This rattlesnake was napping under a horse water tank.

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Some breeds were mixed in ways that kept the characteristics, yet caused the dogs to be larger or smaller than the original breed. With so many choices, you have to think of each dog breed as having specific characteristics, temperament, size, function and abilities.

Each dog within that breed will share some common elements. For example, some dogs who were hunting dogs in times past have been bred differently to reduce the hunting instinct and make the dog more suitable as the pet for a family whose only “hunting” is stopping at grocery store or fast food to bring home dinner.

Major categories of dog breeds include: toys, companions, guards, working, spaniels, terriers, sighthound, scent hounds, spitz and herding. This doesn’t include the famous “Heinz 57” – or pound mutt, whose exact heritage is unknown.

Each of the breeds is known for its ability to perform certain jobs. Historically, all dogs were working dogs – helping with sheep herding, cattle tending, fetching game, guarding property or tracking escapees.

House pets were not common as they are today. Each dog breed still carries the genetic code for its original type of work. You need to know how that dog is genetically programmed before you bring him home.

The dog that’s naturally a watchdog won’t be the cuddly playmate for your small children. The greyhound, particularly the rescued greyhound, is gentle and quiet, but they must have plenty of outdoor time to run. As a dog that can gain speeds of up to 45 mph, the greyhound is not a dog for couch potatoes.

If you want a medium to large dog that will be easily trained and protective over your children, then choose a pastoral or herding dog like the Old English sheepdog, Collie or Welsh Corgi. The instincts they have for keeping sheep in the pasture adapt to keeping your children inside the backyard while keeping intruders outside.

When having a dog means a smaller pet that’s purely for amusement with little expectation, then look at the toy dog breed. Among this group, you find Chihuahua, Poodle, Manchester Terrier, Pug, Pekingese, Shih Tzu and King Charles Spaniel. Don’t expect any work from this group. Toy dogs are masterful at finding ways for you to work for them.

The hunting breed has a proud tradition as the faithful companion and partner to hunters. These dogs include the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, English Springer Spaniel, English Setter, Irish Setter and Cocker Spaniel. Even if you don’t hunt, give these dogs the kind of open field exercise that makes them feel useful in the way that’s part of their heritage.

Some breeds require space, while others need primping for show that rivals what you see among fashion models. Perhaps the easiest breed to bring home and love is the “pound mutt.” In all shapes and sizes, these dogs have endured hardships that landed them in the shelter, when all they want is a family to love. Bring one home and you’ll have a friend for life.

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You will be absolutely thrilled to learn that there are also home solutions that are available for you for dog grooming.

You do not need a professional service

If you own a dog and you are looking at saving money on grooming of your dog, then like most pet owners, you too have the option of grooming your dog, at your home. The biggest advantage over here is that you will definitely be saving a great deal of money.
But, on the other hand, you would also be required to invest a lot of effort and time, in this kind of grooming activity. According to research studies, dogs that are short-haired and are of a small breed, are most easily groomed at home. But, dogs that require intensive hair cutting, special maintenance and complex grooming are better off left in the care of professionals, as it has been found that it would be near to impossible to breed these dogs at home.

Dog grooming calls for the right kind of equipment

If you plan on grooming your dog at home, then you should at least have the minimum amount of equipment that is required to do the task. Without this equipment, it would just not be possible for you to groom your dog.
In order for you to groom your dog at home, you would need to have the following basic equipment: grooming table, clippers and brushes. Though it is always good if you also had scissors and combs, it is not absolutely essential for you to have them. Plus, you would also need stuff such as special cleaning solutions and special shampoos.

Dog grooming calls for a lot of patience

If you think that it is very easy to groom your dog at home, well then you are very wrong. This grooming calls for a great deal of patience. For instance, you need to trim the nails of your dog, at least one time in a month. When you do this, you have to be extremely careful because if you cut the nails of your dog too short, it could lead to you injuring the veins of your dog. Also, you have to be very gentle when you are cutting their nails as there are hardly any pets who really like their nails being touched.

You also need to give an equal amount of attention to the eyes, ears and teeth when you are brushing or bathing your dog. Also, if you happen to come across an injury or some kind of a lump under the coat of the dog, make sure that you immediately take your dog to the veterinarian. This is because you really do not know what this may lead to, if it is unattended. Thus, though you can do dog grooming at home, you must be ready to devote a great deal of time and patience.

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Rover may enjoy staying home when you’re around but he can get pretty lonely when you’re out of town on vacation. You would bring him if you could, but that’s not always a good idea, especially when you’re flying thousands of miles away. One solution is to board him at a kennel where he will be looked after, exercised, and kept out of trouble. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right kennel for your pet:

Clean Boarding Facility

This is important to your pet’s health and can also say a lot about a place. Choose a place where the employees clean up after “accidents” and there isn’t a lot flea-scratching going on. The facility should also require dogs to have their shots – Rabies and Bordatella. This is for your dog’s protection.

Exercise
Check out the kennel arrangement. Will your dog be in an inside/outside kennel where they’re able to go outside to take care of business and enjoy the weather and smells? This may be all the older or inactive dog needs. Do the employees regularly exercise the dogs? High energy dogs need to be walked, played with, or allowed to play with other dogs. Check to see how and when they exercise the animals and if there is any extra cost involved.

Availability

Is the kennel really popular? If so, you may need to book vacations, especially during major holidays, a long time in advance. This is important to know, especially if you’re used to planning your vacations at the last minute. You’ll also want to explore their hours of operation. Some kennels are closed on Sunday or at night so you can’t just drop off or pick up your pet whenever you want. Will your pet be okay if he ends up staying an extra day at the beginning of your trip and another day after you’ve gotten back? And what’s that going to cost you?

Feeding

Find out what food they will feed your pet, and how often. You want the food to be a quality dog food and you want your dog fed twice a day. Some kennels will give you the option of bringing along your own food. Will they be able to administer your pet’s medications, if applicable?

When you can’t bring your pet with you, consider boarding them at a well-run kennel. Be sure to satisfy yourself with the cleanliness of the facility, how they will exercise and feed your pet, and the facility’s hours of operation for you and your pet’s peace of mind

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