I practice bottle feeding my puppy when I brought him back home at eight weeks old. As milk consists of sufficient nutrient for puppy, I practice bottle feeding her once daily.

Photo: leerburg.com

What type of bottle should you use when bottle feeding your puppy? There are bottles made for baby, but I use normal baby bottles to feed my puppy. Which type is better? I would say as long as your puppy able to get good sucking then any bottles will be fine!

How to choose the correct bottle to feed your puppy? First, you will need to check on the hole size in the nipple. How to know whether the hole in the nipple is appropriate to feed your puppy? The correct size of the nipple that will be used must be able to drips milk when you gently squeeze the bottle while turning down the bottle. If you are getting a bottle which will only drip the milk when you squeeze the bottle firmly, then you are using the wrong size. Just imagine how your puppy is going to suck the milk? Puppy will feel discourage and tire when nursing and will end up give up sucking!

When you bottle feed your puppy, you need to ensure that boiling water are used! Let the water get cold before feeding her. Taste the temperature of the water before feeding her. Then, you will need to burp your puppy after feeding her. Bottle feed your puppy is exactly the same like feeding your babies!

Please do not rush when bottle feed your puppy. Never let the milk running out from her mouth. If these happen, you are most probably bottle feeding her too fast. There might be bubbles around her mouth but not milk flowing out from his mouth.

Lastly, make sure the milk only come out when you gently squeeze the bottle. Ensure that the milk do not drip out when you hold the bottle upside down as the flowing out of milk continuously will allow the milk flowing into the puppy’s lung. This will contribute to pneumonia or if serious might cause death.

So, when bottle feed your puppy make sure you do it properly.
Incredible dog lovers, Danielle Chua, read on http://www.dogcareschool.com

Are you ready to bring home your own American Mastiff puppy? You probably already know that they are just about the most adorable creatures on the face of the earth. If you are anxious to pick one out for your own family pet, then it is time to find a good place to buy one.

Photo: englishmastiff2.com

The first thing that comes to mind when looking for a mastiff puppy is to look for a local breeder. Looking in the newspaper or the yellow pages is always an option, but don’t limit yourself to just that. Try and find out when a dog show will be held in your area. Attend, and talk to any mastiff owners or breeders than you can while you are there. Don’t worry about "bothering" them, because most of these people love to talk about their passion: mastiffs!

When talking to mastiff owners, go ahead and ask for recommendations for a good breeder. You will probably find some insights just by asking. If an owner suggests a breeder who is out of the area, even in another state, don’t write them off immediately. A great dog will be your trusty companion for years, and it is worth traveling to pick your puppy up!

When talking directly to breeders, don’t worry too much about asking just the "right" questions. Just strike up a conversation and let them know that you are looking for a mastiff puppy. A breeder who is truly enthusiastic about what they do will most likely take the lead in your conversation. Even a few minutes talking with a breeder should give you a good sense of his or her quality. You should be looking for someone who is truly excited about the breed. A breeder who loves mastiffs is most likely to get you a healthy, happy puppy who will grow into a great dog one day.

If you find that the breeder seems to have just as many (or more) questions for you as you have for him, that is a great sign! It means that the breeder has a real concern for the welfare of his dogs. With a breeder like this, you will not only get a wonderful pup, you will also get support and guidance for the rest of the dog’s life.

There are a few important questions you will want to be sure and ask during your conversation with any American Mastiff breeder. When is the next litter of pups expected? How old will the puppy be when you can take him home? Will you have to travel to pick up the puppy?

There is a lot to think about, but with a little preparation you can get an adorable American Mastiff puppy of your own!

The Cocker Spaniel, also known as the American Cocker Spaniel, originated from cautious reproduction of the English Cocker Spaniels in the United States.

Photo: zimfamilycockers.com

The name "Cocker" comes from the game bird named woodcock. These spaniels were used to flush these game birds which they did particularly well. Recently these Cocker Spaniels are mostly found in dog shows and as family pets. They also serve admirably as retrievers, hunters, and agility and tracking dog athletes. They have above average intelligence in the dog world. Cocker Spaniels are an all around great dog with a happy and loyal demeanor. Socialization at an early is a positive thing as they tend to be a little shy if they are not socialized. Like many dogs they pick up the emotions of their humans and strangely enough are not all that fond of grumpy people. They do have a high energy level so if you are not prepared to active with your dog this might not be the breed for. They respond well to various types of training and are generally good with children.

Great Info

Alternative names: Cocker Spaniel / American Cocker Spaniel
Country of origin: England; the American Cocker Spaniel is smaller than the English Cocker Spaniel and has a different conformation. Both types make good pets.
Appearance: Compact, with a short back
Power: the usual weight is 15-30 pounds (7-14 kg.)
Stature: the usual height is 15 ½ inches (38cm.)
Coat: Profuse, silky, feathered, medium-length
Color: Buff, black, and other solid colors, black-and-tan, or parti-colored variations of these
Head: Rounded head chiseled with an abrupt stop
Teeth: Strong teeth causing a scissor bite
Eyes: Rounded and straightforward
Ears: Very long hanging ears
Tail: Usually docked
Limbs: Parallel, straight, strong
Feet: Compact, large, round and firm with horny pads
Life span: About 12 years

Temperament

Bold and keen to work. The American Cocker Spaniel is equally suited to both as a gundog or as a household pet. They are cheerful, sweet, and sensitive in nature. There is a Cocker Spaniel named Buddy that goes to our dog park and he is just the happiest little dog and he does not have a mean bone in his body. There is not a single moment at the park that his tail is not going a mile a minute. Cocker Spaniels respond to training and are eager to please their master.

Health Challenges

The Main concerns in American Cocker Spaniels are:

Eye Problems including glaucoma and cataracts
Hip dysplasia
IMHA or Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia

Remedy

Adequate daily exercise is important as they have a lot of stamina. A walk in the morning and the evening is adequate and you can mix it up with a trip to the dog park for a game of fetch. They have a good bit on energy so this is kind of important and a lot of speed. Playing a game of fetch with a Chuck it Tennis Ball thrower is a fantastic way to bleed off some of this energy.

Famous Cockers

Ch. My Own Brucie, won two Westminster Kennel Club Dog Shows in 1940, 1941.
Checkers owned by Pat Nixon and Richard Nixon
Lucky Bundy from Married… with Children
Solomon and Sophie, pets of Oprah Winfrey
Lady from Lady and the Tramp
The original Coppertone ad.
Cosby and Sophie, beloved Cockers of HRH A.E. Rose
Whitey Hoover appearing in several Tim Hortons testimonials

A condition which can cause great pain to your dog when it urinates or goes about it business as normal is prostatitis. Continue reading this article below to find out more about prostatitis and what you can do to cure it in case your dog is infected by it.

Photo: JupiterImages

The symptoms of prostatitis or prostate gland infections are the following. If you notice any of these in your dog it is suggested that you visit the vet:

1. The dog may take shorter strides and have stiff back legs.
2. The dog may walk with an arched back
3. There may be blood in the dog’s urine
4. The dog passes urine in short intermittent spurts and it is often painful.
5. There may be a lack of appetite and the dog may have fever.
6. Condition only occurs in male dogs.

Infection and inflammation in the prostate gland causes this condition. The prostate gland is situated near the urethra, which is the tube inside the penis which the dog uses to urinate through, and it is small and spherical in shape. Its function is to produce fluids to carry and feed sperm during the dogs mating process.

The increased size of the gland causes the urethra tube to have a smaller opening which in turn causes pain to the dog while it urinates and which is why it urinates in short intermittent spurts.

When you take your dog to the vet they may start off by discussing the symptoms that you noticed in your dog. After this, they will probably check the temperature of the dog to check its fever. If the vet then suspects your dog to infected by prostate gland infections they will need to confirm this by feeling the enlarged prostate gland. They will do this with their fingers through the anus.

After this is done and it is confirmed that the dog is in fact infected by prostate gland infections the vet will treat the dog with a simple course of anti inflammatory, antibiotics and hormone injections.

In rare cases the dog may be infected with reoccurring prostatitis. If this is the case with your dog a castration may be advisable this will result in the prostate gland shrinking and thus there will be a decreased risk of infection.

In some cases even after castration and treatment the infection may have already travelled up to the dogs backbones. This will cause a condition known as discopondilitis and will be needed to be treated separately.

Boston terriers have been known to develop behavior problems dealing with separation anxiety.

So what exactly is separation anxiety?

Separation Anxiety is an anxiety disorder characterized by a state of extreme panic induced from the dog’s separation or detachment from his owners.

Photo: JupiterImages

So to put simply, when you leave the house, your Boston terrier launches into a state of nervous anxiety which escalates exceedingly quick.

Boston terriers are social animals and need plenty of companionship and social interaction to keep them happy and pleased. No Boston terrier likes to be left alone for prolonged amounts of time, but some handle it a lot worse than others.

The number 1 cause of separation anxiety for Boston terriers is neglect. If you are gone a lot more than you are there in your Boston terrier’s life, separation anxiety is pretty much unavoidable. Your Boston terrier requires your companionship, affection, and care to be pleased and satisfied.

Symptoms of separation anxiety are pretty distinguishing. Your Boston terrier will generally determine when you are going to leave (he’ll hear your keys jingling, he’ll see you putting on your coat, etc) and will get very anxious. He might follow you from room to room, whining, shaking, and weeping. Some Boston terriers even become aggressive trying to stop their owners from leaving.

Once you have left, the anxious behavior will quickly worsen and normally will peak within a half an hour. He might bark endlessly, scratch and dig at the windows and doors, chew inappropriate objects, and even urinate or defecate inside the house. In intense cases, he may even self-mutilate by licking or chewing his skin until it has become raw, or pulling out his fur.

Then when you return, he will be overly excited, and will bounce around you in a frenzy of delight for a drawn-out period of time (more than the usual thirty seconds of a pleased, well-balanced Boston terrier.)

This lengthy greeting is a source of some misinterpretation. Without understanding that such a greeting actually stands for the presence of a psychological disorder, a lot of owners actually encourage their Boston to get more and more worked up upon their return (by firing up their Boston’s excitement, encouraging him to bounce around, and so forth.)

Whenever you are doing this with your Boston, you should really stop. I know that it can be tempting and very easy to do, and it seems harmless - but in actuality, you are just supporting her belief that your return is the greatest moment of the day. So he is as happy as can be when you return, but when it’s time for you to leave again, his happiness at your presence is under threat, and he gets even more distressed when you leave.

A person’s dog might not like to eat the same type of food every day or every week. He might wish to eat something different from the daily commercial dog food that he might be getting from his owner. Occasionally, he might be getting some nutritious dog food, but the owner of the dog should think about the improvement of the dog’s diet. Several types of natural dog food are found in the market. A person can buy the best natural dog food for his pet if he spends some time.

You should be aware of the fact that a normal dog’s food should comprise of a minimum baseline of 40% protein along with no greater than 30% fiber and 30% starch. When you select a natural dog food try to choose one having this ingredient ratio. Otherwise one having a bigger ratio of protein is also acceptable. Make sure that the first ingredients in the label are not meat by-products. They should be chicken or lamb.

Contrary to popular belief, vegetarian diets can be beneficial for dogs. This is particularly true if your dog has a meat allergy or sensitivity, or if you are opposed to giving your dog meat. It’s true that dogs need protein, but it doesn’t have to be animal-based protein. Preservatives are necessary to keep food safe, but they don’t have to be artificial ingredients that are dangerous and may be linked to cancer. Natural preservatives like Vitamins E and C are a lot healthier for your dog.

Pick premium dog food as your dog’s food. Dog foods like Lifes Abundance food are prepared by making use of fresh, wholesome ingredients. These are full of nutrients and they contain high quality proteins and no by-products. They also do not have grains which are difficult to digest and grain products like corn, wheat, gluten, soy etc. The presence of artificial flavors, colors, sugars and chemical preservatives should be looked into while selecting a good dog food.

The cheapest ingredients are rarely the healthiest ones. So go holistic. They are 100% natural and 100% nutritious. They always contain human-grade ingredients. After all, if you wouldn’t eat it, your dog probably shouldn’t eat it either.

It can be time-consuming, but consider making dog food at home. Recipes and meal plans are readily available on the Internet. Talk to your vet first to make sure that your planned diet will be adequate for your dog, but keep in mind that most veterinarians aren’t experts in animal nutrition so they may not know. They may err on the side of caution and recommend commercial dog foods, which can actually be very unwholesome for your dog. Seek your vet’s advice anyway, to make sure that the nutritional needs of your canine friend are met.

It’s important that anytime you change your dog’s diet, you do it gradually. Doing so is easier on the dog’s digestive system and minimizes adverse reactions to the new food. Try utilizing the following algorithm to introduce new foods. The proportion of new food to old food should be incrementally 1/4, 1/3, 2/3, 3/4, and finally, allow several days to pass between changing the proportion, at least 5 days. Making the shift from the old food to the new should not take much longer than one month.

Beaucerons are loyal protective herding dogs. They are bred and known primarily for being sheep dogs in France and the surrounding area. A typical Beauceron adult stands about twenty-seven inches tall and weighs between seventy and eighty pounds. The coat of a Beauceron is medium in length and it is coarse to the touch. Beaucerons are usually black and tan in color with reddish fur on their legs and feet. The Beauceron breed resembles the Doberman, but has a longer tail and double dew claws.

Photo: beaucerons.fr

Beauceron puppies are going to be on the rambunctious side for sure. Beauceron pups are going to do a lot of jumping, running, and chewing. Adult Beaucerons will display much the same behavior if they are not properly exercised and engaged on a regular basis. This breed has energy and stamina that seem to go on forever, and a keen instinct to make its owner happy. It takes a special owner, hopefully with a herd of sheep and a few acres, to develop a relationship with a Beauceron that is mutually beneficial to both owner and dog.

Beaucerons are not going to fit the roll of a typical family dog very well. It is also a rare and expensive breed outside of France and the surrounding area. In addition to needing plenty of exercise and interaction, the Beauceron breed often has strong instincts to chase catch and kill other animals such as cats or squirrels. While Beaucerons are very loyal to their owners, their herding tendencies can lead to biting or nipping incidents involving children or adults that are on the move.

The Beauceron breed of dog is spirited, independent, and hard working. Compared to most breeds, Beaucerons are easily trained but they are difficult to stay ahead of in the owner-dog relationship. A Beauceron is a smart dog and very effective at herding and guarding, but it may challenge its owners to continually prove who the lead dog is. In addition to their herding and guarding skills, Beaucerons were used to send messages in time of war and they were also used as hog hunting dogs.

Provided the right surroundings, owner, and opportunity, a Beauceron can make the ideal pet. If you are interested in a Beauceron or other dogs for sale, make sure to research temperament, size, and health to come up with the best match possible for you, your family, and your dog.

About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy, a leading provider of puppies for sale.