Pet Auto Safety

Are you considering getting a puppy? If you have never owned a dog before, it is important that you understand the responsibilities involved in raising a puppy so you will be more prepared to handle what is to come. It may also help some of you realize that perhaps a puppy just isn’t right for you. You may want to consider an older dog instead, or perhaps even a cat. Puppies take a lot of time and patience. There are going to be difficult times and many messes to clean up. But if you are prepared, you and your puppy will be much happier. And eventually the task of taking care of a puppy becomes easier as he learns the routines and rules of the house.

The first step before getting a puppy is to do research. You need to know what breed or breed mix is best for you and your family, whether your living situations can accomodate a pet, and finally, where you are going to get your puppy. Today’s article is about doing the research on what kind of dog or puppy to get. Later in the week we will talk about the other research that is needed. And later still, we will talk about the responsibilites involved in owning a puppy.

Research - What kind of dog or puppy to get
Before you decide on a breed, research dog breeds for their temperament, grooming requirements, and size. This will give you a lot of information on what to expect if you want a purebred dog. Don’t select a certain breed for superficial reasons until you have done your research on the breed and you are certain you can handle the responsibilities involved with that particular breed. You can get information on breeds from books, vets, various rescue groups and shelters, and from online sources such as blogs, articles, and forums. This will also help you learn about certain genetic diseases and health issues that are associated with certain purebreeds.  JustDogBreeds.com is an excellent on-line source for getting information about specific breeds.

Most dog breeds can learn to get along with children and other pets, but some breeds tend to get along with them better than others. So if you have children or other pets, researching dog breeds will be very helpful.

You also need to condider if you can handle a dog which requires special grooming. If your dog is going to be mostly indoors, do you care if it is a breed that sheds? Do you want a dog that requires a periodic hair-cut? Will you take the time to periodically brush a long-haired dog?

The size and activity level of the dog your puppy is going to grow into is another thing to consider. You don’t want a large or highly energetic dog if you live in an apartment unless you plan on regularly taking the dog out for exercise. If you have children, the size and energy level of the dog may also be considered. Small children may not be good with a small dog and a large energetic dog may not be good for small children.

If you don’t care if your puppy is a purebred or not, knowing about breeds is still helpful. Sometimes it is easy to tell what sort of breed-mix a puppy is and this could help you in making your decision. Mixed breeds can also be good because your dog will most likely not have the genetic issues involved with purebreeds.

Defining the terrier group by the look of the dog may not be as easy as you think. Most of us think of terriers as having wiry hair but not all terriers in this group share this trait - Consider the Bull Terrier, for example, which has a short dense coat. Another difficulty is that all kennel clubs do not agree on which dogs belong or don’t belong in the terrier group. For example, the United Kennel Club (UKC) in the United States includes the Jack Russell Terrier but the American Kennel Club (AKC), also in the United States, does not.

So what defines a terrier? The origin and occupation of the breed play a large part in defining the terrier. Most terrier breeds originated in Britain and the surrounding areas. Terriers were bred to track down and pursue prey from their holes or lairs. In fact, the terrier group gets its name from the Latin word, terra, which means earth. The character of a terrier, however, is its most defining trait. But note that the terrier’s character is probably what made the original occupation of terriers so successful. For a dog to be able to pursue animals from the ground, they had to be brave and tenacious. As a result, most terriers are defined as being courageous, feisty, and relentless, often to the point of being single-minded and head-strong. Terriers generally do not tolerate other dogs and have a tendency to fight. (This particular trait is what unfortunately makes the American Pit Bull Terrier be used in illegal and inhumane dog fighting.)Terriers range in size, most having a wiry coat which requires special grooming. They tend to be vocal dogs and are well-known for being eager and alert, as well as intelligent. Dogs in this group include the American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Fox Terrier (Smooth), Fox Terrier (Wire), Airedale Terrier, Irish Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Norfolk Terrier, Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier, Skye Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Border Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, and more.

As far as we can tell, dogs evolved from their wolf ancestors about one hundred thousand years ago.  They remained wild for over eighty five thousand years until they were domesticated by human beings fifteen thousand years ago.  Dogs were the first animals that human beings thought could be useful in a symbiotic relationship and they were therefore the first animals to be domesticated by human populations.

 Dogs were first domesticated in East Asia, specifically in what is now China.  Dogs were then taken by the first people who traveled to North America.  They probably used dog carriers for their transcontinental trip like we do now!  As humans migrated around the planet, a variety of dog forms migrated with them. The agricultural revolution and subsequent urban revolution led to an increase in the dog population and a demand for specialization. This led to special breeding by people who wanted to bring out certain qualities in their dog partners.  This partnership is alive and well till this day.

Shetland Sheepdogs are highly intelligent dogs. They are affectionate, intensely loyal, and an all-around great family pet. They are good with children if they are raised with them from an early age and they do well with other pets. They tend to be a little wary of strangers, sometimes to the point of being skittish or snappy but their loyalty to their family more than makes up for it. They require regular brushing but their size makes them great for any sized home, including a farm or even an apartment.

The Shetland Sheepdog is also known as a Sheltie or a Miniature Collie. They originated in the Shetland Islands of Scotland where the Shetland Pony and Shetland Sheep also come from. It is possible that the Shetland Sheepdog was bred to herd those smaller sheep but it is more likely that they were used on the farm to scare off birds, rodents, and garden pests such as rabbits.

With a few differences, the Shetland Sheepdog looks like a miniature version of the Collie. The dominate color of the Shetland Sheepdog is either black, blue-merle, or sable. The dominate color is accompanied by varying amounts of white and/or tan. Their hair is long and needs regular brushing. Their weight ranges anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds. Their height according to AKC standards should be 13 to 16 inches to the shoulder but can be shorter or taller with the height proportionate to the weight.

If you consider adopting an adult Shetland Sheepdog, do not be concerned if the dog does not warm up to you right away. Since Shetland Sheepdogs tend to be wary of strangers, bonding time will be needed. If you are considering purchasing a Shetland Sheepdog puppy be aware of several inherited and/or susceptible diseases common to the breed. These health issues include Dermatomyositis ( a genetic disease of the skin), Von Willebrand Disease (a bleeding disorder), malformation of the eyes, hypothyroidism, hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and various skin allergies. Before you purchase from a breeder make sure the breeder has clear bloodline records. A breeder should have vet records showing that they eyes were checked for the eye disease and that DNA tests were done for the Von Willebrand Disease. Some of the symptoms for the diseases listed above do not show up until about age two so adoption of an adult dog is a safe way to go but will require some bonding time.

The image above is an artistic rendition of Cassie. Cassie was adopted at age 1 and quickly bonded with the adopter’s 10 year old daughter. Cassie became the 10-year-old’s dog and spent the remainder of her life with her. Cassie died at age 13 when her owner was 23. She can attest that Cassie was the best dog she has ever had.  Cassie was extremely loyal, knew over 30 commands, and very lovable.  If you want to read more about Cassie and the owner, visit the Pet Pals page of PetAutoSafety.com. To view other pet art from the artist of Cassie, visit www.NatureByDawn.com.

Maya is at the new facility for Day Play and overnight boarding.  You can check her out on their video cam at http://www.woofsplaystay.com/woofs-watchers.asp.  Just select the low resolution or high resolution public web cam.  There are several views to look at.  Maya has mostly been seen on the “Medium Dogs Inside 1″ camera.

I used to live in the country where it was very well known that coyotes would attack sheep, cattle, chickens, and even other dogs. I had 5 acres of land but kept a half an acre fenced so that my dogs would not roam around and get attacked by these coyotes (or mistaken for coyotes and get shot by a farmer). In the fenced yard, my dogs were safe.

However, Duce had a tendency to dig. Like my other dogs, he was kept in the house at night but let outside during the day for potty and play. I liked to be outdoors too so I was generally able to keep an eye on him and stop him from digging. But one day, he dug out and disappeared. I looked and looked for him but the country is a big place and there was still a lot of wild and wooded areas that made it harder to find him.

I really loved that dog and I miss him very much. He was shepherd/chow mix and a beautiful and lovable dog. It wasn’t until recently that I heard about a GPS pet tracker. The company I work with called PetAutoSafety.com sells one in particular called the RoamEO pet tracker. If those had been invented when I had Duce, I would have gladly have purchased one. That way, when Duce got out I would have been altered and hopefully would have been able to track him down and get him back home before he got hurt. This is a great product and probably one of the best pet trackers on the market because it is so easy to use and there is no monthly fee. I have the RoamEO pet tracker now although my dog Missy is almost exclusively and indoor dog. I use it mostly when we go camping or hiking. Missy has never gotten away from me but I don’t want to take any chances with losing another great dog.

Hi, my name is Dawn and I am the primary owner of PetAutoSafety.com and the sole owner of Sephi and Maya. Sephi is a lab/shepherd/chow mix. She is over 7 years old now and a great dog. Maya is a yellow lab. She is almost a year old and growing fast. You can read more about Sephi and Maya at http://www.mydogspace.com/me/naturebydawn and http://www.petautosafety.com/page/1460887.

I started the PetAutoSafety.com site in 2006 with Sephi in mind. Sephi always had a dog seat belt but I didn’t always use it like I should have. I mostly used it for when we traveled on the highway and tended to use it less when on city roads. Why? Because Sephi hated her seat belt and she would always get tangled up in it. The seat belt she used was the kind that had a loop attached to the pet car harness where the car seat belt would pass through. It was very inconvenient because whenever Sephi would turn around in her seat, the loop of the dog seat belt harness and the seat belt of the car would get twisted and sometimes Sephi would get her foot caught in it.

A few years ago, when Sephi wasn’t wearing her seat belt, I had to swerve out of the way of a car coming into my lane. Sephi fell onto the floor and hurt herself. Thankfully, she wasn’t seriously hurt but I was bound and determined to not only make her wear her seat belt every time, but to find a better seat belt for her. And I found the perfect dog seat belt made by Guardian Gear. Instead of a loop that the car seat belt has to pass through, the dog seat belt made by Guardian Gear has a strap that buckles directly into the seat belt receptacle. With this strap, Sephi can turn around all she wants and she won’t get tangled up in it because it is a single strap. Not only that, Sephi doesn’t mind this seat belt at all. Because she can move around a bit more and not get tangled, she actually gets excited now when I put the dog car harness on her.

In 2006, I built a web site for my artwork called NatureByDawn.com. I had so much fun selling online that I partnered with others and expand my market to sell pet auto safety stuff, including the Guardian Gear dog seat belt that my own dogs use.

Missy is a sweet dog. She was rescued from the local shelter I used to work at. She was literally rescued since she was due to be euthanized when I offered to take her home as my own. She was only 6 months old at the time and very adorable. But the shelter was full and there was no room for her in adoption. Our shelter took in over a hundred animals a day in the summer months and we were lucky if 15 were reclaimed, if 15 were adopted, and if 15 were taken by various animal rescue groups. It was sad to say, but a lot of animals were euthanized every day at this shelter, as they are at many shelters all over the country. The shelters don’t do this by choice, I promise. They do it because there is no other alternative. Most of the animals that were euthanized were unadoptable because they were unhealthy, vicious, or just unsociable. But some of those animals would have made great pets.

Missy is such a great pet. She is well behaved and very lovable. I don’t know what I would do without her. Missy is an odd mix, probably greyhound/shepherd. She has the lean doe-like face of a greyhound and the coloring and black saddle-back of a German shepherd. To think that she was about to be put to sleep just because there are so many irresponsible pet owners out there who refuse to get their pet spayed or neutered and let their dogs roam the neighborhoods! If you aren’t going to be responsible for a pet, you should not even have one. So even though I don’t work at the animal shelter anymore, I am still a big advocate for spaying and neutering. And as an advocate for spaying and neutering, I want to encourage you do spay or neuter your dog or cat. Unless you are a professional breeder, you should not be breeding dogs. There are plenty of professional breeders out there and too many irresponsible breeders who breed dogs in puppy mills just to make money. So unless you know about breeding, PLEASE don’t contribute to the overpopulation of pets just to make a buck!