The guidelines for raising a mastiff are pretty much the same as raising any other breed of dog; they need to be trained from young, have a good exercise routine, a good diet and must be groomed and cleaned regularly. Mastiffs can be by nature a very lazy breed and are very comfortable lying by the couch all day, every day. Because of this it is important that you teach your mastiff from a pup and give your mastiff a good routine. Their tendency of laziness is why Mastiff training should be very firm.

It is recommended to walk your mastiff on a daily basis and approximately twice a day to maintain your mastiff healthy and happy. If you have a back yard then it is ok to walk your mastiff once a day as they can walk around the yard. But if you live in an apartment it is recommended to walk your dog at least twice a day so that they can get a regular exercise.

Mastiff puppies need a good and regular diet to help them stay healthy. After they have been separated from their mothers they should be fed about four times a day to help them to grow strong and healthy. As your mastiff gets older you can start to lower the amount of food you give him on a daily basis to twice a day. Make sure to give your mastiff a balanced diet of meat and dried food.

The grooming process for a mastiff is pretty simple as they are short haired dogs that do not require a lot of grooming time. As they are also natural hair shredders it makes the process a lot easier as the hair is already loose. Like any other dogs, mastiffs have natural oils in their skin that helps them look after their fur. Thanks to these oils you will only need to bath your mastiff a couple of times a year.

Mastiffs are a very gentle breed that, if looked after in the proper manner, will be a very important part of your family life. These dogs are great with children but also great as guard dogs as they will protect the house where the family lives whilst the dog is there. There are several different variations of the mastiff breed, including bull mastiffs, English mastiffs, and American mastiffs. If you decide to have a mastiff as a companion and you look after him properly, you will have a friend for life.

For all the dog lovers out there, you need know that a new dog for the family can come from a shelter or breed rescue group. While the shelter works with all breeds that it receives, rescue groups work with one specific breed, for example miniature schnauzers. Both attempt to prepare their dogs the best they can to be adoptable.

While shelters or rescue groups are preparing their  puppies for a new home, they also try to find eligible adopters. Both types of organizations place advertisements on the internet and in local newspapers that describe pets that are available. Potential adopters can respond by phone, e-mail, or visit in person.

However, not all who want to adopt make the grade. Most facilities have very strict guidelines and restrictions on who gets one of their puppies. The following criteria is standard for people looking to adopt a pup from a high-quality shelter or rescue group:

1) A stay-at-home parent should be present. This is because puppies shouldn’t stay alone in a crate for more than a couple of  hours.

2) There should also be  another dog in the home that the new puppy can learn from. This helps immensely in the pup’s socialization.

3) A fence is mandatory if there are children in the house younger than six years old.

4) And finally, a promise from the adopter to continue socialization and a willingness to take the pup to professional dog training.

Just as rescue groups and animal shelters are careful about who can adopt their puppies, potential adopters should be equally particular when they adopt a puppy.

1) There should be co-housing at the shelter. Puppies housed with other puppies is critical for proper socialization.

2) The premises should be clean, and there should be appropriate toys and bedding with the puppies.

3) There should be a program or schedule for getting the puppies out of their cages to interact with people and see different sights and sounds.  

4) You should be greeted by a pleasant and knowledgeable staff member or volunteer. Both shelters and rescue groups should be able to provide information on why the puppy was brought there.  The should also provide confirmation that the puppy has received its immunizations.

Once the shelter or rescue group meets your approval,  you should carefully look at the puppy you are interested in before making a final decision. A puppy that shows signs of illness or poor care should be avoided. The dog should look healthy,  not have any diarrhea on his rear end or hind legs, should show an interest in you, and be active.

Adopting a shelter puppy or dog is an admirable thing for a dog lover to do and will help brighten the future for you and a once neglected but noble animal.  Nothing you do will satisfy you more !

Do you love your dog and want people to know it? Show off your dog with a cool cap displaying an embroidered picture of your favorite canine breed on the front.

Wearing a cap isn’t just for grandpa anymore. Many years since you saw your grandfather in a cap with a feed store logo on it.  Caps have come a long way since your grandpa’s day. Today, you see people of all ages, both men and women, wearing caps. Caps are a fun way to show off your hobbies and interests, and in this case, your dog.

Whatever breed your dog, Cocker Spaniel or  Great Dane, there is sure to be a colorful cap portraying him on it that is just your size. With caps available in a variety of colors, you own several so you can have one to accent every outfit.  A nice thing about caps is that they are adjustable and fit almost everyone; kind of a one size fits all. However, they do make smaller caps just for kids, so if you have children or know a child that loves dogs, they can have a cap as well.

Buy caps for your whole family so everyone can show the dog they love best! Believe it or not, they even sell caps for dogs, so have a laugh and get a cap with your picture on it for your dog to wear!

So whether you are headed for the park, going for a horseback ride, raking the yard or having a bad hair day, put a cap on. Maybe even buy Grandpa one with his breed of dog on it and throw the old the feed store logo cap away!

what you just learned about caps is just the begining. To get the full story and all the details, check us out at luvurdog.com

There aren’t many things that are more fun than getting a puppy. But, it isn’t so exciting when your puppy starts misbehaving. However, most of it can be avoided if you can learn how to train your puppy the right way. Proper training will lead to a well mannored dog that will be your best friend for years to come.

It doesn’t take much looking to find that there is a lot of conflicting advise on how to train a puppy for new puppy owners. Whichever mether you pick, you should always keep a few basic puppy training rules in mind. The number one rule is to always use positive reinforcement. Using negative reinforcement can have significant negative effects such as agression. The second keys to puppy training is consistency and patience.

Starting Out

You need to get in the habit of consistently rewarding your puppy when he does something good. Make the reward something like a dog treat or a good belly rub. Always remember that since your puppy is so young, it may take a little while for him to get the picture. For example, your dog doesn’t insinctively know that it is wrong to pee in the house.

Leash training, house traing and basic obedience are good areas to start with. This early training will help your dog bond to you and understand that you are the leader. Your best bet is to make sure you do short training sessions that are full of fun.

If you don’t start your training off right, later on you may find yourself having to re-train bad habits out of your dog. Make sure you take the time to train your puppy right. It will take a lot of patience and a lot of repetition before your puppy will catch on.

Should I Crate Train my Dog?

If you plan on leaving your dog alone for any period of time, crate training can be helpful. Crates can be a place of safety and comfort for your dog. Since dogs are den animals, a crate makes him feel secure. If you are having trouble housetraining your dog, you should look into crate training.

The first step in crate training is to teach your puppy that his crate is the best place in the world to be. When your puppy goes into the crate, give him a treat and lots of verbal praise. Don’t ever force him into the crate. Anything that makes your dog dislike the crate should be avoided.

Helpful Hints for Housetraining

One of the most important items on the puppy training list is housetraining. Housetraing only works by taking your puppy outside and rewarding him when he “does his business”. You won’t get very far if you just use discipline when he goes inside. Take him outside to the proper area and don’t leave until he has used the bathroom. After the business is done, give praise and treats.

If you need more help take a look at one of the best dog training programs available.  Read The Secrets to Dog Training Review here.

Brushes, combs, clippers, ribbons and bows: what do we know about grooming our dog? A groomed dog is a happy dog, and just like people, your dog will feel better if they are clean and well groomed.

Grooming your dog yourself can easily be done at home with a little practice.  Brushing your dog is a good start. With several different brushes available to the consumer, you will have to choose the one that works best for your dog’s hair coat. Brushing your dog removes dirt and loose hair and prevents mats from forming. Unfortunately, sometimes those mats are already there and they need to be removed before bathing the dog.  Carefully clean your dog’s eyes and gently wipe out your dogs ears, noticing if there is any redness or tenderness to the ears. If there is an odor coming from the ears, or your dog seems to be in pain, seek out a veterinarian’s advice.

Check your dog’s teeth, and again check with your veterinarian for instructions on keeping them clean.

Toenails that grow too long can be painful for a dog, so use a toenail clipper made just for dogs to clip them.  You can find these clippers at stores where pet products are sold.

Now your dog is ready for the bath. Be careful not to get water in the dog’s ears and eyes.  Thoroughly wet its coat and apply shampoo made for dogs. Gently lather the dog’s hair coat; once lathered be sure to rinse the shampoo out completely. Dry your dog’s coat with an absorbent towel, or if you have a long haired dog, consider using a blow dryer. With a little practice and a lot of patience, grooming can be done at home. For more information on grooming, there are books and videos for teaching the at-home groomer.