Although the concept is by no means new; many people are discovering that some of the latest breeds of super dogs are not as great as their breeders would have you believe.

Of the “designer dog club” the ‘Labradoodle’ is probably the most well known. The ‘Labradoodle’ was originally bred for sight impaired individuals who had severe reactions to dog’s fur. This new hybrid aimed to combine the intelligence of the Labrador with a non-shedding poodle. However you may or may not have a puppy that will be non-shedding. Labradoodles have been around for over 20 years and are gaining recognition.

But the term ‘designer mutts’ can be used to describe any number of endless combinations of dogs who have been bred for particular valued qualities. Ever thought about owning a Dorgi? That’s a cross between a Corgi and a Dachshund. How about a Puggle? That’s a cross between a Beagle and a Puggle. There are many variations on breeds with poodles now too. This often results in comical names - the Corgi Poo; or the Shih Poo, the variations are endless.

Hypoallergenic, intelligent and some say healthier than average - these dogs are becoming popular throughout the world.
Yet the American Kennel Club refuses to accept these new breeds. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes 153 breeds at present; and says that these dogs don’t meet their criteria.

The American Hybrid Club seems to be the answer for the breeders who are rallying to have their new combinations recognized. They argue that in fact all dog breeds exist as a result of some kind of experimentation with mixing breeds.

There are many inherent dangers associated with mixing breeds that would never have bred naturally. The main problem is that you never really know exactly what you will be getting. Most often you can learn a great deal about a dog by the look and temperament of their parents - but with these dogs there is no way to tell if you will end up with a mouse sized dog - or a dog the size of a small donkey.

And it’s not just looks. You might be unpleasantly surprised to find that your new puppy has the temperament of a hostile dictator; or worse is very aggressive. These are serious faults; especially if you intend to introduce your cute new ‘Schnoodle’ (a mixture of a Schnauzer and a poodle) to your kids you never know what might happen.

Is that really a chance you want to take?

Also, these new breeds are by no means considered cheap. You could get an equivalent mix at a shelter for free. But some breeders are charging thousands of dollars for dogs they cannot personally guarantee.
They claim these dogs take the best of both breeds. But there is an equal risk that the dog can end up with the worst from breeds. This seems like a staggering chance to take.

In an attempt to create super dog these breeders are using breeding techniques that seem strangely unnatural. Certain Bulldog combinations always require artificial insemination for successful mating to occur. And you can’t count on Caesar section.
Many of the crossbreeds are bred for profit. Unscrupulous practices which lead to fashion item dogs will create a host of problems for future generations.

If you have your heart set on a designer dog bear in mind you might end up paying more in vet bills. Your puppy will need a vast array of tests.

There are many well-established variations. Purebred dogs have a proven track record. You can say with greater certainty what your Labrador will look like. You will also have a greater idea of what kinds of health problems to expect in your Dachshund.

You can also find adult crossbreeds in a number of places. Adult dogs are often a good choice for families who have children or who need to be sure of the dog’s temperament. And of course giving a loving home to a homeless dog is always a good thing.
If you have your heart set on one of the new crossbreeds; try to learn what you can before deciding on the particular dog or cross.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide

Pet meds, as most of us know can pack quite a punch to pet owner’s bank accounts. Unfortunately, pet medications and pet medicine are a necessity in order to keep your loved dog, cat or other domestic animal happy and healthy. Most of the time, you can save a lot of money on prescription and non-prescription pet meds just by buying them online as opposed to the vet office.

Pet meds can save your pets life by protecting them from nasty things such as heartworm, tapeworm, fleas and other complications such as joint and vision illnesses. Pet medications are available online to save you money, but also to offer you and your buddy healthier options such as all natural pet medicine. This option will be less likely to have side effects and will keep your pet healthier and full of energy.

If you’ve ever had to buy pet meds, you know how expensive they can be. Pets are exposed to many situations and elements that make them prone to bacterial infections, illnesses and disease. We love our pets and will do whatever it takes to keep them healthy and happy, as they can bring so much joy to the household. We’ve put this pet medicine resource together to make buying pet medications easier and at much more competitive rate than you will find at any vet office. Please take the time to explore your options concerning the health of your addition to the family.

Dean Cecere is a regular contributor of informative and resourceful articles pertaining to everyday life issues.

For additional pet related information, please visit http://www.pet-supplies-guide.com

Thank you and please feel free to use this article. Keeping the above lin live is greatly appreciated.

The first thing that any successful animal trainer must do is
win the confidence and respect of the animal to be trained. This
important piece of advice definitely applies to the training of
dogs. As social pack animals, dogs have a natural need to follow
a strong leader. Setting yourself, the owner or handler, up as
this leadership figure is the basis of any successful dog
training program.

Until your dog has learned to trust and respect you, it will be
difficult for any training program to be successful. Trust and
respect are not things that can be forced, they must be earned
through positive interaction with your four legged companion.
After the dog has learned to trust and respect the owner, he or
she may be amazed at how quickly the training sessions progress.
Many new dog owners mistake love and affection for trust and
respect. While it is of course good to shower your new dog or
puppy with love and affection, it is also improtnat to gain its
confidence and respect. It is also important to not allow the
puppy or dog to get away with everything it wants to. It is easy
to let a dog take advantage of you, particularly when it is so
cute and adorable. It is important, however, to set boundaries,
and to establish acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.

Dogs actually appreciate these types of boundaries, since they
are similar to the rules that the pack leader establishes in
nature. Every dog in the pack knows what is expected of it, and
knows its plce in the pecking order. This kind of structured
hierarchy allows the pack to function, hunt and survive as a
single entity. Your dog is actually seeking this type of
leadership. If he or she does not get leadership from you, he or
she may be frightened or confused. In addition, failure to gain
the respect of the dog is very important to the well being of
both the human and the dog. A dog that lacks respect for its
human owner can be dangerous as well as hard to live with. It is
important to establish firm boundaries of good and bad behavior,
and to consistently, effectively enforce those boundaries.

When dealing with a puppy, it is important to start gaining his
respect and trust as soon as possible. Establishing an early
bond is the best way to move the treaining and socialization
process forward.

It is also important to make the initial training sessions
short. Puppies have a notoriously short attention span, and even
older untrained dogs may be unable to focus for more than 10 or
15 minutes at a time. It is best to make the lesson short and
positive than to stretch it out and create a negative
experience. It is also a good idea to start and end each session
with a period of play. Starting and ending the training sessions
on a high note is important. Dogs make quick associations, and
creating a positive association with obedience training will
help to create a happy, healthy and well adjusted dog. A happy
dog will be easier to train, and more willing to please.

It is also important to keep the dog from becoming bored during
the training sessions. Many dog owners make the mistake of
drilling the dog on things like basic obedience skills, heeling,
sitting, etc. While these obedience skills are important, and it
is true that they will form the basis of more advanced skills,
it is important to mix things up and make things fun for both
yourself and your dog. The more variety you provide the better
your dog, and you, will enjoy the training sessions.

What ingredients make for good and bad dog food?

With so many dog foods available on today’s market that are commercially prepared, it is often quite difficult as only a dog owner to tell which ones are better than others and why.

First of all, many of the big companies are paying really slick marketers and advertisers millions of dollars per year to advertise their dog food. The amount of money they are spending on marketing has no relationship to the quality of the dog food. This is unfortunate for you as some of the best advertised dog food is inferior.

There is one way for you to guess the quality of dog food however it is not fool proof. You can normally use the price of the food as an indicator as to the quality. Low priced foods are not always, but most often, the lowest quality foods on the market and likewise the more expensive are normally better quality.

When feeding your dog you want to make sure that the adult dog food you are feeding is 22-25% protein and 15-19% fat. The protein should come from a good quality source. Some dogs such as puppies, large breeds, and active breeds have different protein and fat requirements so make sure to discuss this with your vet to ensure proper feeding of your dog.

When making an informed decision, you must know which ingredients are better than others. When you look at the dog food label, the following are the kinds of ingredients that you are looking for:

- Human Grade Ingredients Chicken meal
- Turkey meal
- Fish meal
- Rice
- Potatoes
- Lamb meal
- Potatoes
- Rice
- Sunflower Oil
- Vegetables and others.

For a good dog food, the first four ingredients on the dog food label should not be grains. Instead they should consist of things like meat and proteins.

You also want to make sure it says chicken meal and not chicken as the primary ingredient. If it says chicken only, this means that the manufacturers are counting the entire chicken toward protein value. This includes all of the pieces they have probably scraped of the ground such as beaks, feathers, and feet. With chicken meal, they are only counting the cooked down version of the protein. This will ensure that your dog is getting the appropriate kind of protein and not by products.

Vitamins and fatty acids are also good ingredients in dog foods. Some examples include Vitamin E, Omega 3 and 6, etc. These are very important for a healthy looking skin and coat.

Make sure your dog food is not laden with preservatives. Some of the ingredients that you don’t want to see on your dog food label are the inferior protein’s which consists of but are not limited to variations of the following: Wheat, Corn, Chicken by-products, Soy, Gluten.

These ingredients are hard to digest and can cause health problems later on if used for a long period of time. Sugar is another ingredient that you want to stay away from.

You are always better off making your own dog food and dog treats from recipes such as those you can find at www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au, however if you are purchasing dog food you really should only purchase from a company that spends time and money field testing their products.

You can always be sure that companies such as Purina, the Iams Company (which also includes Eukanuba), Royal Canin, Nutro, Diamond, and Hill’s Science Diet are constantly testing their foods to provide the optimum quality ingredients. These companies offer different grades of food, however, from lower quality to premium quality so make sure that you always read the labels.

These are not the only companies by any means who make good quality dog food. The important thing is to read the label, do your research, ask questions of your veterinarians and pet professionals and always be informed. People who work at feed stores are usually a good resource and can help you find good quality pet food. Breeders can also be a good source for finding a quality food for your dog. Dog trainers will also often have a good knowledge of proper nutrition.

You should always follow your veterinarian’s recommendation on food as well. Many times dogs of certain ages or with certain health conditions need to be on a prescription diet. While these diets are often expensive, they do contain the proper nutrients that dogs in these categories need. Many times owners will switch to a commercial food because of cost or palatability concerns and the dog’s health will go in to a decline. Your veterinary staff know what is best for your particular dog.

While it is often confusing, proper dog nutrition is vital to the health and longevity of your dog. By knowing what consists of good quality ingredients and which ingredients to avoid, you can be assured that you will choose the proper food for your dog. As always, if you have questions, ask your veterinary staff for more information.

If you are looking for healthy nutrious but yummy gourmet dog treat recipes come and visit Justin Bryce who is the Proprietor of http://www.dogtreatrecipes.com.au