There are so many breeders selling so called teacup dogs, but are they really a teacup size? Teacup dogs are dogs that are small enough to fit in a teacup, giving rise to the name. They are being bred smaller and smaller, because it is believed that is what people want. Puppies whose size has been intentionally reduced to fit into a teacup are prone to all sorts of health complications. Should we continue to reduce their sizes or just enjoy the miniature sizes that are available now.
Teacup puppies for sale
Often the term âteacup dogâ is used as a marketing ploy to drive up the price of a puppy, as some people find the extremely small size desirable. The term teacup dog covers many varieties of miniature or toy breeds of dog.
Chihuahuas and Maltese are examples of toy dog breeds. There is no such thing as a âtoy Chihuahuaâ, or âtoy Malteseâ. Chihuahuas and Maltese are already toy breeds so the term Toy Maltese is a misnomer and leads the buyer to believe they are getting something even smaller. The AKC standard for a toy breed is 6 lbs and under which, at the time of writing, would cover so-called teacup breeds. To say a dog is a teacup Chihuahua possibly suggests that its growth was stunted at birth and therefore have defects that may not be obvious when purchased.
Making the most of normal small breed dogs will give you more satisfaction than a dog that is not correctly bred.
Introduction of size breeding
Some dog breeds such as the Shi Tzu (Tibetan Temple Dog, Tibetan Lion Dog) have always been small while other breeds have been reduced from their standard size to miniature and toy.
Before and during the early part of the 19th century all dogs were working dogs to a certain degree. Breeding of dogs specifically for appearance was introduced in the mid 19th Century. Take for example the classic Poodle.
Poodles were used as a water fowling dog for many years until their size was reduced to allow them to become a housedog and reduced further to become a lap dog. Many people like the smaller breeds because they have a more genteel appearance. Breeds that are naturally small are fun but also very protective despite their size.
For many small breed owners, dressing their âbabiesâ in cute clothes has become the latest trend. There is nothing wrong with that as long as the puppy is comfortable. Wearing a coat indoors may not be necessary and may make the puppy unnecessarily hot but the use of a jacket when outside may be beneficial in keeping a chill at bay, especially when they have been short groomed.
Maltese, Pomeranians, Yorkies, Miniature Pinscher, and Papillionâs are just some of the dogs that are ideal to wear clothes. There are all sorts of small dog clothing available and includes dog robes, dog raincoats, dog dresses and dog coats. There are even booties available to protect their tiny feet.
A large selection of clothes is available for smaller dogs. If you have a small, toy or even teacup dog, take the opportunity to see what is in fashion for small pooches.
Ian Patterson
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/teacup-breeds-are-they-real-732604.html
Feb 17, 2010 | | miniature dog breeds
Pet nutrition is very important to maintain your dog’s canine health, happiness and long life. The use of dog supplements is also a primordial step to obtain and sustain this goal. Your beloved pet should be happy and healthy and always be an active member in the household. Man’s best friend deserves the best care and attention and should be considered as part of the family. Â
There is some information that can help when taking care of his nutrition and general wellness. Plenty of pet care supplies and dog vitamins are available online or at your local pet store. The trick is not to get confuse by maintaining a clear mind when taking a decision. Before choosing the best dog supplements a little research should be done. Not always the most expensive are the best ones, nor are the cheaper ones that consist mostly of poor ingredients and fills.Â
It is reasonable to take into account the age and the weight of your dog. Like with humans there is an obvious difference in the feeding procedures between a baby and an adult. Older and bigger dogs should be kept separate in your mind from puppies and smaller dogs when taking care of their general canine health. It is a proven fact that both groups don’t have equal metabolisms due to the difference in age and body weight, and that this difference even creates a physiologic consequence. Â
The breed of a dog can’t be overlooked since it will make quite a difference, not only in their behavior, but more important for this example, in their body mass and weight. It’s only commonsense that the feeding necessities and habits of a St. Bernard or a Great Dane are not the same as that of a Chihuahua or a Pomeranian. It could be surprising to some people to know that while a real big dog weighing around 100 pounds will consume on a daily basis more or less 23 calories per pound of its body weight to maintain proper canine health, a real small dog weighing ten times less, around 10 pounds, will need to consume double the amount of calories, around 47 calories per pound of body weight. Â
When you own small sized dogs, digestibility becomes a factor that determines how much of the nutrients are absorbed. A properly devised diet with dog vitamins and highly digestive nutrients should form the base for optimal natural balance dog food. Â
Puppies differ from adult dogs that they need more than twice the food per pound of weight. Until the age of six months they require to be fed on a consistent manner, regularly three or four times a day. This frequency will guarantee that the proper level of energy is present.Â
A puppy’s diet should always include a big dose of highly digestible rich nutrients, together with the adequate amounts of calcium and phosphorous. Pet nutrition products with premium quality protein have to be used to develop healthy grow with lean muscles and strong bones. Â
Certain amount of fat is totally normal, and ought to be present in a dog’s diet. Just combine it with the appropriate proteins, carbohydrates, and lots of clean water for its daily needs. Â
Pet nutrition for dogs must also consist of various minerals and dog vitamins in an equitable form. The proportions should be accurate so that they do not hinder with each other in your dogs system. This would provide maximum benefit to you dog. If the dog supplements proportion consists of one ingredient in overdose and the other in lower doses, it could have an adverse affect on his canine health.Â
Copyright © F. Prida. All Rights Reserved.
For Quality Pet Nutrition.
 
F. Prida
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/canine-health-through-pet-nutrition-688643.html
Feb 17, 2010 | | chihuahua feeding
Right form the ancient civilization the smallest breed of dog in the world and is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. Chihuahua is known for its unique and sweet appearance. The Chihuahua club of America and the American Kennel Club have defined some specific parameters to be recognized in a peculiar way. âTeacupâ, âPocket Sizeâ, âTiny Toyâ, and âMiniatureâ are some of the well defined standardized names of Chihuahua in order to lure potential buyers and earn high monetary values. The official club has described into long haired and short haired Chihuahua. Amongst all, teacup Chihuahua is much in trend.
Teacup Chihuahua can be said as tiniest dog. These tiny dogs have very good efficiency to go beyond your imagination in matter of physical manifestation. Teacup Chihuahua weighs only 5 pounds with a height of nine inches. Because of their tiny form they come in tops of priority while buying Chihuahua. One of the reviews of teacup Chihuahua throws point that they can easily be trained and maintained in simple ways. Now there falls again two categories namely short coat Chihuahua and long coat Chihuahua. The foremost point that can be used to distinguish between these two dogs is that short coat model is for warm weather conditions and the long coat model is for cold places.
It is seen that teacup Chihuahuas are fine watch dogs as they are found to be dynamic enough throughout the day. Teacup Chihuahua are very perceptive and so they can also show by way of gestures when they are being applauded by their cute and fragile look, appreciated or admired by their beautiful appearance and also gets hurt if the owner of shop dealer uses harsh words and breaks the discipline. Owner is the only right person to take the utmost care and maintain it properly before getting into any issue.
But it seems to be a problem for hard lookers. Rightly it is said that âBeauty lies in the eyes of beholderâ so conscious effort has always been made to run the positive mental attitude towards Chihuahua. It can be said may be the difference lies in the point to which problems might be existing in a picky runt or group of runts. It is advisable to have words with any good veterinarian or expert guideline to gather the information in order to understand the proâs and conâs of teacup Chihuahua as there lays equal possibility of both the cases. Teacup Chihuahua sale will tempt you to buy but you should focus some points before preceding the sale.
Thus, teacup Chihuahua has the ability to attract the attention of any person due to its unique dainty features. And just beware for their sharp bite on your toes if any uncomforted behavior annoys them. Beauty is to be appreciated and admired instead of standing against form all view or ideas and criticizing Teacup Chihuahua.
Nancy Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/long-hair-teacup-chihuahua-692474.html
Feb 17, 2010 | | chihuahua
One of the very first dog breeds that I photographed for my Animal Antics series was a miniature poodle. We shot him for the cheer leading poodles image. You could tell he was smartâ¦and certainly was a bit of a trickster. He would race around the studio checking on what everyone was doingâ¦until it came time to shoot him. Each time we started to shoot he would suddenly come up with a limp and could hardly walk. As soon as we would finish our session off he would race with no sign of difficulty!
The poodle is truly a wonderful breed of dog with some outstanding qualities. The breed is generally recognized as coming in three sizes, standard, miniature and toyâ¦though teacup poodles are also available. They have hair rather than furâ¦so they are, in effect, hypoallergenic and donât shed.
Poodles are extremely intelligent and take well to training. They learn quicklyâ¦but because they also forget slowly an owner must be consistent or risk resentment. Poodles are a sturdy breed and live between 10 and 18 years and in some cases up to 21 years. They are, however, susceptible to a number of genetic health problems. Like most large dog breeds, Standard poodles need a good amount of exercise but are comfortable in pretty much any size of home. Of the three sizes, standard, miniature and toy, standards are considered the most adaptable.
The breed is an ancient oneâ¦there are likeness of Poodle-like dogs on Roman coins and Egyptian carvings. There are references to Poodles as far back as the fifteenth century in France, Holland and Italy. The first reference to Poodles being good swimmers was in 1642 (the Poodle was originally bread as a water retriever). The âPoodle Clipâ was originated to help reduce resistance in the water. The patches of hair left covering the vital organs and joints were left to help protect those areas. In France the Poodle is the national breed and is used for truffle hunting as well as the more expected duck hunting.
The standard poodle is a truly a versatile breed and in addition to being excellent water retrievers they have served as guide dogs, in law enforcementâ¦and even competed in the Alaskan Iditarod Sled dog race! Miniature poodles are sometimes thought of as âone personâ dogs, but are obedient, can be a childâs best friend and make good trial dogs. They do tend to think they are bigger than they really are and one has to be careful of their protective  tendencyâ¦particularly around other dogs. Toy poodles make great companions and are especially good when quarters are tight.
Poodles are too intelligent to be âpart timeâ petsâ¦but need to be a regular and consistent part of their ownerâs lives. Poodleâs coats need to be kept well groomed or their coats could become unpleasant to be around, and in extreme cases it can be a health hazard. Poodles have a great dispositionâ¦are cheerful and confident and can make a truly great companion.
John M. Lund
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/poodle-breeds-have-some-outstanding-qualities-673562.html
Feb 16, 2010 | | miniature poodles
Because pop culture is so prevalent in our every day lives, we often look to celebrities for hints and ideas on how to live our lives. Perhaps it’s the idea of living glamorously, or maybe for sheer lack of creativity , we often emulate our favorite actors, actresses, t.v. stars, musicians and even politicians. Choosing and naming our pets is no different! We’ve all seen them, out and about at the dog park or shopping out on the town , celebrities love their pets! Whether you’re a pop culture buff or not, if you’re considering getting a dog, you may be inspired by whom and what some well-known personalities call their ‘best friends.’
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is ‘best friends’ with a German Shepherd named ‘Atticus’ and a Puggle named ‘Boo Radley.’
‘Bambi’ is the Pit Bull that keeps tennis star Venus Williams safe at night.
Actress Sienna Miller keeps it simple with her mutts named ‘Bess’ and ‘Porgi.’
Actress Minnie Driver loves her Black Labrador named ‘Bubba.’
South African actress Charlize Theron owns two mutts named ‘Delilah’ and ‘Denver.’
Actress (and daughter of Goldie Hawn) Kate Hudson pampers a Pomeranian named ‘Clara Bo.’
Reese Witherspoon’s two French Bulldogs each have a first name and a last. Meet ‘Coco Chanel’ and ‘Frank Sinatra.’
Courtney Cox Arquette and her husband David Arquette have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels named ‘Harley’ and ‘Hopper.’
Actress Eva Longoria loves her little Maltese, also known as ‘Jinxy.’
Hilary Duff has lots of (little) fun with her Chihuahua, ‘Lola.’
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner named their Golden Retriever after the ultimate domestic diva: ‘Martha Stewart.’
Talk show hostess and all-around star extraordinaire Oprah Winfrey has three Golden Retriever. She calls them ‘Luke,’ ‘Layla,’ and ‘Gracie.’
Actor Adrien Brody has two Chihuahuas named ‘Ceelo’ and ‘Lolly.’
Actress and wild child Lindsay Lohan has a Maltese named ‘Chloe.’
Who can forget Ozzy Osbourne’s wife Sharon Osbourne’s tiny Pomeranian, ‘Minnie?’
Jessica Alba named her two Pugs after the tragic couple , ‘Sid’ and ‘Nancy.’
Joan Rivers, of most recent ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ fame owns a Pekingese she calls ‘Max,’ a Boston Terrier named ‘Lulu’ and a Yorkie named ‘Veronica.’
Jimmy Buffet calls his Golden Retriever (what else?) ‘Cheeseburger.’
Basketball star Ken Griffey Jr. has a Rottweiler named ‘Akeiba.’
Mel Gibson’s Australian Shepherd is named (simply) ‘Patch.’
Who says small dogs aren’t manly? Pro football player Bret Favre has a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named ‘Jazzmin.’
Sir Paul McCartney’s Sheepdog is named ‘Martha.’
Author Stephen King keeps company with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named ‘Marlowe.’
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer and infamous for his stunts on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ has a Shar Pei named ‘Coco Puff.’
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have tow Rottweilers, named ‘Indo’ and ‘Zhaki.’
Actor and comedian Jim Carrey’s best friend is a Great Dane named ‘George.’
Matt Lauer, host of the Today Show on NBC has a Golden Retriever named ‘Walden.’
Her Bull Mastiff, ‘Koko’, protects Singer Christina Aguilera.
Scarlett Johansen’s miniature best friend is a Chihuahua named ‘Maggie.’
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is often seen out walking her Black Lab, ‘Holden.’
Mary Kate Olsen of Mary Kate and Ashley fame owns a Chocolate Lab named ‘Luca.’
So if you are looking for that special pooch to call your own, consider the personalities of the celebrities listed above. Do you identify with any of them? If so, you may get along with the type of breed that your ‘hero’ or ‘heroine’ has. If you’ve recently adopted a dog and are stumped for a name, you may find a great idea from a great star.
A Nutt
Feb 16, 2010 | | miniature dog breeds
Not too sure which type of dog to buy? This is part 1 of 3 articles that addresses the different needs and characteristics of some of the popular dogs. Look out for my other 2 articles on ‘Dog Breed Characteristics - medium-sized dogs’ and ‘Dog Breed Characteristics - large dogs’.
Chihuahua
A small, fast-moving toy dog named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. It stands between 15 cm to 25 cm tall, but some grow as tall as 35 cm. There are only 2 recognised varities of Chihuahuas, the long-coat and the short-haired. Long-coat Chihuahuas have a downy undercoat, which makes them look ‘fluffy’. Short-haired Chihuahuas, on the other hand, require minimal grooming. Although Chihuahuas are small, they are not suitable for families with very young children because they have the tendency to bite when frightened. They can also be quite picky eaters. OVerfeeding is definitely a no-no because overweight Chihuahuas are prone to joint injuries, diabetes and shortened life span. And they don’t really cool that cute.
Maltese
This is one of the oldest breed around and is believed to be originated from the island of Malta. A Maltese is a toy dog that is covered with long, silky fur and is usually pure white in colour. They have very expressive facial features, which makes them popular as pets. They are companion dogs and love attention from their owners. They are also extremely playful, and are good with children. They thrive well in small enclosed areas, and are popular with those living in the cities. However, Maltese can get very aggressive and they have the behaviour of barking constantly.
Australian Silky Terrier
They are a friendly lot. They orignated from Australia (hence its name) and this breed is classified as a toy dog in Australia but a terrier in Europe. It has a silky coat and it is usually non-shedding. This breed is suitable for those who are allergic to pet hair. Similar to the Maltese, they love the attention of their owners. A playful breed, it is suitable for those families with older children. They respond well to obedience training, coupled with rewards and praise. The only main problem with this breed is that it’s coat tangles easily and will need daily grooming.
Pomeranian
This is one of my favourite breed. It looks lively and graceful with its trademark tail. They are typically friendly and active, but they can develop a bad habit of barking excessively if allowed to do so. They are also intelligent creatures and can be trained easily. Note that they are extremely loyal and will lay around their owners’ feet. Owing to this loyal behaviour, they will follow the owners from room
to room, thus risking getting stepped on. It is important to train them not to do so.
Shih Tsu
It’s name was derived because it looks like a lion (Shih Tzu literally means “lion dog” in Chinese), and it originated from China. They are very sensitive to high temperatures, so it is important to keep them in cooler conditions. They need regular grooming to maintain their coats, and they shed little if proper care is given. Supervision is recommended during drinking because water can enter their flat noses easily and cause breathing problems. Not suitable for busy professionals due to its constant grooming needs.
Are you having problems training your dog? Click the link below to see how you can train your dog now!
George Yeo
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-breed-characteristics-small-dogs-706596.html
Feb 16, 2010 | | chihuahua training
Chihuahuas are a huge craze in today’s society. In fact, over the last decade the demand for them as pets has grown at an increasingly fast pace. This huge rush for them has led many people to not fully understand all the important aspects of keeping them safe, such as what not to feed your Chihuahua.
For many owners, feeding their Chihuahua table food is a part of their everyday routine. Whether it’s the leftover chicken, or maybe some steak, owners often feed their Chihuahua the same foods we consume. While this might seem like typical behavior for some, it can actually be quite dangerous depending on what food they are consuming.
Foods that we eat and don’t affect us in an adverse way, may be extremely dangerous and life-threatening to a small Chihuahua. Their bodies are obviously much smaller than a humans, so things they consume affect them to much higher degree.
Before I tell you what foods may be threatening for your Chihuahua, let me first say that it is best to only feed your Chihuahua only dog food. I know it might seem cruel at first, but a regular diet on a premium dog food will help your Chihuahua stay healthy and fit. However, there are certain foods, such as cooked, skinless, boneless beef and chicken.
Some of the most dangerous foods that Chihuahuas can consume are your everyday fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, grapes, raisins, avocados, apples, and onions can all be life threatening for a Chihuahua. Remember, keep all fruits and vegetables away from your Chihuahuas all the time!
I bet you’ve probably heard never to feed your dog chocolate, because it can kill them. Well, most chocolate that is in the typical candy will not be life threatening, some chocolate, such as bakers chocolate can cause death for a Chihuahua. This is something you should be sure to keep away from your Chihuahua, even if it’s not the dangerous kind.
Not only should you avoid feeding your Chihuahua table food, but you should also not be feeding them bones. That’s right, even bones can be dangerous to a Chihuahua. Once a Chihuahua starts chewing on them, they can splinter and cut their insides if they swallow it.
Sticks can be just as bad as bones. If you see your Chihuahua chewing on a stick, stop them immediately. It’s best to never let them get in the habit of chewing them.
You can still spoil your Chihuahua once in a while with some cooked, skinless, and boneless beef. Just don’t add anything else to add, such as salt and seasoning. Trust me, your Chihuahua will still love it.
Joseph Long
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/be-careful-what-you-feed-your-chihuahua-688914.html
Feb 16, 2010 | | chihuahua feeding
Most of the people are aware of the fact that Chihuahua is the tiniest breed of dog in the entire world. The average height of the Chihuahuas ranges around 15 to 25cm with 2.7kg weight. Interestingly Chihuahuas are one of the more popular dogs as can be seen in dog shows and by some rave reviews. Even you can snapshoot Chihuahuas in hands of celebrity and eyes of photorazzi. The tiniest breed of dog because of its fragile features has made them more popular becoming the spicy talk of the town. Mainly these tiny dogs are preferred by those people living in apartment.
While buying Chihuahua it is advisable to verify the dog is of pure breed. And if you want to cross check then you should possess good knowledge about Chihuahua. The unique physical features of Chihuahua has the full potential to separate out themselves in midst of other dogs. The Chihuahua club of America and the American Kennel Club have recognized two types of Chihuahuas namely the short haired Chihuahua & the long haired Chihuahua. A distinguish feature is the smooth coat of the short haired ideal and flat or curly hair of long haired Chihuahuas. Chihuahua is also known for their fidelity, rage, and individuality. You need to take the utmost care of Chihuahua having delicate body. Because of the unique breed of dog they are also known as ânatural toy breedâ. The physical appearance can categorized Chihuahua as âTeacupâ, âPocket Sizeâ, âTiny toyâ and âMiniatureâ.
These tiny dogs are seen in varied color combination and pattern. The sporadic color and in demand is blue. They may be found in solid, spotted, marked, or splashed in pattern. The demanded color in Chihuahua is black, white, fawn, chocolate, and blue.
Chihuahua dogs though delicate but still can perform tough physical activity. These dogs are trained efficiently for the dog shows. At times they can be said as whimsical minded, as in no time they show their reaction in a ferocious way if you fail to behave in a modest way. It is advisable not to keep them near your infants and small children. Danger always lies as Chihuahuas get excite very easily. The Chihuahuas is dynamic enough and at the same time loving and caring too. Chihuahua dog has their own way of showing love and caring gestures for their owners. It becomes your prime duty to train and socialize your Chihuahua to handle them in your way.
These tiny dogs are prone to certain diseases too, so take the utmost care to maintain their health. Proper care of them can lead these tiny dogs for nearly 15years. Keep away your Chihuahua dogs from toxic elements.
Thus, Chihuahua puppy dog can be the best companion of yours. Chihuahuas are found to be the most common American lap dog. Chihuahua is a great dog breed for an adult and responsible person.
Kevin Mathews
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/chihuahua-puppy-dog-687983.html
Feb 16, 2010 | | chihuahua
