Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Basset Hound Dog Breed Info

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With its adorable, droopy expression, long ears and waddling walk, the Basset is an easy dog to spot. These loveable dogs have a long history and are believed to descend from the Ardennes St. Hubert hounds. They were brought to Britain by the Norman invaders in 1066, and it was in Britain that they were bred with other hounds to increase their size.

The name, Basset ,derives from “bas”, which means low in French.

The Basset is one of the sweetest of all dogs. They are extremely loving with a real enjoyment of human company. They get on well with everyone, are even tempered and affectionate towards children and have no problem with other dogs, or even cats for that matter.

With their happy nature and comedic character it is easy to forget that they are also exceptional hunting and tracking dogs. These days though, it is more common to see a Basset as a family pet than in the field.

Grooming a Basset Hound is a relatively simple task. The coat is short and requires only a brush down a couple of times a week to keep it looking its best.

The ears also need special attention, because they are prone to fungal and bacterial infections. A wipe down with a damp cloth and drying them after is usually all that is needed to keep them clean.

You may also need to clip the dog’s nails every once in a while. This is a task many dog owners shy away from, but it needs to be done, so if you’re not up to it ask your vet or local dog groomer.

Bassets are famously difficult to train. Like most of the hound group they’ve been bred to think for themselves, so they don’t just follow orders blindly. You will need to be consistent in your efforts, but always keep it positive as Bassets are very sensitive and harsh treatment will damage the bond you’ve built up with your dog.

You’ll need a lot of patience to train a Basset as they are easily distracted, especially if they pick up an interesting scent to follow. But persistence wins the day, so stick with it and you’ll see results. Bassets love to eat, so using really tasty treats will definitely help your training efforts.

Unfortunately, their love of food can translate to a number of obesity related diseases. A common concern with overweight Basset Hounds is vertebral problems, as the extra weight puts strain on the spine. Other health concerns include foreleg lameness, entropion, gastric torsion, and cysts on the paws. They may also be prone to osteochondrosis.

Bassets can be somewhat lethargic, but you must ensure that they get daily exercise to keep them in shape.If you’re looking for an affectionate, sweet-natured dog that is just a joy to be around, look no further than the Basset.

Picking a name for your Basset can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many dog names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of female dog names.

Which is The Best Dog Chow For Your Dog

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It is likely that dogs were first attracted to living with humans by the prospect of an easy meal. However, it took over 15 000 years of co-existence before someone hit on the idea of mass producing a food that was made specifically for dogs. And this first commercial dog food, created in the mid 1800’s, was hardly a commercial success. People continued feeding their dogs as they always had until the mid 20th century, when the idea of ‘dog food’ finally began to gain traction.

You may be wondering what dogs were fed for the thousands of years up to that point. The truth is, for much of that time, they were pretty much left to their own devices, and had to scrounge, steal or hunt what they could. Later, it became to feed the dog whatever leftovers remained from the human meal.

As the dog’s role evolved from guardian, hunter or worker to family pet, they would have got more regular meals from their human companions. Often though, the bulk of these meals would still have been table scraps, with some sort of commercial feed added for bulk.

As information has become more accessible, via television and, especially, the internet, there has been an increased interest in dog health and nutrition. This has seen a dramatic increase in the number of TV programs, websites and magazines about dogs.

We’ve seen the introduction of specialized, size specific, breed specific and age specific canine diets, as well as things like the BARF diet. Small wonder the average pet owner is confused about what to feed his dog.

So, I hear you ask, what food is best for my dog?

Well, depending on who you listen to, it could be anything from raw meat and vegetables, cooked homemade meals, or a premium, vet-approved brand of kibble.

All of these approaches have merit. But the important thing is balance and a menu that caters to the dog’s omnivorous nature. All good dog food diets, whether raw, dry or home cooked, need to take this into account.

Try to split your dog’s calorie intake three ways between meat, vegetables and fiber. Or feed a slightly higher percentage of meat and reduce the other two components proportionally.

Cooking for your dog and shopping for fresh foods are time consuming. But even if, like most of us, you are “time poor”, you can still feed your dog a balanced, healthy diet. Simply speak to your vet about the best premium or super premium dog food brand for your dog.

There are many variants available, so be sure to choose the right one from puppy, senior, lite, large breed etc. Some even cater to the nutritional needs of specific breeds.

Two definite no-nos are feeding your dog table scraps, and feeding him a cheap brand of kibble.

The cheap brands available on most supermarket shelves are packed with grains and thus of low nutritional value. They may also be behind numerous ailments ranging from allergies to more serious diseases like cancers.

Table scraps are also not ideal for dogs. Generally these will be high in fat and contain things like onions and garlic, which are harmful. If you feed your dog from the table you’re also likely to end up with a persistent beggar on your hands.

To learn more about best dog food, dog care, dog training and other useful dog info drop in at dogsanddogtraining.com

Understanding The Various Health Complications Of Tick Bites

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Dogs are man’s favorite pet. Some are even raised and adopted to be part of the family. Pet owners nourish and care about their pets just as a parent to a young kid. Pet dogs are lucky because they are fed, groomed and well taken care of. When a dog is queasy, it is brought to a veterinarian who specially cares for animals. One of the most conventional health problems of dogs is tick invasion.

Ticks are blood sucking pests. They belong to the family of spiders and mites. They are not insects, but rather arachnids. Ticks are perilous because they carry certain diseases. As formerly mentioned, they fed on their hosts by sucking on its blood. By sucking, they get to transmit diseases from one host to another.

Ordinarily, when a dog is affected by ticks, the most common symptoms distinguishable are fever, sudden loss of appetite, irritation, swelling in the area, lethargy and depression. For proper prognosis and treatment, pet owners should report these symptoms rightaway to their vet.

If tick bites are ignored, it can advance and become serious. Complications from tick bites often have general symptoms. It is consequential to know the various complications of tick bites in order to arrest the condition as soon as possible. Cited below are some of them:

Ehrlichiosis
This disease is passed on via brown dog tick bites and lone star tick bites. The causative agent is rickettsia organism. It is bacteria. But some say that it is a virus because it produces flu-like symptoms. The common symptoms of this disease range from loss of appetite to fever, joint discomfort, anemia and bruising. Other possible symptoms are eye swelling and decrease levels of all types of blood cells. This disease is treated by antibiotic therapy like doxycycline or tetrachycline.

Anaplasmosis
Anasplasmosis is often mistaken as Ehrlichiosis because they have almost the same symptoms. Pets that are anguished from Anasplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis can exhibit signs of fever, headache, muscle discomfort, chils, queasiness and fatigue. On the other hand, they have different causative factors. If Anasplasmosis is caused by rickettsial parasite of ruminants. Same management with Ehrlichiosis, antibiotic therapy is the best management for Anaplasmosis.

Tick Bite Paralysis
This particular disease is very rare in dogs. It occurs when a poison is released by the female wood or mountain ticks. This poison blocks the signal between the nervous system and the muscles. Paralysis is the usual effect when the nerve function is stopped. Watch out for signs of weakness, difficulty of breathing and walking. The best management for tick bite paralysis is elimination of ticks. As soon as the tick is removed, the pet is on its way to recovery. Nevertheless, full recuperation is achieved in twenty four to seventy two hours. If symptoms on the other hand become critical or if the paralysis has progressed intravenous fluid may be given or the pet may need a ventilator to assist in breathing.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
This is a dangerous complication and most of the time fatal. Some countries call this disease as tick typhus and Tobia fever. The disease is transmitted by the bite of the Rocky Mountain wood tick or the American dog tick. Rickettsia then enters the dog in the tick spit. The most common signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are hyperthermia, nausea and vomiting, decrease in appetite, muscle pain and headache. Late signs of the disease are Petechial and maculopapular rash, abdominal and joint pain. Doxycycline is the drug of choice for the management of this disease.

Tick bites must be solved rightaway. It can cause complications and the symptoms are very disheartening. Prevention is still best key to manage tick invasion. So be sure to maintain a tick free home surroundings!

Treat fleas and ticks and use Frontline for dogs. Frontline flea and tick is effective in killing all stages of fleas and ticks.

3 Great Reasons On Adoption For Adult Golden Retriever

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No time for training and lacking patience to develop puppies? Choose an adult golden retriever for instant results!

First of all, your primary concern is, you may be unable to provide the necessary time and the patience to develop the learning phase together with your dog. Rearing a pet required both time and long term investment with them. It required both dedication and patience to ensure care and health are properly developed along the growing stage.

The next important concern what can be right breed of dog for the family. If you interested in introducing a family pet to the family, why not consider a golden retriever. If you have done your evaluation, you will realize that you are unable to provide adequate care for a puppy, the next thing you may consider is adoption for adult dog. An adult dog can serve to give better options based on your own situation, why not consider adoption for an adult golden retriever? Here are some great reasons and some golden retriever tips why they can be best selection choice.

Basically, as we are come to understand, a golden retriever is one of the most intelligent, obedient and loyal animal that one owner should possessed. From a young age, they are fast learner and able to adapt to the training that was provided. Once a golden retriever was exposed and experiences dog obedience training, you will realize how well they behaved. Once the golden retriever undergoes effective dog training, communication can be easy with the new owner and the family.



Arielson has been writing articles online for 2 years.  You can check out his website on Hand Held Blenders which has information and reviews to find the best Hand Held Blender for your home.

The Elegant English Golden Retriever

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There are only two pure breed golden retrievers recognized by most of the kennel clubs and associations; the English golden retriever and the American golden retriever.

Though there may be other references like the European golden retriever, the English golden retriever is really the pure breed in most cases. In fact the American golden retriever has minimal subtle differences from the English type which I like to call the ‘original’ golden retriever.

The golden retriever as a breed was first developed not in England, but Scotland around mid 1800s. You may perhaps be wondering why it was not named after its country of origin, so do I. Lord Tweedmouth is credited for developing this breed primarily for hunting, reportedly from a cross of the water spaniel and the bloodhound.

It was used for retrieving the birds that were shot during the then increasingly popular duck hunting spot in both the fur and feather and water retrievals. This was because of their characteristics like being good swimmers, their waterproof coats, and very high intelligence levels.

Though it was developed to fill a need, it is one of the most popular pets in the world over two centuries later. It is now available across the globe as a pure breed or as a cross.

The English golden retriever is slightly heavier and shorter, has a blockier forehead, a slightly wider muzzle than the American type. It has a deeper chest, a shorter tail, and a less hairy and firmer coat which is predominantly light cream or any of the lighter shades of gold color.

This further became a key characteristic which enabled the golden retrievers to traverse the rugged and wet terrains to retrieve the birds. It is now a stunning spectacle of the golden retriever that every owner loves to brush and rub.

Perhaps its most endearing qualities include its warm temperament and versatile nature that have made it quite popular as a family pet and even assistance for the handicapped. Its relatively high intelligence has made it a top choice for a rescue dog, drug sniffing dog, tracking and hunting companion and of course an excellent show dog.

It has a knack for banging the obedience and conformance awards in several competitions. One of the kennel associations beautifully and accurately describes the English golden retriever in the ‘general appearance’ category in this manner;

“A symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy or long in the leg, displaying a kindly expression and displaying a personality that is eager, alert and self-confident…”

I recently saw a UK kennel club cum British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee report about the health of the English golden retrievers. I thought it was quite impressive that just shy of 20% of the golden retrievers had run out the clock or died of age related complications. Cancer took up the largest chunk of deaths, about 39% of all the deaths.

So it really is correct to say that every other golden retriever breeds are really a variation of the English golden retriever.

Kevin Taylor is a Golden Retriever Trainer and breeding enthusiast, and enjoys helping others get started in this amazing hobby by sharing information about the English golden retriever

 

His newest book,”The Ultimate Golden Retriever Training & Care Guide,” teaches Golden Retriever owners and trainers everything they need to know about training and caring for their Golden Retriever. http://www.goldenretrievercentre.com

The Briard

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The Briard History and origin:

The Briard has been known since the 12th century and comes from the Brie area of France, where the dog is also known as the “Berger de Brie” or “Chien de Brie.”  He was first used to guard herds against wolves and poachers.  This breed was bred with good size and a protective weather-proof coat.

Description:
The Briard stands 22 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 55 and 90 pounds.  He has a large, strong, lanky body and a shedding coat that is long and straight or slightly wavy, with a finer undercoat.  The head is well coated, with a beard, long, arched, expressive eyebrows, and cropped or uncropped ears.  The eyes are almost covered with hair.  This breed requires  daily brushing and combing to prevent mats.  A shorter clip will reduce the maintenance requirements.  The color may be black, gray, or tawny or a combination of two of these colors.

About The Briard

The Briard is a great family pet, a farm worker, a good guard dog, and a successful show dog.  He is loyal, easy to train, and has a gentle nature.  This active, lively, independent breed is affectionate with his family and reserved with strangers.  Alert and territorial, he may be initially resistant to training.  A firm, consistent technique combined with early socialization will be needed to reduce pushy, suspicious behavior.  Giving this breed a job such as herding, competition obedience, or agility work will help focus his energy and increase his confidence.  The Briard may chase cars, bikes, and joggers and may not tolerate the hectic activity of young children, perhaps nipping at them in an effort to herd them.  Roughhousing and chasing should not be allowed.  This breed can also be dog-aggressive.  The Briard may be susceptible to hip dysplasia and eye problems.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for the Briard is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of a high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal amount or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home:
The Briard needs a house with a fenced yard. The owner of a Briard should be an active, firm leader, who desires an athletic, lively, intelligent breed. Daily exercise is mandatory; competition obedience or herding would help focus this breed and build his confidence.  Sedentary people should avoid this breed. Spoilers and nervous types may encourage a pushy, nippy, timid attitude.  Older children who will not roughhouse or play chase games are okay.  The elderly and the disabled may have trouble controlling this active breed.  The Briard does better in a dry clim

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