With its short, stout build, bandy legs, short muzzle and prominent under-bite, the Bulldog is one of the most recognizable dog breeds. There is much dispute about the breed’s origins, but what we do know is that they were quite widespread in England by the early 1600’s.

Those Bulldog’s had little in common with the placid breed we know today and were particularly fierce. Used extensively in the cruel blood sports of bull baiting and dog fighting the breed flourished. But after those ‘sports’ were banned in 1835, the breed fell into decline, and might well have become extinct were it not for the foundation of the Bulldog Club in 1864.

The Bulldog of today is far removed from his violent history and is a gentle, good-natured and loving pet.

These medium-sized dogs and compact, stocky and sturdy, with a coat that can be red, fawn, white, brindle or piebald. The head is large, and the skin is loose fitting and folded. Despite their fierce look and serious expression, Bulldogs are among the most affectionate of all dog breeds. They are also incredibly loyal and devoted to their owners. Bulldogs also make very good guard dogs and are brave enough to take on anyone who threatens their family.

Bulldogs are famously stubborn, and you’ll need plenty of patience to train one. But training is a must, because these dogs can display dominant behaviors. One such behavior, that is fairly common, is guarding possessions, and even people, that they claim as their own.

Median lifespan for the breed is just 6.5 although some dogs have been known to live to 12 years.

Unfortunately, selective breeding has exacted a heavy toll on the Bulldog. They suffer from many health problems, including hip dysplasia, heart failure, various cancers, patellar luxation, cherry eye, and a number of skin problems. In common with most short-faced dogs, the Bulldog is also susceptible to respiratory problems, especially in hot weather. The short face also results in them being loud and prodigious snorers.

Bulldogs are not exactly athletic and are quite happy to spend most of their time sleeping. While this makes them well suited to apartment living, but it doesn’t mean you can skimp on exercise. A short walk will be required every day, but take care not to over exert the dog in warm weather.

The English Bulldog may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the breed has plenty of fans, and many who have owned a Bully would not have any other dog breed.

Finding good dog names, for a Bulldog can be a challenge. Your best bet is to use an online dog names database like Puppy Names HQ, which has literally thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-list of cute dog names.

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Taking a trip with your dog can be a great way to spend your vacation time. But it does take some advance planning.

To begin with you’ll have to research the requirements for taking a pet to the destinations you’re interesting in visiting. With some countries, like the UK, these make traveling with your dog a virtual impossibility unless you’re on the PETS scheme.

But even countries that are more pet friendly have requirements that must be met.

You’ll also have to research places to stay. If your plan is to stay at a hotel, you’ll need to do some research into dog friendly one’s at your destination.

Fortunately, hotels are becoming much more accommodating to people with pets.

And then there are the travel arrangements. Traveling with a pet by air or rail can be quite a challenge, so use a specialized pet travel company to make the arrangements for you. This will ensure that you avoid costly, and possibly even tragic mistakes.

You may however, be planning a road trip with your dog, in which case there are a number of things you need to consider and a great deal of planning to be done.

For starters, you’ll need a way of restraining your dog in the car, either a dog carrier, or a specialized doggy seat belt. This not only makes sense, but is a legal requirement in some countries.

It is also important to remember that dogs become dehydrated quite easily. Take a water bowl and plenty of water along, and never leave your dog in a parked car, especially in warm weather.

Also remember all the normal doggy accessories like his collar, leash, harness, toys, bed and blanket and so on.You will also have to plan where you will overnight on your trip, and check out local accommodation that allows dogs. And while we’re on the subject of breaks, remember to make regular bathroom and leg stretching stops.

And it doesn’t stop there. Once you reach your destination make sure that your dog wears an id tag, with your local phone number, at all times. For international trips you will have to have your dog micro-chipped, but it never hurts to have extra security.

It’s also a good idea to have a photograph of your dog with you, just in case your dog becomes lost.

Make sure you know where the local vet or animal hospital is. In an emergency you don’t want to have to waste time searching for it.

Be sure to comply with local bi-laws and regulations. These will normally include keeping your dog on a leash and picking up after him. It’s common courtesy to do this anyway, even if there are no local laws in place.

By now you’re probably wondering if all of this is worth the trouble. Well, ask yourself how much a trouble free, unforgettable trip with your dog is worth. The likely answer is, priceless!

Visit http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com to find outmore about dog travel, dog care, dog breeds a-z and other interesting dog information.

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Dogs need exercise, and the activity they love more than any other is walking. However, many dog owners shirk the responsibility. Perhaps they simply don’t have time, or maybe they don’t realize how important it is to walk their dogs.

Others give it their best shot, but eventually quit because the dog is difficult to handle. If this all sounds familiar then listen up because I’m about to tell you something very important.

“Dogs have to have their walks!”

As any dog trainer will tell you, a dog needs to be exercised every day. Depending on breed, age, size and so on this can range from a short 30 minute walk, to hours of vigorous activity. But the point is that exercise is essential, and walking is probably the best exercise there is for a dog.

But dog walking is more than simply clipping on the dog’s lead and heading out the door. A few simple guidelines will make it an altogether more enjoyable experience, for you and the dog.

Here are some of the things you should be doing;

* Walk when its cool, rather than in the middle of the day. If however you do walk in hot weather it is important to take water along for your dog, to prevent over heating.

* Walk with your dog beside you, not in front of you. Allowing the dog to always be in the lead gives him the notion that he is the pack leader.

* Don’t pull back on the lead because this will just encourage your dog to pull back. Try to always keep a relaxed grip, and if your dog does pull, stop and wait for him to calm down before continuing.

* Don’t let your dog lead you where he wants to go. You control the walk and decide where to go, when to stop, and when to head for home.

* Avoid other dogs. You never know how two dogs are going to react towards one another. Quite often these encounters will end up in a fight. If you have a small dog and a large dog approaches, pick you dog up and turn your back. If your dog is large, turn and walk in the opposite direction.

You also don’t know if a strange dog has been vaccinated and if it is carrying any diseases that may be passed to your dog.

* The right leash or collar. Pick a leash / collar combination that is strong enough to keep the dog in check, but still comfortable for him to wear. Also ensure that your dog wears his id tags. You never know when he might slip his leash.

In the unlikely even that the dog does escape, the id tag will identify you as the owner and hopefully see the dog returned safely to you. You may also want to have your dog micro-chipped for extra peace of mind.

* Lastly, enjoy yourself! Hanging out with your dog is one of the funnest things you can do, two buddies working out together and enjoying the pleasure of each others company. What could be better.

There’s lots more about dog training, dog care, dog care and other interesting dog info at www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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The relationship between humans and dogs goes back to the dawn of civilization. These incredible animals have been our hunting partners, our protectors, our friends and our loyal servants for over 15 000 years.

But I doubt that many humans truly understand how exceptional our canine companions are.Keep reading - the ten dog facts below will amaze and astound you.

1. Bionic Hearing - A dog’s ears can register over 35,000 vibrations a second. We humans manage a puny 20, 000 vibrations a second, mean that a dog’s hearing is an incredible 75% better than ours.

2. A Dog’s Life – Unfortunately, dogs live relatively short lives. Ask people about a dog’s lifespan and most would guess in the 10 - 15 year range. However, if is not unknown for a dog to live 20 years or longer. In fact, the longest canine lifespan on record is 29 years and 5 months.

3. Eyes that see in the dark - One of the common misconceptions about dogs is that they cannot see color - they can, although their color perception is limited. However, where dogs excel is in their night vision, enhanced by special reflective layers in the eyes.

4. Fighting Dogs - Dogs are powerful, trainable, and extremely loyal. So it is not surprising that they have served as soldiers for thousands of years. From the Romans right down to current military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, dogs have served with valor, honor, and distinction.

5. Dog Bite - Most predators have the use of both fangs and claws but dogs rely almost solely on their powerful jaws. And awesome weapons they are too, a dog’s jaws can apply an impressive 200 pounds of pressure per square inch.

6. Unique Noses - Every dog has a one-of-a-kind nose print that is every bit as unique as a human fingerprint.

7. Canine Anatomy - Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, so it seems extraordinary that their anatomy is almost identical. All dogs have 321 bones and 42 permanent teeth - although there are obviously variations to the size and shape of bones.

8. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie - A Puppy sleeps approximately 90% of the day during the first few of weeks of its life.

9. Tuning In - A dog’s ears have twice as many muscles as humans giving them the ability to swivel their ears to better capture sounds.

10. Pet Dogs - Approximately 35% of American households keep at least one dog as a pet and millions of pups are born in the US annually.So there you have it, some amazing facts about out amazing canine friends.

Visit dogsanddogtraining.com to find outmore about facts about dogs, dog care, dog health and other interesting dog information.

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The Chinese Crested is a charming, alert and intelligent toy breed. They are perhaps best known as a hairless breed, but in fact there are two varieties, the “Hairless”, and the “Powderpuff”, which has a medium length topcoat, over a short and dense undercoat.

The name is somewhat misleading, as the Chinese Crested originated, not in China, but in Africa. These African hairless terriers were a popular item of barter, and Chinese traders took them aboard their ships to control rodents. Once imported to China they quickly gained popularity as companion dogs.

It is easy to understand their popularity, as they are affectionate dogs with bags of character. They are very good with older children who have been taught how to handle dogs. The Crested is very fragile and may bite if handled roughly, so is perhaps not the best choice for a young child.

Socialization is extremely important with a Chinese Crested. For starters they tend to be quite shy dogs, and may be either timid or snappy and aggressive if not socialized properly. They are usually tolerant of dogs and non-canine pets that they’ve been raised with, but will need to be socialized with other animals.

Although they can sometimes be stubborn, Cresteds are smart dogs and relatively easy to train. They are particularly adept at learning and performing tricks. You will however need to keep training positive, as they do not respond well to harsh treatment.

Unfortunately, the Chinese Crested suffers from many health issues. In the hairless variety, they are particularly susceptible to skin ailments and the skin must be protected with sunscreen when going outdoors. Both variants also suffer from dental and eye problems as well as a catalog of diseases including, Addison’s Disease, Cherry Eye, Epilepsy, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eyes), Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Patellar Luxation, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Grooming a Chinese Crested, whether Hairless or Powderpuff, is quite a challenge. In the Hairless variety, the priority is skin care, while in the Powderpuff the fine coat needs daily brushing to keep it looking its best. The nails also require regular trimming and you’ll need to take special care to avoid the quick, which runs deep into the nail in this breed.

These little guys are the perfect pet for an apartment dweller. However, they will need regular exercise. A daily walk is a must while indoor and outdoor games are both appreciated. Just remember to protect your dog’s sensitive skin when outdoors. Perhaps surprisingly, given their frail build, Cresteds are very good at canine sports, and are often star performers at agility.

If you’re looking for a name for your Chinese Crested, the best advice is to visit a puppy names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of cute dog names.

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A native of Turkey, the Anatolian Shepherd is a big, muscular dog that specializes as a sheep guardian. With a solid build, a large head and a thick neck, these dogs stand as tall as 30 inches and can weigh up to 150 pounds.

The Anatolian is a powerful breed, capable of taking on most predators. However, the body is lean rather than bulky, with the thick coat making them look heavier than they actually are. The tail is long and when the dog is alert it curls up over the back. The coat is usually fawn, and the dog sports a black “face mask”.

This is a breed with a long history. They are originally from the Sivas-Kangal region of Turkey, where they are still revered and considered to be the Turkish national dog and a great treasure. They have been sheep guardians in their native land for hundreds of years, and have also been put to work as hunting dogs, and dogs of war.

These are strong, brave dogs who think nothing of challenging wolves and bears that threaten their flock. They are robust characters capable of living outdoors, even in extreme temperatures.

To understand the Anatolian’s temperament you have to appreciate the job they were bred to do. They are guardians first and foremost and much of their behavior relates to this task. These are highly protective dogs who will lay down their lives to protect their flock, and that includes their human family.

As long as you understand the dog’s temperament, this could be a good pet for you. This is not however a breed suited to the novice dog owner. They are known to be quite assertive and require someone who can provide dominant leadership. On the plus side, they are very good with kids, accepting of other pets, and as already mentioned, excellent guard dogs.

One problem you should know about is there tendency to bark at night. This is due to that famous protective instinct, but it can be addressed with training and socialization.

If you’re stuck for names for your Anatolian, try I puppy-names-hq.com, a site with 1000s of puppy names, including a mega list of cool dog names to choose from.

The Anatolian is a robust, healthy breed with few major health concerns. Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and eyelid entropion do occur, but none of the dread diseases present in some dog breeds. They can live 12 years or longer, a long time for such a large breed.

You should also be aware that these dogs have a slower immune system than most other breeds, and are therefore sensitive to anaesthesia.

The Anatolian is quite an easy dog to maintain. They do shed heavily twice annually, and you’ll have to brush the coat every day during this period.

Such a large dog will not live comfortably in an apartment. You’ll need a house with a large garden, and you will also have to give your dog a long walk every day.

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One of your first jobs as a dog owner is house training your puppy, and even if you do nothing else in terms of dog training, you’ll have to do this. That is, unless you are prepared to live with an animal that has no control over her toilet habits.

Fortunately, in most cases, it is easy. Choose a method, implement a plan, add a bit of patience, and you’re done.

In fact, all you have to do to ensure success, is to tap into your dog’s natural behavior. For starters, dogs are, by nature, clean animals and will never “do their business” close to where they eat and sleep, except in extreme circumstances.

Secondly, dogs love to please us and will do whatever it takes to make us happy.

Remember these two principles as you house train your dog, as they are the secret to success regardless of the method you employ.

Here are the most common puppy house training methods;

Supervision Method

Crate Training

Paper Training Method

Litter Box

The method you choose is entirely up to you, but my favorite is crate training. I have trained many dogs using this method and I am always blown away at how easy it is. This is probably because it taps the two aspects of dog behavior I mentioned earlier.

With crate training your puppy you use these behavioral aspects to your advantage - a much better approach than chasing your dog and trying to haul him outdoors, or to the paper every time he squats down.

Don’t feel you have to go with crate training though, because the other methods also work. Just choose the one you feel comfortable with. Whichever method you choose though, you will need to remain consistent, patient and positive. Shouting will achieve nothing other than making the dog afraid of you.

Never forget that she’s just a baby. You wouldn’t punish a baby that messed her diaper, or scream at her and rub her nose in it. So why would you do that to a little dog?

The puppy doesn’t yet know that she has done something wrong. But persist with your training and she’ll soon get the picture. Dogs are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. So stick with it and you’ll see results.

Want to see results even faster?

Then praise your pup when she succeeds.

Your puppy desperately wants to make you happy. When you praise her for ‘going’ outside, or on the paper, she learns that this behavior pleases you, and she’s encouraged to repeat the behavior, just to get more praise from you.

And don’t be stingy with the praise either. You need to make it very obvious that you are pleased with her behavior, so be enthusiastic, be effusive, be downright over the top!

Later, when you start obedience training, your puppy will already know that obedience equals praise, so in effect house training actually sets the scene for all your training efforts to come.

Find out more about dog training tips, dog care, information on dogs and other interesting dog info at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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With its stocky build, elaborate tail, bear-like face and characteristic blue tong, the Chow Chow is an easy dog to recognize. This Chinese breed is medium in size, standing 22 inches at the withers, and weighing up to 70 pounds. The most common coat color is red, but it can also be black, cream, or grey (blue).

This ancient breed is thought to have originated in Mongolia round about 200BC. They were used in a number of roles including guarding, herding, hunting and pulling carts. They were also a source of food for the ancient people of this region.

No one knows exactly where the name, Chow Chow derives from. A common, though generally discredited theory, is that it derives from the Chinese word for food. Another theory is that “Chow”, was a slang term used by sailors to refer to Cargo, and this name somehow passed to the dog. The Chow Chow is widely recognized as the father of all modern Spitz breeds, including the Keeshond, Pomeranian, and Icelandic Sheepdog.The Chow Chow is not an ideal dog for the first time dog owner, as they can be quite dominant. The need the firm hand of an experienced dog owner to keep them in check. They are often characterized as aggressive, but this is mostly undeserved. In general Chows are affectionate, confident dogs who tend to bond very closely with a single person. With everyone else they can come across as aloof.

They are not a good choice for a family with very young kids, but do well with older children. They also do well with other pets,. as long as they’ve been properly socialized.

Training is an absolute must with this breed. However, you’ll need tons of patience to train a Chow, they are famously strong-willed and while they may sometimes be co=operative, at other times they’ll flatly ignore you. They are however very eager to please their bonded human, so training is not entirely a lost cause.

Although they are generally healthy dogs, Chows do suffer from a number of congenital diseases. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and entropion are all known to occur. Another common problem is gastric torsion, a serious condition, that requires immediate veterinary treatment. You can reduce the risk of bloat by feeding your dog small, regular meals, and avoiding exercise immediately before an after meals. Average lifespan for the Chow is 15 years.

Grooming a Chow requires quite a bit of work. They are heavy shedders and the dense coat needs to be brushed daily to keep it in good condition.

Chows are quite happy to live outdoors as they don’t crave human attention as much as most other dog breeds. Their thick coat helps them to withstand very cold whether but they are not as well suited to warm, humid climates.

Good dog names can be hard to find. The best advice is to try one of the online dog names, sites. My personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ, a site that has tons of excellent dog names to pick from, including thousands of female dog names.

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Dogs just love to play and some high-energy dogs will keep you busy all day if you’ll let them. But there will be times when you’re not around, or you’re just too busy and you need something to keep your dog amused.

This is where dog toys come to the rescue, and these days we’re not talking about a stick or a piece of rope. These days their are some pretty cool toys that will satisfy even the most demanding pooch.

Here are some cool doy toys that I came across. Pick a few for your dog. He’ll love you for it.

Kong Toys – If you have a dog that loves to chew, then a Kong toy is the answer. These rubberized toys and virtually indestructible, so even your Pitbull can chew away for hours and not make much of an impact.

The cool thing is they also have a hollow center for you to put treats in. Your dog will be fully occupied trying to get at the treat, and it’s great for working his brain too.

Pull Toys - Tug-a-war is a favorite game of many dogs, but unfortunately many of the cheap pull toys on the market soon fray and break.

Once again Kong comes to the rescue. Their pulling toy is basically a pair of rubber balls wrapped in canvas with a canvas cord at the end. Like all Kong toys they’re tough, and nigh on impossible to break. Plus, the balls also squeak, which most dogs love.

Frisbees – Dogs love chasing a frisbee, but the hard plastic ones are actually dangerous for dogs because they can splinter and cause injury.

If you’re going to get a Frisbee for your dog, go for the Frost Bite Frisbee, which is soft, pliable, and punctures when bitten, rather than shattering.

Puzzles - Dogs are natural problem solvers, so a toy that challenges your dog to work something out in order to earn a treat is a good choice.

A good example is the Squirrel Plushy, which is a soft plush toy with smaller plush toys hidden inside. The dog has to figure out how to get the smaller toys out.

Nylabones – Another good toy for the dog that loves to chew. These rubber, bone-shaped chewing toys are incredible strong, so your dog can gnaw away to his hearts content.

Tuffies - These are stuffed toys made specifically with dogs in mind. They are strong and durable, and even come with “toughness” ratings. So you can get one to suit your Pomeranian or even one that your Bull Terrier will have a hard time breaking.

Squirrel Dude – This is one of my dog’s favorites. The Squirrel Dude is a rubber toy with a timer that you can set to dispense treats at regular intervals - kind of like a canine vending machine.

Some thing for every dog on this list, I’m sure you’ll agree. And even if you can’t find something here that your dog fancies, shop around there are tons of choices these days.

Click here to read more about dog toys, dog care, dog grooming and other helpful dog advice at www.dogsanddogtraining.com

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Dogs have a wide vocabulary that includes barking, growling, howling, as well as whining. All of these convey their own message. Whining for example is normally interpreted as a sign of distress, and as such instantly draws our attention.

Dogs, of course, have long since figured out that whining is also a sure-fire way of getting what they want.

Why Your Dog May Be Whining

A dog will usually whine when it is fearful, anxious or in pain. Some of our more creative canine friends have also learned how to fake being anxious or afraid in order to attract our attention. But dogs don’t pretend to be hurt, so if you believe your dog is genuinely in pain you’ll want to attend to the problem right away.

The other causes of whining are fairly easy to treat. All it takes is a few, easy to implement, steps.How to End the Whining

Let’s discuss anxiety whining first. Often this is related to the dog being left alone. The dog has noticed a routine you go through before leaving the house, something as simple as turning off the TV and activating the alarm.

This then becomes the trigger that sets off your dog’s whining. In order to address this you’ll need to break the connection between your actions, and the dog’s reaction. There are a number of ways to do this.

You could simply vary your routine. Or you could confuse the dog by getting ready to leave, and then not go out. Another alternative is to go through your whole routine, then go out for 30 seconds or so, before coming back in.

These are all easy ways to break the connection the dog has built up between your routine, and the fact that it results in him being left on his own. It sounds simplistic, but it works.

Another cause for whining is fear. For example a dog left alone in an empty house may become fearful and anxious. The solution here is simply to cut down his space.

Restricting your dog to just one or two rooms and giving him some crate training is an effective way of dealing with this form of whining.

Be aware that it will take a bit of time to accustom your dog to the crate, but it is relatively easy because the crate simulates a den environment. Once the dog is used to the crate he no longer feels the need to patrol his larger “territory” (the house). It is an effective way of addressing both fear and anxiety in your dog.

How to Address “Attention” Whining

Dogs are arch manipulators and usually have a bag of tricks that they use to get what they want. For example, small dogs love doing the “sit up and beg trick”, because they know it is cute and gets them attention.Likewise, if your dog works out that he just has to whine for you to come running, guess what? He’ll be doing a lot of whining, and you’ll be doing a lot of running!

If you pay attention, you’ll soon pick up on the subtle ways in which your dog tries to manipulate you. You’ll have to learn how to ignore the attention seeking whining or your dog will wrap you around his little paw.

Find out more about dog training tips, puppy care, dog health and other interesting dog information at www.dogsanddogtraining.com.

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