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

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!

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!