Archives for Dogs category
So today is the big day, your new dog or puppy is coming to his new home! Getting a new dog means youll need a few more accessories to go with him. In order to properly care for your new pet, youll have to abide by certain local laws and make some additional purchases. Some of these items are necessities; some just make life with your new dog more convenient.
The necessities; Most of the truly necessary items for dog care are obvious. If youve got a dog youll need bowls for the dogs food and water. Mid size to large dogs have a habit of moving their food bowl around the room as they eat. Buying heavy weighted bowls will avoid the noise and frustration of having to hunt for the bowl at feeding time. I have large German Shepard that likes to carry his bowl over to me whenever hes ready to eat! A sturdy plastic bowl with a rubber lining on the bottom can be useful as well. The rubber on the bottom keeps the bowl from sliding around as Fido enjoys his dinner.
Unless you have a fenced in backyard, youll be needing a leash and collar for walks. Even if your yard is fenced in, you may want these anyway for training purposes. These can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like, but of course, youll want to take the size and strength of your dog into account when selecting them. The collar can (and should) be adorned with a license tag or at least an ID tag that provides your name and contact information in case your dog is lost.
If you live in a city environment, youll need to purchase that miracle of modern doggie convenience the pooper scooper. Most cities have laws against owners simply allowing their dogs to foul the footpath or leave little all over the city park. In some cities, there is a hefty fine for such crappy behavior.
Optional; There are literally thousands of optional items available for people to purchase for use with their dogs. Some of these items, like the gravity refillable water dishes and food bowls, serve a very useful purpose; others the dog bandana comes to mind serve no real purpose and are just plain fun.
One item that some owners do find very useful, especially those that live in a hot climate, are doggie booties. While they may seem like a relatively useless item, they do a good job of protecting the sensitive pads of a dogs feet from rough terrain, rocky areas, and hot pavement. Stepping on hot sticky asphalt can be very painful for your dog. Those in cooler climates may not understand, but in some places, particularly the desert environments of cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque, the summer pavement can literally become hot enough to fry an egg. You wouldnt walk barefoot on such a surface and neither should your dog.
So before you bring Fido home, make sure you have all the accessories you need to make his and your life easier.
Tags:
City Environment,
Dog Bowls,
Dogs Food,
Feeding Time,
Food Bowl,
Food Bowls,
Footpath,
Frustration,
German Shepard,
Getting A New Dog,
Gravity,
Habit,
License Tag,
Mid Size,
Miracle,
Necessities,
New Pet,
New Puppy,
Pooper Scooper,
Water Dishes
Related posts
Mar 12, 2010 | | Dogs
Dogs That Refuse to Eat – What Causes This and How Can it Be Resolved?
When a pet dog refuses to eat, the problem is either physical or psychological. When a pet dog refuses to eat, his owner pleads with him and tries to tempt him with food fed by hand. If the dog is sufficiently neglected and bored he may try this to get attention. An intelligent owner will counter this common canine play by giving his dog companionship by playing with him and taking him for a daily walk.
How can you handle the problem of a dog that refuses to eat not because he is neglected, but spoiled? Simply remove his food bowl after half an hour, and present it again only at the next meal time. Spoiled dogs are often obese too, so it will do no harm to skip one meal. Please do not serve him the same food, as it may be spoiled. It never occurs to some owners that their dog’s lack of appetite may be caused from unappetizing meals or just a dirty bowl.
Food that is unfit for humans is unfit for your dog too. Dogs also eye with suspicion any new food and they have marked individual preferences for meals that are dry or moist, finely chopped, or chunky. You can add taste appeal with a little chopped onion or garlic, or a beaten egg yolk. Most dogs love liver and bacon, which either can be mixed into their regular feed in small amounts.
The most effective appetite stimulant is aroma. If you have given your dog dry food and raw meat, it may smell better if the mean is seared or the dry food is moistened. A spoonful of brewer’s yeast sprinkled on his meal, is another good appetite awakener. Many dogs skip their noon meal entirely during hot weather. Let your pet follow his natural instinct. Fasting is an instinctive animal remedy for minor digestive disorders, however if he refuses food for more than 24 hours, you should have your veterinarian examine him.
Chronic underweight or a sudden weight loss may be due to a physical malfunction and is definitely a danger signal. A voracious appetite combined with a loss of weight is one of the symptoms of internal parasites. All of these symptoms require the attention of your veterinarian, for he alone is competent to diagnose the cause and to prescribe the treatment.
A young puppy that refuses to eat should cause immediately concern. A healthy diet is vital to his future well-being, and since his tiny stomach holds very little at a time, a missed meal is nourishment lost forever. Before you alert the vet or your puppy’s breeder, you should verify that his loss or appetite is not due to one of several easily remedied causes:
- Your puppy misses his brothers and sisters or mother. (Try keeping him company and you may try hand feeding him for a while, but do not make a habit of it, especially with toy breeds.)
- His feeding times do not coincide with his hunger. (Adjust your schedule to suit his appetite.)
- He is too nervous to eat. (Avoid the excitement of play and visitors, just before nd after his meal times.)
- His food is too tough or chunky for his baby teeth to handle. (Chop it finely, or soften it by soaking. Teething puppies often go off their feed and need a softer diet during this period.)
- He has problems with his food dish. (Young puppies eat most easily from a flat dish, like a pie plate. Later on, long nosed breeds should be given a deeper dish. For long eared breeds, there are special deep tapered bowls which prevent their ears from dragging in their food.)
Tags:
Appetite Stimulant,
Beaten Egg,
Bowl Food,
Chopped Onion,
Chronic Underweight,
Danger Signal,
Digestive Disorders,
Dry Food,
Egg Yolk,
Food Bowl,
Good Appetite,
Hot Weather,
Lack Of Appetite,
Meal Time,
Natural Instinct,
New Food,
Noon Meal,
Raw Meat,
Sudden Weight Loss,
Taste Appeal
Related posts
Mar 12, 2010 | | Dogs
Dogs Need Good Food Too Your Guide To Your Dogs Diet
Dogs nutritional needs may differ from ours. What we deem as healthy for us might not sufficient or appropriate for them. To give your dog the best nutrition available you will have to understand their specific needs and how to address them. After all, taking care of mans best friend does take a little preparation and know-how.
Your dog needs the essential nutrients to grow, go, and glow. If your dog does not receive proper nutrients it may result in poor health, stunted growth, lethargy and shortened lifespan.
Dogs like most animal life forms need the six basic nutrients for survival: carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients serve different functions in sustaining the health and well-being of your dog. This guide will elaborate on dogs need of these nutrients.
1. Proteins: the building blocks of your dogs health
Proteins are chemicals made of amino acids. Your dog can produce some of these chemicals in their own bodies. The rest has to be supplied through food. The best sources of these amino acids are meat and its byproducts. Dogs can extract proteins from these sources a lot easier than it would with plant sources.
Choose feeds that have an adequate amount of protein in them to help your puppies and working dogs grow. Too much of this, however, may cause kidney problems and has been known to cause temperament problems.
2. Fats: delivering other nutrients to the body
Fat sound like a bad word everyone tries to avoid it because it causes tons of health problems. Dogs, however, just like man, also have a need for these nutrients albeit in a moderate amount.
The right amount of fat is needed to promote good skin health, and to transport fat-soluble vitamins. Fats are also essential to kidney function and reproductive health. They make food tastier too. Too much fat will result in obesity and lethargy.
3. Carbohydrates: doggie fuel
Fifty percent of your dogs diet should consist of carbohydrates since they need it for their energy. Corn is one of the more popular sources of this nutrient, along with soybeans. If this source is clean and of good nutritional quality then that should be fine as well.
4. Vitamins and Minerals: keeping your dog healthy
It would have been easier if your dog only had to splurge on vitamins and minerals to get optimal health. However, the opposite is true. Your dog needs an exact amount of vitamins and minerals to be healthy. Although, your dog may receive these nutrients from food, vitamin supplements for your dogs could be helpful. Specially formulated commercial feeds also make it easier for dog owners to give their dogs good nutrition.
Tags:
Amino Acids,
Animal Life,
Bad Word,
Basic Nutrients,
Byproducts,
Dogs Health,
Essential Nutrients,
Fat Soluble Vitamins,
Kidney Function,
Kidney Problems,
Lethargy,
Plant Sources,
Poor Health,
Proper Nutrients,
Reproductive Health,
Skin Health,
Stunted Growth,
Temperament Problems,
Vitamins And Minerals,
Working Dogs
Related posts
Mar 11, 2010 | | Dogs
I am the owner of two miniature dachshunds who share my house and home. Many dog owners would rephrase that and instead call me the human who shares the house with the dogs. Dogs are indeed wonderful creatures.
Recent experiences have made me reflect upon and notice things about dogs and their presence in my life. I grew up with dogs so was taught at a young age to appreciate and treat animals with loving care. I recall clearly watching our pet Boston Terrier comfort my little brother who sat on the floor crying about something.
My friend came over to walk the dogs today and as she stood on the doorstep Peanut, my 12 pound dachshund stood up to lick her face. I belong to a PLR site for dog articles and there have been several written on this topic – all as if this was a bad thing. This got me thinking..
Both dogs lick my face when Im in bed and I call this kisses. Peanut will go so far as to stand on my chest with all four paws so he can give my full face a wash including my eyes. This usually only happens every couple weeks yet I endure because hes my dog. Bark goes after my husband more because the only time he gets to lick his face is in bed whereas Ill sit with them during the day.
My dogs also jump up on me when I walk in the door and will do this with others they know. Again, the articles say this is bad and that you should train your dog to quietly accept a short pat on the head as a way of greeting. When my two dogs have been apart for as little as ten minutes they greet each other very enthusiastically. Why shouldnt they greet me and my friends in the same fashion.
Ive decided that regardless of what the articles may say, Im all for having my dachshunds jump up and lick my face. First of all, theyre just being dogs and second of all they are my friends and they dont know any other way of saying hello. I figure if they can make me smile and laugh it cant be all bad!
Tags:
Boston Terrier,
Couple Weeks,
Creatures,
Dachshund,
Dachshunds,
Dog Owners,
Dogs Dogs,
Doorstep,
Experiences,
Fashion,
Four Paws,
Friends,
House Dogs,
Kisses,
Little Brother,
Loving Care,
Miniature Dachshunds,
Presence,
Theyre,
Two Dogs
Related posts
Mar 11, 2010 | | Dogs
America loves dogs in films and on television. We also seem to love dogs in the pages of the Sunday funnies and in animation. To list all of the cartoon dogs that have made some kind of impact on American pop culture could fill an entire book. Here, however, is a small whos who list of dogs that have been popular in cartoons over the years.
1924 Sandy
Fans of Harold Grays comic strip Little Orphan Annie fondly remember Annies dog Sandy. Although Sandy never had much to say except the occasional panel-ending ARF! she was loved nonetheless and often was able to help Annie out of tough scrapes when fighting Nazis or investigating haunted houses.
1950 Snoopy
Easily the most recognizable cartoon dog in American history, Snoopy the real star of Charles Schultzs Peanuts is an American icon. Snoopy stole the show in every Peanuts strip he appeared in. He fought the Red Baron from the top of his dog house, was the proud owner of original paintings by both Vincent Van Gogh and an Andrew Wyeth (the Van Gogh was sadly destroyed by fire), never quite finished his novel but typed the opening line it was a dark and stormy night countless times, and had a twin brother named Spike who lived in the desert outside Needles, California. Not bad for a Beagle.
1980s Odie
It is nearly impossible not to love Odie, the relatively stupid, completely mute (he doesnt even think in words), and incessantly slobbering canine companion of Garfield the cat in the Jim Davis strip Garfield. Odie was there simply to be abused by Garfield, no doubt about it, but there are plenty of times in the history of the comic that we get to see just how important the little dog is to the titular chubby cat.
1990 Santas Little Helper
What better pet for the misfit Simpson family than Santas Little Helper, a weary greyhound that couldnt win a race if his life depended on it? From the Christmas themed pilot episode of The Simpsons to the episodes airing today (as of this writing the show is in its 16th season), SLH has been a fixture in the constantly expanding Simpsons universe. Who can forget SLH destroying Homers prized giant cookie, learning to talk in an effort to distract the familys attention away from their new dog Laddie, and being trained as an attack hound by Mr. Burns and the not quite in the closet Waylon Smithers? Santas Little Helper is everything the Simpson family dog should be and more. Watch for his Snoopy imitation at the end of one of the series famous Treehouse of Horror Halloween episodes.
Tags:
American Icon,
American Pop Culture,
Andrew Wyeth,
Canine Companion,
Cartoon Dog,
Cartoon Dogs,
Dark And Stormy Night,
Garfield Odie,
Garfield The Cat,
Haunted Houses,
List Of Dogs,
Little Orphan Annie,
Needles California,
Peanuts Strip,
Pilot Episode,
Simpson Family,
Slh,
Snoopy Cartoon,
Sunday Funnies,
Vincent Van Gogh
Related posts
Mar 10, 2010 | | Dogs
One of the most beloved subjects for the creation of cartoon characters in America is the dog. Countless dogs have graced movie and television screens as animated characters too many to cover in one short article in fact. There must be something special about the comical nature of canines that makes them such ready targets to become humorous cartoon characters, but there have been plenty to choose from.
In the 1970s the creative team of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera had their heyday on television. They practically owned Saturday mornings when nearly every cartoon show seemed to be an HB production. The team and their company created over a thousand animated characters over the years and a number of their most memorable ones are dogs.
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo, where are you!? Anyone who was a growing and television watching child in the seventies remembers the lovable Great Dane with the bottomless stomach and nerves of aluminum. As part of the team of teenagers that trekked the country in their psychedelic van The Mystery Machine, Scooby and his pal Shaggy got more mileage out of one plotline than any cartoon characters in history. Scooby-Doo has aired on television in one form or another for over thirty years and, with the success of two recent live-action motion pictures based on the series, shows no sign of stopping anytime soon. Wed have gotten away with it if it werent for those meddling kids and their dog
Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy
This was a pair made for cartoons if there ever was one. Augie and his dad were two bachelors traveling around and getting into adventures and misadventures with humorous results. Augie was clearly the brains of the operation, but he was never going to reveal that to his Jimmy Durante inspired dear old dad. We never did find out what happened to Doggie Mommy
Hong Kong Phooey
Only Hanna Barbera Studious could have thought to take the 1970s fads of blacksploitation and Kung Fu movies and make it into a kids cartoon show. They pulled it off, though, with this number one super guy that was voiced by the late, great Scatman Crothers. By day hes a mild mannered janitor working at the police station, but whenever theres trouble he jumps into the filing cabinet, dons a mask and a gi, and emerges as a dog in a gi that knows kung fu. Good times all around.
Muttley
Appearing as the sidekick of the eternally villainous Dick Dastardly, Muttley the dog never said a word, but his wheezy snicker rings in the memory of anyone who ever saw an episode of The Wacky Races, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, or Stop That Pigeon.
Tags:
Action Motion,
American Animation,
Cartoon Characters,
Cartoon Show,
Comical Nature,
Countless Dogs,
Creative Team,
Dear Old Dad,
Great Dane,
Hanna Barbera,
Humorous Cartoon,
Humorous Results,
Jimmy Durante,
Joseph Barbera,
Mystery Machine,
Plotline,
Saturday Mornings,
Scooby Doo Where Are You,
Television Screens,
William Hanna
Related posts
Mar 10, 2010 | | Dogs
Young people are learning responsibility and gaining self-confidence in a 4-H program where they train Seeing Eye dogs.
More than 70 4-H clubs in New Jersey and the surrounding region are training 800 dogs in a unique partnership with The Seeing Eye-an organization that enhances the independence of blind people. Consistent with the 4-H tradition of youth leadership, the young people, not their parents, are responsible for the dogs.
The youth teach the dogs basic obedience, socialize them with people, and expose them to situations they might encounter as Seeing Eye dogs.
Seventeen-year-old Esther Middlekauff, president of the Ocean County 4-H Club in New Jersey, is raising her sixth dog for the program. She leads the club members in activities and serves as a mentor for kids who are not familiar with the responsibility necessary for working with these special dogs.
“Training can be hard,” she said, “but it helps us all build character and persistence.”
Working with the dogs can also help give youth a sense of purpose. Ezekiel Gonzalez, a resident at the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission’s Fresh Start community home, had few chances to show his true potential. That all changed when he met Spock.
Spock is a 1-year-old Labrador retriever that Ezekiel, 18, and the other youth at the home are helping foster for the Ocean County 4-H Club. Ezekiel is learning many personal lessons working with the dog. “Spock shows me how to be patient,” he said. “He looks to me for support and to keep him safe.”
“For these boys to take care of something of their own gives them hope. Spock is a very helpful addition to both our residents and staff,” said Michael Dindak, Fresh Start superintendent.
The 4-Hers appreciate the value of their work, even though it can be difficult. “Sometimes a good thing is hard to do,” said Esther. “But I know that my dog will help someone and that is their job.”
4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.
Tags:
4 H Club,
4 H Clubs,
Club Members,
Dogs Training,
Ezekiel 18,
Fresh Start,
Gaining Self Confidence,
Juvenile Justice Commission,
Labrador Retriever,
Mentor,
Middlekauff,
New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission,
Obedience,
Ocean County,
Persistence,
Personal Lessons,
Seeing Eye Dogs,
Sense Of Purpose,
Training Dogs,
Youth Leadership
Related posts
Mar 09, 2010 | | Dogs
Breeding dogs is an exciting experience. From the time a proper mate is found to the point that the puppies are born, it is crucial to take careful steps to make this successful.
Professional breeders do not breed frequently and will only do so when a pair is found to be healthy that will ensure the birth of healthy offspring.
The ideal breeder should have the pair of dogs tested for every possible disease as well as have all the information regarding the pairs ancestors and health records on file. Should a breeder find no problem in the history of the pair, then the process can begin.
Dogs normally come into heat twice a year which is every six months. Larger dogs can come into heat every eight or ten months which usually lasts about three weeks. Vaginal bleeding is a sure sign that the dog is in heat as well as swelling in the vulva.
A dog’s pregnancy or gestation period lasts between 60 to 67 days. Most dogs give birth after 63 days.
The only way to determine the stage of the dogs pregnancy is by keeping the track of time from the day of the breeding. Keeping a record of this on file is advisable for reference purposes.
Exactly three weeks after breeding, the mother must be examined to confirm the pregnancy.
The dog must be given a formulated and premium brand of dog food for the duration of the pregnancy and throughout the nursing period preferably with strong nutritional foundation.
During pregnancy, the mother’s food consumption will almost double compared to the pre-pregnancy level so increased feeding must be given to ensure that there is enough for both the dog and the puppies.
Behavioral changes are to be expected during this time. The dog will demand for more affection or may experience a few days of vomiting.
Later on, the expectant mother will search for a secure place to deliver the puppies. So, one must ensure that a proper place is ready when the time comes. An ideal place for an expecting mother is a box. Depending on the size of the dog, it must be spacious enough for the dog to move around and must have layers of newspaper inside it that will absorb birthing fluids. This should also have low sides for the mother to look outside and for the breeder to easily check if assistance is needed to make it easy to remove soiled papers without interrupting the mother and the newborn puppies.
Tags:
Affection,
Ancestors,
Behavioral Changes,
Breeding Dogs,
Careful Steps,
Dog Food,
Dogs Pregnancy,
Expecting Mother,
Food Consumption,
Health Records,
Nutritional Foundation,
Offspring,
Pairs,
Pre Pregnancy,
Premium Brand,
Professional Breeders,
Puppies,
Secure Place,
Vaginal Bleeding,
Vulva
Related posts
Mar 08, 2010 | | Dogs
Dogs Beg The Question: Is There Training Available For Our Human Friends?
The focus of many pet owners seems to be directed towards their animals, which makes a great deal of sense in most cases. However, when trying to correct unwanted behavior in your dog you might want to point that finger inward sometimes and have a little glimpse in the mirror. It is easy to become annoyed with your pet when you feel as though you have tried everything and nothing seems to work.
Maybe your Boston Terrier continues to chew on your shoes or other objects while you are not at home. Perhaps the Maltese in your life still has accidents in the house rather than letting you know she needs to go outside. On the other hand, possibly you have a Yorkshire Terrier that snips at strangers, even guests in your home when they try to pet him. All of these and many other undesirable behaviors that dogs may posses can leave a pet owner feeling frustrated and at their wits end with their furry little friend.
Have you ever considered though when faced with one of these situations that the dog is trying to communicate something to you? Is it possible that Sparky just feels neglected during those long days alone at home while you are at work? Sometimes we can have a big impact on our dogs if we look at our own behavior and consider what the pooch may be trying to tell us through their difficult behavior. Obviously dogs can not talk or speak with us as a human can when they need to communicate their feelings. That is not to say that canines are not vocal because as many of us know they can express quite a lot at times through their barking, growling or whining. However, to really pinpoint what the issue is for your pet you may find that you are the one that actually holds the answers.
Dogs have a very keen awareness for their surroundings and the people in their environment. As most dog owners come to realize, the bond between your dog and you can be extremely strong. There are people who report that during a challenging illness or devastating time in their life that their dog responded as though they knew what was going on and they helped their owner through the rough time. Sometimes by just sitting near their owner or laying at their feet, other times dogs may whine and pace back and forth, especially when other people are around because they are trying to indicate that their owner needs help.
Experts have even confirmed that dogs do have an ability to detect several human emotions and many of them will respond in unique ways. For example; when there is a lot of anger or arguing occurring within a household your dog may respond by acting up in a number of ways, which is not a problem with the dog but rather your pet is responding to the hostility and unpleasantness it senses in the house. Everyone goes through difficult periods in their life and it is obviously impossible to avoid exposing your dog to any anger or hostile situations throughout their life. The important thing to remember is that your situation and how you handle it is not your dogs choice or within their area of responsibility.
Dogs deserve and hopefully get, the majority of times anyway, a good, loving and stable home. They respond well to a structured environment, complete with rules and routines. If you typically get up each morning and walk your dog before you go to work and then you suddenly stop doing it all together, your dog will respond in some way, possibly a negative one. It is not the dogs fault that you changed your behavior and they have no other way of communicating other than to chew up stuff or have an accident in the house as their way of saying, hey what is going on. In some cases dogs can even become depressed, this happens most frequently in situations where the dog was once loved and well cared for and then suddenly became ignored and forgotten about. It is really sad to see a dog that is in this form of doggy-depression because again, they did not ask to come to live with you, you chose them.
There are obviously other concerns you must deal with when you are going through a difficult time, like loosing your job or going through a divorce, and you should always take care of the important aspects related to these situations. It is understandable that a dog can suddenly become a lower priority in your life however, if you are unhappy with their behavior because they are acting out in response to their environment; take that into consideration before disciplining your pet or giving up on them all together.
Dogs may secretly harbor the desire to have all humans attend some sort of training school before they decide to become a pet owner, however, since that is not very likely to happen, remember to think about your own behavior when examining your dogs. That precious pooch can sometimes be just what you need to get through a difficult time and maintaining their routine for their benefit can in many ways benefit you also.
Tags:
Accidents,
Big Dogs,
Boston Terrier,
Dog Owners,
Dogs Training,
Glimpse,
Human Friends,
Keen Awareness,
Little Friend,
Pet Owner,
Pet Owners,
Pooch,
Snips,
Sparky,
Training Dogs,
Undesirable Behaviors,
Unwanted Behavior,
Wits End,
Yorkshire,
Yorkshire Terrier
Related posts
Mar 08, 2010 | | Dogs
Dogs Are Not People! Understanding the Differences Between People and Dogs and Using This Information In Your Relationship With Your Pet
Dogs are not people. It may seem like an obvious observation, but so many people make the mistake time and time again of expecting their dog to act and think like a person. They attribute human traits and emotions to these noble animals and thus undermine their whole relationship, sending confusing signals and stressing the dog.
Remember, the dog is an animal. Yes, even your cute little friend who curls up on the sofa next to you and loves to have his tummy tickled. He’s an animal, and he MUST be treated as such to give him a healthy, fulfilling life. Small dogs are particularly prone to being treated as children or babies and this can lead to a multitude of behavioural problems, not to mention confusion and misery for the dog.
Firstly, let’s look at the exchange of love between ourselves and our dogs. Most of us love our dogs and can feel a warm spot in the middle of our chests when we see them or think of them. Does the dog feel that too? We have to assume not. He loves us, but he loves us in a different way. He relies on us for his well-being and survival. He looks to us (if we are successful) as a leader of his pack and he trusts us in our decisions.
He is happy to be with you because he is a pack animal and his attachment to you may well be very deep. But he doesn’t have the complicated love-psychology of a human being. He doesn’t have the same concept of ethics and morality and he certainly doesn’t know anything above and beyond what his animal instincts tell him. If a friend of yours enters the house and your dog doesn’t like him, he’s not going to be nice to the friend for your sake! Conversely, he doesn’t misbehave or sulk to get attention or pay you back for something you did. These are human emotions and motives that we attribute to our dogs almost unconsciously.
We should also look at the concept of praise and punishment in training. On the whole, I advocate praising good behaviour and ignoring misbehaviour. I do not believe in punishing a dog for bad behaviour, but sometimes a short, sharp shout can be a good reminder to a dog that is doing something he knows he shouldn’t. It is essential to remember that you can only praise or give correction to your dog AT THE VERY MOMENT he is exhibiting the behaviour in question. He is not a child and will not know nor remember what he did five minutes ago. This is a fundamental difference between people and dogs and if remembered, will make training a much easier task.
So the key to this is think like a dog. Imagine you are a pack animal like him. Don’t ever think of him as a human, still less a child or a baby, whatever his size and however cute his face. You have to hard-wire this concept into your relationship with your dog and he will only thank you for it. He is a dog, an animal, and only by truly understanding this will you be able to fulfill his needs and form a meaningful, satisfying relationship for both of you.
Tags:
Animal Instincts,
Behavioural Problems,
Chests,
Concept Of Ethics,
Confusing Signals,
Curls,
Emotions And Motives,
Ethics And Morality,
Fulfilling Life,
Human Emotions,
Human Traits,
Little Friend,
Love Psychology,
Misbehave,
Misery,
Multitude,
Pack Animal,
Pet Dogs,
Small Dogs,
Sulk
Related posts
Mar 08, 2010 | | Dogs