Wednesday, June 25, 2008
3 Things Your Dog Wants You to Know
Being a good dog owner isn't just about feeding, exercise and affection. It's important to understand your dog and what it is trying to tell you. Of course, dogs can't actually tell you what they are thinking, but there are some things all owners should have in mind about their companion.
1. Dogs aren't like humans....
......and they don't want to be. Many dog owners like to think their dog behaves in a human way, and as a consequence try to treat their dogs like humans. In reality dogs aren't like humans, and no matter how well trained they are owners can't expect their dog to behave like one. Most dogs will enjoy being treated like a human to a certain extent, but don't expect them to act like one in return!
2. Dogs don't understand human language.....
......until they are taught. I've seen many dog owners that seem to think if their dog knows the command "stay" it will also know "don't move". Dogs don't know what something means until they are explicitly taught it whilst having the word associated with a command or action.
3. Dogs won't always behave like you want them to....
.....until properly trained. Dogs have habits that most humans don't find particularly attractive. All dog owners must expect this kind of behaviour, so that it doesn't come as a surprise and if necessary can be addressed through proper training techniques.
If you understand these three points about dogs you are well on your way to being a successful trainer!
Labels: dog/pets/puppy
Monday, June 23, 2008
5 Things You Never Knew About Dogs
By: Richard Cross Terris
1. Dogs can tell from pheromones (chemicals that are released by animals) crucial information such as social status and moods. Smell is arguably a dogs most important sense, which is very different to humans.
2. A dog has once been recorded to live 29 years! The dog was an Australian cattle dog, and for twenty years of its long life was a working dog. On average, medium sized breeds live to about 14 years, although this varies greatly with breed, care and other factors such as environment.
3. Dogs have a much wider frequency range for hearing which is why they can hear dog whistles when humans cannot. Also unlike humans, as their ears can move they can work out exactly where a sound is coming from much more quickly. Not only that, they can hear a sound up to four times further away than a human can.
4. It was thought for a long time that dogs were colour blind, although this has turned out to not be the case. New research seems to suggest dogs can see some colour, although not to the same amount as humans can. They are, however, more sensitive to light.
5. There are up to 800 different breeds of dog worldwide, although household pets in western countries are usually chosen from a very small pool of favourites. The Labrador retriever for example is the most popular dog breed in the UK and US.
Dogs are fascinating animals, with a rich and incredible history. These are just a few of the many interesting facts about dogs!
Labels: dog/pets/puppy
Friday, June 20, 2008
10 Important Things Your Dog Wants You To Know
By: Danielle Hollister
If your dog could talk, these are some of most important things she would like to tell you...
1 - My life will probably only last 7 to 14 years.
It will hurt me more than you know if I have to be away from you for longer than a day or two.
2 - If you have patience with me and give me time to learn what you would like from me, I can promise you, you will never be disappointed.
3 - Trust me with your life and have faith in our future together.
If I don't feel that you honestly believe in me, I will suffer great emotional stress. My sense of self-worth is totally dependent upon your confidence in me.
4 - Don’t stay mad at me for long or confine me to a cage to punish me.
You have your friends, your job, and your recreation. I HAVE ONLY YOU!
5 - Talk to me about anything you want as frequently as possible.
Even if I can’t comprehend your precise words, I can understand the meaning of what you’re telling me by the tone of your voice.
6 - Remember no matter how you treat me, I will NEVER forget it.
7 - When you consider raising your hand to hit me, remember I have teeth that could break the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8 - Before you scream at me for failing to respond to your commands as I usually do, take time to think about what might be wrong with me that would cause me to treat you differently.
Maybe I haven’t been eating right or drinking enough water. Or maybe my age is catching up with me and I just can’t do what I used to do.
9 - Take good care of me when I get old.
Someday you will be as old as me and you will see how it feels.
10 - Be there for me through good times and bad.
Never say you can’t handle taking me to the vets for stitches or surgery. Nothing could make me feel worse. Everything in my life is easier for me to deal with when I have you standing by my side.
Remember my love for you is unconditional and it will last for your entire life.
Labels: dog/pets/puppy
Monday, June 16, 2008
Danger at the Pool
With the summer season upon us, we all love to be poolside to cool down. However, mosquitoes, wasps and other insects come uninvited. To get rid of these pests we resort to all kinds of sprays and poisons. How will this affect our pets?
- Small pets may ingest the poisons and thus get ill
- The spray may accidentally get in eyes of your pet
- Using citronella coils can be a problem if your pet nibbles at it
- Using electronic bug zappers will be better for your pets
- Make sure the chlorine supplies for the pool are kept out of reach of your pets
- Do not let your pets in the pool soon after shocking it
- Smaller pets may be more susceptible to trace amounts of the bug poison
What to look for in your pet?
- If you have been poolside and your pet is lethargic, he may have ingested some poison
- You pet may vomit and be sick
- Or they may act weird
This is not to say that all bug sprays and candles will cause a problem for your pet, but if they are small, it takes very little to make them sick. A couple of years ago, I had given a poolside party for July 4th, and the wedding anniversary of my daughter and her husband. They brought their little puppy(she was very young and tiny) with her. Everyone was having fun outside, when someone noticed that Kate was not around. When we finally found her, she was in my closet on some clothes I had left on the floor. When she was picked up, she was very lethargic and allowed to hold her. The children were excited because she was allowing them to hold her for a long time. Later we discovered that she had vomited a couple of times, and would not eat or drink anything. I am not sure if the problem started before she got here, or whether somehow she got more chemicals in her. She ended up having to go to the Veterinarian the next day to see what was going on. The blood tests were alright, but she was dehydrated. The doctor gave her IV fluids and she was back to her normal self again. So during these summer months be watchful for anything that might make your 4-legged friend sick. Have a good summer!
Labels: dog/pets/puppy
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Invisible, Wireless & Electric Dog Fences
By: Strive Mazunga
A dog fence serves mostly as a means for confining your dog to your property. It also allows your dog the freedom to run and play safely and gives you a sense of security that your pet won't run away when you're not looking. If you plan to add a dog to your family, you should definitely plan on investing in a fence as well.
Invisible dog fences, wireless dog fences and electric dog fences are all popular with pet owners these days. The breed and size of your dog will play a role in determining which type of dog fence is the best choice for you, along with your budget.
Wireless dog fences are also known as instant fences. This type of dog fence uses either single or multiple transmitters that produce radio signals that are picked up by the collar worn by your dog. Wireless dog fences can be used either inside the home or outside the home.
As your dog approaches the boundaries that have been established, he will hear a specific beeping sound. If he continues to get closer, he will feel a mild static shock. Many dog owners use this type of dog fence to quickly train their dogs to stay within a "safe" zone.
One great advantage of the wireless dog fence is that it can be installed without disrupting your landscape, so it's quick and relatively easy.
An electric fence is hidden under the ground so it won't obstruct your views, but it will effectively keep your dog confined to your yard. One great advantage of an electric dog fence is that your dog won't be able to chew through, jump over or dig up the fence like he would a traditional wood fence.
An electric fence wire is buried under the ground, surrounding the perimeter of the area in which you'd like your dog confined. It is similar to the invisible dog fence in that your dog is outfitted with a special collar that contains a receiver. The difference is that when your dog gets too close to the perimeter of the area that is fenced off, he will hear a loud beep or tone. As he gets closer and closer, the sound will change in frequency. Eventually, he will learn to return to the safety of his yard. If for some reason your dog does go across the electric wire, he will receive a "correction".
Invisible dog fences are also known as hidden fences. This type of dog fence is ideal for those homeowners who may not, due to zoning restrictions, be permitted to erect a fence around their property. Invisible dog fences are also the perfect choice for those who prefer not to see any fence whatsoever around their home or yard, but still desire to safely confine their dog.
To install an invisible dog fence, an electric wire is run under the ground around the perimeter of the yard, or other space you'd like for your dog to stay. A receiver is placed on the collar of your dog. The underground wire consistently broadcasts a weak signal that will beep as your dog approaches the boundary of the fence. In the case that your dog gets too close to the perimeter, he will receive a mild shock. Most dogs learn very quickly to stay within the perimeter and eventually stop going near the perimeter altogether.
Labels: dog/pet/puppy
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