It can be amazing how many people do not know about what is considered to be animal cruelty. Broadly speaking, animal cruelty can be broken down into two separate categories being neglect and intentional cruelty.

Any act that can be perceived as violent or neglectful can be considered animal cruelty cases. Many people aren’t aware that if they witness something that is considered to be animal cruelty, there are a number of ways they can help prevent and rescue animals from further maltreatment.

Neglect is considered to be animal cruelty when a person fails to provide an animal with essential needs like food, water and proper care. Many times, neglect is not intentional but the result of ignorance.

If a pet owner is found to be neglectful with one or more of their animals, they often have the opportunity to correct the situation or they can simply turn the pet over to the proper authorities so that they do not have to deal with the situation any longer. In either case, a pet owner becomes educated or a pet has the chance to begin a new life with a pet owner who understands the responsibilities of owning a pet.

Animal cruelty using intentional violent behavior is almost inconceivable for most people, but unfortunately it is a common type of animal cruelty. To endanger or cause injury to an animal intentionally in any way is animal cruelty.

Animal cruelty laws can be different in each state, but some states do prosecute those who have been found guilty of animal cruelty. Even if a state doesn’t enforce its animal cruelty laws, reporting a case of animal cruelty might at least get a pet removed from a potentially dangerous situation.

Animal cruelty is often the result of the lack of knowledge and education or the result of an individual’s inability to control violent behavior.

Some people who are guilty of animal cruelty don’t even believe that the treatment they impose on animals is cruel because they simply aren’t people. Whatever the reason behind animal cruelty, it is the responsibility of those who understand and recognize what animal cruelty is to do whatever is possible to remove animals from unhealthy situations.

Toy dogs, also called lap dogs, are increasingly popular pets, characterized by breeders and kennel clubs as toy dogs due to their small stature. Some toy dogs are selectively bred small forms of larger breeds, and others are naturally small.

Some of the breeds of small dogs are Chihuahua, Pekingese, pug, Shih Tzu, Silky terrier, Toy poodle, Pomeranian, Italian Greyhound, Japanese Spaniel, Affenpinscher, Miniature Pinscher, Papillon, Brussels Griffon, English toy spaniel, Maltese, Manchester terrier and Yorkshire terrier.

Today they are mostly known for their companionship. Toy dogs are usually characterized as friendly, sweet and cute. They have sociable personalities and love attention. They generally do not require a lot of exercise, though some types enjoy taking long walks with you.

This is not to say that all small dogs are considered toy dogs and that all small dogs are friendly, sweet and cute. Small dogs come from all types of breeding patterns and not all of them fall nicely into the category of toy dogs.

Whether you find a toy dog or otherwise small dog to love, they are excellent pets for people who want a dog but live in small spaces like an apartment or small home.

You can see people with small dogs just about everywhere you go. You might find them peeking out of someone’s backpack, grocery cart, or stroller. Because they are so small, they are highly portable which is an attractive benefit to small dog owners who like to take their dog with them wherever they go.

When you are choosing a dog, keep in mind the characteristics of the breed, the temperament of the dog, and the training the dog has received and your ability to train the dog. If you do not know this information, do some research before you choose your pet.

Owning a dog is not a short-term commitment, nor is it an easy emotional or financial commitment. You will need to have as much information about the type of dog you are going to have before bringing him home. If you are looking at buying a purebred puppy, you can pay anywhere from $500 to $2, 500.

If you are serious about spending this amount of money, it is also wise to go to a couple dog shows and observe the dogs yourself. You can look at the different types of toy dogs that are out there, as well as meet people who own them.

If you are not able to talk to the owners before or after the show, you can buy a program that will list names of dog breeders and handlers that can be a good resource for you.

You should watch out for dogs advertised as “teacup” dogs. While the dogs may be extra small and cute, often they are sickly and high-strung as adults.

Once you buy your dog, you should take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible to make sure it is healthy and does not have problems that you cannot visibly see.

Training your dog to sit is a very important part of dog training and once mastered will help you when it comes to training your dog to learn other skills and tricks.

Patience is the key when it comes to training your dog, so it is best to train your dog when you are feeling in a good mood as a dog will be able to sense otherwise. Dogs do not react well to negativity so you need to ensure you are positive at all times, taking care not to punish or yell. The best way to train your dog to sit is by using treats to reward your dog when they have completed a task correctly. Your dog will know that he has done right and is getting praised for it. Once your dog knows he is getting a treat for doing something correctly he will continue to do so to get the attention and treats he enjoys.

When choosing the correct treat for your dog, it is best to stay away from chocolate or sweet treats, this is too unhealthy for your dog and can end up making your dog unfit and overweight as well as causing unhealthy teeth.

Finally, find a quiet location where you can train your dog where there will be no distractions and follow these simple tips:

Stand in front or to the left side of your dog.

Hold a treat above your dog, just out of his reach so that he know the treat is there.

Slowly move the treat over your dog’s head, do not hold the treat too high as it will cause your dog to jump, doing this movement correctly should cause your dog to sit.

Once your dog is about to sit down say their name and command SIT in clear strong voice. You should make sure that you say the command exactly when your dog is about to sit so he can associate the command with when he is sat down.

Praise your dog as soon as it sits down, saying either “well done”, “good” or another praising word in a happy voice.

Give your pet a treat and a little pat to show how much you appreciate what they have done.

Make sure you do not repeat the command more than 5 times in any one session. Your dog needs to see training as fun and not like it is forced. Don’t worry, you can hold more than one session in a day.

Once you have trained your dog to sit you should concentrate on other tasks or tricks, spend at least 15 minutes of each day training your dog. This will not only ensure you have a well behaved dog but it will also make your dog happy that he is spending time with you.