Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Affen Poo Breed Information

If you’re considering adopting or buying a small dog with a good temperament, you might consider the Affen Poo. The Affen Poo is actually a mixed breed, a cross between an Affenpinscher and a Poodle. Some Affen Poos are considered designer breeds. An Affen Poo is considered designer if both parents are purebred dogs. Hybrid, or crossbred, dogs are very popular, and the Affen Poo is so cute that it is no exception!

In order to research what type of pet an Affen Poo will be, you should probably research the Affenpinscher and the Poodle separately. Since the Affen Poo is a cross of the two dogs, then you can expect it to have a mixture of characteristics, some from each parent.

For example, an Affen Poo can be timid like some bloodlines of Toy Poodles, or protective of food and toys like a lot of Affenpinschers. Affen Poos make great little watchdogs. They are very trainable, smart and entertaining pets. They do not need a lot of room to be happy and healthy, so a yard is not a must. They only get up to about eight pounds and are ideal for apartment or city dwellers. Affen Poos love to be with people and are great with kids and other animals if they’re raised together. Children should not tease or surprise the Affen Poo or they might get snapped at or possibly bitten. The Affen Poo can bark a lot, but can also be trained not too. Some say that Affen Poos are among the most trainable of the mixed breeds.

Let’s take a look at the Affenpinscher and the Poodle’s temperaments separately to get an idea of the different characteristics that your Affen Poo might exhibit.

The Affenpinscher is very much like a terrier, personality-wise. They are very active and stay busy. They love to play, but can also be very bold and fearless. The Affenpinscher is very sweet and loving with its family. They may not work well with young children that haven’t learned to respect the dog and treat it gently. This is mainly due to the guard dog nature of the Affenpinscher. They don’t tend to bark a lot, but when protecting toys or food, they can be fearless. They are known for stubbornly not backing down when threatened or attacked by even the largest of dogs. These little guys are very funny and entertaining to watch and own.

Next we’ll look at the Poodle. The Affen Poo is usually a mix between the tiny Affenpinscher and Toy Poodle. Toy Poodles are sensitive and extremely smart. They generally have a sophisticated disposition and can become very spoiled. Most poodle owners think that this just adds to their unique charm, and spoil them as much as possible. Toy Poodles can demand a lot of attention and want to be with you whenever you are around. They love to play and perform tricks for their owners. They are extremely trainable in most cases. Some are more timid and nervous by nature and you may not be able to change that. Some bark a lot of the time and it can be hard to train them to be quiet in the house. The Toy Poodle, like the Affenpinscher, is a watchdog at heart and will fearlessly defend against intruders or sometimes other dogs. They tend to be good with children and other pets as long as they are raised together and the Toy Poodle does not get teased or surprised. Again, this maybe not the best breed for very small children.

Consider the traits that your Affen Poo can get from both the Affenpinscher and the Poodle. If this sounds like the dog for you, then you can find dogs for sale at My Dream Puppy’s web site.

About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of dogs for sale. For more information, please visit www.MyDreamPuppy.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


The Distinguished Afghan Hound

If you are looking for a distinguished, sophisticated larger dog, then the Afghan Hound may be right for you. The Afghan Hound has a long silky coat, curled tail, and tall slender appearance. Its long slim face and long ears help the Afghan Hound project an image of calm magnificence. Their galloping gait gives them the aura of royalty and respect. Afghan Hounds make regal pets that demand attention wherever they go.

The Afghan Hound is considered one of the kindest of dogs. They are very gentle, affectionate and loyal. They are more curious of strangers than suspicious, and are not considered guard dogs by any stretch. They can be more energetic, nervous and timid around small children and would probably be best suited to a home with older or no children. Their sensitive nature demands a lot of loving, gentle attention. If they are not properly trained, then they can be a lot more mischievous and harder to handle.

The Afghan Hound can get up to about sixty-five pounds and therefore they need a lot of room to roam. They need a big yard to run or they will not get enough exercise and their health will suffer. Instinctively they love open spaces and do not do well if kept indoors all of the time. If they do get enough free time outside, then they are generally healthy dogs. They don’t have any common illnesses or diseases as a breed. They are, however, very sensitive physically as well as mentally. The smallest of injuries can cause them extreme pain and discomfort. Gentleness is a must with this breed, in their handling as well as in their training.

Before you decide to get an Afghan Hound, you should consider all of the work that will go into maintaining the coat. The hair of the coat is very long and thick. They do tend to shed, although not extreme, the length of the hair can make it seem like a lot. They need to be bathed and brushed almost weekly, especially if you plan to show your dog. Brushing the coat when it is dry can severely damage it and make maintenance a very difficult job. Only brushing the coat when it’s wet will keep it shiny and less matted than if you brush it dry. Another maintenance to consider is the need for a snood. A snood is a tubular piece of fabric that acts like ear muffs. The snood keeps the Afghan Hound’s hair and ears out of its mouth when eating and drinking food and water.

If the Afghan Hound sound right for you and you’re looking for dogs for sale, visit My Dream Puppy on the web.

About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of dogs for sale. For more information, please visit www.MyDreamPuppy.com.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Sunday, January 20, 2008

Considering a Neapolitan Mastiff?

If you are considering looking for a Neapolitan Mastiff, there are definitely pros and cons that you should know about. Neapolitan Mastiffs are beautiful big dogs. They are very big, up to 170 pounds, with large flat heads, and a box-like body. They have wrinkled saggy skin around their face and neck. Some have cropped ears and tails, but more and more owners are opting to keep them in their natural state. They come in blue, black or brown and have short, dense coats. They shed more than you’d think for such a short haired dog. Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very good companions, but there are a lot of things to consider before you take on owning one.

The Neapolitan Mastiff needs to be trained very consistently from puppy hood. They are very smart and willful. Obedience and owner dominance need to be instilled from a very young age. You need to be non-wavering in your training approach and should probably seek professional advice. Neapolitan Mastiff’s need to be socialized early and often. They are generally intolerant of other dogs. Males are worse about tolerating other males than females are. Females tend to be a little bit more tolerant all around. Neapolitan Mastiffs are very good watch dogs. Their nature is to be protective and wary of strangers. Socialization is so important with these dogs. They need to be able to recognize who is being friendly. If they aren’t properly socialized they can become a huge biting liability.

If you have children in your home, then you need to research carefully before bringing in a Neapolitan Mastiff. If the dog has been brought up with children, then they can be good with them. This dog needs to be exposed to lots of children consistently to teach them to be tolerant. They do not tolerate teasing or roughhousing. Serious injury or death could occur. Remember that the Neapolitan Mastiff is very protective of its family. If you raise it with only your own kids, then it may try to protect your kids from their friends and relatives, resulting in a real tragedy. Neapolitan Mastiffs are generally not recommended for homes with children mostly because children can be unpredictable.

Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very calm in nature once they reach adulthood. They are mostly quiet indoors and may bark a lot outside. They have an instinct to chase and catch other animals, so proper inclusion is necessary. They need moderate exercise, such as regular walking and occasional running. Intense exercise can seriously damage this big dog’s joints.

Neapolitan Mastiffs are susceptible to hip and elbow displasia. This risk is increased if you over-exercise your dog or encourage it to jump from high places, especially as a puppy. Eye problems are also common and include progressive retinal atrophy and cherry eye. Cherry eye is very common. It occurs when the third eyelid, responsible for tear production, becomes prolapsed, visible, inflamed and red. The usual treatment for cherry eye is surgical removal of the gland. It will usually occur early on, during puppy hood. If your Neapolitan Mastiff has to have this gland removed, be prepared for a lifetime of administering eye drops.

Once all things have been considered, you should be able to decide if the Neapolitan Mastiff is the breed for you. When looking for dogs for sale or dog adoption, consider contacting My Dream Puppy with any questions.

About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of dogs for sale. For more information, please visit www.MyDreamPuppy.com.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Disc Dogs!

If you are looking to adopt or buy a disc dog, then you’ve come to the right place. Many breeds of dogs for sale or adoption make good disc dogs, but in general you are probably going to be looking for a mixed breed. Border Collies, Blue Heelers and Australian Shepards or mixes thereof, are historically the best breeds for disc training. Keep in mind that some of the best in the world have also been German Shepards and Labradors among others, so don’t limit yourself to a certain breed or mix. Do your research and determine what disc dog might be best for you as a pet as well as a competitor.

Most people think that when they are ready to select a good disc dog that they should get a puppy and train it from eight weeks old. This isn’t necessarily true. You should visit with the dogs for sale or adoption that you are considering and see which ones are the most interested in the disc. Some puppies may not be interested at all, but grow up to be. Some may loose their interest as they get older. Selecting an older dog that is interested could be a safer way to go if you’re determined to train and have your dog compete.

Herding dogs instinctively want to herd things towards their owners. This can include discs and balls, making a chase, catch and return behavior fairly easy to teach. When considering a herding dog for a pet, keep in mind that their instincts are very strong. They have a need to work and run. Herding is a predatory behavior, modified by training. Border collies herd by getting in front of animals and staring them down. Blue Heelers will nip at the heels of the animals that it’s herding. If you plan to have a herding dog around children, then it is very important to train the dog not to chase children. Constant contact and exposure to children is recommended. They can be very gentle and compassionate to children and adults if they are used to being around them. If they’re not, then they are likely to try and herd them, nipping at their heels or staring them down not allowing them to pass. When you adopt or buy a herding dog, be responsible for it’s training around people. Make sure that you have the time and space to keep these active dogs entertained.

Make sure that the dog you adopt or buy has the personality to be a good disc dog. Obedience training is important from the beginning. If you plan to train your dog to compete, then choose one with an even temperament so that being off leash around other dogs and humans is safe. Make sure that the dog you are choosing is healthy enough to go through the rigorous training that is required to get a dog ready for competition. Hips should be in very good shape before attempting high jumps and landings, so have your dog examined by a vet before beginning. If you choose a puppy, keep in mind that it could be about a year before they are ready for disc dog competition training. Once you have adopted or bought your dog, remember that the number one rule is to have fun together.

About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of (we will insert relevant keyphrases here). For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Wednesday, January 9, 2008

The Story on Heartworms

Whether you are a current dog owner, or looking for dogs for sale in your area you need to be aware of the lurking dangers of parasites for your animal. It is a threat, that if not taken seriously by the pet owner, can lead to an extremely ugly illness and potential death for your dog. We are talking about the heartworm parasite specifically. By knowing what symptoms to watch for, and by taking a few preventative steps for your animal, you can save a lot of literal "heart ache" for the dog.

The heartworm parasite is contracted by dogs through the bite of the common mosquito. It takes several months for the symptoms of a heartworm parasite to be detected, even by using a blood test. The parasite, at its most lethal stage, infest and collect in the right ventricle of the animal’s heart as well as the blood vessels, they then multiple and clog the vessels and heart muscle, resulting in heart failure. Just like any disease, the earlier heartworms are diagnosed, the more likely they can be stopped effectively. Veterinarians usually perform a test annually in the month of April for the past mosquito, spawning season. Testing is done through specifically designed blood tests, and or x-rays. Yearly check ups for heartworms are a must.

You can help prevent heartworms for you pet a few ways. Use preventive medications taken from your veterinarian. Puppies should be started on preventative medication by the time they reach 8 weeks of age, then blood tested after they reach 7 months. Avoid mosquito nests, and optimal mosquito breeding locations where your dog spends a lot of time. Watch for symptoms of infection such as abnormal fatigue, not wanting to exercise, nosebleeds, coughing, pneumonia, irritated eyes, and irritated tissue in general.

Heartworm parasites are a problem for dogs in every part of the world, but it is estimated that infection is forty five percent higher along coastal location and bodies of water. This obviously corresponds to the preferable living conditions of the common mosquito. It is not a geographically specific threat. That means these parasites are in your neighborhood right now as a potential hazard for your dog. Have your dog checked yearly, watch for the symptoms, and use the proper preventative medication as prescribed by your vet. You will sleep better, and so will your dog, knowing you are being proactive against this significant threat to your canine.

About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of online petfinder services. You can find a variety of dogs for sale that will make an excellent addition to the family. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.

Labels: , ,


This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]