If you and your children have decided to own a dog or puppy selecting a dog breed appropriate for your family will require some researching. Two key things to consider when researching dog breeds are size and energy level of the dog as these are big determinants if the breed will be a good match for your family’s lifestyle.

Kids like to play with dogs and sometimes they can be very rough with dogs. If this is the case you will need a dog with a passive temperament who won’t mind being pulled and squeezed. Considering the size of the dog is also important for the safety of your children as well as the dog. While there are some dog breeds that are very good with children these dogs sometimes happen to be larger breeds which may pose a problem especially with small children who may be accidentally stepped on or knocked over by a large dog.

Dogs that have high energy levels are also usually good with children but your family should know that these dogs will need physical activity on a regular basis; so although these dogs are good with playful older children, they are most suitable for a family with an active lifestyle.  Dogs with high energy levels that do not receive the exercise they require may develop behavior problems such as excessive chewing and barking.

Selecting a dog breed that’s good with children but that is also compatible with your family’s lifestyle.

Here are some breeds that work well with families and kids:

Beagle: Good with kids. Approximate size: 40 to 59 lbs. Needs plenty of exercise but brisk daily walks do count as exercise. Beagles shed, so if you or a family member suffer from allergies, it is worth looking into other breeds that do well with kids.

Bassett Hound: Good with kids. Approximate size: 50 to 65 lbs. Gets along well with other dogs and pets. Minimal exercise needed.

Cocker Spaniel: Good with kids. Approximate size: 13 to 30 lbs. Regular exercise may be needed.

Dachshund: Good with kids. Approximate size: 16 to 32 lbs. Moderate exercise needed. They are medium shedders.  Housebreaking can be difficult.

Golden Retriever: Good with kids. Approximate size: 65 to 75 lbs. Easy to train. Gets along well with other dogs and pets. Daily exercise needed. Loves to play with balls and other toys, which can serve as exercise

Labrador Retriever: Good with kids. Approximate size: 60 to 75 lbs. Requires daily exercise.  Minimal grooming required.

Pug: Good with kids. Approximate size: 14 to 18 lbs. Will need exercise to prevent obesity as they tend to have a fat body; but do not do well with excessive heat exposure as they have a tendency to overheat. Sheds copious amounts, usually seasonally.

Shih Tzu: Great with kids. Small dog breed that loves to snuggle and is lazy in nature, does not need regular exercise, good for non-active families.

The bottom line is conduct extensive research when Selecting a Dog for your family with children because this is not an item you can return its a major responsibility and an addition to your family.

Last week we lost our puppy.  We decided to rescue a third dog (my birthday gift) and she was amazing.  She was with us for less than a week when she got sick.  She passed on a week later.  I’m still crying myself to sleep.  It’s awful.  Riley died from parvo and we’ve since learned many things about the disease, dog rescue, and shelters that made me understand another reason why some people are choosing a reputable breeder instead of dog rescue.

A Few Common Reasons to Choose a Reputable Breeder

Many people I know who purchased a puppy from a reputable breeder did so, because they wanted a pure bred, they wanted a particular temperament, or they wanted a show quality dog.

I know that there are many more, but these are the ones I’ve always heard consistently.

More Reasons to Choose a Reputable Breeder

After Riley passed away, we realized that we knew nothing of her history.  Where did she come from?  All we do know is that she came from a shelter in Eastern Washington.  She had an owner, because she knew to go to the door when she had to go potty.  She was very well mannered and really smart.

When someone buys a puppy from a reputable breeder, they get their puppy’s history.  They even get their puppy’s parent’s history.  They know about any genetic issues they may have to face, they have someone to call to ask questions, and hopefully they’ve taken the time to research the breed.

Rescue dogs may come with a laundry list of behavioral and health issues that people are simply not prepared to deal with and I can understand the fear of taking on a troubled dog.

Ultimately We Want a Dog to Go to a Good Home

I would prefer that everyone rescue their dog, because there are so many who need a good home.  But if a dog from a breeder finds a wonderful forever home, then that’s one less dog that will end up at a shelter.  I’m starting to understand a little more of the appeal of the going to a reputable breeder, but I believe that I’ll always go the route of dog rescue for our family.

Where did you find your dogs?  A Reputable Breeder or rescue group?

Kimberly Gauthier, a perpetually happy person, lives with her amazing guy, their spoiled dogs and cats, and loves dog rescue, photography, reading, and laughing. She’s the author of Keep the Tail Wagging, where she shares tips on raising happy, healthy dogs and promotes dog rescue and reputable breeding. You can also find her at Girl Power Hour as The Fur Mom.

Part of the fun part of having a human in your life and a “Forever Home” is playing games.  My human wasn’t talented at this, at first, but I have broken him in with some simple games.  Eventually, we moved up to the harder stuff!!   He’s a great guy and pretty trainable- most of that’s because he’s willing to listen and learn what will make our relationship healthier and happier.  I keep telling him “listen to me buddy and life will be grand!”  I get the oddest looks when I say that.

To start with, I took him out in the backyard after one of our long weekend walks and began to play “fetch.”  I brought the toy to him, he threw it, I went after it- you know the routine, I’m sure.  Except. Sometimes, when I bring him the toy, I don’t let go so we can play tug-of-war.   I hold tight and go ‘round and ‘round with him.  He loves it!   Sometimes I let him win and watch him go flying.  I try hard not to laugh. 

After we’ve played for awhile and we’re both tired, I like to set the toy down right in front of him.  After a grueling game, and I’m resting, he likes to sneak the toy away from me.   He throws it and far.  I sit there and look like I don’t care.  I do. But, not at the moment.  He’ll say “Go get it!  Go get it!!”   I look at him like, “you go get it! I’m tired!”  Sure enough, he goes to get it.  He moves across the yard rather slowly and I just watch him.  He comes back and throws it again.  Sometimes, I’ll go get it, sometimes I’ll just sit there being all tired and everything.  Once again he goes to it and comes back.  This is a wonderful way to make your human exercise! 

When the weather turns cold, my human’s interest in being outside tends to drop way back.  Not sure why he’s like that.  Just a little chilly to me!   Anyway, we take our games inside to the family room.  My humans don’t keep anything breakable in there so we play fetch with a Kong or a rope toy.   Not as much room to run around, but we do have some and play tug of war or keep-away!  The best part about playing indoors is Mom gets involved and they play keep-away.  The humans are catching on to this and its really great- Mom sits on the coach and Dad sits on another chair.  They throw the rope toy back and forth and I try to catch it. One of them usually always fumbles a throw and I grab it and run around the room like a proud dog!!  Of course, it’s always to show off my talent and skill.

The most fun I have with the indoor games is when Dad comes home from work tired.   He lets me out, we have dinner and he lays down on the couch to relax.   Once he’s gotten to where he’s almost asleep, I grab the toy, bring to him, and place it right in front of his face.  If he doesn’t know that I am there, I will growl, and get louder, until he does wakes up and grabs the toy!!   This usually scares him to death!  It’s great fun.  I wait for him to drift off to sleep and I do it again!!   Once again, he startles and wakes up.  Throws the toy and I’m off again.   

Dad’s great fun.  He’s never gotten mad at me for doing this.  He’s mentioned several times to Mom that I’ve been good for him especially when walking and playing games!!

Written from a dogs perspective by
Allen Pearson, www.allenpearsonsphotos.com
Noah Pearson, Pawthor of dullesdog.blogspot.com

CANINE PLAY INTERACTION

Playing with our pets is fun and amusing, however this is only a portion of the purpose of dogs at play. It is an important function in a dog’s life, for bonding with you, and keeping the dog from a life of boredom. Let’s look at a pack of wolves, the pups and the adults romp and wrestle to learn the tactics of the family and the hierarchy of the pack.Domestic dogs need this interaction, but with the owners. It is important to realize how to play properly with your dog.
        Let’s begin with puppies, cute cuddly puppies. Some pups are ready to play immediately, some take a little coaxing. If the pup is shy, a helpful move is to get on the floor near the pup, lower your head to the floor. No eye contact, and hair accessible. Within a very short time the pup will be checking out to see who and what you are. Next move is to rub your forehead against the puppy’s forehead.. Pheromones for acceptance, love, and pleasure are in the forehead(most animals are) , now you have it made!  

      Size of the dog is the next consideration, along as breed tendencies. Small dogs are given little credit for the capability of play. Yes, a large house can be enough room to exercise a toy breed. However, real play time is immensely important. Segregation of dogs from other people and animal, creates a neurotic and fearful pets. Walking your dog, small or large helps to set up the hierarchy of the dog and the owner. Being in control of your dog  is  definitely  one of the most critical issues of raising any dog. Dogs need structure and an alfa set up, or you will lose the respect of your dog.
        Toys should be size that cannot be swallowed, or easily destroyed. NEVER use rags, clothing, shoes as toys. This leaves the notion that such objects can be played with or chewed on. This goes for all dogs, this would be setting yourself up for disaster. Toys should be hard enough to use for teething, yet soft enough to be tempting. A Wubba by the company KONG, is a terrific choice for small dogs. Safety is essential. Vinyl toys are bright and colorful, and usually have a loud squeaker; however, vinyl can be bitten off in chunks that might be ingested. A piece of vinyl could be swallowed and cause a blockage. This situation is not only painful, but life-threatening and will involve an expensive surgery. Latex toys are much more safety conscious. If it is swallowed, it is generally thin enough to pass it through the digestive tract. Toys must be viewed in three ways; fun, safety and purpose.
          Playtime with any puppy or dog should include those same three factors. Fun is of course, is the first consideration by most. but that is only partially the object of play. Play is a time for a dog to get exercise, the owner to get exercise, and relating on a mutual plane from dog to human. Consider the breed of dog and the purpose for which that breed was created. Let’s use the toy breeds as a first example. A great number of the smaller breeds are Terriers. Terriers were bred to be vermin hunters. This makes their prey drive higher than other breeds. This is a concept missed by most. Play should be directed in formation towards their natural behaviors.

The majority of the small breeds are natural hunters. These breeds are perfect for playing fetch or hide a toy and get the dog to find and retrieve it for you. They frequently shake a toy in instinctive imitation of killing prey. Keeping this in mind, play should use the natural responses, but the alpha being, the human should work on teaching the dog to release the toy on command. Using a dog’s inherent behavior is a proper form of training, not just amusement. It is very important to utilize the deeply rooted behaviors of each breed, but keeping the behavior at suitable limits by training the dog to listen to the owner, the pack leader.
      Border Collies are frequently noted as the most intelligent dog breed. They and other herding breeds have a unique ability to learn and think quickly. These breeds need activity and utilization of their logic, or they become bored and frustrated. Games with herders need to be active and thought provoking. Watching agility competitions, will establish the useful intensity of the breeds. Entertainment is different for the dog and master. Play is energetic; Frisbee , hide and seek, fetching, using hand signals or sounds are just some of the fun things to do that are productive and occupy the attributes of the herders. The owner needs to share the love of a challenge to make life fun and inspiring for both dog and human. The trick is to remain on the top rung of the intelligence ladder! Creative indoor play and actions can include multiple toy boxes, one for individual types of toys, such as rope, soft, or hard toys. Teach them things to do, fetching your slippers, umbrella, things to fill the need to be useful. They are also great children “sitters” The family is their herd and will protect and gather the children.
       Again, this is something that is researched before entering a dog into the home, the “purpose” and innate qualities of a breed. Working breeds should do just that. Take your Rotty for a walk while he pulls a cart, maybe including a child. Remember, You are always in charge and initiate play or time together. Structure is as important for a dog as it is for a child, they require knowing the status line in the family.
       As can be seen, recreational activity between dog and his master, is one not only of fun, but function of body and brain. A runner would work out well with a Dalmatian, which was a carriage dog in history.A Maltese being small and a non-shedding breed, require less outdoor running and can even be potty trained in a litter box. It does need to be recognized, that even small breeds need to get in the sun regularly for optimum health. Retirement  or apartment residents frequently choose the toy breeds.
Hunters automatically develop a report with the hunting breed they chose. Working in the rough terrain develops a close bond between dog and owner. Retrieving balls or toys, builds the basis for the hunting lifestyle. The majority of sporting dogs work hard, but settle in the home when the play or work is completed.

One point for playing with any dog, large or small, playing tug-of-war is not an acceptable form of play. It seems everyone falls into this “play”, but unless you are training for that behavior( protection, certain specialty breed shows), tugging only promotes tearing of clothes, aggressive behaviors, not releasing when told, and biting. When playing this way, generally we allow the puppy or dog to win the game. Wrong scenario is occurring here. The human has “lost” to the dog. The hierarchy has changed. The dog is now alpha and that is a position that is improper and may literally “bite you in the butt”.
       Play-time is bonding time, learning each other and have productive fun. Chose your dog wisely, and play appropriately for the breed. This life taken into a home, needs proper health, love, and play. Be certain research is done completely, and don’t take prejudice advice from people who may have had a uniquely bad experience with a poorly trained dog.

Carol Pentz
 HeartAndSol American Bulldogs
 www.heartandsolab.com

My Rodrigo with is friends Koda and Bro at the Strawberry Fields Dog Park
3 Things to Help Dog Owners Let Dogs be Dogs

We love to take our dogs to the dog park and we tend to just let our dogs off their leash to go play with their friends and meet new friends. But I see many people bringing toys like Frisbees and Chuckit Ball Launchers to the park to make the experience more fun for their dogs.

What I love are the games the dogs play.  It’s so much fun watching them chase each other, roll around,  and then start chasing again.  I think the dog park is a fantastic place where we can let dogs be dogs.  Let them growl and mouth each other, let them pretend to hunt, and let them get some much needed exercise.

I’ve noticed that people who are new to a dog park or have a new puppy, they’re nervous and protective of their fur baby.  This I completely understand.  Here are three things to help dog owners relax and let dogs be dogs.

Know your dog

It’s important to watch and understand your dog’s body language and what s/he is telling you.  Sydney is shy around new dogs and she shows this by tucking her tail between her legs and sitting on my foot or between my legs facing away from dogs.  I don’t push her to play, because I know it’ll take her some time to become comfortable if there are new dogs.

When we’re around familiar dogs, the hair on Sydney’s back stands straight up.  This isn’t fear or aggression, this is her excitement at seeing her friends.

Rodrigo lays on the ground when he sees a friend who is also a shepherd mix.  It’s hilarious to watch them lay down, facing each other, 50 feet apart.  This is part of their game.

Get to know your dogs signals so that you can relax when they’re playing a game and quickly step in if you feel that your dog is afraid or about to become aggressive.

Know the dogs at the park

I’ve made many friends at the Strawberry Fields dog park.  We even have a Facebook group where we check in to see who’s going to be at the park.  This has been fantastic for Sydney’s confidence and great for training our head strong Rodrigo.  Having a group has also helped us socialize our new puppy, Riley.

Another benefit to knowing the dogs at the park is to pick out the aggressive ones.  If the neighborhood bully is at the park today, we walk the trails around the park instead.  If we’re already at the park when the bully arrives, we can either choose to leave or simply go to another portion of the park.

The neighborhood bully doesn’t hang at our park for long; no one wants to risk their dog’s safety and having the park empty out when you arrive is a great deterrent for owners of aggressive dogs.

Understand dog behavior

Dogs growl, dogs bark, and dogs mouth.  This isn’t always a sign of aggression and I feel awful when I see a new dog owner leave a park, because the dogs are too rough.  It’s important to let dogs be dogs, but I understand the fear.  No one wants their dog to be mauled at the park.  This is where understanding your dogs signals and being familiar with other dogs is so important.

I also recommend watching programs about dogs on Animal Planet and reading books about dog behavior.  Become familiar with what is normal dog behavior (humping, growling, barking).  Try visiting the park without your dog and ask questions.  It sounds weird and slightly starkerish, but other dog owners will appreciate that you’re trying to learn and will be willing to help.

If you’re still not ready for the dog park or comfortable at the dog park, then plan play dates at homes so that you can let your dog be a dog.  Our dogs are my babies and I talk to them like their kids (no commands and I always say please and thank you).  As adorable as my babies are, they have fur and four legs and I know they need some dog time.  I’m an over protected Fur Mom, but I now understand that it’s important to let dogs be dogs.

Kimberly Gauthier, a perpetually happy person, lives with her amazing guy, their spoiled dogs and cats, and loves dog rescue, photography, reading, and laughing. She’s the author of three blogs, sharing tips and tricks about photography, blogging, and raising happy, healthy dogs. You can also find her at Girl Power Hour as The Fur Mom.

New Puppy Owners Avoid These 6 Mistakes

You’ve narrowed down the dog breed you desire than contacted rescues and interviewed dog breeders and now you’ve found the puppy of your dreams to complete your family and ready to bring home your dog …. Some new puppy and dog owners will make some mistakes that can make owning a puppy difficult, which can add frustration as well as resentment.  Be aware of 6 mistakes of new dog owners so you can have a more pleasant experience with your new puppy.

1.            House breaking or AKA potty training your puppy indoors on smooth bright white training pads  and then expecting him to automatically go outdoors when he is older. Routine and consistency is needed in your pup’s life.

2.            Sleeping with him on your bed for the first few nights and then expecting him to sleep on his  own a few days due to his whimpering. Place your puppy from the start in the location where he  will sleep permanently to avoid nighttime frustrations and suffering of your puppy.

3.            Leaving food and water available 24/7 for your pup to eat and drink all day. Overfeeding is a   major issue in canine as it is for humans now days. Schedule meals and plan portion sizes according to the nutritional needs of your dog, based on breed, weight, and size of your dog.  Refer to this weight chart if needed Dog Weight Chart

4.            Letting your guilty feelings overwhelm you so that you don’t crate train him. Crate training provides a safe haven for your pup. Letting him roam free unsupervised can lead to dangerous situations. Also, most times they will feel more secured when crated while no one else is home. This would allow you to have peace of mind, knowing your dog is safe from harm.

5.            Taking your canine before having its shots.  Immunizations are a must before you start taking them anywhere. When puppies have not had their shots they can easily catch dog diseases, leading to pain and suffering of you and your pup and expensive vet bills for your pocket.  Immunizations are cheaper than paying for long-term treatment of any disease your dog may catch.

6.            Letting your puppy do as he pleases and expecting a well trained dog. Set time apart to train for  good behavior or find a positive dog trainer who can help. Learn when to reward with treats and  when not to. Beating your dog is never the answer.

I’m going to warn you that when you foster a rescue, you risk your heart every single time.  Right now our second foster, Jovi (soon to be renamed Willow), is outside playing with our dogs and we’re less than 5 hours away from the 24 hour mark, which is when I fall in love.  Who am I kidding, I’m all ready in love, but I won’t admit it for a few more hours.

It broke my heart when my first foster was adopted.  The feeling of finding Morgan his forever home was amazing; like not other.  But it hurt like hell too to see him go.  My boyfriend told me that we can rescue 1 more dog or we can rescue hundreds.  The idea of going through that a hundred more times wasn’t appealing, but when I received the email from Morgan’s (later renamed Buddy) new family, I knew that I could do this one hundred more times.

Today is 2.  Ninety-eight more times to go.

If you’re interested in being a foster family for a rescue or if you would like to sponsor a dog, contact your local rescue group.  When you foster a dog, the costs can be written off on your taxes (confirm this with a CPA just in case tax laws change) and the rescue group will try and provide you with all the supplies you’ll need.

So if you’re not ready to adopt a dog, then please consider fostering a rescue.  The feeling is amazing and we need you.

Kimberly Gauthier | I’m building a community of dog lovers who want to connect with people like themselves, who believe dogs are family members who deserve the best we can offer; together we’ll promote dog rescue and responsible breeding, making the lives of our dogs a better. I’m the author of three blogs, sharing tips and tricks about photography, blogging, and raising happy, healthy dogs. You can also find me at Girl Power Hour as The Fur Mom.

Do you love dog games?

Dogs were traditionally working animals. They would have expected to be active all day, every day. However, in these modern days a dog’s life can often be confined to indoors and with very few physical activities.

Dogs are animals that need exercise on a regular basis; in fact it should be daily. There are many reasons for this. For example, it can help to control the dog’s weight its appetite. It can also help to insure good quality mental health as well. If you do not provide for the dog’s daily exercise, she will likely find it in her own way, which may be a destructive manner. A dog that is bored is one the can become destructive digging up the yard and chewing on shoes. But, when you take this energy that the dog has and apply it correctly through various toys and exercise, great things can happen.

One game of catch a day is not enough exercise for your pet. Quantity and quality are quite important. For example, you can provide your pet with a daily walk. If you do so at the same time of the day each day, the pet will begin to look forward to it. And, take them to someplace different as often as possible. This will help your pet to explore with his senses. It is also a special time of bonding between you and your pet. Take your pet to a dog park where the leash can come off and he or she can do some socializing with other animals.

Sports for dogs?

Did you know that dog’s can do sports as well? There are many things that you can teach your dog to do that will be fun to play and provide them with the exercise that they need. For example, Frisbees are a great choice as is flyball and agility. There are Frisbee competitions that your dogs can participate in. In this case, you’ll see pets flying into the air to catch the Frisbee that an adult is throwing. You may see the dog twist and jump at the same time. In fact, some of them are choreographed routines that are nothing short of amazing but they are fun and exercising for the pet.

Flyball is another choice. Here, there is team play. Four dogs per team take turns running through a course. They may have hurdles in them as well. When the dog completes the course, he will trigger a box to will force a tennis ball into the air. The dog catches it and races back through the course again. Then, once the dog gets through, the next team mate goes. A team will win based on time and the fewest errors.

Agility is another sport for dogs. Here, the dog is to run through an obstacle course. The goal is to be done in the fastest amount of time. In this sport, though, the owner will run alongside the dog encouraging it over the hurdles and other obstacles. The goal is for the dog to obey the owner’s commands and directions. A good doggie workout will include things like tunnels, see-saws and a wide variety of jumps. All of these sports allow for the exercise of the dog as well as the mental fitness he needs as well.

Alternatives to sports?

Not sure if the sport is right for you? You can keep your dog going by giving him toys that will help to stimulate not only exercise but also mental challenges. For example a dog puzzle places a treat for the dog into a hollow container that he will have to work off to get to the treat. Through nosing it around and rolling it, the dog gets the treat and the reward.

Who doesn’t love playing with their dog? Why not play some Puppy Games

Puppy Games
The best fun puppy games on the internet
http://puppy-games.net/

TO BREED OR NOT TO BREED

All about breeding dogs, from step one

Constantly we hear that breeding dogs is almost a crime, actually some do believe it is criminal. Before you think of breeding your dogs, there are very real issue of ethics, health and logistics. Being a responsible dog owner is the duty of all dog owners. The question of WHY you want to breed your dogs, need to be studied. A purpose of getting some cute puppies, or it will be educational for the kids to be involved, are not valued as a good reason to breed. Are you willing to risk your dog to breeding complications, or health issues with the pups.What will you do with these puppies after they are born. Realize the amount of work and time involved with puppy rearing. Where will you keep mom and babies; do you have a list of homes for the pups. The world does not need unwanted puppies. Be serious, and

BE RESPONSIBLE!

Assuming you are deciding to breed for all the correct reasons, first understanding cycle and process is a necessity. A Female dog (bitch), should not be bred on her first cycle or heat. Her bone growth and physical development should be complete, before the stress of motherhood should be attempted. Be very cautious during that first heat to not let her be with a male as it is a strong urge to breed when the time is right.

The females heat cycle starts with swelling of the vulva. It is a noticeable increase in size. You may notice her licking herself, then you will notice blood spots. The bleeding may be light or it can be more profuse. There are little sanitary belts or panties to prevent stains in the house, but blankets or sheets on your furniture will work also. A dog’s heat is NOT the same as women’s menstruation. Humans are flushing out the uterus if there is no pregnancy, while a dog is preparing for pregnancy. At this point the female is not fertile, a mistake often made. Majorly the bleeding goes on for seven to ten days. It is usually on the tenth to fourteenth day after bleeding starts, that she is fertile( eggs are being released by her ovaries). At this point, she will be receptive to the male. Previously she is not too “sweet”, snapping at him if he tries to mount her. She will start “flagging” when she is ready for the male. Flagging is the moving of her tail to ease the breeding; nature is wonderful. The male will mount her from behind, wrapping his front legs around her; she should accept his advances now. After a bit of practice runs, he will penetrate her. This is not the end. When he has thrust deeply enough, her vaginal walls will clamp onto his penis, and they become “locked”. It is best they be supervised or one may hurt the other’s sexual organs while they are in this position.Starting with them facing the same direction, they most often twist around and head the opposite direction. I have heard of owners throwing water on them to try to separate them. It is safer and more beneficial to the mating to be with them until they disconnect naturally.This may take ten minutes to an hour. Keep other dogs away, and this may not be suitable for young children. Generally once they locked she should become pregnant, but having made the proper decision to breed, it would be wise to repeat the breeding every other day for two more times.

Gestation, or the length of time it takes from mating to birth, is around 60-64 days, Mark it on the calendar and count the days. The first 30 days may seem like nothing has happened. Some females change personality a little, wanting to be closer to female members in the house, resting a little more often, and urinating more often. The last half of the pregnancy, will be full of changes. Visually her body changes almost daily.Her food portions should be increased by 25% now, and 25% more each week. The food should be healthy, natural with probiotics. Her belly will become bigger, her teats will start filling with milk. Massage her milk glands to attempt to avoid mastitis. Mastitis is not only extremely painful for the bitch, but can infect her so badly she will need surgery or hospitalization. In either event you will be doing bottle feeding each pup, every two hours. Be sure to check her out daily after the birth(whelping).

During the pregnancy, a whelping box should be purchased or built. The box should be square or rectangular with enough space for the dog to lay out straight and and nurse comfortably, and big enough for the pups as they grow. They will need to nurse up to eight weeks or more, depending on the breed. This box should have sides high enough so as to keep the pups in as they start walking.Along each wall should be “pig rails”. the object is to protect the pups if mom should roll on them. These rails  must be at least 5 inches wide and up from the bottom by about five or six inches. If there are multiple dogs in the house, it might be wise to separate her into another room, or use a sturdy pen around the box. Precision Pets have a very nice Courtyard pen that fits the bill.

The big day has arrived! She will be looking for a “nest”. Put her into the whelping box on towels or blankets. Heavy brown wrapping paper to line the bottom, as there will be blood. She will try to get comfortable but will pace. Her breathing will be rapid and irregular. The contractions become obvious, as she get closer to time. Some dogs stand, some lay down, but it is an amazing thing to see how she will (normally) birth with little assistance.When she pushes out the pup ,the head will be out most often first. The pup will be in a sack of blood and fluid. She will push it out, turn and break the pup out of the placenta. Quickly she will clean the pup, bite the umbilical cord, and then lick the pup to initiate breathing and eat the placenta. She should be carefully watched during whelping not to step on a pup when she is having another. Check all pups for respiration, nasal passages clear, and not being laid upon.Puppies can not see nor hear for the first week to two. The ear canals are not even developed until then. Be certain each pup can find a nipple to start nursing.Change the bedding and clean the box. Keep the new “Nursery” clean at all times.Mom will stimulate the pups to pass waste by licking them until the pups evacuate the bowels and bladder. She “disposes” of the waste herself. Mom needs to eat well and often, be sure she stays strong, which will make the pups strong.

This picture shows a whelping box with pig rails, and pups at a few days old. The second picture shows them at 3 ½ weeks.

BE A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER, THESE ARE LIVES, NOT AMUSEMENT.

To breed or not to breed written by Carol Pentz
www.heartandsolab.com
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How can I keep my dogs teeth clean

Photo credit: wedhatted from morguefile.com

When we made the decision to adopt dogs, we did a lot of research and one of the many questions we had was “how can I keep my dog’s teeth clean?”  We were told to feed them kibble (we special order a healthy brand), brush their teeth, and give them special dental treats.

With all the news of tainted dog treats and pet food recalls, I’m not comfortable buying treats from the big pet stores.  So what now?

I’m in the process of interviewing breeders around the country for a new Keep the Tail Wagging series.  I’m learning a lot more than I anticipated and it’s been fantastic.  This week, a breeder shared that she gives her dogs (she has 7 of them!) raw bones and it keeps their teeth white and healthy.  She’s never had to pay for her dogs to have their teeth cleaned.  We haven’t had to pay either; but a couple years ago, I paid $200 for a teeth cleaning for our kitty, Cosmo.  The cost for our dogs is more.

We don’t live near a butcher and they don’t carry raw bones at the grocery store.  I’ve decided to start shopping at smaller, local pet stores and that’s were I found raw bones and, guess what!, they’re actually affordable.  I purchased two packages and gave each of our dogs a bone this afternoon and they loved them.

Here are our Raw Bone Rules for the house…

1. We won’t leave our dogs alone with their bones; Sydney steals Rodrigo’s bone when he goes for water (and vice versa).
2. Rodrigo can only gnaw on a bone for a short time, because he has a sensitive tummy and has to get used to them
3. We have plenty of water on hand for the dogs.
4. We need to make sure that the dogs don’t bite too hard on the bones, because since they’re raw, they can damage their teeth.
5. And we make the dogs eat their bones on blankets if they’re inside – they’re not too messy, you don’t want them touching your carpet.

Kimberly Gauthier | I’m building a community of dog lovers who want to connect with people like themselves, who believe dogs are family members who deserve the best we can offer; together we’ll promote dog rescue and responsible breeding, making the lives of our dogs a better. I’m the author of three blogs, sharing tips and tricks about photography, blogging, and raising happy, healthy dogs. You can also find me at Girl Power Hour as The Fur Mom.