Archive for November, 2008

Winner of November 2008 Photo Contest!

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 30th, 2008

Congratulations to Jennifer (thndrkttn) for her winning photo for the theme of "Looking Out!" :party:

Jennifer has chosen a collar from our sponsor www.3dirtydawgz.com (thank you Lori!) and is thinking of a theme for December. I should have it and post it tomorrow morning. Beginning next month, www.stickerfoundry.com (thanks, Lizz and Scott!) will be donating a prize for the 2nd place contestant.

If you want to take part in the contest please visit us at the Labrador Retriever Chat Board.

Planning For Our Pets

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 30th, 2008

If you are a pet owner then I give one word of advice. Have a back up plan for your Labrador retriever in case you can not make it home to feed them or let them outside. Having a pre-plan will save you a lot of grief and worrying down the road. It happens to all of us. We get called away to a meeting or have to go away during overnight expectantly. God forbid there is an emergency and you can't make it home. Having somebody that you know you can count on to look after your pet is worth it's weight in gold.

We have a couple of people that have helped us out several times on the drop of a phone call. There is nothing worse than being in a panic trying to find somebody to pet sit for you, even if it's just to let them out to go to the bahthroom. Even if you have to have a pet sitting service or kennel on call. Either way you will be glad you did.

My advice, set something up with a family member or close neighbour. Just in case. And if they help you out enough maybe think about gift baskets or some way of saying thanks!

Shopping for Dog Food

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 28th, 2008

If you are shopping for anything you are probably going to be doing some reading first and looking around for the best deal you can find. It doesn't matter if you are buying meds like Phentermine, shopping for electronics or doing your grocery shopping. You should be doing the same for your dog food.

The reason why I blog about this is because we just got back from our local pet food store with our free bag of Canidae. Our pet place offers a free bag for every 10 that we buy. It works out to a pretty good deal and their price is comparable with everybody else. So why not safe a little when stocking up on your dog food.

Time For Cold Winter Walks

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 26th, 2008

Well it's finally here, there is snow on the ground and it's cold out. It's winter time and that means colder weather walks with your dogs. No more putting the old shorts and funny t shirts on it's time for the winter boots and warm jacket. Remember to keep yourself warm when out on your walks. It's not a fashion show it is all about keeping warm and save. Take your gloves, touques, boots and wear warm insulated pants.

Just as you have to keep warm remember that your labrador retriever can get cold too. So keep you walks moderate in length when it is especially cold out and if you pooch looks like his or her feet are cold they probably are and it might be time to cut your walk short. Sidewalk salt can also be irritable so keep that in mind.

Remember to keep you and your labrador retriever warm and have fun, you know how much they love to play in the snow.

Lab Puppies for Sale

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 25th, 2008

Well the title says it all doesn't it? Lab Puppies For Sale. It's all over the internet and it's in every newspaper you pick up. Dogs and puppies for sale. But do you really know who you are buying from and what you are buying? It sounds odd but you are buying a product off of a sales or business person and there are some better sales persons that others. Some put a lot of care and time and money into their product and others are retailers you see on the side of the street selling "rolex" watches.

If you are interested in learning about proper breeding and what you should be looking for in a breeder I invite you to come to the labrador retriever chatboard and forums. There are many posts and articles about breeders and breeding in general and there are many informed people that can help answer your questions about labrador puppies for sale. We even have many contacts in the labrador retriever rescue and adoption circles if that is an avenue you want to try.

Please stop in and do some reading and meet other labrador retriever enthusiasts. Buy a puppy is a big step and you should make an informed decision.

Phases of Puppy Development

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 25th, 2008

There is an age old debate about how old a puppy or how young a puppy can be before you bring them home. I was thinking the other day that maybe the blog needs a good post about the stages or phases of puppy development. This is an article that I was reading through and thought that I would post as it contains some interesting and important information on the phases of a puppy. 

Please keep in mind that these phases of your puppies growth are very basic generalizations, different dog breeds will progress at their own natural pace.

Please do not assume that any instructional article or book contains the exact time frames and milestones of your pets development. Like you, like people, your dog is also unique.

The Afterbirth Phase: 0 – 4 Weeks Old

Oh, its so exciting, you have a new puppy. Your puppies eyes will start to open, and you will watch them begin to respond to sounds, light and movement within their new environment. They begin trying to 'learn their legs', how to move around. They start bonding with their mother and other puppymates, while becoming accustomed to their litter box. As much as you want to pick them up, cuddle them and take them around the house with you, its pretty important for the first month plus, to leave with them with their mother. You will have years and years to spend with them. This is a good time to start learning patience with your new doggie, your going to need it.

Around the third to fourth week you will really begin to notice your puppies senses will start to go beyond their litter box and become more alert to a wider environment. They really begin to recognize things and faces, especially yours, as well as other family members. They are starting to learn and develop their own dog sense during this time.

It is important to not have any unusually loud noises, unnecessary excitements, such as arguments, or any very rapid changes around your puppy. Your puppies development is very sensitive at this time. While you should not walk around on your tiptoes, talk in a whisper or avoid playing music or TV, as they need to become accustomed to the regular sounds of your household, you should be aware that their development and doggie personality can be negatively impacted if placed under undo stress.

The Doggie Socialization Phase: 4 to 8 Weeks

Around this time frame the mother will begin weaning her puppies and teaching them dog pack discipline. They will start learning the fundamentals of doggie pack socialization. They begin to understand that mom is not just there to take care of their hunger, but that she is the leader of the pack.

As Mom weans them you can gradually begin to start gradually feeding them. Ease them in to puppy dog food slowly, their systems need time to adjust.

During this period you can begin to handle your puppy daily, but even though you are still excited at this time, and want to cuddle them, they should not be separated more than 15 minutes daily from the litter. They are still learning doggie socialization, how to play with their mates, how to bite in a playful way and general puppy mannerisms.

If you want your puppy to grow up into a well adjusted dog, and who doesn't, it is very important to leave your puppy with its mom and litter mates for at least two months and if possible, a bit longer. There have been studies showing that puppies which have been removed from the litter prematurely tend to be more nervous, have a tendency to bite and bark more frequently, as well as having a little more difficult time being trained, compared to puppies that were able to mature properly within the litter.
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Buying A Dog Bed

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 25th, 2008

One topic that continually comes up on the labrador retriever chat forums is dog beds. Members are always looking for places to buy a good quality dog bed and at a good price. We all know how rough our dogs can be on things like toys, beds and of course our shoes and slippers. We went out without doing much research and bought a cheap dog bed that just didn’t last too long. I am sure that if we would have searched around we could have done better.

I found a website that sells dogs beds and they have everything laid out for you so that you can find exactly what you are looking for. They have a very wide selection of different dog beds and for all types and sized of dogs. There are many styles and colors to choose from for your large or small dog. You can sort their inventory by price, best selling and by the newest beds that have been added to the inventory. The dog beds are also rated by other dog owners so you can see how they felt about their purchase.

If you are looking for a dog bed then have a look at their dog supply website and I am sure you will be able to find what you are a looking for and at a good price when compared to other dog stores.

Traveling With Your Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 24th, 2008

The holidays are upon us. The Amercian Thanksgiving and not too far away we will be into Christmas. I imagine that many of us will be traveling and why not there are lots of travel deals to be had this year.

Remember that when you are making your travel plans to keep your furry friend in mind. It's better to plan ahead for your dog or pet than to be caught in a situation where your pet can't come with you. Make sure you call the airline or railway and make all of the proper arrangements for your pet. Double check to see if you need any paperwork or certificates. If you are staying anywhere check to make double sure your pet can come with you.

Not only will you have to pack for yourself but you will have to pack a suitcase for your pet. Toys, treats, leashes and a favourite blanket will be on your list. Medicines or any other kind of medication should be on the list as well.

Have a good holiday and make sure your pets are safe and warm.

Dog Walking An Effective Way to Meet People

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 16th, 2008

Dog lovers share a common bond which can make opening a conversation very natural, easy & comfortable.

I, personally, have met and made great friends while out walking my dogs in the local area. Meetings that otherwise would probably never have happened.

In our highly charged societies it can often be quite difficult to meet people with shared interests. There is so often a wariness among us; be careful of that stranger says our mind chatter, don't look up, don't make eye contact, mind your own business and so on and on. Sadly, while commonsense is required for our own safety, these beliefs actually create barriers and obstacles to us connecting with each other.

Dogs have this amazing ability to unite us on common ground. They allow us to quickly assess another by simply observing the interaction they have with their pet dog. Are they loving and affectionate to their dog? Does their dog seem relaxed and happy in their presence? (Or the opposite!), are they patient and kind? Questions that go to the very core of one's character and that can normally take quite some time to find out about a person.

The qualities and character traits we desire in a partner or friend can all be observed and witnessed firsthand between them and their dog. Dog's are open, honest and easy to read books, they have no ulterior motives – what is, is! What you see is what you get, so unlike humans! Dogs allow us to gain some deep insights into their owners before we even physically meet them. Of course, once again, some good old commonsense is required here so as to not just pre-judge people unfairly but, as a rule of thumb you can rely on your instincts as you observe the dog / human relationship.

Nothing is fool proof but, I can tell you from my own experience and observations that, dogs definitely give us a head start in the sometimes painful and awkward meeting & greeting game.

To add some interest & support to my theory I'll refer you to a newspaper article that a friend clipped & sent me last year. The article was written by Kate Adamson in the Sunday Herald Sun – May 27, 2007 (heraldsun.com.au) and titled "Love's in lap of the dogs". It told the story of Paul & Pam and how Pam's Kelpie dog Shiva brought them together.

Ms. Adamson included some interesting statistics in her article. According to her source the Top Ten "Date Bait" dogs are:-

1. Golden Retriever 2. Jack Russell Terrier 3. Labrador Retriever 4. Miniature Poodle 5. Boxer 6. Pug 7. West Highland White Terrier 8. Miniature Schnauzer 9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 10. Old English Sheep Dog

To be honest I suspect that, all dogs are very effective ice-breakers. Even the nervous or aggressive problem types can still give an interesting platform to start a dialogue going.

So, The Moral of the Story is; you need to get out there walking with your dog! No matter what type of dog you have. If nothing else it's great exercise and very good for you. To make the experience a safe and happy one check out the brand new Walk-Me Slip Harness. It gives you complete control while being kind and gentle on your dog.

If walking your dog brings you love or friendship then please share your experience with me by clicking on the link below, I'd love to hear your story.

PS… Please don't get a dog just for this purpose! A pet dog should only be brought into your life if you are willing to love it unconditionally, for better or for worse – just as they love you. It is a lifetime commitment!

Lou-ann has dedicated her life to the welfare of animals and is keen to share and exchange ideas and information with dog lovers from around the world.

You are invited to visit her website and inspect the exciting new "Walk-Me Slip Harness" she co-invented. This unique two-in-one walking, training & control harness has been extensively trialled with great success over the last few years. It will not cause any pain or damage to your dog, no matter how inexperienced you might be and to date it has a 100% positive customer feedback ranking.

The Walk-Me Slip Harness is not available from any retail outlet, it is sold exclusively by us, so we can offer our personal "Money Back Guarantee" and, so we can be sure our customers receive complete back up support. With fast shipping you could be happily & easily walking your dog within days.

Learn more by clicking on our website link below;

http://walk-me-slipharness.com/

Parvovirus and the Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever Blog | November 16th, 2008

Whether your Labrador Retriever is out in the field working or just right beside you enjoying the dog show, chances of contracting parvovirus exist. Parvovirus is a contagious virus affecting dogs, more frequently puppies. Canine Parvovirus or CPV is a highly infectious disease and is spread from dog to dog with physical contact and contact with infected feces. The virus is not capable of reproducing on its own because of the fact that they contain only DNA or RNA. They invade the cell, reproduce inside it and kills the cells causing dogs and puppies not to be able to absorb nutrients or liquids.

CPV has two forms: intestinal and cardiac. The less common is the cardiac form in which the virus attacks the heart muscle and the dog dies suddenly because of heart failure. Some infected dogs will show no symptoms. But some infected dogs show symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, high fever, diarrhea, depression and lack of appetite. In severe cases, stool can be very watery, foul smelling, yellow in color and usually bloody. Abdominal pain is also present as well as pain when eating. The possibility of dehydration exist because of severe dehydration and vomiting and the fact that he is not able to replace the nutrients and fluids lost.

To diagnose the presence of parvovirus, positive diagnostic test is done. Canine parvovirus disease requires aggressive or intense treatment. There is no specific cure for this disease. Your vet can only treat the symptoms to keep the pet alive. Measures should be taken to prevent diarrhea, loss of proteins and to replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea. These measures include giving of fluids, regulating electrolyte levels, controlling body temperature and giving blood transfusions when needed. Antibiotic therapy may be needed to control secondary bacterial infections.

To ensure that you're beloved Labrador Retriever will not suffer this kind of health problem, you should adhere to the required or recommended vaccination. Vaccine against parvovirus is usually administered to puppies six to eight weeks of age and should only be allowed to mingle with other dogs two weeks after their last vaccination. There is no use vaccinating new born puppies since they are still protected by maternal antibodies. However, these antibodies wear off before the puppy's system became mature enough to fight parvovirus.

CPV cannot be treated at home so consult your vet immediately if you see signs of the existence of this disease.


About the Author: Richard Cussons writes information articles on different breed of dog such as Labrador Retriever. For more tips on training Labradors, check out labradorsavvy.com.


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