Owning dogs, especially providing care for the polish lowland sheepdog, is old hat for humans. Some zoologists postulate that dogs were originally domesticated sometime between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all canines evolved from wolves. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, ranging in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-ft stature earns them the title of the tallest canine. However, the most popular pooches are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The polish lowland sheepdog is also a favorite choice with canine owners. Some owners are uninformed, however, of many important polish lowland sheepdog care tips.
Cost of care for the polish lowland sheepdog
The annual budget for caring for your polish lowland sheepdog—which includes nutrition, to doctor bills, toys and license—could range between four hundred twenty and $780. This doesn’t even count capital costs for sterilization procedures, a collar and a leash, a dog carrier and a dog crate. Note: Make sure you have all your items before getting your polish lowland sheepdog home for the first time.
Typical polish lowland sheepdog Care
polish lowland sheepdog Feeding Routine
- polish lowland sheepdog puppies between eight and 12 weeks old need 4 bowls of food in a day.
- polish lowland sheepdog pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals daily.
- Feed puppies 6 months old to 1 year old two times each day.
- When the polish lowland sheepdog hits his or her 1st birthday, one bowl in a twenty-four hour period is usually enough.
- Some adult polish lowland sheepdogs might eat 2 smaller helpings. It’s your duty to learn your polish lowland sheepdog’s eating schedule.
High-quality dry dog food provides a well-rounded diet for grown polish lowland sheepdogs and may be mixed with broth, water, or canned food. Your polish lowland sheepdog may dig fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked eggs, but these dishes should be less than ten percent of her daily allowance. polish lowland sheepdog puppies need to be given top-quality, brand-name puppy food. You should try to cut down on “table food”, though, since it can result in mineral and vitamin imbalances, bone and teeth concerns, and might create extremely picky food choices as well as obesity. Give clean, fresh water only, and be sure to wash water and food dishes frequently.
polish lowland sheepdog Care Tips: Make sure to give your polish lowland sheepdog plenty of daily exercise
polish lowland sheepdogs need daily physical activity to stay in shape, stimulate their minds, and maintain good health. Exercise also really helps polish lowland sheepdogs fight boredom, which has the potential to lead to destructive behavior. Physical activity can satisfy many of your polish lowland sheepdog’s desires to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Individual exercise needs depend on your polish lowland sheepdog’s age and her level of health—but ten minutes in back of the house and a couple of walks around the block every day probably will not be sufficient. If your polish lowland sheepdog is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be relatively more.
Grooming tips for polish lowland sheepdogs
Frequent brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your polish lowland sheepdog clean. Inspect for fleas and ticks daily during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes polish lowland sheepdogs don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Prior to a bath, cut out or comb all mats from the polish lowland sheepdog’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to soap residue.
polish lowland sheepdog Handling
Pups are clearly easier to manage. To carry the polish lowland sheepdog pup, take one of your hands and place it under the dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting the back legs and rear. Never try to lift or grab your puppy by her front legs, back of the neck or tail. When you need to lift a larger, adult polish lowland sheepdog, pick it up from the underside, holding her chest with one arm and rear end with the other.
Housing the polish lowland sheepdog
polish lowland sheepdogs need a cozy quiet spot in order to sleep away from all the drafts and off the floor or ground. You may want to think about buying a dog bed, or make one out of a wooden box. Put a clean comforter, sheet, or pillow in the bed for cushion. Wash the polish lowland sheepdog’s bed covering frequently. If the polish lowland sheepdog will be outdoors often, make sure he has access to shade and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a covered, warm, dry area in winter.
Licensing and Identification for polish lowland sheepdogs
There are licensing rules to follow in your city. Be sure to affix the license to your polish lowland sheepdog’s collar. This, together with an ID tag or tattoo, can possibly help you recover your polish lowland sheepdog should she become lost.
Information on polish lowland sheepdog Temperament
Thoughts on polish lowland sheepdog Training
Well-behaved, companion polish lowland sheepdogs are a blessing to own. However, untrained, your dog can possibly be a big headache. Training your polish lowland sheepdog on the standards—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—bolsters your relationship both with the pooch and the neighbors. If you’re the owner of a puppy, start training him on the appropriate responses as fast as you can! Food can be used as incentive and recognition. Pups can start obedience courses when they are sufficiently immunized. Call the local humane society or SPCA for information on training classes. Invariably you should keep your polish lowland sheepdog leashed in public, even as a puppy. Be sure your doggie will come to you if you tell her to. A disobedient or aggressive polish lowland sheepdog can’t be allowed to play with children.
The Health of Your polish lowland sheepdog
polish lowland sheepdogs should see the vet for a full examination, immunizations and a heartworm blood exam each year, and ASAP when he is sick or injured.
The Dental Health of Your polish lowland sheepdog
Although we might object to our polish lowland sheepdog’s foul breath, we should pay attention to what it might mean. Foul breath is a sign that your polish lowland sheepdog needs a dental examination. Plaque triggered by unhealthy bacteria causes a bad odor that can only be freshened with professional treatment. Once your polish lowland sheepdog has had a cleaning from a professional, the teeth and gums may be kept up by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. Your veterinarian can provide you with more info on minimizing oral disease as well as halitosis. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your polish lowland sheepdog’s teeth. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Sometimes, polish lowland sheepdogs develop periodontal disease, also known as an infection between the gums and teeth. This troublesome affliction can possibly lead to your polish lowland sheepdog’s loss of teeth and also spread infection to the rest of his body. Your vet usually will brush the polish lowland sheepdog’s teeth during her routine health diagnosis.
polish lowland sheepdog Bad Breath
While the foul odors brought on by oral disease may not be too serious if detected early, sometimes bad breath may indicate serious, persistent causes for concern. A pleasant, even fruity smell can frequently be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the liver or intestines may cause foul breath. When your polish lowland sheepdog’s breath smells of urine or ammonia, kidney disease is a possible cause. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your polish lowland sheepdog has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Fleas and Ticks in polish lowland sheepdogs
Daily checks of your polish lowland sheepdog for fleas and ticks in the warm seasons are crucial. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are several new procedures of tick and flea control. Speak with your veterinarian about his or her recommendations.
polish lowland sheepdogs With Heartworm Issues
The heartworm is a parasite that lives in the heart and passes from a contaminated dog to your polish lowland sheepdog by way of mosquitoes. Many polish lowland sheepdogs die yearly as a result of heartworm infections. It is very critical you make sure your polish lowland sheepdog submits to a blood screening for worms annually in the spring. You should also give your polish lowland sheepdog a once-a-month pill during the warm, wet time of the year to help protect her from heartworms. If ever you vacation in a warmer-than-usual region with your polish lowland sheepdog during the winter, she should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some regions, usually the places with hotter temperatures, where doctors recommend heartworm medication be given all throughout the year.
Poisons and Medications
Never, ever give your polish lowland sheepdog medication that hasn’t been prescribed by her veterinarian. Just one ibuprofen tablet can possibly initiate stomach ulcers in polish lowland sheepdogs. Make sure your polish lowland sheepdog is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Make sure to immediately call your polish lowland sheepdog’s doctor when you think your polish lowland sheepdog has been exposed to poison. You can also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hour help.
polish lowland sheepdogs: Neutering and Spaying
Male polish lowland sheepdogs should be neutered – the removal of the testes – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months of age. You can significantly reduce your female’s chance of breast cancer by spaying prior to adulthood. The risk of an infected uterus, which is also a serious disease that impacts older females, will also be removed by spaying while young. Neutering male polish lowland sheepdogs helps prevent prostate and testicular diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
polish lowland sheepdog Immunizations
- Your polish lowland sheepdog puppy should be innoculated with a combo shot (called the “5-in-one”) at 2, three and 4 months old, and again once yearly. This vaccine immunizes your puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. Your polish lowland sheepdog must be vaccinated for at least the first 4 months of her life.
- If your polish lowland sheepdog has not been vaccinated and is older than 4 months, she will need two innoculations promptly, two or three weeks apart. After that you must immunize every year.
- Your polish lowland sheepdog puppy’s socialization should coincide with the innoculation program. You should take your polish lowland sheepdog pup to socialization courses as early as 8 or 9 weeks of age, as recommended by most doctors. At this point, they should have already received at least their first immunizations.
Laws are so different between different areas, the best thing is to contact your local doctor to get rabies innoculation information. In NYC, for example, the rule requires any pets older than three months must be vaccinated for rabies. The original rabies shot must be followed by a subsequent shot the following year, and then every three years after that. There are a variety of immunizations, many of which are appropriate for your polish lowland sheepdog. Others, however, are not. Your veterinarian can give you his recommendation. Also, if your polish lowland sheepdog gets ill because she is not properly vaccinated, do not administer the innoculation until the dog has made a full recovery.
Intestinal Parasites in polish lowland sheepdogs
polish lowland sheepdogs are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—in all areas, both urban and rural. Eggs that carry hookworms and roundworms are transmitted through a polish lowland sheepdog’s feces. Even the healthiest of polish lowland sheepdog puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. The key to treatment is early detection. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medication will be successful against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, won’t kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best define the culprit—and decide the best medication.
polish lowland sheepdog: Miscellaneous Care Tips
polish lowland sheepdog Supply Checklist
- Excellent-quality dog food and snacks specifically for polish lowland sheepdogs and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for pups)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with comforter or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to polish lowland sheepdogs:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Raisins or grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, chives or garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems and unripe fruit
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured space, always keep your polish lowland sheepdog on a leash. And please, when your polish lowland sheepdog defecates on your neighbor’s grass, take care of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about polish lowland sheepdogs
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