There are several benefits that you can get out of a dog collar. First of all, you can have something to hold your dog tag, which is essential just in case your small one starts to wander somewhere without your notice.

Photo: dogsupplies.com

However, dog collars can be potentially dangerous to the health of your pet. Thus, instead of using it, go for a dog harness.

1. You can basically cut off the supply of oxygen of dogs. Dogs, just like humans, have trachea. It’s almost like a hose of a vacuum cleaner, where air can pass through. When you’re going to pull the collar, you are actually restricting the proper flow of air into the lungs of your dog. Subsequently, he may pass out because of the collapse of his trachea, or worse, die because of lack of oxygen.

2. You can injure their neck. Small dogs have extremely delicate necks. When your dog is wearing a collar and starts to pull away, the entire weight of the dog will be on his neck. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if he gets more than just bruises on this body part, potentially suffering from serious back injury.

The Option You Have

That’s why you need a dog harness. For one, the soft harness can distribute the overall weight of your dog across his shoulders; thus, each time he pulls away, his neck doesn’t suffer from any strain, which prevents any injury from occurring. It also comes with a chest belt, which you can easily adjust depending on the size of the dog. Moreover, since the harness doesn’t have to be tied around his neck, there’s no way that you can obstruct the passage of air.

If you’re worrying of losing control over your dog, you can just buy a dog harness that comes together with a leash or a lead. There are plenty of beautiful designs to choose from.

Get rid of your dog collars and go for a quality dog harness instead. Puppia is currently selling the leader in the market with their famous soft harness, made of the finest materials around, such as fine cotton mesh and suede. They don’t only protect, your dog’s neck but they provide your dog with complete comfort throughout your walk. What’s more, there are a variety of patterns to pick - from hip to single colored ones.
 

Aren’t puppies so cute? They are cuddly and happy, energized and just plain bundles of fun. That is until you turn off the lights and go to bed! Then it all begins, and let’s just say, it’s far from the fun stuff. The crying, the whining, it can last for hours, or almost all night long. All you want to do is sleep, which is when you begin to wonder, does the pound offer a refund?

Photo: labrador.retriever-gifts.com

Seriously though, it can be difficult for a new puppy to sleep through the night when you first bring her into her new home. And many owners begin to wonder "why do puppies cry at night?" Well, there can be many reasons. The first step you should take in figuring out this mystery is looking at things from the pup’s perspective. When you turn the lights out, or when it is night time, what is different for the puppy?

The first that comes to mind is the attention. Chances are when you go to sleep someone else isn’t sitting up in your home playing with the puppy in the dark, and for good reason, that could be a little creepy. So, your puppy is probably lonely without the company she has gotten used to through the day. Remember that just because you are tired, does not necessarily mean the puppy is. In fact with all the naps the puppy takes all day, chances are she is ready to run a few more laps around the yard before taking another short nap. Being lonely is something she will have to face, especially if she isn’t sleeping in the same room as you.

The best idea is to get the dog a few toys (two or three at most) to play with for inside her crate if you have one. A large stuffed animal (no buttons for safety sakes) would be a good option for the puppy to cuddle with, but do expect some mess if she ends up chewing it. You can get cuddly toys made specially for dogs, so these would be the best option. Some soft, quiet toys for her to play with at night time would be good to keep her occupied until she is ready to go to sleep.

Other reasons your new puppy might cry could be, she has to go potty (yet again). During the first few weeks, you might want to take her outside a couple of times during the night, so that she can go potty. Do not make any fuss of her at these times, just have her do her business then back to bed. She may also be hungry or thirsty (put some ice cubes in her crate - this will quench the thirst without filling her bladder), or perhaps she doesn’t get enough people time during the day (spend more time with her). Also, she might not be tired enough because she didn’t get enough exercise or mental stimulation during the day. This means you need to walk her more, and spend more time letting her burn off some energy. Teaching her a few tricks and practising them will help stimulate her. If you aren’t going to be home, hire a dog walker or consider doggy daycare.

What it all boils down to is you know your puppy more than anyone else, the best thing to do is try to figure it out and help them adjust to their new situation. Remember, it is not long since she will have been separated from her mother and siblings and brought into a strange environment. With a little thought and some effort, you can all sleep better, without her whining all night long.

Darren has owned, bred and trained dogs for over 20 years. For advice on all aspects of dog ownership, feel free to drop by his Dog Training Advice blog or check out the free resources for dog owners he publishes on Squidoo HERE

What is your puppy eating?

Have you ever taken the time to find out?

Many people think that the food available in stores these days are highly processed and full of a lot of preservatives. You should seek advice from your veterinarian on what is the best food for your pet and also do some research of your own. There are a lot of foods that are available for dogs, but try to find out what really is the best for your puppy. For you to approve a pet food for your puppy it must prove that it can provide sufficient nutrients. The ratio for a dog’s food should be 40 % meat, 50 % vegetables and about 10 % grains or other carbohydrates. You should always ensure that protein sources are high on the list such as chicken, lamb and beef. Grains can be a long term source of energy, fibre and minerals. Grains that can be used and considered good for puppies are rolled oats, barley, millet and brown rice.

Photo: ipetnews.com

Dogs are carnivores by nature but they can survive on a vegetarian diet, however, they would not thrive on it. When purchasing food for your puppies look out for the ones that display high protein and fillers in the ingredients. This is because there is usually a lot more in the fillers than can be seen. One way to ensure your puppy is getting the right ingredients is to prepare the food yourself; it’s quite simple and recipes are available in book stores and internet sources. Preparing food for your pet is much cheaper than purchasing from stores and other pet shops. However it is vital that you are careful and know exactly what you are doing, otherwise you could be doing more harm than good.

One way to know whether you are doing the right thing is to always check the outcome in your pet’s droppings. It should normally be firm and have no traces of mucus or blood. Choose foods that use vitamin E or C as preservatives and avoid those that use chemical preservatives, such as BHT, BHA and Ethoxyquin. Cheap brands of foods are usually not healthy, so choose economy brands instead. Keep in mind that what is not good for you is also not good for your pet. Some people tend to throw sweets and all sorts of foods for the puppy to eat, but bear in mind that it is not good for them.

Just the same as with humans and what we eat, there is not any one brand of dog food that is healthy for all breeds of dogs of different ages and health conditions. Dogs also have food preferences and likes and dislikes, so try to find out which food is best suitable for your pet dog, but make sure it is a healthy one. Your puppy is what they eat, so if you provide them with a healthy and nutritious diet they will live longer with much less suffering, disease or illnesses. Always consider what you feed your pet and you will have a wonderful time with them.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For information on pet supplies, he recommends Seapets, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of Dog Food.