Thursday, March 5, 2009

Party Decoration Necktie with poodle, gifts, presents, dog

Party decoration necktie with sublimated artwork. High quality, silky touch, snow white polyester. Ideal birthday gift. Sublimation and shipping might take 6-10 business days.


Dog training is something that almost all dog owners do at some time or another. There may be times, however, whenever special circumstances make it necessary for you to use a dog harness. Dog harnesses come in almost every shape and size and depending on what you need it for, you may need to make a particular choice. Here are some of the different dog harnesses that are available, what you should be looking for in the dog harness and why you would need one in the first place.

Don't harnesses are basically available for dogs which you may have a difficult time controlling. It may also be that you simply do not like to have your dog controlled by a single strap collar that is worn around their neck. Although it is a good idea for you to do some obedience training so that you dog is not pulling at his collar, it is an acceptable alternative to get a dog harness so they do not cause themselves injury while they are undergoing training.

As far as the type of dog harnesses that you can get, they really come in almost every shape and size. Some of them are rather simple and are nothing more than a couple of straps, one that goes underneath their chin in the chest area and the other which wraps behind their front legs. These dog harnesses are usually adjustable and are relatively inexpensive. The good part about them is that they are very effective in controlling your dog and make a great alternative to a single strap dog collar that is worn around the neck. Dog harnesses also come with special padding for on the chest area which can help you to control a dog that is especially aggressive at times, such as a police dog.

There are also dog harnesses that are available for almost every breed and size of dog. I've seen these harnesses that can fit onto a dog as small as a Chihuahua and others that can fit on a bull mastiff. If you do not need the dog harness to be used for working dog, you might want to consider getting something that is a little bit customized. A lot of people go for these customized dog harnesses in order to make their dog look good. To be honest, it doesn't really affect the training of the dog in the but many owners like to do it this way, nonetheless.

Daniel Waser is a dog lover since his childhood. If you're a dog lover too, visit his blog and get great, helpful information just for dogs and download his free report "The Secrets to Raising a Happier Dog".

Tip: Is your beloved dog driving you crazy? Dog behavior problems can cause stress, anxiety, and even fear... Discover how to eliminate these issues quickly and easily with these dog training tips.

dog training

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Good Dog. Stay.

The life of a good dog is like the life of a good person, only shorter and more compressed, writes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anna Quindlen about her beloved black Labrador retriever, Beau. With her trademark wisdom and humor, Quindlen reflects on how her life has unfolded in tandem with Beaus, and on the lessons shes learned by watching him: to roll with the punches, to take things as they come, to measure herself not in terms of the past or the future but of the present, to raise her nose in the air from time to time and, at least metaphorically, holler, I smell bacon!

Of the dog that once possessed a catchers mitt of a mouth, Quindlen reminisces, there came a time when a scrap thrown in his direction usually bounced unseen off his head. Yet put a pork roast in the oven, and the guy still breathed as audibly as an obscene caller. The eyes and ears may have gone, but the nose was eternal. And the tail. The tail still wagged, albeit at half-staff. When it stops, I thought more than once, then well know.

Heartening and bittersweet, Good Dog. Stay. honors the life of a cherished and loyal friend and offers us a valuable lesson on our four-legged family members: Sometimes an old dog can teach us new tricks.
Customer Review: I balled my eyes out!
Life has been stressful lately and I was in need of a good cry. I just happened to pull this book off my shelf and it turned out to be the perfect tonic. Short, sweet and full of wonderful photos. Anyone who has experienced the love of a good dog will get something from "Good Dog. Stay." Linda C. Wright Author, One Clown Short One Clown Short
Customer Review: too short, not much substance
I was excited to read this at first, but soon became disappointed at the lack of substance. I wanted to know more about the dog and it's life with the family. I also didn't like how they wouldn't use the term "mommy" or "daddy" when referring to themselves. I'm my dog's "mommy" and my husband is "daddy". She is just as part of our family as a human child.


Skin lumps are very common in dogs. There are a whole range of possible scenarios that can present as a lump on the skin, including, insect bites and stings, abscesses, hematomas, cysts, soft tissue swelling following trauma and benign or malignant tumors. Tumors are probably the most common of these, but two thirds of them are benign and therefore merely cosmetic. Here we look at the most common types of tumor affecting the skin and subdermis in dogs, and what, if any, treatment they require.

When presented with a skin tumor, a veterinarian has 2 issues to deal with.

1 Is it a type of tumor that requires surgical removal

2 Is further treatment required once it has been removed

Some skin tumors are so obviously benign that a vet will not even bother to biopsy it, let alone recommend removal. These are the small wart like tumors that are often attached by a narrow strip of skin. All skin tumors that do not fit this category though should be subjected to a fine needle aspiration (inserting a needle into the lump, sucking out some cells and characterising them under a microscope) or a surgical biopsy. This will determine whether or not complete removal is necessary, and define the prognosis.

A thorough clinical examination is important to assess both the tumor and the patient as a whole. A veterinarian will study the tumor with respect to its size, position and appearance, and examine the local and regional lymph nodes to look for any evidence of metastasis.

What is the difference between benign and malignant tumors?

Benign tumors are generally slow growing and may change little over the course of a year. They usually have a clear margin and cause the dog little trouble, but they can occasionally cause discomfort if they become ulcerated or start to bleed following self trauma.

Malignant tumors often grow rapidly over a few weeks. They tend to become ulcerated early in their course and they can infiltrate surrounding tissues, therefore seeming fixed and less moveable than benign tumors.

BENIGN SKIN TUMORS

Naevi and Skin Tags

These are not tumors, they are harmless, well marginated stable skin growths that are present at birth, but can grow in old age.

Warts and Papillomas

These are benign tumors that may grow spontaneously or may be triggered by a virus.

Sebaceous Cysts

These are common in dogs (around 7% of all skin tumors). They are not tumors, but accumulations of sebum within the gland due to a blocked duct, which can often be resolved by squeezing it.

Sebaceous Hyperplasia

This is proliferation of the sebaceous tissue mentioned above to form cauliflower like warts that may become traumatised, ulcerate and bleed. They are very common in old Cocker Spaniels and Poodles. Surgical excision or cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen is curative.

Basal Cell Tumor

More common in cats than dogs. Usually presents as a domed, well marginated hairless pink mass in the skin. They tend to be moveable over underlying structures and are slow growing. Surgical excision is curative.

Histiocytoma

Usually seen in juvenile dogs around 18months old, though can occur at any age. They grow rapidly over about 6 weeks to a maximum size of around 2cm, and are domed hairless lumps within the skin that can ulcerate. The key step for the veterinarian is to differentiate histiocytomas from mast cell tumors (see later), which can be easily done via a fine needle aspirate. Surgical excision or cryotherapy is curative for histiocytomas, and many will disappear of their own accord without treatment.

BENIGN SUBCUTANEOUS TUMORS

Lipoma

The lipoma is the most common subcutaneous tumor in dogs. It is a well defined, well circumscribed mass with a soft rubbery texture to it. They are slow growing and a very common occurrence in older overweight dogs. They can occur both on the trunk or on the limbs, and though they are completely benign, occasionally they can become so large that they are a nuisance to the dog and only then is surgical excision necessary. Before assuming a lump is a lipoma, it is good practice to have a veterinarian perform a fine needle aspirate on the lump as one or two other tumors can mimic a lipoma, such as certain presentations of mast cell tumors (see below) and hemangiopericytomas.

MALIGNANT SKIN TUMORS

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This is a common malignant tumor in both cats and dogs. It usually occurs on relatively hairless non pigmented skin and can be triggered by long or repeated exposure to UV light. Surgical excision is usually curative if good margins are achieved, and those cases with incomplete margins benefit from post operative radiotherapy to kill the remaining cancer cells. Some squamous cell carcinomas are very difficult to remove though, such as a nasty infiltrative form which occurs on the nasal planum. Chemotherapy has been used for this tumor type with mixed results.

Melanomas

Relatively common in dogs. The majority are benign and surgical excision is curative. However, those that arise on the nail bed, scrotum or mucocutaneous junction (e.g. on the lips) are usually malignant. Surgical excision is mandatory.

Mast Cell Tumors

These are amongst the most common of skin tumors in dogs. They have a wide range of appearance and behavior, making them sometimes challenging to diagnose and treat. About 10 per cent of dogs suffer them at multiple sites.

Mast cells occur naturally in the skin, performing an important function in releasing histamine and heparin in response to various allergic stimuli. Like any cell line, mutations can occur where the cells start to divide uncontrollably, forming a tumor. If a mast cell tumor is squeezed it will therefore release histamine and cause a wheal reaction on the skin. Histamine can also cause vomiting so affected dogs may present with upset stomachs.

If a mast cell tumor is confirmed on a fine needle aspirate, it should be surgically excised as soon as conveniently possible. In cases of well marginated tumors that are caught fairly early, this is usually curative. Margins of 2 to 3cm are advised. However, higher grade tumors tend to be aggressively invasive and complete excision is not always feasible. In these cases, partial excision together with radiotherapy or chemotherapy is the treatment of choice.

Dogs that have had mast cell tumors tend to be predisposed to getting them again in the future, even if they are surgically excised promptly. Therefore, owners of such dogs should meticulously examine their dogs skin at periodic intervals to search for any suspicious lumps.

Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at http://www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.

dog names

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Girls' Dog PJ Set - Green




My Border Collie, Emma, was overweight. Family members started to call her "Pudgy," and "Rolly-Poly, " and laughed when she wouldn't move even to bark. She even developed a way to twirl around in a sitting position rather than get up to see what was going on around her.

While her adjustments to her added weight seemed funny, it started to become clear that her health was in danger. Most of us don't want to believe that our pet is fat. In our eyes, they are oh-so perfect. A good test is to rub their tummy, along their ribs if you can't feel their ribs, then you have a tubby on your hands! But don't despair.

In just four months our Emma has lost 13 pounds. It really wasn't all that hard to get her to lose that weight and now we have a healthier and more active pooch. You can do the same! Where do you start?

First. record what you feed him or her for a few days, including treats. You probably don't realize just how much you are actually feeding your dog. After you've recorded the food you are giving your baby start eliminating the extras! Cut out the snacks or replace them with healthy alternatives (my dog loves to chew on raw carrots), always checking with reliable sources to make sure whatever you feed isn't toxic for dogs.

Watch other family members! Your best efforts can be compromised if someone is sneaking treats on the side. Make sure that everyone at home realizes just how serious obesity is to your pets' health. Everyone in the house has to realize that love actually equals less food!

Take that dog out for a walk! Make sure you are giving your pet a chance to exercise. Walking will speed up the metabolism and help to lose that excess weight. Grab that leash, and bring your dog along - even if you were thinking of going out for a short walk by yourself. Don't be surprised if your dog gets tired a lot at first especially if your pet hasn't been exercising much. Give those doggie muscles and bones a chance to build up! Slowly increase your walks, and you will have a slimmer dog companion.

Your dog's health will improve and so will yours and those walks will make both your dog and you - very happy, too.

Visit Natures Healthy Pet for more information about pet health. Sign up for our newsletter and receive 3 free ebooks right away.

dog collar

Monday, March 2, 2009

Coton De Tulear (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series)

An exciting "new" bichon breed of ancient origins, the Coton de Tuléar hails from the island nation of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and is as unique as its homeland. Adorned with a "cotton-like" coat, from which the breed derives its name, the Coton de Tuléar makes a distinctive companion dog, prized around the world for its intelligence, beauty and hardiness.

This Special Rare-Breed Edition dedicated to the Coton de Tuléar is the only book of its kind about this unique breed and a much-needed resource for new owners and all fanciers who love and admire this lovely Madagascan jewel. Written by long-time breed fancier Wolfgang Knorr, this book provides insightful chapters on breed history, characteristics of the breed, as well as puppy selection, house-training, obedience training, health care and showing. Illustrated with over 135 full-color photographs, the book proves to be as attractive as it is informative and is a must for everyone interested in this delightful rare breed.
Customer Review: A Must
If you are a Coton lover or thinking of this wonderful breed then this book is a must.
Customer Review: Great overall information, Not enough grooming info
This book does not help with specifics in grooming this special breed, but it has a good history and excellent information for a first time dog owner or Coton owner. Our Coton is the easiest most gentle dog I have EVER met (and my Mom runs a doggie resort in Idaho!)


Dog beds have become an ultra-popular pet accessory in todays society. The influx of pet owners who love and cherish their pet has created a significant demand for a once laughed at idea. When purchasing a dog bed there are several things to keep in mind such as; type of dog bed, price range you are comfortable in, quality of the material used and any special circumstances surrounding your pet. This article will give you the information needed to make an informed purchasing decision.

There are actually many types of dog beds and they all have different characteristics that may or may or not suit your pet. Obviously, there are small, medium and large dog beds, but there are also heated and cooling pet beds, as well as, orthopedic dog beds for aging or disabled pets. For the more sophisticated pet owner, designer and luxury pet beds are also an option. Regardless of your purchasing choice, price usually plays a significant role in your decision making process.

The type of dog bed you buy will directly influence the price. For small or medium dog beds with no extra bells and whistles, you can expect to spend anywhere from 20-50 dollars. However, if you wish to have a heated, cooled or orthopedic bed, the price can go up to twice that amount. For the even more extravagant choices such as luxury or designer dog beds, you can literally spend thousands of dollars if you so choose. These beds often come standard with wooden frames, pillows and blankets. When money is no object, the designer dog beds reign supreme. As is often the case, price and quality go hand in hand and although you can buy good beds fairly cheap, you need to pay attention to the quality of materials that go in to your pets furniture.

The last thing you want to do is purchase a pet bed only to have it tear up in a few weeks. When purchasing a bed be sure to check on things like double stitching and quality fabric. Other necessities are removable covers for easy washing and stain resistant material. Many beds will come with cheap or imitation fleece, so be sure to check the quality of the material and always look for double-sided fleece, as it is more durable and more comfortable. While quality is important, if you have a dog with special needs or you live in a particular area, you may want to narrow your search with those criteria first.

As is often the case, our dogs have complex lives. Some are injured or handicapped while others may be old or extremely dirty. Regardless of your situation, there are several things to consider. If you live in an area with extreme temperatures, you may want to consider a heated or cooling pet bed. There are several types of cooled beds, some are raised from the floor, some are filled with water and some are activated by other materials. The heated pet beds are usually similar to an electric blanket. Dogs that are old or injured may need an orthopedic pet bed to rest their tired joints on. These beds come with double-sided foam and extremely comfortable fleece or other material. As a pet owner, you realize each pet has its own personal needs and if you keep this in mind you will find a quality, well-suited bed for your pet.

Purchasing a pet bed can be a daunting task if you are misinformed or not sure of your specific options. If you keep your focus on the type, quality, price and special needs, you should be able to narrow down your search pretty quickly. As the pet owner, you know your dogs needs the best. Hopefully this article will help expedite your decision making process.

This dog beds guide is provided by Pet-Super-Store. If you would like more quality information regarding dog beds and dog supplies, please visit our site. We specialize in a wide variety of supplies and provide great information such as bark collar reviews and invisible fence guides.

dog supplies

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Marc Ecko Breakout and For Life Cardigans

Marc Ecko remakes the cardigan in these screen printed sweaters with lots of cool embellishments.


I was born in the streets of Malibu,
You have perhaps heard that name a couple of times,
They say the world's hottest parties go on out there,
But for me, there was only cold snow.....
As for my appetite, I had to do with some stale meat loaf,
That the local butcher used to throw away from a back door,
That is if I was lucky; otherwise... use your imagination.

Then there was Mat, who tried often to steal that too,
He was a one frail, starved and crazy cat, but it is not in my nature to show mercy,
So I fought it off, often with a few scratches here and there.
It hadn't always been this way; there was Jerry I remember...
There was his cosy bed, there were his many games too,
My friends (I don't know where they are now) were jealous because I lived with Jerry,
Or maybe because I lived in a house that resembled a palace,
They kept me as a 'pet';

They called me 'Deutsche': whatever that meant,
But then I got too old, they thought, I wasn't 'fit' any more to be a pet,
"You can always get yourself a new one", Jerry's mom's said,
"These things come and go, this one is too stupid and old for your games now..."
Sure enough, I found myself on the Malibu street: 48B once again,
A place for tattered old buildings, garbage cans and unfortunate selves like myself.

It has been seven years since that winter's night...
I was taking a casual walk along the denser forest road some way off from Malibu,
That was where the six hounds caught me off my guard, and laid an ambush,
I don't know their reasons, only that they came at me from everywhere;
But it is not in my nature to turn tail and run, so I went for one's throat,
And split it open, blood streamed down like in a mystical stream on to that moonlit jungle path,
Perhaps they had never seen their own blood before... they ran away.

It was a week from then that I finally admitted to having sustained serious injuries,
I remember that night- an exceptionally cold night; the following morning- I never woke up.
So that was the story of my life,
But do you humans care? I'll tell you what....
I didn't make this trip back up for nothing:
It was to say that I see a bit of 'me' in 'you', way too much to say sooth,
You too are selfish, cruel, merciless and every other thing you can think of,
In common dog-speak, my story is pretty much yours too;
All that 'you and your humanity' has come to:
A Dog's Life...
You still think I am talking about a dog?

dog collar