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Be a Responsible Dog Owner
Owning a dog is a serious responsibility, the average dog's lifespan is between 10-15 years. Costs include: food, veterinary care and insurance along with many others. Dogs need alot of attention and exercise, both will take time from your daily routine.
Any responsible dog owner will know that all of the issues of time and money are worth it, as you gain a loyal and loveable member of your family. Search our dogs.info to gain as much dogs information you need.

Seasonal Tips
A Dog is for Life Not Just for Christmas

JUST like a new baby, bringing a new puppy into your home is very demanding and requires alot of hard work. New pets must become part of the family because they are not disposable. Every year thousand of puppies are thrown out on the streets because people have bought them as gifts on an act of impulse in the cheery festive season. Then sadly the novelty wears away and the reality dawns upon them, that poor innocent little puppy is now unwanted, it wasn't his fault, now he must brave the streets and try to survive alone. Please stop and think long and hard about buying a puppy at christmas.

Christmas can be a very hectic time of year, this isn’t the best time to introduce your new dog to the house. Dogs will rely on you for walks, feeds, baths, training and healthcare. Everyone in the family must want the pet. It's no use if dad wants a dog and mum doesn't. That won't work. Before bringing a pet into your home, you need a heart but you also need your head.

Please Remember:
Dogs don’t come fully trained. They can cause a lot of damage to your possessions through chewing and accidents. How committed are you to training your dog?
Puppies can be extremely hard work for an owner, particularly if there are young children in the house – do you have enough time to spend with your pup?
INSTEAD of giving a pet as a gift this Christmas, why not donate to a national or a local dog rescue charity.

If you really think a puppy is right for you why not wait until the new year. The new year is the busiest times for dog rescue centers as they become overwhelmed with both new puppies and also older dogs who have now been replaced by irresponsible owners and are now unwanted. If you are a true dog lover you will understand that waiting a few more weeks past christmas would truly be the right decision, especially seen as though you will be given an unwanted dog a new loving home.

Merry Christmas from DogArticles.org
A Dog is For Life

Dog Breeds - The History
Scientists have debated over the history and evolution of the domestic dog for hundreds of years. DogArticles.org gives you a summary of the most widespread and popular theories involed with the origin of the domestic dog.
Dogs today come in all shapes and sizes, this is believed to be a consequence of a vital point in evolution, that happened over 15,000 years ago - The Taming of the Grey Wolf. Scientists now believe that every dog breed is a descendant of the "Canis Lupus" - the "Grey Wolf".
It is believed that because humans and wolves were both hunters, they would have known of each others existance. Humans could easily have come across an abandoned wolf cub and taken it with them. As this wolf grew older it would be less fearful of humans and therefore be semi-tamed. A semi-tamed wolf would have been highly valued by a group of humans, they would have benefited greatly from the wolfs hunting senses, and warning defences.
As the process of taming wolves was repeated the humans would have started to unknowingly selectively breed. They would not keep the wolves which showed aggressiveness towards them, they would have kept and then breed from the wolves with the most loyal and useful traits. Different groups of humans would have needed different traits in their wolves for their specific needs; size, coat length, hunting and retrieving ability of different animals, and guarding ability would have been some traits involved with the selective breeding process.
As time passed and more civilisations developed, the trading of dogs began, at this point the origins of many more dog breeds began.

Today all regonized dog breeds are placed in one of seven dog breed groups:

Hounds - Breeds originally used for hunting either by scent or by sight. The scent hounds include the Beagle and Bloodhound and the sight hounds such breeds as the Whippet and Greyhound.

Working Dogs - Over the centuries these dogs were selectively bred to become guards and search and rescue dogs.

Terrier - Dogs originally bred and used for hunting vermin. 'Terrier' comes from the Latin word Terra, meaning earth. This hardy collection of dogs were selectively bred to be extremely brave and tough, and to pursue fox, badger, rat and many more, above and below ground.

Gundogs - Dogs that were originally trained to find live game and/or to retrieve game that had been shot and wounded. This group is divided into 4 categories - Retriever, Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve and Setters although many of the breeds are capable of doing the same work as the other sub-groups.

Pastoral - Herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep, reindeer and other cloven footed animals. Usually this type of canine has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions.

Utility - This group consists of miscellaneous breeds of dog mainly of a non-sporting origin. The name "Utility" basically means fitness for a purpose and this group consists of an extremely mixed and varied bunch, most breeds having been selectively bred to perform a specific function not included in the sporting and working categories.

Toy - Small companion or lap dogs. Many of the Toy breeds were bred for this capacity although some have been placed into this category due to their size.

Puppy Mills - Understanding the facts

Puppy Mills - Helping to raise Awareness
Dog Breeding requires excellent breed knowledge and outstanding responsibility by reputable breeders.Unfortunetly dog breeding is often exploited as a profit making business with the sad consequence of cruelly treat bitches and puppies who are kept in inhumane conditions. The bitches are expected to breed many litters, once they are no good for breeding they are cruelly destroyed.

The litters that are produced are very very unhealthy and will not have a long life at all. These unhealthy puppies are often taken away from there mother far before they should be which means they are denied the vital socialisation they require from their mother and litter mates. Remember when buying a puppy, puppies should still be with their mother and litter mates until at least 8 weeks old.

Backyard Breeders and Puppy Mills/Farms - The Difference

Who are these ignorant, selfish, greedy animal abusers? They are known as backyard breeders and puppy millers/farmers, what is the difference?

Backyard Breeders are people who practice random or ignorant dog breeding on a small scale.

Puppy mills or Puppy Farms are large dog breeding operations, and the people who own them are known as puppy millers/farmers.

Backyard breeders and Puppy Millers are only motivated by the idea of profit, not realizing that the hobby of animal breeding practiced on a small scale is not usually profitable when one factors in costs such as health, maintenance and pregnancy care. They are people who are ignorant of selective breeding goals and techniques, and are not familiar with the breed standard of their chosen breed of dog. They are cruel and abuse animals.

What to look out for:
Backyard Breeders and Puppy Millers want your money, so, they will tell you what you want to hear. The will tell you that the puppy is registered, this is a lie. They will tell you they have a certificate to prove that the puppy is registered but the certificate will not be signed or have the breeders name on it.

Reccomendations:
Be wary of outlets offering more than one or two breeds
When visiting the seller note the surroundings
Visit the puppy more than once
Ask to see the pedigree papers and ensure the breeder's name is on the certificate
The breeder should want to know about you too
Ask to see the puppy with its Mother - be very suspicious if you can't

Think carefully before buying and do not buy the puppy because you feel sorry for it. If you trade with an unscrupulous breeder, you will be supporting their trade in misery. Every one you buy, another takes it place.

Dont buy from a Pet Shop
Purchasing dogs, especially those claimed to be purebred, from a pet store is strongly discouraged by reputable breeders and animal shelters. While many pet stores claim to purchase dogs from "local breeders" instead of puppy mills, this is often untrue or is a difference in name only, as reputable breeders generally do not sell animals to pet stores. The phrase "local breeder" may also refer to backyard breeders

Reputable Breeders
Reputable breeders raise their animals in humane conditions, provide good socialization and often formal training, and adhere to the breed standard. They are knowledgeable about major health problems associated with their breed, and with the principles of genetics, frequently undertaking specific matings to produce or refine particular desirable characteristics in their dogs. They are also sensitive to the requirements of their breeding adults — who may also be breed or performance champions — and the puppies they produce. Reputable breeders frequently screen potential customers rigorously, and usually provide a pedigree and health guarantee with their puppies. Always get proof of Kennel Club registration.

Worming l Fleas l Bloat l Hip Dysplasia l Neutering l House Training l Hot Weather l More Breeds

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