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Family friendly dog breeds you can’t wait to introduce to your kids

family friendly dogsSo you have decided to look for a new family member. You can picture it clearly in your head, the grand reveal, the kids squealing with delight, the look of surprise from your partner!

However when it comes to choosing that perfect new family member, then there are a few things that are worth taking into consideration.

How old your kids are (if you have them), living space size (backyard, apartment vs house), and your lifestyle are just a few of the questions that are worth asking  yourself when looking for a family friendly dog breed.

Your new family member will have a huge impact on your family. What will your dogs role be? Are you just looking for a playmate, a guard dog, small, large – there is lots to consider. The following breeds of dogs all have some great pluses when looking for a family friendly dog.

Border Collie – Active and Intelligent

Border Collie running through water

Collies make a great family dog because they are good natured, easy to train and are great with kids.

They are energetic and will need lots of walking and playing fetch so while they are happy in the city they need a lot of exercise. You will also need to continually brush their thick coat.

The collie’s thick coat requires regular brushing. They need plenty of exercise and while a simple walk in the park might be enough to satisfy another dog, your collie’s working nature may require you to be creative.

Keep him stimulated by asking him to fetch, herd or climb over or under something.

Check out our Border Collie breed guide

Yorkshire Terrier – Adorable and Loyal 

Adorable Yorkshire Terrier

A great dog for city life, they require only a short amount of walking and are almost like a toy dog. They are loyal & spirited and make great watch dogs.

Being small they are happy to sit quietly on your lap however they will need a lot of combing, brushing & shampooing to keep them clean.

You might only want to consider a Yorkshire Terrier if you have older kids as if they are handled roughly they can nip.

Check out our Yorkshire Terrier breed guide

 

Labrador/Golden Retriever – Devoted and Obedient

Black labrador sitting in grass

Retrievers make loving & loyal pets. Due to their gentle nature and their ability to patiently tolerate the most affectionate young child’s prodding and poking.

They love running, swimming & playing so somewhere with wide open spaces is a must, they will adapt well to city life if they can get their exercise!

You will also need to be brushed daily if possible due to their shedding.

Check out our Labrador breed guide

Boxer – Elegant and Strong

Boxer pup looking at camera

While a boxer looks serious, muscular & strong they are good natured in spirit. Quite a worker of a dog they also provide a lot of affection and make great guard dogs!

Happy to live in the city but they will need a walk everyday. Even with short hair they do shed a little bit so will benefit from daily brushing.

Check out our Boxer breed guide

This is just a a small introduction to a few dogs that would make a great additional to a family. There are many many other breeds that are family friendly that would make loyal & friendly pets.

Do you have a favourite family friendly dog breed, let us know why below!

Chewing couch

Best Affordable Dog Toys For Strong Chewers

Whether your dog is a pit bull puppy that simply must have massive toys due to his size or a sweet little sheltie that shreds toys in five seconds flat and looks as befuddled as you do when they fall apart, you’re clearly dealing with a strong chewer.

It doesn’t matter what size a dog is when it dawns on you that the ordinary cheap or cuddly toys just won’t do the trick. Of course, it helps if your dog doesn’t passionately hate squeakers to the point she tears up any toy with that feature just to get rid of them.

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Pile of Delicious Biscuits

Hilarious Dog Story – Dogs are Smarter then you Think!

My friend told me a hilarious story about his dog the other day. His dog is called Bengie and ol’ Bengie has quite the clever head on his shoulders.

A couple of months ok my friend asked his mate to help install a dog flap on the backdoor. After setting it up he and his mate wanted to test it out, so grabbing a dog treat they went outside to try and coax Bengie out through the door. Well Bengie was having none of it, which is strage for a couple of reasons.

Dog wants foodFirstly Bengie is people oriented so if everyone is outside he would just naturally migrate to where everyone is. Secondly he loves food. Nuff said.

So they go back in and get a biscuit, give Bengie a little bit then go outside with the rest of it and wait. Still nothing. Hmm thats weird.

Back in they go one last time and there is good ol’ Bengie up on the small table eating the rest of the biscuits straight from the plate!

What a clever cookie. Sorry couldn’t help it.

Afghan Hound sitting down

Three large dog breeds for those who are after a ‘Real Dog’

If you love large dogs then today’s post is for you. We are going to have a look at three popular large dog breeds and why you should choose them for your new pet!

1. Afghan Hound

Afghan Hound

Afghan Hound

One of the oldest dogs in existence the Afghan Hound is a combination of power and elegance. This regal breed sets some real style and is dubbed the “Aristocrats” of the noble dog world.

It is distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end.

This regal look comes with a regal behaviour though. They are independent thinkers who don’t particularly care about pleasing you, they may display passive resistance by bracing their legs and refusing to move. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

Is the Afghan Hound Right For You?

Afghan Hounds need access to a large fenced area — fenced because these independent dogs have been known to take off and not come back. If there is a dog club in your area, get your Afghan Hound involved in lure coursing (chasing a mechanised lure around a track or across an open field). This is an appropriate outlet for the full-speed galloping behaviours that are “hardwired” into his genes.

See our full Afghan Hound Guide

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Cat with an Evil Look

Is There a Small Part of Your Pet That is a Jerk?

Take a quick glance over at little Fido sitting by the fire or Trapper jumping around playing outside. Could he perhaps be….just a little bit….surely not.

Well judging by the following Video there is definitely a chance that your pet is a Jerk – at least a small tiny part that is hidden deep inside. Ok, yes I realise this is not a popular view, we all love our pets deeply and would do anything for them. At the very least lets take a look at some of the just what could be lucking inside.

This video is one of the funniest I have seen for a long time (maybe that says something about me), I especially laughed out loud at the guy doing sit ups. Check it out after the break.

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Rubbing noses with a puppy

Pets 101: Making a Pet Portrait

making a pet portraitAnimals and humans always had a special relationship ever since these pets were domesticated. Pets have always been an important part of any family. Just like what parents do when their babies are growing up, family members also document the growth of their pets, from being a puppy or a kitten to becoming a full-grown dog or cat. Each day just seems to be worth remembering.

With humans’ great love for their pets, it has become very common for people to have certain artworks done for their beloved animals. And as the technology advances, so are the ways to create the best artwork possible for these pets. There are a number of styles that are being used and introduced to the public nowadays. Sketches were once the most famous type of artwork or portrait, but people have now found other ways to be creative.

Some families post the portraits of their pets on their fridge while others hang them in their hall or living room. Unfortunately, capturing the pets in their perfect pose is a lot more difficult. Human subjects are basically easier to deal with when it comes to capturing a good pose. These animals do not understand that artists are trying to get them to pose. But what’s good about having pets as the subject of an artwork is that all of their pictures are natural poses. This is because of the fact that a dog or cat will not feel shy or embarrassed to put silly faces or poses when confronted with a camera. Thus, photographers get a much better picture.

There are quite a few points that one needs to consider when taking pictures of one’s pets. Experienced photographers have the ability to create the perfect scenario to capture the best possible shot. But most pet owners are not as experienced as the professionals. Although this seems to be a disadvantage, one thing that could be of benefit is the fact that no one knows one’s pet much better than their owners. Owners know what their pets want, what they like to do, what makes him comfortable and what behavior makes their pets playful. So here are some ideas to help you get the best pet portrait.

Pet Portrait Ideas

Surroundings. Checking the surroundings that would best fit the portrait is very important. Whether it’s inside the house or outside in the garden, the scenery should be considered. If you want to have the picture taken outside in the backyard where the dog is obviously going to enjoy the freedom of running and playing around, it is most likely that you’ll be getting action shots. The catch is, you should be prepared to take a lot of photos, about a hundred of them, in order to get just one perfect shot for the portrait. If one is to take pictures inside the house, then it is more likely that you’ll capture a relaxed and comfortable pose from your pets. You can get the cutest photo when the animals are asleep.

Light. Every photo needs a good lighting. And one advantage of taking the pet’s picture outside is the natural light since it eliminates the red eye.

Pet Portrait Collages

Owners would also like to have the most unique pieces of arts when it comes to their pets. That is why many owners would want to take their pet’s photos to the next level. And you can do so through the use of a collage. This is a technique where papers are cut into small pieces and are used to make a new image. You do not have to be a great artist to do this; creativity is the secret to get hold of a wonderful result.

One of the beautiful aspects about having a collage is the way the papers overlap as they create textures. Any type of paper can be used, whether it is glossy, high quality and the likes. Adding accessories like beads, feathers and yarns would create a more lively image. But if one wants to go wild, a technique called cubomania would be appropriate. This involves the process of cutting small squares and gluing the pieces randomly together. This may not give an actual picture of the pet but the result could be a cool piece of art.

After finishing the art, sealing the surface and letting it dry before framing is a necessary step. One can add varnish in many layers. The more layers there are, the more the picture will pop. But if being fancy is not the kind of thing that you like, using glue is suggested. Avoid over brushing in order to evade permanent clouding. Brushing across once will do.

Pet portraits that are made of collage could make a one-of-a-kind gift. This could create a lifetime memory of one’s pet. Although collage can be used in creating any images,sometimes, its just a different feeling when you create it for someone or something you love. After all, your pets are loved, cared for and treated just like one of the family members. Thus, the creation of their pet portraits is one way of showing love and respect for them.

English Bulldog Owned by Marie Osmond: Celebrity Pet of the Week

English Bulldog Owned by Marie Osmond Celebrity Pet of the Week 5Our celebrity with pet this week is Marie Osmond. Marie adopted a dog and he named it George.

Who is Marie Osmond? Olive Marie Osmond (born October 13, 1959) is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family’s singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s. Her best known song is a cover of the country pop ballad “Paper Roses.” From 1976 to 1979, she and her singer brother Donny Osmond hosted the TV variety show Donny & Marie.

So, Marie Osmond adopted a puppy named George at a charitable fashion show in April, and writes glowingly about the dog in a diary for Prevention Magazine’s September issue, on newsstands July 31. As soon as Marie saw her new pup, she had to scoop him up! Naming him George after her late father, Marie was part of an event that raised $700K the Washington Humane Society!

Some fan asked her about the origin or the breed of the dog and this is what she says: “We were told he’s a mix of German shepherd and English bulldog, but he’s more a mix of dancing elephant and a cupcake-fueled 4-year-old.”

Looks like my kids are getting a new best friend from the Washington DC Humane Society. It’s George!! Cute, right? – One of Marie’s tweets.

Some Helpful Tips for Untrainable Dog Syndrome

Dogs whose behavior cause trouble to the owner, environment, as well as the dog, endanger health and safety have the so called “untrainable dog syndrome”. It is important to note that there is a difference between teaching the dog certain behavior and solving problematic manners.

Troubling behavior may occur as a result of the emotional state of the dog, high stress levels, unfavorable effect of the environment where the dog resides, training the dog with the use of force, pain or any other health disorder. Untrainable dog syndrome requires full attention and individual approach of the both dog owner and the dog.

Untrainable Dog

Professional help in solving the problematic manners is intended for owners whose dogs exhibit behaviors such as aggressiveness, fright, sensitivity to stimuli, frequent barking, destructive behavior, going to bathroom indoors, hyperactivity, excitement and euphoria tendency, frequent licking or biting of body parts, running after everything that moves such as cyclists and joggers. This sort of behavior may cause you to lose your temper, start acting toughly and have less patience than usually, so a few tips may help you and your dog see eye to eye.

Monitor your dog; keep a diary of his behavior, the way he acts in certain situations. Try isolating the one thing that bothers you the most and see if you can recall the cause and the time it started. Maybe it was something that has developed gradually over time.

Just like with your dog, keep a diary of your behavior for a week. Write down how you react when your dog acts problematically, whether you scream at him or you do nothing at all as you think nothing can be done. Do you ever lock him up somewhere as a punishment? Do you allow your feelings to take over? If you punish him or yell you will only frighten the dog and destroy the bond between you, but on the other side if you do nothing you encourage his behavior.

After you realize what bothers you the most and learn how to react you can make some changes.

Start by acting differently. Stop his bad behavior immediately; you might put him on the leash even if he is inside the house, and keep him close to monitor him.

Shouting and screaming never works, so go to him and speak peacefully, lovingly and quietly, tell him things will improve for both of you very soon. Hug him, make him calm down.

Try these tricks for a week and see if things change. Ask yourself whether the unwanted behavior manifests as often as before and to what extent? Is it as grave as it used to be and how does it affect you, are you still as upset as you were a week ago? Also keep an eye out for the things that have improved – your relationship and his behavior.

Remember that untrainable dog syndrome grows over time so the correction won’t be easy and quick, but if you change your ways the dog will as well. Just have enough patience and be determined.

The Benefits of Raw Feeding

The Benefits of Raw FeedingToday many pets suffer from health conditions that were rare or didn’t even exist before kibble became popular. Diseases like cancer, diabetes, food allergies and obesity are some of the most common health issues in dogs fed commercial or human food. Numerous researches have shown a strong connection between the health problems in dogs and the food they eat.

For this reason there’s a huge shift in the manner dog owners are feeding their pets. The overwhelming trend is moving towards different variations of fresh and healthy homemade meals, as well as raw food, based strictly on meat or a combination of raw meat and vegetables, fruits, eggs and other nutrients suitable for dogs.

It seems that the dogs like the change, especially raw diet which seems to help them overwhelm health issues such as bad breath and gum diseases, skin problems, kidney and liver failures. It seems that balanced diet consisted largely of homemade broth, various combinations of meat, bones, and organs with or without a healthy complement of vegetables, fruits, and dairy prevent illnesses that come with a diet heavy in fillers, flavors, artificial colors and preservatives.

What are the other benefits of raw feeding? If you ask the owners, they will assure you that their pets have clean, shiny and white teeth, fresh breath, and almost no body odor. Raw fed dogs have more energy but, at the same time, are less hyperactive which means that they can be easily controlled. According to some, raw meat makes dogs aggressive but that is not true. The only change is that dogs really love their raw and they will probably try to guard this type of food better than kibble.

What else can forty to sixty per cent of raw meaty bones bring to your dog? Chicken necks, legs, and backs, together with rabbit, duck, pheasant, and occasionally whole fish will give your canine friend a firm and muscled body and stronger immune system. If your dog is old and his teeth are missing so he finds it hard to chew bones or you are afraid of him choking – grind them up. Even the old dogs with arthritis show more mobility and energy when they eat the way their ancestors did.

We all know that vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are destroyed by cooking and that intense heat reduces the nutritional value of food. But did you know that cooked food also affects your dog’s stool? Not to mention the kibbles. When dogs are fed raw the poop is small, almost odorless, firm and easily decomposed. The only difference can be noticed during the period of adaptation to raw after commercial food.

Although there are many benefits of raw food, the fact is that this kind of feeding is still relatively unexplored. This means that some of the benefits mentioned above are not scientifically proved, but information provided by the dog owners. We hope that this will change in the future and that we’ll be able to give you more tips on how to feed your dog.

What To Look For When Choosing A Dog School

Dealing with problematic dog behavior is a team work in which the owner and the dog behavior consultants participate, and, if necessary, so do veterinarians and other therapists. The ultimate success, visible as a change in the dog’s behavior, is only possible with the maximum commitment and effort which is the reason why it is crucial to know what to look for when choosing a dog school.

The suitability of the person who is giving the professional help is the first of many steps on the road to a better and happier coexistence with your dog.

What to look for when choosing Dog School

It is important to stress out that there is a difference between teaching a dog certain commands, such as heal and fetch, and solving problematic behaviors like aggression, destruction, urinating inside and barking too much. Accordingly there is a difference in the level of qualifications and knowledge among persons conducting obedience classes (course leaders, instructors) and those engaged in counseling when dealing with problematic dog behavior (dog behavior consultants).

With this in mind, when looking for a dog schools and someone who will help you with your dog, look for a person who has completed their educations in the field of animal behavior and works using only positive methods and new concepts. A positive and all-inclusive approach based on scientific findings is far more effective than the traditional ones based on wrong assumptions about dog behavior, such as dominance, alpha status, and the use of violent and rough techniques which will only result in bigger problems and the destruction of the dog-owner bond.

Make sure they treat dogs with love and respect – even though this should be a main condition for this type of job that’s not always the case. A person who doesn’t show empathy for dogs, their needs and feelings but considers them to be mindless beings who only act upon their urges is in fact a person who has very little knowledge about dogs and therefore can’t give your dog the help he needs.

One of the most important things you should pay attention to when picking a school for your dog is whether they use devices which cause dogs discomfort and pain. If that is the case stay away from them! No matter the “weight” of the problem, there isn’t a single reason or excuse for hurting a dog. Devices such as chokers, spiked training collars and dog shock collars in anyone’s hands leave adverse effects on the dog’s health (spine, thyroid, heart) as well as the dog’s behavior.

Don’t go to a school which doesn’t even want to meet you or your dog. Just like a veterinarian can’t know what your dog’s sickness is without examining him first, a dog trainer shouldn’t draw conclusions about the dog’s behavior without previously seeing the dog, meeting the family he lives with and gathering enough information to see if the dog needs a dog school or just obedience classes.

In conclusion you should look for a dog school whose only object is to find the cause of the problematic behavior; the reason why the dog acts the way he acts in certain conditions and situations.