Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Dog Aggression - Behavior All Owners Need To Be Aware Of



Article Title: Dog Aggression - Behavior All Owners Need To Be
Aware Of
Author: Colin Pederson

Aggression in dogs can be found in a variety of different
behaviors and personality traits. Most dog owners only focus on
the common aggressive dog behaviors such as barking, biting,
growling etc... But it vital that you get to know your dog,
that you can distinguish all types of dog aggression.
Aggression and dominant behavior are natural instinct for pack
animals such as dogs, they play an important role in the
survival of wild dogs, giving each member of the pack a place
in the hierarchy, using aggression to defend against predators,
to hunt, and to assert dominance.

The level of aggression your dog demonstrates is determined by
how much of a threat the individual or animal is seen to be. We
class these as low and high level aggression. Low level
aggression is the everyday aggression most dogs display. This
is generally passive aggression, giving the other dog or person
a warning that your dog is aggressive and in control of the
situation. Low level aggressive behaviors include

1. Growling
2. Ignoring owners commands
3. Pushing and leaning into people
4. Jumping up on people or animals to intimidate
5. Aggressive stance

You will notice your dog displaying this lower level aggression
when he or she begins to feel threatened. A common time to
observe your dog in 'low level aggressive' mode is when he or
she is introduced to another dog for the first time. Both dogs
will take a stiff stance, observing and keeping their head up,
tails up, and ears pointed. This is intended to make themselves
appear dominant, and to look as tall as possible. After getting
a good observation of the other dog and getting comfortable
with the situation, one dog will generally back away, and you
will notice the aggression begins to die, and the two dogs will
start to become familiar with each other. Generally speaking, a
spayed female will usually be the first to back down, followed
by a neutered male, then an intact female, and last to back
down will be an intact male. The build and stature of a dog is
often irrelevant when it comes to introductions and this first
aggressive encounter. The exception to this hierarchy is in
instances when neither dog backs down, the aggression then
builds as the battle for dominance begins. This will often lead
to an extremely loud vocal display and often physical
interaction.

When dogs meet a human for the first time, aggression will be
shown through jumping up, pushing or leaning until the person
becomes unstable and looses their footing, or growling with an
intense stare. With smaller dogs and young puppies this
behavior can often be portrayed as cute behavior and go
un-noticed. Failure to identify and deal with this behavior can
lead to more serious when the puppy has grown to be a larger
dog, it can become dangerous and difficult to train. Whether
your dog is a new/small puppy or a larger dog, it is important
to deal with these aggression issues as early as possible, so
your dog's 'low level aggression' doesn't become a problem in
years to come.

If your dogs passive (low level) aggressive behavior is
ineffective, it will escalate to higher levels of aggression in
an attempt to recover dominance. Higher level dog aggression
includes:

1. Snarling and snapping viciously
2. Biting
3. Jumping up and barking in an aggressive manner
4. Nipping at heels or legs
5. Staring and displaying teeth

Higher level aggressive behavior means business, your dog is
still feeling threatened or non-dominant and your dog will move
on to actual physical aggression, fighting, biting or attempting
to bite. This is where things get serious and potentially
dangerous. If you notice your dog's behavior escalating to high
aggression levels, you must look into behavior modification
training immediately. It is your responsibility to keep the
public, other dogs, children and visitors to your home safe by
isolating or sufficiently restraining your dog.

Aggression is a natural instinct for dogs, and it is essential
that the owner is in control of the dog's aggression. Through
early socialization and a firm understanding of the dog-owner
relationship, your dog should not show aggressive behavior. If
aggression does become a problem it is important to deal with
the issue immediately. Re-training using positive methods works
much better than punishment, but often professional assistance
is needed.

Neutering a dog will control the hormonal causes of aggression,
but not all aggression is hormonally caused. Spaying and
neutering dogs does not guarantee that they will be docile, and
breeds that are bred as watch dogs or herding animals will need
specific training on being non-aggressive. Some dogs are not
good with other animals or dogs, just like some breeds are less
tolerant of children. It is important to understand the natural
aggressive tendencies of the breed of dog that you are
considering obtaining to make sure you get a good match for you
and your family.

About The Author: Colin Pederson is a self-confessed 'Dog
Fanatic' residing in California with his wife and black Lab
Casey. Colin runs 'Dog Obedience Advice,' offering free advice
on dealing with http://dogobedienceadvice.com/dog_aggression,
and other issues all dog owners face.

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Pets On Vacation: Easy



Article Title: Pets On Vacation: Easy
Author: Jennifer Brown
Family vacations used to involve Parents, the Kids, and
sometimes Grandma. These days, taking a family vacation might
also mean bringing Fido along for the ride.

Taking pets on vacation might seem like a great idea. After
all, who would enjoy the endless expanse of tropical beach more
than your Frisbee-catching golden retriever? But to make it a
great vacation for everyone, you need to look after every
detail and prepare for any situation.

Getting There

If you're traveling in the car, be sure that your pet will be
comfortable for the entire trip. Nothing spoils a family
vacation quite like a dog with motion sickness. Plan ahead to
help your pet become familiar with long journeys. Start with
short trips to get both of you used to traveling together, and
then gradually increase the length of your drives. Stick to
your regular feeding routine, and wait until you've arrived at
your destination to give your pet a big meal. Dry food is more
convenient to use while traveling. Finally, never let your pet
ride on your lap while you're driving. It's dangerous for you,
for the animal and for everyone else on the road.
If, on the other hand, you'll be traveling by bus, boat, train
or airplane, check for rules and restrictions and make
arrangements for your pet while you're booking your tickets.

Don't Put Yourself in the Doghouse

Taking your pets on vacation is only half the battle. You also
need to keep them on vacation, so be sure that your hosts or
holiday accommodations will welcome your furry friend. If
you're staying with friends or family, be considerate. Ask in
advance if your pet is welcome, and expect an honest answer.
Some people are allergic or just uncomfortable around animals.
If you've booked a hotel room or campsite, make sure that pets
are allowed on the premises.

Stay Boy, Stay

The reality of taking pets on vacation is that you will likely
not be with them every hour of every day. Chances are, your pet
will not be welcome in the hotel dining room, in the amusement
park, on the ski lift or aboard the fishing charter. There will
be times when your pet will have to stay alone. If your pet is
prone to barking, make other arrangements as a courtesy to
other hotel guests. When you leave the pet in the room, make
sure that you place the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door, and
tell the hotel supervisor or housekeeping staff what is going
on. A portable kennel is useful at times like these, especially
if you're staying in someone's home.

May I See Some I.D?

Your pet needs to be properly tagged, whether you're traveling
by car or by plane. Make sure that he or she has a current tag
containing the proper identification. We've all seen those
tear-jerking tales of animals that find their way home from the
other side of the country, but you don't want to risk having it
happen to your pet. Bring along a copy of your pet's medical
history, including medications and recent immunization. This
information is essential is crossing state or international
borders. Tell your vet that you're planning to travel, just to
be sure that your pet can handle it.

Pack for Your Pet

Don't forget Fido while your family is getting ready for
vacation. Having pets groomed before vacation time helps them
look neat and tidy, and makes them more comfortable for the
trip. Pack along your pet's favorite food dish, snacks and toys
to make him or her feel more at home and relaxed.

Your pet is one of the family, so naturally you want to include
him or her in your family vacation plans. If done successfully,
bringing pets on vacation can be a fun experience for all of
you. Think ahead and you'll all have a tail-wagging good time!

About The Author: Jennifer Brown writes for several Internet
magazines, including http://cheap-recreation.com and
http://lyroz.com

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