Owning dogs, especially taking care of the brittany, is old hat for humans across the globe. Some historians believe that dogs were first domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all canines evolved from wolves. Since then, human beings have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the distinction of tallest canine. But the most widespread canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The brittany is another favorite choice among dog owners. Many owners are oblivious, however, of some critical brittany care tips.
Typical cost of care for the brittany
The annual budget for caring for your brittany—which includes nutrition and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—could vary between $420 and $780. This figure doesn’t include capital expenses for sterilization operations, collar and leash, carrier and a doggie crate. Note: Be positive you have obtained all of your items before you get your brittany home.
General brittany Care
brittany Feeding Routine
- brittany puppies between 8 and 12 weeks old need 4 bowls of food in a day.
- brittany pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals every 24 hour period.
- Feed pups six months to 1 year two bowls of food daily.
- By the time the brittany makes her first birthday, one meal each day is sufficient.
- Some adult brittanys, however, do better with two smaller bowls. It is your job to adapt to your brittany’s eating tendencies.
High-quality dry food provides a well-balanced diet for full-grown brittanys and can mix with water, canned food, or broth. Your brittany may have a taste for cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these dishes should be less than 10 percent of his or her daily food. brittany pups should probably be fed a high-quality, brand-name puppy food. Try to cut down on “table food”, though, since it can cause vitamin and mineral imbalances, tooth and bone problems, and might create very picky eating habits as well as obesity. Clean, potable water should be available always, and be certain to clean food and water dishes regularly.
brittany Care Tips: Make sure to get your brittany some daily exercise
brittanys must get some daily exercise so they can burn calories, recharge their brains, and remain in good health. Daily exercise also tends to help brittanys fight boredom, which often has the potential to lead to to destructive behavior. Getting out would curb many of your brittany’s instinctual urges to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Exercise needs will depend on your brittany’s age and her level of health—but a couple of walks down the street every day and ten minutes in the backyard probably will not do. If your brittany is a six to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will probably be a little greater.
brittany Grooming
You can help keep your brittany clean and reduce shedding with frequent brushing. Check for ticks and fleas every day during the summer or other warm weather. Most brittanys don’t need a bath more than a few times a year. Before giving him or her a bath, cut out or comb any and all mats from the brittany’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to soap residue.
brittany Handling
Puppies are obviously easier to manage. While carrying the brittany pup, place 1 of your hands beneath the dog’s chest, either with your forearm or other hand supporting her back legs and rear. Don’t ever try to grab or lift your pup by his or her forelegs, tail or back of the neck. If you must pick up a larger, full-grown brittany, lift from underneath, supporting her chest with one of your arms and rear end with your other arm.
Housing your brittany
brittanys need a comfy peaceful spot in order to relax apart from all the breezes and off the ground. You might want to buy a dog bed, or prefer making one from a wooden box. Put a clean blanket or pillow in the bed. Wash the brittany’s bedding frequently. If your brittany will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure she has access to plenty of cool water and covering in hot weather, and a dry, covered, warm shelter when it’s cold.
brittany Identification
Make certain to follow the city’s licensing regulations. You should attach the license to your brittany’s collar. This, along with an ID tattoo or tag, will most likely help you recover your brittany should she become lost.
Information on brittany Behavior
Thoughts on brittany Training
A well-behaved, companion brittany is a blessing. But untrained, your dog will most likely be a big headache. Training your brittany on the standards—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen the relationship both with your dog and the relatives. If you’re the owner of a puppy, start training her on the right responses as fast as you can! Use meals as recognition and incentive. Pups should commence obedience class when they are sufficiently immunized. Contact the local humane society or SPCA for details on training class recommendations. Invariably you should walk your brittany on a leash in public, even as a pup. Just be positive your dog will come back to you whenever you call him. A disobedient or aggressive brittany shouldn’t play with children.
The Health of Your brittany
brittanys should see the veterinarian for a complete diagnosis, vaccinations and heartworm test every year, and promptly when she is hurt or ill.
About your brittany’s Oral Health
While many of us may object to our brittany’s foul breath, it’s important to be aware of what it may be a sign of. Halitosis is usually an indication that your brittany should get a dental screening. Plaque , which is caused by germs brings a foul stench that requires treatment by a professional. Once your brittany has had a cleaning done by a professional, the gums and teeth may be kept up by eliminating table food, feeding a special diet focused on maintaining dental health, and brushing regularly. Your veterinarian can provide you with other guidance on minimizing dental diseases as well as bad breath. You can clean your brittany’s teeth with a dog paste or a simple baking soda and water paste twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, often affects brittanys. Sometimes, teeth loss takes place because of gum infection. Disease will sometimes also spread to other areas of your brittany’s body. Veterinarians will sometimes brush her teeth as a regular part of your brittany’s health appointment.
brittany Halitosis
If your brittany has smelly breath, periodontal disease might simply be a symptom of another ailment. A pleasant, even sweet smell can frequently be indicative of diabetes, while intestinal or liver diseases may cause foul breath. Kidney disease may be the cause if your brittany’s breath smells like urine or ammonia. Any time you determine your brittany has halitosis and other indications of disease, like diminished appetite, vomiting or nausea, loss of weight, bad mood, a lot of urinating or drinking, plan an exam with her veterinarian.
Fleas and Ticks in brittanys
Regular, daily inspections of your brittany for ticks and fleas throughout the summer are crucial. Remove fleas with a flea comb. There are several new technologies of flea and tick management. Speak with your vet about his or her options.
brittanys With Heartworm Issues
Your brittany is at risk of heartworms if she is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes carry heartworms from dog to dog. Heartworm infections are potentially deadly. It is wise to make sure your brittany takes a blood test for heartworms each spring—this is required for detecting infections from the past year. A monthly pill given throughout the course of the warm, wet time of the year will protect your brittany. Your brittany should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some more moderate locations, veterinarians recommend preemptive worm medication be taken all year.
Poisons and Medications
If you’re contemplating giving your brittany tablets that was not prescribed for her by his vet, don’t even think about it. For example, are you aware that just 1 ibuprofen pill will sometimes cause ulcers in some dogs Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your brittany. Be sure to contact your dog’s vet when you think your brittany has ingested poison. You should also contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hr. help.
brittanys: Neutering and Spaying
It is recommended that male brittanys should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the extraction of the uterus and ovaries – by six months old. You can significantly reduce your female’s chance of breast cancer by spaying prior to adulthood. Spaying also eliminates the possibility of an infected uterus, a very serious condition in more mature females that can only be treated with intensive medical care and surgery. Neutering male brittanys eliminates the risk of prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
brittany Shots
- The combination vaccine (also called a “five-in-1 shot”) needs to be given to your brittany at two, three, and 4 months old and again once each year. This shot immunizes your puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. The brittany puppy’s innoculation regimen cannot be finished prior to four months old.
- If you have an uninnoculated brittany older than four or 5 months, he must have a set of 2 vaccinations given two to 3 weeks apart, followed by an annual innoculation.
- brittany puppy socialization and vaccination should go together. Most veterinarians recommend that new owners take their brittany puppies to socialization classes, beginning at eight or nine weeks of age. At this age, they should have already received their first innoculations.
Laws vary so much around the country, that it’s best to contact your neighborhood veterinarian to get rabies immunization details. For instance, in New York City, the statute states that all pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. The original rabies immunization must be followed up by a subsequent innoculation the next year, and then every 3 years. There are a variety of vaccines, many of which are right for your brittany. There are others that are not, however. Ask your brittany’s vet for his recommendation. By the way, if your brittany gets ill because he is not innoculated, do not administer the innoculation until the dog has made a full recovery.
Intestinal Parasites in brittanys
brittanys are often exposed to worms—in all areas, both urban and rural. Eggs that carry hookworms and roundworms are transmitted through a brittany’s feces. Most pups, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry hookworms or roundworms. The key to effective treatment is early detection. This will make sure that the medicine is highly effective against the parasite your dog has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your vet can best identify the culprit—and prescribe the right medicine.
brittany: Miscellaneous Care Tips
brittany Supply Checklist
- High-quality dog food and snacks specifically for brittanys and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Box or dog bed with warm quilt or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to brittanys:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Grapes & raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic or chives
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Keep your brittany on a leash whenever you are outside, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured place. And please, when your brittany defecates on your neighbor’s lawn, remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about brittanys
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