Dog Badge

June 14th, 2010 by admin

The French Bulldog is considered to be one of the most likeable and enjoyable of the bulldog breeds. Although there are not as numerous as other bulldogs, many people today have shown their interest in this small and stocky breed. And like any other dogs, the French Bulldogs have been known to be susceptible to various health conditions. A good number of these conditions are related to the way their body is structured, so these conditions are just particular to the French Bulldog.

Although the Frenchie is regarded as one of the healthiest in the bulldog lineup, there are several congenital diseases which this canine is susceptible to. Here are some of them.

• Von Willebrand’s Disease – Much like to hemophilia to humans, this disease is also a bleeding disorder that French Bulldog’s suffer from. This condition prevents the blood from clotting which can result to many complications. In connection to this problem is the development of a thyroid condition. Breeders and vets have developed a program that tests French Bulldog at an early age to determine if the pup is afflicted with this health concern.

• Brachycephalic Syndrome – This health concern can result to a soft palate or cleft palate to a Frenchie. Many vets and breeders find it virtually impossible to treat a cleft palate. So, French bulldog pups are commonly put to sleep when discovered that they have this condition. For French Bulldogs that have an elongated soft palate, they are discovered to suffer from difficulty in breathing and passing out after an exercise activity.

• Eye Health Concerns – French bulldogs have been known to suffer from a variety of eye concerns. While it is found in most other breeds of bulldogs, the French bulldog can also suffer an everted third eye lid, or what many breeders would call as mthe Cherry eye. Other eye issues that French bulldogs may encounter are corneal ulcers, juvenile cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal fold dysplasia. It is imperative that any French bulldog owner should clean the skin folds under the eyes and ensure that it is dry to avoid the occurrence of infections.

• Megaesophagus – This condition encompasses several malformations and disorders and its combinations, whether multiple or double, in the esophagus. Complications that can be deemed serious would be the vomiting of food and/or phlegm after food intake or an exercise, this is called passive regurgitation. This complication mostly leads to aspiration pneumonia. A compacted airway can prevent the dog from dispelling heat from its body which can be harmless to other dogs, but to a French bulldog, it can be lethal.

These are just some of the many different health concerns that any French bulldog owner should look out for. There are still a variety of other concerns like back and spinal diseases known as chondrodysplasia, skin allergies, and cysts. Frenchies have also been known to require surgery when giving birth.

It is always best to consult your vet to understand fully what ails your French bulldog, this way, you can address the health concern more accurately and effectively.

June 8th, 2010 by admin

Dogs should always be properly trained. Even if they don’t have a lineup of fancy tricks, they should at least understand the basics and know how to be well-behaved. For anyone who’s interested in getting into the dog training business there are a few important steps they’ll need to follow to have the best chances of success. Anyone can start up their own dog training business as long as they’re willing to put in the time and effort and work hard.

Most dog training businesses can be safely run from a home, as more often than not the dog trainer will be traveling to clients’ homes in order to train their dogs. This is more convenient for you as a businessperson but also ensures the best results because the dog will be learning in their home which is the most comfortable environment for them. Having the right training is also one of the first things you’ll need to get out of the way to start up this business. Besides, in most cases you’ll be traveling to clients’ homes in order to train the dogs.

It’s important to have the right supplies on hand if you’re going to be a dog trainer. A psychology major will be helpful, as are degrees in veterinary services. You will need to start working on different marketing techniques which are going to help and drive traffic to your business. These are going to make the dog more eager to work with you and have things you can offer as positive reinforcement.

In order for any business to have success, effective marketing strategies must be enforced. You can even get business by word of mouth when you visit your local dog grooming stations, vet clinics and even parties or get togethers of your friends and family. It’s important to train every dog carefully and be nice towards them. Dog trainers need to have patience, especially considering that some dogs can be quite the challenge to train.

With some dogs their owners may only want you to work on certain aspects of training with them. Retrieving objects, dropping objects on the ground, sitting and house-training are a few of the most important areas of dog training. The old adage that an old dog can’t learn new tricks is not true but it can certainly be more of a challenge than dealing with puppies who are eager to learn. The dog training business can be a very enjoyable and lucrative one, as long as you go about things in the right way.

May 30th, 2010 by admin

Many dog aficionados lovingly call French Bulldogs as “Frenchies”, they could also be referred to as frog dogs or clowns. These names are aptly provided because of their looks and their playful manner. Although through the name of this small companion dog would lead one to believe that the French have largely played a major role in its development, many experts agree that American and British breeders have had a huge hand in this breed’s development.

First off, as a potential online buyer, you have to know that there are many differences with American Bulldogs and French Bulldogs. Their purchase price alone varies widely. French Bulldogs are much more expensive and puppies can fetch anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000.

Be very wary though, the internet has become a bastion for the breeding of spurious websites and niche marketing have made money for so many people. So it’s highly probable that there are numerous websites that are posing as legitimate dog sellers but are in fact far from it.

One way to determine if a seller’s reputation is dubious is by looking at their prices. If it’s too cheap to be true, it probably isn’t worth your business. Many websites find that slashing down prices would indeed attract more customers, but if those prices are unbelievably low, then it’s a high probability that they are not selling purebreds. It is of utmost importance that you don’t get lured by these low prices and get yourself into a trap.

The next thing that you should consider is that the price tag falls as the dog ages, so if the price does indeed seem incredibly low, maybe it’s because it’s a year old French Bulldog. Try to compare the prices of different websites. Many genuine websites today have developed a system to ensure that they have a reliable user base. This usually means verifying their customer’s identity and asking them to register to their website. The registration is commonly free. Choose websites like these for your comparison.

Choosing which website to purchase from doesn’t just mean the one with the lowest price. After carefully considering if the website is genuinely reputable, then most would choose where they can get the best deal. The best deal doesn’t just mean getting the lowest asking price for French Bulldogs. You should also see if the dog is already registered and if they would provide a certification in writing.

Plus, they should also provide ample and comfortable transportation means for your dog when it is delivered to your home. This usually means that the transportation environment is air-conditioned. Collecting this information and listing down the pros and cons of each website will help you determine where you will be able to get a good deal.

French Bulldogs are very active companions and can be a great friend. They are very playful especially if you get the purebred. So take the time to choose the right website to buy French Bulldogs, this is an investment where both the owner and the pet wins all the time.

May 25th, 2010 by admin

Regardless of whether your dog is old or young, Chihuahua or Doberman, it’s important to have them properly trained. You don’t need to teach them all those fancy tricks but there are a few basic skills that every dog should learn. It can be hard to determine which dog training tips are effective and will actually work from those that are just a myth. These tips can be tried by any homeowner who’s looking to train their dog the basic skills.

One of the first skills an owner should teach their dog is how to sit. Teaching a dog to sit is so important so they’ll know not to jump up on guests at your home and make it easier for you to calm them down when being checked at the vet. To teach your dog to sit you want to have the dog standing and then tell them sternly to sit. Then you want to tell them sternly to “sit” and make sure that you repeat the command several times.

Then you want to tell them sternly to sit, and as soon as they do you give them a treat, toy or pat on the head. You may need to tap the dog on their behind lightly to convince them to sit but as soon as they do, you need to reward them with some form of positive reinforcement. Another of the most important dog training tips has to do with housetraining a puppy. This way they understand what they’re being rewarded for.

If your dog has a problem with going to the bathroom in the house, the eworst thing that you can do is stick their nose in it or start yelling at them. Keeping in constant communication with your dog is crucial if you want them to be properly housetrained. If you want your dog to be housetrained you need to communicate with them and let them know how good they are for waiting to go outside. It’s also very helpful to create a schedule for the dog, which will teach them what times they eat and what times they’re supposed to go to the bathroom.

Barking is another common problem among dogs. A dog bark collar for instance can work to teach your dog when to bark and when it’s just annoying. One of the best dog training tips for dealing with barking is to use a bark collar. These are effective dog training tips that will work when performed correctly and with practice.

May 15th, 2010 by admin

To some, a dog may just seem the same as the other one, they eat, they play, they sleep, and they leave a mess, could it get more complicated than that. Well, basically they do have the same needs, but there are still some distinct differences in every breed which can require some special attention. Sure they all need to exercise, but there are some differences as well. So if you own a French bulldog, or is planning to own one, then you need to know what this differences are to ensure that you will have a happy French bulldog and a healthy one at that.

In this article, there is a vital list of the basic things that any French bulldog owner should know. This list will not only help you become a responsible owner, but also help those that are thinking about buying a French bulldog to decide whether they are ready to own one today. Here is the list of those instructions in no particular order:

Cool area in their home or in their garden – French bulldogs find heat as their waterloo. Because of their oddly shaped head, French bulldogs find it difficult to dispel heat. They also have trouble breathing when it’s too warm and when they are tired. Make sure that if you live in an area with a warm climate, an air-conditioned room should be available for them. Also, your garden should have areas where shades are available where they can lunge around in not too warm days. Providing your pet with a good shelter makes him feel important and valued.

Have water accessible – Water will help them dispel heat. French bulldogs tend to overheat so they need to rehydrate often. Even with just a small time spent exercising, they will soon become thirsty and panting, so have a water bowl ready inside and outside your home.

Exercise your French bulldog – Unlike other dogs though, French bulldogs cannot be kept active for a prolonged period of time. They tire easily and needs short breaks from time to time. Walking and exercising is necessary for strength development of the dog, so dog owners usually do it twice a day. This also helps them to dispel waste outside your home. Plus, prevent your French bulldog from overheating when walking him by doing your exercises at dawn and at night time where the sun can’t bet down hard on your pet.

Well balanced diet – Quality dog food should be the norm. A healthy diet will help keep your dog strong to ward off any health conditions. It will also keep your dog looking good with its coat shiny and vibrant.

Respect your dog – treat it humanely and as part of the family. Provide it with the attention it needs and spend quality time with it. French bulldogs in particular need more human attention than other dogs. Try to spend also on dog products like chew toys and treats. A good collar will not only keep it nearby with a leash, but also help it find its way home if it gets lost.

And finally, keep some time and money for vet visits. Your vet is your best friend and ally in keeping your French bulldog healthy and happy.

May 11th, 2010 by admin

You can prepare any dog for hunting season, so long as you go about it in the right away. There are a few hunting dog training tips that are especially effective and which should be incorporated to your dog’s routine. One of the best tips is to make sure that your dog has all the basic obedience training mastered. Even if you have already taught these skills to your dog, it’s important to go over those such as heel, sit, stay, and whistle to make sure the dog is always performing to the best of his or her capability.

Don’t forget that dogs should be working on these skills year round and not just right before hunting season starts. Even the dogs that are very attentive can end up forgetting what they’ve learned so instead of just focusing on training the dog right before hunting season each year, make sure that this is something you’re focusing on all year long. Another helpful tip to prepare your dog for hunting season is to use marking drills. Stick to performing these marking drills in the woodlands as this will make things more complex and challenging for your dog.

This will make it more challenging for the dog and let you know whether or not they have this skill down pat. This refers to teaching your dog how to run and capture the prey in as straight a line as possible. Teach them to run through the barriers in front of them as they go, rather than running around them and wasting time. When you teach them proper lining skills, they’ll learn how to run through any barriers in front of them rather than going around and wasting valuable time.

Teaching entrance and exit skills to a boat is important for any hunting dog. Dogs need to get used to the water and learn not to be afraid of diving in off the boat. Entrance and exit to a boat are both crucial skills the dog must learn. Larger hunting dogs can be especially difficult to train but with patience and practice you can teach them properly.

It’s always important to have decoy prey around when trying to train a hunting dog. Decoys should typically be set in groups of six or eight and there should be open lanes between each group. Decoys help because they offer the closest, most realistic type of training for dogs and prepare them for real life hunting. It’s important to work hard and have patience when training dogs to hunt.

April 27th, 2010 by admin

There are thousands of online dog training sites that you could check out but actually only a few that are going to be worth your time. Everyone has a different opinion on what you could and should do when training your dog, but there are a few sites that offer truly effective methods that are worth a try. If you’re looking to train your dog, using the Internet to guide you will be wise. Going online for dog training tips is one of the best ways to go about it there are a few sites in particular that are going to be worth checking out.

If you’re ever looking for an online dog training course one of the best sites you can go through is e-Training for Dogs. This course helps with everything from teaching dogs to sit and stay to helping with canine anxiety treatment. Their dog obedience classes are extremely effective and have already worked for millions of dogs around the globe. They take the classes step by step so it’s easy to follow them and you can save thousands of money from not having to hire a professional trainer.

Whether you’re interested in learning more about hunting dog training, working dog training or competition dog training these online dog training instructions are well worth a read. They even offer online dog training tips on search and rescue training which you may be interested in. The Dog Training Guide site is another worth checking out if you’re looking to train your dog without professional help. They teach all of the most basic beginner training steps for dogs including how to sit, stay, heel and retrieve.

This is an online dog training site that helps especially when you’re working with a younger dog. Or to learn online dog training tips you could head to Dog Behavior Online. Their tips will save you thousands of dollars as you won’t have to worry about hiring a professional dog trainer. Make sure whenever you’re looking for online dog training tips that you read reviews on any site before trusting in it.

There are a lot of people who assume that they know what they’re doing even though they may not be the most reliable. Finding online dog training is certainly easy but finding training methods that actually work can be more of a challenge. If you find that your dog is especially difficult to deal with you may want to consider hiring on professional help. These are a few examples of what is out there and which online dog training sites are worth checking out.

April 13th, 2010 by admin

Dog training aids can be very effective when teaching new skills to your dog. Regardless of whether your dog is older or younger, they must be taught to be well behaved. You don’t have to hire a professional dog trainer because in most cases you can just do it yourself if you do a bit of research. With these products you can save yourself time and money from having to hire on a professional dog trainer.

The bark collar is one of the most popular training aids for dogs and it works safely and effectively. This is a device that is used to teach the dog to stop barking for no reason. It’s helpful for a dog to bark at night when they think there’s an intruder but when they’re barking constantly for seemingly no reason it can just be downright annoying. For this reason, it’s important to make sure that you’re only making the dog wear it during those times when you want it to be quiet.

At nighttime for instance it’s best to keep the collar off the dark, so they can bark at intruders. There is also the training dumbbell which is especially helpful for dogs who are training to be hunting dogs. This aid would be useful for training a hunting dog because it is an important toy to teach retrieve training. You just take the dumbbell and throw it, especially in woodlands it will be a challenge for the dog to retrieve it and bring it back to you.

There are also clicking devices which are effective dog training aids. It’s used when training your dog and with practice this clicking device can be just as useful for positive reinforcement for your dog as a treat. Along with patting them on the head and even treats here and there, your dog is going to be able to start realizing when they’re doing something right. There are also dog training aids that are designed specifically to help dogs with anxiety, to soothe and calm them.

Dogs with anxiety will often have problems with housetraining and barking. With the Homeopet Anxiety formula you can provide calm to your pet in times of stress and help both of you to live a calmer, happier life. The Homeopet Anxiety formula is completely natural and safe for your dog so you don’t need to worry about any unpleasant or otherwise unfavorable side effects. It’s important to take a look at your options and figure out which training aids are going to be suitable for your dog and situation.

March 30th, 2010 by admin

Dogs that are well behaved are so much nicer to be around. Any dog can be properly trained, no matter what age or breed they may be. It’s not about being mean or cruel to a dog, it’s about teaching them how to act appropriately so they are house-trained and act proper in public places. In fact, if you just want to teach your dog the basics there are a few dog obedience training tips that are going to be enough for you.

There are a few dog obedience training tips that will be helpful to dog owners here. A lot of people make the mistake in thinking that by keeping their dog at home this will make them more polite and obedient but this is actually not the case. No dog should be kept in home all the time, and rather they need to be outside and get taken for walks to socialize with other people and dogs. To socialize your dog properly, make sure that you bring them out to the largest variety of social events as possible.

Get the dog exposed to a variety of situations to properly socialize them. Another important dog obedience training tip and one that every owner should enforce is to teach the dog how to sit. Another important dog obedience training tips involves teaching the dog to sit. Sure there are a bunch of other fancier tricks that your dog could learn, this is the most basic and important.

To teach a dog to sit the first step is finding a quiet location where the dog will be able to focus and not be distracted. While the dog is standing, press lightly on their behind showing them that you want them to sit down. You may want to use treats or just a nice pat on the head. Dogs are very intelligent animals and most start to get the hang of it pretty quickly.

The most important thing is to make sure that you have some sort of positive reinforcement you’re going to be able to use here. Training a dog properly is a very rewarding experience. Make sure that you give it to them immediately after to make sure the dog understands what they’re getting rewarded for. A well-socialized and house-trained dog will be much more enjoyable and pleasant to be around.

March 16th, 2010 by admin

Trained dogs are safer among other animals as well as other people and therefore many dog owners ensure that their dogs are trained. In addition, trained dogs are easier to get along with because they are more manageable. When a dog is well trained, it will obey whatever the owner tells it to do and this will ensure that it is the perfect companion that they are looking for. Because dogs are animals, they may react adversely when provoked and are therefore not ideal pets especially for children until they are trained to be more docile. For effective training, trainers should equip themselves with all the information they might need before they start actual training. Training animals in general requires plenty of patience and enough knowledge on what the animal might react positively to.

Using professional dog trainers is very expensive for some people and they prefer to do the training themselves. For the training to be successful, the dog owners should have all the relevant information they need as well as all the equipment they might need for the training. Most websites that deal with dogs and almost all animal shelters normally avail most relevant information that pertains to general training of dogs. One of the most common pieces of information is that dogs need to be respected to ensure that they do not rebel against their owner and therefore reject all the lessons that are being taught. According to research, dogs that are not treated well are more likely to become very difficult or sometimes impossible to train and eventually run away to become stray dogs.

Venues for dog training are sometimes difficult to come by and this is one of the information that one needs before training. For many people, the first thought on training venue is dog parks because they assume that all the people who go there are watching their dogs and it is therefore the safest place. However, dogs are still animals and they have an instinct to attack other dogs when they feel like their territories are being invaded. Small dogs and young puppies are therefore not safe in dog parks because they are an easy target for the larger dogs and when attacked, they may suffer major injuries or even worse, succumb to them and die. Because it is almost impossible to remove the natural instinct of dogs attacking other dogs, the most important thing to do to safeguard an untrained dog is to keep it on a tight leash or as far away from bigger dogs as possible.