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by Moses Wright
Whenever someone thinks of a beagle, the character 'Snoopy' invariably comes to mind. Like the famous character, beagles are charming companions and make wonderful pets for the average family. They are full of energy and serve as loyal pets. Although the beagle started out as a hunting dog, they are suitable for the home as well.
Beagles Appearance - The Beagle has a keen sense of scent and an innate talent to chase and hunt. Beagles come mainly in 2 main sizes, between13 to 15 inches and a smaller size, under 13 inches. They are a member of the AKC's Hound Group. Although there are differences in size, they all sport the similar floppy ears, long tail and a short coat. They are typically a combination of tan, black and white colors, although some are orange, black or tan with white colorations.
Beagles Characteristics - The Beagle is comfortable in an apartment or smaller space, but they can annoy neighbors if they frequently warn you about weird noises. As they are bright, they can serve as good guard dogs. Beagles have their roots in hunting and thus they have loads of energy and should be exercised to keep them happy. A long walk or playtime outside is perfect for them. It is not advised to let your beagle off the leash as they will follow interesting scents and trails and ignore all previous trainings and the owner.
Beagles get along famously with young children and other breeds, although they are more reserved towards felines. Beagles are full of energy and will show their adoration openly however they can turn sulky if their desires are not fulfilled. They are keen and responsive dogs, alert to emotions and might even feel bad if anyone makes fun of them. Kids should learn not to tease the Beagles keen awareness and emotions.
Beagle puppies should have professional obedience training when young in order to encourage them to follow commands. Beagles have a passion for food and are not choosy, and this is wonderful news when training as they can be rewarded easily. Beagles will even scavenge for scraps in the bins because of their passion to eat.
Beagles Health Problems and Grooming - Beagles don't require a lot of grooming, but they should be brushed once a week for dirt and loose hairs. If they get enough exercise, toenails will be worn eroded, however, you should still check on them at least every four weeks.
Generally, they are hardy dogs but heart problems and epilepsy can be a problem for some dogs. Also, they can experience weight-related diseases due to their love of food. Beagles make wonderful companions for the family as they are cheerful and relatively obedient dogs.
About the Author
Moses Wright is the founder of Dogmunity - a dog lovers community. You can find more free resources on dog ownership by joining as a member for free here: http://www.dogmunity.com
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Feeding your dog naturally
by Alice Flowers
Pet owners who want to offer their dogs a healthy natural way of living should start with good nutrition. Nutrition is the foundation of good health and a well fed pet is usually a healthy pet.
The best diet for a dog is very much like a diet that nutritionists recommend for us humans. It consists of a variety of fresh whole foods rich in vitamins and minerals. This diet alone can promote optimal health in your pet.
If you want to feed your dog right, you need to start with fresh natural ingredients that are full of life. Fresh foods have very little processing; the less processing, the healthier the food is because fewer nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are lost. This type of diet might include home made dog food, a raw diet or dehydrated food. Dr Richard Pitcairn, a veterinarian who has done extensive research in natural pet care, advocates feeding pets a healthy diet of homemade foods prepared to the specific needs of the animals.
Raw food is becoming popular among pet owners and breeders and although there is a lot of controversy on the subject, many pet-owners are discovering the health benefits of the raw food diet because it has helped clear many conditions such as chronic allergies and other degenerative diseases. The good news is that rather than feeding Fido a raw bone from your butcher, there are specialty stores that carry frozen raw foods that are balanced and safe. Raw foods are also available in freeze dried form where the dog food is freeze -dried or "cold processed", a process whereby enzymes, amino acids, and probiotics remain intact.
Another source of natural dog food is the dehydrated diet. This type of food is preserved by a process of low temperature drying, just like those healthy soup mixes we buy at the health food store. Since the process uses less heat, the activity of enzymes in the food is suspended until the food is re-hydrated. The dehydration process only loses about 3% to 5% of the nutrients as opposed to other processes such as canning and the making of kibble which may cause the food to lose of up to 60% of its nutritional value.
Homemade meals are another alternative to a healthy diet but this isn't always easy since dogs need a specific balance and ratio of meat versus vegetable products. Be glad to know that there are premixes that take the guesswork out of making homemade dog food and all a pet owner needs to do is add some water and fresh meat to make a tasty treat for their four legged friend.
A good meal is a pleasurable experience for humans and it should be the same for our animal companions. By sticking to fresh ingredients, variety and attention to what our pets eat we can achieve balance and good health for our best friend.
Find out more information at http://www.naturaliving4dogs.com/dogfood.html
About the Author
Alice Flowers is a free lance writer who loves animals. Her website is http://www.naturaliving4dogs.com/dogfood.html
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