Many novice dog owners innocently think that all breeds of dogs are the same when it comes to their energy levels, not quite true I’m afraid. They vary enormously from your couch potato dogs to your speed freak dogs; it’s the second group this article is going to look at.

There are several different breeds that fit into the ‘high energy’ group of dogs. These are dogs who don’t know when to sit still or rest, dogs that would be on the go literally all day & night given half a chance. Their minds are always thinking & planning their next move & the spooky thing is they’re also thinking about what you’re going to do next! These dogs are generally a step in front of you & guess your every move.

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When people consider welcoming a new puppy into their lives they don’t always think about the security side of things, security for their puppy that is. It’s a legal obligation to ensure that puppies/dogs wear a collar with an identification tag attached to it anyway but it’s also strongly advised to have them microchipped.

Microchipping is a very simple procedure, it was introduced in 1989 & since then many owners have decided to have their canine chums done. One advantage is that your puppy will not need an anaesthetic although some owners do wait until their pup is being spayed/neutered & whilst they’re having the operation they can be microchipped too. My pups have had their microchips done when they’ve had their second routine vaccination but it’s really a personal choice to be honest.

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The mere mention of the word ‘kennels’ & most dog owners would recoil in absolute horror at the thought of their beloved pooch staying in them. Images would be conjured up of rows upon rows of cold, metal cages with no heating or comforts at all, in reality though most kennels are comfortable & friendly places.

These days there are numerous options regarding where to place your canine chum when you go away on your holidays. Actually you don’t even have to place them anywhere if you’d rather not as you can pay for a pet sitter to look after them in your own home. Make sure you use a reputable sitting business, one of the best ways of finding one is word of mouth. Ask around whilst you’re out walking your dog as the best recommendation is from someone who’s already used the pet sitter themselves.

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Puppies love to play & if they could stay awake long enough would play all day long! They learn so much through play & it’s a vital part of their growing up process.

So how can you play with your puppy? Well the secret is to not allow the play sessions to become too rough as the only lesson learnt from this by your puppy is that it’s okay to be rough. Now whilst this might seem a great idea at the moment when your puppy is so small & innocent it probably won’t be so appealing when your puppy’s grown up to be a big, strong adult dog.

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When you think of the beach, you instantly think about the long, hot summer months sitting on the soft sand but when you’re a dog owner it’s usually the winter months you look forward to on the beach.

The winter is a quieter time and the perfect time to enjoy some lovely long walks without the crowds of people. Most beaches accept dogs during the winter but obviously still ensure you check first prior to turning up with your excited pooches as there are still a handful of beaches that don’t allow dogs at all.

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Many people assume that simply because most animals have a lovely thick coat of fur they’ll naturally keep warm throughout the colder winter months. Now whilst this might be true in some wild animals our little domesticated canines could do with some assistance in the cold.
I’m not saying to go to such lengths as electric blankets and hot water bottles just applying some simple commonsense will help.

A lot of us view clothing for dogs as silly and totally unnecessary but when it comes to the cold it can prove to be very necessary and especially so for the shorter haired breeds of dog and of course the older canines. When it’s cold pop a lovely warm knitted sweater on your dog to keep the chill away from them, you can even purchase some little boots for dogs if you feel your dog would benefit from wearing them. Footwear would be handy in heavy frosts or in the snow to stop your dog’s paws from becoming icy.

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It’s the time of year that most dog owners dread as just around the corner is the night that leaves many dogs quivering with fear and their owners fuming at the sound of all the bangs and whistles. There’s nothing worse than seeing your beloved canine chum literally shaking with fright and trying to seek out a hiding place for a few hours away from all the commotion.

There are a few options when it comes to offering your dog some help. The first step is to try and ignore your dog’s fear as the more you fuss the more you’re simply telling your dog that he/she is right to be concerned. If they’re looking for a cosy retreat then let them look, don’t try and stop them from finding a place that they can feel safe in.
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Puppies are like little wind-up toys, they go on and on until they eventually run out of steam! The question is should you let them just carry on zooming everywhere or should you try to stop them?

The answer to this question depends greatly on the breed of the puppy. The giant breeds of the canine world should really receive restricted exercise until they reach at least 18 months old; the bigger dogs are prone to orthopaedic problems and for this reason, it is best to wait until their bones have fully formed.
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When it comes to communicating their emotions, puppies and dogs win paws down throughout the animal kingdom for their vast array of sounds. Barking is the most common noise associated with our canine companions and this in itself can mean so many different things.

Each time your dog barks it’s trying to relay a message across to you so instead of asking your dog to be quiet instantly try and decipher the reasoning behind the bark, sometimes owners and non-owners are too quick to shout at a dog for barking as it’s seen as an annoyance. Your dog could actually be warning you that there’s a stranger about or that they’ve heard an unfamiliar noise outside that needs to be investigated.
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The beautiful weather is here at last and after a long, cold and endless winter, we are all looking forward to some lovely dry walks with our dogs. There are so many locations to head for that we are spoilt for choice.

The important thing is to always plan ahead; don’t run the risk of being bitterly disappointed upon arrival when you discover dogs aren’t allowed! More and more beaches are now accepting dogs but you’ll probably come across certain rules, some will actually corner off a section purposely for visiting pooches. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing although you may feel restricted at least you can still walk your canine companion on a lovely, sandy beach.
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