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Winter Tips For Your Dog: Dog's coat is good defense against the cold climate. Don't shave your dog during the winter period. Keep it thick and long. If you bathe him/her, it's better to dry him/her properly before going outside.

In cold, snowy weather ensure that if your dog is outside, he has guard to protect him from cold wind. Small dogs should not be left outside. Keep your puppy safe and cozy inside a heated house. If it is extremely cold for you to stand at the door without your woolens, it is probably extremely cold for your dog to be out without a coat. Some dog breeds have dense undercoats. Coats are not just about style, there are many functional, non-couture coats available.

Keep your dog away from heating sources: Dogs will often seek heat during the cold conditions by cuddling too close to heating sources. Don't use space heaters and open lamps, place baseboard radiator covers to prevent burns.

Regular Exercise: Unless your dog lives outdoors during the cold climate, he or she often needs no additional calories during winter. Adjust his/her calories according to his/her workout. Always give your dog the best quality natural dog food to insure a healthy coat and good energy for the cold winter months.

Ensure that your dog drinks enough fresh water: Dogs can dehydrate very quickly in the winter as summer. Although many dogs eat snow, it is not a satisfactory substitute for fresh water. If your dog has a bowl of water outdoors, check it often and break ice that will form on the top.

Keep their paws clean: Dogs walk on the snow, slush, salt and chemicals and are very likely to sustain an injury to their paws unless protected. Although dogie booties may sound a little corny, they can prevent severe injuries. The major problem with canine footwear is keeping them in place! Many booties are presently available with Velcro but a child's mitten keeper also works to keep booties or socks on. If booties absolutely don't work for your dog, clean your dog's feet every time he enters the house. Use warm water and clean between the toes really well to remove debris and salt. Apply a little amount of herbal healing salve daily to keep the pads from cracking. Don't use any chemical ice-melting compounds or rock salt on your sidewalks that your dog may contact.

Chemical hazards: With winter comes antifreeze from automobiles. Antifreeze is sweet in taste and dogs will readily lick or eat it. Antifreeze is extremely poisonous and just a little amount can be dangerous for dogs. Keep your dog out of the garage and off the driveway where they may encounter antifreeze or other harmful chemicals.

How to Help Your Dog Survive Winter Season


If you do not mind bringing a large dog into your home, the German shorthaired pointer could be the perfect fit. These pups are known for their rapid movements. In fact, they love running around and playing outdoors. If you would prefer to have an active dog that you can have fun with at the park or even in the backyard, this breed is a great choice.

The German Shorthaired Pointer is a versatile hunter and gun dog. This medium-sized breed has an aristocratic stature and is a cross between Spanish hounds and Hanover Hound. The average male weighs between 55-70 pounds, stands 23-25 inches, while the typical female weighs 45-60 pounds, and 21-23 inches tall.

German shorthaired pointers are known for their intelligence. They catch on quickly and may be easy for you to train. Although they are extremely intelligent, they do not have a problem cooperating. They listen to commands and follow directions a lot better than some other breeds.

They has a short, flat, hard, dense, and coarse double coat. They have dense undercoat that is confined with a strong body hair that makes this breed weather resistant and highly adaptable to cold climates.

Even though the German shorthaired pointers are large animals, they are still quite affectionate. They love jumping up and down on their owners and cuddling with them on the couch. Once they trust their owner, they will be loyal and loving on a daily basis. If you love the idea of having an affectionate dog, this is the kind of breed you would want to bring into your home with the rest of the family.

These dogs absolutely love spending time with children. They would make the perfect family pet because they are protective of the little ones and enjoy playing different games with them, such as fetch. Not only are they good with children, but they tend to get along well with other animals in the home too.

While taking one of these pups out for a walk, they may be a bit suspicious of other animals that they are not familiar with, which is in their nature. However, they are easy to control and will often behave just fine if they do not feel threatened by the other animal on the street. Male German shorthaired pointers tend to get along a lot better with females instead of other males, so it is something to consider if you plan on getting more than one of them.

Overall, these dogs make great pets because they tend to get along with most people and other animals. They have a calm temperament, but they are also quite active and love running their paws through the grass. When they are properly cared for in a living home, these pups tend to live for up to 14 years. If you are thinking about getting a new pet, you might want to get a German shorthaired pointer.

All You Need to Know Before Adopting a German Shorthaired Pointer


Knowing if your your dog is pregnant can be difficult because they don't show for an extended period of time and there is no at home pregnancy test for pets. However, there are a number of signs and symptoms to look for that can help you determine whether your pooch as a bun in the oven.

First, it is important to know whether or not your dog has reached the age of sexual maturity. All breeds are different so do some research to find out whether your dog is old enough to be pregnant. There are a few behavioral changes you can look for as well to determine if your dog is pregnant. Usually during pregnancy dogs become very loving and will want to spend a lot of time with you, snuggling, relaxing or even sitting on your lap. They might also be very protective of their toys - even to the point that they may become upset if you try to take their toys away. These sign might be as clues, but to be sure your dog is pregnant you'll need to take her to the vet.

The earliest method of pregnancy detection is ultrasound. This is preferable for many pet owners because it is easy, noninvasive and very reliable. Fetal heartbeats can be detected before the first full month of pregnancy. However, this method is not a reliable way to determine how many babies the mother is carrying.

Another method of detecting pregnancy in your dog is via a blood test performed at your veterinarian's office. The canine reproductive cycle causes dogs to go through roughly the same hormonal changes regardless of whether or not she is pregnant. This is why tradition progesterone blood and urine tests can not be used in diagnosing pregnancy in dogs. However, your vet can perform a blood test that will detect relaxin, a hormone that is produced only in dogs that are pregnant. This test can be accurately performed roughly one month after gestation, or at about the same time an heartbeat can be detected via ultrasound.

Most veterinarians can verify that a dog is pregnant by simply feeling the dog's abdomen during a ten day time span at the beginning of your dog's pregnancy. Around 20 to 30 days after conception a pregnant dog's uterus will swell around the placental sites. The swelling feels like firm, discrete lumps that your vet should be able to detect just by feeling your dog's abdomen. However, after the 30 day mark, the uterine swelling is not as easy to detect and it is difficult to distinguish between the feel of the uterus and the feel of the intestinal tract. Also, obese dogs may be difficult to examine in any stage because the extra layers of fat over their abdomen prevents the vet from being able to get a good feel of the dog's internal organs.

The most accurate way to detect pregnancy in a dog is by performing an x-ray. The skeleton of a fetus can be detected by using an x-ray machine about 45 days after conception. Although this test cannot be done until late in gestation, it allows the vet to accurately determine how many fetuses your dog is carrying. Most vets will charge their patients about $25-$35 for the x-ray in addition to the office visit charge.

How to Know if Your Dog is Pregnant


There's a popular belief that all dogs reach sexual maturity by the time they're six months old but this is not accurate. Depending on your dog's breed and size, your dog may reach sexual maturity much later.

Most young puppies will display some sexual behavior in the whelping box. This is simply play behavior and it's quite normal. Puppies will mount each other, regardless of sex. This behavior can continue, off and on, as the puppies get older. It's one way of establishing a hierarchy within the puppy pack.

Male puppies don't start producing sperm until they are around five or six months old. At this age they become capable of siring a litter. They are technically "sexually mature" but they are not mature in any other way.

Some female puppies have their first season around six or seven months of age. This is more likely to occur in Toy and small breeds. In general, the larger the dog, the longer it takes the breed to mature. Many female dogs from large breeds may not have their first season until they are a year old or closer to 18-24 months of age.

As you can guess, female puppies are not mature enough in other ways to have puppies when they're six months old. They don't have the mental or emotional maturity to raise puppies of their own even though they can physically produce puppies. A six-month-old bitch with a litter of puppies may not be a very good mother.

Nearly all breeders recommend waiting until dogs are closer to two years old before breeding. This allows time for the dogs' bodies to fully mature and for them to be mentally and emotionally mature enough to raise puppies. It also makes them old enough to be x-rayed for hip and elbow dysplasia and other genetic health problems catalogued by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Dogs need to be two-years-old in order to have OFA results submitted. Having a litter produced from two parents who have good OFA scores helps reduce possible health problems in a litter.

Some people advocate spaying and neutering all puppies by the time they are four to six months old to prevent reproduction. However, puppies who are spayed or neutered at this age will lack estrogen and testosterone in their bodies which are needed as growth hormones. If at all possible it's always best to wait to spay and neuter your pet until your puppy has reached his full growth and the growth plates have closed. This usually occurs between 14 and 18 months of age. Waiting to spay and neuter at this age will reduce the odds that your puppy will develop hip dysplasia later in life as well as some cancers.

Your puppy may display various sexual behaviors in your home, such as mounting or territorial marking, but these behaviors usually disappear after spaying and neutering. If you are keeping your dog intact there are ways to train your dog to stop these behaviors.


How to Know When Your Dog Reach Sexual Maturity


Dogs, like people, are now living longer than ever before. That means that as they age, we need to make them as comfortable as possible, and a large part of that responsibility is in choosing the right dog beds for man's best friend. In choosing the right one, you have many factors to take into consideration. Your dog's size and build is a significant factor in selecting the right bed for your dog.

You also need to think about any conditions they may have like osteoarthritis, which means you need to find a bed which relieve some of the stress on your pet's joints and supports them adequately. Also, if your dog does suffer from such a condition, you may even have to think of the height of the bed that you choose for your pet, because, like with humans, getting up and down may be one of the most difficult maneuvers, meaning that they could struggle on low dog beds.

You might even want to look into memory foam beds, to get really hi-tech but not necessarily high price. These kinds of dog beds react to the dog's body temperature to soften up the foam and allow it to mold to their body, cradling every joint effectively. This also helps to distribute a dog's weight evenly. A lot of people are realizing just how comfortable memory foam beds are so why wouldn't you give your pet the same comfort by checking out memory foam dog beds?

To add to your dog's comfort, you need to check out beds which are anti-bacterial and hypo-allergenic, in order to safeguard your pet's health. Be careful of less expensive dog beds that will be made using materials containing harmful chemicals. They aren't good for your dog or you.

The shape of your dog's bed is important too. You can find flat dog beds, donut ones and even ones shaped like armchairs. To choose the right one, observe how your dog sleeps. The position they choose will help you to decide on the right shape of dog bed.

Of course, you may well want your dog's bed to be fashionable too, or to fit in with the decor of the room in which it's kept. The good news is that dog beds can now be found in a whole host of other patterns and colors. They are available in various fabrics too, from sheepskin to denim and many fabrics in between, so you can find exactly what you're looking for. A good tip for hygiene and health is to find dog beds that have removable, washable covers, so keeping the area clean is an easy job.

With all these dogs beds on offer, you are sure to be able to find one to suit you and your dog, so long as you remember to take a few things into consideration: size, shape, fabric, pattern and color, just like you would when buying a piece of furniture for yourself.


How to Choose the Right Dog Bed



You ever imagine being at the dining table with some of your family members, colleagues, and friends. After the table is set and the food is ready and is time to say the grace. Calling you furry pal to join the grace. Your friends will probably raise an eyebrow when you tell your dog to join in prayer with everyone. He hops up with his paws on the table and bows his head. You say grace and with an amen, he gets off the table and goes to his favorite food bowl.

Believe me, none of your guests will close their eyes during prayer – the probably will be staring at your dog like they just saw some artificial movie clip take play in real life. Would you like your dog to leave that impression? It is very possible; you can train your dog to do that in real life. You can get your dog to say grace with you! To do that, here is what you need:

1.    A relatively smart dog
2.    His favorite treats
3.    A chair, table or just your lap.

Tell your dog to hop up with his legs on the table. Use the command "PRAY" as much as possible. Only when he does this successfully you give him a treat. Don't give him any treat if he does not do this.

You have to do the exact same thing, but now it's to teach him to put his chin on his paws. Use the word "PRAY" the whole time. If he raises his head before asked him to stop, you have to tell him NO and start over. Once he had learned to not come up until you actually stop, you can move on to teach him when to actually stop. To train your pooch when to stop, the right command to use is “Amen”.

Remember the following - the command "PRAY" equals more than one action. He has to hop up and then to rest his chin on his paws. You have to repeat this a lot but it will come to trust me. Teaching him to stop is the easiest part.

How To Easily Teach Your Dog To Pray


Melanoma is a tumor in the melanocyte cells, which are the cells that produce melanin or the color in your skin. Malignant melanoma is a tumor that grows and becomes worse - and is often associated with cancer. These tumors are seen in humans who have excessive skin damage from the sun, but can also be seen in dogs. Your beloved pooch Angie may experience melanoma in her mouth, skin or toenail if you don't take proper precautions.

Exercise Your Dog: We realize the importance of exercise in humans, but sometimes fail to acknowledge that our dogs require it to stay healthy too. A healthy weight is important for preventing undue strain on the body and exercise is the best way to achieve this. Give Angie her daily walk and let her play in the yard until she tires out.

Filtered Water: Tap water often contains lead and other chemicals. A water purifier is a great investment for cleaner, healthier water that will benefit both you and Angie. Another option is to purchase a cheaper portable filtration pitcher that sits in the fridge. Don't let Angie drink from puddles and bring a bottle of purified water with you everywhere you go just in case she gets thirsty. Water flushes out toxins from the body.

Limit Sun Exposure: Malignant melanoma in humans is commonly caused by ultraviolet damage from the sun. The same goes for dogs. If Angie is fair-haired and has a short coat, she will be at an even higher risk. You can limit her exposure to sun by keeping her indoors during the hottest hours of the day and using a vet-approved dog sunscreen. If you take her to the park or beach, get her into the shade as soon if her skin gets too warm.

Limit Exposure to other Carcinogens: Secondhand smoke is not good for Angie. Never smoke in the home and do not allow others to smoke near her. If you grow plants or flowers in your garden, never use chemical pesticides or phenoxy herbicides. These have both been linked to cancer in dogs. Anything that introduces free radicals to the body will challenge Angie's immune system and eventually cause problems.

A Healthy Diet: Cancer in humans is a complex phenomenon, but can be associated with a poor diet and failing immune system. In both humans and dogs alike, the immune system must function properly to fight off the effects of damaging free radicals. Pick only the highest quality food for your dog, as recommended by your veterinarian. There are some great holistic foods that are loaded with anti-oxidants to help fight off the effects of free radicals too. Some vets may recommend a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli to boost the vitamin content in Angie's diet. You can puree the vegetables and make adjustments to suit Angie's taste. Avoid feeding Angie the junk food that you regularly consume.

Realize that certain breeds will be more prone to cancer. Unfortunately, golden retrievers are almost twice as likely to die of cancer than any other breed. It is thought that breeding is part of the problem. The purebred's genes become more concentrated with each successive generation. Since only select dogs are bred, it is possible that certain so-called "desirable" genes are also linked to less desirable traits - such as the predisposition to cancer. Unfortunately, since cancer usually develops beyond the breeding age of the dog, it is very difficult to control for this trait.

Malignant melanoma is likely related to skin damage from the sun, but other factors can play a significant role in any dog's chances for developing cancer. To keep Angie healthy and to reduce her chances of developing cancer, feed her a healthy, balanced diet. Get her plenty of exercise and ensure that she does not spend too much time in the hot sun.



Protecting Your Dog From Malignant Melanoma


Several factors contribute to anemia in dogs. Everything from fleas to genetic diseases can cause bleeding and loss of blood which will result in a low blood cell count.

Some symptoms of anemia may be vomiting, weight loss, weakness or lethargy or yellow skin. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all, especially if the anemia is not from any diseases.

To prevent dog anemia you must first find out what is causing the problem. A veterinarian can run a blood test and you will know right away if your dog has a low blood cell count. If the test reveals no serious illness there are steps you can take to prevent dog anemia.

Natural and home remedies for dog anemia have been used quite successfully by pet owners and holistic veterinarians. These include;
  • Feeding your dog a well balanced natural diet of premium dog food or raw food with plenty of protein.
  •  Adding some liver and green veggies to his diet; both help the liver and the blood. Do not however add onions or garlic as they are toxic and contain substances called sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells causing anemia. Cats are more likely to be affected by this but why take the chance.
  •   Use a natural flea and tick collar. Commercial type flea collars with chemicals like cyphenothrin and permethrin are synthetic toxic poisons that can weaken our pet's immune systems. Beside skin irritations and hair loss, flea dips have been shown to cause cancer. The popular spot-in products may be convenient but there were over 40,000 reported cases of side effects in just the US. The problems affected their coat, digestion and nervous system and some dogs died; the smaller the dog the more problems naturally.
  • Supplements like nutritional yeast, kelp, vitamin C and the B vitamins can help build the blood and also strengthen their immune system.
  • Some herbal formulas and herbs that cleanse the blood and help the liver are red clover, yellow dock, burdock, raspberry, dandelion, echinacea, ashwagandha and milk thistle. You can find these or a combination of various herbs in homeopathic dog formulas.


Ways to Prevent Dog Anemia


Just like humans, your dog can also suffer from asthma. This happens when the air passageway constricts and is filled with mucus, which makes it hard for your dog to breath. They start to wheeze and cough violently, with shortness of breath. So is dog asthma a disease?

What Causes Dog Asthma

Dogs that usually suffer from this are younger dogs and middle-aged dogs, although older dogs aren't immune and can be affected as well. Although asthma is a sickness, it is not a disease. Dog asthma is usually triggered by some sort of allergic reaction within his environment. It could be with second-hand smoke, dust, pollens or possibly other pollutants.

What are the Symptoms I can Look Out For?

Dog asthma, also known as canine allergic bronchitis, like other illnesses have symptoms that you can identify. As mentioned earlier, the obvious signs would be shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing violently. Other signs include a change in behavior. For example, if your dog used to be active and playful, he suddenly doesn't want to exercise anymore. Another sign is if you see your dog breathing with an open mouth. Lethargy, sudden loss of appetite and weight loss are signs you should look out for. If you notice that your dog's gums and tongue are turning people, then you should rush your dog to the vet as soon as possible!

What Can Be Done?

If canine allergic bronchitis (dyspnea) is not treated at the soonest possible time, there is a risk for the condition to grow a lot worse and to need immediate veterinary care in order for him to survive. An x-ray will be performed in order to rule out any other possible respiratory problems. Once a diagnosis has been made, your vet will provide you with a treatment that you can use for your dog. It could be antihistamines, antibiotics, steroids, bronchodilators, or a combination of all these drugs. If it happens that your dog's asthma is severe, your vet may recommend oxygen therapy.

As in most cases, dogs that suffer from asthma could occur because of poor health and a weakened immune system. So you should always strive to make sure that your dog is in good health. Have regular check-ups with your vet, proper hygiene, healthy eating and living are always best to prevent your dog from suffering from any kind of sickness or diseases. So give your dog the best possible care you can give, provide him a good quality of food, and of course, giving your dogs vitamins can help boost his health and immune system as well.

All You Need to Know About Dog Asthma



This is a very common condition. Nearby eighty percent of pooches, from the age of three, suffer from this problem. Dog's breath is characterized by a serious deterioration of the gums and supporting bones of the teeth. Unfortunately, the infection that causes your dog's breath to smell can get into the bloodstream and affect vital organs such as the liver and kidneys, causing serious illnesses that endanger your dog's health.

Periodontal disease starts as gingivitis, which is totally curable. But if you allow it to develop into periodontal disease, it can still be stopped but not cured. And, the worse it gets, the faster it progresses.

Preventing periodontal disease involves regular professional cleanings early in your dog's life, and of course, veterinary checkups. Of course, you can start a regular oral hygiene regimen at home, but it's hard to do a thorough cleaning on a dog that would rather do something else.

Vets recommend cleanings once a year, but more frequent visits may be required depending on your dog's condition. You should get your dog used to the idea of having his teeth brushed as early as possible.

Here's what you can do to prevent your dog from getting dog's breath:

• Brush your dog's teeth twice a day. Don't forget to floss.

• Start the regimen when your dog is still a puppy. The earlier you start the better.

• At first, you have to get your dog used to you handling its head and looking inside its mouth. Lift her lips and check the teeth and gums - front back, and on either side of its mouth.

• Afterward, start touching the gum tissue with your finger and run along the gums and teeth as though your finger were a toothbrush. Let your dog get used to the feeling. This is similar to how you would introduce brushing to a baby, starting with just the gums, because even though there a baby has no teeth yet, there are already bacteria. Rub your puppy's teeth and swab out its mouth with your finger.

• The next step is to wrap gauze or soft washcloth around your finger and rub your dog's gums on both the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth.

• The final step is to introduce a toothbrush. Start in one small area first. As your dog gets used to the brush, you will be able to use it in place of the gauze or washcloth. Work on the rest of your dog's mouth. Do not forget to brush the inside surfaces.

A brief period of brushing a day, starting with the first step and working your way to the toothbrush gradually, will lead to a one or two-minute session. Your dog will find out that having its mouth cleaned doesn't hurt and will give you a few minutes of undivided attention every day. It usually takes about 8 to 16 weeks for your dog to get there, but eventually, it will accept brushing as part of its daily routine. Pets enjoy the attention. Your dog may even wait patiently for you to brush its teeth, eventually.


How to Prevent Dog Breath

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