Pet Haven

When you’re looking to buy a puppy, there are usually many of them looking for homes at animal shelters, and so if you have such a place near where you live, it’s worth taking a look to see if they’ve got the kind of puppy that you have in mind.  You should note however that if you need some kind of paperwork for pedigree status, this probably won’t be available for any dog obtained through an animal shelter.   If this isn’t something that you’re needing, there are still some things that you need to keep in mind before setting your heart on any particular puppy, and so it’s a good idea to check these out before you even look at what dogs are looking for homes – that way your head in still in command of the decision making process!

1.       How does the shelter look?  Is it well maintained?  Is it clean, particularly where the dogs (and cats) are kept?  What does it smell like?

2.       What kind of attitude do the people who work there have?  Are they enthusiastic about the fact you may take one of the dogs home?  Does this seem out of genuine joy for the dog?  Are they interested in telling you about the dogs they have that may be suitable for you?  Do they know what the history of the dogs is – where they came from, any previous owners, etc?  Are they willing to answer as many questions as you have or are you made to feel like you are a nuisance?

3.       What kind of veterinary care do the dogs receive?  This is particularly important in the case of puppies.  Are the puppies kept separately from the older dogs or are they all old enough to have had, and been given, their appropriate vaccinations.  Do all of the dogs get a medical check-up when they arrive at the shelter, or only when they are sick? 

4.       You probably don’t want to know about this, but unfortunately you need to find out the answer just in case – if something happens to your puppy as a result of the care, or lack thereof, that was sustained at the animal shelter, will they refund the money you paid?

Although most animal shelters are run on contributions and comply to any hygiene standards set down for such organizations, there are some which are less than satisfactory.  If you are purchasing a larger or more mature dog, it can endure bad conditions for a short while without getting too many immediate health issues, but a puppy is more vulnerable. 

Make sure you are satisfied about the standards of the animal shelter before taking a look at any suitable puppies they have.  If you then decide to take one home you need to get it to a veterinary for a check-up as soon as possible so that any health problems arising from its time in the shelter can be identified and hopefully remedied.

Characteristics:

Average Height: 9-11.5 inches
Average Weight: 7- 9 lbs
Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
Breed Group: Companion Dogs
Fur Color: black, red, gray, silver, black or tan coat

Affenpinscher

The Affenpinscher breed showed up first in 17th-century Europe As a rodent hunter. The origin is not known, but the name, which translates as "monkey terrier," could be of German origin. The Affenpincher appears to be related to the Brussels griffon.

Affenpinschers are known to be loyal family members and they get along with children. Some are said to be stubborn and difficult to train. If sozialized early, they will get along with other pets. Some characteristics of Affenpinschers seem to be determintion and fearlessness which can result into being a little timid with strangers and sometimes even snap at them. Affenpinschers are well suited for being a good watchdogs.

The Affenpinscher's black, red, gray, silver, black or tan coat is wirry, short, and dense which makes him a low-maintenance breed. However, as every dog, he needs to be exercised daily to keep him balanced.

The Affenpinscher is prone to get hip dysplasia. As with many small breeds of dog they are prone to collapsed trachea, which is best prevented by walking the dog with a harness instead of a collar. Cataracts are occasionally reported as well.

To sum it up, the Affenpinscher would make a nice family dog.

Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs. A few dogs eat them and have no problems.

Some dogs, however, become violently ill after eating only a few grapes or raisins. Symptoms are vomiting and restlessness. Kidney failure follows which is often fatal. Yet, the toxin itself is not known as of this writing, nor is has been much research done to find out why some dogs have a toxic reaction to raisins and grapes, and some dogs do not.

Vets report fatalities after dogs have eaten as little as 7 raisins! Please be aware of the dangers and do not give grapes or raisins as treats to your dog!

Other toxic foods for your dog include, but are not limited to: chocolate, bread dough, macadamia nuts, salmon and trout, onions and garlic, xylitol sweetner, chicken bones, cocoa bean, poinsettias, and mistletoe.

Female dogs have a friendlier personality if you let them have one litter before spaying them.

Wrong – Research has proven that spaying that spaying before allowing a pregnancy to occur results in more health benefits..

A pet store is a bad place to obtain a puppy.

Correct - Pet stores are definitely not the right place to obtain a puppy. These puppies usually come from cruel puppy mills and you really don’t want to support that. Go to the nearest shelter and adopt a dog that otherwise might not have a chance. Adopt, don’t shop!

A pit bull’s jaw locks when he bites.

Wrong – Pit bulls have jaws just like any other dog, maybe a little bit stronger, but they don’t have any special locking abilities.

Dogs trained for sniffing out drugs were trained by being made addicted to the drug.

Wrong - They are trained by earning a treat when sniffing out a drug successfully.

Pet insurance is a huge business these days and it’s easy to see why if you take a look at how much a visit to your local veterinary clinic can cost you.  Between initial consultation costs, to routine procedures and medication, you can be looking at a couple of hundred pounds before you know it!  That doesn’t automatically mean however that insurance is actually worth it for your dog.

Insurance is usually quote on your breed/size of dog, the state of his health when you take out the insurance, his age and other factors such as the area in which you live.  As with all insurance policies there will be a monthly payment to be made, and a basic payment for each claim (policy excess) you’ll need to pay before the insurance policy can be claimed against.

Check out a number of different policies.  Read the small print carefully.  Watch out for clauses that imply you will pay larger premiums and/or excesses the older your dog becomes.  Also make sure that they don’t have a list of excluded conditions and medical conditions.  What you need to remember is that pet insurance isn’t there to help you budget financially for your dog’s health – no matter what the advertising tells you – pet insurance is a business where the insurers hope to make money!

If you have a large dog that you are insuring from a puppy then it’s probably a good idea to take out health insurance on it, especially if you have a tight budget in your home because medical expenses on big dogs can be enormous!  An alternative however would be to take the monthly payment and make a financial commitment to placing it in the bank each month and only using that account for your dog’s medical bills.  Read the rest of this entry »

Every year millions of people seek medical treatment for dog bites. Here are some simple techniques on how to avoid to get bitten by a dog:

• Never approach a dog you do not know.
• Never run from a dog, leave alone screaming.
• Stand still when a dog you don't know comes close to you.
• Do not look the in the eyes.
• Never approach a dog that is sleeping, eating, or nursing.
• Never touch a dog without letting him sniff you first.
• If you get knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie perfectly still.
• Teach your children how to be safe around a dog.
• Never leave an infant or child unsupervised with any animal.
• Never trust an excited dog. Excitement means often that the dog is not controllable.