If you are already a happy dog owner and your baby is about to arrive, you might wonder whether your baby is going to be safe around the dog, whether you should keep your pet at all. Many families in this situation are worried about the safety of their baby. The truth is, if you have the time to prepare your dog for the baby's arrival, there should be no problem at all.
The opposite case, if you already have a child and are thinking about getting a dog, is a bit easier, because you have the opportunity to choose a breed that is good with children. There is no one breed that is perfect with children. It mostly depends on the dog's individual temperament, training and early socialization. It is a good idea to browse around classifieds and see whats on offer.
If your child is very young (under 6 years old) it is recommended to get a dog which is more than 2 years old, because they need less attention. However, in this case you must make sure that the dog has been well socialized and obedience trained. While it is a common misbelief that small breeds are better with children, in fact, these dogs are usually more fragile, so kids can easily hurt them, which can lead to the dog being aggressive. Herding or protective breeds are not recommended either, as they might try to herd children due to their natural instinct.
Whatever breed you choose, it is always important not to leave your baby or young child and the dog together without supervision, until they both learn the rules. One thing is certain, having dogs can not be a wrong decision, if the parents are responsible. A dog in the family can also teach your child learn responsibility at a young age and that animals need constant care and attention. Learn more about what breeds are considered good with children.
“Would castration solve the behavioral problems of my dog? Would it stop the wandering? Would it solve the problem of urine marking? Is it a struggle? Will my dog gain weight after the surgery? Would it reduce its protection ability? What other solutions are there for making my dog infertile?”
Just a few of the frequently asked Questions about neutering male dogs. Although the topic is quite controversial, there are some proven facts that I would like to share a few thoughts about to help you in making this important decision. Let's see the most common believes and the truth.
Belief #1: Castration will reduce the aggression level of my dog.
Well, in some cases, yes. But only if the dog is trained well. If your dog shows aggression towards people or other dogs due to the lack of training and care, castration is not going to solve the problem. But in most cases it can reduce the sex-related aggression, thanks to the decrease of the hormone level.
Belief #2: Castration will stop my dog wandering
It will probably do, or at least it will reduce it. Since the reason for wandering is mostly to look for females, it is quite sure that your dog will be more likely to stay at home, but in some cases, mounting behavior may not stop, only decrease, mostly if it is a result of dominance.
Belief #3: It will solve the problem of urine marking
As territorial aggression decreases, urine marking will do too, most probably. According to a survey, urine marking reduced significantly in 50 % of the cases.
Belief #4: My dog will get fat and lazy.
False. Your dog might feel more hungry in the first times, but it only depends on you, if your pet gets overfed or not. There is no direct connection between the two.
Belief #5: Chemical castration has the same effects as surgical castration, the only difference is that it is reversible.
Almost. Chemical castration means that the dog's testicles are injected, which leads to the reduction of testosterone. It is reversible, but it has the same effects, the only difference is that unlike surgical castration, the chemical one does not reduce the risk of prostate and testicular cancer.
Belief #6: Neutering reduces the protection abilities of my dog.
Since protection is a natural instinct it is unlikely that your dog will protect your home in a less efficient way. It is a common misbelief, because territorial aggression decreases after castration, but it isn't in direct connection with loyalty and protection.
Belief #7: The sooner the better
False. Most researches show that neutering at a very young age (under 6 months) can cause several psychological and behavioral problems.
After taking all into consideration, castration seems to be a lot less harmful than it first sounds and if you know that you don't want puppies from your dog for whatever reason, it seems to be the right thing to do. If you dread the idea of surgery, you can still go for chemical neutering or you can simply make sure that your dog does not get out if there is a bitch in heat nearby. Whichever you chose, preventing the birth of unwanted puppies is one of the main characteristics of a responsible dog owner.
Bahrain, a country with a population just over a million, is located in the Middle East neighboring Saudi Arabia and Qatar. With one of the worlds fastest growing economies, Bahrain functions as a financial hub of the Middle East and is home to many expatriates.
The majority of the population is of islamic background. According to islamic religious rules, dogs are not to be kept in one's house, unless they are trained for hunting or guarding live stock and "serve a purpose". What's more, if one touches a wet dog, one's hands become impure and must be washed seven times, one of which should be with earth. Touching a dry dog is considered okay though.
The one breed that is given a different status in the islamic world is the Saluki, who are even allowed to sleep in the same tent with their owners. Arabic nations have been breeding Salukis for thousands of years for both their beauty and hunting ability. The history of the breed goes back so far in time that it is regarded to be one of the earliest breeds to diverge from wolves. While they are not the fastest breed, their stamina and endurance outperforms most other dogs', which explains why they are so popular and wide spread in Bahrain and the Middle East.
With a new wave of expatriates, a new mentality has also set foot in the country and the notion of keeping pet dogs is more and more wide spread. Working breeds, like the German Shepherd and Doberman are used to guard property, but other large breeds such as the Dogue de Bordeaux, Great Dane or Golden Retriever, are also increasing in popularity.
The traditional attitude of local people is slow to change and some of them may actually be terrified of dogs. So if you expect local people - workmen or guests - to your house in Bahrain, make sure you separate your dogs, otherwise they may refuse to enter. Parks in Bahrain are not ideal for walking your dogs as they tend to be reserved for children. Waterfronts are, however, free to use for dog lovers.
Many people would think that the Middle East weather might be too hot for dogs so they are very rare in the region. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Even though the circumstances are not ideal for breeding, dogs are increasingly popular in the Middle East.
The two main reasons why people in the Middle East own pets are protection and pleasure.
The classic protection breeds like the German Shepherdand Rottweiler are very popular, but there seems to be more and more demand for less known breeds such as the Cane Corso and Caucasian Mountain Dog. These breeds have a natural inclination to guard the territory they live in and the people they regard as family.
There is an important distinction to make between protection or guard dogs and watchdogs. While smaller breeds can also act as watchdogs to alert the family in case of danger, guard dogs must be big and intimidating enough to threaten the possible intruder to the point of retreat.
The second popular dog type in the Middle East is best described as family pets. This group includes the English and American Cocker Spaniel, who have been given the "Merry Cocker" nickname as they are continuously happy and wagging their tail. The one thing they have in common with other small or medium sized breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Maltese, Havanese or Bolognese, is that they can cheer you up just by their presence and they are great with children which makes them the perfect family pet.
Wherever you are in the world and whatever breed you may fall in love with, always make sure that you buy a healthy puppy with the necessary documents and vaccinations from a trusted source like Euro Puppy.
I have to share this video with you. These dogs are having a fantastic time... and being responsible (collecting the trash before leaving the beach). Very funny.
How long would you keep hoping that you would ever see your dog again after losing it? Denise Shepard did her best to find her lost dog. She posted flyers and offered rewards, but after the third month, she was almost certain that she would never see her beloved Boston Bull Terrier again.
"After like the third month, I thought someone just had him and would never give him back," she said. "He's been gone so long I didn't even think I was going to see him again."
To her biggest surprise, 5 months after Frankie had gone missing she received a phone call from an animal hospital in Wheeling telling her that her dog was found 200 miles away from home.
None knows exactly the extraordinary chain of events that lead Frankie back to his owner, but Mark Feldstein certainly played a major part in Frankie's discovery. Mark found the dog in a parking lot and took it to the police, who referred him to the animal hospital. Mark was ready to adopt the dog, but the veterinary found a chip under Frankie's skin with the owner's details.
Denise has no idea how Frankie managed to survive 5 months and the 200 mile journey, because in her own words "He is an indoor dog". Stil, Denise was probably one of the happiest people in the world that day.
"I was so excited, people were all staring at me..." , "I can't even tell you I was so happy."
Frankie expressed his happiness to reunite with Denise by 'singing'.
Rosie has written a short report on how to give your dog a checkup, following the steps she uses in her clinic. It is just under 20 pages long and has full color photos. It explains such things as why we look at a dog's gums and press on them when we're doing an examination, how to check a dog's pulse, and more. Her aim is to encourage dog owners to become familiar with their dog, so they can quickly notice any changes and have them treated straight away. They then have a better chance of a good outcome, and early treatment may not cost them as much in veterinary fees.
This journey of mine began when I started restoring photos about 5 years ago. I found joy in repairing memories that appeared beyond hope at first glance. I eventually expanded my restoration business to offer photography services as well, quickly learning that dog photography is my ultimate passion.
My heart is especially happy when I am documenting our furry friends and their innocent spirit, unconditional love and unique personalities. I have been an animal lover my entire life, growing up with Lhasa Apso's throughout my childhood. I now have a Miniature Schnauzer, Remington, who is my furry best friend and daily inspiration. I am also an avid supporter of animal rescue organizations and no-kill shelters and will offer my photography services complimentary to any local organization who needs assistance photographing their animals up for adoption.
My hope is that I can portray each dogs true soul for the world to see. Even if my photos just speak to one person and leads them to adopt, it is worth every ounce of my time. I am a firm believer that every moment in life should be captured and preserved regardless of how insignificant it may seem, because someday these irreplaceable memories will be deeply treasured.
Fighting Kennel Cough? Here is a great resource to help!
Kennel Cough Help was created to increase knowledge and awareness of identifying, treating, and preventing kennel cough.
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Every dog is different and requires a different type of treatment. Kennel cough remedies that work for one dog may not work for another but the main thing is identifying it early. For more information on identifying kennel cough symptoms, and how to care for your best friend, please visit www.kennelcoughhelp.com.
Euro Puppy's goal has always been to provide superior service and outstanding puppies from healthy, champion bloodlines raised by responsible European breeders only. This has been the recipe that has made us the Premier Puppy Finder in the World.
