Dog house building and buying guide

Dog owners have to consider several factors when buying or building a house for their pets. As a true member of your own family, providing your pet with the best home possible is of the utmost importance.

i. Size

A German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler and other large dogs should have large houses, while the Chihuahua and smaller breeds will need smaller houses. The door of the house does not need to be based on the height of the dog from the ground to the top of its head, or even taller, as it will lower its head to be able to enter the house. The width of the door should be just enough to accommodate the dog. These height and width measurements can be adjusted if there is a physical requirement to do so. The house should also be large enough for the dog to stand at full height inside, move around and lie down. Owners should remember that a larger-than-needed home will compromise the dog's retention of body heat during the winter or colder months.

ii. Weather Conditions

Some dog houses are made with hinged roofs, a feature that allows owners to raise the roof during hot and humid weather. This flexibility provides adequate air flow to flush out warm air and allow fresh or cool air to enter. In some cases, these roofs can also be lowered, creating a smaller space for the dog and enhancing its ability to retain heat during rainy or cold weather. Asphalt shingles should be used only if there is an adequate insulation barrier separating the roof from the main area of the house. Many house models also come with slanted roofs, ensuring that water drains away during rainy days. Owners should avoid building or buying houses with barn-type or peak-style roofs, as these would attract hornets, wasps and other insects and prevent heat retention. Another option is wind walls, which can be inserted into the dog house to break the wind and keep the house warmer. The house should also be a reasonable distance off the ground to keep it dry. For owners with bigger budgets, some house manufacturers offer provisions for heaters and air-conditioners. These climate control systems help ensure comfort for the dog regardless of weather conditions.

iii. Doors

The front door of the dog house should be located to one side instead of in the middle. This will prevent the dog from being directly exposed to extreme weather conditions and other harsh environmental elements. Some models are designed with removable doors, or with no doors at all. Using a door will help keep the dog house warmer during cold months. An awning type cover can also be used over the opening for added shade and protection.

iv. Easy To Clean And Maintain

- Removable or adjustable roofs

- Doors, partitions

- Wind walls

- Flexibility in cleaning

- Restrict use of paint, stains, or water sealers for the outside of the house

v. Use Wood

Plastic and metal houses are not a good idea, as they are either too hot during summertime or too cold during the winter. Some market experts say that houses made from natural western red cedar wood offer the best insulation for dogs during winter while making them cooler during summer. Red cedar wood oils are also natural repellants of ticks, fleas and termites. Houses made from this material are also maintenance-free on the outside, although owners have a choice of finishing it to complement their property. Sprinkling red cedar wood chips or shavings in the bedding also helps prevent infestation. Owners should also remember that wooden roofs help cut down heat build-up from the sun while helping to maintain reasonable heat retention levels.

vi. Keep The Dog House Elevated

For legless houses, the owner must remember that having it directly on the ground increases the likelihood that the pet would be exposed to cold and wet weather. This also raises the possibility of infestation from flea eggs that hatch in the soil. The owner can use bricks, rocks or stones arranged in a level and stable manner to elevate the house. The elevation will allow air to flow beneath the house and prevent moisture from forming at the bottom.

Finding pet related services close to home

The truth be told, our pets are like members of our family - only better. They never second-guess us, their love is unconditional, their companionship sees us through lonely times, and they're with us through thick and thin. Unlike our human families, though, our pets are unable to take care of themselves. It's up to us to find the pet related services that they need in order to live long and healthy lives.

An Online Pet Directory

Thanks to the Internet, it's possible to find a wealth of pet related services close to wherever you may be. If you live in New South Wales, for example, you can easily use an online pet services directory to find a breeder, a pet shop, or a vet in your area. If you're on holiday with your pet and he or she gets sick or is injured, you can quickly go online to find a nearby vet.

More than Pet Supplies

An online directory of pet related services can be much more than a source for pet supplies, or a tool to find a listing for a pet store near your home. It can also provide pet lovers and would-be pet owners with an abundance of information about all kinds of pet-related topics. For example, if you're considering setting up an aquarium, the dizzying array of tanks and supplies can be paralyzing. You need sound advice on the differences between freshwater and saltwater aquariums, which among the hundreds of varieties of fish you should choose, and the steps you can take to ensure that your fish thrive.

Likewise, you might be considering adopting a dog, but aren't sure if your lifestyle is one that's compatible with dog ownership. A comprehensive pet related services site will discuss the issues involved with adopting and caring for a dog, as well as offer guidelines for finding reputable organizations from which to adopt a dog.

Or, perhaps you have rabbits and would like to add a guinea pig to your family. You may not know that rabbits and guinea pigs aren't compatible because the species tend to fight, or that feeding guinea pigs food made for rabbits could lead to a vitamin C deficiency in the guinea pigs. Whether you have a cat, bird, horse, or reptile, a good website will give you the information and support you need to ensure that your pets lead long, happy lives.

An Online Community

People who love their pets - and who doesn't? - love to talk about them, learn more about their favorite breeds, and find new sources of pet products. There are websites offering pet related services that also enable you to post and read pet classified ads, let you sign up for free newsletters, and offer you the latest in pet supplies.

Finding an informative pet related services site will provide you with everything from vets and breeders to articles and products designed to keep you up to date and your beloved pets with the best owners they could wish for.

Titan in a teacup -- the pomeranian dog

Looking for a new canine pal and have one of the toy breeds in mind? Then be sure to give more than a glance to the stylish Pomeranian -- that prancing little ringmaster who, just like a certain boy or girl from high school, knows exactly how good looking he is.

If you have the time to brush and comb his magnificent coat, the Pomeranian thoroughly deserves your consideration. A whole lot of dog in a small package, he fairly bursts with personality. When you walk him down the street, all eyes turn -- and not because he's blocking the light! -- but because of his bright eyes, "look at me" stride and gorgeous coat.

Most dog lovers don't know that the tiny Pom is related to the standoffish, handsome Chow, the lovely white Samoyed and others belonging to the group loosely known as "Northern dogs." Europe and especially Germany boasts several near relatives of the Pomeranian, including the white and black Spitzes.

So, then, why are Poms so small? The fact is, when they first appeared in America they were heftier, weighing in at about 15-20 pounds on average. In fact, around the turn of the twentieth century, prize-winning American Poms could be found at 25 to 30 pounds.

But their pint-sized destiny had already been determined. In the late 1800s, Queen Victoria became known as a Pomeranian fan, and like many celebrities, preferred the smallest specimens. Sure enough, the breeders followed her lead, resulting in the tiny, mighty companions we have today.

Unsurprisingly, Poms are a special favorite of women, but they deserve real consideration in many homes thanks to their special mix of size, intelligence and beauty. Urban families without a fenced yard can greatly enjoy a Pom.

It may hardly tip the scales, but the Pom is a distinctive pocket pup with an alert expression, incredibly acute hearing, and almost limitless intelligence and eagerness to learn. What's more, Poms have more backbone than you might think (you may have to protect them from their own bravado if a large, aggressive dog approaches).

If you're almost set on a Pom, just don't forget that being a Pom owner means devoting time and care to its coat. They're so attractive and proud that their thick, showy coats deserve special attention, and that means more than a lick-and-a-promise brushing.

Horse racing - the sport of kings

Thousands of years ago, man discovered that an animal from the Equus order was good for carrying his burdens and lightening his load. Then one day, as the human race as a whole are natural competitors, we began to use that animal, called the horse, to race against others.

Then man began breeding horses to excel in speed and endurance. When this new type of entertainment and sport began to evolve, it was the nobility, or royalty, who could afford the expense of breeding horses for this purpose. Therefore, that "class" of people were the ones who most often enjoyed the leisure of competing in horse races.

Early picture records of horse racing were found in the origins of prehistoric nomadic tribesmen of Middle Asia. It was they who first domesticated the horse around 4500 B. C. The first written records came much later, after horse racing was already an established sport from Central Asia to the Mediterranean. Horse racing became a part of the Greek Olympics around 638 B. C. And the Roman Empire was obsessed with the sport.

Modern racing traces its roots back to the 12th century. Knights of the British Empire imported Arabic horses upon their return from the Crusades. In the years that followed, hundreds of Arab stallions were crossbred with English mares to give the most desirable combination of speed and endurance. This breed of horse became known, after its evolution, as the Thoroughbred and of course the nobility were leaders in staging competitions between two superior Thoroughbred horses for private wagers, as a diversion.

As the sport evolved to being more professional during the reign of Queen Anne in the early 18th century, one-on-one races gave way to events in which several horses competed. Racetracks offered purses, or prize money to the winner of the events. And those purses grew larger in order to attract the best horses.

During the mid-1700s, it was decided that there needed to be a governing body to determine the rules and standards by which racers, breeders, and owners must abide. As a result the Jockey Club was established in Newmarket, and still exercises complete control over English racing to this day.

Once the Club established the complete rules and standards of the horses and the races which could be run under sanction of the Club, five races were designated as the "classic" races for three-year-old horses. The English Triple Crown - which is open to both colts and fillies - consists of the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, and the St. Leger Stakes. Two other races, which are open only to fillies, are the 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks.

As the British settled in America, they brought very fine breeding stock and racing horses with them. The first known racetrack in the Colonies was on Long Island in New York. It was first laid out around 1665. Though horse racing was a popular local event, organized and professional racing did not actually start until after the Civil War. From there, the sport escalated in popularity across the settled parts of the country. And many of the racetracks were run by the "criminal element." As this was quite undesirable to the more prominent track owners and breeders, they met in New York in 1894 and formed the American Jockey Club. They soon established rules and regulations, similar to those of the English Jockey Club, and quickly eliminated much of the corruption.

The Kentucky Derby, one of the best known horse-racing events in the United States, was first run in 1875. Its home is at the Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It is one of the three races which make up the American Triple Crown. The other two are the Belmont Stakes, first run on Long Island, New York at Jerome Park in 1867, and the Preakness Stakes, first run in 1873 at Pimlico Park in Baltimore, Maryland.

Although interest has waxed and waned over the years, horse racing is the second-most attended spectator sport in the United States, outranked only by baseball.

There are other forms of horse racing in both Great Britain and the United States. These include:

- The steeplechase, which requires the horse to clear such obstacles as brush fences, stone walls, rail fences, and water jumps. The oldest and most famous steeplechase in Great Britain is England's Grand National. It was first run in Aintree in 1839, and continues even today. The most famous in the United States is the American National. It was first run in 1899 at Belmont Park and continues to be held there annually.

- Hurdle racing is similar to the steeplechase, but is much less demanding. It is often use as a training arena for Thoroughbreds who will later compete in steeplechases.

- Point-to-point races are generally run by amateurs throughout the British Isles.

- And last but by no means least is harness racing, which was very popular during the Roman Empire. Once the Empire fell the sport all but vanished until its resurrection, by those who liked to race their horses in harness on the country roads of America, at the end of the 1700s. The first official tracks for harness racing came about in the early 1800s, and by 1825 harness racing became a favorite attraction at country fairs all across the U. S.

Out of the rebirth of harness racing, a new breed of horse was born. In 1788, an outstanding English Thoroughbred stallion was imported to the United States. He was bred with American Thoroughbred and mixed-breed mares to establish the line of Standardbred. The name is based on the "standard" distance of one mile in harness racing speed. The descendants of this line were rebred over the years to create this new breed which has the stamina, temperament, and physical size and structure to endure racing under harness.

Although harness racing suffered a decline of popularity again in the early 1900s, it bounced back in 1940 after being reintroduced at a raceway in New York as a pari-mutuel betting event. Its number of tracks and scheduled annual events outnumber those of Thoroughbred racing in the United States today. It has also gained popularity in many European countries, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

What was once almost exclusively "the Sport of Kings" has segued over the years to encompass people of all lifestyles and income. It remains, however, a sport quite often associated with the "well-to-do", those who can afford the vast expenditure involved with raising the standard of horse required to run in, and win, the large purses awarded by, the most popular horse-racing events around the world.