dog

Benefits of a Good Dog Food

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Did you know that there are benefits to feeding your dog a good type of food? Sounds like common sense, right? What many people do not realize is that different types of dog foods are good for different dogs. If you have a puppy you do not want to feed it a food that is formulated for an older dog. On the other hand, if you have an older dog you do not want to feed it a type of food that is formulated for a puppy. Knowing where your dog is in life and feeding it accordingly can help you provide it with a long and happy existence. Do some research and know what is best for your pet in order to make it healthy.

Giving your dog the right kind of food will help it live longer, plain and simple. A dog is no different than a human in the fact that it needs to have a proper diet where it can get all the vitamins and nutrients that it needs. A dog that is provided with a well balanced diet will be strong and healthy. For young puppies that are growing up it is a good idea to give them the type of food that will help support growth and muscle gain. For an older dog you may want to focus on foods that support immune system function. Knowing what stage of life the dog is in will help you determine what type of food to feed it.

Ask your vet for suggestions regarding which type of food is most beneficial. Your vet will be able to give you a suggestion on certain types of dog food. In addition, they will know what the benefits of each are. Asking a few simple questions on your next visit will allow you to be armed with the knowledge required to keep your pet healthy. In some cases a vet may have food available for purchase at their office. Buying this food is recommended by many vets because they know and trust the brand. Furthermore, they are aware of the type of dog that you have and know that they will benefit from eating a good, healthy food that is formulated for them.

Try to look for suggestions online. Look around for information regarding your type of dog. You will surely be able to find information on the different types of dog foods that are best for your breed. Since each breed is different finding the best food for your specific type will allow the pet to be at its healthiest for years to come.

Learn more about how to save on pet food with Iams dog food coupons [http://www.iamsdogfoodcoupons.org/]

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Dog Breed Directory – Miniature Dachshund

Monday, September 26th, 2011

History of the Miniature Dachshund

The history of these Miniature Dachshunds mirrors that of their larger relatives; Dachshunds can be traced back to Germany for many years, back to around the 15th Century, athough many believe that ancient Egyptian art depicts images of dogs similar to Dachshunds; perhaps their ancestors.

Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers (“Dachs” means Badger). Badgers were a formidable prey and Dachshunds were bred to have courage and bravery bordering on the reckless! Their size and shape makes them perfect for hunting both above and below ground.

The breed club was set up in 1888 to standardise the breed characteristics and to ensure that these dogs had beauty to match their intelligence.

Miniature Dachshunds were used instead of ferrets to drive rabbits out of their warrens.

Appearance of the Miniature Dachshund

In appearance, the Miniature Dachshund really is just like a dwarf version of the standard Dachshund. They are found in the same coat varieties; long haired, smooth haired and wire haired.

With their long, low bodies Dachshunds are one of the most instantly recognisable breeds. Often called “Sausage dogs” by children, it is easy to see why!

Despite their miniature proportions, Dachshunds are strong and muscular dogs with broad shoulders and hindquarters.

The Dachshund has beautiful almond shaped eyes that are set into a perfectly proportioned, long face.

Dachshunds come in an enormous variety of colours; tan and black are perhaps the most widely seen colours although many variations exist.

Temperament of the Miniature Dachshund

Dachshunds are faithful and good tempered though they can be wary of strangers.

Dachshunds are extremely intelligent, though are not necessarily easy to train as they have a real mind of their own! Early training and socialisation is of real benefit to these dogs; their hunting instinct is deeply ingrained so good control of these dogs off lead is essential.
Socialised early with children, these dogs make good family pets. Children must be taught to handle these dogs with respect, as they will sulk if they are treated unfairly. Dachshunds have a tendency to bond particularly strongly with one member of the family.

Grooming a Miniature Dachshund

Miniature Dachshunds come in a variety of coat types; long haired, wire haired and smooth haired. A moderate amount of grooming is necessary, particularly in the long haired Miniature Dachshund.

Miniature Dachshund Exercise Requirements

Although they are small, Miniature Dachshunds were bred as hunting dogs and as such, they enjoy their exercise! Miniature Dachshunds require a moderate amount of exercise; perhaps 20 – 40 minutes a day.

Care must be taken when allowing these dogs off lead because of their natural hunting instincts. If they detect a scent, they may well try to go to ground, to dig out they ‘prey’!

A well fenced, secure garden is a must for Miniature Dachshunds – they are world class diggers and may well dig themselves to freedom given the opportunity!

As a result of their elongated spine, Miniature Dachshunds should be limited in their access to stairs to prevent spinal damage.

Miniature Dachshund Health Problems

The main health concern with Miniature Dachshunds relates to their elongated spines. Ruptured discs are a common problem. Care must be taken to avoid these dogs using stairs or jumping on and off furniture, to minimise the risk of damage.

Miniature Dachshunds must not be allowed to become overweight as this places extra stress on their spines. It is essential that their weight is carefully monitored.

Some Dachshunds suffer from skin problems, such as baldness or lack of pigmentation in their skin.

Stephanie has written many articles on dog breeds and dog training. Visit Kennel Corner for more Dog Breed Profiles and other interesting dog resources, including a Dog Obedience Schools Directory.

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Tags: Dachshund, dog, dogs, pet, pets, puppies, puppy
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Dachshund Puppy Training – Explore All the Things

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Also known as miniature dachshund, Teckel, sausage dog and badger dog, dachshunds are popular because of their unique type of body length and tiny little legs. They are fun loving, tenacious as well as energetic too. However they are quite irritable and feel jealous with other smaller breed of pets. They can be mischievous at times but are always loyal, outgoing, affectionate and tend to melt everyone’s heart.

Unlike other dogs, they don’t need a garden or a yard to run around so they can adjust in the apartment if necessary. But you need to take him outside so that they can eliminate and get a little fresh air. A little exercise is also necessary to keep your dachshund active and playful.

The point to remember in dachshund puppy training is not to bring small children around them. They are naturally not good with children so don’t expect that they will tolerate any misbehave and irritation from the children. They may easily snap and bite if they get annoyed a lot. They can tolerate older member in the family but just not small ones.

Dachshund puppy training can be complicated at times due to its stubborn nature but with consistent and firm training they can become quite well behaved. They are little more sensitive to firmness so take care in mind that you are not forcing any hard rules for the training. The simplest way of training your dachshund is making the training period fun and exciting.

Usually the reward based training motivates them to participate actively in it. For reward, you can give them food as they are mainly food driven. Overall it will be good to be gentle, understanding, little firm and consistent in the process of dachshund puppy training. Everything will be solved easily if you are work with regular effort and patience.

For more information on related topic along with lot of tips and suggestions for different breed of dogs, please visit the site: Dog Training Club

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Tags: Dachshund, dog, dog training, pets
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Should I Give My Dog Up for Adoption if It Barks Too Much?

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Barking is as normal of a behavior for dogs as breathing is for humans. What it is weird is the constant, repetitive barking that seems to have no reason whatsoever. In order to correct this you can either make a change in your pet’s environments or try to change its habits. If you’re one of those dog owners who cuddle their pet all the time, realize that your behavior only encourages him to get loud. This is why you shouldn’t blame the dog next time he barks annoyingly and realize that it is not his fault, but your own.

Make sure your dog is ready to handle you being away for a couple of hours or even more. Leave him enough food and water, but don’t leave more food than he is supposed to eat, as he might overeat out of boredom or stress for being left alone. It’s possible that you encouraged him to only be happy in your presence; when you leave, he will get bored and start making a lot of noise. He has soon learned that the world revolves around him and when he finds himself “abandoned” in the empty house he becomes distraught and starts barking-did you expect differently?.

You must understand that whatever you tell your dog, he won’t be able to understand, and that all he learns, he learns from your actions and attitude. When you go overboard and go on and on about how everything is going to be just fine and you will be back very soon, you are actually just making things worse. When you come back home, and start to cuddle him right away, he will know that he is allowed to do anything.

If you have tried everything you know to do and are still struggling with a dog that barks far more than the average dog, there are some things called bark collars that in my opinion should be one of the last things to try for some peace and quiet. There are many options of bark collars for energetic dogs, and you can choose the one that suits your pet best; the bark collar that uses citronella is one of the most popular anti-bark collars and it will give great results in no time. It is a safe, harmless spray that goes off in front of the dog’s nose. Some people actually enjoy the smell. Because dogs don’t like it, they will soon learn it’s better to shut up before the spray activates. You don’t need to send your dog away when there are so many options for you to train it into behaving better.

Many times when a dog barks is nothing more than a natural reaction. You can choose from many models of bark collars that can train your dog into barking less. Click here to find out more on the types of bark collars available.

Tags: Dachshund, dog, dog training, pets
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