History of the Labrador Retriever

dog adoption costs
Before you decide to bring a dog home, it is absolutely essential that you give some thought to the costs that you will be incurring in the process. It’s not the purchase alone, though even that is likely to be expensive in the case of some superior breeds of dogs, but also the cost of the equipments you will have to buy to make your home habitable for your pet. Then there are the visits to the vet, which have to be regularly made, and the expensive vaccinations, which the puppy has to be given. So, all in all, you will have to make pretty sure that your wallet can take the beating before you bring your doggy home.

What then, are the costs, and how much are they? Let’s start at the beginning. You have to buy the dog unless you are lucky enough to have it presented to you by a friend or a family member and the cost of this initial purchase can vary very widely. The variance will firstly depend on the type of dog you are buying. A purebred “companion only� puppy usually starts from around $800 but can go up to astronomical amounts for rare or exotic breeds. If you prefer to adopt a non-purebred variety from a shelter, it will cost you from around $150 to $300.

Costs also differ in different geographic locations so it is difficult for us to tell you of one fixed sum that you will have to pay for any given variety of dog. Visit the sources in your locality from where people normally buy dogs and check on the prices. And this includes the internet. After some queries on your part, you will be able to come to a fix on what your desired dog costs.

Now that you’ve got your dog, it’s time to look at the other costs you will have to start to incur. Let’s start with the one - time costs.

One Time Costs Average Cost
Fence $300 - $1500
Bowls $25
Collar $6
Training Collar $10
Leash $12
Bed $40
Crate $100
Brush/Grooming tools $20
Shampoo/ Coat care $15
Neuter/ Spay ( Based on weight ) $300
Microchip $50



Then there are the annual costs, which you have to be prepared for. I enumerate them below:

Vaccinations $185
Heartworm Test $35
Heartworm Preventive $65
Flea/Tick Preventive $120
Food $480
Toys/Treats $45
Tag $5

And then there are other costs:

Boarding â€" per day ( with 2 playtimes ) $25
Grooming â€" per time $50
Training classes ( Per 6-8 classes ) $100
Individual training ( Per session ) $100



And remember, this list is for grown up dogs and not puppies. If it’s a puppy you are adopting, the costs increase. There’s a check up, a series of 4 sets of vaccines, worming, heartworm tests, all of which will cost you close to $300. Then there is puppy food, which will set you back around $450 and toys/treats, which will cost approximately $65.

So, as you will have counted up from the figures given above, in the first year, you will be spending approximately $1500 to $2500 over and above the cost of buying your dog. After the first year, you will spend less per year â€" about $1000. Smaller dogs cost a bit less and larger dogs cost more.

Apart from all this, your dog will have lifelong healthcare needs. There will be shots and medicines you will be administering as preventive care and there will almost certainly be unexpected accidents, injuries or illnesses, however well you look after your dog.

It is therefore utterly essential that you objectively evaluate your budget and come to a decision as to whether you can really afford a dog. He will look to you for your support in all things and you owe it to him to give him, not only your love, but proper care, food and medical attention. These don’t come free â€" so ask yourself whether you can afford to get that dog you always wanted. If you realize that you can’t, it’s best to do without, both for your sake and his.

Anybody is free to use the article in their website as long as an acknowledgement is given Nancy Richards' and a link to the site www.traindogsandpuppies.com

The AKC Parent Club of the Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever Club is the AKC Parent Club of the Labrador Retriever. Browse information about the LRC, the breed standard, our breeders directory, upcoming events ...

adopting a dog
Before you decide to bring a dog home, it is absolutely essential that you give some thought to the costs that you will be incurring in the process. It’s not the purchase alone, though even that is likely to be expensive in the case of some superior breeds of dogs, but also the cost of the equipments you will have to buy to make your home habitable for your pet. Then there are the visits to the vet, which have to be regularly made, and the expensive vaccinations, which the puppy has to be given. So, all in all, you will have to make pretty sure that your wallet can take the beating before you bring your doggy home.

What then, are the costs, and how much are they? Let’s start at the beginning. You have to buy the dog unless you are lucky enough to have it presented to you by a friend or a family member and the cost of this initial purchase can vary very widely. The variance will firstly depend on the type of dog you are buying. A purebred “companion only� puppy usually starts from around $800 but can go up to astronomical amounts for rare or exotic breeds. If you prefer to adopt a non-purebred variety from a shelter, it will cost you from around $150 to $300.

Costs also differ in different geographic locations so it is difficult for us to tell you of one fixed sum that you will have to pay for any given variety of dog. Visit the sources in your locality from where people normally buy dogs and check on the prices. And this includes the internet. After some queries on your part, you will be able to come to a fix on what your desired dog costs.

Now that you’ve got your dog, it’s time to look at the other costs you will have to start to incur. Let’s start with the one - time costs.

One Time Costs Average Cost
Fence $300 - $1500
Bowls $25
Collar $6
Training Collar $10
Leash $12
Bed $40
Crate $100
Brush/Grooming tools $20
Shampoo/ Coat care $15
Neuter/ Spay ( Based on weight ) $300
Microchip $50



Then there are the annual costs, which you have to be prepared for. I enumerate them below:

Vaccinations $185
Heartworm Test $35
Heartworm Preventive $65
Flea/Tick Preventive $120
Food $480
Toys/Treats $45
Tag $5

And then there are other costs:

Boarding â€" per day ( with 2 playtimes ) $25
Grooming â€" per time $50
Training classes ( Per 6-8 classes ) $100
Individual training ( Per session ) $100



And remember, this list is for grown up dogs and not puppies. If it’s a puppy you are adopting, the costs increase. There’s a check up, a series of 4 sets of vaccines, worming, heartworm tests, all of which will cost you close to $300. Then there is puppy food, which will set you back around $450 and toys/treats, which will cost approximately $65.

So, as you will have counted up from the figures given above, in the first year, you will be spending approximately $1500 to $2500 over and above the cost of buying your dog. After the first year, you will spend less per year â€" about $1000. Smaller dogs cost a bit less and larger dogs cost more.

Apart from all this, your dog will have lifelong healthcare needs. There will be shots and medicines you will be administering as preventive care and there will almost certainly be unexpected accidents, injuries or illnesses, however well you look after your dog.

It is therefore utterly essential that you objectively evaluate your budget and come to a decision as to whether you can really afford a dog. He will look to you for your support in all things and you owe it to him to give him, not only your love, but proper care, food and medical attention. These don’t come free â€" so ask yourself whether you can afford to get that dog you always wanted. If you realize that you can’t, it’s best to do without, both for your sake and his.






Learn all about Dog
Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and
Puppies.

If you are searching for cost of a dog, learn how to go aboutthe right cost.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog.

Dog infections â€" Signs and Treatments Explained
There are a number of diseases a dog might suffer from in its lifetime. Being attentive of these illnesses and the proper way to care for them can assist you greatly in caring for your dog better. Dogs must be vaccinated and given booster at least once every 6 months to keep them safe. Some of the more common diseases your dog can be vaccinated against are hepatitis, distemper, rabies, corona, leptospirosis, kennel cough and parvo. At some point, he could suffer from internal or external parasites and there are several types of infections which a dog owner should know about.

You might consider getting Pet Insurance if you have one or more pets. A small occasional investment and decent care for your pet usually cost much less than running the risk of an infection and having to fork out hundreds of dollars to treat them later.

The Parvo virus is the most common and deadliest dog infection. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and eventually death.

Distemper is another common strain of viral infection. Symptoms usually include fever, loss of appetite, nasal and eye discharges.

Note that Canine hepatitis may cause like symptoms as Distemper and should be treated with IV fluid therapy, dietary, nutritional and antibiotics care(consult your vet before administering medication).

Rabies is often spread by the bite of another animal. If your dog has rabies, he will behave oddly. Your dog can be vaccinated against Rabies from 4 months of age. There is no cure, vaccination is crucial.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection which attacks the dog’s liver and kidneys. Consuming contaminated liquids or infected urine from another dog may cause Leptospirosis. High Fevers, yellow gums, sadness, depression and blood in the dog’s urine might mean leptospirosis.

Bordatella, or Kennel cough, is a respiratory tract disease. A loud and harsh cough, nasal and eye discharges are clear symptoms of Bordatella or kennel cough. The treatment is usually anti-inflammatory medication, cough suppressants and a medium dose of antibiotics.

Coronavirus is a contagious viral illness. Vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea are possible warning symptoms and should be looked into. IV fluids and Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Corona.

The ear of a dog is very infection prone and may often cause common infections like blood clots. Symptoms include pawing at the ears and shaking of the head constantly. Do a quick examination on your dog’s ears every 2 weeks and take him to your local vet for treatment if you spot any signs, as soon as possible. Even the most common ear infections like blood clots may cause deafness and even lead to severe blindness if not treated appropriately.

Heat, swelling and sluggishness are a few more possible indications of an infection. Appearing to be in hurt or pain, fretfulness or listlessness are also some more obvious indications.

If the infection is intense, then the dog might have a high temperature and be swollen around it’s neck, armpits or groin area. If you are unable to get to a vet straight away, you should keep the dog lying down to avoid any physical exertion that might pilot the infection to spread even more rapidly.

Dogs with infections might reject food and water so it is important to seek your vet’s advice.

These common infections can pose a serious hazard anywhere in a dog’s body but especially if the infections are around the body’s ‘wet’ regions like the mouth or nose as they could spread more easily to the blood stream and eventually to the vital organs. The most important thing is to get your dog immunized as soon as he is old enough. Also be sure to follow up with a bi-yearly infection booster.

Remember, your dog is part of the family and if you find your dog acting a little peculiar or a bit ill, call the vet and make an appointment straight away. Unlike human beings, infections in dogs can become severe very quickly and it is not a good idea to ‘wait for the clouds to clear’ to see if the infection or illness heals itself.

<p>I&#8217;ve hoped you enjoyed reading this article as much as I&#8217;ve enjoyed writing it for you. Visit <a href="http://dognpuppies.com">dognpuppies.com</a> for more informative articles about <a href="http://dognpuppies.com/Dog-Health/Are-Vaccinations-for-Dogs-Really-Necessary.html">Dog infections</a> and <a href="http://dognpuppies.com/Dog-Health/index.html">Dog Health</a>. Warm Regards, Jeremy C.W</p>

Is Your Dog Food Poisoned?
Have you ever scanned the ingredients in a commercial dog food and thought, "How can this be healthy?" Unfortunately, if your dog eats ordinary, processed dog food, your dog probably eats things that are a whole lot worse than what you might find him chewing on in your backyard each and every day. Most pet foods available in stores today are so highly processed and full of preservatives and chemicals, that they aren't any better for our dogs than potato chips are for humans. In fact they are a whole lot worse. They contain cheap ingredients, unhealthy fillers, unhealthy preservatives or poisonous chemicals. Many dog foods advertised as "preservative-free" do, in fact, contain preservatives and poisonous chemicals. Manufacturers don't have to list preservatives that they themselves did not add. Many preservatives make their way into dog food at rendering plants before the meat is even sent to the manufacturer. An analysis of several pet foods labeled "chemical free" or "all natural ingredients" found synthetic antioxidants in all samples. Although you won't see it on the label, since it is often added at the rendering plant and not by the manufacturer, ethoxyquin (EQ) is used to preserve most dry dog food. EQ is the most powerful of all preservatives and may be the most toxic. Rendering plant workers that have been exposed to it denoted side effects similar to those of Agent Orange: * A dramatic rise in liver or kidney damage * Cancerous skin lesions * Hair loss * Blindness * Leukemia * Fetal abnormalities * Chronic diarrhea. In animals, EQ has been linked to: * Immune deficiency syndrome * Spleen, stomach, and liver cancers * And a host of allergies. "The "animal" or "meat by-products" in dog food are biodegradable wastes that we don't want to eat ourselves. These are parts that Americans rarely consume as they are not intended for human consumption. These parts come from animal carcasses, and include animal heads, bones, blood, organs and feces. Their origins include catering waste (all waste food from restaurants, catering facilities, central kitchens, slaughterhouses and household kitchens). It might also contain parts from sick or dying animals that can come from slaughterhouses or euthanized animals from animal shelters. The city of Los Angeles alone, for example, sends some two hundred tons of euthanized cats and dogs to a pet food plant every month. The worst is that dog food companies don't stop with pets, your dog is also eating euthanized animals from zoos, animal control and putrid, decaying road kill. Before these animal parts and by-products are shipped to the rendering plant, the by-product is "denatured." This means that crude carbolic acid, cresylic disinfectant, or citronella, is sprayed on the product. The true horror is the drug used to kill these stray and abandoned animals, Sodium Pentobarbital, is not broken down by the manufacturing process and is still present in active form in your dog's food!! Before these poisoned animal parts can be used for poisoned dog food, they are taken to the rendering plants where they grind the meat by-products and ship the meal to dog food makers. Next, the manufacturers combine the meal with carbohydrates such as corn, thickeners like guar gum, vitamins, minerals, food coloring and preservatives. By the way, dogs are color blind so the food coloring is there to appease the human eye not the dogs. To make wet food, this glop is then heated in a pressure cooker and canned or sealed in a pouch. For dry pellets, all of these dead animals, and other ghastly materials, are then processed until the portion left over for dog food production is a brown powder, which consists of 25% fecal matter! The stuff is then heated, cut into tiny pieces, dried, and then wrapped for shipment. More expensive brands tend to have fixed formulas, while cheaper brands often change recipes to include ingredients that happen to be selling cheap at the time of processing. (They might decide to replace corn with wheat, for example, if wheat prices were especially low.) The New York State Food Laboratory reported that it found aminopterin in food from the palatability studies. Director Daniel Rice said aminopterin was a cancer drug about 50 years ago in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency later banned use of the toxin as a rodenticide in this country. Federal law does not mandate the frequency of inspections or premarket approval of foods under FDA jurisdiction, unlike the meat and egg products under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture. The FDA regulates much more of the food supply with much less money than the USDA, according to the Government Accountability Office. Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, said regulation of human and animal food doesn't differ substantially. The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that foods be pure and wholesome and that they contain no harmful or deleterious substances, all though the act does not specify how manufacturers should ensure safety. The agency has limited resources for inspecting animal food and drugs, so it focuses inspections on manufacturers of drugs and of feed for food-producing animals, not for dog food. Usually an inspection is only conducted when there has been a complaint, such as the recent dog food poisoning of the suspected batch of wheat gluten from China. Note: * If you want to quit feeding your pooch poisoned dog food, learn to make your own healthy, homemade dog food. * Don't assume that your dog should eat what humans eat "People food" such as chocolate, grapes, raisins and onions can be difficult for your dog to digest and toxic to his system. This article may be reproduced on websites subject to credit being given to the author, and a link to the website. If you would like more information on Dog Food Secrets and how to get healthy dog food recipesClick Here! © 2007, June Parker.

June Parker was born and raised in Hawaii. She now resides in the mainland and writes articles about many topics.

LUXURY DOG GIFTS: What do you give a Dog and Wine Lover? a Whiner and Diner wine crate Dog Feeder!
“Treat your dog like a person, and he will treat you like a dog…� Not my pooch!
They are family members â€" we pamper our pets like our kids, we throw them birthday parties and arrange play-dates, and hire dog walkers for them. We dress them up for Halloween (my 85-pound black lab Bird in a bumble bee costume?) and take them along on trips.
Every dog owner I know has that “specialâ€� relationship with his pet â€" I’m sorry to say that I prefer my dog Bird over most people I know â€" and yes, I will provide him with the very best. The pet industry has taken notice: according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), we spent over $36 billion on our pets in 2006 â€" a confirmation of how much they are a part of American family life. High-end hotels (fretté linen for your four-legged friend?), cafés, restaurants and deluxe boutiques have quickly opened their doors to our canine population. From doggy spas and dog fashion shows to luxurious pet products, we seem to spoil our furry friends rotten (or is it ourselves?).
If you are a dog lover and a wine connoisseur (and I am!), these unique dog dishes will satisfy your desire to feed Fido with panache and also feed the interior decorator inside of you. Treat your classy pooch to a fine dining experience and furnish your home with a beautiful piece of doggie furniture.
Being elevated, these dog diners also promote healthy eating and drinking habits for your pet. Two doggie bowls recessed side-by-side in a stand is not a novelty, but in an authentic wooden wine crate â€" oh là là!
The feeders are hand-crafted by Whiner and Dinerâ„¢ out of recycled (did I hear “eco-chicâ€�?) wooden wine crates from European and Californian wineries. They come in different sizes to accommodate the tall and the short ones, and are outfitted with 1- or 2-quart stainless steel dog bowls (embossed with paw prints â€" or plain edges, for minimalists). Depending on the size chosen, the dog dishes can consist of either a single-bowl or a double-bowl configuration.
You can choose from a few basic colors or have the dish custom color-washed to complement your unique décor (match it to your kitchen cabinets, your floor or wherever your imagination takes you). And, of course, you wouldn’t dream of owning an upscale pet feeder unless it was hand-personalized with Fido’s name…well, they can do that too!
Now, if only they could get your favorite “Château Margaux� wine crate…they will, depending on their inventory! Voilà! However, they do not include the wine…too bad!
“Bone Appétit! A votre santé!�

Catherine Simms is an artist/ designer for<br> <a href="http://www.artalacarte1.com/"> ART A LA CARTE </a> Plaster Works with a Twist.<br> <a href="http://www.whineranddiner.net/"> WHINER AND DINER </a> Dog Dishes and Dog Beds.<br> <a href="http://www.lionheartdogscats.com/"> LIONHEART PET ADOPTIONS </a> in Pound Ridge New York.<br><br> This article may be freely republished providing its content, information and links are retained and left active.

potty training dogs
Life can be tough, for animals as well as humans. It is a dog-eat-dog world, and, unfortunately, sometimes it is a dog-eat-poop world. The consumption of poop is formally known as coprophagia, and it is a natural behavior that is found in some animal species.

Why Does It Happen?
Human beings have difficulty understanding exactly why dogs eat their poop. Dogs have been known to eat poop from various sources, such as other dogs, cats, and rabbits. This is a habit that is most prevalent in puppies, and certain breeds are also more susceptible to coprophagia. From a human’s point of view, it is repugnant, and we can’t help but wonder why dogs eat poop.
There are many theories regarding animals consuming poop. It might be the result of a dietary deficiency, and the dog is compensating for a loss of nutrition by eating poop. Another theory, from the medical community, proposes that a dog might be experiencing malnutrition, starvation, intestinal disorders, or parasitic infestations. However, most of these illnesses are very rare.

Puppies have been known to eat their poop when they are being housebroken, and this may be the result of physiological and behavioral factors. Physiologically, the digestion of food is not always complete, and puppies will see nutritional value in their poop. Behaviorally, dogs are frequently attracted to undigested food in their poop, such as rice, corn, or peanuts, viewing these foods as a snack. Behaviorally, many pets eat their poop when they are being trained because they do not know whether they should eliminate on paper in the home or on the ground outside of the home. If a dog eliminates in the wrong place, it might experience stress and try to hide the evidence of their wrongdoing by eating it.

What Can Be Done About It?
Dogs must be kept in optimal health; otherwise, they will develop illnesses that can result in eating poop. First, have your veterinarian check your dog for parasites. The animal may lack essential bacteria in his system. Also, parasites can compromise an animal’s immune system and allow other illnesses to occur. Take your dog to the vet for a regular checkup, and take notes at the appointment. This can help keep your dog healthy between appointments. Second, make sure your dog takes a vitamin every day. Vitamins are inexpensive, readily available, and they can be placed in a dog bowl with the animal’s food, or they can be given directly to the dog as a daily treat. Third, keep your home clean, inside and out. This includes keeping the dog’s bed and toys washed and sanitized on a regular basis. Fourth, provide distractions for the dog. When you see the dog eliminate, use a command to call the animal away from the elimination area. As soon as the dog leaves the area, give him verbal and physical praise. Keep a ‘pooper scooper’ handy and pick up the dog poop after calling the dog away from the elimination area. Make it a point to walk around the yard each day and pick up any poop that may have been previously left in the yard.

How Can It Be Prevented?
As a rule, dog owners want to keep their dogs from eating poop. Not only is eating poop a health risk, it is a very unattractive sight for family, friends, or visitors.

The importance of cleanliness and home sanitation cannot be overemphasized. Once the dog is housebroken, the chance of his eating poop inside the home is minimal. However, the dog is likely to go back to its pre-housetraining habits if the house smells like poop or urine. The best way to keep a home clean is to develop a weekly cleaning schedule and maintain that schedule without fail. If the dogs does eliminate inside the home, it can be quickly and easily detected because the rest of the home will not have an odor. If the dog does eliminate inside the home, the poop should be removed immediately, and the elimination area should be sanitized immediately. An additional benefit of maintaining a housecleaning schedule is that you will not have to worry about cleanliness or odor if an unexpected visitor comes into the home.

You can control the cleanliness of your home, and you can control what your dog eats. One way to keep a dog from eating its own poop is to put food additives in the dog’s regular food. Food additives provide nutrients that the dog needs and, as a result, these nutrients will keep the dog from eating its poop. Consult the dog’s veterinarian to make sure that your dog is receiving food additives that are safe and effective for your dog.

Finally, take your dog outside for a ‘potty walk.’ Using a leash, wait until the dog poops, then call the dog. The leash is only used to keep the dog from the poop if he tries to eat it. When the dog leaves the poop and comes to your side, give it verbal praise and a treat.

All of the above information must be performed consistently. This way, the dog will know what to expect when he tries to eat his poop. Also, consistent cleanliness, training, and maintenance should give you the results you want; your dog should stop eating poop.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog. DogPottyTrain.com one of her sites has the aim to promote public interest in Dogs and convey by all possible means varied house training techniques for adult dogs and puppies.

Akita attacking children and strangers
This breed is prone to being teased by children and what makes things difficult is that they are not sporting about it and end up attacking the children in retaliation. If an Akita bites, the most likely target would be a child visitor. The Akita is not used to interacting with outsiders, nor is it friendly with people who are strangers or irregular visitors.

The Akita is a very private dog, and as has been observed by an expert on Japanese breeds, he owes this trait to his upbringing in the typical Japanese setup.

There’s further explanation that says that the Oriental homes in which the Akitas are generally brought up, are much smaller by Occidental standards, and thus social gatherings are always held in public places. This explains the wary attitude of the dog where visitors, especially children are concerned.

Although famous for being trusted by Japanese mothers, who often leave them alone with their children, the Akita can often be very aggressive towards unfamiliar children and might even bite them when driven wild thanks to their incessant teasing. Children should be taught to treat these dogs with patience and kindness.

One positive aspect to their temperament, however, is the fact that they can eventually be made to grow tolerant towards strangers. They often make the first move towards a visitor if they are used to seeing him on a regular basis. This holds true, especially if the stranger happens to have something with him, some tidbit that might be of interest to the dog.

Their reticence comes from an innate dignity, which is quite rare in other dogs and thus they can be tamed with reason and proper tutelage.

One major flaw in these dogs is that they are extremely unfriendly towards non-family children. They cherish their own family kids but visiting children and adults lie in the danger zone and face the brunt of their tantrums. These dogs often ignore indifferent strangers, which is in a way better than their hostility.

The Akita is very food-possessive but with patient training, they can be fine pets, otherwise they tend to get bored easily and often end up going untrained.

A plausible solution to this breed’s hostility towards unpleasant strangers is training them outside of home or taking them to training classes to socialize them with unknown children and adults. One cannot expect each and every individual that happens to drop in, to be friendly with the household dog and in such a situation it is best to train the dog to be adaptable with different people.

There could, however, be a worst-case scenario when the dog does not really appreciate the training procedure and may growl at the trainer. In such a case, the trainer may even try to discipline him with a smack or a jerk of the collar.

If visiting children don’t go down too well with the dog, which is majority of the time, there should be someone to monitor his attitude towards the former. He should be made to sit and watch the family kid play with that of the neighbor’s, and thus, eventually made to get accustomed to all strangers in general.

This process is referred to as desensitization. It should be done repeatedly and with different children. The dog gradually tries to be at home with non-family kids and even when left alone without any supervision, learns to behave.

This should, however, not ideally be the scene. An Akita should not be left to be with a stranger, kid or adult, without an overseer. This would not only decelerate the training procedure, it might even backfire. The presence of the owner always makes things easier, both for the owner as well as the dog.

The bottom line is that if one happens to own a typically private Akita that does not really gel with strangers, especially child visitors, and reacts to teasing with a bite, like most Akitas do, he should take measures to train him into obedience.

All said and done, the final responsibility lies with the owner, who should make sure that the training process turns out to be successful. He should not merely impose rules upon the dog but make sure that the children and adults visiting are on their best behavior, or at least neutral towards the dog, if not overtly friendly.

Learn all about Dog
Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and
Puppies.

If you are searching for dog breeders, learn how to choose the right dog breeder.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog

American Kennel Club - Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-coupled, dog possessing a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a ...

Things To Consider Before Getting A Dog
When it comes to owning a dog there’s a lot more involved than just having a new playmate for the kids, companion for the older person or security for your home.

Are you ready for all your dog will need? The messes in the backyard (and occasional accident inside) the cost of the food, toys and training equipment, do you know where the closest vet is? Do you mind seeing your favourite shoes or morning paper used as a chew toy? These are just the first things you need to consider.

Then you have to start thinking about what type of dog you want: Big or small, short coat or long, do you want a puppy or older dog, pure-bred or mutt?

If you’re planning on introducing a new dog into your family those items mentioned above are just part of what you need to take into consideration before making your final decision.

You need to make sure all family members are prepared to care for your pet: whether that means delegating who feeds the dog,

who walks it and who cleans after it etc. If it’s going to be left for one person it may put a strain on your family. You also want to take into account the true cost of owning a dog; aside from the weekly food bill you will also need to pay vet bills, buy worm and flea preventions, possibly pay for training, and you’ll need things like collars, leads, food bowls and perhaps toys (just to save on the expense of having to buy new shoes,) that’s not taking into account particular requirements for certain breeds: some require professional grooming, others may have special medical considerations etc.

Depending on your housing situation you may need to spend time exercising your dog, cleaning the backyard up after your dog has done his business, making sure your dog has adequate toys to keep him entertained if he gets left alone for long periods at a time (while you’re at work etc)

You will also want to consider whether you want a male or female dog each have their pros and cons â€" then too comes the cost
of neutering if you don’t plan on breeding, or if you don’t have your dog neutered dealing with the behaviours and problems this can cause.

While owning a dog can truly be a delight, before you take the step and purchase or rescue one (or give one as a gift) please take into account all that dog ownership entails.

Please visit the World Of Dogs if you’d like to know more about what’s involved in having a <a href=http://world-of-dogs.vjad.net>dog as a pet</a> or regular updates can be found at the <a href=http://www.vjad.net/world-of-dogs/blog/>World Of Dogs Blog</a> Other pet related information can be found at the <a href=http://www.readz.cashhosters.com/blog/>Pet Help Blog</a>