You have researched dog breeds and know what kind of dog you want. Now, how do you go about finding your dog?

Please do not buy your dog in a pet store. This is asking for trouble, both with health problems and psychological problems. Pet stores are notorious for getting their puppies from puppy mills, which just churn out puppies with no regard to their health or psychological well-being.

I would suggest these as the best three ways to find a dog:

1) Get your dog from a reputable breeder. If you want a purebred dog, this is a good option. A good breeder is concerned about the dogs they breed, and will make sure the dog is a good match for you. They will do their best to make sure the puppy is healthy and well-adjusted. They will give you advice on how to raise and take care of your dog.

How do you find a good breeder? One way is to check around in your community for recommendations. Ask vets or other dog professionals for their recommendations. You can also check a dog breeder directory on the internet. You can usually select the breed you are looking for and your geographic location, and you will get a list of breeders in your area. Just type “dog breeder directory” into your search engine to find one.

2) Get your dog from a dog rescue organization. These groups find homes for unwanted or abandoned dogs of a particular breed. There is usually an organization for each breed. The American Kennel Club has a list of dog rescue groups on its website.

3) Adopt your dog from a shelter. This is a good option if you don’t care about having a purebred dog. Shelters have a wide variety of dogs available. I got my dog at a Humane Society shelter. They do a good job of talking with you to find out what kind of dog would be best suited to your needs.

It is very rewarding to adopt a dog from a shelter and give it a good home. Also, I like adopting a shelter dog because you can adopt a dog who is already past the housebreaking stage, if you want to. If you don’t find the dog you want there right away, they can keep an eye out for you, or you can keep returning until you “fall in love” with one of the dogs.

Pat Doyle is the creator of the popular website doggiewoggie.com Doggiewoggie - All About Dogs. Find more dog info at thedogdaily.com/doggiewoggie/home.html The Dog Daily.

This article may be republished as long as you keep the full text, author’s name, and website link with the article.

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeds

The English Setter dog breed originated initially in France with the crossing of the Spanish and French pointers nearly 500 years ago. Brought to England in the 1600s, the English Setter was further modified with the addition of the Water Spaniel and the Springer Spaniel. The dog has been used successfully as a hunting dog, primarily for game birds, for several hundred years since and is one of the oldest gun dog breeds. The name “Setter” derives from the unique position the dog assumes when it has found its prey as the dog crouches low to the ground, setting his quarry.

The English Setter that we know today was fully developed by the work of two men, Edward Laverack and R. Purcell Llewellin. Laverack began a project of methodical inbreeding in the mid to late 1800s. He was able to obtain two English Setters that had been owned by a reverend who had kept his dogs “pure” for some 35 years. Laverack’s dogs became famous for their beauty and refinement, and they are really the foundation stock for many of the top show dogs in English Setter history. Further changes to the English Setter breed came about through the work of Llewellin. His work developed a strain in the breed used primarily for hunting in the field rather than show. This line of field Setter is oftentimes called “Llewellin Setters”, but they are actually not a separate breed but simply a field-bred English Setter.
English Setter Breed History

The English Setter has been used as a hunting dog since it inception and the breed history shows that it is one of the most proficient bird dogs among hunting breeds. Additionally, through the work of Laverack, the English Setter has become a formidable and accomplished show dog. First shown in England in 1859, the dog became popular immediately as a show and field dog. The English Setter was brought to the United States soon thereafter and the American Kennel Club recognized this large breed dog in 1878, one of the first pure breeds to be accepted by the AKC. There is a statue in Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Museum of Count Noble, the famous field English Setter from the 1870s that is the very foundation of the American Llewellin strain of the breed. The English Setter breed continues to serve as a dual-purpose dog today as it is used as both a field and show dog.

For more information pertaining to large dog breeds and large dog specific training tips visit us at largedogbreedz.com

For more largedogbreedz.com/large-dog-breed-directory/english-setter/ english setter dog breed specific information, largedogbreedz.com/large-dog-training-articles/dog-behavior-training/ dog training tips, and dog health care information, visit us at largedogbreedz.com large dog breeds .com.

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeds, dog training

Dog agility is one of the fast growing sports today. Many dogs and their
handlers or partners (thats you) have tried running the agility course and
found its more than just training and preparation, its fun fun and fun! Its
amazing how your dog reacts to you, they observe you and test you out. If
you as a handler or trainer show lots of enthusiasim and have
a fun attitude with your dog running over, under, and through the agility
equipment, your dog will too. They will never cease to amaze you,
their expectations can far exceed your expectation. Incredible, isn’t it!

A simple method of staying in shape is guiding or training your dog through
the agility equipment, great exercise for your dog, exercise that is very
benefitial for you also. Running and training your dog is the same amount
of
energy you would put in if working out at a gym or doing an aerobic exercise
of some type. The more training and running with your dog, the
better shape for both of you. You and your dog will develop more
flexibility in your body, stronger heart, and yes lose weight and gain some
muscles.

It is vitally important to be patient with your dog when starting on the
agility equipment. Your dog might hesitate at first, but once you develop a
team relationship and know each other better, your dog will trust you and
gladly perfom for you. The key to a successful relationship with your dog
is understand its strength and weakness, its abilities and limitations. For
instance, a border collie may weave blasting through the poles without
working up a sweat whereas your dog might just walk timidly through the
poles. Every dog breed is built differently, so there are some limiatioins.
If your dog performs up to the best of its ability and you both have a
healthy relationship, then , there you go, you both are winners! Focus on
your
dog’s abilities, not whether your dog is better, faster, and smarter than
others, its more of a relationship that you want to build and cherish for a
long time.

Confidence starts with you as a traineer or handler. As stated in a
previous paragraph, your dog has great ears and eyes, and observes every
movement of your body. A healthy positive confident trainer will have lots
of success with their dog, because confidence is contagious and the dog will
feel the effect and do likewise. Thats what teamwork is all about, to build
each other up. Hence, the more confident you become as a trainer, the more
confidence you instill in your dog to run,jump, and fly.

Any type of exercise feeds the mind, body, and soul. No matter how well,
how fast, or how smart your dog is, as long as you and your dog run together
through the agility equipment, both of you will benefit from the exercise.
It takes quick thinking as a handler leading your dog from one obstacle to
another without running off course. Timing and working
together as a team takes lots of repititions and practice, and yes lots of
praise. Excercise with a positive mind feeds the body and soul, enabling
both you and your dog to perform well on the course, or just for fun in your
own backyard, or a fun club/group activities.

These are five simple reasons why your dog can run and jump the agility
equipment. Observe what your dog can or can’t do. Start out with fun games
such as a frisbee, tennis ball, or tug toy and find which one your dog likes
best, then use them as a reward for performing a task, such as jumping over
a bar or going through the weaves successfully.

Brad Carlson is a dog trainer at Agility by Carlson. For more training details, visit our website at carlson-agility.com/ carlson-agility.com/.

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Tags: dog breed

Those who don’t know any better will tell you that the Miniature Pinscher is nothing more than a yappy, annoying little dog. Those same people will probably tell you that the Min Pin is a miniature Doberman. Of course those people are completely wrong.

The Miniature Pinscher is one of the most playful, loving and loyal dog breeds available. He has earned his reputation as “The King of the Toys.”

King would definitely be the way this breed sees himself. Incredibly courageous, this dog has no idea that he only weighs about 10 pounds. The Min Pin has a serious attitude and in spite of his size, he acts like he’s much bigger dog. You can see it in the way he walks, high stepping and head up high. It’s what makes them such good watchdogs, but it’s also what makes them a handful.

These dogs are very demanding, even to the point of being tyrannical. They attempt to run the household, and the smart dog owner prevents this from happening. That means training them early and not letting them “get away” with bad behavior. Disciplining can be tough simply because the breed is so cute. Fortunately training is an easy task because this breed is very intelligent.

Once trained, these dog are great pets. They love to play and if dogs had a profession, these would likely be stand up comedians. They remain playful and full of energy well into their old age. You cannot help but laugh when playing with a Min Pin. Give them plenty of toys or they happily make toys out of whatever you may have around the house.

Sure they need plenty of exercise, but because of their size they can get plenty just running around the house or apartment. Just be careful if you have children. Yes they get along great with kids, but because Miniature Pinschers are so muscular and sturdy (and of course playful), smaller children tend to think they can play rough. Sometimes too rough. Although this dog breed is far from fragile, it is only 10 pounds. Rough play can go too far.

Miniature Pinschers are also very loyal, and while they will get along and play with anyone in your household, they typically become extremely attached to one person.

The bottom line is that these are very entertaining pets. Don’t worry if you don’t have the energy to keep up, they’re just as happy to play by themselves with you watching. When you watch, you are in for a real treat. And when it’s time to settle down, they will settle down right next to you. Loving, fun, loyal and easy to care for, those are some of the characteristics that make up a great pet.

To learn more about the miniature-pinscher-world.com Miniature Pinscher be sure to visit miniature-pinscher-world.com miniature-pinscher-world.com, a website devoted to Min Pins featuring more information on their characteristics, history, care and miniature-pinscher-world.com/miniature-pinscher-training.html Miniature Pinscher training tips.

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeds

So now you are sure you want to breed your bitch, having thought carefully about all the financial considerations you are now ready to think about what kind of a mate you will want for your bitch. Of course in an ideal situation; you will spend a great deal of time - and put a great deal of thought into the sire you choose. In reality however it’s more likely that you will be swayed by convenience; either geographical or financial.

In reality however, most studs are chosen because of more practical reasons such as location - if the sire is located far away you pay costs for not only the travel costs but also lodging while you wait. Most people end up choosing a sire that is somewhere between suitable and practical.

But if you have already committed and are certain about breeding with your bitch then choosing the perfect sire is very very important. Choosing a sire is one of the most important decisions you can make. Your decision will be made much easier with a clearer picture of exactly what you want from a sire.

To begin: examine your bitch closely. In conjunction with what you know about breed standards and requirements - take an objective look at your bitch. What are her strengths? What are her weaknesses? Using the AKC standards as a guideline will help you in your evaluation. Once you have identified your bitch’s key strong points (for example her great temperament) as well as her weaknesses (for example her tendency to become jealous) - you should go about seeking a sire which compensates.

Unfortunately the choice is not always this calculated. In order to breed responsibly you must keep in mind that the purpose must always be the betterment of the breed. If every breeder had adhered to this principle throughout history then the various breeds of dogs would look very different today. With the ‘betterment’ of the breed in mind - choosing your sire should become a long process indeed.

You will also want to keep in mind that the number of litters the sire has already produced might actually count against him. If he can be likened to ‘the village bicycle’ then perhaps he is not the best choice. Sires who father too many puppies have a disproportionate amount of influence in the breed. When choosing a sire you will want to delve back into the ancestry for at least three generations.

There are two basic principles when it comes to breeding. The first and most basic school of thought is to breed like and like. In order to preserve the breed integrity and have the minimal risks of genetic faults this is the safest way to approach the breeding and choosing of a sire.

Be aware of in-breeding. Line breeding and in breeding are close and you want to stay far away from in breeding and line breeding if you want healthy puppies. Line breeding a fancy term that show breeders use and do. The Sire is bred back to his daughter. No matter what fancy term is used it is still inbreeding. It is supposedly done to keep their lines pure and to keep production those champions. Most veterinarians agree that it is unhealthy.

Once you think you are near to a decision about the sire you wish to choose then be sure to make some time to talk to the owner of the sire. This knowledge - in conjunction with the research you have done and the other specialists you have spoken to should assure you of a good choice.

When speaking to the owner of the stud dog you should be aware that being aware of the weaknesses in the stud is part of being a good owner. If the stud owner is not forthcoming with the shortcomings of his stud, then perhaps you should think about choosing another stud. Of course when selecting a dog to breed you need to make sure that the dogs you choose are worthy of the honor. Any faults will be exaggerated and you might end up paying the price for poor choices much later in life. The major consideration when choosing a stud is that your choice is the most suitable and complimentary choice for your bitch

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at allmypuppiesonline.com All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, carpetsecrets.com Carpet Secrets and movingsecretsguide.com Moving Secrets Guide

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Tags: dog breed, shih tzu, yorkshire terrier