A dog door is a small swinging door that, once installed in a door or wall, will allow your dog access to the outside of the house. This allows you to enjoy dinner, or your favorite movie, without being interrupted because your dog is adamant on having a stroll in the backyard. With a dog door, your dog has the freedom to move in an out of the house without someone’s aid.

There are several different types of dog doors, from the basic models that make use of a mechanical flap to the deluxe ones that are radio wave operated. The most common type consists of a single flap or door with a hinge at the top. The flap swings freely when pushed and falls back into place once the dog has passed through. Dog doors also have a lock mechanism, which comes handy when you want to restrict your dog indoors or outdoors.

Though quite helpful, conventional dog doors can be a nuisance at times, since stray dogs, raccoons and other small animals might enter your house. Radio wave operated deluxe dog doors can successfully counter this situation. A small battery-operated transmitter on your dog’s collar disables the lock when your dog nears the door. The dog door otherwise remains locked at all times, thereby warding off other animals.

Dog doors come in a variety of sizes to accommodate different size pets. Having chosen the style, you must ensure that the dog door is large enough to allow an easy passage for your dog. Certainly, you would not want your dog to get stuck in the door while walking out. Your dog should be able to tread through with ease by just lowering its head to push the door open.

Most dog doors are rather inexpensive. However, the electronic ones and those that are fitted in sliding glass doors may incur a higher cost. But cost should not be a major determining factor while choosing a dog door. A durable and automated dog door, though expensive, will eliminate the need for constant supervision of your dog.

Height:       male: 27-32 in.; female: 25-29 in.

Weight:       male: 100 lbs.; female: 85 lbs.

Life Span:   10-12 yrs.

The Great Pyrenees gives the distinct impression of elegance and unsurpassed beauty combined with great overall size and majesty.  He has a weather resistant white coat that will allow him to withstand intense cold temperatures.  He needs human companionship and attention, plus lots of space.  The Great Pyrenees will not do well with apartment dwellers.  He is a pleasant, gentle breed of enormous size, extremely intelligent and loyal to his family.

Has the world gone pet crazy or has humanity just woken up to the realization of how important dogs and cats are to our lives? There have always been a few eccentric people who prized their pets and lavished them with luxuries. But today it’s fair to say that domestic dogs and cats have gone through an evolution of status, from animal to pet and family member. Today, it’s perfectly normal to spend a sizeable amount of money, time and emotional energy on the health and happiness of our dogs and cats. And why not? We love them!

A good measure of how far our pets have been elevated in status is in how the world is now catering to them, and to their owners. The largest pet stores don’t even sell dogs and cats. They sell products and services for dogs and cats, while encouraging and facilitating pet adoption from shelters. And of course, pets get to come along for the shopping. Even if you aren’t in a pet store, you’re likely to find trendy new items for your dog or cat in a variety of other stores. Makers of “people products” now have their own lines of pet products.

The traditional dog bath has gone out the window, and is being replaced by professional grooming and spa treatments. Cats still lick themselves meticulously, but their efforts can be enhanced by special kitty dry mousse shampoos that get them clean without having to go near water.

When traveling, it used to be a hard to find hotels that allowed pets. Now, pets are not just “allowed” in some hotels, they get the royal treatment. Some hotels graciously welcome pets with special pet pillows, treats, toys, even a licensed doggie masseuse.

At home, we’re giving much more thought to our pets’ well being while we’re away. People are less likely to leave their pets at home all day with food and water and little to do. Now there are toys designed to keep them occupied and special DVDs for their entertainment. Many owners go a step further and take their pets to a doggie daycare for play and/or exercise and body conditioning. (Cats are still staying at home, because they generally prefer their own territory.)

But possibly nowhere is it more evident that our pets are our family members than in the explosion of luxury and designer pet products. Staple products, such as bowls, collars, leashes, toys, beds and crates have gone through design transformations to make them more stylish, more comfortable, safer or smarter. And new items have emerged to solve old problems. The best pampering, we believe, are products that appeal to your dog or cat’s nature and make them more comfortable or happy.
Are we spoiling our pets when we lavish them with the latest creature comforts? When we indulge them with toys and treats? When we actively include them in our lives? It’s more likely we’re spoiling ourselves. Whatever amount of love and attention we give our pets, they always seem to give us more in return.

The Cantel is a small dog of an ideal size; about 12 pounds.  They have great temperaments with personalities to match!  Their coats are a black and white “party” color and are non-shedding.  These dogs are gentle, well-mannered, sensitive, playful and affectionate.

Height:       17-21 in.

Weight:       37-51 lbs.

Life span:    12-14 yrs.

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who was once known as the “Little River Duck Dog” is one of the smallest retrievers.  He uses the art of tolling which is to frisk and leap about at the mouth of a funnel-like net in order to lure ducks into the trap.  Strong and reliable, he never hesitates to jump into icy-cold water.  A wonderful companion, a great playmate and a flashy show dog!  He is also a willing and happy bird dog.

German Pinscher

Height: 17 to 20 inches.
Weight: Not specified in breed standard.

History:
Though fairly new to North America, the German Pinscher (sometimes called the Standard Pinscher outside the USA) has been an officially recognized breed in Germany since the late 1800’s and has been known and used as a ratter and vermin hunter in that country for centuries. Some people believe the name Pinscher derives from the word “pinch”, the way the dogs caught rats with their paws.

The German Pinscher is closely related to the Standard Schnauzer. At one time, the Schnauzer was the rough-coated variety and the Pinscher the smooth-coated, and pups with both types of coats appeared in the same litters. Eventually the wire-haired and smooth-coated types were separated into distinct breeds.

By the time the two World Wars were over, the German Pinscher was almost completely extinct. In the 1950’s, a German named Werner Jung created a breeding program especially to reconstruct the breed. It is only due to his efforts that we have this beautiful breed today. The German Pinscher was admitted to the AKC Working Group in January 2003.

Description:
The German Pinscher is an elegant, compact, medium sized, squarely built dog, well-muscled and powerful, yet agile, with a smooth, glossy, short coat. The head forms the shape of a blunt wedge from both the front and the side views. The oval eyes are dark and the ears are set high. The skull has a slight, but distinct, stop and the nose is black. 

The topline descends slightly from the withers to the back. The back should be short and closely coupled. The tail is held above horizontal when the dog is moving. The forelegs are completely vertical, with almost perpendicular pasterns, and the cat-like feet are short, round and compact, with dark pads and nails.

The coat is short and smooth, lying close to the body. Coat colors are solid fawn and red in several shades, including stag red (in which black hairs intermingle with the red), and bi-colored black or blues with rich reddish tan markings. Darker shades of red are preferred to lighter ones. The markings are distributed on the cheeks, lips, and lower jaw, two dots above the eyes, on the throat, as two separated triangles on the chest, on the area between the hock joint and the feet (metatarsus), on the feet, on the inner side of the hind legs, and in the vent area.

Notes:
The German Pinscher is a very active dog, requiring lots of daily exercise. This is not a kennel dog; the German Pinscher needs care, training, and companionship. If you are gone all day and out several nights a week, the German Pinscher will find ways to alleviate his boredom at your expense. Be sure the yard is securely fenced. The German Pinscher may dig holes or even dig his way out if left unattended and bored in the yard.

The German Pinscher retains a very strong prey instinct from early days as a ratter, and will chase anything that moves fast. Be very careful with non-canine pets. Raising them with other pets does not mean that the prey drive is diminished.

This breed is good in most climates, however, in sub-zero temperatures exposure to the outdoors should be limited to 10-15 minutes to avoid frostbite damage to the ears. If it’s cold, the dog may require a coat to go out for walks.

Personality:
The German Pinscher is a sharply vigilant watchdog who will warn you whenever he feels it’s necessary. This may be often, therefore the breed may not be the best choice for busy apartment complexes. Fearless, courageous, and highly protective of his family and territory, the German Pinscher is not likely to allow people from outside the family to enter the house without supervision. He can also be possessive of his personal belongings, so train the German Pinscher early to relinquish toys and food without protest to avoid problems in this area later. Extensive socialization early in life is the key to a well-adjusted German Pinscher. Not generally recommended for households with children, as the breed is very protective and tends to bite, however, can be OK with well-trained respectful children. Best in a one-dog home, but can do well with other (especially larger) dogs in a household if raised with them from puppyhood. Mature dogs of the same sex may be quite aggressive with each other and should not generally be run or left together.

Vivacious, highly intelligent and potentially willing learners, German Pinschers can also be quite strong-willed, manipulative, and stubborn. This breed requires a firm, dominant, consistent owner, but is also very sensitive and should not be treated harshly. He bonds strongly with his person and thrives on affection and attention, but on his own terms. Obedience training for the German Pinscher is highly recommended as a way to establish positive leadership, with you in command instead of him. The German Pinscher is also an excellent agility dog as he is fast and agile. 

Behavior:
Friendliness: Very wary of strangers, highly protective.
Independence: Fairly independent.
Dominance: High.
Other Pets: Good w/other pets only when raised with them from puppyhood.
Combativeness: Tends to be fairly dog aggressive. 

Grooming and Physical Needs:
Grooming: Almost no grooming needed.
Coat: Short coat.
Shedding: Average shedder.
Exercise: Vigorous daily exercise needed.
Indoors: Moderately active indoors.
Outdoor Space: A small yard is sufficient.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Longevity: Fairly long lifespan (about 12-15 years).

Doggie doors are one of life’s greatest conveniences. They allow your dog to come and go as she pleases and can speed up housetraining. While these doors can be handy, some dogs are a little nervous using them the first time. Here are some tips to help her learn how to use the doggie door: 

Start with either the door flap removed or someone holding it open so your dog has a clear line of sight through the door. Most of these steps are best done with you on the opposite side of the door from your dog. Use her favorite treats or toys to lure her through the door. Try tossing the toy or treat through the door to make going through the door more fun and exciting. If she’s still unsure, try rewarding her if she pokes her head and neck through the door. Use this method to allow her  to gradually work her way through the door and reward her with a treat each time she is successful. Make sure you practice going both inside and outside.

Once she can comfortably go through the “open” door, start lowering the flap.  As long as she can see the other side, and consequently the treat or toy, it is usually fairly easy to lure her through.  The challenging part comes when the flap is completely lowered because she’ll need to push it open with her head. To help your dog, try opening the flap just a little, show her the treat and then hold it slightly below the door flap (with your dog on the opposite side) so that she has seen it and can smell it. Once she’s comfortable with pushing the flap open with her head, close the flap all the way and call her through the door or try tossing a treat or toy through the door.  After she learns to comfortably go through you will no longer need to urge her through.

Don’t forget that all this freedom should be earned when she has demonstrated good manners inside and out. If your dog is still having accidents inside the home, crate her with the opening facing the doggie door so she can access the yard. As always, make sure your yard is safe for your dog to be left unattended and make sure she’s not practicing bad habits while unsupervised.