Anything For Animals

posted by admin on Jan 25

You would think this shouldn’t need to be written - but there is evidence to suggest it does!

There are plenty of dog owners out there who think that letting a dog run loose in a woodland is acceptable as well as those who think that they only need to pick up their dogs poop if it is on the pavement!

Think about the effects of your actions not about that 10 seconds in your life and the whole community could benefit.

It’s only 2 simple things - do you think you can do it?

1) Keep Your Dog Under Control!
Keeping your dog within earshot of your shouting isn’t having your dog under control! 

Having your dog under control involves not only being able to see your dog - but also being virtually 100% sure that if you call your dog to you they will come without fail!

I recently went into a woods to find a large dog chasing a roe deer - with not an owner in sight and after it got bored of that it came and found us again and followed us (dangerously) to the car park.  Still no owner in sight - or in ear shot!  They weren’t even trying to get their dog to come back!

It could have killed the deer, been stolen, been injured somewhere - or been run over right outside the car park.  Totally irresponsible!

2) Pick Up Their Poop!
There are very very very few instances where it is acceptable to leave a dog poop on the floor!  And percentage wise in respect of all the dog poos done in a day it would be about 1%.

If your dog poops anywhere that another person might walk - then you need to pick it up.  It doesn’t matter whether you are on a footpath in the middle of nowhere - it’s a footpath and other people have a right to use it and a right to have a poop free walk!

There’s no excuse that you didn’t see your dog do it, it was in the woods, you didn’t have a bag, it was a bit squidgy or whatever.  You need to be watching your dog when out on a walk and you need to be prepared.

Maybe stay around the carpark or poo bin for the first 15 minutes of your walk - as this is when your dog is most likely to ‘go’ and then you will see it and are right next to the poo bin or your car to leave the poo there and head out for your great walk.

I don’t know why some people think that it is the landowners responsibility to clear away the mess - because it isn’t.  And why should it be!

You wouldn’t leave a filled nappy on someones land or in your local park - so why would you do it with a dog poo?  Carnivore stools are not as welcome in the natural world as those of cows, horses and sheep.  Dogs poo isn’t plant fibre so decomposes in a different way - and can spread diseases to other animals and sometimes to people.

Train & Scoop - it’s easy!

posted by admin on Jul 9

A Black & Tan Long-Haired Large Dog that tops the polls!

German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most-registered breeds of dog across the US and Europe due to their loyalty, intelligence and ease of training - as well as their unique appearance.

And for this exact same reason - they are a favourite breed for the armed forces and security trades to use for protection and defence.

The History Of The Breed:
Quite a recent herding breed, the German Shepherd (or GSD) grew in popularity in Germany and throughout Europe around the turn of the 20th century.

Although sometimes called the German Shepard, Berger Allemand, Deutscher Schaferhund or Alsatian - they are one and the same breed and the history of the latter no longer applies so is not a preferred term of breeders and show people alike!

Hekto Linksrhein was a working dog that was found at a show by a dog enthusiast looking for the perfect working dog.  This man was Max von Stephanitz, and he went on to intensively breed from this dogs progeny and started the genetic base for the German Shepherd we know today - and all today’s Shepherds can draw a genetic link to his puppies!

The prefix of ‘German’ has hampered the breed in the past due to the 2 World Wars, however, this goes to show the popularity of the breed has remained.  By registrations is is the 3rd most popular breed in the US at the moment, 3rd in Canada, 4th in the UK and 2nd in Australia - beating the Australian Shepherd on home turf!

Problems With The Breed:
Unfortunately, the breed was originally designed to be a working dog - as were many herding dogs we have as pets today.

This leads to a whole host of problems, as looks and temperament start to dominate breeding rather than health and internal structure.  Breed judges might say that they need to have a longer nose or a more sloping back - purely for human satisfaction - rather than for the benefit of the dog!

As a result of all the human demands - German Shepherds now suffer from a huge list of genetic problems - in reality these sometimes painful and life-shortening traits are being bred into the puppies so that the adults can ‘win’ in shows.

Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, chronic digestive conditions, liver shunt, monorchidism and many more common ailments are well known across the breed - but afflicted animals are still bred from - as these problems are not always visible in young dogs - so can still be entered into shows!

Problems With The Owners:
There are tests available for the discerning buyer who wants a healthy - disease free pet - but many buyers just buy their dogs because they are a German Shepherd rather than a healthy German Shepherd. 

Unfortunately, it is more common for the latter of the 2 buyers to not neuter their pets therefore passing on these ‘bad genes’ to the next generation of casual buyers.

If people stopped buying German Shepherd puppies that had these illnesses (or no proof that their parents didn’t have these illnesses), then breeders would have to stop breeding them - and focus on healthier individuals to make a living.  It’s like selling faulty household goods or furniture.

Why buy a dog for several hundred dollars that is going to be in pain, get ill or have to have an operation and cost you hundreds more in vets bills - when you could buy the exact same dog and have it live it’s whole life healthy and pain-free?

Do your research before you buy - and have yourself a happy German Shepherd for the next 10 years…..

posted by admin on Jul 1

Do you want your cute puppy to be the star of the show?

Now you have the chance! You could have your little pooch seen around the world in National Geographic’s photographic competition in just a few seconds. Just upload your best shots and see your pet on the Internet!

It really is that simple.

What Do I Do?
Well, all you need to do is register with National Geographic with their easy form and get up-loading. It really couldn’t be any simpler!

It’s easy to have a look at the current gallery of snaps to see what everyone else is adding - some are soo cute! - and maybe it can inspire you to take more shots yourself!  But if you can see their pictures - then everyone will be able to see yours!

International dog-loving viewers could be downloading a picture of your retriever swimming in a lake for their home laptop or a shot of your chihuahua sleeping on the couch for their computers wallpaper.

Your poodle sitting in a flower pot or your Great Dane squashing your uncle in the car could be turned into a puzzle that thousands of people can play each day!

There is every chance that your dog shots could inspire people to either take up photography or get themselves a life-long companion! Or just make them laugh.

So, Do You Want to be a part of it?

Then get snapping - and get snappy! The sooner you register, the sooner the world can get to meet your dog!

posted by admin on Jun 2

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Teacup chihuahuas are so popular at the moment - and have starred in many recent Hollywood movies! One film was even just about chihuahuas - nothing else!

These tiny little dogs are very similar to standard chihuahuas as there is no actual ‘breed’ that defines the teacup variety other than their size - being that they are smaller than the standard show type.

What Is A Toy Dog?
Well, the definition of a ‘toy dog’ is just a small dog really!  It isn’t a certain group of breeds or even a certain breed of dog so to speak, although there are several breeds sizes used in shows that use the ‘Toy’ prefix - such a ‘toy poodles’. 

However, there are also very small dogs that are classed in other working groups like the Australian terrier.

Toy dogs span many different dog types including spaniels and terriers - although not all toy dogs are lap dogs - many are (or were) working dogs, usually ‘ratters’ and ‘hunters’.

Some toy breeds were designed to be small for pleasure and to ’sit on a lady’s lap’, but others were made smaller for a specific purpose - like a ‘fox catching dog’ may have been bred over time to be smaller to fit in underground tunnels and dens etc.

Chihuahuas obviously fit into the general ‘Toy Dog Group’ of the US and UK Kennel Clubs, which also include both lapdogs (like pekingese and papillon) and miniature versions of working dogs (yorkies and toy poodles).

Teacup Chihuahuas:
Standard Chihuahuas come in a variety of sizes and colors and with either long or short hair.  The breed standard in each country varies slightly in what size or weight is acceptable in showing (the height isn’t a problem) - but of course your teacup chihuahua can be as tiny as you like if it is just a pet. 

Even if it does literally fit into a tea cup, it is still a chihuahua if both it’s parents were - it just won’t win and awards with the Kennel Club - however, it will still win everyone’s heart!

Teacup chihuahuas are one of my favorite breeds (along with teacup poodles and teacup pugs of course!) and chihuahua puppies are just the cutest thing ever!

I traveled all the way to Mexico several times to get a glimpse of some native chihuahuas - as the breed originated in the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico.  It was definitely worth it for me!

posted by admin on Apr 25

If you are after the greatest pet show - that includes all sorts - not just dogs - then head for the NEC in Birmingham on the 4th, 5th or 6th and May 2009.

The Ultimate Pet Show will include horse stunts, duck herding and ferret racing as well as rabbit show-jumping, spider handling and pet fashion show on the Sunday!  It really has it all.

What Else?
Well, there are many hands-on sections for every type of pet as well as medical advice from the experts.  Seminars, demonstrations and competitions, as well as fun activities and displays including birds of prey.

Also the chance to buy products from all the big names in the stands, free samples and money-off coupons, with names like James Wellbeloved, Pet Plan and The Dogs Trust.

There is also the chance to see the winner announced on the Saturday for ‘Britains Most Talented Pet’ as the finalists all arrive for the judges - which includes TV vet Mark Abraham.

The online price is just £12 - and kids under 5 are free - so you can bring the kids along too - no excuses!

See you there?

posted by admin on Jun 25

What is distemper in puppies?

Distemper in puppies is totally avoidable with vaccination, however many dog owners do not see this as something to concern themselves with.

Basically, when a puppy is weaned and definitely by 9 months of age, their maternal immunity ceases to be effective and they are susceptible to any viruses or diseases that come their way - unless they have been vaccinated obviously.

Needless to say that at this time they have an increased chance of getting distemper, and it is likely as they will be socialising with other dogs in their first year and will be very excited about the whole thing - they will probably eat all sorts of things they are not supposed to as well - possibly ingesting parasites, and other infectious agents.

Puppies will show the same distemper symptoms as dogs show, and will possibly be setting themselves up for some disabilities in their old age. They can also get one well known ‘classic sign’ while still young - and they are known as ‘distemper rings’.

Basically a distemper attack in a young puppy (under 6 months of age) can affect the growth of enamel (the hard protective outer-casing) on all it’s teeth . What this results in is a permanent sign of the infection visible as damage to the enamel, or missing enamel (exposing the sensitive dentine layer) on it’s permanent adult teeth.

So, the puppy will have weaker teeth as a youngster, so a higher risk of oral disease, tooth decay and broken teeth (which can affect overall nutrition and coat quality as well as internal organ damage). Do not buy a puppy with these signs on it’s teeth.

Distemper in puppies is therefore a ruined life. This disease is not fatal, but it is disabling, and there is no need for any dog to have to suffer for the sake of a single vaccination.

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