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July 18th, 2010 by Lizzie Bell Martin

Shih Tzu dogs are perfect apartment-sized pets. Why? Because they only grow to 8 – 11 inches tall, and weigh about 9-16 pounds. So, if you are planning on getting yourself a new pet, maybe a Shih Tzu is the right dog for you however, there are a few things you will need to know about them.

Shih Tzu have beautiful long hair that even covers their tails, ears and face. Their tails flip over their back, creating a sort of fountain effect. Because the hair around their face is long, owners will generally tie it up into a pony-tail or flip to keep the hair free from the eyes. They have a short muzzle which tends to have shorter hair.

Although they are very lively pets, they can also be very caring and thoughtful. They are very friendly, make friends easily and can be very easy to train with a patient teacher. Shih Tzu are also very good with other pets, as long as they don’t feel threatened of losing your attention. Everyone in the family needs to be the pack leader for this dog, making rules of the house very clear. Otherwise, your Shih Tzu may become a bit snappy when they surprised or upset. This usually happens when people allow their dog to be the pack leader.

Daily grooming of Shih Tzu is extremely important because their coats can easily become tangled and knotted. The best way to brush your Shih Tzu is to start at the tip of the hair and work your way up, de-tangling as you go. Some owners choose to keep their dog’s hair trimmed shorter for easier maintenance. No matter the “style” you have your dog, it is important to keep their eyes and ears clean of any debris. Because this breed of dog sheds very little, it is an excellent choice for people who have allergies to pet dander.

Walking your Shih Tzu daily is very important. This can alleviate behavior problems that may arise out of mental or physical stress. Giving them time off the lead, in a safe area, can give this dog a lot of exercise that they may not get just from playing inside. Over feeding your Shih Tzu can be regulated by keeping a feeding schedule. If allowed to free feed, your Shih Tzu will gain weight.

Liizie Belle has her own Shih Tzu, called Sydney, and enjoys sharing information on how to look after Shih Tzu Dogs. If you’re looking for Shih Tzu facts, names, gifts, or maybe information on how to groom a Shih Tzu, then her website is the place to go. Take a look today at www.shihtzupets.org

May 5th, 2010 by Ernie Jurgens

We all want to give our dogs a variety and mix up their treats somewhat. This is all well and good if these are high quality treats, but there are some on the market that are very poor quality.

Dogs love to receive treats, and we love giving them to them.

You would never dream of hurting your pet, yet you may accidentally cause them harm. This article is to make dog lovers aware of the potential hazards of dog treats that you probably aren’t aware of.

Manufacturers of dog treats are very clever; and market them as having a dual purpose. Greenies are a prime example, as they are meant to clean your dogs teeth too. A puppy can easily choke on a Greenie, and you should never leave an older dog alone with one either.

Another popular favorite are the rawhide chews. I don’t know of a dog that doesn’t like these. These keep your dog occupied and clean their teeth at the same time. Unfortunately, rawhide chews can also prove to be dangerous.

It has been found that rawhide produced outside of the US has been preserved in potentially fatal chemicals, such as Arsenic. So always ensure that you only American rawhide that has been made within the US.

Dogs are thieves, especially when food is concerned. We often find that our pooch has demolished chocolates that have been left lying around, but did you know that this could actually kill them? Chocolate is extremely toxic for both your cat and your dog.

This is due to the presence of Theobromine in the chocolate. This has an effect on your pet akin to caffeine. A small amount will make your dog hyper; a large dose could be fatal.

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May 4th, 2010 by Raphael Freeman

Is your dog not acting as well as you would like? If you’re tired of howling “Sit” as Fido runs off into the nightfall, you might need to send him to obedience school. Fort Worth, TX has some great programs that are certain to have your best buddy acting better in no time!

The best friend of man

One of the biggest dog training facilities in Fort Worth, TX and across the US, the best friend of man is recognized as the place to go when you dog need some training. They specialize in making your home a peaceful place for you and your pet to co-exist. They opened the doors of communication between you and your dog and teach them to understand the difference between right from wrong.

If you want a home protector, they also provide training that’s more specialized. They do not turn your dog into a slaughtering machine; they just teach your dog the simplest way to shield you and your family without becoming mean or assertive. Your pet will still be loving and sweet, but will have some new skills you can benefit from.

Charges change for their services depending on what your needs are, but they offer a free consultation.

Sit Means Sit Dog Training

With close to 100 locations, this dog training college is located in Fort Worth and in several other towns and states. They pride themselves on being capable of training any dog. These trainers are very skilled and have won many awards and trained many high profile dogs. Their resume includes three national Dog Training champions, two FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Handlers, several Regional Dog Training champs, four active police K-9 handlers, and one active and one previous member of the Presidential K-9 team.

Sit Means Sit handles everything from puppy dog training, to obedience training for dogs of every age, to biting, housebreaking, aggression and more.

Mesquite apartments dog house

The owner and operator of Mesquite residences dog house in South Fort Worth has worked as a Vet Tech and for Boarding Kennels for years as well as with The Seeing Eye Dogs in Morristown, NJ. They offer one or two kinds of training that includes and eight week training course in agility that costs $90.00 that covers basic obedience coupled with agility.

For more information, please visit site: Training Labradors and training aggressive dogs.

April 19th, 2010 by Adrian Bale

How much are you feeding your puppy? If you are simply going from the packaging label recommendations, you may be feeding your puppy too much or too little.

Worried that increasing your puppy’s food intake could cause him to gain weight? This is a valid concern, as extra weight is responsible for health problems in many animals. It is important to make sure that your puppy is getting additional exercise when his food intake increases.

It is critical to avoid having an obese dog by feeding your puppy the right amount. If your puppy is getting overweight or is overfed, start reducing his calories each day until his weight reaches an ideal amount.

An overweight (or underweight) dog is more likely to get sick than a dog at a healthy weight. Starting your puppy out at a healthy weight while he is young will help him now and later.

Are you taking your puppy’s temperature? This is important so you can nip any fever in the bud. Your puppy’s temperature should range from 99.5 – 102.5 degrees. You should check a couple of times each week.

Your vet can show you how to take a dog’s temperature. The thermometer will need to be inserted into the rectum, so be sure to have plenty of mineral oil or petroleum jelly on hand.

The thermometer will only need to stay in the rectum for three minutes. If your puppy’s temperature is higher than it should be, be sure to take him to the vet right away!

Make absolutely certain that you purchase a rectal thermometer for this purpose! An oral thermometer is likely to give you a false reading and make you think your puppy is sick when he is not. Now have fun getting your puppy off to a healthy start!

See various other educational articles created by this same author dealing with products such as unfinished hardwood floors and discount hardwood floor.

April 18th, 2010 by Rod Jones

We all know that it is not unusual for pet owners to permit their pets to sleep with them at night. In fact, one third of pet owners have at some point, permitted their pets to sleep on their beds. Dogs provide a companionship that can’t be shown by any other kind of animal. However, this doesn’t mean to say that some people do not let their cats or another pets sleep with them too.

It is made easier too because dogs have a sleep pattern that is very similar to ours. Dogs often rely on their masters with complete trust, which makes them a bit more relaxed during the night. This explains why most dogs fall to sleep easily and later on, enter into deep sleeps where REM sleep activities can occur. In fact, once dogs enter this stage, the owner needs to call them several times before they can truly be roused from sleep.

For sure, many of us have already observed a dog paddling during sleep or at times, barking with his eyes closed. These dogs are said to be dreaming. Breathing patterns can also be observed among dogs. For example, there are breeds which breathe more heavily while there are those who breathe very lightly. The heavy breathers are much more prone to snoring than those who do not breathe as heavily.

Dogs which snore can be quite a nuisance during the night, depending on the degree and frequency of the occurrence of this phenomenon. Like with humans, there are various reasons why dogs snore. Most though have to do with the obstruction of the passage of air in the throat caused by the collapse of certain areas along the throat. The same as in humans.

A dog that snores very loudly ought to be examined for different issues to see which treatment could be best applied. Some dogs are especially susceptible to specific allergies that can cause obstruction in the airway. It may also be that there is some excess tissue in the areas that are preventing proper breathing. It is best for a veterinarian to check out various factors through careful evaluation of the dog’s anatomical features and physical symptoms in general.

Maybe, your dog is overweight. Like with humans, obese dogs are more likely to snore during the night. This is because they have more flesh surrounding their throats. Therefore, they have excess tissue that hangs around the throat which can potentially cause the obstructions. Once this problem is corrected, the risk of snoring will be decreased. This would not only be healthy for your dogs, you may eventually enjoy nights of restful sleep too.

The facial features of the dog in general affect the amount of snoring too. For example, some dogs have squashed faces which narrows their nasal passages to a greater or lesser degree. The construction of their nasal passages also largely contributes to their problems in breathing. They are very much like humans with the flu, who are forced to breathe using only twenty-five percent of their nostril capacity. Dog breeds with shorter faces need to expend lots of effort to breathe properly. It costs them more effort to breathe and they are also more likely to snore loudly.

Minor surgery can give your dog great relief. However, be certain that, before you take any decision, you are well informed about the potential risks and consequences of surgery to stop your dog snoring. Most procedures are irreversible, so careful thought must be given to any operation you permit. In fact, it is best to accept the guidelines provided by your veterinary doctor.

Does your dog need training? If you need more details on dogs in general, then visit our website entitled Successful Dog Training You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.