Early Dog Memories

When I was nine years old I decided, most adamantly, that I would have a dog for my tenth birthday. My parents, much amused by my bold declaration told me I could indeed have a dog if, over the following year I could prove myself capable of the inherent responsibility. For months I took on early morning chores and other tasks I had long avoided, I proved my mettle, so to speak, and reluctantly my parents agreed to allow me to begin thinking about what kind of dog I wanted.

I had narrowed it down to either a German Sheppard or a Husky or maybe a Dalmatian. I just knew that, one way or the other I wanted a real masculine dog, a “guy’s dog” – the kind I could run around with and maybe even occasionally wrestle if I felt so inclined. It was around this time that mother began her propaganda plot behind my back – the one in which she slowly convinced me that these larger, noisier breeds were not the ideal dog I thought they were. Dear old mom convinced me that I would much prefer a miniature dachshund: the dogs’ small size would make it easier to play with and more fun for play on the go. It was, obviously, just an attempt by my mom to minimize the size of the animal she would ultimately have to care for. And she was right, she did end up taking care of the miniature dachshund I ended up with on my birthday…but the joke was on both of us as the dog ended up living for the next twenty years!

Good Small Dogs

Small dogs are cute and wonderful pets to keep. They are always lively and full of energy. They are easier to manage than large dogs. A small dog can generally be described as one who is not more than 25 pounds in weight and not larger than 17 inches in height. They generally have a live span of 14 to 16 years. Small dog breeds differ in their size, color and shape and hair type. There are many types of small dogs. Below is some information on the most common ones.

Pomeranian: Pomeranians are very beautiful and fluffy. They usually weigh around 4-7 pounds and are 6-7 inches in height. They bite more than they bark. They love to be the center of attraction and get jealous very easily.

Pug: Pugs are sweet, playful and fun loving. They are full of energy. They can be easily trained. Their face is very expressive and resembles a closed fist. Their length is usually 9 to 11 inches and weighs 14 to 20 pounds.

Chihuahua: Chihuahuas are the smallest breed of dogs but have big attitudes. They are a little violent in nature. They are known for being fiercely loyal.

Shih Tzu: Shih Tzu dogs look unique. They are known as little lion because their face looks like that of a lion. They always seek attention. They are cuddly and usually 10 inches in length and weigh about 9 to 16 pounds.

Boston Terrier: Boston Terriers have a very mild temperament. They are good entertainers. They normally weigh anywhere between 14 to 22 pounds and are about 11 to 15 inches in length. They have short tails and well proportioned erect ears.

Pekingese: Pekingese are small dogs with a sleek body. They look bold and courageous. Their weight is between 7 to 14 pounds and length 8 to 10 inches. They have a double coat. Their guard coat is pretty long and when they walk it brushes against the floor. They also have long ears, legs and tails.

Dachshund: Dachshunds are fearless dogs. They are fun loving and very alert. They are short and long. They make excellent lap dogs. They are usually reserved but can be defensive if they come across strangers.
Yorkshire Terrier: Yorkshire Terriers are alert and fearless dogs. They are very loyal. At times they can be a bit nippy. They have a tendency to get jealous.

Bichon Frise: These dogs are intelligent. They are sensitive and affectionate. They are attention seekers. They should be kept clean and trimmed.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Spaniels are the biggest of small dogs. They are very expressive. Their weight is around 12 to 16 pounds and they are 12 to 13 inches in length.

Maltese: These dogs have straight, silky, long and white hair. They enjoy being petted. Their hair touches the ground when they move around. They are energetic and easy to train. They love to play games.
Whichever small dog you choose to keep you can be sure you would have a great companion with you.

Our Other Dog Hero

Besides our pet dog Jack, we also have another dog to tell you about. It’s our Labrador Hero. We got him because of our son. We used to regularly visit my sister-in-law who had two labs (male and female). That’s where he got familiar with dogs and took a liking towards them. Our black male lab is a product of her labs.

He was small and cute so I too was a little comfortable. My son was very excited and so was his father. Hero was what my son named him. Though, my son was only four years he took good care of his Hero. He fed him well and bathed him with my husband’s help.

We have only one son but he never feels lonely because Hero is always by his side. He talks to him and plays with him. My son learnt to be more responsible because of Hero.

Hero is now 4 years old and we just love him. Our family is now incomplete without Hero.

Dog Care

If you keep a dog as a pet you would have a best friend. He would look after the safety of you and your home. Dogs are affectionate, playful and smart. They are very loyal to their owners too. You have a wide range of dog breeds to choose from. The routine care for any pet dog would be feeding and bathing.

Feeding: if you have a puppy, he would need more number of feeds which can gradually be reduced as he grows bigger. An adult dog requires to be fed twice a day. Dogs love meat; however, you can give them a well balanced vegetarian meal too. Their food should have high level of proteins, vitamins and minerals. Make sure that fresh drinking water is available for them always.

Bathing: You need to bathe your dog with a mild soap, once or twice a month. Avoid bathing him frequently. However, they need to be groomed regularly with a comb or brush. Grooming would also include checking his mouth and teeth properly and trimming his nails.

Along with feeding and bathing, exercising your dog is very important. Don’t forget to learn how to potty train a puppy so they don’t pee in your house! Walking and running are good exercises. Playing with a ball or fetching a Frisbee would be good games and good exercises as well. Make sure you give your pet dog a lot of time and attention.

Choosing Dog Food

In case you have a dog as a pet, you need to take proper care of its needs so that it remains fit all the time. Very often people keep a pet dog only to feed it all the leftovers from their kitchen. This is not fair to man’s best friend. So if you are interested in taking good care of your pet dog’s food habits, this is what you need to do. You should always give the meal to your dog at the same time every day. Also don’t spoil your dog by feeding him from the dining table. Instead always feed him in a bowl kept especially for him.

Although a number of food manufacturers keep coming out with fancy products for dogs, its important not to get easily swayed by every product which comes out in the market. Make your choice very carefully by asking a dog expert or anyone who has a dog for many years. Try to provide your dog, food which is high on protein as it helps your pet to digest the food in a proper manner. Avoid giving your dog stuff like grapes, onions, chocolates and raisins at any cost as they can be very harmful to it.

Advantages of Having a Dog

There are an endless number of advantages of having a pet dog in your life. First of all a pet dog will never have a break-up with you compared to your unfaithful boyfriend/girlfriend. Also a pet dog will warm your heart with its display of affection compared to the rude and unfriendly people we meet everyday in our lives. Don’t fret, in case you are a diet-freak and if all your diets have not worked out for you. There’s some good news for you – you can give up all your unsuccessful diet programs. Take your pet dog for a walk instead. Studies have proved pet owners lose weight faster compared to people who do dieting and don’t have a pet dog.

A pet dog is also recommended for parents who have grown-up children studying abroad. They can keep a pet dog at home. A pet dog is just like a child. They will not feel so lost anymore – a pet dog will not allow them to spend their day gloomily anymore. Contrary to popular belief, dogs aren’t very expensive to keep. Only avoid dogs with pedigree as they tend to be more expensive to take care of compared to the normal breeds.

Why Dogs Make Good Pets

Don’t be in two minds when you need to select a dog as your pet. It will turn out to be one of the best decisions of your life. The advantages are many when you get a dog for yourself. The biggest advantage is that you will never feel lonely when you have a dog by your side. A dog is always there to greet you when you are back from your work – tired and lonely. Just wait for it to welcome you and give you warm hugs. All your tiredness will simply drain away. You will never get bored when you have a dog for company, as it will always be up to some trick trying to get your attention at any cost.

Kids learn to be more loving by nature when they have a dog at home. So if you are married and have kids, it will help you in multiple ways. A dog helps you to reduce the stress in your life – studies have proved that dog owners have a less stressed-up life compared to those who don’t have dogs as pets. And since you will take your dog for a walk everyday, you too will remain fit as you don’t need to look for a reason to go for a walk anymore.

Finding the Perfect Dog

When I was a kid, we had a mix breed german shepard-lab mix.  His name was Shadow, and true to his name, he followed me everywhere.   He was one of those dogs that you never had to have on lead, he would always come when called, and was perfectly happy to spend a day in the woods with me and the neighborhood kids or just sitting by my side while I did homework.  He was the perfect dog, and unlike those shows on the Discovery channel (Dog Whisper or It´s me or the do) we didn´t have to train him to be this way.  He just was.

When I started looking for Jack, I knew what I wanted.  But how do you find the perfect dog?  Can you tell from a puppy what they´ll be like as an adult?  Well I came up with a few tests that are easy to do, right when they are a puppy, and before you make the commitment to adopt.

1.  The Training Test.  Take a small piece of dog food or other treat and try to see which one of the puppies in the litter will respond to food first.  They should follow it around with their nose a little, and if you raise it up, they will naturally fall into a sitting position.  Most of the litter will likely be too busy playing with each other to notice.  But you want the dog that notices you.

2.  The Excitability Test.  Clap loudly!  Make a sudden move.  Rush at the puppies a bit.  Is there one dog that is completely unfazed by this?  Then you have your dog.

3.  The Separation Test.  One by one, pick up and remove each dog from the rest of the pack.  See if they whine or squirm, or if they are perfectly content to rest in your arms while you move them out of the room.  The most laid back dog will be the one that doesn´t bat an eye at the change in environment.

Next you´ll want to narrow it down.  Once you´ve found a few puppies that respond well to these tests, you´ll want to spend some time with each one, and make note of their personality.  Do they chew on your hand?  Do they fall asleep in your lap?  Can stand being petted?  Everything you see now is hightened because they are a puppy, but if you want a glimpse into their future personality, this is the best way.

Finally, don´t forget the connection factor.  Whatever happens, there will likely be one dog you´re just drawn to.  When I first met Jack, he just won me over with his licks and gentle demeanor.  And now, he´s definitely on his way to being the perfect dog.

I love my Dog

This blog is about my dog (hey that rhythms).  He’s a beagle named Jack and he is like most beagles- out of control. But I love him anyways. He’s 4, a bit of a fatty, but still pretty active.  He runs, jumps, takes up most of the bed, and is always eating my food.  I guess I should have trained him better.

I’m pretty sure he is the master in this relationship.   So I’ll write here about him and raising him and tips for other dog owners abour dogs and beagles.  Beagles are a pretty special breed.

I’m new to blogging so if its awhile before i post pictures or do this write, forgive me. I’m a slow learner