Archive for December, 2007
Dec
31
Posted under
Uncategorized Dog Training - Common House Training Problems
By Phil Donahoe
In terms of dog training, house training is one of the areas of dog ownership and one of the most common dog training problems that is most subject to misunderstanding, confusion, and just plain dread boy dog owners and even dog training experts.
In today s dog training article we are going to examine and learn how to deal with two of the most common problems surrounding the issue of house training your dog:
- Submissive and excited urination
- Scent marking behavior
Common house training problem #1: Submissive and excited urination
What is it a submissive urinator ?
A submissive urinator , in dog training terms, is a dog that urinates on the floor and himself (and sometimes on you or any guests you may have!) in situations of extreme excitement or stress, like when you return home at the end of the work day or when the dog is being told off for some bad behavior.
Why does this happen?
Puppies are the most usual candidates for submissive/excited urination, but it is also not uncommon to see this behavior in adult dogs as well. Usually, these are highly sensitive and timid dogs, and/or ones from a shelter/with a history of abuse (often these last two go hand-in-hand and one of most common things we see as dog training professionals.)
When does it happen?
Situations which are likely to trigger an excited/fearful dog to urinate: - Greeting time after a prolonged absence of owner - Play time where a dog gets too excited - The arrival of guests (particularly unknown guests) - Stressful situations at home, eg arguments involving owner - During a behavior correction such as you re telling him off - Sudden and unexpected loud noises such as thunder or fireworks
What can I do about it?
Luckily as dog training experts will tell you, it is not difficult to prevent your dog from doing his submissive or excited urination.
Firstly and most importantly, you should take him to the vet to make sure there is no unknown medical reason for the issue (such as diabetes or a hidden bladder infection.)
Next, it s time to take use good dog training techniques to control the problem:
- Try to limit his intake of water to help him control his bladder more effectively, this is very important. Don t restrict his water intake over a prolonged period of time, but if you know there is a situation coming which would normally result in a loss of bladder control, for example, you have guests coming over, or are planning on a play session soon, take his water bowl away for a period of time (maybe half an hour to an hour) before the event.
- When greeting your dog, keep it calm and mellow. The more excited he is, the harder it is for him to control his bladder, so don t encourage him to get worked up: ignore him for the first few moments, or give him a very neutral “hello”, a quick and gentle pat, and then go about making yourself at home.
- It s important that you DO NOT punish or harshly correct your dog for this behavior. It is not something that he can easily control, and he s certainly not doing it on purpose. Punishing a dog for this behavior can cause emotional distress and lead to more problems for you and the dog in the long run. When you catch him in the act, you can interrupt him (a firm “No!” followed by praise when he stops should suffice) but don t punish him. Keep your cool, and try to be sympathetic: he doesn t mean to do it, after all!
- If he urinates out of fear (submissiveness) when scolding him for another offense, try to take the stress levels down a notch by keeping a firm, authoritative, but not angry tone. Remember, you re dealing with a sensitive, highly-strung dog: if you get angry or worry him further, the problem will worsen.
Common house training problem #2: Scent marking
In dog training terms Scent marking is where a dog marks his or her territory with urine. Technically this is not actually a house training problem, since it s based on the dog training issues of dominance and territoriality rather than insufficient house training. A dog can be perfectly house trained but still feel the need to mark inside the house.
However, because - since the problem centers around the unwanted presence of urine in the house - it seems logical, in a way, to link this problem with house training. Since this is one of the most widespread problems among dog owners, we as dog training professionals thought it worthwhile to include some practical advice.
Scent marking and lack of house training: how to differentiate between the two
Your dog is most likely scent marking their territory, rather than genuinely relieving himself, if:
- The amount of urine produced is relatively small, and tends to be directed against vertical surfaces such as doors, walls or furniture.
- If your dog is an unneutered male and at least five or six months old. Unneutered dogs are much more territorial than neutered ones. If you have an unneutered dog in the house, you can pretty much expect a certain amount of scent marking as he defines his own areas. It should also be noted that unspayed females also mark, but it is much less common. Spayed and neutered dogs can also exhibit marking behavior, but it s relatively rare but should not be discounted.
- It makes little difference how often he is taken outside for a toilet break
- He frequently targets items that are new to the house such as new possessions, guest clothing/footwear, etc that do not carry some form of his scent
- You live in a multi-dog household and there is conflict between two or more of the dogs. In this case it is a dominance issue between the two and they may both mark.
- There are other, unneutered or unspayed pets in the house
What to do about the problem?
From a dog training perspective the first thing you need to do is spay or neuter your dog(s) as soon as you possibly can.
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If this is not possible or if your dog s been marking for a prolonged period of time, he or she may continue to do so after being spayed or neutered, since a pattern of behavior will have been established.
Ensure you clean soiled areas thoroughly. Use a non-ammonia based cleaner, because it smells just like pee, and stay away from vinegar too, it smells similar to pee as well. Oxi-Clean mixed with warm water is particularly effective on these areas and there are also plenty of commercial cleaners designed specifically to lift pet stains and odors, which you can buy from pet stores and some supermarkets.
Because dogs tend to re-mark the same places, you ll need to redefine the places that you know he s marked to prevent repeat offending.
Many dog training experts will recommend the following ways to do this:
- Feed him next to or on top of the spot
- Play with him there
- Groom him there
- Put his bed over or next to it
- Spend time there yourself: hang out with a book or sit down and work
Finally, one particular aspect of dog training that is often overlooked is if there is rivalry between dogs in the household. In this case you will need to take steps to resolve it. Any conflict is likely to be hierarchical in nature (a power struggle ), which means that all you have to do to stop the tension is pay attention to which dog seems to be more dominant than the other one (which one eats first, gets the toys he/she wants, stares down another dog), and reinforce this position to establish the hierarchy.
So how do you do this? From a dog training perspective it is relatively simple. First, feed the dominant dog first. Pet him/her first. Give him/her a toy before anyone else gets one. This makes it clear to all dogs in the house which one really is the dominant dog. When this hierarchy s been recognizably established, territorial and dominant behaviors like scent marking often vanish overnight.
If you like this article, you will find much more useful dog training information on our dog training website Dog Training Success where you will find useful tips, tricks and an amazing guide that will help you train your dog with immediate results. No matter what your dog training problem there is a solution and this fantastic dog training guide will show you how to handle each and every situation in detail. Can you afford not to find our more? Click Here Now
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Donahoe
http://EzineArticles.com/?Dog-Training—Common-House-Training-Problems&id=878409
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Dec
31
Posted under
Uncategorized Shih Tzu Groom Shop Work Area
By: Connie Limon
When you set up your Shih Tzu Groom Shop work area, have everything close at hand. Leave plenty of space for your work area.
The Grooming Table
Your Shih Tzu Groom Shop grooming table should be in the lightest part of the room. Near a window is an ideal spot for your grooming table. Use a pegboard on the wall nearest your Shih Tzu grooming table. The pegboard should hold almost all your grooming tools. Grooming tools that are within easy reach is most efficient. Put up a shelf to store spray cans and any items you can?t hang from a pegboard. Your Shih Tzu grooming table should be the center of the décor. A grooming table with a swinging tray underneath for additional storage of frequently-used tools and products is a most desirable feature.
Cages
Your cages in the Shih Tzu Groom Shop are best on a wall near your table. The cages, like your other equipment, should be set up for maximum efficiency. You should start your Shih Tzu Groom Shop with a minimum of a unit of four cages. You can add cages as your business increases. With two cage units you should be able to handle as many as ten Shih Tzu per day. If your business grows larger, you can devote a separate room just for cage units. A back room is usually an ideal spot for this.
Bathtub
When you install your tub consider your height. The tub should be installed waist-high for the operator?s comfort. A nice place to store bathing materials is beneath the tub.
The rest of the work area in your Shih Tzu Groom Shop should be planned and organized with an eye toward expansion.
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You will need to plan on adding three or more grooming tables.
Don?t forget a comfortable chair for times when one can sit during the day. A separate room for a break area is ideal.
Electrical Power
One of the most important things your Shih Tzu Groom Shop must have is sufficient electrical power. The more power the shop has, the better. Good lighting is a must. Daylight is the best light of all. Lots of windows can provide your Shih Tzu Groom Shop with much daylight and also places to display other for sale items. Regardless of the amount of daylight your shop has, however, you will still need your lights on at all times. Outlets in the right places and sufficient current to support the load are an absolute necessity.
This articles is FREE to publish with resource box.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1386.shtml
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Dec
30
Posted under
Uncategorized Cat litterbox training Â? How to encourage faithful litterbox use
By: Liz Barton
Cats don’t necessarily need to be trained to use the litter box the same way a dog needs to be housetrained or a child potty trained. It’s actually a natural born instinct for them to want to bury their waste in a soft, diggable material such as litter.
So most of the litter training is already done for you! However, the litterbox should always be the best bathroom option available ? otherwise you can run into problems.
But let’s start at the beginning.
Just because a cat naturally is driven to use the litterbox, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t litterbox train a stubborn cat or encourage appropriate elimination behavior. Whether dealing with a young kitten who hasn’t learned any bathroom habits, or an older cat who’s decided to stop using the litterbox ? there are certainly things you can do to encourage faithful litterbox use.
The first thing I would do, especially when dealing with a kitten, is to have scheduled feeding times throughout the day. (this way, you will know when your kitten/cat is going to need to go to potty)
It’s much easier to predict when a kitten is going to start looking for a place to go potty, because they typically need to go anywhere from 5 - 25 minutes after eating. With an older cat, bathroom time will be harder to predict but through careful and persistent observation you will be able to pick up on a pattern.
A young cat (4 months and younger) should eat 3-4 times a day. 5-15 minutes after your kitten is done eating, gently place him or her in the litter box.
If you see the kitten showing signs of wanting to go elsewhere (sniffing around, squatting) gently pick the kitten up and place him/her in the litter box. Yelling at or scolding a cat or kitten for inappropriate elimination will not help. In fact, it will simply make your cat fear you.
What’s more, if you scold your cat or kitten and then put them in the litterbox ? this only worsens the problem as the cat starts to view the litterbox as a punishment.
This may also cause them to be afraid of going potty in front of you ? which can lead to anxiety and stress, and also be a huge problem. So make sure you always make it a pleasant and happy experience for your cat or kitten to use the litter box.
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On top of that, make sure the litterbox fits the cat.
What I mean by that is, a small kitten needs a shallow litterbox with short sides that he or she can actually climb into without help.
While at the same time, a large cat will get frustrated by a litterbox that isn’t big enough to scratch, dig and move around in.
If you keep finding kitty surprises right next to the litterbox rather than inside it, your cat may actually be going potty inside the litterbox, but the waste doesn’t land where it’s supposed to because there isn’t enough room.
If you are still struggling with litterbox training your cat after following these suggestions, I’d like to invite you to visit www.secretsofcats.com to get more information about solving common cat behavior problems.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1179.shtml
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Dec
29
Posted under
Uncategorized Practical Hints On Electronic Flea Collars
By Ras Reed
Following the failure of many flea control measures in the past, the introduction of electronic flea collars was well greeted by enthusiastic consumers. Consumers, especially the dog owners who are always on the look out for what can be done to effectively get rid of fleas from their wonderful pets can t wait to see if the new measure will work. As a dog owner, it is very important for you to acquire basic information about electronic flea collar before ever going out there to buy it. This article will help you out with the basic information and you can then make up your mind whether to procure it or not.
It s been known that of all animals in existence, the dog is regarded as man s best friend. Dogs have served mankind for many years. However, fleas are a constant threat to the well being of dogs. This is a major concern of dog lovers. Before now, the measure that a dog owner like you can make use of in order to get rid of fleas is to regularly wash and comb him or her. You will agree with me that this is not an easy task. So, the introduction of pesticides like DDT was a welcome development for many dog owners grappling with fleas infestation. But it was soon discovered that these pesticides have side effects and some of them are not environmentally friendly coupled with the fact unfortunate fact that some of them can t effectively deal with fleas.
The aftermath of all this is the development of an electronic flea collar. However, I must advise that you consult with your veterinary doctor before getting one. Why? Many dog owners like you have fallen for the advertisement and are regretting it. Many of the advertised testimonials on the World Wide Web and mass media have been found to be untrue.
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It is highly advisable for you to see your vet doctor before using any flea control products.
Get more free info on Fleas Control from Fleas Control Guide
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ras_Reed
http://EzineArticles.com/?Practical-Hints-On-Electronic-Flea-Collars&id=887151
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Dec
29
Posted under
Uncategorized Why Dogs Bark & How You Can Stop It
By: Reese Spiers
Do you own a dog? Or, do you have a dog in your neighborhood that barks non-stop. If you do have or know a dog that is keeping you up at night, you may consider yourself as having a problem. The good news is that there is a lot you can do about a dog that just won?t stop barking. You don?t have to feel helpless or even physically punish the dog because it barks. Remember, a dog?s bark is its way of communicating with other dogs and even humans. So, be sure to keep that in mind. You wouldn?t want someone to tape your mouth shut to keep you from talking, would you?
Why They Do It
There are many reasons a dog might bark excessively. The most common reason a dog barks is to get your attention. They may want inside or may be out of water or food. Dogs are quite smart and will let you know when they need something basic. They may also bark when they are not happy. They might not be happy in the location they are in, and are trying to get your attention to let them out of that location. This can be common if you leave your dog out at night or if they are being kennel trained.
Another reason dogs bark is because they hear other dogs. There may be another dog in the neighborhood that also barks. You may not be able to hear that dog, but chances are your dog hears it. They can bark in response to the other dog. You may just not know it.
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Dogs often bark at unfamiliar noises or sights. Roads can often be noisy all through the night with motorcycles and large trucks traveling on them. So, your dog might very well be barking in response to traffic noise.
How To Stop Them
The best way to stop your dog from excessively barking starts with finding out why you think they are barking. Take a listen outside at night to see if you hear a dog barking or if you hear traffic noise. Make sure your dog is comfortable where they are. If you can figure out what the problem is, you might be able to come up with a solution as well.
If you are still having problems, or cannot figure out what the problem is, you may want to find a trainer to help you with your task of breaking the barking cycle. Trainers can often help you find ways to get rid of that pesky habit.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1212.shtml
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Dec
28
Posted under
Uncategorized Having A Safe Holiday With Your Pet
By Beth Chiofalo
Isn t it wonderful to put up a beautiful tree, decorate it with ornaments, lights, and tinsel? Isn t it fun to place gifts under the tree and watch the pile grow as Christmas day draws near? Of course it is, but it s as equally interesting to your pet. Now there are new smells, more fun toys and, oh boy, packages that can be played with for hours! Unfortunately, many of the new “toys” can be hazardous to your pet.
The Christmas Tree
If you have an unusually curious pet, it is best to gate them in a safe area away from the tree if you are not there to supervise. A curious cat or dog can easily bring the tree down with a few jumps or pulls on a branch and you will not only have a mess to clean up but your pet may end up being cut by broken ornaments or even receive an electric shock from the string of lights. Some pets may even chew on the tinsel or ornaments which can lead to gastric problems or even death from toxicity. Even a small tree on top of a table can prove to be harmful to a cat that likes to jump up and play around with the tree. Supervising your pet during this holiday season will ensure a happy one.
Cookies, Candy, and Chocolate
Who doesn t love giving and receiving goodies during this season? I remember our neighbor, every year, would give our family a box of Russell Stoffer chocolates and my mom would place the box under the tree. That is a huge mistake for pet owners. Chocolate is especially toxic to dogs and cats when eaten in large quantities. If your pet gets the Stoffers while you are out, he may consume more than he can handle and you ll have either a very sick pet upon your return, or he may possibly die. If you find yourself facing this situation, call the vet immediately. Cookies and candy are not the healthiest items for humans to eat, but imagine an animal that is about 1/10th your size. One cookie to him is like you eating a dozen. It is especially important to remember this if you have a child that “loves” to feed the family pet whatever he/she has not eaten. Dogs love to follow children around because they can snatch food out of their hands rather quickly and enjoy a “stolen” treat. Always be mindful of the goodies.
Friends and Family
During this season friends and family come to visit for holiday parties, dinners, and to deliver gifts. If you know you are going to have a group of people over, make a “safe” place in the house for your pet. By removing the pet from the party area, you can be assured that he will not be fed something he shouldn t have, nor will you need to worry about a possible “biting” incident. If you have a crate, set it up in a room that your pet is comfortable being in, and place him in there during the party. He will probably curl up and go to sleep. If you do let your pet wonder, cordially request that your guests not feed your pet. There is nothing wrong with giving some basic rules on how to handle the family pet and your guests will respect you and be more at ease around your pet when they know your expectations.
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A simple yank of the tail or ear and the pet may scratch or bite. Again, if you know there are going to be small children and you can not properly supervise your pet with the child, remove the pet to a safe, quiet area. Always remember that you are the owner and you need to set the stage for a happy holiday for your pet.
I do recommend the Critter Cord which can be purchased through Amazon.com. It s not only great to use during the holiday season, but year round as well.
Beth has been a dog enthusiast for years and enjoys researching and studying canine health and related issues.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Chiofalo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Having-A-Safe-Holiday-With-Your-Pet&id=887381
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Dec
28
Posted under
Uncategorized Train Your Dog With God Bombs
By: Marc Goldberg
The concept of correcting your dog can create a contest of willpower between you and your pet. Anyone who has ever lived with even a slightly naughty dog can tell you that such critters thrive on contests of willpower. A four year old child whining in Walmart for a candy bar still hasn?t got the reserve of willpower held by the average dog.
For example, if you?ve ever corrected your dog from getting up on the couch or eating off a counter, he knows you don?t like him doing it. Does he stop? Heck no. He simply does the behavior when you?re not looking. Or maybe he even does it in front of you with a look that says, go ahead, try and stop me.
That?s because Fido knows what you want. But he just knows he has the option of doing it anyway because maybe, just maybe, today is the day when mom or dad doesn?t have the strength to deal with me.
The answer is NOT to yell at or correct your dog more or harder. That?s a hard lesson to learn for most pet owners. But as you may have found by now, correcting more and more simply makes for an enjoyable challenge for the dog. He thinks, ?Go ahead, make my day, because I feel lucky today, punk.?
Let?s take luck out of the training process!
Here is a set of simple instructions to follow to stop your dog from doing an indoor behavior such as getting on the couch, snarfing food off counters, eating the trash, etc.
1. Do not reprimand the dog. You?ll only teach him to wait till you?re not around if you do so.
2. Instead, keep a supply of empty plastic milk jugs handy all over your house.
3. Into each empty ½ gallon or gallon jug, place a couple handfuls of dried beans and replace the cap.
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When you find the dog on the sofa?or better yet eyeballing it with intent?loft a jug so that it lands on or near your dog, depending on his size or temperament.
5. When you throw the jug, DO NOT look at or even say anything to your dog, and do not pick up the jug again in your dog?s presence.
6. Your dog will think, ?Hmmm, God drops a loud bomb on my head every time I even look at the couch.?
This process will not harm your dog as it certainly does not hurt. In fact, it won?t even hurt his feelings because you haven?t yelled at him. However, it will make the behavior a great deal less fun than it was before.
You may only have to do the above once or twice to make the couch (trash, or whatever) a ?bad place? for Fido. But what you have removed from the contest is YOURSELF. You have made the contest between Fido and God, and believe me, God always wins.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1266.shtml
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Dec
27
Posted under
Uncategorized Useful Tips On Feline Flea Control
By Ras Reed
There are many cat owners like you out there who have dumped the old and traditional way of getting rid of fleas on their lovely pets. Won t you rather join the train? There are now easier, better and safer way of eliminating fleas. Instead of using collars and shampoos, it is suggested that you try out flea control medications that will be discussed in this article. You and your lovely pet will be glad you did.
There are now several flea control medications that you can administer on your cat once a month. And its been reported that these medication works wonders! These medications can be administered on your cat through the mouth, injections or topically. Irrespective of the method you chose to use, you will agree with me that keeping the fleas at bay from your cat is one tasking job of every cat owners out there. As you may have known by now, fleas have the ability to kill an animal that is not well taken care of. Hence, if you love your pet as I know you do, you must attach a lot of importance to keeping off fleas from your pets.
The way these medications work on animals is quite different from what you ve been used to before now. The major work of this medication is to kill the parasite at the point of contact. This means that there is no opportunity for the fleas to hang around on your pets and reproduce. However, it is highly recommended that you have a discussion with your veterinary doctor before making use of any medications on your cats. It is dangerous to do it by yourself. The vet doctor will make you understand the benefits and danger of using any particular medication on your pet.
However, there is need for you to know that one of the new monthly flea control medications don t actually kill mature fleas. It only concentrates on killing the eggs before they hatch. This medication make use of a chemical known as lufenuron. The chemical can be administered once a month if it applied through the mouth and bi-annually if applied through injection. The other disadvantage of this medication is that it does not protect the cat from tick. But frontline does have an ingredient called fipronil, which can be applied directly on the fur of your cat, that has the ability to kill both the fleas and the ticks and in addition forestall new infestation.
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It can be administered once a month and will continue to work irrespective of the number of baths your cat is given. The only drawback of this medication is that it does not work well on other parasites.
As stated before, it is highly suggested that you consult with your vet doctor before using any of the flea control medications mentioned in this article or other sources. Let the cat be medically checked to ascertain whether the medication can work or not.
Get more FREE and informative articles on fleas control at Fleas Control Guide or http://www.fleascontrolguide.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ras_Reed
http://EzineArticles.com/?Useful-Tips-On-Feline-Flea-Control&id=889065
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Dec
27
Posted under
Uncategorized Foods Toxic To Dogs
By: Lillian White
Some human foods that should not be consumed by dogs include:
Intoxicating Beverages, Such as Beer, Wine, Spirits:
Consumption of these beverages may lead to coma or possibly death. Symptoms of alcoholic beverage overdose may include, excitement, depression, sadness, stumbling, cardiac arrest, and death.
Chocolate, Tea, Coffee, Coffee Beans:
Their content of caffeine, theophylline, or theobromine affects the nervous system and the heart. Chocolate overdose symptoms may include, excessive panting, hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, and death.
Grapes, Raisins:
Kidney failure may be caused by an unknown toxin which is present in grapes in raisins. Syptoms of poisening from grapes or raisins may include abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, and a halt in the production of urine. Ingestion by your pet may be fatal and even cause death.
Macadamia Nuts:
An unknown toxin present in macadamia nuts may experience undesired affects of the nervous and digestive systems. They may also have negative affects on muscles. Symptoms may include muscle tremors, stiffness, weakness, sadness, gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and lethargy.
Garlic, Onions:
Onions and Garlic contain contain substances which damage red blood cells. Symptoms include, anemia, lethargy, weakness, discolored urine, diarrhea, and vomiting. Processed, fresh, cooked, and powdered forms should be avoided.
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Symptoms may include, abdominal pain, shock, kidney failure, liver failure, hallucinations, diarrhea, vomiting, coma, and even death.
Prevention is the key, keeping these foods away from your pet to avoid possible toxic poisoning and overdose. If your dog is suspected of eating any of these foods get them to a veterinarian immediately.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1461.shtml
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Dec
26
Posted under
Uncategorized An Overview Of Some Of The Point Show Classes
By: Connie Limon
Puppy classes are for Shih Tzu nine months of age and over but under twelve months. The Shih Tzu must be whelped in the U.S.A.
The Novice class is for Shih Tzu six months of age and over. The Shih Tzu must be whelped in the U.S.A. or Canada and Haven?t prior to the closing entries won three first prizes in the Novice Class, a first prize in Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-Bred or Open Class, nor one or more points toward a championship title.
The Bred-By-Exhibitor Class is for Shih Tzu whelped in the U.S.A. which are six months of age and over, not champions and who are owned wholly or in part by the person or the spouse of the person who was the breeder or one of the breeders of record. Shih Tzu entered into this class must be handled by an owner or by a member of the immediate family of an owner.
The American-Bred class is for all Shih Tzu except champions six months of age or over, whelped in the U.S.A. by reason of a mating that took place in the U.S.
An Overview Of Some Of The Point Show Classes
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An Overview Of Some Of The Point Show Classes
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Shih Tzu Point Shows
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Shih Tzu Point Shows
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Shih Tzu Point Shows
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The Open class is for any Shih Tzu six months of age or over, except in a member specialty club show held for only American-Bred Shih Tzu in which case the class is for American-Bred Shih Tzu only.
Winners Dog and Winners Bitch: After the above classes have been judged, the first place winning Shih Tzu are required to compete in the ring. The male Shih Tzu judged “Winners Dog” is awarded the points toward his championship title.
Reserve Winners are selected immediately after the Winners dog. In case of a disqualification of a win by the AKC, the Reserve Dog (male Shih Tzu) movers up to Winners and receives the points. After the male Shih Tzu classes are judged, the bitch Shih Tzu classes are called.
Best of Breed or Best of Variety Competition is limited to Champions of Record or Shih Tzu dogs (with newly acquired points, for a 90-day period prior to AKC confirmation) which have completed championship requirements, and the Winners Dog Shih Tzu and Winners Bitch Shih Tzu (or the dog award Winners if only one Winners prize has been awarded), together with any undefeated dogs which have been shown only in non-regular classes; all compete for Best of Breed or Best of Variety (if the bred is divided by size, color, texture or length of coat hair, etc.).
If your Shih Tzu wins his class, the rule states: You are required to enter classes for Winners, Best of Breed and Best of Winners (no additional entry fees).
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Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1322.shtml
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Dec
25
Posted under
Uncategorized Pick Me! Why A Shelter Dog Is Your Best Choice
By: Emma Snow
Disney left a life-long impression on me when, as a youngster, I viewed the dog pound scene in Lady and the Tramp. Mournful mutts howled out a pitiful rendition of ?Home Sweet Home,? which nobody but the most callous could sit through dry-eyed. The pound was portrayed as a cruel place manned by heartless dog-catchers. I vowed never to step foot in one, not even to save the life of one of the rejected creatures. Adopting a pet under such sad conditions would certainly place a cloud over the day. Could I ever leave completely happy with the dog I chose, knowing that dozens were left behind in misery?
My answer today is a resounding YES! From personal experience I have learned that animal shelters can indeed be the very best place to find your companion. As a volunteer in college I found that humane societies and animal shelters can be places of compassion, and the animals, while lonely, are happy, healthy, and not nearly as desperate as Disney made them out to be.
There are plenty of good reasons for bringing a dog home from ?the pound.? In this article I?ll discuss just a few of them.
Typically, when a family decides to adopt a dog, they check the pet store, the newspaper, and maybe the neighborhood for a puppy. More often than not, this spells disaster. While unarguably cute, puppies are not for everyone. Puppies, no matter what breed, take lots of time, money, and patience. Unless you are prepared to deal with urine spots on the carpet, sleepless nights, and hundreds of dollars in pet-related equipment and veterinarian bills (not to mention replacing chewed up clothing), you are not prepared for a puppy! In fact, this is the very reason animal shelters are filled to capacity. Puppies grow up fast and their newness wears off, and all too many owners find themselves too frazzled to continue. Thus, Fido ends up behind bars for no fault of his own. The vast majority of dogs in shelters are there because people weren?t thinking about the time, effort, and money involved in raising a dog. (Other common reasons are families relocating, owner?s deaths, or divorces that leave a dog in the mix.)
Think twice before bringing home a pup. An older dog is calmer, will pick up housetraining (and other obedience training) faster, and have outgrown the frustrating chew stage. Perhaps the best thing of all is that they are more predictable; what you see is what you get. With adult dogs the size, shape, skills, and temperament have already been determined. Depending on the shelter, they may even have a pet history!
Another reason to avoid pet-finding in pet stores and newspapers is that these places are largely supplied by backyard breeders and puppy mills, notorious for breeding unhealthy animals in inhumane conditions. The best way to shut down these operations is to avoid supporting them. While they may boast purebreds for low prices, a mixed breed mutt has much lower incidence of health defects than poorly bred purebreds. (Adoption days at places like PetSmart are run by shelters, and not supplied by puppy mills.
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Petfinder.org lists dogs by specific breeds, a great tool if you know what you are looking for!)
Cost is also another reason that shelter dogs come out on top. For a nominal fee, you bring home a dog that is up-to-date on vaccinations, has had a general health exam, and has been sterilized. Often the fee may include the cost of microchipping and licensing. Sometimes you even score coupons for free food and equipment on Adoption Days! Keep in mind that no dog is ever ?free.? You should always have a new pet checked by a veterinarian to avoid the spread of disease. Having your pet spayed or neutered is a pet-owner?s responsibility not to be postponed. Heartworm treatments, chew toys, and other necessary equipment add up. It?s hard to beat the all-inclusive fee offered by a shelter.
But perhaps the best reason to adopt a shelter dog is the values it teaches your children. Bring home an older dog, and you send the message that all creatures have intrinsic worth, not just the ?cute babies.? Giving a dog a second home teaches another fabulous lesson, and dogs who have suffered losses often bond faster to their new people, eager to belong again. Children appreciate knowing about second chances. Finally, when you bring home a shelter dog you save the life of a dog whose only alternative may be euthanasia. 60% of animals placed in shelters meet this fate. By including children in this important decision-making process, making careful choices, and being a responsible pet owner, you teach children the best lesson of all.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1355.shtml
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Dec
24
Posted under
Uncategorized Shih Tzu Â? A Little Dog With A Big Story To Tell
By: Connie Limon
Few dog breeds have such a well-documented and exciting history as the Shih Tzu. The Shih Tzu?s entire history is steeped in legends, myths and mystery. However, we have fossil records that tell us the brachycephalic (short-skulled, short-nosed, flat-faced) dog breeds, which include the Shih Tzu, Pug, and Pekingese originated in Central Asia. In addition, we also have written history and legends to help us sort of piece together the last 3,000 plus years of the Shih Tzu?s history. There are meticulously maintained Shih Tzu breeding records and pedigrees for more than 50 years as well.
Many historians believe the Asian dog breeds originated in Tibet and reached China as early as 1,400 years ago. The Chinese traded silk in exchange for pet dogs along the Great Wall of China. The Dalai Lamas also gave ?holy dogs? to the Chinese imperial courts as diplomatic gifts and tributes during the Manchu dynasty (1644-1911). In literature the Shih Tzu is mentioned by name in the late fourteenth century.
In China breeding and raising Shih Tzu were the responsibility of the eunuchs of the imperial court. Eunuchs who produced the best dogs were rewarded with gifts. Competition between the eunuchs to produce and raise the most attractive Shih Tzu was fierce. The best Shih Tzu specimens were painted in the imperial dog books and tapestries.
The Shih Tzu was considered to bring good luck. These regal little Shih Tzu followed on the heels of emperors and empresses. If you have ever owned a Shih Tzu, you will find one of their favorite activities is following around after you and right on the heels of your feet is where they try to ride. Shih Tzu think they should make each and every step you make. I have one Shih Tzu at the present time, Duke, by name, who tries to walk with me in between my feet. It is quite amusing.
It was against the law to sell any of the royal dogs in China during the Manchu dynasty. The punishment was death.
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By 1884 the American Kennel Club was founded and was registering thousands of dogs. There were no Shih Tzu among them.
In 1908 the thirteenth Dalai Lama gave the Empress Dowager of China some Shih Tzu-type dogs. The Empress fell passionately in love with these little dogs. She instructed the court eunuchs to maintain a breeding program for many years. Although the Empress Dowager was noted to be a cruel dictator she had a soft spot in her heart for the little Shih Tzu. The Empress Dowager was the person who most influenced the development of the Shih Tzu. At her death in 1908, some of the imperial palace Shih Tzu were sold to wealthy individuals or given as gifts to foreign dignitaries an visitors.
It is questionable as to how many of these survived as it has been noted some of the eunuchs fed the Imperial Palace Shih Tzu glass to keep them from surviving. They were so possessive of their Imperial Palace bloodlines, this was the only way they could think of to keep others from gaining access to their secrets.
The Shih Tzu, a little dog with a big story to tell has much, much more to say.
This article is FREE to publish with resource box.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1319.shtml
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Dec
23
Posted under
Uncategorized Keep Â?em In!
By: Jed Yorkshire
We?ve all seen them ? cats that troll the neighborhood, begging food and sleeping on ? or under the cars. And we all know that?s no way for a cat to live, right? (At least not if you want your cat to live more than a couple of years.)
So bring your cat inside ? permanently ? and teach him how good life inside can be!
If you?ve got a new kitten and you want him to be indoors all the time, start by giving him a little extra attention and making the great indoors a fun place to be. For instance ? having one-on-one play time with your kitten will help him feel important and loved. And giving him toys and a cozy bed will help him burn some energy and give him a safe place to sleep when he?s done playing.
Of course, if you?ve already got an indoor cat, there are some things you can do to keep his time inside interesting, too. According to http://Petco.com, some fun ways to keep your cat inspired include:
? Letting your cat nibble on dietary greens planted in a small pot.
? Opening a window (as long as the screens are secure) and giving him a breath of fresh air ? and some nice scenery.
? Teaching your cat to walk on a leash
? Giving him a secure, enclosed space outside where he can experience the outdoors safely.
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While every effort should be made to keep your cat indoors, safe and healthy, you should always keep his vaccinations current and equip him with an elastic or breakaway collar with an identification tag ? just in case he does sneak out.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1276.shtml
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Dec
22
Posted under
Uncategorized Pet Care During The Winter Months
By: Cyril Scheer
The time has changed and the leaves have fallen off the trees. It is the time of year to get ready for winter. In a large part of the country snow will be on ground soon and the temperatures will get below freezing. Your dog and cat know it is winter. They get their winter coat and react to the shorter daylight the same as us. Some dog owners leave their pet out for exteneded periods of time thinking that animals are adapted to living outdoors. That is not the case with domesticated pets. They are used to living indoors just as much as we are. I would like to give you a few pointers for winter pet care.
1. A good idea for winter care for your pet would be to take them to your veternarian before winter really sets in. Make sure your pet is in good health. Older dogs, like older humans, tend to get sick more easily in the winter. If your pet have arthritis or diabetes or heart problems make sure he gets a good check up.
2. If it is cold outside make sure you watch your dog and cat carefully. A good idea would be to stay outside with them. When you get cold then chances are your dog is cold too. That would be a good sign to take him back inside.
3. Watch for hazards in the winter. If you live near ponds or lakes keep your dog away from the ice. You never know what the thickness of the ice is. If your dog would happen to fall in he would have a hard time getting out. I would say if are near water stay outside with him. If you live near woods or a forest the snow can cover up hazards the dog can’t see, like sticks or rocks or trash.
4. Keep an eye out for antifreeze. Dogs like the smell and will drink it if they find some. Antifree is extremely poisonous and will kill your dog. If you need to change your antifreeze make sure your clean up any spills. Dogs that don’t have access to clean unfrozen water will drink whatever they can find. This includes gutter water which can contain antifreeze, oil, or other household hazardous waste.
5. If your dog needs to be kept outdoors for any length of time make sure they have a nice warm shelter.
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Make sure they have a nice warm dog bed and fresh unfrozen water. That is very important. Your dog can get dehydrated in the winter. Please check his water bowl before going off to work or shopping. If you put a wrapped hot water bottle in their shelter it will keep it cozy.
6.Rock salt and deicer can very hard on your dogs pads. When they come in the house make sure that you wipe off their pads with a warm cloth. This is important as they may try and lick their paws and they may become very ill.
7. Be particularly gentle with older or elderly dogs. Their arthritis can get worse in the winter. Stay close with them when they are going down stairs as they may slip and fall. They may be a bit more awkward and uneasy when they are outside. In the winter they may need help getting up on their favorite couch or chair. Make sure they have a nice cozy bed. A heated dog bed would be a great idea. You may have trouble getting them out of bed in the morning.
8.If you have a cat that goes outside be careful with starting your vehicle as cats like to curl up in warm engines. A good thing to do is bang on the hood of your vehicle so any cats hidden there will jump out. If a cat is on your engine and you start it, the cat will be injured or killed.
9.A good idea if you can get your dog to let you do this put a warm little sweater on them. Little paws booties will also help keep their little paws warm.
Take good care of your pet thiis winter and they will be there to keep you company for many winters to come.
By: Cyril Scheer
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1465.shtml
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Dec
21
Posted under
Uncategorized Get Your Pet Business Organized
By: Renske Buursma
When you get your pets and pet business organized, you can save a lot of time, money and headaches caused by mismanaging your inventory ? and your time and life. Instead of looking for things (like pet collars, medications, training instructions, website content and images) and buying duplicates because you can?t find what you already have, you?ll be much better prepared to find and conquer your clutter.
So get ready for better organization, everything you hopefully need for your pets and business ? all in one place. In no particular order, try these helpful organizational tips.
Basic Offline & Online Organizing for Your Business
Your main focus with organizing is to set up a main area for gathering all of your pet information and materials together so that everything is handy, all in one place. Note that whatever organizational methods, device and systems you use do not need to be costly. Choose what works for you and is in your budget level.
Begin by taking a look around your home or other work environment. You need a place where you can establish your organizational headquarters; a spare bedroom, downstairs vacant sitting room, breezeway, basement area, outer attached storage area, shed, garage area, barn or other out building, as examples. When you find a place, start working on your organization there, focusing on these main points:
* Build up your own reference and information center with all of business documents: pet guides, pet health books, invoices, receipts, instructions for equipment, product and service brochures, etc. You can build this within a chest of drawers, file cabinets, book cases, durable plastic stackable containers or any type of shelves.
* Within your storage space, also insert folders to help separate your materials and keep things neat and easily accessible.
* Establish an area for your continued business and pet training information and other educational materials: CDs, DVDs, books, how-to tapes, audio cassettes, magazines, helpful articles clipped form newspapers and newsletters and copied off of the Internet, reports, guides and other learning aids.
* Add small shoeboxes or other storage units for holding your paper clips, staples, pens, pencils, note pads, ruler, glue stick tape measure, tape, etc.
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) and pet supplies (extra food and treats, toys, bedding, etc.) in surrounding storage cabinets, shelves, bins or other types of units of various sizes and on nearby wall hooks. Visit your local hardware or discount stores for good organizational aids.
So plan ahead and get organized. Save time, money and aggravation when you grab what you need the first time around. And invest in your business, your customers and your self instead!
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_1394.shtml
