• Approved for airline use
• Handy storage compartments
• For animals up to 15 pounds.
• Samba Red/Coffee Grounds
• Measures 23 x 15.2 x 12 inches.

Product Description
Positive locking door latch on front for strength. Storage compartment for treats, leash, water cups or pets papers. Seat belt slot for pet safety. Ergonomic cushion grip handle. Air vent pattern conforms to IATA regulation. Airline approved. Please check with your airline for carrier regulations.

Medium Kennel Cab Pet Carrier – 23 x 15.2 x 12 inches

As readily apparent from its name the Portuguese Water Dog hails from Portugal and for centuries before it was finally superseded by technology it remained the Portuguese fisherman’s consummate all-purpose fishing tool. The exact ancestral origins of the Portuguese Water Dog remain unknown but it is quite closely related to other European water dog breeds save for the fact that they generally specialized in waterfowl retrieval whereas the Portuguese Water Dog’s specialties lay elsewhere. Unsubstantiated evidence does tend to suggest that the breed’s ancestral heritage originated somewhere in central Asia around 700 B.C. and that the Portuguese water dog was taken to Portugal by the Visigoths circa the fifth century.

Some of the many functions ascribed to the Portuguese Water Dog in earlier times included:

• Herding fish into nets
• Message courier
• Functioning as a lookout
• Translocating and retrieving nets; as well as
• Rescuing capsized fishermen

From the time of the Middle ages the Portuguese Water Dog performed as the ultimate fisherman’s in-water assistant making the lives of the fishermen of the Algarve on Portugal’s southern coast that much easier. Anytime a small fleet of fishing boats would set out the Portuguese water Dog would be in the thick of the action, conveying messages from boat to boat, alerting the fishermen by barking whenever it spotted a shoal of fish and during foggy conditions the dog with its unique “rising-and-falling” bark would act as a canine foghorn.

The first documented evidence of the Portuguese Water Dog was in 1297 from a monks account where he narrates how he was saved from drowning in the sea by a dog with a “black coat, the hair long and rough, cut to the first rib and with a tail tuft.” Known as Cao de Agua in Portugal which translates as “dog of water”, the Portuguese Water Dog is also sometimes referred to as the Portuguese Fishing Dog, the Diving Dog or the Sea Dog.

By the early 20th century as traditional fishing methods became obsolete as a result of advances in technology the Portuguese Water Dog numbers dwindled to the brink of extinction. As fate would have it though, the Portuguese water Dog breed was introduced to one Vasco Bensuade, a wealthy Portuguese shipping magnate who had a fondness for dogs. Vasco Bensuade loved the breed and acquired a dog which he named Leao (lion).

It was through the efforts of Vasco Bensuade that the future of the Portuguese Water Dog was consolidated and a breed standard was written and the dogs thereafter soon began appearing in dog shows. Bensaude’s dog Leao became the founding sire of the kennel he set up to develop and sustain the Portuguese Water Dog breed at Algarbiorum, and Leao also became the standard upon which the Portuguese Water Dog breed was eventually based on.

However despite Vasco Bensuade’s valiant efforts to revive the Portuguese Water Dog, by the 1960s the breed was once again teetering on the brink of extinction with only about 50 dogs in existence worldwide. Once again destiny’s kindly hand reached out to intervene this time in the form of two Americans; Deyanne and Herbert Miller, Jr. The Millers acquired a Portuguese Water Dog from the very same Algarbiorum Kennel that Vasco Bensuade had established in the 1930s (and which was later acquired after his death by a former lady bullfighter, Conchita Branco).

The Millers named the dog that they acquired Renascenca (renaissance) do Al Gharb with high hopes of saving the breed with former founding sire Leao’s descendant. The Millers were successful in their endeavors forming in 1972, along with fourteen other breeders established, the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, Inc. (PWDCA). Today there are in existence over 5000 Portuguese Water dogs and the breed was admitted to the American Kennel Club in June of 1981 under the miscellaneous category.

The crowning achievement of the Portuguese Water Dog breed’s fight of survival is that in 2009 it was been short-listed as a very strong contender to become part of the First family in the White House as the First Canine. For lovers of this breed such news is a mixed bag because although the resultant popularity will increase breed awareness it will also lead in a surge of backyard breeders, puppy mills pushing the breed and fly-by-night dog owners who are inspired by the sudden publicity and popularity to acquire a Portuguese Water Dog only to abandon it sooner than later!

Portuguese Water Dog Temperament

The Portuguese Water dog breed is a gregarious, fun-loving pet that boasts an excellent and balanced disposition. The dog gets along very well with other pets including dogs and also does extremely well with children. This breed has a high affectionate and playfulness level that is more than sufficient to delight and endear any child making it an ideal family pet.

Portuguese Water Dog Upkeep

In keeping with its ancestral and genetic pedigree this active dog breed needs plenty of physical and mental stimulation on a daily basis if it is not to become a nuisance. Ideally the physical activity should be in the form of a daily swim to sate the dog’s love of water but failing that then a long brisk walk or daily jog should suffice. The Portuguese Water Dog does best when closely integrated and involved with its human family. The coat of this dog breed should be combed every other day in order to prevent matting and clumping and it should also be clipped on a monthly basis.

Portuguese Water Dog Characteristics

Health:

Major Health Issues: PRA

Minor Health Issues: GM1 storage disease; Distichiasis; Addisons; CHD; Juvenile Cardiomyopathy; Follicular dysplasia (hair loss); Irritable bowel syndrome (rare); Seizures (rare)

Lifespan: 10 – 14 years

Portuguese Water Dog Form & Function

The Portuguese Water Dog is a well proportioned canine that is slightly longer than it is tall. The breed is of medium build with good musculature and has excellent stamina to work on or out of the water for long durations. This breed exists in two coat variations:

• The long-haired variant also known as the Cao de Agua de Pelo Ondulado in Portugal; and
• The curly-coated variant which is known as the Cao de Agua de Pelo Encaradolado.

The Portuguese Water Dog is also a good choice of dog breed for allergy sufferers because it is hypo to non-allergenic (especially the curly-coated variant).

Like the better known Labrador Retriever that also loves swimming the feet of the Portuguese Water Dog have webbed toes to assist movement whilst in the water.

The coat of this breed is generally trimmed in two variations:

• Lion Trim: Here the rear-end of the dogs body is closely cropped giving the impression of a male lion with a mane; hence the name. The historical value of this type of trim was that supposedly by trimming the dogs coat on the rear half of its body drag was reduced when the dog was swimming. The close trim extends to the tip of the tail which is left untouched as a bushy tuft.

• Retriever Trim: Here the coat of the Portuguese Water Dog is clipped consistently across its entire length to approximately 1 inch in length.

Coat Color:

Acceptable coat colors of this breed include: black, brown, white or any combination of black and white or brown and white.

More About The Dog

Show training Maltese puppies. Lead and stack work.

One of the first hings you do with a new puppy is get your new puppy potty trained. Thankfully, potty training your puppy doesn’t have to be that hard. This article will show you some tips on potty training your puppy.

First, you need to understand that puppies are like babies and they simply make mistakes because they don’t know better and can’t understand their urges. Your puppy doesn’t mean to ruin your good carpet; he simply doesn’t know that he has to go potty.

A puppy’s ability to feel the urge to go potty develops as they age, much like children. You can help your puppy potty train faster by developing a schedule for your puppy to follow. Take the puppy out to go potty at the same times every day to allow the puppy to become accustomed to a schedule.

Especially if you are not always home during the day, you can expect there to be accidents while you puppy is potty training. You can help minimize the mess by putting down newspapers for the puppy to relieve himself on, but it will take additional training for the puppy to know this is for emergencies. When accidents happen, don’t get angry – just clean up and disinfect the area.

You can learn to notice some of the signs that your puppy needs to be taken out for a potty trip. When you see your puppy acting up in a certain way, it may be time to take them out to relieve themselves.

Here are some signs that a puppy needs to go potty:

* Showing Restlessness
* Sniffing at a spot they had previously soiled
* Puppy is Whimpering and wining
* Puppy is distracted from play

As each puppy is different, you will soon learn to recognize the signs in your dog. When your puppy starts to show this potty signal it is time to take them out for a walk and direct them to go in the place you want them to use.

When your puppy does good, remember to praise him. Praise displays to the puppy that they have done the right thing and will make them happy to do it again to seek more praise.

Although potty training your puppy can be dificult, it is just a matter of being consistent and patient with your new puppy long enough for their minds and bladders to mature and train. With patience and time, your puppy will potty train and accidents will be a problem of the past.

There are an estimated 74.8 million pet dogs in the United States and many more around the world. Dog ownership is at an all-time high today. At no time in history have so many people shared their lives with dogs as companions.

People today also have many choices when it comes to what kind of dog they will choose as a pet. There are over 400 recognized breeds of dog in the world. They range from the tiny Chihuahua which originated in Mexico to the wide range of ancient breeds that came from southeast Asia, such as the Akita, the Chow Chow, the Pug, the Pekingese and the Tibetan breeds. They include the old spitz-type breeds such as the Malamute, the Siberian Husky and others; and the very old breeds of the middle east, such as the Saluki, the Afghan Hound, the Pharoah Hound, and the Greyhound.

In addition to all of the breeds of dogs in the world there are numerous Designer dogs being bred these dogs. Designer Dogs are intentional crosses of two purebred dogs. They may be bred for a special reason, such as to try to produce a low-shedding coat or more intelligence or trainability, or some other aspect of one of the parents. Or, in some cases, they are bred simply because they may produce cute puppies. Designer dogs have been in high demand in the last several years and can command enormous prices.

Besides these intentionally-bred dogs there are several million dogs in animal shelters each year looking for homes. Some of these dogs are strays, some are puppies from unplanned litters, and some are stray puppies and dogs imported from countries outside the United States for adoption here. Some of the dogs are young dogs that have been adopted once and returned because their owners didn’t know how to handle adolescent dog behavior.

All of this means that you have a huge range of choices when it comes to trying to decide what kind of dog you want. How do you even begin to narrow your choices?

The best thing to do when you consider what kind of dog to get is to consider your essential needs. Do you have allergies? Do you hate dog hair in the house? Do you want a dog that can go jogging with you? Do you live a quiet lifestyle? Do you live in an apartment or do you have land in the country? Do you have kids? Do you have time to spend on grooming a dog or will the dog go to a groomer? Do you want a low maintenance dog or do you enjoy fussing over a coat and grooming? Do you intend to train your dog to learn more than housetraining?

When you consider these questions and others like them you should try to be completely honest with yourself. You want to get a dog that will be a good fit for you personally. It’s a bad idea to get a dog because it’s the popular thing to do. Don’t adopt a shelter dog if you have allergies. Chances are that you will be allergic to the poor dog and have to return him. Instead you will need to identify the breeds of dogs that are usually better for allergy-sufferers. Even then you will need to meet some dogs on a one-on-one basis to see how you react to them.

Don’t let yourself be pressured into getting a dog that you don’t want. If you have always wanted a Greyhound don’t let somebody talk you into taking a Beagle-mix because the dog needs a home. There will always be dogs that need homes and you cannot save all of them. Chances are that you won’t be happy with a dog that you didn’t truly want. If you feel that you want to rescue a dog there may not be purebred dogs of certain breeds in animal shelters but there are often purebreds with purebred rescue groups. Greyhounds, for instance, have a very active rescue network. You could get the Greyhound that you always wanted and rescue a dog at the same time. You can find information about purebred breed rescue organizations online.

If you choose to get a purebred puppy or dog from a breeder make sure that you choose a reputable breeder. Reputable breeders do health screening on their dogs to make sure that they are good candidates for breeding. For many breeds this means that their hips are x-rayed for hip dysplasia. For some breeds their eyes may be checked and they receive a CERF certificate. Other breeds may have their hearing checked by BAER testing. The list goes on. Breeders in each breed take different precautions to make sure their dogs are healthy. You should do some homework about the breed so you know the potential health problems. That way you will know what to ask the breeder and what health testing should have been done.

Good breeders are willing to stand by the puppies and dogs they place. They should be willing to guarantee a puppy or dog’s genetic health. No dog will remain healthy forever. Dogs, like people, must all eventually die. But good breeders will make guarantees about the possible genetic problems in their breed and what they will do in the event that a dog of their breeding develops a problem. Will they replace a puppy? Will they refund money? Will they help pay costs to correct the problem? All of these things should be spelled out in the contract you have with a good breeder. Buying from a good breeder is, however, a two-way street. The breeder will also expect many things of you regarding the proper care of “their” puppy. Don’t be surprised when they put you through a gamut of questions about your fitness to own one of their dogs.

Adopting a dog from an animal shelter is often not as easy as it once was. Whereas you could once walk into a shelter, point to a dog and take it home, in many shelters things are a little more complicated nowadays. Some shelters require a lot more information about people adopting dogs now. Dogs (and cats) are often evaluated for temperament. Shelters try to match people with dogs that have temperaments that will suit people interested in adopting them. They hope that this will cut down on the number of dogs that are returned to the shelter. Fees for adopting dogs are also higher than they once were since shelters try to cover the cost of shots and spaying/neutering. The costs of adopting dogs through rescue groups are usually even higher. Rescue groups justify these costs by saying that they may not spend a lot of money on one particular dog but they may have a case where a dog has heartworms and they have to spend a lot of money on that one dog. So, they spread the costs to everyone who adopts.

There are countless wonderful dogs available, whichever route you decide to take. You can get a great dog at your local animal shelter or you may find your dream dog by searching for a reputable breeder. The important thing to remember is to identify the key points about your own lifestyle that you will be sharing with your dog. Focus on finding a dog that fits the way you live. Do what’s best for you and you will find the right canine companion.

Assistance dogs come in a variety of types: guiding dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs. At their core, all trainings aim to do the same thing: train a dog to help people that can’t do their daily tasks properly because they have some disabilities. Such dogs will help people that have problems with their sight or hearing.

Other uses for service dogs include mobility assistance and seizure response training, but it depends on what the owner needs from the dog. If you do need this type of training, the dog needs to be trained for it properly.

TRAINING

Self-training and program training are two of the types of training that service dogs need to go through.

The owner needs to facilitate self-training, and the same goes for any type of dog training. Getting a professional trainer that knows what he’s doing is much easier, but self training can boost the relationship between the dog and his owner.

Both young and old dogs can potentially be good for service. In some cases, people will want their older dogs to be trained, especially in cases where the dog showed that he is suited for it. But, in most cases, people will want to use pets from dog breeds that are designed for service work from the start.

There are a number of procedures and techniques that people can use to teach a dog how to be useful for people with disabilities. You can look for tips online or you could buy books that teach you the process of service dog training. Another option is to hire a professional take care of your dog, to make sure he gets the best training possible.

While the dog would learn what he needs to do faster, since these professionals have very good training techniques, the problem is that once the dog is sent back home, the training is stopped, unless the owners how to continue it themselves. If the dog is home trained however, the training can continue.

If a breeder sells a dog that will be trained to service, he should first teach the dog basic orders, like come, sit, no and stay. Next, the owner needs to teach the dog other orders, like how he can turn off lights or open a door. Remember, this dog needs to help people with disabilities, so he needs to do a number of things for them.

Service works is what these dogs are bred and trained to do. It can take more than a year to teach such a dog what he needs to do in any kind of situation. They also should be trained on dealing with the people that they will serve.

You can train these dogs in a variety of ways. For example, training done by prison inmates is an option in the United States. It’s a method that worked well in the past, with both the dogs and the inmates benefitting from this situation. The inmates for example, learn to socialize better by training the dogs.

If someone needs a service dog, they first need to go through an evaluation process, after they fill in an application. Next, he will be put on a list, waiting for a dog that will fill the needs that he has. In most cases, you don’t need to pay anything for getting a dog if you need it, but in others you will have to pay something in order to get it.

After the owner gets the service dog, he will have to learn how to deal with him and how to train him further, to do the things he needs done. This period can vary, from just a few weeks to months in some cases. After that, a period follows where the training is updated at the training center.

These dogs aren’t trained just to help people to open doors or to do other things that owners can’t do. They’re also there to be good companions and to offer emotional support.

Although dogs are quite vocal animals, their main form of communication either with humans or their own species is through non-verbal signals or what we more popularly call body language.

Non-verbal messages can be both overt and very subtle; think of the enumerable non-verbal messages you send and receive during the course of an interaction with another human being. In fact human behaviour experts suggest that over 80% of our communication with each other is ‘understood’, by us interpreting the non-verbal behaviours during a conversation.

Our dogs are no different, in fact they are far more capable of interpreting non-verbal communications, in both relation to humans and their own kind. Dogs are body language experts; to give an example, take the dogs who are especially trained to warn their owners of imminent epileptic seizures, these dogs can respond to the most subtle of bodily cues, so subtle, even the person who is about to have the seizure is unaware of.

How can understanding your dogs body language benefit you as a dog owner then? Understanding the non-verbal signals your dog displays both with humans and his own kind will will benefit you in a great number of ways. For example, understanding the unique way in which dogs communicate will help give you a deeper appreciation of the species and their unique abilities. The communication exchanges between you and your dog will ‘flow’ better , as you begin to better understand your dogs needs. With practice you will begin to assess your dogs emotional states much easier. Training your dog will be much easier also,as you will be able to assess the level of your dogs motivation and responses to various training situations.

Let us look now at the different ways dogs use their bodies to communicate both with humans and their own kind.

The happy dog

The behaviour of a happy dog is obvious to most dog owners. In this situation the dog seems light on it’s paws, his tail will wag erratically and he will move foreword to greet you if encouraged to do so.

The confident dog

Here the dogs stands tall, his ears held high with a wagging tail. If meeting a person or dog, he will stand head on and make eye contact.

The playful dog

A dog who displays playfulness is another set of behaviours that are commonly recognises by dog owners. In this situation, the dog will lower the front part of its body towards the floor, and at the same time keeping his back end erect. He will give eye contact and possibly bark in a bid to get your attention, or he may run around in circles and adopt the ‘playbow’ again, in an effort to get you to play with him.

The submissive dog

Submissiveness can be displayed in a number of ways through bodily signs, such as a lowered tail, ears pinned back, with lowered head. The dog will avert direct eye contact and if called may come but zigzag his way towards you. Some dogs may may display a facial expression almost like a grin, that is often accompanied by a nodding head.This action is a way of the dog attempting appease you, as he may be unsure as to your reaction towards him. In extreme cases, the dog will role over on its back,tuck his tail between his legs and may even urinate.

The anxious dog

A dog who shows anxiety, just appears totally ill at ease. His head may be carried low with ears back. His tail will be partially or full tucked between his legs and he may whimper, especially if further exposed to the stimulus he fears. His anxiety may make him over react to certain sights and sounds, for example a dog who is extremely anxious around loud traffic may hit the ground when a car passes by, or try to flee.

The fearful dog

A fearful dog displays both fearful and anxious behaviours, but to an exaggerated degree. His body posture will be almost crouched, his head held low, ears back and tail tucked between his legs. If he continues to feel fear, he may growl or show his teeth, which is a sure sign he may well attack if stressed further.

The dominant dog

A dominant dog acts in a similar manner to a dog who is very confident, so the two sets of behaviours can be confused. Essentially a dog who so displaying dominant behaviours will have his tail held high, with ears erect. He will face either the other dog head on and make direct eye contact. The dominant dog of the two may try to put his head above the other dogs neck area and this may be accompanied with low growling. If the other dog submits there will be no problem, however, if the other other dog resists, the interaction could well develop into a fight.

If the situation involves a human, the dominant dog will display the same type of behaviour. If you ever find yourself in the presence of such a dog, the best advice is not to try to dominate him, for example making eye contact, as this could be taken as a direct threat by the dog, and dominance could turn to aggression. The best way to deal with such a confrontation is to avoid eye contact with the dog and back slowly away from him. Dogs rarely bite without warning, and in reality most dogs don’t bite.

The aggressive dog

A dog who displays aggressive behaviour can also be obvious. Here the dogs body posture has an air of ‘I mean business’ about it. Dominant aggressive behaviour is different from nervous aggressive behaviour in that with nervous aggressive behaviour, the dogs seems to want to back away, as opposed to dominant aggressive behaviour were the dog in question will stand his ground. The fur on his back may be displayed, with ears pinned back. He will make direct eye contact, although his eyes may be narrowed. His tail will be straight and may even wag slowly. He may also show his teeth, along with a lot of ferocious barking.

If you find yourself in a situation with such a dog, don’t run or turn your back on him. Stay calm and back away slowly. Don’t make eye contact with such a dog, but at the same time don’t turn your back on him either, as this could give him an opportunity to strike. If you think that the dog may attack, do not run from him, as to do so would almost certainly cause him to chase and bite. Find something to put between you and the dog, say for example a piece of furniture, and back confidently and slowly away.

Almost everyone own a video camera these days, therefore, if you would like to learn more about how your dog uses his body language to communicate, take your camera with you when you take him to the local park and film his interactions. Later, play them back and you will be amazed at what you will learn.

One of the first things you do with a brand new puppy is getting your new puppy potty trained. Luckily, puppy potty training doesn’t have to be a huge pain. This piece will cover a few tips on potty training your new puppy.

At first, you need to know that puppies are similar to kids and they will create messes because they don’t know any better and Aren’t familiar with their bodily urges. Your puppy isn’t trying to soil on your living room couch; he just doesn’t know that he has to go potty.

A puppy’s ability to notice their need to go to potty as they get older, much like kids. potty train your puppy faster by making up a schedule for your puppy to adhere to. Take the puppy out at consistent times every day so that the puppy becomes familiar with a regular schedule.

If you work outside of the home, you can expect there to be accidents while you puppy is potty training. You can aleviate this some by putting down newspapers for your puppy to relieve themselves on, but it will take training for the puppy to understand this is only for emergencies. When mistakes happen (and they will), don’t get upset – just tidy up and disinfect the area.

You can notice ahead of time some of the signs that your puppy needs to be let outside. When you notice your puppy acting a certain way, it should be time to take them out.

Here are signs that your puppy needs to go potty:

* Your puppy is restless

* Puppy is sniffing a place they had previously gone potty

* Your puppy is fussing

* Distracted at play

Puppies are unique, you will soon learn to spot the signs in your puppy. When your puppy begins to exhibit this potty sign it is time to take them out for a walk and direct them to go in the place you want them to use.

If your puppy does good, remember to praise him. Positive reactions reinforces to the puppy that they have done the right thing and will make them eager to do it again to get more praise.

Although housebreaking your puppy can be hard, it is just a matter of being dilligent and patient with your new puppy long enough for their minds and bodies to grow up and adhere to your training. With patience and enough time, your puppy will become housebroken and accidents will be a a thing of the past.

• Wholesome and natural nutrition recommended for Large Breed Puppies (55 – 100 lbs. at maturity) 5 to 15 months of age
• Specially formulated for controlled rate of growth, digestive safety, and immunity support

Product Description
35 lbs. For large breed puppies up to 15 months old (55 to 100 lbs. at adulthood). Features a growth management program, digestive safety, and joint maintenance. Royal Canin MAXI Canine Health Nutrition Large Breed Puppy 32 – Dog Food Large-breed puppies require specifically adapted nutrition during their unique long growth cycle. Feeding them a diet that is too high in energy can accelerate growth without allowing enough time for proper bone and skeletal development. They need a diet with a controlled amount of energy to limit rapid weight gain, with fructo-oligosaccharides for optimal digestion and with balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus to promote optimal skeletal development. Royal Canin MAXI Canine Health Nutrition Large Breed Puppy 32 provides the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that your large breed puppy needs for healthy growth. Prebiotic nutrients and antioxidants like Vitamins A & C promote a strong immune system, while fish oil provides EPA and DHA for proper brain development. Glucosamine and chondroitin contribute to healthy joints and strong bones. The specially developed kibble is sized right for large breed puppies and contains LIP (low indigestible proteins) for easy digestion. For large breed puppies under 5 months old feed Royal Canin MAXI Canine Health Nutrition Babydog 30. dog food

Royal Canin MAXI Canine Health Nutrition Puppy 32

• Made out of fir solid wood
• Easy to assemble step by step
• Roof can open for easy cleaning
• Floor can be remove easily for cleaning
• Item size:28*32*32 inch

Product Description
This pet house is perfect for medium to small sized dogs. It is great to be used in any deck, balcony, backyard, and also indoor house. Made out of fir solid wood
Easy to assemble step by step.
Roof can open for easy cleaning;
Floor can be remove easily for cleaning;
Raised floor keeps dog dry;
Water Resistant Roof ;
Wood Pet House will withstand humidity and extreme temperatures;
Natural scent of wood creates a calming and pleasant atmosphere for pets, and keeps your pet warm in the Winter and cool in the Summer;
Item size:26*22*26inch

Aosom Red Wood DOG House – For Medium and Small Dogs