Pet Goddess

It is that time of year again, when the shelters are teeming with animals all desperate for forever homes, and people are thinking about adding a pet to their lives just in time for the holidays. A pet does NOT make a great gift. It is a serious commitment and undertaking, a ‘marriage’ that can endure for at least 15 years depending on the age and breed and type of pet. Many of our dogs have lived to well over 16 and our cats to over 18.

Many people are eager to help a dog with an unfortunate background, and puppy mill rescue dogs certainly fit the bill. The trouble is that if an adopter is looking for a ‘normal’ dog, they might be sadly disappointed with their new furry friend. The truth is that puppy mill dogs, especially the breeding females, often lack a lot of the basic people-friendly skills their new human might be hoping for.

They might be confused on a leash, very timid and scared, and have toileting issues. They might go inside the house all the time, go at will anywhere they like, and so on. The good news is that the ASPCA has produced this excellent page to give you some pointers on what to expect if you are considering taking on a dog who has been rescued from a puppy mill: Puppy Mill Dog Advice from the ASPCA.

Read this carefully before deciding if you have the patience to deal with a puppy mill rescue dog. Many of them are very biddable and loving and eager to please their new owner, so if you are willing to give them a second chance, they will be more than grateful.

Posted November 28, 2011 Comments(0)

We here at Pet Goddess are proud to announce our new Dog Training Academy. You can access our free 7-day ecourse today: Dog Training Academy Ecourse

Posted July 26, 2010 Comments(0)

One of our friends, a great dog lover, has a new pet column at Examiner.com. If you love all things dog, this will be a great way to keep up to date on terrific resources for your pet. Plus, if you live in New York City, you’ll get information on great services for you and your dog.

Just visit the Chelsea Dog Examiner column for more information.

Posted June 3, 2010 Comments(0)

Sadie the Scottie has won Westminster on her third attempt:

Westminster Winner

Congrats to all the participants and their humans, and let’s hope more dogs get good loving homes, not just the pedigreed ones.

Posted February 19, 2010 Comments(0)

Recent animal studies prove that the Labrador Retriever is one out of six canine breeds with the highest intellect. It has been proven that the Labrador can count to the number five or more.

The Labrador is capable of learning, remembering, recognizing and understanding a vocabulary of over one hundred fifty words. In the past, it was believed that only members of the primate species have this kind of vocabulary capability and intelligence because the primate has the ability to communicate human language by the use of sign language.

Even though the Labrador is not capable of sign language, it does have the ability to communicate by the use of its own body language when the Labrador hears the words and acts or performs the action associated with the word or its meaning. This is also due to the Labrador’s memory capacity.  If you were to say to your Labrador “Go get the leash if you want to go walk,” then your Labrador actually does go and retrieve the leash and brings it to you. The Labrador has associated the leash with the word Walk and the word Go. The Labrador remembers that he or she is allowed to go and walk if you ask for the leash.

Some owners and breeders of the Labrador believe that the Labrador continues to add words daily to the list of words it recognizes and understands, and there is not reason to think that the Labrador is not capable of this type or learning. Because of the Labrador’s extremely high intelligence who knows what else the Labrador breed is capable of accomplishing.

A Labrador’s intelligence gives the Labrador the ability to act or to perform certain activities or actions on its own without being trained, instructed, or shown. A Labrador can look at an event or a situation and then solve the situation or act on the situation in a positive manner. Say a Labrador were to come upon or find a human injured and alone–the Labrador will do whatever possible to comfort the human and then will bark out a warning for help to come to the injured human, or the Labrador may leave the human to go and find help.

Posted February 11, 2010 Comments(0)

Many owners have great difficulty in finding a name for their pet Labrador. The pet’s name does not have to be an outstanding prestigious name, It must only serve the purpose of communicating with or getting the attention of your Labrador, but it might also be unique.

What to call your Labrador is quite simple all an owner needs to do it to observe the Labrador for a few days. First look for any quirks or repetitive actions that the Labrador makes or shows. Then figure out some unusual name to relate to the action or act itself.

For instance, if your Labrador loves to eat, as most of them usually do, then your could call him or her Stuffer or Gobble. One owner who found a Labrador puppy at a lake that had fallen into a crack in some rocks named his dog Rocky.

If your Labrador is the curious type, you could call him or her something like Sherlock or Inspector. If you see that your Labrador has an exploring side to his or her nature, then you might name him or her Adventure. These are not common names; however, they are unique names and only suggestions.

The Labrador who is a show dog usually has more than one name on its pedigree or registration papers. Just an example is something like Top Mister Dog or The Only One. On the other hand, the name could involve part of a previous ancestor’s name, such as Daddy’s Little Brutus; something along this line that brings out a prior ancestor that your pet Labrador may resemble.

The name chosen usually reflects a strong action or character of your Labrador, something specific about your pet Labrador that makes him or her stand out from other Labradors. If your Labrador has a slick shining coat that you have never seen before on another Labrador, then you might name him Slicker. This is a name not commonly heard in the Labrador breed. However, Slicker is good name as it is strong as well as unique.

Owners want to properly, name their Labradors; however, they do not want to call to their pet and then have two or three labs respond and all come running at the same time. By using a different, name a unique name this event will not be a problem for you and your pet Labrador.

The name of your pet Labrador should also be fairly easy to remember and easily understood by the pet itself as well. You do not want to confuse your pet Labrador once you choose a name–use that name only or one part of the name. Use this each time you call to or work with your pet Labrador as not to confuse him or her. Let your Labrador become familiar with the name then you may add the rest or another part of the name along with the name the Labrador is used to hearing. In this way, the Labrador will soon recognize his or her full name and respond to it.

Posted February 9, 2010 Comments(0)

From the time the Labrador is a clumsy puppy until it grows into a graceful adult, the Labrador is capable of capturing the heart of its owner or companion. Puppies are comical and curious for the most part, and the Labrador puppy finds things much more intriguing when its owner is present.

Labradors make wonderful family pets because of the Labrador’s natural instinct to remain gentle. If, however, a puppy should get too rough, the problem is easily remedied and the puppy learns from its owners. Labradors are naturally intelligent and are very fast to learn commands and tasks the owner wishes the pet to perform.

Labradors also make excellent family pets because most families have new or younger children and the Labrador is trustworthy and loyal to its family.  Labradors have reportedly saved young children from drowning and wandering off, as well as keeping small children away from roads or dangerous situations. One such report states that a Labrador followed its younger master/companion off into the woods and protected the youngster until rescuers found him. This is the kind of pet most owners only dream of having in their families.

Labradors even help with daily chores around the house like taking out the garbage and watering the lawn. Of course, it helps that the Labrador’s favorite activity is water play, and if the yard get watered in the process of play it is all the better. Labradors are a fantastic way of amusing the children, and being amused by the children. If you have an only child, then the Labrador will play dress up, and loves to finger or paw paint.

How about helping mom in the kitchen with the little accidents and dropped food items? Not a problem with a Labrador in the home as a pet–the messes almost clean themselves. Labradors love to eat and this is a perfect way to help mom with dinner.

The Labrador as the family pet will add love, fun, joy and entertainment, as well as a helping paw to a family’s home. Make a Labrador a special part of your home and he or she will give much back in return.

Posted February 7, 2010 Comments(0)

There are more registered Labrador Retriever in the United States today than there have been in the past several years. Well over 120,000 Labrador Retrievers are registered with The American Kennel Club. This number continues to grow yearly because the Labrador is America’s most popular pet.

One of the main reasons for the popularity of the breed is the fact the Labrador is so sweet and loving, more so than most other breeds of the Labrador’s size and weight. As a Labrador meets a stranger, that person would have to release an extremely bad vibe to have a Labrador not like them. Alternatively, the person would have to purposely do or harm the Labrador or a member of the Labrador’s family to be provoked into aggression. Loyalty is another one of the reasons why the Labrador is the most popular family pet and working sport dog in America and other parts of the world.

The Labrador’s natural instinct to please man and to aide man has made the Labrador a multi-purpose pet. The extent of the Labrador’s capabilities are inconceivable. One such example is the Labrador’s ability to sense when or if a human will become ill or have a form of a seizure. Labrador assistance dogs can do that–they sense a change in the smell of the scent of the human. The Labrador can also feel the body temperature of the human by the use of its nose. The Labrador assistance dog then remains with the human while the seizure occurs and licks the person’s face to help the person revive. The Labrador will not leave its master’s/owner’s side until the owner has recovered.

Labrador popularity also takes place within law enforcement, rescue animals, blind aide animals, and therapy animals, as well as hunting and canine sporting events, in addition to everyday family pets.

Last, but not least, is the Labrador being shown in the dog show arena. Many Labradors have competed and won these prestigious events as the best of their own breeds, the best of their own type of dog, such as gun or sporting breeds, and even the best of the overall competition, Best in Show.

This gentle happy breed takes or steals the heart of anyone who is exposed to the Labrador and then the people feel that they must have this wonderful breed in their own lives and families.  The Labrador is well worth the time, effort and the expense that is incurred with the breed.

It is so very easy to see why the Labrador is and may continue to be the most popular pet of the world. With all of the Labrador’s intelligence and capabilities, the breed may some day be the only breed any one could ever want as a family pet, companion, service animal, police officer or hunter.  Labradors are such wonderful creatures.

Posted February 5, 2010 Comments(0)

A Doberman Pinscher who is taken good care of can live 12 to 14 years. However, this breed does have its health problems just the same as many other breeds of larger canines. Some of the problems that you may have to face with your Doberman are things like cancer, hip dysphasia, joint problems, liver problems, bloat, and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart condition in which the heart of the Doberman grows to the point that it does not function properly. This heart condition also may cause other body functions to be affected or to fail. This condition can kill the Doberman suddenly without any warning.

These are all very serious health issues and conditions and some are fatal to the Doberman; therefore, it is important to have the Doberman checked by a licensed veterinarian before any purchase of a Doberman is final. There are other health issues that this breed has experienced in the past; however, most have been bred out of the Doberman breed over the past several years and should not be a major issue.

You can however have a healthy Doberman if you are a careful pet owner and do everything within your power to make sure the Doberman is properly cared for and protected from illness. Proper care consists of some of the following:

Preventative Actions 

• Take the Doberman to the veterinarian when you get him or her and have the pet checked for health issues.
• Let the veterinarian give the preventative shots and vaccinations, worm and heartworm medications to the Doberman.
• Schedule regular veterinarian visits every six months to once per year.
• Feed the Doberman proper foods (dry or homemade fresh pet foods daily).
• Supply ample amounts of fresh water daily.
• Exercise the Doberman daily.
• Play with and give plenty of love and attention to the Doberman daily.

All of the above will provide the Doberman a long and healthy life of good quality years. It is your job as the Doberman’s owner and friend to provide all of these things for him or her. The times you and your Doberman spend together are precious to you. This time is also important to the Doberman as well.

It is simple to furnish all of the things that he or she needs in order to live a long and happy life with you and or your family. Moreover, each family member can have a role in the responsibility and the care, love and attention that the Doberman receives daily, as having a pet of any kind is a great deal of responsibility.

If you choose to take on the responsibility of owning one of these truly wonderful dogs, then you can expect to have many long years to enjoy living together as friends taking great care of one another. He or she will be your protector and you will be his or her protector as well.

Posted February 3, 2010 Comments(0)

When trying to decide upon a good sound name for your Doberman Pinscher, you will want to choose something that the Doberman himself will like and will respond to; you may have to try different names at first.

Some strong suggestions for sound Doberman names are Aries the Greek God of War, Zeus the Greek God, and Magnum, after the powerful handgun. These names all revert back to power and war because of the original purpose of the Doberman.

However, if the Doberman is a female, you could name her something more soft and beautiful such as Aphrodite the Greek goddess of beauty and love, sure to charm anyone she meets. You can also use names like Queen or Lady Godiva, after a bold noblewoman who rode naked through the streets of England.

The name should have a certain amount of respect and forcefulness to it because of the Doberman breed being a sort of status symbol. This is a highly respected breed and deserving of such respect because of the sacrifices the breed has made for man throughout history in the last 150 years or so. The Doberman gave it life during the service of man during World War I and has guarded man in many situations.

Therefore calling your Doberman by a respectable, honorable name only adds to the respect man owes to this outstanding breed of the canine species. The name should also be short and easy for others to remember, as well as the Doberman itself, who must like and respond to the name when called.

It is import to find a suitable name as soon as possible so that the Doberman can learn the name quickly. Call the Doberman by its name every time you feed, play with, talk to and take the Doberman for a walk. It is important that the Doberman know his or her name and comes when it is called.

The name is also important when the time comes to register the Doberman and should be unique and outstanding. However, it should follow the true nature of the individual Doberman itself as well. For example if you do happen to name your male Doberman Magnum, you could add or revise the name to sometime like 3 fifty 7 Magnum and use a human name Joe, thus making the name read 3 fifty 7 Magnum Joe or Joe 3 Fifty 7 Magnum, which would be an outstanding and unique name for a Doberman. Moreover, the female name could be something like Aphrodite Queen of Love, or Queen Aphrodite.

On the other hand, you can simplify the naming process altogether to a simple one word name and name your male Doberman something like Spike, Max, Boss, Maximus, or name your female Doberman Xenia, Cleopatra, Medusa or Hattie.

Posted February 1, 2010 Comments(0)