First Coast Pet

Archive for June, 2009

Is there really a big difference in quality between “wet” (canned) and dry dog foods? Of course you know that wet food invariably costs more than the equivalent amount of dry food, but are you really paying for better ingredients when you purchase wet food for your pet? Or is wet food simply a marketing gimmick?

As an owner, you likely want to find the best dog food you need to best help your dog.

There are owners who believe, sometimes wrongfully so, that the wet foods are better in quality due to their expensive price tag. Seeing wet foods as “gourmet” does not mean that it is better in a dietary sense. So what are the advantages of one over the other?
Dry food works best for people who leave their food down all the time (free choice) because it won’t dry out when left sitting for long periods. It’s also less expensive per meal than canned, too. But, hey, some pets can be really picky eaters. Some will only eat certain flavors or brands of food. Others will eat only dry food, and still others will eat only wet food. By the way, unless your dog is a self-regulator (meaning he only eats to feel full and then quits), free choice isn’t a great idea as it often leads to obesity.

Most dry dog foods are corn, soybean or rice based. Some of the better brands, however, have meat or fish meal as the first listed ingredient(s). Although higher priced, nutritionally speaking, they are worth checking out.

Dry dog foods have greater caloric density – meaning there is less water in a cup of food compared to a canned food diet. This is not really an issue for smaller dogs, but a larger dog will have a problem eating enough volume of canned food to fulfill their caloric needs because they get a lot of water in the food. Generally speaking, larger dogs, meaning those that weigh over 30 pounds (13.60 kg), should be fed a dry or semi-moist food.

Usually the only difference between the dry and canned versions of food is generally the water content. Another advantage of canned food is that it is very digestible and most do not contain preservatives. Dry food is very good for the teeth, but does not get rid of tartar. For that, you brush their teeth and offer your dog acceptable things to chew on.

It may become necessary to switch from canned dog food to dry dog food. Whether finances, medical conditions, or other factors are the reason, it is important to do the switch in a smart and responsible manner.

Canned food is drastically different from dry food in many ways aside from the texture. Often times, pets will resist the change and respond by acting out or just not eating the new food. This is why it is important to change their food in a manner that does not stress them. Most owners will slowly add dry food to the bowl and bit by bit reduce the amount of wet food present until the dog is eating only the dry food. This is perhaps the best method as it slowly introduces the dog to the new food. The same method can be used when switching from dry food to wet food.

If your dog is eating around the newly introduced food then you may need to switch brands. And if all else fails, a hungry dog will eat; just make sure that your dog is healthy enough for such a drastic measure. It is best to consult with your veterinarian before attempting to switch food.

Keep a close eye on your dog during any transitions in foods. Improperly switching foods can lead to several side effects like the ones discussed above. A change in your dogs temperament and bowel movements may also be a sign that the switch in foods is not agreeing with them. If this should happen, consult with your veterinarian.

Your choice of wet of dry food should be based not on those mouthwatering pictures on the cans or pouches of wet food, which make it look as if the ingredients could be popped into the microwave, heated and served with a salad and corn bread for a satisfying family meal. You should choose the food which will give your pet an adequate amount of calories in a single serve, while providing all the nutrients they need to remain healthy and happy!

Thats it for this article. Hope this was helpful to you.

As you know, one of the most exciting things that most dog lovers can imagine is bringing home  a lasa apso for the first time.

Unfortunately, this excitement often wears off quickly when the new little addition to the family begins using the house as a bathroom area.

Potty TrainingFortunately, with a bit of consideration and understanding of some of the basic principles of potty training a Lhasa Apso, it is easy and simple to teach your Lhasa Apso  this very important behavior.

There are some points to keep in mind when planning or starting your potty training routine. No matter which method you decide to use, there will be accidents. Plan for them, accept them and move on with as little fuss and negative actions or punishment towards the puppy as possible.

Usually with any puppies, accidents are due to very small bladders and bowels and poor control as their bodies develop, very similar to young human infants in fact.

Avoid Punishing Your Lhasa Apso

Avoid punishing or reprimanding your puppy for an accident, as it is likely to be more a fault of the owner for not taking the puppy to the potty area soon enough. Learn from mistakes and keep notes on when the puppy has accidents.

Try to see if there is a pattern developing that can assist you in the training, rather than become frustrated with the Lhasa Apso. Virtually every puppy wants to make his or her owner happy, and this can be used as an effective motivator in potty training even young puppies.

The Older Dog

Older Lhasa Apsos that are being housebroken or potty trained for the first time will also have accidents, until they understand what you want. Again, patience and a positive attitude will help the training process.

Remember that dogs aren’t aware of the value of antique rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting, rather they tend to relieve themselves where they feel they should – usually somewhere out of the way, like behind the couch or in the corner behind the potted palm.

Is There Anything I Can Do To Help?

YES, There are many things that pet owners can do to make the process of potty training easier for their new dog or puppy.

Good planning, an understanding of the potty training method to be used, plus other factors such as high quality food, lots of exercise, attention and love can all have a bearing on the time that it takes to potty train your Lhasa Apso.

Finally, each dog  is somewhat different in personality and temperament. Some puppies and dogs seem to almost potty train themselves where others, even from the same litter, may require additional training but will soon learn what is expected.

What method Should I Use To Potty Training My Lhasa Apso?

Well, there are a few different potty training methods that can be used for a Lhasa Apso.

Deciding on the best potty training method is important and depends a lot on the age of the dog, the time that you have to interact with the dog or puppy, your living area, and what method you are most comfortable with.

Some of the potty training methods encourage your Lhasa Apso  to use an outside area to relieve themselves, whereas others focus on containing the area the puppy or dog uses inside of the house – by the use of litter boxes, potty training pads or even newspapers.

Here, we will cover one popular method, Crate Training.

CRATE TRAINING

Crate training is one of the most effective ways to potty train a Lhasa Apso as it uses the natural “denning instinct” of the dog to encourage it to keep the area that it sleeps clean and free from waste materials.

In the wild, the den is kept clean by the mother while the puppies are young. Once they get older and are able to walk, they naturally go outside of the living area or den to relieve themselves.

In houses there are no dens, and the area is simply too large for puppies to feel that this is “their spot”.

By providing a den, in the form of a crate, the puppy will learn to wait until he or she is taken outside before soiling in the crate.

Crate training requires active participation and monitoring on the part of the dog owner.

The following is an outline of how to complete a crate training routine:

* Purchase an appropriately sized crate, either plastic or wire, that is large enough for your Lhasa Apso  to stand and stretch out comfortably.

* Make sure the crate is comfortable – use soft, washable liners or dog blankets.

* Sit with your Lhasa Apso at the door of the crate. Place a small treat inside the crate. Praise the puppy for going into the crate and getting the treat. Let the puppy come out whenever he or she wants, leave the door open at this time.

* Only praise for going in the crate, ignore the puppy when he or she is coming out.

* When your Lhasa Apso walks into the crate say “Crate” or “Den” or whatever word you wish to associate with going into the crate.

* When your Lhasa Apso is staying in the crate on its own to eat the treats, close the door for a few seconds, then open it up again. Only praise when the dog goes in, never when it is exiting. Soon the dog realizes in is good, out is neutral.

* After the puppy or dog is fine with being in the crate for more than a few minutes, put a chew toy in with them to keep it occupied. Try very slowly and gradually increasing your distance away from the crate, and the time in the crate with the door closed.

* Since the puppy or dog will generally not eliminate when they are in the crate because it is their den, take them outside to eliminate when they come out of the crate.

* After feeding, crate the puppy with a chew toy. In about 10-15 minutes take the puppy out of the crate and to the designated toilet area. Do not play or interact with the puppy at this time, simply take them straight to the spot.

* If the puppy relieves itself, praise the puppy and spend some time interacting. If, after about 3-5 minutes the puppy has not toileted, return it to the crate, again without saying anything, for an additional five minutes. Repeat the process without interacting with the puppy until it goes to the bathroom. Praise and play always follow toileting while crate training.

* At night, keep the crate in the bedroom or somewhere that you can easily hear the puppy. If he or she whines, take them to the toilet area and return them to the crate with as little interaction as possible. Just a simple “good girl” or boy will do when they toilet.

Too much praise will be seen as play, and may encourage the puppy to whine throughout the night. Don’t forget, the crate is used only until Potty Training is under control, not forever!

What Are Some Advantages of Using A Crate?

The advantages to crate training include the fact that it uses the puppies or dogs natural instincts to help with the learning process. It minimizes the dangers of messes and accidents around the house when done correctly. In addition the puppy feels secure, and they can understand what is required in a relatively short time.

What Are Some Disadvantages of Using A Crate?

Disadvantages to crate training for a lasa apso are few, but the biggest one is that it will only work if the trainer monitors the puppy closely while in the crate, and follows the attention/inattention guidelines.

Some owners may think that crate training is cruel, but this is simply not the case. Once people understand the crate is not used as a punishment but as a safe and secure place for the puppy, they change their opinion quickly.

Need Further Help ?

I hope this short outline introduction to Potty Training  and specifically CRATE  Training has been helpful to you.

The dangerous relationships between birds and windows is one that comes in varying degrees. Sometimes it’s just a quick peck of bird meeting glass. Others it’s a small series of crashes and a flutter of wings. The worst, however, are the jarring impacts that resonate throughout an entire house, leaving you and your family members startled and often crippling or killing the bird. Sadly, these impacts are far more common than you might think. An article in the magazine, Audubon, David Malakoff writes window strikes kill between 100 million and 1 billion birds every year. According to an NPR story, Professor Daniel Klem of Mulhenberg College things that Malakoff’s estimate is too conservative, and that the real number easily exceeds 1 billion birds in the United States alone.

Why Strikes on Windows Occur?

It’s hard to know for certain exactly why window strikes happen, but observation has granted some measure of insight. The first, and seemingly most common, rationale is that birds simply cannot see glass. The transparency of the glass makes the window look open, and this is often complicated further by a window on the opposite side of the house. This causes what is commonly referred to as the “tunnel effect,” meaning that the bird believes that the two windows lack glass and thus represent a clear tunnel to fly through.

Another big reason for window strikes by birds is related to reflections. Windows in homes and office buildings sometimes give a good reflection the area around them. So, while the house or building certainly appears to be a house or building, the windows look more like wooded areas which are perfectly safe for flying.

Ways to prevent window strikes

There are a range of possibilities for preventing window strikes. The best method is to take out a window, or to cover it with something dark and non-reflective like cardboard or wood. Granted, this removing a window is a bit drastic and not practical for the vast majority of home owners. Thankfully, with a little understanding as to why birds strike windows, home owners can reduce bird strikes with more people-friendly methods.

Covering Windows

While boarding up windows is an extreme solution, it does prove a point. Putting something between the window’s glass and the outside world can both alert a bird to a physical object and prevent reflection. The line for most home owners seems to be when such a covering moves from the area of protecting birds and into the realm of obstructing views. Home owners have several options like summer storm screens, to heavier plastic “shade cloth” and even the commercial CollidEscape film, all of which help to remove transparency and restrict reflection to various extents.

Silhouettes and Obstacles

Another tactic is to prevent the bird from coming  near the window. Some people put obstacles such as a bird feeder in front of the window, especially windows that are hit with any frequency. If you notice that your bird feeder is causing birds to strike your window, then moving the feeder further from your house would be a prudent move. Another popular method, which works to varying degrees, is to intimidate birds away by way of statues and silhouettes. A statue of an owl, or a cut out made to resemble a flying hawk can cause an errant bird on a collision course with a window to change course.

The Happy Medium

For many home owners, window strikes are infrequent happenings and thus can easily be remedied by merely moving a bird feeder or placing a hawk silhouette in a tree. For others, more permanent measures must be taken. However, for majority of home owners in areas with heavy avian traffic, there is a happy medium. Make part of the window more obvious with the application of custom window decals or stickers. PUtting decals and stickers on a window makes the glass in the window less transparent and can disturb reflections, minimizing two of the reasons why birds hit windows. Special sticker creating techniques can even make these stickers nearly-invisible to humans while birds staying perfectly visible to birds. Such stickers benefit birds while doing very little to detract from the value humans derive from said windows.

Custom Stickers used to prevent bird strikes can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Homeowners can use of the many seasonal options such as snowflakes for winter, leaves for fall and holiday images. These stickers can even be made in the images of predatory birds, thus mimicking the silhouette effects and adding to the sticker’s effectiveness.

The big key to stopping bird strikes to your windows is to change it up. This can be done through changing the locations of physical things – like bird feeders and trees – thus forcing birds to alter their flight paths. Or, it can be done though intimidation, via silhouettes of predators. Or, a home owner can change the bird’s perception of the actual window. Stickers, whether they are human-visible or not, make windows more obvious to birds, while screens and covering cloths negate the qualities (reflections and transparency) that make windows harmful to birds in the first place. The home owner needs to determine which prevention method works best.

It may be that you think you cannot really train your cat. This is often thought because of the cats independent nature. Although this is true, and cats do seem to act like loners a lot of the time, cat training is not as difficult as it may seem. You can change any cats behavior problems with the right cat pet training techniques.

One of the main reasons that cat pet training seems difficult is that your cat probably doesn’t understand what you asking of it. Training your cat takes a little time and a little patience. The methods used need to be different from the methods that you would use to train a dog. Dogs fall to pieces emotionally if you rebuke them, cats don't do this, they will not respond to these methods of training, and will begin to avoid being near you. The chances are that it will either ignore you, or even avoid getting close to you in the future.

The perfect way to train your cat will be by using methods of reward. Always praise your cat when it does something that you are happy with. When you see your cat doing something that you don't want it to do, you should simply ignore your pet and don't give it any attention at all. Doing it this way will let your cat know that you are pleased with what it is doing. It will also come to realise that there is no rewards on offer for other types of behavior.

At the end of the day, all of us want attention, love, and rewards. Cats are no different, it is just a question of applying the right techniques to get your cat to behave in the way that you want it to. You will get the most out of it if you start to train your cat early, however older cats can still be trained. It may take a little longer, it all depends on your cats temperament. However you will be able to change your cats behavior.

Getting your cat to come to you when you call it is probably the first thing that you will want it to learn. Always make sure that your cat cannot be distracted by anything else when you are trying to do this. Now all your cats attention will be on the matter at hand. You will need to pick a word that you will use regularly for this technique. Keep your command short. You would also be better off using only one or two words, you will only confuse your pet if you try to have a debate with it. Simple and short is the key.

When you have picked a word, think of what tone you are going to use. This is important for training your cat. The tone that you use in talking to your cat is more relevant than the words that you use. So keep your tone low and make it sound as if you are happy and excited. Kneel on the floor with a treat that you your cat will enjoy. You do this because you are less intimidating if you look smaller.

Call to your cat in a loving voive. If your cat comes to you straight away, make sure you give it the treat and make a fuss over it. Then you move to another place and do the same thing again. Just do this cat training exercise for about 5 minutes each day, and very quickly you will see a massive improvement in your cats behavior when you call it.

Cat pet training is not that challenging, it's a question of using the right methods. All you need is a little patience and time and you will easily be able to train your cat to get rid of unwanted behaviors. Read the complete cat training review which shows you the most effective methods of cat training.

Make Money Online Posting Links For Google

Can you make money with affiliate marketing? Yes, you can! However, you have to know what to do and how to go about it. If you don’t know how to do online marketing to get your product seen, affiliate marketing is near impossible. If you get useful guidance from someone who knows how it’s done, you can build a home based business and make money online in no time. If you do it as a hobby, you can easily have a real business up and running in a few of months, having made a minimal initial investment.

What are you selling? With affiliate marketing, you sell someone else’s product and are paid a portion of the purchase price. Many people sell ebooks using services like ClickBank.com and PayDotCom.com. It is free to be a part of these services and you get access to a huge number of products to sell. The best part is that you don’t have to carry any inventory. Ebooks are digital and are delivered electronically. If you’re reading this, I’m sure you already know that, but just in case….

Repeat this process into as many ad groups as you want.  Just make sure that all your ad groups have keywords that are similarly themed. After a few hundred clicks, you’ll find that some ad groups are profitable, some ad groups break even and some end up being huge losers.

Here’s the basic idea. Google has a program called AdSense that anyone can use. When you use this program, Google allows you to borrow their sponsored links, and place them on your website or blog. You don’t get paid for posting the links, but you do get paid when people click on them. Google charges their advertisers on a per-click basis so they get paid when you generate a click for them. They will in turn give you about 50% of the profit.

What’s out there to help you? If you are just getting familiar with affiliate marketing, I suggest My Online Income System. It is incredibly affordable and user-friendly. It gives you a 60-day action plan to follow that makes it simple to get started with your home based business. You just look at your daily activity, which usually takes an hour or two to complete, get it done and then move on to the next day. You can miss a day, do three days in one day or figure out whatever works best for your schedule. My Online Income System breaks everything down for you even if you know nothing when you begin.

If you already know some things about online marketing, I suggest One Week Marketing. It is also very affordable and includes an action plan. This program offers a one-week action plan, as the title implies. It is a bit more advanced and moves more quickly than My Online Income System. With One Week Marketing, you can learn to launch a new marketing campaign every week. Both programs will get you started with a home-based business by teaching you all about affiliate marketing and how to launch campaigns for free. You pay once for the program you choose to use, learn what it has to offer and then do it repeatedly with as many campaigns as you like. What do I think about affiliate marketing? I think it’s a great way to learn about advertising and begin making money online. If you stay focused and use the right training tools, you can make it a full-time job, work from home and be in charge of your own income level.

Resource Author Francisco Rodriguez Higueras online juegos Trabajo Empleo

Dog owners in the Phoenix, Arizona East Valley suburbs don’t have to leave their pets cooped up in the house, a cage or a kennel all day while they are away. Dogs are treated much like kids would be treated in a child day care at the new Rico’s Doggie Day Care, says proprietor and owner Christine Mitsoff.

“We allow dogs to run around our fenced-in back yard, and play with the other dogs. All dogs are free to roam and play. We want them to have fun, not be put in small crates,” said Mitsoff, who runs the service out of her home in the Cooper Commons neighborhood in Chandler.

The benefits of this type of dog day care are many, not the least of which is physical.

“With the very busy lives most people live these days, many dogs spend a lot of time home alone, sleeping and eating themselves into lethargy and obesity,” Mitsoff said. “Just like fit humans, fit dogs feel better, sleep better, and have more energy, as well as encounter fewer health and behavioral problems. Happier people and pets are the result, along with fewer medical expenses.”

Your pooch’s mental health will be helped by being around other canines in dog day care.

According to Mitsoff, “Being able to socialize with other breeds helps support positive dog behavior.”

Three hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon are devoted to play time at Rico’s. The dogs are free to take a nap at any time they get tired, of course. Or, if overly heated, they are free to jump in the in-ground pool to cool off. Nap time is designated as between noon and 1 p.m., and lunch is served one hour before then between 11 a.m. and noon.

Washes by David Vega, training dog walks with Tyler Vega and obedience training from the entire staff are the other dog day care services available at Rico’s. If needed, Rico’s will pick your pup up for a nominal fee.

“Each dog leaves Rico’s Doggie Day Care with a daily report card, free kisses and tired from a full day of fun,” Mitsoff said.

In the East Valley, Rico’s is only a few minutes’ drive from most points in Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa. For more information and pricing, visit the Rico’s Doggie Day Care Web site at http://www.dog-daycare.net.

When you get a puppy, you might not think immediately about dog training, but you should. Having a well trained dog can mean the difference between a settled household and a chaotic one.

Dog behavior is directly impacted by how much training he has. He needs to have structure and limits in his life. If you don’t provide this, he will, and that can create significant behavior problems in your dog.

Why Train Your Dog?

No matter your dog’s breed, he is descended from wolves and it is his instinct to be part of a pack. In the dog pack, there is a hierarchy, with clear dominant roles and submissive roles. If you don’t make yourself the leader of the pack, your dog will make himself that leader. That’s not good and creates all kinds of dog problems.

Training establishes and reinforces the hierarchy concept for a dog. It teaches him that someone in the household is in control and that he must submit to that person.

Although some people say they prefer to not provide any dog obedience training, that’s a mistake. Puppy training – it’s best to start them young – can do much for your young dog, and will only help him as he gets older.

Where to Get Training?

You have a few choices:

1. You can hire a professional trainer to come to your house
2. You can attend dog obedience training classes
3. You can buy an online ebook and CD or DVD (the cheapest and preferred option)

Whatever you do, it’s important that your dog’s first (and future) experience with training is successful.

Dog House Training.

When most of us think about dog training, we think first and foremost about dog obedience training. Dog obedience training is really about the basics of training and includes learning commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “heel.”

Even if your dog only learns the most basic of dog training commands, his knowledge of just these basic commands is immensely useful to you as the dog owner.

A dog that’s received some dog obedience training is also much more pleasant to strangers and other dogs. You can control his behavior when necessary and he will also develop the inner discipline that will help him make right decisions even when you’re not around.

Dog House Training

Dog house training is something you can do yourself. You don’t need the experts for this, though a little advice from a dog training expert certainly can’t hurt.

Your dog should be house trained in order to ensure that he can understand the basics of his needs. That is, he should understand, through some consistent dog house training efforts on your part, that there are certain needs he has that must be met appropriately.

If you have never done any puppy training before with potty issues, you might look in the following places:

* Books, online ebooks and CD or DVD
* You Tube videos
* Friends with more experience than you
* Dog training experts

Crate Training

The concept of crate training is lost on many dog owners, but it’s a concept and a behavior that should be encouraged.

Crate training dogs gives them a sense of safety and security. While initially, many dog owners will use crate training as a puppy training method, the older dog benefits greatly from using a crate as well.

Crate training can be used to reinforce house training, or it can be used as a tool to teach a dog to sleep in a particular place at night, to keep the dog away from strangers, or transport the dog in the car.

There are so many essential uses for crate training, in fact, that dogs suffer from not having this kind of dog obedience training in their lives.

Basic Crate Training

Dog training tips run the gamut from “be sure you use a firm voice” to “let your dog lead the way.” The reality is what works for you might not work for someone else and a different dog might respond differently to training.

Find your own path with your new dog. Keeping in mind that:

* He needs structure and discipline and dog obedience training gives him that
* He will respond to firm direction from you that’s given lovingly and consistently
* Both you and he will be happier in your relationship if your dog has even the most basic understanding of dog obedience training.

Dog training is an essential part of owning a dog. It’s worth whatever effort you are willing to give it.

Keeping your dog looking nice is an essential part of caring for him. But many dog owners wrongly assume that dog grooming is an option, not a necessity.

It’s more than just dog grooming equipment, experts will tell you. While brushing your dog is important, and counts for some grooming, the reality is that your dog needs professional dog grooming.

Why is Dog Grooming Important?

Professional dog groomers can bring an expertise to the job that no matter how hard you try you just can’t. They have access to dog grooming equipment that you might not, and they have experience and perhaps even training that gives them essential skills in keeping your dog’s fur healthy and attractive.

In addition, they often can provide your dog with a true grooming experience that goes beyond what most of us can do in our backyards or bathrooms.

Good dog groomers can ensure that your dog is clean, and that his fur is in good condition. But because a dog groomer will likely spend more time caring for your dog’s fur than you might, he or she might also see skin conditions that need care, or other conditions that need attention.

Beyond that, dog groomers have equipment you don’t have at home, including special dog wash treatments and the know-how to use them. They might also use dog clippers that are of higher quality than those you are able to buy for home use.

How to Find a Dog Grooming Service

Dog groomers can be found in a variety of places. Here are some ideas:

* Ask at the vet’s office for a recommendation; sometimes a good quality dog grooming service is available on site at the vet’s.
* Purchase an ebook, DVD or CD and learn do do at least part of the grooming yourself (will save you some money and helps build your relationship with your dog)
* Head to the local pet store and ask about their offerings; dog groomers can often rent a space at the pet store and provide grooming while the dog’s owners shop.
* Look for independent dog wash facilities; sometimes these are located in suburban neighborhoods. You might help with the wash, or the dog groomer might do all the work.

You can just drop your dog off at any groomer’s facility, but you might want to ask a few questions of the groomer first. These can include:

* Has the groomer taken any dog grooming courses? This can assure you of a high quality dog wash and grooming session.
* If the dog groomer took dog grooming courses, did they include a discussion of how to look for skin conditions and what to do about them?
* Does the groomer provide puppy grooming? If you have a young dog this can be a relevant question since a puppy’s grooming needs can be different than an adult dog’s.

Grooming Your Dog at Home

If you need to save money or you just don’t want to take your dog to a dog grooming service, you might think that you can replicate a professional grooming session at home.

It’s a little hard to do in the beginning, but you can give your dog a good grooming session at home. Here are some ideas:

* Purchase an ebook, DVD or CD and learn do do at least part of the grooming yourself (will save you some money and helps build your relationship with your dog)

* First, make sure you have the proper equipment. This goes beyond a good dog brush, though that is important. Also have on hand high-quality dog shampoo (not the shampoo out of your own shower) and flea dip medication if that’s needed. Also have fresh clean towels and dog clippers.

* Be patient with your dog. Many don’t enjoy baths or being brushed and groomed. One advantage of taking your dog to a dog grooming facility is the dog can be leashed to the table, which makes the job much easier.

* Groom your dog on a regular basis. How often he needs grooming is dictated by breed, but read up on the breed’s grooming needs and try to keep to that schedule. Otherwise, his fur could get out of hand and you’ll have no choice but to take him to a dog grooming service.

Your dog’s grooming needs generally aren’t excessive unless they are  a high-maintenance breed. Be willing to do what’s necessary to keep him groomed, whether that is using a professional dog grooming service, or giving him a groom at home.

There is a reason the Boston Terrier is a popular dog in the United States. He’s a sweet, cute dog that enjoys the attention he derives from his human friends.

General Appearance and Description

The Boston Terrier is an intelligent and mannered dog.

They are gentle dogs that enjoy feeling like they are part of the family.

Boston Terriers are small-size dogs that have small, erect ears, short and wide muzzles and dark, large eyes. They are clean-looking dogs with muscular and straight limbs.

The coat of a Boston Bull Terrier is usually brindle and white, or black and white. Some Boston Terrier puppies are brown and white.

Basic Temperament

Your Boston Terrier will be sensitive to the tone of your voice, and will feed off the energy in the home. They can be rambunctious and loud, or calm and quiet. Much depends on the mood of the house, the quality of any training the Boston Terrier has had, and whether or not a pack leader exists in the house.

The Boston Bull Terrier is a good watch dog as most will believe their home to be their castle and will do thier best to protect it.

Care Required

Boston Terrierdogs and puppies are easy to groom. Their short, smooth coat requires little attention. You should bathe your Bull Terrier only when necessary and comb or brush only as needed.

The only daily grooming needed is a quick wipe down with a damp cloth, especially in the eye area.

Not an ideal breed for those with allergies, the Boston Terrier sheds an average amount for his breed.

Exercise Requirements

If your Boston Bull Terrier isn’t given adequate physical and mental stimulation, he could become high strung and troublesome.

Instead, Boston Terrier breeders will recommend that you give your dog a long daily walk and regular play sessions.

This breed will generally do well living in a house with a yard or in an apartment as long as his daily activity needs are met.

Training

The intelligent Boston Terrier is quite easy to train. He understands your commands easily and wants to please you. These dogs are very sensitive and response to the human voice.

Be sure that you train the Boston Bull Terrier with firm and consistent effort. If you don’t establish yourself as the “top dog,” so to speak, he will.

Because these dogs can be dominant if training is not done properly, they will often cause problems during the training process or might become aggressive when training is attempted. If training is begun early, however, and sticks to the concept of firm and consistent, these dogs should pose no problems.

Some Boston Terriers can be hard to housebreak.

Height and Weight

The full-grown Boston Bull Terrier will be about 15 to 17 inches tall and will weigh from 10 to 25 pounds.

Health and Longevity

While these dogs have their share of health challenges, they can live a full and long life.

Some of the health issues include wheezing and snoring, thanks to their short face. They also might have problems in hot weather, and some dogs will overheat with exertion in the heat. Some dogs have a problem with drooling.

Tumors, particularly of the skin and heart, are quite common in Boston Terriers. Their eyes, which are generally prominent, are prone to injury.

If a Boston Terrier is bred badly, some will have a bone defect in the skull that can stunt brain growth. Though not incredibly common, this can result in a retarded dog.

Most Boston Terrier dogs will live to be older than 15 years.

Suitability

Boston Terriers are very good with children and are excellent when living in a house with senior citizens. This dog is also very good with strangers, so having a houseful of people is never a bad idea.

The Boston Terrier likes to live in a house with other non-canine pets, but generally doesn’t get along with other dogs, unless both are introduced as puppies.

The Bichon Frise dog generally makes an excellent addition to any household. He is friendly and sweet and provides few major challenges.

General Appearance and Description

If you like puffy, fuzzy dogs, the Bichon Frise is for you. This cute little fur ball is identified mostly by color and fur characteristics. His color is usually all white, but some dogs have other colors mixed in, usually grey, apricot, and cream.

His coat is long and curly. The Bichon Frise is virtually hypoallergenic, so this makes him a desirable pet to many people with animal allergies or sensitivities.

Basic Temperament

Bichon Frise dogs are extremely social. They love people and being around many humans. They are affectionate, intelligent, independent and spirited. Though they are small, they’re not yippy dogs that will annoy you and the neighbors.

Most Bichon Frise dogs are happy and confident, and cause no problems to their household. They enjoy meeting new people and are good with children and older people. They thrive on making sure that others are happy, so their happiness in a household enviroment is directly tied to that of their owner. If you’re happy, they’re happy.

The Bichon Frise do enjoy being companion dogs, so they love to be taken along when you go somewhere.

Care Required

Bichon breeders will tell you that the care of a Bichon is simple and they are partly right. Most Bichon Frise dogs should be bathed every month, and groomed professionally every four weeks. Because the fur is curly and full, it can get out of hand if not kept trimmed.

The eye and ear areas should also be trimmed with blunt scissors on a regular basis and the eyes should also be cleaned periodically to prevent staining since the eyes tend to run.

Best of all, however, is that Bichon puppies and dogs do not really shed, which is what makes this breed particularly good for those who suffer allergies.

Exercise Requirements

Bichon Frise Dogs exercise needs are quite similar to the breed’s needs when he’s full grown. They are extensive. While you might not think that such a small dog would have high activity needs, the opposite is true. He is a very active dog that needs a daily walk and plenty of play time.

While the Bichon is not a troublesome dog, if he’s not exercised enough, he might challenge your patience with some behavior problems. A walk a day is all they ask, but if you can also find your way to a dog park now and then, these dogs will appreciate it. They will love the social element as well as the ability to run free for a bit.

Training

It’s important that you set yourself up as the boss of the house (or the “alpha dog”). The Bichon needs limits and rules. He needs to know that someone is in charge.

If this leadership is not established early, the dog can develop “small dog syndrome” where the small dog feels that he is the leader of the humans. This can lead to problems like biting, separation anxiety and snapping. It’s brought on when the humans in the dog’s life don’t respond appropriately to him. If you establish yourselves as the leader, you should have no trouble with this.

Some Bichon Frise dogs can be more difficult to housebreak.

Height and Weight

Male dogs are usually about 9 to 12 inches tall, while females are between 9 and 11 inches tall. They weigh between 7 and 12 pounds.

Health and Longevity

These dogs don’t suffer too many health problems, aside from watery eyes, some skin and ear ailments, and cataracts. All of these are common canine health problems. Some Bichon Frise dogs can suffer from epilepsy and problems with their knees. In general, the Bichon lives for about 15 years or more.

Suitability

These dogs are ideal for just about any household environment. They are ideal for households with older people or children. They enjoy having other dogs and even cats around, but will do fine if they are the only pet in the household as well. They enjoy seeing themselves as watch dogs, but their ability to really impact the household that way is debatable.