Owning dogs, in particular taking care of the cumberland sheepdog, is old hat for humans. Historians believe dogs were first domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all dogs evolved from the wolf. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, which vary in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature has earned them the distinction of the tallest dog. However, the most popular pooches are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The cumberland sheepdog is another popular pick with dog owners. Some owners are uninformed, however, of many crucial cumberland sheepdog care tips.
Cost of care for the cumberland sheepdog
The yearly budget for caring for your cumberland sheepdog—which includes food, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between $420 and $780. This does not even include capital expenses for sterilization surgery, collar and leash, a dog carrier and a crate. Note: Be sure you have all your items before you get your cumberland sheepdog home for the 1st time.
Basic cumberland sheepdog Care
Feeding the cumberland sheepdog
- cumberland sheepdog pups between 8 and 12 weeks old need 4 bowls of food every 24 hours.
- cumberland sheepdog puppies 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals every twenty-four hour period.
- Feed puppies 6 months to 1 year old two meals daily.
- By the time the cumberland sheepdog reaches her first birthday, 1 bowl every twenty-four hours is usually adequate.
- Sometimes cumberland sheepdogs, however, do better with 2 lighter meals. It is your responsibility to learn your cumberland sheepdog’s eating schedule.
Excellent-quality dry food provides a well-balanced diet for grown cumberland sheepdogs and may be mixed with canned food, broth, or water. Your cumberland sheepdog may have a taste for cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these foods shouldn’t add up to more than ten percent of his or her daily food allowance. cumberland sheepdog puppies should probably be given premium-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please try to cut down on “table food”, though, since it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, tooth and bone issues, and might create some extremely finicky food choices as well as obesity. Clean, fresh water should be available always, and be certain to clean food and water bowls regularly.
cumberland sheepdog Care Tips: Make sure your cumberland sheepdog gets some daily exercise
cumberland sheepdogs need daily exercise in order to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and maintain their health. Daily exercise also tends to help cumberland sheepdogs avoid boredom, which often leads to destructive behavior. Exercise would appease most of your cumberland sheepdog’s desires to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Individual exercise needs will depend on your cumberland sheepdog’s level of health and his or her age—but 10 minutes outside and just a couple of walks around the block every day probably will not be sufficient. If your cumberland sheepdog is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, her requirements will probably be a little greater.
cumberland sheepdog Grooming
Regular brushing will help keep your cumberland sheepdog clean and reduce shedding. Inspect for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. Sometimes cumberland sheepdogs don’t need a bath more than a few times per year. Prior to the bath, comb or cut out any mats from the cumberland sheepdog’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your cumberland sheepdog
Puppies are clearly easier to manage. To carry your cumberland sheepdog pup, take one hand and put it under the dog’s chest, either with the forearm or your other hand supporting his back legs and rump. Never try to grab or lift your pup by her forelegs, tail or back of the neck. If you must lift a bigger, adult cumberland sheepdog, pick it up from the underside, bracing his chest with 1 of your arms and rump with your other.
How to House the cumberland sheepdog
Your cumberland sheepdog needs a comfortable peaceful spot to be able to rest apart from all breezes and away from the ground or floor. You might wish to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or prefer making one from a wooden box. Put a clean sheet, blanket, comforter, or pillow in the bed for cushion. Wash your cumberland sheepdog’s bed covering frequently. If the cumberland sheepdog will be outdoors frequently, be sure she has access to plenty of cool water and shade in the summer, and a dry, warm, covered area during the winter.
Licensing and Identification for cumberland sheepdogs
Your community has licensing regulations to follow. Make sure to affix the license to your cumberland sheepdog’s collar. This, along with an ID tag or tattoo, can help you recover your cumberland sheepdog should she go missing.
Info on cumberland sheepdog Behavior
Thoughts on Training your cumberland sheepdog
Well-behaved, companion cumberland sheepdogs are truly a pleasure to raise. However, when left untrained, your dog can possibly be a lot of trouble. Teaching your cumberland sheepdog the fundamentals—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will bolster your relationship with both your dog and your friends. If you’re the owner of a puppy, start training him on the appropriate responses immediately! Doggie treats can be used as incentive and recognition. Pups can begin obedience courses when they are sufficiently vaccinated. Contact your community humane society or SPCA for details on training schools. Invariably you should keep your cumberland sheepdog on a leash when, even while a puppy. Just be sure your cumberland sheepdog will come to you every time you say. A disobedient or aggressive cumberland sheepdog should not play with other people.
cumberland sheepdog Health
cumberland sheepdogs should see the veterinarian for a full exam, immunizations and heartworm test annualy, and promptly if she is injured or ill.
Your cumberland sheepdog’s Dental Health
While many of us might simply dislike our cumberland sheepdog’s foul breath, we must pay attention to what it might represent. Halitosis is a symptom that your cumberland sheepdog needs a dental exam. Dental plaque , which is a result of bacteria causes a foul odor that can only be cured with the help of a professional. After you give your cumberland sheepdog a professional cleaning, her teeth and gums can be kept up by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. Your vet can give you other tips on eradicating oral diseases and bad breath. You can easily clean your cumberland sheepdog’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a simple baking soda and water paste once or twice per week. Brush them with a sterile gauze pad, nylon stocking stretched over the finger, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Some cumberland sheepdogs have periodontal disease, frequently referred to as gum disease. Sometimes, tooth loss happens due to periodontal infection. Diseases will sometimes also propagate to the rest of your cumberland sheepdog’s body. Veterinarians can brush your dog’s teeth as a regular part of your cumberland sheepdog’s health checkup.
cumberland sheepdog Breath Gone Wild!
If your cumberland sheepdog has foul breath, gum disease may not necessarily be the reason, as other more serious diseases also have that symptom. Liver or intestinal diseases may cause halitosis, while a sweet, fruity smell may usually be indicative of diabetes. When your cumberland sheepdog’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible cause. Whenever you find your cumberland sheepdog has halitosis and other signs of disease, such as loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea, weight loss, moodiness, including depression, too much drinking or urination, plan an examination with his or her doctor.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in cumberland sheepdogs
In the summer, it’s important for you to perform regular, daily inspections of your cumberland sheepdog for ticks and fleas. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are many new procedures of flea management. Talk to your cumberland sheepdog’s doctor about her recommendations.
Heartworm problems in cumberland sheepdogs
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your cumberland sheepdog by way of mosquitoes. Many cumberland sheepdogs die each year due to heartworm infestations. It’s extremely critical to ensure your cumberland sheepdog has a blood screening for heartworms annually each spring. A monthly tablet given throughout the course of mosquito season can help to protect your cumberland sheepdog. Should you ever vacation in warmer climates with your cumberland sheepdog in winter, he must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some regions, usually the regions with warmer temperatures, where doctors recommend worm pills be used continually.
Toxins and Medicines
If you’re contemplating giving your cumberland sheepdog tablets that was not prescribed for him by his vet, don’t do it. Did you know that just 1 regular-strength ibuprofen caplet will cause stomach ulcers in some dogs Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your cumberland sheepdog. Be sure to call your cumberland sheepdog’s veterinarian if you have cause to suspect your cumberland sheepdog has been exposed to a poison. You should also contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hour help.
cumberland sheepdog Reproductive Surgery
It is recommended that female cumberland sheepdogs be spayed—which is the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testicles—by six months of age. You will usually significantly diminish your female’s breast cancer risk by spaying before maturity. The risk of a diseased uterus, which is another serious condition that affects older females, will be removed by spaying prior to six months. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
cumberland sheepdog Immunizing
- Your cumberland sheepdog pup should be immunized with a combination shot (called the “5-in-one”) at 2, 3 and 4 months of age, and again once yearly. This vaccine immunizes your puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Your cumberland sheepdog puppy’s immunization regimen cannot be finished before 4 months old.
- If your cumberland sheepdog has not been vaccinated and is older than four months, he will need to be given two immunizations promptly, 2 or 3 weeks apart. Then you must innoculate yearly.
- Your cumberland sheepdog puppy’s vaccinations should coincide with her socialization program. You may bring your cumberland sheepdog pup to socialization courses by eight to nine weeks of age, according to most vets. At this point, they should have already received their first series of vaccines.
Since laws vary between different areas, call a local veterinarian to get information for rabies immunization. For instance, New York City codes state that pets older than three months must be innoculated for rabies. The original rabies immunization must be followed up by a subsequent immunization the next year, and then every 3 years. There are a variety of vaccines, many of which are appropriate for your cumberland sheepdog. There are others that are not, however. Ask your cumberland sheepdog’s vet for his recommendation. By the way, if your cumberland sheepdog gets ill because she is not innoculated, do not administer the immunization until the dog has made a full recovery.
Roundworms in cumberland sheepdogs
cumberland sheepdogs are commonly exposed to worms—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs made by hookworms are transmitted through an infected dog’s stool. Most pups, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry intestinal worms. Getting an accurate, early diagnosis is the key to treatment. This will maximize the possibility that the medication is highly effective against the parasite your cumberland sheepdog has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best determine the culprit—and prescribe the effective medicine.
Additional cumberland sheepdog Care Tips
Checklist of cumberland sheepdog Supplies
- Excellent-quality dog food and snacks specifically designed for cumberland sheepdogs and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush & comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with sheet or towel
- Dog toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to cumberland sheepdogs:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Grapes or raisins
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, chives or garlic
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Yeast dough
The scoop on poop
Retain your cumberland sheepdog on a leash when you are outside, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in spot. Whenever your cumberland sheepdog goes number two on your neighbor’s grass, his sidewalk or any other public spot, please remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about cumberland sheepdogs
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