Pet Information

She was such a beauty and joy to watch play and learn. If she threw a toy in to my laundry basket she would stop and bark until we could get in to find it. I taught her that she couldn’t knock the laundry out of basket and she didn’t. We then took her to Dog obedience class and she did well until my husband would show up and go to a picnic table and ignore her.. Midnight learned fast how to whine and whimper. we would be walking in a circle and when she could see my husband again she would bolt with me dragging behind. finally she got better took a couple of visits from husband to get her settled. then he really obeyed the trainer and me.

In 2002 we ended up with custody of my grandson and I was concerned that Midnight might hurt the baby, since all our children were grown and no little ones around most of her life. Boy was I wrong, that little guy would walk to places I was afraid he would get hurt so I would go take his hand and say too dangerous no no. after a couple of this the dog started barking and I looked up and Midnight was looking at me and then the baby. she had blocked the baby from getting in to the place I felt my be dangerous and was not moving and the baby was sure trying. pulling midnights hair trying to get her to move.. I went and got the baby and midnight stayed in the area in case he went back again. They became real good buddies. They played together and at night midnight would sleep for a few hours outside his door. she never did sleep on his bed even when he was sick. couple of nights Midnight had run into our bed room and give a low bark and run to our grandsons door. I would go check on him and he would have a high fever.

We were able to take a cruise and of course dogs are not allowed. we left her in the vet kennel for about 10 days. we called when we could but cell phones were not allowed on the ship. we enjoyed out trip but hurried home to see Midnight and I was shocked she had lost weight and not doing very well at all. we took her home and took days for her to settle down and know we were there for her. Poor dear. then few years after that we took her to California with us and we had a great time, there were lots of pet friendly restraints. she even got to see the beach. it was wonderful. while we were there we noticed a small knot on her neck. We were only there 7 days but by the time we got home the knot was huge. took her to the vet upon arriving home and found it was cancer. I always knew dogs missed there masters and if they died they morned like humans but I never knew a trip with out your pet could cause such a traumatic state on the beloved pets. (we could talk to her when we were able to call )

Rott’s or any other pet, are the responsibility of the owner, and if trained not to hurt people and owners watch there pets closely there should not be a problem. Owners should also know there pets and be aware that pets can be dangerous. You should never get a pet without fully researching the bread and being responsible to train and care for properly. Please be dedicated to your pet and train them so they know how to make you happy.

There are over 65 million dogs in the United States. Every one of them is special. Whether your dog is the family pet or a Westminster champion, you have an awesome treasure. There is no other creature as close and integrated into the human psyche and human culture as the dog. A family dog eats in the kitchen and sleeps in the bedroom. He munches on snacks as he watches television with his owners. Some of these dogs get their toenails painted pink and red.

Your dog is special. He probably is the most beautiful dog you ever seen and quite possibly the most beautiful on the earth to you. He amuses you. He charms you. He makes you laugh when your friends have made you cry. Your dog will never grow up, go to college, get married or get a job. Your mischievous little puppy will hang around your house until he is old and maybe a bit senile. He will always be your little boy or your little girl.

It is quite normal to want to dress up your dog in the latest of designer dog clothes and accessories. It is normal to want to have that perfect carrier for your little pal to take him along on shopping trips and everywhere you can. You miss him when he is left behind.

Today we have a wide variety of choices in dog fashions. The toy dogs especially look cute in little dog clothes, but the bigger dogs can look just as cute and fancy. There is something for every breed and every size of dog in dog clothing.

Dogs are wonderful, adaptable, amazing animals. As long as the clothing is restrictive, most dogs love the extra attention of getting dressed up. Good dogs can be found anywhere. Bad dogs can be found anywhere. You can find a good dog from responsible breeders, irresponsible breeders, backyard breeders, shelters, rescue organizations, neighbors, newspaper ads, relatives, pet stores, the alley or the highway in front of your house. Wherever you get your dog, once he finds out you are his friend and not his foe, putting a warm fleece t-shirt on him in the chilly weather only makes him feel more at home and secure with you, which in turn, can help to mold him into the “good dog” you want him to be. A good dog often times begins with a good owner regardless of where you get your dog..

As a dog owner, you can expect to deal with housetraining mistakes, chewing, nipping, health crises, digging, and barking regardless of where you obtained your dog. Very few dogs will present you with all these problems, but no dog is trouble-free. Don’t let that scare you. The good far outweighs the bad. Acquire some good dog keeping skills. This will require action, resolving problems, planning and some sacrifice.

Somehow dogs seem to know which owners are committed to them and which aren’t. Dressing up your dog in designer dog clothes is a very powerful way of showing commitment to your 4-legged best friend. Putting a tiny dog dress on your toy dog is a terrific way to get started on the right foot toward dog owner success. Try it and see the difference in can make in your relationship with your dog.

The English Setter was bred to flush out the birds after giving a quiet alert to its Master that it had found a covey. Through the years it has kept this instinct strong.

The history of the English Setter, a hunting dog, is very ancient. It is one of the oldest known hunting breeds. It was written about as early as the fourteenth century as a specific “setting” dog. Typically a “Setter” will seek out a covey of quail or other birds and freeze in place when it finds them. The “set” is a freezing in place and they will not give chase after the prey. One might compare this to an “alert” as the term is used for example in the area of Search and Rescue. The dog thus gives an obvious display to the hunter that it has come upon a covey or group of birds. On command of the hunter the Setter will then flush out the birds. This breed should not go after rabbit or other game.

The English Setter is “long on leg” and rather tall and rangy. The coloring is quite unusual, a roan/brindle combination known as “Belton” in varying shades of blue, red, tan, lemon, or black with white. The term “Belton” actually comes from a village in England where one of the founding breeders of the Setter , Mr. Edward Lavarack, developed his stock. Through his careful breeding program a very useful hunting dog was perfected. The dog is muscular and lean, with a well developed nose for smelling out the birds, well angulated in the rear and with strong legs built for ranging across rugged land. The instinctive “setting” of the dog is of course natural to the breed. The coat should be slightly wavy and long and silky. Natural oils within keep the coat free of brambles and weather resistant.

The English Setter is relatively free of heritable disease except for hip dysplasia. This condition is not as prevalent in this breed however as it is with many of the other larger breeds, so in general it is a healthy dog. Occasional bathing and regular brushing are necessary and the English Setter does need plenty of exercise, for it is a working breed and very active.

For many years in England the Setter was kept within the home as a family pet besides being the Master’s hunting dog. It was expected to be friendly and loyal with an even and non aggressive temperament. They should be affectionate and loyal and accepting of strangers and other dogs, for often they are required to work in the field with a variety of hunters and dogs. They should also be placid and settle quietly when in the house, not being “wild” and overly active. The English Setter is a highly intelligent dog and should be an easy dog to train, anxious to please, willing to work for many hours in the field and also be quietly reserved in the home. Although there are still careful breeders who work hard to maintain this stable temperament, there are also an abundance of breeders who do not strive for this goal. Consequently there are some Setters today who do not posses good temperament, and the person who is seeking a puppy of this breed would do well to investigate the source of the breeding.

I’m a pariah among the dog fanciers in my community. Why? Because I testified in support of a new regulation to limit pet ownership to no more than a total of three dogs and/or cats, older than six-months of age, in one household.

The reason for the age threshold is to give people time to place any puppies or kittens that their family pet has.

Every major dog/pet organization I’m familiar with opposes such regulations or laws. That includes not only the animal rights people but mainstream groups such as the American Kennel Club (AKC).

So why would I break ranks and support it? Reality.

I support limitations on the number of pets in one household for the following reasons.

1. Nuisance laws are difficult and expensive to enforce.

In one instance in my town – that has laws on nuisance dogs – the city police had been to a house three times after calls from neighbors. In each instance, the dogs were quiet when they arrived and no ticket was issued.

That’s the problem with the type of enforcement other dog-owner groups want. It requires catching the animal/owner in the act. Then both have the right to protest and appeal any fines or other punishments.

How much of a city’s budget should go to this type of effort? It is much more cost effective to enforce limits on the number of pets as this can be more readily identified and controlled.

2. The worst pet owners are beyond caring about the law.

They fall into two categories. One is the drug addict, gang members or other criminal who breeds big, dangerous dogs for protection. An example is a homeowner who had 14 Pit Bulls in his metropolitan home.

The other is the disturbed pet collector such as a woman who had 40 cats in her suburban house. She had no recognition of why this should be a problem and was surprised that her neighbors called the police because of the odor from her house.

Neither of these types of pet owners are going to be deterred by a misdemeanor fine.

3. Dogs in packs are difficult to control.

The more dogs in the home, the more problems you have. Initially it may be as the dogs joust among themselves for positions in the pack. Even once that’s been settled, outside events – such as a dog coming back after a hospital stay – can trigger another round of fighting for position.

There’s always a danger the dogs may get lose. Having three or more dogs in one backyard can be intimidating to neighbors and other small pets in the adjoining homes.

A neighboring community has a dog park near a beach and people are often knocked down by packs of dogs. The dogs aren’t attacking them; they’re just running together and oblivious of their impact when they knock down a little one or older person.

When dogs are in groups, they work together and mob psychology rules. They may attack and kill smaller animals not for food but for sport or territory. Even dogs that live with cats will kill other cats when working in a dog pack outside the home.

4. Dogs in packs are more susceptible to illnesses.

As a former breeder, I truly appreciate how difficult it is to prevent the spread of diseases when you have many dogs in one home or kennel. There’s a reason it’s called “kennel” cough.

5. Some dog owners have lost perspective

One of the objectors to this new rule participates in a rescue organization. She had six people testifying on her behalf as to how needed her service is (I agree) and how well she manages her household of dogs.

None of the six people, however, live near her. When her neighbors testified, it was another story. She had started her rescue work by telling the homeowners group that she would have no more than six dogs at one time.

In one instance when the police were called to her home after a loose dog attacked a neighbor’s pet and discovered she had 23 dogs there. This is just a typical suburban home – not a rural or country area.

I’m sympathetic to wanting to care for abandoned and mistreated dogs but neighboring home owners have rights as well. If you’ve paid $600,000 for an 800-sq ft home in California (as our Sunday newspaper stated), you are going to be very concerned about maintaining property values.

Too many dog owners are oblivious to the rights of other people. Just walk in any city park and see how many people don’t pick up after their dog.

I love dogs but I wish I could have more confidence in their owners. I recognize that I may be assigning many strays to an early death, but I can’t waive a magic wand and make all pet owners responsible owners and care givers.

Limiting the number of pets in a household is a cost effective measure to solving true problems.

The focus of many pet owners seems to be directed towards their animals, which makes a great deal of sense in most cases. However, when trying to correct unwanted behavior in your dog you might want to point that finger inward sometimes and have a little glimpse in the mirror. It is easy to become annoyed with your pet when you feel as though you have tried everything and nothing seems to work. Maybe your Boston Terrier continues to chew on your shoes or other objects while you are not at home. Perhaps the Maltese in your life still has accidents in the house rather than letting you know she needs to go outside. On the other hand, possibly you have a Yorkshire Terrier that snips at strangers, even guests in your home when they try to pet him. All of these and many other undesirable behaviors that dogs may posses can leave a pet owner feeling frustrated and at their wits end with their furry little friend.

Have you ever considered though when faced with one of these situations that the dog is trying to communicate something to you? Is it possible that Sparky just feels neglected during those long days alone at home while you are at work? Sometimes we can have a big impact on our dogs if we look at our own behavior and consider what the pooch may be trying to tell us through their difficult behavior. Obviously dogs can not talk or speak with us as a human can when they need to communicate their feelings. That is not to say that canines are not vocal because as many of us know they can express quite a lot at times through their barking, growling or whining. However, to really pinpoint what the issue is for your pet you may find that you are the one that actually holds the answers.

Dogs have a very keen awareness for their surroundings and the people in their environment. As most dog owners come to realize, the bond between your dog and you can be extremely strong. There are people who report that during a challenging illness or devastating time in their life that their dog responded as though they knew what was going on and they helped their owner through the rough time. Sometimes by just sitting near their owner or laying at their feet, other times dogs may whine and pace back and forth, especially when other people are around because they are trying to indicate that their owner needs help.

Experts have even confirmed that dogs do have an ability to detect several human emotions and many of them will respond in unique ways. For example; when there is a lot of anger or arguing occurring within a household your dog may respond by acting up in a number of ways, which is not a problem with the dog but rather your pet is responding to the hostility and unpleasantness it senses in the house. Everyone goes through difficult periods in their life and it is obviously impossible to avoid exposing your dog to any anger or hostile situations throughout their life. The important thing to remember is that your situation and how you handle it is not your dog’s choice or within their area of responsibility.

Dogs deserve and hopefully get, the majority of times anyway, a good, loving and stable home. They respond well to a structured environment, complete with rules and routines. If you typically get up each morning and walk your dog before you go to work and then you suddenly stop doing it all together, your dog will respond in some way, possibly a negative one. It is not the dog’s fault that you changed your behavior and they have no other way of communicating other than to chew up stuff or have an accident in the house as their way of saying, “hey what is going on.” In some cases dogs can even become depressed, this happens most frequently in situations where the dog was once loved and well cared for and then suddenly became ignored and forgotten about. It is really sad to see a dog that is in this form of doggy-depression because again, they did not ask to come to live with you, you chose them.

There are obviously other concerns you must deal with when you are going through a difficult time, like loosing your job or going through a divorce, and you should always take care of the important aspects related to these situations. It is understandable that a dog can suddenly become a lower priority in your life however, if you are unhappy with their behavior because they are acting out in response to their environment; take that into consideration before disciplining your pet or giving up on them all together.

Dogs may secretly harbor the desire to have all humans attend some sort of training school before they decide to become a pet owner, however, since that is not very likely to happen, remember to think about your own behavior when examining your dog’s. That precious pooch can sometimes be just what you need to get through a difficult time and maintaining their routine for their benefit can in many ways benefit you also.

German Shepherd health is one area over which you have a lot of control. Long prized for its elegance, intelligence, loyalty, versatility and working abilities, the GSD can be a very stoic animal that will play and work hard through a lot of pain and not easily show any underlying health problems. It often takes a sharp and observant owner to know whether or not his or her dog is suffering from any type of pain or illness.

There is no reason any German Shepherd should suffer from any pain, disease or illness. It is the owners responsibility to keep the dog in great condition and healthy by: feeding him a good and healthy diet, brushing his teeth often as possible, grooming him regularly and giving your dog plenty of exercise and attention to keep him healthy.

Another way of keeping tabs on your German Shepherd Dog’s health is by performing a weekly home German Shepherd health exam. This will help you spot many of the common German Shepherd health problems before they become serious. This will also make you very aware of your GSD’s body and easily help you detect any changes that may happen over time due to injury, disease or any kind of dog related emergencies.

The best way of taking care of your German Shepherds health is by taking your dog to the veterinarian regularly. Make sure your GSD receives regular physical and health examinations and is current on all its vaccinations. Finding a veterinarian that is familiar with GSD Health Problems and with dealing with all the hereditary diseases that affect our breed is an excellent idea. Not all veterinarians are as familiar with German Shepherd health issues as they might be with other dog breeds.

Routine vet exams will include a check of your German Shepherds eyes, heart, lungs, ears, mouth, teeth and coat as well as any lumps, bumps, cuts or bruises that the dog may have. Associate veterinary visits with a positive experience and it will make future doctor visits much easier for your German Shepherd puppy.

It is also a good idea to take your new German Shepherd puppy or dog to the veterinarian for occasional “social visits” just for them to see that going there does not have to always a bad thing. Both your German Shepherds health and socialization are very, very important. Check with your vet and his staff to “schedule” a time to visit that is not too busy. The GSD pup can have both a positive and healthy experience by going there - meeting the staff, meeting other dogs and owners to socialize with, etc. Keep in mind not to introduce your dog to truly sick animals, however, since you do not want to make your healthy German Shepherd puppy ill.

Toy puppies will not be able to chew their way through a whole lot of surfaces, but they can chew at irreplaceable furniture and moldings enough to do quite a bit of damage. Be sure to puppy-proof your home before the curious, mischievous and “teething” toy puppy arrives.

Electrical cords and wires are especially hazardous to teething toy puppies. They need to be out of reach or taped to walls. A puppy could electrocute himself while happily chewing away on an electrical cord. Regularly look for dropped pens, pencils, rubber bands, paper clips, and children’s small toys on your floor. Teething puppies can be very mouthy, chewing on everything they can latch onto. Nylabones and other chew toys are an absolute must for your new teething toy puppy.

You can also ask your vet for oral cleansing gel to apply topically for control of bacteria and aid in healing injured or sore gums while puppies are teething.

Don’t forget to keep your books, shoes and clothing out of harm’s way of a teething puppy. Crate the puppy when you’re out of the house or confine him in a safe area with all his appropriate chew bones and toys.

If you catch your puppy chewing something inappropriate, sternly say “NO,” and give your puppy an appropriate chew bone or toy. Praise him when he begins to chew on the appropriate item.

Bitter-tasting liquids are very helpful to apply to your furniture and handy to use on a bandage after a veterinary procedure to keep dogs and puppies from chewing the bandage.

When the permanent teeth begin to erupt, provide your toy puppy with an appropriate chew toy, something that is soft and that is not going to be swallowed and cause intestinal blockages. Choose an assortment of toys of all textures. In fact, dogs need to chew throughout their lives. It is wise to provide your adult toy dog with plenty of chew toys and bones that are soft and hard. Select items that are the right size for your toy breed puppy or dog. Choose carefully because some of the toys on the market might be just a little too hard for a toy breed. Avoid cow hooves with sharp edges. Broken teeth and sliced gums can be a real problem for dogs and puppies who chew on processed cow hooves. Some vet dental consultants think toys that look like stringy dental floss are like chewing on a rag and can be loaded with harmful bacteria when they get dirty. Wash your toy puppy’s toys often in the washer along with their other belongings and use Clorox bleach in the wash.

Also avoid rawhide strips or rawhide of any kind.

Raising a puppie into a dog can be a very rewarding experience. It is like seeing a family member grow up, but in fast motion. Of course, I am talking about dogs not people. My wife, Barbara, and I raise Yorkies and Maltese and tend to think of them sometimes as family members. Except, these guys never need to borrow the car keys or stay out too late.

This morning, we had a litter of six Yorkies born. Both of us were on hand to help the mother. Most of the time, a mother dog doesn’t really need any help, but sometimes there are problems. I cut the umbilical cords and tie them with dental floss. The mother dog would ordinarily chew the umbilical cords into by herself. With some breeds, such as Yorkies, sometimes the mother has too much trouble turning around to reach the cord, so I am there to help.

After the puppies are born, we put them in a warm room in our house. They get a dry, clean, warm bed consisting of a wooden frame about 24 inches square made of 1 by 12 boards. There is no bottom. This square just sets upon a cloth pallet on the floor. For the first week, we insert a small heating pad beneath the pallet. If you buy the disposable bed pads made for human use, they are great for the mama and her babies to lay on.

We keep a close eye on the little family evey day. Make sure the puppies are warm and dry. You can tell when the puppies are warm…they will tend to spread out on their bedding. Cold puppies tend to bunch up tight to conserve body heat. Make sure the mother dog is clean and that all the puppies are nursing. The mother’s udder should be checked every day for milk production and infection. She will not go far from her puppies during the first few days, so bring her food and water very near to her.

For a mother dog to do well, she needs a quiet, secure place to be with her puppies. Stress can have a negative effect on the mother dog and her puppies. Keep other dogs away from her. Strange people can cause undue stress. Don’t bring in all your freinds and their children for the first several weeks.

A lactating mother dog uses a lot of calcium and should be given calcium pills each day. If she suddenly goes into shock, she may be too low on calcium and will need immediate attention from your vet.

For about a month, the mother will take care of most things. After a few weeks, the puppies will open their eyes and start trying to stand up and walk. Playing comes soon after. In about 4 to 5 weeks, the puppies will be ready to start eating solid food. A mixture of canned and dry food with a little water to soften it is a good first food. Then, slowly reduce the moisture content until the puppies and eating canned or dry food only.

The holiday season is one that is filled with treats for the humans but dogs don’t have to be left out of the festivities. There are many dog treat recipes available that can be used to create holiday cookies for your dog. Any dog treat recipes that you find that involve using cookie cutters can be converted to holiday dog treat recipes by using a festive cookie cutter to cut out the shapes. The following is just one of the many dog treat recipes that can be used to create holiday cookies that are sure to delight the dog in your family.

1 cup cornmeal

3 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour

1 tablespoon garlic powder

4 tablespoons instant soup stock mix

4 pieces of bacon cooked and chopped into small pieces

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 1/3 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl and then add the bacon, vegetable oil and peanut butter. Next add the water a little bit at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.

Knead the dough by hand and then roll it onto a floured surface until it is 1/4 inch thick. Next, cut the dough using cookie cutters of the desired shape. Bake for approx 35 - 45 minutes, basting lightly bacon drippings periodically throughout the cooking process. After the 45 minutes turn off the oven and leave the homemade dog treats inside for an additional hour. This will help the treats to harden making them effective for helping to clean your dog’s teeth. After removing the treats, allow them to cool adequately before serving them to your dog.

The American Foxhound evolved from the dogs who were originally brought into this country as English Foxhounds by early settlers before the United States became independent from Great Britain. Early colonists used these hounds in large groups called packs to hunt fox followed by humans on horseback. This type of hound has the typical “bay” when following their prey and become especially loud with a distinctive change in the vocalization when they corner the animal. Americans used their hounds more for hunting deer and fox with solitary dogs . Most early colonists still maintained several dogs on their property and tended to keep them together in a group in their kennels however. Hunters who still used the dogs in packs tended to have smaller packs than were used in the English countryside. The breed gradually changed to a dog with finer bone structure and longer leg than its English counterpart and became known as a separate breed.

The American Foxhounds still maintain the “pack” nature and if raised as a kennel dog will behave as a dog that runs in a pack, being more “dog-oriented” than people oriented in nature. Most of these dogs even when kept as a lone hunting dog are more prone to be independent and relate more to dogs than people since this has for many many years been a part of their temperamental and genetic makeup. However, dogs who are socialized early can become great house pets and are generally very affectionate. As a general rule these dogs make gentle and quiet household pets if they are brought up as part of the family. They make fine watchdogs as they will give voice when unusual things occur in their environment. They are easy to train if the owner establishes themselves as pack leader, but are independent and strong willed if left to their own devices. Foxhounds kept in the house do best when they do have other dogs in the household. Dogs that have for centuries lived as part of the pack need companionship of other dogs or at least a pack mentality in their household and without this they can exhibit real problem behaviors. These behaviors can include separation anxiety and repetitive movements such as tail chasing or circling. They need plenty of exercise as do all dogs who are bred to be hunters.

The coat is short, the breed has a medium to long tail, with a well balanced and powerful neck and the typical “hound” appearance to the muzzle. The colors are black and tan and white generally in no particular pattern except that the areas of color are usually large in prominent patches rather than “speckled” or roan. The head of the American Foxhound has natural tulip shaped ears which lop over and a soft expression to the eye. This breed has been consistently healthy through many years and exhibits few health problems. Of course any dog that will be used for breeding should be x-rayed for hip dysplasia but other than this there are few genetic conditions.