Nearly every pure breed of dog has been deliberately and heavily inbred at some period in the past in order to achieve a standard size and set of attributes. Because of these breeding programs we have the working and companion pets we’ve come to love in our society, but structured breeding does have its drawbacks. One of the more understated and less noticeable of these is personality traits and behavioral attributes. While the majority of dogs within any given breed have healthy behaviors and temperate personalities, many breeds have a “Black Sheep” phenomenon whereby a random member of the breed will exhibit certain disturbing behaviors.
For example, in some larger working breeds such as Great Pyranees and Tibetan Mastiffs, aggression can sometimes show its ugly face. Working dogs also tend to be very territorial and without proper training, some overly aggressive individual dogs can become dangerous when they are nervous and jittery around people. Rare individuals of these breeds are also known for having sudden dangerous explosions of aggression, even attacking their masters.
In mid-sized herding breeds such as the Labrador Retriever and Australian Shepherd, repetitive compulsive behaviors can take hold and the dog may appear to be almost manic – chasing things that don’t appear to be real, running in circles for hours on end and nervously nipping at everyone and everything that gets near. These are psychological maladies that can be phased out with proper training. Herding dogs tend to have the highest energy of all the breeds, and for some dogs that do not get enough exercise, the excess energy is focused in the wrong direction, created these odd behaviors and nervous impulses.
In smaller dogs such as Yorkies, Chihuahuas and Toy Poodles, the major issue is not behavioral, but a hard-wired personality trait, meaning it cannot be ‘trained out’ but is just part of the dog’s disposition. Very small dogs (more than other breeds) tend to have intemperate personalities. They are frequently extremely nervous, standoffish or territorial. Companion and lap dogs are bred to bond to one master and may become overly territorial and broody. They may get nervous and unsociable around other people and especially children.
These are a few of the more common undesirable psychological traits of pure dog breeds. Keep in mind that the majority of dogs, purebred or not, are friendly, well-adapted and well-suited for living with families. The above behaviors only affect a small percentage of dogs overall.
How do pet owners get a cheaper pet insurance policy? Easy, by reading the following cost cutting suggestions and then implementing them, you will be able to obtain a cheaper premium.
First of all you need to get a couple of quotes from different provides, then you can compare the price, level of cover options and excess. It’s important to decide first before you do get a quote what features you really need and the amount of vet bill cover you want every year too. There are many other benefits to a quality pet insurance policy, like cost recovery for advertising if your dog or cat is lost or been stolen, the price you paid for your pet if it dies, vet bills and medical treatment and much more. There are a few types of cover options that you cover your pet for vet bills etc, they are life long cover, time capped cover and financial capped cover. Each one provides different amount of cover and costs are different. The best and most expensive of these three is life long cover, this is where the pet is cover for the whole life of the animal, and there are limitations. Now with the other two there is, but the best thing to do, is look at the terms and conditions of each policy and see what is covered, because all policies are not the same. You need to try and get around £6,000 per year for vet treatment bills, this is about standard, but if you can get more than great.
Always get you cat or dog insured straight away at any early age, don’t leave if until its older as some companies will not insure your pet because the older ones pet is the more likely it will need medical attention for a disease or illness.
The more options we have for our Dogs meds the harder it seems to be to make a choice. Heartworm medicine is no exception. Here we will look at what the best options are for choosing heartworm treatments for our pets.
Many owners are looking for heartworm medicine for Dogs without a prescription needed and this is now available from a number of online stores. We can get heartgard no prescription as well as a number of other brands such as Revolution and Advantage Multi. What you choose will depend quite a lot on just what you want to treat for.
The most popular option is still Heartgard Plus, especially as it now comes in a tasty chewable for,. But it is also Revolution that is more popular than ever as it is a very effective combination medication. What you will find is that if you wish to treat for common problems like fleas along with heartworms then this may very well be your best overall choice. It is more cost effective than buying them separately and it means we have less meds to remember to give on a monthly basis.
And it is known to be extremely mild as well, which makes it a fantastic choice and one that comes very highly praised by Dog owners.
All heartworm meds should be given on a monthly basis for as much of the year as you are able to afford. This means that if you possibly can then give the treatment every month with no interruptions. If this is not possible then at least give for the mosquito season and for 4 weeks on either side of this as well. This will make sure that your pet is protected during the most dangerous parts of the year.
And don not forget that prices differ from store to store so be sure to do a few price comparisons before you make a final purchasing decision.
Our dogs are a part of our families, and so we want to make sure they are well cared for. In order to have a well-rounded dog, we must make sure to give them plenty of exercise, a safe and warm place to sleep, lots of affection and socialization, and a healthy diet. Most people buy dog food from the store, believing that it contains everything their dog needs to have optimal health and live the fullest life. They are essentially trusting blindly that someone else knows more about their dog than they do, and that they are producing a good quality product.
Did you know that the companies that produce dog food do not have to adhere to the same standards as those companies and facilities that are producing food for human consumption? This means that at times these companies are filling their dog food with rather unsavory ingredients and fillers that either sap nutrition from your dog’s diet, and in some cases can even cause mild cases of poisoning, such as the infamous WalMart brand recall, that admitted to adding used motor oil to its dog food as a filler ingredient. Businesses are in it to make money, sometimes at any length.
My rule of thumb is: If I wouldn’t eat it, I’m not going to feed it to my dog. Would you eat the dog food you buy for you dog?
Making your own dog food is easy
Dogs evolved alongside humans, eating much the same foods as us. They need a healthy balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates, just as we do. The term “homemade dog food” really just means feeding your dog what you yourself would eat. This of course excludes fast food and highly processed foods. If you’re going to feed that to your dog, you may as well feed them store-bought food. But feeding your dog homemade meals will most certainly give it the best possible health, high energy, a glossy coat, and a longer lifespan.
What Should I Prepare For My Dog? Dogs can eat nearly anything that humans can eat. Let’s say for example you are fixing a roast for dinner. Just serve some of it to your dog, along with some steamed or roasted vegetables. Stir-fry? Cook some extra veggies and rice for you dog. It’s a good idea to try to give your dog at least one serving each of protein, fat and carbs per day. Tough vegetables such as potatoes and carrots need to be cooked to soften them for easier digestion.
Despite common misconceptions, your dog can lead a vegetarian lifestyle. If you properly prepare the right amount of vegetables and legumes, your dog will get all the protein it needs. Dogs do not need meat to survive, just as humans don’t.
What Things Can’t I Give To My Dog? There are certain foods that are not safe for you dog to eat, such as chocolate, raisins or grapes, macadamia nuts, and dairy products. These can make your dog very ill, and can even be fatal in small dogs or if consumed in large amounts.
Preparing your dog’s food only increases the family connection between you and your dog, helping to facilitate happiness, both for you and your dog. Besides being a healthier choice, it is a more sustainable choice.
It seems that everywhere you turn these days, you see Chihuahuas. They are in movies, on television, billboards, they are even mascots for food. But people say that they are yappy, aggressive and can even be downright mean. But there must be something about them that make them so popular. So what is it? Let’s discuss the pros and cons to find out if a Chihuahua is the right dog for you.
PROS: Travel Companions. These little guys make traveling with a pet about as easy as it gets. They can make a comfy home in your purse or fit easily just about anywhere. They don’t mind being in a small spot, but actually prefer it, since by nature they like to be in small, comfortable spaces.
Exercise. One of the biggest pros of Chihuahua ownership is that they need very little exercise and very little living space. They are the perfect Living Space. Chihuahuas are known for their tiny size. To a breeder, the smaller the better, and the most highly prized are a breed variation known as a “teacup” Chihuahua. All Chihuahuas need very little living space and are perfect for urban settings where housing tends to be smaller and more cramped.
Pure Cuteness. Who can argue with this one? They’re cute as a button and just the right size to fit in your arms or your lap! CONS:
Digging. Digging is an evolutionary behavior that evolved hundreds of years ago to help them find warm spaces under the earth. Because of their small size, Chihuahuas tend to be cold and like to burrow under blankets and into cozy spaces. Although this makes them wonderful lapdogs and loyal cuddlers, there are drawbacks to this as well. Since they are constantly digging, they can ruin furniture, bedding and flooring. To avoid this, give them a dog bed with an old blanket on top that they are allowed to dig in. This will satisfy their need to dig and save your furniture as well.
Aggression. Chihuahuas and most other small dogs are known for being protective of their owners, sometimes to the point of being mean to anyone that approaches. This is normal dog behavior, however it can be avoided with proper training. It is best to socialize your Chihuahua at a very young age so that they are adapted to other people and dogs and not threatened by other approaching you. Take them out where ever you go and when people swoon over how cute they are (which will happen often), pass them over and let the stranger hold them. This teaches your pup that its ok and will dramatically lower the likelihood of this bad behavior forming before it starts.
Physical Weakness. All dogs have physical problems specific to that breed, and for Chihuahuas it tends to be joints, specifically the knees. Over hundreds of years of breeding for small size, their skeletons became tinier and weaker. Joint problems usually only occur in older dogs and for the most part Chihuahuas tend to be very healthy little dogs, but they cannot endure long hikes or high-impact exercise.
All in all there are definite pro’s and cons to owning a Chihuahua. If you take the time to properly train and socialize them they make wonderful pets. Dress them up in cute outfits, take them anywhere and you have a best friend for life. So if your ready for lots of snuggling then you and your pup will be a perfect match.
Chihuahua history is very fascinating and goes back hundreds of years. The Chihuahua got its name from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. It is thought by some to be the oldest breed of dog in North and South America, and it may even date back to the pre-Columbian Mexico. Spanish Conquistadors likely brought this dog back to Europe from the new world. They kept these dogs as symbols of higher class. When Columbus was in the Americas he wrote a letter to the King of Spain describing a tiny dog that appears to be the Chihuahua.
Chihuahuas are thought to be descended from dogs known as Techichi, named after their owners the Toltecs. It is thought that the crossing of the Techichi and the miniature Chinese dogs give us what we know at the Chihuahua today. There is evidence that this breed has existed for thousands of years in North and Central America. Clay Aztec sculptures were found resembling Chihuahuas. The Toltecs and Aztecs are thought to have used these dogs in religious ceremonies. The Aztecs believed that this dog was a spirit guide for the dead and so when the owner died, the dog was also killed to be a guide for the spirit.
Although evidence suggests that the Chihuahua originated in the Americas, there is still some debate on whether the Spanish Conquistadors originally brought this dog with them, or whether it was already in the new world at the time of their arrival. Excavated early remains of Chihuahuas found in the Americas show that they used to be much larger than the present day Chihuahua. This is probably because the present day Chihuahua was bred with smaller Chinese dogs, most likely the Chinese Crested Dog. Since smaller breeds in general tend to be more highly prized in our culture, the standard size of the Chihuahua has slowly shrunk over the past several hundred years.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) first recognized the Chihuahua breed in 1904. There are two types of Chihuahuas currently recognized: short haired and long haired. The breed standard is for a weight of 6 pounds and a height no taller than 9 inches. The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world, and one of the most highly prized among the social elite. These days, they are often carried as fashion accessories and are undoubtedly linked with words like “frou-frou.” The modern Chihuahua is perfectly suited to these social expectations, as it would never be able to survive a feral existence due to its small size and domestication.
