A Step-By-Step Guide To Puppy Picking

With hundreds of breeds to choose from, how do you decide which one is right? Narrow down the choices in a few simple steps. 
Size Matters
First, consider your available space. If you live in an apartment, you can rule out large dogs. Look for dogs in the Toy group, such as Yorkshire Terriers, or some of the smaller dogs in the Terrier group, like the Miniature Schnauzer. 
If you have children, you may want to rule out very small dogs, such as Chihuahuas or Maltese. They are delicate and can be accidentally injured by young children. On the other hand, very large dogs, such as Boxers or Saint Bernards, can be overly boisterous and can accidentally turn your child into a human bowling pin. Consider medium-sized breeds, such as Fox Terriers or Lhasa Apsos. 
Exercise Essential
Next, consider how much exercise you can give your dog. If you have a home with a fenced yard, your dog will be able to get some exercise on his own. 
However, dog breeds in the Sporting, Hound, and Herding groups are very high-energy animals, and they will need intensive daily exercise. Plan to take a lot of long walks with your dog or go for a daily romp in the park. After all, these dogs were bred to work hard, and they don't do well unless they have a job to do or a way to burn off excess energy. 
To Groom Or Not
Also, don't forget to consider grooming needs. Some breeds need only half an hour or so of grooming a week, while others require an hour a day. If you are short on time, don't buy a Standard Poodle or a Maltese -- unless you plan to take your dog to a groom. Breeds like Boston Terriers or Whippets are good choices for people who don't have time for a lot of grooming. 
Puppy Problems
Once you decide which breed you want, you will need to consider the age of the dog. Many people opt to buy a cuddly little puppy instead of an adult. While puppies have the advantage of not yet having developed any bad habits, it will be up to you to be sure your puppy is housebroken and obedience trained. 
Do you want to buy a puppy? If so, you will need to find a reputable dog breeder who has a litter of the appropriate breed. Often, a good breeder will have a waiting list for puppies.  If you aren't the patient sort, you may be tempted to buy a puppy from a pet store. A word of caution -- many pet store puppies come from puppy mills and have genetic health defects, bad temperaments, and other problems. It is usually safest to buy a puppy directly from the breeder.
Older dogs are usually housebroken and frequently have some obedience training. They are also less likely to be hyperactive and destructive. However, they can have behavioral problems or health problems that prompted the former owner to find them a new home.
If you are interested in an older dog, you may want to visit your local animal shelter or call a breed rescue. These groups evaluate the dogs' health and temperament before adopting them out.  Once you've picked the breed and the dog, you have one more important decision to make -- what to name your new best friend!

A Puppy for Christmas

So you want to buy the kids a puppy for Christmas. Sounds like a great idea, may even teach the kids responsibility by caring for the puppy.
We could put it in a box and put a large bow around it, pop in a few air holes - what a great surprise for the kids, Christmas morning.
Wrong! This is a very bad idea. Think about things from the puppy's point of view. It is a living creature with needs. Young puppies are only babies afterall. This could be its first night away from its mother and littermates - and you want to shove it in a box for over 12 hours. You will be opening a very soggy package in the morning.
Maybe you won't wrap the puppy in a box, but is it still a good idea to have the puppies' first day at home, on Christmas day? Will you have time to care for the puppy while rushing around? Are you going out to the relatives or are they coming to your place? All the commotion of Xmas Day could be quite upsetting to a baby puppy.
Puppies first day in his new home needs to be a peaceful occasion. You will need to introduce the puppy to his new environment and start the housetraining routine. While you may have bought the puppy for the children to learn responsibility, there will be very few children that are capable of carrying out this task. Are you prepared to see to the puppies needs if the children are not capable of carrying out these chores?
A puppy that is loved and cared for make great companions. Those that are bought on a whim often end up in the pound as their new owners have no idea how to raise them.
Please don't purchase a puppy as a Christmas present. Get your new puppy before or after the holiday period. A reputable breeder will not allow you to take a puppy home for Xmas day.
A puppy is for life. A week or two either side of Christmas day will make the world of difference to the puppy's start in life without the safety and security of its mother and littermates, and you will be able to spend important time with him.
http://www.avontipoodles.com"Avonti Standard Poodles

A 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.

A Perfect Bed for Your Pet Dog

Did you ever find your dog circling round and round or pawing at his sleeping place before he lies down? He does so to flatten the area to make it more comfortable to sleep in. Dogs spend about 14 hours a day sleeping, therefore a cozy, nice-sized bed is an absolute necessity. A good dog bed is not only a napping spot for your dog, but it is also an excellent place to banish him when he is misbehaving.
Dog beds can be as bespoke as your own bed and bedding. Just slacken your imagination and you will find dog beds in many colors, sizes, shapes and materials. They can be chosen according to the size of your dog or color and décor of your interiors. Here are some tips to help you buy a perfect bed for your dog.
First, you should decide where in your home would you place the dog bed. The placement typically, depends on your dog’s habits, he may enjoy sleeping at the foot or side of your bed or he may like to sleep in the family room, and the actual amount of space you have for the bed.
The next important consideration is the size of the dog bed. Choose one that will fit him as an adult. If you have a Doberman, you will require a large, heavily padded bed, but for a Chihuahua, a small, thinly padded bed will just be fine. An ideal bed will be one that will fit in his crate or doghouse. It will make his “home” more comfortable.
The bed should provide maximum comfort to your pooch. Cedar filled dog bed is considered to be idyllic because cedar repels fleas, which in long run will make your dog less itchy as well as less stressed. Make sure that the cedar bed is refillable. The bedcover should be removable and washable. Ensure the bed is made of sturdy materials that can’t be ripped or consumed by your dog.
If your pet is old, arthritic or ill, go for a heated dog bed. Thermo-beds are not only easy to wash, as they have poly fiber filling, they also maintain the warmth that matches the body temperature and hence, they can be used all the year round.
Nowadays, designer dog beds such as Violet Ribbon Dog Bed have become very popular. Select one that matches with the hues of your home. Big cushions, fluffy pillows, rugs and cuddlers are essential accessories that will keep your dog comfortable.
Once you have bought the dog bed, take it home and have your dog stretch out in it on his side. If your dog hangs off the side of the bed even just a bit, return the bed immediately for a bigger size.

A Lizards Expendable Tail

Some lizards when confronted with a predator will voluntarily shed their tail. This process is called tail autotomy (self-cut). After the tail is detached from the body it will wiggle around on the ground for a few minutes. This provides a visual distraction and draws attention away from the vulnerable head and abdomen of the lizard. Usually this allows the lizard enough time to make an escape.
Not all lizard species are capable of doing this, the ones that can have fracture points in their vertebrae. The lizard’s blood vessels in the tail area rapidly constrict after autotomy to ensure minimal blood loss. The muscles in this area are also adapted to provide easy shedding of the tail.
After a lizard drops its tail it will start to grow back a new one, however the new one will not look the same as the original. It may have different colors, shape and size. Sometimes multiple tails will grow in the place of the one that was dropped. The new tail is able to perform all the functions of the original with the exception of autotomy. That’s because the new tail does not have any fracture points in the vertebrae. For some legless lizards their tail can make up almost 2/3 of their body length, so loosing it can be a stressful ordeal.
The whole process of shedding its tail can be very stressful to the lizard. If this happens while in captivity it is generally a result of stress and careful evaluation of the situation is required to ensure that it does not happen again. A lizard that has recently shed its tail should be kept in its own enclosure while it re-grows the tail. Ensure that this enclosure is kept clean to minimize the chance of infection. Growing a new tail requires the expenditure of a great deal of protein (energy) and fat. This is compounded by the fact that the tail stores a lot fat which is no longer with the lizard. It is widely believed that the energy required to re-grow a tail can negatively effect the reproductive cycle. This happens because the lizard is unable to put enough energy into producing the eggs. In some cases it may take the lizard up to 2 years to completely re-grow the tail.

A Common Cat Litter Box Problem - Feline UTI

Cat litter box problems stem from a variety of sources. One of the most common causes is a feline Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
Cats tolerate pain pretty well. As a matter of fact, we can be fooled that kitty is feeling fine because she's eating, purring, and snuggling up to us for human love and attention. But at the same time, if she's demonstrating out-of-cat-litter-box experiences, she could be suffering from from a feline UTI. It's up to us to figure it out.
When you know the symptons, it becomes clear that kitty has a problem. She may cry in pain while urinating. She may try to urinate, but little or nothing comes out.
Your cat may groom her privates excessively, and cries while she does it. But the biggest indicator that your cat may be suffering from a feline UTI is blood in her urine.
If your cat has stopped using her cat litter box, and she's urinating on a surface that's white or very light colored, the blood will clearly stand out in the cat urine puddle.
Many cats who suffer from a feline UTI associate the litter box with the pain that comes from this infection. Their kitty logic says if they stop using the cat litter box, maybe the pain won't come around again. This is when you start discovering cat urine puddles all around your home.
If you're one of the lucky ones whose cat is still using her cat litter box while suffering from a feline UTI, the cat litter color and composition may hide the blood. It's always a good idea to closely check your kitty's deposits on a regular basis to make sure she's healthy.
Feline UTIs are quite treatable with antibiotics from your vet. If you suspect a feline UTI, call your vet immediately and follow her instructions for bringing in your kitty for further evaluation.
Once the feline UTI is diagnosed and treated, your cat should regain her good litter box habits again. If not, a short period of confinement for cat litter box re-training is very effective.
Feline UTIs are preventable with a permanent change in your cat's diet. Consult with your vet on how to safely proceed with this.

A Brief History Of Seeing Eye Dogs

No one knows when the concept of using assistance animals for the blind first came into being. It is suggested that dogs have been used in such a capacity in various cultures for a very long time. It is known, however, that there was no formal guide dog program in existence until after the First World War.
Why German Shepherds?
Many people have probably wondered why guide dogs and Seeing Eye dogs are so often German Shepherds. The reason is actually twofold. First of all the German Shepherd has a strong sense of loyalty to its owner, giving it a natural tendency to be protective. Having a very protective dog as a companion is an obvious asset for someone who may otherwise be easily attacked by less then scrupulous individuals. The other reason is far simpler; the first guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired were trained in Germany to provided assistance for those blinded in the war.
After the end of World War I the nation of Germany was devastated by financial depression. Many private businesses failed and the Potsdam, Germany school that trained the guide dogs for the blind was one of them.
The Beginning
An American woman named Dorothy Eustis had heard about the program and decided it was a very worthwhile endeavor. Because she owned a company that was training German Shepherds as working dogs, she decided she might try to train guide dogs for the blind. She did not start this right away, however. In fact she was still considering the possibilities when she penned a story for The Saturday Evening Post about the potential for guide dogs for the blind.
A Nashville man named Morris Frank had heard the story and decided to write to Ms. Eustis and ask her to train a dog for him. She did and Mr. Frank became known as the first blind person to use a guide dog.
As part of an arrangement he’d made with Ms. Eustis, Mr. Frank started training guide dogs in the United States. The foundation that Mr. Frank started was dubbed “The Seeing Eye” and the so-called Seeing Eye dog was effectively born.
Today guide dogs are trained to assist people with many different disabilities. There are Hearing Ear dogs to assist the deaf and other dogs that assist the physically disabled. All of the people who have benefited from the use of a guide dog, however, owe their thanks to Mr. Morris Frank of Nashville, Tennessee.