Dog Lovers

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is very popular throughout the world and now ranks as one of the most sought after toy breeds. A closely related breed is the ‘King Charles Spaniel’. The most obvious difference is a more compact facial shape, but it also has a clearly domed skull when compared with the Cavalier. The ‘Cavalier King Charles’ were bred to be a slightly larger size and the face shape is the main feature distinguishing the separate breeds today.

Cavaliers have a friendly personality and delights in human company of any age. They are wonderful with children and make a loving companion for anyone at times when just wanting to sit and relax. They are not very athletic compared with larger spaniels but have a playful side to their nature, especially if they are introduced to games and play from an early age. They will also enjoy a short daily walk as their exercise routine.

Cavaliers have a life expectancy of 10-12 years however the breed also has a tendency to put on weight as they can be greedy and prone to obesity. In turn this may predispose them to diabetes and heart problems to which they are susceptible, so it is important not to let your Cavalier become overweight as this may worsen especially later in life. Whilst training your Cavalier alternatively you can use healthy options like pieces of carrot or apple instead of other food treats.

Regular grooming is needed for Cavaliers to keep their flowing silky coats in good condition. A slicker brush and comb will remove any tangles through the coat. They tend to get matting or knots around and behind the ears, so this will need to be trimmed or snipped away. As Cavaliers have long ears it’s important to make sure their ears are kept clean from moisture and mites. So during bathing them you need to hold their ear down or put cotton wool in each ear to avoid getting water in the ears. The ears can be cleaned with medicated ear powder and stray hairs to be plucked away from the inside of ears. The eyes can be wiped with cotton wool that has been moistened with eye stain remover. This will also help remove stains around or under the eyes. The tips of toe nails can be cut ensuring not to cut the quick.

Grooming your Cavalier King Charles needs to be done every 6-8 weeks. The ears need to be checked weekly and cleaned if necessary and toenails should be checked and cut during the full grooming session.

The colourings of a Cavalier King Charles are Chestnut Red and White known as ‘Blenheim’, known to be the original strain developed at Blenheim Palace in the 1700’s. Other colours are Black and Tan, Red (known as Ruby) and also the Tri-Colour – (Black, White and Tan).

They will generally grow to about 30.5cms (12inches) height at the shoulder and average weight of 5.5 – 8kgs (12-18lbs) when fully grown.

The Cavalier King Charles makes a great family pet or a loyal loving companion to be by your side and is one of the best breeds you could ever share your life with.

Not everyone seems to be aware that the Golden Retriever breed in split into at least 2 subsets that differ in essential ways: American Retrievers and English Retrievers. Families that adore their Golden may not notice much difference between their very own pet and many others, however professional breeders and showmen see the differences readily.

English Retrievers go by a lot of names, including “White Golden Retrievers,” a name that refers to their nearly white coats. English Retrievers also go by the names British Cream Golden Retrievers, Blonde Golden Retrievers, White Golden Retrievers, and Platinum Retrievers, and English Cream Retrievers. The coloring of American Golden Retrievers, however, might be pale yellow all the way up to dark mahogany.

The fur of The White Retriever is shorter and not dark, and their bodies are stockier and more square shaped. They also have square faces and noses that are more block-formed and a bit shorter. The White Golden have been bred to withstand the wet, cold climate of the English countryside and were used as hunting dogs.

The short coats of White Retrievers require much less maintenance and grooming than the longer coats on American Retrievers. The American Golden have glamorous coats which are showy but high maintenance. The American Golden have so much hair that it might become impractical. When an American Golden-Retriever gets wet, it stays wet longer than a White Retriever, since the White Retriever can shake the water off quickly.

White Retrievers might be told apart from American Retrievers in other ways. The eyes on A White Goldie are a bit darker, and the ears are set just above the eyes, which is unique.The White Goldie have a different facial express due to the slightly different way their eyes and ears are positioned and the difference in eye color.

White Retrievers and American Retrievers both have friendly dispositions that make them perfect for families. White Goldie are active, happy, eager to please, and loving. White Goldens are perfect with children and are popular for use as companions to the handicapped, however they don’t adapt well to households where they must be alone much of the day.

White Goldies love to be outside and adapt nicely to country and suburban households or to owners who like to be outdoors themselves. They love to be taken along on hunting journeys and make great sporting dogs. The White Golden are quick learners so getting them through obedience training, which is advisable, is a snap.

It’s not hard to train your Labrador if you know what you’re doing. Unfortunately, many first time dog owners don’t. That’s why training a Labrador can be such a struggle. It’s important to make sure that you give your dog the obedience training he or she needs, so that you’ll have a friendly, obedient pet when your dog is an adult. Here’s a look at some of the most important things you should know about training a Labrador.

1. Make a rule and stick with it. Your dog needs to know that the place to use the bathroom is outside, not inside. That means starting to teach this lesson to your puppy from day one. Take your puppy out once an hour, after eating or drinking, after exercise or playtime, before bed and when you wake up. You might need to take your pet out when he or she gets excited, too. It might seem like a lot of work, but it’ll help you make a firm rule – never go in the house! Other rules should be stuck to the same way. Praise your dog every time he or she does what you want, to reinforce the right behavior.

2. Signal consistently. Your dog needs to have the same training every time. Use one word commands and simple hand signals, and never change them. After all, your dog will learn faster the more you repeat yourself. But don’t train too long. Even consistent signals can be easily forgotten by a dog that’s tired and distracted. Take breaks to keep information fresh in your pet’s mind. This will help make training a Labrador easier.

3. Discipline carefully. Every dog needs discipline. After all, your puppy will eventually do something frustrating. But don’t shout and get angry. That’s a terrible way to enforce discipline, and instead of training a Labrador the right way, you’ll just make your pet afraid of you. Don’t hit your pet, either. Instead, make eye contact, and say “No” firmly and carefully. Then show your dog what he or she should do, and offer praise when it’s done right. Praise is one of the most important parts of training a Labrador, since these dogs want to please so very much.

4. Don’t let your dog get bored. There’s more to training a Labrador than just rewarding good behavior and punishing bad. After all, these are intelligent, active dogs that need a lot of attention and exercise. A bored or lonely lab is likely to start acting up. That means more trouble for you, and you might not even know why. Most of the time, your dog just wants your attention. Be sure to keep your dog occupied and offer plenty of attention to help prevent this kind of problem.

5. Stick to a routine. Just like people, dogs often prefer a routine. So, feed at about the same time every day, take your dog for a walk at about the same time, and train at about the same time. This will help you with training a Labrador, since the lessons learned this way are much more likely to stick.

Possibly the most endearing and expressive face found on any breed of dog can be seen on the pug dog breed. With its almost impossibly large dark eyes and a button for its nose, the pug’s mug seems to simultaneously express that it has the weight of the world on its shoulders and an overarching desire to be loved.

The modern pug has its roots in China and goes back almost a thousand years. The Chinese referred to it in their writings as the dog with short legs and a short head. Europe didn’t see a pug until the early sixteenth century when China began trading with countries such as England and Spain. Once in Europe the breed became very popular among the noble class.

The pug usually weighs between fourteen to eighteen pounds at adulthood. Though the pug’s wrinkly head is small and is home to its expressive face, it is not the only major identifiable feature found on the dog. A pug’s tail typically has a high tightly curled loop, and in some cases the tail has a double loop. Further, the pug comes in two colors fawn and black. They will generally live about 12-15 years.

The expression “personality is everything” certainly applies to the pug dog breed. Playing the role of show-off or clown comes naturally to the pug. He also offers great displays of affection to his owners. His multi-faceted nature ultimately translates to a dog which is imbued with winning charm and great dignity.

Before making a pug the newest member of the family, prospective owners should be aware of a few things about pug ownership. Though pugs are short-haired dogs, they profusely shed hair on a seasonal basis. Its personality and size rules it out as a guard dog. Moreover, the dog’s physical make-up makes it very sensitive to heat so it shouldn’t be thought of as a workout partner. Lastly, they are prolific snorers and snorters.

Because pugs have such short legs and their faces are not elongated like most dogs, pugs are prone to health issues. Leg-related problems include patellar luxation (knee dislocation) and hip dysplasia. Facial issues that can arise consist of corneal ulcers, encephalitis, elongated soft palette, and pinched nostrils.

According to Webster’s the Latin phrase “multum in parvo” translates into “much in little.” Perhaps no dog breed other than the pug dog breed can so completely capture the spirit of that saying. He brings into the home a lot of bang for the buck.

One of the best ways to adopt an older Shitzu is to go to the animal shelter. Animal shelters are nothing more than just shelters ran by the county or the city that take in many animals for a variety of reasons. However, as you may already know, shelters have a wide variety of dogs and they’re no guarantees that a Shih Tzu would be at that animal shelter for certain. Therefore, if you’re diligent, you should be able to find one at some other shelter, one just may show up.

In most cases, animal shelters have close relationships with purebred rescue groups and they ship any purebred dog to them. Therefore, if you’ve really got your mind set on getting a Shih Tzu, you may want to start your search with a rescue group. In addition, if you’re someone that doesn’t mind getting a mixed dog, for instance, a Shitzu mixed with another breed, then an animal shelter is for you. One of the best ways to assure yourself of getting a Shih Tzu or a Shih Tzu mixed is to get to know the workers at the shelter, and tell them to call you if that particular dog shows up.

Here are some points to consider if you ever decide to adopt a dog from the animal shelter.

1) When you adopt a Shih Tzu from an animal shelter, it will bring you and your family lots of joy as well as some challenges. You may have to start from the beginning when it comes to housetraining, socialization and trust.

2) The information you receive on the dog will be limited if any at all. You may be oblivious to the past of the dog, whether it’s been mistreated or if it had any medical issues in the past. However, workers at the shelter may be able to give you clues, but that’s usually all the help you can expect to get. Remember, shelters just don’t have the time and resources to evaluate every dog that comes through the door. Therefore, you and your new Shih Tzu will have some things to work out.

3) You must get approval from the shelter before you can adopt the Shih Tzu. Many shelters (at least the good ones) require application forms that can be quite lengthy. The shelter just wants to make sure that the dogs don’t end up right back in the shelter.

4) Adopting a Shih Tzu at an animal shelter is a lot cheaper than buying one from a breeder.

A Shih Tzu just wants to be loved and to worship you; therefore, treat your new dog well whether he or she is a puppy or an older dog. They’re also adaptable little dogs and they’ll give you years of joy and satisfaction.

Jumping up is one of the most common complaints Jack Russell owners have about their pets. Because Jack Russells are small, energetic and have strong legs, they are prone to jumping all over people. Despite their small size, JRTs are solid little dogs and they can pack a lot of force into a jump. This can also be a problem if your dog likes to get his paws dirty and go jumping all over your guest. So in this article, I’m going to explain some tips and strategies to stop a Jack Russell from jumping up.

Preventing Jumping Up

Now, let’s quickly mention the matter of prevention. In Jack Russell training, it’s always better to prevent a problem from developing or getting worse than to try to fix it once it gets out of control. Bad habits in a dog can be hard to change. So, if the problem is just developing, nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand.

Lower Your Body

The first tip is to come down to your dog’s level when you greet him. Kneel down when you meet your dog after coming home. This prevents any need for the dog to jump up to get close to you.

The Off Command

However, you might find that even when you kneel down, the dog will still insist on putting his paws all over you, even if he isn’t jumping. In this case you can teach the Off command.

Teaching the Off command is simple. Here’s how you do it:
1. Kneel down to meet the dog.
2. Have a tasty treat ready to reward the dog.
3. When he paws at you, say the word “Off” in a clear, authoritative tone.
4. When his paws naturally touch the ground, reward him with the treat and praise him with words.

At first, the dog won’t understand the connection between the word and the action of getting off you. But as you repeat this exercise over and over, the dog will figure out that every time he stops jumping up, he gets a food reward.

Attention Seeking

Never offer your Jack Russell attention when he jumps up on you. Attention simply reinforces the behavior and tells him it’s something he should do more often – that’s the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve. So, in order to make him jump up less, it makes sense that we should ignore the behavior as much as possible. Take away the reward (your attention) and the dog will see less benefit in jumping up. This is a simple way of using the dog’s natural desires and instincts to create the behavior you want.

Always try to figure out what the dog wants when you’re trying to change a problem behavior. Jack Russells don’t respond well to being forced to change – they are strong-willed and independent, so strong-arm tactics will usually create more resistance. It’s much easier to find out what the dog wants and use his own desires as a motivator for good behavior.

Description: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is considered a toy dog. This dog stands 13 to 18 inches at the withers and weighs between 10 and 18 pounds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a long, silky coat with feathering on the legs, tail, and ears. The coat comes in four colors: Blenheim, ruby, tricolor, and black and tan. Although the tail of the Cavalier is usually left its natural length, it is sometimes docked by one third. This dog can have a life span of 9 to fourteen years. It is also called the Ruby Spaniel or the Blenheim Spaniel.

History: King Charles II of England is most closely associated with the Spaniel that bears his name. Even as a child, he was surrounded by this breed of dog. After he attained the throne, he promoted the breed and allowed the little dogs the run of the palace. It is said that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel even whelped on the royal bed. This small dog is present in art from the 16th to 18th centuries and was used to help attract fleas as well as its duties as a comforter dog. Breeding with the Pug produced a shorter faced dog, the King Charles Spaniel. However, an American fancier Roswell Eldridge, bred the breed back to the more original dog and recreated the Cavalier.

Temperament: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is exclusively a companion dog, despite its old Spaniel hunting instincts. It is a very affectionate and happy little dog that thrives when given attention by its human friends. This is a very playful dog that wants to please those around it. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an excellent companion for anyone and is trustworthy and gentle with children. It loves to cuddle and bonds strongly to its family.

Health Issues: Although the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a fairly healthy toy breed, it can suffer from a variety of inherited health problems. One of the most serious problems is mitral valve heart disease, which begins as a heart murmur and can become worse as time goes on. Another serious condition is syringomyelia, in which cysts will form on the spinal column. This can be a painful condition for the dog. The potential owner of this engaging little dog would be well advised to make sure the dog is purchased from a reputable breeder who has followed intelligent breeding practices.

Grooming: Since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has such a long coat, it is important to keep it well groomed. The dog should be brushed every day to prevent matting and the hair on the feet should be kept trimmed, especially around the toe and foot pads. The long ears should be checked regularly and kept clean and dry to prevent infections. Pay some attention to the eyes, too, to make sure they remain infection free.

Living Conditions: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a house dog. It cannot live in an outside situation, either physically or mentally. This little dog needs to be around people as much of the time as possible. The dog will adapt its exercise needs to its owner, so it is suitable for both active and inactive lifestyles. Regardless of the owner’s exercise needs, however, the dog does need a walk every day. It is very suitable for living in an apartment.