Your Next Powerwasher

Sooner or later you will want a power washer for your outdoor kennel.  If you are like most people you will think you aren't going to need one more than once in a while.  You are probably right.  The mistake comes in assuming you should get the least expensive model since you aren't going to use it very often.   We have tried a variety of simple hose attachment and they generally don't get the job done.  Also, the small electric models you can get at Home Depot or Sears just don't cut it.  The hoses kink and crack almost instantly and they can't be replaced.  You are also likely to find that the hose connection leaks like a sieve.   It's just not worth going cheap.

We were somewhat reluctant to go up a model but it is well worth it.   We eventually moved up to to a gas powered Honda 2600 PSI washer, which is on the low end of power washers.  This is probably more power than you need for power washing a do…

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Housebreaking Your Puppy

House breaking your puppy is one of the most concerned matters that any new pet owner has in his mind after one buys a puppy. It is indeed one the most important as well the most time consuming training that you’re pet undergoes once it reaches your house. The most important step is to understand your puppy and his habits.   Most of the housebreaking training starts at the preliminary stage. Normally puppies do not have the holding capacity of adult dogs once they have their meal. It creates pressure at their bladder and colon, which forces them to urinate. They need to urinate at least six times a day. The most preliminary sign are they will circle by going round and round the place where they will urinate. If your puppy smells his/her defecation it becomes very tough to housebreak your puppy.

The key way to ensure your puppy stays on the right track is to frequently take your pet out. If the puppy defecates outside at a regular basis do praise it. Dogs…

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Microchipping Your Puppy

One of the new pet identification system that has improved pet safety is “Micro-chipping”.   The old method that was used widely around the world for pet identification was “tattooing”. One of the problems with this method is the similarity of tattoos in different pets which will in turn create confusion. The second thing was that dogs are often reluctant to any stranger touching them. Finding the tattoo in this scenario would create challenges. Microchip implantation in the pet’s body is one of the universally accepted ways of pet identification. If you ever plan on selling dogs to other countries, this is generally a requirement.  The microchip is normally implanted at the shoulder blades of the dog. The next important issue that comes is that whether the chip can be misplaced by any means? The answer is as the whole body is scanned during this process the probability of missing the chip is absolutely zero unless the scanner is defective or the chip.

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Dog Veterinary Care

Today, dogs have become a very important part of our lives and to many people all over the world dogs are more than pets. When we love some one, we make sure they are safe and have the best of every thing which has a lot to do with their health. Dog veterinary care is one of the most important factors to consider when you decide to go buy a dog or when you want to have a healthy dog. Taking very good care of your dogs has a lot to do with the kind of veterinary care they are given.

Today, the increase of the love of dogs as pets has also led to the increase in veterinary clinics all over the world making it very difficult to find out which one's are best for our dogs or not. Choosing the right dog veterinary care for your dogs can be very confusing and stressful since there is the need to make sure your dog is really being taken good care of. Choosing a vet for your dog should never be done in a rush especially because it does not pay to rush such important decisi…

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Feeding Puppies

Daily food intake varies for dogs of all ages and it could be detrimental to their health if you decide to feed them all the same food. Feeding puppies the right way is a particularly important task since dog health and muscle-development predominantly depends on the nutrition intake during their puppyhood.

Here are certain dos and don’ts to follow when you feed puppies.

1. Stay clear of corn and wheat Let’s face it – dogs were never meant to have wheat and grains. If you closely inspect their teeth, they have naturally designed canines to rip into flesh but no molars to grind wheat and grains. Thus, do not try feeding your puppies with bread, rice or flakes. Dogs might take a liking to these dishes but their gastro-intestinal health will eventually suffer. Moreover, problems like vomiting and constipation might occur in some cases.

2. Switch over to new food gradually No dog-owner or dealer is going to hand you a pup the day it is born. At mos…

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Dog Crates

A dog crate is one of the best ways to keep your pet safe in a proper place, and feeling at home. There are different types of crates of which are used widely all over the world.  Plastic crates and wire crates both have their own benefits.  The right choice for your dog will generally depend on the breed.  Larger breed dogs tend to have less options for plastic crates.  Wire crates tend to be better for most dogs for daily use because they can still see all around.  Most of the plastic crates are really only designed for travel use.

Crates are important for house training and most dogs come to think of their crate as their home and are more than content to stay in it when they are by themselves or at night.  Since dogs often get bored if they are out by themselves, the can be very destructive.  Crates protect your house and give the dog a sense of comfort as well.

Plastic crates are generally used as the travelling ken…

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When to Start Feeding Your Puppy Solid Food

You will probably start puppies on solid food at 4-5 weeks.    Mom will probably want to be done with the at this point since nursing with teeth is painful.  Food is one of the most important things to consider with the health of your puppy.  The first and the foremost ingredient that should be in your dog food is a specified meat and not a meat by-product.  Try to avoid puppy foods with corn since there can be side effects such as skin allergies, joint swelling and bloat etc… It is better to feed dogs a grain free diet if at all possible.  Better quality dog food may cost more but it is better on the digestion and you will be scooping less poop as well.

There may be some trouble to find a good quality dog food at the grocery store.   You are more likely to find higher grade food at the local pet store, Agway or Tractor Supply.  This can avoid major health problems that may lead to illness of your pet.  Many d…

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Puppy Mills

Need I say more? Most of you will know what a puppy mill is and are as disgusted by this type of breeder as am I. Puppy Mills have multiple breeds, with hundreds of dogs that live 24/7 in cages (which is NOT a dog crate), and they live only to breed. A bitch's first season will produce a litter, which if it lives great, if they die, oh well.

These animals rarely see veterinary care except for maybe required shots, and have little to no human interaction. Puppy Mills are supposed to be regulated by the USDA and puppies born at a Puppy Mill are sold at sanctioned USDA auctions for little to no money. They are in turn sold at pet stores for thousands of dollars. Considering the puppies get to the pet store at 8 weeks or so the cost to care for them while at the pet store is minimal so the majority of their cost is pure profit.

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Backyard Breeders

The backyard breeder is the person that breeds dogs for a few different reasons.  People breeding designer dogs (cockapoos, schnoodles, goldadoodles, shitzugs, you get the idea).  Designer dogs are created when breeds are combined to create a "new breed".  These breeds are not recognized by AKC, they are extremely prone to health problems (as genetics are involved), and are over bred. We highly discourage designer breeding and cannot address the issues specific to these types of breeders.  Backyard breeders are also people that love "Fido", and want to make another just like him.  So they don't spay or neuter Fido and they find a stud or bitch to breed him to or with and have a litter of puppies often forgetting that Fido Jr will come with multiple siblings.  Finally backyard breeders are everyday folk that buy a dog and a bitch of a specific breed and make puppies without health testing, or research into bloodlines, or any of the real work involved in breeding dogs. You of…

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Kennel Clubs

AKC and UKC are the kennel clubs recognized in the United States. Readers in other countries don't worry, most countries have kennel clubs similar to AKC. American Kennel Club is the best known in the US as AKC.  UKC is United Kennel Club. Many breeds are recognized by both while some breeds are only recognized by UKC. Both clubs offer information, registration and shows in confirmation ,rally, obedience etc. around the country.

Dog shows are where you earn a dogs championship in these different areas. In confirmation the animal is judged by how closely to the breed standard they are. Duren . Many dogs are dual titled, or have multiple titles if their breeder/owner is involved in other activities like agility or obedience. There are dog shows nationwide, and during all times of the year. Most of the time you can find adog show, depending on where you live, within a 2 hour drive of your home. The bestplace to find where and when dog shows are is infodog.com. Y…

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