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Showing posts with label small breeds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small breeds. Show all posts

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Help for Ailing Pets - Mangosteen Juice

I am forwarding this message because I know that a lot of the large breed dogs have back and hip problems, and mangosteen juice has been known to improve joint function and boost the immune system. I have a site titled www.mangosteennation.blogspot.com that has some more information about mangosteen. I use this product continually to keep my family healthy, and periodically for Shadow when he has minor injuries or hip pain. (he is one clumsy dog, and sometimes trips going up stairs) Anyway, if your pet is suffering from health issues, it may help. If you are interested in learning even more about mangosteen, check out the product site at www.myxango.com/mangosteennation.

Mangosteen and 13 year Old Miniature Dachshund With a Disintegrated Back Disc...

When asked to write about the effects of aging and the danger of some of the most important folks in our lives, (our little dogs), I almost immediately got tears in my eyes.

My best little four legged friend is "Ms. Scarlet," our long haired, miniature dachshund. We've had her since she was a tiny little puppy. She loves to sit on my lap.

As many of you may know, this breed of dog is very prone to back issues because their little legs are just too short to support their long bodies. We, our family, have always watched that Ms. Scarlet didn’t jump off of furniture, or climb stairs, because of the inclination to have a back injury.

Ms. Scarlet is now 13 years old and last year, just overnight, Scarlet woke up one morning, and she couldn’t stand or walk, and if she tried, the pain would cause her to urinate on the spot. She couldn't even move her real legs, and curled them up under her. I immediately made her an appointment with her Vet and was told that she had a disintegrated disc, and that surgery would be the ONLY solution, and that at her age it would be a real risk.

Ed and I were faced with a decision that most pet owners are faced with at one time or another. It was at this point that Ed said, "Before we make any difficult decisions, let’s see if Xango will work for her."

It was at that point that I started giving Scarlet a dropper of Xango twice a day. It didn’t take but a month, and Scarlet was running around the house with the rest of the dogs and she still is. Our little girl, "Ms. Scarlet." is now almost blind and can’t hear very well, but she's as frisky as a puppy. She hops around in and out of the house, and scampers to the back door to run and play outside with our 2 other miniature dachshund puppies (1 year old). She is much slower than the puppies, but she is 13 years old, and still alive and well, and she's actually still hopping around. God has given us more years with Ms. Scarlett, that we didn't think we would have, and we are so grateful to God for that.

I know that God played a big part in this, because we pray for all our pets, along with all of our family and friends, but I also KNOW in my heart, that if we had not given Ms. Scarlet her Xango every day, she would not be here with us today. By the way, she sends her love and said to tell you that she is still taking her Xango faithfully.

Yvonne Johnson

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products and information contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems. It is not intended to replace your doctor's recommendations. The information is provided for educational purposes only. Nutritional benefits may vary from one person to another. TheCompany, XanGo LLC, cannot and does not make any medical or therapeutic claims about their product, XanGo, nor may any XanGo Independent Distributor. The XanGo Mangosteen Juice is made with the whole Mangosteen fruit that is rich with over 40 xanthones, under an International Patent. Mangosteen and Xanthones have been researched for many years by independent scientists, researchers, and medical schools who have no affiliation with XanGo. Many of the abstracts of their papers can be found at www.pubmed.gov . Enter "Xanthones" into the search bar. Any personal mangosteen story or experience you hear or read about is not to suggest or imply that you or anyone else might have the same reaction or benefit.We merely say, "Try the Mangosteen Product made by XanGo and see what benefits you receive."

Thursday, August 23, 2007

A Guide to Choosing the Right Dog Breed for Best Companionship

By: Moses Wright
Photo Courtesy of: www.missyredboots.com

Dog owners don't just go out there and get any puppy they like! It is not as easy as you think. There are many factors to consider before you decide to buy any puppy breed. Getting the right one will bring many years of happiness and quality companionship to you and your family. On the other hand, getting the wrong one will inevitably add headaches and irritations to your life.

Your financial standing, lifestyle, size and family type are important considerations to be factored when choosing a specific dog type.

While some breeds may required more attention, some require more exercises than the others, some are more suitable for families with young children, some are more prone to genetic health issues and some may simply required more money to own than others.

The amount of dog breed choices is so huge, it is the dog owner's responsibility to research and learn what type of breed is actually more suitable to living with them. The number one reason for dogs to be surrendered to animal shelters is that they don't match the needs or the lifestyle of their owners. The idea of this article is to help you in choosing the right breed of dog to try and reduce the potential issues that could result when the wrong type is chosen.

Here are some important factors to consider before you proceed to bring your puppy home:

1. Accommodation - All dogs need some form of exercise in one way or another, but there are significant disparities among breeds. Small breeds tend to adapt better than large breeds to the smaller space available in an apartment. Nevertheless, some larger breeds who are not as active as others can still adapt well.

Consider how much room do you have for a dog, apartment and a house with or without fenced-in yard makes a different in the type of dog you should get. Having a fenced-in yard will cut down on the time required to walk your dog for bathroom breaks and exercising. All breed will adapt well in this type of setting, but the more active breeds will require more exercises. Giving a dog sufficient exercise is vital to having a good relationship with your dog. Many undesirable behaviors, such as hyperactivity, nuisance barking and destructive behaviors are results of insufficient exercise.

Laws and regulation in the place where you reside also need to be considered. Some landlords do not allow dogs in their rental units at all, while some neighborhoods have strict guidelines regarding the size and the breed of dog that can be owned in that neighborhood.

2. Lifestyle - Dogs are social animals and require time from their owners, some more, some less. If you work long hours, a dog is really not the best pet choice, especially if you live alone. A pet like a cat or fish that require less upkeep may be a better fit for your lifestyle.

While there are dogs that are fine with being left alone for longer periods (Shetland sheepdog, golden retriever and bloodhound), other dogs may undergo separation anxiety and result in undesirable behavioral issues. Do not condemn a social animal such as a dog to a life of fear, and boredom. If you find it difficult not to own a dog for various reasons, employ a dog walker, enroll him into a daycare center or maybe entrust him to your retired neighbor.


3. Family - Make sure that everyone in the family is supportive of a dog. There are dogs with the inclination for aggression and biting so it is less suitable for households with smaller kids. Young ignorant children are likely to irritate the dogs through rough play without knowing what they are doing. Dog breeds that are more patient and tolerant of children is advisable for families with young kids. Herding dogs might not be the best option because of their natural inborn instinct to herd cattle, they are likely to do so with your younger family members. Such innate instincts can result in nipping incidents.

Existing pets in the household must be considered when getting a new dog. The temperament of the new dog needs to be compatible with those of the existing pets to make sure no problems will arise with the new addition. Territorial problems should be expected. They usually clear up within a week or so. It is advisable to give them food separately during the first meetings, as food is a main reason for rivalry in dogs.

4. Financial Obligations - Dog ownership is a long commitment with on going expenses. The initial cost will vary depending on the breed and type of dog you select. Perigees are generally are more expensive than mutts no matter where you get them. On the other hand, rescued pedigrees found in animals shelters cost much lesser. It is best to be able to see and meet your potential dog's parents.

Apart from the initial purchase price, you might want to go to a local pet warehouse to check out the prices of dog supplies. Dog food, collars, leashes, toys, food bowls, crates, and any other supplies you think you need for your dog, and not forgetting your veterinary bills, grooming expenses and even an insurance policy.

It is always advisable to ask your dog owner friends or family members to have a rough idea of how much they spend annually on their dogs.

5. Purpose of dog ownership - Understanding your primary reason for getting a dog. Do you intend to show, breed or hunt with the dog? Is the dog needed for service, therapy or for companionship only? For breeding or showing, you need a dog that meets or exceeds the standards for the breed and has all the appropriate documentation of its lineage. For hunting, you will require a good scent or sight-hunting dog. While there are many breeds that are suitable to work as service or therapy dogs, they generally must possess good temperament, keen willingness to learn and good concentration. Knowing the purpose would inevitably help to select the right breed.

6. Size - Dogs can be largely divided into three size categories based on their weight at maturity. Smaller dogs commonly weight up to 20 pounds, Medium dogs in the region of 20-50 pounds and larger dogs are mostly heavier than 50 pounds.

As a rule of thumb, bigger breeds are unsuitable if you live in a small apartment, or a home with a small or unfenced yard. Nevertheless, this is not the case for all dogs. Some dogs such as golden retrievers actually possess characteristics that make them more suitable than an active schnauzer to apartment living. Temperament and activity level are equally important when selecting the right breed.

While smaller dogs generally do not require as much space as larger dogs, caution should be taken with small breeds due to their small and fragile bodies. Smaller dog breeds are more prone to accidents and injuries during play with owners or other dogs, it is because of their small stature. On the other hand, large breeds can unintentionally cause harm to small children when playing. It is also found that large breeds have a shorter life span of 8-12 years while small breeds can live up to 15 or 16 years.

7. Temperament - Purebreds display well-understood mental temperaments and characteristics to a large extent while mutts are more difficult to determine. It is advised that advise and consultations be sought in choosing a dog with the right nature to suit your life. If you have children, look for dogs with a low tendency to bite and a high tolerance for handling. If it is a guard dog, you want it to be obedient but still able to effectively guard the territory. Over aggressive dogs must not be considered.

In a nutshell, adding a dog to your family is a life changing and long commitment. Consider carefully before you decide to bring the puppy back. Take the time to choose the best dog breed. By doing so, I'm sure you will get to enjoy and be rewarded many times over by the love, affection and good company that he or she will bring into your life.

Moses Wright has been a dog lover since young and now he loves to help fellow dog owners solve their dog problems whenever he can. You can get a free copy of his book filled with useful and practical tips here: http://www.dogsobediencetraining.com/dogger_enews.htm

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