last for 4 to 6 weeks.

If you choose to seek treatment for your dogs, there is a very high rate of survival from the condition with approximately 75% of patients going into remission. Sorry to say, this remission will simply last for about 6 to 11 months. A second remission is doable, but only roughly 45% of dogs get to see it. There are much lower odds for a third remission and only approximately 20% dogs can stay alive it. It is only natural that pet owners want to fight because it is without a doubt hard to say goodbye to a dog that you love. But, quality of life should also be maintained and if your dog will merely suffer for the treatments, it might be a good idea to avoid them entirely.

The best thing that a family dog owner could do is to make sure that their dog is as comfortable as achievable. Like above, if you dog is familiar with and is relaxed with the crate training weimaraner that they have been doing, please keep on with the behavior. Also, if the dog is in pain, give it the pain medication it needs and was approved by the local vet, won’t give then your own meds as it could do more harm than good.  

These are the basic dog grooming supplies necessary for properly grooming your dog.

Comb and brush
Shedding blades
Scissors
Shampoo and conditioner
Nail Clippers
Stripping combs
Blow dryers
Grooming table (optional)

Depending on the type of your dog extra dog grooming supplies may be recommended by your veterinarian. It is vital that you groom your dog on a normal basis by retaining their coat clear of knots and shampooing on a regular basis, this will keep their skin healthy and the coat shinny.

You should additionally maintain the dog’s nails regularly, letting the nails to get to long can damage the dogs paws. If your dog is susceptible to fleas and ticks use a flea and tick shampoo amd conditioner and a monthly regiment of flea medication. If your dogs coat requires regular cutting you should have a pair of hair clippers on hand to retain control of the dogs coat and hold the hair out of its eyes. Once a dog’s hair gets too lengthy around the eyes it can bring about discomfort and infections.

An additional component of dog grooming requirements is their mouths due to the fact many dogs have bad breath that is typically brought about by tooth decay. You have to maintain your dog’s teeth on a daily basis, start brushing the dog’s teeth at an earlier age; this will help them get accustomed to the day-to-day routine. If your dog nonetheless has bad breath even with good teeth they are most likely suffering from acid indigestion. Veterinarians sell additives for your dogs drinking water to help with too much stomach acid which works to lessen bad breath.

All seems good during the day, until you arrive home. You have to start coping with dog separation anxiety.

What Are The Signs?

When you are away, the dog presents signs of dog separation anxiety by:

1. The dog chews your slippers, the furniture and the trash. The garbage pail has tipped over and the garbage is all over the Utility Room.