I was typing on my computer when I heard a familiar sound vibrate through my ears. I checked the air-conditioner to see if something got trapped inside ( a bee or mosquito maybe) but there was none. Then I thought it can’t be the neighbors (what a loud snore that would be) or maybe just my ears drumming on my brain. So i went back to what I was doing, typing. Then i heard it again. This time it was louder and clearer. I looked around me inside the room and realized that my dogs were actually in there with me (guess I was too busy to notice them). I have two dogs, a male shipo and a gal shih tzu. The shipo whose name is Chaunce was lying freely on his back near the closet, with his legs spread apart and his tongue hanging out (it makes my day just looking at him sleep like that), while the shih tzu named Mookah was on her belly, legs spread wide behind her. I guess you are familiar with how a shih tzu sleeps. With their long hair they could easily be stepped on, mistaken as a rug if you don’t care enough to turn on the lights. Anyway, I stared at both dogs and noticed to my amazement that Mookah was actually snoring. I’d thought it would be Chaunce, judging from his sleeping position. But Mookah was competing with the vibrating sound coming from the air conditioner. I got nearer to get a better hearing and there it was, a long and steady rhythm. It sounded like buzzing only it came out like a whisper. I had never thought that dogs actually snore, only humans. So there and then I searched for any reality to this question in the net, and found out that they indeed do snore. There are several reasons why they snore:

1) They are overweight.  If a dog is overweight the fatty tissues can closed the upper airways. My shih tzu is not even close to overweight. She still has her figure (if you know what I mean, minus the bulging tummy that you can hardly see their waistline). Plus she is only 5 months old, a critical age to be obese or overweight for dogs since they could die early.

2) Nasal Congestion: Colds, nasal allergies, these have to be checked as well. Mucus can clog up the airways and cause snoring. Fleas, Check. Worms, Check. Clean ears, check. Clean nose, check. No mucus there. Hmm..now I have almost given up finding any other reasons why dogs snore.

3) Having a flat face: Small dogs with small faces such as the pug, pekingese and Boston terriers are prone to nasal infections and easier blocked airways. They almost always snore. Mookah has a cute, bear-like snout. I know this is hard to believe since she is a shih tzu after all. But that’s how unique she is. Her face contains no resemblance to being flat. 

4) Alcoholic beverages: Alcoholic drinks have been known to somehow relax the muscles, making you lose control over your movements and speech, to the point that it can somehow block the airways. Now it hit me. My boyfriend’s brothers were here hours back, lazing around and exchanging stories. Of course a better companion to these usual manly talks would be any alcoholic drink. They had some light beer and gin on the rocks. At one point I was curious why they were laughing out loud suddenly so i checked. I was shocked to see Mookah slurping beer from her water bowl and she seems to be enjoying the taste. Now this explains the snoring. Question answered.

To date she doesn’t snore anymore. It was just once on that unfortunate day.

New Puppies

Although a new puppy might be dirty, it should not be so filthy it requires a bath. If a puppy is in a horrid condition at its original home, its home environment is either very undesirable (and should be reported), or the puppy could be sick. The only reason a new puppy should need a bath is if it had an upset tummy as the result of the car ride to the new home.

New puppies should be washed only with a wet wash cloth rather than given a bath. Bathing can be traumatic and they are already adjusting to being without their mom, litter mates, and familiar surroundings, they may also be on new food too, and it all adds to stress.

New puppies can be gently bathed after 1 week in their new home (only if needed). Non-shedding breeds, and those who will require regular trips to the groomers, should be taken for their first “puppy cut” at 12 weeks of age, but only after they are fully vaccinated.

Short Haired Dogs

Short haired dogs such as Labs, Pugs, and Beagles, do not need regular bathing. These dogs do shed a lot and particularly in the spring it might be a good idea to bathe them. Scrubbing in a circular motion will release and remove any loose hairs.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/augie/219441870/

Long Haired Dogs

Dogs with long hair, that sheds, are not bathed frequently either, bathing tends to tangle their coat, so unless it is a show dog, or one that got dirty, regular brushing is enough. Again, a bath at in the spring will help with shedding. If the dog is taken to a groomer request that its coat be “blown out”, to release any loose hairs.

Non-Shedding Dogs

These dogs have coats that grow perpetually. They need to be brushed regularly or they develop painful mats. Many people take them to the groomers for bathing and haircuts. These should be every 6 – 8 weeks.

Shampoo

Although baby shampoo can be used in an emergency situation it is always best to stick with dog shampoo. The same applies for conditioner.

Shampooing dogs too often dries out their coat and removes their natural oils. Even humans would have healthier hair if we washed it less.

There are specialty shampoos for killing fleas, these should not be use unless the dog actually has fleas.  See Related Links, below, for more information on getting rid of fleas without chemicals.

There are specialty shampoos for dogs with sensitive skins, or itching problems, however it is also important to address the cause of the itching rather than relying on the shampoo as a cure.  See the Related Links, below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/springfieldhomer/2883334437/

TIPS

Use caution not to get water in the dogs ear canal. This is one of the leading causes of ear infections. Always dry the ear well.  This is very important in dogs with floppy ears.

Drying the whole dog is important, leaving it wet can lead to bacterial, yeast, and fungal, growth.

Dogs who swim in lakes or ponds can be washed with plain water and dried well after to prevent itch.

Bath time is also the best time to trim a dogs nails.

Dogs frequently behave better for a groomer than for their owners at bath time, especially small spoiled dogs.

For the first bath it may be easier to add 3 inches of warm water in the bath tub and put the dog in. Water can be brought up over the dog with a cup. A hose attachment works well. Baths can be given outdoors in plastic kids swimming pools but be aware that outdoor hose water will be cold.

Small dogs can be washed in the kitchen sink.

Some areas have “Do-it-yourself” dog washes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brykmantra/27225538/

Related Links

How Often should I Brush my Dog?

Why is my Dog Itching?

Guide for Dog Owners

How Healthy is my Dog?

Getting Rid of Fleas Safely

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Congratulations, a new dog has just joined your family. The dog will very quickly become part of your family, and you must bear the responsibility for his health and welfare.

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Whether this is the first time you raise a puppy or not, certainly there are many questions about the raising process. We shall try here to provide you with initial information.

A pup should be brought home when he has already reached the age of 6-8 weeks. At this age, he is weaned of breast milk, which gives him a defense against environmental dangers and enables transferring him to a new house. It is not recommended to take a puppy away from his mother before this age.

It’s also desirable to know who the puppy’s parents were and where he was born in order to ensure that we receive a healthy puppy. If the source of the puppy is unclear – he should be brought to a veterinarian even before the formal date of vaccination arrives..

The first days in the new house are hard for the young pup. On the one hand, he has just been separated from his mother and maybe from his friends, to be brought to an unfamiliar environment. During the first few days the puppy might whine more than usually, and be restless. If he is a newborn, you may try to soften the transition by putting him in a small basket, covering him with blankets, and putting a clock near him. The clock beating simulates the mother’s heartbeats, and helps soothing the young puppy.

What should you prepare for your new dog?

1. Appropriate size collar and leash are essential.

2. There should be suitable bowls for food and water. It is important that these vessels are clean and placed where the puppy can see and reach them without difficulty. The water should be always fresh.

3. A rug on which he can sleep.

4. Furthermore, a hairbrush and toys (for dogs only) would be nice.

What should your dog eat?

Food is especially important in this early stage of life. During this period, the dog grows up more rapidly than later, so his nutrition needs are also different. Your puppy needs to eat “baby food” only. There are many companies that market special food for puppies at different standards of quality and a wide range of prices. No matter what company’s food you buy, it is important to make sure that this company is well known and reliable and that the bag carries a guarantee that it contains “complete and balanced dog food”. There are foods that are adjusted to dog sizes (large / medium / small). The food may be “dry” or “liquid”, or another composition. Whatever option you choose, it is important that this will be the only food your dog gets.

 Please, do not give your dog your family leftovers! They may cause gastrointestinal problems and tooth plaque.

There is no need of vitamins and food supplements (unless your veterinarian recommended otherwise). The food you bought contains them already. The fact that your dog gets the same food repeatedly  should not worry you, though there are ways to produce some delicacies for him.

The daily food ratio is determined by the dog weight. It is usually written on the food bag. It is recommended that a young puppy get 4 meals a day (take the bowl away a few minutes after he finished eating a meal). At the age of 6 months, he should be given 2 meals a day.    

Important rules

1. Make sure that the puppy has fresh water 24/7 in a suitable bowl.

2. Do not give him supplements (such as calcium and vitamins) without a veterinarian’s prescription. Such additives might impair his skeletal development.

3. Never give a dog (of all ages) – bones, chocolate, onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, spicy and fried foods. Generally speaking: kitchen leftovers are not recommended.

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4. Remember: milk brings about diarrhea.

5. Keep children toys and cleaning materials away from your dog. They might block his intestines or poison him.

6. Do not give your dog drugs that were not prescribed by a vet. Some free drugs we take are toxic to dogs.

There is a lot more to know about your dog. Visit my web site to additional articles and a lot of other information (don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with others). Click here!   

I am a the owner of 2 american pit bull terriers. Angus, aka, Boo, is a 5 year old, black/brindle pit bull. He and his brother are the dogs that opened my mind and my heart to this wonderful breed. I met Angus almost 2 years ago. My first impression of Boo and his older brother Loki (RIP, 7/28/2009) was that of surprise. The fact is, I had heard LOTS about pit bulls but never actually knew one. I’ve seen them on television, depicted as angry guard dogs and fight dogs out for blood. Honestly, I wasn’t sure of them at first. For years I have been fed this negative meal of evil. I couldn’t help but have fear. It almost seemed like common sense to fear them. I am, very much, a dog person and even though I wasn’t prejudicial to the breed, coming face-to-face with it was an experience. Angus was very outgoing and greeted me with the usual sniff and then proceded to chase my shadow. This made me laugh, he seemed so very serious and completely intent on catching this new shadow that entered his home. Loki on the other hand, laid there on his sofa. He looked up at me but stayed where he lay. Seemingly uninterested. I asked about Loki, why wasn’t he up and checking me out. There I learned that he wasn’t in the best health and probably wasn’t feeling well. I sat down next to Loki. He definetely noticed me then. Loki stood up and began to sniff me. I felt myself getting nervous. He was not only a strange dog, a pit bull and right in my face but as he stood, I saw why he didn’t feel well. Loki had demodectic mange. After years of dealing with this disease, he was pretty scarred. His eyes had infections as did his skin. He looked like a mess. He smelled pretty bad as well. The medication that was being used on him was an ointment. Not only did the ointment have it’s own unique smell but Loki’s own remedy was to roll around in anything. Dirt, sand, whatever might be in the dirt or sand-yea, you know what I mean. I asked, why don’t you keep him inside after putting the ointment on him, (duh). A few things explained this. #1, Loki prefered to be outside. He was just more of an outside dogs. #2, every dog has to go out to potty, right. #3, as I eventually saw for myself, Loki will roll around on anything. The floor, on the sofa and even in the bed if given the opportunity. Ointment in the bed sucks. So yea, sorry, but let him roll around outside. I began to pet Loki and discovered a new thing called Loki dust. Just his special recipe of ointment and dirt. It stuck to his skin and your hand pretty well. Probably soothed his skin enough to keep from scratching 24/7. The poor baby, he was sooo itchy. As I pet him, he leaned into my hand so I began to scratch him about the head and ears. He LOVED it! Next thing I know, I am basically getting a hug from Loki. His chest leaned into mine, as if he were hugging me, thanking me for the attention. Loki and I became fast friends. My long finger nails and his itchy skin were soul mates.

That began my relationship with the boys. I quickly learned that there was nothing negatively different about pit bulls than any other breed. The difference that I did see was the loyalty, the intelligence and the fact that they were eager to please. These dogs were completely devoted to their pack leader. There was, as there should be between people and dogs, a heiracrhy. Jason, their owner and pack leader was, above all, in charge. Angus, though younger, fell second. He was much more inclined to be in the house and therefore, “guarded” the house. Loki preferred the yard and “guarded” it. It was a natural balance and each aspect of the arrangement complimented the other. Each knew their place and worked their role. I have never seen such a natural flow, it is incredible to be a part of it.

Over the next year and a half I was part of their family. The boys let me into their lives. Loki and I formed a bond that I have never known. It almost became that Loki was my dog. Though he would never be swayed from Jason, now there were enough hands to pet each dog. Happily, those Loki hugs became our greeting. No matter how much Loki-dust there was to be had. And even the Loki-dust began to subside. With regular bathing, well scrubbing, the infections backed off a bit and allowed Loki a more normal life. It didn’t change him. He was still extremely out-going, maybe more. But more than anything, he felt better.

Unfortunately, Loki’s life ended too soon. One night, the boys snuck out of the fence. Neither had ever just left the yard that way. It was strange and we both had a bad feeling about it. They left around 8pm. Jason had been looking for them but had to stop to pick me up from work. He pulled up in a rush and urged me to hurry, that the boys got out and we had to find them. We rushed home, keeping an eye out for them the whole way home. We were back home before 9:30 and the search was on. Up and down the street, calling them. Over and over and over we called them. Nothing. We searched until 1am. I had to be back at work at 8am and needed to get some sleep. We went home but neither of us found sleep easily. Eventually drifting off, we were awakened at 3:30am by Angus bursting into the house and onto the bed! His paws were wet from the grass but it was hardly noticeable. Angus was in an obvious panic! He was terribly upset and restless! He wouldn’t be still. He was frantic! I can’t explain it. I have never seen such a thing. We got up to close the fence and get Loki into the house, assuming he was in the yard, knowing that he would be in trouble for the escape. But Loki was no where to be found. The search was back on. We took Angus with us. For an hour we called for Loki. Nothing. We eventually returned home, hoping to see him in the yard, but he wasn’t.

We awoke the next morning to rain and a phone call. I shot up out of the bed and ran outside. I knew what the call was. I went back inside. With tears welling up in my eyes, I saw the pain and sadness in Jason’s face. It was our room mate. On his way to work, he found Loki. Jason got dressed to go and get Loki. He was about a mile from the house, on a 2 lane, dark road.  Loki was brought home and buried. Now understanding why Angus was so upset. We clung to each other. All 3 of us.

For the first few days, we cried. Just sitting there, we would begin crying. What worried us the most was Angus. His older brother was gone. Angus had never been an “only dog”. He didn’t know how to be alone. I was off of work for the next few days, so we all grieved together. I think it helped. We were so afraid to leave Angus alone. But we eventually had to return to work. Being that I work at a pet store, I though it would be a good idea to bring Angus to work with me. Well, it wasn’t. Angus was anxious and couldn’t sit still or be comfortable in this strange place. It upset me terribly to see Angus this way. Not realizing that he was anxious because he was in an unfamiliar place. My heart was in the right place, not my mind.

I swore off owning dogs from that point on. I couldn’t bare to get another and perhaps lose it. I decided that we should spend the next few years, love Angus as much as possible and never get another dog. Losing a dog is losing a family member. Losing Loki only made me realize that we would eventually lose Angus. One way or another, eventually Angus will die. It was too much pain to imagine at the time. For me atleast. On August 6, 2009-yes, 1 week later, Jason showed up at my work with a handful of the cutest, fatest little pit bull I have ever seen! I said, with a hugh smile, “oh no, we can’t” as I took the puppy out of Jason’s hands, with name ideas flying through my head. I looked at the puppy and couldn’t help but wonder about his size. He was barely more than a handful. I was told that he was the runt of the litter but was very strong and the best looking one. The most noticable features, his muddy blue eyes, his puppy breath and his head. His head was enormous! I laughed at the size of his head. How could he possibly carry it around! It was almost comical. We put him down on the floor and sure enough, he balanced his head well. He was lazy though. I tried to get him to come to me but he just sat there, looking a little drunk, head swaying. I couldn’t wait to get home!

We eventually settled on the name Mooney since it was a full moon the night we got him. Now, nearly 8 months later, Mooney is my 3rd pit bull and obviously my first to raise. I can’t help but see all the same traits in Mooney as I do in Angus and did see in Loki. Smart, eager, loyal. He is learning a lot from Boo and Boo is learning a lot from Mooney. Angus has proudly stepped out of the role of little brother into big brother. He is such a good big brother. Though Mooney prefers to be in the house, in the bed, he will be our “yard dog”. Oddly enough, he falls into the role perfectly. Maybe Boo told him that “the only position open, is yard dog”. Who knows. And as for his head, yea, it is still big. Beautiful big headed Mooney!

 Play with your pets!
You know that pets should be sure to play?
The need for the game is vital to your pet, otherwise they will get sick. If they can not move quickly, to use force in their body violated the normal processes. Sometimes the animals are deprived of opportunities to play, even die from stress.
All day long they are waiting when you come home from work and give them your time. They are waiting for games with you, they want to run and jump, hunt for prey and hide like little children!
In the game they are toughened, learn to defend and attack easier to endure difficult conditions. In the game develops and strengthens muscles and flexibility of animals.
Do not forget to play with their animals. Cats and dogs are in need of your company and games with you!

     Rabies is an acute and rapidly fatal disease, primarily affecting canines. It is also transmissible to man if he is bitten by an affected animal. The most characteristic symptom of this disease in human beings is a great dread for water. Due to this rabies is termed as hydrophobia, meaning “fear of water”, when it affects human beings. The term however is not relevant to animals, since the fear of water is not a symptom that animals usually suffer from. Rabies remains one of the most serious and dreadful diseases due to the following reasons:

1. Death is certain once the animal starts showing symptoms of the disease.

2. Human beings can also be infected with dreadful rabies.

Causes and symptoms:

The infective agent is a virus which is present in the saliva of rabid dog and is introduced into the tissues through a wound usually inflicted by the teeth of the infected animals. The infection can occur through any abrasion soiled with infective saliva. The infection travels up to the brain through the nerves. The incubation period in dogs can vary from about seven days to numerous months, depending upon many factors like location and depth of the bite. 

In dogs, the disease takes either a “furious “or a “dumb” form. There is no elementary difference with the two forms, except that in furious form, the period of excitement is more prominent as compared to the dumb form.  The constant and common feature of both the forms is that the animal finally gets paralysis and dies within about five days subsequently.

In furious form, the symptom may start with exhilaration, manifested by roving over long distances and hiding in dark places. Pet dogs demonstrate excessive friendliness towards their owner. The animal starts attacking living or imaginary things without provocation. The voice alters in character. Pet dogs begin biting their own chain and other objects. In case of pariah dogs, they may bite anyone aimlessly, who come their way. In the “dumb” form of rabies, the excitement period is less marked and shorter. The symptoms seen are paralysis of the lower jaw, protrusion of the tongue and salivation. In both forms, the major symptoms are followed by paralysis of the hind legs before casualty.

Treatment and prevention:  In spite o so many wonder drugs like penicillin and antibiotics; so far, there is no known cure for rabies once the disease has been established. A dog showing signs of rabies should be kept under isolation or should be released from suffering by euthanasia. His brain should later be examined for rabies.

Rabies is preventable by immunization of dogs and cats and by controlling stray dogs. Secondly any animal bite, particularly the unprovoked ones, should be immediately and thoroughly washed with soap and water. When the wound is somewhat dry, tincture of iodine should be applied and doctor consulted without delay. Though there is no danger of infection through unbroken skin, licking by pet dogs should always be discouraged. If your dog has been bitten by any other animal which could be a suspected as rabid, it’s always better to consult a doctor, even if your dog is vaccinated against rabies.

No offenses, but I had recently done an interesting parallel between cats and humans.

I have a 1-year-old grey male cat. He’s quite a normal cat, not particularly special, unless for his gentle behavior and big aware eyes. Thus, he’s my dear cat. I jokily named him Gattaccio, which in Italian means something like “bad cat”, that‘s to compensate his sweetness!

After we nurtured Gattaccio we adopted Marvin, a 6-month-old black fluffy purring cat, already nurtured. Marvin came with a big belly, while Gattaccio has always been slim and elegant. Voracious of attention as well as of food, Marvin seemed to be afraid of not having food enough, therefore jumping from his bowl of food to the another one, eating with his open mouth and tucking his head next to Gattaccio’s. The latter patiently didn’t mind. He never struggled for food, but have always lived in peaceful and loving families. The one he was born in was led by a caring young man who had Gattaccio’s mother and siblings, plus two medium happy hopping poodles and a free ferret. Thus Gattaccio is a lucky guy.

Now, Marvin must have come from a disordered and crowed environment (he arrived to the Pet Supermarket from the local county Animal Care), where too many different people must have taken care of him and a bunch of other cats. His playfulness reminds me of those children who move a lot, pay little attention and are actually very confused about who they are and where they are.

As it should be, Marvin is slowly getting to understand that nobody will steel his food, that he is safe and sound and will continue like that (I wish I could have this feeling of stability in life!).

But, something happened. Both of them seem to be starving three times a day, or even more. Gattaccio, the slim and reserved one who rarely emptied his bowl of food, is now becoming voracious. His resembling Marvin.

Why?

No, I don’t think it’s imitation, neither jealousy or insecurity. I believe that the cause is having been both of them nurtured. The physical lost must have prompted another kind of physiological response. I see many fat cats in good homes, but I’ll try to control mine.

We can see the physical reality as a metaphor of the psychological one, which I find extremely instructive. Because everything is connected and there is no body without a soul, the physical castration corresponds to the lost of one’s creativity. Cat’s creativity means mainly reproduction, human creativity is much more than that. What is a human being without his or her own creativity?

Inventiveness and the ability to change, do, create – whatever moves the world around in a progressive way is the mark of the human kind. When this is lost, it only remains the physical part of life, a body. A hungry body, or better, a hungry silenced soul reduced to fulfill itself with surrogates of its real food.

Emptied of a proactive life, a human is doomed to eat, eat, and eat. A sad substitute for the absence of real balls.

I was working one day when a girl came in with a friend to surrender a large black lab dog. I do not recall the dogs name but I remember he was an intact (not neutered) male and was fairly nice when she brought him in on a leash and collar.

We always had owners fill out paper work. They gave us as much information on the dog that they could and the reasons why they were giving it up. Then they signed over all rights to the dog and left it in our care.

While they were filling out the paperwork I took the dog and lead it down the hallway to the kenneling area in the back of the building. It is not far, but you have to pass the rooms where the adoption dogs are housed and often times you can hear barking. It is an unfamiliar area to a new dog, and although I had been working there for at least 3 years this dog was the first to show a reaction like it did. The dog freaked.

He panicked and tried to run back to his owner. He made a wrong turn and headed directly into the staff room and around the corner. The staffroom is a dead end with a door to the hall that we leave open. I had seen where the dog went but he was around the corner and I could not see him. I entered the staffroom to retrieve the dog.

At this time he came towards me with such furry and anger, clearly frighted and confused. I was lucky to be standing where I was, I backed out of the room and shut the door. Lucky too his owner was still in the building. I went to the front and told her what happened. She then admitted he had been showing aggression at home and was behaving unpredictably. She felt the dog would not hurt her and so I took her to help take the dog back to the kenneling area, normally off limits to the public.

Indeed the dog was fine and she took him to be kenneled in the back.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmarkham/2812341315/  A example of a Black Lab dog, not the one in the story.

Although Black Labs are normally considered one of the more gentle, non-aggressive, breeds, the problems for this dog started because the owner was young and really did not do much with the dog. He was not neutered, and intact males have more testosterone and therefor can be more aggressive. He had never attended obedience lessons, thus missing a critical step in socialization. Also he considered himself the Alpha, the boss. Everything was compounded for the poor dog when he was brought to a scary new place.

Many dogs can be scared when brought to a shelter, however most do not react so strongly. We have had many dogs of the breeds most people fear, with no such problems. This is no way a suggestion that Black Labs are “dangerous” dogs, rather it is a warning that any dog has the potential to be dangerous when certain care aspects have been overlooked.

Related Links

Rabies:  What to do if you are Bit

The Most Dangerous Dogs

The Six Safest Dogs with Children

Mean Dogs:  Blame the Breed or Blame the Owner?

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When we look at domestic dogs we must recall that they are not a natural species. They are descended, through breeding selection, from wolves. Wolves have a fur type that does not require brushing although the wolves do groom themselves. Our domestic dogs are different, they do require regular grooming in the form of proper brushing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/foxypar4/887300612/

Think of how frequently you brush your own hair. Now imagine how much time you would spend brushing your hair if it covered your entire body. While dogs are, in the most part, much smaller than people, they do have hair over their entire body. This hair, when neglected, can form itchy areas and painful mats.

When dogs get mats in their hair the mats pull at the dogs skin. This causes the dog pain and distress, making it itch and try to pull off the mats. Unable to do so, they are left with sore areas. Their owners are unable to remove the mats safely at this point. An attempt with scissors can cut the dogs skin sending it to the vet. As such many owners take their dogs to the groomers and let the groomers deal with the problem.

At the dog groomers a professional will tackle the mats, generally they have no choice but to shave the dog completely. To remove the mats (as in an attempt to leave the dogs coat long) any other way would be too stressful and painful to the dog.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blossomcharm/2470990184/

These problems occur mostly in the breeds that are considered “non-shedding” but can occur in any of the longer haired dogs. 

Short haired dogs such as Labs also need regular brushing. Their skin condition is greatly improved through regular grooming. Also regular brushing gives an owner a chance to see if the dog is developing any problems, lumps, or has fleas. Regular brushing is good bonding. Regular brushing also reduces shedding, by not only removing the loose hairs, but by improving the skin condition as mentioned.

A “Brushing” is not always the whole entire dog, but can be just a quick 2 minute job of going over messy areas.  Most problems do not form on the back of the dog, which is where most people focus their brushing, rather it is the lower areas that are often the problem, and around the neck. 

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/question_everything/3337289063/

How often should dogs be brushed?

*Short Haired dogs, such as Labs, Beagles, and Pugs, should be brushed 1 – 3 times a week.

*Medium Length Haired dogs, such as Border Collies, and German Shepherds, should be brushed 2 – 4 times a week.

*Fluffy Spitz Type dogs, such as Chow Chows, Pomeranians, and Keeshonds should be brushed 2 – 4 times a week with one really good “backwards” brushing every week.

*Long Haired dogs, such as Rough Collies, Golden Retrievers, and Afghan Hounds, should be brushed 3 – 7 times a week.

*Non-Shedding dogs, such as Poodles, Shih Tzus, and Yorkshire Terriers, should be brushed 3 – 7 times a week and if they are to be kept trimmed, they need to visit the groomer regularly every 6 – 8 weeks. This should start when the puppy is 12 weeks of age.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fat_tony/3333622654/

Related Links

Is your Dog as Healthy as you Think it is?

Eight Very Unique Dog Breeds

Six Mistakes to Avoid with Your Dog

How to Reduce Shedding in Dogs

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“The Complete Shetland Sheepdog” is one of the most comprehensive books written about the Shetland sheepdog breed for the past years.  The authority’s writer Margaret Norman has been into breeding, showing and judging for decades. Her kennel affix France hill, registered since 1953 has produced a number of champions in all three colors, sable, tricolor and blue merle. The latest crowned Champion is the bi blue dog France hill Two Tone. Unfortunately, the author passed away a few weeks before she could see her boy winning his third CC.

The book is suitable for both the one dog owner and the experienced sheltie breeder. Margaret Norman offers detailed advice and information on all aspects of the breed, starting from choosing a puppy, caring for your sheltie, grooming your sheltie, training your sheltie, the breed standard, breeding shelties, whelping and rearing puppies, coat care and presentation in the show ring. There is also a section on the puppy’s requirements in terms of diet and exercise.  One of the first chapter’s is dedicated to the history and origins of the breed.  Norman makes an interesting hypothesis about the breed’s origin.

The book contains full color photographs illustrating systematically grooming and trimming techniques.  This is very helpful for the novice pet and dog show sheltie owner.  The book is written in simple English language and it is very easy to comprehend.   The author continues to give example from both the UK sheltie ring and even from all over the continent. A unique chapter is dedicated to the Breed Standard where the author compares the British and US standards of the breed.  A chapter written by Sue Anne Bowling is the only section in the book written by this author deals with the “Sheltie in North America”.  The book is necessary buy for all sheltie lovers around the world.