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Dog
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Understanding Your Itchy Dog
By Elizabeth Ross Just like you, your dog will sometimes have an itch that he needs to scratch. However, extreme itching and scratching is a symptom of an underlying problem. There are multiple reasons for itchiness including allergies, mites, bacterial and fungal infections, and ear problems. Allergies Allergies are perhaps the most common cause of itchiness in dogs, and there are many types of allergies that may impact your dog including allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis (atopy), flea allergy dermatitis, and food hypersensitivity (flea allergies). Allergic Contact Dermatitis Allergic contact dermatitis is a form of allergic reaction that usually occurs due to prolonged contact with an offending agent such as a household deodorizer, rubber chew toy, floor cleaner, detergent or plastic dish. Signs of allergic contact dermatitis include itchiness, redness and skin lesions in the areas of your dog's body that come into contact with the allergic agent. As the condition progresses, the impacted skin may become darkened and/or thickened. To treat allergic contact dermatitis, your vet will generally give you a soothing hypoallergenic shampoo to be used on your dog to wash off the allergens. Your vet may also prescribe topical steroids or a short-term course of oral steroids to reduce the inflammation and itchiness. Really the only means by which allergic contact dermatitis can be effectively prevented from reoccurring is to remove the offending agent from your dog's environment. Atopic Dermatitis (Atopy) Atopic dermatitis, also called atopy, is a hypersensitivity reaction to environmental allergens your dog inhales or absorbs through his skin. Examples of typical allergens from the environment are grasses, pollens, molds, animal dander and dust mites. Dogs typically develop this condition between the ages of 1 and 3. However, atopy can develop in dogs of any age. In contrast to allergic contact dermatitis in which only the portion of your dog's body that comes into contact with the allergen is generally impacted, with atopy many areas on your dog's body tend to be itchy and irritated. Most commonly, the irritation will be on your dog's face, ears, paws, armpits, and sides of the abdomen. These areas might also have lesions caused by your dog's scratching and chewing. In some cases, your dog may also have hair loss, thickened skin, darkened skin, saliva stains on the fur and skin, and crusting. Secondary infections such as bacterial and yeast infections can develop from the ongoing skin trauma. Diagnosis of this condition is based on your dog's history and the symptoms described above. As for determining the cause, allergy testing can be helpful but sometimes results in false responses. Skin biopsies are also sometimes used to help determine the cause of your dog's atopy. Treatment is focused on managing and controlling symptoms. The best way to do this is to remove the allergen from your dog's environment if this is possible. For example, your house or whatever interior environment your dog spends time in should be kept meticulously clean and free of dust. HEPA filters can also be used to remove particles from the air, and lowering the humidity levels can also aid in removing mold and dust mites. If it is not possible to remove or reduce the allergens from your dog's environment, your vet may suggest allergen specific immunotherapy in which your dog will be given an allergy vaccine injection composed specifically for him and his allergies. Your dog will get an initial series of injections and then booster injections over the course of his life. Approximately 60% to 80% of dogs will improve with the vaccine, but results may not be seen for 3 to 6 months. Another method to control symptoms is to give your dog periodic baths using anti-itch shampoos. These shampoos are generally quite effective. Some veterinarians may also recommend giving your dog anti-histamines and steroids to relieve itchiness. Both anti-histamines and steroids can be given in either oral or topical form. However, oral steroids have numerous potential side effects so they should not be used as a long-term solution. Flea Allergy Dermatitis Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is a condition in which your dog is hypersensitive to the saliva of fleas. FAD can be triggered by only one bite from a flea, and it will cause your dog to be extremely itchy and likely to have inflamed skin covered in tiny red bumps. Generally, the inflamed skin will be on back of your dog's thighs, the sides and bottom of his abdomen, and along his back. If your dog has these symptoms and you can find fleas or flea dirt on him, this will likely lead your vet to make a diagnosis of flea allergy dermatitis. However, because this allergy can be caused by one little flea bite, sometimes there are not enough - or even any fleas or flea dirt currently present on your dog - to make the diagnosis obvious. In this case, your vet may attempt to treat to your dog's itchiness and rash with flea control products. If your dog responds to this treatment, then the vet will know that your dog has flea allergy dermatitis. Food Hypersensitivity (Food Allergies) A food allergy, as the name implies, is when your dog is allergic to a particular food or food additive in his diet. Protein sources, such as chicken and beef, are one of the most common allergens. Also seen somewhat frequently are allergies to certain grains such as rice. Food allergies usually develop quite early in your dog's life, generally before your dog is one-year old. Food allergy symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, excessive gas, skin itchiness, poor coat quality, foul smelling skin, inflamed skin and/or ear infections. The gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, excessive gas and diarrhea) are present in approximately 25% of food allergy cases. Food allergies, unlike many environmental allergies that may come and go with different seasons, will not wax and wane. The only true way to diagnose a food allergy is to perform food trials. A food trial consists of changing your dog's food to either a limited ingredient food or a hypo-allergic food. Limited ingredient foods are generally composed of one carbohydrate source and one protein source. The protein will be a novel protein meaning a protein that your dog has likely not yet been exposed to. Examples of novel proteins include venison, duck, fish, and kangaroo. Limited ingredient diets used to be available only by prescription through your vet. Recently, however, several commercial dog food companies such as Natural Balance and Wellness have developed limited ingredient foods available without a prescription. Hypoallergenic diets are generally designed to have very easily and thoroughly digestible proteins. The theory is that if the protein can be broken-down into small enough pieces within your dog's digestive tract, your dog's body will not be able to mount an allergic reaction to the protein. Hill's Prescription Diet Canine z/d® Ultra Allergen Free is an example of commonly used hypoallergenic dog food. The problem with food trials is that they are "trials" in the true sense of the word - your vet can only make an educated guess as to which food ingredient your dog is actually allergic to. It can also take at least 12 to 14 weeks for a food trial to begin to yield any positive results. During a food trial, it is essential that you do not allow your dog to have ANY flavor-containing chew, treat, toy, medication, or supplement. The food trial will not be valid if your dog is given anything besides the trial food. At the end of the food trial period, if your dog's symptoms abate your vet will likely suggest that you continue feeding your dog the food used in the food trial. If symptoms have not abated, your vet may decide to start a new trial with a different food. Overall, allergies can take time to diagnose and to treat. As a responsible dog owner, you need to strictly follow your vet's recommended treatment plan. Most allergic treatment failures are due to the owner's failure to comply exactly with the vet's prescribed treatment plan. Of course, there are also veterinary dermatologists available for you to consult with about your dog's problem. These specialized veterinarians have had additional training in the area of skin diseases and can bring a wealth of knowledge to your dog's case. Mites Mites are another relatively frequent cause of itchiness. The two most common mites to cause itchy skin conditions are demodectic and sarcoptes (scabies). Symptoms of scabies include scratching, hair loss, crusty or scabby sores, and irritated, inflamed skin usually on your dog's ankles, belly, ears, elbows, and the underside of his mouth. In some cases, if you look closely, you can see the tunnels that the mites have burrowed into your dog's skin. The tunnels will look like very thin and scaly lines up and down the infected area of your dog's skin. For more on scabies including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, click here. Demodectic mange may be localized or generalized. Localized demodectic mange can cause your dog to be itchy around his paws (called pododermatitis) or around his mouth, eyelids and lips. The itchiness is generally accompanied by hair loss in the impacted areas. Generalized demodectic mange will cause your dog to be itchy and have hair loss over most of his body. Bacterial & Fungal Infections A bacterial infection or fungal infection, such as malassezia dermatitis (essentially a yeast infection), can also cause your dog to be itchy. These infections can occur secondary to allergies and skin parasites. Bacteria and yeast thrive in warm and moist areas such as in between your dog's paw pads and the skin folds on many dogs' faces, necks, and tails. Generally, if your dog has a bacterial or fungal infection, in addition to being itchy your dog will have red sores in the affected areas. Ear Problems If your dog constantly scratches his ear(s) or rubs his (ear)s on the ground, his itchiness may be caused by an ear infection or ear mites. Ear infections all need to be treated by a vet as they can progress to become quite serious. To learn more about ear infections click here. Ear mites are tiny parasites that can make a home on your dog's ears and feed off your dog's ear wax and oil. If your dog has ear mites, you will likely notice a dry, black-colored discharge in his impacted ear(s) that looks similar to coffee grounds. Sometimes you will also be able to see the actual mites which look like tiny white flakes. For more information on each of the conditions listed here, including flea prevention and flea prevention products http://www.doggedhealth.com - your dog health authority Everything you need to know to keep your dog happy and healthy from 100s of diseases and symptoms explained to dog first aid. If you have a specific question about your dog, visit http://www.doggedhealth.com and ask the vet or ask the trainer! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Ross
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The GSD History is of a Very Well Respected and Admired Dog Throughout the World
By Debbie Ray GSD history, relatively speaking when compared to many of the other breeds of dog, is still that of a very young breed. Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, developed the German Shepherd Dog breed in 1899, based entirely on his vision of the perfect working dog, one type of dog which could work equally well under any conditions. GSD history began in just this way. Using a variety of German sheep dogs as his foundation stock, Max von Stephanitz developed a new and distinctive working dog breed, the German Shepherd Dog. He greatly admired the herding dogs of his native Germany, and believed they had the full potential to be the total all-purpose working dog. Max von Stephanitz was very aware of the historically declining need for herding dogs and believed that the working abilities of the breed would decline unless they were put to other uses. An idealist with both strong intellect and the financial capabilities to support his ideas, Max von Stephanitz also possessed the determination, drive, and dedication to put his ideas into practice. His perception of a herding dog was of an extremely intelligent, vigorous dog, of stable character and with many of the physical attributes belonging to the wild dog- fleet of foot, long of wind, and untouched by the extremes of other breeds. He was well on his way to beginning the GSD history. He saw no beauty in a non-functional dog and was ruthless in discarding what he considered weak. Tireless and determined, he laid the foundations of the GSD history that were later to make the breed the greatest all-round working dog in the world. Until Horand, herding dogs came in a variety of shapes, sizes, types and abilities. Shepherds in Germany like elsewhere in the world, chose their dogs for their fitness, mental and physical, and for work only, and cared little for the dogs appearance. Max von Stephanitz had very positive ideas about the mental, anatomical, and bio- mechanical characteristics required of a herding dog. He had a great understanding of the mental and anatomical requirements of a working shepherd dog. Very possibly by chance, the beginning of the GSD history started at a dog show in Germany. While at the dog show, a medium-sized yellow-and-gray wolflike dog caught the attention of von Stephanitz, attending the show with his friend Artur Meyer. This dog, Hektor Linksrheim, was immediately purchased by von Stephanitz and renamed Horand von Grafrath. Horand became the first registered German Shepherd Dog, with the number SV1. Only weeks later von Stephanitz and his friend Artur Meyer founded the Verein für Deutsche Schaferhunde, or SV (German Shepherd Dog Club), along with the help of a few other co-founders. The dog club, the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), was to become the largest and most powerful dog breed club in the world and a major step in GSD history. A standard for the GSD breed was soon developed based on mental stability and utility. The captain's motto was "Utility and intelligence". To him beauty was secondary, and considered a dog worthless if it lacked the intelligence, temperament, and structural efficiency that would make it a good servant of man. The German Shepherd Dog breed standard was developed as a blueprint listing the exact function and relationship of every aspect of structure, gait, and inherent attitude, combined with a comprehensive breeding regulation, which required that dogs used for breeding had first to prove their worth physically and mentally. Later, using the co-operation of local police and working dog clubs, a set of specific dog tests were developed in tracking, formal obedience, and protection work. This developed into present day Schutzhund dog trials - another important part of the GSD history. The authorities were persuaded to utilize the German Shepherd Dog in many branches of government service and served during the war as supply carriers, sentinels, Red Cross dogs, messenger dogs, tracking and guard dogs, to name a few. The GSD historically was just gaining notice in the United States when World War I broke out. In 1917, when America entered World War I, all things German became tabu. The AKC changed the name of the dog breed to the Shepherd Dog and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America became the Shepherd Dog Club of America. In England, the name of the German Shepherd Dog breed was changed to the Alsatian. After WWI, British and American soldiers, impressed by the abilities of the German Shepherd Dog, brought home examples of their own to breed. The dog breed instantly become popular, both as a family pet and as a working dog. After the war the movie star Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart stimulated interest in the GSD history and dog breed again. The striking good looks of this breed, combined with its remarkable intelligence and loyalty, have made it a favorite working and companion dog. Puppy factories soon flourished to meet the huge demand, flooding the American market with poor quality "German police dogs", resulting in a down-turn in popularity of the breed. Later during World War II, the German Shepherd Dog was widely sought after and employed by both Allied and Axis forces. These dogs performed various duties such as mine detectors, sentinels, guard work, and messengers. In America, Dogs for Defense was formed, providing thousands of dogs to the army. In GSD history the paths of German and American German Shepherds diverged after World War II. Many German Shepherd Dogs had been killed or destroyed due to lack of food. Later on the breeders again had individual dogs dominant in the desired virtues of the breed. By about 1949 quality GSD specimens again began to appear at German dog shows. In the 1950's American breeders recognized the need for some infusion of outcross blood and Troll von Richterback, 1957 Grand Victor, was dominant in his day. In the 1960's there was an emergence of several strong families of stud dogs. This was an important part in rebuilding the GSD historically speaking. While the SV was in control of German bred German Shepherds, American GSD breeders were open to follow their own preferences. American and Canadian Grand Victor, Lance of Fran- Jo, represented a new era in American shepherds and was widely used during the 1960's. Lance produced many GSD puppies which in turn became historical pillars of the breed in America. In Germany, GSD history reveals that a very active market soon developed for German Shepherd Dogs and puppies sought in countries such as South America, Japan, Italy, many Scandinavian countries, and France. Additionally, the SV began to place more and more importance on dog training degrees. Temperament and courage tests became much more demanding, and the SV forced breeders to concentrate on puppy and dog problem areas such as missing teeth, poor croups, etc. Starting with a common base, the German Shepherd breed in Germany and America have taken a separate course. The Americans and the Germans have both evolved closely-bred dogs. They differ in looks, movement, style, and structure and have developed both desirable and undesirable characteristics into the breed. The Americans have a broader option to pursue their own views and choose their own bloodlines whether from within or outside their own country. The Germans, controlled by the SV, will likely continue to look within themselves to further develop the breed. Today the German Shepherd Dog is still considered one of the most intelligent and versatile breeds in existence and the future will indeed be very interesting for the breed. Indeed, the GSD history has been nothing short of intense so far. Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Need to promote your dog related website and get additional in bound links? Check out pedigreedpups.com, total-german-shepherd.com or canine-hotline.com (dog only products store) for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Ray
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How to House Train Your Dog
By Brigitte Smith House training is undoubtedly the one aspect of dog training that is essential to ensure that your dog becomes a valued member of your family. As with many other aspects of dog training, the best method of achieving a successfully house trained dog is to use your dog’s own nature to your advantage. A wonderful thing about dogs that can make house training much easier, is that dogs are instinctively very clean animals. The majority of dogs would rather not soil the areas where they sleep and eat. In addition, dogs are very good at developing habits. This can be used to your benefit in relation to establishing a set place for your dog to urinate and defecate. For example, dogs that are used to eliminating on concrete or gravel will prefer to eliminate there rather than on grass or dirt. It is possible, and desirable, to use these natural canine tendencies when house training your dog. The first step in house training your dog is to set up your training area. A small, confined space such as a bathroom, or part of a kitchen or garage, works best as a training area. This method of training differs from crate training. Crate training is great for puppies and small dogs, but many larger adult dogs find a crate too confining if they haven’t been used to it from an early stage. It is important that you spend as much time in the training area with your dog as possible. Use this area to play with your dog, and let your dog eat and sleep in the training area. Provide your dog with a special bed in the training area – this can be anything from a store bought custom dog bed to a large towel in an appropriately sized box. At first, you will probably find that your dog will want to eliminate in this area, but once your dog has recognized the training area as his or her own space, he or she will be much more reluctant to soil it. The next step in house training is to set up a toilet area for your dog. Your dog must have ready access to this place every time he or she needs to eliminate. It is also important for you to accompany your dog into the toilet area until he or she gets into the habit of eliminating in that area. This will help reinforce to your dog that there is one area for toileting, and no other. Regular meals for your dog assists in making the house training process easier for both you and your dog. Feeding your dog on a regular basis will also have the added benefit of creating a regular schedule for your dog’s toilet habits. Once you know when your dog is likely to need to eliminate, it will be simple to guide your dog to the established toilet area. Once you have your dog using the toilet area on a regular and systematic basis, it is very important to not confine your dog without access to the toilet area for long periods of time. If your dog is unable to hold it, he will have no option but to eliminate in the training area. And this occurrence will confuse your dog. He will no longer associate the toilet area with being the ONLY area in which he can eliminate. You will thus be making your job of house training your dog more difficult for yourself. When your dog is consistently eliminating in the toilet area and not soiling the training area, it is time to extend that training area to the rest of the home. This process should be done slowly, starting with one room and slowly expanding to the rest of the house. The area should only be extended only once you are sure of the dog’s ability to control its bladder and bowels. First expand the training area to another single room, and allow your dog to eat, play and sleep in that room, but only when supervised. When it is not possible to supervise the dog, place it back in the original training area. Then, after the dog has accepted the room as an extension of the original training area, the area can be extended. Once your dog has become used to sleeping in the bed within the training area, you can move the bed around the house, relocating it from room to room. But when you are not with your dog, he or she should be confined to the training area. You can speed up the house training process, but it is important to proceed cautiously. It will be much easier to take your time in the beginning than to have to retrain a problem dog later. You should always praise and reward your dog each and every time it uses the established toilet area. It is equally important not to punish your dog for mistakes. Punishment will only confuse the dog and slow down the house training process. You wouldn’t consider punishing a baby for soiling its diaper, would you? Or even a toddler for soiling his or her pants from time to time? Your dog is the same as a human child in this respect – he needs time to learn both to control his toileting, and what you require of him. Brigitte Smith runs two websites dedicated to dog training, dog care and dog health: Grab your free special report here: Healthy Happy Dogs or here: Dog Training and Wellness Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brigitte_Smith
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Find a Lost Dog With These 18 Tips
By Betsy Reinier When your dog is missing it can be a stressful experience for both you and your dog. If this should happen to you, there are some tips to help find your dog. Time is of the utmost importance. 1. Search your neighborhood -- Ask the neighborhood children if they have seen your missing dog with someone other than your family members on the day he disappeared. Ride your bike or dive your car all around the neighborhood and call your dogs name. Don't be embarrassed what others may think about you yelling out your dogs name. It's important to you that your dog is found. 2. Ask Everyone -- Ask your mailman, paperboy, children and their parents, or any delivery person that may have come that day, if they have seen your dog. Ask too, if anyone saw any stranger or car that doesn't belong in the neighborhood. 3. Offer small reward -- Tell the neighborhood children that there is a small reward offered to whom ever finds your dog. This way there will be others out there keeping their eyes opened for your dog. 4. Take along your dogs favorite squeeze toy -- If your dog has a favorite toy that has a "squeaker" in it, squeak it now and then while you are searching for your dog. He may be able to hear it and will come to you. 5. Print up flyers -- That evening, if you haven't be able to find your dog, print up flyers with information and picture if possible or just a written description of your dog along with your phone number and start passing them out. If you have a photo of your dog, show it to everyone you hand a flyer to. 6. Place a "missing dog" ad in newspaper -- Place flyers in veterinarian's office, grocery stores, pet stores, and place an ad in your local newspaper under "lost dog". Never give your full name and address, just your phone number. Describe the dog, but leave out an identifying characteristic and ask the person who said they have found your dog, to describe it. If you offer a reward, don't say how much it is in your ad. 7. Beware of pet-recovery scams -- When someone calls claiming to have your dog, ask him to describe your dog. If he does not include the identifying characteristic you left out in your ad, he may not really have your dog. Be especially suspicious of anyone asking for the reward up front or for money for gas, so they can bring back your dog. 8. Visit and/or call your local animal shelter -- Contract your local animal shelter and any shelter within 50 miles from your home and file a lost pet report. If possible, visit the shelters daily. They may have your dog and not recognized it, so it won't get reported to you that your dog has been picked up or turned in. Find out how long they hold the animals. You don't want your dog being euthanized or being adopted out before you can get to him. If you think your dog was stolen, file a report with your local police department. 9. Contact local and state department of transportation -- Keep in touch with your road crews for your local or state department of transportation to see if your dog was killed or injured on the road. This is a sad but necessary task. In some areas the Animal Control also removes any dead animal from the roadways. Find out what agencies do this service in your area. This way you'll know, and can call off the search. 10. Don't stop searching or give up hope -- Dogs have been found or returned home on their own, even months after being lost. Better chance of finding your dog faster 1. Collar and tags -- Keep a collar on your dog whenever he goes outside, with his ID tags on it. 2. Microchip or tattoo -- A dog with microchip implant or tattoo, have a better being returned faster, if found. Consult your Veterinarian on either of these options. 3. Photos of your dog -- Have good photos of your dog so he will be easily identified, should he become lost. 4. Fenced yard -- Keep your dog in a fenced in yard for his protection. Check fence regularly for any damage or holes dug underneath. Keep your gates locked for the safety of your dog and unwanted visitors. 5. Use a leash -- Never let your dog roam free in the neighborhood. When taking your dog for a walk, make sure your dog is always on a leash. This is something your whole family must do. Don't let the children take him out for a run without his leash. The same thing goes for any place your dog goes: Your Veterinarians office, pet store, the park, etc. Always use the leash. 6. Silent dog whistle -- It might be a good idea to train your dog with a silent dog whistle. If your dog is familiar with this sound, your dog will recognize it if your dog should ever get lost and would come toward the sound when he hears it. 7. Neuter or spay pet dogs -- Both male and female dogs are more likely to roam around the neighborhood, if they aren't spayed or neutered. 8. Keep yourself available -- And finally, make sure you can be located when your dog is found. When this whole terrible ordeal is over, you have to call every place that you had notified or filled out a missing dog report, and tell them that your dog has been found. Then gather up any other flyers you had posted in various places. Now that your dog is back in your arms, give him a big hug and keep him safe. Word of caution Bear in mind, there are dangerous people in our society who like to check out the "lost dog" ads in the paper and then prey upon the victims by saying they've found your dog. You have to remember to protect yourself from harm. Betsy Reinier has had dogs all her life. Her main goal is keeping dogs healthy, happy, safe and very spoiled. For more information, check out http://www.dogspoiler.com and sign up for our free newsletter at http://www.doggyknows.com where we care about the health and welfare of dogs. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Betsy_Reinier
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Tips to Have Interesting Dog Names
By Ben Gonsalves If you have just bought yourself a new dog or pup, the next important stage is to give it a distinctive dog name. You may choose dog names that are popular dog names, female dog names, male dog names or even funny dog names. What is important is that you like it and that it gives your dog his unique identity. Thinking of a one-of-a-kind dog name for your pet can be a difficult task, especially since it will be with your dog for life. The dog name that you choose will say as much about you as it does about your dog. It reflects how you view your dog and your relationship with it. Some dog names sound like male dog names and some sound like female dog names. Some dog names are funny while some are serious. It does not matter what kind of a Dog Name you are looking for but it is very essential to choose a Dog Name wisely. Some names like Killer, Wolf, Tiger, etc. can be frightening to people who are already apprehensive of dogs. Your pet dog will be an important part of your family. Therefore select a name that you won't mind calling out time and again. Another point to consider when choosing a dog Name is whether you would feel comfortable calling out to your dog at the top of your voice in public. Some unique dog names like Stinkball or Dumbbell may sound delightful at first but can leave you feeling embarrassed in the company of a crowd. When thinking of unique dog names for your pet do consider whether your dog will be able to distinguish his or her name from normal everyday commands. Similarly the dog name that you select should match with some physical trait of your dog. You don't want to give your big strong male dog a cute name like Twinkle Toes or Sugar Plum or a very strong powerful male name like Fang or Goliath to a delicate female dog. At times, waiting a few days before choosing a name can be of help as you may pick up on little characteristics of your new dog that will give you some inspiration. If your new pup loves to steal things and hide them in his bed, how about 'Bandit'? Giving your dog or pup a name can be easy if you keep the following pointers in mind. As far as possible use a dog name with more than one syllable. Dogs find it easier to hear longer names than shorter ones. As mentioned earlier, make sure your dog's name does not sound like another word that your dog might confuse with. Bo is a popular name but it sounds like the command 'No'. Choose a name that suits the sex of your dog. Female dog names for girl dogs and male dog names for male dogs make more sense although neutral popular dog names can also be chosen. Yours dog's physical appearance might help you choose a name. Your dog's personality could help you decide a dog name. Your dog's behavior could also inspire dog names. You could also give your dog the names of any famous personalities like movie stars, rock stars and even politicians for that matter. Another great source of unique dog names is from books and television. Once you have named your dog, be sure that you use it as frequently as possible, so that he learns it quickly. If you want your dog to like his name, never ever use it when you are angry with him or disciplining him. Try as far as possible, not to raise your voice when you use his name. The most popular male dog names are Sam, Sammie, Max, Bear, Buddy and Taffy. The most popular girl dog names are Samantha, Maggie, Molly, Lady, Lucy, and Sadie. Some popular dog names that are used for both male and female dogs are Tasha, Brandy, Ginger and Taffy. You can choose a girl dog name or a female dog name, a neutral dog name or a funny dog name or even a famous dog name - made famous through movies, comic strips or made famous because of their famous owners. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Gonsalves
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