It's a dog's lifeSavvy Chocolate Labrador's dogblog

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.

He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of little boy.

“Mister,” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

“I’ve got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?”

“Sure,” said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. “Here, Dolly!” he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up…

“I want that one,” the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.”

With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.

In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup.
Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.

“How much?” asked the little boy.
“No charge,” answered the farmer, “There’s no charge for love.”

The world is full of people who need someone or somedoggy who understands.

Man's best friend.

When they go out I must not encourage Zeus to sneak into their bedroom to play on THEIR bed. Pillows on the floor, a disrupted duvet and our toys seem to give the game away.

Owning a puppy requires constant attention, and lots of TLC. Like us humans, they need to be taken care of or else they’ll suffer from mild to more serious health problems.

Taking your pup to your vet for regular check-ups is your best bet to avoiding serious puppy health problems. But it is also crucial for you to develop a keen eye for his usual predisposition – so that if and when something’s not right – you will be able to spot the tell-tale signs and take action accordingly.

It might sound like a hard job to have to keep an eye on your puppy all the time – but it is easier than you think. Once you’ve been by his side for a week or two, you will get to know and love him, and you will instinctively understand if his health is not the way it should be.

I have put together a checklist below, to help you spot some of the most common puppy health problems. You should take your puppy to the vet if:

• His eyes are lifeless.
• Pus is oozing out of his eyes, it would signify a more serious eye problem that the vet needs to diagnose.
• His ears are dirty. They should be clean, because this might cause severe ear infection in the future.
• His nose is not moist. If it’s dry, your dog might have bacterial infection. If it’s too wet, your dog might be experiencing the early stages of flu. Beware of this one though, his nose might just be temporarily dry in which case nothing’s wrong. Always look at this one in context – is he eating as he used to, is he more miserable than usual, is he hotter than usual and so on…
• His coat is dull. This may not seem like much of a worry, but it may be a signal for insufficient diet. So you should speak to your vet to see if that’s the cause. If dryness is combined with gravely dirt or dandruff, your puppy may have flea problems, or skin problems – either way it’s best you let the vet decide.
• His mouth has cuts or is swollen. A swollen tooth is the usual cause, which can be really, really painful for any dog. But also – it’s likely he’s chewed on something and cut himself, or he may have been in a fight. Either way if the wound is bleeding you should take him to the vet to make sure the appropriate steps are taken so as not to cause any unnecessary infection – and of course to allow the wound to heal properly.
• He has low appetite – this is by far the one symptom that I’ve learned to take seriously. Dogs love food generally – so if you see he’s not eating as much, this is almost always a sign of a health problem in your puppy. But don’t panic – it may just be the heat too.

If you suspect the heat has nothing to do with it, and you pup has not eaten in the last 12 to 24 hours you must take him to your vet. He’ll decide what to do from there. Beware that if you leave it for too long after 24 hrs, you may cause serious damage to his digestive system and other internal organs through dehydration and malnutrition. Puppies are like babies – very fragile in the beginning.

• He vomits regularly – dogs are not like cats in the respect that they throw up fur balls. So if your puppy vomits 2-3 times in a row, or regularly – like once a day, this may be a sign of a digestive health problem, or that something’s wrong with his food. Either way – best you take him to Mr. Vet…
• He coughs – a regular cough should alert you that somethings not right – again the best solution is to take him to the vet.

So how do you prevent health problems from even becoming a problem in the first place?

Here are a few easy to follow, basic tips on keeping your puppy’s health problem free:

• Fleas – De-flea your puppy regularly. Wether you deside to use drops, injections or a collar is up to you, but make sure you keep up with the expiration dates.

Fleas hide a multitude of ailments for your puppy. They can cause severe skin problems, they can carry diseases, not to mention that they are very irritating for your pup, and can cause havok with your home if an infestation sets in.
Luckily keeping them under control is just about keeping up with the treatments. If you’re unsure of which treatment is best for your environment and your pup – consult your vet.

• Ticks – Ticks are more dangerous than fleas, but are less common (depending on where you live). They are also very preventable with treatments like anti-tic drops, collars, and sprays. Apart from the treatments, you should also regularly check your puppy’s coat and skin for any bumps or lumps that are unusual. A dayly run of your fingers through his coat should enable you to spot anything unusual – check it as you find it to ensure that if it is a tic – you can take it out and treat the wound immediately.

Tics carry a lot of diseases – some of them can be lethal to your furry friend. Make sure you speak to your vet about the proper way to remove them, because ticks have a head that tends to stay behind in your puppy’s skin and can cause infection and inflammation.

You may find that in summer you see more of them than in winter. If you do – make sure to up the precautions you take. Always consult your vet before you do that to make sure the dosage is right for your puppy.

• Worms – Worms are part and parcel of a dog’s life. Puppies in particular love to explore and muck around in durt. They also love to eat poo – nasty – but true. Your vet will advise you of the proper deworming schedule and treatment, when you take your puppy to him the first time around.

It sounds nasty, but like fleas, if you keep up wth the treatments, you most likely will never experience a problem. However, if worms are left untreated, they could cause severe discomfort to your dog and in extreme cases death.

• Grooming & General Health – well, it should go without saying, but I have to mention this just to complete the checklist. Depending on your dog breed and its coat, you should be brushing your puppy at least once every 2-3 days (every day if he has a long coat). This will prevent his fur from becoming matted. It will stimulate the oils in his skin, resulting in a healthy shiny coat. It will also enable you to keep an eye on any other skin problems and flea or tic infestations.

Just like you wash your face in the morning, you should make sure his eyes are clean every day. Have some dog wipes handy for this.

Make sure you trim his nails regularly if the breed requires it. And generally make sure he’s properly fed, well exercised, and entertained daily. If at all unsure of how to take good care of your puppy’s health – your vet will be able to advise you extensively.

Overall you will have no problem avoiding most of the common puppy health problems, if you follow my checklist above. Remember to always look at symptoms in context of the bigger picture of your puppy’s health. Love him and treat him well, and he’ll respond with endless hours of joy and love. And if in doubt – your vet is always at hand to advise you.

Anita Watson is passionate dog owner with years of experience in helping people raise and train their dogs, using real methods that work fast. Visit Raise a Loving Dog for more great tips and advice on other common puppy health problems.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/important-considerations-and-solutions-to-common-puppy-health-problems-1316277.html

For many new dog owners, housetraining is one of the most challenging parts of introducing a new canine into the family. Until that puppy learns how to go outside, chances are that you’ll be spending quite a bit of time cleaning up messes and dreading the smell when you open your front door.

But many people struggle with understanding the best way to teach their puppy how to go not only where you want but also when you want. After all, having your puppy on a schedule for using the bathroom is almost as important.

The solution in most cases is crate training. This is a relatively easy approach to house training that also provides some other useful benefits puppy owners should appreciate.

Why Crate Train?

First, crate training is intended to take advantage of your dog’s natural impulses. Although dogs have been domesticated, they still have some of those old instincts that helped their ancestors survive and thrive for millions of years. Some of those instincts relate to the concept of having a den.

A den is a safe haven for the animal where he or she can retreat without fear of being harmed. The den was the preferred location for sleeping, rearing young, and other activities. But to keep the den protected, dogs also had to keep it from being too easy to find. Since most predators use their sense of smell pretty well to find prey, the den was not a place for dogs to go to the bathroom. Their urine and feces would attract other animals and would endanger the safety of the den.

Dogs simply don’t go to the bathroom in their den unless out of absolute necessity.

The purpose of the crate is to give your dog a den in the home. This crate becomes his or her sanctuary.

But it also provides you with peace of mind. As long as your puppy is confined to the crate, he or she can’t be out doing damage to the rest of your house or getting into trouble by chewing on electrical cords or eating things that could get lodged in the intestines, for example.

Basically, crate training provides your dog with a safe place to call his or her own. Plus, it keeps him or her safe during the day while also working as an invaluable tool for housebreaking. Now let’s see how you can get started.

Picking the Crate

The first step is to choose the crate you want to use for your pet. Two types are available: the hard plastic models used for airplane travel and the wire types. If you have a big dog, you’ll probably be stuck with the wire type. Otherwise, you can choose whichever you think will be the best choice for your dog.

Keep in mind that the crate should only be big enough for your dog to stand up comfortably, lie down, and turn around. If you give the dog too much room, he or she could use part of the crate for a den and part for a bathroom spot which would defeat the purpose.

To keep costs reasonable, purchase a crate that will be large enough for your full-size dog but use dividers which can also be purchased to restrict the space available to your puppy.

Getting the Puppy Comfortable with the Crate

Next, you have to help your puppy get comfortable inside the crate. Most dogs are not going to immediately love the crate. They won’t like being confined and away from you. But you can make the situation easier by going slowly, using treats and praise to reinforce the desired behavior, and letting the puppy explore the crate on his own.

When you bring home the crate, leave it open so the dog can go into it and sniff it at his leisure. Then you can begin luring your puppy into the crate with treats and praising him for going inside.

After he is doing that well, you can lure him into the crate and close the door. This might cause some crying and whining from your puppy. Let him stay inside the crate for a minute or two then let him out. Do not let him out while he is still crying, however. Otherwise, he will cry every time you try to put him in the crate because he’ll know this behavior will get him released.

Keep expanding the time the puppy is in the crate with the door closed until he begins to feel comfortable. Then you can practice leaving the room, leaving the house, and staying away for longer periods of time. Each time remember to praise your puppy when you release him from the crate but never release him until he has calmed down.

House Breaking & the Crate

To use the crate for house breaking, be sure to give your dog food and water at least an hour before putting her in the crate. Take the puppy to the bathroom, preferably for a walk with a potty break, before she is placed in the crate.

Do not give your puppy food or water in the crate. These things will only make a mess and will cause the puppy to need to urinate or defecate badly.

Keep in mind that young puppies may not be able to “hold it” as long as you would like. For this reason, it’s a good idea to come home at least once during the day to take your puppy to the bathroom. If you can’t, you may want to hire someone to do this for you. Even adult dogs should not be left in crates for longer than 6 to 8 hours a day.

As soon as you let your puppy out of the crate, take him or her to the bathroom immediately. Praise him or her when they do what you want and quickly they will learn the routine.

If an accident does occur in the crate, clean it thoroughly with an enzyme-destroying cleaner so the dog won’t be able to smell the accident and assume that is an appropriate place to use the bathroom. Otherwise you’ll just keep repeating the problem.

Finally, don’t punish your dog for having an accident. You could end up causing them to fear the crate, as well as you.

David Beart is the owner of the the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="““>http://www.petyak.com/””> PetYak. Our pet site covers everything from <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="“quotations”>http://www.petyak.com/dogs/general/quotations-about-dogs.aspx””>quotations about dogs to training and dealing with behavior problems.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-and-why-to-crate-train-your-puppy-1312917.html

Do you have pets of your own? Is it a Dog or maybe a cat? A bird or a fish? Whatever it may be, it is really nice to know that we do have pets at home. An alternate partner and sometimes our shock absorber. They sometimes replace a human bestfriend and they stay with you until their last breath. A very deep definition of a pet and what it does for us. Why not provide them their own pads as to show our own appreciation. Give them Pet Puppy Pads.

Click Here For Pet Zoom Pet Park Instant Access Now!

Is it really necessary for people to have pets? not that necessary but they are really adorable and could be helpful. They could swing our moods from bad to good, They make us laugh and sometimes they could even make us cry. They can be source of our inspiration as well. Even they can’t normally show it, but you as the owner could feel it. It always has this connection for us people that could not explain by human senses. Isn’t that very thoughtful and heart touching?

Providing them this Pet Puppy Pads. This gives comfort to our little inspirations. It relays them the idea that we really do care for them, and the more we provide them things like Pet Puppy Pads, the more they are getting closer to us. It gives us both the benefits and it gives us peace of mind. While we do some chores or attend to some needs of our family members or even  attend office or school. You won’t have to worry about your pets for pet puppy Pads would be the perfect shelter for them.

If your pets gets used to it then it would be much easier, than seeing your pets roaming around or loitering. Aside from the idea that its very useful and economical, it would also be beneficial to our pets and of course for us. This could also be a way of relaying that we do appreciate them for having them in our lives. Studies shows that pets could be more understanding than humans. They don’t have this moodswings like we do have, and all they want to do is to play and have fun. Most of the pets are like that, but not all of course.

So if you have pets at home, show them the love that you could possibly show. For the more you’re doing that for them. the more they would be able to appreciate and love it. Believe me, and everything would be worthwhile.

Click Here For Pet Zoom Pet Park Instant Access Now!

This author writes about Indoor Pet Potty at pet accessories

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/pet-zoom-pet-park-pet-puppy-pads-1310089.html