As a responsible Pit Bull owner, you do everything you can to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. You give him the best nutrition, exercise and medical care. Over the years, all the expense starts to add up. Purchasing pet insurance can help save you a lot of money on veterinary bills during your Pit Bull’s lifetime.

Pet insurance is something that many pet owners never think about, until it is too late. If by chance your Pit Bull were to develop a serious health problem, or were to be involved in an accident, how would you be able to afford to care for him? Long term care for serious conditions can really add up, not to mention just the cost of routine preventative care. Recently, purchasing pet insurance has become more and more popular with today’s pet owners. They understand that a sick pet can really put added financial strain on their household budgets.

Pet insurance is currently offered by several different companies in North America. Many have lots of plans available, so that you can pick the one that will best suit your needs and your budget. The majority of these insurance policies require you to pay your Pit Bull’s bill up front, and then they will send you a check to reimburse the covered portion of the bill. All you have to do is submit the claim, or some veterinarian offices will submit them for you. There are deductible plans offered, or plans with co-pays, you just have to decide what is best for you.

Many insurance policies cover both emergency care, and preventative care, such as shots, and routine surgery expenses. It is important to provide preventative care for your Pit Bull, to catch any possible medical problems early, so that they can be promptly treated.

Some insurance companies have HMO plans, similar to your own health insurance plan. With these policies, you are not required to pay anything out of pocket at the veterinarian’s office. The veterinarian will submit the claim to the insurance company, who will then send a check straight to the veterinarian to cover the bill. Many veterinarians may not participate in these HMO plans, as it is more inconvenient for them. It is important to see if your veterinarian accepts this type of policy before you purchase this kind of insurance. You should be able to get a listing of veterinarians in your area that do participate in the plan. Not all insurance that offer pet insurance can provide coverage in all states, so it is important to make sure the insurance is applicable in your state before you purchase the policy.

As more people add Pit Bulls to their households, pet insurance for them will gain in popularity and become more widely available. Purchasing insurance for your Pit Bull just makes good financial sense, and I would recommend every owner look into purchasing a policy. There are several resources available online that can help you with this. You will want to compare several different policies to help you decide which is best for you.

To learn all about raising an

Related posts

• Working with Pit Bull Terriers (0)
• Why It Is Essential to Crate Train Your Pit Bull Terrier Puppy Dog (0)
• Vaccinating Your Pit Bull Terrier: Keeping Your Dog Healthy (0)
• Types of Dog Obedience Training Available for Your Pit Bull Terrier (0)
• Training Your Pit Bull Terrier With Dog Treats (0)

Tags: bull terrier, pit bull

Dog owners, who recognize the early signs and symptoms of illness or pain in their dogs, will not only relieve their loved one’s suffering but may also be able to save themselves an expensive trip to the veterinarian. Not only is it important to recognize these signs early to relieve pain and suffering, but it is much more effective to treat an illness when it is detected early.

The dog owner should keep an accurate and detailed account of their dog’s symptoms to help the veterinarian correctly diagnose and effectively treat the dog’s illness or condition. Most canine illnesses are detected through a combination of various signs and symptoms:

Temperature, Respiratory Rate and Heart Rate

A newborn puppy will have a temperature of 94-97º F. which will eventually reach the normal adult body temperature of 101.5º F. at the age of 4 weeks old. Take care when trying to take your dog or puppies temperature as the thermometer can easily be broken off in the canine’s rectum. Also any form of excitement can cause the temperature to rise by 2-3º when the dog is actually in normal health. If your dog’s temperature reaches 105º or above OR 96º or below please take him/her to the emergency vet immediately!

An adult dog will have a respiratory rate of 15-20 breaths per minute (depending on such variables as size and weight) and a heart rate of 80-120 beats per minute. You can feel for your dog’s heartbeat by placing your hand on his/her lower ribcage just behind the elbow. Don’t be alarmed if the heartbeat seems irregular compared to a human’s heartbeat, it is irregular in many dogs. Have your vet check it out and get used to how it feels when it is normal.

Behavior Changes

Any behavior changes that are not associated with a change in the household atmosphere, such as jealousy over a new pet or child may be an indication of an illness. Signs of behavioral changes may be:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Fatigue

• Sleepiness

• Trembling

• Falling/Stumbling

If your dog shows any of these signs, he/she needs to be kept under close watch for a few hours, or even a few days, until positive signs develop or he/she has returned to normal. Do not try to exercise the dog or put him/her in any situation that may cause stress. Most veterinarians will want for you to keep track of when the symptoms first appeared, whether they are getting better or worse, and also whether the symptoms are intermittent, continuous, or increasing in frequency.

Pain

Dogs that are in pain will likely indicate that they are suffering by giving you clues as to where the area of discomfort is. For instance, a dog that has abdominal pain will continually glance toward their belly, bite or lick the area, and will not want to leave his/her bed. The dog may stand hunched over, or take the ‘prayer position’ which is when a dog gets down on it’s forelegs with the hind legs still standing, because of the pain in her abdomen area.

Dogs can not tell you that they are hurting or cry real tears but a dog may vocalize their pain in a different way. A dog that is hurt suddenly (such as being stepped on) will cry out or wimper in pain. This also happens when an external injury or internal injury (such as an organ) is touched. Whining or vocalization that is unprovoked may be caused from an internal injury as well. Some breeds of dogs (such as the American Pit Bull Terrier) have a higher pain threshold and need to be watched more closely for signs of pain. Breeds with a high pain tolerance are more likely to endure the pain without vocalization.

Another clue to pain is a change in temperament. A dog that is in pain may show signs of aggression. Please take note of this before concluding that a dog has become vicious and let your veterinarian know so that the correct treatment can be administered. Also females in general (even humans!) have days when they are just in a bad mood for no obvious reason. Take note of days of times that these mood swings occur as well as any events that might have triggered them.

Other signs that your dog may be sick:

• Ears: discharge, debris, odor, scratching, crusted tips, twitching or shaking.

• Eyes: redness, swelling or discharge.

• Nose: runny, thickened or colored discharge, crusty.

• Coughing, sneezing, vomiting or gagging.

• Shortness of breath, irregular breathing or prolonged/heavy panting

• Evidence of parasites in the dog’s stool, strange color, blood in the stool, or lack of a bowel movement (constipation).

• Loss of appetite or not drinking as much water as normally would.

• Weight Loss.

• Strange color of urine, small amount of urine, straining, dribbling, or not going as frequently as normal.

• Bad odor coming from mouth, ears, or skin.

• Hair loss, wounds, tumors, dander or change of the skin’s color.

• Biting of the skin, parasites, scratching or licking the skin frequently.

The preceding article was meant to help educate you to the signs and symptoms of probable pain or sickness in your dog. If any of these symptoms occur over a prolonged period of time, please seek the help of a veterinarian. I hope that this article will help stress the importance of keeping watch over your dog’s health patterns and the importance of keeping an accurate, detailed health record for your veterinarian’s convenience.

About the Author:

Jennifer Bryant is a life-long lover of dogs. Jennifer loves and breeds American Pit Bull Terriers in her North Georgia home with her 2 young children. Her love of dogs has inspired her to create a website for herself (as well as other breeders) to advertise their occasional litter of puppies and to educate others with dog breed information and useful articles.

Tags: bull terrier, dog breed, parasites, pit bull, whining

Related posts

• Heartworms in Dogs (0)
• Working with Pit Bull Terriers (0)
• The Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Little Dog with a Lot of Heart (0)
• The Ideal Staffordshire Bull Terrier (0)
• The Bull Dog May Not Be So “Bullish” (0)

Tags: bull terrier, dog breed, parasites, pit bull, whining

Health Issues

Your very first action after officially adopting a new puppy or dog – before you take him or her home – should be to stop by your vet’s office for a thorough examination. If you have other pets at home, you don’t want to inadvertently expose them to a communicable illness. If the vet even suspects something contagious, like parvovirus or distemper, leave the animal there for treatment – don’t take him home yet!

It’s even a good idea in such cases to clean your exposed body parts with a bleach water mix to kill latent viruses and germs before you enter your home. Try to avoid direct contact with any pets. Immediately head to the laundry room and put your clothing in the washer with lots of detergent and hot water. If you ruin something, that’s certainly better than exposing your pets to a disease!

Vaccinations

Your vet will, of course, know which vaccinations are required in your city and state. Most vets will administer inoculations in bundles (known as DHLP-P) to save time and expense. The injection includes vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Rabies vaccine is given separately and is mandatory in virtually every locale.

If you have other pets at home, vaccinations are absolutely critical for any new dogs you add to the domestic mix. Get them done - and stay on schedule!

Pack Hierarchy Issues

Any time you bring a new pet into your home with existing dogs, there is potential for fights as the hierarchy of the ‘pack’ is thrown into temporary disarray. It’s often impossible to tell whether a new dog will be an alpha or not, especially when it’s a puppy. However, puppies are much easier to condition to a lesser status within your home’s pack, even if their natural tendency is toward dominance. Remember, even two dogs will often be driven to attempt to form a pack with a dominant-subordinate relationship.

Let the dogs work it out, unless open aggression erupts. Then, you might try bringing in a professional trainer or, if possible, separate fighting dogs by partitioning them in certain parts of your home. Caution: never attempt to physically separate fighting dogs with your hands or feet! Instead, spray or pour a copious amount of cold water on them. The cold and wetness will serve to startle them, which usually defuses the situation without you ending up with stitches.

There is, unfortunately, not much you can do to predict which animals will be dominant. Some breeds are more likely to have individuals that will assert themselves in the pack (German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls), but even there, you get a wide range of characteristics. So, plan for any contingency, including returning the new dog or finding a better home if it causes serious disruptions that are not naturally resolved within a few days.

Feeding Routines

If you’ve only had one dog in your home previously, an issue that can be a source of potential problems when you add a new one is feeding time. You don’t have to think about it with just one pet, but when you have two or more animals trying to eat in one space – especially a confined area – watch out! Early on, make sure you remain close by in case a fight breaks out. Even dogs that have always been docile and friendly can quickly turn on companion animals when food is in the mix.

If possible, segregate your pets so they can eat without any contact with the other(s). Not only will this eliminate the potential for aggression, but it may prevent other disasters as well. Dogs that eat in groups tend to gulp without properly chewing their food. This can lead to choking and a condition called ‘bloat’ that can be life threatening.

Don’t Ignore Your First Dog!

When you bring in a new pet, it’s easy to start ignoring your existing dog(s). You’re not a bad person! It’s a natural tendency. However, you should anticipate it and work hard to catch yourself doting on the new dog at the other’s expense. Dogs are very tied in to our feelings and actions. More than most owners ever realize. You will send the wrong “vibe” to your older pets if you change how much time and attention you give them. To keep everyone happy, spend quality time with them all and don’t play favorites – even when the new pet is really ‘new.’

John Schwartz is a freelance writer and dog lover. He has written many published articles on subjects that include shopping for safe puppies-dogs-supplies.com/dog_toys.html dog toys and supplies, improving pet health, and good dog training practices. Visit his website at puppies-dogs-supplies.com puppies-dogs-supplies.com for more information and dog ownership tips.

Related posts

• Training An Agressive Dog (0)
• Shih Tzu - Obedient Shih Tzu Make Better Companions And Are Happier (0)
• How Are Guard Dogs Trained? (0)
• Getting to Know the Rottweiler (0)
• Dogs In The ‘Hood - Yo! What It Is, What It Was and What It Should Be (0)

Tags: dog training, dot, pit bull, rottweiler

Generally speaking Shih Tzu should not be aggressive at all. However, with any breed of dog aggressive behaviors can and do occur. Do you understand what it means if a Shih Tzu bares its teeth at you? Is your Shih Tzu warning you to back off or is your Shih Tzu simply smiling? If your Shih Tzu suddenly snaps at you – is this a failed bite or a warning that a bite might be coming next? The truth is these are typically aggressive behaviors that can range from visual warnings to postural or symbolic threats. Every dog owner needs to learn these subtle or not so subtle warnings of aggression, whether it be with a Shih Tzu or a Pit Bull. Any dog breed can exhibit aggression.

Dog aggression is often meant primarily not to harm so much as to alter the behavior of another creature, human or animal. Dogs and Shih Tzu included communicate their aggressive intentions through changes in expression, posturing, and maneuvering, some so subtle as to be easily missed or misunderstood by a passerby or even the owner. A dog’s communication system is quite different from a human’s communication system. It is important that every dog owner, whether it be a Shih Tzu or a Pit Bull, or a tiny teacup poodle, learn the dog’s basic communication system expressing aggression.

The actual bite is often preceded by several aggressive responses and warnings. These might include staring, growling, tensing up, and walking stiffly. No one, however, would misinterpret the savage attack of a child by a Pit Bull, as anything other than pure aggression and most people would also interpret the attack as the dog being absolutely uncontrollably vicious. In a breed such as the Shih Tzu, one does not normally see such types of viciousness, however, as with all canines, it is possible. All canines are related to the wolf and even though humans have domesticated them extremely well they can still from time to time exhibit those wolf like behaviors.

Aggression may develop gradually in a pup as it matures. Play growling and nipping by puppies and Shih Tzu puppies as well may seem harmless, but they often represent warning signals of what can be possible later on. Growling and nipping in Shih Tzu puppies needs to be handled immediately and eradicated. The mouth of a Shih Tzu puppy should never be allowed on human skin regardless of the activity. One possible way of handling a mouthing Shih Tzu puppy on human skin is to immediately close the mouth of the Shih Tzu puppy and hold it tight while saying sternly to the Shih Tzu puppy – NO BITE.

All Shih Tzu puppies are prone to want to chew. They are teething and this is a very normal behavior, however, when it is transferred to human skin, it is not normal and not acceptable. It can be solved if caught in the early stages assuming there are no other emotional problems occurring with the Shih Tzu puppy. You can also quickly put a chewable object in the mouth of the mouthing Shih Tzu puppy.

Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. She publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. Sign up at: stainglassshihtzus.com stainglassshihtzus.com Designer Dog Clothes are offered on the website.

Related posts

• Dog Aggression: Children and Their Pets (0)
• Types of Dogs / Shih Tzu Aggression (0)
• The Wonderful World of Toy Breed Dogs (0)
• The True Beauty of a Shih Tzu is in the Eye of the Beholder (0)
• Taking Care of Your Shih Tzu’s Teeth and Gums (0)

Tags: dog aggression, dog breed, dog clothes, pit bull, shih tzu

The Terrier Group includes those small but lively terrier breeds that were developed (mainly in Great Britain) to hunt small burrowing animals such as badgers, foxes, otters, rabbits and rats. The terrier often had to follow the prey underground and therefore, except for the Bull and Airedale Terriers, most terriers are small and stocky with short legs. These are feisty and energetic dogs that have little tolerance for other animals including other dogs. Of course these small dog breeds have been domesticated and make good pets but they are still fairly active and require firm handling. Many breeds like the Airedale, Bull, Fox and the Parson (Jack) Russell Terriers do best with experienced owners. The top 10 most popular terrier breeds in the US according to the American Kennel Club 2005 registrations are discussed below and their registration rank is included in brackets. It is interesting to note that the top six most popular terriers are all low-shedding dog breeds that are said to be hypoallergenic when properly groomed.

1. Miniature Schnauzer

Minis (#10) are lively, pleasant and playful with expressive personalities. These loyal and devoted small dogs want to be totally involved in all family activities and love to go for walks. Most Minis are good with children but are a little too small to be a toddler’s pet. They will generally get along fine with other family pets although they are terriers and can be feisty toward other dogs. Early socialization and obedience training will help with controlling excessive barking and a reluctance to walk on leash. This breed can be taught fairly easily and can even excel at advanced obedience competitions.

2. West Highland White Terrier

The West Highland White (#32) is cheerful, bold, assertive, courageous, inquisitive and has a great deal of personality. This small white dog needs to get involved in everything that is happening in the home. The Westie is easier to handle and friendlier than many other terriers but still needs his daily walks and play sessions. Westies will try and dominate dogs of the same sex but otherwise get along better with other dogs and cats than most terriers. The Westie still has its hunting prey drive and shouldn’t be let off leash except in a fenced enclosed area. The Westie is very possessive of its toys and food and doesn’t like to be handled by young children.

3. Scottish Terrier

The Scottie (#40) is a small dog breed with a jaunty and distinctive appearance. The Scottie is brave, alert, proud, confident, loyal and dignified. While friendly and playful as puppies, the mature Scottish Terrier can be stubborn at times. Therefore it is important to start socializing and obedience training < dog-breed-facts.com/articles/training-your-puppy.html> the Scottie while it is a puppy and continue through adolescence. Scotties love to play, so make sure you add play and rewards to your training. The Scottish Terrier does best with older children.

4. Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terrier (#41) is one of the smallest of the working terrier dog breeds. These terriers are bold, spirited and inquisitive but are also somewhat independent-minded. The Cairn is intelligent, affectionate and eager to please its master. This breed is easily trained and likes to do tricks although they may be the tricks that he - not you - wants to do. Cairns do well with older children and love to play games. These Terriers demand lots of attention but will provide you with hours of entertainment in return.

5. Airedale Terrier

The medium-sized Airedale Terrier (#52) is larger than most Terriers and has an even temperament and sweet disposition, although some Airedales can get into fights with other dogs. This terrier is dignified, patient, loyal and intelligent and makes a great companion dog that loves to play with children. The Airedale should be supervised with young children as it may be too boisterous for them. Airedales can be trained to a high level as anything from a guard dog or watchdog to a seeing-eye dog. Airedale puppies are playful and exuberant and obedience training should be started early and re-enforced through adulthood by a knowledgeable owner.

6. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

The Wheaten Terrier (#59) is cheerful, active, busy, playful and affectionate. The Wheaten is independent and self confident but also fairly intelligent and eager to learn. Wheaten puppies should be socialized early with children, other dogs and strangers. The breed is fairly easy to train if you can get their attention. Wheatens get along fine with older children but can be too playful and assertive with young children. Wheatens are much more sociable than most terriers but will still need obedience training to control their active and assertive nature.

7. Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier (#62) or ‘Bullie’ is a lively and powerful dog. Bull Terriers are fearless, assertive, comical and mischievous. This large breed is loyal, affectionate and loving and can make a good family pet. Bullies are probably too exuberant for small children but will do fine with considerate older children. Bull Terriers need lots of attention and may not be the best choice for the city unless they are involved in lots of family activities. These dogs can be quite strong willed and are difficult to train. The breed needs early socialization when they are puppies and on-going obedience training. Male Bullies, especially those which haven’t been neutered, can be extremely aggressive with other male dogs and even other pets.

8. American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire (#63) is usually calm and friendly with an air of self confidence; this powerful medium-sized breed is active, playful, affectionate and relatively easy to train. The Am Staff loves playing with older children but is too boisterous for young children. However this dog is fearless and is not to be trusted around cats or other dogs. The Am Staff has powerful jaws and will destroy any toys you give it to chew. This breed needs early socialization to other dogs and strangers and on-going obedience training. The Am Staff is the largest of the three breeds generally referred to as Pit Bulls. The other two are the American Pit Bull Terrier which is not registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier which is registered with the AKC. In the past, these breeds were all bred to be fighting dogs. Now that this activity is illegal, these pit bull breeds have an undeserved reputation for fighting. This is a dog for an experienced owner and prospective buyers should also check their local area bylaws and also their household insurance to see if there is any restriction on this breed of dog.

9. Parson Russell Terrier

The small-sized Jack Russell Terrier (#72) is known as the Parson Russell Terrier in the U.S. The Parson (Jack) Russell is the most energetic, fearless and athletic of all the terrier dog breeds. The Parson Russell demands full participation in the family activities with lots of physical and mental challenges. If the Jack Russell gets too little exercise and companionship, then this cheerful little dog will get bored and become destructive. The Parson Russell can be very aggressive towards strange dogs and even other family dogs. The Parson (Jack) Russell needs a lot of early socialization while a puppy and adolescent to curb aggressive behavior. These strong-willed Terriers need lots of early and on-going obedience training to ensure the owner and not the dog is in charge. The Parson Russell gets along well with older children - especially those that will play ball or Frisbee with him.

10. White Fox Terrier

The small-sized Wire Fox Terriers (#76) are one of the liveliest and most energetic of all the terrier breeds. The two varieties, the Wire haired and the Smooth, differ only in coat type. These Terriers are very intelligent, curious, cheerful and love their families. The breed has so much energy that it will play and chase a ball or Frisbee for hours on end. Fox Terriers make great playmates for older children but still retain their hunting instincts and shouldn’t be left alone with small pets. These Terriers should be kept on their leashes when being walked. The breed has a stubborn streak and socialization and training should be started when they are puppies and continued into adulthood.

About the Author - Mike Mathews is a contributing writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: dog-breed-facts.com dog-breed-facts.com He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog-breed-facts.com dog breeds, dog-breed-facts.com/dog-health.html dog health, dog grooming and more. As well be sure to check out his free report on Dog Training.

Related posts

• Working Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• Types of Terriers (0)
• Toy Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group (0)
• Toy and Small Dog Clothes (0)
• The Staffordshire Bull Terrier - Little Dog with a Lot of Heart (0)

Tags: airedale terrier, bull terrier, dog breed, dog breeds, dog grooming, dog training, groom, pit bull