Why every home needs a dog

Dogs for every home

Other than providing security, there are many reasons as to why you will need a dog at your house. The saying “ a dog is man’s best friend ” has been around for a long time. Most of us will agree that best friends are not only there for us when we need protection or when we are in trouble. Research has shown that there are many benefits of having a dog at your home and some of them include:

1. By taking your dog out for a walk, you will be keeping your body fit. By having a dog at home, you don’t have to go to the gym.

2. Dogs can help you reduce some of the stress. Most patients who suffer from high blood pressure are often advised to add a dog to their life.

3. It will help you improve your social life.

4. Dogs are known to add more humor to the boring life we are used to. They can be extremely funny. You want some evidence? Go and search funny dog videos at You Tube.
5. The can teach your children some important values in life such as being responsible, controlling anger and compassion.
6. It has been scientifically proven that children who are exposed to dogs at an early age are less likely to develop allergies and asthma.

Convinced on why you may benefit having a dog?, below are some of the most common dog breeds in Kenya that you may consider having:


German Shepherds

If you were born somewhere close to the 90’s, you must have watched the TV show ‘Rex’. This was children’s favorite show. Well, Rex was a German shepherd. Just like in the show, this breed is mostly used by police units in investigations, guarding and security and at times they can be used to guard livestock. Unlike other herding dogs like the Border Collie, German shepherds can live within the domestic home. They are known for having super guarding instincts and can come in handy at homes. They are also very intelligent hence they can be easily trained. Lastly, they are very loyal and can easily bond with family and regular handlers. Their country of origin is Germany.


Rottweiler’s

They are known to be very calm and confident dogs. Rottweilers will always be very cautious before responding to the environment. They are very muscular hence they need some space and regular exercises (both physically and mentally). In addition, they are easy to groom, steady-tempered, very loyal to family members and can be a very good companion at the right hands. Their country of origin is Germany.


Boerboels

They are very reliable, obedient and highly intelligent. If raised properly, they can be very good family pets. In other words, boerboels are very affectionate, playful, loyal, loving and confident with their families. Even though it is loving, a boerboel have very strong guard instincts and can be fearless and protective to their people. If provoked, they can be dangerously aggressive. Therefore, as an owner, you should be very cautious about the situations you put these dogs into. The good news is that once the owner welcomes the visitors to their home, the dog will allow them into the territory. Also, boerboels are very good with children and can be very good pets with proper training. Lastly, they require lots of space to move around and exercise so as to keep them healthy, happy and stable. Their country of origin is South Africa.


Terriers

The terriers are a breed of small dogs which come in many varieties. They are usually energetic, determined, playful and independent. With a terrier, you will never be bored. They cannot always please everyone but if you love them, you will crack all your ribs. Even though they are always energetic, once you provide them with proper training and socialization, terriers can be irreplaceable members of your family. Most of their breeds were developed in Britain and Ireland.


Japanese spitz

They are small breed dogs which are long haired. The Japanese spitz dogs are white in color. They are high-spirited, intelligent and playful. A Japanese spitz is not difficult to train as a pet hence it will always get along with children and other pets in the house. Even though small, it can act as a good guardian and home protector. Their country of origin is Japan.


Chiwawa (Chihuahua)

Chiwawa dogs have a very good temperament and can be very good companions. They are very courageous, lively, proud and enterprising for small dogs. They can be quite tricky to train but if they want to learn, they can do it very quickly. They are very good with children. Lastly, they can be very attached to the owner and intensely loyal. Their country of origin is Mexico.

Ten Things to Know About German shepherd Dogs

Ten Things to Know about German shepherd Dogs.

A dog is a faithful animal to humans. Dogs are kept as pets at homes. Dogs are known to give human beings good experience which is not limited to search-and-rescue, personal protection , police and military roles, service work and dog sports among others. In Kenya, the German Shepherd Dogs are preferred to other breeds, largely due to their intelligence, versatility, strength and natural obedience. In terms of intelligence, this particular breed is ranked among the top ten breeds that have the highest intelligence. The ranking is based on a study known as canine intelligence study and it measures the ability of dogs to easily learn from their environment, solving problems and reasoning.

There are ten things people should know about German Shepherds which makes them a popular breed of dogs in the world. 

1. They are social dogs and will always be happy when they live with people. They should not be left alone locked somewhere. This nature makes them to be protective to their master and family members. In case they do not interact with people, they get bored. This can make them become fierce to strangers and visitors.

2. German Shepherds need good maintenance practices. They are prone to disease attacks when they are not taken care of. With good care, they are hardy and their maintenance becomes cheap. Practices such as vaccination, de worming, trimming the claws, cleaning and sheltering them are very important.

3. Proper feeding is necessary. Good feeding behavior will help in keeping the dogs healthy. Raw food is preferred to processed food. This is because raw food has natural nutrients that are vital to the health of dogs.

4. German Shepherds should be involved in regular training and exercises. Exercises help German Shepherds to diffuse their extra energy since they are very energetic and muscular. Taking them outdoors for exercises at least once per day can help a lot. This practice helps them to build muscles and keep them active. 

5. German Shepherds are always alert and they tend to learn new things around them with a lot of ease. This character makes them to be active all the times. 

6. They are playful dogs. Involving family members to play with the dogs is an important and a wise thing. This helps in socializing and creating a good relationship with them. If you happen to relax in their exercise they can take charge and become fierce.

7. German Shepherds temperance comes as a result of their environment and genetics. To find out good dogs, one needs to buy German Shepherd Puppies from renowned websites. One can also visit breeders to buy German Shepherd puppies. A prior visit to breeders is necessary since one will be able to select the ones with good characteristics and behavior. This behavior entails bravery and human interactions. Since pet breeders receive many visitors, arranging for appointment is recommended in order to have time to view dogs and their puppies. 

8. At times some practices such as tail docking and ear cropping are common practices which are done on German Shepherds today. 

9. If you are looking for an easy-to -train dog, German Shepherd will be a perfect choice for you. German Shepherds are excellent learners and even scientific research shows that they are highly intelligent. 

10. A German Shepherd will live the way you train them during their early life. If it gets well exposed to people and to other dogs at early stage, it develops to be a very sociable dog that gets along well your friendly visitors and to other dogs as well. However, restraining German Shepherd Puppies can raise unsociable and aggressive dogs.

Simple Tips On How To Train A Rottweiler

Affectionately called Rotties, the Rottweiler breed of dogs has its origin in the German district of Rottweil. These dogs were used to protect livestock because of their large size, and they even served various purposes like guarding, guiding, and rescuing. They are well-known for their valor and intelligence and, therefore, they often make outstanding police dogs. With proper training, it is possible that the Rottweil dogs can be raised to become extremely friendly and loyal. 

Rottweilers are exceptionally strong dogs and, therefore, a major problem may arise to train these dogs for making them obedient to their master. In fact, there were incidents in the past when Rottweiler dogs bit individuals and this has unfortunately spoiled the reputation of this magnificent breed of canines. These pooches are usually fearless and they are known to be rather aggressive in nature when dealing with strangers. Though a Rottweiler is not really naturally hostile, however, improper training and treatment from a neglectful and abusive master is enough to make it extremely violent.

Proper Rottweiler training must be imparted to these dogs while they are still puppies so that they can be prevented from becoming ferocious even with their owners. If they are not properly trained, the owners often find it quite challenging to handle these dogs because of their strength and large size. The problems which Rottweiler dogs tend to develop due to lack of proper training include aggressiveness, biting, barking, etc.

The masters of the Rottweiler dogs need to be familiar with almost every aspect of Rottweiler training so that their pooch becomes good-natured and obedient. An important part of their training involves rewarding them handsomely for every improvement that takes place in their behavior. In fact, a Rottweiler dog will definitely enjoy an edible treat, a new toy or simply a few words of appreciation. It is imperative that one should not punish the Rottweiler dogs, particularly Rottweiler puppies because this might result in future aggression; however, they can be penalized if their behavior is not up to the mark. This means that the owner might do something that is not liked by the dog; for example, he or she can ignore their pooches until they behave properly or tug on their leash. It is definitely not a nice thing to hit Rottweiler dogs because this can make them violent and ill-behaved. The main reason why individuals were bitten by these dogs in the past was because they physically assaulted their dog.

It is crucial to devote as much time as feasible with these dogs on a regular basis. Spending time with a Rottweiler is an essential part of the training and this can make the dog obedient in nature. Rottweiler dogs are known to suffer from obesity because of their large size and this can result in health issues including arthritis, cardiac failure, and difficulty in breathing. Therefore, it is mandatory that these canines get enough exercise daily in order to avoid these health problems.

Training a Rottweiler can consume a considerable period of time which might make the owner a bit frustrated sometimes; however, he or she must bear in mind that it will be rewarding eventually. Both patience, as well as coherence, is required while training a Rottweiler.

If you happen to be a resident of Kenya, you’ll find quite a few private registered companies in your locality which specialize in breeding different types of dogs selected from the top breeders across the globe. You’ll also find all sorts of high breed dogs including South African Boerboel and Rottweiler in Kenya for sale.