Choosing the right dog supplies to raise your new puppy is actually pretty simple. First just imagine what your dog’s life will be like. The dog needs to be properly fed with highly nutritional food. Your dog should also be securely housed and safely controlled. He also needs to be kept physically and mentally active, highly entertained, and should be properly identified

All of the above needs must be met be buying supplies for your dog. One of the most important dog supplies you will need are a collar and a training leash. A solid strong leash is important, since it will last for a long time. The first few collars may be outgrown rapidly, so you may not want to spring for the most expensive model until your puppy matures.

Be sure to shop for a leash that matches your dog’s strength, its weight, and its level of activity. As your puppy grows and matures to an adult dog, these stats will change and you will have to adjust some items appropriately.

In some cases, a body harness or head halter is recommended. Head and body harnesses are designed to help train the dog not to pull on the leash. Because its head is directly connected to the end of this product, your dog will be less likely to tug and pull when being walked. This can prove to be an enormous benefit to you if you have a puppy that will be of significant size, like a Great Dane or a Saint Bernard.

I’m sure you have heard of or even may have seen some dog owners use spiked collars. This is not something that you need to buy and the use of spiked collars is really not recommended. Although some people like to use these products to train the dog they are actually banned in some countries. The idea is that when the dog is pulling the leash uncontrollably, its head will roll to the site and tap on the spike, causing pain and discomfort when it pulls on the leash. Remember, not only is this form of training negative for the dog, but it is also illegal.

Your dog will also need its own bed. This will be its own personal space to have, provided that he has been trained to use it from the beginning. Also, be sure to offer your dog a sturdy and clean food and water dishes. You will need to provide several well made toys for your dog’s entertainment, whether he is playing on his own or with you.

Last but not least, another primary piece of dog equipment is an ID tag with your contact number in case it gets loose from the house and wanders around.

In closing, remember that when taking care of your dog’s immediate needs, you just might want to consider investing in high quality dog supplies. Of course, it is a bit more expensive, but worth it in the long run.

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Q: I’m a vegetarian, can I safely feed my dog a vegetarian diet?
A: A dog is able to survive on a well-balanced vegetarian diet. But this is a path no dog willingly follows. Dog are designed to eat best as a carnivore. Vegetarianism is a human ethical decision.

Q: Does my dog need carbohydrates in its diet?
A: Carbohydrates are not a natural energy source for dogs. But dogs are able to convert them into glucose. Starch is the most common form of carbohydrates for dogs.

Q: Can I supplement my dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals?
A: Take great care if you decide to give vitamin and mineral supplements to tiny “Fifi”. Higher levels of some nutrients reduce the absorption of others. It is dangerous to
Give large amounts of ANY single mineral. When a higher dose of nutrient is needed, use a broad spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement specially formulated for dogs.
Remember: the dogs make great running partners. 64% of all new dogs are bought to help their masters exercise. As similar as people and dogs are, laziness will kill a dog. Take him out jogging every now and then, play fetch at the park, just do something active and fun.

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Golden Retrievers are bright and beautiful dogs, which, of course ,explains their popularity. Begin leash breaking at the earliest age possible. Use motivational techniques instead of force. These dogs excel at Clicker Training. Golden Retrievers have a tendency to disobey shortly after they obey. If a dog is allowed to get away with this behavior, he will become less and less responsive.

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German Shepherd: There is no dog more willing to learn and respond to their masters than the German shepherd. This particular breed of canine will have lots of chewing and digging problems if not corrected at an early age. Give them every chance to learn, reward them with praise, make training a lot of fun, and you should have no problem with this breed.

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* loss of appetite or ravenous appetite without weight gain
* frequent urination
* diarrhea or constipation
* vomiting
* discharge from eyes, nose, or mouth
* coughing or respiratory difficulty
* trouble urinating or abnormal urine
* shivering, or fever
* unexplained weight loss
* problems walking or moving around
* anything out of the ordinary from your dogs typical behavior

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Most dogs will eat just about anything. They drink from the toilet and eat out of the trash can. But a dog’s diet is as important as your own. Now I’m not saying to put your dog on the Atkins diet, but a healthy low-protein diet will ensure your dogs maximum life capacity. However, how do you choose the right dog food?

There are two major categories of dog food – dry and canned. Dry is the most popular, it contains more nutrition by weight, and is less expensive then the latter, plus the hard texture of the dry dog food will actually reduce tartar build-up. Canned foods are definitely favored by dogs and includes fewer calories per volume (70% of canned foods are water).

Special foods are available to counter almost everything from diabetes to obesity to allergies. Lamb is usually the concoction for such formulas because very few canines are allergic to it.

Expert tip: Unless you are prepared to work very hard at it, do not attempt to make your dog’s food. Creating the proper balance of nutrients, minerals and vitamins takes a great deal of effort.

FUEL FACTS

* Small dogs need more calories per pound of body mass than large dogs
* Very active dogs may require 40 to 50 percent more calories than that of an average dog
* Pregnant dogs may need 30 to 50 percent more calories than usual, sometimes even double their normal serving
* During winter, your dog might need additional calories to maintain a constant body temperature

SELECTING A BRAND

Dog food, just like our canned processed foods, are required by law to post the nutritional information on the can. These labels include the ingredients and a statement of nutritional purpose and adequacy. For instance if you have a pregnant dog then you would want to look for a label such as “Complete and balanced nutrition for growth and reproduction.”

Top Products will state these claims are based on “Association of American Feed Controls Officials” (AAFCO). Lesser quality products will insist they “meet AAFCO nutrient profile recommendations.

In general, some sort of real meat should be at the top of your list. Meat by-products are of a lower quality product and could do your dog permanent damage. Cereals and soy are also important ingredients and should appear on a daily basis.

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Every dog has what is called a ‘guardian instinct’ which means that they have a built in instinct to bark at strangers both in and outside of the house, bark at a mailman passing its territory, or bark at anybody when protecting their toys or their dish of food. So do not panic if your puppy does this occasionally. It’s totally normal for a puppy. With proper training these behavioral problems can become controlled.

Extreme cases of aggression are dogs that bite. And even those dogs that have bitten before can be rehabilitated through proper training. A dog may bite someone or something because of several reasons. A dog’s aggression may be related to its need to dominate or its desire to guard people or objects. It could also be as simple as fear which causes a dog to bite.

Today we are going to talk about three types of dog aggression that you just might have to deal with; dominance, fear, and territorial. All of these actions are normal in puppies to some degree. However, they need to be controlled before your puppy grows into a truly aggressive dog.

First let’s talk about dominant dog aggression. If you have a puppy that likes to steal your stuff for fun (like clothing), or barks just to get your attention, then you have no choice but to deal with this aggression and take control of this behavior long before she becomes an adult.

To train your dog to fix its dominant aggression you can do several things. One is to have ’stare down’ competitions with your dog (only if you initiate them) until your puppy breaks the stare first. Also, regulate it’s feeding to only twice per day and do not practice giving your dog treats or rewards until these aggression problems are gone.

Dog aggression can also happen when a dog is afraid and feels cornered. If your puppy hides under the table when you have company or leans against you in a new environment out of fear, you need to begin socializing him immediately. Take him to the park, attend puppy obedience classes, and go for daily walks to get your puppy used to strange things or you may end up with a dog that attacks anyone who approaches him out of fear.

Next we have what is called ‘territorial dog aggression’. A dog displays territorial aggression by barking at strangers whom approach the home in which the live in. If you have people constantly coming in and out then a puppy thinks that she has driven them away, which reinforces aggression. And ironically enough, if you yell at the dog for barking when someone is visiting your house then they take this yelling not as a bad thing, but a good thing. The dog actually perceives this yelling as support or backup for their own aggression towards another person leaving the house.

To prevent this type of behavioral problem here are a few tips for you. You should assert yourself by keeping the puppy clear from furniture. Also, make the dog’s associations with visitors to your house positive by giving them a treat. Peanut butter is great for this. When you have guests arrive at your house then have the guests offer the puppy a treat as well. But make sure that the puppy is settled down first. Last but not least, try to put a halt to all yelling and do not do any physical corrections. All it does is add even more negative energy to their tense situations.

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Chows are prone to several health problems and genetic diseases.

1. Hip dysplasia: This is caused by a malformed hip joint that results in the head of the femur bone not fitting perfectly into the hip socket in which the femoral head lies. Often, it leads to pain, lameness and arthritis. However, the good news is that this condition, though congenital, can be treated by surgery.

Since this condition is congenital, dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. To ensure you’re taking home a healthy pup, ask if the sire and the dam have been OFA certified, which means that the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals has x-rayed their hips to verify that they do not carry hip dysplasia. You may want to ask to see a copy of the certification, as well.

2. Entropion: Another medical condition Chow Chows suffer from is entropion. Check to see if the puppies or their parents have runny eyes. If so, they may well suffer from entropion, which is a condition caused by eyelid abnormality in which the dog’s eyelids are turned inwards rather than outwards. This irritates the eye and can even lead to your pet turning blind. If detected in time, entropion can be corrected with surgery. If, after you buy your puppy, you do see inflamed or runny eyes or crusty eyelids, you should take him to the veterinarian immediately.

3. Luxating patella: This hereditary condition occurs when the small, flat and mobile bone in the front of your Chow Chow’s knee is dislocated. This problem is more common in overweight Chows, so be sure you keep your dog in shape. This condition can be corrected surgically.

4. Intolerance to anesthesia: Chow owners are often worried about their pets being intolerant to anesthesia, resulting in complications or even death during surgery. This happens because this breed is said to have small hearts in comparison to their body weight. Since anesthesia is given according to body weight, the dog receives a much larger dose than his heart can handle. Always check to be sure your veterinarian knows about this condition before he uses anesthesia on your Chow Chow.

5. Ruptured or torn ligaments: Your Chow Chow has such straight rear legs that there is sometimes too much strain on his ligaments. This results in torn or ruptured cruciate ligaments. Try to avoid having your Chow play or exercise too enthusiastically. If he does injure himself, seek veterinary treatment.

6. Diabetes: One of the most common disorders in dogs is diabetes, which is caused by the body ’s inability to produce sufficient amounts of insulin. The highest occurrence of diabetes is found in dogs aged five to seven years. Female dogs are affected by this disease more often than males. Keep your dog’s weight under control, since overweight dogs are more likely to have diabetes.

If your Chow Chow drinks more water than usual, urinates more frequently and may even do so within the house, or loses a lot of weight, ask your veterinarian to test him for diabetes. In addition, have your dog examined by the vet every year, and ask for urine and blood tests as part of the routine checkup. The earlier you detect diabetes, the higher the chances of controlling it.

7. Glaucoma: This is a painful and serious optic condition. As pressure within the eye increases, it can lead to blindness. Blindness can set in within 24 hours if the fluid pressure is very high or slowly over weeks and months if mild, but in all cases, it is extremely painful.

Glaucoma may either be inherited or caused by a variety of other eye disorders, such as luxation of the lens, tumors of the eye, and inflammation of the eye.

If you see your dog rubbing away at his red eyes, if his eyes look cloudy, or he is sensitive to light, seek veterinary care immediately. In order to save his sight, immediate surgery is necessary. Initially, your vet may render emergency medical therapy, but then will probably refer him to a large and more specialized veterinary center.

8. Skin, hormonal problems and allergies: Your Chow Chow can also suffer from skin and hormonal problems. Often congenital, these problems are hardly ever obvious to the naked eye in pups. Once again, you should ask the breeder about the parents of the pup to be sure that they do not carry these hereditary problems.

Skin and hormone problems include hot-spots and allergies. If your pet scratches himself a bit too much or has irritated skin that looks red and infected, take him to the vet immediately.

9. Heat prostration: If you leave your pet in a hot area with no ventilation, or out in the sun, he will be very uncomfortable and suffer from heat prostration. He reacts to extremely high humidity, particularly if the temperature rises above 80º.

To avoid heat prostration, keep your Chow cool in a shady area or room on hot days. If he is still uncomfortable, call in your vet. In the meantime, wet him with cold water or towels soaked with cold water.

10. Bloat: If he eats too much, your Chow may suffer from bloat or gastric torsion—a life-threatening and sudden illness caused due to the stomach filling with air and twisting.

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Hot spots, also known as Summer Sores or Moist Eczema, can
make a dog and its owner miserable. The wet, skin lesions
appear and grow larger by the hour.

Dogs most susceptible to hot spots are those with heavy
coats and histories of allergies, ear infections, flea
infestations, irritated anal sacs, matted hair and tangles,
but any dog can be afflicted.

Most dogs that suffer from hot spots usually have allergies
or have been bitten by insects, such as ticks, mosquitoes,
and especially fleas.

The most common locations for hot spots are the legs and
feet, flanks, and rum, but these localized infections can
also appear on ears, neck, and chest.

To help prevent these infections:

Keep dogs free of fleas.

Comb often to keep hair loose and tangle free.

Rinse out all shampoo after bathing. Dried shampoo residue
can cause itching and irritation.

Sometimes adding an Omega Fatty Acid supplement to the dog’s
diet can help with many dermatological problems.

If a hot spot has started:

Hot spots require immediate veterinary attention as they can
double their size overnight and make pets miserable. They
require professional treatment of hair clipping or shaving,
cleansing, cortisone and antibiotics.

To keep hotspots more bearable before getting to a vet here
are some tips that dog owners have found helpful:

First wash the area in a mild water-based astringent or
antiseptic and dry.

Apply a very warm compress with a wash cloth with as hot of
water as can be used without burning.

Apply regular Listerine with a clean cotton ball.

Gold bond powder. Shake into hand and then apply to itchy
spot. Works immediately.

Soak hot spot with Epsom or sea salt solution.

Dry and dust with corn starch if irritated.

Aloe Vera gel, freshly squeezed from the plant, helps to
calm and heal.

Saturate a cotton ball with witch hazel and apply on hot
spots.

Apply a mixture of baking soda and water to the affected
areas

In severe cases, a veterinarian may suggest the use of an
Elizabethan collar to prevent the dog from scratching and
give the spot a chance to heal.

For more information on preventing and treating hotspots
visit:

http://www.apluswriting.net/petcare/doghotspots.htm

*****************************************
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
*****************************************

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Before you bathe your dog, brush out his coat. This helps loosen dirt that is close to his skin. In addition, grooming removes loose hair, which helps keep your drains from being clogged up with dog hair.

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