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Finding (how to get rid of fleas on dogs) a Good Dog Breeder

Written by Webmaster
Thursday, 29 November 2007
More info... By Tim Harrison Dogs are one of mans best friends, as the saying goes. There are many families and single owners out there who are extremely happy with their dogs. Dogs can be found in many places from pet stores, dog breeders, animal shelters, and from families whove had puppies they just cant keep. Most often in animal shelters, getting a dog from a friend, and even in pet stores you will find mixed breed dogs and sometimes you may not know exactly what breed you really have. If you are interested in caring for a specific breed of dog, that is all one breed, you have to seek out a dog breeder. A dog breeder is going to work with one maybe two different breeds of dogs in order to supply the populace with those breeds. When you are looking for specific dog breed you are better off heading to a dog breeder; however there are things you should consider before you choose just one dog breeder. Below are a few tips on how to find a dog breeder and what to look for. Your first resource for finding a dog breeder is going to be the internet. The internet has several thousand legitimate business owners that breed all variety of dogs, but of course there are always those who arent as legitimate as they seem. While the internet can help you located dog breeders close to you or within your travelling distance budget dont rely solely on the internet as your source. There are several dog lovers around you that can point you towards dog breeders they have used. You will also find pet shops or pet stores can often give you information on dog breeders that they have dealt with. When you find a list of three to five dog breeders you are interested in. You will need to narrow your choice down by several things. First the price they want for their puppies, the training they may provide, and the care they have supplied for the puppy. To narrow your choices you will need to visit the dog breeders business to check for proper care of the animals. Ask yourself how clean is the space they use, how large, and do they supply proper nutrition and exercise for each dog. You will also want to know how often they breed their dogs. If a dog is used too often there is more potential for damage to the offspring and to the mother. It is important that they take care of the mother just as much as the puppies. You will also want to ask for references. Dog breeders should be able to provide you with at least one reference for a happy dog owner, even if they need to speak with the past customer first. Once you have visited the dog breeders on your list and narrowed your choices down by what you have seen and how much you can afford with your budget you will be able to choose your dog. You may find you still have two dog breeders on your list. Spend a little time with the puppies they have and narrow down your choice even further to one dog. The dog breeder is going to want to see you interact with the puppy, and they may even ask for references as well as seeing your home to ensure that you will provide the proper care. You will want to talk about care with the dog breeder. Ask questions about how often your dog will need a bath, grooming information, their ideas on proper nutrition, exercise, and the amount of space an adult dog will need. Tim Harrison writes for the websites Dog Treats and Dog Collars. Indestructible Dog Toys - Fact or Fiction? By Douglas Hanna Several years ago, we owned a Dalmatian that went through normal dog toys faster than rain water through a down spout. We would buy him toys and buy him toys but they never seemed to last much more than a month. In some cases they would be gone in a week. This got me into what's called indestructible dog toys - or tough dog toys - capable of keeping your pooch happy and gnawing away for months. What I eventually discovered is that, to be honest, no dog toy is completely indestructible except maybe one made out of cast iron - assuming your dog would be happy with a cast iron chew toy. The fact is aggressive chewers like our Dalmatian will eventually chew up even the toughest of toys. However, "indestructible" dog toys are better than standard dog toys simply because they end up costing you less because they last so much longer. Here are the costs of three typical tough dog toys: Stone Bone Durable Dog Toy -- $12.95 Hurley Indestructible Dog Toy -- $8.99 Kong Original Red Tuffy -- $8.99 for the large size While that may seem a bit on the high side vs. toys that can cost $2.00 or less, these chew toys are really a bargain when you consider how long one will last versus cheap plush toys. What to look for in a tough dog toy Round dog toys are better than flat ones because it's just more difficult for a dog to destroy a round one than a flat one. Second, look for a toy made out of polyethylene as this tends to be stronger and harder to destroy - even by strong dogs such as our Dalmatian or a German Shepard. Also, make sure it won't splinter or fall apart and cut the dog's mouth or get swallowed and cause a gastric obstruction Third, consider what your dog thinks is fun. Does it like to play tug-a-war or does it like to fetch things? If so, look for a toy that's chewable but also easy to throw. If your dog likes the water, get a toy that will float. On the other hand, if your dog likes to just lay around and chew, then the toy's durability should be your number one priority. Also, the toy shouldn't be so small your dog could swallow it but not so big he or she can't handle it. You might also ask yourself how easy it would be to clean or wash. If your dog is big into chewing, like our Dalmatian, you should consider a rubber toy like the Kong or the Nylabone or the Hurley Indestructible Dog Toy. While these toys are not truly indestructible, they will keep your dog chewing happily for many months. What not to give your aggressive chewer If your dog is a heavy chewer, you should stay away from stuffed dog toys or rope toys. These will eventually come apart and your dog could end up swallowing loose bits of rope, stuffing or even plastic eyes. And believe me, some dogs will swallow just about anything. Our Dalmatian once swallowed one of my wife's knee-high stockings and it plugged him up like a cork in a bottle. It cost us more than $500 to get him "unstuck." Finally, be sure to check the dog toys from time to time for signs of wear. If the toy is looking frayed or seems ready to fall apart, just throw it away. You might also remember to rotate the dog toys from time to time to keep your dog interested. Douglas Hanna lives in a suburb of Denver. He and his wife have owned a number of dogs over the years. Hanna is the publisher of the popular website,http://www.doghouseplans360.com Share Your Opinion. (0 posts) Tag it: ?
Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 November 2007 )