Becoming a Dog Owner

Becoming a Dog Owner

Once you are ready to become a dog owner, there are some things that you need to do to prepare for a dog. First, you will need to decide if you are going to have an indoor or outdoor dog. If you are having an indoor dog, you will want a bed or a rug where your dog will be trained to lay down at. If you choose to have an outdoor dog, you will want to have a dog house for them with a blanket or hay inside for them to be comfortable and remain warm when it is cold out.



You will need to get the accessories such as a food bowl and a water bowl. You will want some dog food. Don't forget to have a collar with you, the owners name on a dog tag. This will ensure that your dog is returned to you if by chance it gets away from you.



Being a dog owner takes a lot of responsibility and dedication to your pet. You must be willing to play with it daily or to walk it daily.

You must remember to give your dog food and water daily. If you leave the food and water down for your dog to eat at their desire, then you will need to ensure that there is always food available. You will want to change the water weekly.



Being a dog owner can be a lot of fun, but it does take time and dedication. The better you are to your dog, the better they are to you.

Dog Breeds and Names

Dog Breeds and Names

Anyone who is thinking of getting a dog is always faced with the same question. "What breed of dog should I get?" There are over 150 different breeds to choose from. The breeds range from very large dog to very small dog. When going about looking at breeds of dogs, you will need to take into account the type of person or family you are.



If you are single, then choosing a dog is not as hard as if you had a family. If you have small children, you do not want to get a terrier. Terrier's are known to be aggressive. If your children are old enough, then you may want to look at a terrier. The main thing to know is that each breed od dog is known for something. Such as a German Shorthair is known for hunting. If you do not hunt, there is no point in getting this type of dog. There are lists of dog breeds available with a statement of what that breed is known for.



Once you have chosen the breed of dog, the next thing is a name. A lot of people like to pre-pick a name for a dog, however, that is not always easy. It has been stated that in order to name a dog, you must see the dog. Therefore, you may want to wait to pick a name for your dog after you have the dog in your possession. An example is that you may think that you want to name your dog Toby, but the dog you choose does not seem like a Toby, therefore you name him Biggs.

Caring For Dogs

Caring For Dogs

Many people buy a dog without finding out how to take care of it. This can be a bad thing for both the owner and the dog. Caring for dogs can be a great experience, if you are prepared in a few areas.




Puppies:

Puppies are cute and a lot of fun, however there are some things to look at when buying a puppy.



Potty training:

This takes time and patience, you will need to keep an eye out and notice when your puppy needs to potty. If you see your puppy sniffing around, that is a good sign that he has to go. Most people take their animals out to go potty how ever if this is not possible you may look into newspaper training your pet.

Puppy Food:

Puppy food is different than the food for mature dogs when you buy food make sure that it is for puppies.



Caring for an adult dog:

Caring for dogs is not hard, however to care for one properly you have to treat it like one of the family.



Adult Food:

A good quality adult dog food needs to be fed to your dog at least twice a day. Talk to your Veterinarian to find out the recommended amount.


Water:

Your dog needs a constant source of water. You can buy water containers that hold a large amount of water to make this easier for you.



Exercise:

When caring for dogs you have to give them exercise. Depending on the size of your dog will depend on the amount of exercise it needs. This can include walking it on a leash, throwing a ball for it or even taking it hiking or jogging. Anything you like to do for exercise; your dog will to.

Caring for an older dog:

Care for an older dog is pretty much the same as caring for the adult dog. The major difference is that they will need to have a senior dog Food with special vitamins for them. Your veterinarian can help you with the best choice for your older dog.



Caring for dogs is a responsibility, if you include them in your life, the better life will be for you both. Dogs can be great friends.

Dog Collars

Dog Collars

All dogs should have a collar and dog tags. The thought of your loved dog being stolen or lost is not comfortable for anyone. Statistics clearly says that there is a greater chance of seeing your dog again if they wear a dog collar and pet tag.

Although dog collars are not only useful for returning and re-claiming lost dogs, they are also very useful for walking and exercising dogs and go a long way to showing you are a responsible pet owner.

It is necessary for dogs to have a correctly fitting and comfortable collar and pet tag, no matter whether you have a Pudle or a Gold Retriever or a Pitbull.

Dog collars are even useful to give your dog a certain appearance. For example, many owners of male dogs, especially breeds such as Bulldogs, Bull Mastiff’s and Rottweilers, like to purchase dog collars that are thick, dark and feature accessories such as silver studs. Or alternatively, owners of female dogs, and breeds such as Poodles, Pomeranians and Mexican Hairless’ prefer to use lighter, summery coloured ribbon dog collars to promote their dogs femininity and delicateness.

No matter what breed of dog you own, a dog collar is a responsible and necessary item for your beloved dog.

Different sorts of Dog Collars:

Reflector collars

They protect your dog from the hazards of night drivers

Leather Collars

They are the most durable collars that you can get for your dog

Nylon Collars

they are made from nylon

Dog Loss / Dog Memorial

Dog Loss/Dog Memorial

Dealing with dog loss is not an easy process. When you lose a dog it is just like losing a member of your own family, in fact you are losing a member of your family. In this article I will give you some steps to help in dealing with the loss of a faithful friend.

What to do initially:

The initial shock of dog loss is the hardest to take, if the dog was a family pet it is important for the family to spend time together and get through the sad time as a family. It is important for Mom and Dad to remember that they need to be there emotionally for the kids especially if the kids are young. Many single people have dogs, when you lose a dog as a single person it can be just like losing a mate. If you are single and you are dealing with dog loss find some one to talk to and share your grief with.

Have a memorial service for your dog:

There are those people who would scoff at a dog memorial, which makes no sense at all. If you think about it a memorial service for a person will help you feel better about them passing away, it is no different for a pet. For many people a dog is a member of the family, so having a dog memorial makes sense. There are different ways to do this, one of the best is to have the whole family involved with the burial process and each person that wants to can say a few words. Give the kids a flower that they can put on the grave and let them cry, it is even good for the grown-ups to cry to. If it makes the family feel good you can even make a marker.

Dealing with dog loss is not an easy process. But by facing it with friends and loved ones it can be easier. A dog memorial will also bring you peace in a troubled time.

Dog Food

Dog Food

When choosing dog food for your dog it is important to choose a food that is the right type for your dog.

You first want to take into consideration the age of your dog and choose a food that is for your dogs age. For example, if your dog is a puppy then you will want to buy a dog food that is made for puppies.

Next, you will want to make sure you get a food type made for the size of your dog. If you have a large breed dog then you want to buy a food formulated for large breed dogs.

Lastly, you want to take into consideration the health of your dog. If you have an active dog then you will want to buy a food made for active dogs. If your dog is overweight, then you want to buy dog food made for weight loss or a lite food. Make sure to choose the right type of dog food for your specific dog.

Also, don't forget to give your dog some vaccines / vitamins from time to time, because dogs are in many ways as humans, thats why they need vitamins as much as we do.

Dog Health

Dog Health

To keep you dog as healthy as possible it is important to get them regular check ups by your veterinarian.

You want to keep them up to date on their vaccines.

Keeping your dog free of parasites like fleas and worms and keeping them on heartworm prevention helps to keep your dog healthy.

Along with regular check ups you want to feed you dog quality dog food and providing them with plenty of fresh water.

Daily exercise is important for your dog's health as well.

Keeping your dog healthy takes a little effort everyday but will pay off in the long run with a healthy pet.