Dogs have always been the perfect companion but Carol Evans, a grandmother from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, has noticed the potential that canines have for assisting people with blindness and partial sight. As if being a grandmother isn’t enough, Mrs Evans is also devoting her time to breeding puppies for the Guide Dogs charity. (more…)
Most people have genuine reasons and good intentions when thinking about becoming a dog breeder. A good breeder should be judged on their concern for the dogs and for the decisions that they make when it comes to breeding dogs, rather than necessarily for the calibre of dogs that you breed. Of course, you will be judged on this but being a responsible dog breeder is much more than that.
A responsible dog breeder should take all the care possible to ensure the dogs they breed end up in good homes. As well as caring for the puppies in your own home and ensuring that time is invested in making (more…)
In praise of the good old fashioned mutt.
Much has been made recently of various dog breeds, large, small and ridiculously tiny. There is also a growing interest in specific cross breeds such as the labradoodle. Has the poor mongrel been forgotten in all this made-to-measure designer dogdom?
There are many great looking pooches out there of mixed parentage and each one is going to be unique, some of the most engaging looking pups are the result of a chance meeting and rescue centres are overflowing with great dogs passed over in favour of the pure breed in the next cage.
Dogs that can trace their ancestry back are often related, some diseases and defects have become inherent to particular breeds, and mongrels often have a better resistance to doggy diseases.
Mongrel or not, the same principles apply when it comes to finding your ideal dog. See the parents (if known), or if you are going to re-home a rescue dog, talk to the staff at the centre. Be wary of small ads that are offering dogs “free to a good home”, make sure that the dog is not a problem animal that the present owners are trying to offload.
A word of caution if you are taking on a pup of unknown provenance, pups grow and there is no telling how big your new friend will be when fully grown, as you will have no point of reference. Beware of throwbacks, mongrel parents of small stature have been known to produce much larger offspring. If a large dog is going to be a problem play safe and get a pure or cross breed.
It is always important to choose a reputable dog breeder if you are going to buy a puppy. Supporting irresponsible dog breeding will only serve to perpetuate bad practices which can ultimately be harmful to the dogs.
Dogs used to breed too many litters, puppies that are taken from their mothers too early or dogs kept in terrible overcrowded conditions can be all too common if dog breeding is seen as purely a money making scheme and (more…)
New York officials have said that a US man, who bred his dogs on his own premises, will not face cruelty charges after losing around 20 Italian Mastiffs in a fire in his 20-by-20-foot shed in his backyard.
The director of Westchester County’s SPCA, Ernest Lungaro, has stated that, from the evidence collected and from how things appeared at the shed, he believed the owner had not intentionally caused harm to the animals.
The director has now come out and said that he confirms the dogs had died from an (more…)
If you are looking to bring home a new puppy from a breeder, rather than obtaining a pet dog from a rescue centre, then you must ensure that you buy your puppy from a responsible and reputable dog breeder. How a puppy is treated in its early life can have an effect on the puppy’s behaviour as the puppy grows into an adult dog.
As you are bringing your puppy into a family home, it may be wise to obtain a puppy from a dog breeder who breeds the puppies within a family home themselves. Make sure that you visit the dog breeder before making your decision, and see the puppies with their mother so you can observe the puppy’s temperament around people and other dogs.
Most importantly, you must observe the breeder to ensure that they put the appropriate amount of care and effort into raising healthy puppies. A good breeder should ensure that they take the time to raise the litter and take the appropriate health care precautions. A good breeder should not breed to order, or breed too often, so you may have to be prepared to wait for a puppy from a good breeder.
Finding a good dog breeder can take a lot of effort, but it is worth it. Going to dog shows and talking to other dog owners can help you pick up tips on reputable breeders – those who are a very knowledgeable about their breeding, socialise their puppies well and, most importantly of all, care about what will happen to the puppies that they breed.
There are some recognisable symptoms in dogs, just as there are in humans, when your dog is pregnant. They go through stages and display signs which you can look out for if you think that your dog is expecting.
Firstly, your dog will display some changes in appetite – dogs can get morning sickness too! At the beginning, your dog may not have their usual appetite although this will change as the pregnancy progresses and they will soon regain their appetite and start to gain weight. Your pregnant pet may be lazier than normal too, depending on the breed of dog. She may not (more…)
If you are looking to buy a purebred dog, you will need to find yourself a good dog breeder to ensure that you buy a healthy puppy, pay a fair price and are not supporting a disreputable dog breeder by purchasing an animal from them.
Often, you may see advertisements in local newspapers or shop windows, or even on the internet, but you want to ensure that the dog breeder is professional and knowledgeable before you buy. Your dog breeder may be able to provide you with references (more…)
If you are thinking about dog breeding, then before you do, you need to be certain that you can spare the time for this, as dog breeding involves a lot of commitment and it can become costly. However, you should never choose a stud dog just because they are free or cheap.
You are not just choosing your stud dog, you are also choosing the owner of the dog. You can also ask for (more…)
There is a lot of work to do when preparing for your dog to have puppies. Depending on the breed of dog that you have, there may be special considerations to take into account before your dog gives birth. Certain breeds can be more prone to problems, and so it is important that you seek advice from a vet or someone who has considerable experience before your dog is due to deliver puppies.
The majority of dogs can deliver their puppies on their own, but as a dog owner, there are things that (more…)
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