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A dog crate is one of the best ways to keep your pet safe in a proper place, and feeling at home. There are different types of crates of which are used widely all over the world.  Plastic crates and wire crates both have their own benefits.  The right choice for your dog will generally depend on the breed.  Larger breed dogs tend to have less options for plastic crates.  Wire crates tend to be better for most dogs for daily use because they can still see all around.  Most of the plastic crates are really only designed for travel use.

Crates are important for house training and most dogs come to think of their crate as their home and are more than content to stay in it when they are by themselves or at night.  Since dogs often get bored if they are out by themselves, the can be very destructive.  Crates protect your house and give the dog a sense of comfort as well.

Plastic crates are generally used as the travelling ken…

You will probably start puppies on solid food at 4-5 weeks.    Mom will probably want to be done with the at this point since nursing with teeth is painful.  Food is one of the most important things to consider with the health of your puppy.  The first and the foremost ingredient that should be in your dog food is a specified meat and not a meat by-product.  Try to avoid puppy foods with corn since there can be side effects such as skin allergies, joint swelling and bloat etc… It is better to feed dogs a grain free diet if at all possible.  Better quality dog food may cost more but it is better on the digestion and you will be scooping less poop as well.

There may be some trouble to find a good quality dog food at the grocery store.   You are more likely to find higher grade food at the local pet store, Agway or Tractor Supply.  This can avoid major health problems that may lead to illness of your pet.  Many d…

Need I say more? Most of you will know what a puppy mill is and are as disgusted by this type of breeder as am I. Puppy Mills have multiple breeds, with hundreds of dogs that live 24/7 in cages (which is NOT a dog crate), and they live only to breed. A bitch's first season will produce a litter, which if it lives great, if they die, oh well.

These animals rarely see veterinary care except for maybe required shots, and have little to no human interaction. Puppy Mills are supposed to be regulated by the USDA and puppies born at a Puppy Mill are sold at sanctioned USDA auctions for little to no money. They are in turn sold at pet stores for thousands of dollars. Considering the puppies get to the pet store at 8 weeks or so the cost to care for them while at the pet store is minimal so the majority of their cost is pure profit.

The backyard breeder is the person that breeds dogs for a few different reasons.  People breeding designer dogs (cockapoos, schnoodles, goldadoodles, shitzugs, you get the idea).  Designer dogs are created when breeds are combined to create a "new breed".  These breeds are not recognized by AKC, they are extremely prone to health problems (as genetics are involved), and are over bred. We highly discourage designer breeding and cannot address the issues specific to these types of breeders.  Backyard breeders are also people that love "Fido", and want to make another just like him.  So they don't spay or neuter Fido and they find a stud or bitch to breed him to or with and have a litter of puppies often forgetting that Fido Jr will come with multiple siblings.  Finally backyard breeders are everyday folk that buy a dog and a bitch of a specific breed and make puppies without health testing, or research into bloodlines, or any of the real work involved in breeding dogs. You of…

AKC and UKC are the kennel clubs recognized in the United States. Readers in other countries don't worry, most countries have kennel clubs similar to AKC. American Kennel Club is the best known in the US as AKC.  UKC is United Kennel Club. Many breeds are recognized by both while some breeds are only recognized by UKC. Both clubs offer information, registration and shows in confirmation ,rally, obedience etc. around the country.

Dog shows are where you earn a dogs championship in these different areas. In confirmation the animal is judged by how closely to the breed standard they are. Duren . Many dogs are dual titled, or have multiple titles if their breeder/owner is involved in other activities like agility or obedience. There are dog shows nationwide, and during all times of the year. Most of the time you can find adog show, depending on where you live, within a 2 hour drive of your home. The bestplace to find where and when dog shows are is infodog.com. Y…

In the dog world you will often hear or read the phrase breed standard.  The breed standard is the outline of how that specific breed should be built. A breed standard will describe size, coat, build, temperament, how it should move or its gait, the general appearance, and color, and bite. It will also indicate any faults that might be disqualifications in any specific breed. The standard is what breeders use when choosing their foundation (the beginning of your kennel) dogs. That is why it is important to carefully choose the kennel from which your dogs come.

Kennels that adhere to a breeds standard are better able to provide you with the right dogs to start with. Who comes up with these standards you might ask? The breed club for any particular breed does.  AKC asks them about what the standard should be, the breeders come together with a current standard and they vote on any amendments or changes that they feel might be made. Most of the time its…