Muzzles: Muzzles are designed to prevent dogs from using their mouths. These dog tools come in a variety of types. They can be made of leather, nylon, or coated plastic or steel. Some muzzles are made to keep dogs’ mouths fully closed while others allow the dog to pant, bark, and drink water through smaller holes or a wire basket-style face containment. Veterinarians and dog groomers often use the style of muzzle that keeps a dog’s mouth closed.

Dog owners that need to control aggression in the home usually choose the basket style that allows their dog to drink and bark. The basket style is used when the muzzle will be on a dog for a number of hours, allowing the dog to pant as a means of sweating. Muzzles are a great tool to help reduce a tough dog’s overall attitude, not to mention to prevent destructive behavior when used…

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Obedience Trials are held in conjunction with most all-breed shows. There are also Obedience Trials held separately and sponsored by training clubs. The latter cater to the Obedience exhibitors and feature such niceties as large rings, close-cropped grass at outdoor shows, efficient stewarding, and an impressive trophy list.

There are three regular classes at an Obedience Trial: Novice, Open, and Utility. The degrees that correspond with these classes are CD (Companion Dog), CDX (Companion Dog Excellent), and UD (Utility Dog). A perfect score in each of these classes is 200 points, and in order to gain a qualifying score your dog must earn 170 or more points and more than 50% of each exercise.

When you have received three qualifying scores in the Novice Class under three different judges, the American Kennel Club will send you a Companion Dog Certificate with the name of your dog and the title CD after…

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They shake and shiver constantly. What is wrong with Chihuahuas that do this? In most cases, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Chihuahuas that shake and shiver. There is, however, a reason for it.

Chihuahuas may shake due to the abundance of energy that they have. Have you ever had too much caffeine? Did it make you shaky or nervous? If so, you can imagine what your Chihuahua is feeling when he is shaking for this reason. He simply needs to burn off that excess energy.

Chihuahuas also may shake and shiver when they are excited. This also goes back to the amount of energy they have, but many dogs shake when they get excited?just as many people do. This is nothing to be alarmed about, and the shaking will often either simmer down or stop altogether once the excitement has passed.

Chihuahuas shake when they are nervous or upset.…

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You will need an assortment of toys that are appropriate for your puppy’s size, age and personal preferences. Safe, fun and interactive doggy toys are recommended. A good example of interactive toy is the red, hard rubber “beehive” toy that bounces erratically when dropped. Your puppy will soon learn to drop it himself.

Some balls are meant to be thrown and retrieved while others like the big boomer ball can be pushed, hit and nosed by the puppy alone. A ball with a bell inside keeps interest in the game. Rope toys are great for mild, controlled tug-of-war and also for solitary chewing. Rawhides offer hours of busy chewing and are more occupational than play. A plush dinosaur, hedgehogs and numerous other characters produce sounds that range from squeaks to roars.

Watch your puppy when he is playing with chew toys, because not every toy is safe for every dog. Some dogs…

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Novice handlers should try competing in Match shows before going into Point shows. The experience gained at Matches will be of great value to them later. If you want to know when and where there will be a Match show, ask someone who is participating in dog shows. They will be able to supply this information.

Show bulletin is sent out each month that gives the Matches for the next two months. In the Breed Classes a dog is judged against the standard of his particular breed, and the judge determines which of the dogs present is the best representative of his breed in type and temperament. The judge examines the dogs for soundness while they are gaiting and posing.

There are five regular classes in Breed: Puppy, Novice, American-Bred, Bred-by-Exhibitor, and Open, and the dogs and the female dogs are judged separately. If your dog wins his class he will then…

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Chihuahuas are fascinating little dogs ? with a fascinating history as well. The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog known to man, and some scientists believe that the Chihuahua is also the oldest living breed of dog as well.

The Chihuahua gets its name from Chihuahua, Mexico, located in the northern part of Mexico. It is often stated that this is where the dog was ‘discovered,’ but that isn’t necessarily true, since the Chihuahua has been around at least as far back as the 2nd century.

Science and archeology has proven that Chihuahuas existed thousands of years ago on both the North American continent and the South American continent. Clay sculptures of what appear to be Chihuahuas have been discovered in South America, and are believed to be the work of the Mayan Indians.

It is widely believed that the Toltecs also had dogs that resembled the Chihuahua, although…

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