News update

How do I know whether Fido is healthy?

A healthy dog is bright, dandy and alert. It would be interested in whatever is going on around it, and is very responsive. The coat should be glossy and feel good to the touch. The dog should move easily, vibrantly and look contented.

On the other hand a sick dog would have all the opposites of the above. That is look dull, depressed, and has a drab dry coat. It will probably move slowly, with body hunch and tail down.
Loss of appetite drinking very little or too much are signs of ill health. Dogs normally defecate two or three times a day. The feces should be firm, with no blood or mucus present. Be watchfulin frequency and consistency. This also applies to urination. Male dogs usually lift their legs to urinate, so squatting may indicate arthritis.

Most dogs have cool, wet noses indicating that they are healthy When the moisture on the nose dries and evaporates, it lifts heat from the dog skin When the dog is overheated or unwell, having a high temperature, the nose become warm and dry.

Dogs ears should not smell, and not contain a lot of wax.A dog with a ear problem will hold the affected ear down, shake its head, and scratches at the ear.Dogs can be infected with ear mites, infections, or grass seeds, and all these needs veterinary care

Eyes should be clear and bright, with no cloudiness, redness, and discharge. Excessive blinking, persistent rubbing of the eye, or any discharge form should be taken to a veterinarian for further inspection.

Tips on communication with Fido. (Part 2)

Understanding your dog and how it communicates will make your relationship strong.

Why do Fido growls at other dogs?

A growl can mean a few things, but it is usually a warning, meaning "Leave me alone" and often indicates anxiety about a certain situation. Here are some of the possibilities.

1 Disciplinary - Pack leaders keep younger dogs under control by looks and growls before they
ever need to nip them.

2 A dog is on a leash will growl at another dog who is not on a leash, for fear of being attack. It is
actually adopting a policy of aggression to scare it's opposing friend away, and this really works
most of the time.

Do you sometimes stop playing with Fido because during the heat and excitement, Fido gave you a growl or two and you thought you have offended him and so you refrain?

A dog growling in play may simply be playful. It is important to differentiate this sort of growl from a more dominant one. If a dog wins a game with his owner that involved growling, it can soon associate growling with winning, that is getting it's own way. This can give rise to complications like when you want to move Fido from your couch and he frightens you with his growling and you finally give way, and he becomes more and more successful in getting his own way. There is a way to help Fido get out of this situation.

Expose Fido gently and repeatedly to the things that is bugging him, or the situation that he is fearful to. Combine these exposure with a good treat (dog snacks) from visitors, and give him
much praise when he doesn't bark. Remember fear aggression may take some time and patience to overcome.

A dog should never be shouted at or hit showing fear aggression. This will worsen the episode. Nor should a dog be ressured, because he may take it as you are praising him for the wrong behavior. Remain calm and relaxed. This will convey itself to the dog.

Tips: Anxiety on your part will only worsen the situation.

Posted by Patrick
Check out my new blog at http://small-puppy-clothing.blogspot.com

Pets lover story board - Breed standard by American Kennel Club

American Kennel Club - Silky Terrier: "Silky Terrier Breed Standard Toy Group General Appearance The Silky Terrier is a true 'toy terrier'. He is moderately low set, slightly longer than tall, of refined bone structure, but of sufficient substance to suggest the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents. His coat is silky in texture, parted from the stop to the tail and presents a well groomed but not sculptured appearance. His inquisitive nature and joy of life make him an ideal companion. Size, Proportion, Substance Size - Shoulder height from nine to ten inches. Deviation in either direction is undesirable. Proportion - The body is about one fifth longer than the dog's height at the withers. Substance - Lightly built with strong but rather fine bone. Head The head is strong, wedge-shaped, and moderately long. Expression piercingly keen, eyes small, dark, almond shaped with dark rims. Light eyes are a serious fault. Ears are small, V-shaped, set high and carried erect without any tendency to flare obliquely off the skull. Skull flat, and not too wide between the ears. The skull is slightly longer than the muzzle. Stop shallow. The nose is black. Teeth strong and well aligned, scissors bite. An undershot or overshot bite is a serious fault. Neck, Topline and Body The neck fits gracefully into sloping shoulders. It is medium long, fine, and to s"

News-Pet Lovers Story Board

• Fido, incognito (The Beacon News)
  Harry Potter Halloween costume: $32. Flying broomstick: Homemade. The reaction when a dog dressed as a bespectacled young wizard marches down the street: Priceless.
  

• There's a costume for every furry friend (Dothan Eagle)
  Sassy’s wardrobe includes pajamas, jackets, at least one jogging outfit and a handmade witch costume that’s almost gotten too small for the toy poodle.
  

Tips on communication with Fido. (Part 1)

Being a different species to us, Fido communicates differently. As he can't talk about his problem with you, and have no clue of what you say most of the time. He relies strongly on his expressive behavior, but that is not all. He is especially sensitive to your body language, and intonations.

Body language

By now, you know your Fido can vocalise by his barking, but they tend to communicate more with their facial expressions and body language. Here's a brief guide of their body language.
Happy dog- A restful dog, have relaxed ears back and resting against its head. With half closed eyes, and a partly open mouth that looks relaxed, Fido's tail wags gently or sometimes still.

Bored dog- When Fido lies on the floor and the head tug above its front legs, with tail limp and ears drooping, you can be assure that he is bored.

Fearful - Be warn that a fearful dog can bite anytime, so when a dog adopts a slightly crouched position, with his ears back, head lowered, and it's tail tucked between its hind legs. It's posture is meant to scare you off, but if you don't stop whatever it is you are doing, it will attack you. Before it attacks you, it usually holds his tail out stiffly, raises the hair around his neck and along its back, wrinkles his nose and pulls back the corner of its mouth. It alternately stare intently at you, sometimes barking and lunging and looks away.

Anxious - An anxious Fido cringes, holds his ears back and tucks his tail between his hind legs. It pulls the corners of his mouth back and down, giving it a tense expression, and averts his glaze from the the things he fears. He may tremble and pant in an attempt to relieve its anxiety.

Aggressive - When a dog stands on tip toes, leaning slightly towards you, with its ears erect. His tail held out stiffly. It wrinkles its nose, and with its corner mouth pulled forward, about to bite, he stare directly at you, snarling, barking, and raising its lips to show its fangs.

What I have learn from my dogs? (Tips-Part Two)

Unassuming, Gratitude, and Dare to fail.

Have you ever notice at times, when we miss a step, and trip and almost land on our back on a five foot way, or it may be at the city. The first thoughts that rushes to our mind would most certainly be "Did anyone saw me?" If no one bears witness to our humiliating tumble, we can feel cold sweat leaving our body and we sign, "Whew, that was close." Just the other day when I was watching my trios playing among themselves, I notice this "dare to fail" attitude from Benjy, my Tze Tsu. While they were racing around and chasing at each other's tail. I was reflecting on the numerous attempt Benjy made, trying to get up on my bed, because the other two had made successful landing with only one attempt. He finally made it up safely on his eleventh try. and you know what. All the times, he fail he never look around, or feel embarass, and he just couldn't be bother whether his fail landing looks funny or not, he just keep at it until he succeed.
I ask myself then am I really so afraid of failure, and embarassment? Why do I bother with looking good all the time, in the eyes of people around me.

I feed my dogs two meals a day. I have been doing that for the past two years. They do not have a choice in selecting the food, because I do it for them. I am surprise, that at every meal their enthusiasm for food seems to be more excited than the last meal. I think that the gratitude they show at every meal should be a yardstick for me, at times when I am whinning and complaining.

Also with us is Chelsea the creation of Benjy.

Introducing the one and only Benjy the Tze Tsu