Female Dog CareWritten by Aki Desorcy
As there are certain health issues that affect only female dog, care should be taken to ensure that these are fully understood before deciding whether or not to buy a bitch.The most important concern is that of spaying. Only those who are fully educated in all aspects of a specific breed and who have time and energy to put into making sure that bloodlines are kept strong and healthy should ever consider breeding. With that in mind, most owners of female dogs will not be thinking of breeding and should therefore seriously consider having their pet spayed. If necessary surgery is carried out before your dog has her first heat cycle, likelihood of her ever developing breast cancer will become almost zero percent. That alone is a very good reason to have your dog spayed as breast cancer is otherwise relatively common in older bitches. The chances of your dog developing pyometra, a disease of uterus that can be fatal, is also greatly reduced. Having your dog spayed will also relieve her of twice yearly 'season' and anxiety that often becomes part of it. She'll no longer want to roam in order to find male dogs to mate with and you'll no longer have to put up with crowds of dogs who follow you during walks or who gather outside your home. And most importantly of all, unwanted pups will not become a problem. If your female dog starts collecting her toys and treating them as if they were puppies, she's almost certainly experiencing a false pregnancy. Fortunately, this rarely lasts more than a week and although dog will become very protective of her imaginary offspring, treat her as normal and she'll soon forget them.
| | Dog Crate Buyer's Guide- How to choose the right crate and accessoriesWritten by A. Grignard
Why use a crate:When used properly and not abused, crates are fastest and most humane method of housebreaking dogs. Dogs are den animals that will instinctively seek out a small, cozy place to rest for shelter and security. Crates act on a dog's instinct to keep its den clean and unsoiled. Keeping your dog in a crate teaches him to "hold it" until he can go in an appropriate place, which helps your puppy develop his bladder control. For older dogs, crates act as a "bedroom" where they can relax and escape hustle and bustle of kids, other pets, and everyday family life. Also, it's never too late to crate train! A crate can help break bad habits that improperly trained dogs may have developed over years. Plastic or metal? Plastic kennels are good for travel, and are generally only method of containment permitted by airlines. Metal wire dog crates are ideal for home use, however. They are generally roomier and more open. They're also sturdier, so they will stand up to your pet's movement/ activity and be able to last as your dog's permanent bedroom. What size? A crate should only be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down. If crate is too big, your puppy will have enough room to soil one side and sleep in other, which defeats purpose of crate. Buy a crate large enough to accommodate your dog's full-grown size and get a divider panel. This way, you can keep one crate and have it "grow" along with your dog.
|
