The Persian cat originates from the Iranian plateau, a large area between the Hindu Kush Mountains and Mesopotamia traditionally known as “Persia” in the West, corresponding to the central territories of the Persian Empire. However, interbreeding of Angoras with native British domestic longhairs in the 19th Century makes the true origin of the breed unclear. The Persian’s European debut is credited to Pietro Della Valle, an Italian traveller.

A show-quality Persian has an extremely long thick coat, short legs, a wide head with the ears set far apart, large eyes, and an extremely foreshortened muzzle. The breed was originally established with a short muzzle, but over time this feature has become extremely exaggerated, particularly in North America, and Persians with the more extreme Brach cephalic head type are susceptible to a number of health problems which can affect their sinuses and breathing thus  caused by it.

Photographs indicate that Persians, up until the 1960s, show a difference in appearance to cats of the early 1980s onwards. However, the Persian Breed Council’s standard for the Persian had remained basically unchanged over this period. The Persian Breed Standard is by its nature somewhat open ended and focused on a rounded head.

It is generally accepted that through selective breeding, in an attempt to develop the ideal Persian appearance, the Ultra Face came about. This has been called ultra-typing. The Persian Breed Council’s standard was changed during the late 1980s to limit the development of the extreme appearance. In 2007 the Persian Breed Standard was altered to reflect the flat face and it now states that the forehead, nose, and chin should be in vertical alignment.

Conscientious breeders take into account and minimize health issues by careful choice of breeding stock with more moderate head type, as the stated goal of most breeders is first and always healthy cats.

Persian cats can have any color or markings including pointed, tortoiseshell, blue, and tabby. Tipped varieties are known as Chinchilla. Point varieties are called Himalayan in the United States and Colourpoint Persian in Europe.
In the USA, there was an attempt to establish the Silver Persian as a separate breed called the Sterling, but it was not accepted and Silver and Golden longhaired cats, recognized by CFA more specially as Chinchilla Silvers, Shaded Silvers, Chinchilla Goldens or Shaded Goldens are judged in the Persian category of cat shows. In South Africa, the attempt to separate the breed was more successful: the SA Cat Council (SACC) registers cats with 5 generations of pure bred Chinchilla as a Chinchilla Longhair. The Chinchilla Longhair has a slightly longer nose than the Persian, resulting in healthy breathing and no tearing of the eyes. Its hair is translucent with only the tips carrying black pigment: a feature that gets lost when out-crossed to other colored Persians. Out-crossing also may result in losing nose and lip liner, which is a fault in the Chinchilla Longhair breed standard. One of the distinctions of this breed is the blue-green or green eye color only with kittens having blue or bluish purple eye color.

Because their fur is too long and dense for them to maintain themselves, Persian cats need regular grooming. To keep their fur in its best condition, they must be bathed regularly, dried carefully afterwards, and brushed thoroughly every day. Their eyes need to be checked for problems on a regular basis because some animals have trouble keeping them clean. Likewise, Persians are particularly susceptible to a genetic disease, which causes kidney failure, PKD, Polycystic kidney disease, among other diseases. However, cats can now be DNA screened for the gene that causes PKD, so these affected cats are gradually being removed from the Persian gene pool by responsible breeders.
Longevity is usually between 10 and 18 years on average.

Electric dog fence is a containment device which consists of a boundary wire, a transmitter and a receiver that is attached to a canine collar. The wire is buried to mark the desired territory where your dog is allowed to enter and roam around. A transmitter conveys a signal along the wire, which is then received by the receiver collar. This collar creates different levels of sensation whenever the dog enters an off-limit spot.

The installation of an electric fence dog is not an intricate task. Traditionally, it involves creating a narrow channel along the yard where the hidden wire will be buried. In most cases, you will do some digging to attach the electric fence with the existing wooden fence.

Here are some helpful tips to your guide in properly installing an electric fence:

Before digging the soil, it is very important to locate the power lines and other underground pipes to avoid damaging them. Mark your property or seek the help of a professional installer to correctly set up the hidden electric fence.

After marking the desired location, the rest of the installation process of an electric fence dog is going to be a piece of cake.  The boundary wire is usually placed along the bottom and top of the existing fence. The control unit is then mounted near a power receptacle.

Afterwards, a tiny hole is drilled through the wall of the fence so that the two ends of the wire can be pulled through and connected to the control unit. The control unit needs to be powered and configured.

Pay attention to the material boundary wire you are using. Make sure that it is burial approved, durable enough and made of waterproof polyurethane and solid copper. In this way, you will be assured that the wire will not easily corrode, resulting to poor contact and power.

Buying commercial dog toys can be very expensive at times. You are also not 100% sure if they are safe to your canine pet. Some dog toys contain deadly toxins and chemicals that may be detrimental to your dog’s health. Other pet chews and toys also have lead components that can cause vomiting, poor appetite and dog’s diarrhea.

Though dog toys are not a necessity, they can play an important role in sustaining your dog agility while training him to be independent and boosting his confidence. They can also provide entertainment and keep your dog preoccupied and physically active all day long.

To make sure that the toys you give to your k9 are safe and non-toxic
Why not make simple homemade dog toys yourself? Here are a few ideas on how to make dog toys from recyclable materials that can be found in comfort of your home:

Rope Dog Toy
To make this simple homemade dog toy, an old towel or handkerchief and scissors will be needed. Cut about 4 inches of strips of towel along the end then bundle the strips together to create a knot. Afterwards, braid your strips together and until 3 inches from the end. Voila, as simple as that, you have a nice little rope dog toy!

Gutless Fleece Dog Toy
You will need 9 feet of rope and a can of 3 tennis balls. Begin by placing one tennis ball in a clamp. With the use of a drill, make a hole through the tennis ball. Next, thread the rope through the holes. Tie a simple knot near the ball. Knot the ends of the rope to avoid fraying. Finally, tie a second knot near the ends of the rope.

Water Bottle Dog Toy
Making this homemade dog toy is so easy. All you need are an empty water bottle and popcorn kernels. The bottle can either be small or large in size. Start by unscrewing the top off the bottle and place about a tablespoon of popcorn kernels inside.

Rope Dog Chews
If you have old ropes that are not being used, tie several knots at each end to make a homemade dog toy for fetching and chewing.

The abovementioned ideas for homemade dog toys can help you save a great deal of money. Bear in mind, however, that you need to supervise your dog whenever he plays with these homemade dog toys. Check them for any damage to avoid choking or the ingestion of parts.

Cat Doors
Cat barrier, in the form of a cat door, will allow your kitty to enter and exit the house in a safe manner. As you all know, cats are naturally territorial and they immensely enjoy playing inside and outside the house. If you have a small cat door installed specifically for her, it can make the life of your cat easier and convenient. Hence, there’s no more need to exert effort to open the main door at all times to let her out or in.

Cat Flaps
This unique feline door design will let your cat to enter and exit a house on their own without needing you to open the main door from time to time, while providing protection against wind, rain and other harsh elements.

Cat Enclosures
For outdoor use, cat enclosures are very functional to contain your cat in the backyard or the park. More than being a cage, this spacious cat containment system can serve as an outdoor feline barrier where your furry friend can play, run, exercise and rest safely while enjoying the beauty of the outside world.

Cat Playpens
For indoor use, on the other hand, cat playpens are a great solution. This type of cat barrier provides a comfortable space for your feline pet to stretch out, move around and play inside the house, while preventing her to get in touch with fragile objects such as furniture and other precious decorations. Cat playpen is also ideal to use if you leave your cat home alone.

You probably consider dog strollers, like most people do, as luxury
items. However, you can’t still disregard the fact that a pet stroller
can bring a lot of benefits and advantages to your beloved pooch. In
many different situations, this carrier can make your dogs’ life
easier whenever you visit a scenic place or roam around the mall.

Dog strollers ensure safety when traveling with your k9. When he is in
placed in a pet stroller, you no longer have to worry about the ordeal
of controlling him on a leash, minimizing the possibility of your dog
getting lost or running away from you.

To ensure the functionality of your pet strollers, here a few simple
maintenance tips that you can follow.

When you put your dog inside his stroller, make sure that you trim his
nails or claws. Clipping his nails will lessen the chance of getting
him stuck or entangled into the fabric or net. Dog strollers also get
too dirty through time, so it is a must to clean and wash it on a
regular basis to remove the stains or dirt on it.reg

In choosing and using a stroller, ensure that your dog’s weight
matches the size or model of the carrier. Check the stroller’s weight
capacity to ensure that it can fully support your dog. Bear in mind
that puppies will eventually grow bigger and older. If your dog no
longer fits inside the stroller, you must buy a brandnew one that has
the right capacity to carry your k9.

When you’re strolling your dog, always check the road condition you’re
traversing. Even if the wheels are designed for rough pavements, you
must still refrain from going through rocky terrains, especially if
your dog is just recovering from an injury or has arthritic joints or
hip problems. Remember that even the smallest bumps can bring him a
great deal of discomfort.

When not in used, make sure to keep your dog stroller in a safe place
to prevent unwanted damages and possible accidents from happening. By
following the abovementioned tips, you will be able to maintain your
dog strollers in great shape for a long time.

They know how to get our attention and to make us sit up, listen and buy what they have to offer. They know that to many of us our dogs are our children and who wouldn’t do what they could to look after their own child!

Yet so often in this technological and information age, we forget some of the simple basics of living healthy.

Just like humans, the body temperature of our dog will drop when as the atmospheric temperature drops also. We humans prevent our body temperature reducing as reduction in body temperature increases the risk of infection and illness.

We need to help our dogs in the same way by putting clothes on them when we take them out for a walk in the colder weather. Yes, that’s right. We need to dress our dogs in dog clothes.

More dogs get sick every year because of the cold weather than for any other reason. Just like use, dogs get colds. Travel, stress and close contact with other dogs can all be contributing factors to your dog contracting a cold. However, just like a human cold they can often be treated with supportive therapy. Naturally, if your dog is showing no signs of improvement or their symptoms seem severe, a trip to a vet would be a good idea.

There are a large range of dog clothes available today so there is no excuse for even the average dog owner to have at least one outfit for their dog when they go out on those cold winter days.

There are even ranges of Designer Dog Clothes available which will make your dog, well, the best dressed dog in the street. There are girl dog clothes and boy dog clothes.

There are dog clothes for bed and designer dog bath robes. There are formal evening wear for your dog and dog clothes for just around the house.
Check out www.web-pet-reporter.com for some great places to find that perfect outfit for your own beloved doggy friend.

There are various ways to housebreak your pet but whichever method you
decide, what is only essential is to understand the behavior of your
dog. Dogs, like humans, have habits that every dog owner should
comprehend.

Many experts say that puppies should be trained to relieve themselves
atleast 6 times per day. Remember that dogs usually evacuate his
bowels or dog poop in the morning, after every meal, or 3 hours after
each meal. During such times, you can now make a schedule for your
pup.

Bear in mind that puppies, unless they are a month old or so, don’t
have the ability to control their bowel movement. One good trick to
train your puppy is to take him out immediately after each meal.

House breaking your dog is all about timing to create a desirable
routine. Repetition is the key here. For instance, you can bring your
puppy outside to potty before he sleeps in the evening. Or when you
wake up in the morning, bring your pup immediately outside.

The first thing that most puppies dog in the morning is to relieve.
Bring your pet to the same location each time and stay with him for a
few minutes. Do this again and again and your pet will learn the rules
and be trained to do this routine. Throughout the course of his
training, close supervision is a must. You need to supervise the
actions of your young dog at all times.

 Is buying a stroller for your canine pet a luxury or a necessity? Some may think that putting your dog inside a stroller while walking in the park or hanging around the mall is ridiculous, but they are absolutely wrong. It is never silly to think about your pet’s safety and welfare.

With the use of pet strollers, you can bring your dog with you.wherever you go while enjoying a more secure and safe travel experience.

All dog owners should consider buying pet strollers to protect their dogs from possible dangers inside and outside your home. It is also necessary especially for dogs with disabilities and have anxiety problems. Buying this product will truly bring a lot of benefits to you and your beloved pet.

The use of pet strollers is highly recommended for dogs suffering from separation anxiety. If you are worried about your dog getting away or lost when you’re walking in the streets, a pet stroller will be a very good solution to prevent such situation from happening. Walking outdoor will be more enjoyable, easier and worry-free for dog owners with the help of a pet stroller.

Senior dogs and those with disabilities will feel more pampered and comfortable whenever you put them in a stroller. In such cases, we can say that dog strollers are no longer a luxury but a necessity in transporting physically challenged canines.

Nobody wants to carry a medium-sized or large dog with a fractured leg. It is difficult and at the same time risky for the condition of your dog. Caring for your disabled pet will be more manageable with the use this specially-designed carrier.

Dog strollers are also practical especially if you own two or more dogs. Transporting your pet will become easier and safer. Using this equipment will let you bring and stroll all your pets at the same time without the usual hassles of monitoring them.

“My name is Helene from Southern California. I breed the very sweet and gentle LARGE boned Shepherds. I breed the black & tan, and black & red colored Shepherds. My #1 priority is PERSONALITY. My dogs are excellent with children. I also train and socialize my puppies, before they go to their new home. I also breed for excellent longevity health, good hips and great temperament which I guarantee 100%.”

This is the letter I received when I sent the OFA report on the last female with Hip Dysplasia.

“Oh my G-D! I can’t believe it. I was so sure Puppup had good hips, or at

least fair hips. I’m so very sorry, Knowing you are a breeder, it was always my intention to sell you puppies with good hips, but at that young age, we never know………………..Do we ? The great news is that your future puppy’s Sire, Patron is OFA Excellent, and his Dam, Champion Jan Lorien’s Ice Castles is also OFA Excellent, so I feel that your special puppy’s hips will be good. I can’t do better than that for you. I want to make sure all the puppies have good hips, if that is possible. I paid an arm and a leg to do this breeding with this Champion. By the way, Keira has one hip that is excellent and the other that is very good, so it looks good that her puppies will also be good.”

Notice no mention of Keira being OFAed just how much it cost to have her bred to a champion.

Sounds good doesn’t but go to her site and read on her litter page this.

Champion Lorien’s Patron and Lenga’s Keira Von Ars De Kona

“Champion Patron and Lenga’s Keira had a successful breeding. Patron is already an American Champion, and now he is going for his Canadian Championship. Patron and Keira will make beautiful and healthy puppies together. Patron is outgoing, friendly, and has a confident personality. Patron is OFA Excellent, and Keira was evaluated by my vet as Excellent, too. Keira is lovable, affectionate and a very confident female. These will be Show Quality puppies. They will be fully guaranteed, including personality. Each puppy will be trained and socialized, and come to you well behaved and well mannered. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Keira is very loyal and protective of her family, and Patron is very socialized with people and other dogs, being he has been to so many dog shows. Their puppies are due: July 17th. and will be ready to go: September 4, 2008.

Stop the presses what part of that is OFAed???

My response to her email was.

” Helene,

I have been going over our six year relationship with dogs I have spent over five thousand dollars ($5000.00) in direct cost buying dogs from you. Another Twelve Hundred ($1200.00) getting dogs OFAed not to mention feed and vet cost which comes to another Thirty Eight Hundred ($3800.00).

Also it has been six years and after Ten Thousand Dollars I still have not

one puppy from any of the dogs I bought from you so thanks but no-thanks I do not want one of your pups. As far as I can figure this is all because you will not OFA your dogs your vet is not the OFA so all the pups you have but out in the last six years have all had bad hips but since no one bothered to OFA their dogs they don’t know about it.”

The problem as stated by the OFA is low number of dogs radiographed and evaluated by the OFA not the breeder and his or her vet.

It can be very difficult to get hip information on siblings and previous offspring due to the overall low number of dogs radiographed in a given litter (most dogs in a litter end up in pet homes). This is the slowest method of reducing the incidence of an undesirable trait or increasing the incidence of a desirable trait. The use of preliminary radiographs as early as 4 months of age can be used by breeders to add valuable information on the hip status of dogs they choose to use in a breeding program.

Hip dysplasia appears to be perpetuated by breeder imposed breeding practices, but when breeders and their breed clubs recognize HD as a problem and establish reduction of HD as a priority, improvement of the hip status can be accomplished without jeopardizing other desirable traits. Prospective buyers should check pedigrees and/or verify health issues with the breeder. If suitable documentation is not available, assume the worst until proven otherwise.

Do not ignore the dog with a fair hip evaluation. The dog is still within normal limits. For example; a dog with fair hips but with a strong hip background and over 75% of its brothers and sisters being normal is a good breeding prospect. A dog with excellent hips, but with a weak family background and less than 75% of its brothers and sisters being normal is a poor breeding prospect.

OFA’s Recommended Breeding Principals

* Breed normals to normals

* Breed normals with normal ancestry

* Breed normals from litters (brothers/sisters) with a low incidence of HD

* Select a sire that produces a low incidence of HD

* Replace dogs with dogs that are better than the breed average

I have had customers wait as long as two years for one of my pups because I pulled a dog out of my breeding program for having bad hips when I had them OFAed if I can do it so can other breeders.

Bottom Line too many breeders are in this for the money and the quality of the German Shepherds goes out the window.

www.ASuperiorGSD.com

Lane’s House Of Shepherds - Old Fashion Large German Shepherds

Intelligent, Noble, Dignified, Sensitive, Loyal. Sound in mind and body.

LanesShepherds@Gmail.com

http://userla64.bravejournal.com/

 
]]> http://findingyourpet.com/blog/2008/07/25/good-dogs-bad-hips/feed/ http://findingyourpet.com/blog/2008/07/21/one-mistake-most-pet-owners-make/ http://findingyourpet.com/blog/2008/07/21/one-mistake-most-pet-owners-make/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:18:43 +0000 Findingyourpet Pet Care Pet Health http://findingyourpet.com/blog/2008/07/21/one-mistake-most-pet-owners-make/ It’s hard to think of anybody who wouldn’t love to have a happy, healthy pet. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that what they are doing to their pets is causing them to suffer needlessly. So to look at pet health problems you must first look at yourself. 

Firstly, what are you feeding your pet that is harmful? Nothing you might say. But look a little closer. Read the ingredients label on your pet food product. If you find any of the following ingredients be alarmed: “by-product”, “corn”, “wheat”, “soy”, “meat and bone meal”, chemicals like “BHA”, “BHT”, or “Ethoxyquin”, or any artificial colors or flavors like “sulfur dioxide”. 

It is important to remember that pet health problems are best solved before they become a problem. After all, prevention is always better than cure, especially when the cure often involves pumping toxic drugs into your pet. This brings me to my second point. 

Immunizing your pet each year means you are pumping large amounts of chemicals into their little bodies. You immunize your pet against diseases, right? But do you realize that by feeding your pet a nutritious diet you can prevent these diseases from talking hold. Once prevented immunization becomes unnecessary. 

The question is not ‘What are my pets’ health problems?’ The question now becomes ‘How can I prevent pet health problems from arising?’. Many people think that contracting a health problem is a matter of dumb luck, but they are mistaken. A body that has the right nutrients in the right proportions can heal itself. Therefore, a healthy body does not get sick! 

You may be thinking, what is this going to cost me? I can’t afford to buy my pet all the natural, nutritious food it needs, what do I do? Well the answer is simple. It costs a lot less than you might think. There are resources out there that can help you develop a healthy meal plan on a budget. 

The truth is, it isn’t that hard to put together a healthy meal for your pet. Check out http://www.onlinenaturalpetcare.com for free advice.