Adopting a dog is a lot of fun, but it can also add a lot of responsibilities to your life. When you become a dog owner, you take on the responsibility to make sure your pet has everything he needs, a safe environment to live in, proper care, and everything he needs for a happy and healthy life! It’s a big step to care for a dog, but you’ll be rewarded with a loving companion.

The first step in providing a good life for your pet and making sure your dog remains safe is to get him trained properly. Believe it or not, many people do not see to this important task and then wonder why their dog jumps up on visitors or won’t listen to their commands. Many a dog has been considered a “bad” pet when all he really needed was the owner to take the time out to train him properly.

If you train your dog properly, not only will he have some cool tricks to show off, but it will also add to his safety. Should your dog be heading off into a dangerous situation, your obedience training will come in handy and you can call him back to your side and safety. A well trained dog Will be well behaved around strangers and the family – an obedient companion. Plus the training process can help define you as the master and act as a bonding experience for you and your pet. You can train a dog on your own, or you can join an obedience training class and get instruction from professionals.

You want to make sure your pet is as healthy as can be and part of dog ownership is to provide your dog with excellent veterinary care. A yearly physical exam should be performed and any vaccinations updated. Also make sure you put him on the right heartworm and flea and tick medications. If you notice a difference in your dogs behavior schedule a vet appointment right away. Even a small change in habits, mood, eating or elimination pattern should be checked by your vet – it could be nothing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry! Have your dog neutered or spayed - they WILL be much happier.

Providing a safe environment for your dog is up to you as the pet owner. Make sure there are places your dog can get stuck in or fall from and there is no sharp objects like nails or pins laying around. Everyone in the family should know not to leave the door open so that your dog can run out in the street. Refrain from feeding your dog “people” food as some of it can be harmful to them. Chocolate, for example, can even be deadly!

Grooming your dog can be a good time to bond with your pet and can also help him stay healthy. Brushing his coat, trimming his nails, cleaning his ears and around the eyes are all part of good dog health. Proper dental care is the most important grooming task you can do for your dog. Bacteria that builds up on the teeth can break away and cause health issues in other organs of the body. Brushing every other day is recommended to keep your dog’s mouth clean and will have the added bonus of giving him fresh breath!

Hopefully you’ll never need to enact it, but you should have a plan for the dog in case of emergency. What if there is a fire or some other disaster? Make sure someone is responsible to get your pet out of the house in case of emergency. It’s not a bad idea to have a designated person that can mind your dog on short notice if you get called out of town on an emergency.

Bringing a dog into your family, you are committing to provide that dog with all the things he needs for a happy and healthy life. Some dogs Can live into their teens if taken care of properly. That’s a long commitment on your part, but the rewards are so great that the commitment pales by comparison.

Lee Dobbins write for train-the-dog.com Train The Dog where you can learn more about dog training for every breed. Check out their list of train-the-dog.com/Breedsc-m.html dog breeds and see which ones are easier to train.

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The Silky Terrier is a loving, energy dog. They are good watch dogs, although they can tend to be barkers. They can be kept in an apartment as they are small enough to get most of there exercise needs indoors. They are good with other dogs but must be extensively socialized with other pets. They do best with older children that they have been socialized with. The can tend to be a one person or one family dog. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

Approximate Adult Size

The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Silky Terrier is 9 to 10 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 8 to 11 pounds.

Special Health Considerations

Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Silky Terrier is no exception. Although considered a very healthy breed, be on the look out for teeth problems, genetic eye disease and collapsing trachea. This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

Grooming

The Silky Terrier has a single coat of fine silky hair. She should be brushed daily. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her. Occasional professional grooming should be considered.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet.

Life Span

The Silky Terrier can live between 12 and 15 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

History

The Silky Terrier comes from Australia where they were used as a ratter, snake killer and pet. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1959.

Some Registries

Silky Terrier Club of America
UKC United Kennel Club
NKC National Kennel Club
CKC Continental Kennel Club
APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
AKC American Kennel Club
FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
KCGB Kennel Club of Great Britain
ANKC Australian National Kennel Club
ACR American Canine Registry

Litter Size

3 to 5 Silky Terrier puppies

Category

Toy

Terms To Describe

Inquisitive, joy, alert, lively, responsive, quick, friendly, affectionate

SPECIAL GOOD POINTS

Makes a good watch dog.
Very little shedding.
Easy to train and difficult to train.

SPECIAL BAD POINTS

Makes a poor guard do.
Can be a barker.
May need a harness rather than a leash
Possible collapsing trachea

Other Names Known By

Sidney Silky, Austrailian Silky Terrier

Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

About the Author

Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com petpages.com, a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info. petpages.com Petpages.com also offers information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.

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Eliminating monogamy was a major change made in order to domesticate dogs, and thus increasing the speed of selectively breeding dogs. The new traits that were bred into the domestic dog can be maintained only under domesticity; they would cause insurmountable social problems in the wild. Its no wonder there are so many different breeds of dogs today, as different ancient civilizations each had a different way of living life and surviving off the land.

Companionship, an allegiance between two species, was actually a by-product of the human-dog domestication mystery. Initially the relationship between dog and man was symbiotic: dogs would aid us in the hunt in exchange for access to safe shelter, a reliable food supply, and protection from predators. But then with the advent of herding for a living, humankind again called upon the assistance of the dog. Some nomadic tribes found it easier to build a stock of animals year-round rather than to depend on the fortunes of the hunt. This pastoral way of life created a more stable supply of food and clothing, encouraged the establishment of semi-permanent villages.

Early Semitic tribes in Mesopotamia used breeds similar to the present-day Kuvasz, a large, powerful white herd-guarding dog that often prefers the company of sheep to that of people. Dogs were now needed not to kill prey but to keep herds of sheep, goats, reindeer, or cattle together; to move the herds from place to place; and to protect them from predators and poachers. These herding dogs had specific traits that allowed them to do their job well.

As more jobs were needed to be filled by dogs, so the diversity of dog breeds. One of the earliest breeds to be developed for a specific task was the sight hound. Over 5000 years ago, Egyptian and Assyrian kings and queens prized the Greyhound- and Wolfhound type dogs, as hunting dogs in the desert depended less on their noses, given the sandy soil’s inability to hold scent for very long. They were perfectly suited to their task. In addition, the dogs’ good eyesight could often see its prey from a long distance, given the rolling plains and open country topography. The arid, wide-open expanses also required these dogs to be fast, lightly built, and short-coated so they wouldn’t be affected by the heat.

Heavier, mastiff-type breeds were first developed 1000 to 2000 years later in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) and gradually exported to Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and Italy. These powerful dogs were first used to take down large game; they would grab the prey and hold on until the hunter arrived to make the kill. Rhodesian Ridgebacks were used to flush lions for Egyptian archers who were lying in wait. The Saluki, one of today’s beautiful silky-haired sight hounds, was used thousands of years ago by Egyptian and Assyrian hunters to run down and capture rabbits and small gazelles.

Fredrick Van Hoffen, author of these furl.net/members/dogman24 dog articles is a renowned expert on spurl.net/discover/user/eshannon/ dog information

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The Dainty little Yorkshire terrier ranks high in the top ten of American’s favorite toy dogs. It might be a bit difficult to find a more intelligent, bright and generally attractive little guy in the doggie world. The Yorkshire terrier well deserves its rank among the American pet owners.

When we trace the origins of this famous toy dog we will have to go back to the days when he was a broken-haired terrier killing rats around and about his home. There are different opinions about how he first got to Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some say he was by Paisley weavers. Others say the broken-haired terriers known sixty years ago or more in the West of Yorkshire at Bradford and Huddersfield were the ancestors of our present breed. These were bright little guys weighing from to 10 to 20 pounds. They had black-and-tans, with long rough hair and strong jaws which they used in their occupation of rat killing and of which they did become famous. Even today it is reported they retain their rat killing instincts. In looking at some of our Yorkshire Terriers of today it is quite hard to believe they could actually kill a rat. Even so, it is said, some do, maybe not the very tiny versions. Some are no bigger than rat themselves. Looks like the rat could put up quite a battle against some of the smaller Yorkies of today. That might be an interesting site to see from behind closed doors of course.

The coat of the Yorkshire terrier has been improved over the years of breeding and his size gradually reduced. Colors also have improved. He is a most beautiful toy dog with long silken tresses of hair, a bright tiny face and small eye. The Yorkshire terrier is always on the watch for a fun time and makes a delightful pet and companion. It is said of Yorkshire Terrier fanciers that a good Yorkshire does not the meaning of the word “fear,” and it is not uncommon to see one of these small creatures tackle an enemy four times his size, thus, retaining many of its ancestors sporting instincts. Many are still great “ratters,” even the daintiest of specimens. Some are reported to have been badly bitten but still continue without the least bit of loss of courage.

Yorkshire Terriers are unusually healthy little dogs easily reared and not very difficult to get into nice coat. The grooming of a Yorkshire is a very important matter and much of his general appearance depends upon how well this is done. The hair should be divided from the nose to the tip of the tail in an even parting, and be brushed straight down on each side. If the “fall” is very long, it is best plaited and tied on top of the dog’s head.

The eyes of a Yorkshire terrier should be small and expressive.

In regard to breeding the Yorkshire terrier, as with any toy breed, do not use the smallest of specimens. Rather choose a typical, well-bred and sound-colored matron capable of growing plenty of hair. A matron about 8 pounds is probably the best choice. Of peculiar note is that the Yorkshire terrier puppies are usually born black with short hair. As they grow the color of their hair changes.

The general appearance of a Yorkshire terrier should be a long-coated dog with the coat hanging quite straight and evenly down each side. The part extends from the nose to the end of the tail. The Yorkie should be very compact and neat. Hair should not be wavy. The hair of a Yorkshire terrier should be long, straight, and glossy like silk. Among the colors are beautiful bright steel blues, extending from the back of the head to the root of the tail. The tail should have plenty of hair on it cut to a medium length.

Because of their small size the Yorkie dwells very well in small spaces such as apartments and make very good companions for adults and the elderly.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Author: Connie Limon. Visit us at abouttoydogs.com abouttoydogs.com and sign up for our helpful newsletters. About Toy Dogs is a guide to the selection and care of toy dog breeds. We feature articles, dog books and a toy dog breeder directory. Purchase a full page ad with 3 pictures, 12 picture video, advertising in our newsletters and article marketing promotion. To my knowledge no other toy dog breeder directory offers this unique package of advertising services for the toy dog breeder.

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Fetching can be a fun game that you and your puppy can enjoy throughout your life together. Many sporting dog breeds like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels and others are born with a strong desire to retrieve. Some other breeds like to chase toys and play keep away. You can teach any dog of any age to play fetch but it will likely be easier to teach a puppy. Some dogs will enjoy the game of fetch more than others but all can learn the basics of the game.

An easy and fun way to start teaching your dog to play fetch is to use the two-toy fetch method. Get two identical dog toys that your dog can be crazy about. These toys can be a plush dog toy or a bouncy ball; even a tennis ball works well. The idea is to playfully tease your dog with one of the toys and then throw it a ways from you. Make sure to not throw it too far at the beginning, keep it close until your dog learns. As soon as your dog goes to get the toy, call out praise and then when she retrieves the toy call her back to you and show her the other toy. She will probably run back to you to get the other toy. As soon as she gets close, take the first toy away from her and throw the second toy. She will then run after it and you can start the process over again.

Start slowly and build up over time. Fetching balls can be good exercise so let your dog acclimate to the increased activity. Make sure your dog still wants to play fetch when you stop for the day!

Do not use the fetch toys for any other purpose than to play fetch. It will confuse your dog if she can play with the toys at home but must fetch the toys when you are at the park!

If your dog has no interest in retrieving toys, you can create a positive association and still teach her to fetch the toys. Every time she picks up the toy reward her with a small treat. It will take time and repetitions before this really kicks in for her but you will create a desire to fetch for you by using the treats as a reward.

With a little time and patience you will have a well-trained dog to play fetch with and you both can enjoy the game for years to come.

Kevin Lynch owns puppy-n-dog-secrets.com Puppy-n-Dog-Secrets.com and offers you more information on training your puppy plus a free newsletter full of all kinds of puppy and dog info at puppy-n-dog-secrets.com/ Dog Training.

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