Dog Health Guide

 dogs bark

Picture this, you're walking in the park, minding your own business when suddenly a dog comes up to you and starts barking.
You start to panic because there is no reason for this dog to be barking at you.
Why is this dog barking?
Dogs bark because we humans want our dogs to bark
 For years we have allowed the process of domestication and selective breeding of dogs we have to develop their skills barking.
Wolves do not bark, so through the process of genetic engineering and selective breeding of dogs in these days to have the ability to retain the properties of events. 

This is through a process known as neoteny.
People chose to keep the infantile traits of wolves like large heads, flat faces, large eyes and, of course, the ability to communicate by barking.
Barking was further developed in dogs in order to scare intruders or to help the master out (i.e. on farms to assist in gathering the sheep).
Most dogs simply bark to communicate, to get attention, or simply to show their excitement. Training and lifestyle are important factors in teaching the dog how to communicate with its master.
Dogs are extremely social animals. 

Wolves themselves always travel in packs are usually never alone.
Bringing a dog into your family is basically like bringing a wolf into a pack.
It becomes a part of the family.
Try not to leave it alone otherwise it will feel as if it was abandoned by the pack.
 Dogs are like having a baby in the house.
They need love, attention, and someone to be there to take care of them.

Like people they need a companion to blossom.
Meeting your dog's emotional need for companionship and play will allow the two of you to form a strong bond together.
Sometimes having a second dog in the house can minimize the barking and minimize the loneliness.
Although this may be rewarding at some times, it can also be a pain. 

Your best bet would be to maximize training of your dog when it decides to bark.

With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to start thinking of gifts to give your friends and loved ones.
Finding unique gifts can present a challenge, and most people never consider giving pet-related gifts.
Since the chances are good that more than one person on your holiday gift list has a pet that he or she adores, why not give a distinctive gift that your recipient will treasure?
Here are five great gift ideas to get you started:

1. Fine Art Animal Prints
Dogs may come in many shapes and sizes, but each has a personality all its own.
One of the most delightful gifts you can give to a pet lover is a fine art print of his or her breed.
One of the most notable artists offering fine art animal prints is Lorena Pugh.
Her print, "Princess," for example, depicts a white toy poodle laying atop a stack of twelve colorful pillows, while "Angel Face" showcases a gorgeous pug who has just snagged a cluster of grapes off of a dining room table.
In "Chocolate Craving," she realistically captures the yearning of a chocolate lab as he reaches for a tennis ball against a beautiful background of blue sky.
These limited edition animal prints are sure to be treasured, as each comes with a consecutively numbered dog tag to match the tag in the print.

2. Stone Animal Statues
Who wouldn't love a playful stone animal statue depicting their beloved pet? 

Animal garden statues are perfect gifts, as are stone animal statues for the home and office.
While some statues - like a sleeping spaniel puppy or an eager dachshund - make you feel warm inside, others - like a cat holding a pair of binoculars up to his eyes, ever watchful for a bird - make you chuckle. 

Stone animal statues are available for virtually any type of pet, and are certain to be cherished.
3. Crystal Animal Statues
Whether your gift recipient has a dog, cat, horse, or rabbit, he or she is sure to enjoy an elegant crystal animal statue.
Typically made from 24 percent lead crystal, hand-finished animal statues are beautiful yet whimsical.
Crystal animal statues can depict a wide variety of pets, from a sitting cat to a dog with a bone; from a turtle to a frog; from a horse to a mouse; and from a duck to a dove.

4. Entertainment
When it comes to gifts for pet lovers, there's nothing more unique that pet-related entertainment.
There is actually a music company that creates music for animals, so consider giving a gift of music about and for cats, dogs, or birds.
Another great gift idea is to buy a DVD or video that is designed to entertain your recipient's dog or cat.
Your friend or loved one can play the DVD or video while he or she is at work or out running errands - guilt free!

5. Animal Posters
If you've ever owned a pet, you know how funny they can be.
Animal posters depict pets in a variety of outlandish situations
 (remember the cat in "Hang in There"?), and are eminently affordable.
An animal poster is sure to bring a smile to your recipient's face.

It's both original and thoughtful to give a gift that acknowledges your recipient's pet as a central part of his or her life.
Pet lovers will appreciate and treasure your gift, whether it's a fine art animal print or an entertaining DVD.

 How To Teach Your Puppy Tricks

To teach your dog tricks even easy ones you need to have some small reward treats, be in a quiet suitable place and keep the training sessions to 10 - 15 minutes or your dog will start to get board, remember when he gets something right lots of praise and a reward treat, just be careful not to get him over excited or he will loose concentration.

Get your dog you clutch, and get the first dog special seating, and then says, "claw" of the word,you take your dog's paw in the hand, and give you the treatment of the dog, repeat this, and after a few time does not take a quick coupler, and a word used back then to one,

you should find that he brings his paw, as you say the word, if he is not to say again that at the same time, do it several times and slow reaction.

After 2 or 3 sessions most dogs pick this one up quite happily.

The high five, like a lot of tricks the high five is a progression of an earlier trick, in this cast the paw trick.

Hold a treat in your fingers and raise your hand slightly higher than you would for the paw trick.

You dog will think you want to do the paw trick and will reach for the treat with his paw as we taught him earlier, as he reaches up you say “high five” and give him the treat.

Once your dog has mastered the paw trick this one should be very easy to learn and with just a few sessions he will be doing it on hand signal rather than voice control.

Getting your dog to jump through a hoop, before you start this one

I would just like to ask you to be a little sensible and not hold the hoop too high as you do not want your dog to heart himself while doing the trick.

Sit your dog on one side of a hoola hoop, get the dogs attention on your hand on the other side of the hoop take a treat in your hand and give the dog the command to release him from the sit, at first he may attempt to go around or under the hoop, if this happens start again, your dog wants the treat and will soon learn that going around or under does not get it so he will soon start going through it, when he does say hoopla and give him the treat.

He will soon be jumping through the hoop on the command of hoopla.

When I started doing this trick I had a medium sized dog (a Labrador) so I started with the hoop 6 inches from the ground and slowly raised it to waist height, if you have a smaller dog you might want to start with the hoop touching the ground so the dog just goes through the hoop and then slowly raise it as he gets used to the trick.

 Three Important Tips For Training Your Puppy:

There are as many ways to raise a puppy as there are to raising a child.
In fact, one way per family in general!
But most of us agree that when it comes to children, certain things are universal and undisputed.
Here are three things that a lot of people just do not think of when it comes to raising their dogs, however.
How many times have we heard, "My dog just won't listen to me", or "He just won't behave!"

1. Dogs do not understand English until we teach them.
The thing we all love about puppies the most is the way they live for us, the way they focus all they have on us, the way our lives become theirs.
in the beginning, they study us to learn our body language, our facial expressions and our language.
Until we teach them the English language, it's all they have. If we say, "Wanna go out?" one day, "Have to go potty?" the next day, and, "Hafta pee?" the third day, if they DO figure out what we want, it is because we have picked up the leash and moved toward the door with a happy face!
If you want to speed up his training by three-fold, teach him YOUR language. 

Pick a command for EACH behavior and stick with it.
Tell all in your family to use the same words and commands, and your puppy will amaze you at how much faster he learns.
2. Puppy resting metabolism along faster than we think.
Your puppy is younger, faster growing, more food and water he needs to fuel its metabolism, and that in many cases to go potty.
Do not punish your dog when he missed a house collapse.
This is your fault.
Age your puppy in the coming weeks and determine the size of him, how often he must go create.
Once an hour is not too often for a large 6-week old puppy, especially if it is summertime.
Dogs love the exciting smells outdoors, so there is no excuse to not have him housebroken by 7-8 weeks of age.
Right after a nap, after he eats and after grooming are the key times, and he will signal you.
If he he is happily chewing a toy and gets up suddenly with his nose to the floor, move quickly!
And every time he goes potty outside, praise him to high heaven!
"What a good BOYY!", "GOOD go potty!" and the like.
 Dogs love our happy faces, and they will do anything to get it.
3. Dogs live for our facial expressions and body language.
Because of this, the worst punishment you ever need to give your dog is a scowl and to turn away from him. 

You can see his tail fall down and his face get so sad.
He will learn the lesson, I guarantee it.
But his attention span is only 3-5 minutes, so do not scorn him any longer. 

An outdoor dog house or ‘kennel’ is the ideal place for a dog to cool down and relax when all that running around gets too much and not only that but they’re great for house training in the summer.
Both owner and dog can relax in the garden and whenever the dog does his business, he is rewarded and learns from the experience.
An effortless investment!
 Dog houses are typically wooden structures in the shape of small houses with a large entrance, and although there is a vast array of designs available for any canine, this stereotypical ‘snoopy’ style dog house remains prevalent. Even ancient Egyptian nobility kept their dogs in kennels and they are still in a high level of production today.
Some dog houses are designed to compliment their surroundings.
 For example, if you live in a log cabin style house then you can buy a log cabin style dog house to match!

Dog houses are not limited to being a permanent structure.
There has been a dramatic rise in plastic houses that can be collapsed and transported, including a pop-up doggy tent or an igloo style cabin with an external water bowl.
In fact, there is almost no limit.
Whatever the size, shape or need of your dog, there is guaranteed to be a kennel made of each material to fit the bill.
However, wood is the most desirable material used in the crafting of dog houses due to its natural insulation, durability and availability.
Red cedar wood is often used in making dog houses as its own resins protect the wood from precipitation damage (rotting and mould) and repel insects such as fleas, ticks and mites.
Such structures are also often specially treated to give the wood extra protection against extreme elements for them to last longer.
Also, cedar wood has low temperature conducting properties meaning that it doesn’t lose or gain heat easily and will keep a dog cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
For the winter months, modern dog kennels can be insulated, particularly in the roof if it is peaked and some are fitted with a self-closing door to keep in the heat.
Often these doors have an UV ray filter and are removable.
In addition, a kennel raised above the ground and away from moisture and insects, so that it is to keep any pet dry and safe time.
Many of the houses and a terrace and a tent so that the dog can relax watching what comes out of his dog house.
Dogs adore the outdoors and they could explore for hours, but at the end of the day the little guys need their rest, and what better way to relax than in their own perfectly sized canine palace!

 Why dog barks

Picture this, you're walking in the park, minding your own business when suddenly a dog comes up to you and starts barking.
You start to panic because there is no reason for this dog to be barking at you.
Why is this dog barking?
Dogs bark because we humans want our dogs to bark
 For years we have allowed the process of domestication and selective breeding of dogs we have to develop their skills barking.
Wolves do not bark, so through the process of genetic engineering and selective breeding of dogs in these days to have the ability to retain the properties of events. 

This is through a process known as neoteny.
People chose to keep the infantile traits of wolves like large heads, flat faces, large eyes and, of course, the ability to communicate by barking.
Barking was further developed in dogs in order to scare intruders or to help the master out (i.e. on farms to assist in gathering the sheep).
Most dogs simply bark to communicate, to get attention, or simply to show their excitement. Training and lifestyle are important factors in teaching the dog how to communicate with its master.
Dogs are extremely social animals. 

Wolves themselves always travel in packs are usually never alone.
Bringing a dog into your family is basically like bringing a wolf into a pack.
It becomes a part of the family.
Try not to leave it alone otherwise it will feel as if it was abandoned by the pack.
 Dogs are like having a baby in the house.
They need love, attention, and someone to be there to take care of them.

Like people they need a companion to blossom.
Meeting your dog's emotional need for companionship and play will allow the two of you to form a strong bond together.
Sometimes having a second dog in the house can minimize the barking and minimize the loneliness.
Although this may be rewarding at some times, it can also be a pain. 

Your best bet would be to maximize training of your dog when it decides to bark.

 Dogs Health:

 The first rule in taking care of your dog is:  When your dog is sick, take him to a veterinarian!  Use with caution advice of friends or people who are supposed to be "old, experienced dog breeders."  Only a veterinarian is qualified to diagnose trouble and prescribe treatment.
While a puppy is nursing, it may receive protective antibodies in its mother's milk.  As soon as the puppy is weaned, this natural immunity will begin to disappear and may be gone within two weeks.  

Many puppies are susceptible to diseases at this young age. 

Your veterinarian may prescribe a vaccination program beginning at 6 to 8 weeks, so it is important that you contact him/her immediately.
However, it is your job to keep your dog from getting sick.  Let us assume you start with a puppy. 

You should know something about "shots", worm medications, flea powders, and poisons. 
Distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis are common and serious diseases which destroy many pets each year. 

 Dogs training in winter

Yes, its cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training.
  Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home.
Get creative with your training locations.
 Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage?  Then you have a place to train!  Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it.
 Bring in one piece of equipment at a time, and begin your indoor training.
We do a lot of indoor training with a Pause Table.
 In fact, we keep one in our living room for both obedience training and agility training all the time. 
 The Pause Table is a great obstacle for developing your obedience behaviors and teaching agility directional commands
Don't forget to work on your contacts.
 If you don't have indoor matting, don't jump.  You don't want your dog jumping on concrete or wood floors. 

But you can use the uprights or posts to practice your handling.
Use your Sit-stay or Down-stay and practice your lines or dogs path with no jump bars. 
Weaves can be practice indoors. 
Are you training with a weave-chute or straight line weaves?  Five minutes a day of weave training through out the winter will have your dog weaving smoothly by springtime.
 It's easy by having a Contact Trainer indoors. A 3-Piece Contact Trainer offers you versatility; you have an A-frame side, the Pause Table, and a Dog-walk plank.  Practicing your two feet on and two feet off is convenient and quick when you have indoor contacts, only a few minutes a day to steady your dog's behavior.
Indoor jumping must be approached carefully.
 There are mini-teeters, mini-dog walks, and mini-A-frames.
 You can practice weave entries and weave sends or weave recalls.
There is also a variety of mini agility equipment that can be purchased, and don't require the same space as standard equipment.
 These are great obstacles for puppy training or indoor winter training.
So, during the cold winter months, don't give up on your agility training.
 Whether you are starting a young pup, working a novice dog, or an experienced titled dog there is always something that you can do indoors with your agility training.

Dog grooming :

Most dogs handle their own grooming needs.  But, you can offer a helping hand as necessary.
  If you do this, you will have many benefits to it. 
For example, it helps the two of you to bond.  And, it allows for you to catch diseases or other health problems that can affect your pet.
  Can’t get your dog to sit still long enough?  Then, do a small portion of her each day. 
Eventually she will enjoy it and allow you to do it easily.
Dogs use licking, shaking and scratching to stay clean.
 If you brush them, you can help the fur to stay clean and unmated.
 Some dogs that have longer hair will require this attention daily.
 Others who have shorter hair can be brushed just once a week. 
Most dogs will enjoy the brushing.
  Others will not right off the bat. 
In order to help this process, use the brush in a small amount while talking soothingly to her. 
Afterwards, give her a treat for being good. 
Add a little more time on each time.
Dark specs on the skin can be fleas.
 In order to check for these types of problems, run your hands down here coat as you brush her. 
If you see quite a bit of black flecks, which are flea dropping, then you need to seek help for your animal right away. 
You may also notice rice like debris near her tail. 
These are a sign that the dog has worms.
 Again, you need to take your pet to the vet in this case as they will need treatment.

Just like you, your pet needs her teeth brushed daily.
 You can do this using a child sized toothbrush or just a finger toothbrush that is designed for your pet.
 The paste that you use should be one designed for dogs only. 
Your toothpaste can seriously make your dog ill. 
To help keep dog’s teeth in tip top shape, give them rawhide chews to gnaw on.  This helps keep teeth as well as gums healthy.
You’ll need to do other types of grooming as well, but not as frequently.
Make sure, though, that the nails are not too long.
You should check ears and nails weekly or monthly.
Look into your dog’s ears. 
If you see small, black/brown specks, this can be ear mites.
  For nails, walks that are given on sidewalks as well as in the driveway can help to wear them down. 
 You can learn from your vet the proper way to trim them to help the dog to stay healthy and to walk correctly.
 You should not trim them without getting some training though.

Dogs weight loss
People may not be aware of this, but obesity is one of the greatest problems dogs are dealing with these days.
 Obesity, like humans, is also caused by excessive eating and unhealthy binges.
Mostly, this situation is triggered by some environmental factors that when not controlled may just lead to more problems.
Like humans, dogs develop certain diseases too when they are overweight.
These diseases will lead to more serious complications including death.
So for people who wish to know the repercussions of obesity in dogs, here are some of the known consequences:                                      
1. Diabetes
Like humans, dogs can get diabetes too.
We all know for a fact that overweight cause diabetes in humans, this can also happen in dogs. This is because the more fat is stored in the dog’s body, the greater its system will generate insulin in order to cope up with its growing mass.
 Hence, dogs have the tendency to resist too much insulin in the body.
The end result is diabetes.

  2. Arthritis
Obesity in dogs tends to put extra weight on their bones.
 In turn, the joints and other parts of the dog’s bones develop arthritis
Excess weight in dogs may also initiate the development of other muscle and joint problems like spinal disc disease,
hip dysplasia, and cracks on the joint ligaments.
  3.  Capacity to tolerate heat
With too much fat deposits accumulated in their skin, dogs are more inclined to problems
concerning heat tolerance.
This is because dogs find it hard to tolerate heat due to the build-up of fats in their skin.
That is why most obese dogs are prone to heat stroke especially during summer time.
  4.Skin problems
Obesity in dogs can cause some skin problems. This is because excess fat deposits are being stored in their skin; hence, their owners are having a hard time grooming them. When dogs lack proper grooming, there is a tendency to accumulate bacteria, dirt, or other elements that could cause harm to your dog’s skin.
 In the end, they develop rashes, skin ruptures,
and infections.
  5. Respiratory problems and other heart diseases
Like humans, obese dogs have also the tendency to develop respiratory problems and heart diseases.
This is because the chest cavity is already covered with thick fat deposits.
Hence, whenever the dog breathes, the lungs are having a hard time to expand, so does the heart.
The problem starts when the heart and the lungs can no longer produce the right amount of oxygen and circulate it within the dog’s body.

  6.Gastrointestinal problems
Obesity in dogs causes some problems in their intestines and pancreas.
This problem results to inflamed pancreas, which, in reality, is very painful to the dogs and can also cause death among them.
   7. Liver problems
Fats are harder to strain and this can pose a great problem to the dog’s liver.
 Hence, when the liver can no longer function well because of the fat deposits that accumulated in the area, liver problems may occur and may even cause the death of your dogs.

These health problems are indeed life threatening.
And so, it depends upon the owner how to combat these problems in order to keep their dogs healthy.
One of the greatest ways in solving weight problems is a strict exercise schedule.
So, it is a must that owners should create a healthy exercise schedule for their dogs.
This can be done by tagging them for a walk every afternoon or letting him run through a field.
The best thing about this program is that not only the dogs get the chance to exercise but their owners as well.
 So, it’s a double result with just one purpose.
Next is to create a healthy diet for your dogs. Diet meals are extremely important for dogs so that they can still obtain the necessary nutrients they need in order to stay healthy.
 This should include the right combination of fiber, meat, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals.
However, dog owners should always keep in mind that when their dogs are taking fiber, more water should be employed so as to prevent constipation.
Alternatively, dog owners should also remember that before incorporating all of these things to your dog, it’s best to consult the veterinarians first.
 In this way, only the proper methods of dieting for dogs shall be employed.

So, for healthier and happier dogs, give them the best love and care you can give plus a great dietary regimen.

As they say, a healthy do is a happy dog.

Most dogs enjoy listening and are proud of the knowledge and skills they acquire.

Untrained dogs are seldom as happy as trained ones, and lead much less interesting lives.

 Many dogs also get a sense of security from obedience and discipline, especially the more intelligent ones.

Every observant dog owner can see for himself that his dog gets greater satisfaction from the praise rewarding a well- executed command or good behavior than he does from the momentary excitement of disobeying, which is usually followed by the evident guilt feelings, (ears back and avoiding eye contact), even when he has not been punished.

Owners vary in their training talents just as dogs vary in their train ability.

Some people are born animal trainers and accomplish remarkable results with little effort.

But even the best trainers are seldom equally successful with every breed of dog.

The training procedures that are highly successful with one type of dog may be totally ineffective with another.

A basic mental affinity, even a certain type of personality seems to be necessary when training a dog.

All good trainers possess authority, patience, and self-control. Brilliant ones possess an additional indefinable "x" quality that is probably a combination of love and respect.

Dog training techniques have been so well systematized in recent years that the least gifted owner can achieve reasonable good results with effort, persistence, patience, and understanding.

Dogs have a much higher understanding intelligence than most people give them credit for. They can and do learn, but we have to give them our time and patience.

All pet dogs should be given basic obedience training as a matter of course, and not only when they develop bad behavior.

Today s dogs live in a much faster paced world, just as we do.

 Even though we may be with them when they are out in public, they can still "stray" or disobey.

 While training cannot completely compensate for poor breeding, a bad environment, or poor upbringing, it can surely help.

 They world will teach them how to misbehave, but it's up to us as pet parents to teach them how to behave.

Specialized training isn't necessary unless the dog is to perform or be seen, such as the purebred show dogs.

This level of training and behavior requires much more time and labor and usually requires a higher aptitude on the part of the dog, and much more skill and patience on the part of the trainer.

Training your dog is the basics of behavior and communication with you can be very rewarding.

Training of so called "champion" show dogs usually begins when they are puppies and continues through most of their lives.

What you may lack in experience, equipment, facilities, etc.

is usually compensated for by your dogs desire to please the person he loves and lives with, which is his strongest motivation.

 Dogs breeds:

To recommend a good dog breed to someone, you need to know two things:

1. You need to understand both the wants and needs of the family who is looking to adopt a new dog.

A couple who have very dominant personalities and no children will generally be able to handle a dog with more horsepower than would a quiet, submissive couple with a few small children.

2. You must have an in-depth and personal experience with many different breeds.

And more specifically, you must have multiple experiences with each breed.

 When you've been training dogs professionally for about 10 years, you've seen pretty much everything cross your path, at least three or four times.

 And for the more popular breeds, you've had literally hundreds of experiences that can put you in a very good position to analyze the pro's and con's of each breed.

That being said, here are the top five breeds I recommend to people I don't know very well:

1. Golden Retriever: These dogs have a soft, pliable and easily trainable temperament. They are very pain-resistant and very forgiving to the owner who accidentally steps on a toe or clumsily trips on the dog.

Purchased from a good breeder, these dogs are a joy to own.

2.  Australian Shepherd: Not to be confused with the Australian Cattle Dog (also an excellent breed but not for the amateur or weak owner) the Australian Shepherd - if obtained from a quality breeder - is fantastic.

I don't think that there is anything you can't train this breed to do.

3.  Poodle (any variety): These dogs score extremely high on both the trainability scale and on the intelligence scale.

 I'm always amazed at how quickly these dogs can pick up an new behavior. It's almost like communicating to a human in dog clothing. If it wasn't for the sissy factor, I'd probably own one myself.

 Professional dog trainers see very few dog owners who walk through the door with troubling behavior problems.

If everyone owned a Poodle, we'd all be out of business.

4. Boston Terrier: These dogs are clean and quiet.

They make a fantastic house dog and are very easy to get along with.

 A perfect companion for the elder dog owner, or just somebody who wants a very peaceful dog ownership experience with a breed that is not very demanding.

5. Shetland Sheepdog: Small, easily trainable and possessing a soft temperament, they are intelligent and - with the right training techniques - will learn new behaviors very quickly.

That's all for now,

 Dogs needs:

 Friendly, protective, affectionate, fun. Those qualities have earned dogs a special place in the lives and hearts of humans.

Most dogs now are owned as pets mainly because they are THE ideal pets.
A dog will always try to keep you pleased and smiling.
It will never hold grudges against you, and will never judge you for your looks or mistakes.
It isn't called man's best friend for nothing.
Dogs have a basic need for shelter, good nutrition, exercise and companionship. 

A dog will rely on its owner for all of these needs, in addition to training and protection.
These are all basic needs, but really, what a dog needs the most is veterinary care. If a person has a dog for a pet, it is a good idea to ensure that it is seen by a vet regularly.
Dogs are prone to a wide array of illnesses and diseases and it is best that he gets vaccinated against these diseases.
 Some of the most fatal diseases that a dog should be administered with a vaccine against are listed below.
1. Canine Adenovirus - or Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH).
ICH is an extremely contagious disease that only dogs could be transmitted with and other canine-type animals.
This disease is transmitted in urine and eye or nasal secretions of animals with this disease and affects the liver, kidneys and lining of the blood vessels.
Dogs of all ages are prone to acquire this disease, although puppies and younger dogs are at a higher risk.
2. Parvovirus - This is an extremely contagious viral disease that affects white blood cells, the intestines, and heart.
It is characterized by vomiting, severe diarrhea and fever.
 It is often fatal in puppies.
At the highest risk for this disease are dogs in crowded places such as dog shows and kennels.
3. Para Influenza - Also known as tracheobronchitis, it is a contagious infection of dogs seriously affecting young puppies' upper respiratory.
Its symptoms are gagging and coughing.
Dogs in stressful and crowded conditions are at the highest risk for this disease.
4. Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) - It is transmitted through contact with infected dogs and affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous systems. This disease is often fatal to puppies and adult dogs.
5. Rabies - Rabies can affect all warm-blooded animals that are unvaccinated against the disease, including humans.
 It affects the brain and is always deadly.
Pets get exposed to rabies from the bites of wild animals which include bats, raccoons, foxes and skunks.
The bottom line is to keep a dog disease-free.
Have it vaccinated. After all, what dogs need . . .good health!

Every time you walk through the door the dog is very happy to see that his tail wags and smiles you practice.

How can you show your pet how important it is for you?

Well, it's way to take care of that smile for your pet.

Did you know that the diet of your dog can affect oral health?

Humans need to brush and floss their teeth regularly to keep their teeth, tongue, and gums in good condition. 

Research has recently shown a link between good oral health in humans and a lower risk of heart disease.

 If good oral health can have such a profound affect on people, then it only makes sense to consider the impact it can have on man's best friend.

It is important to brush your dog's teeth frequently to keep plaque and tartar from becoming an issue. 

Even wiping his gums with a clean, damp cloth can be beneficial. 

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The diet of your dog also plays a role in oral health of your pet.

Do you feed your dog food is usually canned or dry? What kind of toys, treats and do not provide for your pet?

 All of these things can affect the likelihood of trouble with your pet's teeth.

When your dog's diet is nutritionally sound, containing essential vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes, your pet's oral health will be at its very best. 

Feeding dry dog food rather than a moist canned variety is best for your dog.  The tiny kibbles' hard surface rubs against the teeth to remove and reduce plaque. 

The simple act of moistening the dry dog food with water or gravy eliminates this property from dry dog food.

The treats you give your pet are part of your dog's diet just like snacks are part of a person's diet. 

As humans, we tend to want to overlook our snacking habits, so it can be easy to overlook the treats you give your dog.   

Carefully consider any and all items your dog will consume. 

Do you give your dog bones, rawhides, jerky treats, or dog biscuits?  Maybe your pet prefers greenies or corn starch chews. 

You may not have considered it, but tossing Spot a rawhide chew is like giving him a candy bar. 

The rawhide, for example, contains calories and is often provided between meals. 

Some treats, alternatively, provide excellent opportunity to improve oral health. 

Many of the treats and snacks you provide in your dog's diet can be just empty wasted calories. 

Greenies, rawhides, bones, and hard dog biscuits all help to keep tartarat bay. 

The softer snacks, such as jerky treats, do not provide much relief from plaque. 

The healthy treat, on occasion, will also prevent your dog from having bad breath.

Your dog's diet must be healthy to ensure excellent oral health. 

Dry dog food is best whenever possible.

Don't forget to select treats for your pet that will enhance your dog's diet. 

Consciously monitoring your dog's diet will positively influence your  best friend's oral health.