Low Dander Dogs

When you have difficulties with dog allergies, it is almost unthinkable to consider owning a dog. However, with a hypoallergenic dog, owning a dog is a real possibility. Getting a non allergic dog breed makes having a dog a joy rather than a painful experience. Learn which breeds usually work for dog allergy sufferers.

American Hairless Terrier

The American Hairless Terrier is very good for people suffering from allergies. Studies have shown that they’re the best choice for anyone who can’t tolerate even some hypoallergenic dogs. Plus, they don’t have hair which makes them less likely to accumulate dust and other particles that could prove to be allergic for most people. It is a wonderful experience for dog allergy sufferers to actually own dog without allergy symptoms. These kinds of report have been linked to the American Hairless Terrier. The feeling is even more emotional as they cry at the fact that they can touch a dog without an allergic reaction. If you want a allergy free dog, the American Hairless Terrier is an ideal companion.

Basenji

The Basenji is another good choice for people who suffer from allergic reactions. Unlike cats, dogs generally do not wash themselves. Basenji breed dogs wash themselves. It licks itself and at the same time it has no particular doggie smell which makes it highly convenient for you since little to no grooming is needed. Also, the Basenji doesn’t shed a lot of hair like most dogs do. Sometimes it doesn’t even shed at all. This particular fact makes the Basenji a very good choice as a household pet, and especially for people who are very allergic to dogs that shed a lot of hair.

Bolognese

Like the Basenji, the Bolognese breed is a dog that sheds almost no hair at all. The added bonus is that they are so beautiful to look at and very huggable. However, they do have hair but yet they don’t really shed them. You do however need to brush their hair from time to time because they tend to get long. An additional reason why these dogs are good for people with allergies is that they do not have any dog odor. This is a good choice for any household too since they can be content without a yard.

Cairn Terrier

Cairn Terriers are another breed type that sheds almost no hair at all. They are a good choice for allergic people. However, keep in mind that you should not feed this dog too much because they tend to get overweight easily. Cairn Terriers are lovely dogs that need enough exercise everyday. It’s recommended that you play and exercise with this dog breed so you can have some exercise too.

Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer is dog breed that has a large and powerful build. Its bushy eyebrows, beard and whiskers are lovely to look at. This particular dog is very good for people who have a lot of allergic reactions simply because it sheds little to no hair. The Giant Schnauzer’s wiry hair is relatively easy to groom as long as you do it at least 4 times a year. Also, they don’t have dog odor, which makes it another good reason why allergic people should choose this dog.

Poodle

Poodles are an excellent choice for people who suffer from a lot of allergens. They’re practically very smart and easy to train. They’ve been bred as swimmers and are used to being washed and cleaned. Poodles, though easy to groom, really need daily brushing as well as regular baths, hair cuts and nail trimming. The Standard Poodle sheds almost no hair at all and is chosen by a lot of allergy sufferers compared to most other hypoallergenic dogs simply because of its intelligence and good nature.

Shih-Tzu

The Shih-Tzu is a lovable double-coated dog that is both happy and hardy. They’re courageous and clever and are particularly playful with such high energy levels. As long as they’re kept very well-groomed, an allergy sufferer won’t have problems with this breed type. They tend to shed very little skin dander and are used to being washed and cleaned.

So those are some of the basic types of hypoallergenic dog breeds. If you desire a dog that will not cause poor health, non allergic dogs are a great solution that allow you to be allergy-free while owning a dog.

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How to Stop A Dog From Barking

I began my research into how to stop a dog from barking after six, let me repeat, six very long and irritating months of listening to my pooch bark at absolutely everything! Marley, a Bichon-Shitzu mix, came to me as a birthday present and Wow… she sure was as cute as a button! We fell in love immediately.

I did however begin to notice that she was very skittish and she would start barking at what appeared to be nothing at all from time to time. The more she grew, the more skittish she became. The more skittish she became the more she barked. Eventually, she even barked at her own shadow. Literally!

Through research, patience and persistence, I discovered ways to help her overcome her need to bark.

* Why Does a Dog Bark in the First Place?

A dog barks as a form of communication. It can be that your dog is barking to warn you of impending danger, your dog could be bored, it can be welcoming you home, or if it’s like my little dog Marley… it just barks to bark! Barking is about attention. Even when you shout, “STOP BARKING” at the top of your lungs you are giving your dog a form of attention. And all to often, shouting at your dog is ineffective. What is really happening is the creation of a cycle that goes something like this. Bark plus shouting equals your dog’s interpretation of a weird form of affection.

* Here’s A Quick “How to Stop A Dog from Barking” Training Method

1. When your dog barks at inappropriate times, go immediately to her and with a firm elevated voice say “NO”, then quickly spritz your dog in the face with water from a clean spray bottle. If you don’t want to use this water method then quickly, after saying “NO”, flick your dog with two fingers on the top of its nose. Either method will induce an unpleasant consequence after a barking episode.

NOTE: It should never be your intention to hurt or harm your dog in anyway! Don’t use so much force that you inflict pain upon your dog. You just want your pooch to experience an unpleasant consequence, however it should only be enough to make him or her think twice about barking.

It is very important to use a firm verbal command and the spray water or corrective nose tap method every time your dog barks inappropriately.

2. Go to him immediately during a barking episode instead of calling him to you. You must do this each and every time he barks otherwise he will never learn how “not to bark”.

3. You must be persistent and consistent with this training method. If you’re not… your dog will be persistent and consistent with his barking.

4. Reward your dog when he is a quiet dog! You can offer a treat or even playing with him when he’s quiet will work just as well. Remember your dog may be barking for attention. So when he or she is quiet, give them some.

When you can make being quiet more pleasant than barking, then and only then will barking become a thing of the past.

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If you want peace and quiet to return to your life then watch this short video to learn more ways on How to Stop A Dog From Barking. Click Here: http://tinyurl.com/csrpj5
Mary Edison is a health enthusiast for people and their pets. She is a freelance writer. Through her articles, she supports products and services that nurture the quality of life for all living things.

How to get rid of the stench after your dog has rolled in something.

Ever noticed how dogs love to roll in smelly things? Not just anything but the most revolting filthy smelling swamp water, dead fish or dead toad or manure. Pretty much anything that is rotting. They think it’s brilliant but their owners are not so keen. They have to give them a good bath or take them to be groomed by a professional. Sometimes the smell is still there even after the bath and grooming.

So why do dogs love to smell so bad? Experts believe that dogs may do this in an effort to disguise their own smell. They are not sure why dogs would want to do this though. Perhaps it goes back to the days when they had to hunt for their own food. They would have a much better chance of capturing whatever they were stalking for dinner if their prey couldn’t smell them. Makes sense I guess. Another theory is that they may be trying to hide their scent from predators who may be stalking them for dinner. Then again, maybe dogs just love the feel of rolling in something obnoxious under the cypress trees. Nobody knows for sure and until our dogs learn to talk, I guess we never will.

So what to do? Well apart from keeping them away from any source of smell and that may not be easy if you live near a forest or a river etc, the quickest and easiest way is to simply give them a good bath. Make sure you use a shampoo that is designed for dogs. Natural oils can be stripped from the dog’s coat, potentially causing infections and rashes, if you use shampoos that are made for humans. Essential oils can be really beneficial in restoring natural oils to their coat and if you use the right oils they can clear up any rashes and infections. If after bathing your dog you can still smell the odor try spraying him with a blend of essential oils. Here’s one you might like to try, put 10 drops of geranium, 10 drops of lavender and 6 drops of lemon into a 1oz (approx 30ml) spray bottle then fill with water. Spray this over him making sure you hold the bottle around 10 inches (25.4cm) from his coat avoiding his head and eyes. He’ll smell gorgeous.

If your dog keeps rolling in stinky things it might be a good idea to take him to a pet groomer and have his coat clipped so that it will at least be easier to bath him and quicker for him to dry. Your dog will be happier in the summer months with a shorter coat anyway.

Take him to the vet for a checkup if the smell persists after having bathed and sprayed his coat. Sometimes dogs can smell from having dental problems like gingivitis. The smell can be so bad it can be smelt right through the house. More serious conditions like kidney failure or diabetes could be the reason for the bad breath. The smell may well be coming from his other end as dogs have anal sacs that can become impacted and infected. This can smell extremely bad. So again, if bathing and spraying essential oils don’t eliminate the smell get your dog to the vet as soon as possible so he can be treated.

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Tracey Peapell is the author of Aromatherapy For Dogs. She
lives in Australia and is a great believer in the power of
Aromatherapy for maintaining good health and well being in
dogs.
To learn how you and your dog can benefit visit

http://www.aromatherapy4dogs.com

Go On Safari at Santa Rosa Wildlife Park

The incessant sounds outside your tent tell you are, indeed, in the African wild. No telling what’s outside and it sure would be good to have that big rifle by your side but, of course, you don’t.

One reason you don’t is that the owners of Safari West really frown on guests bringing guns along on their weekend getaways to this unique outpost just a few miles outside of Santa Rosa, California. The other reason is that none of the wildlife you hear during your overnight stay is going to get you. All the really dangerous animals are fenced off or caged. But that in no way diminishes the feeling that you are…well, on safari.

By day, Safari West is a beehive of activity with numerous day visitors and tours, especially on weekends. By night, Safari West turns to black with absolutely no outside lighting to spoil the illusion you are in Africa. Guests are advised to bring flashlights if they plan to walk the grounds after dark. But the creature sounds make it clear you are not alone and we’re guessing most people just hunker down after dark and read a good book.

The accommodations do lend themselves to just that. They’re cozy and inviting and when we say tents, we really mean tent cabins that are tent walls erected over a solid foundation that comes complete with an indoor bathroom and shower. The big beds are warm and luxurious and the layout inside the cabins, while a bit Spartan, is really quite comfortable. No television or radio, but there are hardwood floors, a few shelves and benches and reading lights. What else do you need when you are on safari?

We arrived after dark which just added to the feeling we were some distance from civilization. We actually were only a few miles outside Santa Rosa, but the road to Safari West seems longer than it is with its twists and turns and with trees and hillsides shutting out even the stars and whatever moonlight there might have been. In darkness you can’t easily see the turnoff to Safari West but our GPS didn’t let us down. We only went by it once.

Checking in at the main gate around 9 p.m., we were greeted by what seemed like the only living soul on the premises and he quickly and helpfully packed our belongings onto his jeep and drove us to our tent cabin, one of a few dozen spread throughout the property. There was no Samsung TV, of course! He loaned us flashlights, which came in handy for the exceedingly brief walk around the grounds before settling in for a night in the wild. The sounds were constant and mainly, we’re told, coming from a particular type of bird. But it was not so noisy we couldn’t get a comfortable night’s sleep.

The next morning we awakened to a fuller sound – it was like the evening animals had been playing as a quartet but, by morning, had been joined by the full orchestra. We walked out our front door and the first thing we noticed was two giraffes, side by side, directly across the road from us, doing some sort of mating ritual or play thing with their necks. Giraffes, if you’ve spent any time with them, are incredibly tall animals and they seemed to tower over the fence that was separating them from us. But since we haven’t heard too many stories about man-eating giraffes, this was not of major concern.

The sheer size of them, however, made this feel like a kind of “Giraffic” Park and our movie memories were brought to mind once again as we hopped on board one of the Safari West tour vehicles to be driven out into the furthest reaches of the park where we would observe wild animals in their own habitat doing their own thing, as it were. Maybe you remember what happened to those people in the movie who thought they could get up-close and personal with dinosaurs.

Fortunately, no dinosaurs here – just creatures like the cape buffalo and the rhinos, who both seemed to be on their best behavior as our informative guide parked our two-level jeep-style safari vehicle where we could observe the goings-on. The park has 85 species of animals altogether, 700 individual animals, roaming on more than 400 acres of hills and forests. The mammals are all native to Africa, while the birds come from different places all over the globe. There are no lions, tigers and bears but there are cheetah, lemur, zebras and many other fascinating species.

The tour is two hours but it goes by very quickly and takes you out into some beautiful back country where you’ll see a variety of animals that changes from tour to tour. It just depends on which ones are out in the more visible areas. For example, the zebras are often congregating well off the tour path but the day of our tour there were more than a dozen we spotted in different locations.

As you can imagine, it had to take some effort to put all of this together – to buy the land and animals, build the structures and hire knowledgeable staff. The owners are Nancy and Peter Lang and it’s interesting to note that Peter has a connection with animals dating back to the television shows his father, Otto Lang, once directed. Those shows included Sea Hunt, Daktari and Flipper, among others. Peter met Nancy – where else — while on an African safari and, at the time, she was the curator of the San Francisco Zoo’s avian collection. And, if you’ll pardon just one more reference to Jurassic Park, Nancy happens to be a raptor specialist.

The Langs chose to locate Safari West near Santa Rosa because the weather is ideal and the combination of forest and grassland is quite similar to Africa. Also visitors will find there’s another great reason to visit Santa Rosa — the numerous high-quality wineries that are all within a short drive.

Guests who stay overnight at Safari West also have dinner and breakfast on the grounds, although we arrived too late for dinner. The continental breakfast is plenty to get you going and the park also serves up sandwiches and other lunch items you can order if you’re spending the day at Safari West.

In addition to the safari truck tour there are other things to do while you’re staying at the park. You can make arrangements to get private access to the animals or attend educational presentations. Swedish pressure-point massage is offered and you can even go hiking with Nancy Lang around Watusi Lake.

But most of all, an overnight trip to Safari West is about the overall experience of being in the wild, sleeping with the animals almost like you would if you were on an African safari. The difference is you’re never in any real danger – until, that is, Nancy figures out a way to study real, live raptors.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: Santa Rosa is just 55 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 101 and is in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country. With its hills and fertile valleys, the region is one of the most beautiful in California and offers quick access to Sonoma, Napa and coastal areas. WHAT: Safari West is an unusual opportunity to be able to visit and spend the night with wild animals and will appeal to visitors of all ages. The park’s size allows it to raise and nurture a wide variety of mammals native to Africa.

WHEN: Any time of year. Be prepared for much cooler weather in the winter and the rains can be intense at times. Tours still go out on rainy days, but dress accordingly.

WHY: This is a family attraction that is both educational and easy to reach, and staying overnight at Safari West will make you feel like you’re a million miles from civilization.

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Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional travel. Among GMC’s sites are http://www.californiaweekend.com , a California travel site, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , featuring Pacific Northwest travel

Pet Emergencies call for First Aid Kits

We have all encountered stories about pets that have saved lives, however what about humans helping to save the life of a pet in case of an emergency? emergencies happen all the time, so it’s important to keep a first aid kit for your pet easily accessible at home as well as in your car for those trips to the dog park.

If you gather up all the necessary items ahead of time, and pack them in a convenient emergency kit or plastic bag, it could help save your pet’s life. Look for a durable water-resistant container that is large enough to hold all the emergency care items mentioned below, including a blanket, bandage materials like gauze pads, cotton, and adhesive tape. Keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and anti-bacterial ointment or cream in the kit as well. Your kit should include: muzzles, hydrogen peroxides, cotton swabs, masking or adhesive tape, antibacterial ointment, eyebrow tweezers, gauze pads and wrap, medicine or eye droppers to clean wounds or dispense medicines, a pair of scissors, forceps Kaeopectate diarrhea medication, and Ipecac to induce vomiting in case of poisoned. You might also keep some activated charcoal at any for poisoning or intestinal upset, and blankets to keep your pet warm in extreme conditions. And do not forget your veterinarian’s name or number and the telephone number of an emergency veterinary hospital nearby.

A vacation with your pet calls for a little research on the town of your destination to see if there are any dangers. This might include snakes, poisonous plants, and it is a good idea to check the weather to make sure there won’t be extreme conditions. There are no non slip outdoors, remember.

Prevention is the goal, however should your pet be involved in an accident and killed, you and your family should be prepared. You and your family need to have a plan for burial.

Growing in popularity worldwide, pet memorial companies are giving people many more creative ways to preserve the memories of their pets. Every state has their won laws on pet cremation services which are usually offered through your veterinary clinic. The costs depend on the pet’s size and are usually between $75 and $350.

Should your family choose to receive the pet ashes back from the crematorium, they must decide on private burial of the ashes outdoors, preservation of all or some of the ashes for an indoor urn, or the popular option of using a portion of the ashes to spread outdoors.

You may decide to choose a custom pet keepsake memorial box that is crafted to sit on a table, to hang on a wall or be kept in a special place on a mantle. There are also unique and artistic pet cremation urns, or engraved stone pet memorials and pet grave markers.

Many websites offer pet grieving support, including Peternity.com, who hosts a spot to create virtual pet memorials online to share with family and friends, including written tributes and photographs that honor their pet’s memory in the. The most important thing to remember is to share memories of your pet with elegance and grace.

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Writer Kristin Gabriel works with Peternity.com, a place where people honor their pets for eternity. Visit http://www.peternity.com . Peternity provides custom products including pet memorial stones and grave markers, pet urns, garden statue pet memorials, pet memorial headstones, pet keepsake memorials, pet portraits, burial boxes, custom engraved glasswork, and other pet memorials.

When dogs visit the vet’s or any medical premises, we remember the smells and impressions from the last time. For example, when you check in with the receptionist, even the front of house people are usually wearing nursing uniforms so even if they offer treats there is a negative association there! I usually hide under the seats in the waiting area, in the hope that they might forget I am there.  Unfortunately they don’t forget – in fact this tactic gets me more attention.

Of course, the vet himself – and his assistant – usually wear a cotton lab coat or cotton lab coats, and there is a good reason for that. Sometimes their animal charges have a little accident during the visit, and it would be a bit messy if they were dressed in their best designer gear.

During the course of a day they might need to change their cotton scrub uniforms more than once if they have a nervous patient or two. Maybe this goes some way to explaining the massive consultancy charges they make to our families.