Archive for the ‘Useful Tips’ Category

What to watch out for with miniature pups

Big Dog | August 25th, 2010

There are some facts we have to take into account when deciding to have a mini-sized dog. Most people think that miniature breeds are perfect for children, whereas it’s exactly the contrary. Both the dog and the child can be harmful for the other one: very young children are not aware of how far they can go with dogs, and this can turn into torturing them. On the other hand, smaller breeds tend to be less calm than bigger ones. Mini dogs are more recommended to families with not very young children.

Another thing we have to consider is that small breeds are a bigger challenge for veterinarians. Also, toy-sized dogs usually have no extra weight to loose and can dehydrate faster than bigger breeds, so they need more attention.

All that is to say: if you plan to have a mini-sized breed, make sure you have the extra time and attention to give.

How to avoid my Miniature Bull Terrier being jealous of my new born baby?

Big Dog | June 21st, 2010

Is it normal, anyway?!

Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Miniature Bull Terrier. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English :)

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Miniature Bull Terrier for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Miniature Bull Terrier hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Miniature Bull Terrier used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Miniature Bull Terrier will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Miniature Bull Terrier feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Bull Terrier as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

How to buy a European Miniature Bull Terrier?

Big Dog | December 21st, 2009

mini bull terrierHaving a Miniature Bull Terrier is like having a clown and a small bodyguard at the same time. They enjoy making people laugh with their antics and tirelessness in playing. If one is an active person with a family, this canine is recommended. These dogs have small, sturdy and muscular build with deep chests and long, oval-shaped heads with dark, small, sunken eyes that are narrowly set and thin erect ears. Coats are thin, shiny and coarse coats in almost any color, with or without white patches.  They have a goofy yet protective side. As this reflects the breed standard, then this would be a genuine purebred. There are still many guidelines in the standard so one is strongly recommended to do some reading to determine if the breeder they are visiting is a quality and responsible one. Read the rest of this entry »