By: Gerry Ronson
The most important reason for having dog toys is to keep the dog entertained while you are a way at work or even during home time. They need something to keep their active minds from finding trouble. You may see friends or family with dogs that come home to chewed shoes, table cloths pulled to the floor, and other destruction that the dog looks on as just playing with toys. Dogs like humans will get tired of the toys you first purchase. For very active dogs you want to keep changing the toys they have to play with. You can add new toys to the pile or add a toy and take another they are bored with away. If you take the toy away for a couple of months, chances are they are going to want to play with it again later on. This can be like introducing a new toy or an old pal. Some toys can also be helpful to the dental health of your dog. Chew toys such as bones and other items can help them relieve new teeth coming in when they are puppies as well as help them feel better. It is an oral fixation that helps the mouth feel better, especially if they have something bothering them. The chew toys can also strengthen their jaws.
You may find that your budget is a concern for new pet toys or certain dog toys. What you need to keep in mind is that dog toys are part of their care, especially for mental health. You can find toys around the house they may be willing to play with. You can place an old tennis ball on a thick rope to play tug of war with. Stuffed animals make great chew toys. Old baby toys you may have lying around can be converted to dog toys. The point is no matter what the toy as long as it is safe for the dog to chew on you will be providing proper dog care. There are of course other things to consider with dog care and training. Toys are great for some of the time, but they also need grooming and obedience training without toys.
Some dog toys that you may wish to have or fashion for yourself for the proper training and care include a laser pointer, cube toy, balls, Frisbees, squeaky toys, toys they can pull on like a tug of war activity, and even jumps. You will also need to purchase some time of leash and runner for more active dogs. A runner can be used in a backyard to give the dog more freedom without the ability to escape over fencing. Most cities require leashes to be worn when the dog is out for a walk, but it can also help during training. If the dog learns commands and the pressure on the leash for those commands chances are they will learn to stay at your side even off the leash.
Your dog no matter what breed he or she is requires training and care. The type of training and amount of care is going to differ with each breed, but there are some essentials you should always be thinking about. First you have to understand the dog breed you have before you can determine the appropriate dog toys to purchase for them. Dogs that tend to be more active like Alaskan Malamutes, Basset Hounds, and Dalmatians need a lot of interaction during training. Training can also be quite intensive, so the important thing to remember is to keep them from getting bored.
Article Source: http://www.bylamoarticles.com

Pets and pet lovers alike will always enjoy a doggie gift basket. It's a unique gift that lets someone know that you realize how special their dog is. Your own furry friend will also be delighted with the treats and toys, should you decide to buy one for him.
Dog gift baskets come in a large variety of sizes, shapes and price ranges. Baskets made for pets normally include treats, toys, and may also include bedding, dishes, or even clothes. The treats can be name brand dog treats or in some cases, gourmet dog cookies or homemade goodies. If you give your pet gifts during the holiday season, this is something that you both will enjoy.
Dog gift baskets are available in a variety of sizes and price ranges. Small baskets can normally be purchased for under $10. Larger baskets, of course, go up in price, some even retail for thousands of dollars and are sold to the stars of Hollywood. Many online retailers offer customized dog gift baskets, which include your selection of treats and toys. When selecting a dog gift basket for your favorite pet, remember the size of the animal. A tiny Chihuahua would have a hard time with an extra large bone, in fact it may be larger than he is. Likewise a large dog may complete destroy a small sized dog treat.
Pets are now, more than ever playing a role of increasing importance in their owner’s lives. Where animals were once a necessity and tool, now they are companions and friends to many people throughout the world. Recognizing that a friend’s pet is an important part of their life let's them know how important they are to you. A dog gift basket is a great way to let them know you care.

Emilie M. Bottiggi Pooches and their parents reunite on the one-yearanniversary of a puppy mill raid. Bright-eyed, clean and groomed, dozens of pampered dogs gathered with their proud parents one chilly afternoon. At first glance it looks like the group might be members a Maltese club or participants in a dog show. But this gathering is actually a reunion—the one-year anniversary of the dogs' rescue from a cramped and squalid puppy mill in Tennessee. Learning to be Loved
It's hard to believe that these well-groomed dogs (and one cat!) with their designer collars and bows have not always lived pampered lives. But when Winnie was rescued, she did not know how to walk in a straight line because she had spent her entire life in a cage, where she could only hobble in circles. Pogo had to be taught how to use the stairs, because he had never lived in a home before. And Stewie had to learn how to stand on solid surfaces because his paws had never rested on anything but the bottom of a bare wire cage.
Special Caretakers
"We knew our babies had unique needs due to the special circumstances into which they were born," says Emilie Bottiggi, who adopted three of the rescued dogs. "We were seeing behaviors we had not seen before with our non-puppy mill dogs."
Helpful Links Buying a puppy? Check out www.puppybuyersguide.org.
Want to adopt? Visit www.proud2adopt.org.
Learn more about puppy mills, and join our campaign against cruelty at www.stoppuppymills.org.The adopters created an email group to stay in touch and share their successes. A year to the day after their "babies" were rescued, they gathered to celebrate the anniversary of their pets' freedom. It was the first and largest of several reunions that have taken place since the day of the raid.
Remembering the Rescue
It all began in January 2004, when more than 230 animals were removed from a puppy mill in Franklin, Tenn. The animals were mostly Maltese dogs, but there were also a few Yorkshire Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, West Highland Terriers, and 14 Ragdoll cats living in the terrible conditions.
Like most such operations, the puppy mill owner advertised in dog fanciers' publications and on the Internet, posing as a small, responsible breeder. She had been operating for many years, and at one time she enjoyed a good reputation. But when authorities entered her home after receiving a tip about animal neglect, they found that behind the pretty photos on the owner's website lurked a completely different reality.
Ugly Reality
Inside the house, dirty and matted dogs cowered in small wire cages—three or four dogs to a cage. Their cages were lined up row after row and stacked on top of one another. Many of the dogs were ill, and some of them died shortly after the rescue. The dogs had lived in these cramped dirty cages all their lives.
Emilie M. Bottiggi Pogo was rescued from a miserable life at the puppy mill. Like most puppy mills, the breeder hid the cruel reality of her business behind closed doors. Her puppies were cleaned up and made presentable before being sold via classified ads and the Internet. But their mothers and fathers never had the chance to escape the brutal conditions into which they'd been born.
Buyer Beware
Even after her conviction for animal cruelty in 2005, the puppy mill owner violated the terms of her probation by continuing to breed and sell dogs. Healthcare workers who had been in her home to care for a relative testified that she was still selling puppies over the Internet.
"This is just one example of why you should never buy a puppy over the Internet," says HSUS Director of Outreach, Stephanie Shain. "You should not buy a pet without personally visiting the home where he or she was born and raised."
For more guidelines on how to purchase a dog without supporting puppy mills, visit www.puppybuyersguide.org.
An even better option is to adopt a rescued pet and transform a life. The happy faces at the reunion alone can attest to the joy adoption can bring to both rescued and rescuers alike. To learn more about adoption, visit www.proud2adopt.org.

Surely you have seen Chihuahuas in television shows, cartoons and movies. Considered as smallest breed of dog in the world, Chihuahuas are so popular that people are becoming more and more enthusiastic about them.
Before you decide of taking this toy breed home, you should know first its characteristics and other facts about Chihuahuas.
• Chihuahua was discovered in 1850 at Chihuahua, Mexico, thus named Chihuahua after its place of origin.
• They are the smallest breed of dog in the world and classified as toy breed.
• There are two types of hair in Chihuahuas, long-haired and short-haired or smooth coat. Though called smooth coat, short hair is not as smooth as long hair. In fact, long-haired Chihuahuas are smoother compared to short-haired Chihuahuas. Long-haired Chihuahuas shed less and need less grooming and trimming.
• These small creatures compensate their size with devotion, ferocity and personality. Their size makes them ideal for apartments. But even if they are considered toy breed, they are not well-suited to small children because of their size and tendency to bite when frightened.
• They prefer the companionship of other Chihuahuas than other breeds.
• Chihuahuas are prone to jawbone disorders, eye problems, heart disease and tooth and gum complaints. They are also susceptible to epilepsy seizures, hydrocephalus, patellar luxation, hemophilia and cystinuria.
• Chihuahuas can live up to 16 years depending on its health condition and care of its owner.
• They are born with incomplete skull; this soft spot is called moleras. This soft spot fill in with age and needs great care to prevent injuries and damage. However, it should not be mistaken with hydrocephalus.
• They should be bathed even at least once a month to prevent unpleasant odor from developing. Make sure that the water will not get into their ears to prevent infection. Place cotton balls into your dog's ear to make sure the water will not get into its ear. Just don't push it too far to avoid pain and irritation. Trimming of nails is recommended also at least once a month.
• Give several small meals instead of one big meal a day. Avoid giving canned foods because Chihuahuas find this type of food hard to digest and may cause diarrhea. Dry food or a mixture of dry and canned will do. Moreover, dry food is good for your dog's dental care. And don't forget the foods nutritional value.
• They don't need much exercise but they will surely enjoy taking walks with you. Toys should also be provided to make their minds busy.


About the Author: Richard Cussons is a writer and a dog expert. Discover more about Chihuahuas at this site dedicated to Chihuahua dogs.

There are many different dog training techniques that are out there today. Many people often don't realize that dog training courses often utilize different dog training techniques.
Some of these dog training techniques work better than others.
Whether you are going to a dog training course or if you are doing the dog training yourself... wouldn't you rather know which dog training technique is the best?
If you answered yes to that question then you should know that positive dog training is the best technique to use.
Positive dog training is quickly becoming the preferred method of dog training. If you would like to learn more about positive dog training techniques, please read on.
Positive dog training techniques involve using only praise and positive reinforcement.
This means, positive dog training rewards your dog for good behavior or when it performs a command correctly.
The rewards used in this type of dog training can be treats, kind words, a pat on the head, etc. It has been found that dogs respond much better to positive dog training.
Positive dog training techniques never involve hitting, spanking, scolding, or punishing your dog in any manner. Dogs do not do well with any form of negative dog training.
Now we will go over some examples of positive dog training techniques. Let us say that you are beginning your dog training by teaching your dog to sit. When your dog sits, reward it with a treat and tell it what a good dog it is.
Another example of positive dog training is to use praise and treats when your dog goes to the bathroom when and where it is supposed to. Dogs will soon learn to relate to doing this when and where it should because it gets rewarded for it.
Thus your dog will be potty trained much faster. When using positive dog training, your voice should always be happy and pleasant. Dogs will want to do as you ask when they get rewarded by any positive means.
This is why positive dog training works much better than any other type of dog training.
Now that you understand what positive dog training is, you may wish to start some of these techniques yourself. You can find dog training courses that use positive techniques and you can also utilize these techniques on your own.
With positive reinforcement, praise, and rewards, your dog is sure to learn much faster and be happier doing so. You will then be happier as well and you will also find that the dog training will go much easier.
With that in mind, you can truly see how positive dog training techniques will give you positive results!
About the Author: Amy Howells is an expert dog trainer who runs a website dedicated to teaching people how to train their dog or puppy in just 21 days. Visit http://www.dog-owner.net/training.htm for more info.

Do you have questions about adopting? We have compiled some answers to questions we frequently get asked. Reviewing them might help you make a decision or give you a place to start a discussion with one of our volunteers or shelter staff. The document is available for download in Adobe PDF format here.

Every room of your house could present hazards to your dog if there are certain items lying around. If you’re concerned about your kitchen, this guide will help you pet-proof your eating area.
Keep human food that can be dangerous to dogs out of their reach. Human food, such as chocolate, can cause vomiting, diarrhea and shaking if consumed in large enough amounts. Keep a tamper-proof lid on your trash. When you toss out spoiled food, it may contain toxins that could cause your dog seizures and vomiting. Make sure household cleaners are locked away in a pet-proof cabinet and out of reach of your dog. Bleach products can cause burns in the mouth and stomach upset and irritation.
If you have mouse bait, keep it in an area your dog can’t get to. These products can cause bleeding, difficulty in breathing and in severe cases – death.