Pet Slimmer of the Year!

Weight and obesity always seem to be hot topics in the news. Yet it’s not just people that need to watch the pounds, our pet dogs are just as at risk from the health implications of obesity as we are.

A Labrador dog has been crowned pet slimmer of the year in a UK wide competition after shedding 9 and a half kilos! A diet of fatty foods, and too many of them and the extra weight piled on Oscar, the black Labrador.

A one hundred day diet of water and dog biscuits, along with regular exercise and Oscar is now unrecognisable as a slim fit and energetic pet. Well done Oscar!

No matter what breed they are, all dogs enjoy food. Most of them would eat you out of house and home given half a chance but it is important not to indulge your pup too often. Like us humans they need a balanced diet and lots of exercise.

There is great information on owning a dog.

Another Cute Dog Picture!

Another pic to make you go aaah! Click here for more cute dog pictures.

West Highland Terrier (Westie)

In this photo: Bertie Harrad
West Highland Terriers, affectionately known as Westies, are amongst the UK’s top ten most popular dog breeds.

It’s no surprise when you think these are an energetic, playful and friendly dog breed.

As the name suggests, Westies hail from Scotland. They were bred from terrier stock to hunt otters, foxes and vermin. Pretty impressive given their small size!

The Kennel Club states the Westie is on average 28cm high measured at the top of their back, at the base of their neck.

This is called height at withers, the terminology used when describing the height of dogs (and other animals, including horses and cows).

West Highland Terriers have an independent streak and a self confidence that some would say defies their size but this is a lovely breed of dog makes a perfect family pet or companion for a single owner.

Their lively temperament means that your Westie will have to know you’re the boss; training is a must! You will be well rewarded as these are incredibly intelligent and loving dogs.

Could the West Highland Terrier be the best dog breed for you?

Irish Setters Red Setters

The Irish Setter is also known as a Red Setter. Although there are differences between the two, both names are often used by owners.

The term Red Setter can actually be used when describing a fully red version of Setter. And as many Irish Setters have white patches (mostly on their heads), Red Setter isn’t a completely accurate name for all Irish Setters.

Enough of the technicalities. Irish Setters are extremely friendly dogs who love the company of people and are great with children.

It has been suggested that Irish Setters are not always responsive to training. Though they’ll never make it to be guide dogs, they can be trained to a great house pet standard.

The playful and energetic nature of Irish Setters means they need an equally energetic owner. These dogs need a good amount of exercise every day. Underneath their energetic exterior these gentle dogs love to be petted and are always eager to make new friends!

Could the Irish Setter be the right dog breed for you?

Large Dog Breeds

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and this couldn't be more true than when talking about sizes. Small dog breeds can be so small you could fit them in your hand.

Large dog breeds can be so big they are taller than some people.

Check out these large dog breeds:

• Irish Wolfhound
• Great Dane
• English Mastiff
• Neopolitan Mastiff
• Newfoundland
• Saint Bernard

Looking after a large dog requires a lot of time and effort. They eat a lot and really need a large size home and plenty of exercise.

Despite their intimidating size, mostly large dogs are gentle giants and make great house pets, and guard dogs!

Cute Puppy Dog Sleeping

cute puppy dog sleeping

This picture is so cute..

If you have any cute pictures of dogs send them in!

Puppy Love

Check out these unusual friends...



Aww, how cute!!

Top Ten Dog Breeds

This is not an item on the best dog breeds, there are no best dogs breeds! All dog breeds are great in their own way.

Below are the top ten most popular dog breeds as registered with the Kennel Club in the UK and the American Kennel Club.

Top Ten Most Popular Dog Breeds in the UK 2006:

• Retriever (Labrador)
• Spaniel (Cocker)
• Spaniel (English Springer)
• German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Retriever (Golden)
• West Highland White Terrier
• Boxer
• Border Terrier

Top Ten Most Popular Dog Breeds in the US 2007:

• Retrievers (Labrador)
• Yorkshire Terriers
• German Shepherd Dogs
• Retrievers (Golden)
• Beagles
• Boxers
• Dachshunds
• Poodles
• ShihTzu
• Bulldogs

So it seems the Retriever is the most popular dog breed on both sides of the Atlantic!

All the dogs featured can make wonderful pets and these lists may provide a starting point for choosing a dog breed.

What Should I Call My Dog?

After the thoughtful decision of choosing a dog breed has been made, this is a question asked by many new dog owners!

There are many names to choose from as dog names come from traditional ‘human names’ as well as lots of creative and unusual names.

Some people give their dogs names that reflect their physical appearance. Or maybe give them names they hope their dogs will live up to, like Brains or Growler. There is no evidence that this is an effective way of building a dog’s character.

When a dog is trained they will (hopefully) respond to their name and/or nickname. Calling a pet Snuggle Monster in the privacy of your own home may be fun and cute but when he’s run off in the park and you’re hollering to get him back…

There are no rules on naming dogs as long as you are happy with and your dog learns to recognise their own name. A shorter name may be easier for your dog to learn.

It is nice to involve children in naming a new pet and a good way to get them talking about how they will look after it.

Choosing a Dog Breed Checklist

Tragically, so many dogs end up in rescue homes because their owners did not consider some fundamental questions when they chose to get a dog.

Below are some of the fundamentals to be considered before you get a dog. It a sad fact that too many people buy a puppy without really knowing what it’s size and character will be when it becomes fully grown.

Think about:

• Can I afford to keep a dog? (Food and toys aside, puppy training and vet bills can be expensive)
• How much can I exercise a dog? (Think about your own fitness levels and time available each day to exercise your dog. Be honest with yourself, even if you don’t think you can manage much time for exercise there may still be a dog out there for you. Plenty of older dogs whose running days may be over end up in rescue homes hoping to be given a home)
• Who will be living with the dog? (Think about children, elderly relatives and people who will regularly be your home, your dog will have to get on with all these people too)
• Home space? A large dog will require a larger home. Like people, dogs get stressed, and a big dog in a cramped apartment will feel the strain, even if they do get walks outside)

Every dog breed is different and the one you choose will very much depend on your own lifestyle. Ensuring you’ve chosen a dog breed which you can look after and provide a suitable home for means you’ll get the best out of your pet.

These are just the basics. There’s so much to know about different dog breeds’ characters. Don’t be daunted by the process of choosing the right dog breed, it’s fun finding out about dogs and breeds you may never even have heard of!

Therapy Dogs

It often feels like our pet dogs have therapeutic or healing like properties. They make us smile when we come home after a hard day and cheer us up when we’re feeling blue.

These qualities have been harnessed in hospitals, hospices and care homes through the use of Therapy Dogs. Together with their owners, these dogs visit the sick and the elderly to offer some relief and comfort to people who would otherwise not be able to have contact with pets (even their own). These therapy dogs could spend five minutes or half an hour with a patient or resident.

Staff in such centres have reported that patients feel calmer and more relaxed after a visit from a therapy dog. Some have even said patients have required less medication immediately after a visit (though this is anecdotal and there has not been a lot of scientific research into this phenomenon).

Can you choose a dog breed to be a good therapy dog?

There are many dog breeds that make excellent therapy dogs. Some dog breeds are better suited than others; those with a naturally friendly character like retrievers, for example. Many small dog breeds are well suited to being therapy dogs as they are good for sitting on laps. Of course not all small dogs will be suitable.

The breed of dog is not as important as the temperament of the dog as to whether they will make a good therapy dog. The dog must enjoy the company of strangers and being petted, a lot! The dog must be happy going to new places where there are lots of people.

Many dog breeds make great therapy dogs. These dogs and their owners do their good work as volunteers. It must be very rewarding for the owners and the people they help.

Dog Breed Videos

Some amazing videos of cute dogs and dog breeds. Enjoy!

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

If you have a video of your dog send it in!

www.RightDogBreed4Me.com & ChoosingADogBreed.Blogspot.com/

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Choosing A Dog Breed - Choosing A Dog Breed Videos - RSS

Hungarian Scientists Develop Bark Translation Machine

Komondors

According to a British newspaper Hugarian scientists have successfully made a computer program that can tell what a dog is trying to say. In tests the computer was able to guess from audio alone which situation the dog was in, using the words "stranger", "fight", "walk", "alone", "ball" and "play" to describe the dogs' emotions.

The program headed by Csaba Molnár at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary
analysed over 6,000 barks from 14 Hungarian Sheepdogs (Komondors). The computer was able to correctly guess the situation in 43% of the 6000 recordings - a far better percentage than humans.

Even though there was only one breed of dog involved - the computer was also able to distinguish between and identify individually the dogs in 52% of the 6000 samples.

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http://www.RightDogBreed4Me.com

Dogs for Allergy Sufferers- Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds, Hairless Dog Breeds…

You may have an allergy but you love dogs. Did you think you could only enjoy them from afar? You can choose a dog breed that will not immediately set you off sneezing or itching!

If you do have asthma or suffer allergies it is important to seek medical advice before thinking about getting a dog! Once you have chosen a dog it is a good idea to spend some time with it first to make sure you don’t suffer a bad reaction.

Some dog breeds are considered to be hypoallergenic and they can be the best dog breeds for allergy sufferers. These dogs lose so little hair that they can be tolerated by people who might sneeze within metres of other dogs.

These aren’t just rare dog breeds that can be tolerated by allergy sufferers. The Bichon Frisé, Cairn Terrier, Greyhound, Fox Terrier, Poodle (and Miniature Poodle) and Whippet are ok for some people who are intolerant of furry animals, but this is not the case for all allergy sufferers. If you think any dander in the air might set off a reaction in you or a loved one, don’t despair! You may not have heard of hairless dog breeds but really, they do exist. Check out the American Hairless Terrier, Mexican Hairless Dog and the Chinese Crested Dog. These are rare dog breeds; harder to find but there are breeders and enthusiasts for all dog breeds.

There is so much to know about dog breeds and which is the perfect one for you. These aren’t special dog breed secrets… so don’t give up if you thought you could never have a dog!

Part Two - Choosing A Hypoallergenic Dog Breed

Small Dog Breeds- Toy Dogs, Miniature Dog Breeds, Teacup Dog Breeds...

Small dog breeds are ideal for owners who have a smaller living space such as an apartment or a house without a garden. They can be the best dog breeds for older people or those who are not able to take their dog for a long walk each day.

Small dog breeds include Toy Dogs and Miniature Dog breeds. Miniature dog breeds are smaller versions of large dog breeds. The Miniature Poodle, Miniature Dachshund (or Doxie) and the Miniature Pinscher are small versions of their larger canine cousins. These dogs are sometime known as Teacup Dog Breeds because they are tiny dogs, though not all so tiny they could fit into a teacup!

Toy Dogs are a dog group all of their own. Terriers, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus and Pugs are all Toy Dogs. You have probably heard of these popular dogs before but there are also many rare dog breeds that could be the perfect pet for someone looking for a small dog.

Small dogs can be easier to look after than large dog breeds in many ways. They eat less, often don’t require such long walks and generally they shed less hair than large dog breeds.

However don’t assume that all small dog breeds know their own size so well. Some Minature Dog Breeds are happy to take on a dog ten times their own size! There is so much to know about dog breeds before you can be certain on choosing the perfect dog breed for you.

It’s a fun process learning about these enchanting creatures and one worth spending some time to get great dog breed info. It will result in a great pet for you!

Dog Breeds that are Easy to Train- Miniature Poodle, German Shepherd...

We all want a well behaved dog who responds to our commands of Sit! and Stay! No dog is naturally a great family dog. Like us humans, they need guidance when they are growing up to learn how to behave.

When choosing a dog breed you should consider how much time you will be able to commit to training your dog. Some dog breeds are easier to train than others, such as the Miniature Poodle and German Shepherd. There are many dog breeds that are easy to train.

As well as what breed your dog is, where he or she came from can affect how easy to train they are. Puppy training or training an older dog; their needs will be different.

No matter what age or breed of dog you are training, be patient! You can teach an old dog new tricks and puppy training can turn your gorgeous little rascal into an obedient and delightful pet.

Guard Dogs - Boxer dogs, German Shepherds, Victorian Bulldogs...

A guard dog is a great way to keep a home safe. Whilst we want to deter intruders and protect our loved ones, we also have to live with the guard dog, so it is important to choose a dog breed that is useful as a security dog and a dog you can trust to play nicely with your young children.

This may sound impossible, but it isn't! There are excellent dog breeds that can be guards and family pets. Of course, no matter how suitable your breed of guard dog is, the dog you choose will need to be well trained. This is especially true with a dog who will guard your house. They need to know you are the boss!

Amongst many to consider (choose carefully the right dog breed for your family) are the Victorian Bulldog and German Shepherd and Boxer Dog. You can have a wonderful family pet and feel safer in your home.

First Post! Hello World!

This is the first post of the Choosing A Dog Breed Blog! The blog is going to written by me Colin McDermott and my best friend Mariela Beynon.

We hope to provide you with loads of tips and thoughts on what sort of dog breed will be best for you and your family!

We have a website! Check out www.RightDogBreed4Me.com!

Have a great 2008 and good luck finding your perfect pet!

Colin & Mariela