Persistence Archives - Edie MacKenzie

Basset Hound Dog Breed Info

January 1, 2012 by admin Leave a Comment

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.

Finding the Right Golden Retriever Breeder

October 7, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Whether it is the persistence of your children or your individual longing for companionship that prompts you to bring home a golden retriever, the next step would be to find the right breeder.

It is advisable to shortlist more than one possible golden retriever breeder. You may have to sign up on the waiting list, but if you want the best then you need to be patient. There may be times where you may get lucky and find one right away, but that is just what it may be, pure luck. When it comes to golden retriever breeding it is a first-come, first-serve situation.

A quality golden retriever breeder in most cases will have a waiting list, which is obviously the first sign of a reputed breeder. Of course, he doesn’t need to be on the list of breeders that cater to the Whitehouse or Buckingham Palace, but must be fairly well known on the breeding circuit. Finding one could be challenging, but it is important to get a healthy dog that is going to be a family member for the next 15 years or more.

The first step is to become an educated buyer if you want to find a quality golden retriever. Read as much as you can about the breed, their health issues, and temperament. If you have children, there is a possibility that they have already been convinced by your neighbor’s or friend’s golden. These places could form the basis of your observation and determine whether your home environment is conducive to rearing a golden.

Nelson Williams offers more info at : http://goldenretrievertrainingcenter.com/golden-retriever-breeder. He and his family live in Vermont. He brought home their first Golden Retriever when his now grown daughters were babies. His family has bred and cared for more Golden Retrievers than they can remember. With years of experience and volumes of research, the Williams offer for free, ‘Secrets of Raising Golden Retrievers’: http://www.goldenretrievertrainingcenter.com.

Getting Your Puppy to Behave Using Some Great Information

August 3, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Your dog might be your very best friend, but just like your human pals he or she can embarrass you in public – you can really train your dog to behave, you might not be so lucky along with your human pals. A well trained dog generally means a pleased owner as well as a contented animal. In fact training your dog to behave just isn’t as tough as many folks think it really is actually a case of patience and persistence. Dog Training Advice really could be carried out at your house it does not will need a expert except with a few dogs.

Does your dog refuse to sit or remain at your command and does it bother other folks by jumping up and barking? This might be your dog’s natural exuberance getting the much better of him but once you are out in public, not only is it embarrassing for you, it could be frightening for individuals who are unsure of themselves around dogs. If you want to avoid these situations then you have to start off getting your dog to alter his behavior now.

In some respects dogs are like kids and this means that they’ve to be taught the best way to be social beings without having indulging in anti-social habits. If you are attempting to get your dog to respond to your commands and behave in an acceptable manner, then you have to instigate typical training sessions. Training a dog to display acceptable behavior just isn’t simple if you are a initial time owner. Some folks take their dog to expert trainers once or twice a week but if your spending budget won’t run to that then you need to fall back on your own resources.

Not fairly, you will find training books and manuals available which you can pick up at most pet supplies stores, some of which come as a complete package, which will take you through the training sessions 1 step at a time. Constantly keep in mind with dogs that the approach to instill the behaviour which you want is by repetition and reward – losing your temper is counterproductive. In the event you get the best package and apply the best amounts of praise, patience and time you’ll soon have a well behaved and possibly happier dog.

Getting To Know Your Dalmatian

December 17, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

The owner of a Dalmatian has to be smart and consistent with regard to rules of behavior. This consistency is also required of everyone else in the household, because if the dog discovers that one person in the household allows him to do a certain thing, such as jump up while the other household members do not, he will generalize this discovery to the entire human population. Therefore, he will try jumping up on visitors and strangers on the street, thinking that at least some people will allow him to jump up.

The Dalmatian’s natural persistence, tenacity and inventiveness could make him a nuisance in the hands of a lazy or unresponsive owner. Just like small children, Dalmatians’ will get your attention, one way or another. But as soon as they get your attention, they do not always know what to do with it. Sometimes they give the cutest looking apologetic grin imaginable. One of the curious characteristics of the Dalmatian is the ability to “smile.” To some people it appears more like an ear-to-ear silent snarl than a look of glee, and to others it appears to be an embarrassed grin. In any case, when some Dalmatians get flustered, they draw up their lips and pull back the edges of their mouths, exposing almost every tooth in the same movement that people use to smile, but they are not laughing.

Dalmatians’ have a smile that usually appears just after they have been discovered in the kitchen with the contents of an entire garbage can carefully spread all over the floor, or when their owner uses a scolding tone of voice. He will then lower his head and often slink while displaying the look. The reason why it is hard to tell whether they are smiling is that they are bright enough to be suspicious whenever anything goes awry.

One of the thing they love to do in an open area is play their form of dodge ball to where they use their bodies as the ball. They will run away to about twenty-five to thirty yards and then come rushing back straight at either another dog or you, running at full tilt for a direct hit, and missing by a fraction of an inch. Their goal is to get as frighteningly close to you as possible without hitting you. Your role is to stand completely still, without flinching while he whizzes by without crashing into you.

————————————————————–

Click Here Now – -and watch Chet’s Free Dog Training Video.

————————————————————–

Keep in mind that the Dalmatian’s amazing capacity for physical activity and endurance seem to be matched by amazing bursts of genius as well. A Dalmatian will test your patience and keep you on your toes, though they are also as devoted as they are intelligent.

Recent Blog Posts