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26 May 2009

The Great American Fighter Dog, The American Staffordshire Terrier

by Troy Howard

If the UK have the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie), the US have its American counterpart, the American Staffordshire Terrier. The US version, also called Amstaff, is of terrier and molosser bloodline and its ancestry links back to the bull-baiting history of the 1800s England. It is a second cousin to the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), a breed that has a notorious bull-baiting reputation.

When bull-baiting was banned in the UK, breeders transported the fighter breeds to the US. English and Irish immigrants continued the breeding in the US in order to continue the fighting games but this time through dog to dog pit fights. When this past time died down, the breeding still continued only this time for companionship purposes.

Together with the immigrants, the Amstaff worked in newly established communities, farms and ranches. They became farm helps, pigs and bear hunters, guard dogs and companion dogs. Presently though, the Amstaff is more of a companion dog and competitor of various dog sport competitions.

The Amstaffs are hardworking, agile, docile and quick learners. They can learn tricks quite easily and are sensitive to the master's orders therefore they excel at competitions. Most times, you will see Amstaffs joining obedience and agility competitions and tracking and conformation games.

At home, Amstaffs make incredible companion dogs as they are obedient and sensitive to the orders of their masters. They can pick up all forms of behaviors and tends to emulate them. This is good and bad in a sense that if the master show good actions, the Amstaff will tend to be good but if a negative behavior is displayed, the Amstaff will tend to act unfavorably, too.

Their posture shows off an air of great strength, agility and poise that sometimes they tend to look intimidating. Indeed, this breed is what it manifests outwardly because inwardly they are indeed fearless, intelligent, and tenacious, however, they also possess a great amount of devotedness, friendliness and loyalty to their masters. This breed is sensitive and reacts automatically to any kinds of sounds and because of this, they tend to become excellent watch and guard dogs.

The Amstaff's body is short and stocky and it possesses a powerful, strong head. The coat is short, tightly wraps its body, glossy and rough to the touch. Its colors may appear in any solid, patched or parti shade except all white, black, tan and liver which are not well- encouraged.

Some people are still confused as whether the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) and American Staffordshire Terrier are the same. In truth, they are two differing breeds and they have different body build and they're bloodlines have been separated by various breeding. However, the AKC allows double registration of the breeds therefore the Amstaff can be APBT and Amstaff at the same time, and vice versa.

About the Author:
Get a fill of innumerable American Staffordshire Terrier information from expert breeder and author Troy Howard. Go and visit his site today and learn how to train, groom and breed the American Stafford Terrier

29 April 2009

Your Dog Will Love You After You Buy This

Image by Ellyn B. via Flickr

by Bob Moore

Going camping soon? Taking the dog with you? Well, even if you're not an outdoorsman, the Coleman Hibernation Sleeping Bag for Dogs is for your pet. That's right. I said "sleeping bag." It looks just like yours, except smaller. Our dog loves it because she can nestle right in. It's quite a nifty little invention.

I wasn't sure what to expect when my wife told me she purchased one, but it's even better than I expected it to be. There are so many excellent features, such as the heavy duty zippers and the pillowy-soft interior. One of the best features I've found is what's called a "zipper plow" which prevents the zipper from snagging the material.

This bag comes complete with something called ComfortSmart technology that assures the insulation stays in place and the zipper works the way it's supposed to work. If you take your pooch on a lot of trips, it even comes with a compression strap. The only feature your dog probably cares about, though, is the ThermoLock insulation that keeps him/her warm and cozy.

It features design elements that ensure convenient operation while preventing heat loss, Zipper Glide for easier zipping, and a water-resistant bottom, sturdy cotton, and cozy fleece.

Your dog will also like the Hibernation bag for the added comfort it brings. Whether it's the Comfort Coil system that helps the bag mold to your dog's body, or the Comfort Cuff that gives him a soft place to rest his face, this will soon become your dog's favorite place to sleep. While he'll like it for the comfort, you'll like it for its portability. The Hibernation bag comes complete with a compression strap that allows you to take it anywhere. As a final feature, you'll like the fact that it opens completely so you can protect your car seats and your furniture.

Whether you're a camper or not, or whether you live in a consistently cold climate or not, the Hibernation bag is ideal for your dog. Just make sure you select the style suited for your dog's weight. He or she will thank you for it.

About the Author:
Bob Moore is an avid camper and dog owner with successful sites devoted to both. Stop by his dog-related blog for more information devoted to man's best friend or to learn more about the Hibernation bag

25 April 2009

Advantages of Owning a Dachshund

Image by ikes via Flickr

by Cheryl L. True

If you are considering getting a dog for yourself or your family, a dachshund might be the answer. Why so? Well, small dogs have become more fashionable in the public view lately, probably because there are many celebrities who own them.

Besides, there are many advantages to having a small dog. These include portability, an end to the fear of large dogs, bonding and maintenance.

Dachshunds can be taken pretty much anywhere. They are small enough to fit safely inside a special bag or a large tote bag designed especially for small breeds of dogs. These can be found at your local pet store or online. Also more restaurants and retail stores are starting to welcome small dogs. This is definitely an advantage to pet owners.

Dachshunds are good pets because they don't take up much space. They're ideal for apartment living. Food costs are lower too because dachshunds require less food than larger dogs. The larger your dog, the more food you have to feed it (and more comes out the other end!). This will save you money on your dog food bills.

You can save even more if your dog is housed in a kennel or needs grooming. With a dachshund, these cost less since these small dogs occupy less space and have fewer hairs.

Provided you take time to pick the right dog, dachshunds tend to be less threatening to young children and other pets that you may already have in the house. This is true if your dachshund is properly socialized.

Since you can take a dachshund anywhere with you and a small dog is less intimidating to other people, you can coddle and pamper your pet anywhere.

There's a lot of information about dachshunds on the Internet. With a little knowledge on the breed and enough room in your heart and home for a pet, you'll find the dachshund a welcome addition to your family.

Are you losing your pets to accidents? Do they wander and never return? Show them that you care. Keep your pets safe from harm with the petsafe wireless pet fence.

About the Author:
Cheryl L. True is a Manila-based freelance writer who writes on a variety of topics.

19 April 2009

3 Secrets To Better Dog Training

Image by airwaves1 via Flickr

by Craig Clemins

A trip to your local book store will reveal hundreds of different dog training books. It's easy to be overwhelmed with the countless number of methods to dog training, but don't be. In this brief post I want to reveal to you what I believe are some of the Secrets to Dog Training.

Despite all the different methods offered by the hundreds of self proclaimed "gurus", the underlying feature in almost every successful method is positive reinforcement. Almost every successful dog training method has this in common.

Secret number 1:

The 1st secret I want you to know is this: Puppies learn faster than mature dogs. SO - teach your dog while its young if possible. If your dog is no longer a puppy don't despair. Consistency and persistence will still get you good results.

Secret Number 2:

The best way to train your dog is to be firm but fair. Get to know your dog and build up a bonding relationship with him. Treat your dog with love and affection and your results will most likely be more effective than ever.

Secret Number 3:

Prevent problems before they arise. Don't wait for a problem to occur, teach your dog good behaviour before you find a problem! Prevention is so much more effective than correction.

If you want to get best results when training your dog, stick to the basics. Follow these three rules and be persistent, consistent and understanding. No dog can learn something perfectly the first time, in most cases, after a little persistence, dogs can learn a wide array of tricks and general obedience lessons.

About the Author:
Get more Dog Training Advice and read a tell all review of the number one dog training guide, Secrets to Dog Training

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