Is Fido suffering from bad breath? When he greets you, panting profusely, eagerly wagging his tail are you beginning to wish that you where really being greeted by his the end with the tail attached? Are his teeth a dark shade of brown rather than a sparkling white? What all this may indicate is that Fido may issues with his oral hygiene.

Just as a human should keep his teeth and gums clean so should Fido. Dogs can have bits of food and other debris trapped in between their gnashers. This will lead to plaque and tartar causing a brown discolouration. It will also lead to bad breath, gingivitis, pus, and infections, which can subsequently enter the blood stream and infect other major organs such as the heart liver and lungs.

Feeding Fido dry kibbles rather canned or soft meat variety of dog food can go a long way to preventing the build up of tartar, and chewing can break down the stuff already existing on the teeth. Although if the condition of the teeth is already quite bad a trip the vets is in order for some professional descaling. There are many chewy products on the market which encourage Fido to masticate for the good of his own health. However, there is nothing that the larger dog loves to chew than a big meaty bone, which helps the molars and premolars. However, for the front teeth (and for smaller dogs who are not so enamoured with chewing) brave owners may have to resort to the tooth brush and paste.

It is recommended that Fido should have this done at least 2 to 3 times a week, and as with all things to do with dogs, the early that the regime is started in Fido's life the easier it will be: dogs can be sensitive about people poking about in their mouths. However, do not be tempted to charge in there with the tooth paste for human use. The foam can be injurious to Fido if swallowed, which he will do. Vets have special concoctions that are suitably tempting for doggie palates and are mercifully foam free. As for the brush it self, there are specific implements that can fit on the finger, but generally any soft tooth brush will do the job. And remember, plenty of treats and praise at the end. You can also pat Fido for being a good boy!

Did you know that training an adult Pug is actually a shared effort between you, your family and the Pug? You might think that a full grown Pug who may have even been potty trained in the past can just as easily adjust to being in your home. This is not the case. It takes time and commitment for a Pug to get used to the way your home is run and to learn your home's elimination schedule.

These types of high expectations for your new Pug are just unrealistic. A Pug needs to be able to make adjustments to its environment and understand that you will not tolerate peeing on the carpet. This is especially true if its previous owner did not seem to mind that sort of behavior.

You can not just automatically assume that your Pug will instinctively know what to do. You have to treat him as if he were a puppy and get him acquainted with your own pet potty schedule.

Beginning with a crate or closing the Pug off to just using the potty in the bathroom can help a lot. After that has been established you can begin creating a schedule for potty breaks outdoors. Most adult Pugs are picky about where they use the bathroom at. Many do not want to go where they sleep, eat or play.

When walking your Pug, be sure to help him find a spot in your yard and make sure to always go back to the same spot each subsequent time. Take careful watch of your Pug's elimination patterns for a few weeks to determine what's best for him.

Keeping your Pug on a schedule is important so be sure to feed your Pug at the same times each day. He may have never had this type of organization in his life before so it is crucial to remain patient while he adjusts. The old phrase, "you can't teach a Pug new tricks" is a common misconception. In fact, you can teach a Pug anything if you just practice a little consistency.

If your Pug came from an abusive home, even if is was just filled with shouting and hitting with paper for any accidents, then your training efforts may take longer. First you have to win the Pug's confidence and understand that he needs time to get comfortable in his new home.

Many accidents will occur in the house so be prepared to clean up after your Pug and move on. You can't just assume that training a grown Pug will be a piece of cake compared to training a puppy. Both young and older Pugs will need time to adjust to new surroundings. You have to be firm while you are training but show a little affection so that your Pug knows the benefits of good behavior.

An older male Pug may be accustomed to marking his territory by urinating on it. This is an instinctive behavior for male Pugs - you aren't going to break him of it without breaking his spirit or having him neutered.

Without training dogs go, well, to the dogs! If you own a dog in a family environment, then you need to ensure that the dog understands its boundaries and knows the consequences should it overstep them. Training collars are one tool to help train a dog, but there are several varieties. This article will hopefully explain some of them.

The prong collar looks like a medieval torture device, but is actually one of the gentler training collars being investigated here. When the leash is pulled, the prongs start to pinch the back of the dog's neck. The thinking behind this is to replicate the memory of the dog's mother's teeth nipping the scruff of the puppy's neck. The collar is quite safe to use, the only real problem occurring if the fit is poor. If your dog is one that pulls strongly at the leash though, the prong collar might not be suitable.

The adjustment of these collars is quite easy though. Simply remove or add prongs to suit the neck of your dog. If you can just insert a finger between the neck of the dog and the prong collar, then you have just about got it right.

The Halti collar, also known as the Gentle Leader, is more akin to a harness than a collar. It fits over the dog's face and works by closing the dog's mouth when the leash attached to the collar is pulled. The theory is that if you can control the dog's head, you will be able to control the whole dog. This type of collar is especially good for pulling or aggressive dogs.

There is a downside to this type of collar though. Dog's, as a rule, do not like having restrainers on their face, and it might be quite a job to get your dog to accept a harness of this type. Care should also be taken bot to pull the head to hard, because the dog could suffer injuries to the neck or back.

Choke collars can be very effective in controlling a dog. Sadly, in the wrong hands, choke collars can be exceedingly cruel and can hurt dogs. Control lies within the trainer themselves. If you genuinely think that a choke collar will do what you want, but you are not sure how to use one properly, seek expert guidance.

Correct use of a choke collar starts with correct fitting. They work by tightening around the dog's throat when the leash is pulled. Equally, the tightness should be released when the trainer eases up on the leash, but if the collar does not fit correctly, this might not happen resulting in undue distress to the animal. If your dog is one that continually pulls on the leash, then the choke collar is probably not the right collar to use.

Electronic dog collars are relatively new dog training devices. If they are used correctly, they can be a very humane way to train a dog. Used incorrectly, then the dogs could suffer as a consequence.

They work by passing a shock to the dog via a remote control, which is controlled by the trainer. The trainer has complete control over how big a shock to administer to the dog. It is generally accepted that the shock should be strong enough to make the dog's ears twitch, and no more. How much that is depends on the size of the dog and the collar itself. If your dog starts to yelp when you administer a shock, then the charge is probably too high. If you are unsure, seek advice.

There's a lot of misinformation floating around about the Miniature Pinscher. Some say this dog breed is annoying, and barks to much. Others will tell you the Min Pin is not good with children. Chances are that these are the same folks saying that Min Pins are simply small Dobermans. Of course owners of this breed know that all of those things are simply wrong.

The fact is that the Miniature Pinscher is nicknamed the King of the Toys for a very good reason. You'll have a hard time finding a more fun loving, yet loyal dog anywhere.

There's no question that this breed has a bit of an attitude. They are courageous well beyond what their 10 pounds would indicate. They seem to think they weigh much more than that. You'll notice it in their proud walk with their high steps and head held high as well.

And because they are so loyal, proud and courageous, the Miniature Pinscher makes an excellent watchdog. But those same traits can make them difficult if not trained properly.

That's why it's so important for a Min Pin owner to make sure the dog knows early on who is in charge. The Miniature Pinscher will think he is until he realizes otherwise. And because he's so cute and comical, you may be tempted to let him get away with the occasional bad behavior. Do this and your dog will become a tyrant, running your home the way he sees fit. But don't let this tendency bother you because Min Pins are very intelligent and easy to train.

And once he's trained you will have everything you could want in a pet. Your Min Pin will be incredibly loyal and loving and simply a joy to be around. These dogs are real comedians and will leave you laughing every time you watch them play.

And while the Miniature Pinscher is certainly not a fragile breed, he does only weigh about 10 pounds. That means that kids can at times have a tendency to play too rough, especially since the Min Pin acts bigger than he is. Children may need to be reminded that the dog is still small.

As for loyalty, the Miniature Pinscher can and will get along with everyone in your family. But they do tend to pick one person to become extremely attached to. You'll have a hard time finding a more loyal breed.

And Min Pins aren't just playful as puppies, they remain that way through their old age. Sure they are a bundle of energy and need exercise, but because of their size they can get plenty of it just running around your home or apartment. And don't think you need to keep up with them. They'll have a blast playing by themselves with you watching.

And when play time is over they'll be happy to sit there right next to you. So if you want a family pet that's loyal, fun, smart and easy to care for, the Miniature Pinscher may be just the breed you're looking for.