Seven heroic dogs that worked several tireless years as contractors in Iraq for the U.S. Military and Coalition Forces returned to the U.S. for adoption in March 2011, aided by the help of SPCAI.

The dogs worked primarily in the ‘Green Zone’ sniffing out explosives in vehicles at checkpoints, military bases, the airport and in hotels where Americans stayed in Baghdad. Some of the dogs worked in land mine detection as well.

“We are extremely happy to be able to give these wartime heroes a new life in loving, caring homes after all their years of service in Iraq,” said Terri Crisp of the SPCAI. “These animals played an important and noble role protecting civilians and military personnel in Iraq and they deserve a comfortable retirement filled with love.”

The seven working dogs originally come from South Africa where they were trained before being relocated to Iraq and going to work for a security contractor based in Baghdad. The dogs were credited with finding a rocket at the Al Mansour Hotel in Baghdad which was housing several Americans and members of the media. That discovery may have saved hundreds of lives.

The dogs were retired from service at a typical age for service animals of their kind. Late in 2010, SPCA International learned that these American heroes were living in solitary dog runs with little hope of a happy future.

Since then, SPCA International supporters have rallied around the dogs - donating funds to help bring them to the United States and collecting over 7,000 signatures in support of their safe return.

The dogs range in age from 5 to 8 years old. All are in good health, except for one dog, Nugget, whose epilepsy forced his early retirement. All are very well trained and behaved. Currently, three of the seven dogs have adoptive homes awaiting their arrival, but SPCA International is still looking for the right homes for the remaining four.

People interested in giving these wartime heroes an honorable retirement in a loving home can email SPCA International at answers@spcai.org to enter the screening process. For more information, go to www.spcai.org.

Understand additional on the subject of SPCA international at their very own web-site.

If you are thinking of getting a Puggle puppy for yourself, then you might want to first try to find out everything there is to know about a Puggle. This would provide you with a solid foundation regarding what can be done to nurture your new Puggle puppy and what to look forward to as your small puppy matures into an adult dog.

The first thing you should understand is that Puggles do not gain much height or weight while growing up, your Puggle will most likely weigh 14-20 pounds and have a height of 13-15 as an adult, the same as that of a puppy. This means that even a full grown and matured puppy will look just like he was as a puppy, and can easy taken to places in a cart or keep on laps without any kind of problems (unless of course they refuse to stay still and want to play!).

A Puggle, if you were unaware of it, is a cross between a Beagle and a Pug dog. To be considered a true blue Puggle puppy it needs to be bred from a pure bred Beagle mother and a pure bred Pug father. The resulting Puggle puppy can have anything between mainly Beagle features to mainly Pug-like features.

If you are bored by monotonicity in the color of dogs, then you would be happy to find out that a Puggle puppy comes in various different colors such as tan color, beige, silver, black and sometimes even a fawn and a white spotted mix. The hair on your new Puggle puppy would generally be short and smooth and would require very little grooming.

A Puggle has a characteristic wrinkled face and the droopy ears of its parents and also exhibits a tendency to be short with a wiggly tail. Since a Puggle is a very loving and attention seeking dog it requires more time being spent on loving and caring for it than on things such as grooming.

A Puggle puppy is also one small bundle of energy and loves nothing better than to play, so they make great family pets especially if there are young children around for them to play with. Puggles can be great social animals if introduced to the concept at an early age, but are otherwise friendly anyway.

A Puggle puppy has a good temperament but that does not mean that they cannot be used as guard dogs, once they are adequately trained and nurtured for this task. Although a Puggle would not bark like a beagle, it would surely give you a warning bark if it sees any stranger wandering near your house.

Even though Puggles are very energetic and also highly mischievous, they are very intelligent and highly trainable. They also have good listening skills and are surely bound to their masters.

However the best traits of your Puggle puppy are that they are very adorable and cute. The droopy ears and the wrinkled appearance make your Puggle puppy a truly captivating and one that cannot be overlooked by anyone.

Check out those dog photo books for great dog breed pictures.

It may seem very odd when you think that there are so many cross breeds popping up, both intentionally and unintentionally, around the world each day, and there’s nothing really special about a Yorkie Bichon breed cropping up over time. But this fact has a completely different meaning in the eyes of potential dog owners.

Well if you are one those people who are looking for a Yorkie Bichon mix but are not sure whether you really want one, and are also not sure what the dog would grown up to be like, then it turns out that you are not the only one in this dilemma. There is no person who can correctly and accurately estimate what a mixed breed dog would turn up to be like, and this fact is true in for all mixed breed dogs.

To state the obvious, there’s a chance that the dogs could turn out to be predominantly like their Yorkie father/mother, or like their Bichon Frise mother/father. Unlike the Puggle mixed bred dog, for the Yorkie Bichon mix to be considered pure, the parents do not have to be specifically of own breed, i.e. you do not need to have a Bichon Frise mother and a Yorkie father, or vice versa. It can be either mix, as long the parents themselves are pure bred dogs.

And this is where it can sometimes become tricky when cross breeding dogs. Because no one dog breeder will necessarily have the entire lineage of a dog going back hundreds of years, it can be difficult to know for certain whether or not the ancestry of the parents themselves have been cross bred at any point in time. Sometimes genetic traits might hide themselves for a few generations, and might instead decide to manifest itself at this point when the dog breeders are going cross breeding the dogs.

The results of this cross breeding can either a dog that is very cute and adorable or a one that is a hodgepodge of the two participating breeds. However this kind of scenario is very rare in cross breeding programs, and in case you require a good Yorkie Bichon mix then you would most likely be able to get it without any kinds of problems.

What would be the characteristics of this kind of a dog, never mind the features of such a dog? Well, unfortunately there is no way through which you can tell these beforehand, and most of the dog owners would just have to wait and see what their Yorkie Bichon Puppy grows up into; a predominantly Bichon mix or a predominantly Yorkie mix. Whatever be the case, one thing that you can be assured of is that you would be the proud owner of a dog that is very loyal to you and is also very cute and adorable, what else do you want for yourself?

Check out those dog photo books for great dog breed pictures.

There is nothing cuter than a puppy but have you considered the type of puppy that you want gamboling around in your home? With so many dog breeds to be found you should see which of these dogs will be very faithful to you. Well this question is easy to answer. The German Shepard puppy can be trained to be not just a companion but to also for the various tasks that you may have.

Choosing a German Shepherd can be a tricky task because you need to look at the puppies carefully so as to ensure that there are no health problems as hereditary breeding is known to cause health issues in German Shepherds. Some health issues that affect these puppies are hip and elbow dysplasia, digestive problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, dwarfism, flea allergies and keratitis. The best way to ensure that you are buying a puppy that is free from any kind of medical problems is by choosing to buy from a breeder who would be able to provide you with a certificate that assures you of your puppy’s health.

German Shepherd puppies have a tendency that they are very eager to learn so it is better that you take efforts to train them in a better manner so that you have friendly and obedient puppies that are capable of learning everything that is being taught to them. The best place to train your puppy is outside where it can learn new things easily and quickly. Also this ensures that your puppy stays fit and healthy.

While it is true that almost all puppies love playing and going for walks, the German Shepard puppy is a puppy who will thrive with this activity. The walks can be used to train your puppy to have good social behavior when you meet strangers. There is one very important item which needs to be addressed when you are beginning the training of your puppy.

The German Shepard puppy is a very intelligent animal. Without any activity to keep the puppy fully occupied you will have on your hands a destructive puppy. This destructive tendency can be reduced if you begin the correct training and handling of the puppy. You should make sure that you are training your puppy with lots of patience, firm but gentle handling and lots of love.

When you are thinking about the grooming which is entailed with this breed of dog you will find a dog type that is relatively easy to groom. You will need to brush out the coat of the German Shepard puppy on a daily basis. Other than this your puppy will need to have a bath only about twice a year. More than this amount will cause your puppy’s skin to loose its protective skin oil.

Even though there are many different breeds of puppies that you can think about getting, the German Shepard puppy is one who will provide you with loyalty and companionship all through its life.

Check out this great dog book on choose a dog breed.

Allergies are getting more and more widespread with people and dogs, especially food and scent allergies. What are some signs your dog might be allergic to something?

Many dog allergy symptoms include: Itchy, red, moist or scabbed skin Incessant, non stop scratching Infected ears Itchy, watery eyes Itchy back or base of tail (most often this is a flea allergy) Itchy ears and ear infections Sneezing Throwing up Diarrhea Snoring from an inflamed throat Paw chewing/licking/swollen paws Rubbing his face Non stop licking

The most destructive of these is scratching, since a dog can scratch herself raw, which can potentially lead to secondary infections, excessive shedding, and loss of hair.

What Could Your Dog Be Allergic To? Tree, grass and weed pollen Cleaning supplies Prescription drugs Dust mites Mold spores Dander Feathers Rubber and plastic products Cigarette smoke Food products Fleas and flea-control products Perfumes Fabrics Shampoo products

How to Tell What Your Dog is Allergic to Are your dogs allergies seasonal or do the allergies for your dog seem to happen all year round? If the symptoms are all year round, one method you can try is to switch out your dog’s food. The most noticeable symptoms for dog food allergies are licking, scratching, and different types of skin problems.

Have you made a recent change in your dogs routine since the allergy problems started? You may need to sort through the above allergy list one by one and try to make changes until you have narrowed down the cause.

Remember, even though your dog might have the above issues, he may not have allergies. He may be suffering from any number of other medical conditions, such as fleas, worms, or hormonal disorders. Check with your veterinarian to be safe.

Is your dog having issues with dog allergies? Is your dog showing symptoms of allergy issues?. Check here for free reprint license: Common Reasons for Dog Allergies.

How could you tell if your dog might possibly have diabetes? In the wide majority of cases, it is not very common for younger dogs to contract diabetes, but if your pet is older than 4 years old and is exhibiting other symptoms, then the possibility for diabetes could be a real one. Diabetes in dogs is quite a bit more common in females. Many of a dog’s symptoms are much like those of diabetes in humans.

Signs Your Dog May Have Diabetes

* Canine diabetes can begin with an out of shape, overweight dog. This is not always true though; in some breeds it can be in the gene pool. Being obese can be a dangerous sign though.

* Diabetes normally occurs in dogs around the ages of seven to nine.

* With larger dogs there is more of a possibility to contract diabetes than there is with a littler breed.

* Watch for unquenchable thirst. If this happens, do not try to limit your dog’s water intake. This is necessary because your dog will require all the water it wants to help keep from becoming dehydrated.

* Drinking so much means he/she will need to urinate more often. Your dog, the one you’ve worked so hard to house train so beautifully could start having accidents more often on your carpet. Why? They are not used to carrying around so much water in their bladder. Much like the chicken and the egg, and the debate of which arrived first, the need for water or the need to urinate has been discussed both ways.

* Your dog may begin losing weight quickly and unusually, even though she is eating more and could begin moving slowly and showing signs of being worn out, acting extremely tired.

* Your dog may begin losing their eyesight, having issues seeing.

Preventing your dog from getting diabetes:

1. If you see your dog beginning to gain weight, or if they are already overweight, lower the number of carbohydrates they consume. Yes, much like humans, a large number of carbohydrates add to to weight gain, which adds to the probability of diabetes. Many common dog foods have ingredients that include as much as 98% carbohydrates. Read the food labels and gather as much information as you can about your dog breed to make sure that he is receiving the correct amount of nutrients. Making the switch to a healthier dog food can be an enormous step towards the right direction.

2. Get lots of exercise! A lot of dogs get diabetes that could be completely avoided if they had kept exercising and not gotten out of shape. This is where you and your family can pitch in, as the dog owners. If your dog stays sedentary and out of shape, he can contract diabetes even if he is not a breed that is typically at risk.

As of this writing there is not a cure for diabetes. Work together with your vet to ensure that your dog gets the proper treatment and the correct medication to continue to have a normal life. Sometimes diabetes will remain all the way through your dog’s life course. To prevent diabetes symptoms in dogs, do your best to keep your dog’s weight appropriate, get him abundant exercise, and give the dog its medication on a regular basis along with adequate water.

Might your Wouldg have diabetes? Would you know what the signs are of Wouldgs with diabetes?. This article, Dogs With Diabetes has free reprint rights.

It is a well known fact that the only way to find out whether a breeder is genuine or not is to see whether the breeder is interesting in knowing as much about you as you want to know about him, and this is true in case of Bichon dog. These are the breeders who are dutifully bound to take care of their breeder dogs and their ensuing puppies.

It is an obvious fact that all breeders are not the same, and even among the relatively average number of Bichon Frise breeders you are bound to find some breeders who are in this profession only to make a good buck and are not at all concerned about their dogs’ needs.

These such places are, more often than not, thought of as puppy mills and the best recourse here is for you to stay as far away as possible from these types of careless Bichon Frise breeders as possible.

There are all kinds of breeders, but these can be thought of as the worst of the lot, the ones whose sole purpose of breeding puppies is to earn profit. They consider their puppies nothing more than a barking, walking commodity and are totally unaware and indifferent when it comes to the happiness and health of their dogs.

Of course, just as important is to stay away from these inhumane breeders, it is also very important that you do not confuse genuine Bichon Frise dogs with these immoral dogs.

What you will get from a genuine Bichon Frise breeder are valuable gems, which need to be treasured and taken care of affectionately. Genuine Bichon Frise breeders provide a valuable service and their puppies should not treated as if they are some kind of devilish ghouls.

Questions regarding all aspects of your life would be asked by genuine breeders and this is not done in an attempt to hinder your private life or create any problems for you but to determine whether you would be able to take care of a genuine Bichon puppy.

Moreover, you will also find that most good Bichon Frise breeders are also willing to talk to you about your new puppy and what type for care that you will have to give it. You will also find out what type of behavior and characteristics you can expect from your Bichon Frise puppy as it grows up.

Will your puppy be a monster who would chew all your stuff the moment you leave it alone and go out, or would it be cute and adorable? Or will your cute and adorable puppy tear up all your stuff irrespective of the fact that you are home or not?

These are all questions that can be easily answered by Bichon Frise breeders. And they are the reason why you need to find a breeder that will help you not only find the right Bichon Frise puppy for you, but who will also give you an initial leg up on what to do with your puppy.

Check out this great dog book on toy dog breeds.

If you are totally unaware about Puggles then do not worry, you are probably not the only one who has never heard about this dog. One thing that you need to know beforehand is that once you come to know what Puggles are, you might completely disbelieve all that you have learnt about Puggles.

Puggles are, to put it clearly and concisely, a new breed of dog which has been crossed with a Pug father and a Beagle mother. The resulting dog, then? Something that is definitely a cross between a pug and a beagle and the cutest thing to come into the public eye since, well, since “cute” came into being!

If all this information was too overwhelming and hard to take in all at once and you feel that you require a more conservative approach to getting all the information about Puggles, then keep reading. You will find out exactly what we are talking about when you come face to face with a cute and adorable Puggle.

So what features apart from their cute features make Puggles great pets? Two things mainly, the first being they are easy to maintain, they are great family pets and they are very loyal and intelligent. Well those were four things really but these are some of the features that make Puggle great pets.

Other things that are important include genetic illness but these are more dependent upon breeders and their techniques rather than anything else. If you are thinking of getting a Puggle but are scared about the genetic flaws that they may have inherited from their parents, the best option for you is to go to your breeder and ask him about his breeding techniques and the risks associated with cross bred Puggles.

Well there are some other things as well which you would like to consider such as the temperament, trainability, intelligence level and energy levels of the Puggle puppy. You also need to make sure that the Puggle is able to adapt to your style of living and can easily live where you do.

For example, if you live in an area that is quite hot and humid, you would surely want to keep your puppy in shade and cool as much as possible. Exercising is one of the things that you need to be careful of as exercise in hot weather can drain your puppy and make it more prone to illnesses and diseases.

Since Puggles are very active and playful in nature, you should first think whether you would be able to provide ample time and attention to your Puggle puppy before you decide to get it for yourself. Puggles are an active breed and enjoy playing and running a lot.

A Puggle puppy needs a lot of love and affection from its owner. If you think that a Puggle is suited to your lifestyle, then do not hesitate and go and find that perfect Puggle puppy for you.

Check out this dog photo book for great bull dog pictures.

Do you have a favorite pet, if so, chances are you have several picture of them. People love to take pictures of their pets. For many, their animals are more than just pets, they are part of the family. This works out perfectly for those in the pet photography business.

To be a good pet photographer you need to do more than just take great photos. You have to know how to make pets feel calm and comfortable. Posing them can be tough, since some animals may be scared around strange people and settings. They may try to run off or squirm or bark.

If you’re good with animals and like to take pictures, being a pet photographer may be the right career path for you. It can be surprisingly rewarding.

To get started you need to make sure you have a supply of appropriate backdrops and pedestals for the animals to sit on during shoots. Good lighting is necessary for any great photo, so make sure you have all the proper equipment.

Of course, you’ll need to advertise your business in the community to get the customers to know your name. Be sure to promote how the wonderful rapport you have with animals and your desire to take the best possible pictures.

There are a lot of ways to get the word out there about your new business. Use your imagination as much as you possibly can, as there are truly no rules when it comes to self promotion.

Social networking sites are hot right now, so you should definitely have your own Facebook page. Traditional advertising is always a good idea. Place ads in the newspaper and buy radio and TV ads. See if you can display some of your work in stores, restaurants and other businesses. Some may allow you to do this for free.

Pet photography is a niche that many artists find fulfilling. It gives them a chance to take pictures of nontraditional subjects in a creative way. If this sounds interesting to you, why not give it a try? You really might be pleasantly surprised by how much you end up enjoying yourself, so give it a whirl and enjoy!

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Have you ever thought from where do all those cute and cuddly pets in the pet store came from? Well a very few of those might have come from an unknown location, and a few might have come from the Pinta, the Nina and the Santa Maria, but most of those pets come from different pet breeders.

These people are the ones who make it their life’s work to breed certain type of pets. If the pet breeders breed only one type of pet, or they specialize in a certain type of pet breed, then the value of these pets do tend to go up in price. These, of course are the better breeders.

If you are currently looking for a pet, then a pet store is the easiest option for you, but it is necessary that you do a little bit of investigation of your intended pet’s background before proceeding further. What is the pet’s lineage; what kind of diseases can affect it; does it have any kind of genetic flaws; and most importantly where did it come from?

All of these are valid questions and it is necessary that they be asked before buying a pet as these would help you to make your decision in a better and easier manner. The question given at the last, “where does your pet come from?” is very important if you are thinking of avoiding a pet that has come from a pet mill.

A pet mill is like a small factory where animals are churned out in large numbers without caring about their needs. Although they may not be ill-treated physically, it might happen in some cases, they are generally forced to live in very bad and unlivable conditions. That is why it is very important that you take time to investigate and ensure that your pet comes from a reputed and respectable breeder and not from a puppy mill which only cares about making money from the pets they sell.

Not all pet breeders are like that of course. Most love their pets, and breed them only with the best care and attention given to them. These pets live in humane conditions, and enjoy a good life.

If however you are interested in getting a pet straight from a dealer, then this is also possible. You can go to take a tour of their facility and try and gain every bit of knowledge about them and then decide whether you want to get a pet from them.

In today’s modern age getting access to information is not at all difficult, and all you need is a little bit of hunting to get all the information you need to help you identify breeders who are well known for their breeding techniques and who provide the best care for their pets.

Check out this great dog book on all dog breeds.