Sherpa Dog Carriers » dog care

Maltese – a Ideal Dog

SherpaDogCarriers — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:20:21 +0000

The Maltese is a small toy group dog breed with silky white hair that is lively and cuddly and intelligent, so makes a great pet for city living. Though if living in an apartment, you should give them regular walks or use professional dog walkers such as London dog walking The hair will grow long, so those with busy lives often give them a puppy cut, otherwise the single coat of shiny hair is heavy and can drape down to the floor and be unmanageable.
The Maltese have large rounded dark eyes. Whilst it is small, about eight and 10 inches tall, it is solid and weighs between 3 and 7 pounds (1.5 to three kilograms). The dog care of a Maltese is relatively straightforward. They are fairly long lived, living to about 15 years.

The Maltese is often faithful to its owners, which means they have a reputation for barking a lot. Their high activity level can also lead to them snapping. So it is crucial to socialise them at an early age. They are bold and will approach dogs far bigger than themselves, being secure they mix well with other dogs.
They suffers from a few health issues, that includes problems with the skin, eye and teeth. As well as respiratory problems and risk of sunburn on the top of its nose.
A routine of brushing is required with the Maltese, otherwise they will get matted fur. As well as brushing daily, one ideally should also clean the Maltese after every meal, to reduce staining of the hair. Tear staining is also a common problem which is due to the size of the tear ducts and how much the dog’s eyes water. Tear stain can be removed or minimised by use of a fine-toothed metal comb that is dipped in lukewarm water and pulled through the hair below the eyes. This ideally should be done every two days.
Whilst they have thick hair, they do not shed too much and like the similar Havanese and Bichon Frisé can be considered practically hypoallergenic, with many people not showing allergic reaction. A lot of will keep the hair out of the eyes by the use of a ponytail to ease cleaning the eyes. It is important also to regularly clean the Maltese’s ears.
You might think the Maltese comes from Malta!, its origins are not clear, though many experts believe they come from Italy / Greece. The Maltese is sometimes called a Maltese Terrier or the Maltese Lion Dog ( a reflection on its character), though its official kennel name is “Maltese”.

The Maltese origin may have been either from the Asian Tibetan Terrier or the Swiss Spitz dog. Records show that they date back to around 500 B.C. when found on a Greek amphora and is often mentioned in Greek / Roman writings.

Information For Boxer Dog Care

SherpaDogCarriers — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:11:15 +0000

Learning Boxer Dog Care Info

Care for boxer puppy dogs is the first thing that a new boxer dog owner needs to find out so that he can begin to take care of the dog for life.Boxer dog care info comes with the care package from the breeder or veterinary office although various sources are also there to give the information. Boxer dog care info can be found on various veterinary websites as well as on boxer breeding sites. Individuals should be careful to choose information from professional sites rather than personal sites to make sure that it is accurate and up to date.

Boxer Dog Care Info Evaluated

When bringing a new boxer dog home, care information suggests making a safe place for it so that it can adjust to the new surroundings. Boxers are people dogs, so the first thing the puppy will need is to be around people so that it can adjust to the new family environment. Boxer dog care information also suggests providing a bed area for the boxer puppy so that it can have a safe, comfortable place to rest. Some that promote crate training for housebreaking the dog also promote getting the puppy used to the crate as soon as possible. The crate should be set up with blankets or a bed of some sort as well as toys so that the puppy has something to do in the crate environment. However, the crate should not be too big either, because then the puppy will use part of it as the bathroom area and part of it to live in. Often, the crate will have to be sectioned off at first so that it fits the tiny puppy and then opened up to fit the growing dog.

Another part of boxer dog care info is to feed it properly. The type of dog food the boxer eats is important to keeping it healthy and strong. The dog food should not have a lot of filler material in it, but should be composed of mostly whole meats and grains. The boxer dog care info suggests following the portion sizes given on the bag of dog food as a starting place, and then adjusting the sizes according to the amount of exercise the dog gets and how old it is. The boxer dog care info says that the boxer should have a very well defined waistline, so that the rib cage is visible and then narrows quickly to the hips. The individual ribs should not show, but the base of the rib cage should sink into the waistline. The boxer needs to be exercised regularly and loves to learn new tricks. Both of these tips will help to keep the boxer in good condition and happy so that it does not find inappropriate ways to entertain itself and get some energy out.

Benefits Of Taking Your Dog To A Dog Park

SherpaDogCarriers — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:10:37 +0000

A growing number of communities are organizing dog parks for local pet owners. There are areas designed for exercise and areas designed for socialization. Some of these parks are organized by a consortium of dog owners who just want to provide designated spaces for their pets to roam freely. In other cases, they are for-profit enterprises. The group which operates the facility often serves as a liaison between owners, the city, and zoning authorities.

In this article, we’ll describe the advantages that your canine will enjoy by visiting dog parks as well as a few advantages that you’ll gain. We’ll also explain proper etiquette and the rules of engagement between you, your pet, and others.

How it Benefits Your Canine

As a pack animal, a dog is naturally inclined to seek out companionship from other dogs. Long ago, that need was fulfilled through herding and hunting responsibilities. Today, canines are often kept indoors, which prevents them from interacting with other pets and people.

When you take your pooch to a doggy park, you’re giving him an opportunity to spend time with his own kind. The socialization is valuable. He can roam freely and play with other pets off-leash, an experience that is all but impossible outside these specially-designated spaces. He can also enjoy physical activity. Many dogs are denied the proper amount of exercise, which takes a toll on their physical and mental health. This is one of the reasons pooches often become obese or ill-mannered.

How it Benefits You

As many benefits as your canine companion enjoys at these facilities, there's also plenty of value for you. You’ll have a chance to meet and socialize with other people who have brought their own pets. It’s not uncommon for long-lasting friendships to emerge over time as owners plan weekly visits. Also, if you're unable to take your dog for walks (due to age, disability, etc.), this type of facility offers a practical alternative.

The Rules

In order to ensure these doggy parks remain open to the public, it’s important to abide by specific rules of etiquette. First, make sure that you clean up after your pooch. Second, never leave your canine unattended. You must be present in case there is a need for you to restrain or remove him from the premises (for example, if he gets into a fight with another dog). Third, if you bring young children to the facility, prevent them from chasing the animals. The behavior might be interpreted as a threat, which can trigger an aggressive reaction.

Dog parks offer a valuable opportunity for your dog to socialize with other dogs. You’ll also provide him with a useful outlet through which he gets the exercise he needs in order to stay healthy. As your dog enjoys playing with his new friends you will have a chance to talk to other dog owners. Most people discover that the experience is beneficial for both them and their canines.

Dog Care Tip – All Breed Grooming

SherpaDogCarriers — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:39:47 +0000

Dog grooming can be made by yourself or in a saloon as dog grooming can learned and is not too difficult task. But all breed dog grooming, the scene is a bit different…
Only professional groomers can perform all breed dog grooming. A dog owner will usually learn how to groom his/her pet according to the breed specificity, but an expert needs training to handle all kinds of dogs of different breeds and sizes. You can learn all breed dog grooming by taking some classes or courses designed especially to meet the needs of those who want to make a living out of this profession. Over the years, plenty of schools have been founded and there is even the possibility to take a certification online, through long distance courses. In case this alternative works for you, then, the trainer you pay for the classes should be accredited.

Then, you can start you own business once the all breed dog grooming is complete. Local groomers provide most of the pet-related services in a certain neighborhood although vet centers, kennels and rescue centers have their hands full with similar work. A first difficulty with all breed dog grooming is equipment, because you’ll have to buy a fully equipped grooming table that comes with all the accessories, since only such a tool is designed for the needs of dogs of all sizes.

All items of equipment have a certain role to play, and you don’t know when some will prove very useful. All breed dog grooming requires a comprehensive range of hair combs, brushes, clippers, grinders and the rest, so that you can handle any grooming task successfully. Experience and skill represent the advantages that win customers’ trust and loyalty. All breed dog grooming means working on all sorts of dogs, some hairier than the rest. There is a simple explanation for this: a thick-haired dog that needs special coat cutting will be difficult for the owner to groom at home. There is a lot of work for such cases, but there is more money too! Be reasonable in your pricing policy, because, this too attracts customers.

All breed dog grooming is also tackled with in lots of books written by expert groomers. Even so, keep in mind that an All-Breed-Dog-Grooming book will not qualify you for doing the job and opening a business. The part with the professional training we’ve mentioned above stays valid. Any business requires certification and authorization, and those are the first things you should be concerned about!

How To Videos About Dog Grooming

SherpaDogCarriers — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:09:20 +0000

Undoubtedly the dog grooming is a needed care for our dog. So there is a rising need for dog grooming training and visual dog grooming tips or how to videos for owners and professionals or anybody who wants to know more about.
Most often used as a form of didactic material, dog grooming video files are often included in distance training for would-be groomers. There is almost no Internet course or learning program that does not include a dog grooming video for any lesson or section explained. People who prefer to train for a new profession at home depend on such materials to understand the practical parts of the occupation and eventually develop skills. At present the Internet is full of video materials that have nothing didactic to them: you can find funny stuff filmed by amateurs or professional videos shot for very clear purposes. Thus, whether for entertainment or sheerly practical, a dog grooming video could may provide good tips for dog care.

If you can’t afford to pay for professional pet maintenance, a dog grooming video could be really useful to learn how to de-mat the pet’s hair or how to trim nails. However, the quality and the source of the video are of paramount importance. There are many amateurish materials that could teach you wrong and your attempts to groom the dog could be a huge failure. Choose the dog grooming video well before you can be sure the information is trustworthy and applicable. The quality of the video also says something about the validity of the information.

People who own dogs that require more special maintenance should be very careful with putting into practice the tips in a dog grooming video because they could make a mess out of the pet’s coat. Grooming very hairy dogs is something to be left to professionals, and you could only carry out very simple tasks such as daily brushing and nail filing. Another inconvenience here is that heavy-coated dogs require the use of special grooming tools that you may not have around the house. Plus, improvisations are a no no in the context of special dog coating.

The consequence of an incident resulting from the use of a dog grooming video may be the difficulty of convincing the pet to accept grooming in the future. Animals don’t like nail trimming for instance; well this could become a nightmare if you scare it once by being clumsy or unprepared for the challenge. Most problems appear because people tend to perceive the operations conducted in a demonstrative dog grooming video as very easy. The thing is that those whom you see in the videos are probably professionals that have the right skills and experience to move that fast. When you lack both, your attempt to home groom could be a disaster!

Alsatian– an Intelligent Dog.

SherpaDogCarriers — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:34:14 +0000

The German Shepherd Dog also known as an Alsatian comes literally from the German Deutscher Schäferhund. They are a relatively new breed of large-sized dog originating in the late 19th century. Originally a herding dog, particularly for sheep.

The German Shepherds strength, intelligence and obedience they are often employed in police and military roles. The German Shepherd is also one of the most popular breeds around the world.
The breed originates from a dog called Hektor Linksrhein. Hecktor so stunned Von Stephanitz that he purchased it and renamed him to Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for the Alsatian Dogs.
Horand became the focus of the German Shepherd breeding programs and was bred with many other society member dogs.
The German Shepherds popularity has grown rapidly throughout the 20th Century, though it had some problems in popularity in the early days due to health problems from poor breeding and after the world wars with anti German feelings. This caused the UK Kennel Club to rename it to “Alsatian Wolf Dog”, a while later the wolf dog addition was dropped and in the late seventies, the breed officially became the German Shepherd Dog. The Alsatian popularity was helped by animal actors such as Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart. Now it is in most countries the third most popular dog breed.

They are a large dog of between 55 and 65 centimetres (around 24 in) at the withers and weigh between 22 and 40 kilograms (60 lb).

The Alsatian’s face has a long square cut muzzle, a doomed forehead, a long neck, strong jaws, large erect ears (that are often pulled back when on the move), black nose and brown, medium-sized eyes. With a bushy tail.

Alsatians come in a variety of colours, the most common being the tan/black and red/black versions with black saddles and masks. Rarer types include the sable, all-black, all-white, liver and blue types, which may not fit country breed standards. German Shepherds have a double coat. A dense close thick outer coat, which sheds continually and a thick undercoat. The long-hair variety is rarer.
The German Shepherd, like many working dogs is very intelligent, and are considered to be the third most intelligent breed of dog (Border Collies is deemed to be number one by Stanley Coren in his book The Intelligence of Dogs). This attribute combined with their strength makes the breed desirable as guard, police, search and rescue dogs, the Alsatian rapid learning ability and ability to interpret instructions are better than other large breeds.
German Shepherds are known for aggression and have been restricted in areas as a result. Statistically, in the USA, the German Shepherd is responsible for more random bites than any other dog breed, and have a known tendency to attack smaller breeds of dogs.

Additionally research has shown that Alsatians are the third most likely dog breed to attack someone and in another report found that German Shepherds accounted for almost fifty percent of the dog bites that mandated medical attention, versus a more typical twenty of bites needing medical treatment, not a surprise with their powerful jaws and sharp canine teeth.

There is no problem with the German Shepherd breed, it is the fault of the owners. As with all intelligent active dog (or person), if they are not regularly active and kept occupied, they can become difficult. The Alsatian must have puppy socialisation and good instruction from an early stage. Unlike the collie, which a lot of its aggressiveness has been breed out from show strains, the Alsatian has not lost this streak.

The German Shepherd are great with the family they know, but can be over protective of their home and family – why they are a great guard dog. This can give them an aloof personality.

Alsatians learn well and are highly obedient and not easily diverted, but due to their strong personality, you must be very firm with them.
The Alsatian must have two good walks a day. They are not a dog for a busy family without time for attention. For this reason, busy families regularly ask dog walkers to help out by walking them for a few hours a day.
Poor breeding has led to common genetic health issues, hip and elbow joint problems (dysplasia) which often causes the dog pain and often causes arthritis. The Alsatian also is susceptible from monorchidism (one testicle), weakness of temperament, and missing teeth, as well as folded or bent ears which never fully turn up when reaching adulthood. Due to the large and open nature of their ears, Shepherds also are prone to ear infections.

German Shepherds, like many large chested dogs are prone to bloat, this is often fatal, so if you think this may be a problem, go straight to the veterinary. Bloat is a gas build up in the stomach, caused by a number of different causes. The symptoms of distress for no apparent reason, a firm distension of the abdomen, general weakness, depression, problems breathing, hypersalivation, and retching without vomiting. A large percentage of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias (around 40 percent), loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

The German Shepherd often suffers from Degenerative Myelopathy, or DM is a neurological disease and are more likely to have Von Willebrand Disease, a common generic bleeding disorder, which shows in varying degrees of bleeding tendency, commonly in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and bleeding gums. .

In spite of these problems, the Alsatian is robust with simple dog care and the average lifespan of a Alsatian is seven to ten years, which is normal for a dog of this size.

The Alsatian has a great nose so is one of the often used in a wide variety of scent-work roles, including search and rescue, cadaver searching, narcotics detection, explosives detection, accelerant detection, and mine detection dog, amongst others.

So the Alsatian is a wonderful intelligent breed that will bond well with you, if you have the time and dedication for him. Not advised for busy working families.

Start Today Training your Puppy to be Sociable

SherpaDogCarriers — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:14:30 +0000

As mans best friend, we want our loved bitch to be well mannered in the different social situations he finds himself. This education needs to begin whilst the fido is young. We want the pooch not to be anxious or belligerent towards individuals or other pets. Puppy socialisation is a crucial part of dog care.
Research at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine showed that the first twelve are vital, and the easiest for socialisation. For many puppies this period is tackled by the breeder. After that initial 3 months it is still important, but takes more time and effort. This is also the experience of professional dog sitters who are repeatedly asked for pointers.
Puppies are like us, if the original time is hurtful, we will steer clear of it or be nervous in the future, soone step at a time. Encourage force the puppy. If in doubt, stop and do it again later. Yound pups rapidly tire and need to rest often, so short and often is a rule to follow.
So what practical things should we do?
• Invite people, any friends and family, small, large, different looking, different sexes. Be prudent and fully monitor experiences with other kids.
• Introduce him to a collar and then a leash. Just put the collar on, later attach the leash and let him walk around with it, then you can walk him around a bit with it on. Carefully choose a lightweight buckle collar with a puppy.
• Visit your families and friend and families in their apartments.
• Try and meet diverse fidos, particularly other friendly, vigorous and vaccinated bitches. Be prudent until the puppy is fully vaccinated, meeting mutts of unknown history.
• If you know anyone with mutt friendly cats, see if you can visit?
• Meet other animals, do you have a friendly farm near you? Difficult in cities, but if you go away for holidays.
• Driving is part of life. So take mutt out for as many practical short drives in the automobile. Stop and let him watch the world pass by, in the security of the car. This will introduce him to loud noises. Introduce him to others such as drills.
• Take or walk him to spots where there is local activity such as shops and parks. Find a pub or coffee house where you can sit outside with your pooch and watch the world go by. Loads of people will introduce themselves to him.
• Keep him close to activities in the home, within the constraints of safety, vacuuming, preparing food and gardening.
• Puppy grooming, a great time for you and him, develop the routine of brushing, bathing and inspection.
• Careful with training the pup on stairs, if you are a typical city flat owner, this may be problematic.

Dog socialisation, do not procrastinate and do something today and have a wonderful sociable pooch.

Dog Boarding: Be Informed About Your Choices

SherpaDogCarriers — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:11:07 +0000

If you plan on taking a vacation and you have a dog it is important to find a dog boarding facility for your dog. There are many ways to look for the proper facility for your dog to ensure it is happy while you are away and they take proper care of your animal.The things you want to evaluate include how much excercise will your dog get, where will they sleep, is the facility clean and safe, do the dogs interact, and more.

When you take a vacation the best thing you can do for your dog is to put it up in a boarding facility.A pet should never be left alone for any extended time.Too often, pet owners will simply tie up their pet in the backyard with food and water and leave town. What will your dog do when it steps on the bowl and dumps the water it has for the week or gets tangled in the chain on the tree and chokes? Someone needs to take care of your animal. The worst thing you can do is leave town and leave your dog at home alone.

When you are looking for a dog boarding facility you want to check out the type of facility your dog will be housed in. There are wonderful facilities for dog boarding in Ann Arbor. Some people provide dog boarding in the home and they may have spaces in their backyard for your dog to run and sleep. If you have an indoor animal you want to ensure your dog is going to be provided something it is comfortable in. You don’t want your vacation to be a traumatic event for your pet. This could be devastating to come home to a traumatized pet.

It is also important to learn the area your dog will be expected to spend most of its time.Ask about the daily schedule for the guest dogs. How do they spend their time.Is your dog’s prospective sleep area safe?Is the space also comfortable and large enough for your pet? You should be sure that your animal is not put in a kennel and kept there for the entire duration of your vacation. It is very common for boarding facilities that do not properly take care of animals to keep them in an area too small for exercise and unacceptable. Always verify that the area your animal will be in offers plenty of space for it to get enough exercise on a daily basis and one that is satisfying to your liking.

When you look at a boarding facility for your dog you should make sure you pay a visit to the place before you drop your dog off there.Just talking to the facility over the phone is not enough to ensure its a safe and healthy place for your pet. Always verify what you are told over the phone. A good option is to test out the facility with a day or two of dog day care. You want to be sure the boarding facility you place your dog in while you are away is acceptable and they will take proper care of your animal.

Can I give Treats to my Dog?

SherpaDogCarriers — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:40:02 +0000

Should you feed your pooch treats or biscuits, is one of the most common question that dog experts are asked. As always there is no simple answer. Dog biscuits are very beneficial for dog training purposes, we all need rewards in our life for when we do something well. The converse of no biscuit is chastisement.
Giving a dog treat is good for your relationship, sharing time and happiness is good for the relationship. So are all dog biscuits OK for your dog? Industrial dog treats are alright, but read the nutritional information, a few, particularly the moist treats may have some complex chemicals, but legal / FDA ingredients. I like to give a dog, identical ingredients I use in my kitchen that I use for my children and family. You choose what goes in and it can be of the value and quality that you choose. For those people who prefer organic or local food now have an answer for their pooch. There are even vegetarian and vegan recipes, but for these often have protein sources such as peanut butter.
Obesity in dogs is on the rise issue, which mirrors that of humans and is routed in the same causes. Not enough exercise and too much easily eaten commercial food. If you are struggling with insufficient time for exercising your dog, what about using a professional dog walker. Dog treats as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle is integral to good dog care.
The standard ingredients you can use are those that are normally in your kitchen. Flour is a staple part of the recipe, most types can be used and if you do not have wholemeal flour, the recipes are often simple enough to take a mix or be replaced by a different type. Using wholemeal flour is a healthy base to the treat, which can be reinforced with rye, bran or oat meal. Eggs are also often used.
Making your own dog biscuits, like any cooking of goods is very fulfilling, but only make enough for your dog, so do it when you are cooking something else. Small amounts. only enough so they stay fresh. Dog treats are best for a first couple of days, but in a tight air sealed container, will last for a week. If like many of us you are busy, you can make and freeze a big amount, in small bags, enough for a couple of days at a time. Margarine is frequently used, but other types of fat or oil are used. Sometimes the dog biscuit will be raised with yeast.
The biscuit flavour is either given by meat or meat stock, sometimes with the use of cheese. Salt is dangerous, as for us, do not overdo it in the recipe.
An advantage of baking your own, is that you can change the biscuit and see if your dog prefers it. Often the best modifications, and most practical are when you replace something in the recipe, caused by you not having that ingredient in the kitchen!
A lot of dog treat recipes are simple, so are wonderful activities to do with the kids. They love to either hand form the dog biscuits. They use all the range of metal or plastic cutters you may have! As always with kids, they need to be supervised making the dog treats.
Cooking the dog treats yourself allow you to control the ingredients, particularly if your dog has any food allergies. There are numerous great tasting dog treat recipes.
So enjoy making and feeding your special dog treats.

Doggie View, A Dog Day Care Software

SherpaDogCarriers — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:42:27 +0000

A Dog Day Care Software Called Doggie View Deserves Special Attention

The best name in the field of dog day care software, Doggie View helps you do a number of things in regard to dog day care that also includes among other things helping you to keep a kennel and also teaches you how to groom your dog and even train him. There are several good reasons to purchase this dog day care software which is quite expensive at more than five hundred dollars but which provides many useful tools that help you manage your dog day care functions with ease.

Client Administration Made Easy With Dog Day Care Software

In fact, Doggie View provides you with a lot of help with client administration including helping you to maintain five different appointment books. This dog day care software takes care of your day care appointment book, the boarding appointment book, grooming appointment book and also a training appointment book and finally, your general appointment book. As to take care of administrating the pet this dog day care software offers repeated appointment and also editable client forms.

Time sheet maintenance and payroll processing along with employee maintenance is provided by Doggie View dog day care software. In addition, you get an inventory maintenance featureas too help with grooming maintenance. If you are worried about where and how you are spending your money then Doggie View that is excellent dog day care software provides you with the capability of tracking your expenses and it also help you invoice your clients.

In fact, Doggie View is one of the few dog day care software that is complete in every respect and provides you with other features including task maintenance and dog walk day care scheduling as too dog walk boarding scheduling.

The person behind this excellent dog day care software is a lady called Barbra Waldare that began as a dog groomer and today is an expert in this field. Her dog day care software is now helping others that have an interest in starting their own day care get started and in fact people that have used Doggie View have found it to be extremely useful and are very pleased with the results they have got out of using this dog day care software.

In case you are looking for the best in dog day care boarding then you would do well to check out Dogtopia which is a good place to leave your dog so that he can get the best care from professionals that will ensure that your dog always has a great time. Provided your dog passes the evaluation process conducted by Dogtopia you should not have any trouble in sending your dog to them for his overnight boarding.