How to Groom a Golden Retriever

Grooming Your Healthy Golden Retriever
By Laurence Burrows

We love our dogs, and golden retriever health is important to us. Goldens are wonderful family dogs, dependable service dogs, and talented in competition. However, there is that one great obstacle to golden retriever ownership: hair! So, what are the secrets of grooming? What are the keys to bathing? How do you clean the hair from your house?

How did Gomez and Morticia look after Cousin It? Luckily, grooming your golden retriever should be a lot easier. Goldens have a rich, water-resistant double coat and require regular grooming to keep them healthy. Start grooming your puppy regularly even if his or her young coat doesn't really need it. That way you train your puppy to be calm when handled making grooming easy in the future. Treat the process like a pleasant massage and reward your dog when you are done. Using a bristle brush, brush and comb your golden at least twice a week. Brush more often if your dog's coat is longer or if he or she is shedding. Also use an undercoat rake for the thick undercoat. With practice you can get your grooming done in about 30 minutes.

Mats should also be combed out before they get too big and become painful for your dog. If they can't be combed out, they must be cut out. Slide a comb between the mat and the skin. Then, carefully cut out the matted hair with scissors. Cut out as little hair as possible. If you are worried about injuring your dog with scissors, there are mat breakers that can be mail ordered or purchased. Never shave your golden no matter what the season is. The 2 coats work together to protect your dog's skin from the cold, heat, moisture, and sun. After your golden goes out running in a field, or walks through the woods, is a great time for a grooming session. Remove any thistles and burrs and check for fleas and ticks. The dog park is another hotspot for fleas.

The only hair on a golden that should be trimmed periodically is on the tail, feet, and inside the ears. For trimming, use grooming shears. Keep the tail hair from getting too long; ideally it should look like a fan. Trim any long hair around the feet and keep the lower feet hair even with the pads. On the inside of the ears, keep the hair thin. On the outside of the ears, keep the hair tidy. Goldens tend to get ear infections if they are not cleaned. Clean the ears at least twice per month. Put a few drops of ear cleansing solution in the ear canals and rub gently. Use a q-tip or cloth to mop up any solution and debris.

Your golden's nails need to be regularly clipped when they get too long. Long nails can be annoying to dog owners, but most importantly they can cause foot problems for your dog. Use dog nail clippers to trim the tip of the nails. Be careful not to clip them too much at a time in order to avoid clipping the quick. Styptic powder can be applied to stop the bleeding if the quick is damaged or cut.

How do you handle shedding? Goldens shed all year round. However, they have two major shedding periods in the spring and fall. The outer coat stays the same all year. It is the undercoat that sheds all of that golden fluff. The undercoat grows thicker in cold weather to keep your dog dry and warm. It falls out in clumps when the weather warms up again. You can reduce the fluff during these times by grooming more often. Using a grooming rake, remove as much of the undercoat as possible. How do you clean your house of all the pet hair? Start with a good vacuum, though it alone may not get rid of all of the hair. On your fabric, use a damp sponge wiping from the back to the front. This should roll up the extra hair. Another option for hair on furniture is to buy netting from a fabric store. On floors, simple sweeping and mopping should do the trick.

Before you bath your golden, brush him or her first to avoid making tangles of hair worse. Use a quality dog shampoo only, since human shampoo will dry out the skin. Do not bath your golden too often or your dog could lose his or her undercoat. You can always brush and wash off your dog with plain water. Regular grooming will build a closer relationship between you and your dog, and will keep your golden healthy and happy!

Laurence Burrows is a golden retriever lover, and trainer. Look here for more great golden retriever health and training tips. Click here for more great http://www.loyalgoldenretriever.com articles.

Siberian Husky Profile

Siberian Husky Personality and Traits
By Jess P Strong

The Siberian Husky is alert, friendly, outgoing, mischievous, cunning, and very intelligent.

He's very affectionate with his family and loved ones. He's also very friendly with strangers. You might think from his wolf-like appearance that he makes a good guard dog. This isn't true. He may scare away an intruder by the way he looks, but he isn't territorial or protective. He's much more likely to make friends with an intruder and give him a kiss then to be aggressive with him.

Siberian Huskies need a lot of exercise each day. You'll need to be able to take him for a jog or a walk each day if you don't have a big, securely fenced back yard.

They also thrive on your love and companionship. If you can't spend at least a few hours each week playing with your Siberian (on top of walking him) then don't get one.

Siberians can be quite destructive. They are an intelligent breed and need to have constant mental stimulation. If they get bored then they will start destroying things! If you leave a bored and lonely Siberian in your home you'll likely return to find that you don't have a home anymore, he will most likely have chewed it apart. Say good bye to your new couch, he'll tear it to shreds! So if you're at work for more then a few hours per day and would have to leave him by himself, then don't get a Siberian. They need someone to be with them and they need something to do! Or else they will find their own way to entertain themselves (their way is by chewing and being destructive).

Siberian Huskies also love to dig holes in the dirt. Any dirt will do. Even your flowerbed or vegetable garden. If you own a Husky you must give him a space where he's allowed to dig and fence off the places where he isn't allowed to dig.

Siberians aren't the fastest learners when it comes to teaching them obedience commands or tricks. They are very independent and prefer to do their own thing then to learn what you want them to learn. However they aren't too difficult to train, and with patience and persistence (and gentle, positive training methods) you can get an obedient dog!

Siberians are excellent at escaping. You'll need at least six-foot high, secure fences, or he'll just go right over the top. He may even try to dig under the fence.

Siberians have an extremely high prey drive. Anything little that scampers past them is fair game! Whether it be a cat, rabbit, hamster, mouse, chicken, and possibly even a small toy dog. Siberians cannot be trusted around small animals! When raised with a cat they generally do well with them. However, even when raised with a cat and having happily lived with it for many years, he may still kill it.

For more information on the Siberian Husky click here.

What To Do if Your Dog Gets Lost

Lost Dogs?
By B Taggart

Many dog owners fear losing their beloved pet, but are unaware of what they should do in the event that their animal does go missing, to improve their chances of bringing them home safe and sound.

The key advice to remember if you pet goes missing is to act quickly. If your dog has wandered off on its own, it likely won't have gone too far, so even asking around your neighbourhood could reveal its whereabouts, especially as your dog may even have become trapped in sheds or under hedges. You don't need to feel embarrassed about calling loudly for your pet, either - if your dog hears your recognisable voice, it could help it find its way home.

If you're fairly certain your dog is not to be found in your local area, it's time to take the campaign wider. Calling local animal rescue shelters is a vital step, as your dog may have been found wandering alone and taken in. You should be aware that some shelters only keep stray animals for a limited time, due to overcrowding and lack of funding, so it's a good idea to check back regularly and see if a dog matching your pet's description has been recovered.

Other calls can be made to local newspapers to place a lost pet ad, and you can print off your own flyers at home or in the local library to spread the word. If you include a colour photo of your dog, rather than just a description, this could also boost your chances of someone spotting the animal and remembering your flyer. Printing or photocopying flyers and placing advertisements may sound like an expensive task, but depending on your dog Insurance policy, you could find that you receive financial help towards these costs.

Pet insurance is not the only consideration you can make as a responsible pet owner; you could also consider having your dog micro-chipped so you'll always know their whereabouts. Many animal wardens and charities will scan for microchips as soon as they recover lost animals, and this will bring up the owner's contact details and address, meaning you could be reunited in less than 24 hours.

In today's tech-savvy world, you can also make use of the internet to track down your missing animal, leaving free posts on dedicated dog owner websites and social networks.

Bob Taggart writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

Dog Shoe Tips

Tips for Buying Dog Shoes for Your Pet Dog
By Nicole Viscuso

Every dog owner is greatly attached to his pet dog and nurtures and protects him as his own child. Dog owners try their level best to keep their dog happy and because they love them so much many people nowadays are buying dog accessories and clothes for their pet dogs. Dog clothing's, accessories, and shoes are now in fashion and most people are excited to buy these items which make their pets look unique and attractive.

Dogs are very loving and playful animals; they are usually hyper and are active throughout the day. Buying your dog different types of clothes, shoes and accessories are now in fashion and they provide some sort of protection from different objects and things and even protect them from harsh weather conditions. So not only items are fashionable but it can be very beneficial for your dog's safety.

There are varieties of clothes available for dogs which can be for many occasions, you can find the one of your choice easily but make sure that those clothes are not very suffocating and your pet is comfortable in it. Clothes are helpful for dogs because it can protect them from severe winter winds and cold and it can protect your pet from getting any scratches and wounds through roaming around different places.

Just like shoes are as important for humans as it protects our feet same it is very beneficial and advantageous for your pet dog. Dogs tend to run around in garden or parks or anywhere he wishes to go, dog shoes are very protective for their paws as they can avoid their paws from broken glass pieces and pins, it can protect them from sharp thorns and other dangerous materials which can cause sever wounds.

Dog shoes are available in different categories and style. You can easily find trendy and stylish shoes to make your pet look attractive and unique, or you can buy them different types of boots which can protect them from winter colds and you can find the ones that your pet can wear and go on a jog or hiking with you easily. Such boots are very thick from their sole as to protect sharp and harmful things to affect their paws. These boots are thick enough and can provide good heat and avoid cold floor while wearing them. In sever winter conditions these boots are very useful as dogs might get sick and fall ill due to such cold conditions.

Dog shoes are not that expensive item and you can purchase them easily. It is up to your budget that how much can you spend on their shoes and there are different price categories in these items. You can find expensive shoes which are of famous pet boutique and you can find the normal cheap ones in the market as well.

Make sure that your pet is comfortable and the shoes that you buy them is of the right size.

Buy Dog Grooming Products and Dog Shoes online at PuppyLaPu.Com.

3 Good Companion Breeds For Seniors

Companionship With Low Maintenance Dogs For the Elderly
By T Halsell

Studies have shown that pets greatly help the elderly with the need for companionship. While pets can take various forms, dogs consistently rank at the top of the list of favorite pets for the elderly. In unofficial polling upwards of ninety percent of seniors say that they are less lonely and much happier when they have adopted a pet. With this train of thought in mind, the question becomes, are some dogs lower maintenance for the elderly than others.

A consideration in selecting a dog as a companion for a senior is the actual size of the dog.  Large dogs who need a lot of space and require a good amount of exercise are not the best choice for the elderly.  A small dog on the order of a "lap dog" who desires to be handled and petted is often the first place to start looking for a good match.  Also, consider that if a trip to the vet is necessary, a small dog is easier for the elderly person to handle.

Dogs reported to be tolerant and yet very attentive to the elderly are the following breeds.  A pug is reputed to be very loving and yet able to calm itself just to lay on the owner's lap.  These dogs need attention but give as much and more as they receive.  Short-haired and a bit of clown, the pug is a great companion for the senior citizen.

Another popular small breed for the senior ready for a lively companion is the Pomeranian.  These little dogs have a lot of personality and with their "fuzzy" good looks very cuddly.  As is often true of small dogs, the Pomeranian has quite a personality and will interact with the senior owner as a good loving little companion.

Finally, the last of the breeds I will mention for consideration is the "ferocious" and very noisy but very cute little Chihuahua.  Weighing almost five pounds soaking wet, and somewhere between 6 to 9 inches tall, the little Chihuahua will be the companion who sounds the alarm anytime someone come near the house.  The little dog with the big bark is also very affectionate and a good little guard dog.

Any of the breeds mentioned above are a good starting place for an elderly, who may well be limited as to space.  In any event, these are low maintenance dogs who can provide good companionship for the elderly given a chance.

T Halsell is a writer who grew up in Kentucky and relocated to the Washington DC Metro area in the mid 70's. During this time she worked in many areas but began to write various articles about experiences with animals out a love especially for dogs. The Dog Training Academy is a website hosted at http://www.learnhowtotrainadog.com and will give the reader more information especially on training puppies. Take time to become an effective master for your dog's sake.

Tips for Buying a Dog or Puppy Online

How to Buy a Dog Online?
By John Cvetkovic

The usage of online medium for picking the best dogs that are available in the market is really catching up like never before. The best part is using this medium is that just about anybody can try it out at no great cost and also go through plenty of options before zeroing in on any breed of dog. However, with this medium, you really need to be patient to buy the best one from the dogs for sale place. Only by doing this, you are likely to select a dog that will be truly dedicated to you and will serve you like one else. There are many guides on how you can buy dogs through internet. But you needn't go through all of them. Following essential tips should easily work for you.

Long gone are the days when you had to post an ad in your local daily newspaper regarding dogs for sale and wait for its results to pour in. Today, all this and more can be done in a more efficient and easy way, right from the comfort of your home. And, guess what? You don't have to rely on any newspaper to get the response you needed. All the work can be done via internet. You will be interested to now that there are plenty of websites online through which you can always get the breed of dog you wanted. But before you proceed to make a choice you need to exercise a bit of caution.

As a prospective dog buyer, you would love to make sure that the dogs for sale place is a legitimate one and they will offer you with all kinds of services related to this business. There are obviously different tricks how you can find if they are genuine or not. As a rule of thumb, you need to understand that genuine websites will only provide you with relevant information pertaining to selling and buying of dogs and nothing extra. So, if you come across a website that gives a lot of information pertaining to some other subject then you quickly need to eliminate it. Also, genuine online sites will offer you with plenty of choices that other sites find it hard to deliver.

Once you have chosen the right website for dogs for sale, half of your task is completed. You are then required to go through different options and see which one of those will work for you and which won't. It is important here to get your priorities right. This will, in fact, make your decision making process a lot easier. First, make sure that you go through different sections of classifieds and see what different sellers have on offer with regards to their dogs. If any of these ads attracts you, make sure to get the owners details and contact them directly. Fix an appointment to meet both the dog owner and the pet. This is important because you don't want to get foxed later. This step will assure you that you will get what you saw on the website. Dogs for Sale website is great solution to buy a puppy online. Check are there any Pomeranian Puppies for sale! Or maybe you are looking for Siberian husky puppies for sale!

How Spaying Helps Your Dog

Spaying Her Before You Have Grand Pups
By Ricardo Lumbardo

Spaying is the process of removing the reproductive system of your female dog to keep it from reproducing. This process is also known as ovariohysterectomy, which involves the removal of the uterus and the ovaries. In some cases, however, a hysterectomy is done, which means that only the uterus is removed. Ligation can also be performed on dogs, but the most common procedure is complete spaying or ovariohysterectomy. If humans have birth control methods, spaying is the birth control method for dogs. The process is done through a surgical operation, to be performed by your veterinarian.

How does spaying help?

Spaying has benefits on both the micro and the macro level. In general, spaying will help keep the dog population under control.The dog population is actually already out of control as it is, and it only keeps getting worse because dogs can reproduce pretty fast. To decrease the number of homeless strays and dogs in animal shelters, spaying are being done. On a personal level, spaying can help you avoid the unnecessary burden of taking care of little puppies that you're just not ready for. When you don't spay your female dog, you just might be faced with a number of puppies when you just want one pet. Aside from benefiting you and the society, spaying also provides benefits for the spayed dogs themselves. Spaying can actually keep your dog safe and content. How so? For one thing, dogs in heat usually wander out to look for a partner, and wandering around can be pretty dangerous for your dog. Aside from that, spaying your female dog can also keep it safe from certain diseases, such as kidney and urinary disorders, and cancer as well. Dogs in heat also tend to be discontent and uncomfortable, so spayed dogs will be easier to deal with. Spayed dogs also exhibit a more balanced temperament, and are known to be more behaved and easier to control. On top of that, since spaying can remove the possibility of pregnancy, your female dog will not have to go through the complications of pregnancy.

When and why should get your dog spayed?

The recommended practice in spaying dogs is to do the surgical operation early on, even before the female dog experiences its first heat. Most dogs are spayed before it reaches its eighth month. Thus, spaying will not really change your dog's temperament, and it also has no other known effects in the dog's overall growth, aside from favorable benefits. Claims that spaying dogs can make them gain weight faster have not been proven. Spaying is a very safe procedure that's even better than the birth control medications made especially for dogs. These medications often result to negative side effects. The best way is still to get your dog spayed, but before you do so, make sure that you have your veterinarian explain the entire process to you. Ask questions about the anesthesia that will be used, and how to ensure your dog's safety throughout the procedure. A spayed dog might also need to stay in the veterinary clinic for about a day after the operation. In most cases, the younger the spayed dog is, the faster it recovers from the operation.

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Types of Dog Collars...

* Editor: We're a big fan of harnesses here. Collars around the neck of an out of control dog can hurt the dogs throat.

Types of Dog Collars: How to Choose
By William M Springer

For the most part, dog collars are pretty simple. Grab one at the store, wrap it around the dog's neck, and call it good! As it happens, though, there are actually several distinct types of dog collars, made for various purposes. Let's have a look at how each one is used.

Most dogs wear the traditional collar: a nylon or leather strap around the neck. This suffices for most purposes.

Less convenient, but better for the dog's health, is a harness; this holds the dog's entire upper body rather than his neck. As a result, it avoids putting pressure on his throat and trachea when he pulls on the leash, and avoids hurting his back if he jerks suddenly. It can also make the dog much easier to keep a hold of!

Unlike the other types, a dog halter is not meant to be worn at all times, but is only used when the dog is being walked. It includes a band around the dog's nose that redirects his force; if he tries to pull on the leash it pulls his head to the side, annoying but not hurting him. This makes it easy for even a small person to control a large dog. Naturally, the dog should wear one of the other types of collars when he is not being walked.

Of course, once you've decided on the type of dog collar you want, there are a huge number of choices so far as color and style; it should be easy enough to find one that fits your needs and personality.

For more information about dog collars and related topics such as dog kennels, be sure to check out collarthedog.com, your site for all things dog-related.

Your Pet's First Grooming

Helping Your Pet Have An Enjoyable Grooming Experience
By Byron Cole Smith

Your groomer will give you a time to return to pick up your puppy, or will call you when he is finished. Make sure to give a contact number where you can be reached at any time. Whatever you do, do not come back early. Wait to be notified that your puppy is ready. If your puppy sees you or hears your voice, he could become so excited that it may make it impossible to finish his groom.

How to prepare for the big grooming day.

1) Set aside time every day to brush and comb your puppy. Make it your special 'together' time. Reward your puppy with plenty of praise and some treats.
2) Take him for short rides in the car to get him used to travelling.
3) Be sure to exercise your puppy right before his grooming appointment to allow him to relieve himself. Be sure to bring along one of his favorite toys.

You need to help your puppy enjoy his first grooming experience. On your way to the pet groomers you need to display an attitude of happiness. If you feel stressed and nervous, your pet will pick up on your feelings and may become fearful and apprehensive.

Your pets grooming salon is his special place. Allow him to anticipate and associate the professional pet grooming experience with fun and enjoyment.

The main objectives of your puppies first grooming experience are simple. The most important accomplishment of your puppy's first grooming session is...that he likes it. His first experience must be positive if at all possible. His first experience will last in his mind forever, positive or negative. Columbus Pet Grooming Professional Pet Grooming.

Miniature Dog and Teacup Puppy Tips

Secrets Revealed About Miniature Dogs and Teacup Puppies
By Ken Ninelover

Small dogs, teacup puppies and miniature dogs are all definitions of dogs which are smaller than their regular breeds. The fact that the dog is classed as a true miniature dog breed is down to whether or not it is a recognized dog breed by the various dog breeder societies around the world who maintain the definitive lists of dog breeds. They hold important information regarding size, weight and features of the dog which set it apart from its larger brothers.

Teacup puppies or teacup dogs are actually the runt(s) of the litter. These runts were given the affectionate name of teacup to enable unscrupulous breeders the ability to sell what would otherwise be a dog they could not sell and they would usually sell them for a premium price as well!. Note these animals would not be classed as an official breed as their tiny traits cannot generally be reproduced with any certainty.

Nevertheless Teacup puppies can actually be the offspring of breeders breeding two runts from different litters in an attempt to try and produce an even smaller version of their parents as I said earlier though the results can be rather unexpected!

These animals can often have health issues including the tendency to them breaking their bones in what would be classed as normal activity like jumping off the sofa, they can also display uncharacteristic behavioral traits that the full sized animal does not normally have.

True miniature dog breeds have been around a long time and have even been found mummified in Ancient Egyptian tombs. These animals can be bred consistently and their offspring are true to the breed-type.

In more recent times around the 1600′s, the miniature dog breeds were also very popular you may know King Charles loved his small spaniels and the breed was actually named after him. Many of the gentry of the time would have one or more of the miniature dogs as they were so popular.

Many small dog breeds survive today and are the favorite of city dwellers as they do not need the same space that a large dog needs. You can just about walk the dog by going around the block or over the local football field as they are so tiny.

Food bills can be lesser of course than feeding a large dog and of the mess that comes out the other end is not as much a hazard as that of a big dog just make sure you do not stand in it though.

There are of course many many specialist shops and businesses built on providing services, specialist food, clothing and play items for the smaller dog so you would not have to look too far to make your small pooch happy and comfortable in your apartment.

All in all there are many breeds of small dog available to be chosen as your favorite. As always with any pet it is important that you care for your animal well and love them, they will return your love with undying loyalty.

Often it is a god idea to shop around for some doggy insurance for your miniature dog, those vet bills are still going to be much larger than your dog and can actually be higher than you might pay for a regular breed of dog.

Ken is a lover of animals in general. He is particularly fascinated by the whole story of the miniature breeds and Teacup puppies. His particular favorite is the miniature Beagle with their big brown eyes and friendly loyal disposition.

He would love to hear from any other lovers of these smaller dogs - please go and have a look at his blog site at Miniature Dogs.