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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


Having a clean and healthy dogis a must for both you and your dog's happiness. Cleaning the ears, teeth and their coat, while keeping their hair free of ticks and fleas are for sure the essentials to washing a dog.

Dogs doing need to be bathed nearly as much as people do, and sometimes they will not think that its very pleasant, but afterward will typically feel really good and be very joyful.

This is also a great time to brush their teeth, clean their ears and check for ticks and fleas, because considering that dogs don't like to sit still for a good bath, when washing a dog it makes much more sense to do it all together.

Cleaning Dog's Teeth

Most veterinarians would recommend that you brush their teeth twice a week, but that's not a rule of thumb, and it does not mean that washing a dog in general has to be done this often.

You can pick up special toothpaste and brushes made for dogs at your favorite pet store. The paste alone is designed to be tasty to our canine friends, so they shouldn't give you any fuss.

Use small circular strokes on the main teeth, and an up and down motion to take care of their pointier teeth.

If for some reason cleaning dog's teeth does not sound like your cup of tea, you may also try dental treats or biscuits which can do the trick, but are by far not nearly as good as the real thing.

Checking For Ticks And Fleas

When washing a dog, its very important to take this precautionary step. Ticks above all are the nasty little blood suckers that can carry diseases and make your dog very unhealthy to say the least. A canine will typically pick these up in a wooded area (humans too), but you should do a thorough routine check throughout the warmer months of the year anyways.

Check under the collar, the belly and deeply into the coat. They are very good at hiding in unusual places. If you do locate one, you can use your hands to remove them, but you will want to wash your hands afterward, and you will have to be very careful. You may perhaps use a pair of tweezers instead. Always remove a tick by its head, and not the body. If not you will end up with a nasty mess.

You can locate fleas when washing a dog by one big give away - their droppings. Flea poop looks like little flecks of black pepper. Fleas can vary in size, but they cannot be removed like ticks by simply picking them off.

You will need a good plan of action for this if you do find one. You can buy flea shampoo, but never ever start shampooing anywhere until you've started with the head FIRST. If you don't - they will "flea" to the dog's head and scramble into their eyes. Make the head a no-flea zone first by shampooing it before any other area.

There are also programs for treatment that are typically little droplets that you can apply to the coat of flea killer. Consult a vet or expert first before using these. Too much can be harmful when washing a dog.

Cleaning a Dog's Ears

Ear mites can be a real problem for dogs. They literally live off of the waxy secretion in a dog's ears. They have a short lifespan, and over time their bodies start stacking up, which creates a thick black dirt-like substance.

You can also pick up cleaning solution for ears at a pet supply store. Use a cotton swab that has been dipped into a little bit of the solution, and gently swipe the ear. If when washing a dog they try to resist this process, hold them down and do it anyways - it goes by very quickly, does not do any harm, and will keep them healthy and ear mite free.

If not, your dog could end up with an ear infection or ear aches. As you have noticed by now, taking the time to do a little extra pampering can make all the difference in the world.


Important Guidelines For Bathing a Dog



The German Shorthaired Pointer has a short thick coat that is predominately liver in color, either solid liver, liver and white, liver patches/liver roan. In some countries, their tails are docked, but this practice is now illegal in most countries. They have slightly long ears that lie flat and close to the head. They can stand up to 23 to 25 inches tall and weigh between 55 and 70 lbs. they are a well-proportioned dog with a broad and rounded skull, they have a slight stop and brown open nose. They have almond-shaped eyes and compact feet that are webbed, their fur is rough to the touch but softer on their ears and head. They are streamlined dogs, powerful and are able to move and turn rapidly.

History: The German Shorthaired Pointer was bred to be an excellent Hunter as well as a good family companion. It is thought to descend from many German dogs including hunting dog, scent hounds and tracking dogs. They're an all-purpose dog with an excellent nose and can be used as either a retriever or a gundog both in the field and in water. They were officially recognized by the AKC in 1930. As well as hunting, this dog has been known to be used in Scandinavia as a sled dog for dogsled racing. Although not much is known about its history, it is thought to have been descended from the old Spanish Pointer and to have come to Germany in the 1600s, however, no records were kept until the first studbook in 1870.

Temperament: The German Shorthaired Pointer is an extremely energetic breed, they are eager to please and will love their family. They are a faithful dog who tend to have happy air around them. They do need lots of exercises, and if they do not receive the amount they need they can become highly strung and very frustrated. They enjoy constructive activities, and they need order and structure to their life. They need a calm yet firm owner, who the dog must know is in charge, without leadership these dogs can become nervous and destructive. They do not cope well with being kept in a kennel but love nothing more than doing what they were bred to do, which is to hunt.

Health Issues: Overall a very healthy breed, but like many dogs they are prone to hip dysplasia and they can also suffer from epilepsy and genetic eye diseases. They can also get cancerous lesions in their mouth or on the skin in other areas of their body, and similar to other breeds the German Shorthaired Pointer females are prone to breast cancer if they are un-spayed. As with all hunting dogs, they are prone to the spread of fungi and bacteria through contact with the game, this can easily cause infections in their mouth or any open wounds or small cuts. Their life expectancy is 12 to 14 years, though it is not unheard of individual dogs to live up to 18 years.

Grooming: The German Shorthaired Pointers are generally very clean breed so only occasional brushing is required. They are minimal shedders, and normally only shed once a year. They should only be bathed when needed, for example, if they are covered in mud.

Living Conditions: The German Shorthaired Pointer is not recommended for apartment life, they are a very active dog and would do best with a large garden. They are also best suited to an active family who can give them the amount of exercise they require. If under-exercised they have been known become escape artists, being able to jump fences up to 6 foot high. They are tireless animals and on occasion can be more than a match for even the most active people, however, if their exercise needs are not met they can become restless and destructive.



The German Shorthaired Pointer Dog Breed


The dogs joined the Middlesex University to help students with the stress associated with the exam and nostalgia.

Five Labrador students were trained as "dog teaching assistants" to reduce anxiety and prevent students from dropping out of school.

The dogs received their identification credentials to ensure that they were an integral part of the university's teaching and welfare team.

"It's hard to describe the effect of having a dog lying in a corner of the classroom," said Fiona Suthers, head of clinical skills at the university.


"It's amazing and we are very interested in continuing and expanding what we are doing."

This comes after the University of East Anglia recently offered students the opportunity to take the dog for a walk in an attempt to deal with stress during the exam season.

Last month, Sir Anthony Seldon, vice president of Buckingham University, said that every school should have a dog or other pet to reduce stress in the classroom.

Education Minister Damien Hinds said more schools seemed to have "fancy dogs" and that "pets really can help."

Dogs join Middlesex University staff to help students with exam stress and homesickness



Owning a dog is not only about fun, games, and great to cuddle with. They are really great with helping you stay healthy, and even lower your blood pressure. Also, people with pets are diagnosed to have fewer heart attacks and strokes.

You Are Bound To Stay Fit: Having a pet such as a dog gives you no excuses, which means you are pretty much forced to go out and walk your dog on a daily stroll. Dog owners usually are in better shape than people without a pet to walk. You could lose well over 30 pounds if you walk your dog in rain or shine: even 100 degrees to 35.

Keeping You Safe: Dogs can easily calm down the biggest scaredy-cat. People are worried a lot less about getting attacked when they walk together with a canine. Even if your canine isn't big, it doesn't have to be, to perform better. Even a small dog can tell you if something isn't right, with your pooch's amazing sense of smell and hearing.

You Are Not Alone: If you are one of those people who talk to your dog or cat and tell them your problems...well, you aren't crazy. It turns out that fifty percent of adults and seventy percent of children confine in their pet. Having a pet also helps children deal better with the death of a parent, or a family member. You and your dog can get drawn into a tight relationship which gives you the feeling that you go into hardships together, and have fun together-so really...you aren't alone.

Meeting New Friends: Since pets don't have the same way of socializing, dogs, in particular, can drag you into social encounters. What this simply means is getting to know a neighbor even closer and better. You can also meet new friends at dog parks or out in the street. It can really be life-changing.

Helping With Your Heart: It's as simple as this: Petting a dog or cat can easily lower your blood pressure. Although stroking a snake is also another study that was analyzed with people who own snakes. Petting a dog or cat helps your stay in the present, and not dwelling on the future or past, which can cause nervous breakdowns. There was also a study found that when you cuddle with your furry pets, it can give you a chemical boost by releasing some kind of feel-good brain chemicals. Pet owners usually also have lower levels of triglyceride and cholesterol.

Pets Enhancing Immunity: Petting a dog can also raise your levels of immunoglobulin A, which is an antibody that is found to fight off the common cold.

Helping Kids Become Greater People: Boys and girls that live with pets usually grow up to be much more social and outgoing. Allowing boys and girls to take care of the dog and walk it, and also feed and groom, lets them take on the responsibilities from a young age.






7 Important Health Benefits of Owning a Dog


Dog lovers are sharing a post fixed to a lamppost in Toronto, Ontario, with a heartbreaking request for a thief.

The unidentified writer said that the man robbed them in their home, took their DSLR camera and their money, but they did not care about that.

What they want back is their camera memory card, for a very touching reason.

 The poster reads: 'To the man in my house and robbed me. Keep the money, and my DSLR camera, and whatever else you took.

'But if you have the camera memory card, please, it has pictures of my dog's last day alive on it.

'I can’t replace those pictures. Please, throw it on to the porch or place it in the mail slot. Or mail it.

‘Please, she died a few days ago. I can’t even lose those photos as well.’

 Being robbed is a terrible experience, and the person doesn’t even care about any of their possessions being taken, but demanding the dog photos back, really shows how much they care about their dog.

A picture of the sign was shared on Facebook by Saoirse Morgan, who wrote: 'It is simply heartbreaking. I hope this person does the right thing. '

The post was shared more than 21,000 times on Facebook and it received many comments from people who expect the robber to be kind and return the memory card.

We also hope that the robber will see the post and do the right thing. No matter how desperately a person may need cash, he can surely understand the pain of losing a beloved dog.

Touching note asks for thief to return photos of dog’s last day alive

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