With the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the entire world, countries have enacted mandatory lock-downs for their citizens and some have even instituted a dusk to down curfew. Living under such circumstances can be very boring, lonely and depressing.
The isolation can be even worse if you find yourself in a coronavirus quarantine. But how do you mitigate the effects of loneliness during a mandatory stay at home directive? It is very simple: Consider adopting a loving and sociable pet. Below I will show you the top five dog breeds that are fun to have around in your house or backyard. Teacup poodle is arguably the most popular of the five. Here is the list:
1. TeaCup Poodle
The teacup poodle is the smallest of the dog breeds in the world. It can literally fit inside your coat pocket or your cup of coffee or tea. This breed was originally from Germany but has been bred all over the world, although a majority of it is now common in the United States.
Teacup poodles weigh less than 900 grams. This breed is extremely popular probably due to its small size as a quick search on Google for teacup dogs for sale is more likely to yield thousands if not millions of results instantly. Should you want the teacup poodle in your household, you should consider purchasing the teacup poodle puppies from your local pet breeders.
Teacup poodles should be fed 3-4 times a day and the food should be proportionate to their body size. Also, enrich their diets with vitamins, minerals and Omega-3 rich foods to reduce chances of developing hypoglycemia. A diet consisting of mainly proteins, calcium and fiber will be very beneficial for your poodle puppy as it will ensure strong bones and prevent incidences of constipation for your tiny dog’s stomach.
Provide teacup poodle with plenty of clean water to drink that should be easily accessible for the puppy at all times, to keep it well hydrated. Since the tea cup poodle have their coat covered in long hairs, ensure regular brushing with a poodle brush and while doing so, look out for parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites.
Clip the poodle’s hair regularly, especially around the eyes to ensure that their long hair do not obstruct their vision.
Hair clipping will also ensure the long hairs do not act as a safe haven for dirt which may in turn harbor disease causing bacteria and fungus. Do trim the puppy’s nails frequently, using appropriate nail clippers to avoid injuring the pet. The teacup poodle puppies have small mouth and a such, their teeth are closely packed together, a condition that makes them susceptible to tartar development and other dental problems.
To mitigate chances of these oral problems, brush the tea cup poodle ‘s teeth daily with a specially made tooth brush for tea cup poodle that is readily available at your local pet store or at best, online market stores. Regular visit to your local veterinary will ensure your poodle puppy’s overall health and a quality of life in the long-run. I recommend such visit at least once in every six months. This will keep your tea cup poodle in top shape for a longer lifespan.
2. Golden Retriever
This dog breed comes in different types including the black golden retriever, the golden retriever mix, and the golden retriever hybrid. A golden retriever is a large dog and hence make sure that you have enough room in your house to accommodate this breed.
Taking care of a golden retriever is quite simple. Ensure that you feed your dog high quality food because a balanced diet is paramount for the dog’s good health. When shopping for dog food, buy breed specific type of foods because such foods have been prepared and portioned particularly for the type of dog the manufacturer had in mind.
For example dog stores sell food specified for small dogs only or large dogs only. Another factor to consider is the age and size of the dog within the same breed. Just like babies and adult humans do not consume the same type of food, golden retriever puppies should be fed food specific to their age.
Golden retriever puppies should be fed more frequently than adult dogs due to their high metabolic rates while pregnant dogs should be fed in a diet rich in iron to ensure to replenish the nutrients needed for fetus development.
Golden retrievers are omnivores hence their general diets should consist of meats, vegetables, carbohydrates and mineral salts. Also, provide plenty of clean source of water that is accessible to the retriever at all time to ensure the dog is well hydrated.
The golden retrievers do shed and that is why regular grooming is very important. Since the breed has longer hairs, use a bristle brush to groom their coat. Brush the entire coat of the dog including the back, the chest, neck, hind quarters, tail, ears and head every day while looking out for parasite such as mites, scabs, fleas and ticks. Never ever shave a golden retriever because the long hairs are meant to enable the dog deal with a variety of weather conditions.
A shaved golden retriever is essential denied such protections. Trim the retriever’s nails and brush their teeth regular to ensure a good dental health. The golden retriever needs exercise just like all the other dogs. Provide at least two sessions of 30 minutes walk every day or a long one hour walk per day.
You can take the dog out to play in the park and make them fetch toys as well. The dog is also a good swimmer hence if you are a fun of swimming, you should consider taking your golden retriever swimming from time to time.
3. Standard Poodle
This breed comes in many types including the royal standard poodle, the miniature parti poodles, the apricot poodle, the chocolate standard poodle, the red standard poodle and even the white standard poodle. There are literary many standard poodle colors out there. The standard poodle is the biggest breed of the poodle family.
This breed does not shed and therefore very popular in families where people are allergic to dog hair. This dog is affectionate, sociable and likes to snuggle. They are energetically active, outgoing and very funny to be around with.
The standard poodle needs at least one hour of walking a day. For stimulation purposes, this breed needs sufficient amounts of toys together with some training of a least one hour per day. Regular grooming is important for this breed which may include shearing, just like a sheep.
Daily brushing of the head, ears and tail is crucial to prevent muddying of the coat. This breed have a natural predatory instinct and like to chase people and things hence will make a good hunting companion. The standard poodle is a very intelligent animal and will pick up on training very quickly.
4. Maltese
This dog breed belongs to the toy poodle family. The fur can grow fast and needs some maintenance from time to time. Don’t be deceived by the name, this dog breed has no connection with the island of Malta as the dog actually originated in Central Europe.
The Maltese stands at height of 24 centimetres, weigh roughly 3-4 kg and has its coat covered with long white hair. The small size of the dog makes it more popular among suburbanites apartments and condo owners. This dog breed is affectionate, playful and funny being around.
The Maltese requires two daily walks of half an hour each, daily brushing, regular facial cleansing, games and a good quality diet. To maintain good health, regular visit to the vet every 6 months is required. It should be noted that the Maltese is prone to allergies hence a balanced diet should be maintained at all times. Also, proper facial cleansing using the best dog cleanser available is important to reduce chances of conjunctivitis infections.
5. Shih Tzu
By the tell of the name, this dog breed was developed in China. The Shih Tzu comes in a variety of colors including black, white, brindle and a combination of black and white, brown and gold. The name of the breed in Chinese means “little lion”. Shih Tzu is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world and it is believed that this dog was in China as far back as 800 B.C.
A Shih Tzu diet should include foods rich in proteins especially chicken, eggs, duck, and vegetables like peas. Do also include carbohydrates like rice and oats. Shih Tzu foods to avoid includes but not limited to cereals, corn and animal fats. Consider involving delicious treats throughout the day to give to this pet to reinforce good behavior.
Just like any other dog breed, the Shih Tzu requires plenty of clean drinking water that must be accessible to the pet at all times to ensure proper hydration.
Shih Tzu is very sensitive to heat and hence should be sheared regularly during summer. Consider using specially made shears for this purpose to avoid injuring the pet, or better, take the dog to a professional groomer to do it regularly. Although Shih tzu breeds do not need plenty of exercise, do involve yours in active outdoor activities daily for approximately half an hour or longer.
