Dog Tips & Articles
A Dogs Love...
I lie belly-up
In the sunshine, happier than
You ever will be.
Today I sniffed
Many dog butts—I celebrate
By kissing your face.
I sound the alarm!
Paperboy—come to kill us all —
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!
I sound the alarm!
Garbage man—come to kill us all —
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!
I lift my leg and
Whiz on each bush. Hello, Spot—
Sniff this and weep.
I Hate my choke chain—
Look, world, they strangle me! Ack
Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack!
Sleeping here, my chin
On your foot—no greater bliss—well,
Maybe catching cats.
Look in my eyes and
Deny it. No human could
Love you as much I do.
Anonymous
Is It Normal For A Dog To Eat Grass?
Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
The Mystery Revealed—Sort Of...
Dogs eat grass for a variety of reasons. Of course, all those reasons are a bit of a mystery on our part because the dog can’t tell us why. There are two categories of eating behavior, however, and some good guesses about why dogs eat grass.
The two different types of eating are grazing and quick eating. The first is the dog who feeds on grass. The other is the dog who munches some blades quickly. In either case the dog is following his natural instincts. Remember, dogs are descended from wild dogs, wolves and foxes, which eat all of their kill, including the food in the stomach and intestines. This food probably contained lots of green food because the dead animal ate greens.
The grazer theory is that the dog likes the taste of grass. It’s like a big bowl of asparagus or broccoli to us or those of us who like vegetables. Dogs need greens just as we do because they’re omnivorous, which means they eat and need all the different kinds of food.
At the same time the dog is getting fiber, which he might not be getting in his canned or dry food. So, the grass provides vitamins and roughage, which are good for the overall health of the dog. If this is the case, it’s wise to add vitamins or roughage to the dog’s food or find a new food that has what the dog needs.
The quick eater supposedly eats grass to irritate the stomach sufficiently to vomit because he has an upset stomach. Or, it could be that the grass upsets the stomach, and the dog vomits. Whether it’s the upset stomach or the grass upsetting the stomach that comes first is unclear. Those pesky little creatures just won’t tell us, will they?
Caution: Don’t let the dog eat treated grass; pesticides, insecticides and fertilizer can do great harm. It takes a few days for the poison to dissipate from a freshly treated lawn, and then the dog can eat to his heart’s content. Also, don’t let the dog eat where mushrooms or toadstools grow; they may be poisonous. There are other poisonous plants, such as oleander, that a dog must avoid.
By and large, most vets believe it’s normal behavior for dogs to eat grass. If the dog uses the grass to vomit a lot, it’s time to call the vet. Otherwise, the dog is fine with eating grass.
As always, if you are concerned about your dog's health, it is always best to contact your local vet to see if your dog's specific behavior is something to be concerned about.
Dog Training
Socialization
I love football, I have since I was about 12 and taught myself everything I needed to know about the sport. And, since I lived in Green Bay for a few years this year’s Superbowl was fun for me, but it was the Puppybowl that got me thinking!
Socialization for young puppies is essential! Puppies must be taught at a young age how to act and react in any given situation that might arise under normal circumstances during their life. The things we do when we are young prepare us for life.
Puppies are like babies their minds and bodies are growing rapidly and it is critical to socialize them while they are young and happily forming opinions about things. If that vital window of time and opportunity is missed it will be much more difficult if not impossible to teach them the things they need to know about socialization with people and other dogs.
Getting Started
The world is a scary place full of disease that can threaten the lives of puppies. Therefore it is important to speak with your vet about proper vaccinations and socialization. Most of the time it is recommended that puppies receive at least 2 to 3 distemper vaccines and possibly even their rabies vaccination before they are safe to wander about in the world.
Does that Mean You Can’t Socialize Your Pup Until After he is 16 Weeks Old?
Absolutely Not!
You just have to ensure safety to the best of your ability.
Your new puppy may begin playing with fully vaccinated well cared for dogs that you are familiar
with and that you trust. Don’t let your new puppy play with just any adult dog, in the beginning you
must find dogs that are patient and kind and that will play appropriately or the play session could be traumatic. Find dogs of all shapes and sizes for your pup to play with!
You can take your new puppy with you to places like Starbucks and let him socialize with people of all types, just don’t put him on the ground unless he is fully vaccinated.
Socializing with people of all shapes, ages, sizes and ethnicities is critical when puppies are young, so get out there and broaden your pups horizons. Proper dog training really has a strong foundation in great socialization!
Once your pup has gotten use to socializing with all kinds of people and dogs that you are familiar with and is fully vaccinated you may begin letting him socialize with other puppies his own age! This is when life and play gets fun for him! You can enroll him in puppy socialization classes or check with your vet to see if they have play times available.
Dogs can only learn about play from each other! If they don’t learn early in life their ability to socialize with other dogs and communicate with each other may be lost or at the very least extremely inhibited.
Play is crucial for puppies, it teaches them how to interact and it helps make them tired! So get your puppy out there and let him learn the benefits of play!
Best Ways to Control Dog Barking
The neighbors have told you the dog barks all day while you’re gone. Barking dogs pose quite a problem in a crowded area if the barking is prolonged. Traffic noise, kid noise, lawnmowers and leaf blowers, and a multitude of other noises add to the mix.
So, what are you going to do about the dog?
First, try to find out why the dog barks. Dogs can bark at people walking by or something as simple as a leaf falling in the yard or a squirrel, but usually this bark doesn’t last long. They also bark at the doorbell, but if you’re not home they’ll stop when the doorbell does. Uncontrolled, persistent barking can stem from several different causes: boredom, excess energy and loneliness.
When a dog is bored, he’ll bark. It gives him something to do. Give him something to do with lots of toys, such as balls and chewy toys. The dog can chase the ball by himself or chew the toy, if he’s indoors. If he’s crated during the day, make sure there are plenty of toys for him. Chew sticks can keep a dog busy for hours.
If the dog has excess energy, take him for a long walk before you leave. This should tire the dog out enough to let him sleep, which is what happy, healthy dogs do most of the day. A retractable lead gives the dog plenty of space to feel free and run while still protected. Or, you can use a regular leash and run with the dog.
If the dog is lonely, that’s a little harder problem, which might be solved by toys. Sometimes the human companion gets another dog as a companion for the first dog. They then can play together, and the loneliness disappears.
If all else fails, there are other ways to train the dog to stop barking. First, if you’re at home when the dog goes into a frenzy, a spray bottle filled with water will do the trick over a period of time. Just a little spray will get the dog’s attention because he won’t like the spray, and he’ll stop barking.
There are also collars that give a little shock or a high-pitched sound that will train the dog to know that barking is unacceptable behavior. The dog will learn that the shock or the sound happen only when he barks, so he’ll stop barking.
There are also stationary boxes you can put in the yard or somewhere discreet in the apartment that emit ultrasound noise that will get the dog’s attention, and he’ll stop barking. He’ll learn that if he barks, he hears the sound; if he doesn’t, life is good.
When a dog barks for hours at a time, it’s unnatural. Dogs are supposed to sleep for hours at a time. So, when the dog barks, find the reason, then find the way that works best with your dog.
List Of Hypoallergenic Dogs
The following list of dog breeds are considered hypoallergenic according to the American Kennel Club...
- Bichon Frise
- Chinese Crested
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Maltese
- Poodle (all sizes)
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Schnauzer (all sizes)
- Shih Tzu
- Basenji
- Bouvier des Flandres
- Havanese
- Puli
- Spanish Water Dog
- Bedlington Terrier
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- American Hairless Terrier
- Airedale Terrier
- Border Terrier
- Cairn Terrier
- Tibetan Terrier
- West Highland White Terrier
- Wirehaired Fox Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
Best Dogs For Children Under 7 Years Old
Think Carefully Before Choosing
Getting a new dog is an exciting prospect, but don’t pick a dog just on emotional response. This dog is going to be with you and your children for many years, so the dog must fit into your family life.
If you already have a small child, introduce a new dog or puppy slowly and carefully. During the first meeting you should probably hold a very young child in your lap, and the dog must wear a leash. Let the dog sniff the child, and if the child is old enough, he or she can hold out a hand for the dog to get to know. Eventually, let the child pat the dog’s chest; doing this leaves the dog’s sight line free.
If the child is older, you should still keep the child as quiet as possible, and the dog should still wear a leash. The getting to know you routine is still the same. It takes a while for a dog and a small child to learn each other’s behavior patterns.
If you’re bringing a new baby home to a dog that’s already there, it’s pretty much the same method of introduction. The dog may be jealous at first, but if you stick to the dog’s regular routine (feeding, walking, and so on), then the dog should be fine with the new addition to the family.
Never leave young children and any kind of dog alone. A very young child is still too young to understand how to treat the dog without supervision and guidance. A dog of any age or temperament can accidentally knock a child down or even nip if the child hurts him. By the time a child is eight, he or she can fully respect the dog’s behavior and even take on some of the responsibility of caring for the dog.
Puppies
If you bring a puppy into your home, remember that you will have a lot of work to do with him. You need to housebreak him, teach him manners (no jumping, etc.) and get him through teething without losing all the legs on your chairs. Puppies are usually very enthusiastic, so need a lot of exercise. Bring young children and puppies together very slowly, making sure the dog can sleep when he wants and that he doesn’t disturb the children when they’re napping. Also, make sure the puppy eats only his food; ditto the children.
Breeds
When choosing a specific breed, look for those who have even temperaments and the right size (medium-sized dogs are best for very small children). And find a reputable breeder, not a puppy mill.
Among the breeds that are popular with small families are the retrievers, especially Labradors and Goldens. Others that are also good with small children are some of the hounds, in particular, Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds.
Beagles, with proper training, are excellent with small children. Huskies and Samoyeds are also good with little ones, but they do require a lot of grooming. Collies aren’t as popular with the public as they once were, but they’re very good with children. Even some of the gentle giants, such as the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Mastiff, can live with small children as long as you understand the dogs are big.
Rescues
If you choose to adopt from a shelter or a rescue group, someone (a shelter employee, a volunteer or a foster parent) can fill you in on whether the dog, usually a mixed breed, is good with children. Spend a little time with the dog yourself and then arrange for a brief visit at the shelter or foster home with the children. If the meeting goes well, adopt the dog. One of the mixed breeds that does well with children is the Labradoodle.
Once you’ve considered all the possibilities and looked at getting a dog from every angle, it’s time to choose a dog. You can also decide to postpone getting one until the children are older, and you have more choices and can match your lifestyle.
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