Favorite Household Toys for the Frugal Dog Lover

What do you have lying around you house that might make a great toy? There may be things you already have that will work well as a new toy instead of spending money at the pet store
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As you read the following list, please use caution. Any toy has the potential to become a risk if the dog is able to swallow, puncture, or chew off pieces of it. It is recommended to monitor your pet when playing with any new toy to make sure that he or she does not try to eat it. Ingestion of any toy can cause serious and life threatening gastrointestinal obstruction.

Play provides fun, entertainment and exercise for your pet. Here are some favorites "frugal" toys for dogs:

# Empty Plastic Water Bottles. This a favorite of dogs left in kennels who are bored and without any toys. They will pickup the bottles, do their own tossing game and a bit of chewing. Monitor for sharp edges and toss when they get old.


# Flashlights. One night, light up your dogs night by having some fun with a flashlight. Shine the light on the floor and have him chase and stalk the light.

# Tennis Balls. The tennis ball is a long time favorite of larger dogs. If you don't have any at home, ask your tennis friends to save their old balls. Alternatively, go to your local public tennis court and go for a walk around the fence outside of the courts. There are always spare balls lying around!

# Sticks. The plain old stick can be perfect for a game of "fetch". Choose the size and shape based on the size of your pet.

# Frisbee. Turn your dog into a Frisbee player. Stretch out and enjoy this great form of exercise for dogs.

# Old Stuffed Animals. Many dogs have stuffed animal type toys so why not try recycling an old stuffed animal that is lying around? Make sure you remove plastic parts such as eyes, ears or tails that could be accidentally eaten.

# Rope Toys. If you have some old rope, tie several pieces together to form a very large and secure knot. Make sure it cannot unravel and is well tied. Monitor the rope as play proceeds to make sure it does not unravel and you pet does not ingest any parts. Long rope type toys can be great for a game of tug-of-war!

# Buy Pre-owned. Check out the pet section at your local thrift store. Many will have toys, Frisbees, crates, and kennels for dogs. A dilute bleach solution (1 part bleach to 20 parts water) works well on most plastics.

# An Old Shoe. Some dogs love shoes but IF you try this one, make sure that he can learn this particular shoe from any old shoe. You don't want him chewing on your good ones.

# Tire. An old piece of rubber tire is a favorite some dogs. Torn tires can be cut and given to dogs for play.

# Bubbles. Blow some bubbles and let your dog watch, wonder and try to catch them!

# Plaited Tights.__ Take an old pair of tights and plait them into a rope (so they appear like the tuggies that you can buy).

It is recommended to monitor your pet when playing with any new toy to make sure that he or she does not try to eat it. Ingestion of toys can cause serious and life threatening gastrointestinal obstruction.

Dog Care Tips for Sporting Dogs

Sporting Dogs are hunting dogs that are renowned for working closely with hunters and other dogs in the field.

Sporting dogs are popularly called gun dogs. Hunting dog training, backed by years of breeding was used to produce a prize bird dog, and other types gamedogs. The popular Pointer, Spaniel, Retriever, and the Setter are just some of the results. Gun dogs have strong water and nature instincts and they excel in field activities.

This group of dogs are known to make exceptional pets. Bred to work closely with people and dogs they are loyal and friendly. As a general rule, they love playing with their family and tend to be affectionate and gentle with children. They are also lively and very energetic and enjoy physical activity, either on land or in the water.

Sporting Dog Backgrounds – Gun Dogs

The importance of the dogs in service to man can not be underestimated. The bond between man and dog has spanned all peoples throughout history. Various dogs were developed through selective breeding and hunting dog training, to assist in hunting birds and other game. Some of these early dogs were the ancestors of the pointer, retriever, setter and spaniel of today.

Another type of hunting dog is the Hound Dog. Sporting dog breeds differ from hound dogs because they hunt by scent carried in the air, while the hound dog breeds are ground scenters. Today's Sporting dogs have remarkable instincts and excel in hunting in both water and on land.

Sporting Dog Breed Information

A good bird dog, hunting dog, or other types of gamedogs are popular for hunting, especially bird hunting. They are used for pointing, flushing, or retrieving game. The quarry of the Sporting breeds is primarily game birds. Each type of Sporting dog was developed with a unique set of skills.

Pointer:
The Pointer, when it spots its quarry, it will stand rigidly in front of it 'pointing' to direct the hunter to its location.

Setter:
Setters were also trained to point, especially as bird hunting became popular, but their original training was to set or crouch in front of the quarry, allowing the hunter to capture the prey with a net.

Retriever:
The primary training of the retriever, as its name suggests, is to find killed game and return it to the hunter.

Spaniel:
There are two types of Spaniels, the Water Spaniels and the Land Spaniels. Land Spaniels specialize in flushing birds by springing towards them. This startles the bird out of cover and into flight.

Water Spaniels, as well as many Retrievers, have a specialized water-repellent coat and webbed feet. They are used for retrieving downed water fowl.

Popular Sporting Dogs

Many Sporting dogs can make excellent pets, and they are a favorite type of dog. Some of the most popular in this group are:

* Labrador Retriever
* Golden Retriever
* Cocker Spaniel
* German Shorthaired Pointer
* English Springer Spaniel
* Weimaraner
* Brittany
* Vizsla
* Chesapeake Bay Retriever
* Irish Setter

But these are by no means the only Sporting breeds that are highly favored. Others include:

* Pointer
* English Setter
* Curly-Coated Retriever
* Field Spaniel
* German Wirehaired Pointer
* Gordon Setter
* American Water Spaniel
* Irish Water Spaniel
* Sussex Spaniel
* Welsh Springer Spaniel
* Clumber Spaniel
* English Cocker Spaniel
* Flat-Coated Retriever
* Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
* Spinone Italiano
* Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Dog Care Tips for Sporting Dogs

The Sporting Dog breeds are epitomized by the Labrador Retriever. They have predictable temperaments and are quite friendly with people, children, and other dogs. These dogs are considered to make some of the best family pets. They are trustworthy companions that love being with their family and playing. With their boundless energy, they also make great companions for hikers.

Despite their great personalities, some Sporting dog breeds, are not the best choice for everyone. Most get along well with other pets, but there are a few that can’t be trusted around small pets.

They all need a great deal of exercise, and for some breeds the spunky puppy behavior may not diminish with age. Many can be notorious for getting away. If they get a chance they may unthinkingly take off if the opportunity presents itself, especially when young. They also bark, but are not usually aggressive to strangers.

A PET’S TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, remember that I could bite you, and yet I choose not to hurt you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

House Breaking Your German Shorthair Pointer

From experience I find the best way to house break your German Pointer is through crate training. However this requires some diligence. Let me add that your dog does not view the crate as punishment nor should you use it as such. Dogs have a natural tendency to retreat to the crate where they feel more secure, this is the result of being derived from wolves that live in dens. Number 1 rule, this is very important, your dog is only out of the crate when you can watch him fully. and ensure that he doesn’t spend any additional time outside of his crate. If you don’t keep an eye on him when he is outside of the crate and he has an accident inside the house, you can blame no one but yourself as you didn’t correct him the second it happened. Once accidents start, it can be extremely hard to break the pattern.

To teach Fido the right way to relieve himself, always praise him when he goes in the proper location. Crate him at night, then take him out first thing in the morning and show him where to go. Give him a while, then praise once he goes. The less accidents, the sooner you should be able to train your German Pointer. Do not give the dog any freedom until he is housebroken. Getting it right is a lot of work your dog, he’d rather be doing something else. Take your eyes off of him for a second, and Fido could easily relieve himself on the floor. Once he starts to go indoors, it can be really hard to break this habit. He will smell it the next time he is in that area. Every time he smells it, he will likely go to the bathroom in that same area. To prevent this from happening watch your dog at all times and ensure that he only goes outside. If you allow him to make mistakes, you’ll need to be a lot sterner to break him of the bad habits.

Pointer’s need interaction with people, and if you are going to keep them inside you’ll need to ensure that they have been properly house broken. I can’t stress enough, when you house break, use confinement as much as possible. Confinement means that until you have housebroken your German Pointer, he isn’t allowed to freely move around the house. Always keep a eye on your dog and make sure that if he’s outside the crate you know where he is what he is doing. Housebreaking your German Pointer can take you some time, but it will be well worth it once your German Pointer is properly trained. He’ll be an essential member of your family, and not use the bathroom anywhere he takes a notion. He will only relieve himself outside or in an area that you have trained him.

So start when your German Pointer is young and enforce the rules, he’ll be a happy member of your family in no time at all.

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