When you are planning to get a dog for your family, nothing beats having everyone pitch in when choosing which particular breed to get. For sure, your children and even your spouse would have a lot of suggestions, and these might be in terms of size and temperament. Choosing one particular dog breed just might become daunting on your part. Thus, it would be better to do some research on the popular family dog breeds that you just might want to get. Here are some of the popular breeds.

The Golden Retriever

This breed makes an excellent choice because this dog is very sociable and enjoys outdoor activities. If you are considering getting a Golden Retriever, then you should know this interesting fact about the breed. Back in the day, the Golden Retriever was actually trained to retrieve birds whenever hunters would go on expeditions. However, it did not take too long for the hunters to observe that the breed was more of a family companion rather than a hunting companion. Thus, it soon became one of the popular family dog breeds. One major downside of the Golden Retriever, however, is its fur. Its fur has to have serious maintenance to keep it healthy so this would require brushing daily. Much fur would also be shed, which is not too good for families who have asthmatic members.

The West Highland Terrier

More popularly known as the Westie, this small terrier is very playful. Because of its playful nature, dog owners would have to be ready to do some exercises with the dog, just to keep it active and happy. Westies are very loyal to their owners and they also make great watchdogs. However, because of its small size, younger children could somehow mistreat it quite a bit. Thus, it would be better to get this small dog if the children in the house are a bit older already. Much like the Golden Retriever, the Westie also needs to be groomed so that his coat is maintained free from tangles.

The Cairn Terrier

This is still a little dog, much like its cousin, the Westie. The Cairn Terrier likes to be with a lot of people and needs a lot of exercise to stay happy as well. You have a lot of choices when it comes to colour with the Cairn Terrier because this breed comes in the following colours: cream, red, grey, sandy, wheaten, and even in combinations of these colours.

These are just some of the popular dog breeds you should consider. For more information on the other breeds, do not hesitate to contact your local vet. Vets are the most qualified people who can share valuable information about all dog breeds in the market.

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

Cute Westie (West Highland Terrier) Dog by flowercarole
View other Westies Posters

West Highland Terriers or "Westies" originated in the West Highlands of Scotland. These terriers were originally bred to go after small game. It is said that their breeding came about after another terrier was mistakenly shot Another breeder had a few white pups in the litter and bred those exclusively to become the West Highland White terriers of today. A Westie is very friendly and has a jaunt about his step. This breed is very hardy and needs a walk every day for exercise. Westies have a better temperament than most terriers and will not snap as much. They are recognized by the AKC and other top breeding programs as a legitimate breed.

Westies are fun loving, and fun to be with. They need a small yard to be happy. They are also good companions to be with, and all the love that you could ask for. However, the life can go right out of them if you mistreat these precious dogs. They are good companions for those that have families and well behaved children. They are a bit high strung, but are well worth it to have as friends and companions. The heart of a warrior lies within their chests.

For hunting of small game, these terriers really cannot be beat. These hunters keep at it until they have found their prey. Their determination is one of their inborn traits as a small game hunter. They are fantastic to work with and a joy on the hunting field. These terriers have a natural ability to hunt and also to play. Their good nature is what truly endears them to dog lovers. For Westie owners, they really would not have it any other way. These dogs are also champions on the field of competition and have the AKC stamp of approval. You can see a representative at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. You can also see these at any AKC competition.

These adorable Westies have won Best of Show, Best of Breed, and even won several AKC events. Breeders have entered these dogs into all sorts of shows. They have won major competitions in any show that they have been entered into. They are champions of field, of breed and lovable companions to any and all who take them into their homes. If you want a loyal dog breed this is the only one to have.

Of course there are many other dog breeds that many other people may recommend but the West Highland White Terrier should definitely be an option when looking for a new dog or a great option to look into further.

About the Author:

For more information on West Highland White Terrier or Dog Health take a look at this Dog Training website.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – West Highland White Terrier – Dog Breed Info

Preppy cable knit sweater & polo shirt mock twin set for dog pet apparel clothing

There has been a great demand for dog clothing and products which have in turn given birth to such fantastic designer dog clothing boutiques. Whether you want to take your little poodle for a walk in the park, for an all dog’s meet, for his friends wedding or you want to dress him on special occasion like Halloween, Thanksgiving or his own birthday, you could find amazingly creative dog attires to match any style and mood. ‘Designer dog clothing’ is a blessing for dog owners who love to pamper and dress their best friends to make them look as special as they are to them. To get the best of such designer outfits for your pets, you could simply log on to the Internet and avail a variety of dog boutiques who love to pamper your dog with designer style apparel.

When you go through these online designer boutiques, you can view their amazing collection of designer dog clothing, collars, dining bowls, accessories, beds, carriers, grooming tools, etc. Designer boutiques have almost all products related to your pets’ style and comfort. If you are going for a wedding and plan to take your prince doggy along, you could opt for a suede tuxedo or fleece coat for that formal look and if you have a princess, you could choose a lovely velvet gown or shimmering two piece dress to make her look unusually stunning. When you go through the wedding collection, this designer dog clothing store has for your pets, you will be astonished to check out the wedding gown accessories with stone tiaras for the special bride and the bridegroom, who would look dashing in a prince tuxedo with scarf. They even have a display of tempting dresses for the couples’ guests.

Well, the list is endless and you could check for yourself! Online designer dog clothing boutiques have exceptionally designed theme outfits to match those special festive moods and spirits. Be it any festive occasion, you are sure to find a variety of dog attires to make him look the ‘best out of the rest’. Well, many dog owners feel that buying such designer dog clothing could be expensive, which is not at all true. You can find clothes for pets which are well within your budget.

Apart from designer dog clothing, you could even buy designer furniture for your doggy, which comprise of excellent wood carved or wrought iron beds for ultimate comfort and fashion. They even have a list of complete travel essentials required while travelling with your dog. The online stores even have an amazing variety of dog treats and toys to help you train your dog with. Most of the treats are very nutritious and healthy keeping in mind your dog’s good health. Most of the designer dog clothing stores are very useful and practical when giving you tips and advices about your dogs. A designer dog is sure to attract many compliments and many ‘envious bow-wows’ from his friends around him!

About the Author:
Marcella is an expert in the field. For dog costumes and for more information on Halloween costumes please visit: http://www.upscalepup.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Designer Dog Clothing – Pamper Your Pet In Style!

We are pleased to show off this beautiful Westie dog poster which is now available to buy online either for yourself or a friend.

The thing we like about this particular poster is that when you click on it, you can then decide what size you would like it, what particular medium you want it on, for example paper, card, or a canvass print. Then finally you are able to choose whether you would like it framed.

We truly believe that this cute Westie picture is one you will love hanging up on your wall.

Today we came across a very useful tool on the internet for your dog, it basically tells you what the ideal weight should be for your dog.

All you have to do is type in a few details about your dog, age, breed, etc and once you’ve entered your pets information in, it will then calculate the ideal weight your dog should be.

Unfortunately there are dog owners who feed their animals too much, the amount of time we see overweight dogs is getting quite frightening. Some dog owners think they are being kind to their pets by giving them the same food what us humans would eat on a day to day basis, but in reality they are hurting their dog. If a dog doesn’t eat a well balanced diet it can cause all sorts of health problems.

If you have time, do take a look at this website advising you on the correct weight for your pet – go to Pets Get Slim.

We thought the picture of this Westie was so adoreable, we just had to share it with you.

During a recent trip to Portugal I was amazed to see so many dogs out and about on the streets and beaches by themselves without a care in the world.

Whilst sitting on the beach at Praia Da Luz  several dogs in a pack would run past you off on another adventure! It was hard to determine which dogs where actual strays and which dogs have owners because some of the dogs did have collars and id discs on.

I stood watching a group of dogs on the beach playing as usual in the afternoon and the next thing I noticed was one of the dogs emptying its bowels on the beach (yuck I thought to myself). I was even more amazed when a woman strolled up alongside me, saw what the dog had done, she shouted its name, put a lead on the dog then casually walked away as if it didn’t matter that her dog had just messed over a beach where people walked. I felt rather angry at what I had just witnessed, however this seemed to be the normal thing that was done at this particular location of the beach.

Despite seeing many stray dogs around Praia Da Luz they looked remarkably fit and healthy. Maybe the dogs that didn’t wear a collar were getting their food from tourists who came and went, but then again maybe they do have owners who let their dog out in the morning and open the door when their dog returns by itself. It all seemed like a rather relaxed approach to keeping dogs I must admit.

So a word of warning, if you do go to the beach and see stray dogs roaming around, just be careful where you sit!

Checking your dogs ears and nails should be done on a regular basis no matter what type of dog you have. If you haven’t checked them yet then do so as soon as possible.

The majority of dogs nails will naturally wear down if it frequently walks on rough or hard surfaces, however this is not the case for all dogs as some dogs nails will sometime continue to grow. If your dogs nails become too long, its toes will start to spread and it will have difficulty walking. Long nails in dogs can break more easily and this can cause considerable pain. If your notice your dogs nails are becoming longer than normal I would suggest taking him/her to the local vet / professional groomer where they will cut and file them for you. I personally would not suggest doing them yourself as you may cause more problems.

With regards to your dogs ears, they need to be looked at on a frequent basis. If your dog has lots of hair within its ears is can cause many problems especially if your dog is long or rough coated. Because your dogs ears are a warm, moist area, bacteria likes to grow in this area. Once bacteria starts to grow your dogs ears may start to itch which in turn will make your dog scratch and possibly cause an infection. If you use a very luke warm solution of water and gently clean the inside of the dogs ears with a wipe or professional dog flannel this should do the trick at keeping the bacteria at bay. Also if your dogs ears become extremely hairy, take a very small pair of nail scissors and gently clip any hair out of the way if it seems to be causing a problem. However please do take care doing this, some dogs will gladly sit there and let you do it, others will not. So if you have a dog that doesn’t like you touching its ears, then ask your vet or dog groomer to do it.

NOTE: Never use cotton buds on your dogs ears, this can hurt the dog and cause serious damage to its ears or hearing.

If you currently thinking about getting a dog for you and your family from an animal rescue centre then there are a few things you will want to take into consideration first.

Many people are under the impression that when dogs and animals end up at rescue centers they have done something bad or misbehaved terribly for their owner to have given them up. This is not always the case.

There are many healthy, friendly, well trained dogs just waiting in a rescue centre to be chosen by a caring human being. Some dogs may have ended up at the centres because their owner has become too poorly to look after them or maybe the family have run into difficulties so rather than see the dog suffer they have done the best thing for both them and their dog.

When you enter rescue centres, the majority have a description of the dog on board near to each dog. This board will often tell you how old the dog is (if known), male or female, whether it is well behaved, good with other pets, and any other information the centre feels that they must tell people about that particular dog.

Many rescue centres let you take the dog(s) around the complex on a lead so you can see how you both get along, and if you already have a dog at home the centre will arrange for a suitable time you can bring your current dog in and introduce it to the dog you are thinking about adopting.

I admit that when I’ve looked around dog homes / rescue centres in the past I found it very difficult. When you look at the numerous dogs behind their bars / or in their kennels, they seem to have that look in their eyes, saying “I’m over here. Please choose me”. On many occasion when I’ve been to the centres / homes I’ve come away heartbroken because I wanted to take them all home, give them lots of love, treats and cuddles.

Whatever you decide in the end, the main thing is to choose a dog suitable for you, your family and your surroundings (by that I mean, do not get a large dog if you live in a small flat, or if you are not able to sacrifice enough time to take the dog on daily walks etc).

I felt the need to write a short article about our West Highland Terrier dog and what she has started to do with her dog food.

We always give our Westie dried Iams dog food with plenty of water nearby.

A couple of days ago I placed a cooked chicken in the fridge, and left it until lunchtime. Mitzi sat by the fridge, her nose touching the door for what seemed like hours!

Lunchtime arrived and by now Mitzi was begging, rolling over, doing all sorts of tricks, basically anything to get a little taste of this chicken. Giving in to her, I took one small slice of meat (cut into small pieces) and placed it amongst her dried food. Well I’ve never seen her go mad like this before! Her head was in her bowl immediately, hunting out these tiny bits of food. If you had never seen her before, you’d of thought she had not eaten for weeks the way she was going for it!

Luckily I had my camera nearby and managed to snap a couple of photographs of our Westie dog to show you the mess she made.

The only problem now is that whenever I place her bowl of Iams down she does the same thing, flirting dog biscuits just about everywhere whilst trying to find the invisible chicken she thinks is now always going to be in her dog bowl – bless her little Westie Socks.