How to Understand & Prevent Dog Fights

How to Understand & Prevent Dog Fights

Dogs are very active creatures that enjoy being able to run
and jump and play. This need for physical activity is
usually satisfied by being able to be outside for a
specific time every day. Some dogs have no problem playing
with humans, or other dogs; on the other hand, some dogs do
not play well with other dogs. It is important to know
your own dogs personality regarding fighting before you
take a walk or go to a park where other dogs may be.

There are different reasons a dog fights other dogs, and
each dog's case is different. Two dogs that live in the
same house may have completely different reasons for
wanting to fight other dogs. There are a couple ways of
finding out why a dog fights, but neither one is used
widely.

Both ways of finding out a reason for the fights involves a
professional, but neither way is common because they do not
get much results. The first is to take your dog to a
professional to be analyzed. This does not get results
because the dog can not answer questions, so it is hard for
us to get a good idea of what happened in the past to lead
the dog to act this way. The second way is for the owner
to go see a professional and discuss the dogs issues and
how to help them, this is also not very popular either.

One way you can try and understand the dog's aggression or
reason to fight is to look at the present circumstances
your dog is dealing with. Look at the dogs surroundings,
and try to figure out what is causing this behavior. If
your dog is fighting every time another dog tries to come
onto his territory, maybe he is afraid that the intruder is
going to hurt his owner, or himself.

Some dogs fight as a way to survive and obviously if your
dog is being attacked you would want them to defend
themselves. Dog fights are very serious and dangerous, if
your dog is involved in a dog fight you will want to keep
your distance so that you don't get hurt, unless you know
what you are doing. Dog fights can cause serious damage to
both dogs, and could end in the death of one or both of the
dogs.

When you are trying to stop a dog fight the best way is to
wait until you can safely grab a collar, this is the safest
way to get involved. Chances are this will not stop the
fight though, but it will help keep the dogs under control.

You will also want to be careful because one minute it
could be friendly play between friends, but quickly turn
into a serious dog fight. It is not the playful dog
fighting that anybody is worried about, playful dog fights
are a great way for young dogs to strengthen their limbs,
and body. It is also a great way for dogs to burn off
excess energy. Only by paying attention to your dogs
personality will you be able to tell if they are involved
in a playful fight or a more serious dog fight.

About the Author:

For important updates to the dog food recall scare, check
the comprehensive report at:
http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-food-recall-guide.htm

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Caring For Dogs With Disabilities

Caring For Dogs With Disabilities

A dog's disability may occur from an illness, injury or
physical handicap. The degree of disability may be slight
or may be incapacitating. Whatever reason for your dogs
suffering will have a great effect on you as your pet's
guardian.

If you adopt a pure breed dog from a reputable breeder, you
will most likely have some type of health guarantee. If
you adopt from an animal shelter, find a stray or take one
of your neighbor's puppies you won't get a health guarantee
or probably any information regarding the health of your
new family member. Either way, there are no guarantees
that your puppy will grow up without medical problems.
Even with the purebred, it would be unlikely that you give
your furry family member back to the breeder if he came
down with a disease or disability after he's lived with you
for a year or two. Most likely you would seek the best vet
care you could afford and keep your puppy with you. Anyone
who has raised a puppy or had a dog for any length of time
knows the bonding and commitment between human and canine.

Having annual visits to your vet (and the blood tests
performed) will help screen for many medical conditions
that affect dogs. There are a few diseases that are more
common in older dogs such as cancer, arthritis, heart and
kidney disease. Younger dogs or puppies are not free from
these conditions but they are less likely to suffer from
these diseases at an earlier age. If the dog is diagnosed
and treatment started at the onset of a disability, the
prognosis will be more favorable.

Some breeds of dogs are predisposed to certain health
problems. Degenerative Myelopathy appears to afflict
German Shepherds more than any other breed even though it
has been diagnosed in a few other large dog breeds.
Arthritis is very common in Golden Retrievers and Doberman
Pinschers, Boxers are prone to a common heart disease
called dilated cardiomyopathy.

Regardless of the disease or disability your dog may have,
there are certain things you can do to relieve the pain and
suffering.

• Control your dog's weight. Giving your dog the proper
amount of a good nutritious pet food will aid in weight
control.

• Getting daily exercise for your dog.

• Making sure your dog gets quality vet care.

• Administer medicine or pain medication when appropriate.

• Talk to your dog as you gently rub his fur or massage
him. Sometimes the human touch is more relaxing than sleep
medication

If your dog suffers from arthritis, you will notice the
difficulty they have in getting up from a lying position or
walking up stairs. They also won't be able to jump up in
the car or truck without some assistance. To assist your
dog, you can get a ramp to assist them in getting in or out
of a truck or SUV and there are dog stairs to assist them
in getting on the bed or couch. There are vitamins or
supplements that can be given to your dog to aid in their
health. All medicines, vitamins and supplements should be
approved by the vet before administering to your dog.
Water therapy is great for dogs with arthritis or hip
dysplasia and sleeping on an orthopedic foam mattress also
helps. Moist warm heat and massage are beneficial also.

Any dog that suffers from a lack of mobility due to hip
dysplasia, spinal disorders, myelopathy or any medical
problem that effects the hind quarters may be a candidate
for a wheelchair for dogs. There has been vast improvement
over the years in the design and structure of the
wheelchairs and most dogs adjust quickly to pulling the
rolling chair behind them. The chairs are made to your
dog's specifications and will provide them with a sense of
freedom. If your dog is unable to walk by himself, check
out these chairs for your peace of mind and your dog's
future happiness.

Training your hearing impaired dog with hand signals is
very important for their well being and your sanity. It is
much easier for the dog if you start the training before
they become completely deaf. This way you can associate a
hand signal with the verbal command which they may already
know. If the dog is losing their hearing due to a disease
or old age, you will have time to work with the dog before
all hearing is lost. If the puppy is born deaf, he can
still be trained but it will take longer and require more
patience. Never allow a hearing impaired animal to roam
freely or leave the house without his collar and tag. If a
hearing impaired dog is sleeping, never touch the dog to
wake him up as this could frighten him and cause him to nip
or bite. Either stomp real hard or bounce a ball to cause
vibrations which may rouse the dog.

Impaired vision may be caused by disease, injury or
cataracts. Taking the dog on a lead through the house will
help him become accustomed as to the placement of furniture
and their smells. For the dog's benefit, don't move
furniture or leave any items on the floor as this will
confuse the dog. You will have to lead him around the yard
also until he becomes comfortable with his outing. If you
are patient and encouraging, the dog will eventually settle
in a routine and his sense of smell and hearing will
compensate for his lack of sight. As with the deaf dog, do
not let him outside the house or fenced in yard without
supervision.

Living with a disabled dog is trying and at times you may
feel frustration. Seek out help from your vet, trainers or
groups that work with disabled dogs. They will gladly
assist you in your task of making a difference in one
special dog's life.

About the Author:

Jim McKiel lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Doris
and their pet family members Buddy and Buster. They have
devoted their lives to the betterment of pet ownership. For
more information, visit:
http://LargeBreedFamilyDogs.com

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How To Find A Good Dog Groomer

How To Find A Good Dog Groomer

Selecting a good, professional and friendly groomer is an
important part of caring for your dog. Since a groomer will
usually be alone with your favorite pet it is important to
make sure that they treat your animal well, notify you of
any problems, as well as understand how to care for an clip
your particular breed of dog.

There are several ways to find a good groomer and one of
the most obvious is to talk to other dog owners that you
see as you are out and about with your pet. Dog owners in
general tend to be very willing to give recommendations as
well as warnings about good and bad experiences they may
have had with groomers in your area. If you see a dog that
looks just like you want your dog or has just the clip that
you have pictured for your dog be sure to speak with the
owner and find out what groomer they use.

Some groomers work specifically on various types of dogs
such as small, toy or large breeds. Many groomers are only
set up to handle small dogs and do not work on large or
giant breeds. Be sure to talk to the groomer in advance if
you dog has any special needs or requirements.

Groomers have usually completed some sort of formal
training and will not be offended if you ask for their
credentials and some references from their customers. Most
groomers will have this information already included in
their brochure or advertising literature. Consider going to
the facility by yourself before the first appointment and
asking to watch them work with a dog. They may allow this
or may not, but most groomers understand an owner's
concerns and will do their best to work with the owner to
ensure satisfaction.

Many groomers have affiliations with various breeders and
organizations. A good, professional groomer will also
assist you in selecting a clip or cut that is suitable for
your dog and is appropriate for the show ring if this is a
consideration. If the groomer is unfamiliar with the show
requirements be sure to bring in exact pictures of what is
allowable and what is not to avoid any confusion or
misunderstanding regarding a cut or clip.

In addition to just washing, clipping and grooming your dog
the groomer will also condition the coat, clip the nails,
clean the ears and empty the anal glands. If you don't want
any of these grooming services provided be sure to talk to
the groomer in advance.

For those dogs that are nervous, timid or aggressive it is
very important to discuss their temperament with the
groomer prior to the first appointment. Most groomers will
take dog-aggressive dogs only very early or as the last
appointments in the day to avoid any possible complication
in the waiting room or grooming salon. If you have a dog
that has had a negative experience at another groomers or
that snaps or tends to bite be sure to let the groomer know
so he or she can take the appropriate precautions. Notify
the groomer if the dog has any known allergies or is prone
to skin rashes, hotspots, or dry skin conditions. If you
have specialized products that you use with your dog you
should make the groomer aware so they can have the same
products on hand when the dog arrives for his or her first
appointment.

About the Author:

For important updates to the dog food recall scare, check
the comprehensive report at:
http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-food-recall-guide.htm

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Dog Respiratory Disorders: Acute Coughing,sneezing, Snoring,

Article Title: Dog Respiratory Disorders: Acute
Coughing,sneezing, Snoring,
Author: John Mailer

It is very common for all dogs to coughon an occasional basis,
especially when they first wake up. However, allergic sneezing
is typically a nonproductive sneeze that occurs in paroxysms and
the infections will often produce puss. If you notice a bloody
discharge from a single nostril then that is an indication of a
tumor or a foreign object.
Acute Coughing

Although we have discussed the issue of your dog having a
persistent and constant coughing problem, acute coughing can be
a sign of something a little less dangerous, but important
nevertheless. Acute coughing may be a sign of kennel cough,
acute bronchitis, inhalation pneumonia, a foreign object in the
airway, or even an infection of the tonsils, larynx, or pharynx.
Kennel cough is contracted from other dogs which causes
inflammation of the voice box. Bronchitis is caused by a
bacterial or allergic inflammation to the bronchi in the lungs.
And of course any foreign object stuck in the lung will cause
acute coughing.

What to do: Kennel cough is extremely contagious so be sure to
isolate your dog and get him to the veterinarian right away.
Cough suppressants can be given to your dog to ease the pain.
Medications an be administered to treat any of the above
infections. And if there is only a foreign object stuck, then
the vet can pull it out with forceps.

Snoring

There are many breed of dogs that have elongated soft palates
that hang at the back of the throat, especially those dogs with
compressed faces. This soft palate interferes with the larynx
and produces a snore. An allergic inflammation in the throat
can also be the cause of your dog's snoring problem. Also,
snoring is enhanced if the dog has narrow nostrils and larynx.

What to do: Although snoring may not seem like a series issue,
it is always best to consult your vet for a full checkup. And
if you have a dog breed such as the Pekingese or Pug that
snores, this could be a sign of potential heart and breathing
problems. Your dog may have surgical reduction of the length
of the soft palate to reduce or eliminate the snoring issue.

Changing Of Your Dog's Voice

If you notice that your dog's bark is altered in any way, then
it could be due to damage of the larynx. Also, allergic
reactions from bee stings can cause laryngeal swelling. Worst
case scenario for the older dog is that a tumor has developed.

What to do: Your vet may give your dog antihistamines or
anti-inflammatories to reduce allergic swelling. If the
problem is as severe as a tumors, then your dog will undergo
surgery to have the tumor removed. If you suspect your dog of
having any of the above problems then the vest may have to
insert an artificial windpipe, administer medications, or at
worst, surgery. Improvement to cardiac function controls heart
related coughing.

About The Author: John Mailer has written many articles about
dogs and puppies and how to train them.His main business is as
an internet marketer.
http://www.basicsdogtraining.com/petgrooming.html
http://www.basicsdogtraining.com/dognutrition.html
http://www.howtostartonlinehomebusiness.com

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