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May 20 Spring is puppy time!
This is the time of year where pet sales sky rocket. After all, the weather is nice, and people think of how much fun it would be to adopt or purchase a new furry family member. If this is you, that's ok, just try and be responsible about your decision. The shelters are full of animals that were bought in the spring and returned in the winter because things didn't work out. To prevent this, here are a few pointers:
When you get you puppy home, there is more work to be done. You need to know where you puppy will sleep, make sure your house is puppy proofed, and that there is plenty of water and the right kind of food. You may even want to start training you puppy. Puppies can begin training as young as 8 weeks old. Remember, the first weeks with your new puppy will determine your relationship, so make them fun and meaningful. Make sure your puppy learns that you are incharge by staying consistent with your rules. Also, keep in mind that play is very important to canine development. Through play, dogs learn how to deal with certain physical situations, the rules of the environment, and how to be social. With out play, your dog will become unbalanced. Play also helps to build the bond you need to have a good relationship with your puppy and adult dog. So have fun! May 08 Bringing Home A New Best FriendI recieved a comment suggesting that I explain how to bring a new dog into a home of existing dogs. I thought that was a marvelous idea for a blog entery, especially following the latest.
I know there are a lot of people out there that will bring home new dogs without even thinking about it. Some people get tired of having the same ol' predictable dogs around the house and are looking for a change, others have a craving to nuture something small and helpless, while others simply feel bad that the poor dog has no home. That's fine and dandy, however, do not just pick out a new dog because he's cute, or because you feel badly for him. One thing I neglected to menchion in my previous entries is that it is important to make sure the new dog you have picked out - gets along with the others at home.
Most places that sell or adopt out dogs will usually let you bring your own dogs to meet the new dog and make sure they connect. If they won't... then be very wary. There may be something wrong with that dog. You always want to make sure that the little pack you have at home will get along with the new member, or you are in for a long hard road of complication.
That said, I know there are those of you out there that have already brought home the new dog and are having problems with the others. For you people, here is some advice seasoned with a bit of knowledge and a hint of experience.
Usually, the problem is with a dominant dog at home. Dominant dogs don't like it when their people (whom they see as pack members) bring a new dog onto their turf. They will generally attack the new dog, and will even send the rest of the pack after him (assuming you have more than one already). This is because the alpha (dominant) dog didn't clear the dog to join the pack, you did, and he sees the new dog as a threat to his territory. If this is the case in your home, I have news for you... you are not the leader of your pack, the alpha dog is. The alpha dog is the one that gets pampered, spoiled, or generally gets his way.
 Sometimes, the reverse happens. The pecking order in your home is already established and everything is fine... until the new dog comes in and tries to take over. Even if you are the leader to your dogs, the new dog may be challenging another dog for his place in the pecking order. In example: Say your pecking order is so: You are "A." Your existing dogs are "B" and "C." and the new dog is "D." Ok, stay with me... you are over your dogs. Dog "B" is over dog "C" and dog "D" is trying to take dog "B's" place. Follow me? So if dog "B" is not submissive he will fight to keep his place in the pecking order. Make sense? This causes chaos, and sometimes dog "C" will even fight with dog "B" against dog "D." Got it?
Ok, so now you generally know why they are fighting, but how do you stop it? Well, you need to get the dogs on neutral territory. Some place they don't often visit like a park. This way, there is no reason for the dogs to fight over territory. If you have more than two dogs, then get someone to help you. Now you need to walk the dogs together, but you can't let any of them get infront of you because that is where the alpha (leader) should be, and that should be you. Walking dogs together helps them form a bond and they become a pack. You can tell a lot about who's incharge of their dogs and what the pack structure is just from watching people walk their dogs! Submissive dogs will not walk infront, they walk behind, or beside you. If your dog is pulling you, he is the boss and is in control of the walk. Anyway, do this everyday so that the bond is formed tighter between you and your dogs. The new dog will learn his place in the pecking order without having to fight for it.
One other thing to do is, keep the dogs apart at home. Let one of them out at a time to get used to the smell of the other(s). If you have multiple dogs that need to get used to a new dog, it is fine to let all of them out together while the new dog is in another room. Then switch them every few hours. This way, they can all get used to the smell of the other dog(s). You must do this in conjunction with the walking exercise or it will take longer to resolve the fighting.
You'll also want to feed all of the dogs at the same time, preferably after you are finished eating. Why? Because leaders eat first, everyone else eats second in the canine world.
So let's review what you've learned. You learned that the best way to keep your new friend from fighting with the dogs at home is to make sure they all get along before bringing the new guy home. You also learned that walking plays way more important roles in a dog's world than simply releasing energy. It also helps build the canine social structure. Hopefully you learned that playing the leadership role with your dogs is incredibley important to keeping the peace between your dogs, and is not just used for getting your dogs to listen to you.
Keep in mind, most behavioral problems can be solved simply by establishing yourself as the leader of your pack. If you can do that, everything else will fall in place.
April 18 Testing your potentially new best friends personality and temperamentOk, so you have finally choosen a good breeder, gone to the shelter or rescue organization and found a dog or two you like. What next?
In this entery I am going to briefly describe some attributes to look for in your potentially new best friends personality and temperament, as well as how to test them.
Once you've found a dog or two that you are considering after your research, lifestyle assesment, and everything menchioned in the last blog entery, you'll want to test wether the dog you've picked out is dominant, aggressive, submissive, or a mixture of the three. In order to do that, you have to give the pup/dog a temperament test. Below I describe a simple test that will tell you instantly what you are dealing with.
First you will want to get the pup/dog on it's back. Once accomplished, hold it there for about 5 to 10 seconds and then praise. What happened? How hard was it to get the dog/pup on it's back? The answers to these questions will tell you in a nutshell what kind of temperament the subject has.
Did the dog/pup roll over really easily and seem tense? If yes, you have a submissive dog/pup.
Did the dog/pup roll over upon approach, seem tense, and then urinate? If yes, this is a highly submissive animal that may be fearful.
Was it really difficult to get the dog to roll over on it's back? If yes, then this dog/pup is dominant.
Did the dog struggle and nip while on it's back or while trying to but him in the position? If yes, this is a highly dominant dog/pup and may be aggressive.
Was it fairly easy to get the dog/pup over with some guidence and the dog/pup seemed calm? If yes, then this dog may be even tempered.
Did the dog remain still while on it's back, seem calm, and get up immediately after the test for a pat? If yes, this dog is even tempered.
Some key points to examine while giving this simple test are this: Rolling over is a sign of submission. Dominant dogs will not roll over easily,and extremely submissive dogs will roll over when approached, or as soon as your hand gets in petting range. The highest form of submission is rolled over and urinating. Basically when dogs do this, they are saying, " Your are the boss, I am not worthy, I won't fight you, please be happy with me!" Dogs that urinate while rolled over often have confidence issues that may take a lot of time and energy to overcome. On the other hand, dogs that refuse to roll over are basically saying, "I am the boss, not you. You will listen to me, I do what I want when I want, and you can't do a thing about it!" These dogs can become very possesive of toys, food, and even people. Again, these kinds of dogs take a lot of time and energy to balance.
You'll probably want to find a dog that is somewhere between extremely dominant and extremely submissive. You want the dog to be submissive with you, and well socialized with other dogs. These kinds of dogs are often hard to come by in shelters, but they do pop up in them now and again, and usually get adopted very quickly.
Dominant dogs can be great companions as well, but like I said, you have to put a lot of time and energy into training. They are often trained easier because their confidence level is so high, however, the behavior problems you have will counter this. Dominant dogs can become aggressive in their extremes, however, most dominant dogs are not aggressive. They are usually described by people as "stubborn." Dominance is displayed by straiting (posturing) the body to seem taller and bigger, and lifting the tail straight up. Dominant-aggression is similar execept the dog will bear teeth, raise hackels, raise and point ears forward, and growl. These dogs will charge in attack mode. "Red-Zone" dogs are dominant-aggressive dogs that simply want to kill. Rabies will cause dogs (among other animals) to become "red-zone." With the exeption of rabid dogs, "red-zone" dogs can be cured with the right methods.
Submissive-fearful dogs can be great companions too, however, they are harder to train because their confidence levels are low. Some even take a really long time to warm up to you enough to begin training. Extremely submissive-fearful dogs can become fear-aggressive easily. Fear is displayed by tucking the tail all the way under and curving/lowering the body. Fear-aggression is similar, execept the dog will bear it's teeth, raise it's hackles, flatten it's ears, and growl. These dogs simply want to flee the situation.
A well balanced dog makes an awsome companion. These dogs are easily trained, eager to learn, willing to please, and very loyal. They are submissive, yet confident. A dog that is well balanced will seem content and display it by leveling the tail to the body, and relaxing body. When they approach you they will lower their heads in submission as well as keep the tail wagging level to their body, or wag it low. These dogs do not raise their tails high, nor tuck them completely under ( unless bred to have such a tail). These dogs seem to smile, and you feel a calmness when around them.
Remember, these are simply guidelines for testing a potentially new family members temperament and personality. They may not apply to all situations. All dogs are different.
Another great way to test the dogs personality is to play with him. See if he will fetch for you. See if he has any training giving some simple obedience commands. Keep in mind that dogs at shelters may not act themselves while you are there playing with them. They have been in kennels the majority of the time they've been there, so they've got an extreme amount of energy built up.
If push comes to shove, and you just don't feel comfortable in evaluating temperament on your own, you can always hire a private trainer/phsycologist to do the evaluation for you. March 07 How to choose a new best friend
So, you are looking for a new pet to bring home and give you lots of love and companionship. Maybe your beloved dog passed away due to illness, or simply ran away. Whatever the reason is, you want to be more careful when choosing a new family member this time around, but you don't quite know how to go about it. Well, your in luck. You have come to the right blog space, because I'm gonna help you find your new pal!
First things first. You have to figure out what kind of lifestyle you live. That is critical to finding a pet that can adapt to you. If you get a dog with a high energy level, and you aren't an energetic, exercising type person, you will have a dog with severe behavior problems. On the other hand, if you choose a dog with a low energy level, but you are an energetic person, your dog will hold you back. Dogs with medium energy levels also need to live with people that have the same energy level. Basically, matching your energy level to your dogs is crucial! So do a lot of homework, don't just buy the first cute puppy you see... that is a common mistake. Puppies grow up, they don't stay cute and easily managable forever.
Second, once you know your energy level and lifestyle, you need to research the breeds of dogs that match yours. For example, if you are outdoors a lot (jogging, hunting, fishing, etc) you can choose a breed that can keep up with you like: Labs, Border Collies, Goldens, and so on. Herding, Hunting, and Sporting breeds are great matches for people with high energy. On the other hand, if you are lazy, or just sit around at home a lot, or have to leave the dog alone while at work, you might choose a dog to match that kind of lifestyle, such as: Papillons, Mastiffs, Bassetts, ect. Non-Sporting, Toy, and some Terrier breeds are best for people with low energy. If your energy is medium, or you don't go out all the time, but still once and a while, you should pick a dog to match, like: Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, Greyhounds, etc. Working and Non-Sporting breeds are good for these kinds of people. Although, instead of just picking a dog from any particular group, it is best to look at the individual breeds energy level. Not all Non-Sporting dogs are low energy, and not all Toys are low energy, so keep that in mind.
Third, you get to begin your hunt. You have several options to choose from as to where you get your dog. There are breeders, shelters, and rescue organizations. Be cautious when looking for dogs from breeders. Most breeders are what we call, Backyard breeders, which means they are breeding and selling dogs for profit. These breeders produce dogs that could be born with all kinds of medical problems such as: Hip displaysia, entropia, ectropia, PRA, back problems, etc. Breeders that breed more than one breed of dog for profit are known as Puppy Mills, which produce pups in unsanitary environments with all kinds of illnesses. These pups are usually not given any shots, or wormed. Reputable breeders make no money from breeding. All the profits go into the health of the pups. Reputable breeders also only breed to better the breed. In other words, they try to breed out certain illnesses and temperament problems from the breed.
Shelters are a great way to find a new pal, however, be wary. Shelters do not always evaluate their dogs temperament, so you may end up with a dog that is unbalanced and requires more training. Shelter dogs are also left in cages for the majority of their time there, so when you visit them, they have built up a lot of energy that is released when let out of the cage. When you visit dogs at a shelter, you are not really seeing the dogs as they would be in your home. Even if you excuse that and take one home, it could take up to a month for the dog to adjust. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't adopt from a shelter, I'm simply saying... be ready to give all of your attention to your new dog for awhile. You will be training, and setting boundries for awhile before the dog calms down. Some shelters are also not as good as they may seem. Some "no kill" shelters will only take in dogs that will go out fast. They won't take dogs that they see as ugly, and they don't like black dogs.. because black dogs don't get adopted out very fast. Also, "no kill" shelters do infact euthanize their dogs.. if they become ill, or really grouchy. Most of these shelters don't have the budget for trainers such as my self to come in and rehabilitate fearful or dominant aggressive dogs, so they end up putting the dogs to sleep. "No kill" shelters do, however, take very good care (medically, not mentally) of their dogs. All the dogs are spayed/nuetered and up to date on shots. They also get any meds they may need for minor illnesses they may have. Because these shelters take in dogs off the street, or from people that don't want their dogs anymore, viruses often break out on a regular basis. So the sweet puppy you really wanted, may have to be put to sleep due to a parvo or distemper outbreak. What's bad is, this often happens after you have put an application in to adopt the animal, and you've just found out you were approved. Most of these shelters would be much better off with some kind of trainer or temperament evaluator that could evaluate and/or train the dog before it is put up for adoption. If the shelter has one, it is a good sign for you, if not, be wary of the animals. Far too many animals are adopted and then returned for this vary reason. If you are looking for a mutt, shelters are the way to go.. just make sure the dog is healthy and happy before taking it home, or you may be bringing it back.
Rescue angencies are a great source for finding a particular breed. They only deal with their own breed, so they are (should be) very knowledgable about their breed. They work the same way "no kill" shelters do in that they take good care of their dogs medically, and they accept donations. However, these agencies are often run from private homes, so the dogs are not neccisarily in crates all day. Rescue agencies also make sure their dogs are exercised, eating correctly, and doing well before being adopted. They have also been known to keep in touch with the people that adopt their dogs. These people have huge hearts, and are usually in the business to find good homes for their rescued dogs, and not for profits. Where as in shelters, they need to make money to keep the shelter going. They will often raise adoption fees on rare breeds that come in to make a buck. Even if they claim to be non-profit organizations. Rescue agencies are the way to go if you are looking for a specific breed.
Ok, so now you know how to go about finding a new best friend and where to go to get him/her. I can't stress enough how important it is to do your homework. Please do not just buy a puppy because it's cute, you are asking for trouble if you buy dogs this way. Do some research, find the right breed to fit your lifestyle, and most importantly.. don't buy the first pup you see. In my next entery, I'll teach you how to test your potentially new pal's temperament and personality. You'll learn how to tell if the pup is dominant, submissive, fearful, aggressive, or just right... August 27 Puppy Buying Basics I figured I ought to share some knowledge with you all about how to go about buying a new puppy for your home. I know some of you are looking, and you might be wondering what to look for in a pup to make sure you get a quality dog. Well, here are some puppy buying basics.
 A good place to start is to really look at your lifestyle. How often are you home? How much attention can you give your new puppy? Are you active, or lazy? These are some of the important questions you will need to ask yourself to ensure a proper match with your new pup. For example, if you are lazy.. you will not want to go out and get a hyper dog, such as a border collie or Boston Terrier. If you are active, the opposite applies.. you won't want a basset hound. So make sure you do plenty of research to find the right breed of dog for you.
 Once you've found the breed that meets your personality and lifestyle, the next step is to find a breeder. Make sure to find a well known, or at very least, responsible breeder. You will not want to buy a puppy off the side of the street because you have no idea what you are getting. Most breeders will place adds in the paper saying that their breed is registered with AKC. This is a good sign, but make sure when you visit that it is not a puppy mill.
 When you find a good breeder ask to see both the parents of the pups if possible. This will give you an idea of the puppies potential in temperment, personality, looks, and health. Also, ask the breeder for as much information about the line and the dog as possible. A good breeder will have a lot of stories to tell about the dogs in the pedigree. If you are looking for a show dog, make sure that the puppies conformation (how it looks and moves) measures up the to the breeds standard. If you are just looking for a good pet, the pay more attention to temperamant and intelligence. If you are a first time purebred owner, you may want to let the breeder help you select a pup. Sometimes a litter of puppies has an individual that is very dominant or submissive. Extremes in temperament can be difficult to raise if you have not done it before. Since the breeder has studied the puppies from birth, the breeder will be qualified to tell you the temperament of each pup. You can also use this general rule of thumb to select a pup: For an average pet, do not take the boldest puppy in the litter, the one that runs to you first and pushes the other pups out of the way. Such an animal may be difficult to handle. Many people feel that the boldest puppy instantly fell in love with them and fought to be the first to reach them, but this is not the case. The dog just wanted to maintain its position as a bully, and may try to push you around as well. However, that is how I ended up with Oreo, and he's been a good dog... except for jumping the fence, and bullying Chance and Mitsy for food, and toys!
To test the pups aggressiveness, roll it over on it's back and hold it there for 10 seconds. If the pup tries to bite your hands and wiggles a lot, you've go an aggressive, dominant pup. If the pup simply lays there and looks around, why.. then you've got a submissive, well balanced pup. All of the pups in the litter shoud appear healthy. Here are some things to look for.. Their coats shoud shine, you should be able to just feel the ribs when you run your fingers over their sides ( meaning their wait should be just right), they should not have fleas or ticks on them, no offensive odor, and if they have teeth they should be clean and healthy. Also, watch for disease symptoms such as runny eyes, discharge from the nose, bald spots, sores, and so on.
So now you know what to look for, now you need to know what age is best to take home a puppy. Well, there are many opinions on this. The general range in age is 7 to 12 weeks old. Taking a puppy away from the mother before 7 weeks is not a good idea, because the puppy needs interaction with it's mother and litter mates until then. That is important to help the pup become sociable with other dogs at a more mature age. Breeders who are in it for the money will be spotted easily because they will typically let the pups go at around 5 weeks old. You do not want to get a puppy from that type of operation. If you pick a responible breeder, your puppy will have had it's first set of shots by the time you take it home.
Ok, so you now know the basics as to how to choose the right puppy for you. When you bring your new pal home, try to spend as much time as possible with him/her. Your pup will be in a new inviroment, and will need your love to deal with the stress. You wouldn't want to bring your new puppy home and then stick it in a kennel and leave it, that could cause some serious problems for you and the pup.
If you have any questions for me, you all know you can ask them in the comment area and I will get back to you a.s.a.p. Take care, and remember, you should be picky and patient when you are looking for a new four legged friend, but it should also be fun.
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