Are Miniature Schnauzers Suitable For A Family With Kids?

Posted October 11th, 2011 by David Webb

Whenever families make the noble choice of welcoming a pet into their home, more often than not, their initial concern is “will this dog get along well with the kids?” Well based on the common nature of dogs, larger breeds tend to be more tolerant of children rather than smaller breeds. But of course there are always exceptions to the rule.

In the past, Miniature Schnauzers were originally bred as watchdogs and ratters. They would easily rid yards of rodents; at times they were even brought on hunting trips. But being that dogs of this breed are so incredibly intelligent, they slowly made their way into the homes of many as respectable pet companions.

Due to their energy and enthusiasm, Miniature Schnauzers have great potential for being good playmates to children. However, on the other hand, they have big personalities and can be quite stubborn as well just like most dogs of toy breeds are.

In such cases, your best bet to help your kids and Schnauzer develop a good relationship is to make sure that both respect each other’s boundaries. Socialize your Miniature Schnauzer; it’s always better to start young. Get it used to new sights, sounds, places, other dogs, and people. As for the kids, make sure to let them know that dogs have feelings and tempers too.

Always make sure that smaller kids remain supervised in the presence of your Miniature Schnauzer. Once dogs get used to the presence of their little companions, things can be a breeze. The problem is, sometimes children don’t understand enough about their pet companions to be able to respect their boundaries. Your Miniature Schnauzer may get a bit confused if children in the house playfully hit it with their toys. Dogs don’t like it either when others try to take away their chew toys while they’re using it.

Once you go by these rules, you can expect your kids and Miniature Schnauzer to develop a distinct bond. Once Miniature Schnauzers get comfortable enough in their environment, they can be extremely affectionate. So to answer that burning question at the beginning of this article, yes, Miniature Schnauzers can be good with respectful and considerate children.

Whenever welcoming a pet into the family, dog breeds shouldn’t play that big a part in your selection. What’s more important is taking the time to make sure that the adjustment process goes by smoothly. As always, socialization is key.

Lea Mullins, a long time dog enthusiast, expresses her opinion about whether, Miniature Schnauzers are suitable for a family with kids. For more information on different dog breeds, please visit TrainPetDog.com.



Title : Maltese Hair Styles

Posted October 8th, 2011 by David Webb

When you are bringing home a Maltese, you must remember that you need to get involved in a number of dog grooming sessions. This involves bathing, combing and styling your Maltese coat.
It would be a rather beauty parlor experience with your dog. However, it is quite natural to groom your Maltese coat since they are floor length and one of the most beautiful features your dog comes with. And it is your duty as a dog owner to ensure that you maintain it through different dog grooming sessions.

Before you set about styling or grooming your Maltese coat, you need to plan it well. You can hire a professional groomer. However, if you can do it yourself, nothing like it. Remember that while you are grooming your Maltese you will be spending quality time with him. This will increase the bonding between you and your Maltese.

The first step of your dog grooming session is to keep the tresses silky and soft. If you don’t do it properly, you may end up with a lot of scraggy hair. Remember that most of their bulk comes from the thick white long hair. Therefore, you need to brush and comb your Maltese coat at least once a day. This will be the first step to dog grooming. You can do this with an open-spaced pin brush. Avoid brushes that have ball pins. Do not brush the entire length together. There might be hidden tangles inside and you might end up hurting your dog a lot. Take one layer after another and slowly untangle them in the process.

If your Maltese coat has developed matts, first work on them with your fingers. You can also apply de-tanglers, these are conditioning sprays that will easily loosen your dog’s hair and keep them healthy as well. Also bathe your dog once a week with a good quality dog shampoo and conditioner. Gently blow dry your Maltese hair after bathing is done.
Maltese dogs are famous for their different hair styles. You will notice styled Maltese mostly at a dog show. Here are a few hair styles that you can style your dog at home:

Cutting it short

The first step is to keep your dog cool. Then you can try to cut your dog hair short. This will also ensure that your dog’s coat does not matt. Comb back the hair on top of his head and trim them between the ears, at the top of the neck area. Gently shave the excess hair around his eyes. Using clippers trim the hair on his sides and back. This will leave outer fur on his legs long giving a long-legged effect. You can shave the inside and underside of his legs as well.

Trimming it long

If you want your Maltese to have a long hair, you still need to trim if often to keep it clean and neat. With your usual styling that includes regular brushing, bathing and blow-drying, you can prevent tangling and matting. Simply trim the hair on the top of his head so that he has a better vision. Gently trim the lower hem of his coat. Then brush downwards to create a long cascading look.

Little girl accessories

You can dress up your Maltese with ribbons, bows and barrettes. This will give a pretty feminine look to your dog. Comb the top part of your dog hair and secure it with a small soft rubber band. This will give a high ponytail look and also keep the hair away from her eyes. You can also attach a soft bow or a tie a ribbon around it. With small barrettes you can fasten the hair on both sides of her head.

Camille Goldin, a dog lover, has discussed about the different hair styles of a Maltese dog. Visit TrainPetDog.com to learn more about Dog Grooming.


How to monitor my pet when I am not at home?

Posted October 6th, 2011 by David Webb

Monitoring your pet can be a daunting task when you are not at home. You cannot put them in neighbors house too, as it will be a problem for them too. Usually you put all the edible stuffs with
your pet and you hope that he will eat and relax when you are out. But, still in the back of your mind you have a feeling that what must be he doing, is he okay and all. Isn’t it great if you have
CCTVs installed in your home and you can see from a tablet computer what your pet is doing. Well, this sounds pretty easy but installing a CCTV is a pretty costly affair especially when you need to monitor your pet. So what needs to be done for such cases. The solution is quite easy, Gotocamera.com. GotoCamera is a global service that helps you to monitor your home, your family, and your business, using any off-the-shelf webcam. That’s right you just need to have a computer and a webcam and you are sorted.

The working is pretty simple, you have to download and install the client software known as Gotocamera. Turn on your computer and the webcam. That’s it. The videos will be recorded and saved in the website Gotocamera.com. You don’t have to buy any additional hardware for this. The best part is that you can see monitor your pet by using your smart phone. You don’t need to carry even a laptop or an Ipad. You must be wondering what will be the cost of electricity consumption as your computer is turned on. Well, you can also turn off your monitor which will save electricity considerably.

Gotocamera just needs your webcam to be turned on.This service is absolutely free for the basic package. Also, the paid versions are very affordable. The service is very secure that means all your
recorded stuff will be with you all the time. Also, you don’t need to be a geek for using this as it can be used by anyone.

Other uses of Gotocamera:

1) As a nanny cam: Gotocamera can be used as a nanny cam to keep an eye on your children.

2) Elder care: It can be used as for taking care of your parents and relatives.

3) Theft protection: You can monitor the stuffs anytime from anywhere.

4) Watch over your pets: You can have an eye on your pets while you are away.

5) Vacation cam: When you are away you definitely need a tool to watch your house and all. Gotocamera comes handy for this purpose.

Gotocamera is a nice way of turning your webcam in to a full fledged security camera. It is cheaper than any traditional CCTV camera. Also, it consumes less power. You don’t have to buy an
additional hardware for the same. The basic service is free. However, you can also go for a premium service as per your requirements.


Bedding for your Golden Retriever

Posted October 1st, 2011 by David Webb

Among the different breeds of man’s best friend, the Golden Retriever is on top of the list and considered as America’s favorite blonde, next to Marilyn Monroe, of course. These dogs are energetic, playful, docile and loving. Aside from spending time with you, having a good night’s sleep is important to your dog and having the proper bedding is a top priority. Your pet loves to be in a cozy spot that brings memories of his comfort zone as a puppy. Keep in mind that he might be missing his mom and the rest of his litter. Making him comfortable and happy in his new surroundings would greatly help form a stronger bond between the two of you.

First order of business is deciding whether you want your pet to stay indoors with you or to have his own doghouse in the yard. Consider that if he is indoors you will have to toilet train him, unless you want to wake up in the middle of the night to take him to the bathroom. There should also be food and water available for him near his sleeping area, so he can help himself during the night. Taking him on a walk an hour after he has eaten is recommended. If you choose to have him stay outside, it is important to provide him a comfortable doghouse to guard against harsh weather conditions. A comfortable sleeping area ensures a happy dog and owner.

Second, choosing the right bedding is not as difficult as it seems. If your pet is staying indoors, you can provide your Golden Retriever beddings made of natural fibers like wool which absorb moisture and keep your dog warm; a soft towel or blanket would be ideal. There is no need to buy expensive materials that can be chewed off by your dog and need to be replaced every so often. However, to prevent your dog from chewing his beddings, create a distraction. There are chew toys available that can help resolve this issue. If you are in the middle of potty training, do not have your dog sleep near the potty. Just like humans, this makes your pet uncomfortable.

If your pet is staying outdoors, you can put straw and wooden chips that your pet can play with and use as bedding. Furnish the dog house with a quilt to make sure that he is warm enough during cold weather. Put in a toy or two to keep him from getting lonely because he needs to stay outside through the night without company.

If you choose to purchase beddings for your dog, there are a multitude of products with various specialized features available that can cost anywhere from a few bucks to a few hundred dollars.

Here are some of the top brands loved by Golden Retrievers and their owners:

Coolaroo Pet Bed is made of unique Coolaroo knitted fabric with an elevated design to keep your best friend cool and comfortable during hot summer days. Ideal for lounging, it is flea and mite resistant, durable and easy to clean. It comes in green, gray and terracotta, and is priced at $22.49 – $43.97.

Midwest Quiet Time Pet Beds are ideal for use in doghouses or when traveling. It keeps pets cool enough during summer and warm in the winter. It is available in 7 sizes with different fabrics and colors, ideal for concealing shedding. It comes in Fleece, Cinnamon Plush Fur and Gray Plush Fur. It’s completely machine-washable with polyester-filled bolsters and poly-cotton base. Price ranges from $7.75 – $62.47.

Bowsers Double Donut Dog Bed retailed at around $167.95, takes the donut dog bed to a new level with its high-quality, elegant sofa bed with over-stuffed bottom cushion and top bolster. The micro velvet, zippered cover is machine washable and comes in over 30 colors and designs from floral to animal print. Your Golden Retriever will not take over your sofa ever again!

Having your Golden Retriever sleep in a comfortable bed guarantees a happy camper. However, you should also keep in mind that it is important to spend quality time with your dog. Providing various activities like running and playing in the park ensures a great bond between the two of you and keeps you and your best friend healthy. Golden Retrievers are wonderful family members and companions. Choosing the right bedding sends you to the right path.



Camille Goldin suggests how to select the right bed for your Golden Retriever. Visit TrainPetDog.com to learn more about your Dog.


Consistency – The key to Maltese Training

Posted September 29th, 2011 by David Webb

Maltese training has gained the reputation to be quite difficult, which is why consistency is key, especially with a dog as sensitive as this. In order to have a polite dog in the future, your dog training should consist of a workable time table and sensible measures, so as not to treat the dog harshly. Maltese are not dogs which take yelling and cruelty well. Doing such acts will be counter-active to you and you may end up with a bad dog with a bad behavior. This is why it is recommended to have proper Maltese training to have a well mannered companion.

To have consistent dog training for your small dog, you must keep a schedule and follow it. Because of their small-sized stomachs and bladders, your Maltese training should consist of regular eating and walking sessions. After you feed your pup, take it for a 10-20 minute walk. Since you already have him outside, this would be a good opportunity to go potty, as taking it outside to do this is a real challenge. Keeping the dog in a crate will also be beneficial, especially when you are not around. Most of the time though, you need to be there to take it for a walk.

Dog training your Maltese needs consistency. This cannot be stressed out enough. If you don’t want your Maltese pup to enter your room, don’t let it in there. Confusion is what you’ll definitely expect if you’re going to be inconsistent with your Maltese training methods. Because they are primarily small, Maltese have the tendency to go up on furniture by itself. It might be tempting to place him on the couch, chair, table or any elevated surface. If you do it, you’re telling the dog that such place is not designed for him. This is also the same for jumping. If you don’t want your Maltese to jump on people, stop him from doing such. You’ll see how effectively it will work. Simply warn your dog and say no whenever he jumps at someone. Eventually, the dog will stop doing it as it continues to understand that “no” means no.

To you, the Maltese you are currently dog training is small and puny. To the Maltese, you, the owner, are Shaquille O’Neal on leather uppers. This places you on the stool of authority – and this could be intimidating for Maltese training. That is why you should refrain from yelling, as there is no productive outcome for it. As a matter of fact, the effects might be detrimental for you. As said above, saying “no” would be enough most of the time. Since you’re dealing with puppies that don’t have a clear idea of right and wrong, yelling to it will simply be something that’s scary. This will only make it anxious, confused and ill-mannered in the end. Nurture and care for your dog’s feelings with consistency, and it will be a loyal and obedient dog to you until the end. Remember: dog training consistency in the beginning will go a long, long way.

Camille Goldin, shares information on why consistency is the key to Maltese Training. Visit TrainPetDog.com to learn more about Dog Training