Are Your Really Ready to Get a Dog
Dogs are wonderful companions. Having a special four-legged friend greeting you at the door when you get home every day, wagging his tail and making his doggy smile at you is an instant mood-brightener. I even get a greeting when I come back from the mailbox. But the decision to get a dog or a puppy is not one to make in haste. Dogs live an average from 10 to 15 years, so you have over a decade of responsibility. Are you ready to make that kind of commitment? Let’s look at some importation considerations:
Who will be the primary caretaker?
It is nice to think that, since your kids are begging for a dog, they are ready to take on the responsibility of feeding and walking him daily. Although it may seem fun to them for a while, when the excitement fades it will likely seem more like a chore. The truth is Mom and Dad are usually the primary feeders, waterers, walkers, and pooper scoopers. Is this something you are prepared for?
Your puppy will need potty training.
Potty training is crucial, and it does take some time, patience, and consistency. Puppies have small bladders and will need to go potty in the night. In the beginning of potty training, you are likely to be up somewhere between two and four in the morning to take your puppy out. Luckily, this stage is fairly short, and soon your dog should be able to hold it through the night. There will still be accidents to clean up as your dog learns to “tell” you when he has to go.
Your dog will need house training.
He or she needs to know what appropriate or acceptable behavior is. Your puppy needs to learn not to chew your shoes, jump on people or the furniture, or bark excessively, and most of all, to come when called. This takes time and patience and maybe some outside help with a group dog training class or private sessions with a professional dog trainer. You are doing yourself and your dog a huge disservice if you neglect training him properly.
Do You Have Kids?
If your children are very young, they may not understand that your puppy is a living creature and not a stuffed animal. Are you sure your kids won’t be pulling your dog’s tail, dragging it around, or picking it up and then dropping it? If your kids are older, it is not a problem, but it is important that they learn how to handle your dog and that your dog obeys them just he obeys you.
Consider the costs involved.
Yearly shots and exams can add up, and your dog will need to be spayed or neutered. Plus most dogs will need heartworm prevention medication and flea medication, depending on where you live. Just like people, when dogs grow older they may develop age-related conditions such as arthritis that can require more frequent vet visits, as well as medications. There are also potential emergency situations. My dog broke her toe during a scuffle at a dog park (I recommend you avoid those places, by the way) and it was a bigger ordeal and expense than you would have imagined. A cast for a broken toe?
What will you do with your dog when you go on vacation?
Ideally you have a family member or friend who can take care of your dog if you go away for a weekend or on a longer vacation. But if you don’t, you will likely need to arrange for a professional pet sitter or a kennel, which can get rather costly. And dogs hate kennels (at least mine does). Alternatively, more and more people bring their dogs along on holiday. There are increasing numbers of hotels and motels and vacation places that will allow dogs and even offer special “pet packages” for your pooch.
This discussion is not meant to discourage you from getting a dog, but you do need to make sure you know what you are getting into. I am crazy about my dog and can’t imagine life without her. Dogs can be great fun and bring a lot of pleasure into your life, but it is not always a walk in the proverbial park.
Valerie Goettsch is web master of My Favorite Dog, a website featuring dozens of articles and information on where to find the best of everything for your dog, from flea meds to beds, training and designer dog clothes.
Tags: bring puppy home, buying a dog, buying a puppy, getting a dog, new dog, new puppyA Pit Bull Could Be The Right Dog For You
Although Pit Bulls have gained a bad reputation for their seemingly aggressive behavior, this breed can be the ideal pet for the right owner. Pit Bulls crave attention and are very loyal and loving toward people.
Other dogs, on the other hand, tend to bring out the aggressive behavior of the Pit Bull. Originally bred to fight other dogs, Pit Bulls generally will not tolerate other dogs, especially those of the same sex. But with an owner who is knowledgeable about Pit Bulls and their personality traits, this breed will flourish and bring a great deal of enjoyment to their human companions.
Pit Bulls tend to be very confident, loving and bright, but also very dependent on humans. If left on their own for too long, they will often develop destructive habits such as chewing out of frustration and loneliness.
A good owner for this pet would be someone who is very responsible and committed to the specific care required by a Pit Bull. Pit Bulls need a great deal of training, exercise and one on one attention with their owners to keep from becoming frustrated. They should also not be left alone with other dogs. Therefore, a household with no other pets is an ideal home for a Pit bull.
Contrary to the image that they have in the media, Pit Bulls can be great with children. In general, Pit Bulls love people, especially children. The most common problem associated with Pit Bulls and children is that Pit Bulls are extremely energetic and they have a tendency, in their excitement, to knock young children over, puppies especially have a tendency for this.
They are also very easy to train due to their high level of intelligence and desire to please their owner. For this reason, positive methods of training work best for a Pit Bull. Demoralizing punishments usually are very counterproductive in Pit Bulls because of their personality traits and should be avoided.
Pit Bulls live for an average of 12 to 14 years and usually experience good health for their entire lifetimes. Some common health problems experienced by the breed include Parvo, hip displaysia, hereditary cataracts and allergies.
In General, this breed is very easy to socialize with humans and is typically a great deal of fun to have around. Many Pit Bulls exhibit superior performance when it comes to obedience training and physical activities such as Frisbee and playing ball. For these reasons, Pit Bulls should not be overlooked when selecting a pet if you have what it takes to care for this special breed.
By Rose Lenk
For more pitbull tips and articles visit Pitbulls Pro
Shih Tzu - Birth ProcessClearing Passages
Shih Tzu puppies are often born with amniotic fluid present in their lungs. As they take they first breaths a shih tzu puppy may inhale amniotic fluid left in the oral cavities, mouth and nasal passages. These first breaths will be neither lusty nor vigorous if the shih tzu puppy has inhaled amniotic fluid. You will hear a gurgle and bubble sound from the shih tzu puppy and the shih tzu puppy will be unable to produce a lusty cry. What you need to do at this point is hold the newly born shih tzu puppy at a head-down angle.
Never position the shih tzu puppy’s head higher than its lungs before hearing a vigorous cry!. Do not remove the shih tzu puppy from its proximity to the mother. Depress the bulb of a small syringe and gently insert the tube portion in the shih tzu puppy’s mouth. Slowly release the bulb, withdrawing fluids accumulated from the shih tzu puppy’s oral cavity. You may need to repeat the procedure two or three times. Follow this by gently swabbing the mouth with a thin clean towel, sterile diaper or cotton swab.
As soon as the shih tzu puppy is free of ties to the placenta, briskly rub it with toweling - still in the head-down position. This brisk stimulation of the shih tzu puppy helps the shih tzu puppy’s ciruculation, causing it to take deep life-giving breaths.
If the shih tzu puppy’s breaths are still gurgling, this is indicative of potentially serious trouble. Gently open the shih tzu puppy’s mouth. Make sure the shih tzu puppy’s tongue is not rolled back into the throat. Quickly use the bulb syringe and briskly rub the shih tzu puppy down again. Are there bubbles coming from the shih tzu puppy’s nose? Hold the shih tzu puppy near your ear and if you continue to hear an abnormal gurgling breathing, you must shake the shih tzu puppy down to clear its lungs and trachea.
Shaking a shih tzu puppy down:
Wrap the shih tzu puppy in a towel to have a secure grip. Hold the shih tzu puppy head-down firmly in both hands. The shih tzu puppy’s spine should be along your fingers, its stomach facing your abdomen. One hand supports the head, neck and shoulders. The other hand, directly behind the first, supports the remainder of the shih tzu puppy’s spine down past its hips. Stand slightly straddle-legged and think of the shih tzu puppy as a “delicate” but large thermomenter that you must shake down in fluid motions.
Now you are ready to shake the shih tzu puppy down. Neither too fast nor too slow, in an even one-two cadence, swing the shih tzu puppy in an arc from slightly below the level of your shoulders. Continuing the arc, rapidly lower the shih tzu puppy until you are slightly bent over. Stop the arc abruptly when the shih tzu puppy’s muzzle faces the floor. The shih tzu puppy’s head should be even with or between your legs. Do not bend over so low that the shih tzu puppy is in any position but that of head-down.
Shaking the shih tzu puppy down in this manner helps to clear the lungs, trachea, throat and nasal passages of any accumulated fluids. A small spray of amniotic fluid may fly out of the shih tzu puppy’s nose and mouth when it is shaken down in this manner.
After shaking the shih tzu puppy down two or three times. Stop. Listen to the shih tzu puppy’s breathing. It should sound much clear. If the shih tzu puppy is still not breathing well, continue to repeat the procedure over several minutes, as necessary. When the shih tzu puppy has had enough, the life-threatening gurgles will change to a loud, clear-sounding lusty cry. And wha-la, you have saved the tiny life of a shih tzu puppy.
Connie Limon is a shih tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered to subscribers. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
Tags: shih tzu, shih tzu puppies, shih tzu puppy