About Dogs

Dogs assist humans on many levels, such as companionship, hunting, herding, helping handicapped people, assisting the military, rescuing people in earthquake rubble, and also aiding the police. The dog has been domesticated for thousands of years and can be seen throughout history as prominent members of certain cultures.

There are many different dog breeds across the world. They are usually bred for different traits so they can perform certain functions. You can find dogs for sale almost anyplace. Dog shelters are good place to start when looking for a family pet.

Pet Dogs Require a Years-Long Commitment
Never give dogs as a gift. People need to understand the commitment they are making when taking on a pet. Most dog shelters use strict screening applications to make sure that the owner will be home enough and be able to provide the routines and care that dogs need in order to be happy.
Dogs are an important family member to some. They are treated like one of the kids in a household. Your precious puppies can even stay at a hotel for dogs when family members go away, far cry from kenneling. The dogs have it made!

10 Facts About Pugs

Pugs Are Tons of Fun

Pugs love doing silly things in order to get your attention. This makes them an extremely comical breed.

Pugs Were Once Considered Royalty

Pugs are an ancient Asian breed that usually lived in Buddhist monasteries and were considered royalty! For this reason, manyfamous paintings portray Pugs.

Josephine Bonaparte Owned a Pug

Napoleon Bonaparte's wife, Josephine, owned a Pug named Fortune. Fortune carried messages from Napoleon to his wife while he was in battle!

Wrinkles On Pugs Can Harbor Infections

The wrinkles that nearly every Pug has can trap dirt and may lead to infection, so if you own a Pug remember to clean beneath his/her wrinkles occasionally!

Pugs Can Catch Colds Easily

Pugs should not be subjected to too hot or too cold weather, because they are prone to catching colds rather easily thanks to their flat faces.

Pugs Are The Oldest Breed of Dog

Pugs may have been around since 400 BC!!

Pugs Are Prone To Respiratory Problems

Since Pugs have flat faces, they tend to have more breathing problems than other dog breeds. For this reason, many Pugs snort.

Facts About Dog Adoption

Low Adoption Numbers

The majority of dogs are free/low cost cainines that were given to owners from family members. Out of the millions of newly owned dogs, only 20 to 30% are actually adopted and rescued from shelters.

Euthanized Dogs

When dogs enter shelters, the majority of them end up getting put to sleep. This accounts for 56% of all dogs in shelters, an estimated number that reaches millions each year.

70,000 Puppies Daily

Approximately 70,000 puppies are born daily, with the majority of them sent to shelters. Considering only about 10,000 human babies are born every day, this is a huge number, which creates a large overpopulation of dogs.

Adoption Fees Are Necessary

When rescuing and adopting dogs, some fees could end up being more than $500. The majority of this money goes towards transport, food and associated veterinarian costs for the dog, rather than the shelter itself; so think of it as an investment in the bettered future of this animal, who would probably meet a dismal fate if it weren't for you.

Specific Breeds are Available

Dog adoption is often associated with images of mutts and mixed breeds, but if you're interested in pure breds, there are plenty of options.
Pure bred adoption agencies:

• Dachshund Rescue of North America
• Eskie Rescuers United
• Save a Shepard Rescue
• Greyhound Angels Adoption
• Labs 4 Rescue

Not Every Dog is a Stray

Not every dog you find in a shelter is a stray. Every year an estimated 8 to 10 million dogs are given up to animal shelters and put up for adoption. Strongly consider your wants and needs before adopting a dog so that it is not returned to a shelter.

Volunteers are Essential

The massive network of shelters in the United States could not operate without the help of volunteers. Volunteers are essential for smaller shelters that operate on a smaller budget. Without them, more dogs would be put to sleep or left as strays.

Great Activities You Can Enjoy With Your Dog

Here is an introduction to some great things people do with their dogs. Most activities welcome all dogs, whether purebred or of mixed breed heritage. Some of these activities are classed as "working dog" activities, but are also done on a recreational basis, or as a public service. Some dog activities are purely recreational in nature, while others are competitive dog sports. Many of these activities may be new to you. I have chosen my links based upon how welcoming they are to the merely curious.

People who play with their dog, stay with their dog.

Why do dog activities matter? Why promote them? Dog activities matter because they help dogs keep their homes.
When people and dogs do things together it is good news all around. Many of these activities provide the structure that helps people learn to better communicate with their dogs. The dogs have a better opportunity to learn good manners. That makes them easier to live with and less likely to be given up. The activities help people get in touch with one another to share information. That also helps people to learn about dogs, to avoid problems, and to solve them in a healthy way. The activities provide exercise in a fun way that boosts the relationship. The exercise, in turn, reduces boredom. A dog that exercises with its human is less likely to have behavior problems. A wonderful side benefit is that these activities can be a mental boost for humans and dogs alike.

Do we need lessons on having fun with our dogs?

All the evidence is, yes, we need to learn how to have fun with our dogs. Too many people just don't know how much fun their dog can be. Their relationship is one way; they haven't learned to communicate. They need help learning how to have fun with their dog. When they enjoy their dog they are motivated to work through problems, to solve them instead of giving up on the dog.

And yes, your mutt can play too.

The big surprise to me was how many activities I can do with my mixed breed dogs. And the variety of sports, games, and just plain good times was also an eye opener. Many of the activities listed here will be new to you. Some of them you may have seen on TV, but never thought of getting involved in yourself. Well plunge right in and explore. You and your dog will be glad you did.

Fun things to do with your dog: Games, Sports and Just Good Fun

Fun Things To Do With Your Dog

Go for a Run

One of the easiest things you can do with your dog is to take him for a run. Dogs simply love to get outside and run around, and it doesn't take much training to get your dog to run by your side. Not only will you and your pooch have a lot of fun together, but you will get in shape too! Here are a few benefits you can expect from running with your dog:

• Dogs make excellent running partners
• Dogs keep you safe while running
• Running will extend a dog's lifespan

Play Fetch

Fetch is one of the most classic activities you can enjoy with a dog. Retrieving a moving object is at the core of a dog's instinct, so you can start enjoying this activity from day one. As your dog get's more and more experienced with fetching, you can start using a Frisbee to make the game even more fun for both you and your companion.

Do New Tricks

Proud dog owners love to show off all the tricks that their canine can perform on command. While most dogs learn to understand basic commands, like "sit" or "come," it can take quite a bit of work to teach a dog a new trick. Try out some of these popular tricks:

• Shake
• Speak
• Play Dead
• Roll Over

Compete in Agility

Not all sports are made for humans, and that's great news for you and your dog! The sport of agility is quickly gaining popularity among dog owners because it's great exercise and a good challenge for their pets. Agility involves running through an obstacle course made of these parts and more:

• Tubes
• Hoops
• Jumps
• Weaving poles
• See-saw

Visit a Dog Park

If you're in the mood to just relax and enjoy a nice afternoon, then take a trip to your local dog park. Your pup will get to run around freely and play with the other dogs while you can read a book or talk with the other owners. Always try to keep track of what your dog is doing and where it is, especially when there are a lot of other dogs present in the park.

Play Hide and Seek With Your Dog

Hide and seek is an advanced game that you can teach your dog to do on command. Before you start, teach your dog how to "stay" and "come," and once you have those commands mastered you can play. Begin by telling your dog to stay, move to a different room, and then tell your dog to come. Give your obedient pup a treat for doing this correctly. Repeat this process and start hiding in more and more creative places!

Practice Dock Jumping

Like agility, dock jumping is a sport for dogs that's quickly gaining popularity. The goal is to have your dog jump the farthest distance off of a dock into the water. You can also do this activity in most in-ground swimming pools. Take your dog's favorite toy (make sure it floats) and use it as a lure to teach him to jump. Once you have that skill mastered, tell your dog to "stay" at the start of the dock and you go down to the end of the dock. Hold the toy up in the air, call your dog, and throw the toy up over the water. Watch in amazement as your dog leaps through the air!

Go for a Ride

If your pooch just isn't up for much physical activity, you can always take it out for a ride. Dogs love to go on car rides and stick their heads out the window! Make sure to gradually ease your pet into this activity so that they learn to be more calm and won't do something dangerous while you're driving.