Doggy Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘dog walker’

Where do I start a new pet for the family? What is the best pet for our family? Good start by collecting information. This is vital as a pet is for life, so if in doubt do not have a pet.
A bit negative there, but there is such a large choice of potential pets to pick from, all of them can be pleasurable, but have dissimilar pluses and negatives. You can decide from a dog, cat, gerbil, guinea pig, fish, rabbit, bird and the list goes on and on.
You should to involve everyone in the choice, it needs to be a complete family decision. Due to its importance I recommend you thrash out and commit to paper your objective for desiring a pet. Add to it on a large sheet of paper, with a column for the pet, some columns to rank each pet. The headings for a pet include, time (yours), cost (pets are expensive), pet care, space needed, aptitude to fuss, interest, joint activity, any phobias, other issues.
Pets take time, some necessitate more than others. Time eating animals are those that have need of regular exercise such as dogs and horses. Dogs evolved from wolves and still have many of those characters. They are used to regularly covering large areas every day to search for food, so most breeds need a minimum one to two hours a day walking. This should be part of a regular schedule and done everyday. Other animals may require a lot of grooming, changing water etc. A pet sitter often spends much of their visit to brushing long haired cats, though the cat and the sitter enjoy it. You may want a certain animal, but do you have the time for him? Be direct with yourself and the prospective pet.
Expense, consider all expense. There is the potential cost of the pet to start with, which for a pedigree pet can be costly. I would like everyone to consider taking a abandoned pet, there are increasing numbers of these at the moment as people are unfortunately abandoning them to the pet charities – is this an opportunity for you to help out? The other starting costs include cages, leads, grooming aids, blankets / beds. After that are the ongoing pet costs, food, which for a large animal can be substantial. I strongly recommend you to have your pet sterilized, many pet specialists and studies have shown that you will have less behavioural problems with a neutered animal. There are routine veterinary expenditure such as vaccinations, however some are impossible to plan for. For this reason I strongly propose you to take out pet insurance, so you can cope with any situations that may occur. There are ongoing costs for flea treatment etc. These costs mount up.
Is your house large enough for the pet? Some pets can be interesting, but you may not be able to fuss them, what is the most important for you? No pet has it all. Can you pick up the pet? Rats are remarkably interesting, but a few people do not like the scaly tail, or the idea of one.
You should to review the summary table, you may not have the time for dog walking during the week due to work pressures, the upside is you have the money to pay for a professional dog walker. Not enough space for the horse, use stables, but watch the cost.
So once you have identified a type of pet, there is often a huge variety of different types and breeds to choose from, looking at hamsters there are five basic types, with very different features. There is also the choice of how many, some animals are better off single, others as a pair because they must have the company. Then there is the choice of sex, some animals have very different behaviour between the male and female. Male rats are less active than females and urinate more.
After all of these decisions, I would recommend you to organise a pet test drive. Do you know anyone with a similar pet, that you can look after for a few days, or even be a pet sitter for them during the summer vacations. Discuss with the owner about the expenditure, the work that is required, and do not forget the pleasure that the animal gives. An alternative is to do some pet charity work.
Pet breeders and dog trainers are exceptionally knowledgeable, so visit and talk with them.
I hope this helps, go and enjoy a new pet.

The Scottish Terrier also known as the Scottie or the Highland or Aberdeen Terrier is characterised for its distinctive terrier personality. There are four other Scottish Terrier breeds, West Highland White Terriers, Dandie Dinmont and Skye, Cairn.
The behaviour and qualities and more importantly the dog care of the Scottie comes from its origins.You should compare characteristics with with the other top dog breeds, of which there are many.
The Scottie is often called by the nickname of “little diehard”. Originally given in the 19th century by George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton. George IV had a pack of Scottish Terriers, apparently so valiant that they were given the nickname “Diehards” and were the idea for his Regiment name, The Royal Scots, “Dumbarton’s Diehards”.
It is impossible to be sure of the real origins of the Scottish Terrier, but it was bred for clearing small rodents in Scotland for centuries. It may be the oldest of the five Scottish Terrier breeds and there are some references back to the 16th Century.
The source of the name “terrier” is the Latin terra denoting “earth”. The Highland Terrier was a hunter where these short legged, powerful dogs were designed and built for the purpose of rooting out small pest animals such as badgers, foxes and rats out of their burrows.
Scottish Terriers appearance is  characterised by long fur, heavy eyebrows and whiskers. The wiry coat exists in many colors, including black, brindle or wheaten of any shade. Scotties with ‘Wheaten’ (straw to nearly white) coats may occur, but should not be confused with the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier or West Highland White Terrier.
Scotties are robust, with a muscular body and a long neck. A Highland Terrier has a long head relative to its body which averages about 10 or 11 inches high. The Aberdeen Terrier has  erect ears and tail. Aberdeen Terrierwere bred with strong tails so that their owners could pull them out of burrows when they were wedged after tunnelling after vermin and voles.
Scottiehave small, bright almond-shaped and dark eyes.
The Scottish Terrier personality is one of freedom and spirit. Often people say a Scottie thinks he is an Irish Wolfhound in height! To the extent that he is totally fearless that often appears idiotic in the face of a much larger dog, when he suddenly realises that he is less than a foot in height. Dog walkers love to walk them, they are never feel frightened by the larger dogs!
Height at withers for both sexes of the Scottie should be roughly 25 cm (9.8 in), and the length of back from withers to tail is roughly 28 cm (11 in). Generally a well-balanced Scottie dog should weigh 8–10 kg (19–22 lb) and a female from 8–9.9 kg (18–22 lb). Scottish Terrier are about 11–15 inches (28–38 cm) in height.
Scottish Terrierare very alert, jovial and confident. They typically live roughly twelve years.
Aberdeen Terriers, whilst being very loving, can also be irritatingly stubborn. Because of this stubbornness, a Scottie needs strong, but kind handling from a puppy or it will rule the family. Every new Scottish Terrier addition should have a clear puppy training plan.
The Scottish Terrier makes a great guard dog because it normally only barks when necessary and generally only for strangers. Dog socialisation is crucial as it is a fearless breed that may be aggressive around other dogs unless presented and educated to different dogs whilst a puppy or young.
Because the Highland Terrier were  used to hunt and fight badgers and other vermin they like to dig and chase small vermin, such as mice, rats and squirrels. Yet another reason to recommend that they are kept on a leash.
Whilst Scotties are generally a healthy breed they have a propensity of developing some cancers than other purebreds. Research has identified six cancers that Highland Terriers are more likely to be at risk of (versus other breeds) are: (in descending order) bladder cancer and other transitional cell carcinomas of the lower urinary tract (more normal in older dogs and more common in females so watch for blood in the urine, straining to urinate and frequent urination – and get veterinary help); malignant melanoma; gastric carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; lymphosarcoma and nasal carcinoma.
To help prevent cancer in any dog,  ensure that your dog has little or no exposure to herbicides, pesticides, solvents and cigarette smoke; use caution when treating dogs with some flea medications; provide a healthy, vitamin-rich diet (low in carbohydrates, high in vegetables) and plenty of exercise.
Two other genetic health concerns in the Scottie breed are von Willebrand disease (vWD) which is diagnosed with varying degrees of bleeding tendency, usually in the form of easy bruising, nosebleeds and gums that bleed.
The second is craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); often  known as lion’s jaw, that created extensive bony modifications in the mandible and skull. Normally occurring between the ages of 3 and 8 months. The lesions normally stop progressing after twelve months or so, and may regress. The firm swelling of the jaw, drooling, pain, and difficulty in eating. This is also an inherited disease and if extensive, could be difficult for the dog.
Due to these inherited diseases it is advisable to buy directly from a breeder, who can show he has no problems with these diseases.
Famous Scotties include former President George W. Bushs’ Barney and Roosevelts – Fala. Infact the  Scottie is the only breed of dog that has lived in the White House more than three times.
Other famous people who are known to have owned the Scottie  include: Humphrey Bogart; Liza Minnelli; Queen Victoria; Ronald Reagan; Eva Braun; Tatum O’Neal owned a Scottish Terrier. She was said to be so saddened by her dog’s death to old age and cancer that she fell back into drugs.
The Aberdeen Terrier is also a player token in the board game, Monopoly.
 A Scottish Terrier and a West Highland White Terrier are featured on the Black & White whisky label. In Enid Blyton’s Mystery Series books, there is Buster a Scottish Terrier, who is often part of the mysteries.
So all in, a rightfully popular dog breed, particularly in personality per weight, but you will need to train and be firm with your Highland Terrier.

Living through the credit crunch is difficult enough, but when you have animals which depend on you for sustenance, shelter and veterinary attention, anything that can be done, helps. It’s a sad fact that many pets are given up or abandoned every week, as animal lovers fight to cope with today’s financial climate. This is particularly problematic for animal charities who have look after animals when money is in short supply, surviving on donations to keep their dogs in good shape. Here are a few points which could help make owning a animal on a budget a little easier: 1. Consider every pet expenditure? Do you need that specific pet food or product? Is a retailer as good as Perdigree? Easier said than done, raise pets up with variety, equally dry and wet, as well as different brands and flavours. Watch out for special deals. You can stock up. Consider vouchers, search on the net for some promotions. Buy based on price per pound / Kg, as sometimes, principally with promotions, the smaller pack can be cheaper. 2. Wherever possible, pet owners can often club together to buy food and litter in bulk, reducing the total price and passing on savings to all. 3. Vets bills are an unknown factor but must be considered. If cash is a little tight, you may find a lot of Vets will consider spreading the costs, and reimburse in instalments. If you can, afford it – have or keep pet insurance. 4. Can you change the way you live? It’s not all about finding ways to keep your animal more cheaply, see if you can do it for yourself! 5. What about earning some money? Perhaps find a dog walking job Become a Dog Walker. Professional companies will require you do it regularly. Another alternative is to become a pet sitter, though professional companies such as London Pet Sitting will require you also to do dog walking in London. 6. What about your other animals, you may have put your cats in a cattery, what about using a cat sitter? The pet may prefer it and the pet sitters often do other things. 7. Do use external stabling or boarding? Many horses can exist quite contentedly outside for most of the year, just make sure there’s food, water and shelter available. If this is a suitable option for your horse, it should diminish the outlay on stabling greatly. 8. Are you thinking of choosing an animal, certainly consider rescuing an animal from a charity, they have so many pets looking for a home at the moment. Enjoy your pet, they are worth the cost.