Everything About Dogs

Many dog owners love to dress up their little pooches in small dog clothes, and we’re no exception. Our Chihuahuas, Sox and Bruiser, have just as many small dog clothes and small dog sweaters as any other pampered pup. Dressing up little dogs can have a very important function, especially in the harsh cold of winter. Dog booties can protect paws from rock salt and collections of ice in between toes. Small dog sweaters and dog coats protect thin coated breeds form losing too much heat to the freezing wind and ward off frost bite. They also help small dogs in warmer climates that stay inside very air conditioned houses. Having the right small dog clothes is an important step in keeping your little one safe and warm through winter.

Even with the functions small dog clothing serves, there is a point where dressing up your dogs can go too far. Putting a dog costume on them one night for a Halloween or Christmas party is fine, but putting dog clothes and booties on them everyday can be detrimental. When the weather isn’t cold, dog clothes can lead to overheating, and the excessive bootie wear can soften the natural calluses on a dog’s paws. Softened paws become sore easily and are more susceptible to damage.

We tend to project human status onto our dogs, but sometimes it’s best to just let dogs be dogs.

Summertime is the perfect chance to have some fun showing off how cute your pet is in dog clothes. People and their pets are out, and it’s a great time to socialize and turn some heads. A great thing about summer dog clothes is that they’re so versatile. There are many styles and colors from which to choose. Whether on the beach or at the park, dressing your baby in summer dog clothing gives you many options.

The varieties of dog shirts, jerseys, and raincoats are numerous. You have a choice from shirts with printed messages, polo shirts, tank tops, sports jerseys and just about any other shirt that a human could have. The sports jerseys even come with the logos of professional and college teams. As for the raincoats, these very useful pieces of summer dog clothing also come in a wide variety of colors and styles. They have different levels of thickness for the smaller dogs that get cold easily, but all of them help to keep your pooch dry, which makes everyone’s lives easier. Another important note to make is that putting dog shirts on your dog can help their health. Skin cancer is the most common cancer among dogs, and putting a shirt on them to block harmful UV rays can help reduce their risk.

Dressing your pet in the summer is a fun and special activity. Find just the right outfit for you and your pet’s personality, and go have fun!

Usually, when you think of dog dresses or dog clothes in general, you picture a little Chihuahua or Miniature Pinscher clothed in some teensy gown or sweater strutting down the street on a walk. You don’t normally picture a big dog dress on a Labrador or German Shepard as they pull on their owner’s leash across the park. Still, a dress or gown for a dog will look cute no matter what the size of dog that it covers. The fact is, that no matter what attire your canine wears, her adorable face and mannerisms will make her look cute.

It is just easier and more accepted for small dogs to wear clothing than plus size breeds. Fortunately, a trend has emerged that is changing that attitude. Big dogs are wearing shirts, boots and even dresses all over the place, and there’s no decrease in sight. If you’re the lucky pet parent of a big baby girl doggie, you don’t have to worry about shopping at special stores because quality pet boutiques carry dog clothes tailored for the not so little babies.

Getting your large canine dressed up is all about finding a store that carries larger sizes. Most places, even if they don’t have large or extra large sizes, can and will special order any piece of clothing, even a dress or gown. Usually, breeds that are not tall but have a barrel chest like Bull Dogs, Pit Bulls, Corgis fall into the size large category whereas Dalmatians and Doberman pinscher’s and the like fall into the extra large size range. There are some exceptionally large dogs that may even need an XXL size, but this also depends on the make of the clothing since some sizes run smaller than others depending on the designer. The moral is, don’t let your dog’s size turn you off from buying an adorable dress for her.

Teaching your dog to heel is one of the most basic and important dog training commands you can teach. With an active and younger dog or puppy, it can be especially difficult, but with patience and consistency, it doesn’t really have to be that hard to train your dog to heel.

The best time to practice teaching your dog to heel is before you’ve begun going on walks. Your dog is easily distracted out on the street and you will need his attention to properly teach the heel command. Also, you want to be in a patient and pleasant mood. Do not begin this, or any other dog training session, if you are angry or in a testy mood. You should not train your dog in an unkind or rough manner. Furthermore, it is best to teach the heel command after your dog knows his name and the “Sit” command.

You will want to limit the heel training session, as with other dog training sessions, especially for young puppies to about 10 or 15 minutes and to 2 or 3 times in a day. Make sure they’ve gone to the bathroom and have eaten and had some water. You want their full attention for this.

For this training session, you might want to use a dog training collar, but it is not necessary. In the backyard or garden put a lead on the dog, and keep him on your left side. Hold the leash in both hands, your right hand through the loop and your left hand holding the leash with your elbow by your side and out straight.

You want to keep your dog’s neck about even with your left leg, and as you begin to move that is the signal for the dog to begin walking. Your dog or puppy will initially not understand what to do and either try to run ahead or around. Simply make gentle corrections, say “Heel” and keep them on your left side. Try to keep the lead slack and if your dog begins to tug on it either stop or gently correct with the leash and stop moving. Do not pull your dog forward or yank the leash back violently. Continue moving only as your dog is on your left side. Try not to move if the leash becomes tight as this teaches them to tug and pull on it.

You will want to vary your direction and speed, turning in circles or doing figure eights. As your dog goes in the correct direction on your left side, remember to give lots of praise. You might use a dog training clicker or a treat, but try to keep your methods consistent with other dog training commands you use. Try to end the dog training session on a positive note with something the dog has done correctly, followed by lots of praise.

The Bearded Collie: A loving and protective dog perfect for the family

The Bearded Collie, also known as the Beardie, is a British bred dog that descends from both the Polski Owczarek Nizinny Dog and the Highland Collie. It is a working dog that was bred to work with livestock such as sheep and cattle. It is a mid-sized dog that grows to be between 20 and 22 inches tall and it can weigh up to about 60 pounds when fully grown. This breed is known for its long, silky, fluffy fur coat. Its coat colors come in slate, blue, gray, brown, white, black, and sand.

Temperament and characteristics of the Bearded Collie

This is a very sweet dog that makes a great family pet. They are happy-go-lucky and very affectionate. They also work great in multi-pet families and are very fond of children. They are very friendly, although they tend to be noisy barkers

Regular health care and grooming of the Bearded Collie

To groom and care for this breed you will need to brush their long coats daily to keep them free of matting fur and debris. They will also need a haircut every couple of months. This is an active breed that needs a lot of regular exercise to stay happy and healthy. In addition to proper grooming and exercise they also need to be trained. The best training methods for this breed are ones that are firm but not overly domineering. This is a relatively healthy dog breed, however, they are prone to hip dysplasia.