Weather Precautions

Purina-Dog-Content-BrandJust as we care for ourselves differently at different times of the year, we should be sensitive to our dog’s needs during colder and warmer weather conditions.

COLD WEATHER CARE

Well-nourished dogs, are better prepared to withstand the rigors of winter, particularly if housed outdoors. Outdoor dogs normally need more food to generate enough energy to cope with the cold. This is easily accomplished by feeding a high-quality nutritionally complete and balanced dog food. Offer your dog fresh water several times during the day. Electrically-heated water bowls are available, but still should be monitored regularly.

Dogs housed indoors may require less food in order to maintain good body condition. They tend to be less active and expend less energy. Short-haired dogs, geriatric dogs, and dogs with health problems may need the protective warmth of a dog sweater or jacket during outside jaunts.

An outdoor dog’s shelter should be insulated, elevated, protected from prevailing winds, and watertight. Because they use their own body heat to keep warm, the shelter should be small enough to preserve the dog’s body heat.

Remove packed snow or ice from between the toes of your dog’s paw pads and wipe the paws thoroughly. Otherwise, moisture can be trapped and cause sores. Salt and other de-icers spread on sidewalks and roads may also irritate the pads and cause them to bleed.

Because of its sweet taste, dog’s are attracted to antifreeze and lap it up when it is not properly disposed of. Antifreeze is highly toxic to dogs and cats. Store antifreeze where dogs cannot reach it. Antifreeze poisoning requires immediate veterinary treatment.

You may find your indoor dog experiencing dry skin and shedding. This is usually the result of low humidity. Frequent brushing helps remove dead hairs, skin and stimulates oil glands.

Frostbite

If you suspect that your dog has frostbite, do not rub any frozen tissue, which will cause additional tissue damage. Seek veterinary treatment immediately.

WARM WEATHER CARE

As temperatures soar, dogs become more vulnerable to heat stress. Maintaining a comfortable environment for your dog is important. Providing plenty of cool, fresh water will help keep your dog cool throughout the summer.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke develops rapidly and is often associated with exposure to high temperatures, humidity and poor ventilation. Symptoms include panting, a staring or anxious expression, failure to respond to commands, warm, dry skin, extremely high temperature, dehydration, rapid heartbeat and collapse. Puppies and geriatric dogs tend to be more susceptible. Adult dogs more susceptible to heat stress include those who recently moved from cool to warmer climates, those with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, or with a history of heat stress. With any form of heat stress, prompt veterinary attention is important to deal with potential complications.

Periods of Confinement

Confinement in a car or any other poorly ventilated enclosure can be fatal to your dog. One study reports that when the outside temperature is 78°F, a closed car will reach 90°F in five minutes, and 110°F in 25 minutes.

Exercise

Avoid excessive exercising of your dog during hot days or warm, humid nights. The best time to exercise is either early in the morning before sunrise or late in the evening after the sun goes down.

Sunburn

Dogs who have recently received short haircuts may become sunburn victims and are as susceptible to heat stress as dogs who haven’t had their haircoat trimmed. In fact, your dog’s haircoat has insulating characteristics to help protect him from the heat.

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What are the Benefits of Microchips and How Do They Work?

Purina-Dog-Content-BrandOne of a pet owners greatest fears is getting separated from their pet. Now, many shelters and veterinarians are installing identification chips on pets. It’s a hi-tech way to resolve the separation anxiety of losing a pet.

A microchip implant is a tiny integrated circuit placed under the skin of a dog or cat. The chip emits passive radio frequencies that can be identified by a scanner at a shelter where a lost pet is taken. Think of it as an invisible electronic identification tag.

Early compatibility issues between different kinds of scanners and chips have mostly been resolved. There’s now a universal scanner that reads all brands of chips. They’re helping to get missing cats and dogs back in the grateful arms of their owners.

What are Some of the Organized Sport Activities I Can Enjoy With My Dog?

Purina-Dog-Content-BrandWhen your puppy wants to play, he probably won’t try to play it cool. Instead, he’ll make a strong play for your attention by bowing or pawing the air.

The play-bow is the most common way that a dog invites a person or another pup to play. With his ears alert and tail wagging, a dog will stick his rear in the air while lowering his front end and stretching out his front paws. The gesture shows submissiveness, and communicates to other dogs that any nipping or chasing that come next are intended in the spirit of fun. During the play bow, a dog’s face will be relaxed and his lips loose – his teeth will not be bared in aggression. Sometimes a playful pup will also bark, as if to say in doggie-speak, “hey, come join me in a game!”

What is a Reasonable Rehoming Fee for an Australian Cattle Dog?

A reasonable rehoming fee for an Australian cattle dog should be around the same amount that you would pay to a local shelter when adopting. This can range in price from around $50 to more than $150 in some locations and could be higher for certain breeds. Australian cattle dogs can be $350 or more in many cases. The age of the dog can be a factor in determining the rehoming fee, as well.

The Need for a Rehoming Fee

You may be wondering why rehoming fees are charged. If you can no longer care for your Australian cattle dog, you may be thinking that it would be easier to find someone to adopt them if there were no fees. While it might be able to find more potential adopters, this way is fraught with problems.

Not everyone has good intentions for your pet, and you want to dissuade those people from getting their hands on the dog. Some people, for example, might want to use the dog for dogfighting or for training fighting dogs. These people look for free pets that they can use. It is hard to imagine, but it does happen.

One of the best ways to do that is by charging a rehoming fee. This should be at least $50 in most cases. People who want to harm animals and put them in bad situations do not want to pay for the animals. The rehoming fee works as a line of defense for your dog.

You might want to charge a higher rehoming fee to ensure that the person who is adopting is willing and able to provide proper care for your pet. This is especially true with Australian cattle dogs, which tend to be an expensive dog.

Why Does Age Matter?

Typically, the rehoming fees are going to be higher for younger dogs. As the dog gets older, the average rehoming fee might start to drop somewhat. If you will be rehoming the dog on your own rather than going through a service like Rehome, you will want to keep this in mind.

Consider Using Rehome

Rehome is a platform from Adopt-a-Pet. It could be a good option for those who need to rehome their Australian cattle dog and who are still unsure about what they should charge for a rehoming fee. The system is simple to use. You can upload information about your dog including photos, videos, and a bio. You can also upload medical records that will then be transferred to the new owner when they adopt.

This is a free service to the owner. The adopter will pay a rehoming fee that is similar to what they would pay at a shelter. This ensures that you can find the right people to become the new owners of your dog. You will have peace of mind knowing that your dog will be going to a loving home that can take care of them.

What is a Reasonable Rehoming Fee for a Pomeranian?

A reasonable rehoming fee for a Pomeranian will generally be up to $150, but this price can vary greatly. In some cases, it might be much higher depending on whether he’s purebred or not, his age, and the geographic location. Some areas simply have higher average rehoming fees.

Check the Average Rehoming Fees in Your Area 

If you’re an owner who is looking to rehome your Pomeranian, you’ll want to look at some of the other rehoming fees that are being charged. It’s a good idea to stick to the average. If the rehoming fee is too much, people will not want to pay. If it’s not enough, it means that there could be unscrupulous people who try to get your dog.

If you’re someone who is looking to adopt, you’ll also want to check the average rehoming fees, as well. Generally, they should be similar to what you would pay as an adoption fee to a shelter or a rescue.

Why Have Rehoming Fees at All?

Some people—owners and adopters included—might be wondering why there need to be rehoming fees. They may feel that when people have to give up their dog, they should just be happy that someone’s willing to take him. They may wonder why people are trying to make money off giving up their dog, a part of their family. The truth is that most people don’t want to give up their dog. There are circumstances beyond their control. The rehoming fees aren’t to make money. The fees are there to help keep the dogs safe.

Despicable people exist in this world, and they sometimes try to find free and cheap dogs. They want to resell the dogs to labs for a profit in some cases. Other times, someone might want to use your Pomeranian as bait and training for fighting dogs. You never want something like this to happen to your dog or any dog for that matter.

Rehoming fees are a necessity, and they should be charged in most circumstances. The only time that they don’t need to be charged is when you’re giving your dog to someone you already know well. If it’s someone you trust and who is a good fit for the dog, there’s no need for fees.

Use Rehome and Don’t Worry About the Fees

If you’re going to be letting someone you don’t know to adopt, you need to charge a rehoming fee, as discussed. Some owners worry about this, though. To make things easier, you can use Rehome. This site is from Adopt-a-Pet.com, and those who adopt through the site pay a small rehoming fee directly to the site, so you don’t have to worry about it. This fee is similar to what they would pay for adoption fees from a shelter or rescue.

The site is free for owners to use, and it allows you to create a profile for your Pomeranian. You can add a bio, photos, and videos. Once people start to apply, you can review the applications to ensure you find a wonderful new home for your Pomeranian.

What is Canine Fear Aggression?

Purina-Dog-Content-BrandSome dogs are wary of strangers and new situations – so nervous, in fact, that they threaten or challenge you in order to get away from what’s scaring them. Experts call such behavior Canine Fear Aggression. Barbara Sherman, Associate Professor at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says fear-based aggression rarely goes away on its own.

Sherman states, “and these dogs often need some help in coping with even the most routine situations that might elicit fear.”

An experienced trainer may be able to help your pooch overcome his fears. But in difficult cases, you may want to have your veterinarian recommend a behavior specialist.

Find more tips at Purina.com/Dogs

What is a Reasonable Rehoming Fee for a Great Dane?

A reasonable rehoming fee for a Great Dane is typically between $50 and $150 in most cases. However, the amount can be higher depending on the age of the Great Dane and whether they’re a purebred dog or not. It’s always a good idea to charge a rehoming fee when giving up a Great Dane, or any other type of dog for that matter.

Who Pays Rehoming Fees?

Rehoming fees are paid by the person who will be taking in the dog and not by the owner. The only time you, as an owner, will pay anything would be if they were to surrender their dog to a shelter or a rescue. The surrender fee can vary, but you’ll find that it’s typically around the same as a rehoming fee or an adoption fee. Money from these fees typically goes back into ensuring that the facility can continue operating.

Why Are Rehoming Fees Important?

Some people do not believe rehoming fees are needed. They feel that if someone can no longer keep a dog, they should give him to a good home. However, they have to understand that the world can be a dangerous place. It’s not always possible to find a good and safe home for a dog without charging a rehoming fee. The fees help to deter people with bad intentions who might want to sell the dogs to labs or use them for fighting. You never want something like that to happen to your Great Dane. The rehoming fees help to reduce the risk.

Although they’re often called adoption fees, the cost of getting a dog through the animal shelter or a rescue is essentially rehoming fees. As with private rehoming fees, the cost helps to increase safety for your dog.

Can You Ever Eliminate the Need for a Rehoming Fee?

As long as someone you do not know is adopting your dog, you always need to charge some type of rehoming fee. The only time that you wouldn’t want to charge a fee is when you’re giving your dog to someone you already know and fully trust. This might be a family member or a friend who has been looking for a dog, for example. In these instances, you can be sure they won’t use your dog for fighting or to sell to a lab.

Consider Using Rehome to Make It Easier

If you don’t know anyone looking for a dog, consider using Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. This is a platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com that provides you with an easy way to advertise your dog to people looking to adopt. It’s a safe and fast way to find a wonderful new owner for your Great Dane. You can create a detailed profile for him, and people can send in adoption applications. With guidance from the experts at Rehome, you’ll then choose the new owner for your Great Dane. The platform charges the adopter a rehoming fee, and that money goes right back into helping more pets get adopted.

What is a Hot Spot and What Causes It?

Purina-Dog-Content-BrandYour dog has been licking and licking the same spot on his body. Now the area is raw and oozing pus. What’s the problem? Chances are… Spot has a hot spot.

Hot spots are bacterial skin infections that are often triggered by fleas or allergies. They are most common in dogs such as the golden retriever that have thick, heavy coats. The lesions usually occur on a dog’s head, chest, or hip and can be quite painful, so many dogs will lick, bite, and scratch at them – making the problem even worse.

Addressing the issue involves treating both the infection and the underlying cause. If your dog is prone to hot spots, your veterinarian may also recommend keeping his hair clipped short in the summertime.

What Does It Mean to Rehome a Beagle?

When you rehome your beagle, it means that you give up your dog and allow someone else to become his owner. Although you love your dog and you never dreamed that you might have to someday give him up, life can throw you curveballs. Regardless of the reason that you’re no longer able to keep your dog, you need to understand what rehoming means and how to find the right place for your dog to go.

Are You Sure Your Beagle Needs to Be Rehomed?

Before you commit to rehoming your beagle, consider some of the other options that could be available. First, you have to think about why you’re unable to keep your dog. Is it because he has a behavioral problem? Is it because you aren’t able to provide him with enough exercise and attention during the day while you work? Are you moving to a location that doesn’t allow dogs?

There may be solutions to these problems, so you don’t have to rehome. For example, you could learn to train your beagle properly or hire someone to do the training. You could also hire someone to come and walk your dog when you’re unable to walk him. There are also doggy daycare facilities that you may want to consider. Additionally, you could look for alternate housing options where dogs are allowed. Make sure that you exhaust all possibilities before you decide on rehoming.

What About Shelters and Rescues?

Keep in mind that shelters and rescues are not true rehoming options. Instead, these options should be the last on your list. Shelters try their best, but they often have limited space, and they have policies on how long they can keep pets before they are euthanized. No-kill shelters exist, but they are rare, and they are often full.

While rescues will keep your dog indefinitely, there is still no guarantee that they’ll ever be adopted. Living in a rescue is not the same as living in a loving home. Instead of these options, you should consider choosing true rehoming.

Better Ways to Rehome Your Beagle

Fortunately, there are several options. The first you’ll want to consider is getting in touch with family and friends who might be interested in taking your beagle. They might already know him and love him, and if they are looking for a dog, this is a perfect way to rehome.

Another option is to use the Rehome platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com. This is a simple-to-use site that is free for owners like you. It allows you to set up a profile for your pet with a bio, videos, and images. You can let potential adopters know more about your dog and what he likes and doesn’t like. Be honest about your dog’s temperament and any potentially problematic qualities. You can then check the adoption applications and make a decision on which person to choose so your beagle has a loving new family.

What is a High Prey Drive and What Breeds Tend to Have It?

Purina-Dog-Content-BrandDogs chase after toys, bones, small animals—you name it. This age-old habit is a survival instinct. Wild dogs need to be good hunters in order to chase food all the way down to a full belly.

That’s why the urge to chase things is known as prey drive. Our domesticated pups have retained this drive—some to a higher degree than others. If your restless retriever won’t give you a break, you may need to embrace the enthusiasm, because prey drive is part of a dog’s hereditary makeup.

Breeds such as the German Shepherd and English Cocker Spaniel that are used in police work and hunting tend to have a high prey drive. So if you’re looking for a couch potato canine companion, do your research before selecting a pooch.