Saturday 28 April 2012

The Papillon Is A dog That Known For His Intelligence And His Love To Learn Attitude


Papillon
The Papillon is a dog that came to be in France as his name suggests, when the name Papillon is translated it means "Butterfly." This is a breed of dog that can be traced all the way back to the 14th century, but it was not until the 19th century that they came to the US and finally in 1915 they became a registered breed with the AKC. The early Papillon had only drooping ears but this changed somewhere along the line and erect ears started to appear, the Papillon with ears that stand up is usually the more popular type.

This is a dog that loves to make his humans happy and because of that, they are easy to train, but they do have a lot of energy and a playful personality so you will have to keep up with them! This is a dog full of energy (as I have mentioned) so good work outs or a good work schedule is a must to keep these furry little guys happy! They need a lot of time and dedication from their owner; if the owner is not up to spending a lot of time with his Papillon, then he should not bother to get one.

When training, the owner of the Papillon will have to show that he has confidence in himself and the commands that he is giving or else, the dog will pick up on this and decide that it would be better to do what he wants instead of listening to his owner. That’s why a demonstrated consistency is the best lesson he can learn from his master.They are very intelligent but also bossy and possessive, they do well in obedience training but housetraining can tend to be a problem sometimes.

This is a small dog, so careful consideration must be made before buying one if there are small children in the house as the dog can get hurt very easily. These are dogs that do well with older children and other pets, although sometimes they will try to show bigger dogs who’s boss, so care must be taken with the Papillon. These dogs do well in apartments and in houses as well. You might want to socialize your Papillon at an early age to make sure that the puppy grows up in to a confident and well behaved little dog.

The Papillon is the ultimate picture of elegance, with a dainty body and a big innocent look on his face; this is a dog that is enough to take your breath away! He has a long coat made up of hair that is pure silk to the touch, the color is usually white with tan, black or lemon patches. This breed has fringed ears and a beautiful full tail. This is a breed that can reach a height of up to 12 inches.

When it comes to grooming the Papillon one should not worry, the long silky coat is not prone to matting, just a good brush one to two times a week should be enough to keep his coat in top condition and looking beautiful; maybe a little bit more during the time of year when the dog is shedding. One thing that you will need to pay attention to is to keep the hair around the Papillon’s bottom trimmed (for hygienic purposes). Because of the long hair in the Papillon’s ears, he is prone to infection so care must be taken that they are clean and dry at all times.

When looking for a Papillon always take the time to find a good responsible breeder that can ensure the health and the breeding of his animals. Responsible breeders care for their puppies and the homes that they will be going to; try to avoid puppy mills because the dogs are usually raised in cruel conditions with no thought given to their breeding or their long-term health; you might end up with a puppy that will have all kinds of problems in the future, including health problems and mental stability problems. So take care as to whom you buy from.

Wonderful family pets, great companions and friends for the whole family to enjoy and love!

Monday 23 April 2012

Take You Through Some Of The Distinct Features Of Black Pomeranian


Black Pomeranian
Pomeranian dogs we're aware of, and they are quite a popular choice to make for dog owners. Now what if I told you the possibility of a black Pomeranian for a dog breed? Yes yes, they exist and many people are actually going in for these Pomeranian puppies rather than the other colors. Why? Imagine that black, furry, sleek coat that shines like the darkest night. Wouldn't you want that for yourself? Of course you would. But the thing about black Poms or teacup Pomeranian dogs is that they are not any different than the other Pomeranian dogs. (The smallest of the dogs are referred to as teacup Pomeranians. It is not a separate breed, mind you). In the following article I shall take you through some of the distinct features of this breed of dog and maybe at the end of the article you will want to pick up some of them yourself.

Black Pomeranian: Distinct Features

The black color does not make them any different from the other colored Poms, so when we talk about the characteristics and features of the black Pomeranian dog, it is to be understood that all the Poms will share the same traits.

Basic Structure
Black Pomeranian dogs are of a small stature weighing about 3-4 kg and have a height of about 18-30 cms. Making them a really small breed. They have a fluffy coat that is a little coarse to touch, while the undercoat is soft and comprises short hair. The thickest parts of the coat are near the chest and the neck region. The tail is fluffy as well. The Pom has a very piercing gaze that is set in its almond shaped eyes. The ears are small and erect. These dogs have been known to live for 15 years as well.

Nature
The black Poms are very lively and sprightly dogs that require a lot of activity in their daily lives. They are eager learners and therefore make for great show dogs. Being extremely intelligent they prove to be great companions to their owners. They are known for their loyalty. But be firm with these dogs or they'll be a problem for you later. If not handled with a gentle but firm hand, their behavior will tend to get fussy and unnecessarily demanding. This breed can get a little annoying with strangers - barking and yelping excessively. So there need to be rules set to avoid any dog bites or the like. This breed strives well indoors. It can be kept in an apartment very comfortably. So keeping one as a pet is never a major nuisance.

Grooming
Due to its long and thick coat, the black Pomeranian tends to sweat a lot and therefore the coat will begin to stink. Bathing and grooming has to be taken very, very seriously for this breed. Make sure that you bathe it every 2-3 days to avoid any health problems and illnesses. Make sure that you brush the coat everyday so that no ticks and fleas are formed. Clean its eyes and ears frequently as well. Make sure that you administer good dog care by taking the dog for a walk everyday, this will ensure that the dog remains fit and fine.

To sum it all up then, the black Pom can definitely be a great pet and make for great company for the elderly and in teaching children the importance of pet care. And now that you know something more about the black Pomeranian, I'm sure it has made your decision about going in for one clearer. So what will it be then?

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Loyal And Faithful, The Akita Inu Dog Is A Great Companion

The Akita Inu is a dog that many people say come from royalty, meaning that a couple of hundred of years ago, in Japan (the Akita Inu's native home) this dog was bred and kept by royalty, other people say that this is not true.....they claim that the royalty bit came from Japanese pet shop owners trying to sell their product. Well whether that is true or not we will never really know, what we do know is that the Akita Inu was used as a hunting dog in Japan, hunting wild bore actually. The Japanese used male and female pairs because two dogs of the same-sex were to aggressive and liked to tear each other up more than hunting the wild bore.

The Akita Inu has a long and interesting history; another thing that the Japanese used the Akita Inu for was dog fighting, during this time the number of Akitas shot up, but there was one problem, they were interbreeding with other dog breeds. The result was a bunch of animals that looked like mutts... when people realized what was happening and when dog fighting became illegal, breeders started trying to preserve the breed; one way of doing this was to have the Akita Inu breed declared a natural monument in Japan, thus the breed was saved, but not for long.

World War II came along and the Akita meat was used for food and his fur was used for lining soldier's uniforms; not only the Akita but all dogs except for the German shepherd, the Akitas that were surviving during the war were bred up to German shepherds so that they would not be taken by the army.

By the end of World War II there were very few purebred Akitas left in Japan; the very first Akita to make it to the United States was a dog that had been given to Hellen Keler herself. Although dogs used for breeding did not make it over until later, belonging to servicemen who had taken a fancy to the Akita's royal appearance.

The Akita is a big dog that requires a nice big yard to fulfill his exercise needs, this is a dog that is very animal aggressive because of his background as a hunting dog; if raised from puppyhood with other small animals, he might consider them part of the pack.

However, this dog needs intensive socialization at an early age and because of his guard dog abilities he will consider anybody that he doesn't know an intruder. He is an excellent watchdog, it is even reported that Japanese mothers used to leave their babies home alone with nobody to watch them, except for the family Akita Inu, this is not recommended today though because a dog this size could easily injure a child without meaning to.

Did you know that in Japan, before World War II, a small statue of the Akita Inu was given to families with newborn babies as a sign of blessing and long life, also a small statue of the dog was given to people that were sick and injured as a get well soon charm; very interesting.

The Akita Inu is a big dog that needs to be on a leash whenever outside the yard because of his strong prey drive, never leave this dog alone with strangers because they are guard dogs and they just might consider your friend an intruder.

When looking for an Akita Inu never look for him at puppy mills or backyard breeders because these animals usually do not have any vaccines, no socialization and are usually poorly bred, no regard is given to the breed standard and the potentially aggressive nature of the Akita is usually acute in such animals...however if you look for a puppy from a good responsible breeder you will usually get an animal that has had all vaccinations and has been properly socialized, these dogs are usually bred specifically to reduce the aggressive nature of the animal and to minimize health problems specific to the breed, not to mention the fact that these dogs are bred to conform to the breed standard.

Well, wherever you get your Akita from, raise him well and you will get a lifetime of love and loyalty in return.

Sunday 8 April 2012

Find Out How You Should Be Taking Care Of Siberian Husky Diet

Siberian Huskies, like any other dog, need their nutrition in one wholesome meal, that is given over the course of a day to ensure that he/she grows up in the right way, and lives out a healthy life. A lot of companies say that their food is good for dogs, with many claiming to be the best in their brand of dog food. How much do we know about dog food, to deem it as healthy and beneficial for a dog?

Many people feed their dogs packaged kibbles or canned food, without worrying about the effects, since companies drill into consumers' minds that it is nutritional for their pets. A lot of pets like dogs and cats live much longer than their limited years, because they were fed the right foods. Animals were never fed processed eatables, and neither were we. Now that we have the markets clogged with preservative ridden packaged goods, with many coming up recently with organic eats, it is no wonder why we struggle to stay fit and healthy today. We should take advantage of what is introduced in the market today, as fresh, healthy, and nutritional.

Dogs similarly, cannot eat anything that is given to them just because a dog food company claims to make the healthiest of dog eats. The truth here is that dogs, or any other pet for that matter, have to eat fresh food that we humans eat as well, that are made from scratch and entirely organic without being altered by humans, with very less of its packaged counterpart, served.

Meat is a very essential component in an animal's diet, and it has to be included along with limited amounts of healthy greens and fruit since that is what will make up its entire diet. So to conclude about a dog's diet - you have to feed them food that you would put into your mouth, that are all-natural and healthy to eat, and choosing dog food from a company that is both reliable, and genuine in its claims.

What Should a Siberian Husky Diet Contain?

Canned food, packaged treats and the works, shouldn't be your prime diet concern when it comes to your Siberian Husky. It is shocking to uncover that grains and cereal which are rejected by inspecting companies because they are harmful to humans, make their way into dog food instead. Meat, in the same way when rejected for approval-giving companies, makes its way into dog food where they've either been infected or dead-before-slaughter. How would you feel if someone told you that you were eating meat that was from a diseased carcass and not a healthy animal that was killed before consumption?

The antibiotics and growth hormones used on animals affect not just us humans, but pets too. That's why it is important to make sure that food is organic and tested thoroughly by a company. It is always mentioned on packaged foods that it has been USDA inspected, and if not, then most probably should be used with caution.

Beware of dog foods that carry labels like by-products, and meat and bone meal, since companies throw in parts like the lungs, intestines, bones and even blood of carcasses. This happens because when the animal is slaughtered for human consumption, there is a large part of the carcass left off, that companies see as going to waste, so they include these in dog and other animal food products. Always look behind at the table of contents/ingredients of your dog food package, to spot any glitches in the list that may come off as suspicious, or dangerous for your pet.

A Siberian Husky requires important elements like linoleic, linolenic and oleic acid, where you need to go easy on carbohydrates, and concentrate more on the aforementioned fatty acids. Foods that work well for a Siberian Husky include:
  • Beet pulp
  • Lean meat sources
  • Horse meat
  • Corn
  • Beef
  • Avocado
  • Soy
Preservatives used most commonly in dog or other pet food are BHT and BHA which cause health problems like kidney/liver dysfunction and some forms of cancer. Dogs weren't designed to digest foods rich in fiber (since most dog foods are rich fiber-based meals), because of their digestive tract structure which was made solely for digesting meat more than anything else. Dog food should contain the following key ingredients.
  • Meat rich foods with minimal use of vegetables and fruit
  • Doggy treats including whole grain eatables given on rare occasions
  • Supplements from vets to make sure they get their vital vitamins and minerals in case of the lack of it
  • Homemade dog recipes using fresh ingredients from scratch
  • Whole milk that is organic in nature, including foods that aren't stuffed with preservatives
  • Clean drinking water
  • USDA approved dog food
Health Problems from Manufactured Dog Food

A diet that only contains packaged food is of no good to your dog. You have to give manufactured dog food in minimal amounts, and concentrate more on healthy eatables that are freshly made and prepared by hand. The effects your dog can undergo from a badly put-together diet plan are -
  • Loose stools
  • Dandruff problems
  • Foot licking
  • Hot spots
  • Gas
  • Excessive shedding
  • Face rubbing
  • Itchy troubles
The diet of a Siberian Husky needs to contain foods that are rich and abundant in healthy ingredients. We humans cannot live alone on packaged and canned food, and similarly neither can pets.