Introduction to My Doggy Blogs

This is the first post on My Doggy Blogs and I just want to say a warm Hi!! to all my visitors and welcome.Me and My Afghan Hounds

This is going to be a must come to place for all Dog Lovers throughout the Bloggersphere to share their happy stories and read about my great experiences of sharing my life with so many wonderful and in some cases exceptional dogs.

Hounds, Terriers, Working Dogs, Toy Dogs you name it they are all welcome here and we will be featuring them all over the coming months.

As in all walks of life there is the good the bad and the ugly . I’m not talking about their looks or characters I am talking about the situations our Canine friends find themselves in at the hands of their human companions on this earth.

I won’t be shying away from some of the ugly issues going on around the world such as the Hot Buttons of the moment, for example the Killing Camps in China and the Puppy Mills in the US and their equivalents in the UK, Puppy Farms.

These Issues have to be addressed in order to bring the spotlight on to these horrors and do everything possible to bring them to an abrupt end.

Anyway, on a lighter note there are many, many happy stories involving dogs from around the world that it shows clearly that dog is really man’s best friend and always will be.

I look forward to sharing stories with you and if you want to know a little more about me visit my website at Amoremia Afghan Hounds.

I am busy working on my latest project which will be launched in the next couple of week and that will my my main site Amoremia World of Dogs.

Please feel free to make comments and maybe tell me about your doggy experiences or if you have any dog questions, I have owned dogs for more than 35 years and have experienced just about every dog related problem you can imagine.

What is an Orthopedic Dog Bed Anyway?

Memory foam dog bed video clip

One of the greatest things about dogs is that they seldom complain about anything. But this same behavior can also be a detriment sometimes. For example, your pooch isn’t going to tell you that he isn’t getting a good night’s sleep on his old dog bed. You can tell, however, if you look for the signs, and then you can do something to help your faithful old friend get the rest he needs. The right dog bed is even more important if your dog is aging or developing arthritis which makes him waken in the mornings in a lot of pain. The best way to help him sleep and to assuage his aches and pains is by purchasing an orthopedic dog bed for him that will allow him to sleep well all night every night.

What Makes Orthopedic Dog Beds so Special?

Many dog beds amount to nothing more than an over stuffed pillow. Puppies might be all right with a bed like this, but older dogs need more support for their limbs and joints. Orthopedic dog beds are more like the mattress that you might sleep on. These mattresses offer firm support, are easy to clean, and retain their shape far longer than pillow-like beds do.

If you’ve ever slept on a bad mattress yourself, you already know what it can feel like. A mattress that is too soft or lumpy won’t allow you the restful sleep you need in order to function well the next day. It also won’t give you the support you need, and you’ll wake up feeling achy and tired. The primary reason for these difficulties is that with an unsupportive mattress, the spine has to provide the necessary support to your body while you sleep. Dogs, like people, feel the effects of poor mattresses and will benefit just as much as people do from having an orthopedic dog bed.

What's Wrong With The Floor?

Undoubtedly you’ve seen your dog flop down somewhere on the floor to take a short afternoon snooze. This is fine for a nap, but sleeping on the floor just isn’t adequate to provide the kind of sleep he needs at night, especially if he has arthritis or other mobility issues. Enen if the floor is carpeted, it won't offer the kind of proper sleep that he needs, so don't fool yourself. You won’t hear him complain, but an observant owner will be able to tell when their pet is feeling the effects.

For starters, most floors are too hard and uncomfortable for restful sleep. Try napping on one sometime, and you’ll soon get the point. In addition, they are far too firm, put too much pressure on various parts of the dog’s body, and don’t give him the comfort he needs to sleep soundly.

Is It Worth The Price?

Some dog owners are reluctant to spend the kind of money it takes to buy the right orthopedic dog bed for their pet. Many of us are quick to spend foolishly on ourselves when our dogs are sleeping on the hard, cold ground or worse, a concrete pad? When you adopt a dog, you become his caretaker, and you take on the responsibility for his well being. He gives you unconditional love and cheers you up. Don’t you think you at least owe him a great night’s sleep?

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Stop Your Dog from Digging Under the Fence

By Sandra Scott

Your dog may be digging because he is too hot or too cold. When your dog digs a hole and lies in it, his temperature can be self-regulated. Unlike humans, dogs can’t remove their clothing or add layers, so they have to come up with other ways to get relief from the weather conditions.

In addition, dogs dig due to boredom. When a dog owner is away from the home all day, dogs can become extremely bored. A dog that is left alone will find ways to entertain himself. Unfortunately, this may be digging!

They will need to be channeled in alternate directions in order to stop the digging behavior. Often all that is required is that they be given a safe spot for digging without any possibility of consequences. Certain breeds are predisposed to digging. These breeds will require extra patience from you in order to stop their digging behavior.

For more information on how to stop your dog from digging, I recommend that you check out: Stop Dogs from Digging

The following tips should help to stop dogs from digging up your yard:

  1. Put an unpleasant “present” in the hole dug by your dog. Frequently, a dog will begin digging, take a break from the hole, and come back later to carry on digging. While your dog is taking his break from digging, you should put the surprise in the hole. One suggestion is water sprayed with bitter apple, which is available in pet stores.

     

  2. Placing garden waste in the holes is one way to stop your dog from digging. Dogs prefer to dig in “clean” dirt. You should put mulch, sticks, dead vegetation, and rocks in the hole and lightly cover it with soil. When your dog returns to his digging activities and finds these unwanted items in his hole, he will probably stop digging. If this isn’t successful, fill the hole and spray with bitter apple. As the majority of dogs do not like the odor, they will stop digging in the hole.

     

  3. Your dog should be provided with a designated area where he can dig to his heart’s delight. Digging is instinctive for dogs. Training your dog to dig just in that spot may take time but it is possible. Stop dogs from digging in your flower garden by giving them an area where they are free to dig a few holes.

    A sandbox is one option or an area of your garden that has not been landscaped could be cordoned off. In order to teach your dog that he can dig in a particular spot, you should bury some treats where he can easily find them. If your dog has previously been chastized for his digging activities, he may require extra encouragement. As soon as he understands that digging in that area is permitted, he will be an overjoyed dog.

     

  4. When your dog has been provided with his own designated spot for digging, you will still need to keep things interesting for him. Occasionally, hide a treat or toy in the ground for him to discover. As dogs get bored with digging in the same area, he may decide that another part of your backyard looks more interesting.

    Every so often, the sand or dirt in your dog’s digging patch should be changed. Fresh dirt rather than hard earth is preferred by most dogs. Also, there will be occasions when your dog finds your flower beds more appealing than his designated digging spot. Sprinkle your flowerbeds with animal essence, which is used by hunters to attract animals. The odor from other animals may discourage your dog’s digging.

These tips will help to stop dogs from digging in areas other than the designated spots you have assigned to them. Dogs are not being mean when they dig under your fence as this is instinctive behavior for them.

To stop your dog’s annoying digging behavior, make sure you check out: Stop Dogs from Digging

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Nice Tips for Dog Obedience Education

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all have in common is the love of digging. From burying bones to making cool dens for shelter, dogs in yards will inevitably turn to this favorite past time.

This natural behavior can wreak havoc on your yard and garden if it goes unchecked. What is the best way to curb the digging impulse?

Why does your dog dig? Does he just like the action and feeling or is there another reason lurking underneath? Figuring out why your dog is engaging in this undesirable behavior is the first step in correcting it.

Some dogs do enjoy the act of digging, but others use it to communicate with you. They may be crying out for attention or more exercise. They may need a shelter to stay warm or cool. They may be burying food. If you’ve recently put down fertilizer or dug in your garden, your dog may be responding to the scents.

Knowing the reason behind the digging can help you stop the behavior. For instance, if it is due to boredom or lack of attention, you can start to offer your dog more play time with you. Dog obedience training can go a long way in discouraging the behaviour.

If the problem persists, try one of the following:

1. Find the spots your dog usually digs and bury a balloon that has been inflated. If your dog digs, he’ll pop the balloon. This unpleasant reaction to his digging can deter him from continuing.

2. Along the same lines, you can mix in his feces when you refill a hole he’s dug. Dogs will often return to the same spots, and when he discovers the feces, he’ll be turned off digging.

3. Try burying some chicken wire just below the surface where your dog likes to dig. When your dog pits the wire with his paws, he’ll hate the sensation and stop digging.

4. When you catch your dog digging, give him a spray from a water bottle or hose. They hate this (but it is not harmful). They will learn to associate the punishment with the crime. Only do this when you catch him digging or he will not connect the behavior with the consequence.

You love your pet; you don’t have to love his bad habits too. If digging is a problem, take immediate steps to correct your dog’s behavior. He’ll be happy, and your yard will thank you. As with puppy training, education will take hold eventually and your dog will be able to correct bad behaviour.

Clicker Training – A Great Training Technique

You want to teach your dog acceptable behavior in a gentle, humane way. Many people have found success with the clicker method.

Operant conditioning is the repetition of a behavior when a reward is given. This is the premise behind clicker training. How does it work?

You hold a small plastic box in your hand. It has a metal strip which produces a clicking sound when pressed.

When you first start click training, you pair the click with a reward, such as a dog biscuit. When the dog performs a command well, you click immediately and offer the treat.

The dog learns to associate the click with the behavior and the click with the treat, which makes it more likely that he’ll repeat it. Soon, just the click will be enough, and eventually, it can be phased out altogether.

You can often train dogs with clickers faster and more effectively than with other means. Clicking is immediate, so your dog quickly learns that his behavior is producing the treat. This encourages repetition of the desired behaviors.

Dogs want to make you happy, and performing commands is a great way for them to do this. And get a treat in the process. The clicker is a great training tool for encouraging good behavior.

Get the information you need to take effective care of your pet with dog training collar.

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Things To Know About Poodle Puppies

Poodle Puppy

Poodle puppies are cute, cuddly, and curly and definitely a pet anyone would want to take home. Poodles make great pets, and have the most fun with them you will need to know as much about poodle puppies so that they are comfortable when you take them home, so read on to see what you should know in order to be a responsible poodle owner.

No matter which poodle breed you decide to purchase, you should know that some poodles tend to be a little reclusive or anti-social, and aren’t very friendly around strangers – unless they are trained. You will need to socialize your poodle puppies by placing them in an environment where people will be present often, so that it won’t be so overwhelming for the dogs when you have people over or take the puppies on an outing.

One of the things you need to do is to ensure that your poodle puppies are taken to vet often for their checkups, this is because poodles generally have vision problems quite often, Their eyes need to look alert and should be shiny. If you start noticing film around the eyes, or even if your poodle puppy’s are often running, it is a possibility of the onset of a cataract. being able to treat this condition in it’s early stages is an important factor, and you should take them immediately to your vet should you notice that your poodles vision seem cloudy. Poodle puppies tend to also be prone to ear infections, so you have to ensure that your puppy’s ears are check out by your vet also. Having a hearing test for your poodle puppy should also be done and don’t forget that the proper medication is given to them as directed by your vet.

You may also notice that your poodle has very sensitive skin, and that certain grooming products should not be used on your poodle puppies. Poodle owners are often dying their dog’s hair in a variety of colors, or shampooing the thick fur of the poodle with expensive shampoos that come in a variety of scents. However, the chemicals in some of these cleaning agents could be harmful to your poodle puppies, and could cause rashes and skin irritations. Your puppy could also develop an allergy to these products, so if you notice that your dog is more sluggish than usual, or is sneezing often, you should let your grooming professional know, or shampoo your poodle at home.

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Animal’s Love Personalized Leather Collars

One fantastic way to keep your pet safe and appearing fashionable is to purchase a personalized leather dog collar for your pet to wear. Leather collars are rugged and can handle aggressive wear and tear. By adding both your dogs name and your phone number to the leather collar you could help keep your pet safe if their tags were to ever fall off of the collar.

Ways to Customize Your Pets Leather Collar

The most popular type of personalization you will likely notice on a leather dog collar is the dogs name. By personalizing a leather dog collar with your animals name you help to identify your animal while giving your dog a fashionable collar to wear at the same time. The embossing of a name onto a leather collar is pretty standard. For a little more detail you might consider having the outline of the embossing painted to make it stand out more or to add a little extra panache.

Spikes can had a touch of personality to your animals leather collar.Decorative spikes that you attach to your dogs collar come in various sizes.Be sure you choose the proper size that will not disrupt your dog’s day to day lifestyle.You can also pick a number of studs to attach to a leather collar. Flat studs, star studs, round gemstone studs.

If you do put studs or spikes on yourpets leather dog collar do not forget tolook at the back side of the collar. You’ll want to make sure there is nothing sharp that might hurt your dog’s neck. A good idea is for the backside of the collar to have a another layer over it that will cover where the studs and spikes were attached to the leather collar.

Try embossing your pets name onto a leather collar and then adding a few star studs. Make a personalized rhinestone dog collar by adding a few rhinestone studs to the collar.Consider creating a custom theme for your dogs collar. Maybe a cowboy theme embossed on your dogs collar or a selection of flowers. Have your favorite sports team embossed onto the collar, or create a crazy pattern of your own for your pets collar.

Many options are out there to design just the right customized leather dog collar to help express your pooch’s attitude.

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Heated Dog Houses – Why Buy Heated Doghouse?

Dogs are quite sensitive to weather changes. Heated dog houses aren´t a luxury but a necessity especially if you want to keep your dog warm during winter months.

Installing a heated dog house need not be expensive. The prices of heated doghouses will depend on the type of structure and the setup you prefer. Also, the contractor prices will defer depending on who you hire.

Although most dogs have fur, typically most dogs fur cannot keep your pet warm during the winter, that is why a heated dog house is needed.

One of the best heating systems for dog house I have used is the PetCool Therm Assure. This system has both air conditioning and heater and is easy to setup and install. It helps to keep your dog house cool during the summer months and warm during the winter.

The price is affordable and it has automatically environmental controls keeping the temperature inside the doghouse cool all the time. If you don´t have the budget, then you might want to consider getting a heated pet bed instead. Most pet supplies stores should carry these dog heating products.

Larger pet stores such as Petco and Petsmart have custom sized heated dog houses available. They should also carry most types of DIY doghouse heating systems as well as heated pet beds.

Another alternative to buy heat doghouse is to go online. There are a few specialised online pet retailers that carry custom sized heated dog houses and supplies. You can also visit ebay. Most online sites nowadays will provide shipping and delivery for a small fee or even free shipping.

If you are not sure about how to install the heating system in your dog house, it would be better to engage a contractor to do it for you. Alternatively, buy a heated dog house that comes with everything already installed.

Check out the best wooden dog house online. Learn where to buy custom cedar dog houses at my site.

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The Green Bean Dog Diet

For some time now, people have pitched around the idea of the green bean dog diet. You may have heard of this and considered using it. Lets take a look at the green bean dog diet and talk about some of the pros and cons of it.

If you decide to feed your dog the green bean diet, you need to know that you can not entirely feed your pet green beans. Only providing your dog with this green vegetable will not be a healthy choice for your dogs diet. Pet owners will want to determine a balance between dog food, for example and green beans that will produce the desired results.  

The green bean dog diet is standard kibble for your pet combined with an amount of green beans. These green beans are a healthy way to keep your dog full between meals. Adding some green beans to the food at meal times will help your dogs diet and keep your dog feeling full and happy between meals.   

Should all dogs be eating the green bean diet? No not all dogs should have green beans added to their meals. The green bean dog diet is ideal for dogs who need to lose weight. Many pet owners continue to use the green bean dog diet to assist keep a healthy weight for their pet. This is after the initial weight loss.

Both dogs and owners are often delighted with the effects of the green bean dog diet. Pet owners feel good about supporting the health of their dog. Also, it is comforting for us humans to see a significant portion of food for our pet. Looking into the dog dish and seeing a few sparse kibbles totaling a half cup does not appear as generous as that same measure of kibble surrounded by a healthy portion of fancy cut green beans.

It is very rare that your dog will turn their nose up at the green beans. Dogs feel fuller and will have more of a happy attitude towards you. As Well a increase in health and vitality.

One down side to consider when you make up one’s mind to change your dogs diet over to the green bean diet, is the larger amount of fiber your dog will consume. Many dogs systems will react to this, so you will want to monitor your pets outputs. Begin adding the green beans a little at a time and bit by bit increase the amount. Some pet owners find it assists to only add the green beans to there dogs diet at one meal time during the day, this is done keep there dogs potty schedule in order.

If you do make up one’s mind to use the green bean dog diet as your dogs diet, then there are a few tips to keep in mind. You will need to purchase a re sealable lid to cover the open can of green beans, this is for better storage in between meals. You should measure the amount of green beans in your dogs diet just the same as you would measure kibble or treats that you give your dog.

If you notice the store has green beans on sale, by all means, buy a few cans ahead and stock up. Although green beans are not particularly expensive, it never hurts to save some cash.

Whenever feasible, buy canned green beans with no added salt. This is a healthy option for your dogs diet, typically at no additional cost to you.

The green bean dog diet does have numerous advantages. Supervise your dogs intake to prevent unpredictable outputs. The green bean dog diet aids to properly lose and maintain weight while keeping you and your pet happy.

For more Free information on The Raw Dog Diet ot the Vegetarian Dog Diet be sure to visit Free Dog Diet Tips….

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Housebreaking Struggles

Now that you have brought your new dog home it is time to start the housebreaking. One that can only lead to confusion for the dog later on is giving your new dog a little time to get to know the family and the house before laying down the law. Your dog will be confused if you have allowed it to run free with no discipline, then all of a sudden expect it to be well-behaved.

It Is Never Too Late

If you have already allowed your dog to run free without rules you can still correct the situation. Unlike a popular belief out there, it is never too late to start dog training with a dog. Whether your puppy is young or old you can still include housebreaking into his/her daily routine. Whether your problem is dog chewing, dog biting or dog growling, you need to focus on the unwanted behavior that is your highest concern. After housebreaking them on the first behavior, then you can move on to the next.

In order to make sure that your pet never becomes one of those aggressive dogs you always hear about on the news, you have to start housebreaking as soon as possible. If your biggest problem at the moment, especially if you have a puppy, is where the dog is and is not allowed to go potty then you will need to start with that.

Housebreaking Tips

* Restrict food and water to the appropriate meal times
* Keep peed pads in one area
* You should praise your pet when it displays good behavior
* Never strike or slap the dog if it misses the pee pad
* Take the puppy to the pee pad within fifteen to twenty minutes of drinking or eating

Many people will leave the food and water out all the time for their dog. While this is an okay routine for older dogs that can hold their bladder, it is not advisable for puppies. Young pups are not able to hold their bladder for very long, even if they wanted to. This will cause more accidents in the house that are not the fault of the puppy. So leaving food and water out all of the time is counterproductive to your goals in housebreaking.

Place the pee pad in the spot of the home where your puppy goes if he continues to miss the pee pad. Housebreaking at this stage just simply means that you are getting the puppy adjusted to going to the bathroom on top of the pad. Once your pet is used to this, you may progress the housebreaking by moving the ‘pee pad’ a small distance every day until it is eventually located where you want it.

Although the procedure for housebreaking might appear to be too time-consuming, it is very crucial. You don’t want your dog using the bathroom everywhere. Your puppy can get discouraged if the housebreaking process is not easy to learn. Seek outside help in puppy training if need be. No matter who is in charge of doing it, just know that housebreaking takes time.

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Advice For Buying a Comfortable Dog House For Your Loveable Dog

Many people purchasing a dog house for the first time start to wonder just how complex it needs to be. It can be hard to determine what a dog house really needs. The very first thing you will need to determine is that you really need an outdoor doghouse at all.

Dogs that have spent most of their lives indoors will not want to move outside no matter how nice the doghouse. Dogs are pack animals and single dogs will most likely want to stay inside with you. While your dog may not move outdoors permanently many outdoor dog houses can provide nice temporary shelter for when your dog is outdoors.

There are other dogs, however, who need to spend all their time outdoors. Outdoor dog houses for these dogs must be very sturdy and have additional comfort. No matter how long a dog is left outdoors always make sure you check on him often to make sure he is safe.

A larger dog house will not always provide more comfort for a dog. This is an important point for those who live where the weather gets cold. If your dog house it too big your dog will not be able to generate enough heat to warm it up. The perfect dog house for your dog will be just large enough for your dog to turn around and stretch out without touching the walls. The door should have enough room to allow your dog to enter without crawling.

The floor of the dog house needs to be several inches off the ground to prevent water and moisture from entering. Bedding can be made from straw which is changed regularly. If you live where it snows you want a sloped roof to allow the snow to run off. There are chemicals which can be toxic to your dog in pressure treated wood so it should not be used for any part of the dog house that your dog comes into contact with. Make sure your dog can handle the outdoor conditions before you decide it should live outdoors. Toy dogs are not well suited for outdoor living while the larger dogs, especially those bred to be working dogs, should have no problem.

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