The Nerve of Some Pet Owners!

I have always loved animals of all kinds and have had cats or dogs for pets since I was a child – you probably have too! And I remember to this day how my sister and I were taught that we must take care of these pets and always treat them with gentleness and love. If in a fit of temper we ever hit a pet, we were given punishments to remind us never to do such a thing again.

Being especially an enthusiast of dogs, I have seen so many things in the past few years that have made me absolutely sick. We have moved several times and have been unfortunate in having for neighbor’s people who let their children abuse their pets – and we have yet to see any of these people come out and rescue a dog or cat and scold or punish the children.

What has gone wrong?

If kindness is not taught at an early age, a child will grow up without it and become a bully in later life, abusing those weaker than he is. I will never stand by and see an animal abused, however, when I have interfered, I've made enemies of some of my neighbors. Can it be that people are just too lazy to teach their children how beautifully a pet will respond to love and care as opposed to disrespect and abuse?

Then there are people who go off on vacations and leave a dog or cat alone for several days in a back yard with a bowl of water and some dry food. And, of course, the dog becomes so lonely and so fearful that his owners are not coming back so he barks and barks and barks... continuously until the owners return.

This is cruelty to all of the neighbors, but the owners couldn't care less, even when told about the barking. They have saved money by not boarding the dog and that is the only thing important to them.

There is a new trend regarding dogs that is hard to understand: People buy them and then go through the motions of taking care of them, which in their minds is just to feed them and give them a place to sleep. Nowadays, with crime rampant, many are bought to function as watchdogs. As for giving the dog love, attention, and gratitude – they feel no obligations in those areas.

My heart aches for poor pets that are abused, shut off from proper love, and especially then they are confined to small apartments or yards all day long. They are alone with no attention, love, or appreciation. There ought to be a law against such cruelty, which I consider to be worse than physical cruelty.

Article by Amy Christianson of Oh My Dog Supplies your top spot to purchase chew & squeak dog toys online.

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Dog Pictures: Man's Best Friend Is Also Her Best Snap Shot

Ask any dog enthusiast to show you a photo of his lovable animal and she’s bound to entertain you with an album-full of dog photos!

Pets and cameras seem to have been made for each other. Professional photographers count their blessings – it wasn't always as easy as today's 'point and shoot' method, which can stop a dog in mid jump catching a ball, and come out looking just right!

Dog Pictures from The Past

When the first photograph was taken in 1839, Louis Daguerre, the photographer, had to leave the shutter open for about 20 minutes just to get sufficient light on the film (A major improvement over the 8 hour exposure time earlier experimenters used.)

Fast forward a few years later, the art of photography spread like the plague throughout the nation and new developments made shorter exposure times possible …although exposure was still measured in minutes instead of the fraction of a second it now takes.

Taking photos people was difficult enough. To keep them still during exposure they were often held firmly in place by braces and vise-like head grips. Kids were even harder to keep still …the slightest squirm blurred the photo. With the father standing firmly nearby ready to chastise their little one if he/she scratched his or her nose, the photographer was nevertheless able to produce pretty good quality photos.

Dog Pictures Were Just As Popular

Just as with modern pet dog owners, everyone with a pet pup wanted to get her into the act, too. On the other hand, even the best-trained pup couldn't be expected to freeze for three minutes while the photographer exposed his film.

The jerk of a friendly tail ruined many dog pictures in those early days – but nothing could put a damper on the dog owner's eagerness. She wanted a photo shot of her dog – whether it was a daguerreotype, ambrotype, Carte de visite, tintype, cabinet picture or snapshot.

Photographers kept trying, and out of the mass of blurs and blotches emerged a number of dog pictures immortalizing man's best friend – and the photographer's worst model!

Collectors of Dog Pictures

Recently, a huge growth of interest in early photography has sent a small selection of collectors scouring the country for the daguerreotype and its successors. Many collect only outdoor scenes, others focus in civil war soldiers – but it's the courageous few who search for dog pictures that have the most difficult task of all.

The blurred images were of course discarded long ago, and good quality dog pictures were unusual even during the 19th century. In the 21st century, they can be ranked in the “rare” class and have been sold for as much as $500 plus.

Article by Amy Christianson of Oh My Dog Supplies your top spot to purchase chew & squeak dog toys online.

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Dog Grooming Q & A Session

The majority of dog owners never give grooming any thought. Most of us only want to know what to feed our dog and how we can teach the dog tricks. Well, grooming is an important feature of dog care. And every now and then dog owners come up with some questions which they have no answer. Here are some answers to the commonly asked questions about dog grooming.

Do dogs need a bath every week?

This is dependent on the type of dog you have. In general, dogs like humans can also get dirty. This is truer of the dogs that are big and love the outdoors. While most dogs love to play in the water and many even like to swim, the majority do not like to bath. In any case, you can bathe your dog every 3-4 weeks. If your dog has been fooling around in the mud and poop, then of course, it needs a bath right away.

Are there any particular soaps or shampoos that I need to use to wash my dog?

Generally, there are no rigid rules against the use of soap or shampoos. But you have to remember dogs always lick their fur and so it not a good idea to use harsh soaps or medicated shampoos. If you do decide to use a shampoo, make sure that the dog is given a thorough rinse afterwards. Today, there are many products available in pet stores for bathing a dog.

Is brushing the fur bad for the dog?

No, dogs love to have their fur brushed. The brushing is designed to keep the fur clean and remove all the debris and dead hair. However, brushing should be done gently. If you brush too hard, you can damage the skin.

What is the best way to dry the fur after a bath?

There are several ways to dry a dog’s fur and the easiest is to use a towel. Use your hands to squeeze all the water out from the fur and then gently pad the fur down with a dry towel. Scrubbing is not recommended as it causes more tangles and damages the hair. There are some dogs that may benefit from the use of a hair dryer. There is no rule that says a hair dryer can’t be used to dry the fur- but you must keep it on the cooler side. Dogs do not like hot air blowing on their skin. Some dogs do require time to get adjusted to the noise of the hair dryer and others simply won’t come near you.

Are there any precautions I should take when grooming my dog?

Yes, it is important that you remain in control while grooming. While most dogs love to be groomed, certain big dogs may growl or threaten the owner. If the dog does get aggressive while grooming, buy a muzzle. When the dog calms down, remove the muzzle. Be gentle when grooming and pet the dog as you go along. With time, the dog will accept the grooming process.

Which dog fur is difficult to groom?

In general dogs with semi long, silky or straight hair can be difficult. Breeds with this type of hair include the Cocker spaniels whose fur can easily be tangled. These dogs are best groomed when the fur is dry. Dogs, which have long silky hair like in a Yorkshire terrier, are very fragile and one must be very gentle. Dogs, which are easiest to groom, are those with short thick coats. These dogs, in particular, the German shepherds and Labradors only shed hair twice a year and easiest to take care of.

Article by Amy Christianson of Oh My Dog Supplies your top spot to purchase chew & squeak dog toys online.

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