Many people can’t decide which dog makes a better pet-male or female. Which one is the best? It depends on what you’re looking for, for example, if you care about the personality and character of the dog more than anything else, the gender shouldn’t make a huge difference. Your choice will be based solely on how the puppy behaves and acts towards you and other folks when you are looking at the litter.

Photo: lakeshorebulldogs.com

On another level, if you want to find out whether a male dog or a female dog would generally make an overall better pet, then you’ll have to take in other factors, such as the size, temperament, and level of care.

What to Look For When Choosing A Female Dog

Usually, female dogs are relatively smaller in size and warmer in behaviors. There are, however, some male dogs that are just as kind as female dogs. Several dog trainers and breeders recommend a female dog to homes with young children. Some actually believe that there is some type of maternal instinct that exists in female dogs. This is usually described as a quality that makes them amiable and ideal for a household with children.

Never allow feminine problems such as heat cycles and bleeding steer you away from getting a female pet. If you are apprehensive that she will bleed all over your home when that time comes, consider getting her spayed, which is the ideal thing to do anyway. Once she’s spayed, rest assured that she will not bleed a single drop. As far as behavior, female dogs can be just as challenging as male dogs, sometimes even more of a challenge.

What to Look For When Choosing A Male Dog

Male pets are a little more difficult to care for at times than females. Reason being, they are quite good at performing a disappearing act when a nearby female dog is in heat. This can be quite hazardous to the dog as well as create problems for you. Several male dogs have been hurt or even killed when escaping their homes to search for a female in heat. Between moving cars and fights with other male dogs, it makes perfect sense to also have male dogs fixed.

Most male dogs are also very protective over their property, including any of his "stuff" inside your home, his bathroom area, or even a female dog. A male dog usually become very hostile when they think that his property is being taken over by another dog and is willing to fight to defend it.

Also, male dogs also show territorial urination by lifting its leg up as high as possible while urinating. This leg-lifting act is not an issue unless it occurs inside the house.

On the other hand, male dogs have huge amounts of energy and are a lot of fun to play with. Male dogs can be more active and have more fortitude than female dogs. This is probably the reason why male dogs are normally chosen for jobs in law enforcement.

Provided by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - the biggest selection of raised dog bowls online

The first thing you are going to want to do when you are clipping dog nails is to make sure the nails are pliable. The easiest way to do this is to clip the dog nails after your dog has had a bath. You should give your dog a bath each month, after which time, you should commence clipping his nails.

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Just like a human, dog nails grow until they are cut or break off. Dog nails can dig into furniture, your skin and even the skin of your dog. They can also, if uncut, become ingrown and infected. This would entail the nail actually growing so long that it grows back into the skin.

You need to have good dog nail clippers in order to do a proper job. This is not the time to skimp. You can get good clippers by looking at a variety of different places online. Take a look at what is available and get a decent pair of dog nail clippers made for the breed of your dog. One option is to ask your vet as to the best type of clippers for your dog.

If you get cheap dog nail clippers, chances are that they will not last a long time and you will be stuck paying for better quality again. Instead of throwing good money after bad, why not get the best quality dog nail clippers you can get from the beginning?

You are going to have to hold the dog still when you clip his nails or else you can hurt him. Take his paw firmly in your hand while you have him on your lap. If he is a big dog, it might be necessary to have someone else hold him the first few times. Hold the paw with one hand and use the other hand to clip the nails. Do not clip too far, just take off the very tips. This should only take a few minutes.

It will be easier to clip the front paws than the back and as those are more important when it comes to your furniture and even yourself, those are the first you should clip. If your dog runs from you, do not make a big deal out of the clipping. Try to do a little more each time. Be firm, but do not yell or frighten the dog or else he will run every single time you take out the clippers.

Most dogs will begrudgingly put up with having their nails clipped. A few dogs like it but most dislike it. If you talk in a soothing tone to him while you are clipping his nails, he will most likely be more cooperative when it comes to nail clipping time. Again, if you embark on this task after the bath, you should have a much more positive results.

Clipping dog nails takes practice. The more you do this task, however, the better you will get at clipping the nails of your dog and the easier it will get for your dog as well.

To learn more great tips about clipping dog nails and other great puppy related information take a look at http://www.takingcareofapuppy.com/ 

For some dog owners, bathing their pet can be very challenging, especially if they have to hunt the dog down when it is bath time. A regular bath is an important way to help prevent skin problems and keep the dog smelling and looking great. Comb and brush your dog’s hair prior to bathing to remove any loose hair, tangles, dirt and other sediments.

Photo: salukiclub.org

Before bathing your dog, gather up all the necessary bath supplies so they are within reach. If you place your dog in a bathtub full of running water and then have to go look for bath items you have forgotten such as shampoo or towels, the dog could escape and shake water around the house. It is far easier and safer to fill the tub ahead of time, gather up everything you need, have these within arms reach and then find your dog.

Some of the supplies necessary to bathe your dog include shampoo; brush or comb; bath mat or rubber mat for the dog to stand on in the sink or tub; hair conditioner; dry fluffy towels; sponge; large plastic cup or hand held sprayer; and a soft bristled brush. You may need to have a nylon leash and collar on the dog if it is difficult to keep in the tub or tries to bolt. Be sure to wear old clothes, a rubber apron for protection or even a bathing suite because chances are you will end up almost as wet as the dog. Keep all the required supplies are within arms reach.

At some point, many dog owners end up having to deal with a dog that rolled in something terribly smelly and unpleasant or a skunk sprayed their pet. If you live in an area where there are skunks or you like to be prepared in case of an emergency, there are several de-skunking preparations available at pet supply stores or often at your local veterinarians. An old remedy that many people swear by is pouring tomato juice over the dog’s fur if sprayed by a skunk. Leave this on the dogs coat for a few minutes, rinse and continue doing this as required. Dogs with white fur sometimes end up with temporary pink or orangey tinged coats. A little dog shampoo, one-quarter cup of baking soda and a quart of hydrogen peroxide also works well but may require several shampoos.

To avoid vet bills and to keep your dog as healthy as possible, clean your pet’s teeth, ears, eyes and watch for any signs of injury or infection. Some of the products or tools required for monthly grooming include:

• Moisturizing or canine eye drops
• Cotton balls
• Tear stain remover if necessary
• Dog toothpaste and toothbrush
• Mineral oil, ear wash or ear powder
• Small scissors and/or tweezers
• Heavy gauze or rags if anal glands require emptying

Along with these supplies, always keep a dog first aid kit handy in case of emergency.

For more information recommended by Kelly Marshall, see these recent articles Chihuahua Dog Breed and Dental Care for Your Dog or Cat.

Grooming removes dust, dead skin, loose hairs, grass seeds and tangles. You can help to keep your dog clean and reduce shedding with frequent brushing. It is also necessary to keep the beautiful pure white coat from matting. This can begin when dogs are two to four months old.

Photo: bprogrooming.com

If grooming is neglected, hair knots frequently form, leading to skin ailments. It is best to establish this habit early in a dog’s life so that becomes part of its daily routine. This also helps with assessing your dog’s health and watching for any changes in his condition will help keep him happy and healthy.

A thorough oral exam of your dog’s mouth and teeth should be part of your regular routine. After a professional cleaning, the teeth and gums may be maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps.

The earlier you start and younger the dog, the more comfortable he will be, with the sessions. Regular grooming at home, particularly with long-coated dog, is far better than a trip to the doggy parlor when your pets coat becomes heavily matted. Your pet will learn to love a daily brush and you’ll save on trips to the grooming salon.

When dogs are properly cared for from the time they are puppies, they will grow to live a good healthy life. A shiny coat is the result of your dog being healthy. And we all want a healthy dog, right.

Richard Heap is a writer interested in how to clean dog urine and writes for http://www.how-to-clean-dog-urine.info
 

Going into a big box pet care store and looking for dog grooming tools can be overwhelming. There are so many choices. What dog grooming tools do you really need?

Photo: orcharddesign.net

The basics that every dog owner needs are relatively few. Your first step is to get a shoebox, or basket to hold all the tools and stash them conveniently in one place. A portable makeup box with a closeable lid makes an ideal container.

Nail clippers are a necessary tool. Get the size that fits your dog. A Great Dane needs larger and stronger clippers than a miniature poodle because their nails are bigger. That just makes common sense. Some clippers come with a guard that prevents you from clipping too much nail at one time and exposing the quick. The quick is a small blood vessel that runs down the nail but not to the end of the nail. In addition to the nail clippers, styptic powder should be in your dog grooming tool kit. Styptic powder very quickly stops the bleeding if you’ve cut into the nail quick.

Tweezers are useful for removing stickers, debris and splinters. Dip them in alcohol before and after each use to sanitize the tweezers. A small bottle of alcohol should be in your kit for this purpose.

Small blunt ended scissors can cut out mats, tangles, and plant material, such as thorns, from your dog’s coat. Manicure scissors could be used but you have to be careful with their sharp pointed ends. If your dog moves suddenly you could end up jabbing him.

A soft brush and a wire brush are both necessary. The wire brush detangles long fur and rakes out dead hair. The soft brush is used to finish the coat after the wire brush. Even if your dog is short haired like a Jack Russell Terrier he will still need brushing to remove dead hair, dust, and dirt from his coat.

Most dogs need their teeth brushed several times a week so a good dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste are in order. Don’t use people toothpaste, it’s not meant to be swallowed and that’s what your dog will do. Dog toothpaste comes in flavors so dogs love the taste. It contains enzymes that help break down tarter and freshen breath.

Sterile eye cleaner should be included with your dog grooming tools to clean your puppy pal’s eyes and flush them out if they’ve got that green gooey gunk.

Ear cleaner is a must if you have a long eared dog but is useful for any dog.

Cotton pads to wipe out the ears and eyes after they’ve been cleaned are useful. Use a clean pad for each eye. Squares of old terry cloth wash clothes can be used to clean the ears, but don’t use them on the eyes, they’re too rough and may end up scratching the eye.

Once a year go through your dog grooming tools and see what needs to be replaced. Dump eye cleaner, ear cleaner, and toothpaste that are more than six months old.

Find more about dog grooming tools. Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books and the novel "Over Time." She is the proud companion of Rose, the Irish Setter, and Kate the English Springer Spaniel. Read Rose and Kate’s blog.