If your a Yorkshire Terrier owner, or if you want to be, you’re not alone. The AKC (American Kennel Club) tracks which purebreds are the most popular dog breeds. The Yorkie, as it’s affectionately known by Yorkshire Terrier enthusiasts, has been climbing the list for several years, and was ranked as the #2 most popular dog in America for 2006.
There is a time and place for just about everything. Dog barking, however, is one of those things that pet owners have a hard time justifying. Most people are looking for a dog barking solution. So how do you stop a dog from barking?
Let’s start at the root of every dog barking problem. Why do dogs bark? A barking dog is a dog that’s trying to get someone’s attention. They’re either trying to get the attention of another dog, a stranger, or you. In one way or another, they’re yelling “I’m here! I’m here!” Additionally, most dogs only have one level of barking – loud. Dogs can’t quiet their bark like you can quiet your voice. Dogs don’t have a whisper or and “inside voice.” The best dog barking solution is simply to acknowledge that your dog is trying to communicate, then you communicate in return.
UPDATE!
Michael Vick is under serious scrutiny right now for his alleged role in organized dog fighting. He has been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury and charged with competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.
The following is a Dog Fighting Fact Sheet from the Humane Society of the United States.
Why would anyone consider the extra monthly expense of a health insurance policy for their dog or cat?
I was waiting to be seated at a local restaurant yesterday and struck up a conversation with an elderly lady seated beside me. She was distraught because her 3 year old dog had developed canine epilepsy. She told me the epilepsy was treatable, but not curable, so she was going to be stuck with some pretty large medical bills for her dog.
A few years ago, my neighbor’s dog knocked down a tiki torch and drank the fuel out of it. They had the dog’s stomach pumped and ended up with an $800 vet bill.
My aunt had a poodle which developed a heart problem several years ago. This dog was the joy of her life, so she did everything she could to save it. Several operations and thousands of dollars later, her dog’s health is much better, but she is still paying the medical bills for her poodle.
Dogs and chocolate. I’ve been told since I was a little kid that if my dog ate chocolate, it would kill him. Is it really true? Or is it along the same lines as, “If you eat a watermelon seed, you’ll grow a watermelon in your stomach.” I’ve done some research on dog’s eating chocolate, and here’s what I’ve found out in layman’s terms.
I recently moved into a new housing development which has strict guidelines on the the types of fencing you can install. Several families in the neighborhood have installed an invisible dog fence (or invisible cat fence). Other names for this type of fence is electric dog fence, wireless fence, electronic fence, underground fence, invisible pet fence, electronic pet containment fence, and radio fence. No matter what it’s called, I wanted to know the pros and cons of invisible fencing before installing it on my property, so I did some research.
Do you dread giving your dog a bath? I can identify with you. I’ve had large dogs and small dogs and I know that giving your dog a bath can be quite a chore. Here are some tips to help you know how to give your dog a bath.
Every year I say I’m going to get a Dog Halloween Costume for my 2 Yorkies. But I always wait until the last minute to shop and by then, all of the good dog costumes are already sold, or I have to pay $20 for rush delivery. Not this year! I’m getting ready early. I’m buying my dog costumes now.
Does your dog have arthritis? Is there such a thing as arthritis in dogs? If so, what are the arthritis medications and treatments for dogs? What are the signs of arthritis in dogs?
Several years ago, I owned a Labrador Retriever / Great Dane mix. When he was around 1 year old I noticed that my dog was limping on one of his front legs. I assumed he stepped on something in the yard or something insignificant. But over the next 2 weeks, the limp gradually became worse, to the point where he would not put pressure on his leg at all. When a dog is limping that much, you need to do something about it as soon as possible.
I took him to the vet and was told that my dog has arthritis. I guess I never really thought about it, but I wasn’t even aware that dogs can get arthritis. I was especially surprised that a young dog, still a puppy really, could get arthritis.
You have to admit – there aren’t many smells as distinctive and memorable as cat urine. I remember when I was a child and I had a newspaper delivery route. I would go “collecting” each month at an elderly lady’s house who had dozens of cats, and the cat urine odor was overwhelming in her house. Sadly, her house was condemned a few years later, but I’ll never forget the smell of cat urine overtaking that house (and my nose).
Recently, I brought a new kitten into my home, and I’ve noticed that he’s decided to urinate in a potted plant, using the plant as a cat litter box. This gave me a new mission: find the best way to stop my cat from urinating in my plant. While I was searching, I found that the same tips are also good for keeping the cat from urinating or pooping on carpet and furniture. Here are the top 10 ways I’ve found stop this poor cat behavior.