Known as a powerful dog, the American pitbull is renowned for its aggressive behavior. However, this dog is also known for being loyal, brainy, and very strong. It is quite unfortunate that the history of the pitbull is often filled with horror stories that depict these animals as brutal and frightening.

At the most, it could be said that these powerful dogs are merely misunderstood and it is not fair to judge them because of their aggressive temperament and occasional nasty demeanor. Most often than not, history will show that they do not deserve the bad press that they have been getting.

Early history
In its earliest days, many people who were fond of dogs chanced upon these muscular animals in the Mollossi tribe, a Greek tribe that is noted for its use of these dogs in times of war. The pitbulls were very efficient in warfare because they often get to use their huge jaws to immobilize their enemies.

The history of the pitbull will also show that these animals also evolved from another large group of dogs called the Mastiffs. These dogs, like their distant cousins, were also used in war, but at times were also used to guard their owners as well.

Rise to fame
The pitbull’s history also demonstrate the rise of the stature of these dogs when two pit bulls became the symbol of the United States itself in the First and Second World Wars. To illustrate this fact, a pit bull known as Sgt. Stubby displayed heroism by saving a whole squadron of soldiers from a deadly gas attack. He was also able to survive wounds inflicted on him during the war, and even caught a German spy who was had been troublesome to the Americans.

The pitbull dog was one of the mascots of the Buster Brown Shoe Company. A pit bull named Bud was the first dog to travel throughout America while riding a car, accompanying Horation Jackson and Sewall Crocker, the first people to likewise travel throughout the country in a car. Bud’s travelling goggles can still be found at the Smithsonian.

Current History
All the newsworthy achievements of these pitbulls faded from public consciousness, however, and by the 1980s, things took a turn for the worse for their reputation. These years were the dark episodes of pitbull past wherein they came to be known as treacherous dogs that attacked people, thanks to an article featured in Sports Illustrated that painted them in a bad light.

Instead of portraying these dogs positively, this article featured a group of irresponsible owners who raised very aggressive pit bulls that were used for criminal activities. This unfortunate chapter in the history of the pitbull breed further dampened the idea of raising these dogs.

However, years after this negative article was published, responsible owners were able to show people that with proper training, these pit bulls can be managed. Thanks to these pitbull owners, the dog’s history won’t be viewed negatively by dog lovers.

One bad pitbull does not mean that the others are similar to it. These dogs are wonderful companions, and should be given a chance to be assessed for their individual traits. Moreover, it is unfair to use pit bull history as a gauge to judge the nature of these animals. All the bad press should not stop pitbull lovers from raising dogs that are not aggressive. In the end, responsible ownership is the key to bringing up these much maligned animals.

There are plenty of dog training schools in the market today. The main goal of each training school is to teach dogs certain commands and tricks while dealing with their bad habits and behaviour. As a pet owner, you need to consider taking your pet to dog training classes not only for your dog to learn, but also for you to learn more about your pet.

Basic Dog Obedience Schools
Basic dog obedience schools offer very few services because this level of training can be done without the aid of a professional dog trainer. It is vital that a dog knows basic commands such as Sit, Down, Stay, Come and Heel.

Basic dog training can start at home. Start with something simple, and gradually move on to a harder command. Your dog should respond to your command even if you aren’t close, and even if there are other dogs around. Give rewards to your dog for obeying your orders, and it will intensify his eagerness to learn.

Advanced Dog Obedience Schools
It is recommended that you take your dog to advanced training classes, even if you’re not planning on joining any competition. Canine training schools offers services that will definitely let your dog grow mentally and socially. As a pet owner, you can learn how to deal with your dog from the trainers. Your dog, on the other hand, can mingle with other trained dogs through group classes.

What You Need to Consider in Picking a Dog Obedience School
In picking the right school for your dog, it’s best to know someone who has been through a program. If you don’t know anybody, you can try asking for references directly from the school.

You must feel comfortable with the environment of the school. Check out the place, in order to see if you and you dog will enjoy it. Be sure to check if the facilities are good for your pet. Ask about the programs, and check the background of the trainers who will be taking care of your dog. Do they have educational backgrounds that maybe relevant to dog training? How many dogs have they trained? Do they use positive reinforcement? You have to make sure that you are putting your pet in the hands of someone capable of training dogs.

Tips and Warnings
Know the class size. How many dogs are attending the class? This is one way of making sure your dog gets the proper attention it needs. Check the admission requirements; your dog must be placed together with dogs that are of its age. Ask to observe a class first, so that you can see the learning environment of your dog before you make a decision.

There are plenty of people today passing themselves off as professional dog trainers. They can either harm your pet without you knowing or extort money from you. You have to be very careful in picking the right school and trainer who will handle your dog.

There are so many different types of dog training collars out there today that it can be hard to choose the best one for your dog. How do you know which will work the best for your dog and your dog’s specific problems? How do you know that they won’t hurt your dog? Here are some tips on choosing the right dog training collar:

1. Know what the dog training collar is for: For example, you need to know if you just need a training collar for when you take your dog on walks or if you need one for excessive barking. There are so many different collars that are designed for different things, and you want to make sure that you have the right collar for the job.

2. Test the strength of the collar: You don’t want to spend a ton of money on a dog training collar only to have it fall apart the first time you use it. If you are going to a pet shop to pick one out, make sure that you pull and tug on it and basically check it all over for strength. If you are buying one online, check reviews of that particular dog training collar first before you buy, and if there are none, make sure that the store has a return policy.

3. Make sure you choose a collar that you can use with your dog’s normal collar: Always keep a normal collar on your dog with an ID in case he or she ever gets lost. When choosing a dog training collar, you want to make sure that it will work with your dog’s normal collar as well.

4. If you do not feel comfortable using a specific type of collar, don’t use it: Some obedience trainers will insist that you use a chain or pinch collar while others insist on shock collars and some insist on none at all. Make sure that you use what you are comfortable using on your own pet, after all, they are like one of your children and you should always feel comfortable with the type of dog training collar you’re using.

Once you take these four tips into account, you should easily be able to pick out the best dog training collar that will help both you and your dog.

The Chihuahua is one of the smallest breed among most dogs. The name, Chihuahua, was said to have originated from Mexico. Chihuahuas come in many varieties for instance, the head varies in different sizes and shapes, the color, the body sizes may vary and the length of the coat. Some historians believe that the bread , Chihuahua, came for an island called Malta in the Mediterranean. The evidence comes from the European painting of small dogs that were similar to Chihuahuas, which was a fresco painting dating back to 1480-1482. The painting, Trails of Moses, which was a fresco painting that shows a boy holding a small dog with a large eyes, a round head, big eyes and other characteristics that Chihuahuas have. The height of the Chihuahua breed ranges from six to ten inches and in some cases some dogs grows tall as 12 to 15 inches.

As with most dogs, it is very important to choose your Chihuahuas with care because the temperament of the Chihuahuas owner can make a big difference in the temperament of the puppy. Angrily tempered Chihuahuas can be provoked easily to attack and is very inappropriate or dangerous for a home containing small kids. Chihuahuas do not get along with other breeds and have a habit of unsociable behavior often preferring the companionship of other Chihuahuas over other dogs. Chihuahuas have a habit of being extremely loyal to one main owner and become over protective of that one particular person, mainly around other animals or people. Chihuahuas are well known to bury themselves in hampers covers, sheets and pillows. You will most likely find your Chihuahua under the bed, where it is dark, for which making it their den.

Chihuahuas are light weighed breeds, but it is very important, like humans, you must watch your pup’s weight. You do not want you Chihuahuas to become over weight or under weight because both can cause major health problems. There is a chart you can follow to help maintain your Chihuahuas weight and keep your animal happy as well as healthy. There are many ways to maintain your chihuahua’s weight, such as the food you give him or her, how much you give him or her and how often. You should also keep your chihuahua active.





Credits: The Chihuahua weight chart is ©Colonel V. D’Oyly Harmer

The best way to remove a tick from your dog is to use a preventative measure to keep them off of your dog in the first place. You can do this by talking with your vet and finding the best product to use on your dog. There are many different shampoos, powders, and drops, that you apply to the back of your pet’s neck, that will repel ticks. There are also pills you can give your dog so the product gets into it’s blood. This way if a tick bites your dog it will die and be easier to get rid of.

If you have not used one of these products yet and you find a tick on your dog you will need to take immediate action to remove it. The longer the tick stays on, the more chance there is of it passing a disease onto your dog. If you happen to find a tick on your dog, and you don’t have a pair of tweezers, you can try using liquid soap on a cotton ball. Use it to cover the tick for 20 seconds. This will cause the tick to let go and make it easy to remove.

If that method is not effective use a pair of tweezers and grasp the head of the tick. You will need to be careful not to grab your dogs skin as this could cause your dog to jump or shy away making it harder to get the tick off. Pull on the tick gently, but using steady pressure. Do not just rip the tick away from your dog as this will leave part of the tick behind. Once the tick is removed, check to be sure you have gotten it completely out of the dogs skin. Make sure the head was not left behind because this can cause an infection. If you think you have removed the tick’s body and left the head on your dog, you can use a needle to remove it. Make sure you use a clean, sterile, needle so the area does not get infected.

Once you have determined the tick is completely removed from your dog use antiseptic to cleanse the area around the bite. You will want to watch the spot closely over the next few days to make sure an infection does not start. This would also be a good time to start your pet on one of the many tick prevention products.

Dog lovers that suffer from allergies assume that they cannot have a dog in the house as it will stir up their allergies. However, this couldn’t any further from the truth.



In fact, there are actually dogs that are considered to be hypoallergenic dogs. Hypoallergenic dogs usually will not shed any hair, or at least very little, and have very minimal, if any, dander.



Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds

There are several dog breeds that are considered to be hypoallergenic. This list does not include every single one, but is just a general list of some of the most popular hypoallergenic dogs. Here are a few:


• Maltese
• Schnauzer
• Poodle
• Shih Tzu
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Rat Terrier
• Labradoodle
• Goldendoodle
• Scottish Terrier



As I previously stated, this is just a general list and does not include anywhere near all of the hypoallergenic dogs that are out there.



Spend Time with a Breed First



One important thing to keep in mind is that just because there are hypoallergenic dogs does not mean that every dog on the list above will not stir up your allergies. Every allergy sufferer is different and suffers from different types of allergies, meaning that even a dog on this list could cause your allergies to act up.



Try to spend a little bit of time with the specific breed that you are interested in to ensure they don’t bother your allergies. If that breed is a winner and doesn’t cause any allergy problems for you then by all means, find your companion as soon as possible and bring him/her to a loving home.



Otherwise, keep looking as you will surely find a breed that you like that does not stir up your allergies.



Be a Dog Lover Again!

Turn yourself back into the dog lover that you once were by getting one of the many hypoallergenic dogs and minimize the number of allergens within your home by vacuuming regularly and using an air purifier to keep the air in the home clean. Just know that it is possible to have a dog in your home even if you have allergies.



Naming your female dog can be one of the most important decisions in your life, especially if you are a bona-fide dog lover. Your new dog is your new bundle of joy. For some, a dog is their baby so it’s just as important to give them a beautiful, meaningful name as it is for someone who just gave birth to their first child.



When naming your female dog, you want to give her a name that means something to you and represents how you feel about her. Her name needs to represent who she is going to be when she gets older and the first thoughts that ran through your mind when you saw her are important as well.



When you choose a name for your dog, keep in mind that when you tell someone her name, they will judge just by what you call her. Conveying proper image is important in the decision of female dog names. You aren’t only creating an image for your dog, but also for yourself with female dog names. What you name your dog says a lot about you as a person as well as a dog owner.



Many will name their female dog after a distant or late family member, favorite celebrity (sports, movie, music), etc. while some prefer to come up with unusual and extraordinary names representing uniqueness. Shorter names are even better for dogs as it’s easy for you to call out when needed and it’s easier for your dog to understand.



Common Female Dog Names



In terms of popularity, Sam and variations of such as Samantha or Sammie are probably the most popular among dog owners. This name means listener.



Some more common female dog names include Lucy, Lady, Sadie, Daisy, Abby, Roxy, Princess, Missy, Sugar, and Bella, which is most likely due to the recent popularity of the Twilight Saga.



The most important thing to remember is to never change your dog’s name after you have started calling her by a particular one. This will confuse your little girl and this is something that you don’t want to do!

Sometimes more commonly referred to as a Continental Toy Spaniel, the Papillon dog is a very small dog usually weighing in at about seven to 10 pounds and height at about eight to 11 inches with female dogs weighing less than male Papillon dogs. This dog’s origin dates back to almost 700 years ago in Europe, at which time this dog had dropped ears and was more commonly known as dwarf spaniels. The Papillon also has a famous art history being featured through the Renaissance period via 13th -15th century Italian paintings.



First recognized in 1915 by the AKC, the Papillon dog can be taught to perform a number of tricks and is known to be a good watchdog, even for its size, as this type of dog is very protective of its owner.



One of the best things about this type of dog is that their life expectancy can be as much as 16 years making it the perfect dog for younger children as it can grow up with them provided that the dog owner maintains strict rules for the dog to abide by. Without strict rules, the Papillon could become very aggressive and intimidate children while also being deceitful. However, the Papillon dog is not recommended for families with children under six years of age.



Otherwise, the Papillon dog is a very sweet, friendly and extremely intelligent while also being charming, lively and playful. While the Papillon may be hard to house train, they are very obedient. They do not make good apartment dogs or city dogs as they are very prone to bark excessively at even the littlest noises.



The Papillon dog is long-lived, as previously stated, and is generally physically healthy. This breed of dog can have health problems such as loose kneecaps, eye problems and sometimes can incur a soft spot on the top of the head. Usually, surgery can take care of the health problems; however, some dogs may find it difficult to be under anesthesia.

Loving to play and romp outdoors, the Papillon is the perfect companion to any dog lover that is simply looking for someone special to spend their time with.

A very rare breed of dog, blue nose pitbulls are a particular kind of dog that any dog lover wants to own; however, the population of blue nose pitbulls is not high. Looking at the specific history of the breed, it is quite uncertain. The only thing that is known about this particular breed is that they are actually a result from a hereditary fault, which is usually caused by interbreeding.



Due to the fact that these canines are in high demand, but the amount of them lacks, they are very expensive dogs to purchase. In fact, you can expect to pay $2,000 or more just to get on a list to receive one once it has been born. After that, you can expect to pay up to three times the amount of the down payment.



Blue nose pitbulls have been given a bad reputation as being dangerous and mean dogs; however, this isn’t the personality of the dog at all. The only reason the pitbulls become dangerous is because the owner is careless and sometimes teaches the dog to act in that manner. These dogs have a very playful temperament and are very lighthearted when around others including children, making them the perfect canine for any dog lover with children – even small children. Children are able to show the blue nose pitbulls the attention and love that they so love and deserve to receive.



Being very strong and intelligent, blue nose pitbulls are not only great for children, but also for adults. They are known to be extremely loyal to and protective of their owners as well as anyone else within the same residence.



While it does take a good amount of effort, time, caution, care as well as responsibility and caution, the owners of this breed wouldn’t have it any other way. Aggressive behavior should not define blue nose pitbulls. If you take care of your canine as a true dog lover would, there shouldn’t be any issues with aggressive behavior.



Instead, you should see a fun, loving, intelligent dog that needs the same as you do – a loyal companion.



When it comes to small pooches, there are several smaller breeds that you can choose from. But, did you know that the Chihuahua is the only toy breed of dog that is naturally this small where other toy breeds are bred down to a toy size. So, you will never have to worry about any Chihuahua being over 6 pounds naturally. The problem is that since they are so small, they cannot be left alone outside for any length of time since larger animals can mistake them for prey. For those wanting to get a Chihuahua, you need to make sure that you will not be leaving them outside unattended.

As far as colors go on Chihuahuas, there are so many different color combinations that it could make your head spin. The good news is that Chihuahuas are only minimum to average shedders and you can find them with both long and short hair. If you are planning to purchase a show dog, then you will want to make sure that you read up on the different preferences for both the long hair and the short hair Chihuahuas. Other than that, there are a wide variety of color combinations that you can choose from and each different dog has it’s own unique look. From brown to white, black to multi-toned, each Chihuahua is beautifully marked and it is all a matter of personal preference to which one you choose.

Chihuahuas are known to be an extremely intelligent breed and are very devoted to their owners. Of course, they are very demanding as well, and you should be prepared to pamper them and give them constant affection. They are very curious and can be really creative when faced with a problem, such as how to escape a room they are in, and they will constantly find ways to gain your attention. Parents that are considering getting a Chihuahua should only get a puppy of this breed when their children are older, as the small nature of the dog can cause serious injury if they are mishandled.
Chihuahuas are actually best for people that are older or those that just love to cuddle for long periods of time, as they love the affection. They are actually the perfect breed for elderly, handicapped, or people that live alone as they never want to leave their owner’s side and they are generally very sweet and gentle. And, they get enough exercise just running around a home or apartment due to their small size so they are perfect apartment dogs. But, they do prefer to be with other Chihuahuas, and it can be hard to introduce one into a home where there are other dogs, especially if the other breeds are larger.

Just like any breed, the Chihuahua is prone to a few health problems. Some of the most common health problems that Chihuahuas face include: patellar luxation (where their tiny kneecaps slip out of place), hypoglycemia, eye problems, epilepsy, dental problems, heart murmurs, and even seizure disorders. Make sure that you read up on different health problems that also occur in the breed and how to deal with them if they arise in the pup you choose.

Before choosing this breed over another, make sure that you fully read up on everything about the Chihuahua breed, such as: full range of health problems that can occur, training (they are extremely smart dogs and take well to training), grooming, and more. This way, you and your family will know exactly what you are going to get when you bring an adorable Chihuahua pup home to love.