Giant Dog Crates

Giant Dog Crates

Giant dog breeds like Great Danes require special giant dog crates. A giant dog crate is much larger and heavier than a crate for any other dog. Crates for giant dogs can weigh 70 pounds, not including the dog!

The good news is that a giant dog crate can come in collapsible designs that store flat in a few minutes and can be tucked away out of sight. The bad news is that these crates can be pretty expensive. Expect to spend an easy $200 or more for a good quality, collapsible giant dog crate.

Giant Dog Breeds

Giant Dog Breeds

I have to confess: I love giant dogs. There’s something so comforting about a big, goofy, gentle giant dog. And I’m talking huge: Giant dog breeds include dogs that weigh over 90 pounds, or more than 27 inches at the shoulder. If you want a giant dog breed, you’ll need plenty of room for the dog both inside and outside your home.

A giant dog crate, while expensive, my be especially helpful in keeping a 100-pound dog off your furniture while you’re away from home.

Giant breed dogs generally have a shorter life expectancy than smaller dogs. You can expect a giant dog to live approximately seven to ten years, depending on the breed of giant dog. However, many giant dog breeds only live seven or eight years.

Large and Medium Dog Breeds

Boerboel Large and Medium Dog Breeds

Large Dog Breeds Large and giant dogs are among my favorites. Large dog breeds weigh approximately 60 to 90 pounds. You’ll need plenty of room for a large dog, both inside your house, and in your back yard. Many large dog breeds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, and osteoarthritis. Large dog breeds also don’t live as long as many smaller breeds, with an approximate life expectancy of around 12 years. Choosing a large dog breed can mean saying goodbye sooner than if you choose smaller or medium size dog breeds.

Their large size often makes large dog breeds susceptible to hip dysplasia and related conditions, like giant dogs. They can also be susceptible to heart conditions.

Active Dog Breeds and Couch Potatoes

Dog Couch Potato

Whether you want an active dog, a doggie couch potato, or a dog that fits somewhere in between really depends on you.

Are you the type of person or family that spends a lot of time walking and hiking? If so, an active dog might be a great choice, rather than a dog couch potato. Popular breeds like Border Collies, Dalmatians, Jack Russells, and many Retrievers are well known to be high energy.

Easy and Hard to Train Dog Breeds

Easy and Hard to Train Dog Breeds

Depending on the breed dog training can be easier or harder. That said, lists of breeds that are easy to train, and hard to train are just generalizations, although they can be a helpful guide.

Above all, dogs, like people, are individuals. You may find stubborn individual dogs in a breed that is supposedly includes easy to train dogs, and wonderful, easy to train dogs in a breed that is supposedly difficult to train. Training dog breeds is not an exact science, and easy to train dogs come from every breed.

For the most part, the list below describes a dog as easy to train based on the ability to learn basic obedience training with a minimum or stubbornness or aggressiveness. However, for all breeds, dog training can sometimes be a challenge – even breeds that are supposedly contain easy to train dogs. For every breed dog training can have challenges.

Should you get a Male or Female Dog?

Should you get a Male or Female Dog?

Ahhh… the old controversy – which is better? A boy or a girl dog?

Many first-time dog owners want a female dog, because they think they’re less trouble. Others like a male dog because there’s no danger of being stuck with puppies.

An individual dog can always be much different than generalizations suggest. I’ve seen many male dogs that were completely docile sweethearts, and females that were aggressive and wanted to wander. Overall, deciding to get a female or male dog is just preference.

If you plan to spay or neuter your dog, then it probably won’t make a big difference if you get a male or female dog.

Why do Puppy Mills Still Exist?

Why do Puppy Mills still exist

In the United States, and most other countries, there are laws that prevent cruelty to animals. Given these laws, why do puppy mills still exist? Sadly, its’ a question of lack of enforcement, and an overburdeneded system.

In the United States, Congress passed the Animal Welfare act nearly 35 years ago to, in part, ensure that animal breeders gave their animals humane treatment.

The Animal Welfare Act requires that animals have basic prevention of disease, adequate ventilation and sanitation, ample food and water, adequate housing, and reasonable handling.

Puppy Mills vs. Reputable Breeders

Puppy mills vs reputable breeders

What’s the difference between a puppy mill and a breeder?

Puppy mills exist solely to sell puppies for profit. To make a profit, puppy mill owners often subject puppies and breeding dogs to terrible conditions. Puppy mill owners scrimp on proper care, nutrition, and attention just to make more money. Puppy mills will sell puppies to anyone with enough cash.

Reputable breeders ensure that their puppies, and their puppies’ parents, are well looked after. They’ll spend money and time to get the best veterinary care, the most nutritious food, and they make sure their dogs are well socialized. Reputable breeders will only sell puppies to good homes. Reputable breeders do not sell their puppies to pet stores.

Choosing a Healthy Puppy before you Fall in Love

Choosing a Puppy Before You Fall In Love

One of the most common questions I’m asked is how to choose a healthy puppy. I’ve always responded by giving people the same list of things to look for. My book even talks about signs of bad health in puppy, discharge from the eyes, dry, matted fur, irregular breathing, and so on. Despite this, the same people would come and talk to me a month later, after they’d gotten their puppy, telling me about the puppy’s health problems.

What went wrong? I’d gone to a lot of trouble to help them in choosing a healthy puppy, but they’d still ended up with a little puppy with health issues.

They fell in love. That’s what went wrong.

Why I Started Happy Healthy Puppy

Why I Started Happy Healthy Puppy

I started this site because I know exactly what it feels like to choose the wrong dog and to have to give it away. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

I’d wanted a puppy for a long time, and after a lot of convincing, my ex. finally agreed. On a whim, the next day I went to pick out a chocolate Lab puppy from a local breeder.

All went well, and I picked an adorable, active puppy from the litter. Sam was a chocolate and yellow lab mix, and the most gorgeous dark golden color, with matching eyes.