I Am Here

 A brilliant idea started by two Chilean students fed up of people ignoring their cities stray dogs.. 
They tied balloons with phrases like 'do not mistreat me' & 'scratch my neck' written on them, onto stray dogs. this is a video of peoples reactions. I'd like to hope that a lot of these dogs found new loving owners after this initiative. and I hear that it has spread to cities around the world.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/i-am-here-stray-dog-initiative-chile-video_n_3563039.html

Why you shouldn't shave your double coated dog.

 It is the height of summer for the northern hemisphere, and I have seen lots of dogs who have had a 'haircut' for the season, including a couple of Huskies.. which surprised me greatly, as huskies are double coated dogs, and by shaving off those coats, you can cause more harm than good.  
this link explains it better, share it round and if you ever hear of a groomer offering to shave a double coated dog, please put them straight. 
 
http://www.examiner.com/article/why-you-shouldn-t-shave-your-double-coated-dog

Beagles see sun and grass for the first time after a life in a laboratory.

 Tissues at the ready...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFtJeKojFfI

A Problem With Your Dog's Food

One of the most basic functions of a dog is to eat. Nothing complicated about that you may think. However, many dogs harbour a hidden problem in that they suffer from a food intolerance or a food allergy. So how do you know?

Food intolerance will probably cause vomiting, diarrhoea or a generally upset stomach. The symptoms of an allergy usually include itchy skin or even raw spots on the skin and may also include weight loss, loss of energy, hyperactivity or even a personality change. These conditions are quite different, but they can both be caused by food.

Many dog owners do not realise there is a problem  and pass off the symptoms "as something the dog has eaten". The fact that it is "something else" will become apparent when the symptoms fail to clear up over a period of 5/6days. In fact, about 10% of dogs now have some sort of allergy or intolerance to normal dog food.(and our "human" food)

If you think your dog may have a food intolerance or allergy, it is necessary to have your dog tested by your vet to establish which ingredient of the food is causing the symptoms. This usually requires a special controlled diet lasting up to twelve weeks. Common ingredients that cause problems are wheat, beef, pork, chicken,fish soya and dairy products,

Once the offending ingredient has been identified you will have to find food that does not include the ingredient. This is not as difficult as it may first appear. Many of the well known quality dog food suppliers can provide suitable feed although it will be a little more expensive than standard feed.

If your dog has a problem with it's food remember that this applies to every thing you give it to eat including "treats" for good behaviour. (We know that followers of this blog would not feed their dogs "scraps from the table !!!!!!)

When changing to a new diet, do it gradually over a period of several days after which you and your dog should be able to settle down to a more normal feeding routine.

Take care out there

The Cost Of Your Dog

During these difficult times for those on a limited budget, the cost of caring for a dog can become overwhelming.

Many people do not realise the cost of feeding and maintaining their pet in a healthy condition. Research from Tesco Pet Insurance showed that your dog can cost you £600 per year and take over 600 hours of care.

The main single expense is the cost of veterinary services. These worked out at an average of £200 per year. For those unfortunate enough to have a dog with a chronic health condition, vets fees can add another £600 per year or worse.

Head of Tesco Pet Insurance, Colin Campbell, stated that it was important that prospective pet owners should consider these costs before committing to a new dog. They should plan ahead for vet's bills to ensure they take out adequate insurance against injury and illness because these could cost "thousands" in the extreme cases.

Shocking News and Dangerous Food

Shock Dog Collars
A couple of months ago a guy in Wales in the UK was fined £2000 (approx. $3200) and costs of £1000 (approx.$630) for using an electronic shock collar on his dog. These collars are now against the law in Wales - but is this fair?


My belief is that it is fair, at least to the dog, because the high voltage charge delivered to the dog is frightening and usually disassociated with anything from the dog's point of view. In the hands of an untrained owner the effect on the dog can be devastating and actually induce worse long term behaviour, there are even recorded instances of a dog suffering a fatal heart attack as a result of the use of a shock collar.

In the hands of a really professional licensed dog trainer, a shock collar might just be effective for very specific fault correction but in all other cases they should never, never be used.

Bear in mind that many dog owners do not know how to use the simple check (choke) collar properly, so the wide introduction of shock collars would almost certainly result in a lot of un-necessary suffering for dogs.
There are alternatives available which are less cruel than a shock collar, but actually, when you learn how to train your dog properly you do not really need such “high tech.”devices.

Dangerous Foods For Dogs
I have received many requests to list again some of the foods that are dangerous for dogs so here goes:-

-Avocado
-Chocolate (including cocoa )
-Garlic
-Grapes
-Greasy foods (e.g. French fries, ham, bacon, pepperoni etc.)
-Macadamia Nuts (nutmeg)
-Onions,
-Pits (stones) (cherry pits, peach pits, pear pips, plums pits, apricot pits)
-Raisins
-Raw eggs, milk,
-Sweetener substitute Xylitol (found in sugar free gum and other food stuffs)
-Tomatoes,
-Skins ( including potato skins, turkey skins, chicken skins etc.)
-Walnuts

There are many other dodgy foods but stay safe and stick with good quality branded dog food and treats. Remember the garbage bin is the place for your leftover food and scraps. Also remember that vet's fees will cost you more than the cost of better quality dog food.

Dog Training and Dog Care Manual
If you have not yet purchased a copy of Dog Training and Dog Care you might be interested to learn that an ebook version for Amazon's “Kindle” has just been released and is available at :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005NAULB0

On the Amazon page there is a link ”Try It Free” (Sample the beginning of this book for free ) Click on the button “Send Sample Now” This will enable you to get a flavour of the book and also see detailed contents.
It's worth a look.

Take it easy out there.

Best wishes,

David

How Well Groomed Is Your Dog?

                                      Grooming Your Dog
If you love dogs but are only an occasional visitor to dog shows, you may well
be amazed at the seeming fanatical approach to grooming that you will see as
owners prepare their dogs for the show ring.
Is this degree of grooming really necessary. Well for the show ring yes but
there are important reasons for grooming your own dog even if you never want
to show it.

Grooming can include combing, stripping, scissor trimming, bathing and other
jobs such as nail clipping, cleaning teeth and cleaning ears.
Regular combing and brushing removes loose hair, untangles knots, stimulates
blood flow and is an opportunity to check for any lesions or unwanted parasites.
It is also a great aid to training because you get the chance to make your dog
stand/sit still and be placed indifferent positions. Usually your dog will associated
your commands with the pleasant experience of grooming.
Short haired dogs spending much of their time in the house may only need one
groom per week comprising a rub down with a grooming glove.

Dogs with long coats or double coats will need more regular grooming and bathing
especially if they spend lots of time outdoors and in muddy conditions. This
could be as much as twice per week or “on Demand” (after a long wet
and muddy walk).

Grooming Tools
Grooming tools are not too expensive but you will need several items whatever
type of coat your dog has. Your tools will usually be made up from the following:


Slicker Brush
General purpose brush that separates the top and undercoat. They are available
in soft, medium and hard pin or bristle. Suitable for double and wool coats.
Pin Brush

These have blunt pins which will comb the top coat without pulling out the undercoat.
Suitable for double and silky coats.

Bristle BrushUsually supplied with good quality pure natural bristle or in the cheaper nylon
bristle version. Used on short haired coats or thin coats


Double Sided Brush
These are a combination Pin and Bristle brush. They provide the convenience
of two brushes in one. The brush has bristles on one side, which are good for
grooming the short hair areas of your dog’s coat. On the other side a pin brush which will
penetrate the coat of a long or double-coated dog.

Porcupine Brushes
This type of dog brush has a combination of long quill- like bristles with shorter
bristles. It is suited to removing loose hair and debris from medium to long-coated pets.
This brush can also be used for everyday brushing of wiry-coated dogs.

Undercoat Rake
A grooming undercoat rake is a good choice for dogs with dense double coats.
The teeth of an undercoat rake are designed to penetrate through the overcoat
down into the thick undercoat to remove loose hair faster and easier than a
standard comb. The brush can also be used to work out mats and tangles.
There are other tools such as a grooming glove, usually a rubber glove with
small rubber teeth on the palm of the glove. Also a de-shedding tool which is
very good but a bit expensive.
( to see pictures of some of these brushes go to: -

http://www.dogtraining-tips.co.uk/catalogue-grooming-tools.htm  )

Tip When you plan to bath your dog, it is a good idea to carry out a grooming session first. This way you will remove lots of loose hair, dried mud and things that have got stuck in the dog's coat. This means your bathing water will stay cleaner for longer and you will not get so much soggy fur in the bathing tube.

Bathing
For some dogs this is an unwelcome part of the grooming process but you should
learn to train your dog to go through the procedure. Always use good quality
branded shampoos and if your dog has sensitive skin make sure your dog does
not suffer any allergic reaction to the the shampoo.


                                                   Dietary Note
Moving on but still on the subject of allergies it is possible for your dog
to have an allergy to normal dog food and you may not be aware of it. I have
one dog that is allergic to wheat products. I only realised this when I noticed
that the dog always seemed to have mild diarrea. Fortunately most of the top
branded dog food manufactures supply feeds for dogs with sensitive digestive
systems. I was able to buy an “off the shelf” feed (wheat free) that
solved the problem.

Take care out there,

David

It's A Dog's World

Here is an abridged item from a recent "Dog News" that makes me very
angry.

From July 1st 2011, owners of dogs that the city of College Park, Gainesvill
deem to be "potentially dangerous" must be registered, photographed
and should be forced to wear a bright identifying tag to mark them out.

A local Councilman, brought in the breed specific legislation following two
high profile dog attack cases in his district.

"What a dog owner has to do is go to the vet and get a chip implanted
into the dog for identification purposes. They also have to submit a photograph
of the dog, and they'll be issued a brightly colored tag that will identify
it as a potentially dangerous dog,". People who don't register
their dogs face fines and the city authorities say that owners will also have their dogs taken and
impounded should they not comply.

The following are breeds of dogs required to be registered in College Park:

Pit Bull, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire
Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Doberman and German Shepard

This is abject nonsense. In almost all cases of dogs with dangerous behaviour
it is the owners (or previous owners) who are the basic cause of the problem.
It is possible to take a small mild mannered dog and turn it into a vicious
little thug by repeated kicking, indifferent feeding and plenty of isolation.
It is possible to take a disturbed badly behaved dog and turn it into a stable
family pet by applying good training principals. ( http://www.dogtraining-tips.co.uk/ )

Breed specific legislation is a concept that has been tried in various places
around the world but it has proven to be controversial, expensive and has never
been proven to have prevented a single dog attack or death.

The councilman is probably a typical politician who likes to make the rules from
a comfortable office without ever bothering to learn about what takes place in the real world.

Some Routine Maintenence For Your Dog

Every day you hear of something that you should eat/avoid/undertake etc
to keep yourself healthy and increase your chances of a long life.

Well, actually it's very much the same for your dog and in many cases the advice
can be exactly the same (but not always as there are some specific differences
between human and dog metabilisum)

Like us dogs are at risk of developing joint problems- especially arthritis.
This is more prevailent in some breeds such as Labrador retrievers, German shepherd
dogs, Golden retrievers, and Rottweilers.

When dogs have arthritis they display symptoms such as being less active, have
trouble getting up or lying down, they are reluctant to climb/desend stairs,
or they become lame. Some dogs become much slower when they move around.

As with humans there are various treatments available to ease a dog's discomfort
and restore mobility. The type of treatment depends upon several factors, such
as the age of your dog, the severity of the problem and especially today, financial
considerations.

Is There Any Action You Can Take

You bet there is. Firstly prevention of joint problems and secondly helping
your dog if it has joint problems

Prevention

Feed a good quality balanced diet, preferably one that contains a natural
source of Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate providing the body with necessary
nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Good quality food also contains antioxidants
to encourage a strong healthy immune system. Stick to good quality branded feed and if in doubt ask your vet for advice

Keep your dog at an ideal weight. Arthritis is much more of a problem in obese
pets. Weight loss can be beneficial by helping to reduce the workload on the
bones and joints.

Exercise. Provide moderate amounts of exercise. Modest daily exercise can help
some dogs. Exercise can strengthen the muscles and ligaments thus reducing the
potential and risk of injury. Special care is needed, so it is important to
first see your veterinarian, who can recommend an appropriate exercise program.

Help for a dog with joint problems

Slip-free Flooring. Hardwood and tile floors are slippery and can be very
difficult for dogs with arthritis to navigate. Placing carpet or area rugs will
help secure your dog's footing. This can help prevent him from slipping and
injuring himself - cheaper than a vet's bill

A Soft Bed. Soft bedding can help support the bones and joints, making your
pet more comfortable. This can be especially important in thin dogs in which
bony prominences are likely to rub on hard surfaces. Some beds are made especially
for dogs with arthritis, such as waterbeds, hammock beds, and beds with plenty
of extra cushions.

I hope these suggestions help you to look after your dog.

On A Lighter Note
Here is a website you might like to look at. It is where a very talented artist
shows some of her work relating to dogs (and other animals). The standard is
very high and I think you will be impressed and no I do not have any connection
with the website or receive any commission - I just think it is worth a browsing
session

                   http://www.jands-pencil-drawing.co.uk/drawings-of-dogs.html

Until next time - take care out there.

Regards,

David

Out and About

 Hi,
With the approach of summer you may be planning a few days off in the countryside,
so the flavour of this blog is "out and about".
I am writing this on unlucky Friday 13th, a day when some people would prefer
to stay safely in bed all day. (Actually there a few who would like to stay
in bed all day on any day of the month). Luck is a funny thing, you may believe
in it or just consider luck is the out come of random statistical happenings.
Locally there was a recent case of a dog that happened to have luck on his side.
The incident was about a dog named Cochyn an Irish Setter, who had luck on
his side on 10th April, when he was rescued by Cardigan RNLI volunteers.

The lifeboat teams were out on a training exercise in their lifeboats when the
coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting that a
dog had been seen falling down the cliffs at Mwnt in west Wales. Because the
lifeboats were close by they were able to rescue the dog very quickly.

Cochyn escaped with little more than cuts and bruising and was happily reunited
with his owner on Mwnt beach.
I must add I am always very concerned about dogs running free on cliff tops.
It only takes a second for things to go wrong. It is always safer to keep a
dog on the lead when out walking.
There is an exception to this rule and that is if you were walking through
a field when you became surrounded by a herd of cows. In this case release your
dog because it will usually easily out run the cows and should be safe - as
for yourself -ah!, well that's for a another blog in the future.
With the hope of some very warm sunny days ahead, we have to remember to consider
our dogs when we take them out with us either walking or in the car. This includes
the following

Always provide your dog with plenty of (preferably) cool water to drink. You
may find places for your dog to drink but carrying a small bottle is sensible.


When resting during a walk (or even at home) make sure your dog rests in a shady
place out of direct sunlight. (Many short coated dogs can get sunburn especially
underneath if they lie for long periods in direct sunlight)


Never leave your dog in a locked car or with the windows closed or in an unshaded
spot (remember the sun moves round and a shady spot can become unshaded quite
quickly)


PS. If you require a non-spill water bowl, to carry with you in the car, take
a look at the feed bowl catalogue on the dog care website:-

http://www.dogtraining-tips.co.uk/catalogue-feedbowls.htm

Sunny Days

During the recent hot spell, I noticed that our medium coated German shepherd seemed to be panting excessively. Although I put this down to the hot humid weather I still decided to take the dog to the vet for  a heart check. Fortunately every thing was fine and there were no problems.

The situation reminded me of an incident, many years ago when the family had two Rhodesian Ridgeback Dogs.
These dogs originate from a hot climate and have a short coat so they are reasonably heat tolerant.

At the time we lived in a small market town and I used to take the dogs, on leads, along several roads before reaching an open space where the dogs could run free.

One very hot day, hot enough to melt some of the tarmac on the roads, I took the dogs for a walk to the usual place for a short exercise session. On returning home I noticed both dogs were distressed and panting excessively. I was quite worried at the time and checked over the dogs as best as I could. I noticed that during these examinations I had got road tar over my jeans transferred from the dog's paws.

This struck a chord, I remembered that dogs partly transpire (that's "sweat") through their paws. The coating of tar on the dog's feet was partially sealing the pads and preventing transpiration. The paws were fully cleaned and washed with both dogs returning more or less to normal within 15 minutes.

This sort of event is not common, however, it shows how easy it is to get caught out even if you are very careful about your dog's welfare.

In case we are treated more hot days later in the year:

Always provide your dog with plenty of cool water to drink.

Make sure your dog is located in a shady place out of direct sunlight. (many short coated dogs can get sunburn especially underneath if they lie for long periods in direct sunlight)

Never leave your dog in a locked car or with the windows closed or in an unshaded spot (remember the sun moves round and a shade spot can become unshaded quite quickly)

But of course you know all this already, don't you.

Best regards,

DD

PS. If you require a non-spill water bowl, to carry with you in the car, take a look at the dog care website:-

   www.dogtraining-tips.co.uk


.