Dog News

Health insurance for your dog

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-07-21T13:55:26+10:00

Although many people think it is an unnecessary expense, health insurance for your pet can actually save you money and spare you from making a tough decision between the life of your dog and paying the bills should a serious health issue arise.

As with other costs, veterinary cost have skyrocketed. When you do not have insurance, you must pay for every visit whether they be routine or emergency. This can run into thousands of dollars so why not get some help? Just like personal health insurance, health insurance for your dog has annual premiums and, of course a deductible. The premium price depends on the dog breed and type of policy, if you have more than one pet, you can usually get a discount.

The deductibles vary. Typically it is around $100 a year. There are many policies to choose from based on your dogs age, breed, lifestyle and pre-existing conditions.

Pampered pets in Hong Kong

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-02-24T09:23:12+11:00

Six-storey Dog One Life is THE place for pampered pooches in Hong Kong. The dog cafe caters to dog parties for birthdays and other pet events, and: When the pets finish eating at the dog cafe, their owners can shop at the products and accessories store, and bring their pets to the grooming section, photo studio, obedience center, and top it off with a stop at the rooftop open- air playground and swimming pool. "This kind of one-stop service has become quite popular in Japan, so when I found this place with ample space and relatively cheap rent, I decided to give it a try," says Howard Cheung, director of Dog One Life.

Watch your dog when you feed treats

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-02-18T12:10:34+11:00

Honey (my Jack Russell) loves treats, as do most dogs. However, with the number of news stories about dogs getting treats lodged in their throats, it's a good idea to watch your pet as he consumes the treat. Greenies are the treats which are most in the news for creating obstructions: The manufacturer says small dogs shouldn’t get big Greenies. The company’s Web site, www.greenies.com, offers advice on the correct size for different dogs. Hause says flatly: "Don’t give small dogs Greenies. Small dogs or cats." Dr. Michael Leib agrees. He teaches at Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blackburg, Va., and tracks Greenie problems. So far, he’s counted about 60 cases of obstruction and five or six deaths. He says larger dogs can have Greenies, if owners watch carefully and if the dogs gnaw the treat into little slivers. Keep an eye on your pet, and you'll both be happy with the treats.

Success!

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-02-14T15:28:42+11:00

Great photo by prawnpie from Flickr. Can't you just hear the pup barking with joy?

Socialise your pup from its first weeks with you

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-02-08T12:11:02+11:00

"When dogs attack" from the ABC offers some advice to new puppy owners. The program says: "... between 3 and 14 weeks of age (is) the ideal puppy socialisation period - it's a window of opportunity for us to expose puppies to lots of different situations, different dogs and people." Early socialization lessens the risk that the puppy (or older dog) will become aggressive, because most dogs' aggression is based on fear. When the dog is frightened, it reacts instinctively, and this can lead to fights and to bites. As soon as your puppy is vaccinated, take him out with you to get him used to new environments, other dogs, and people.

75 years of guide dogs in the UK

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-02-02T15:27:11+11:00

Guide Dogs celebrates 75 years of providing guide dogs this year. What a fantastic record. What does a guide dog do for someone? "I'm lucky that I can still go out on my own. With a dog you have absolute confidence, it's just wonderful. For a totally blind person there's nothing like it," says Anne Thair.

High fashion in the year of the dog

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-01-31T10:01:07+11:00

It's the Chinese Year of the Dog, and the Melbourne Age newspaper reports that designer labels have made it into the dog world. In fact, 2006 is a very good year for pooches in the United States, since fashionable dog owners go for top labels: Burberry, Coach, Carolina Herrera, Donald J. Pliner, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Co. And why not? Hmmm, Honey would look great in a Burberry trenchcoat. She's always running along with her nose to the ground investigating. Honey Jack Russell, super-sleuth.

Take your dog to work

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-01-28T09:38:38+11:00

The joy of working from home is that your pet has company all day. You can play a game of frisbee in the yard when it's time for your morning coffee, or go for a short walk. If you don't work from home, and wish you could take your dog to work with you, look for a company which lets you do that. Yes, pet-friendly companies exist. A survey by Dogster found around 400 companies which were dog-friendly. Apparently people who take their dogs to work work longer hours than those who don't, so you might drop "bring dogs" into the company suggestion box.

Choose your dog according to what it was bred to do

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-01-26T08:35:07+11:00

Gorgeous as that Jack Russell puppy may be, he's not the dog for you if you live in an apartment and hate long, long walks, playing ball, and entertaining your alert little pal. When you're choosing a puppy (or an older dog), remember the animal's natural tendencies. "Finding the perfect pet: If you choose your dog for its personality -- not just its looks -- you're barking up the right tree" suggests that: The key to finding the right dog for your particular lifestyle is looking back at a breed's original function and understanding how its ingrained temperament translates in today's world. Vizslas were bred to be active companions to Hungarian hunters; they'll go stir-crazy without running a few miles each day. Keeshonds alerted captains of Dutch barges; if a leaf blows by in the yard, you'll be informed. Neopolitan mastiffs, sort of dogdom's living gargoyle, kept strangers out of Italian courtyards by sheer looks; if a guest comes in uninvited, they will not benignly point the way to the silverware. Before you choose a breed of puppy, ask lots of questions of the breeder, and do a little research. Find out what the breed's primary traits are. You'll be living with those traits a long time.

Partyplan for pets: petware parties

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-01-23T14:40:41+11:00

If you're looking for a way for your passion for pets to pay off, throw a Pet Party and make some money. The article "At 'Pupperware' parties, pets haul in the goods" says: Shaunna Albert of Wichita was visiting family in Dallas last summer when she saw a TV news story about Shure Pets and thought the business would be a good fit for her. "I was like, wow," Albert said. "I love animals. That would be really cool." She checked out the company's Web site and signed up. She has held two parties since September, one for her co-workers at the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center, where she works as a photography technician, and another for her co-workers' family members.

Winter fun: dog sledding tours in New England

angela.booth@gmail.com — 2006-01-23T14:27:48+11:00

Boston Herald.com has an excellent article on winter fun with dogs -- sledding tours in New England. From the article: “We have three rules of dog sledding,” says my guide, Tom Bartlett. “What are they?” I ask. “Don’t let go, don’t let go, don’t ever let go” he says, breaking into a wheezy laugh. I have to ask. “What happens if I let go?” “You walk, the dogs run away,” he answers, laughing some more. If you're looking for a winter pastime that's fun and lets you experience the landscape in a new way, try dog sledding.