The Small Dog Breed Photo Contest is running through the end of November, so there is plenty of time to enter.

Here are a few of the dog Halloween costume photos…

Are you looking for a great place to purchase dog Halloween costumes for your dog? Check out this website:
Dog Costumes at CostumeCraze.com

Are you looking for a great place to purchase dog Halloween costumes for your dog? Check out this website:
Dog Costumes at CostumeCraze.com

.

We have 2 yorkies. The younger yorkie is an extremely submissive dog. It’s not wrong. It’s just his personality. He knows he is loved and has nothing to worry about, but he wants everyone else to know that he is not a threat. As much as we try to encourage him, he will still hunch down and tinkle when he gets around strangers, or when he is startled.

As much as we’ve tried to correct this behavior, he just won’t change. However, we have learned to control his submissive urination by following these tips.

1. If we know visitors are coming over, we will limit the amount of water he gets before their visit. Of course we don’t let him get too thirsty, but we do keep his drinking to a minimum.
2. We will take him outside prior to their visit so he can pee as much as possible.
3. When the visitors arrive, we take him outside to meet them. If he does urinate, at least it won’t be in the house.
4. We ask our visitors to temporarily ignore him. When we tell them that he might pee on their shoe, they understand immediately.
5. When the visitors are in the house, they understand that they can not hover over our little yorkie. This can seem threatening to submissive dogs if they aren’t comfortable with the person yet.
6. Because our yorkie is comfortable with us, we will hold him while he is introduced to our visitors.
7. We give him plenty of time to get comfortable with our visitors before we let him have free reign. We keep him somewhat confined (sometimein his crate – see our Crate Training Made Easy eBook) until he doesn’t feel threatened by our visitors.

Occasionally, he will urinate if he gets startled or overly excited. We never punish him for this, but we do tell him “no” in a firm voice. He is still very young, and the problem is getting less frequent. As he has learned that the urination is not appreciated, it has become less of an issue.

If you’ve tried everything you can think of, and the submissive urination is not getting any better, you should consider consulting a veterinarian. There are medications which can help your submissive puppy or dog relax a little more.

Above all, don’t ever get angry at your dog for his submissive or excited urinating. He really only wants to make you happy, so show him a little mercy.

Characteristics of a good dog breeder:

1. A good breeder will be full of helpful information about the breed. You should do research prior to talking to the breeder, go in with a list of questions (see below), and ask the breeder to clarify anything you are unclear about for the breed you’re considering. The breeder should be able to tell you something that you were not aware of.
2. A good breeder should be able to provide you with as many references as you ask for. If she can’t provide references, she might have something to hide.
3. A good breeder should provide you with all necessary paperwork to register your dog with the AKC.
4. A good breeder should not seem “pushy” or anxious to sell you the dog. The breeder should be 100% interested in finding the best home for the dog, not just the most profit.
5. A good breeder should keep the puppy with it’s mother until it is at least 6 weeks old, althought 8-12 weeks is better.
6. A good breeder should provide the following for each puppy:
   • Companionship, affection, interaction, and attention.
   • Quality food and clean water.
   • Clean, comfortable shelter.
   • All required immunizations and preventive health care.
   • Vet records.
   • Adequate grooming.
7. A reputable dog breeder should belong to their breed’s kennel club.
8. A reputable dog breeder should offer some type of guarantee.
9. If the dog is not “show quality” the breeder should encourage spaying / neutering the dog.
10. A good dog breeder should be available “after the sale” should you ever have any questions or concerns.
11. A reputable dog breeder should ask you lots of questions about you, your lifestyle, your schedule, your children, your home, etc. This screening process is typical for every reputable breeder.
12. A good dog breeder should strive to make the breed better.
13. A good dog breeder never sells their puppies to pet shops, puppy brokers, or outlets.
14. A good dog breeder is proud of the parents, and should be willing to introduce you to the parents.
15. The best dog breeders will present their dogs at competitions.

You should have a series of questions to ask the breeder when you visit. Here are some questions to get you started:

1. What is the breeders history?
2. How long has the breeder been breeding purebreds, and how many puppies have they sold?
3. What is the health history of the parents?
4. What is the health history of the puppies?
5. What is the temperament of the breed? The parents? The puppies?
6. Does the breeder offer a guarantee / refund?
7. Can the breeder recommend a vet which is familiar with the breed?
8. Will the breeder be available throughout the life of the dog should you have any questions or concerns?

Just because a breeder can supply “papers” for their dogs doesn’t mean they are the best dog for you. When considering a purebred dog, you must research the breed and the breeder. This is an investment, and friendship, that you’ll be responsible for for years to come. Do your research, ask lots of questions, go with your gut instinct, and you and your new dog should be happy for a long, long time.

Do you have a great photo of your small dog? We know there are thousands of photos out there of small dogs, and we want you to send those photos to us. We’re compiling a prize package for the best small dog breed photos in the world.

The contest will run through November 2007. All entries must be received BEFORE December 1, 2007. Winners will be announced on or before December 8, 2007.

As the contest progresses, we will be posting some of the best photos on our site.

The Rules:

• All entries must be from adults age 18 or older in Canada and the continental United States.
• There is not limit to the number of entries.
• No “Professional” photos. By submitting a photo, you certify that you are the copyright owner of that photo and have the legal authority to assign reprint rights to 123-pet.com for the purpose of the contest.
• By submitting a photo, you are authorizing 123-pet.com to display the photo on our website (123-pet.com).

ATTENTION: SMALL DOG BREED PHOTO CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Good luck with the contest.

You may unsubscribe from the contest email list any time by using the form below:

Let’s see, I’ve owned a Peekapoo, Poodle, Dalmation, Boxer, Labrador Retriever, and several mutts. Now, I own 2 Yorkies (Hank & Rex). They are the best dogs I’ve ever owned. Why are they the best? Because they fit my family and lifestyle better than any of the others.

Of course, I had these other dogs before I knew how to train and properly care for a dog. But the bottom line is, the yorkies just seem to “fit.”

I had the Peekapoo and Poodle when my 2 children were very young, and they didn’t seem to like the children handling them and “loving” them so much.

The Dalmation and Boxer were a little more than my children could handle comfortably.

The Labrador Retriever was desperate to play fetch with the neighbors and he would jump our fence every day. He ended up moving to a farm.

So finally, we settled down with our awesome little yorkies. I wish someone would have taught me years ago how to pick the best dog for my family, children, and lifestyle.

I’ve stumbled across a simple guide which will help you not make the same mistakes I did before I found the right dog. It originally sold for $24.95, but I believe you can get it for $9.95 for a limited time. If you’re considering adding a new dog to your family, you should definitely read this book first. In one evening of reading, you’ll be comfortable with going out to get the perfect dog for you.

Click here to learn How to Choose the Best Dog for Your Children and Family