Do You Need Pet Liability Insurance?

What is pet liability insurance, and do you need it? The answer depends on what animals you keep as pets, and how much of a risk you are prepared to accept.

Pet liability insurance normally covers you for compensation awarded against you if you are held responsible for any damage, injury or loss caused to other people by your pet. Examples might be: if your pet runs into the road and causes a car accident; if your horse kicks somebody when you should have been in control of it; if your dog bites a human or another dog causing an injury that requires medical treatment.

Liability cover is included in most health insurance plans for dogs. It may not be included in plans for cats and smaller animals, partly because owners are not expected to control them in the same way, and partly because they are less likely to cause damage.

But even if your pets do not have health insurance, it is possible that you may already have insurance that will cover you for any liability related to the actions of your pets. It is worth taking a look at the insurance for your home along with any other types of insurance that you have, to see if it is covered there.

But do not make assumptions. If you think that your home insurance or other policy may cover you, give the company a call to check it out. Many plans specifically exclude certain breeds of dog. There are around 4.5 million dog bites reported every year. Around 1,000 Americans every day are treated in emergency rooms for dog bites. Many of those will expect compensation from the dog’s owner. Dog-related damage and injuries cause more claims on home insurance policies than any other single event.

Therefore, home insurance companies are tightening their rules and many now exclude all pet liability from their home insurance plans. In fact, some companies will not accept you for home insurance at all if you have a dog of certain breeds that they consider dangerous. You may even think that you are insured and find out later, when you make a claim, that your insurance is not valid because you did not tell them that you had a dog.

If pet-related damage and injury liability is not covered in your home insurance or any pet health insurance that you may have, the simplest solution is to sign up for a pet liability insurance plan. You can find specialist plans that offer just this, without any health care cover. XInsurance is one example of a company that offers plans for dog bite and other pet-related liabilities.

There would be nothing worse than having your pet cause a lawsuit and then finding out that your insurance did not cover that situation for some reason that was hidden in the fine print. It is better to pay a few dollars for pet liability insurance than to end up having to cover a massive compensation payout from your personal assets.

Enjoy the new article Do You Need Pet Liability Insurance? from The Puppy Blog and here are some of the other pet and dog sites that I currently operate. Hope you can find all of the information about dogs and caring for dogs that you are looking for through these sites.

Teri’s Dogs
TC Pet Stop
All About Dogs
Because You Love Your Dog

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The Golden Retriever

The Golden Retiever is a really great dog and if you can find it in a mix breed like a Chow Chow you can get a really superb dog as well. In the world of dogs, Golden Retrievers are simply the top attraction. They are one of the most popular dog breeds, making great pets and companions, hunting dogs, obedience competitors, and show dogs. No matter what your reason may be for choosing to own a Golden Retriever, you’ll surely have an excellent dog that will live up to its potential and then some.

Golden Retrievers are known for being calm, well mannered, and extremely affectionate. They are easy to train as well, very intelligent, and great for those who need a companion. Goldens are also loyal to their owners, lovable, and great with children of all ages. They also make great watchdogs, as they will bark loud and let you know when a stranger is near.

Like other dogs, Golden Retrievers will shed their hair throughout the year and more in the spring – no matter how many times you brush them a day. They also like to be in and near the water, similar to Labs. If you have any type of water on or near your property, your Golden Retriever will be in it, and tend to be either wet or muddy quite a bit – which can tend to get frustrating when their hair is long. Expect to spend time grooming them.

If you are always on the go or never at home, you shouldn’t get a Golden Retriever because they will suffer from not having you around. If you prefer cats over dogs, you should look into another breed. Golden Retrievers crave attention and admiration, and normally don’t do too well if you leave them at home by themselves for long periods of time. Goldens need attention, and desire to be around you at all times. If you spend a lot of time at home on the other hand, or have kids, a Golden Retriever will be a perfect addition to your family.

When they are choosing a dog, most people prefer to get a puppy and raise it themselves. This way, the puppy will grow up with the skills they have taught him. This is a great idea and very rewarding, although training can consume a lot of your time and tend to be very frustrating at times. Those who don’t have a lot of time to spare or tend to get easily frustrated, shouldn’t get a puppy. Instead, they should look towards an older Golden Retriever with a good history who has already been house broken and trained.

Golden Retrievers are an excellent breed, and they can provide you with the companion you have been looking for. They can participate in several activities with you as well, such as hiking, camping, and walking. Goldens love the outdoors, and they love just getting out there and doing things with you and your family. If you include your Golden Retriever in family activities – you’ll have a friend for life who will grow on you over the years.

Enjoy the new article The Golden Retriever from The Puppy Blog and here are some of the other pet and dog sites that I currently operate. Hope you can find all of the information about dogs and caring for dogs that you are looking for through these sites.

Dogs & Puppies Adoption
Teri’s Dogs
Puppies & Pooches
TC Pet Stop

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Grooming Your Pure-Breed or Mixed-Breed Dog

Grooming your pure-breed or mixed breed dog can be a joy and is not very complicated. There are some restrictive rules on how to groom a particular breed, just like how to feed or take care of it. But there is one similar thing that applies to all. And that is: every dog requires a total body grooming. So, disregard the name Dorgis, Peekapoo, Labradoodle, Schnoodle, Beagle, Jack Russel, Labrador, Rottweiler, and Yorkshire Terrier because they are all dogs. And all of them need to be groomed just the same.

How do you groom your dog then?

There are two ways:

First thing you should know is that you can let professionals do the grooming for you. There are countless of dog salons and grooming shops across the country. You can find one in any city where your dog could comfortably fit in. Professionals charge between $20-$50 (or more) on each service. The cost of course depends on the type of service your dog had. Each dog grooming professional has a specialty. One could be good on trimming with the other is good in bathing but generally, there are lots of dog grooming professionals who can do everything.

Dog grooming shops have specialties as well. And prices depend on the service they offer. There are shops that charge cheap and there are those that charge a lot. Depending on your budget, you should decide where to take your dog. Price, however, is a great determiner if the dog grooming shop is good or not. But this does not mean that if one shop charges small fee, it serves bad. Same thing goes with shops that charge large free. The task for you then is to weigh the service, facilities, staff skills and expertise, and location to pinpoint your particular shop.

The second is by grooming your dog on your own. Grooming your dog should be done carefully and properly. You should know the right way on how to groom your particular dog since different dog breeds should require different approach and grooming frequency. Books and internet articles are two rich sources of information about the proper grooming. Learning from these could be very helpful.

The good thing about grooming your own dog is that you somehow create a special connection with your pet. In other words, grooming your dog on your own is more than just a physical connection but an emotional and psychological one as well.

At first, you need to invest on the different dog grooming tools you need. Your dog should have its own comb, brush, de-matting tool, and nail clippers. You should also invest of dog shampoo, dog conditioner, and dog toothpaste. Although you have some initial cash outs, it is actually cheaper in the long run since you don’t have to visit dog grooming shop and spend for the services they give to your dog twice or more each month.

Your dog, whether it is pure- or mixed-breed, should be groomed depending on its requirement. And as an owner, it is your primary responsibility to know how to properly take care of your particular dog. Dog grooming is a must. That’s the very first thing you should realize. The task might be expensive and time consuming at first, especially if are a dog owner novice, but it will prove to be rewarding in the long run.

Grooming your pure-breed or mixed breed doesnt’ have to be a chore. It is all what you make of it. It can be a fun for both of you.

Enjoy the new Puppies and Pooches Blog article and here are some of the dog sites that I currently operate. Hope you can find all of the information about dogs and caring for dogs that you are looking for through these dog sites.

Puppies & Big Dogs
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Great Dogs Site

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Mixed Breeds: Why Your Dog Is One Of A Kind

Mixed breeds are great dogs to have and why is it your dog is one of a kind. It seems like everyone’s first dog was a mutt. Hard to describe, but easy to love, the mixed breed dog has held a favored spot in the hearts of children and adults alike for as long as he’s been in existence.

Unlike the purebred, the dog of mixed origin boasts no pedigree and holds no place in the ranks of kennel club history, but in every dog lover’s past, the mixed breed dog played an important part.

Many owners of mixed breeds refer to them as “just mutts,” a “Heinz 57 Variety,” or, as I call my dog, “a Domestic Shorthaired Black-Tailed Wiggler.” Still others try to pinpoint what they think their dog’s heritage might be; for example, Shepherd-Collie mix or Cocker-Poodle cross.

But whether a dog’s sire was the next door neighbor’s pooch or a handsome rogue of a traveling salesman, no one can convince the owner of a mixed breed that his dog is any less valuable than the show dog with generations of champions highlighting his pedigree.

Are Mixed Breeds Equally As Healthy & Smart As Purebred Dogs?

That the mixed breed pup is healthier or more intelligent than his purebred cousin is, of course, highly debatable. Generally he suffers as frequently and as debilitatingly the ills common to all dogs.

However, there is a certain validity to the claim of health in mixed breed animals. This truth lies in the fact that when breeds mix and create crossbred and mixed breed offspring, extreme factors such as the pug noses, long, narrow heads and bulging eyes of many breeds are modified, producing pups that no longer suffer the hardships caused by these extreme characteristics.

One Of A Kind

The owner of a dog of uncertain ancestry need keep only one factor in mind when challenged by those who favor the purebred exclusively:

If your Afghan dies and you want to replace it, you can easily find an Afghan that looks nearly identical to yours. And when your Shih-Tzu passes on, there are always more where that one came from. But your mixed breed dog is one of a kind. No one owns or can produce a dog quite like yours. We think that makes him a rather special and valuable animal.

And just as there is no limit to the variety you can find in mixed breeds, there is also no limit to the number of places where you might be able to locate your new pup or dog: animal shelters, S.P.C.A.s, pet shops, next-door-neighbors, or the lady dog who deposits a pup on your doorstep are all likely sources.

You can find a mixed breed dog almost anywhere you look. Why your dog is one of a kind is because he is a mixed breed and no two are the same.

Here are some of the dog sites that I currently operate. Hope you can find all of the information about dogs and caring for dogs that you are looking for through these dog sites.

Dogs & Puppies Adoption
Teri’s Dogs
Puppies & Pooches

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Why Does A Dog Tilt Its Head To The Side?

Why does a dog tilt its head to the side? You see it all the time. Watching your dog tilt his or her head to the side, especially when you are talking to the animal, is just too cute. Some dogs do this and some do not, but those that make this gesture are doing so for very good reasons.

The #1 Practical Reason Why A Dog Will Tilt Its Head

Most often, a dog will tilt his head to the side in order to hear more clearly. When they turn and tilt their heads the ear becomes more exposed in an up-and-more-forward position. The result is that the inaudible sounds (fuzziness) that they were catching will become clearer to the ear.

Other Dogs Do So For Different Reasons

Many dogs have learned to tilt their heads to the side simply because they get a reward. What is the reward? Well remember at the beginning of this article how I mentioned that this gesture is just too cute?

Your immediate response is to say something like, “Awwwww, look at Buddy with his head turned to the side, how cute!”, followed by lots of petting and soothing tones. This is a reward, and some dogs may have turned their heads to the side a few times in the beginning, but soon enough learned that this will give them lots of that lovable attention.

So if you have ever given a dog this kind of attention after it has tilted it’s head in a really cute way then you have just positively reinforced that behavior. And you know what? The dog will remember this and might do this more often – not to hear better, but to feel better.

Human Speech & Your Dog

Dogs can understand part of our human language, but most of it is just a fuzzy blur to them. Almost like when a human hears a foreign language. Dogs cannot take in everything we say. But canines are very good at observing and becoming familiar with human tone of voice, body language as well as eye movement.

Trying To Absorb Every Sound He Can

It is when a dog notices something of interest that its ears perk up to catch all the sounds. If the sound comes from the front your dog might tilt its head in the direction of the sound, but if the sound is coming from a direction to the side of him then there is not likely going to be any head tilting. Why? The ears are in the perfect spot already to pick up the minutest of sounds.

A dog’s ear shape and position will have something to do with how the dog perceives sound and how often a head tilt might be noticed. Even the age and experience of the dog play a role in this. A German shepherd with pricked up ears might hear better from the front than a Cocker Spaniel who would hear better from the side. Certainly a long floppy eared dog would be seen tilting its head more often than a dog with open ears.

Practical reasons or just because he found out that we think its cute so he gets a reward are just some of the reasons that we think why a dog tilts its head to the side.

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Chain Link Kennels

Chain link kennels is one way to kennel your dog. Allowing your dog to roam freely around your back yard may be wonderful for them but not for you. The amount of cleaning up you will have to do after them is never fun. You may be hosting an outdoor gathering and not want your dog to be all over people or food that is there. Even mowing the grass can be difficult when you have a dog to deal with. Of course there is also the issue of the phone company or the gas meter reader having to come out and not wanting to go into the yard due to the dog.

One of the best ways to take care of all these scenarios as well as others that may come up is with a chain link kennel. They are very nice to look at so they won’t be an eyesore in your back yard. They also are very roomy so they are perfect for larger dogs. They offer plenty of room to move around in as well as to see outdoors.

Some of these chain link kennels feature various tops as well. You can get one that is completely covered on the top so rain and wind won’t get to your dog. You can also get one that is protective so that the sun isn’t beating down on your dog during the hot days of summer. You can also go with the traditional style of chain link kennel without either feature for a lower cost.

The downside to chain link kennels though is that they aren’t movable very easy. They are big, bulky, and heavy. Yet your dog will be extremely comfortable in there and you can take care of what you need to without them bothering you. Some also have double gates so you can leave it open as one large kennel or break it up into two separate ones. This is perfect if you have more than one dog.

The prices on chain link kennels depend on the length, width, and height that you want them. It also depends on the type of roof you choose to have on it. You should shop around for the best deal you can get and still get a reliable product. You can find them at many pet stores as well as home improvement stores.

Chain link kennels is just one of the options you can go for when looking for the type of kennel you want.

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Canine Arthritis

Canine arthritis, it’s not only humans that can be affected by arthritis, but dogs can develop many forms of arthritis too. These forms are classified according to the provocative cause and manner of the condition. Arthritis literally means inflammation of the joints. Canine arthritis can be caused by trauma, aging, ruptured ligaments or tendons, dysplasia or generative joint disease and lack of activity. Several forms of canine arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis

Is the most common form of canine arthritis, and is also known as degenerative joint disease. This for of arthritis is a slowly progressive disease involving the breakdown of the articular cartilage in a joint. This cartilage is a specialized tissue that covers surface of the bones that contact each other, providing lubrication and shock-absorption for the joint, allowing frictionless, pain-free movement. If this cartilage is damaged, osteoarthritis is set off. Permanent damage, pain and inflammation are results of the body’s inability to repair the injured cartilage.

Infectious Arthritis

This form of arthritis results from growth of microorganisms in a joint, or the spread of an infection to a joint in a different place in the body, such as Lyme disease, which is a tick-transmitted microorganism that can affect one or several joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is an uncommon canine arthritis and generally affects middle-aged to older small-breed dogs.

Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Is a form of arthritis that is a polysystemic disease and often affects the joints. The disease results in the body’s immune system attacking components of the body’s own cells, that results in damage to many organs including the joints, kidneys, lungs and skin.

Symptoms Of Canine Arthritis

• The dog appears to be in pain, unwilling to be picked up or touched in certain areas.
• Favoring a limb
• Decreased activity level and lethargy
• The dog has difficulty sitting or standing
• Hesitancy in jumping
• Typical sign of arthritis in dogs is stiffness in the morning

There are a variety of treatments for canine arthritis but unfortunately no cure. The main element of treating canine arthritis is pain management. Pain relieving lotions are a safe way to treat the aches and stiffness of canine arthritis. There has also been breakthroughs with accpuncture for dogs, just like they do for humans. In severe cases, sometimes surgery is needed, however less extreme treatments are recommended for dogs. A newer treatment for canine arthritis is dietary. Sulfates like glucosamine and chondroitin have been found helpful in relieving inflammation and reducing the degenerative process in some dogs. They attract fluid to the join’s cartilage system helping the body repair damaged joints while keeping the cartilage destroying enzymes under control. It’s also been said to work as a preventative measure for dogs susceptible to arthritis.

Canine arthritis can be treated pretty much the same way as they do with humans. As always check with your veterinarian if you suspect your dog to have arthritis; the vet can prescribe medication to reduce swelling and discomfort and discuss treatment.

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Are Dogs Colorblind Or Is This A Myth?

Are dogs colorblind or it this a myth? If you ask any dog owner or canine enthusiast whether they know if dogs are officially color blind or not, most people won’t have the faintest idea. And guess what, the scientific community is not sure either! However, there are indeed some facts about a dog’s vision that has come through from studies and tests.

So, is your dog really color blind or is this claim just a myth? The following scientific article may help clear up some of the confusion while at the same time educating you about color perception in the eyes of a dog:

About a hundred years ago, scientists observed that the retina of a dog’s eyes did not have the cone-shaped cells which are abundant in human eyes (as well as the the eyes of other primates). In primates, the cone-shaped cells occur in greatest numbers in the portion of the retina called the fovea. Here, vision is most acute. The number of cone-shaped cells decreases as the distance from the fovea increases.

At the same time, the number of rod-shaped cells increases. Rod-shaped cells are common to members of both the canine and primate families. Some individuals, who were thought to be color blind, were found to have a deficiency or a lack of cone-shaped cells. Whether a highly significant number of retina from color-blind individuals were ever examined is questionable.

Furthermore, since there was no proof that color is perceived by these cells, ascribing color blindness to the lack of these cells does not necessarily follow. In other words, if the body is missing an element that could take away the problem, then color blindness is not the absolute diagnosis.

Under poor lighting conditions, more of the retina is used for vision; at the same time, color discrimination is more difficult. Consequently, more rod-shaped cells and fewer cone-shaped cells are used for vision. This was thought to be further evidence that color could only be perceived by means of cone-shaped cells. Thereafter, dogs became color blind and were relegated to seeing everything in black and white.

Many people who have dogs (admitting that they were in no position to dispute scientific evidence) have, nevertheless, been skeptical about the results of scientific research. They’ve chosen to ignore the arguments for or against color vision.

A Real-Life Experiment With A Miniature Schnauzer

The marked preference for objects of bright pink by a Miniature Schnauzer, suggested that this could not be accidental and that some learning test should be carried out. Because she also showed a preference for soft, cuddly items, a set of stuffed mohair balls of identical size were made for her.

She was then presented with a brilliant pink ball and told that it was her “pink ball”. The ball was then tossed, together with her other toys, and she was asked to get one of the items. She learned to correctly select the pink ball within 20 minutes.

Several days later, she was presented with a similar ball colored bright blue. When the two balls were tossed at the same time and she was asked to get one or the other, she succeeded in correctly selecting the ball she was asked to within five minutes.

She has retained this knowledge until the present, nearly four years later. Several minutes after she learned to identify her blue ball, she was presented with a yellow ball and told it was her “yellow ball”. Once again she almost immediately learned to correctly identify the ball. Indeed, at no time did she incorrectly identify it.

Some time later she was presented with a green ball. Again, she learned to correctly identify it almost immediately; again, she has retained this knowledge.

Light meter readings of the light reflected from all the balls, with the exception of the yellow one, were essentially the same. When she was told, “Let’s play ball,” her preference was usually the pink one; the blue ball came next. She chose the less brilliant yellow ball least frequently.

The Final Test – The Dog Is Not Colorblind

Similarly, she rapidly learned to distinguish a set of rubber balls. A game called “Hide a Ball” was then devised. All of her balls were hidden throughout the place and she was asked to get a specific one. She would then “sniff out” as many balls as was necessary to find the correct one; all the balls but the one she was asked to find would be left where they were placed. And, when she found the correct one she always discontinued her search.

If there was insufficient light for the balls to be distinguished by human beings, apparently she could not distinguish the correct ball either, for she would leave the balls where she found them until a light was turned on.

This clearly indicates that scent was only a slight factor in tracing the whereabouts of the balls and not in selecting the correct one, thus providing evidence that dogs may not be colorblind at all.

So with these types of conclusions can one really say that dogs are colorblind or as some say that it is just a myth.

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Portable Kennels

Portable kennels are great and are a great way to travel with your pet. The portable kennels is also great to use as a training aid as well. Getting your puppy used to a portable kennel at an early age makes traveling much easier.

There are many times when a pet owner has to take their dog or cat with them so they rely on a portable kennel. Should you need to transport your pet by air you will be required to have one for them or they can’t be processed due to safety regulations. You may find it very convenient when you have to take your pet to the vet.

Many families travel with their pet but don’t want them running loose all over the vehicle. Having a portable kennel they can ride in will help with this. Most pets get used to their kennel and it will help to reduce their level of anxiety during travel as well. There are portable kennels made from a variety of materials and in various sizes.

You really need to think about the size of the portable kennel before you buy it. Your pet needs to have plenty of room in there to be comfortable. They should be able to sit, stand, lie down, and to turn around. You also need to have room for food and water. Many pet stores allow you to bring your pet in so you can always try them in various types of portable kennels.

It isn’t practical to put a puppy in a huge kennel. In many instances they won’t fare well with the open space. You may have to upgrade to several different sizes of portable kennels as time goes by. This will continue until your pet is full grown. Yet they are a very important part of your family so caring for them as you would a child is important. You wouldn’t place an infant in a toddler car seat to avoid having to buy more than one.

Ventilation is also very important when it comes to the issue of portable kennels. You need to make sure your pet has enough air circulating properly. You don’t want them to be uncomfortable or to become dehydrated. Make sure you regulate the temperature of the area with their needs in mind.

Many types of portable kennels are also collapsible. This means you can use them at the full size but also fold them up for easy storage. The right one for your pet will depend on their size and how often you plan to be using it.

Portable kennels is one of the best investments a pet owner can make. The portable kennel is a multi-purpose item that is invaluable for you and your dog or cat.

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Service Dogs – Dog Training – Training Standards

Service dog training and it training standards are aimed at enhancing the lives of their handlers by performing specific task to assist them in their day to day activities. Trainers teach the service dog and their handlers (new owners) what they need to know to help each other have a comfortable and happy life together.

Typically, assistance dogs are handled by disabled individuals who require assistance whether at home or in places where the handler must require assistance to enable him to function. In most countries, assistance dogs with their handlers are allowed access to recreation and public transportation areas and other places that are usually frequented by the general public.

Basically, assistance dogs come at least four categories. A trained seeing eye dog is useful for the visually impaired and the blind. A hearing impaired dog’s training is aimed at assisting people who are deaf or have weak hearing. There is also a service dog for the physically disabled and for psychological situations. The training for each of these categories is for skills specific to the services that the dogs are to provide.

Service dogs come from breeding programs or rescued from animal shelters and are taken and cared for until the puppy reaches a training age. While it is always advisable for assistance dogs trained by professional trainers, some dog owners, under specific conditions, could also train their dogs.

There are several advantages in training your own service dog. There are disadvantages too. If you can train dogs and want to do it yourself, you will have to meet requirements set by the government agencies although it would still be best to get a program that will help you train your dog. However if you have not trained dogs before it is highly advisable that you talk to a professional trainer first, as training dogs is not easy. There are also training standards that are to be satisfied if your dog is to be an assistance dog in public.

The Minimum Training Standards For Service Dogs

• Service dogs must display the ability to obey 90% of the basic obedience skills and skilled tasks in any environment during the first command.

• Service dogs must have the ability to respond to hand signals like sitting, staying in place, walking and responding to the owners command and walking in a controlled position. The dog must also show good behavior in the home or outside of it.

• Service Dogs must have the ability to learn at least three tasks that are relative to a particular need of the owner.

The Standards For Assistance Dog Handlers

The service dog handler is required of the following:

• That the handler of the service dog must have a good understanding of canine care and health.

• The service dog must be able to perform a minimum of three tasks.

• The service dog handler must have the ability to maintain the training of the dog and must have sufficient knowledge to add new skills to the service dog.

Service dogs and their dog training have training standards. While these training standards are the minimum requirement for most countries, these are by no means the only requirement to meet. Training standards for dogs varies from time to time as new training standards are developed or updates on existing standards passed. This is why it is highly advisable to consult with professional dog trainers and have a dog training program from accredited agencies if a service dog is needed.

Technorati Tags: service dogs, dog training, training standards, handlers, trainers, service dog, seeing eye dog, hearing impaired dog, medical service dogs, puppy, The Puppy Blog, Teri Champigny

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