Edie MacKenzie On Dogs

Archive for the ‘Dog Information’ Category

When it comes to diversity, no species on earth rivals the dog. Our canine friends come in a vast array of sizes, shapes and colors. Not only that, but they also display vastly different character traits from one breed to another.

Much of this is down to human meddling. For centuries we have bred dogs to meet our needs, so that over time we’ve developed over 600 distinct dog breeds.

However, recent studies suggest that many of the physical changes in dogs may have occurred spontaneously. So as amazing as it is, it seems dogs have actually evolved along the lines they believe we expect of them. Now that’s what I call devotion!

Fascinating stuff, but there’s also a practical purpose to all this.

Let’s say you are interested in buying or adopting a purebred dog. I’m sure you’d want one that is a good fit for your life style. It would be foolish for example to adopt a Husky, if your idea of fun is flopping down in front of the TV with with a bowl of popcorn. Before you know it you’ll have an extremely frustrated dog, most likely with behavioral problems.

By the same token, an active person who gets a Bulldog and expects him to join in the Sunday morning jog is bound to be disappointed.

And it doesn’t stop at activity level either, name any trait you find particularly desirable in a canine companion, and you’ll find a dog breed that meets your requirements. Some breeds are more affectionate, others more independent, some are protective, others timid, some are known to be yappers, others hardly bark at all.

Then there are physical characteristics. You may prefer a larger or a smaller dog. Well, it’s hard to imagine a greater discrepancy than between a Great Dane and a Chihuahua. It’s almost difficult to believe that they belong to the same species!

Another factor you need to take into account is the amount of hair the dog sheds. Some dogs shed enough hair to make another dog, while others hardly shed at all. And if shedding is really an issue there are hairless dogs, like the Xoloitzcuintle.

And what about training? You are going to train your dog aren’t you? Well then you should know that not all dogs are equally easy to train. With some it’s a piece of cake, with others more like talking to a brick wall.

So if trainability is an important factor you’ll want a dog that is a quick learner with an eagerness to please. Dogs that fall into this group include the Poodle, Papillon and Golden Retriever.

The breeds you’ll want to avoid are most of the Hound Group, including Bassets, Beagles, and Bloodhounds. Some breeds, like the Dachshund, are known for being particularly obstinate, while certain toy dogs will ignore you as a matter of principal.

And then there are the so-called designer dogs, as well as mixed breed dogs, which we haven’t even spoken about here.

Fact is, there really is a dog breed to suit just about everybody’s lifestyle. Which is yours?

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Dogs communicate using a rather unique language. Learning to understanding this “language” will greatly improve the relationship you have with your dog. Not only that, but when it comes to training you will seriously turbo-charge your results by communicating to your dog on his level.

Unfortunately, no-one has yet written a handy reference guide, but by following the guidelines set out below you’ll quickly be up to speed on what your dog is trying to tell you.

Here are some of the most common dog language cues you’ll need to know.

Standing Rigid – When a dog adopts a very rigid stance, he could be telling you to back off and leave him alone. He may also adopt this stance when he is protecting some possession. Give your dog a bone or a biscuit when there are other dogs around and you’ll see what I mean.

Showing the Teeth – Dogs don’t just attack out of the blue, they normally give a warning first. Flashing the teeth may be first warning that a dog is about to attack. Your best bet when this happens is to stand down.

Growling – Showing the teeth will often be accompanied by a low, rumbling growl. If that doesn’t work the dog make well bite.Many people scold or punish the dog for growling or showing its teeth. This is dangerous because if the dog is not allowed to give a warning he may escalate straight to an attack.

Raising the Hackles – When a dog raises the hair on his back, he is trying to look bigger in order to scare off a threat. It is often a sign of heightened fear, and means to dog may attack.

Tail between the legs – Typically, this indicates, timidity, fear or anxiety. There may be a number of causes for the behavior, such as separation anxiety, or being introduced to an unfamiliar person or dog. Often the behavior will be accompanied by submissive urination.

Putting the head down – Depending on the context this could be a attempt by a submissive dog to avoid eye contact. Or it could be a playful gesture.

Raised Paw -A raised paw is a playful gesture, which means, “ let’s be friends”.

Wagging the tail – The tail is one of the dog’s most important communication devices, and the one that is most often misinterpreted. A common belief is that a wagging tail suggests happiness, but this is only true if the tail is being wagged loosely.A tail that is flicked side to side in short rigid movements suggests agitation. And if the tail is tucked between the legs and wagging slightly, the dog is insecure and fearful.

Dogs rely greatly on body language and gestures for communication. A dog may learn to obey voice commands, but in their world body language will always mean more.

Learn to interpret their language and you’ll understand your dog that much better.

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Dogs just love to play and some high-energy dogs will keep you busy all day if you’ll let them. But there will be times when you’re not around, or you’re just too busy and you need something to keep your dog amused.

This is where dog toys come to the rescue, and these days we’re not talking about a stick or a piece of rope. These days their are some pretty cool toys that will satisfy even the most demanding pooch.

Pick a few from the list below and you’ll be able to keep your dog happy, and out of mischief, when you’re not around.

Kong Toys – Chewing is a favorite pastime of many dogs and if you want to keep your dog away from your new shoes or TV remote, you’d better give him something to chew on! Kong makes a virtually indestructible range of rubberized chew toys that will keep even the most avid chewer occupied for hours.

They also have a hollow center, so you can stuff it with treats and challenge the dog to get them out, which is great for brain training.

Tug-a-War Rope – Many dogs enjoy pulling games, but you need a pull toy that won’t fray or break after a couple of rounds.

Once again Kong comes to the rescue. Their pulling toy is basically a pair of rubber balls wrapped in canvas with a canvas cord at the end. Like all Kong toys they’re tough, and nigh on impossible to break. Plus, the balls also squeak, which most dogs love.

Frisbees – Many dogs love this game, but the plastic disc many people use can actually be dangerous, as they can shatter when bitten, and cause serious cuts.

Frost Bite Frisbees on the other hand are designed specifically for dogs. They are soft, pliable, and punture when bitten rather than shattering.

Puzzles – No, I don’t mean jigsaws, or crosswords. Puzzles for dogs come in all shapes and sizes and challenge your dog to work something out in order to get a treat.

One rather clever contraption is the Squirrel Plushy. This is a soft toy, with other toys hidden inside it. The dog has to figure out how to get the small toys out.

Nylabones – Another good toy for the dog that loves to chew. These rubber, bone-shaped chewing toys are incredible strong, so your dog can gnaw away to his hearts content.

Tuffies – These are stuffed toys made specifically with dogs in mind. They are strong and durable, and even come with “toughness” ratings. So you can get one to suit your Pomeranian or even one that your Bull Terrier will have a hard time breaking.

Squirrel Dude – A clever little rubber toy with a timer that dispenses treats at regular intervals – sort of like a vending machine for dogs!

Some thing for every dog on this list, I’m sure you’ll agree. And even if you can’t find something here that your dog fancies, shop around there are tons of choices these days.

If you want to discover more about dog toys, dog care, facts about dogs and other interesting dog information visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Any study of dog behavior has to start with an analysis of the behavior of the wolf, ancestor of all domestic dogs.

Wolves are exceptional predators with a complex set of behaviors, signals and communication methods guiding their behavior. Their bodies and brains are the result of millions of years of evolution that has resulted in perhaps the ultimate co-operative hunter.

Dogs are directly descended from wolves and have been domesticated for only 15 000 years or so, a mere blip on the evolutionary scale. So it makes sense that many of the wolf’s instincts and drives are still present in dogs.

Understand this, and many of your dog’s strange behaviors will suddenly make sense.

Here are some of the behaviors common to dogs and wolves.

Pack Mentality: As pack animals wolves naturally submit to a leader. Wolf packs usually consist of a mating pair and their offspring, with the alpha male as the leader.

Dogs also look for leadership in their human “pack”. Where none is present, they will feel compelled to take up the role themselves, leading to dominance issues.

Body Language: In the world of the wolf (and the dog), body language trumps vocal cues every time. This is a complex “language” with body posture, movement, facial expression and eye contact all playing a part.

These signals are often misunderstood by humans. For example, many asume that a dog who wags his tail is happy when he may in fact be highly aggitated and ready to bite.

Territorial Aggression: In the wild, wolves will stake out a territory, then patrol and defend it against intruders. The same behavior can be seen in dogs. They will naturally protect what they perceive as their territory, whether it’s their home, a favorite toy, or even a person they regard as “theirs”.

Socialization: Social interaction is very important in a wolf pack as it helps to develop the strong bonds that are vital to the survival of the pack.

You can simulate this with your dog through play, walks and obedience training. But you need to go further, socializing your dog with a broad spectrum of people and other animals, so that he doesn’t start to see everyone outside his immediate circle as a threat.

Pursuit: A wolf pack hunts by pursuing a prey animal until it is exhausted and easily subdued. Their instinct is to chase anything that moves away from them.

Dogs have this same instinct which is why they love to chase cats, cars, and cyclists.

Fleeing: Even powerful, apex predators like lions, would rather back off than get involved in a fight where they could be seriously injured. A wolf or a dog will rather flee than fight if the odds are stacked against him.

Vocalization: Contrary to popular belief, wolves can bark, they are just less inclined to use vocalization as a form of communication. This is perfectly logical, as a hunter that makes a lot of noise is unlikely to be very successful.

Dogs, on the other hand have spent thousands of years in the company of humans and have learned that we communicate mainly by voice. They therefore have no problem expressing themselves with a bark, a while or even a howl if the mood takes them.

If you want to discover more about dog obedience training, dog care, puppy care and other useful dog information visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Canine Parvovirus, also commonly called CPV or parvo, is the most prevalent, infectious canine disease in the United States. It is highly contagious and often deadly, particularly because current vaccines do not protect against all strains.

Dog owners should therefore arm themselves with knowledge about the disease, it’s symptoms, how it is spread and most importantly, what to do if you think your dog may be infected.

CPV infects mainly puppies and younger dogs, as their immature immune systems make them an easy target. But that’s not to say that adult dogs are not at risk. The disease is also more prevalent with certain breeds including, Labradors, Rottweilers and Dobermans.

Early symptoms of parvovirus infection include fever, lack of appetite, general lethargy, and a lack of interest in activities the dog usually enjoys. The dog may also start vomiting and develop chronic diarrhea which is usually yellow, with a particularly foul smell.

As the disease progresses, the dog becomes dehydrated, and may go into shock. The dog may also suffer heart failure if the virus moves into the heart. In some cases, heart failure can occur years after the initial parvo infection.

The most common form of parvovirus, called enteritis, targets the digestive system. It causes severe damage to the walls of the stomach and intestines, so that it becomes impossible for the dog to draw sustenance from food and fluids. This often results in bloody diarrhea, and unless it is treated the dog will die.

Even if the dog does recover he is likely to be weak and sickly for the rest of his life.

There is currently no known cure for parvo. Veterinary treatment will mainly be concerned with stabilizing the dog’s condition by delivering fluids and a balanced electrolyte solution intravenously. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to take care of secondary bacterial infections.

Depending on the severity of the infection additional medication may be given. If the dog is in shock corticosteroids may be administered, while an antiserum may also be prescribed.

The parvovirus is extremely resilient. It is transmitted through the faeces of an infected animal, and can live away from a host for up to six months.

It is impervious to most household and commercial disinfectants, although tests have shown that undiluted chlorine bleach can destroy it.

It is vital that your puppy is vaccinated against parvovirus. Modern vaccines may not provide complete immunity but they do at least provide protection against most known strains.

You should also not allow your puppy to play or otherwise interact with dogs you are not familiar with. In fact, keep your puppy confined to your premises until he has completed his course of puppy shots.

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