Archive for January, 2008

The Helpful Labrador Retriever

Chocolate Labrador Retriever

Is your labrador retriever as helpful as mine? As you can see his isn't much of a painter but that didn't stop him from try help out with redoing the kitchen. Share your labrador retriever photos at the Labrador Retriever Chatboard and enter our monthly photo contest for a free dog collar.

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Making Your Home Puppy Proof

Puppies are super cute and so much fun to have around. They are filled with energy and curious about everything around them. It is your job as a responsible pet owner to puppy proof your house to make it safe from them and to protect your belongings.

The first thing you should do when puppy proofing your house is to go room to room on your hands and knees. Look at the things in your home from your puppy's perspective. Think about what is at that level that may be interesting to him. You may be surprised to find many things that are potentially dangerous that you never even thought of before.

One thing you should be aware of in your household is the location of electrical cords. Make sure to limit your puppy's access to these areas. Puppies can chew through cords and get electrocuted causing serious injury or even death. Wrap cords up and store them away or lay down rubber or plastic runners that can be purchased at most home supply stores.

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It’s Ugly, It Slobbers And It’s Back

It's Ugly, It Slobbers And It's BACK!
WCBS-TV New York, NY - 16 Jan 2008
Still, it seems every year the Labrador retriever leads the pack on the AKC list of the most popular. Yes, this year the humble, loveable bulldog is in the

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Spate of Dog Disappearances Neighbors Stumped

Spate of dog disappearances have rural neighbors stumped
West Central Tribune, MN - 15 Jan 2008
The 7-year-old black Labrador retriever rarely wandered off, she said. “She’s the type of dog who, if you whistle, she’s back within 10 minutes max.

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Training A Dog Not To Bark

Like many pet owners, I had a huge problem with my dogs: they would always bark! I really needed to find out how to train a dog not to bark, and I found some interesting results.

First of all, you must know the reason why your dog is barking before you figure out a cure. Dogs are like babies in the fact that they will bark (or cry in a babies case) when they are hungry, thirsty, need to defecate or just bored. If it is a case of the first three then there is a simple solution: feed them, give them water or let them outside.

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How To Toilet Train Your Puppy

I expect you're reading this because you have just welcomed a new member of the family into your household. Yes, a puppy! Well congratulations! First on getting such a wonderful animal and friend, and secondly as it's a puppy it's going to be simple to get your new companion trained.

Puppies are relatively easy to train. They are like empty vessels waiting to be filled. And you are the person to do the filling. If you don't they could pick up bad habits from the environment and from other dogs. You are the best teacher for them.

Some ground rules first though.

Never punish your puppy if they make a mistake.

Always praise when things go well.

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Hunting Dogs Make A Better Outdoor Experience

The use of hunting dogs for the pursuit of game has been in practice ever since man and dog discovered they made great companions. Whether opting for sight hounds, scent hounds, pointers or retrievers the relationship between a hunter and his canine counterpart is a special one. While they are companions, in the field there is a working relationship between hunters and their hunting dogs. Dogs can be trained to obey verbal commands, hand gestures and whistle signals. A hunter who trains his or her dog well has the advantage of depending on their companion to get at game that the hunter cannot.

Because dogs are pack animals and eager to please, they often enjoy hunting just for the chance to be included. While hunting dogs work hard to please their masters, certain breeds have characteristics that naturally fit many types of hunting. Retrievers or water retrievers are unrivaled in their ability to recover downed ducks or geese from ponds at any temperature. Scent hounds are spectacular at trailing game by smell even in the most extreme of conditions. Pointers are fantastic in their ability to track and establish the specific location of small game. While these dogs love to please, their instinctive characteristics often make training and hunting much easier.

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How to Evaluate Your Dog for Ear Infections

It's not unusual for dogs to get ear infections, as the anatomy of the dog ear encourages moistness. Both bacteria and yeast thrive in dark, damp environments. Often dogs will have floppy ears that cover the ear opening, keeping the internal ear moist and dark. Dogs with ears that stand up straight can get ear infections, too, since the inner ear of a dog is a long, mostly horizontal structure. Animals with a more vertical ear may not suffer ear infections as frequently as dogs, since moisture can drain down and out of the canal. Sporting dogs who spend a lot of time in the water, and who also have floppy outer ears, may be at the greatest risk for ear infections.

Dogs will exhibit many symptoms when they have an ear infection. Look for the following signs:

-Shaking or tilting the head
-Scratching, rubbing, or otherwise trying to stimulate the ear
-Foul odor emanating from the ear
-Discharge
-Swelling
-Ear is warm to the touch
-Inflammation of the ear
-Missing fur due to scratching

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