Question: My Mom had Cockers when I was growing up and they always had ear infections! Will my puppy have chronic infections? What causes that and what can we do to avoid them altogether!!
Answer: Ah, yes. Cocker Spaniels and ear infections. They go together like a dog & a bone! Fortunately your puppy is a hybrid, which will help to drown out genetic tendencies to bad ear infections. However, many ear infections in drop-earred dogs like the Cockapoo is due to poor air circulation in the ear canal and moisture. There is one way we can keep our dogs ear infection free! Proper ear cleaning! With occasional maintenence and a few simple steps, my dogs have remained ear-infection free for years and years! There are different types of ear infections and it is important to be able to recognize the signs/symptoms of each. For the full article on ear infections and the best maintenence solutions as well as at-home treatments and when to call the vet read my full article here: http://edenorchards.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/ear-cleaning-infections/
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Question: Are dogs carnivorous or omnivorous? Answer: This seems like an oh-so-simple question which requires an oh-so-simple answer. Unfortunately, it is not that simple of an answer. Very simply, dogs are carnivorous. Less simply: Dogs are not obligate carnivores. This means that they don’t have to consume all meat all the time to survive. So dogs are carnivores but they can eat some carbohydrates. Of course there is ALWAYS a difference between surviving and thriving. As always, the longer answer can be found here: http://edenorchards.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/are-dogs-carnivorous-or-omnivorous/ Dog First Aid
There is ALWAYS the chance that something can go awry. With your proper love and care (and barring any unfortunate accidents) your pup will live a long and healthy life of 12-15 years. But at some point in that time frame it is possible that you can have some accidents and illnesses arise. Having a relationship with an honorable, knowledgeable and trustworthy veterinarian is a very important aspect in dog ownership. It is equally important to receive a referral from that vet office for a nearby 24 hour emergency pet hospital in case your dog has an emergency after hours that cannot wait until the next day. There are many things you can do to prevent common illnesses and accidents. --Unfinished-- Sweets, Snacks and Supplements Oh My!
Which Treats should I use? What do they like? Should I give my dog vitamins? Read the full answer here: http://edenorchards.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/sweets-snacks-supplements-oh-my/ Question: How much food do I feed my new puppy and how often do I feed him? How will I know if he is getting enough food?
Answer: Check out my short post located at the link below for all your puppy-feeding know-how! http://edenorchards.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/how-to-feed-your-new-puppy/ Question: Help! There are so many different kinds of toys available for dogs, and some of them are really pricey. Which ones should I choose?
Answer: There are as many toys out there as dog breeds. When choosing a dog toy you will have to consider the dog's breed, size and most importantly, your dog's personal preference. Since your dog will have his own likes and dislikes it is best to only buy a few toys of varying types to start. As your puppy grows you will see his/her tastes change. He/she will play with one toy more than the others. You will quickly find his/her favorites. Then you will be able to get more toys as old ones get destroyed as well as expand his/her toy collection! I go into better detail about types of toys and what your Cockapoo is most likely to prefer (and what is a waste of money) so be sure to check out my blog post here: http://edenorchards.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/toys-toys-toys/ Question: Are your parents and puppies registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club)?
Answer: Sadly, no. The Cockapoo is not a recognized breed by the AKC, despite having been around for over 60 years!! So why isn't the Cockapoo a recognized breed by the American Kennel Club? Click on over to my blog to read a little more on the subject! http://edenorchards.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/are-hybrids-akc-registered/ What is a Cockapoo?
Our Cockapoos (called 'Spoodles' in most other countries) come from a cross between an American Cocker Spaniel and a toy poodle. The resulting hybrid is especially awesome because it provides what is known as "hybrid vigor", which helps to drown out bad recessive traits (such as genetically passed disorders that are so common in the inbred breeding stock found in many purebred lines). Get more in-depth about the history of this breed, the characteristics and the explanation of "hybrid vigor" at the full-length article here: http://edenorchards.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/what-is-a-cockapoo/ Dog food recipe:
"The Mortgage Saver" Ingredients: Chicken, chicken stock, brown rice, oatmeal, chicken liver, egg 30 deboned chicken thighs (25 cups) = 7,920 kcal 567 grams (1.25 pounds)(4 cups) chicken livers = 950 kcal 2 pounds (4 cups uncooked/14 cups cooked) brown rice = 3,052 kcal 5 cups oatmeal = 750 kcal 10 cups chicken drippings/marrow stock = 1000 kcal 6 eggs (2.2 cups) = 468 kcal Total Yield: 64 cups Total calories: 15,442 Calories per cup : 241 1.5 cups/day/dog = 3 cups per day batch is enough for 21 days at 10 dollars/batch = $13/month Depending on what you want to do with maintenance can help you determine which coat you prefer. A softer wave and a coarser curl do tend to have different grooming requirements.
A softer wave is better if you prefer to leave their hair long and shaggy and not cut it more than twice/year. It won't mat if you brush it about once per week or so. A shorter clip (like what you see on my dogs) is better for a curlier coat, as it can get matted if it is left really long and not brushed every single day. I don't brush my dogs' coats, but I do bathe them (at home) once to twice a month and I cut their hair (also at home) about once every three months. I find that the tighter curl is much easier to cut at home and have a great look and it is much more forgiving of "professional" groomers (who tend to do a below average job of grooming unless you go to a really great place) ---incomplete--- as all of them right now! Sorry!! I'm getting there!! Compiling years of emails and articles is HARD WORK! Especially with three kids & lots of sweet doggies to care for and puppies to train! :-) Gosh, I love my job! I'm so Blessed!! |
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