Dog Reports

Posts Tagged ‘Breeds’

There are an estimated 74.8 million pet dogs in the United States and many more around the world. Dog ownership is at an all-time high today. At no time in history have so many people shared their lives with dogs as companions.
People today also have many choices when it comes to what kind of dog they will choose as a pet. There are over 400 recognized breeds of dog in the world. They range from the tiny Chihuahua which originated in Mexico to the wide range of ancient breeds that came from southeast Asia, such as the Akita, the Chow Chow, the Pug, the Pekingese and the Tibetan breeds. They include the old spitz-type breeds such as the Malamute, the Siberian Husky and others; and the very old breeds of the middle east, such as the Saluki, the Afghan Hound, the Pharoah Hound, and the Greyhound.
In addition to all of the breeds of dogs in the world there are numerous Designer dogs being bred these dogs. Designer Dogs are intentional crosses of two purebred dogs. They may be bred for a special reason, such as to try to produce a low-shedding coat or more intelligence or trainability, or some other aspect of one of the parents. Or, in some cases, they are bred simply because they may produce cute puppies. Designer dogs have been in high demand in the last several years and can command enormous prices.
Besides these intentionally-bred dogs there are several million dogs in animal shelters each year looking for homes. Some of these dogs are strays, some are puppies from unplanned litters, and some are stray puppies and dogs imported from countries outside the United States for adoption here. Some of the dogs are young dogs that have been adopted once and returned because their owners didn’t know how to handle adolescent dog behavior.
All of this means that you have a huge range of choices when it comes to trying to decide what kind of dog you want. How do you even begin to narrow your choices?
The best thing to do when you consider what kind of dog to get is to consider your essential needs. Do you have allergies? Do you hate dog hair in the house? Do you want a dog that can go jogging with you? Do you live a quiet lifestyle? Do you live in an apartment or do you have land in the country? Do you have kids? Do you have time to spend on grooming a dog or will the dog go to a groomer? Do you want a low maintenance dog or do you enjoy fussing over a coat and grooming? Do you intend to train your dog to learn more than housetraining?
When you consider these questions and others like them you should try to be completely honest with yourself. You want to get a dog that will be a good fit for you personally. It’s a bad idea to get a dog because it’s the popular thing to do. Don’t adopt a shelter dog if you have allergies. Chances are that you will be allergic to the poor dog and have to return him. Instead you will need to identify the breeds of dogs that are usually better for allergy-sufferers. Even then you will need to meet some dogs on a one-on-one basis to see how you react to them.
Don’t let yourself be pressured into getting a dog that you don’t want. If you have always wanted a Greyhound don’t let somebody talk you into taking a Beagle-mix because the dog needs a home. There will always be dogs that need homes and you cannot save all of them. Chances are that you won’t be happy with a dog that you didn’t truly want. If you feel that you want to rescue a dog there may not be purebred dogs of certain breeds in animal shelters but there are often purebreds with purebred rescue groups. Greyhounds, for instance, have a very active rescue network. You could get the Greyhound that you always wanted and rescue a dog at the same time. You can find information about purebred breed rescue organizations online.
If you choose to get a purebred puppy or dog from a breeder make sure that you choose a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders do health screening on their dogs to make sure that they are good candidates for breeding. For many breeds this means that their hips are x-rayed for hip dysplasia. For some breeds their eyes may be checked and they receive a CERF certificate. Other breeds may have their hearing checked by BAER testing. The list goes on. Breeders in each breed take different precautions to make sure their dogs are healthy. You should do some homework about the breed so you know the potential health problems. That way you will know what to ask the breeder and what health testing should have been done.
Good breeders are willing to stand by the puppies and dogs they place. They should be willing to guarantee a puppy or dog’s genetic health. No dog will remain healthy forever. Dogs, like people, must all eventually die. But good breeders will make guarantees about the possible genetic problems in their breed and what they will do in the event that a dog of their breeding develops a problem. Will they replace a puppy? Will they refund money? Will they help pay costs to correct the problem? All of these things should be spelled out in the contract you have with a good breeder. Buying from a good breeder is, however, a two-way street. The breeder will also expect many things of you regarding the proper care of “their” puppy. Don’t be surprised when they put you through a gamut of questions about your fitness to own one of their dogs.
Adopting a dog from an animal shelter is often not as easy as it once was. Whereas you could once walk into a shelter, point to a dog and take it home, in many shelters things are a little more complicated nowadays. Some shelters require a lot more information about people adopting dogs now. Dogs (and cats) are often evaluated for temperament. Shelters try to match people with dogs that have temperaments that will suit people interested in adopting them. They hope that this will cut down on the number of dogs that are returned to the shelter. Fees for adopting dogs are also higher than they once were since shelters try to cover the cost of shots and spaying/neutering. The costs of adopting dogs through rescue groups are usually even higher. Rescue groups justify these costs by saying that they may not spend a lot of money on one particular dog but they may have a case where a dog has heartworms and they have to spend a lot of money on that one dog. So, they spread the costs to everyone who adopts.
There are countless wonderful dogs available, whichever route you decide to take. You can get a great dog at your local animal shelter or you may find your dream dog by searching for a reputable breeder. The important thing to remember is to identify the key points about your own lifestyle that you will be sharing with your dog. Focus on finding a dog that fits the way you live. Do what’s best for you and you will find the right canine companion.

Obesity in dogs is an enormous problem today. An estimated 20-40 percent of dogs in developed countries are overweight or obese. In the United States some 17 million dogs are considered overweight or obese. That is about a quarter of the population of owned dogs.
Canine obesity can shorten your dog’s life. It can lead to diabetes mellitus, damage to joints, bones and ligaments; heart disease and increased blood pressure; difficulty breathing; decreased stamina; decreased liver function; increased surgical and anesthetic risk; reproductive problems; digestive disorders (including flatulence); decreased immune function; skin and coat problems; increased risk of cancer; and decreased quality and length of life.
In most cases the cause of obesity in dogs is overfeeding. People give their dogs too much food. Or they feed their dogs the wrong kind of food for the dog’s lifestyle. They provide sedentary dogs with food for active, working dogs. They feed their dogs too many high calorie treats. They add in extra food in addition to the dog’s regular meals. Or, on a related note, they don’t let their dog get enough exercise for the amount of food they are feeding.
Basically, dogs become overweight for the same reasons as people and it is just as unhealthy for them.
There are many things you can do to help your dog lose weight. No one wants to see a skinny dog but, ideally, you want your dog to be a good weight and have good muscle tone. You should feel your dog’s body. Can you feel an ribs? You should be able to feel ribs without seeing them. You don’t want to feel rolls of fat or flab. And, when your dog walks he shouldn’t roll or waddle.
You can start by evaluating your dog’s food. Are you feeding your dog a proper food? Does your dog get enough exercise for the food you are feeding him? If you are feeding your dog a high protein food does your dog get enough exercise to run off the energy in the food? It may be a good idea to look for a food that says it’s for All Life Stages or Maintenance. Your overweight dog probably doesn’t need a food that says it’s for Performance dogs.
There is some debate over whether you should feed Weight Management foods to dogs seeking to lose weight or not. Some experts believe that these foods leave a dog feeling hungry and that you end up feeding more of the food or supplementing it with snacks.
Once you have decided if you are feeding your dog the proper food you should see if you are feeding the proper amounts. If you are feeding the amount recommended on the bag’s label you are probably overfeeding your dog. Most dog food company feeding recommendations are overly generous and will result in obese dogs. You should feed your dog as much as he will eat in five-ten minutes and then put his bowl or pan up. You can divide his meal up into two or three small feedings per day. This is usually better for dogs than one large meal and will help dogs who are trying to lose weight. Your dog will have something to look forward to.
Your dog can still have snacks but you should try to make them healthy, low calorie snacks. You can give your dogs carrots or popcorn as snacks. Most dogs like both of these foods as treats and you can give your dog all he wants. Avoid fattening peanut butter snacks and high calorie dog cookies.
If you are trying the new diet and your dog is staring at you like you’re starving him you can add something like cooked green beans to his dog food (no bacon or other fatty seasonings). Green beans and other veggies will help your dog feel full without adding a lot of calories.
Of course, dogs can’t lose weight as fast as humans. Don’t try to make your dog lose more than two percent of his body weight per week. That may only be a few ounces. Slow and steady weight loss will lead to healthy changes. Once your dog is on the proper diet and the both of you forming healthy habits your dog will soon be looking and feeling much better.
Your dog can overcome obesity but he can’t do it without your help. You control his food. If you want your best friend to live a long and healthy life it’s up to you to manage his food and his eating habits. Make healthy choices for your dog and you’ll both be happier.