Recent studies indicate that seniors who own pets, live longer, experience better health and enjoy life much more than the senior who has no pet companionship. Results have shown that pet owners often experience a decrease in temperature, stress level, and even blood pressure! In addition to this luxury of companionship, pets can provide joy, entertainment, love and security and even calm the pet owner. Pets love you for being you — not for the psychological games you play — not “only” for the treats you shell out frequently — they are forgiving, loyal and love you unconditionally.

Learn the 6 ways pet ownership can enhance a senior’s quality of life:

#1. Companionship:

An increasing number of hospitals, clinics and nursing homes are now using pet therapy on their senior patients and the results are very encouraging. These patients are finding that having a four legged friend can be comforting, joyful and provide a feeling of security. Studies have proven that having a pet, improves the overall well-being of seniors, for many reasons. Often, seniors are unable to interact socially, perhaps through remoteness or immobility. Sometimes all recreational activity is limited for that senior. A pet can supply both of these things. Animal companionship lessens loneliness, the feeling of isolation and boredom and has even been known to eliminate depression in some patients.

#2. Increases Self-Worth:

Just the need to love and clean and provide for a pet, can certainly increase the self worth of that senior. A pet owner may certainly revel in the attention and affection this pet will offer. Think of the satisfaction derived from seeing this pet thrive and become your best friend — there is nothing like it.

#3. Loyalty and unconditional love received:

This feeling shared with your special pet is second to none. Regardless of the weather, lack of special friends, immobility, poor health — your pet will be by your side assuring you, you are the greatest ! Your pet may even become your most faithful travel companion (depending on your choice of pet, the mode of travel and personalities of both you and your pet)

#4. Improved quality of life:

By exercising your pet in the fresh air, your appetite should increase due to the increased activity, your interest in the outside world increases , you should experience great happiness and you focus less on your physical and emotional aches and pains. You gain a sense of purpose and a compelling reason to take good care of yourself so you can care for your “best friend”. This responsibility for providing protection and care for your pet should be a wonderful diversion for the pet owner.

#5. Stress Reduction:

What could be more tranquil than watching an aquarium full of tropical fish — even, a simple act of petting a dog has been shown to significantly lower a person’s blood pressure. Therapy pets as companions, for AIDS patients, cancer patients, those afflicted with mental illness and seniors, are much more commonly used today. This Pet Therapy concept is experiencing wonderful success in helping many patients experience greatly improved emotional and physical health.

#6. Self Reliance Increase:

Often the fear of being victimized or abused is greatly decreased when the pet owner is in the company of their pet. This self reliance is especially evident when sharing a residence with a dog.

Researchers speculate that the “care-taking role” involved in pet ownership “often provides older people with a sense of purpose and responsibility and encourage them to be less apathetic and more active in day-to-day activities.”
(From the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, March 1999)

Pets, like people display their own unique personalities — IF you or a senior you know are looking for that special friend — Assess the potential pet owner’s unique personality!

Some unique personalities:

** A Couch potato:

Possible choices may be, a tranquil indoor cat — a parakeet, finch or lovebird, or a turtle. A pet that may happily entertain themselves with a mirror, a bell, a ball of wool or a scratching post. Remember with all these pets, they must be fed and watered regularly, ALSO, make certain they have clean bed, kitty litter or cage (whatever the pet may need).

** A High-Energy City Dweller:

Possible choices may be, a bird, an aquarium with exotic fish, a ferret OR possibly a gecko!

** A Country Boy (or girl):

A larger dog (lab or retriever) are some good choices for walks, hikes, swimming, fishing , or enjoying rides in the country.

** The traveller:

Always on the go — Perhaps a pet with little care needed or a travel ready dog such as; a poodle, Chihuahua or Yorkshire terrier are excellent travel companions and are usually airline friendly. Fish, birds would also make a good companion for those breaks in between trips.

If considering a pet for the elderly — keep in mind any restrictions or limitations the senior may have. Size and personality of a dog are important aspects to consider, if a senior wishes to have this type of pet. A small dog is often the pet of choice — but also consider the temperament of the dog.

Smaller dogs are usually easier to handle (unless an exceptionally active little one, i.e. a Jack Russell, however, very cute!) and tend to be less maintenance and easier to handle than larger ones. Usually a smaller dog are also beneficial for the elderly because they make great lap dogs — of course, you need to research the breed’s characteristics first.

Following are some choices of breed that the senior may enjoy:

– Pomeranian — cute, cuddly, perky — a lovely companion!

– Shih Tzu — friendly, gentle, alert and love companionship.

– Schnauzer — two sizes, miniature and standard — protective, wants to please — needs exercise and grooming.

– Boston Terrier — small size, very protective, laid back and friendly.

– Cocker Spaniel — Very patient and docile, little exercise, but regular grooming.

– Pug — Loves loving and to cuddle — but can be playful!

– Toy poodle — Absolutely loves attention — enjoys people presence immensely.

These are just a few breeds that seniors may appreciate — it may be wise to visit a humane society, pet shop and research online for just the companion the senior will love and enjoy.

For each and everyone of us who has ever owned or ever cared for a companion animal, we should not underestimate their important role in emotional health. Pets offer unconditional love and attention, they make us laugh, help us relax and divert us from daily issues. The psychological benefits of pet ownership can be amazing!

For more interesting and informative tips and news on pets for seniors, visit: [http://www.retirement-planning-success.com/Pets-for-seniors.html]

Gerry Dube – Retirement-Planning-Success.Com Providing Critical Tips, Information and Resources (including eBooks and eCourses) For All Aspects of Retirement Planning Success [http://www.retirement-planning-success.com]

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Choosing the right breed of dog is not an easy task considering that there are hundreds of dog breeds. It is possible to follow a few obvious rules and narrow down your choice while selecting dog breeds. It is not advisable to go only for looks or aesthetically pleasing breeds because these considerations tend to overshadow the more practical considerations, some of which are detailed further on.

First and foremost, is your dwelling place suitable for the breed you want to consider? Apartment dwellers should avoid large breeds. Obviously, Toy Group dogs like Yorkshire Terriers are a good choice.

The presence of children in the house is another factor. Toy Group dogs are delicate and can easily suffer injuries at the hands of innocent children whose instinct is to grasp and squeeze.

Large dogs are too strong and might accidentally push or topple very small children without intending to.

Medium sized breeds are best if there are children in the family.

Dog breeds in the Sporting, Hound, and Herding groups need plenty of exercise. An enclosed yard is a big help. If there is a park close by, that would also do as long as you are regular in going there. These breeds were bred to work hard and they always have excess energy that needs to be let out in some way.

Study grooming and see how much time can be devoted to it. Some breeds need no more than ½ hour per week. Others might need a full hour a day. Don’t buy a Standard Poodle if you are busy.

People short on time should go for Boston Terriers or Whippets.

Once the selecting of dog breeds is complete, decide on the age. Puppies might not have developed any bad habits but they need to be properly trained. Grown up dogs are already housebroken and have some obedience training but they could possibly have health or behavior problems that is causing their owner to sell them in the first place.

If the decision is to buy a puppy, then a reputable dog breeder must be located who has a litter of the breed that has been selected. Good breeders usually have a waiting list for puppies of all breeds. Impatient people are likely to be put off by this and rush off to a pet store to buy a puppy immediately. Beware, pet store puppies are normally bred in puppy farms and could have health problems, bad temperaments, etc. The safest thing to do is to buy a puppy directly from a reputable breeder and from nowhere else.

The best places to inquire for grown up dogs are the local animal shelter or the breed rescue. These groups are responsible for evaluating a dog’s health and temperament before putting them up for adoption and are safe options.

Get all of your dog information at [http://yougodog.com]

Copyright 2006 @ Ann Born [http://yougodog.com] No part of this article may be reproduced in any manner without including the author’s bio.

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All kids want a dog! However, it is important to think about the age of your children as to when they get that dog. Small children (especially under six) you need to consider the size of your child and their unpredictable behavior. Also, the dog’s behavior, for example, if you get a large, high-energy dog who could knock your child down easily. You could get a small dog that could easily be hurt unintentionally by your child.

If you have small children do you have time to take on a puppy and train him?

Parents should always supervise interaction between a dog and their children. Children need to be taught how to respectably treat a puppy.

Usually after seven years of age children are ready to have a dog to love and play with.

There are many breeds that are good with children. Learn the different characteristics of different breeds and decide what suits your child.

If you’re not looking for a puppy consider finding a dog that has been raised with young children. Another option could be a young dog (a year or under) who is gently, not afraid of children, and look for his tail wagging when a child approaches him.

SOME BREEDS THAT ARE BELIEVED TO BE GOOD WITH CHILDREN ARE THE FOLLOWING:

LABRADOR RETRIEVER

Gentle breed with outgoing nature, very friendly, good for active families, needs lots of exercise,

loyal and devoted family member.

GOLDEN RETRIEVER

Highly intelligent, friendly, good-natured, even-temperament, good choice for families who

enjoy outdoors and needs lots of exercise.

STANDARD POODLE

Intelligent, makes excellent pets, playful, active, low shedding, love to play, faithful. Does come in

three sizes.

IRISH SETTER

Eager to please and a good companion.

BOSTON TERRIER

Loyal family pet for less active families, obedient and loyal.

COLLIES

Intelligent, patient, docile with children and has lots of energy.

BEAGLE

Great tracker and hunter, good for active families, cheerful, friendly and like to play games.

BICHON FRISE

Faithful, obedient, happy, needs regular grooming.

PUGS

Clown at heart, great family dog, playful, loyal and even-tempered.

BASSET HOUND

Calm, good companion, stubborn, loyal, sweet, friendly, gladly play with children.

SPRINGER SPANIEL

Playful, friendly, cheerful, intelligent, quick learner, obedient and good-natured.

JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

Intelligent, loyal, high-energy, good watchdog and friendly.

BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG

Patient, loving with family, loyal and intelligent.

STANDARD SCHNAUZER

Playful, active, loving and intelligent. Does come in three sizes. Requires regular grooming.

NEWFOUNDLAND

Called the “Gentle Giant”, sweet temperament, protective of children, smart, loyal and calm.

BULLDOG

Affectionate, dependable, gentle with children and a good guard dog.

BOXER

Friendly, sweet, playful, good for busy active families and patient with children.

Even if a breed is suppose to be good with children there are always exceptions.

Remember dogs need to be trained and socializated.

This is a site basically about small dog breeds but I have listed bigger dogs for children if that is what you want.
Good luck in finding the perfect dog for you.

Sandy has a web site on small dog breeds with information on small dog breeds, choosing a dog, choosing a breeder, bringing puppy home, dogs good with children and seniors and much more. http://www.small-dogbreeds.com

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To compete with your Boston Terrier you will need to understand the requirements and procedures used for judging. The American Kennel Club releases breed standards for each breed of dog and the Boston Terriers specifications can be found here. You can also check more specialized clubs for the information about required standards for your Boston Terrier. The American Kennel club is currently revising these standards.

If you want your Boston Terrier to take part in dog shows then you will need to understand the standards and how they relate to your dog. If you already own or are thinking about owning a Boston Terrier and would like to compete (or show off your dog) here’s a guide to understanding breed specifications.

It’s important to note that these are descriptions of ideal Boston Terriers.

Competition ranking systems: Dogs are judged out of a total 100 score. When judging Boston Terriers this score comprises the following elements:

- General Appearance

- Size, Proportion, Substance

- Head – skull shape, characteristics of eyes, ears, muzzle, jaw shape.

- Neck, Topline and Body

- Forequarters

- Gait

- Coat

- Temperament

- Faults in the breed: can lead to instant disqualification

General Appearance

Boston Terriers are intelligent dogs. General appearance needs to be well-balanced; this means all limbs are in proportion. Boston Terriers have a smooth coat which is generally brindle, seal or black. The dog must have even white markings.
The body is short and the limbs are strong. The tail is short.

Size, Proportion, Substance

This refers to your dog’s weight. There are several official weight categories but the dog’s weight cannot exceed 25 pounds.

The Boston Terriers legs should be proportioned to give it its characteristic square appearance. The dog looks sturdy and muscular.

In general the only difference between the male and female is that the bitch generally has more refined features.

Head

The skull is short and flat on top. There should be no wrinkles. The cheeks are flat and the stop is well defined. Boston Terriers should have an alert _expression; reflecting their high intelligence. The eyes should be wide set and large. Boston Terriers with blue eyes – or any hint of blue in their eyes will be disqualified immediately. The ears should be small and stand upright.

The jaw is square and wide with short teeth. The bite is even.

Neck, Towline and Body

The neck should be slightly arched and carry the head gracefully. The neck of the ideal Boston terrier should display an image of balance.

Topline refers to the shape of the dogs back. The back should be shaped in such a way that it completes the square shape of the body.

The chest should be deep with a good width, ribs etc.

Forequarters

The shoulders should be laid back and should slope. IT is this shape which gives Boston Terriers their stylish movement. The elbows should be straight and not protrude in any way. The dewclaws may be removed.
Gait

This refers to the way in which your dog carries himself. The ideal Boston Terrier is sure-footed and straight gaited. The forelegs and hind legs should move in a straight line with perfect rhythm. Each step should be that of grace and power.

Coat

The coat should be short, smooth and fine in texture. Color must be brindle, seal or black with bright markings. The Boston Terrier must have a white muzzle band, white between the eyes and a white chest.

Temperament

The ideal Boston Terrier is friendly and lively. The dog is known for its high intelligence.
Faults in the breed (grounds for disqualification)

Any traces of blue or blue eyes – eyes must be dark

Dudley nose – This means a loss of pigmentation in the nose and it is pink or flesh colored, however when Boston’s are first born and up to 6 months their nose will be pink. It will change to the color black so don’t let this hinder you from buying a Boston with a pink nose.

Docked tail – This refers to the practice of cutting tails. It is an outdated practice and your dog will be disqualified.

Lack of required markings

Other serious faults

Wry mouth – one side of the mouth is longer than the other.

Any showing of the tongue/teeth when the mouth is closed

Other faults

Blocky or chunky appearance

Overshot bite/undershot bite – much like human ‘faults’ this just means an over or under bite.

The Boston Terriers make a great family pet. They are highly intelligent, loyal, great with children and very easy going. They are not considered fighters but definitely can hold their own. If you don’t plan to show your Boston then these qualifications don’t mean a thing. Boston Terriers are the perfect all around companion just the way they are.

Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide

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Boston Terriers are the top dog breed in many different respects. Bostons–or BTs–as many Boston owners often refer to them, are considered on-top for a variety of reasons:

** They’re tops in playfulness.

** They’re tops in eating.

** They’re tops in snoring.

** They’re tops in passing gas and producing solid waste (sorry, but it’s true).

** They’re tops in sleeping peacefully for hours on end.

** They’re tops in chewing and gnawing on bones.

** They’re tops in cuteness.

** They’re tops in loving.

It’s probably true that most dog breed owners believe their preferred dog breed to be the best, but Boston Terriers are some of the greatest dogs around. But let’s take a little closer look at Boston Terriers…

A puppy trainer once said that, “Boston Terriers are a big dog in a little dog’s body…”, and nothing could be more apt. BTs are not afraid of much. They’ll rumble at will with much bigger Golden Retrievers and Labradors. In fact, many Boston Terriers seem to prefer playing with big dogs.

Boston’s have a wonderful muscular physique. Compact and strong, they usually top out at 20 or 25 pounds, and it’s not uncommon to find more petite Boston Terriers as well.

BTs love to play and they’re speedy and athletic, so be sure to have lots of fetch toys available. They may even be good candidates for agility training, a sort of obstacle course for dogs. But they also love to chew and have strong jaws, so you’ll want to keep strong bones on hand, plus well-made chew ropes or hard rubber tug toys. Forget the little plastic squeaky toys… they’ll be mincemeat in minutes… honestly.

Boston Terriers do play hard, but when they stop, they sleep hard too. Few dog breeds can crash into total oblivion as fast as a Boston. And if they can curl up on the bed or couch with you, so much the better. They absolutely love to nestle into the curve between your butt and knees if you lay on your side. Be prepared to share your bed with your Boston Terrier… they’re almost impossible to resist!

Boston’s eat well too. Not picky, for the most part, they’ll wolf down meals with abandon. And be sure to keep some tasty–but healthy–snacks on hand too to reward good behavior, or just to spoil your little cutie.

And talk about cute… What could be cuter than your little “tuxedo man” (or woman) with the black and white markings, big brown eyes, huge ears, smushy face, and that little pout? One inquisitive look from a Boston Terrier with his head cocked, and you melt.

Of course, Boston Terriers are also “good” at some less desirable things. With their short snouts, breathing is more of a challenge, and they’ll snore better than some humans when sleeping. So, if you’re not a sound sleeper, it could create some problems. Some Boston owners consider their pet to be a “solid waste factory”. It’s not uncommon during a 10-block walk for him to “go” at least twice. So, bring lots of bags!

If you like to exercise, walk, or hike with your Boston, it’s also important to know that their short snouts make it difficult for them to cool their bodies effectively during hot weather. Their dark coats don’t help either. So, you may need to leave your Boston Terriers home on hot days… or to provide some kind of cooling, through a vest with cold packs in it or some such. Cold weather can be hard for a BT too, with their short hair and lack of extra fat. It may look silly, but your BT needs to wear a warm coat when outside on cold days.

But what Boston Terriers are absolutely the best at is… loving their owners. They love us with their total being, following us around the house, and always wanting to be close. Most dogs provide unconditional love to their people; it’s one of the biggest reasons to own a dog. But Boston Terriers are absolutely devoted to people.

Boston’s are hands down one of the top dog breeds you could ever own. Won’t you adopt a Boston Terrier today?

About the Author:

Article by Dog-and-Cat-Training.com
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Did I ever mention to you how cute Boston Terriers are? Oh, I see. Well I just have to say it again, this is such a cute little Boston Terrier. The expression on its face is great. And you know that the expression once it ate its Cheeto was just as good.

This cute little Boston Terrier may not have the proper markings and you know what I say… Who cares. I have never been into the whole show dog things, and as with people it is what is inside that matters not looks. Well this Boston Terrier has both in my opinion.

They really seem so comfortable together don’t they? This is such a nice picture, I just had to share it with you. The little Boston Terrier looks so content wrapped up in the Labrador’s (?) legs doesn’t it? I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do!

The story covered yet another attack and mauling perpetrated by two Pit Bulls. The victim this time around was a Boston Terrier. This isn’t the first time I have heard of Pit Bulls mauling a Boston Terrier (see the bottom of this post for another instance). This time however the mauling was fatal.

On Monday September 7th, in Youngstown Florida “Deputy Kenny Bibbs and his wife, Tara Bibbs, saw their neighbors’ two pit bull dogs running loose and acting aggressively. Tara Bibbs began walking toward the neighbor’s house to let them know the dogs were loose.

Tara Bibbs said she saw the two dogs drag her Boston terrier through a space at the bottom of her fence and begin “chewing” on her dog, the report said. She managed to pull her dog away from the other dogs and screamed for her husband to help her.”

Pit Bulls are not breed for their companionship like the Boston Terrier, rather for how game they are. They display strong aggression toward other dogs and will as we have seen got through great lengths to get in the fight.

While many Pit Bull owners will argue that they are a loving and misunderstood breed there is too much evidence to say otherwise. They are unpredictable even attacking their owners when they sense a moment of weakness. Why? Because they are social climbers for one.

Two such incidents that spring to mind: the epileptic woman that was mauled to death in her sleep. And a retired couple that blamed the attack on a Mountain Lion. It wasn’t until days later that they discovered the actual culprit caked in his owners blood locked up in the garage.

Need more proof? Do a Google search, there are more than enough instances where people and pets have been attacked by this (purposely) dangerous breed.

This Boston Terrier was also attacked by a Pit Bull

I said that this wasn’t the first time I heard of a Boston Terrier being attacked by a Pit Bull. Meet Stella. She and her owner were taking a walk one day when a Pit Bull broke through its fence and attacked them.

Stella survived the attack, though as you can see from the photo, suffered nasty laceration in the shoulder. It was only with the help of pepper spray and two men with boards that they were able to pull her away from the attacking Pit Bull.

Photo of Stella after the attack by Don Hankins

In closing Pit Bulls are already banned in numerous countries. Is that what the US needs to do to ensure that such attacks don’t continue?

With a Pit Bull ban, the breed would slowly but eventually cease to exist. That is extreme. And there are other instances where dogs have been bread for their aggressive and dangerous traits only to be down bred into loving companion dogs.

The Bulldog faced this same threat and is now one of the most gentle companion dogs you could ever have.

The Pit Bull is a long way away from that point and unless a lot of breeders take a step back and look at the situation they are only dooming their chosen breed to extinction.

This is a showdown for the history books, this cute little Boston Terrier faces on against an equally sized feline foe. Now that is a little bit of an over exaggeration. The Boston Terrier and the cat seem to be living in the same home, and I might add that the cat isn’t very impressed with the Boston’s show of power.

If I had to guess I would say this picture depicts some playtime between the two. How interested the cat is another question all together. You can tell from the expression on the Boston Terrier’s face that it thinks it is being really brave.

This was a really good moment to catch on film.