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posted by admin on Aug 17

Dog Flu Season: A new virus was discovered in 1999 at a greyhound track in Florida when several greyhounds became sick with cold like symptoms.
The disease as it turns out was more severe than kennel cough and extremely contagious.

According to Dr. Cynda Crawford of the University of Florida’s School of Veterinary Medicine and some other scientists, after a close examination determined, that this virus called canine influenza is closely related to that of horses.

The mystery is how did it jump from horses to dogs. The possible solution is that the raw horsemeat fed to the greyhounds carried the virus, which cannot be killed by freezing. It has been found in 24 states with the most cases appearing in Florida and New York. The virus seems to hit dogs in most cases between the ages of one to six years of age.

If your dog shows any signs of cold like symptoms, a quick trip to the vet is suggested, as the disease can be fatal to some dogs.

Also, do not allow your dog around any dog that seems to have a cold or take your pet out to be among other dogs, if it shows signs of a cold, as it is a very contagious disease.

Sugar Free Treats: There are now on the market “sugar free” products containing xylitol a sugar substance that can be highly toxic to some dogs, but fine for humans.

It looks and tastes like sugar and can be found in sugar free chewing gum, cookies, candies, baked goods and even in some toothpaste. It can cause liver failure in dogs. Why it causes liver failure is not yet known, but to be on the safe side do not feed your dog any sugar free products.

Dogs and winter weather: Some dogs like huskies and St. Bernards have been bred to withstand the cold and do not have many problems when faced with low temperatures, however they can suffer from hypothermia.

Hypothermia is caused by a drop in body temperature caused by prolong exposure to cold

Most other dogs such as puppies, older dogs, dogs with short hair or dogs with sparse hair can suffer fatally from a drop in body temperature.

Dogs should not be left outside during severe cold weather without some source of heat and shelter to keep warm.

Signs of hypothermia are lethargy, shivering, trouble breathing, or muscle stiffness. If your dog has been outside for a long period of time and shows any of these signs, a quick trip to the vet is suggested.

Frostbite: Is another cold weather condition that dogs can suffer from. A dog can easily get frostbite on its ears, tip of its tail and of course, its paws.

Frostbite is caused by prolonged exposure to extreme cold weather. Ice crystal’s form on the dog’s body parts, and the end result is dead tissue. The skin will become brittle and discolored – turning colors and may peel off. Veterinary care is suggested at once.

It is also suggested, if taking your dog out in inclement weather to spray the paw pads with a commercial cooking spray to help resist water from collecting on the paws and then freezing.

Antifreeze: Is another product to be careful of both in the winter and in the summer. Make certain all spilled antifreeze is cleaned up. It is very toxic to both cats and dogs. Both cats and dogs find antifreeze very tasty. A small amount can be fatal.

Volunteering: Have you ever wanted to help pets during a disaster, but did not know how to go about doing so. Starting in March a California animal emergency organization called Noah’s Wish will be holding several volunteer training sessions throughout the United States and Canada.

A three day on-site training session will be given and volunteers are required to take the training before they can join the National Animals Disaster Response team. For more information log on to: www.noahswish.org

Grooming your dog: Can sometimes be more of a pain for you than it is for your dog, as some dogs just do not like all that combing and brushing.

Since grooming should be fun and a bonding experience here are a few hints that may make grooming time a bit more relaxing.

First of all, relax, if you are tense, your dog will pick it up and become tense, too. The first thing is to decide on a grooming schedule that you can follow on a consistent basis.

Dogs like routine.

Massage your dog before your start the combing and brushing session. Massage relaxes the dog, feels good and loosens hair and dead skin. Then start the combing and brushing.

Try to have a special area for grooming, a table is great, as it will be the right height for you and saves your back and the couch. Get a set of good grooming tools.

If your dog suffers from mats and tangles that are almost impossible to get out, invest in a “mat splitter,” a unique tool that can be found where pet supplies are sold.

Floppy ears are so neat on dogs, but they have a tendency to smell, get dirty and encourage bacteria. By investing in an ear wash made for dogs and establishing a monthly routine you can eliminate many problems. Spray the ear wash into your dog’s ear, let the dog shake its head to distribute the liquid and then using cotton balls (no swabs) clean out the residue.

Training Tips: If you are in the market for a new puppy or have one already, here are a few tips to help in the training process:

A dog need exercise and metal stimulation. Dogs are not meant to sit and look pretty 24/7. A tired dog is a happy dog.

If you are new at training a puppy, there are many good books available that will give you all the help you need.

Enjoy your pet, whether it be a dog or cat, give it the love and attention it deserves, the rewards back to us are endless.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to read more please visit me at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com/

posted by admin on Aug 16

There’s usually a hot kennel at any dog track. Their dogs are burning up the track by winning more than their share of races. Sometimes, they’ll win several of the fifteen races on the program, one right after the other. You go over your program and look at your picks and wonder why you didn’t see it before you bet the other kennels. Geez, if you’d bet on dogs from HotBox kennel, you’d have cleaned up.

Or would you? Sure, a bunch of HotBox’s dogs came in first and second. And, yes, the kennel does seem to be on a winning streak. But before you go back to the track determined to bet on only that kennel’s dogs, let’s think this over.

No matter how hot a kennel is, it’s not going to have a winner in every race. Statistically, it might have a 30% win average, which is good. But that means that its dogs DON’T win 7 out of 10 races. And when they do win, they’re often favorites at low odds, so they don’t pay enough to cover the times they don’t win.

Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t keep track of the kennel standings, especially the ones that aren’t doing as well. I think it’s more important to notice a kennel that might have problems with sickness or poor quality dogs or maybe they’ve just wormed all their dogs which can affect their racing performance significantly. But I don’t obsess over it. It’s not a major consideration for me when I handicap the dogs.

My main considerations are the same no matter which kennel the dog comes from. (See my article on Handicapping to Beat the Competition). Class, Post Position Preference, Running Style and Pace of the race are my main considerations. If the dog that has the best of all of the above is from a hot kennel, that’s all the better, although it might lower the odds and make it pay less if it wins. Still, you have to play them the way you handicap them.

Kennels have streaks, just like dogs and bettors do. Trying to pick winners on the basis of kennel standings just doesn’t pay. One thing that does pay is picking a good handicapping method or system.

Before you go to the dog track, find out why smart handicappers are checking out the free articles, tips and Winning Greyhound Systems at http://ebnetr.com

posted by admin on Aug 15

Choosing a dog to be a family pet is a difficult decision to make. Not only do you have to pick the right dog but you are responsible for your pet for it’s whole life. Your new best friend will make a significant impact on your life. Pick the right dog and it will enrich your life. Go for the wrong breed and you and your dog may well be extremely miserable indeed.

Unfortunately, many folks thinking about a dog and which breed to choose make size or the way the look their number one priority, yet,however there is much more in finding the right dog for you family than meets the eye. Picking a dog breed whose natural manner and requirements fit into your life is your first stop.

Your fist step in attaining your is to go for the best breed category. This way you will be considering dog breeds whose natural characteristics should make them more successful for your family.

Fortunately for you, originations all over the world have adopted a system of assigning different dog breeds in broad categories by the type of job they were bred for. A great place to start your research is your national canine organization. The one to examine are: American Kennel Club, UK Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club.

Usually the following categories to separate the different dog breeds:

Hunting Dogs (Gundogs)

Working Dogs

Utility Dogs

Terriers

Toy Dogs

Hounds

Lets take a look at these categories in depth.

Hounds were bred for their keen sense of smell and sight. Again they were used (and still are) for hunting. Dogs in this group make great pets but must have lots of exercise if you are to make them happy in your family. Well known breeds include: Daschunds, Basset Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Deerhounds, Beagles, Whippets and Greyhounds. You may have noticed there great variation in stature in this group.

Hunting dogs were bred originally for searching for and recovering game. Typically they are easily trainable, loyal and companionable animals. They make fantastic pets and have a idealall-round temperament which makes for easy integration into homes with children. They do often need lots of exercise and crave attention which if not given often leads to behavior difficulties. The hunting dog group can be segmented into four sub-groups: Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve, Retrievers, and Setters.

Toy dogs are the tiny companions and lap animals of the canine catagories. Althoug each dog was used for a certain use, they are placed into this group for their size. Typically, toy dogs are amicable and faithful, and need lots of care. They are intelligent and are easily over indulged as their masters can be poor on obedience due to their diminutive size. In this group are: Chihuahuas, Pugs, Papillions, Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles.

In the beginning, all terriers were used in order to hunt unwanted rodents like . They are usually small dogs, as they needed to be lower to the ground to seize the vermin and other pests that they hunted. These dogs are often brave, and intensely resolute. They are ancient forms of breeds, as far – if not further – than the Middle Ages. Today terriers are thought of as handsome dogs, butthey are better suited tomore expert dog masters because of their more aggressive temperament. Some of the terriers include: Airedale, Boston, Welsh, Border, Wire Fox, Cairn, Jack Russell, Staffordshire, Scottish, Lakeland and West Highland White and Miniature Schnauzer.

Utility dogs are a group of many many different kinds of breeds put in the same catagory because of their non sporting beginnings. They have generally been bred for a specific purpose, but, these functions are greatly varied. Here you will find breeds like: Dalmations, English Bulldogs, American Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Shih Tzus and Poodles. Breeds in this group are often the oldest breeds recorded.

Working dogs have been designed for rescuing, guarding and searching. Example breeds in this group include: Great Danes, Collies, Rottweillers, Mastiffs, Corgis, German Shepherds, Dobermanns, Old English Sheepdogs, Newfoundlands and Boxers. Often called the “champions” of the dog world, being bred to succeed at their particular job.

Having shown you more information about the different groups of dog breed and their virtues you should be able to choose a group and dog suited to you and your family.

Discover more about dog breeds and why the group they are in will help your choice of puppy at bedogsavvy.com.

posted by admin on Aug 13

Choosing the right dog for your lifestyle is a bit of a challenge. Our lives are very busy and as adults we have formed our own opinions on how we want to live and what we want in our lives.

At one point or another the thought of a pet creeps into our thinking and usually the types of pet we choose is either a cat or dog.

Cats as a general rule can fit into a lifestyle quite nicely. Dogs on the other hand require a bit more thought as they do require more space, time, and general care.

The purpose of this article is to alert you to some of the types of breeds there are and how their demands might fit into your lifestyle.

The first thing we will consider is “apartment living and the dog.”

Granted there are many apartments that will not allow a dog for obvious reasons. Some dog owners who are not responsible have made it almost impossible for the responsible dog owner to find a place to live.

Animal shelters are filled with dogs that their owners have either abandoned or have turned over to the shelter because they cannot keep them in an apartment.

It is very hard to keep a barking dog in an apartment. It is equally unfair to keep a large dog that needs plenty of exercise and doesn’t get it, from tearing up the carpet or chewing on the woodwork out of sheer boredom. If you want a dog and live in an apartment there are certain breeds that make good apartment dogs. Some dogs secretly want to become “couch Potatoes” and would love living in an apartment or condominium.

Some of these low energy dogs are: Cocker Spaniels, Clumber Spaniels, Bichon Frise, Poodles, Lhasa Apso, Shih-Tzu, Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahua, Maltese, Papillon, Pekinese, Pomeranian, and Cockapoo to name a few. Mixed breeds with combinations of these dogs can make good pets, too. This does not mean they do not need exercise; it means that they don’t demand a great deal of it and for the most part are not noisy (granted a few are.)
If you are moving into an apartment and already have a similar dog and the apartment owner or manager is not too happy with the idea of you moving in, you might consider this game plan.

Put together a packet that includes a list of references such as your vet, current neighbors, possibly a former landlord and others, that will state the pet is well kept and that you are a responsible owner. Include information on your pet’s current vaccinations, proof of license, a record that shows the pet was spayed or neutered and a copy of obedience school training, if applicable. Also include a promise to clean up after the pet inside (should an accident occur) and outside, agree to a pet deposit, promise to keep the pet “flea free” as well as the apartment and agree to sign a policy agreement if necessary.

Offer to bring the pet in for an interview and allow the owner or manager the opportunity to visit your apartment at times that are convenient.

If you are living in an apartment that has no set rules about pets, I would consider asking for permission before I ventured out and became a pet parent.

Depending on the situation, I would also present, when I applied for permission, a list of references stating that you are a responsible person and the name of a vet you are considering on using for your pet. Offer to pay a pet security deposit and make list of things you will do in caring for your pet and the apartment, should you be allowed a pet.

It has been proven that most pet owners are responsible people.

It is unfortunate that there are some people that do not care about the property of others and truly do not care about taken proper care of their pets.

When trying to convince your future landlord or your current landlord that having a pet in the building is a good idea, keep a cool head. Spend some time gathering evidence that a responsible pet owner is also a responsible tenant. Be willing to compromise.

If having a dog is no problem and you are looking for a dog that demands “only some exercise.” Here are a few breeds or to consider: Bulldog, Pug, Italian Greyhound, and Miniature Fox Terrier, Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Pekepoo, plus there are many more.

If shedding is another point of contention, when thinking of getting a dog I have included some of those breeds. There are many people that do not think having cat or dog hair on their clothes is a sign of a well-groomed person.

Keep in mind there truly isn’t a dog that is totally “non-shedding.” All dogs shed some, however there are some breeds that shed little and here is a list of some of them: Airdale Terrier, Basenj, Bichon Frise, Bichon/Yorkie, Cairn Terrier, Cockapoo, Schnauzer, Kerry Blue Terrier, Labradoodle, Maltese, Schnoodles, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier and many more.

Some of us really just want a “lap dog.” The truth being most dogs “big or small” would love to be a lap dog. However, I am going to list a few that are truly lap dogs: American Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Bichon/Yorkie, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Malti-poo, poodles, many Terriers, Shih-Tzu, Schnoodles and many more of the smaller dogs.

If you are a jogger, you may want a companion to run with you and there are some dogs that just love to run. Among the breeds that love running you will find: Airedale Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, Australian Cattle Dogs, Basenjis, Bearded Collies, Boxers, Dalmatians, Doberman Pinschers, Golden Retrievers, Greyhounds, Irish Setters, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Rottweilers only to name a few.

Along with running there are some dogs that have a high need for exercise. These are dogs that need long walks, running and big yards to play in.

I cannot name them all, but here are a few of the standard breeds: Airedale Terrier, Afghan Hound, Australian Cattle Dog, Border Collie, Brittany Spaniel, Dalmatian, English Setter, Great Pyrenees, Irish Setter, Vizula, Weimaraner, and the Redbone Coonhound.

There are many popular mixed breeds in dogs. The poodle has more combinations than you can count from Boxerdoodle, Cockapoo, Lhasapoo, Schnoodle, Shih-Poo, to a Weimardoodle (which I would love to see.) Think of a combination of dogs and somewhere you will be able to find it. There are breeders that raise mixed breeds, all you need to do is get on the Internet and find one. Just be certain to check out their credentials before you buy and try to see the dogs before your buy.

If you already have a pet and wonder what kind of dog would get along with your cat, bird or whatever. Here is a list of some dogs that are usually good with other pets (notice I said usually, there are no guarantees.)

The generally good ones are: Affenpinscher, American Cocker Spaniel, American Eskimo Dog, Australian Shepherd, Basset Hound, Bearded Collie, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Dachshund, Gordon Setter, Keeshond, and there are many more.

Some dogs will get along with other types of pets if they are raised with them from puppy-hood. Among those are: American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Chihuahua, English Springer Spaniel, Great Dane, Mastiff and many more.

Now there are some that are not trustworthy with other pets, (what comes to my mind is a picture of a Greyhound and a bunny.) Here is a short list of some of the breeds: Bichon/Yorkie, Bull terrier, Dingo, Fox Terrier, Irish Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Miniature Fox Terrier, Rat Terrier, Silky Terrier and more. I believe the Terrier breed was bred by the English to hunt rodents and small prey and that may be why they do not get along with other pets.

In order to cover all categories I will mention some breeds that do not get along with anything except another dog and I would be careful there, too. Afghan Hounds will start our list and I will continue with Australian Cattle Dog, Basenji, Beagle, Border Collie, Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Samoyed, Whippet and Weimaraner, however there are more.

If you are looking for a dog that will be great with your children, I will cover some of those, too. The better dogs are: American Cocker Spaniel, American Mastiff, American Bulldog, Basset Hound, Bloodhound, English Setter, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Gordon Setter, Keeshond, Labrador Retriever, Pug, Saint Bernard, and there are others.

Some of the best dogs for older children (children that will not tease the dogs are:) Alaskan Malamute, Border Collie, Cairn Terrier, Chihuahua, Chow Chow, Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Pekingese, Pekepoo, Pomeranian, Shih-Tzu, and of course there are more.

There truly is a “dog” for every lifestyle, you just need to take your time and search for it.

The Internet is a great source for finding information on breeds. There are many breeders that are willing to help you find the perfect pet.

Dogs can be a challenge. You need patience and you need to be willing to give of your time and love. Do not consider a dog, if you are not willing to take complete responsibility for it. Being a dog parent requires time, money, patience, love and respect for another life. If you are up to the responsibility, a dog will give you so much more in return.

If this article has been of benefit, please visit my web site and blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com

posted by admin on Aug 10

To win at the dog track, you have to be better than the average bettor. Because pari-mutuel betting is betting against the other bettors, not the track, it’s the guy or gal next to you that you have to beat, not the announcer or the track owner or managers. (Unless they’re betting too, which shouldn’t be allowed, but that’s another article.)

Obviously, most of the crowd is wrong most of the time. I think I read somewhere once that bettors pick the winner about 1 out of 4 times. Since the favorite doesn’t pay very well, that wouldn’t give you a profit, that’s for sure. So if you want to win money at the dog track, you’re going to have to think and bet differently from how the crowd thinks and bets.

A lot of people in the crowd play numbers – the 1/2 quiniela, their kids’ birthdates, their house number or their car’s plate number. This is not handicapping. This is like playing the lottery, which is probably what they should do with their numbers, if they really have to bet on them.

Another segment of the crowd plays the numbers at the bottom of the program. These predictions come from the track’s designated handicapper, who may or may not have a clue as to who’s likely to come in. Depending on someone else to pick dogs for you, especially when the picks are shared with everyone else at the track, isn’t handicapping. It’s a lazy way to lose money. Same thing with getting tips from friends, trainers and anyone else who tells you about a sure thing or some set-up that they heard is happening in a race.

Einstein, who was certainly smart enough to win at the track although I don’t know if he ever went, said this: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That’s what most of the crowd is doing when they try to win money at races. If you want to beat them, you have to figure out something different.

Handicap your program. Keep records. Pay attention to Class, Consistency and Competition when you pick dogs to bet. Don’t look at the toteboard when you make your bets, because the toteboard only tells you what the crowd thinks the odds should be. It doesn’t tell you what the odds should really be, based on sound handicapping.

If you’re not winning at the dog track, find helpful articles and greyhound handicapping information at Winning at the Dog Track with Eb. From Florida to New Hampshire and all the tracks in between, Eb knows greyhounds. Find out how to win at the dog track at Eb’s.

posted by admin on Aug 9

Exercise for your dog is an essential part of their every day life. If your dog doesn’t exercise how is it going to keep fit and healthy? Oh, and let’s blow this particular myth away, large dogs do not need more exercise than small dogs. What you should consider when determining how much exercise your dog actually needs is to consider what your dog was originally bred for. This will help to give you some kind of indication as to the type and amount of exercise your dog really needs.
Let’s think about it for a minute. Would a dog breed that is built for sprinting get more benefit from a long walk on a lead or two walks off the lead that allow the dog to open its legs and run?
Here are a few examples for you to consider:

• Greyhounds are sprinters – long lead or short runs?

• Terriers are bred to sniff out vermin – on lead or off lead?

• Retrievers are bred to retrieve – on lead or exercise through fetch games?

How did you do? I hope you said off lead for all of them because they cannot function like their breeding tells them to unless they have the freedom to run, sniff or chase.

Remember, human walking speed is too slow for dogs, it’s not a natural pace to them.
Your dog will benefit far more by being allowed to run free off the lead in a safe environment than they ever will from a long walk on a lead whether that’s on grass or on a pavement.

Even though being off the lead is better for your dog you must ensure your dog is trained enough so as to always come back to you when called. If your dog won’t come to you then always keep them on a lead for safety.

There are also certain breeds that need mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.
If you have an active dog you should consider mental activity like agility or obedience classes. This should help keep your dog stimulated and prevent it becoming overweight, disinterested or a problem dog.

All dogs exercise requirements will vary because of their breed and size.
Also, your dogs exercise requirements will change due to age.

Let’s take a look at that particular aspect.

Whilst a puppy your dog needs controlled exercise which will keep them occupied and help build strong muscles. But, if you make them twist and turn suddenly through exercise that is too hard you will injure your puppy as their joints are still developing and their bones are soft. You particularly have to be mindful of this with large breeds.

Make sure you factor in plenty of sleeping time for your puppy between exercise periods.

As your dog gets older and moves towards becoming a healthy adult build up their exercise tolerance gradually, although you may find that they determine their own exercise needs part of the time.

As your dog progresses into old age they still enjoy their exercise even if they cannot manage as much as they used to. If you want to keep your dog as mobile and fit as possible in their later years give them gentle exercise through regular short walks.

Some of us have two dogs and usually one is a young dog that we got as company for our older dog and this can sometimes lead to pitfalls in our dog exercise routine. Although it is nice for our older dog to have company whilst having their exercise you have to ensure that the younger dog has had sufficient exercise and this may mean exercising the two dogs at different times.

By giving your dog the right exercise you are giving them every chance to lead a healthy and active life.

Rosie Harvey runs a site on dog training and dog care. This site provides tips, advice, reviews, products and information all about training and taking care of your dog. http://www.dogtraininginformation.wordpress.com

posted by admin on Aug 9

Before you adopt a new dog into your family, take some time to research the pros and cons of the different breeds to ensure you find a dog that will be the right match for you and your family. We have outlined some of the qualities and problems associated with some common dog breeds to help you find the perfect pet.

German Pinscher

The German Pinscher, also referred to as the Standard Pinscher, is a German breed that has been around since 1879. This breed nearly went extinct before World War II. Fortunately a man named Herr Werner Jung brought the breed back. Today all German Pinschers descend from one “founding mother.”

This is a smaller dog that only stands between 17 and 20 pounds and weighs between 23 and 35 pounds. They have a short, glossy and smooth coat that comes in solid colors that range between fawn and stag red. This dog is a good natured dog that is equally as suitable as a family dog or a watch dog.

Irish Setter

The Irish Setter, also referred to as the Red Setter, is an Irish breed. This breed was created by the crossing of setters, spaniels, and pointers that naturally had red and white coats. The characteristic chestnut red coat that we now associated with the breed didn’t appear until the 19th century. Today this breed is a favorite at dog shows, in the field, and in homes.

The Irish Setter stands between 25 and 27 inches tall and weighs between 60 and 70 pounds. They have a combination coat that is short and close on their heads and on their front legs, and long feathery hair on the rest of their body. The only color that is accepted for this breed today is the rich chestnut red color. However, you can occasionally Irish Setters with traces of black and white in their coat as well.

Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound, also called the Piccolo Levrieve Italiani, is a toy breed that originated in Italy. It is a sight hound that was bred to be a companion. Today this little dog is exclusively used as a pet.

The Italian Greyhound is a small dog that only stands between 13 and 15 inches and it weighs around 8 pounds. It has a short close coat that is glossy. It can typically be found in shades of blue, fawn, white, black, cream and white. This breed is better suited for homes with older kids. They also get along with other dogs. Some Italian Greyhounds get along with cats, while others don’t. You will want to take this into consideration if you are shopping for a new pet and have an Italian Greyhound, or if you have a cat and are considering getting an Italian Greyhound.

Bouvier des Flandres

The Bouvier des Flandres, also referred to as the Belgian Cattle Dog, is a Belgium cattle driving dog. It looks a lot like a giant Scottish Terrier. It stands between 23 and 27 inches tall and weighs between 59.5 and 88 pounds. It has a thick coarse outercoat and a soft undercoat. It traditionally comes in black, brindle, and fawn coat colors.

To care for this breed you will want to brush its coat every week. This is a must with this breed as their long coat mats easily. You will also need to brush their teeth, clean their ears, and trim their nails on a regular basis. This breed needs a lot of exercise, however, low impact exercise is preferable as their heavy build is not designed to handle extended running or jogging. Some of the health problems that you should keep an eye open for include hip problems, joint problems, bloat, and eye conditions.

Skye Terrier

The Skye Terrier is a Scottish terrier that has been a favorite of British royalty. They are a small breed that only stands between 9 and 10 inches tall and they weigh between 19 and 23 pounds. They have a long, flat outercoat that comes in shades of black, gray, cream, and fawn with black points on their ears and on their muzzles. This dog is active and loyal. They are not the best breed to have when you have young children as they can be a bit snappy when teased. They also prefer to be the only pet in a household.

Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is a Canadian breed that is though to have been developed by fishermen in Greenland. The Labrador Retriever is now classified as a sporting dog in the gundog class. This dog makes a great family pet, a great guide dog for the blind, a great drug search dog, and a great sporting dog.

The Labrador Retriever comes in three color variations, chocolate, black, and yellow. The current trend is for the Chocolate Lab, however, the Black and Yellow Labs are also popular. The males of this breed are slightly larger than the females. They stand between 22.5 and 24.5 inches tall and weigh between 60 and 75 pounds, and the females stand between 21.5 and 23.5 inches tall and weigh between 55 and 70 pounds.

Poodle

The Poodle, also called the Barbone and Caniche, is a French breed that belongs to the non-sporting group. The standard Poodle is a tall dog that stands between 22 and 27 inches tall and weighs between 45 and 70 pounds. Their coat is short to medium and very curly or frizzy. They come in a variety of solid colors including black, white, silver and chocolate. This breed has a couple of health concerns that you should be aware of including stifle problems and hip dysplasia.

Toy Fox Terrier

The Toy Fox Terrier, also called the American Toy Terrier and the AmerToy, is an English breed. They are a tiny little dog that stands about 10 inches tall and that weighs between 3.5 and 7 pounds. They have a short shiny coat that is predominantly white with black and/or tan markings. They are a scrappy little dog that is not afraid of anything. If you have very small kids you should wait until they are older to add this little dog to your family as they can’t withstand rough handling.

Clumber Spaniel

The Clumber Spaniel, also referred to as the Gentleman’s Gun Dog, is a British hunting breed. Their heritage either descends from Alpine Spaniel bloodlines or from Basset Hound bloodlines. No one is quite sure.

The Clumber Spaniel is a sweet dog that makes a great family dog, however, they also make responsive and obedient field sporting dogs as well. This breed is a medium sized dog that stands between 19 and 20 inches tall and weighs between 65 and 80 pounds. They have a thick coat that is silky and flat. This base coat is accented with feathering on their tail, around their eyes, on their stomachs, and on their legs. They come in a variety of colors, however, the preferred coat color combination is white with lemon. Orange and freckling on the muzzle are also common.

Before you adopt a new dog into your family, take some time to research the pros and cons of the different breeds to ensure you find a dog that will be the right match for you and your family. We have outlined some of the qualities and problems associated with some common dog breeds to help you find the perfect pet.

posted by admin on Aug 8

The Italian Greyhound is a hound of diminutive size that has become the darling of the apartment dwellers in many large cities. Today It is often pictured in the arms of fashion models or carried by movie stars wearing fancy jeweled coats and collars. This is one of the first breeds in history to be exclusively bred as a companion dog. As early as the 16th century there are records of Italian Greyhounds being present in the royal courts of Spain and Italy. Paintings and sculptures glorifying this dog have been done by such well known artists as Botticelli, Giotto and Bosch. The little dogs could be found in the courts of James I of England, Francis I of France, Catherine the Great, Queen Victoria and Frederick the Great of Russia. The high stepping little dog was much admired by the royalty of many countries and through many centuries. An Italian Greyhound named Djali can be found as a companion to the fictional heroine Madame Bovary in the novel by Gustave Flaubert.

The tiny Italian Greyhound for a time became almost too small (10 inches) and began to show signs of dwarfism in the late 1800s. However by the 1950s the breed began to “stabilize” and by 1968 the first Italian Greyhound standard was written and since then the breed has remained firmly true to form and structure as described in the standard.

Experts agree that the Italian Greyhound was bred down from the greyhound and in most respects is a smaller version of the Greyhound. The height is usually 13-15 inches. It has the typical Greyhound look of sleek “racy” lines, with a fine head and beautifully expressive eyes. In temperament it also resembles the Greyhound, for it is a dog that enjoys being with people and being pampered, it is a quiet and gentle dog that generally gets along with other dogs and is mannerly and affectionate.

The IG as it is often called is a small dog that is exceedingly fine boned. Obviously care needs to be taken that it never jumps off of furniture as it could damage itself easily. Also this is a breed that is prone to chills and it needs to wear a coat in winter and should be carried rather than allowed to wade through snow drifts in the wintertime and it should be exercised indoors. A benefit of its size is that it can be paper trained or litter trained much like a cat.. This is a dog that is quite delicate in some respects. Often with small breeds people do tend to carry the dog too much and it is important the the dog be allowed to exercise adequately. Like all canines the dog needs to develop muscle power and needs to be allowed to explore its environment and “be a dog”. However like many of the finer sight hound breeds from the Mediterranean, including its larger cousin the Greyhound, the Italian Greyhound is fine skinned and it should not be allowed to run in areas with thorns and brambles, as breeders report that its skin will easily tear when it runs into things.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs

posted by admin on Aug 7

The martingale collar is becoming more and more popular with dog owners. Once they were only worn by the sight hounds. Greyhounds, salukis, whippets and such have narrow, slim heads and can easily back out of a conventional collar. They can not do this with a properly fitted martingale collar. Martingales are a semi choke collar that will tighten enough to not allow the dogs head to slip out. But only if they fit properly. An improperly fitted collar can lead to disaster.



To properly measure your dog you will need a soft measuring tape. If you do not have a soft tape, then use a piece of string and measure it against a hard measuring stick when done.

You will need to measure your dog in a couple of places. First at the widest part of the head, usually right in front of the ears. This is because conventional martingales do not open to go around your dogs neck, but rather they slip over the head. Second at the place on the neck where you want the collar to sit. This is critical to ensure a proper fit on custom made collars. There is some leeway with adjustable martingales, so measure your dog and find the collar size where your measurements fit in the middle. Most manufacturers should be willing to help you with sizing.




To ensure that your collar is adjusted properly, do the following test. Place the collar at the narrowest part of the dogs neck, pull up on the leash d-ring (found on the smaller of the 2 collar loops). The slides attached to the larger loop should come together to about a couple of finger widths apart. They should not touch. If they do, the collar is too big and the dog may still be able to back out of it.




If your dogs head is much bigger than it’s neck, then a conventional martingale collar will not work. In that case there is an alternative. The Clip Martingale, 1/2 Martingale or Combo Martingale is a cross between a regular clip collar and a conventional martingale. The clip martingale does come apart to attach around the dogs neck usually with a clip-type closure. Made to tighten only part way like a martingale collar, the clip martingale is also available in many widths, making it a versatile alternative to the conventional martingale collar.

Jill Taylor – http://www.dogsuppliessite.com

posted by admin on Aug 6

The argument has been going on between dog racing fans for ages. Is it possible for a system to pick dogs automatically, with no handicapping? Many have claimed to have one, but so far as I know, no one has offered definitive proof that their system works. Even the giants of greyhound handicapping like Brenner and Fink and Herter admitted that their handicapping methods didn’t work all the time. Fink’s spot plays, while often paying well because they were longshots, didn’t pay off over the long run.

Brenner was adamant that there was no such thing as a system that didn’t include handicapping, money management and good judgment on the handicapper’s part. His articles in Greyhound Racing Record also made it clear that even the best method of handicapping dog races couldn’t always predict the winner.

Herter was even more firm about how dog racing could pay off. His methods involved statistics, lots of poring over past performances and paying attention to the odds. Nothing mechanical about that approach and lots of work involved. However, as a former military man, he knew that discipline and attention to detail beat pie in the sky any day. Anyone who read his books and the books he sold out of his Colorado home base came away with a much better understanding of the dynamics of dog racing.

Of course, anyone can claim that they have an automatic system for winning at the dog track and even show you programs where it worked, if they cherry-pick the programs to fit their claims. I’ve seen this on greyhound forums and from friends who made the mistake of falling for these systems – some to the tune of a thousand dollars or more. They’re still wondering why the systems don’t work and wishing they’d spent the money on something more substantial.

Before you plunk down your money for a system or method of picking winners at the dog track, you would be well advised to make certain that it’s not being touted as an automatic system. If it is, give it a miss and save yourself some money and some grief. Though there are systems and methods that can help anyone be a better handicapper, there’s no such thing as one that picks the dogs for you.

In order to make money at the track, you have to invest time and maybe some money, but not thousands of dollars in dubious systems. Let’s face it. If these systems worked with no effort or handicapping skill, wouldn’t the guys who sell them keep them to themselves? Why would anybody sell the goose that lays the golden eggs? Be smart. Do your homework.

Before you go to the dog track, find out why smart handicappers are checking out the free articles, tips and Winning Greyhound Systems at http://ebnetr.com