Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog purchasers often do not realize the commitment they are making when they bring a puppy home. For those want the companionship of Westies dogs, but do not have the knowledge or patience to endure the training process, rescuing an older Westie dog may be the right alternative.

When considering an older West highland terrier dog, the first thing that many people think is that they would be getting a dog with problems, either genetic problems common to Westies, or behavioral problems from improper training. The truth is, many Westie dogs go to shelters for reasons that have nothing to do with the dogs’ inherent qualities. Every year, dog owners die, move to retirement homes, change jobs, get divorced, have new babies, or, unfortunately, simply tire of the responsibility of caring for a dog.

The advantages of older dogs are many. They have already finished teething, and no longer feel the urge to chew holes in your shoes, rugs, and furniture. Westie dogs that are older have grown used to sleeping through the night while their people sleep, as opposed to westie puppies, who wake up and whine. Older pets will have already been housetrained and also should know the meaning of the word ‘no,’ making their continued training that much easier.

When you encounter a Westie puppy, you only have the breed standards to give you an idea of what kind of dog it will grow into. Although Westhighland dogs have a typical personality type, there are variations from dog to dog. The full-grown Westie is a know quantity. The Westie dog you meet is what you will get, and you can quickly determine if it will fit into your home.

It may seem like rescuing an older Westie provides you with an ‘instant dog,’ but that is not the case. At first they might become confused, upon arriving at a new home, and need to be reminded of their basic training. However, even allowing a few weeks of extra special care is easier and less stressful than the rigors of training a puppy.

(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)

I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.

Good health and happiness

Jeff Cuckson
webmaster@madaboutwesties.com

*****************************************
Want To Know How To Have The Healthiest
Happiest and Most Well Behaved Westie Puppies
You’ve Ever Dreamed Of! Then Click Here NOW!
******************************************

More articles at articles host

I have a person who is masquerading as a dog at my house. His name is Tuxcitto. The reason I say this is that no normal dog can take random information and figure out the things that Tuxcitto does everyday. I have a perfect example in the following story of Tuxcitto and our resident squirrel population. You never know whos doing the dog training around our house.

Before Tuxcitto came along last fall, we had one dog named Spoofy. Shes an older dog and has been with us since she was a puppy. Spoofy loves to chase squirrels. Back in her younger days she almost caught one or two. But these days the squirrels have their way with her and get just close enough to tease her, and then easily run up the nearest tree.

But that was soon to change when Tuxcitto arrived. I learned in the first few weeks that Tuxcitto was an experienced escape artist. Until we came to an agreement, he would often take off and run through the neighborhood heather and yon until he got thirsty, hungry, or I came and caught him. During this period he was usually confined to a long tether tied to our front tree if we werent outside with him.

Since we now agree that he wont run around the neighborhood he gets to go out with Spoofy and our two cats, Blackie and Baby with out being tethered. During the time that he was tethered, he often watched a little game play out with Spoofy and our local squirrels. He was always interested but never really participated since he knew the 30 feet of tether limited him. Or at least thats what I believe now in hindsight.

Our resident squirrels dont necessarily come by everyday. They come pretty often since they love to rob our birdfeeders and tease Spoofy. But there are plenty of dogs and birdfeeders to visit in our neighborhood so they feel obligated to give all some attention. So the first few times that Tuxcitto was free to roam there were no squirrels in the area.

Now Tuxcitto is a Border Collie who has tremendous speed and agility, since the breed is a natural at herding animals. I have seen Tuxcitto clear a 5 foot fence with room to spare. These are popular dogs for freebie competitions. So he has a lot of natural talent. But beyond that, this dog is smarter than a lot of people I know and enjoys demonstrating this on any occasion.

So one morning I go to let the dogs and cats for their midmorning break. My neighbor happened to be out working in the yard so all four animals had to trot on over to see what he was doing. I waved and followed the crowd. As I was talking to my neighbor, the animals lost interest and wandered back into our yard.

I am so grateful that I had a witness for what followed. As my neighbor and I talked I noticed the squirrels working their way over to my yard through the trees. As soon as they got close they started chattering at Spoofy. Spoofys ears perked up, she jumped up and was ready for the game to begin. But little did the squirrels know that the rules were about to be drastically changed.

The squirrels talked to each other and scampered down a nearby tree. Not all the way to the ground, just to the bottom of the trunk. As they were eyeing Spoofy, and looking to another tree about 40 feet away they ignored Tuxcitto laying just to the right of Spoofy. Im sure they never considered him a threat since he had never joined in the game before.

I think they were highly confident that they could reach the next tree before that old fat Spoofy could even get within 15 feet. And that was probably true, no doubt about it since I had seen this played out many times. So the squirrels got ready to jump, and Spoofy was ready to lunge after them. And Tuxcitto was just watching as usual.

The squirrels leaped down and started to scamper across the 40 feet of grass separating the trees. Spoofy lunged after them coming up on their rear. But what caught my eye was an explosion of Tuxcitto leaping off the ground, not chasing after the squirrels as Spoofy was but going directly for the tree to cut them off.

And he got there in about 3 or 4 seconds, far ahead of the squirrels. In fact the squirrels about went into a train wreck trying to stop their forward momentum towards the tree. In about 5 seconds this had turned from familiar game to their biggest nightmare. A dog was blocking each tree and there was nowhere to go.

And Tuxcitto stood in front of them like a coiled spring waiting to see which way they were going to go. And good old Spoofy, finally seeing that there was a real opportunity here to finally catch these little devils, was running full speed towards them from the rear.

The squirrels decided that they didnt want anything to do with Tuxcitto and turned to run back to the original tree. As soon as they moved Tuxcitto burst into action and actually caught up with them as they all got to the tree. Spoofy was a little late since she had to do a full stop and then turn around to head in the opposite direction.

I dont think Tuxcitto was even trying to catch the squirrels, he just wanted to beat them to the tree. Im not sure who got there first, it was a tight finish. My neighbor turned to me and said its a good thing Tuxcitto was just playing or there would have been two less squirrels in the neighborhood. Both dogs sat there for a while looking up at the squirrels but lost interest in a few minutes.

The amazing thing about this little adventure was the fact that Tuxcitto had watched Spoofy and the squirrels perform this little game several times. Tuxcitto had learned from Spoofy that just chasing the squirrels was not the best strategy. Between watching Spoofy and his natural herding instincts, Tuxcitto had figured out the best way to beat those squirrels. And he knew exactly what both Spoofy and the squirrels were going to do and so when he got the opportunity, he was ready.

Thats a good way to train a young dog, put them with an older dog that knows what to do and let them learn from the more experienced animal. Of course in this case Tuxcitto learned what not to do, but the same principal applies. Tuxcitto has learned a lot from watching Spoofy since he joined the family. And he also learned from the squirrels, since they repeatedly did the same thing. So dog training around this household is up for grabs.

The epilog to this story is that the squirrels never get out of the trees now. They still come over and chatter at the dogs but they know better than to try and make a break for the nearby tree on the ground. But they still have a few birdfeeders to rob so our yard still gets frequent visits.

John Dow owns http://www.freedogtrainingarticles.com, a website that provides free information on dog training. John gets to test his dog training skills daily with his new dog Tuxcitto. You can learn more here: http://www.freedogtrainingarticles.com.

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Theres a horse show across the state in a few weeks, and youre planning on being there with your horses. However, its been awhile since you last pulled a horse trailer, and youre a little concerned about your trailering skills. After all, you want to arrive at your destination safely, with the horses as calm and relaxed as possible.

Guiding a loaded horse trailer down a country road or highway requires practical experience and know-how. Theres very little room for error. What do you do to ensure a safe, uneventful journey?

How to Ensure Safe Trailering

If youre out of practice, or if youve never towed a trailer before, obtaining adequate personal experience prior to the actual event is of the utmost importance. Just as if you were learning to drive for the first time, you should begin by practicing basic driving skills before getting out in traffic with the trailer.

The more experienced you become, the more prepared you will be for anything that may potentially happen. With more confidence and a higher level of awareness and preparedness, you should be better able to handle any unexpected situation that comes along.

Find a level field or a parking lot in which to practice. Mark your course with several highway cones, then, set out to work on the following driving skills:

Ready for the Highway

After youve practiced all the basic driving skills while pulling your horse trailer and you feel confident in your ability to handle the rig safely, youre ready to test your skills out on the road.

Try towing your trailer for short distances, at first. Make sure that you feel comfortable with turning corners in traffic, with backing your trailer, with parking on a grade, and with being able to stop your trailer quickly (should the need arise). Once you are confident in your towing abilities, youre ready to travel any distance with your horses.

Just remember to always be alert when out on the roads. Drive defensively and be prepared for any possible situation.

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I have a dog, his name is Tuxcitto. Tuxcitto is a Border Collie who is always on the look out for an opportunity to use his herding skills. It doesnt matter if the intended group of animals need or want herding, if they wander into the herding zone they get herded.

Tuxcitto is a pretty smart dog and is very easy to train for the most part. But if you are trying to train a dog against their natural instincts, it is an uphill battle. Tuxcitto and I have an agreement that if he wont run around harassing other people and animals, he gets a treat. This system works about 95% of the time. But there is one big exception, so if you show up with several animals that look like they need a little direction, treats quickly lose their power.

This type of event occurs twice a day in our neighborhood. We live about 100 yards from a bay. Which means we have a lot of aquatic birds that frequent our area. Add to that fact that several people feed these birds and it guarantees they will continue to show up. Two particular types of birds that show up every day are ducks and geese. The ducks are year around but the geese just come in the winter.

The ducks in our neighborhood are pretty brazen. If they are crossing the street, they dont care if a car or other vehicle (we have a lot of golf carts running around too) is coming, they just saunter across the road taking their sweet time. Theres a steady group of about 15 ducks but on any given day there can be more or less. And these fellows may take 5 or more minutes to walk the 15 feet to cross the road since they often go in a single line.

This group of ducks is really looking for some direction, its plain to see from Tuxcittos perspective. One of the major duck crossings is about 100 yards away from our house. There is a fishing dock and boat launch that the ducks like to frequent. They actually land right in front of the boat launch and swim until they can walk right out of the water as easy as can be.

This has probably being going on ever since the first person showed up to feed the ducks. And many in the neighborhood come down and either leave some food or actually stay and dole it out to the ducks on a regular basis. These ducks can barely fly they are so well feed. They also have quite an attitude and if they feel tired will just site down and go to sleep. And if you would like to use the boat launch, or maybe drive down the frontage road, well thats your tough luck.

In Tuxcittos first few weeks here he would often get out of the yard or off his tether and go wander the neighborhood. We have since overcome this little problem and he generally stays in our yard or may go over and visit the neighbor dogs. But on occasion, when the ducks are especially noisy when they arrive, Tuxcitto cant resist and wants to go herd the ducks.

Now as I mentioned earlier, these ducks are pretty independent. To say they dont want any crazy dog trying to make them go or do something they dont want to is putty it mildly. But they have little choice when Tuxcitto arrives. The only problem is Tuxcitto has no idea where to take them. So he just groups them together and then moves them up and down the area.

To many this is better than just feeding the ducks, but others who have not seen this activity before think that Tuxcitto may eat one. Theres a whole lot of barking and honking going on and some of the ducks take flight, which adds to the circus. The ducks are not going to be denied their free meal and Tuxcitto rarely moves them toward the food.

I usually hear the ruckus, or someone calls, or Tuxcitto brings the herd of ducks home. Yep, some days we have a heard of ducks sitting right in our front yard. Tuxcitto seems to be pacified when he brings them home and as long as they stay in the yard he just sits and watches. And some days the ducks buy into this little circus.

So what kind of magic dog training do you perform to overcome inbred behavior? Im not sure there is any way to stop these natural tendencies in this case. Border Collies were bred to do this type of activity. Tuxcitto is going to herd, thats just part of his make up.

I have been working on trying to give him the opportunity to exercise this skill in the proper setting. I have a friend close by that has a goat farm. I take him down there often, and that is a real challenge since goats have quite a rude disposition. If Tuxcitto wasnt as fast and agile, he would have been butted right in the head more than once. But an hour spent with the goats gives Tuxcitto quite a workout.

Hes pretty good for about a week after. That seems to help but I havent found any permanent solution and Im not sure I ever will. Its well to consider your dogs breed and natural characteristics when ever training your dog. Try to work within the known limitations and not go against natural instincts. Dog training is both an art and a science sometimes.

Many dogs can adapt to new training, when Tuxcitto is within ten feet of me he wont disobey a direct order. But if Im not there to say no, hes going herding come what may. So around duck feeding time I try to remember to bring him in or distract him. But in all fairness, I do have to agree those darn ducks do need some training.

John Dow owns http://www.freedogtrainingarticles.com, a website that provides free information on dog training. John gets to test his dog training skills daily with his new dog Tuxcitto. You can learn more here: http://www.freedogtrainingarticles.com

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Giving your male dog the right name is very important. You will want to choose his name well because you and your dog are going to be companions for a long time. The name you select for your dog reflects on you, your dog, and your relationship.

Some key considerations when selecting a unique male dog name are:

* Choose a name that is easy to say and call out, preferably one or two syllables.

* How does your dog behave? What is his personality? You wouldn’t name a dog ‘Chaos’ if he was sweet, gentle, and calm.

* What are his breed, coat color, and size? For instance, you wouldn’t name a Chihuahua Fluffy (unless you are into irony).

* What is his purpose? Is he going to be a guard dog, a hunting dog, or a traditional household pet?

* What is his breed’s origin? For example, if you have a German Shepherd, consider German male dog names like Fritz. If you have an Irish Setter, maybe an Irish dog name like Conan or Conner would suit him.

* Encourage the whole family to take part in naming your dog.

* Give your dog a name that relates to or says something about your own interests. For instance, if you like to hike and camp, perhaps Scout would be a good name for your dog.

* Pick out several favorite names, then try them on your new dog for a few days to see what you like and what he seems to respond to.

* Avoid names that could be confused with standard commands like come, stay, etc.

* Finally, do you love the name? After all, you will be saying it daily (mostly with pleasure, sometimes with exasperation) for the next 10-plus years.

Valerie Goettsch is web master of My Favorite Dog, a website featuring dozens of articles and information on where to find the best of everything for your dog, from flea meds to beds, training and designer clothes.

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The only way to be 100% sure of getting a verified pure breed Maine Coon cat is to buy a pedigree kitten from a breeder. The breeder should be able to present a family tree of your cats pedigree and provide relevant certification.

A recommended place to start a search for a reputable breeder in your local area is the Maine Coon Breed Fanciers Association (www.mcbfa.org) Maine Coon kittens can be instantly recognizable by the long tufty ears and oversized paws, as seen in the classic longhaired American however there is a European strain of Maine Coon, (my own Maine Coon, King Henry comes from a German line) which has a shorter ruff around the neck, and often a fuller, squarer muzzle. The differences are not apparent until the cat is between 12 to 18 months.

In terms of identifying a pure pedigree Maine Coon, youll be relying quite heavily on information the breeder is presenting to you. If you have difficulty finding a reputable breeder, you could try and get a recommendation by talking to individuals at a Maine Coon event or an all breeds Cat show. It is essential you are happy with your breeder – if you are becoming a Maine Coon owner for the first time, you may need to rely on their expert advice.

You can expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $800 for a pure breed Maine Coon. With food, litter, vet bills and cat-sitters for holidays, Maine Coons can be a relatively expensive investment. All Maine Coon owners will agree that they are a truly wonderful breed and will repay you many times over.

IMPORTANT TIP: This could save a lot of heartache, trouble and expense later on; When buying an expensive pet, do not go for the kitten you feel sorry for and looks like it needs help. Any kittens with signs of withdrawal, low energy or general apathy, should really be avoided. Choose an independent, lively, energetic kitten. Pick out kittens that dont necessarily come to you but are, however, interested in their surroundings.

Its best to pick a local breeder and visit them in their home, when youre first making your initial enquiries to check the kittens living conditions, health and welfare of all cats living in the same environment.

Although it sounds like common sense, have questions prepared that will help you to establish whether the breeder can be trusted.

Questions youll definitely want to ask:

1. How much experience does the breeder have? If you need assurance about the breeders ability/expertise ask to speak to someone who has recently purchased a Maine Coon from that breeder.

2. Who are the kittens parents and are they champions? Even if you dont intend to show your cat, youll still want to find out about their pedigree. Thats what you are paying for. If this is just not important, you can sometimes find cheaper Maine Coons that are called pet quality meaning they do not meet the required physical standards for showing. This does not mean they are not perfectly healthy.

3. Does the stud live with the breeder? If not, can the breeder guarantee that the stud has not been subjected to any illnesses e.g. cat flu. Has the breeder bred the stud before?

4. Is there any known heredity illnesses in the ancestral line such as HCM (can cause heart failure) and hip problems?

5. Have any of the other cats suffered from any illnesses for e.g. have any recent litters suffered from any strain of cat flu?

6. If relevant to your situation, ask if the kitten is comfortable around other animals and children?

7. At what point, could the kittens leave their mother (I would be concerned if the breeder allowed the kitten to leave its mother if it is less than 12 weeks).

8. Will a vet check the kittens before leaving the breeders home? How many times? If the Maine Coon becomes ill after it has left the breeder, who is responsible for paying vets fees or could the kitten be returned to the breeder?

9. Youll also want to find out how often the queen is impregnated; because a queen subjected to too regular pregnancies can be prone to producing weak or sickly kittens.

Other things you may want to check/do:

10. The living conditions of the stud and queens e.g. the cleanliness of the cages/rooms and the health/welfare of the cat etc.

11. Will the cats be litter trained before they move to their new homes?

12. Also, the environment where the mother and kittens are living. Are there toys, clean litter, warmth, food and water?

13. Check the eyes of the kitten to evaluate its health. Never purchase a kitten that has weeping eyes.

14. The breeders contract. Have a read of the written agreement before you commit yourself. Pay particular attention to areas of responsibility should the kitten become unwell soon after youve bought him/her.

15. You should book your new kitten in for an all round check with your own vet almost as soon as youve collected from the breeder. If there are any signs of problems, youll want to know within the first 24 hours.

On the whole, Maine Coon breeders are passionate about their cats and love what they do. Theres not a whole lot of money to be made in breeding Maine Coons, and it is very demanding work.

Unless, your gut feeling tells you otherwise, you can expect to be talking to breeders who are totally dedicated Maine Coon lovers.

Copyright 2006 Sarah Crosier

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Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog purchasers often do not realize the commitment they are making when they bring a puppy home. For those want the companionship of Westies dogs, but do not have the knowledge or patience to endure the training process, rescuing an older Westie dog may be the right alternative.

When considering an older West highland terrier dog, the first thing that many people think is that they would be getting a dog with problems, either genetic problems common to Westies, or behavioral problems from improper training. The truth is, many Westie dogs go to shelters for reasons that have nothing to do with the dogs’ inherent qualities. Every year, dog owners die, move to retirement homes, change jobs, get divorced, have new babies, or, unfortunately, simply tire of the responsibility of caring for a dog.

The advantages of older dogs are many. They have already finished teething, and no longer feel the urge to chew holes in your shoes, rugs, and furniture. Westie dogs that are older have grown used to sleeping through the night while their people sleep, as opposed to westie puppies, who wake up and whine. Older pets will have already been housetrained and also should know the meaning of the word ‘no,’ making their continued training that much easier.

When you encounter a Westie puppy, you only have the breed standards to give you an idea of what kind of dog it will grow into. Although Westhighland dogs have a typical personality type, there are variations from dog to dog. The full-grown Westie is a know quantity. The Westie dog you meet is what you will get, and you can quickly determine if it will fit into your home.

It may seem like rescuing an older Westie provides you with an ‘instant dog,’ but that is not the case. At first they might become confused, upon arriving at a new home, and need to be reminded of their basic training. However, even allowing a few weeks of extra special care is easier and less stressful than the rigors of training a puppy.

(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)

I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.

Good health and happiness

Jeff Cuckson
webmaster@madaboutwesties.com

*****************************************
Want To Know How To Have The Healthiest
Happiest and Most Well Behaved Westie Puppies
You’ve Ever Dreamed Of! Then Click Here NOW!
******************************************

More articles at articles host

Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog purchasers often do not realize the commitment they are making when they bring a puppy home. For those want the companionship of Westies dogs, but do not have the knowledge or patience to endure the training process, rescuing an older Westie dog may be the right alternative.

When considering an older West highland terrier dog, the first thing that many people think is that they would be getting a dog with problems, either genetic problems common to Westies, or behavioral problems from improper training. The truth is, many Westie dogs go to shelters for reasons that have nothing to do with the dogs’ inherent qualities. Every year, dog owners die, move to retirement homes, change jobs, get divorced, have new babies, or, unfortunately, simply tire of the responsibility of caring for a dog.

The advantages of older dogs are many. They have already finished teething, and no longer feel the urge to chew holes in your shoes, rugs, and furniture. Westie dogs that are older have grown used to sleeping through the night while their people sleep, as opposed to westie puppies, who wake up and whine. Older pets will have already been housetrained and also should know the meaning of the word ‘no,’ making their continued training that much easier.

When you encounter a Westie puppy, you only have the breed standards to give you an idea of what kind of dog it will grow into. Although Westhighland dogs have a typical personality type, there are variations from dog to dog. The full-grown Westie is a know quantity. The Westie dog you meet is what you will get, and you can quickly determine if it will fit into your home.

It may seem like rescuing an older Westie provides you with an ‘instant dog,’ but that is not the case. At first they might become confused, upon arriving at a new home, and need to be reminded of their basic training. However, even allowing a few weeks of extra special care is easier and less stressful than the rigors of training a puppy.

(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)

I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.

Good health and happiness

Jeff Cuckson
webmaster@madaboutwesties.com

*****************************************
Want To Know How To Have The Healthiest
Happiest and Most Well Behaved Westie Puppies
You’ve Ever Dreamed Of! Then Click Here NOW!
******************************************

More articles at free articles database

Dogs are wonderful companions. Having a special four-legged friend greeting you at the door when you get home every day, wagging his tail and making his doggy smile at you is an instant mood-brightener. I even get a greeting when I come back from the mailbox. But the decision to get a dog or a puppy is not one to make in haste. Dogs live an average from 10 to 15 years, so you have over a decade of responsibility. Are you ready to make that kind of commitment? Lets look at some importation considerations:

Who will be the primary caretaker?
It is nice to think that, since your kids are begging for a dog, they are ready to take on the responsibility of feeding and walking him daily. Although it may seem fun to them for a while, when the excitement fades it will likely seem more like a chore. The truth is Mom and Dad are usually the primary feeders, waterers, walkers, and pooper scoopers. Is this something you are prepared for?

Your puppy will need potty training.
Potty training is crucial, and it does take some time, patience, and consistency. Puppies have small bladders and will need to go potty in the night. In the beginning of potty training, you are likely to be up somewhere between two and four in the morning to take your puppy out. Luckily, this stage is fairly short, and soon your dog should be able to hold it through the night. There will still be accidents to clean up as your dog learns to tell you when he has to go.

Your dog will need house training.
He or she needs to know what appropriate or acceptable behavior is. Your puppy needs to learn not to chew your shoes, jump on people or the furniture, or bark excessively, and most of all, to come when called. This takes time and patience and maybe some outside help with a group dog training class or private sessions with a professional dog trainer. You are doing yourself and your dog a huge disservice if you neglect training him properly.

Do You Have Kids?
If your children are very young, they may not understand that your puppy is a living creature and not a stuffed animal. Are you sure your kids wont be pulling your dogs tail, dragging it around, or picking it up and then dropping it? If your kids are older, it is not a problem, but it is important that they learn how to handle your dog and that your dog obeys them just he obeys you.

Consider the costs involved.
Yearly shots and exams can add up, and your dog will need to be spayed or neutered. Plus most dogs will need heartworm prevention medication and flea medication, depending on where you live. Just like people, when dogs grow older they may develop age-related conditions such as arthritis that can require more frequent vet visits, as well as medications. There are also potential emergency situations. My dog broke her toe during a scuffle at a dog park (I recommend you avoid those places, by the way) and it was a bigger ordeal and expense than you would have imagined. A cast for a broken toe?

What will you do with your dog when you go on vacation?
Ideally you have a family member or friend who can take care of your dog if you go away for a weekend or on a longer vacation. But if you dont, you will likely need to arrange for a professional pet sitter or a kennel, which can get rather costly. And dogs hate kennels (at least mine does). Alternatively, more and more people bring their dogs along on holiday. There are increasing numbers of hotels and motels and vacation places that will allow dogs and even offer special pet packages for your pooch.

This discussion is not meant to discourage you from getting a dog, but you do need to make sure you know what you are getting into. I am crazy about my dog and cant imagine life without her. Dogs can be great fun and bring a lot of pleasure into your life, but it is not always a walk in the proverbial park.

Valerie Goettsch is web master of My Favorite Dog, a website featuring dozens of articles and information on where to find the best of everything for your dog, from flea meds to beds, training and designer dog clothes.

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To train your dog, you first need to understand just how your four-footed friend thinks.

Dogs, no matter how cute and cuddly, are descendents of far wilder ancestors – wolves. Though they’ve become more docile and responsive to our commands over the centuries, these beautiful animals have kept their excellent eyesight, keen sense of smell, and their need to be a member of a pack. Only today that pack is you and the other members of your household.

To train your dog, you need to understand, learn and use this to your advantage. A pack has one leader (that’s you) and others (everyone else in the house) who show respect to that leader. Most breeds, with a few exceptions, don’t want to lead the pack; they feel safer with someone else in charge. If your dog senses that you’re a wimp in need of direction, he’ll gladly step into that leadership role and rule the roost. Somebody has to be the top dog – if you won’t, your dog will.

When it comes to training, what you want to do is redirect the dog’s natural inclinations to outlets that are acceptable to you. Training continues the work of building a relationship between you and your faithful companion. The process, done correctly and with patience, helps to establish communication, enhance understanding and is a subtle demonstration of your command over the dog.

Whether house training, training for obedience, or teaching your four footed friend a few more involved tricks to impress company start with an attitude of quiet confidence. From there, use some of these common-sense guidelines while working with your dog:

1.Always be firm and consistent – this will show your dog that he can’t get away with misbehaving, even if he is the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.

2.Keep training sessions short no more than 10 to 15 minutes two times per day, depending on your dog’s attention span.

3.Find a distraction-free place to work choose a quiet, familiar environment free of distractions so the dog’s attention isn’t drawn to other things that make it hard to focus on what you want to teach.

4.Every so often, show your dog who’s boss make him move and take his place, or eat your meal before feeding him his, these simple actions put your pet in his place and establishes you as a leader.

5.Never yell at or hit your dog this teaches him to be nervous and fearful around you and keeps him from learning what you want to teach.

6.Use repetition do things over and over and over again, using the same tone of voice, command and hand gestures until he gets it, reward every time your dog does as you ask.

7.Use reward not only the treats your dog loves, but lavish your dog with praise in a high-pitched, happy voice and add lots of squeals of delight for effect and be sure you say his name frequently.

8.When issuing commands like sit or come use a low, gruff voice dogs don’t understand any of the words we say, but they do recognize and respond to a change in tone.

9.Practice learned tricks regularly even after he’s got a trick, reinforce what he or she knows by doing the trick again and again every day; teach only one new trick each week.

If you’re having problems training your dog don’t lose hope (or patience). Start by talking to your vet (or breeder) and asking for some suggestions. You might also want to talk with other owners whose doge are well behaved and get some tips and tricks to use. If you like to use the computer, go online to some of the discussion forums devoted to dogs, visit dog.com for example, to talk to other dog owners who are also struggling to get their best friends to behave properly.

The time and effort you spend working with your dog will make a huge difference in his life, and yours. Not only will your dog be happier and easier to control in dangerous situations, but also he or she will have more freedom because you can count on your pet to behave properly in your home with company or when you’re out and about.

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