Home » Articles posted by Vince (Page 2)

Chinese Pug History and Dog Breed Information

The Chinese Pug is a breed of dog that has a long and fascinating history, stretching back over 2,000 years. This small, compact breed is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world and has been highly prized for its charming and affectionate nature, as well as its distinctive wrinkled face and curly tail. The Chinese Pug is believed to have originated in China, where it was kept as a companion and lapdog by members of the imperial court. This breed was highly prized for its loyalty, playfulness, and affectionate nature, and it was often given as gifts to important figures and dignitaries. The breed’s popularity spread throughout Asia and Europe, and eventually made its way to the United States in the late 19th century. The Chinese Pug is a small breed, typically weighing between 14 and 18 pounds and standing between 10 and 13 inches tall at the...
Continue reading »

Should You Let Your Dog Sleep in Bed with You?

There are two camps among dog people:  those who believe dogs belong in the owner’s bed, and those who prefer their dogs to stay off the furniture.  What are the benefits to each scenario, and is one way better than the other?  These questions are answered below. Benefits of Co-Sleeping with your Dog There are many benefits to allowing your dog to sleep in bed with you.  These include: Protection A dog sleeping in your bed will provide more protection against a break in than a dog in a crate.  Even if your dog isn’t a natural protector, studies have shown that burglars are significantly less likely to target a home with dogs. Warmth Pet owners can save money on their energy bills by allowing their dogs into the bed.  A dog’s body temperature is naturally a few degrees warmer than a human’s, making even the smallest pet a natural...
Continue reading »

Service Dog Etiquette

For dog lovers, resisting the urge to interact with a service animal can be extremely difficult.  However, distracting a service dog from its job can put the animal’s handler in danger.  Listed below are 9 rules of etiquette that people should follow when encountering a service dog in public.  Do Not Distract a Service Dog When a service dog is in a public facility wearing a vest or other indication that he or she is a service dog, you should always assume the dog is on duty.  Distracting the dog in any manner prevents the dog from providing the handler its undivided attention.  As a result, the dog may miss subtle cues that are important for the dog to perform its job.  Ultimately, service dogs are medical devices.  If you would not tamper with a diabetic person’s glucose monitor, you should never inhibit a person’s service dog. Do Not Touch...
Continue reading »

Why Puppy Mills Are So Bad

Are you interested in buying a puppy? Then you should avoid getting it from a puppy mill. What’s a puppy mill and why is it so bad? In the following lines, you will find out more about puppy mills and why they are not recommended at all. They are bad for the dogs and future dog owners alike. You have very good reasons to avoid puppy mills and opt for responsible breeders instead. Puppy mills don’t care about the well-being of the dogs One of the reasons puppy mills are so bad is the fact that the dogs’ health and well-being are utterly disregarded. In this kind of facilities, dogs are kept only for breeding purposes. The owners or managers of puppy mills are simply looking for a profit and care less about the dogs that produce the puppies. They often use a female dog until the verge of exhaustion...
Continue reading »

How to Euthanize Your Dog at Home

No dog lover likes to think about saying goodbye the family’s beloved companion. Most don’t even give it thought until the time comes. But, death is a part of life’s cycles, whether we like it or not. Since dogs live much shorter lives than humans, it is something we need to consider when you look to welcoming a dog into your life. When your dog’s health starts to turn, all we can do is to cherish the moments we have spent together and make the dog’s last days on earth as comfortable and easy as possible. Euthanasia is something you need to consider when you have an ill dog that suffers a lot due to its condition. In spite of the treatment it receives, there can be cases when medication won’t help any longer. When the dog is old, weak, can barely eat, and is in pain, you need to...
Continue reading »

5 Signs Your Dog May Be Overweight

Approximately 80% of UK vets have described an increase in dog obesity. While most owners are aware of the health risks of dog obesity, only up to 30% of owners admit that their own dog is overweight. To keep your dog in their best shape, here are 5 signs your dog may be overweight. 1.      No visible waist Start by standing over your dog and look down to their waist. Every dog, no matter the breed, should have an hourglass shape, even if it is very slight. Look for a tuck behind the ribs and hips. If you cannot see any clear tuck, then your dog is likely overweight. If there isn’t just an absent tuck, but the waistline projects outwards, then your dog is certainly obese. 2.      Missing abdomen tuck Now, observe your dog from the side. Like the waistline, the abdomen should tuck upwards towards the spine. If...
Continue reading »

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: Everything You Need to Know about Bloat

If you own a giant-breed dog, such as a Great Dane, Mastiff, or Irish Wolfhound, chances are you are already aware of Bloat – a silent killer of dogs.  While Bloat is most common in large dogs with barrel-type chests and tucked waists, this deadly disorder can affect all dog breeds, yet few owners are aware of the condition.  Everything you need to know about Bloat is discussed below. Image credit: www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com What is Bloat? When an excessive amount of air, food, or water enters a dog’s stomach and causes discomfort, Bloat has occurred.  A second stage of Bloat, called Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), occurs when the stomach flips over on its horizontal axis and cuts off the blood supply to the stomach, rapidly leading to tissue death and organ failure. What are the Symptoms of Bloat? Bloat symptoms include a visibly distended stomach that is hard to the touch, as well...
Continue reading »

Dogs vs. Moles: Digging Season has Begun

Not only do digging dogs destroy the yard [say that 5 times fast!], but they also track a huge mess into the house.  Warmer weather has brought small critters – such as moles – out of hibernation, which many dog breeds lover to hunt.  Listed here are ways to keep moles out of your yard. Why Do Dogs Dig for Moles? There are many reasons that dogs dig in the yard, including boredom, attention-seeking, warm weather relief, and in search of small animals.  If your dog is a terrier of any type, however, chances are that your dog is seeking small rodents.  After all, many terriers were specifically bred for rodent-control, and certain breeds (such as the Jack Russell Terrier), were developed for controlling mole problems. Thanks to your dog’s keen sense of smell and hearing, your dog will likely detect the presence of a mole long before it makes...
Continue reading »

Hot Paws Review: A Memory That Will Last Forever

My wife was searching around for some craft ideas a few weeks ago and ran across a unique idea she wanted to try. It is called Hot Paws, and today we are going to review it. What is Hot Paws Hot Paws is product from Hot Sand Glass Studio located in New Jersey. Paul Elyseev and Thomas Stevens started Hot Sand at home as a hobby making art. They went on to open a business allowing the public to come in and learn glass blowing. I’m not sure when, but they created Hot Paws as a mail in service to allow pet owners cast their pet’s paw. Once sent back, the company will freeze that print in glass giving an everlasting keepsake. This is what got me interested in Hot Paws. Dog’s are not around forever and I wish we would have done something like this when our sweet sweet Sadie...
Continue reading »

8 Dog Toy Box Ideas That You Will Love

With all the toys around the house, we all know that dogs can be just as messy as a young child. Kids have them so why shouldn’t you have a dog toy box in the house as well? It makes sense, your puppy has those chew toys laying all over. There is nothing worse than stepping on a Kong or plastic bone in the middle of the night! If you would just like to get the ideas, feel free to us the table of contents below to go where you would like to go. Dog Toy Box Ideas The Wire Bone Storage The first option is not technically a dog toy box but it serves the same purpose, plus doing a little more. Besides holding toys, it also offers three hooks for things like your dogs leash. It’s not going to hold a lot of dog toys, but what a cool idea...
Continue reading »