Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkies are known as the “moving jewel” due to a flowing silky coat. Yorkies were developed in Victorian times in Yorkshire England, this dog was created from the manchester terrier, Skye Terrier, Maltese, and other breeds as a ratter. They have a compact size between 6 and 7 inches and between 3 and 7 lbs, a sweet expression and cheerful character. Yorkies are the most popular breed of toy dogs.

Though members of the toy dog group, they are terriers by nature and are brave, investigative and energetic.
The silky coat is close to their body, straight and reaches the ground, though most Yorkies you’ll see around have been groomed with a much shorter cut like a puppy.

They are very affectionate and love being around their human family (they are a great constant companion) they tend not to like being left home alone.

These dogs are intelligent and quick to learn. Potty training these dogs needs to happen early and can be difficult if you are not diligent.

They are usually born black with tan on the eye- brows, tip of the jaws, chest and feet; however adult dogs will turn steel blue on the back and tail, while the head, chest and feet turn golden.
Yorkies need to be brushed daily and groomed often by a professional so their coat will stay in good condition.

Kids and dogs

When we think of kids and dogs, most of us think they go together like peas and carrots. It is important to keep in mind that both the children and pups need a bit of structure for this union to go smoothly. Here are a few thing to tell the kids in your life about dogs.

DO

• pet the dog's body
• offer your dog toys and treats when your parents allow it
• approach dogs from the side
• let sleeping dogs lie
• put the dogs food down at meal time
• run around and play fetch
• take your dog for a walk with an adult present
• be gentle
• use a normal, calm voice
• brush your dog regularly
• teach your dog to sit for petting and feeding

DON'T

• pet the head or feet
• take stuff away from the dog or tease him with food or toys
• put your face in the dog's face nor blow in their face
• wake up a dog that is resting
• bother or touch the dog while eating
• force your dog to play if they don't want to
• take the leash of a dog that might pull you down or drag you
• hug, slap, pull, ride, poke or squash any dog
• scream around any dog
• give a haircut or style your dog
• let your dog jump on you or your friends

Thank you to all our friends for joining us at our anniversary party, it was a great success thanks to you!

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Shih Tzu

Shih tzu means lion in Chinese, and refers to the dog’s manlike coat and aristocratic air. This breed originated in Tibet and is thought to be related to the Pekingese. Shih tzu are considered an “ancient” breed since DNA analysis and depictions of them are found as early as 800 BC. However since they were favorites of Chinese royals and were so prized, for years the Chinese refused to sell, trade or give away any of the dogs. So it wash’t until the 1930’s that they made their way to Europe and until the 1950’s to the USA. 

Shih Tzu are bred to be house dogs and companions. They are part of the toy breed group. They are lively, alert, friendly and trusting, which makes them great for homes with children and other pets. They only need a little exercise, a short walk daily or a few minutes of playtime are usually enough. 

Professional grooming is required for their long, silky, flowing double coat. Most pet owners keep the hair cut short to make care easier, but daily brushing is a must and should be considered before getting this pup. They need to be trained when young for manners and to allow proper grooming.

Shih Tzu come in a variety of colors but most of them have some white.They are a little longer than they are tall, they hold their head up high and their tails curl over their body. The face is wide and round with big round eyes. They should be about 8 to 11 inches tall and between 8 and 16 lbs.

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10 things to avoid when feeding your cat

1. A vegetarian diet. Cats are carnivores, they need nutrients that can only be found in meat.
2. Milk and other dairy products. Cats are lactose intolerant, so a lot of milk can create a lot of discomfort.
3. An excess of food. Keeping the food bowl full can lead to overeating and obesity.
4. All dry kibble. They have a very low thirst drive so a moist diet can prevent urinary and kidney disorders.
5. Too much liver in their diet can cause a vitamin A toxicity.
6. Though most cats really like it, canned tuna can cause mercury poisoning.
7. Onions, garlic and chives can break down a cat’s red blood cells, leading to anemia.
8. Grapes and raisins cause kidney failure in cats.
9. Caffeine and chocolate can be lethal to a cat.
10. Foods containing xylitol and other artificial sweeteners can cause blood sugar to drop and liver failure.

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Counter Surfing

Counter surfing is an undesirable and dangerous habit that some dogs are very good at. A variation of the regular “leave it” command works well for this. Begin with really tasty treats in your pocket and a lesser treat up on the counter. When your dog looks at the counter say “leave it” in your normal training voice, the dog is not in trouble. When he looks away or towards you say “yes” and feed him a delicious treat from your pocket. Slowly move the treat closer to the edge of the counter as you step farther away from it. Every time your dog looks away, reward him. Continue until you can step into the next room and have him leave it. Then increase the value of the “leave it”. Go from a dry cookie up to something delicious like ham, that can hang over the edge. If you want to really test the dog, set up a walkie talkie on the counter next to the “leave it”, then leave the house and spy on the dog. Say “leave it” into the walkie talkie, if the dog moves away then rush back in and reward the pup.

Once you are comfortable with things up on the counter, start the same process for lower surfaces like coffee and end tables.

If you are still having trouble with your pup surfing, then you can call us in for a home consultation

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