How to Choose a Right Dog Breed

Are you planning to add a new companion to your family? Adding a dog to your family can be exhilarating but adopting or getting a dog is a big promise, and it’s essential that you consider all the consequences prior to bringing a new member home.

Pet owners need to know about the breeds and their characteristics before selecting one. It is important to know which breed will suit your requirement otherwise it will be a big headache for you and your dog.  For example, an older couple which is not active gets an over active Labrador that needs a lot of exercise, then it will be a nightmare for them as well as for the dog.

Dogs will not only take up your time in terms of exercising, feeding, and grooming, they’re also extremely social creatures that need play and attention. Following tips will help you in selecting right type of breed.

1        House Size: - Where do you live and will your house accommodate the breed you want to bring home? It is very important to consider the size of the house and size of the breed before buying the dog.

As an example; if you are living in an apartment, it is better to go for a toy breed or medium size dog breed which doesn’t require much space.

2       Kids and Dogs: - Some breeds are better with kids than others. Flimsy dogs like Chihuahua are not advisable because they are too fragile to let the children take care of them. Big dog breeds like Saint Bernard may not be suitable for kids.

Dog breed must be selected based on the age of the children. It is not wise to get a dog if children are less than 8 years old.

3       The Nature of the job: - If you are busy in your job and don’t have much time for your dog. It’s better to go for Terrier breeds. They don’t require much grooming as most terriers have short hair coat. It’s important to select a breed based on the time you can give to your dog.

4       Based on your future circumstances: - Most of the people want to adopt a younger dog or a puppy. They don’t want to go for old dogs. But if your circumstances are such that you cannot own a dog for longer period of time say 10-15 years, due to job or any other reasons, it is better to adopt an old dog, so you don’t need to give it up for adoption. In this way an abandoned dog will get a home and you will get a loving friend.

5       Are You Allergic: - If you are allergic to dog but you want to go for a dog, it is better to choose a less hairy breed that does not shed or shed hair minimally.

6       Climate: - If you are living in a desert or a hot place it is of no use to go for Siberian husky. Dog breed must be selected on the basis of climate where you live. Otherwise it will be a suffering for you and for the dog you adopted.

Millions of dogs worldwide get euthanize because of the wrong breed selection. They will be a great addition to your family if you adopt or buy a dog, keeping the above mentioned points in mind.

Home Remedies for Dog Hair Loss

Just like how we suffer from hair loss, dogs too have this problem! Hair loss in the course of shedding is usual for dogs. For example, German shepherds and Bernese mountain dogs will shed more hair than wheaten terriers and a few types of Spaniels. Also, all the dogs will shed more during the longer days beginning in the summer than they will during the shorter days starting in the winter. This is due to the seasonal shedding rotations related to variations in light. However, when extreme shedding occurs, especially to the point of baldness, dog hair loss can be a signal of deeper issues.

Symptoms of Dog Hair Loss

Hair loss in dogs is more often than not accompanied by other symptoms like itching and skin irritation. A dog's hair loss indication can be the effect of numerous medical problems including mange, mites, ticks or dermatitis. Home remedies for treating dog hair loss are safe to try to provide momentary relief, but a definite opinion of the reasons should be taken from a vet. Mentioned below are some of the home remedies you can try to get rid of the problem of hair shedding.

Tips of Home Remedies for Dog Hair Loss

1. One of the best ways to reduce excessive shedding in dogs is to start with a healthy diet. Feed your dog with a homemade mix of fully-cooked rice, cooked vegetables and boiled chicken. This home food remedy may reduce the allergies caused by food to your dog and helps in reducing the hair fall.
2. Goldenseal is an excellent natural treatment for dog hair loss as long as it is not overdone. Make a weak mixture of goldenseal tea and apply it to the affected area. Goldenseal is powerful, so be sure not to make the tea too strong.
3. Another home remedy for hair shedding in dogs is to mix a small amount of flaxseed oil in your dog’s food. Flaxseed oil contains high amounts of Omega 3, an excellent natural treatment for dog hair loss. After a few weeks you would see the change in your dog’s hair fall. It is good for other health benefits too.
4. Olive oil is a good home remedy to apply on dog's coat and skin. It will help moisturize as well as pacify any pain caused by severe itching. Another benefit of olive oil is that it will choke mites, if those fleas are the cause of dog's hair loss. Olive oil is said to give the dog a fine and healthy coat with an amazing shine.
5. Lemon juice has natural antibacterial properties that can be used to treat excessive hair shedding in dogs. Introduce a slice of lemon in warm water and leave for five hours. Strain afterward and apply the lemon juice mixture as a rinse or as a spot treatment.
6. An additional home remedy to follow is to pat your dog in the backyard after the bath and then brush him down. By this way, all the unwanted hair on the dog’s coat is removed. Regular baths encourage loose hair to fall out in the tub (or outside) instead of on your furniture. However over-bathing can cause dry skin, which causes fur to fall out.

Try Bathe Me Dry – a natural dry shampoo for dogs which is very mild and gentle. Bathe Me Dry cleanses and refreshes coat without a drop of water. Bathe me Dry is formulated to be sprinkled and rubbed directly into your dog’s coat so that the powder absorbs excess oil, dirt and grease.

How to Prevent Canine Behaviour Problems

One of the primary reasons behind euthanasia of dogs is behavior problems. Every month hundreds if not thousands of dogs are euthanized or re -homed or abandoned due to canine behavioural problems. 

This leads to need for providing behavioural services by veterinarians. Providing behavioural services will benefit both pet and his owners, as it will improve the quality of life for dog and owner. Most behavioural problems lead to disrupt the bond and lead to reduction in pet ownership. Situation even gets worse when behavioural problems push the relationship at breaking point. In such a situation due to lack of appropriate advice the animal is re –homed or euthanized. 

In such condition role of veterinarians become so important in preventing canine behavior problems. Veterinarians should work closely with prospective owners in selecting the right breed. Inappropriate breed selection may lead to these behavioural problems which will result in early surrender of pets to rescue societies or at worse euthanasia of pet.

Advising clients on breed selection is a difficult job. Different breeds have different, more-or-less predictable behaviour characteristics. It is important to help prospective owners choose the breed or type of dog that will best suit their personal and family circumstances.  

A survey had been conducted by the Anthrozoology Institute at Southampton University. This survey is based on 49 most common breed of dogs according to certain traits and they divided the 49 breeds into eight groups depending on their scores on the three factors:

Aggressivity – a tendency to aggression and/or dominance.

Reactivity – which included demand for affection.

Immaturity – a tendency to remain puppy – like even when the dog is adult.

Canine Behavioural Problems

Canine Behaviour and Characteristics According to Dog Breed -

Group: 1

Characteristics: Aggressivity – high; Reactivity – average; Immaturity – low

Typical Breeds: Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Doberman

Other Breeds: Bull Terrier

Group: 2

Characteristics: Aggressivity – high; Reactivity – average; Immaturity – high

Typical Breeds: Jack Russell, Corgi, Cocker Spaniel

Other Breeds: West Highland White Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Fox Terrier, Border Collie

Group: 3

Characteristics: Aggressivity – average; Reactivity – low; Immaturity – low

Typical Breeds: British Bulldog, Chow

Other Breeds: Great Dane, Airedale

Group: 4

Characteristics: Aggressivity – average; Reactivity – high; Immaturity – low

Typical Breeds: Toy and Miniature Poodles, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua

Other Breeds: Papillon, Miniature and Standard Dachshunds, Pekingese, Lhasa, Apso, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu

Group: 5

Characteristics: Aggressivity – low; Reactivity – average; Immaturity – high

Typical Breeds: English and Irish Setters, English Springer Spaniel

Other Breeds: Golden Retriever, Dalmatian, Labrador, Boxer

Group: 6

Characteristics: Aggressivity – low; Reactivity – low; Immaturity – low

Typical Breeds: Greyhound, Basset Hound

Other Breeds: Whippet, English Pointer

Group: 7

Characteristics: Aggressivity – low; Reactivity – high; Immaturity – low

Typical Breeds: King Charles Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Other Breeds: Shetland Sheepdog

Group: 8

Characteristics: Aggressivity – average; Reactivity – average; Immaturity – average

Typical Breeds: Samoyed, Standard Poodle, Rough Collie, Old English Sheepdog, Miniature Schnauzer, Beagle, Border Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Scottish Terrier

Other Breeds: None

Note: - Breeds according to behavioural characteristics. 

We hope you would have got solutions to such dog problems. Get more solutions from our pet tips and try the natural herbal dog shampoo.

Home Remedies for Dogs

The connection of humans and animals is interwoven into our nature’s regulatory network of life. Animals and humans are called to the same healing resources within the sophisticated chemistries and energies of nature. When you are feeling under the weather, you might find that the perfect thing for treating what ails you is something you already have in the kitchen. It’s the same for dogs. While we consider them members of the family, dogs are small, furry versions of humans. Dogs do have health concerns too. They get mites and diarrhoea, itchy skin and minor infections, as well as anxiety and other behaviour problems. However, they can react very differently to herbs and foods we consume without any problem. Herbs that work gently, and are safe to give over an extended time should be the first choices. 

 

Listed below are a few natural remedies for sick dogs:

Remedy for rashes, irritations & scratching: 

Rashes and skin irritations have become the most common reason dog owners take their dog to the veterinarian. You can use chamomile tea or green tea to cure the skin problem. Make green tea by adding a tea bag in hot water. Leave it in the water for twenty minutes and then use a piece of cloth to apply it on the pet’s skin. This will make the rash heal and stop the itching.

Home remedies for Dog Mites:

Mites frequently settle in and around a dog's skin and ears, causing intense itching and resulting in scratched skin that can become infected. Hydrogen peroxide diluted with water at the ratio of 1 part peroxide to 10 parts water can be used to gently wipe down affected areas and is an excellent dog mite’s remedy.

Doggy Diarrhoea treatment:

Dog owners have been caught reporting that they love everything about their dogs except for their watery poops. Pumpkin juice and vegetable broth are good dog home remedies for diarrhoea sufferers and thus would help provide strength to your weak dog for fast recovery.

Dog hair loss remedy:

Hair loss in the course of shedding is natural for dogs. However, excessive shedding can be a sign of deeper issues. Oil from the flaxseed includes a large amount of Omega 3 fatty acids and is an excellent natural remedy for hair loss in dogs and pets. Mix two tablespoons of flaxseed oil with dog’s daily feed.

Prevent urinary tract problems with herbs. Urinary tract problems are common for dogs. This problem could be warded off with dandelion root or by sprinkling several drops of tincture or a teaspoon of ground root on pet’s food for a few days a week.

 

In the wild, most animals "self-medicate" and will seek out plants and herbs for both general nutrition and healing.   More and more of us are turning to alternative, natural remedies and it makes sense to use natural products for our pets too. And hence natural remedies for dogs serve as a great alternative. For more such information please check our website by clicking on Dog Shampoo.