Best Dogs for Apartment Life.

Dogs can be found in many different types of homes in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the world. Within some of these different homes, some dogs live in apartments. Apartment living isn’t easy for all breeds, so if you are considering getting a dog, and you live in an apartment, this is for you. The following list is of breeds that are great for apartment life.

·         Pug. Weighing in at 10 to 25 pounds, the pug is perfect for the apartment dweller. Small and compact with a pushed-in face, the pug is a clown at heart. With a short hair coat, this breed does not need special care and is a loving member of any family. As long as he is taken for brief walks, he is happy to sleep the day away.

·         Schnauzer. The standard and miniature schnauzer are wonderful apartment pets. Eager to please and to keep the family safe, this breed usually requires regular grooming and daily exercise. They thrive on human companionship.

·         Scottish Terrier. This working dog from the Scottish Highlands weighs around 15 to 20 pounds. Most often black, the Scottie is highly intelligent and needs daily exercise. Tough and compact, the Scottie is a loyal and protective family member.

·         Yorkshire Terrier. The Yorkie is a tiny dog with lots of spunk. They are happy to spend their days lounging on the sofa, but these calm dogs require regular grooming. Weighing less than 10 pounds, this breed is well suited for apartment life.

·         Cocker Spaniel. The popular cocker with his curly hair and sad eyes is a good choice for apartment life. He needs basic exercise and usually spends his days lounging and waiting for his owner's return.

·         Welsh Corgi. At about 25 pounds, the Pembroke Welsh corgi is a popular pet. This stocky short tailed breed needs daily exercise but does not require a large living space.

·         West Highland White Terrier. This small white terrier is playful and loveable but does require some exercise to keep him happy. I know my Westie has a ton of energy to let out after a day of work. The perfect size for an apartment, the Westie is a good watch dog and faithful companion that needs some grooming to keep his coat mat and tangle free.

·         Italian Greyhound. The IG is a tiny version of the greyhound. Usually weighing around 10 pounds, the IG is fast and quick to learn. Though they do enjoy a good chase, the IG also loves snoozing on the sofa.

For a complete list of dog breeds great for apartment life, please see the following link: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/apartment.htm

Best Dogs for Security

Are you getting a dog to protect you and your home? Find out which dogs rank the best based on their breed’s natural behaviour.

Are you looking for a Guard dog?

The following are characteristics to look for:

·         A sense of the dog’s territory

·         Aggressiveness

·         Strength

·         Courage

·         Resistance to counterattack

·         Tendency to protect the dog’s adoptive family

·         Propensity to be properly trained

Another great virtue is aloofness to strangers as they will not be strayed from protecting the family. A dog guards the family best INSIDE the house during hours when intrusion is most likely. If the guard dog is outside, and the burglar is inside, the dog cannot protect the house.

The following breeds are ideal guard dogs:

·         Bull Mastiff

·         Doberman Pinscher

·         Rottweiller

·         Komodor

·         Puli

·         Giant Schnauzer

·         German Shepherd

·         Rhodesian Ridgeback

·         Kuvasz

·         American Stafford Terrior

·         Chow Chow

·         Belgian Sheepdog

·         Akita Inu

Check out the following site to find out more about these breeds: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/a-z.htm

Other factors that potential dog owners may wish to consider include gender and color. As a general rule, females of many breeds may be less aggressive, however more protective of family members.

Although a dog's color has no direct correlation to its physical gifts or temperament, a darker dog, especially a black one, appears more menacing to would-be intruders. Also if a room or yard is very dark, a dark-coloured dog may be difficult for an intruder to discern and make the intruder more hesitant.

Some dogs, such as many kinds of Pit Bull Terrier and the Presa de Canario have been used extensively as guard dogs. However, controversy surrounding these dogs have led many to distance themselves from them. Some jurisdictions have banned the ownership of these dogs altogether.

It is important to note that dog attacks are not a common occurrence and much of the source of aggression in dogs stems from abuse and mis-training by the dogs' owners.

Is Pet Insurance Worth the Money?

Whenever you bring home a new puppy, this question always crosses your mind: Is pet insurance worth the money? Truth is pet insurance is very expensive, and like house insurance you may put thousands of dollars into it and your puppy may never require any health care until they are much older. On the other hand, health insurance can also reduce the cost of shots that your puppy would normally get throughout the year. However, you don't really won’t see the investment as being worthwhile until your dog has a more major problem.

Many large breeds (particularly those with low-slung back-ends, have a very high chance of developing hip dysplasia. Examples of these breeds include boxers, grey hounds, German shepherds, etc. If this happens, then any procedure at the vet will be very expensive. Border Collies, for example are prone to eye problems, while smaller dogs can have joint or back problems as well as respiratory problems.

The main draw-back for getting pet insurance is that you have to get it before your dog gets ill with the health problem or it won’t be covered. So if your dog has to have x-rays and an operation for hip dysplasia, then you’ll probably want the insurance. However, they won't cover it because the problem is already known! If that happens, but your dog has another problem in the body then the insurance will cover this particular problem as long as the dog didn't have it before the time you got the health insurance.

To get the best out of insurance, you would ideally want to insure get your puppy covered as soon as possible, preferably when they are still puppies because companies won’t cover claims if the problem is a pre-existing condition.

Also, please read each plan carefully and be sure it's a good one for the money. Personally, I'd go "mid price" and be sure it covers emergency calls.

Take a look at this site to compare the top 3 pet insurance companies in Canada: http://trupanion.com/canada?gclid=CJGcmfLuzKwCFcZM4AodkVbtqg

How to Get Rid of Your Dog's Bad Habits

In order to stop your dog from doing something you don’t like requires consistency, attentiveness, timing and praise. You have to catch your dog in the act of doing the bad thing, and correct the dog every time he does the bad thing. Every time he gets away with doing it, it’s two steps backward in the training because then he realizes that he can get away with it.

It is extremely important that you correct you dog while he’s committing the bad thing or immediately after he does it. If 5 to 10 seconds go by before the correction comes, your dog doesn’t know what he’s being corrected for. A dog doesn’t associate past actions to the present like a human does. Five to ten seconds after a dog has committed an act, whether it was a good one or a bad one, the act is forgotten. Any praise or punishment given more than five to ten seconds after the act has been committed is useless, because the dog does not associates the praise or the punishment with the commission of the act.

A correction can be a stern “NO!”, or it can be a sharp jerk on the lead. Whatever works, but be consistent. As soon as your dog stops doing the bad thing, you should praise him immensely. The praise is more important than the correction, so remember to do it.

As an example:

You catch your dog chewing on your table leg. You give him a stern NO! Your dog stops chewing on the table leg. You tell him what a good dog he is and pet him. Your dog associates the “NO!” with the act of chewing on the table leg. He stops chewing either because he knows what NO means or he’s startled. You praise him by telling him how good he is, and he associates the praise with not chewing on the table leg.

For some dogs it may take only one or two corrections. For others, it may take ten or more corrections. But if you’re consistent, attentive, and persistent, you will be successful in stopping any bad habit your dog has.

A trained dog is a happy dog and has a happy owner.

Socializing Your Puppy

When you have a new puppy it is important to socialize them not only with other dogs and people, but also with things in their environment that might seem intimidating at first.  You should do so in a way that is not frightening to the puppy, and ensure that it is enjoyable with the use of treats and praise.

Steps to socializing your puppy:

When you’re on walks with your puppy bring treats so that when strangers approach him they are able to reward him for being calm.  At the same time, you should also reward the puppy when they calmly react towards cars, bicycles, etc.

On your walks, try to vary the surface as often as possible.  Stairs, metal grates and gravel will definitely invoke a reaction from your puppy.  Reward positive behaviour, and ignore negative behaviour.  It is important not to pet your puppy or give him treats when he is scared in order to comfort him as it is only rewarding him for being scared.

Be sure to bring your puppy with you when you go to the pet store as it will allow you to bring him around people who are also dog lovers and will ensure positive reactions upon seeing him.

Make sure you reward positive behaviour such as staying calm when others approach, walking at your pace, or waiting patiently.

It is also a good idea to enroll your new puppy in obedience classes, as it allows them to socialize with the same dogs regularly and make friends.

Take a look at this cute video of a large older dog playing nicely with a small puppy.

Basic Commands to Teach your Puppy

It’s very important to teach your puppy some very basic commands. Here are 3 easy ones for you to try at home.

1.    Sit - A basic and easy command.

2.    Lay Down - An easy, but important command.

3.    Fetch/Retrieval - How to teach the activity of retrieval.

How to teach your dog to Sit

Stand beside your puppy and put your hand under the puppy’s neck, and the other on top of their bum. Push up with your hand under their neck, while pushing down with your other hand on their bum (directing them into the sitting position) as you say “Sit”. As they sit, praise them. Repeat this and your puppy will learn to sit by verbal command only.

How to teach your dog to lay down

Stand beside your puppy and say "Lay Down". Hold a small treat in your hand at nose level of the puppy, and as you say "Lay Down", bring it down to the ground. If they aren't completely lying down, help them with your other hand. Give them praise and the treat. Repeat.

How to teach your dog fetch

Most likely your puppy already likes balls so this process should be easy.

Throw a ball (not very far), and say "Fetch". Your dog will go get the ball. Now say "Come" or "Here" to get your puppy to return to you. When your puppy returns with the ball, ignore the ball and give your puppy praise. Do not take the ball away from the puppy. Now give the command to "Sit" and "Stay". The reason you don’t want to try to take the ball away is the puppy might get in the habit of dropping the ball before they even reach you.

Now teach your puppy to give you back the ball or "drop" it. Puppies enjoy chasing the ball might do this all on their own. Say "Drop it" as they drop the ball. When they drop the ball, give them praise. Throw the ball again while saying “Fetch” and repeat the process.

Take a look at some possibilities of what some amazing dogs can do!

Teaching your puppy tricks/ or new commands can be very time consuming and will take a lot of patience. Remember to practice and keep a positive attitude.

Making Grooming a Positive Experience

It is definitely necessary to begin grooming your puppy as soon as possible. The best time to start being groom professionally is at about 16 weeks of age, after the puppy has had all their shots.

The sooner you familiarize your puppy with being groomed, the happier they will be. Patience is key to years of successful grooming.

You’re going to want to tire your puppy out by playing with them for a few minutes. Next, select a location for grooming. This should be a table with a rubber type (bath mat) for traction. You should use the same place so that your puppy will remember this place is for not play time but "grooming time".  If introduced correctly and consistently, your pet will associate this experience with pleasure and will look forward to this special time between you and him.
At first, puppy grooming is also a behaviour lesson. Conduct frequent short sessions with patience, LOTS of verbal praise and treats.

Be sure to touch and play with your puppy's feet and rub your fingers between its toes daily. This will make nail clipping easier. I promise that your groomer and your vet will love you for this.  Dogs will naturally pull their feet back when being touched. You will notice that many pets are perfect for grooming but freak out when the nail trimming begins.  This can be avoided by your taking the time to help train them to realize it is not a painful process.
Begin by showing your puppy his brush and comb. Let them sniff and play with it a few seconds. Brush/ comb their coat a few times, then reward your puppy with a small treat and praise. Slowly increase the number of brush and comb strokes. After the first week, you should be able to do the brushing AND combing quite easily.

In order to avoid matting, it is important to brush your puppy as often as possible. If your puppy is prone to matting due to its breed, please check out the video below on how to de-mattify your puppy.

This process should help you to communicate to your puppy that grooming is a positive experience.

Best of luck!

Potty Training

House training your puppy requires a lot of patience, attention and consistency on your part. You can house train your puppy to go only where you want.

Buy a Crate with a Divider - Puppies will always try their best to keep their den clean and will avoid peeing or pooping where they have to sleep. The crate is the puppy's den.  It's a safe and comfortable place to sleep and relax. The crate is NOT to be used as a punishment area for making a mistake.  Buy a crate large enough for when your puppy is full grown. Get a crate divider to make the area available to your puppy smaller when young, so there isn't enough room to pee on one side and sleep on the other. As the puppy grows, move the divider to provide more room. This way you don’t have to spend money on a larger crate later on.

Pick Your Spot – Choose a place where you want your puppy to go. I suggest choosing a spot in your backyard that is easy to access and clean. Some owners make a square area that is filled with gravel and take their puppy to that area until it knows to do so on it's own. Others are fine with the whole back yard or select an object to train the dog on like a Pee Post.

The Scent - Puppies like to pee where they or others have peed before. Use this to your advantage. Buy a pheromone product such as the Go Here Aid which contains those scents that dogs like to pee at, and use that on the spot that you have picked for your puppy.

When Your Puppy will Pee - Very early on, when the puppy goes will not be up to you. A puppy's bladder is tiny and until the age of 4-5 months it can't hold much for long. Up until 4-5 months of age, a puppy needs to go to the bathroom about every 2 hours on average. No amount of scolding or information provided here is going to change the size of your puppy's bladder.

To minimize accidents and speed the housetraining process, take your puppy out often and at regular times. Decide when you will feed your puppy each day, play with it, take it out and let it sleep in its crate. Do so at the same time each day so the puppy adapts to the schedule. As your puppy grows, it will be able to go for longer periods without peeing and you can adjust accordingly. Your goal is to condition your puppy to go when you want it to.

  

Attention and Consistency – Early on, watch your puppy every moment that it is out of its crate and provide as few opportunities to make mistakes as possible. If you see any hint that your puppy might need to go, even if it is not on the schedule, quickly take it outside to the spot. When it goes correctly, praise it him, but be sure not to turn potty time into play time.

If you do take your eyes off your puppy and he makes a mistake, DO NOT scold him. It was your mistake! Simply place your puppy in its crate and quietly clean up the mess.

For mistakes you absolutely have to get rid of the odour when cleaning so that your dog can't smell his old bathroom and do it again in that spot. Use Nok Out or vinegar to neutralize any urine or odour on flat surfaces.

Take a look at this video for some additional tips and tricks.

 

Follow these simple steps and I’m sure that you will have a well trained puppy!

Feeding Your Puppy

Not only does your puppy need healthy food, it needs plenty of it. Your puppy will need a balanced diet in order to nurture the growth of bones, teeth, organs and muscle and also to maintain a healthy coat.  Their diet will also ensure that they have enough energy to play throughout the day.

At about 2 1/2 weeks of age, your puppy may begin to eat solid food three or more times a day. Start them on dry puppy food mixed with warm water.  When they reaches seven weeks of age or so, start slowly decreasing the amount of water you add. When they are about 3 months old, you can switch the puppy to twice-a-day feedings of puppy food.  Between 6 and 8 months it recommended that you gradually mix the puppy food into an adult formula over several weeks time.

During his first few weeks, your puppy should be slightly chubby. If he continues to look chubby between 10 and 13 weeks old, restrict his diet slightly. Monitor his weight and, once he reaches three and a half to four months, restrict his diet – not to make him lean, just to make sure he doesn't get too fat. If you're not sure what his proper weight is, check with your vet.

At the 5 to 6 month period, depending on his breed, your puppy may have a dramatic growth spurt. He may get long, lean and a little thin. By the time he's about one-and-a-half to two years of age, his body will catch up.

Commercial puppy food is best. This kind of a diet provides all the nutrients he needs, especially his energy and protein requirements. A diet labelled for "all life stages" will also provide sufficient nutrients, but because it is closer to a maintenance level, your puppy will have to eat more "All Stages" than puppy formula.

From three weeks of age up to 20 weeks, your puppy's growth rate is astronomical, and his food intake must keep up. During this period, medium-sized dogs, such as pointers and setters, require approximately 3 1/2 lbs. of dry food to put on one pound of body weight. Large breeds require slightly less, smaller breeds a little more. If you are using canned food, use approximately one-third this amount, as these diets are more nutrient-dense.

Note: For puppies of large or giant breeds, look for special foods of lower nutrient density. With these dogs, rapid growth can exacerbate degenerative hip problems or joint disease. Although hip dysplasia is a genetic problem, overfeeding at a young age can contribute to it.

Remember: There are plenty of puppy foods out there. Once you find one your dog likes, stick to it.

Preparing the House

Are you ready to bring home your new puppy? It’s time to start preparing a spot for your puppy. If the puppy you are bringing home will grow larger later on, you may want to buy a crate that has an adjustable wall, so that you don’t have to buy a second one later. Be sure to always have water lying around for the puppy, as they can easily become dehydrated. Also, be sure to start housebreaking your puppy day one by having an exit outside for the puppy in case they need to go.

Here are some easy steps to follow to get your home ready for the new puppy:

1.       Puppy Space. Create an area just for the puppy. This can be in the kitchen, laundry room, etc. You don’t want your puppy to have too much room to explore, and to have a place to feel safe. This also allows you to control where you will be cleaning up after the puppy.

2.       Puppy-Proofing. Be sure your designated area is clean. Remove any wire or other items you don’t want the puppy chewing on, soiling, scratching, or bumping into (they’re still a little clumsy).

3.       Don’t Bite This! Use non-biting fluid on anything the puppy can hurt themselves on, or that you don’t want them to bite. You can easily find this fluid at any pet store.

4.       Chew This! Puppies will chew. It’s in their nature. What’s important is teaching them what they CAN chew. So instead of grabbing your new pair of stilettos, the puppy will grab this toy. I find that squeaky chew toys and rope toys are great for keeping puppies entertained.

5.       Collar and Leash. You need to buy a collar and leash that are the correct size for your puppy. Collars come in various sizes from x-small to x-large. When choosing the collar, make sure it isn’t secured with Velcro. Because snap together collars are stronger, they are best for larger breeds. You will also want a leash that is 2-4 feet long for training. You don’t want to give them too much room or you won’t be able to control them.

6.       Nice and Clean. You need to buy the correct shampoo for your puppy. If you have a white dog, you can buy a shampoo for whitening, if your dog has dry skin, there is one for that too. Be sure to buy a shampoo to suit your puppy’s needs.

7.       Brushes. You’re going to want both a soft brush for shine, and a wired brush to get rid of any knots and mats in the puppy’s fur.

8.       Crates. Be sure to buy a crate to suit your puppy’s growing needs. Crate training is very important to start early, as you want to train your puppy where to eliminate. If you need to leave the dog alone during the day (for work, etc.) and don’t want the house to be a mess, crate training is for you. Wire crates are most often used so the dog can see everything around them and not feel as though they are being punished. The crate should be kept clean. This is the puppy’s home (or den) and should not be occupied by anyone when they want to be alone.

9.       Hungry for Food. There are many brands claiming to be the best for your dog, however don’t be fooled by the packaging. Just because it says chicken, doesn’t mean you know what part of the chicken is used. Talk to your vet or pet food supplier about what they would recommend for your breed. Also, don’t be afraid to check the internet for what people are talking about. Finally, if you have time, you can make your own food. There are many recipes you can find on the Food Network website. This is my dog’s favourite: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-specials/rawwholewildregionalseasonal-dog-food-recipe-recipe/index.html

10.   Bowls. You will want to have at least two bowls that are below the dogs knee level. The puppy needs to be able to easily reach it’s food. One is for food, the other is for water. The bowls do not need to be the same size. If you have a puppy that will grow to be a large dog, you may need to buy a larger bowl later on.

11.   Comfy Cosey. You will need to purchase bedding and some other supplies for your dog to sleep on. Dogs sleep most of the day away need somewhere comfy to sleep.

12.   Stressing. The first day you bring home the puppy, he will be stressed and scared. Put an old t-shirt in the crate to give him something familiar to smell and get comfortable with. This will help you bond better.

Finding a Breeder

Now that you’ve chosen your dog breed, it’s time to buy your new friend. The next step is to find a reputable breeder.

Although you can buy a purebred dog through multiple channels, I recommend purchasing through a knowledgeable breeder. You will need to visit a few breeders and their facilities to compare the dogs. You should only purchase from someone who you trust and cares about your puppy’s future.

To locate breeders in your area you can refer to accredited Breed Clubs, who can refer you to breeders of their organization.

Before purchasing from your breeder, I suggest you follow the following rules. Any responsible breeder will happily comply, and if they don’t, do not purchase from them.

1.       Always visit the kennel.

2.       Make sure you meet the mother of the litter.

3.       Take a look at health certificates and records of visits to the vet.

4.       Be sure to obtain a bill of sale indicating that your puppy is a purebred.

5.       Be sure to obtain a written guarantee.

6.       Be sure your dog is permanently and uniquely identified.

7.       Confirm that the parents and the puppy are registered with either CKC or AKC.

8.       Ask the breeder if they are a member of the CKC or AKC.

Keep these things in mind when finding a breeder, and you will find it much easier to find someone who is specialized and knowledgeable about your dog. Quite often they will give you specific tips for handling your dog breed.

Best of luck!

Choosing the Right Dog Breed for You and Your Family

When choosing your dog, you need to consider a few factors. This is going to be your new best friend, so you want to make the right choice.


Ask yourself the following questions:

·         Do you really want a dog?

·         What are the reasons you are getting one?

·         You may want a companion, a protector and a playmate for your children? Or do you want your dog as a competitor in obedience trials or the show ring.

Your reasons for wanting a dog will make a huge impact of the type of dog you choose, but whether you select a large, small, mongrel, pedigree, dignified or sporting dog, it will demand a lot in terms of time, attention and care.


Cute puppies grow up into energetic, hungry and wilful adults so before you take the plunge, make certain that you have room for a dog in your life.


Choosing the right dog for you and your lifestyle takes some time and effort to research properly. It is however well spent in order to avoid making ill thought out decisions and costly mistakes.


Here are some more things to consider before choosing the right dog:

Cost Can you afford a dog? Regular checkups, dog health insurance, Food bills, grooming, etc. all cost money.
Dog Size: Do you have a small apartment? Did you know that a big dog may be better than a small one? Do you need to keep anything out of the dog’s reach?
Age: So you think you want a puppy! Are you sure you know what's involved? Maybe an older dog might be right for you.
Maintenance: Taking care of a dog properly means more than just feeding, walking and throwing the occasional stick. It’s a daily commitment.
Temperament: Finding compatible dog personalities to suit your lifestyle.
Purebred Or Mixed Breed: The good, the bad and the ugly! Decide for yourself.
Training : All dogs need to be trained and socialized. Some breeds are easier to train than others.


One final consideration when choosing the right dog is whether anyone in your household is likely to suffer from an allergic reaction. It is important to note that while there are considered to be Hypo-Allergenic breeds, the actual allergic reaction induced by dogs is not normally due to dog hair, but rather the irritants or pollutants that a dog's hair attracts. As someone considering the effects of a dog on your allergy you may be pleasantly surprised at just how many dog breeds you might be tolerant of.


For some guidance as to where to start try this online quiz from Animal Planet.
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do


For further details about your breed before you buy, please look the breed up on the following website to learn everything about the dog from physical description, to typical personality.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/abc.htm


Best of Luck!