Tips For Choosing Dog Clothes Patterns

It can be easy to forget that animals need to be kept warm too. This does not simply mean making sure their blanket has a bed. Garments can also be important too. If you want to make your own you may want to consider looking online to find dog clothes patterns.

Some people may feel that this is unnecessary. They may wonder why you would want to do this when you can simply go to a store and buy them. It can be a lot of effort and some people may not appreciate this. However the effort is something that can make it more personal. If you love your pet you want to look after them.

You can find designs in a number of places. Some specialist stores should have them. For example you may find them in pet stores or certain craft shops. If they do not have them in stock they may be able to order them in or direct you somewhere where you can find them.

You can also find an assortment of them on the internet. Some of them can be downloaded for free and others have to be paid for. What you choose depends on what you feel is most suitable for your pet or what you think will be appropriate for the kind of material that you want to use.

For example if you want to knit or sew something for the winter then it is best to use a design for a material such as fleece. This will be thicker and provide more protection from the cold weather and more comfort. Lighter materials are better for summer clothing, especially useful for smaller or less furry dogs that may need some protection even in warmer weather.

The key areas to focus on are the chest and the neck. You need to measure these carefully as they will help to make sure that the clothing fits properly and the dog feels comfortable while wearing them. If you are in any doubt you may want to check a video tutorial on the internet so you can check while you are working on it.

As stated before you can find dog clothes patterns from a wide variety of sources. It is also worth going online for tips and advice from people who do this regularly, especially if you are doing this for the first time. With the right designs and the right advice you can make sure that your pet will be comfortable and stylish.

Find a review of the things to keep in mind when buying chihuahua clothes and tips for choosing dog clothes patterns, right now.

Tips on Feeding Your Puppy

Dogs need to be properly taken care of and trained from birth if we want them to grow into healthy adult pets. Among the most important aspects we need to focus on are their eating habits and overall nutrition. Giving them puppy food to make sure they get the right amount of protein they need is just one of the many things you need to do. You also have to know other essentials to maintain proper diet and health of your pet.

When buying food for your puppy, see if the label says "complete" or "complementary." Dog food that's marked as "complete nutrition" is something that you can give to your puppy as its main source of nutrition. You can find this type of pet nutrition in dry and canned formulas. Complementary nutrition, as the term says, cannot be the sole food of your pet, but should be given with a "complete nutrition" product.

Complementary dog food doesn't mean that it's totally fine for you to give table scraps to your puppy. Table scraps won't guarantee that your pet will have a good balance of the nutrients it needs to grow healthily.

You shouldn't also abruptly switch brands, formulas, or recipes of dog food. Especially for those breeds that are prone to stomach upset and other illnesses of the digestive system, this should never be done. If it's necessary for you to change the product you're giving to your puppy, making sure that you introduce the new one gradually. You can mix some kibbles from the new product with those of the old one. You should then reverse the proportion bit by bit until your puppy is eating a full bowl of the new kibbles.

You need to ensure clean handling of your puppy's meals. Leftover canned or wet dog food should be stored in the refrigerator. To feed the refrigerated leftover to your puppy, you need to wait until it goes back to room temperature before giving it to your pet. Never leave leftover food in your pet's bowl as this may be spoiled easily due to heat, insects, and other factors.

Remember to keep in small quantities the meals that you give to your pet. Just give them a serving three times a day. Your puppy may be overflowing in energy, but its stomach is too small to accommodate food that will give him energy the whole day.

To make sure that you feed your puppy just right, always check that its ribs should still be felt when you hold its body. Once you can already see the ribs even without feeling them, you might not be feeding it enough. But if you find it hard to feel its ribs, it might be getting too much food in a day.

How to Treat Dog Mange

Dog mange is a nasty, debilitating and physically destructive disease if left untreated. Knowing that your dog has mange is the first step to treating it effectively but, unless you check your dog over regularly and take him to the vet at the first sign of anything wrong, the disease can get much worse before it is noticed.

Mange is caused by an infestation of mites and scabies that burrow in to the dog's skin and hair follicles. Whilst a healthy dog will be able to fight off the infestation, if your dog has a poor immune system it will not be able to fight off the disease.

There are many symptoms of dog mange including itching and signs of dandruff, thinning of the hair around the eyes, the mouth and the front of the legs. Left untreated these patches can soon turn to sore, crusted, oozing patches which will cause your dog a great deal of discomfort and pain. As the disease progresses your dog will lose its appetite, leading to severe weight loss and dehydration.

Dog mange can be successfully treated and eradicated with quick intervention and use of the correct products. Shampoos alone will not rid your dog of mange; whilst you may see short term changes, the mange will continue to return until the mite itself has been destroyed. This means treating your home and the all of the dog's bedding as well as the dog itself.

Treating a dog for mange is a fairly straightforward process but don't expect an overnight success story; the process takes time. To treat your dog for mange first find a good natural shampoo. Look for an oil based shampoo such as tea tree or aloe Vera; the oil will smother the mites and kill off the eggs. Using a shampoo containing these products will also soothe irritated skin. This should be used regularly, in conjunction with a medicated topical spray for the lesions and sore patches.

Avoid products that contain Anise oil as this can be damaging to your dog. Look for products that contain Zinc PCA as this is essential for killing parasites both on and below the skin. It is also used for building up the skin membrane and the sebum glands to further assist your dog in fighting off unwanted infestations.

Although these products may be more expensive to buy, in the long run they are cheaper because they do work and you don't need to keep buying cheaper products that will never effectively treat your dog for mange.

This alone is not enough. Whilst the above treatment may appear to rid your dog of mange, unless his immune system is built up he will always be a target for the mites. Your dog needs to be fed on a good healthy diet but will also need additional nutrients and enzymes added in order to help build up his immune system and help to repair his skin. Keep your house treated as well and your dog should be clear of mange and pain free for a long time to come.

Are you looking for more information regarding dog mange remedies? Visit http://www.evolutionsupply.com/dog-mange.html today!

Best Dog Food - Choosing the Ideal Product for Your Pet

You can always purchase cheap dog food online or in a physical pet store, but you should also ask yourself if you're really saving money by doing that. If you don't give your pet its nutritional requirements everyday, you might have to buy him medications to stop the itchiness on its skin, falling hair, joint problems, and other health conditions. When thinking about what to feed your dog, you might have to consider buying a good quality product to make sure that your dog stays healthy. Taking care of your pet will even be worry-free. While you do have a budget limit you need to work with, you should also think thoroughly what type of product will save you more time, money, and effort in the long run.

Make sure you read the label of the dog food you're thinking of buying. You can ask a veterinarian which ingredients you should look for and which to avoid in pet nutrition products. If your dog has special health conditions, ask the vet about the vitamins and minerals your dog needs to fight these problems.

Protein is a must for all dogs. See if the protein in the product is taken from prime animal sources. Make sure the animal source is specified and not simply stated as "animal protein." Lamb, salmon, beef, and chicken are good protein sources for dogs. Organ meats like chicken liver and beef liver are also ideal.

Grains are in dog foods only as fillers. Make the most of it by choosing a product that has the healthiest type of grains. The best dog food has whole grains like barley, ground rice, and whole wheat flour. The high level of fiber and other important nutrients in whole grains will not just keep your dog full, but can also help it have better digestion and elimination.

Corn is cheaper than whole grains. This is why corn is in many of the lower-priced dog foods. When buying pet nutrition products with corn, you will get what you pay for. You'll be giving your pet lower-quality food. Corn and corn-based ingredients aren't easy to digest and can trigger allergies in many dogs. Vets often advise dog owners to avoid giving their pets products with corn.

Whether you buy dog food online or in brick-and-mortar pet shops, you need to be choosy. If you want a healthy pet to keep you company for a long time, be sure you get it high-quality products that will fulfill its daily nutritional requirements.

You can get the best dog food Australia at discounted prices on the Paws for Life website. Visit the site to see their wide selection of top pet nutrition brands and purchase cheap dog food online.

Choosing Food for Large Breed Dogs

A large breed dog has a heavier weight, bigger build, and faster growth cycle than one of a small- or medium-breed. Because of these, it has special nutrition needs. Also, since many large breeds are really meant to be working with humans, they need to have the right quality of food and the proper amount of vitamins and minerals. If you own a large breed dog, here are some suggestions on how you should choose its food.

It's best to ask a veterinarian about the best brand, formula, and recipe for your pet. The vet will base his recommendation on your pet's age, breed, and activities. You should ask the vet for a couple or more brands so you can compare which would be better for your dog and your budget.

You should also observe your dog if it has allergies or other considerations and tell the vet about it. He should be able to tell you which ingredients you need to avoid when checking pet nutrition products. Usually, allergies in dogs are caused by the wheat or soy content in their food. Some symptoms include falling hair and itchy skin.

When shopping for food for large breed dogs, read the labels carefully. The protein source or sources should be the first in the list of ingredients. Beef, chicken, lamb, salmon, and turkey are the prime protein sources you should see. Do not buy any product that say "animal protein" only. It has to be specified so you'd also know if your dog exhibits some kind of allergic reaction. Also, poor sources of protein won't give your dog the nutrition it needs regularly and may even add fats and other unnecessary substances to its diet.

Grains are just fillers. They provide very minimal nutritional benefits for your dog and even cause frequent loose stools. Be sure that grains appear far down the ingredients' list on the product label. This includes corn, which is actually discouraged by many vets. Corn is even totally omitted by some of the premium brands in the market.

If your dog has special concerns that you want to address through its regular diet, check the additional ingredients in the dog food that you want to buy. Large dogs are prone to bone and joint problems, because they are heavy. Glucosamine and chondroitin in dog food will help them fight these troubles.

Lastly, be sure that the dog food is made by a reputable company that doesn't have any nutrition issue or recent product recall. Also, buying top-quality dog food may cost you a bit more than feeding it table scraps and substandard meals. However, it will save your dog the dangers of illnesses and will help you enjoy its company even more.

7 Basic Approaches to Work Your Dog's Mind

Probably the most widespread issues pet dog owners have is the fact that they don't continue to keep their dogs occupied enough. Whenever a dog becomes bored to tears, they get destructive so when your dog becomes destructive, its masters get angry.

But, more often than not, the never-ending cycle is preventable when you just spend time exercising your dog's body and mind.

Listed here are 7 suggestions I believe can help you keep the furry friend energetic and content, and with luck, stop him from gnawing your carpet.

1. Analyse Them - Google dog iQ test, and you'll discover a number of checks that you could give your dog which will examine how intelligent they are. The specific answers are much less significant compared to testing process. The assessments by themselves make wonderful workouts that actually work your dog's brain.

In addition they give you an easy way to state yourself as being the alpha dog person in the pack, and also to spend top quality time bonding together with your dog. Most dogs will perform properly at these physical exercises, but even when they don't, they're working their mind - a fantastic thing.

2. Problem Resolving Skills - Give your pet dog several little challenges to resolve during the day. You could conceal peanut butter within a toy, or place goodies into stuffed toys, or dig bones in the garden. It doesn't have to be a MENSA check, but little puzzles are great at working their doggy minds.

3. Dog Obedience Training - Fundamental behavior training is incredibly engaging, and effective in working your dog's difficulty resolving skills. It requires lots of mental strength to observe your commands carry out tricks, and understand instructions.

4. Show Them New Tricks - Simple instructions are certainly one thing, but advanced tricks are extremely engaging. Some dogs might be more appropriate for this than the others, if your dog is particularly smart, challenge them with tricks that they wouldn't normally perform. You could train them to recognize various toys amongst several options, ask them to discover different toys, or have them find particular smells within your garden, all excellent dog tricks.

5. Work For Anything - Your dog should not get something free of charge. As dogs, they should not just expect, but love having to work for such things as their food and attention. When you feed the dog, offer him water, or take a seat to pet him, get him to sit down, stay, lay down, or what ever other tricks you'd get him to do.

6. Executing Their Job - Most dog breeds are selectively bred for a specific job. To actually work their minds, and see the breeding tested. Have sled dogs tug, sheep dogs herd, and searching dogs track. This can fulfil a heavy need to work whilst working their brains. You'll be surprised how efficient these performing tasks can be, in burning up the excessive energy your dog has.

7. Exercising and Agility - Simple exercise is not always good at working your dog's mind, however it has a very similar effect, putting all of their body to the test and ensuring they wear themselves out a little. Nearly every dog breed has been worked and reworked over the generations to perform a job. They enjoy being challenged and they also like to think. As pet owners, it's our responsibility to continuously challenge our dogs, and provide them particular tasks to accomplish.

A dog's mind begins to wain when it isn't worked adequately; they grow stressed and frequently destructive. These 7 tasks won't just keep the dog content. They'll continue to keep you happy. As soon as you've got the dog in the practice of learning, you may want to help them learn some awesome tricks, like getting the newspapers, or climbing step ladders.

Old Mother Hubbard Was Right - Give Your Dog a Bone!

Dogs are carnivores. They have teeth and a digestive system designed to eat meat and bones, whether they are Chihuahuas or Great Danes. Your dog will greatly appreciate being given REAL, RAW bones. Just remember to never give your dog cooked bones.Raw bones and marrow are digestible, full of nutrition and help clean teeth. Cooked bones splinter and can cause injury to their mouth or digestive system. Cooked marrow and cooked fat cause diarrhea and can even cause pancreatitis.

Raw bones basically come in two forms, "consumable" and "recreational".Consumable bones are the small, easily crushed and digested types of bones like those found in raw chicken backs or wings.

Recreational bones are those meant for hours or even days of happy chewing and gnawing which not only give the dog satisfaction but help clean their teeth.

All dogs, especially puppies, have a strong desire to chew bones. If bones aren't provided, they will take out their chewing frustration on any available object, including your shoes, furniture, etc. Many people give rawhide, but the reality is that rawhide is completely incapable of being digested.If swallowed in large chunks, it can cause an intestinal blockage, resulting in emergency surgery or even death. Furthermore, many rawhide products not produced in the United States are processed with arsenic!! We don't believe rawhide, in any form, should ever be given to a dog.

The best consumable bones are found in chicken, but remember these should not be weight-bearing bones, like legs. Chicken backs or wings are great but backs are best as they are cheap and come with tiny bits of offal, like heart, liver and kidney, all of which are great sources of nutrition and vitamins.

Healthy dogs are not susceptible to salmonella poisoning the way that humans are. Their gut is much shorter than ours and they have a much stronger stomach acid. Again, this is for the sole purpose of digesting raw meat and bone. Chicken backs and wings are typically consumed in a matter of minutes but they will still clean teeth. Hand washing, as you would do with preparing your own food is all that is required to keep the humans safe from salmonella. You can also feed the raw chicken in their crate if you don't want them eating it on your rugs, floors or furniture.

The best recreational bones are soup marrow bones.They can be beef, pork, lamb or whatever you can find in your local grocery store's meat section. If you don't see them, ask the meat manager, as they will usually cut them for you. These are not fully consumable but give a great deal of chewing satisfaction as they work to get out all that wonderful, nutritious marrow.Once the bone becomes brittle and they start to break off chunks of bone, it should be taken away and discarded.It is still cheaper, safer and more nutritious than rawhide. We buy these bones in quantity and in order to make them last even longer, we freeze them. When it comes time for a bone for our furry friends, we take them from the freezer and pass them out, no thawing required.

If you watch nature channels on TV you will see lions and tigers and bears, etc eating raw meat and bone. If you visit the zoo, you will see the same as they are careful to feed in a species appropriate manner. We should follow suit for our beloved pets.

Even old Mother Hubbard knew this, so take her advice and give your dog a bone.

Terry and Debbie are the owners of http://www.partofthefamilykennels.com. This is a pet boarding kennel and grooming business serving the Tampa, FL area. We have extensive experience in pet care, breeding and showing dogs. If you are going to be in the Tampa area and need a kennel or grooming service please contact us.

Top Three Secrets to Dog Training Reviewed

Training a dog is difficult and this is no secret. How would you like it if you could get rid of all your dog worries? Would you like it if I gave you three invaluable secrets to dog training? If you want to know how to train your pet so that he behaves as you want him to, here are my secrets to dog training:

1. Feed Good Food, Feed Enough Food.

Dogs have an appetite larger than humans. If you feed your pet friend as much as you yourself eat, your dog is bound to be hungry. A hungry dog will cry, bark, soil your curtains and tear your cushions. Don't our kids do the same to show that they need something? Feed your canine good food, and feed it adequate quantities of such food. Food that you eat might just not be the best suited for your dog. While this seems to be a simple fact, most of us are guilty of not feeding our dogs adequate and good food.

2. Make it feel at home:

Where does your dog sleep? Does it sleep besides you on your bed? Or is it sent outside to sleep alone in its kennel? Dogs, like kids, like to have company while going off to sleep. If you send your dog to a kennel and lock your doors, the dog will feel left out, alone and sad. Your dog will then cry, bark and behave rudely to show you that it is hurt. I am not asking you to let your pet friend sleep with you. All I am asking you is to let your dog have some company. Get another dog, perhaps?

3. Walk: All dogs love to walk.

Your dog is happiest when you take him for a walk in the park. Play ball with your canine friend once every day. Take him along when you go for a jog. Take him for a walk even if you don't feel like going for one. Your pet will thank you for this!

Training a dog has no secret formula. There are absolutely no secrets to canine training. There are only rules that you can follow and things that you can do to make sure that your pet friend is happy in living with you. Secrets to Dog Training is one book that gives you a treasure of all such rules and tips about dog training. Get Secrets to Dog training today! Trust me, you'll love it!

Secrets to Dog Training is the one of the most useful dog obedience training programs today. To get Secrets to Dog Training today at a huge discount, visit my Secrets to Dog Training Review site today!

What to Consider When Getting A Dog Collar and Leash

If you are about to bring home a new dog, then surely one of the first things you will be looking for is a collar and a leash for him. In fact, even if you already have a dog, you may still be on the lookout for the most appropriated collar for him.

There are two primary things to consider in picking the best dog collar possible for your dog - the safety your dog, and the convenience for the owner. Whether it's when you open the door for a visitor, or when you are jogging with your dog off-leash, you want to make sure that you always have your leash handy. No matter how well-trained your dog may be, there are still times when a dog-owner needs to resort to a leash. So many sad incidents, such as a dog running out into traffic with disastrous results, could have been avoided if the dog were on a leash at the time.

On the other hand, you want to make absolutely sure that you never leave a traditional leash hanging off your dog's collar -- the leash may get caught in something or the other, and this situation may prove to be very dangerous for your dog.

But these two important considerations seem to be conflicting, with a traditional collar and leash set up. One excellent solution is to use something like the supercollar® for your dog, which is a collar with a built-in retractable leash. We think this solution is not only extremely cool, but also provides safety for your dog as well as convenience for the owner. With this collar on your dog, you don't have to worry about carrying the leash around everywhere --your dog will carry his own leash! And if you were jogging with your dog, and along comes another dog, rather than fumbling around for the leash and trying to find the little loop on the collar, you can simply reach down and pull out your dog's leash.

Or imagine putting your dog in the back of the SUV. You want his leash on until you get him in the back, but then you want to take it off so that he is not in the back by himself with his leash on. Of course, when you reach your destination and open the back, you want to put the leash on. Inconvenient, right? When the door bell rings and a delivery man is at the door, you don't have to converse with him while leaning down and holding on to your dog's collar.... the possibilities go on and on.

No matter which collar and leash you ultimately end up choosing, remember to keep your dog's tags on the collar, and to keep the leash handy!

Understanding The Development Of Your Puppy

Have you ever wondered how your puppy grows and learns how to survive the rigors of puppyhood? If you have kept puppies, you will know that all them go through several, what the veterinary profession call, critical periods of development. And this takes place usually in the their first year.

When a puppy is born it begins to grow and develop rapidly. Its emotional development also grows by leaps and bounds at this critical stage in its life. However the successful development of your puppy begins with the breeder and how he treated the puppy, while still with its mother.

Finally at around six-eight weeks old, when it leaves its mother, it is then your turn to influence your puppies development by the way you treat him during those early days spent with you. Good socialization is the key to success at this time. Taking the trouble to make sure your puppy meets people and other dogs can have a positive impact on him and you as his owner.

All of us, from time to time, are so busy getting on with our own lives that we do not see what needs to be done and what is in front of us. It is only when your puppy is away from you, for maybe two or three days, that you notice a huge difference in his behavior. In order to understand the many stages of your puppy's development we must take a closer look at these critical periods.

A dogs pregnancy usually last 60/65 days, but it can go either way. And when the puppy is born it relies on the nourishment of the mothers' milk for the first three weeks of its life. At this stage unless there are heat lamps to keep it warm it must rely on its mother for warmth.

The newborn puppy can only control his body temperature using the warmth from his mother and litter-mates. He is virtually blind and deaf, and has little capacity for smell and taste. However, he is aware of the smell of his mother. He cannot urinate or defecate without stimulation, which is usually done by the mother who will keep everything clean by either eating, licking or swallowing the waste herself.

Now the puppy has learnt to crawl forward in a circular pattern and while searching for his mother it makes funny noises, thankfully she understands what these unique sounds mean and quickly responds by letting him know she is close by.

During this time, the puppy is still quite dependent on his birth mother, for protection and nourishment. A puppies only concerns at this point are the care, food, and warmth that he receives from his mother. He does not move very far away from her, but instead stays close along with his brothers and sisters.

Now, because of the continuous nourishment he is receiving a tremendous amount of physical change takes place. At around thirteen days, his eyes will usually begin to open and his pupils are capable of reacting to the brightness of light. This can vary and be dependent on the type of breed.

As far as sight is concerned the puppy will not be able to see objects or detect motion until he is about twenty-one days old. Life is becoming more meaningful as the puppy attempt to explore and he has begun crawling.

Life is now moving fast as his abilities begin to improve. The next step is to progress to a wobbly walk combined with plenty of frustration. He will fall often, as he learns to walk and then at around eighteen days, his hearing begins to kick in and he starts reacting to noises.

Now the puppy is really motoring and at around twenty days, his first teeth will appear. Unfortunately his mother is in for some serious pain as those sharp teeth nip her teats. Its time for weaning and introducing solid food as the mother's milk supply begins to dry up.

Around this stage the puppies will have control of their tails and like a raised flag will begin to wag. This is surely a dog to be proud of.

Ian Nicholson has experienced a love of dogs for over fifty years. He is innviting you to download a free gift '7 Proven Steps To Better Older Dog Health' at http://www.choosebestdogbreed.com and find out more about puppy development