Although there are not as many cat breeds as there are of dogs, it still can be quite important to choose the right breed for you. Different breeds of cats have unique characteristics and various personalities.

Some cats are long-haired, like the Persian, and some are short-haired, such as the American Short-hair. And, there is even a breed that appears hairless (the Sphynx). But, the different types of cat coats are not the only thing that sets one breed apart from another. Some of the breeds have unique personalities that are associated with them. If you consider the Siamese, you will know what I mean, as they are often considered sly, aloof and tend to have a loud full-throated voice.

Cats, though, make great pets. Although they are often thought not to have as much personality as a dog, that is simply not true. Each cat is an individual and, as such, has his own character. It is true that many cats are more independent than dogs, but many are very human-oriented. These cats love to cuddle with their human companions and can be very social creatures.

Various breeds of dogs offer different strengths and weaknesses that may or may not be the right fit for your family. A little research into the different dog breeds to find the right choice would be well advised and would be time well spent.

This article cannot possibly list all the dog breeds and their qualities, but it will go into a few to give you a hint of what you may want to take into consideration. I would suggest, however, that before you decide on a particular breed you need to familiarize yourself with the type of dog want. Do your research by finding books at the library or book store, or even on the internet. Visit kennel and breeding websites and read through the attributes of each breed before making your final decision.

According to the American Kennel Club (2006) the five most popular breeds of dogs are as follows (listed in order of kennel registrations):

Labrador Retriever – Labradors are fairly large dogs, standing at about 22-24 inches and weighing approximately 60-75 lbs, full grown. They have a short, water-resistant double coat which is relatively easy to care for. They are friendly, loving, affectionate, patient and highly intelligent. They are loyal, willing, active all-around good natured dogs. They have a life span of 10-16 years.

Although many people believe that a cat is a cat, cats, just as dogs do, also come in different breeds. There are long-haired cats and short-haired cats, and even a hairless variety (the Sphynx) although it is not really hairless but is covered with a very fine down-like fur. In fact, many people who have cat allergies seem to be able to tolerate the Sphynx cat.

Here are a few characteristics of some of the more popular or well-known breeds of cats:

American Short-hair – This cat is believed to be the most popular breed of cat in the United States. They are a medium-to-large cat with dense short fur. The American Short-hair cat is a very affectionate, long-living, creature and is disinclined to behavioral problems. These are ideal cats that get along well with others in the family, including dogs. They have a sunny and gentle disposition which makes it ideal for families with small children.

Persian – Some of the long-haired cat breeds require a lot of extra care in grooming. The Persian cat due to its long thick fur is not capable of grooming itself properly and must be brushed daily, as well as bathed often.

Pet owners are often confronted with pet ear problems. Even though there reasons other than ear mites are the most common cause of ear infections in pets. Some major causes of infections in dog ears are:

* Wet ears that do not dry on their own
* Dog ear mites
* Skin diseases
* Allergic reactions
* Injury to the ear canal
* Insect bites

The structure of a dog�s ear is such that water gets entrapped easily in the ear canal. A dog�s ears naturally produce some amount of wax. This wax should be cleaned regularly as part of normal grooming. Severe instances of infection normally leads to excessive wax production that refuses to go away despite regular cleaning.

Moist wax is an invitation for yeast infection. If your dog scratches or rubs his ears excessively or shakes his head without any reason, it is prudent to inspect the ears for any signs of yeast infection. A particularly foul odor, redness, swelling of the external ear and an oily discharge are sure indications of a yeast infection.

Home pet grooming can be an experience for both animal and owner. The activity stresses out some dogs and cats and they behave differently when they are getting a bath or having their nails clipped. They may snip or bite at the pet groomer even if they are the ones they love. A loving, docile pet can become all teeth and nails if they do not want to be there. The best, most humane way to protect both human and animal during pet grooming is to use a muzzle. Though some people think that a muzzle is cruel, it can keep the animal restrained and stop them from possible doing harm.

A muzzle fits around the dog’s mouth and is secured around the back of the head with ties or straps. Pet grooming experts agree that the animal feels no discomfort when wearing the muzzle. It leaves enough room for the pet to breather and at the same time restricts the animal from biting. Muzzles are made in all different sizes. Even small dogs with tiny mouths can inflict a nasty wound. There are no muzzles for cats but there is a head bag that fits over the entire head that restricts biting. Pet grooming experts say that the bag is thin enough for the cat to breathe, but will restrict the movement of the head and keep the animal from biting the groomer.

Why is pet grooming important? Whether you have a cat of dog, pet grooming is an important part of the hygiene and emotional well being of your animal. Doesn’t feel good when you get your hair cut or nails done? Imagine not having the luxury of choosing how and when you clean yourself. Your pets don’t have that advantage. Sure they groom themselves with their tongue and paws, but without an opposing thumb they cannot grab a scrub brush and wash their back or the ability to reach hard to get at places. They need the care and love of their caregivers and pet grooming lets them know that they are getting their needs met.

Even when you get a new puppy or kitten, pet grooming is important way to develop the bonding practices. As you brush or wash your pet, the constant touching and soothing gives the young animal a sense of well being. The relationship between caregiver and animal becomes stronger as more attention is given to the pet. The early interaction of pet grooming also prepares the animal for a professional pet groomer as hair or nails become to unmanageable for the untrained owner. The pet will have a more of a sense of security as they are left at a pet groomer for a day and will deal with less stress as they are touched and groomed by a stranger.

Pet grooming is essential to pet ownership. Grooming will ensure the pet’s emotional and physical health. A dog or cat must be groomed to ensure that not only do they look good, but they are made safe by having their nails and hair cut properly. Most people do not want to go through the hassle of home pet grooming. This process is a mess and can cause serious injury to the animal if it is done by unprofessional means. Expert pet grooming is expensive, but with the right groomer your pet will look good and feel good. Some professional pet groomers, though trained professionally, do not do a good job and there has been some instances of pet groomers hurting or mistreating animals.

When you go to a professional pet groomer for the first time carefully inspect your pet after the grooming is done. When you pick them up from the service most animals will be shaken from the experience, but if your animal is extremely shy when they’d first get back from the groomer, there may be some circumstances that you need to look into. Carefully inspect your pet. Look for cuts, scratches or razor burn, which will appear to be like a red rash on the skin. That grooming professionals have been known to accidentally cut off dew claws or to split the nails when trimming them.

So Fido is getting a little scruffy. Pet grooming professionals are very expensive and sometimes you will not get the desired results that you wish and first place. Home pet grooming has become a fad in the last 10 years. The question asked most by the novice pet groomer is exactly where do you get pet grooming supplies? You’ll need a variety of clippers, scissors, brushes, and combs. The supplies you need vary with the type of dog you have and whether that dog has long or short hair. The thickness of the coat is important because some clippers may cause pain or irritation to your animal.

Pet grooming supplies can be found at your local but veterinarian. Here you can find clippers, nail clippers, and even small, little clippers that can cut ear hair. This is not your best bet in respect to expense. The veterinarian usually has a high markup in all their pet grooming supplies. The advantage is that you will find but veterinarian close to your home and will not have to mail order or order the supplies off the Internet. You might want to call ahead to make sure that your but veterinarian has the proper pet grooming supplies for your breed of dog. Different breed sometimes require different supplies, and if you have a rare breed for that area of the country in which you live, it may be hard to find the proper grooming equipment.

Pet health issues plague everyone who has a pet at some time or another. Among other areas of concern, the one that can area that can pose a fair number of problems are ear infections. Ear mites, and ear infections are some of the major problems that can discomfort your pets and can lead to many a sleepless nights for you too. A dog with ear mites is a less common phenomenon than a cat ear with mites but if contracted, it can cause high levels of stress for the dog and the owner.

The one way in which you can ensure that you never have to face issues related to dog ear infections is to adopt good hygiene practices. Once these practices are made into a regular habit, the chances of your dog contracting any kind of ear infection reduce considerably. It is therefore, important to include ear cleaning and examination as part of a weekly ritual. If you use a professional grooming service, make sure that they include ear cleaning along with the regular bath, grooming and styling services.

It is essential for every pet grooming professional to be dressed in the proper apparel. Not only does it show professionalism in the art of pet grooming, but also they are practical uniforms with style and functionality. They should be comfortable and stylish and have reinforcements at all the stress points for long life and durability. The uniform should reflect the personality of the pet groomer, and also should reflect what kind of pets he grooms. The uniform should be easy to wash and they should be able to withstand the scratches from dogs and cats without tearing. The uniform should be stain resistant and come out of the dryer wrinkle free. Each piece of the uniform should be fitted for the person intended to wear it. The uniform should be loose fitting but tight enough so that the loose material will not hinder the pet grooming process.