Pets World

Beauty Is As Beauty Does
One of the signs of a nice dog is that she's willing to be petted or handled by many different people. This is important because it makes grooming, veterinary care, and participation in dog sports much easier. Willingness to be handled is a by-product of socialization. The dog who meets a lot of people learns to expect petting in a variety of situations. She learns that touch is pleasant, not frightening.

Start accustoming Duchess to being handled for grooming and veterinary care when she's a puppy. Take her in your lap and gently brush her. Speak softly to her, saying things such as "That feels good, doesn't it, Duchess?" Lift up her ears and look inside them. Run your fingers around the inside of her lips. Stroke her paws and then pick them up and hold them. Although most dogs hate having their feet handled, they can learn to tolerate it if you start early enough and are persistent. A good time for these handling sessions is while you're watching TV.

At first, handle your dog for only a minute or two at a time, then gradually extend the length of time you spend grooming her. When she's cused to having your fingers in her mouth, introduce her to a soft dog toothbrush. You'll be thankful for all of your prep work when her coat grows out and needs frequent combing or when she needs a bath.

Sitting Pretty
The sit command is one of the easiest to teach and one of the most useful. Pups can learn it at an early age, so it's a great way to accustom them to the training process. Requiring your dog to sit is also a great way to reinforce your status as the leader.

The first thing Duchess should learn is that she gets attention when she sits. Not when she jumps up. Not when she runs away. When she sits. Because sit is often the first command dogs learn, it seems to stick more firmly in their brain, and they often respond to it more readily than to any other command. That's why it has so many great uses.

To teach the sit command, start by getting Duchess's attention. Show her a treat and slowly move it upward so she has to raise her head to see it. Most dogs naturally move into a sitting position when they do this. If Duchess isn't quite there, gently push down on her rump while moving your hand back over her head to give her the idea. When she's in position tell her to sit and give her the treat. Practice for only a couple of minutes (puppies have a short attention span) and repeat several times throughout the day. Soon Duchess will recognize that your uplifted hand signals the sit command even if you're not holding a treat.

Practice using the sit command in different situations once Duchess associates it with the action of sitting. Teach her to sit and wait before you pet her, before you feed her, and before you put her leash on. If you're out in the yard and she wanders away from you tell her to sit so she learns to respond even when you're at a distance. This won't be helpful if she's at risk of being hit by a car, but it can be useful in a more controlled situation when you simply want her to wait for you. (A leash, of course, is the best way to keep a dog under control and should always be used in unfamiliar or unfenced areas.)

To teach the wait or stay command, place your dog in a sit. Hold up your hand, with the flat of your palm toward the dog's face, and tell her to wait or stay (whichever you prefer); then back up a few steps. If your dog remains where she is, praise her. Gradually increase the amount of time she must wait before receiving praise or a reward. If she moves out of place, don't punish her, simply put her back in position and start over.

Jumping Up
Jumping is one of the most common complaints people have about their dogs. It may be cute when a puppy does it, but a couple of months later, when her size has doubled, it can become a problem. You don't want Duchess knocking down Aunt Mary or Baby Sue with her exuberant greeting. Replace jumping behavior as soon as possible with the sit command.

Teaching a dog not to jump up doesn't require any harsh tactics. Ignore anyone who tells you to knee the dog in the chest or push her away. Instead, simply pivot so she misses you. Then give the sit command. When she complies, give her a lot of praise or a treat. Repeat this every time she tries to jump up and insist that other people do so as well.

Often, especially with toy breeds, people say that they don't mind, and refuse to participate in the training process. If you have a large dog, that's not really an option because you don't want to run the risk of someone being injured, even inadvertently. It's not so bad with a toy breed, but remember that even small dogs can snag your stockings or scratch your legs when they jump up. It's better if you teach them the same good manners you would teach a larger dog.

House training your puppy is important due to multiple reasons. People may be visiting your house and your puppy may not have friendly disposition towards them. Trained puppy would control its anger and crave for biting which an untrained puppy may not adhere to. Similarly untrained puppies can make your home or furniture dirty by littering or excreting and all these are not very welcome proposition for any of the pet owner. With adequate house training you can make your dog behave perfectly. Behavioral improvements in your puppy can only be brought up using house training for the purpose.

Question for you would be about the best methods for house training your puppy. It depends on how you are going to keep your pet dog. If the puppy would be living inside the home and that is the normal pattern in most part of the world, special house training is required. For instance, around 90% of the pet owners in America allow their pets to remain inside the home all the time. You will have to go with the housebreaking training for that purpose. It might take some time but with your true involvement the time will get shorter. It is necessary to have more than the casual output.

Setting rules for house training:
You can start by creating a set of rules for regulating the process of house training your puppy. Some such rules could be as follows:
• Don’t inflict unnecessary punishment on your puppy just on the apprehension that it might have committed the folly of breaking something in your house.
• When in course of the training or afterwards the puppy doe something good you should not forget praising your puppy.

Methodologies used for house training:
Coming to the methodologies for house training your puppy, you have several options open before you. Putting down papers or some pads could encourage them to attend their calls of nature there. Normally you will find pads in the market that are scented in such manner that it attracts the puppy to approach it. It is also a good move to find out when they are going into “pre-potty patterns” and picking them up and putting them on the paper or pad. If they attend the nature’s call there, you must lavishly praise them. After some times they will become accustomed to the paper and pad and they will not like to attend the call of nature elsewhere. However there is one downside to this method. It may encourage your puppy eliminating at home. Training may take longer time in such cases.

Using a crate:
Other popular method of house training your puppy involves use of crate or cage. The puppy is placed inside it and the size of the cage should just enough to be a bed. Dogs will not normally soil their beds as they won’t like laying or sleeping in the mess. In the process they start controlling their bowels and bladders much longer than usual. Younger puppies can endure it for 7 to 8 hours though keeping them so long inside the crate is never recommended.

Although most feline mothers have a very strong maternal instinct and do a wonderful job raising their litter of kittens there are circumstances in which you may have to help them along or do the job for them. The mother cat may abandon or neglect newborn kittens that don’t seem to have much of a chance of thriving or the mother may get killed or die during childbirth. In situations such as these the newborn kittens must be cared for if they have any chance of surviving. It is possible that the kittens may not survive no matter how well you care for them.

Newborn kittens must be kept warm since they cannot generate their own body heat. Newborn kittens normally cuddle close to each other and their mother in order to stay warm. Since the mother is not there, you must find another way to keep them warm. Place newspaper in the box or bedding area where the kittens will be kept for extra insulation. You can also use old towels or a sheet. You can use an insulated heating pad on a low setting for extra warmth. Use precautionary measures to prevent accidents. When using a heating pad, cover with a blanket or towel.

You will have to hand feed newborn kittens. This is best done with a small nursing bottle. Milk -replacement formula can be purchased in most pet stores and stores like Wal-mart. Never give newborn kittens regular whole milk because it is difficult to digest and lacks nutrients that they need. Milk should be warmed by placing the bottle in a cup of warm water. Hold the kitten upright and support its head when feeding. Gently open the kitten’s mouth and place the nipple on its tongue. Squeeze the bottle gently so the milk comes out to get the kitten started feeding on its own. Never lie the kitten down or hold it in a reclining position when feeding since it may aspirate fluid into its lungs. If bottle feeding does not seem to work, use an eyedropper. Newborn kittens need frequent feedings of small amounts five to six times per day.

Kittens need help in order to defecate and urinate. The mother normally licks the kittens around the genital and anal areas after feeding to stimulate elimination. You can stimulate the process by dipping a cotton ball in warm water, squeezing it out to remove excess water and massaging the genital area. Start weaning the kittens at approximately four weeks of age by adding small amounts of soft food to their diet.

Caring for newborn kittens can be a challenge. Often they will do well but there are some that just may not thrive regardless of your efforts. Pay close attention to signs of illness. If a kitten begins to lose weight, fails to gain weight despite proper feeding or has a discharge from the eyes or nose should be taken to a veterinarian. Kittens gain their immunity through the mother’s milk and may be prone to illness if they have not had the advantage of being fed by the mother. However, kittens that start out frail and fragile often grow to be strong and healthy with proper care and attention.

As canine companions have become part of countless families around the world, certain breeds have become widely popular, highly sought after, and very expensive. While people’s motives differ for owning a luxury dog and paying a premium, most owners will agree that the price is well worth it. So how much are people now paying for “man’s best friend”? Some of the prices are staggering.

Samoyed - $3,000 to $8,000 per pup

The Samoyed, originally bred for nomadic herding and work, is one of the most expensive dog breeds because they are so rare. Unlike other breeds, Samoyed breeders are few and far between as taking care of a Samoyed is expensive and time-consuming. Due to their dense coat, Samoyeds require consistent brushing as their hair will otherwise become matted. While some owners may be inclined to shave their Samoyed, this is a disastrous move as the Samoyed’s skin is naturally light colored and can quickly burn in the sun. Despite being high maintenance, the Samoyed is a wonderful companion for any family. Since Samoyeds were bred for working, they tend to have a high energy level making them perfect for families and children. Additionally, Samoyeds tend to have a very friendly disposition and are rarely aggressive. Samoyeds are also hypoallergenic due to their lack of dander, making them perfect companions for children with allergies.

English Bulldog - $2,000 to $5,000 per pup

The English Bulldog, also know as the British Bulldog, is the official symbol of England and is actually more popular as a pet in America than the United Kingdom. Unlike other breeds, what makes the English Bulldog so expensive is its high demand. Various universities, sports teams and national forces like the US Marine Corps have adopted the bulldog as their mascot. Additionally, popularity of the English Bulldog has increased as families have found the breed to be very friendly, docile, and loyal. The English Bulldog also doesn’t require a high level of exercise and thus, is a great choice for families living in smaller homes and apartments, less-active owners, or very busy owners. The breed tends to have specific health issues, including breathing problems that can cause the dogs to snore loudly. While some owners may find this cute or funny, others may find it bothersome at night.

King Charles Spaniel - $800 to $3,500 per pup

Once the favored pet of Charles II of England, the King Charles Spaniel is an expensive breed partly because of the high demand. King Charles Spaniels are also expensive due to the unique appearance of the breed. The King Charles Spaniel has four recognized colors, however the breed is unique in that the dog retains its luxury price no matter what its coat color. Dog owners are also drawn to this breed because of its high intelligence, playfulness, and desire to please. King Charles Spaniels love attention, and are quite content sleeping on an owner’s lap or cuddled up beside their owner. These dogs are also very social, and can play well with others dogs including larger breeds.

Other expensive dog breeds include the Norfolk Terrier, the Akita Inu, and the Yorkshire Terrier. Despite the price, all of the aforementioned dog breeds will make a wonderful companion and perfect addition to any family.