There is no doubt that the internet is obsessed with cute animals. What would you say if I told you that you could play with cute little kittens right from the comfort of your living room even without having a cat yourself? Sounds like a pretty sweet idea right? The people over at The Human Society of Clinton seem to think so. Continue Reading

We here at hybrid dogs are so very excited to see our beloved hybrids making a splash. Hasbro made the choice to include a designer dog as one of the game pieces is the result of the current popularity of hybrid dogs with the labradoodle being one of the most well-known being owned by famous stars like Tiger Woods, Jennifer Aniston and Joe Biden. Other modern pieces that were added to the Hasbro game include a Toyoto Prius, McDonalds french fries, RAZR cell phone, laptop computer airplane, and a running shoe. Continue Reading

I love Google. I love Google. I love Google. What would the world be without cute, furry little puppies and kittens running around making our lives joyful and fun? I tell you, I would be able to get through one day of work if I didn’t have my little nunchkin sitting by my side. Today I give you your daily dose of cute-ness. Enjoy.

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We all love our dogs and sometimes we want them to be around 24/7. But that is no excuse to masquerade your dog as a service animal if they are not.

Those with real medical problems are subject to regular discrimination when they go out in public with their service dogs. Just recently there was a story about a woman who went into a McDonalds with her 2 autistic children and a service dog. She was hit in the face by an off-duty McDonalds manager. Behavior like this is unacceptable and only fuels the fire and makes it harder for the disabled with certified service dogs. Continue Reading

Boxers are so adorable. I have always been quite fond of the brindle boxers and I would not mind having one around the house. Especially one that can do awesome party tricks like this one.

Honey, the Boxer and Staffordshire mix puppy, also known as a bull-boxer can balance just about anything on her nose. From treats to tennis balls, Honey is a professional. She should be working at the circus with balance like this!

Video after the jump. Continue Reading

Training is one of the more difficult things to do with your dog. There are many tricks that you can teach your dog and lots of things that you should train them to do and not to do. Below you will find some of the basic things you should teach your dog and how to do it.

No. If you say this word forcefully enough and with the right amount of authority your dog will immediately know what it means. No, is the first and most important thing you can teach your dog. It can be used in any situation where your dog is doing something they shouldn’t be doing. The only way to teach a dog this is when they are doing something bad. When you say no it should be foreful. Your dog should immediately pick up that you are not happy with him or her.

Sit is an excellent training tool. To train a dog to recognize this word with the action you must use it consistently. It is recommended that you have a bag of treats on hand as a reward. Start by having your dog stand in front of you. There should be no distractions around; no other pets, no people; no noise. A great way to get your dog to look at you is by holding a treat in front of your nose or in between your eyes. When you are sure you have the dogs attention say, “Sit.” The word should be clear. The first few times your dog does this they wil lnto know what you mean. So you have to show them. After repeating the words a few times, place your dog in a sittion postion. Repeat the word again. Praise your dog and give them a treat. You should repeat this several times per day. Within two weeks your dog should have picked up on the word sit and recognized it with the action. Make sure you give you dog plenty of praise when they get something right and reward them with a treat.

Come here should be an easy command to teach your dog. When you say come here your dog should be several feet away (this may be a good time to teach stay as well). When your dog hears “come here” they should know that you are talking to them and they will probably come galloping over. Make sure that when they do you give them plenty of praise and a treat.

Give is something that every dog should learn. It is best to teach this command after your dog has learned “come here”. Throw a ball and let your dog go get it. If they do not immediately come back say the command “come here.” When they come back repeat “give” a few times. The dog probably will not understand at first so take the ball from them. Give them lots of praise and a treat. You should repeat this a few times a day and your dog will know the command “give” in no time at all. The command “give” is useful for fetch and also for anything that your dog may have in it’s mouth that you want them to drop.

Breeding should be done with extreme care and caution. Breeding should not be done jsut to make money. Thousands of pets are put to sleep every year because they have been abandoned by their owners. If you want to be a dog breeder you should be sure that you can devote a lot of time and money to it. Do it for the right reasons and be professional about it.

Have a veteranarian check your dog(s) before deciding to breed. Your dog may not be a great candidate for repoduction. Your veteranarian should also be familiar with whelping and shold be able to walk you through it and now what danger signs to look out for.

At the most, dogs should only be bred about once every year. They should not be bred before they are two years of age. While your dog is pregnant they may be have a different termpermant. They will probably be very protective and will eventually start looking for somewhere to whelp.

The American Canine Hybrid Club recongnizes many different hybrid dogs breeds and new ones are added to the list all the time. The first breeder to create a new hybrid cross has the opportunity to name it if they choose to do so. Otherwise The American Canine Hybrid Club will name the new breed.

Dogs are wonderful but they require a lot of special care. From grooming to exercise, dogs are no different than us. Dogs have daily requirements such as food and water but they also have monthly and yearly requirements such as veteranarian visits and shots. Taking good care of your dog is very important to ensure your dog has a long, healthy, happy life.

Food and water is essential for any dog especially a growing puppy. It is important that your dog has water available to them at all times. Food can be hard to choose. There are many different brands with different ingredients. To choose the best one for you dog ask a veteranarian.

Grooming is essential for some dogs while it may not be for others. Some dogs require a visit to the groomers about once every other week while others never have to visit the groomer. If your dog has long hair you should probably take them to the groomer at least once a month. If your dog sheds but has relatively short hair you can probably brush them once a week and cut down on the shedding. Also, use a shed reducing dog shampoo and conditioner. If your dog has short hair and doesn’t shed you should still brush their coat about once every other week but a trip to the groomer is probably not needed.

Exercise is important in any dogs life. You should measure the amount of activity it takes to get your dog calm and tired. Some dogs require just a big back yard while others require lengthy walks on a daily basis. If your dog is very energetic they will probably require more exercise. Larger dogs usually get tired faster and may be more suitable for a family that doesn’t have a lot of time to spend walking their dog. Some smaller dogs can have a lot of energy and would be great for the active, on-the-go family. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise.

Attention is something that all dogs require. Dogs naturally want to be close to their owners. If you ignore your dog they will surely become depressed and probably miserable. They will not show any interest in anything. Be kind to your dog and pay attention to them. Playing with your dog is a great way and fun thing to do with your dog. Teach them to play fetch and tug-of-war and you and your dog can spend hours of fun playing.

Veteranary visits should be considered once a year. Your dog should stay current on their shots and health records. Pick a well-known, reputable vet in your area.

Before you purchase a dog you should be absolutely sure that it is the right thing for you to do. Dogs require a lot of attention, training and care. If you purchase a puppy there is an issue of housebreaking the new family member. Puppies also go through many stages of chewing and biting that can be very annoying at times. Dogs do, however, become part of the family. They are loyal and obidient. Some make great watch dogs while others are very friendly. The decision to purchase or adopt a dog should be throught through very carefully and should be decided upon by everyone in the house.

There is no way to predict with 100% accuracy what a hybrid dog will look like or what their temperment will be like. Hybrid dogs can take on characteristics of both of their pure bred parents.

Do your research on both breeds. Find out what they look like, how big they are, and what their temperment is like. Then imagine those two dogs together. You may be able to ask around and find hybrid dog owners that could tell you what they think about their dog.

When you have picked the absolute best dog for you and your family you should begin finding a breeder. Hybrid dog breeders are not always that easy to find but don’t give up, they are out there. Make sure the breeder is a good one with a quality reputation. Ask if they might provide a client list. Always get pictures of the dog and make sure you have a contract in writing stating everything that is included with the purchase/adoption and what guarentees the breeder makes.

The only absolute fail proof way to train your puppy is to use a crate. Crate training cannot be considered cruel or inhumane if you do it the right way. The following are steps and tips to help you use the crate method the proper way.

1. Do not leave food out for you new dog to eat anytime they want. Once the dog is potty trained it isn’t a problem if you leave the food out at the time. However for the first two months you should consider only feeding your new dog about 3-5 times daily. All feedings should be well spaced out and the new pup should be monitored during all feedings.
2. Within ten minutes of feeding your new puppy should be taken outside for a bathroom break. If you are want to train the dog to use a specific area of the yard then the puppy should be taken to this area. Watch the dog carefully. When they go to the bathroom outside praise them. Your dog will know immediately that they are doing something good. Do this every time the dog goes to the bathroom.
3. When accidents happen inside the home, immediately scold your dog with a stiff “NO! Bad dog.” When a firm no has been assessed the dog will usually stop going to the bathroom immediately. Take the dog outside. Monitor them and when they go to the bathroom praise them.
4. Immediately clean up all accidents with a good odor and stain remover. To find the best product, go to your local pet store and ask them what they recommend. This is very important! If the accident is not cleaned up your dog will continue to eliminate them selves there.
5. The crate should be used whenever you are not able to watch the puppy and during the evening hours. Your puppy should have just enough room to move around and sleep comfortably. If you give your puppy too much room they will just go to the bathroom in one corner of the crate and sleep in the other. During the evening when you are sleeping, keep the crate near you so you can hear the dog if they cry to go outside. The first few nights the puppy may cry a lot but they will eventually settle in and go to bed. Crates should not be used for more than six hours at a time. If there is not someone home to take the dog out then you may need to re-consider having a dog at this time. During the night, you may have to get up a few times to let the dog out.
6. Make sure there is a way for your dog to let you know that they need to go outside. Some dog owners use a bell hanging from their door, you can even buy door bells now for you dog. Whatever you choose, make sure the dog knows how to use it. Some dogs don’t bark so they will scratch at the door. If you are worried about this, consider an alternative
7. Keep a routine. This is very important! You should have a specific routine from when you and your puppy wake up to when you go to bed. Everyone in your household should follow this routine as well.

If you use these seven fool proof tips you will surely have a housebroken dog in no time at all. Keep the same routine with your puppy daily for about three weeks. Once the puppy is housebroken you probably won’t need to use the crate. Some puppies however, become attached to them and use them as a bed nightly. Enjoy your new puppy!