CARING A MINIATURE PINSCHER

How to Care for a Miniature Pinscher

Here's how to care for a miniature pinscher, a unique and wonderful breed of dog.

EditSteps

1. 1
   Recognize that these dogs need toys. Make sure your dog has a another pet if it has no toys. Mini Pins love to chew, so give them something to chew on. Beef back rib bones are a good choice. They are decent nutrition and keep their teeth clean. They are very inquisitive dogs, and like interactive toys. They particularly like toys that squeak or talk.
2. 2
   Provide a nice warm blanket for these dogs that get cold easily. You may also want to invest in some dog clothing- little sweaters and jackets help on cold days or walks outside.
3. 3
   Plan to be around. These dogs need companionship--they do not do well when left alone for long periods of time.
4. 4
   Make sure you respond to min-pins' vocalizations and efforts to engage you--they get bored easily and then get naughty. They love to walk and chase a toy. Many min pins love the squeak toys. Some times they jump on little children so be careful around young children. When caring for a min pin make sure you socialize them at a young age, or else it is difficult to train them when they are older.

EditTips

• Minpins have a sense of ownership, and may hoard toys or chew treats. If you have more than one dog (any breed), you should gently work on this, as well as have plenty for everyone.
• Min Pins are sometimes known for not being the friendliest of dogs at all times- but this can be a behavior easily avoided if you make sure to spends lots of time socializing them with people and other dogs when they are puppies. Make sure they meet all types of people, children, old people, and people of all colors. Dogs are often afraid of what they don't understand, and that is when they lash out.
• Mini Pins are very wild and have personality in spades! They always love to be the center of attention and to be petted very often. They are humorous and will keep you smiling and laughing with their constant antics. They have a bad habit of eating so you will only want to give them 1/2 cup of good quality food daily for a 10lb dog or they will get overweight easily. If you give them treats, snacks, and chews every day, you may want to give a little less food (maybe 1/4 cup for breakfast, 1/8 cup for dinner). They bark at everything, even if a stick breaks in the middle of the night, so from a young age there is some training. Their fur is very short and most do not shed badly, so you do not need to wash them often. Grooming or cloth washing is preferable to baths, which dry out the dogs skin. If your Min Pin sheds badly, consider his diet. Have your vet check for medical problems. If he gets a clean bill of health, consider adding some essential fatty acids (Linatone is a good source and is sold at most pet stores) to help with the problem.
• Training your Mini Pin is good for both you and the dog. These dogs have very strong pack associations and expect you to tell them what to do. They will often be aggressive around larger dogs, constantly testing boundaries. They tend to think that they are just as big, if not bigger, than the opposing animal. They will find their way out of anything. Make sure that you have things to keep your min pin out of trouble. Invest in a good quality, tall, strong fence that can't be climbed or jumped over, dug under, or burrowed through. Pinners have extreme prey drive, and if they spot a squirrel on the other side of an electric fence they are going to take the shock.
• Mini Pins have lots of energy and seem to tug at the leash when they walk. Start early, teaching them good manners on the walk. Its a good investment to get them a no-slip dog harness or train them on a small martingale collar, as they are amazing escape artists and will easily slip normal collars and harnesses.* Mini Pins like to bark. If this behavior is unacceptable, you need to correct them early and often. They are extremely territorial.* Always reward your Min-Pin for good behavior. Start with treats, but work toward just giving a fun toy or praise. You need to keep an eye on their weight. They get fat very easily and that leads to several health problems.* Most clothing you buy for your mini pincher will be size Small, not XS, since they have such deep chests for their size.

EditWarnings

• If your mini pin is not fixed, be sure that you watch them, especially when they are in heat. If they get pregnant by too large a dog they could easily die during the pregnancy or during birth.
• Mini Pins also have a tendency toward luxating patella. This means their knee caps, not their hips, pop out of the sockets on their hind legs. Be very careful with your dog; don't force him or her to jump from high places. Let them decide what is too high or too far. You will know when this happens because they may seem to be running or playing and then will suddenly stop and start favoring the leg. The leg may pop back in on its own in a few seconds. You can also gently straighten the leg to pop the knee back into place.* Some mini pins get a mild form of asthma, where they will wheeze occasionally. There is not much you can do about this, and is fairly harmless.
• If you are planning on breeding your min pin(s) then be sure you are aware of the risks and the laws in your state surrounding this subject (as they do vary in different areas).
• Mini Pinschers have a tendency towards demodectic mange -- or little spots of bare skin with no fur -- especially when they are puppies. This is caused by a type of parasite that all dogs naturally have, but can get out of control in some dogs for no apparent reason. Mange is not contagious. If left unattended, these spots will become bigger and bigger. The most common areas for this to happen are on the back hips or face. Take them to the vet. If caught immediately, a very inexpensive cream can clear this up within a week.
• Mini Pins are very active dogs -- half the time they are very active, and the other half, they are sleeping. Make sure they have plenty to do, or they will get destructive and unhappy.

MAKE A PET CARRIER

How to Make a Pet Carrier

How to create a cat (or small dog) carrier that is sturdy and safe for your pet.

EditSteps

1. 1
   Make the carrier to be big enough for your cat to sit comfortably in, but not so big they can get thrown around inside too much. About 2 ft cube is good (60 cm cube).
2. 2
   Cut the plywood into three 60x60cm pieces.
3. 3
   On one 60x60cm piece of plywood, mark out a door in the centre of the wood, about 30x30cm. Drill out the corners and use the fretsaw or hacksaw to follow the straight lines, cutting the door out entirely.
4. 4
   Attach the hinges to one side of the door and to one edge of the hole you cut it from. The door should open outwards only.
5. 5
   Attach your chosen catch to the side of the door and door frame opposite the hook. For example, drive a U-shaped staple into the plywood on both sides of the door edge, and snap a carabiner across the pair of staples. Make sure the staples do not penetrate to the other side of the wood.
6. 6
   For the frame, use pieces of timber about 2 inches square wide and thick. There should be 4 pieces 60cm long and 8 pieces that are 60cm minus twice the width of the wood = 54cm for 3cm square timber.
7. 7
   Glue and nail together the ends of a shorter piece at 90 degrees between the ends of two long pieces, forming a square U shape. Add another shorter piece between the other two ends forming a square.
   • Form another square with the other two long pieces and two more short pieces. Then carefully nail and glue the last four short pieces between the corners of the two squares. You now have a cube frame of wood.
   • Wait for the glue to dry and make sure no nails are sticking out.
8. 8
   Picture the frame as a cube. It has a front, a back, a top, a bottom, and a right and left side. The long 60cm pieces of timber form the sides.
9. 9
   Measure the wire netting. It should cover the right side, top, and left side. Secure the netting with occasional staples along the frame. The ends of the netting should curl over a cm or two onto the timber frame on the other sides. This means the plywood will cover any sharp edges.
10. 10
    Nail and glue the plywood pieces onto the frame. One on the back, one on the bottom and the door on the front so it opens outwards.
11. 11
    To carry the case, make a handle from baling twine or other strong rope or string, tied firmly to the chicken netting on the top of the cage. You can cut a piece of plastic pipe to hand length and run the rope through that as a handle for easier carrying.
12. 12
    Put some newspaper or an old towel in the bottom in case your cat inadvertently goes to the toilet. Keep another lot and a garbage bag handy so your cat won't have to sit in it and get sick.

EditTips

• Also check that the nails and staples are not sticking out.
• For a dog, you can make the frame larger. Remember the short pieces should be the outside measurement minus twice the width of the timber.
• For a dog or a cat weighing over 6kg you might need two handles.
• No sharp edges of chicken netting should be sticking out. If they are held down by the plywood they can't cut you or your pet.

EditThings You'll Need

• Timber for the frame
• Plywood for the back, door and base
• Chicken netting for the sides and top.
• To hold it together you will need short nails and U-shaped staples for the netting, and 2 hinges.
• You will probably need a saw, a drill, a hammer and a handsaw or fretsaw. You will need something to use as a door catch, either a hook and eye, two staples and a carabiner, or something else.
• Rope and a plastic pipe ~20cm long for the handle.

How to Make Pet Food Dishes

                                                                                                         

Avoid the cost of purchasing food dishes for your four-legged friends and do a bit of recycling good by reusing unwanted plastic containers from your recycling. This is a really simple activity to make versatile pet food dishes in a short space of time, enhanced by your own creative edge.

EditSteps

1. 1
   Find a suitable unwanted plastic container. The plastic containers should be food grade, durable and stable. Hence, the best ones are those containers that have held your own food initially and are strong enough to be reused, such as ice cream containers, or other frozen food storage containers. Avoid any containers that won't clean, are stained, appear weak, or that have any sharp edges. Never use containers that have had toxic products in them (which includes knowing which human foods are not good for pets) - stick to food grade containers only. When sizing, consider:
   • Cats - remember their whiskers, which are wide and sensitive. Cats need a shallow, wide container that doesn't obstruct their head access with whiskers included, but don't make the dish too deep. The water dish should be slightly deeper than the food dish.
   • Dogs - dogs need a dish that has enough room for a single meal. Things to think about include not having too large a dish to avoid the temptation to over-feed your dog, and floppy eared dogs should be give a dish that doesn't cause their ears fall into the meal. The water dish should be twice as big as the meal dish.
2. 2
   Peel off any labels from the chosen container. Use a non-toxic adhesive-removing solution if there is any sticky residue left behind. Wash the container with warm sudsy water, inside and out, thoroughly. Leave it to air dry.
3. 3
   Lay out newspapers where you'll be working. These will protect the work surface. Keep your pet away from your workspace - you don't want him licking glitter or paint!
   
   
4. 4
   Decorate the container. Use anything you have available or that inspires you, to make your designs, such as stickers, non-toxic permanent markers, glitter, non-toxic paint, sequins, rhinestones, whatever! Enjoy this process and remember that your artwork doesn't have to be perfect; it's not like the dog cares if a letter is a fraction of a millimeter shorter than the rest! Keep in mind, however, that it is very important to make sure that whatever you decorate the container with is securely attached to the container, to prevent your pet from pulling it off and chewing it or swallowing it. If in doubt about a stick-on item, don't use it at all, especially not for puppies and kittens.
   
   
5. 5
   Use clear packing tape to seal everything onto the container. This means covering your decorative work in neat layers, being careful not to leave gaps. This will let you to wipe off food stains easily. This step is optional if you'd rather not apply tape; just be sure that your decorations can withstand being wiped clean.
   
   
6. 6
   Wash the container. Wash it twice, for good measure. Be careful with the outside - wiping will be better than washing the external surface. Allow the completed container to air dry again. Fill it with food or water, and watch your pet enjoy their first meal or drink from the new container.

EditTips

• 
  If you make two dishes, label one "water" and one "food", or whatever you'd like them to be labeled. Be creative: "Foofoo" and "H2O" are more exciting labels than plain "food" and "water".
• Be aware that plastic containers don't last long with continued usage. Given that it is really easy to replace these containers, however, it shouldn't be too difficult to continue updating fresh versions for your pet as needed.

EditWarnings

• Plastic contains Bisphenol A. In humans Bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor, which can mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to negative health effects. Many mammal species' biology, especially dogs and cats, are similar to human biology so use your own judgment when using plastics. If you don't want it in your body, do you want it in your pet's?
• Plastic containers probably aren't the best choice if your pet has a habit of pushing the dish around and making a big, spilling mess. You'll need to invest in something sturdier and heavier.
• Do not put any decorations on the inside of the dish. The adhesives, etc., might contaminate the food, and if they come loose, your pet might accidentally ingest them.
• Cats are more sensitive to plastic and can develop allergies or "feline acne" from plastic containers (even commercially made plastic pet food dishes); check the cat's chin regularly to make sure there are no black lesions forming.[1] Cease using the plastic dish if you notice any such problems. Dogs are less sensitive but, with that said, they can also be impacted by degraded plastic (see following warning). If this is a continuing problem with your pet, try using a non-porous material for their food bowl, such as metal.
• Dispose of all chewed, bitten, broken, etc., plastic food containers - once the plastic is split, broken, or torn, it will quickly harbor bacteria growth and should be disposed of - clean and recycle it where possible.

EditThings You'll Need

• A container that has a reasonable size in relation to your pet
• Decorations such as stickers, sequins, paint, markers, etc. Make sure that the markers and paints are non-toxic and do not use sequins and other raised objects if you have any concerns at all about chewing, etc.
• Non-toxic adhesive for decorations
• Clear tape (look for eco-tape where possible)
• Newspapers
• Warm, sudsy water (use a tiny amount of your own dish washing formula)
• Sponge for wiping

BEST WAY TO WALK YOUR DOG

How to Walk a Dog

                                                                                          

Having a dog is a huge responsibility, and one of the many responsibilities is taking your dog on a walk. This article will explain the basics of dog walking, and what you need to use to do so.

EditSteps

1. 1
   

    A dog leash.
   Get a dog leash and collar. You can get them at your nearest pet shop, or you can order them online. If you get them at a pet shop, you can see the material of the collar and test the fit. Make sure that the collar fits the dog - you should be able to slip your fingers between the collar and the dog's neck. Most employees at a pet store know what they are talking about, but some do not. For the safety of dog, you want to make sure the collar fits perfectly. The average leash will be 6 feet (the industry standard); this length should be fine for most dogs and their owners. If you are purchasing a retractable leash, make sure that your dog is obedient enough to walk on a standard leash. If your dog has a tendency to pull, try purchasing a harness. A harness allows the dog's pulling weight to be distributed evenly across his/her chest and shoulders. It is debatable though, because this will help them pull, which they shouldn't do unless you want them to pull you on a skateboard or sled. If the dog needs to do some business, let it go. Don't pull the dog away. It bothers them. Do not purchase a choke collar or one with metal prongs. You could seriously hurt your dog.
2. 2
   Attach the collar to your dog's neck, then put the leash on the collar's D-ring. If you have a standard leash, make sure you hold it correctly. Place your hand through the hole as if it were a bracelet, tie it around your hand, and grip the leash.
   • Be sure to remove any electrical collars (like invisible fence) before walking as not doing so may shock your dog.
3. 3
   Show compassion, but don't come off as "weak". Be confident, but don't be mean. You should lead your dog at all times and make him or her heel; this will prevent behavioral problems.
4. 4
   Talk to your dog. Praise your dog for being good, but tell him "no" if he whines or tries to pull.
5. 5
   Take your dog out to a fun place. A park, a lake, a pet store, etc.
6. 6
   Clean up after your dog if you are not on your property. In some cities, it is an offense not to pick up your dog's mess. You can buy disposal bags at a pet store or use grocery bags.
7. 7
   If you will be walking for extended periods of time, don't forget to bring water. Also wear some decent walking shoes or trainers.
8. 8
   If none of this works you should get a gentle leader harness. Try to stay away from purchasing a muzzle for a dog. They tend not to like them very much.

EditVideo

This is how to teach your dog to stop tugging and to stay with you.

EditTips

• Don't walk your dog too much. If the dog gets too tired, take a break or go back home. This applies to all dogs. Dogs will show you when they are tired. The main sign is that they will walk slower and have their tongue out. They also do this when they are hot.
• Walk with an even pace - not too slow or too fast.
• When you take your dog on a walk, allow time for sniffing and exploring.
• Socialize your dog to new sounds, smells, and people.
• If walking at night, consider getting a glow leash(Available at most retail stores).
• Have fun. Walking is one of the joys of having a dog - you have some relaxation time and your dog can socialize.
• Carry more than one doggie bag, you'll never know when he'll have to go!
• Always keep your dog on the inside, not towards the road.
• Be nice, but don't let your dog be the boss. You're the one in charge!
• Use a harness, if your dog pulls a lot, a leash could cause the dog to choke.

Show 3 more tips

EditWarnings

• Don't pull your dog with your leash - he or she could receive damage to his esophagus.
• If other dogs (not on a leash) or cats are near where you and your dog are, do not pay attention to them. If he whines or tries to run at them, tell him "no". This is not being mean, this is letting him know that its an undesirable behavior.
• If your dog begins to show pain, or walks strangely, stop the walk and examine your dog for any thorns, sticks, or scrapes. Try your best to relieve the pain. If you cannot relieve the pain yourself, end your walk there, carry your dog if you can, and go back home. Then call your veterinarian.
• Signs that your dog may be about to yank away are: looking at something, acting distracted but alert, raised ears, raised tail, some pulling, stopping and looking, or acting excited or scared. You should remain calm, talk to your dog, try to distract it, and be ready to pull back. Always reward it if it doesn't yanks if it sees something.
• Children should be supervised by an adult.
• Don't let your dog off the leash unless absolutely necessary. It could be hit by a car or run away.
• This advice is a start, but there is no substitute for a good dog-training class.
  
• Always be alert when walking; you never know what could happen. Make sure the collar, leash, and harness are not tight. This may suffocate your dog.
  

EditThings You'll Need

• Dog
• Leash
• Collar with I.D. tags
• Harness (optional)
• Poo Bag (or pooper scooper)
• Treats for praise
• A pooper scooper or bag
• Water bottles (optional)
• Silent whistle or clicker (optional)
• Dog toys in case you go to the park
• Treat bag