Caring for your dog

More help needed – another lost dog. (UK BH Postcode) Please follow this link for more details.

http://www.doglost.co.uk/poster.php?dogId=26145

We’re approaching that time of year when fireworks are beginning to appear in the sky. In recent years, here in the UK these are no longer reserved stricly for November the fifth. Many of our dogs are no doubt very disappointed to realise that these noisy, frightening and potentially dangerous devices are beginning to become part of almost any celebrations we humans can think up.

 Before “bonfire night” we will have”Haloween”, another festival which calls for extra thought and care for all our animals. general guidelines for protecting your pet is similar for most festivals, but Haloween is next, and that particular night is the one when you are most likely to be victims of some kind of “Trick or treat” prank or other. These are hopefully mostly harmless, but some do get out of hand – even vicious. So keep your pet indoors, away from windows and doors, so you can keep an eye and protect them. Don’t go overboard though, if your dog thinks you are anxious too, it might make him worse! So try to keep things as normal as possible.

If you must take your dog out at this time make sure that you have a firm grip of your dog’s lead. Some of the sights and noises at these times can be startling to him. Also sweets tend to feature highly at Haloween, so keep an eye out for any that have been dropped and are tempting as “unofficial treats”. Generally these are not good for your dog, and most vets will tell you that treatments for toxicity increases at these times, particularly Christmas. By now I think most people are aware that chocolate in particular, can be very toxic to a dog, and in some cases even fatal.

There has been an increasing trend in recent times to dress dogs up at holiday times in particular. If you do this make sure the outfit you buy or make for your dog at least adheres to these points:

1/   It has plenty of room and does not impede circulation.
2/  Ensure that it does not obscure his vision, or have hanging pieces that might trip him or get chewed off and swallowed.
3/  That it does not present a danger from others due to making your dog difficult to see.- make it reflective, after all we are advised to wear    something light or reflective when out at night.
4/  At Halloween and Christmas especially remember that there may well be lit candles in unusual places, so make sure that your pet’s outfit is fire retardent.
Keep the above tips in mind, and the festivities should go without any unfortunate or expensive accidents.

http://www.recycler.com/blog/recyclercom-loves-pets/ 

http://www.doggiesolutions.co.uk

Dogs Trust UK

The Little Dog Rescue

You dogs can't get me here!

For a decidedly urban area this is quite unusual for us.  Bruce’s duckpond walk is attracting new residents.  There have been a couple of herons here for some time, but I am told that up to five have been spotted recently.  There are also reports of a Kingfisher, but I have yet to spot that myself.

Plenty to watch here these days.

Dogs Die in Hot Cars

A dog heatstroke happens when normal body mechanisms can’t keep the body’s temperature in a safe range.  A moderate dog heatstroke  will not always cause complicating health problems.  Even so  heat stroke in dogs should be considered a highly dangerous condition.  For a severe dog heatstroke, transport your pet to the veterinarian immediately.

Dogs can’t tell you when their temperature rises, but they can tend to look hot or as if they’re wilting, just like humans do.  We know dogs do not tolerate heat well, so it’s our responsibility to ensure that our pets have sufficient shelter from the sun, adequate water to drink, and a way of cooling off when the summer temperature rises.  Dogs who suffer from heatstroke once, often increase their risk for getting it again and steps must be taken to prevent it on hot or  humid days.   Dogs can’t sweat all over their bodies the way humans do, and they rely on panting to cool their bodies. 

When exposed to high temperatures without relief, or when exercised in hot weather, all dogs are susceptible to heat stroke, even death.  Elderly and overweight dogs, particularly  breeds such as English Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boston Terriers, are especially vulnerable to the heat.  Short-faced breeds, such as Boxers, Pugs and Pekingese, and dogs with heavy coats, are at particular risk.

Dogs can often be seen in cars left there while the owner goes into  a store.  I have seen dogs locked in cars and I always try to keep an eye on how long the owner is away. 

Please take care of your dog this summer and keep an eye out for others that might be at risk.

Caring for  your dog implies feeding the correct food which is likely to happen only if you’re serious about your dog’s health. If you fail to give proper food to your dog, then  your dog may fall prey to a disease which may result in premature death.  Naturally  you don’t want this to happen, so feeding natural dog food is the most beneficial way to avert it. High risk  can be involved in giving food that contains artificial or synthetic foods.

Natural dog food is preferred by many when it comes to feeding their dog. These foods contain natural ingredients only of the best quality. If you want your dog to be always energetic then you must feed your dog with natural dog food. Even you will feel better when you see a healthy dog. If your dog is healthy then it delivers a positive impact on your life. A healthy dog has the power to influence the wellbeing of it’s owner for the better.

Natural dog food will usually enhance the appearance of your dog, and give it a completely different appearance.  So if you would like to give a gorgeous and stunning look to your dog then you can accomplish it by simply feeding your dog with natural dog food. Generally dogs that are not provided with natural dog food face many problems. Your dog’s skin quality is definitely going to improve if there’s an intake of natural dog food everyday.

If you’re not interested in going from one shop to another in search of a good natural dog food then there are various online stores that will provideal almost instant delivery to your home. Many people prefer the  online method to order the product as it is extremely convenient. Whenever you are buying please take care to ensure that you are buying a genuine natural product. Most online companies in the UK have been manufacturing natural dog food for more than 30 years.

The majority of natural dog foods in the UK are prepared by veterinary surgeons. Hence success is almost guaranteed. For excellent health of your dog natural dog food is probably your best bet.

Broadly speaking, with regards to their pet dogs people prefer to give natural dog food, and the UK market has maintained a high standard of quality. One of the main areas where the advantages are most pronounced is in the case of skin and/or coat conditions.

The Golden Retriever

 In a dog’s world, Golden Retrievers are simply the fatal attraction. They are a popular dog breed, making great pets, hunting dogs, obedience competitors, show dogs, and even a combination of all these skills.  No matter what your reason to own a Golden Retriever may be, you’ll have an excellent dog that will live up to it’s potential and more. 

Golden Retrievers are usually calm, well mannered, and extremely affectionate.  They are easy to train as they are very intelligent, and great for those who need a companion.  Golden’s are also loyal to their owners, lovable, and great with children of all ages.  They also make good watchdogs as well, as they will bark loudly and let you know when a stranger is near. 

Just like other dogs, Golden Retrievers will shed their hair throughout the year and even more in the spring – regardless of how many times you brush them during the day.  They also like to be near and preferably in the water, similar to Labs.  If you have any type of water on or near your property, your Golden Retriever will want to be in it, and tend to be either wet or muddy quite often – which is not always convenient for you. 

If you are always on the go or never at home, you shouldn’t get a Golden Retriever.  If you prefer cats over dogs, you should look into another breed.  Golden Retrievers crave attention and admiration, and are not happy if you leave them at home by themselves for long periods of time.  Golden’s need attention, and want to be around you at all times. If you spend a lot of time at home on the other hand, or have kids, a Golden Retriever might be a perfect addition to your family.

A lot of people prefer to get a puppy and raise it themselves.  This way, the puppy will grow up with the skills they have taught him. This is a great idea and very rewarding, although it can consume a lot of your time and tend to be very frustrating at times.  Those who don’t have a lot of time to spare or tend to get easily frustrated, shouldn’t get a puppy.  Instead, they should look towards an older Golden Retriever who has already been house broken and trained. 

Golden Retrievers are a lovely breed, and they can provide you with the companion you have been looking for.  They can participate in several activities with you as well, such as hiking, camping, and walking.  Golden’s love the outdoors, and they love just getting out there and doing things with you and your family.  If you include your Golden Retriever in family activities – you’ll have a friend for life who will quickly grow on you over the years.

We’ve hardly scratched the surface here about this popular breed.  So if you want lots more free information go to:

Golden-Retrievers

Are you the type of person who enjoys giving surprises? Are you the kind who will try hard to consider how are you going to make your loved ones feel that they’re special? If you’re pulling the trick day in and day out, you may sense that you’re already petering out of ideas. There’s one surprise that you must not choose. And this is none other than pet adoption. 

Advantages of Pet Ownership

There are many advantages of owning pets. It doesn’t matter whether you’re still young or you’re on your older years. Pets bring lots of pleasures in people’s lives. But the sort of pet that one should own ought to be according to their life-style. So how can pets alter people’s lives? Here are only a few of the ways. 

1. Companionship is the first and most popular reason whether for older or younger people. They acquire pets of their choice to be there as a friend or even as a family. You treat your pets like children. You feed them, bathe them and even teach them tricks if you are able to. For over stressed individuals and those who do not have their families to greet them upon arriving home, pets become their alternative for such purpose. 

2. There are scientific studies which have proved that pets can have good effects on one’s heath, especially with the seniors. Owning one and interacting with them can bring down your cholesterol levels. It can also regulate your blood pressure. Naturally, it can eliminate or reduce the stress levels that you’re feeling. Others say that this can also prevent some cardiovascular diseases from recurring. 

Overall, owning pets can lead to a healthier you. Plus, you’ll  be happier and more energised. You’ll get the sense of responsibility for your pets’ health and lives. You will have fun, excitement and become more alive. 

Red Alert: 

Because you’ve read about the advantages of owning a pet does not mean that you should head out the nearest adoption center and surprise someone with one. Bear in mind that this will require a lot of responsibility which the recipient may not be capable of. So make certain that you talk first to the person you have in mind to give a pet to before you make any moves. 

1. Don’t give a pet to those who are not expecting one. There are reasons why people decide to have pets. But there are also reasons why they prefer not to. This is the basis why most rescue organisations advise people to discuss the matter with the would-be owner before you give them the responsibility of owning a pet, and generally do not encourage the gesture of giving pets as gifts. 

2. Talking about the intention will also prove to be easier on both parties. If they really would like to own pets, at the least  you’ll be able to ask them for their preferences. This way, you’re reassured that when you give them the pets, they’ll be pleased about the gesture and that they will be prepared to treasure the animal. 

The critical factor in pet adoption is that you’ve to find the perfect match between owners and the pets. You have to make certain that both will like and love the circumstances that they’re both just about to venture into.

It’s true!  You can download a free ebook to guide you through health care issues for your dog.  Just go to the link below to get your own copy.

http://www.k4canines.com/dogs/ebooks/DogHealth.pdf

Right-click on the link and select “save target as” OR Left click on the link to open the ebook, then “save a copy”.

Hope you find it useful.

If you have any problems downloading contact me at: admin@k4canines.com.

Please take me home!

Everybody, at sometime in their lives, has probably been taken in by pets who  looked at us with cute eyes begging for attention or a little pat on the head.  They may be in a pet shop that we just passed or in a shelter. Regardless of where we found them, once we see “the look”, the next thing we know, this pet is already messing your bedroom floor.

Having a pet at home is a wonderful experience, whether it’s for the whole family or for an individual. However, having a pet, especially adopting a pet is a big decision. It is important to know our capabilities in caring for a pet.

There are some questions to answer before pursuing any plans of pet adoption.  We need to consider the reason for adopting. It really is important to know why we are adopting, failing to answer or provide a good account of this might conceal a big mistake.

Pets and animal companions just cannot be ignored. It is important to know if we’d have time to spend caring for a pet. Pets put forward for adoptions are mostly in shelters. Let us remember that these pets were put into shelters because their owners can no longer take care of them.

Pet or animal care can be quite expensive today. Pets not only need water and food but also they need to receive training, grooming and other expenses. Let us remember that these pets are not just staying overnight or for a week.  Pets can live with us from 10 to about  20 years. It is important to know if we can afford to let a pet into our lives.  We need to know that we can be responsible full time pet owners.

Pets naturally, bring good things like joy and love in the house. But apart from these, pets are also bearers of infestations, damaged furniture, accidents from animals not yet trained and unexpected medical emergencies. Knowing our ability to cope and resolve this issue are important concerns to be addressed. Meanwhile, if ever you choose to go to a vacation, it is necessary to have somebody to take control of the pets while you are away.

Research is good thing. It is necessary to research about the animals that we are interested in adopting. We need to know about their characteristics and traits to know if they will fit in with our lifestyle.

It is absolutely necessary to know if any members of your  family or companions in the house have an allergy towards any breed of pets. If  there are children in the family, with ages below six, it is important to think carefully about the adoption. Pets require responsibility and it might be difficult for the children to take responsibility for the pet.  It is better to let a couple of years pass before getting another animal.

If there is another pet at home, it’s important to consider if the new pet will get on with the other animal. Having a veterinarian is also important in caring for out pet animals.

Whether it is pet adoption or just simple pet ownership, it requires a lot  of time and possibly patience to care for our animals. It is important to consider  the above  points before proceeding in getting pets.