Inbreeding is the practice of mating animals closely related to each other, and it is used to preserve and intensify desirable characteristics. By mating two dogs from one bloodline, you increase the chance of their puppies having their characteristics. Take a look at the pedigree of most champion dogs - you will see the same ancestor mentioned several times.
However, although inbreeding certainly has advantages, it has its disadvantages also. Serious faults and blemishes are inherited twice as frequently as they would be if the dogs were bred to animals without these faults. Also, breeding between animals that are closely related can lead to physical weakness, bad temperament and less intelligence in the puppies. Use inbreeding with care.

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So, you have a beautiful dog and several people have commented that he or she should be shown. Although you don’t want to show your dog, you wouldn’t mind having a litter of puppies. After all, a dog this beautiful should reproduce, right? Actually, no matter how closely the dog resembles the breed standard, there is another important thing to consider. Breeding for a good disposition is the best way to keep a dog breed from developing a reputation for being high strung or downright nasty.

Make sure both your dog and the dog you breed him or her to have a good disposition. We have a Yorkshire Terrier that is a beautiful show quality dog, but I will never breed her because she is downright nasty to our other dogs and practically has a meltdown if her owner leaves the house. She acts exactly like her mother, but we bought her because her father had a wonderful disposition and she conforms so well to the breed standard.

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I used to worry that my dogs would drink all the water in the dog bowl and get thirsty while I was working or shopping, especially if it was a hot day and they were barking at the cats. (Their favorite activity. They don’t bark at all the cats, just the black and white one belonging to the neighbor and a stray all black cat.)

When I had the opportunity to test the Contech Water Dog Motion Activated Outdoor Pet Fountain, I decided to give it a try. Well, it works great, as long as you don’t constantly walk in front of it, which sets off the sensor. I had to spend a few days working on the way it was positioned to get it set up so I wasn’t constantly walking by and setting it off. However, I didn’t install it on a faucet attached to the house- it is set up on a faucet I had piped over to the dog run so they can just go out the doggy door and get a drink without running loose in the rest of the yard when I’m not there. If you’re installing the Water Dog on your house, it may not be as difficult to get it adjusted.

Two of the dogs figured out how to use the Water Dog right away, but one had a lot of trouble and he kind of waits for one of the other dogs to get it started and then gets a drink. Intelligence challenged dogs may need a bit of help.

My dogs are happy because they can run up and get a drink anytime they want and I’m happy because I don’t have to worry that they’ve run out of water in their dish. Even better, the water is really clean and fresh. The dogs and I give the Contech Water Dog Motion Activated Outdoor Pet Fountain four bones.

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If you’re a first time dog owner, caring for a new puppy can be a bit overwhelming and downright scary. What do you do if he gets sick? For that matter, how do you even tell if he’s sick? To find out how to care for a new puppy and make sure you are both off to a great start, take a look at a few of these great free resources for new puppy owners:

1. ABC’s of New Puppy Care - www.puppycare.free-dog-tips.com - A free dog care mini course for new puppy owners. Includes expert advice from dog trainers, veterinarians and AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson.

2. The New Puppy Shopping Checklist - http://www.goldendoodles.com/newpuppy.htm - Make sure you have all of the supplies you will need to care for your puppy when you bring him home.

3. First Week Home - http://www.puppychow.com/New_Pet/First_Week_Home.aspx - What to do during your puppy’s first week with you.

4. Guide for New Owners - http://www.homevet.com/petcare/puppy1.html - A new puppy guide that covers the basics of new puppy care. Written by a veterinarian.

5. Puppy Training and Socialization Tips - http://www.perfectpaws.com/pup1.html - Learn how to socialize your new puppy so he grows up to be a well adjusted dog.

6. Advice for the New Puppy Owner - http://www.littleshelter.com/library/new_puppy_advice.htm - Some important advice from the Little Shelter on how to raise a new puppy.

7. Preparing Your Home for a New Pup - http://www.ddrt.net/shelternewpuppy.htm - This article is a must read for anyone concerned about puppy proofing their home. It is easier to prevent puppy injuries than it is to cure an ill puppy!

8. About Buying a Dog - http://www.akc.org/future_dog_owner/about_buying_a_dog.cfm - Don’t have a new puppy yet? You won’t want to miss this article on how to buy a dog.

9. Karen Pryor Clickertraining - http://www.clickertraining.com/training/dogs/ - Clickertraining is my favorite training method. My dogs and I have so much fun. Learn the basics here.

10. Dog Tips Forum - http://www.free-dog-tips.com/forum - Do you have questions or concerns that weren’t covered here? Ask other dog lovers what they did with their puppies.

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Dogs have a language all their own and if you listen they’ll teach you to speak it too! By listening to your dog, you’ll begin to understand their needs and their intentions. There are things your dog says every day with his body language that you don’t even realize. Read on to learn the language of ‘dog’!

Tell your dog to sit. Notice as you tell your dog to sit, his ears will go back. This is a sign of submission. Your dog is saying that you’re the dominant one and he’s submitting to you. Another sign of this is a raised paw, which is as easy to train as a human handshake. This is especially significant because it is the step right before they roll over on their backs, completely submitting to you and showing you that you are their leader and their over lord.

Next, roll your dog on his back. Watch his body language. He’ll generally raise his back leg in elevation. This is what the mother dogs do to their pups. Look down at his face. You’ll notice a grin of sorts. Your dog’s grin is a friendly gesture, which is not the same as our grin, but a submissive gesture of his own. (A smile can easily be taught, as a trick, by saying the words smile, and then lifting the animal’s upper lip back in a smiling look. Repete this and you’ll have a smiley dog in no time! )

Dogs are very vocal animals. Many times, they will give you a friendly howl or they will give a menacing growl in warning. It’s very rare that a dog will directly attack or bite. A warning almost always comes first. Dogs also use their eyes. A direct stare is a threat, and its important not to look directly into a dog’s eyes when you are first meeting. Make sure you avoid making your self seem threatening to the animal.

Dogs are very playful as well. Putting their fore legs out in front and bowing is an invitation to play. They’ll run around and leap and bound here and there playing with each other.

Dogs will show their dominance by having an erect tail and stout body, while the subordinate animal crouches or lays on its back, allowing the leader to do whatever he pleases. Listen to your dog; he’ll talk to you with his body…and his mouth!

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Believe it or not, most dogs like to be ‘groomed’ just as much as humans do! Grooming not only makes your dog’s coat shiny and healthy, but it also allows your dog to relax and enjoy himself. You’ll find that when your dog sees you coming with a comb or brush in your hand, he’ll get excited to see you and look forward to the attention each day. Brushing your dog every day will help the bonding process between you and your pet grow stronger each day, while at the same time giving the animal a sort of daily reward and making him feel loved.

A daily grooming is very healthy for the animal’s coat, as well as the skin beneath. Many people will answer this with “wolves aren’t groomed daily in the wild, why should we brush our domesticated pets?” Well, the reply to this is that wolves do groom and clean each other in the wild. Wolves will frequently pull out burrs and other objects that get intertwined in the rest of the pack’s fur. They also lick each other when one of them is dirty. This also explains the way a dog will lick your face, your hands, or your legs. Not only is he showing you that you’re the authority, he’s grooming you, as well as eating the remains of lunch.

When brushing your pet, begin at the head and make a twisting motion, pulling out the deep under fur. This will reduce shedding all over your house, as well as cool the dog off in the summer time. Do this all over the body, removing all of the excess under fur. Then with a bristle brush, go over the top of your pet’s coat. For breeds such as the Afghan hound, a comb works best for detangling the long shiny hairs. Dogs with long hair such as the Afghan will require a brushing every day to prevent deep tangles and matting from occurring. Brush your pet every day and he’ll have a healthy coat of fur.

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We have been domesticating dogs for centuries and as we’ve done this through the ages, there are many behavioural and emotional problems that have been created or passed down. One of the most common behavioral challenges you can find in a dog is whether he is too dependent or independent.

Many dogs that are too independent create problems and can prevent a close relationship with a family from developing. When you have a dog that would rather be by itself, it is difficult for him to adapt into a family where children want to be around him and pet him all the time.

You can work with your independent dog to try to help him become more attached to the family. In many cases, being social is a learned behaviou, just as independence can be. Take it slowly with him, and show him how fun being in a family environment can be. When he enjoys being petted and being around the children, praise him and give him a treat. Spend a lot of time with him, making sure you don’t overstep his boundaries. Ideally, you will eventually have a social dog that loves being with you and the family, but is still ok to be left alone every once in a while.

On the other hand, we have dogs that are extremely dependent. They will whine and beg for attention. These are the kind of dogs that are under your feet 24/7 and make it impossible for anything to get done. This kind of behaviour makes it difficult for someone who lives in an apartment and goes to work from 9 to 5. While you are away, your neighbors may be complaining about your dog howling and barking.

Another effect of being left alone is that your dog could become a home wrecker. He’ll chew everything in sight and ruin your old books, not to mention the left shoe from every pair in your closet. To prevent these kinds of things, leave a light on in the house, or get him a raw hide to chew on. Another effective way to stop the howling is to leave the radio or TV on during the day. Your dog will hear the voices and not feel so lonely. Also, considering getting another dog for companionship while you’re away. In many cases it’s better to have two dogs when you aren’t home for part of the day, as both dogs will be happier, healthier, and better behaved.

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Accidents involving animals, especially dogs, happen all the time. The saddest part about it is that so many of them can be prevented if dog owners would just follow a few precautionary steps.

As most dog owners know, owning a dog is a big responsibility. Besides feeding, grooming, and training, there’s another big requirement that most people forget; safety. Animals need to be kept safe just like humans do. Here are a few tips on keeping your dog safe that you can practice every day.

Always walk your dog on a leash. No matter how well trained your dog is, it’s always safer to walk your dog on a leash, especially in a heavily populated area. Wait until you’re out in the woods, or away from people to let your dog run and exercise free of a leash.

Screen doors are a good thing to have on your front doors, especially if you live in a populated neighborhood. Many accidents are caused by people opening their doors, only to have their dogs racing past and running out into the road. By having a screen door, you can prevent your dog from getting out before you have a time to react.

A fenced off area where your dog can exercise and be contained is a necessary thing to have. If your dog is out running around your neighbourhood, he has a high chance of either being hit by a car or picked up by a passing stranger. Keeping your dog fenced in also prevents your dog from being picked up and taken to a local pound where he can acquire kennel cough or fleas. It’s safer and better all around for your dog to be kept fenced and contained in his own space. You’ll be happier and your dog will be happier too.

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