Anyone who has ever owned a Labrador Retriever knows that even though the dogs' hair is short, it stills sheds, all the time. It doesn’t take them very long to discover that they only have a few options if they don’t want to spend their entire day vacuuming their house. They can cover the all of the furniture in plastic wrap, they can make the dog an outdoor dog and not allow it in the house anymore or they can spend a few minutes a day grooming their Labrador. Most of the owners decide that grooming is the most reasonable option. The good news is that Labrador grooming doesn’t have to be a heinous chore, that it can actually be a relaxing way to spend time bonding with their pet. Daily grooming can also be an excellent way to detect and prevent any ear and skin infections their Labrador might be developing.
Unless you are planning on competing in a dog show, grooming your Labrador doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out process. The first step in a daily grooming regime is to take you short hair rake, and use it on your dog’s body. Do not, under any circumstances, use it on a part of your dog’s body, such as the face and legs, where there is very little muscle between the skin and bone. The purpose of using the short hair rake is to pull the dead hair from your dog’s coat. When the dead hair is ignored it gives the dog’s coat a dull appearance. If ignored for any length of time the dead hair will appear on your couch. If you are grooming during a time when the dog is shedding its old coat it is best to do your grooming close to a trashcan.

When you have removed all the dead hair from your dog, you should then use a brush with short firm bristles to brush your dog’s coat. While the brush is smoothing the dog’s hair it will also collect the dog’s natural oils from its skin and deposit the oil on the hair shaft, giving the hair a healthy glow. A gleaming dog is a sign of successful Labrador grooming.
When you first get your Labrador retriever you will find that your dog is more interested in playing then being groomed. Although the bouncing around and chewing on the brushes is perfectly natural for a young puppy it often ties the patience of the person who is actually grooming the dog. Unfortunately the only way to improve your dog’s manners while it is being groomed is to keep persevering. The trick to training your dog to stay obedient during the grooming sessions is to stay patient, the only thing losing your temper will accomplish is to scare your dog. Firmly but gently remove your puppy's mouth from the brushes, and constantly enforce the sit command. Keep your voice soft but firm. Reward your Labrador’s good behavior during Labrador grooming. One trick to teaching your young Labrador Retriever puppy to behave itself during the grooming sessions is to keep them short. Puppies, like human children, have short attention spans and can only concentrate for a limited amount of time.

A short haired rake will remove the dead hair while grooming Labradors while a firm bristled brush will give the coat a healthy shine. Labrador grooming sessions should conclude with a shiny dog. Staying patient is the key to grooming your Labrador puppy. The right Labrador grooming supplies is the key to successful grooming.

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The importance of correcting Shih Tzu problem behaviors quickly is because if you wait to fix it, the harder it will be and the longer it will take to fix the problem. Although it is never impossible to retrain a dog, it is much easier on both you and the dog if it is done quickly and properly. Taking action quick will help make sure the issue is controlled right away and will remind your dog that they are to submit to you and follow your lead and instruction.

Not only is there an embarrassment factor to your Shih Tzu being out of control and displaying bad behavior, there are safety concerns to think about as well. Even though your Shih Tzu appears to be small enough that they couldn’t even hurt a fly, with enough energy and effort they can do a lot of damage to both furniture and people. This is not only bad for friendships but for your pocketbook as well as attacks from dogs often times end up in court.
One of the most talked about problems with Shih Tzu problem behaviors is that of the dog jumping up onto people. And with this dog’s little size, many people just laugh it off and consider it no problem at all. But you must remember that this is bad behavior and if it is left alone then even worse behavior can and will follow. There are many issues that can arise from your dog being left to jump on people.

Consider that your Shih Tzu, even though so small, jumps onto a small and unsteady toddler who is then knocked back onto the floor and then hits his head. Once down the Shih Tzu continues to jump on the toddler thinking it’s a game, the toddlers face gets scratched up, and the dog is yelled at. Your dog will be left confused because his jumping up never bothered you before and your dog does not have the mental capability to understand why something is okay one minute and not the next.
Have you ever seen a dog walk their owner? It happens all the time as more and more owners report that their tiny dog is dragging them all over town or the park. This often becomes a Shih Tzu problem behavior with inexperienced owners. The dog that pulls or tugs at their leash is simply trying to walk you and you show you where to go. Remember, that dogs are pack animals and in their minds, there is one pack leader. If you are not taking that role, they will assume it and take control of you and your home.

The reason why Shih Tzu problem behaviors like leash pulling must be stopped is for their safety and for control over your dog. You are the pack leader and that is what has to be seen through the eyes of your dog. Generally, dogs that break free when pulling on a lease are lost for good or hit by a passing car. For their protection and to prevent more behavior problems from arising, it is vital to put an end to this behavior right away.

In order to avoid or correct many Shih Tzu problem behaviors, it is vital that you get your dog proper Shih Tzu training from the start. By being proactive and reading through some different dog training books, you can make sure to correct, if not avoid, common Shih Tzu problem behaviors.

Tags: puppy care, dog health problems, Professional dog training techniques, pet insurance, dog obedience training, dog health, , puppy training, dog breeds, dog training

The Right Food For Your Dalmatian: Part 1

Having the proper nutrition is one of the most important aspects of raising a healthy Dalmatian and yet it is often the source of controversy among breeders, veterinarians, pet owners and dog food manufacturers.

All Dalmatians are susceptible to forming life-threatening urinary tract "stones" though these can be effectively managed with diet. Although susceptibility to forming these "stones" is present in almost all Dalmatians, keep in mind that not all Dalmatians will necessarily form "stones" in their lifetime.

Most dog foods are sold based on how to make a product appealing to owners instead of what would meet the needs of dogs. We want a dog food that specifically meets our dog's needs, economical and causes few, if any, problems. In this particular case that must be 101 dalmations sort of food.

Most foods come in dry, semi-moist and canned forms, and some can now be purchased frozen. The dry food is the most economical, contain the least fat and the most preservatives. The canned food is the most expensive, contain 75% water, usually contain the most fat, and have the least preservatives. Semi-moist foods are also expensive and high in sugar content. In feeding the Dalmatian, the critical part of the diet is not the amount of protein but rather the type of protein.

Purines are a form of protein known to promote urinary "stones" in Dalmatians. We need to provide our Dalmatian with a diet that is low in purine, not necessarily a low-protein diet. Vegetable-based diets are not always satisfactory. While broccoli, kale, tomatoes, and carrots are low in purines, asparagus, cauliflower, beans, peas, mushrooms, spinach and whole grains are high in purines. The same is true for meats and dairy. Cheese, milk and eggs are low in purines, but most fish such as herring, mackerel, or sardines, organ meats such as liver, kidney, sweetbreads, poultry such as chicken, duck, or turkey, and meats such as beef, lamb, pork, and veal, are high in purines. The worst offenders are organ meats, and fish. In most commercial diets suitable for Dalmatians, poultry, lamb and eggs are usually the preferred sources for protein while rice is considered as the main source for carbohydrate.

There are commercial low purine diets available from veterinarians. You can also select other diets by paying close attention to their ingredients. In addition, it is also important to pay attention to treats that you give to your Dalmatian. The best treats for this breed includes fruits and cottage cheese. Last but not least, Dalmatians should be encouraged to drink large amounts of fresh, clean water. This not only keeps them hydrated, but it helps flush out their urinary tracts to keep large "stones" from forming.

Read more about dalmation dog here.

Tips about how to house train your dog published here.

Tags: puppy care, dog health problems, dog health, dog insurance, dog agility, dog training courses, puppy training, dog training techniques, dog training, dog breeds

If you are wanting a chocolate Labrador for sale then please read this article.

Why would you want a chocolate Labrador Retriever? That's a question that I often ask myself, as I receive various requests for information about them.

Having been involved with Labrador Retrievers for many years now, and having also observed numerous Labrador Retrievers, including chocolate, I find it difficult to justify the additional price often charged for chocolate Labrador Retrievers locally.

The yellow and black Labrador Retrievers have been bred now for many, many, years.

This opinion is also shared with various other Labrador Breeders to whom I have spoken.

Some Labrador Breeders have felt that the 'gene pool' for the chocolate Labradors is much smaller than those of the yellow and black Labradors. And this smaller gene pool, could contribute to more inbreeding etc and/or maximum inbreeding depression.

This certainly seems to make sense to me, and I can't see why this wouldn't be the case?

From my personal experience, the vast majority of the chocolate Labrador Retrievers seem to me to be different to the yellow and black Labrador Retrievers, not only physically (obviously their color, but other elements also), but also in respect of their temperament, etc.

Some of the chocolate Labrador Retrievers that I have observed have had temperaments etc more like kelpies etc than Labradors. And some of the chocolate Labrador Retrievers I have observed have had temperaments etc with a combination of being very shy, fearful, etc combined with aggression (seemingly through a heightened sense of fear).

Also, I have seen chocolate Labradors with hereditary diseases, such as ectropion, which is a defect with their eyes which involves their eyelid being lose or turning outwards, which increases risks of foreign bodies being able to get under their eyelid/s. This in turn can then cause other health problems etc, which may need Veterinary attention.

Another eye condition, which is also accepted as being hereditary, is entropion, which is the opposite to ectropion. With entropion, the eyelid turns inwards, and can irritate the eye by (for example) the eye-lashed rubbing against the eye.

Some Veterinarians will operate on the eyelid/s to remove the defective part, in order to try and reduce the associated risks or health problems. But, of course, dogs with these problems should not be used for breeding, in my opinion (and that of some Vets) as they may produce offspring with the same or similar eye problems etc.

However, there are some Labrador breeders of chocolate Labradors who knowingly continue to breed from Labradors that have hereditary eye problem, and produce offspring with problems.

I know of cases that have even been reported to the appropriate controlling body, and to the best of my knowledge, nothing has been done to prevent the reported Labrador breeders from continuing to breed from defective breeding animals, and producing defective offspring, which they sell to the unsuspecting public!

There have also been cases (for example) a senior official from a Labrador Retriever Club 'endorsing' a Labrador Breeder that was using defective breeding Labradors and producing defective puppies.

Please don't assume that ALL chocolate Labradors are defective etc, as I am certainly NOT suggesting this. But I certainly believe that generally, I would prefer a yellow or black Labrador over a chocolate Labrador, and that if I had to have a chocolate Labrador, then I would do a LOT of research etc about the parents, their health and temperament, etc before accepting it.

Read more about Labrador puppies for sale in NSW and Labrador breeders Australia.

Also read more how to house train your dog.

Tags: puppy training, dog insurance, grooming dog, dog health, pet insurance, dog health problems, dog training courses, dog agility, dog obedience training, puppy care