Beagle – the Beagle Owner’s Guide
The Beagle has a keen sense of smell and a strong hunting instinct. This member of the American Kennel Club’s hound group actually comes in two sizes, under thirteen inches and thirteen to fifteen inches. Except for the difference in size, both Beagle varieties are identical. The beagle has dark eyes, droopy ears, and a long tail. Its coat is short and most commonly comes in a combination of tan, black and white colors. You can also find orange, black, or tan dogs with white markings. The Beagle is a sturdy and attractive dog with a full blast of energy. Originally bred to track fox, this breed has a great sense of smell and like other scent hounds, will likely to ignore you and everything else when hot on a scent trail. For this reason, extra care must be taken to make sure that he does not wander off. He is a happy dog that loves children and gets along well with other pets. The breed standard describes this dog as “A merry hound whose essential function is to hunt, primarily hare, by following a scent – bold with great activity, stamina, and determination – alert, intelligent, and of even temperament – a sturdy and compactly-built hound, conveying the impression of quality without coarseness.” Although this breed is affectionate and intelligent, he requires patients and persistent training from the first day of training because of its stubborn nature in which he is easily distracted. It is very rare to find scent hounds, including the Beagle, in the obedience ring because their nose often overrules their brain. Also similar to other scent hounds, the Beagle was bred to bark, bay, and howl to alert the hunter to his location during the hunt. He may run away and is not likely to come when called so you may need a secure fence that he cannot get under or over. Always keep him on leash whenever you take him out, otherwise he may take off the second hi picks up a scent. Beagles are among the smaller scent hounds which com in 2 varieties, the first stands about 13in at the shoulder and the other is more than 13 but not exceeding 15in. He weighs between 18-30lb. The Beagle can adapt to apartment life, but may prove to be annoying to neighbors if he constantly warns you of strange noises. These dogs are tireless hunters and need a way to burn off some of that energy, so you will need to take your Beagle for long walks or go for a romp in the park. Think twice before letting him off the leash, however, since a Beagle who is hot on the trail of a rabbit will forget all of his obedience training while he tracks down his prey. The Beagle loves children and other dogs, but will probably take every available opportunity to harass the family cat. These dogs are very playful and affectionate, but they do tend to sulk if they don’t get their own way. In fact, these dogs are so sensitive that something as simple as someone laughing at one of them when he has gotten into some mishap can cause the Beagle to brood for days. You may need to warn your children to avoid upsetting your dog’s delicate sensibilities. Although Beagles occasionally get too caught up in the chase to obey commands, they still should learn at least basic obedience. It will require patience and hard work to teach your dog, and you may want to consider getting some professional help by enrolling your little guy…
read moreDog Breeds
You will find a selection of dog breed articles here. The list is not exhaustive, and I do update it from time to time. Beagle Black and Tan Coonhound – coming Bloodhound Bouvier des Flandres – coming Briard – coming Bulldog Bull Mastiff Chow Chow German Shepherd – coming Golden Retriever Gordon Setter Irish Water Spaniel – coming Pug Newfoundland Old English Sheepdog – coming Rottweiler Shih Tzu –…
read moreCanine Addison Disease
When you hear Canine Addison Disease, you could be excused for automatically thinking the worst. What is it? What does it do to my dog? Is it incurable? Knowing more about this dreaded disease will help you manage your dog’s life better so he will live a full and relatively healthy life. Suffering from Canine Addison Disease is not the ideal situation you want your dog to be in. So What is Canine Addison Disease? In a nutshell, this condition is frequently caused by the body’s deficiency to produce enough cortisol by the adrenal glands. This hormone is critical to regulate the balance of salt, sugar, and water in your dog’s body. While this is not a fatal sickness, Addisons Disease seriously compromises the quality of life of your dog. When your pet is experiencing stress, the natural response of the body is to produce cortisol. When this is not happening, the dog will not be able to cope with stress properly. Stress can be the result of a sudden change in diet, having strangers in their space, or too much physical exertion. It is a good idea to let your dog gradually become used to a change you are planning to implement, to avoid stress. For example, a new diet should be introduced over a course of a month, slowly increasing the ratio of the new food while decreasing the old one to prevent stress and indigestion problems. Addisons Disease is said to be the mirror counterpart of Cushings Disease. In Cushings Disease, there is an overproduction of cortisol—which is also a very dangerous condition for your dog. Any dog has can contract Addisons Disease, however some breeds are reported to have a higher incidence of this sickness simply because they are genetically made that way. Some of these breeds include Poodles, terriers, Great Danes, Portuguese Water Dogs and duck-trolling Retrievers. The early symptoms of Addisons are fairly unnoticeable and may even come and go intermittently. Restlessness, diarrhea, weakness, nausea and lack of appetite may occur, often when the animal is subjected to a huge amount of stress. Some owners may not think of much of it, but it is a good idea to take your dog to the vet for a thorough examination. Symptoms of Addisons Disease may be mistaken for food poisoning, pancreatitis, hypoglycaemia, gastric volvulus, joint and skeletal problems. The earlier you detect any canine ailment, the better his options and chances for recovery. Dog Addisons Disease usually develops gradually and is a chronic condition. It often becomes progressively worse over time. If nothing is done to treat it, an affected dog may suffer from circulatory collapse. A good diet that will replace the necessary nutrients is important. Look out for heathy food that do not contain artificial preservatives and additives to the dog food. Exercise him regularly to strengthen his organs and improve his circulation. Detoxing can also help keep Addisons Disease under control. And most of all avoid stress inducing happenings from influencing your dog’s health as much as possible. Cllick on the highlighted links in this page and learn more about canine Addisons Disease…
read moreSmall Slow Feed Pet Bowl
The small slow feed pet bowl is one remarkable feeding bowl that enables your dog eat in bits and at reduced pace to make sure that there is improvement in the rate of digestion. Dog owners can rest assured when they utilize the small feed pet bowl since they have so much to gain and also they will get value for their money with this great concept in a pet feeder bowl. Your pet feeding experiences will not be the same when it comes with this type of bowl. Among the many advantages that one stands to get from the small slow feed pet bowl is that it aids in the reduction of bloat risks. Your dog does not have to be exposed to endless risks that come with Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) that is a common scenario with large bowls. This is caused when the dog’s stomach is filled with gas that causes it to be twisted and overstretched. This is potentially dangerous especially the to deep chest dogs which are more vulnerable. To prevent your dog from suffering from this potentially fatal medical condition, it’s wise that you use the small feed bowl. Another benefit that you stand to gain as a user is that the small slow feed pet bowl is very effective in slowing down your dog’s eating which improves the rate of digestion and consequently, increases nutrient absorption. This is very important since your dog will maintain the healthy and comfortable physical lifestyle that it needs. With an improvement in the nutrient intake in your dog’s body, it will always have that strongly built body with improved immunity against common dog illnesses. These bowls are easy to clean and therefore dog food cleanliness is not compromised. There is less probability of left over food particles while cleaning this type of feeding bowl. There is a reduced chance of contacting hygiene related diseases that eventually compromise the health status of your dog. The dazzling surface is made to make you use less effort as far as cleaning the bowl is concerned. The small slow feed bowl is made to stop your dog from chasing, sliding and scooting the feeding bowl. You have to agree, there’s probably no more frustrating thing for a dog than trying so fruitlessly to feed out of a moving bowl. With the small feed bowl, your dog is meant to have an enjoyable feeding time that is not at all marked with inconveniences. Your dog will also feel a little more full when you feed him with the small slow bowl feed pet bowl. This is important since it stops the dog from regurgitating food. Indeed, you have every reason to try out this feeding bowl since you not only make your dog eat in a slow healthy way, but also get value for your money. It is recommended by the author, Jeremy Spiers, that any dog owner try the remarkable small slow feed pet bowl. – click…
read moreWhy Does My Doberman Have Bad Breath?
If you are a proud owner of a Doberman breed then you should never ask yourself this question, “ Why does my dog’s breath smell so bad?”. As an owner of such a fine breed of dog, you should know how to take care of its health. So bad breath must never be part of the dog’s smell. If it does, here are some possible causes that you may examine if your dog has any of them. Gingivitis: This problem is known to affect all dog’s whose teeth are not regularly cleaned as it is caused by the buildup of plaque and bacteria in a dog’s teeth. Aside from bad breath, its other signs include red and swelling gums that are sometimes joined by bleeding gums. This can easily be treated by scraping the plaque that is building up in the dog’s teeth. After the plaque has been taken out then the dog’s teeth must be regularly cleaned. Periodontitis: This is the end result of gingivitis and it is worse because it includes some bone loss. This is also painful for the dog so it may a difficult time eating hard food. Treating it may be more difficult than gingivitis because the vet would have to extract the tooth or teeth that are affected by the disease. Also, the doc may use antibiotics to destroy the bacteria that is causing the bad breath as well as its periodontitis cause. Also, there may be a need to include oral rinses that contains chlorhexidine. These two are the most common causes of bad breath in dogs or halitosis in dogs but there are also some other causes that are both dental and non-dental. If the bad breath is gone after the dog has eaten then chances are it is only a result of the food that it has eaten. This should not be a cause for concern. Also check if the dog finds itself through the house’s dumpster. If so then it might find pleasure in eating through the house trash or worse, on some other wastes. This is also not a concern for worry. It is also best to look at the ingredients of the dog’s food. If it contains some ingredients that has strong odors such as tuna and salmon then it would be best to do away with them. It is also better that the dog’s teeth be checked for any food particles that may be stuck in between the dog’s teeth or gum lines. Finally, there are also some non-dental causes that should be the cause of greater worry as these may be more dangerous for the dog. These may include any of the following: diabetes, uremia, rhinitis, sinusitis, neoplasia, megaesophagus, neoplasia, lip fold pyoderma, pharyngitis, tonsilitis, neoplasia, open fractures, infectious agents including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, autoimmune diseases, and eosinophilic granuloma complex. These diseases can only be treated by a vet so a dog owner should not try to remedy them by himself. If he does so then he runs the risk of causing more problems for his pet. However, if discovered early, a dog with bad breath always has a good chance of finding cure for its problem. So any Doberman owner who says, “ Why does my Doberman have bad breath? “, should never take the problem for…
read moreDog Treats Recipes
Every loving pet owner’s priority is to have their canines at their best health. This is generally done through exercise, regular visits to the veterinarian and maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet. These factors ensure that he will be the strong and happy fellow you’ve always wanted him to be. This article will help you obtain the last objective quickly and easily with valuable information on dog treats recipes you will want to know about. What about dog recipes? It’s not really that difficult rustling up a dish or two – besides, the canine palate can probably take anything any of us will give him. While their tastes are not as sophisticated as humans, you should still exercise caution in creating homemade dog treats. Some ingredients are very harmful to dogs and must be avoided at all times. Are you on the lookout for dessert treats for Fido? If you are, you will do well to stay away from the seeds of fruits, macadamia nuts, caffeine, baby food, grapes and raisins. Chocolates also trigger heart irregularities that can be potentially fatal, particularly when coupled with strenuous exercise. Do not give your dog sugar-free candies either. Most of them have xylitol which has been said to damage dog livers. In any case, dogs generally much prefer savories to sweets. If you plan to make some of those savory delicacies, it will be smart to be aware of the list of ingredients that are known to cause severe health issues to dogs. Alcohol, onions and most of the parts of tomato plants are bad for dogs. Organ meat is very beneficial but only in smallish quantities; too much liver can lead to bone problems in your dog. Before blinding accepting so-called “advice” from well-meaning websites, it is wise to double check which ones of these contain by consulting known dependable canine sites, or even by asking your vet. Also, you need to know if your pet has pre-existing dog health issues that need a special provision in his diet. So annual health checkups with your veterinarian are a must. Now, you may get discouraged with all the things you need to remember – don’t. As long as you know the list of all the food that are harmful to dogs, planning fabulous dog treats recipes are really simple to do. In fact, you can be as creative as you want to be with it – there is nothing that is stopping you. It is a fun experience that will get you closer to your pet. Homemade dog treats showcase the devotion you have for your lucky pet. It will show your dog how much he is appreciated and cherished. Make these fantastic canine creations and you will be sure that your attention will be more than reciprocated by your happy animal! by Melinda…
read more