Posted on Oct 26, 2008 under dog training, indoor dogs, puppy training, small dogs |
How Long Do Dogs Live? From the time we bring them home as wriggling bundles of joy, we all want our puppies to live forever. As they bond with us and grow into full fledged family members, we tend not to think about the end of their life or how many precious years we have with our canine friends.
However, when picking out our new puppy it is rare that we give adequate consideration to the average lifespan of the dog. There are distinct factors that play into whether our puppy will be with us until our children graduate from high school or if they give us a few good years. Most experts agree that small breeds tend to outlive large breeds. The general rule of thumb is the larger the dog the shorter the life span. Large medium to large breed dog tend to live about ten years, although there are exceptions to every rule. We have a feisty-willed large breed mutt who is determined to see his fifteenth birthday.
Smaller breeds tend to live longer, anywhere from twelve to fifteen years. Occasionally you will run into the nearly twenty year old Scottie, but most don‘t make it past their sixteenth year. Again, every rule has its exceptions. The Irish Wolfhound isn‘t expected to make it more than six or seven good years although there really isn‘t a conclusive reason as to why this is so. Of course these figures are taking into consideration overall good health and quality care.
Genetics play a vital role in longetivity, but those we can‘t control. There are a few factors in our favorite little guy‘s life we can do to help him get to his ripe old age. Some of them can even combat predisposition to genetic diseases. One of the fastest ways to shorten a dog‘s life is to keep him outside all the time. Dogs that live outside tend to be missing a few key ingredients in their overall care that impact their life span.
Even with a shelter available, dogs do wear down and age quickly when they are dealing with constant element exposure. While some can adjust, most dog bodies find the extremes the environment can dish out at them to be exhausting and threatening. Dogs who permanently reside outside tend to receive less over all care. Since people spend the majority of their time at home inside, often small health problems go unnoticed until it becomes an overwhelming problem. Even the responsible pet owner can forget to feed or water the dog who is permanently engaged in outdoor activities when the lifestyle inside the home becomes stressed or busy.
Outdoor dogs also lack the essential strong emotional connection with their owners that indoor dogs benefit from. Having their human friends to please and play with goes a long way in their overall happiness and health. Often a sick dog who has no emotional connection will stop eating and caring for themselves long before those who have families who love and care for them. If you want your little guy to live a longer, fuller life, bring him inside and let him be part of the family lifestyle. Whether you are bringing home a purebred puppy or a distinguished gentleman of questionable descent, their life span can be about the same.
Barring any health problems, each should live as long as the other and it really just comes down to personal preference. From birth to about two years old your puppy is learning and growing. Every day your little guy is reaching new miles stones and his body is very busy. High quality puppy food packed with nutrition can help set him on the foundation for a healthy life. These foods are a little more expensive, but they can be well worth the cost when considering the effects of malnutrition. If your little guy comes from a family or breed history of hip and back problems such as hip dysplasia, excessive exercise in the first two years can put added stress on the joints in question and actually exacerbate the potential for later problems. Exercise is good, over doing isn‘t.
Regular veterinary check ups and of course vaccinations during the first two years can help to catch problems early on, which will increase his overall health. This is the time when your puppy really needs you to watch out for him, whether his body is having health problems or he is ingesting things that can cause long term problems, staying on top of him now reduces health effects in his later years. >From his second year through his fifth we can consider this his basic years of good health and maintenance. Watch for signs of growing obesity and make sure he is receiving ample exercise and fun play time. If he is a healthy dog then these years should be stress free.
Keep at least annual appointments with the vet for check ups and updated shots. His food should be a high quality protein based variety, but if he‘s showing signs of to much happy eating either cut back on his portions or switch to a low calorie variety. Once he gets into his fifth to eighth year we can consider him a middle age to aging dog. These are the years when small but manageable health problems are likely to show up. If he‘s a really good eater but hasn‘t shown signs of obesity before, these are the years when his activity will slow down some and he may develop a weight problem now. Again, a good low calorie food and a few perhaps coaxed walks should be enough to help him keep his youthful figure. Other problems such as cataracts, arthritis, or even heart murmurs are most likely to show up during these years.
They are not catastrophic events and can typically be handled with a trip to the vet and either simple procedures or medication. Ignoring problems now however, are likely to grow into unmanageable problems quickly. Stay on top of his check ups and vaccinations to ward off any potential disasters looming about. Most dogs that are generally healthy should make it through these years just fine. Depending on the size, breed, and overall health of your not so little guy, once he reaches eight years old he may be starting to push toward borrowed time. Smaller breeds won‘t get there until about ten, but even medium dogs are now starting to wear down.
Just because he‘s getting old doesn‘t mean you have to start thinking about euthanasia. There is a possibility that he will have health and happiness for a few more years to come. However now is the time when health problems can erupt quickly and strike hard. Eight years old and beyond is when you are most likely going to face making tough decisions about your faithful canine‘s quality of life. The care you gave him as a puppy is now doing its part to take care of him as he ages. Some older dogs need to be encouraged to eat.
If your once upon a time eating machine is suddenly losing weight, switch to a higher protein, higher fat content dog food to help him maintain his energy. Our care for our dogs all the way through their lives can make a huge difference in how long they live a full and happy life. When bringing a new puppy home remember that how you treat his body right now will carry a direct effect to his life span down the road.
Many dogs outlive their life span and are happy and energetic the whole way through. A little love and responsibility can go a long, long way. Any dog that has touched your life will certainly live forever.
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Posted on Dec 08, 2008 under puppy training |
While a full advocate of dog obedience training even at the young age of puppy, it needs to be said that like children, dogs are only a puppy for a very short period of time. Yes, it’s a time for training and socialization and housebreaking and everything else that goes along with owning a puppy. Still, all too often we forget the real reason why we bought a puppy in the first place. Fun!
Romping with a little puppy is one of the few inexpensive joys of living. At this time, puppies think that you are probably the absolute most wonderful person. They learn to anticipate when you come home from work and when you leave in the morning. I had a Rottweiler for almost 13 years that even in those later years when he slept most of the time, my dog always managed to be at the door just as I was walking in. Kids grow up and go off on their own, but a puppy grows up to be your very own four-legged fan club.
I remember laying on the floor in the living room reading the newspaper after a hard days work. My Rottweiler puppy Willie, would unceremoniously plant himself right in the middle of the newspaper making certain to lick my eyeglasses. It was almost as if he was saying there would be no more work today, it’s time to build some sweet memories.
We would end up playing around and wrestling on the floor. I know you should never play with the dog with your own hands but Willie and I seemed to have this bond that was kept all throughout his life. When he tired, my little pup Willie would go over to the fireplace and curl up in the wood carrier. Sometimes he would decide to go to sleep directly on my slippers with his nose firmly lodged inside the right one.
I did crate training with Willie to housebreak him. Of course there were accidents but he was a great dog nonetheless. It took awhile but he got the hang of it. Although we moved several times during his life, Willie always seemed to know that going to the bathroom in a house was just wrong.
Willie and I had a great time together a short 13 years. Sometimes even today I long to once again enjoy that distinctive puppy breath and see my 4 legged friend once again waiting by the door. He was a great dog. I will never forget the time we spent together.
If you’re thinking of getting a puppy, remember to enjoy the good times and not obsess over training and other necessities. He’s only a puppy for a short while and they leave way to early.
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Posted on Dec 02, 2008 under puppy training |
Housebreaking a puppy is probably the number one reason people donâ??t enter into dog ownership. There is no doubt that this is the hardest part of owning a puppy, but if the process is started immediately and taken seriously your puppy will be trained in no time.
Kennel Training
First and foremost, buy a kennel. This is as important as the toys the leash and the food dish. Kennel training is the easiest and most effective way to housebreak your puppy. Not to mention it will save you hundreds in cleaning bills and damage to your personal property. Forget all you that you have heard that kenneling a puppy is cruel. By providing a kennel for your puppy you are actually catering to his natural instinct as a den animal. Depending on your puppyâ??s breed, choose a kennel that can accommodate the puppy as a full grown dog. You will be surprised how much your mature dog will utilize their kennel as a place of refuge or just as a place to hang out years down the road. Whatever you do donâ??t use the kennel as a place to punish your pup. Make the kennel a fun and safe place your puppy will want to be.
Start the process immediately
After you pick up your cute fuzz ball at the breeder make the first stop the backyard or the outside area you plan to take your pup to do his business everyday. Get him acquainted with a spot. Dogs are creatures of habit that crave a schedule and familiarity.
Put together a schedule the entire household will follow on how to of care for your puppy. When everyone is on the same page it will be easy to housebreak your puppy. Puppies on average eat three times a day and sleep about 18 hours a day. After every feeding take him out to his spot and go with him. http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/ Yes, even when itâ??s below freezing and snowing. Take this into consideration when youâ??re deciding what time of year to bring your puppy home. You need to make sure he takes his outside trips seriously. Eventually you will be able to open the door and let him out, but not at first.
Newspaper training is a waste of time when housebreaking a puppy. Youâ??re just making more work for yourself. You will end up training your puppy twice, and time is of the essence in the house breaking process. You can never take your puppy out too much. They must go out first thing in the morning and right before you go to bed. If you are accustomed to staying out till 3 am and sleeping till 10, then maybe you arenâ??t ready to have a puppy.
Now back to the kennel. As I mentioned before, puppies sleep a lot! So after a meal, a trip outside to do his business and some playtime, put him in his kennel. Repeat this and it will become habit. Start out leaving your puppy in the crate for short periods of time when you are home. Gradually extend the stay and take him outside after each time. Dogs in general will not mess where they sleep. If the housebreaking process is done correctly there will be minimal accidents. Donâ??t leave a puppy to run free when you are not home. You are just asking for a mess.
Bedtime
Right before you go to bed throw on your slippers and head out one last time with your puppy. When you come back in, give your puppy a treat and tuck him into his kennel for the night. All night! Donâ??t cave to the sad cries of a home sick puppy that would rather snuggle under your down comforter. Before you invite your puppy into your bed remember, cute 10lb puppies grew into 80lb adults! To ease the loneliness you can put a radio near the kennel or a leave on a night light. After a night or two, when your puppy realizes the crying gets him nowhere, he will stop. Itâ??s so important to remain consistent in this house breaking process or it just wonâ??t work. There is no such thing as a partially house trained dog. They either get it or they donâ??t.
Praise, Praise, Praise
Last but not least dogs crave praise. After every outside trip make a big deal. Scratch under his chin and give him a treat. Donâ??t scold your puppy for accidents unless you catch them in the act. Puppyâ??s memory capacity is small. He will have no idea why he is being punished after the fact. If you do catch him in the act, grab him by the scruff of his neck, as his mother would do in the den, and give him a firm NO! Then immediately clean the area with an odor eliminating cleaner.
So thatâ??s it in a nut shell. Puppy training sounds a lot harder than it is. With a little patience and a kennel, you are on the path to puppy training success
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Posted on Nov 26, 2008 under small dogs |
Were you aware that there are literally hundreds of distinct dog breeds? When you decide to get a dog, choosing the right dog breed for you and your family is essential. With so many different dog breeds available, this can become a very daunting task. Luckily, there are ways in which you can narrow down your options somewhat, making the whole thing a lot easier.
First and foremost you should be considering one major factor….. How much space do you have? If you live in an apartment there is little point in getting a large dog that takes up a lot of room and may also need a lot of exercising. For living areas with limited space, consider the Toy group of dogs such as the Terrier Group or Miniature Pinscher. Also the cost of keeping your dog should be evaluated. Very large dogs may eat significant amounts of food whereas smaller dogs will eat very little in comparison. Try doing a rough calculation of cost for several different dog breeds over a twelve month period. Take into consideration food and regular visits to the vet for inoculation, worming etc. You will see that larger dogs are very often much more expensive to keep.
If you have children, you may want to consider what dog breed would suit them. Children can be quite heavy handed with pets sometimes; getting a Chihuahua for example may not be such a good idea as they are delicate animals. Similarly, having a Great Dane or Saint Bernard marauding around the house could be dangerous for a child. The age and number of children you have should definitely be considered as this will affect what type of dog would best suit your circumstances.
Another major point to consider is how much exercise you can offer your dog. If you have a reasonable sized yard, fencing it off will provide a good space for your dog to exercise itself. If you live in an apartment, consider getting a dog that requires very little exercise. An excitable Border collie would be a poor choice for an apartment life. Also, how much exercise can YOU put up with? There is no point getting a dog that requires lots of exercise such as a Hunting or Sporting dog breed if you cannot keep up the exercise regime. Try and get a dog that suits your lifestyle.
Grooming you dog is something to think about. If you do not have a lot of spare time in your life try to avoid dog breeds like the Standard Poodle which will need very regular grooming sessions. The short haired Terriers or Whippets make a good choice for somebody who has little time to sit and groom for hours at a time. Conversely if you have a lot of free time, regular grooming sessions with your dog will provide you both with a lot of quality time that you will both enjoy.
When choosing your dog, take a look at the bigger picture. Try to resist the temptation to go for the cutest, cuddliest, adorable dog you can find. Consider your lifestyle, your home, your family and try to find a dog breed that fits best with your life. After all, your new dog will be sharing your life with you for many years to come so making sure that you are both happy is an important thing to consider.
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Posted on Nov 23, 2008 under puppy training |
Puppy name choices usually just have to do with what sounds cute or what fits your puppy or what you find funny or whatever pops into your head. And of course, that’s fine. But before you land on a puppy name and stick with it, you need to think about some puppy name considerations.
Here are two important puppy name considerations to keep in mind:
1. Remember that your puppy name needs to be unique to your puppy. When you choose a puppy name that sounds quite similar to some other word that you use, your puppy will be confused. Puppies (and dogs) don’t know the meaning of words or names. They just know sounds. They associate sounds with actions or objects.
Because you use your puppy’s name often, your puppy learns to associate the sound with him. He begins to understand that when you are speaking to him, you use this particular sound, his name.
Female puppy names, for example can sound like some dog training commands. Stacey, for instance, can sound a lot like “Stay.” Dawn can sound quite a bit like “Down.”
Be sure you pick a name that won’t be confused with some command you plan to give your puppy. Female puppy names are easy to choose without getting to close to a command.
2. Your puppy name must be chosen with the public in mind. Male puppy names that might sound fun at home might not work in public.
For instance, the male puppy name, Boner, might make sense at home because your puppy loves bones, but that word has another meaning in society’s sexual vernacular. You might not want to stand in the middle of a park and yell out, “Boner!”
Keeping these two considerations in mindsimilarity in sound to another word and acceptably used in mixed companyis a good idea when you choose your puppy name
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