Pets

Choosing the right dog for your home is a very important decision. You need to gather as much detail about the breeds you are considering as possible. The Havanese is a rapidly growing breed in terms of popularity. This then begs the question as to why? Lets look at some of the Physical Characteristics of this breed to determine if this breed is in fact a great choice for your home.

Physical Appearance Of The Havanese

1. General Appearance

Lets start by considering the standards set by the American Kennel Association. These are guidelines that breeders and dog show competitors must adhere to in order to succeed in the dog show business. You can obtain a more detailed listing of Havanese standards from the American Kennel Association.

The Havanese is small and sturdy in stature. The body of a Havanese is slightly longer than tall. A Havanese has untrimmed long, silky, wavy hair. Their coat is of a texture that does well in warm tropical climates. They have hair that falls over their eyes. This longer hair is usually not tied into a top knot because it can act as a protective layer from the bright sun. They have a plumed tail that is carried loosely over their hindquarters.

2. Physical Characteristics

The Havanese breed is a small dog. The Havanese is 7-13 pounds in weight. The American Kennel Club breed standard is more specific as to the proper size of a Havanese. According to the American Kennel Club a Havanese should be:

“The height range is from 8½ to 11½ inches, with the ideal being between 9 and 10½ inches, measured at the withers, and is slightly less than the length from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, creating a rectangular outline rather than a square one.”

The Havanese breed should have large dark brown almond shaped eyes that are set widely apart. They have medium length ears. The breed is small in stature, but is by no means fragile.

3. Coat and Color

The Havanese has a soft, long-haired double coat. The Havanese can vary in color including: cream, gold, silver, blue, and black.

It is essential to brush your Havanese daily so that their hair doesn’t become matted. It may take time to get your Havanese used to the daily brushing, but once they do, they might actually enjoy it. Make sure to keep their face clean as their eyes may produce a small tear discharge.

4. Gait

A Havanese is a toy dog with a spring in their step. This extra spice in their step is due to a strong rear drive paired with flashy front action from their upper arms.

The American Kennel Club depicts the Havanese gait as lively, elegant, resilient, and unique.

5. Showing Faults that Result in Disqualification

When showing a dog the judges are very cognizant of any “unacceptable” faults of the Havanese. Faults associated with physical appearance include the following characteristics:

• Height at withers under 8½ or over 11½ inches except that the minimum height range shall not apply to dogs or bitches less than twelve months of age.

Complete absence of black (or chocolate in the chocolate dog) pigmentation on the eye rims, nose or lips.

• Coarse, wiry coat.

An atypical short coat on an adult. (Atypical refers to a smooth, flat coat with, or without furnishings.)

Remember these “faults” are of most concern for show dogs. You can raise a Havanese that doesn’t bring home a dog show trophy, but will provide you with companionship, dedication, and protection.

As you continue your search for the RIGHT puppy to get, you really need to consider the Havanese Puppy. If you want more information about this dog, then visit http://www.havanese-puppy-guide.com

Fiona

Springtime. A collective sigh of relief goes up around the country as horses can spend more time turned out. But beware. With the surge of grass growth comes an increased risk of laminitis.Acute laminitis should be treated as an emergency. Within only a few hours the disease can cause permanent damage to the feet. So, if you think your pony has laminitis, ring the vet straight away. The sooner treatment can be started, the better the chance of limiting the damage.What are the signs of acute laminitis? Often the first indication is that the pony spends more time standing still in the field. He is reluctant to move, often leaning backwards to take his weight of his front feet.Obviously it is much better to prevent your pony getting laminitis in the first place. Recently the mechanisms behind pasture -associated laminitis have become a little clearer. But the full story is still not completely understood.The main culprits appear to be fructans, large carbohydrate molecules used by the grass for storing energy. Horses can not digest fructans. So they pass into the hindgut unchanged, where they are rapidly fermented by bacteria. The gut contents become more acidic, disturbing the balance of bacteria and micro-organisms.Bacteria that can survive under the acidic conditions increase dramatically in number; those that cannot, die. Potent chemicals are released, which may trigger the laminitis.So, to reduce the risk of laminitis it is important to limit the intake of fructans. The fructan content of the pasture is influenced by factors such as the amount of sunlight, temperature and stage of growth. Fructans are found in significantly greater amounts in the stem than in the leaves. The amount of fructans present in the grass also varies during the day. Generally there is less at night and early in the morning.Certain grasses, such as timothy, tend to have larger fructan molecules. These may be fermented more slowly in the hindgut and so may be safer than other grasses.Some horses and ponies are more susceptible than others to the condition. One pony may be able to gorge himself without developing lamintis; another may go down with the disease at the first taste of grass. Recent research has found a way of identifying those ponies that are likely to develop laminitis. All that is needed is the pony’s condition score, and a simple blood sample. Ask your vet for details (or see http://www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk/plms.htm). There is also some convincing evidence that ponies with laminitis are more likely to come from mares that have themselves had laminitis.Identifying susceptible ponies allows them to be managed with special care. This may reduce the risk of them developing laminitis.So what can you do to reduce the risk of laminitis?Restrict grazing in spring and autumn when the fructan and water soluble carbohydrate levels are high.Turn horses onto pasture late at night and bring them in before mid-morning, so they are grazing when the fructan content is likely to be lowest.If you can, choose pasture that is regularly grazed or cut (the grass stems tend to have high fructan content) and contains species such as timothy that produce lower levels of fructans.Don’t use stubble grazing (i.e. after it has been cut for hay) - because the stems are likely to have a high fructan content.Don’t turn horses onto pasture that has been exposed to frost and bright sunlight. (The sunlight produces energy, which the grass cannot use for growth because of the cold, and so it is stored as fructan).Consider using a muzzle to prevent the pony eating too much. Or, if you really cannot control the grass intake any other way, keep the pony in the stable and feed hay with a vitamin/mineral supplement.Remember that it is so much better to take steps now to prevent laminitis occurring, than to have to treat your horse or pony for this painful disease.

If you are interested in getting a dog, you should be interested in dog breeders.

The safest place to get a new dog would be from a dog breeder. That gives you a history or insight of the prospective dog you are interested in. You can find dog breeders in the newspaper or online. If you see a great looking dog in public, you could strike up a conversation with the owner and ask where they got their dog. Try to verify the breeders reputation. There are several methods you can use to make sure the breeder is professional, reliable and can be trusted.

Ask the Dog Breeder for References.

A good, experienced dog breeder can provide you with references to some of his or her clients. Most people who have purchased a puppy from them would be glad to share their experiences with you. Of course, it would be even better if you locate past clients without being directed by the breeder. Not that easy, but word gets around, good or bad. Maybe some of your freinds or family have dealt with this breeder in the past.

Be Rready to Ask Questions. And, Expect to Answer Many Questions Yourself.

Good breeders are very interested in screening prospective buyers themselves. They want the puppies to go to good homes. Questions such as whether you have small children, size of your home and yard. Is the yard fenced? Have you ever owned a dog before? Do you already have a veterinarian? Can you or someone else spend the neccessary time with a very young puppy until the puppy is older? If a breeder fails to ask questions such as these, he may not care about the welfare of his puppies. Or, he may be having a hard time selling…a possible sign of other problems.

Is Price Important?

Of course! Price is important with anything you invest in. With some breeds, such as Yorkies, the price will range from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars. But, more money doesn’t always mean better dog. If you are getting into the dog show scene, you would need more expensive dogs. Most of us are not interested in showing our dogs. Compare prices to decide what your needs are.

Health Guarantees

You should get some sort of health guarantee before you buy. In writing. Most breeders give only a short guarantee for health due to the many deseases a puppy faces. That is why you should take your puppy to a good vet as soon as possible. Do this before your health guarantee runs out. You will want to get your new puppy any shots he needs. Choose a vet that keeps up with the latest information involving puppy innoculations. Some of the shots given in the past are not needed today and may even be harmful.

Good breeders will take all the time you need to answer your questions. Get everything in writing when you buy and follow your dog breeders suggestions. Remember, they have the experience.

Cats that have been abused can appear severely maimed and damaged all over their exterior. Some may appear to be in perfect shape on the outside, although all of the damage they sustained may be internal or emotional. Even though physical damage is bad, emotional damage is much tougher to fix. Cats who have physical abuse will still answer to a soft touch and soft voice, as long as they know that the abuse has come to an end.

When you have a cat that has been emotionally abused, you’ll need to wait until the cat comes to you. You’ll need to use patience, as the cat will be confused and not know if you plan to hurt him or not. If you take your time and let him know that you are nothing to fear, he will eventually come to you. When he starts to come to you, you can let him sniff you and pet him. After a while, he will learn that he can trust you and he will come to you when you call him.

Yelling, raising your voice, or using disciplinary tools such as flyswatters or water guns the wrong way can lead to emotional damage. If you continue to use the wrong means of discipline on an emotionally damaged cat, the cat can become mean or lethargic. When a cat turns mean, it’s not always a bad thing. Meaner cats are easier to reach, as they still care a bit about what happens to them - while lethargic cats could really care less.

Cats that have become lethargic won’t play, take treats, or respond to anything you say to them. With a lethargic cat, the ideal way to get him to respond is to bring in a companion cat. Over time, a lethargic cat will eventually look for attention, normally a scratch or a pat. When this happens, you should always use a soft voice and snuggle with him. Never raise your voice at this point, and make sure you let the cat know that his behavior is a lot better.

You should make slow movements around a lethargic cat, as he is still quite traumatic. Once he is coming around and letting you touch him again, he is getting back to his normal self. Keep in mind that it may take some time, which is to be expected with this type of situation. If your cat starts to get upset again or if you raise your voice, he will hide again. If you continue to use a soft voice and have patience, your cat will eventually get past this. If you get a cat that is lethargic, you should prepare yourself for a long and very intensive healing period.

Angry or mean cats on the other hand, will either fight and scratch with you, or simply run away from you. With mean cats, the best thing to do is use gentle treatment with a soft voice. You can never try to raise your voice or use strict discipline, as it will only make the cat meaner. Never attempt to trap the cat either, as trapping it will only make the cat react. If you take your time and let the cat know that you are there for him, he will eventually calm down.

Abused cats are truly a sad thing, although they are out there. Abused cats can be a sad thing to see indeed, especially those that were physically abused. Abused cats need a loving home and a loving owner who will give them the type of lifestyle they deserve. Always remember that if you are dealing with an abused cat - you should always be as gentle as you possibly can.

When shopping for dog breeders, it’s important to remember that they’re not all the same.

Unfortunately, new and excited potential dog owners simply do not take time to learn information about dog breeders and end up purchasing a puppy from a backyard breeder or one of many puppy mills. Although this is not always the case, there are a handful of breeders that do not care about the standards for the American Kennel Club or with the health of the dog, but are instead more interested in making money.

What can come from this is a puppy that grows into an adult dog having health problems or, even worse, behavioral issues. This type of unethical breeding is becoming extremely common in small dog breeders, because of the growing popularity of small dogs like the Yorkshire Terrier, or yorkie, and teacup dogs like the Chihuahua.

To avoid the pitfalls of a bad breeder, it is best to try and remain as level headed as possible about the purchase of your new pooch and follow your instincts about the breeder. Keep in mind some of the following tips when searching for a reputable dog breeder:

Offers to Let you Visit…

You may want to reconsider your possible pet purchase, if the breeder will not let you visit the facility where they breed the dogs. The same goes for a visitation that shows an unclean, unhealthy environment, as this may mean health or temperament problems right from the start.

If a breeder isn’t willing to let you come and spend time with the dogs to help get acquainted with your new puppy, this might signal a problem as well. A breeder that cares about their dogs will want you to get to know the breed before sending them to a new home. A visitation helps give you an idea of exactly how the dog has been socialized and how they will need to continue being socialized in the future. You may want to avoid dog breeders that have not made an effort to include the puppies and the dog in their daily routine. Dogs that have been kept in kennels may have a more difficult time with socializing.

Look For A Select Breeder…

Most reputable breeders will not have an abundance of puppies running around, but will most likely have a waiting list for the next litter. Since the breeder is not worried about financial gain, but the health of the pregnant dog and the litter of puppies instead, they most likely will not be encouraging the mother dog to become impregnated at a fast rate.

As well, most good breeds will focus on only one, or maybe two, dog breeds at a time. This is usually their absolute favorite breed that they are extremely knowledgeable about. It is common to find that many breeders will also be trainers or will have a few of their own dogs of that particular breed that they show in competitions.

Requires a Contract…

Working with a trustworthy dog breeder means being asked to sign a written contract that is used to guarantee the health of the dog. It is also used as a promissory note on your end to ensure that you plan on taking care of the dog. This will include promising to have the dog regularly vaccinated, as well as spayed or neutered, unless you plan on showing the dog. This contract means that if major health problems become an issue, you will receive a refund on the dog. It also shows the concern of the breeder, who wants to make sure the dog is in good hands once they leave the property.

Keeps Dog Records…

While it is not completely necessary that you find a dog breeder who keeps perfect records of the history of your puppy, most dog breeders will have at least some type of history of the puppy to help you understand their future health and behavior.

A good dog breeder will already have the dog registered and should absolutely have records of the puppy’s vaccination history. Because new puppies don’t typically go home with owners until they are 10-12 weeks old, they should have received 1-2 sets of shots as well as had worms removed and been placed on preventative medicine.

Helps You Learn…

Before leaving with your new dog, a good dog breeder will spend time helping you become familiar with the breed of the dog, as well as with your own particular puppy. It is important to look for a breeder that is willing to help you get on your feet with your new dog. It is best to look for dog breeders that will offer regarding the temperament and health of the dog, but might also include tips for caring for the dog, especially if this is your first pet.

In closing, please keep in mind that the tips offered above will not guarantee that the dog breeder you finally choose will be a good one. These tips should be viewed only as a general guideline and do not apply to every dog breeder.

There are a number of deprived animals for adoption that it is at times simply hard to believe that lots of people patronize the pet shops. On the other hand, we humans have done a terrible job caring for the animals that we claim to love. We allow so many unwanted new ones to be born and then just have them put to sleep when they become difficult to take care of. For those who are considering of getting a new animal companion, I personally would like to advise as strongly as possible that you must think of getting one of the animals for adoption to care for. At the end, you will still have the all the benefits of caring for a pet, as well as will be making an important difference in the life of an animal.In fact there are as many animals for adoption as there are animals for sale, and perhaps even more. Back then, one of my first pet I ever had was a rabbit that was up for adoption. It was simply adorable - a cute brown lop=eared one from a neighbor down the street. He actually had two pet rabbits and, so, soon had a number of baby bunnies. A bit too many for them to handle. For sure, there is never any shortage of animal lovers for adoption especially if those animals are small, furry, and delightful.Of course, the circumstances are much different in the case of adult animals that have been put up for adoption or critters who have had a hard go at it. The same applies to traditional pets, like cats and dogs, become much less popular once they grow up. Now this isn’t due to the fact that people at times find adult animals for adoption to be less playful or cute than the babies. People are often faced with several difficulties adopting a full grown animal and hence people are not prepared to deal with. It isn’t just that people find adult animals for adoption to be less cute and playful than the babies. Adopting a full grown animal poses many difficulties that people are simply not prepared to deal with. Generally they are already trained to a particular master, and can quite often have problems getting close to a new owner.Furthermore, the problem is even worse if the animal for adoption has suffered abuse at the hands of its previous owners in the past. Just like human beings, dogs, cats as well as other animals can be emotionally scarred by being brought up by abusive people, and in contrast to human beings, animals stand a very small chance of completely recovering from this early abuse. Now if you choose to look after animals for adoption that have been either abused or beaten up; you will more than often have to anticipate all sorts of problems when raising them up. Some of them can be downright dangerous! Nonetheless, caring for a wounded animal can be a surely be a rewarding and a wonderful experience.

Although collars are generally thought to be for the canine kind, many cat owners choose to purchase collars for their favorite felines. There are many different kinds of cat collars on the market, so it is imperative that you choose the best option for your cat’s needs and body. Consider taking your cat along on a shopping trip to your local pet store—most welcome animals of all types—and try on different models to find the perfect fit. Keep in mind that although color, material, and style is important, these aspects should come second to the fit of the collar.

Traditionally, cats wear collars that hold their identification information and a bell. Ensuring your pet is properly identified is critical for any animal, especially one that you intend on letting outside. In case your cat becomes lost, you will have a much better chance of finding your lost loved on if he or she has the appropriate information securely attached to the collar. Most cat owners choose to attach a small bell or another type of noise making device in order to make small animals or birds aware of a predator’s presence. Cats tend to have retained more hunting instincts than domesticated dogs, so this is a viable concern with many cat owners tired of finding their feline bringing home helpless animals.

A buckle collar is the easiest type for a cat to wear, since it can be put on and taken off quickly and easily. Try the collar on your cat to ensure he or she cannot wiggle out of the collar. Just as a loose collar is unacceptable, having a collar fitted too tight can cause discomfort or even pain if your pet feline. For a younger cat that will need a collar that grows with them, consider choosing an adjustable collar to save you from purchasing new ones in the future.

Some owners choose elastic collars that slip on and off over the cat’s head. These are great for cats that do not need the extra weight and bulk of a buckle. Keep in mind that any elastic collars should be fitted to your cat to ensure the collar is not too loose or too tight.

For indoor cats, consider choosing collars with breakaway panels or buckles that will immediately free the cat if he or she becomes caught on something inside your house. Similarly, you should choose collars made of materials that can easily be cut in case the animal becomes caught.

If you have an outdoor cat, look into a collar that uses reflective materials. These reflective materials will keep your precious feline safe at night. This is quite important, since animals are more likely to become injured or even killed since they cannot be seen. A reflective collar is also a good idea for indoor cats, since you can see the animal in the dark to avoid stepping on your pet.

Some cats enjoy taking walks in the great outdoors, but owners do not want them to be outdoors unattended. Outdoor cats can easily become lost, stolen, injured, or even killed. To solve this problem, some cat owners choose to walk their cats on a leash just like a dog. Instead of a regular collar, leash walking cats require a harness to prevent spine issues. If you are in the market for harnesses, there are two main types: the figure eight and the H-style. Depending on your individual cat and the fit, these harnesses are excellent for any cat that enjoys a walk in the park!

Once you have determined the specific type of collar for your cat, choose a color that fits his or her personality. Whether your feline wants a rocker look with black leather and metal studs or a pretty princess with pink rhinestones, the options are limitless!