Author: David

Dogs chase after toys, bones, small animals—you name it. This age-old habit is a survival instinct. Wild dogs need to be good hunters in order to chase food all the way down to a full belly.

That’s why the urge to chase things is known as prey drive. Our domesticated pups have retained this drive—some to a higher degree than others. If your restless retriever won’t give you a break, you may need to embrace the enthusiasm, because prey drive is part of a dog’s hereditary makeup.

Breeds such as the German Shepherd and English Cocker Spaniel that are used in police work and hunting tend to have a high prey drive. So if you’re looking for a couch potato canine companion, do your research before selecting a pooch.

Some dogs are wary of strangers and new situations – so nervous, in fact, that they threaten or challenge you in order to get away from what’s scaring them. Experts call such behavior Canine Fear Aggression. Barbara Sherman, Associate Professor at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says fear-based aggression rarely goes away on its own.

Sherman states, “and these dogs often need some help in coping with even the most routine situations that might elicit fear.”

An experienced trainer may be able to help your pooch overcome his fears. But in difficult cases, you may want to have your veterinarian recommend a behavior specialist.

Find more tips at Purina.com/Dogs

Your pets are a big part of your family, so when you’re making change’s to your home’s design, having their needs and happiness in mind can be a wonderful way to enrich their lives – and yours! You may think a person would have to be a bit eccentric to go to the expense of building or remodeling with their pets in mind. But if you consider that you create your home to suit yourself and your children, and even guests, it’s not a leap to build for your pets  – and it doesn’t have to add much if anything to your remodeling costs if  you plan ahead and are imaginative in yoru designs. If you are going to share your life with pets, it makes perfect sense to build or remodel your home, and create a custom design for their comfort and convenience as well as yours.

You can read about a custom builder who did just that in this article on Petcentric.com: http://www.petcentric.com/Read/Articles/Custom-Home-Designs-Can-Conceal-or-Feature-Your-Pets-Amenities.aspx?articleid=76013046-0ebd-420a-8ae1-0e5b81291ea1

Dogs that love to play tug-of-war bring a lot of excitement and determination to the game. They may hold onto that tug toy so tightly that you can actually pick them up by their teeth if you’re strong enough. But experts say that’s not a good idea. Bones and teeth may become damaged in the process. Don’t even let your dog pull the toy too hard, especially a young dog that’s still growing, or a creaky older dog with orthopedic problems.

Instead, make tug-of-war more structured and goal-oriented. Use it to teach the dog to pick up the tug toy and release it on cue. Let him know it belongs to you, not him. He’ll soon learn to pay close attention and will understand that all games begin and end at your command.

The dogs that need the most exercise are breeds that were developed to work long hours for a living, such as herding dogs and bird dogs. Among these relentlessly hard-working types are Border Collies, Labrador Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, Jack Russell Terriers, and Dalmatians. They’re frisky, inquisitive, and always ready to go.

High energy dogs match up best with high energy people—owners willing to seek out challenging activities to channel their pet’s boundless enthusiasm and gusto. These dogs need consistent training, firm discipline, and lots of exercise. If you’re a moderate-to-low energy human looking for a canine companion, choose one at the opposite end of the energy spectrum.

Don’t be concerned when doggie hides his treats instead of indulging. Believe it or not, protecting his territory can be higher on a dog’s list of priorities than eating. So if your dog’s hoarding habit kicks in, he may be feeling insecure or threatened in his space.

Perhaps your timid pup prefers to munch alone. Or maybe he feels uncomfortable chowing down in front of a certain guest. Even if you can’t crack the mystery, a basic suggestion is to change the location of your dog’s dishes or to feed him at a different time.

The tendency to save extra bounty for a rainy day isn’t unique to canines – squirrels are also avid hoarders, and you, too, probably keep your pantry stocked with staples.

 

Just as kids will often catch colds from classmates, dogs can become sick from other animals boarded at the same kennel. Kennel cough is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the combination of several viruses and bacteria. It affects a dog’s upper airway, causing laryngitis and a hacking, productive cough. Antibiotics may help, but they will not cure the infection until it has run its course of three to four weeks.

Most puppies get immunized against kennel cough, but the vaccine doesn’t always protect against newer versions of the disease. So choose a kennel carefully. Make sure it has low moisture in the air and good ventilation. Spending the extra time can help both you and your dog breathe a little easier.

Ticks get very active in late spring and summer, and they can carry several diseases including lyme disease. Both people and their pets are at risk. Unfortunately, lyme disease can be very difficult to diagnose. The symptoms are often vague and can include lethargy, joint pain, and fever.

If you live in an area where lyme disease is prevalent, talk to your veterinarian about products that repel ticks. And make sure to check your pet for ticks after walks or other outdoor activities. If you do find a tick, grasp it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight off. Try to preserve it in a tight container. That way, if your pet develops a problem, your veterinarian can determine whether or not the tick is a carrier of lyme disease.

Fleas and ticks are tiny pests that can cause big problems, and the damage isn’t just skin deep. Animals can ingest fleas containing tapeworm eggs, which then hatch in their intestines. In a flea-ridden area, the same thing can happen to a child.

Ticks can also carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis.

Risks vary by region, but Mike Paul, Executive Director of the Companion Animal Parasite Council says no risk is acceptable, so pet owners should be vigilant about flea and tick control.

Paul states, “what we’re trying to do is to get people to say, ‘well, not in my back yard,’ you know, and to keep their pets clean and their yards clean and make sure that their kids stay healthy.”