by Mary Stevenson

There are many advantages of getting your Bichon Frise puppy from a Bichon Frise breeder rather than a pet store. Bichon Frise breeders spend lots of time on only a few puppies, making sure they are healthy and properly socialized. Pet store puppies get very little attention and are stuck in cages at the time of life when they should be getting training. And, most importantly, Bichon Frise breeders are not puppy mills.

If you really have your heart set on a Bichon Frise puppy, then you can make life a lot easier for yourself and the dogs by getting in contact with a Bichon Frise breeder. You can find them through the Internet, by going to dog shows, through recommendations from other Bichon owners in your area and sometimes even your vet. If everyone stopped buying puppies from pet stores, then this inhumane practice could be stopped. What’s inhumane about buying a puppy at a pet store? Plenty! First off, all puppies in all pet stores are from puppy mills.

Perhaps you once had a Bichon Frise, a Poodle-like toy dog that is becoming more and more popular. You should get your next Bichon Frise from a Bichon Frise breeder. A Bichon Frise breeder will offer a lot of little extras that no other pet store or even an all-pet animal shelter can. This is because he or she can spend a lot of time and effort on just a few dogs ? or at the most, a few dozen ? and gets to know their temperaments and quirks. In this way, you can be matched with a Bichon Frise puppy that is most compatible for your personality and lifestyle.

No Bichon Frise breeder would ever sell puppies to a pet store. Bichon Frise breeders take their responsibilities very seriously. Since they planned on bringing the puppies into the world, they are responsible for finding good homes for the puppies. They will do background checks on prospective puppy owners, drill you on your Bichon Frise information (or lack thereof) and often ask for character reference letters. They want to be sure that you are going to be a humane owner and won’t give the dog to a shelter once it has outgrown the cute stage.

The next inhumane thing about buying a puppy from a pet store, rather than a Bichon Frise breeder, is that puppies are not animals that should be in cages. Other animals like baby hamsters do very well in cages. However, a puppy is caged right at the time of life it needs to learn how to be a dog in today’s complex world. The time a puppy can best learn is when they are seven to fourteen weeks old, right around the same time they are in cages at pet stores. This means that pet store puppies are often a lot harder to train than puppies from breeders.

The puppies bred in this condition are often sickly, have behavioral problems and often aren’t purebred. There is no legal overseeing group that makes sure a dog is a purebred. Anyone can fill out whatever they darn well like in pedigree papers and no one checks up on anything. Bichon Frise breeders not only will sell you a healthy, behaved puppy but one that is pedigreed. They also are great sources of accurate Bichon Frise information throughout all of your Bichon dog’s life.

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Rescuing A Pug

by Jenny Donaldson

Pug rescue facilities are people or organizations that rescue Pugs from less then ideal environments. The advantage Pugs have when they end up at a Pug rescue facility, as opposed to a facility that rescues a variety of crossbred dogs, is that the people running the facility are experienced at handling Pugs.

They know all about the breed’s health issues and are ready to handle the dog’s personality quirks. People running Pug rescues know instinctively what type of person will be a good match for a Pug. A Pug rescue is so experienced at handling Pug’s they are able to customize a variety of tests to find out how much the Pug’s past has damaged their mental health.

Before a person is able to adopt a Pug from a Pug rescue there are a few things they need to consider. The first thing the potential adopter needs to consider is cost. Just because you are adopting a Pug rather then buying a Pug puppy doesn’t mean you’re getting a free dog.

The Pugs that end up at Pug rescues don’t get there because they have had an easy life. There are a few that are brought to a rescue because their previous owners died or no longer in a position to care for them. The Pugs who come from that type of situation are normally happy, well adjusted representatives of their breed. The problem is that the most of the Pug at a Pug rescue have come from puppy mills or abusive owners.

Dogs that come from abusive backgrounds don’t always react to situations the same way a dog from a happy past reacts. These reactions often mean that the dogs adopted from rescues don’t do well in homes with small children or other pets. In some severe cases the Pug is so insecure that the person adopting the dog finds it difficult to leave the Pug at a kennel or with a dog sitter.

Because of the Pug’s troubled background there is a good chance that you and your family will have to make some adjustments in your day to day lifestyle before bringing your newly adopted Pug home. Just because you have adopted a Pug that the Pug rescue says is suitable to live in a house with other pets doesn’t mean you can bring the Pug home and expect it to immediately integrate itself with your other household pets.

Ask the people running the Pug rescue lots of questions about the Pug you are adopting. Dogs that come from abusive situations can have mental phobias that require additional care. In addition to any mental concerns ask the rescue about the dog’s physical health. Pugs are susceptible to allergies and other respiratory problems.

It is important to make sure that your new Pug and small child get along. When they are together make sure you supervise them the first several times they play together. Parental supervision goes along way towards preventing accidents from happening. Good planning and common sense will make introducing your adopted Pug into your family a smooth process.

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by Lisa A Collins

It is not uncommon to see a Poodle winning a dog show as their proud owners use many Poodles as show dogs. These beautiful dogs are put on display for everyone to see and if you like the image of a well groomed Poodle then you may be someone that would enjoy a seemingly endless supply of Poodle pictures. Some can be free and some Poodle pictures will cost you but in the end you wind up with a gallery of quality pictures of a breed of dog that is very camera friendly and loves to smile for the camera.

Many a professional photographer has dedicated a picture book or two to Poodle pictures and you can find these at your local bookstore. These pictures are very high quality and their detail will take your breath away as the images can look so very lifelike. With detail and color that is second to none you could be the proud owner of a collection like this for a very long time.

You can find just about anything on the Internet and that includes Poodle pictures. You can do yourself a favor and find out where the best places to look for Poodle pictures are and save a lot of searching time. One of the first places you are going to want to look is on Internet message boards dedicated to owning dogs in general or even Poodles in specific.

They are out there and there are owners from all over the world that add pictures of their Poodles almost on a daily basis so you would not only benefit from a fresh supply of Poodle pictures regularly but they would be from all over the world which is pretty neat.

Show dog owners love to show off their dogs, obviously, so if you want some really spectacular Poodle pictures then you may want to search the internet for websites dedicated to the various Poodle show dogs that are out there. There are many sites dedicated to Poodle show dogs and the pictures on these sites can be very beautiful.

A Poodle that is a family pet is just as fascinating as a show dog and there are many regular Poodle owners that are just as proud of the dog as any show dog owner would be and the regular owners host their own websites as well. On these websites you get to see Poodle pictures of the Poodle in its everyday life and then you can also follow along in the Poodle owner’s daily diary and read about the behavior of the Poodle as well. There is a lot to be learned from the every day life of a Poodle and its owner.

You can also learn a lot from Poodle breeders and you can used Poodle breeder websites as not only a source for some really wonderful Poodle pictures but they will also have the different Poodle types on display as well so you get to see what the different types look like.

You can get a lot out of a gallery of Poodle pictures and if you know where to look for them then you can have pictures to last you a lifetime.

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by Carol Matthews

As with any dog, it is important if you are interested in getting a Golden Retriever that you learn more about Golden Retriever breeders and about how to find the best one. Although there are literally thousands of different options available to you here, there are some that should be avoided. These breeders are known as mass breeders. They usually do not know anything about the breed and do not properly care for the dogs. They want to sell the dogs and make money as quickly as they can and do not care who buys them.

Some of these breeders are actually not educated at all on the breed and have no idea what they are doing. This typically results in poorly behaved, sickly dogs that may never be able to get their behavioral problems fixed, even with professional training. It is well worth it for any potential Golden Retriever owner to take the time to find the right breeder.

There are literally thousands of different Golden Retriever breeders located around the world, but only some that you should consider buying from. There are some Golden Retriever breeders, known as mass breeders, who are usually not educated at all on the breed and therefore really have no idea what they are doing.

They do not take proper care of the dogs and are more interested in selling the dogs and making money fast than making sure that the dogs are healthy and happy.

The process of actually finding and purchasing a dog can often be quite lengthy but will be well worth it in the end when you get to deal with a legitimate and reputable breeder and get a happy healthy dog.

To further make sure that you find only the best Golden Retriever breeders, speak to your veterinarian to find out more information. They will be able to give you the best possible advice here, because they are so educated in this department and will be able to let you know who the best breeders are in your local area.

Remember to look for certain characteristics in a puppy before buying him, in order to ensure that he is going to grow up to be the good pet that you expect. Your best chances of getting a happy and healthy puppy is by buying one from someone whose motivation for breeding is clearly to produce the finest possible dogs and not just to make money.

They should have been socialized around children in particular and especially if you are planning to bring them into a home where there are younger aged children.

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Chinese Shar Pei

by Melissa Coleman

The Shar Pei breed was made to be general farm dog with a wide range of purposes. They were not limited to just simple farming dogs.

As this type of dog, breeders found the dogs’ fighting and protective skills to come out also as they would grow exceedingly protective of property and the family, loyal to those around when raised. Prized as agile hunters, the Shar Pei were soon known in the fighting rings not just because of their built, but also for their hunting qualities.

The blue Shar Pei especially was the mark showing long lines of breeding, not to mention tedious planning to come about their rare blue color. To obtain the blue Shar Pei, which also comes from China, where their strength and intelligence were purposely bred into the breed as much as the wrinkled face and large excess of skin and prickly fur. It is an exceedingly hard thing to accomplish with great results.

Known for being a reserved breed, the Shar Pei tends to think for them selves and will be overly affectionate, loyal and extremely devoted to those it considers family. The royal family of China created the breed to protect them and their families. This powerful dog is willing to die if needed to protect its family and home. The blue Shar Pei in its rareness is one of the more expensive of the breeds as a warning to the buyer. The Shar Pei was introduced to an U.S. dog magazine in 1973 by a businessperson out of Hong Kong.

As with any pure bred animal there are a few things to look out for when it comes to the Shar Pei’s health. A good, reputable breeder will breed for health so these concerns should not pose a problem with your new pet. They are however, things to look out for. Some of the things to look out for are fevers. Shar Pei’s are prone to unexplained fevers as well as swollen hocks, which can be a sign of a serious medical condition. Some Shar Pei’s have issues with their skin due to hereditary weaknesses caused but excessive and unregulated breeding.

A blue Shar Pei is a rare color and so you should expect to pay more for this type of Shar Pei. They are beautiful animals and have a great temperament so they are good with children, unlike their possible ancestors the chow.

They are also very active dogs so if you live in an apartment make sure that you have the time to really exercise them or that you have a good-sized dog park in the area.

Dog owners around the world bring them out to compete in many of the more celebrated dog shows. When choosing this bred, make sure to check the source and the lineage of the dog in question. It will save you many problems in the future from skin allergies to other defects that are common in the breed itself.

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by Lisa A Collins

You need to focus on practicing preventative Poodle health care in order to keep your Poodle healthy. This can help you to minimize the severity and likelihood of any health problems. Not only does preventative Poodle health care involve home health exams, but it also relies on providing good nutrition and enough exercise. Working along with your veterinarian is the best preventative care that you can do.

When your Poodle is young you should start with regular visits to the veterinarian and then maintain a regular checkup at least once or twice a year to make sure you dog is kept in healthy condition. An important part of the veterinarian visits is to stay current on vaccinations, which can help prevent serious conditions such as infectious diseases, rabies, parvo virus, distemper and hepatitis.

For the Poodle, having a licensed veterinarian doing vaccinations is extremely important since they are one of the breeds that are particularly prone to problems caused by over vaccinating a pet.

Checking your pet during your grooming routine is the best habit to start. Not only is it easy for the dog to undergo but also it is also easier for you to remember. First simply rub your hands along the dog’s body to feel for any unusual lumps or areas that may be tender to the touch. Next press to feel the ribs, this will help you to keep track of your dog’s weight gain or loss depending on how hard you have to press.

The eyes should always be bright with little to no discharge. You also want to look inside your dog’s ears for any signs of redness or swelling. Some signs of an ear infection that you should be on the lookout for include brown waxy debris or a bad odor.

The teeth are also important and they should be white and free of tartar buildup. Make sure you know your dog’s normal gum color since pale gums is a sign of a serious problem. Whenever you notice something out of the ordinary on your pet’s home health check then you should take them to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

The eyes should always be bright with little to no discharge. You also want to look inside your dog’s ears for any signs of redness or swelling. Some signs of an ear infection that you should be on the lookout for include brown waxy debris or a bad odor. The teeth are also important and they should be white and free of tartar buildup.

Have your pet spayed or neutered is also very important since it helps your pet to live a longer, healthier life while being better behaved. Pets that are fixed also are less likely to get cancer. You can ensure you dog has a long and healthy life by practicing proper preventative Poodle health care.

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by Wendy Caples

Although the breed standard for the Boston Terrier is pretty strict on what they should look like, they are also strict on what the breed should act like. This attention to temperament has sadly been lacking in some other breed standards like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Even pet quality Boston Terriers who would be laughed out of a show ring will not be offended, as they will be happy for the chance to make anyone smile.

The charming personality of the Boston Terrier is not only one reason why it is so popular, but also why they do so well outside of a show ring or a breeding kennel. The purpose of developing the breed was to make a good pet for people, unlike other breeds bred to hunt, fight or herd livestock. They are lively, kind, easy-going and good with kids and senior citizens as well as other animals.

The breed standard also reveals another reason why the Boston Terrier is so popular. They are small, but not so small as to jeopardize their health. They are robust, but portable. Although you may find some Boston Terriers outside the lines, they are usually fifteen to twenty-five pounds and only about fifteen inches high at their shoulders. They are most famous in black and white, but also come in seal and white and brindle and white. The breed standard is quite strict on the distribution of white around the body, which disqualifies a lot of Boston Terriers from the ring.

The breed standard also emphasizes sturdiness. They are not to have physical weaknesses like swaybacks, spayed legs, very slow gait or look overly muscular. Their bodies should look sturdy but everything should be in proportion. And the tails are naturally very short, although occasionally a purebred is born with a long tail. The ears are perky and most of the time they are pointed (occasionally a floppy eared one comes along).

Sadly, other breeds like Rottweilers, Boxers, Dobermans and Pembroke Welsh Corgis have to have docked tails in order to show. Another fault is being too big – Boston Terriers are only supposed to be fifteen inches high at the shoulder and twenty-five pounds at the most.

Boston Terriers look and act like a toy dog, but they are shown in the non-sporting group. Their looks are just as charming as their personalities, colors and lack of tail. They are smooth-haired, strongly built without being too muscular like an English Bulldog. They have large, expressive eyes and a lively walk. They have a blunt nose, but usually not as flat as a Pekingese nose. The breed they most look like is the French Bulldog.

Boston Terriers often have pointed ears that are proportional to the size of the head. Sometimes, you’ll see a purebred Boston with huge bat-ears – that’s not a show dog. They bounce when they walk, but they should not have a high-stepping walk like a Hackney horse or the incredibly slow shuffle of a Pekingese.

Although the dog might not match the physical description exactly, you’ll know they have the temperament, which is the most important aspect of the Boston Terrier breed standard.

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Beagle Breeders

by Michelle Adams

The Beagle dog breed dates back historically to 19th century England. The breed is thought to have descended from the “Harrier,” a medium sized English hound used for hunting. Beagles were officially registered as a breed with the American Kennel Club in 1885. Though Beagles derived from inter-breeding of the Harrier and other hunting dogs, they are viewed as a pure breed today.

The subject of this article is finding good Beagle breeders and learning how to avoid bad breeders. Good Beagle breeders ensure the well being of their Beagles. They set up kennels to care for the breed they produce. They care about their reputation. Bad breeders set up puppy mills where they over-breed Beagles without regard to comfort or happiness.

Beagle breeders can be good or bad. There are some sure-fire ways to discern between the two. Good breeders are be backed up by references, which they should be able to provide on demand. Word of mouth is a good way to get a general idea of a breeder’s reputation. Specifics of a good breeder are as follows: They have their own kennels. Their Beagles have received appropriate medical screening and immunizations. Their dogs may have been spayed or neutered prior to sale. They do not breed Beagles with known medical conditions or behavioral problems. They do not sell puppies to pet stores or pet brokers. The kennels are clean and meet the Beagles’ basic and social needs.

The kennels are clean and meet the Beagles’ basic and social needs. Breeders are experts on their breed and are affiliated with Beagle rescue. Breeders have good references such as the AKC (American Kennel Club). Most importantly: breeders love their Beagles! Genuine affection for the breed is a must-have in a successful breeder.

To help you have a long, happy relationship with your Beagle, make sure he is healthy and well documented. Research Beagle breeders thoroughly. A good place to start your research is the American Kennel Club’s website. This website lists breeders specific to each breed and supplies pertinent contact information.

A good place to start your research is the American Kennel Club’s online website. Though the American Kennel Club does not specifically endorse the breeders it lists, its subsidiary American Kennel Club Parent Clubs that are in each state can recommend local breeders. Contact phone numbers and other information are available on the American Kennel Club’s website.

It is important to contact the Beagle breeder and ask specific questions before buying. Does the breeder offer a warranty and/or return policy? Is medical documentation available? What other Beagle information can the breeder provide? You may also want to ask about rescued Beagles. These are usually adult Beagles who have suffered trauma such as abandonment and neglect.

Also read up on your state’s “puppy lemon laws.” Yes, there is such a thing. There are specific guidelines that must be followed but a sick Beagle can be returned or exchanged just like a “lemon,” or defective, car.

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by Mary Stevenson

If you remember only one thing from this article, please remember this ? never buy a puppy from a pet store. In fact, don’t even buy pet supplies from pet stores that sell puppies. It can be tempting to go to a pet store today to get a fluffy white Bichon Frise puppy ? and that’s exactly what pet store owners hope you will do. They thrive on impulse shoppers. They don’t care who they sell their puppies to, they only care about getting your money.

If you really have your heart set on a Bichon Frise puppy, then you can make life a lot easier for yourself and the dogs by getting in contact with a Bichon Frise breeder. You can find them through the Internet, by going to dog shows, through recommendations from other Bichon owners in your area and sometimes even your vet. If everyone stopped buying puppies from pet stores, then this inhumane practice could be stopped. What’s inhumane about buying a puppy at a pet store? Plenty! First off, all puppies in all pet stores are from puppy mills.

Bichon Frise breeders spend an incredible amount of time and money on the breeding and raising of their puppies. They often raised the mother from a puppy. Bichon Frise dogs aren’t merchandise or a business to them. These puppies are like their grandchildren. They would not then blow all of their tender and careful care by selling their puppies to a pet store, where anyone can buy a puppy if they have the money.

Pet stores that sell puppies rely on impulse purchases and do not do any background checks on what kind of person this puppy is going to. Quite often, people who have no idea what is involved in raising a puppy buy these puppies on a whim. Most puppies bought in pet stores wind up being abandoned when the puppy gets to be about nine months to one year old. Half of all dogs and cats that are surrendered to shelters are euthanized.

Always buy from a reputable Bichon Frise breeder, because buying a puppy at a pet store only helps to perpetuate the inhumane and barbaric puppy mill system. In a puppy mill, dogs are treated worse than battery hens (and there are even laws to protect battery hens, now). Dogs are never taken to a vet, as that would cut into the profit margin. They spend their lives in crates and only come out to breed. They often spend most of their lives sitting in their own excrement.

The puppies bred in this condition are often sickly, have behavioral problems and often aren’t purebred. There is no legal overseeing group that makes sure a dog is a purebred. Anyone can fill out whatever they darn well like in pedigree papers and no one checks up on anything. Bichon Frise breeders not only will sell you a healthy, behaved puppy but one that is pedigreed. They also are great sources of accurate Bichon Frise information throughout all of your Bichon dog’s life.

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by Lisa A Collins

The Poodle is known as much for being a show dog as it is for being a family pet and many owners of Poodle show dogs are very proud of the way their Poodles look and are often known to be great sources for Poodle pictures. But where else are you able to find good Poodle pictures and how can you find Poodle pictures for free? There are some wonderful ways to buy Poodle pictures and some great ways to find free Poodle pictures too so let us examine some suggestions.

Because Poodles are known as highly prolific show dogs there are many professional photographers that will take the time to create a picture book of Poodle pictures that you can find at any local bookstore. This collection of high quality images will offer you the detail and color you would expect in a professional collection and it is something you can enjoy for many years to come.

If you take the time, and know where to look, you can find a great supply of Poodle pictures on the Internet. One of the places you can look is on message boards that are dedicated to owning dogs or even ones that are dedicated to owning Poodles specifically.

It is not uncommon for Poodle owners from all over the world to post new pictures of their dogs on these sites so not only do you get an endless supply of updated Poodle pictures but they are also from owners all over the world, which can be pretty exciting.

Show dog owners love to show off their dogs, obviously, so if you want some really spectacular Poodle pictures then you may want to search the internet for websites dedicated to the various Poodle show dogs that are out there. There are many sites dedicated to Poodle show dogs and the pictures on these sites can be very beautiful.

A Poodle that is a family pet is just as fascinating as a show dog and there are many regular Poodle owners that are just as proud of the dog as any show dog owner would be and the regular owners host their own websites as well. On these websites you get to see Poodle pictures of the Poodle in its everyday life and then you can also follow along in the Poodle owner’s daily diary and read about the behavior of the Poodle as well. There is a lot to be learned from the every day life of a Poodle and its owner.

Equally interesting, and another great source of Poodle pictures, are websites hosted by Poodle breeders. Here you will find not only pictures of some of the nicest looking Poodles you have ever seen but there will also be the different breeds on display as well so you get the chance to learn what the different Poodle breeds look like.

However you choose to get your Poodle pictures you can rest assured that there will plenty of Poodle pictures for a very long time to come.

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