Dog Guidance Blog

Dog adoption is not something to be taken lightly or without forethought, especially if you plan to give a home to a shelter dog.

One way you can help fewer dogs be put to sleep is adopting a dog from a shelter. You need to understand that most of these dogs have issues, or they wouldn’t be there in the first place. Make sure you select a dog that you and your family get along with.

It’s best not to adopt a puppy from a shelter, if for no other reason than its immune system can’t yet protect it from all the diseases that the other dogs may be carrying. Dog adoption from a shelter is not for the faint of heart, because you’ll see so many pairs of sad eyes that it’s hard to decide on just one.

Check over any dog who seems to take a liking to you and your family. A quaint myth that any dog will grow up well if it’s raised well is just that – a myth. Genetics and former bad handling may always maintain a scar on the psyche of all but the most quiet of animals.

You never know what kind of dog you will end up with when you go through the dog adoption process at the local shelter. You don’t really know what his temperament will be like if something or someone upsets him. You don’t know if he has medical issues now, or if he will in the future. Who knows what he was exposed to before he arrived at the shelter? Or since his arrival there? You won’t know how territorial your new dog is until you get him home, and then it may be a huge problem for you.

Adult shelter dogs are much easier to consider when you’re ready to adopt. Yes, the puppies are adorable, but they are more likely to be selected by someone else. You may be saving an adult dog’s life. You can tell up-front what kind of grooming he will need, and you can better estimate his temperament if you deal with an adult.

Before you head off to the shelter to start the dog adoption process, make a list of what breed types you are most interested in. You won’t find many purebreds at “the pound”, but you can tell if a dog has a lot of a certain breed in him. Labradors, for instance, are commonly crossbred (some on purpose, some not) and they usually make great family pets.

If you’re not sure how to decide what dog will work best for you and your family, take a “dog person” with you. You probably know some people who are dog-savvy enough to help you. If you don’t know anyone like that, call around to trainers and obedience instructors, and ask if they might be willing to help.

Once you have found “your” dog, take your family back and make sure he gets along with everyone. Before you take him home, make an appointment at your veterinarian’s office, and have the new guy checked out. Then take him on home and lavish him with chew toys. You could be another dog adoption success story!

In today’s world, people feel a need for security, for themselves and their families. Some people want to keep their property or business secure from intruders. Although alarm systems can do the job, many people choose to get a dog instead. In certain breeds, this guarding and protecting is a natural instinct and dogs have been doing this job for hundreds of years. So, once you decide to get a dog for security, should you get a guard dog or a protection dog? Is there a difference?

The answer is, yes, there is a difference between a guard dog and protection dog. It is important for you to know the difference before you make a decision and buy a puppy. Think of it this way, a guard dog will guard your property and a protection dog will protect you and your family.

A guard dog is trained specifically to be a working dog, not a pet.  They are used as police dogs or military dogs and cannot “turn off” their training. Guard dogs can be trained to work at 3 distinct  levels of security.

Alarm Dog- This is a large breed with a deep, threatening bark. He will sound the alarm when someone approaches, but will take no action. In many cases, the alarm dogs bark is enough to deter unwanted visitors.

Sentry Dog- A guard dog used as a sentry is most often used to guard the outside of a large property, such as a warehouse or shipyard. The dog is free to roam on his own without instruction from his owner. Because they are trained to attack anyone who trespasses, they are the best possible protection for this type of situation.

Attack Dog- An attack trained guard dog is trained to attack and even kill if given the command by his handler. These dogs meant to be used as police K-9 or military service dogs. Dogs trained at this level are not sociable at any level and are not suitable as pets.

Protection dogs are family dogs that will protect and defend their family in any situation they feel is threatening. Some of the most popular breeds for protection are, Rottweilers, German Shepherds and  Giant Schnauzers. The Doberman is the only working dog bred specifically as a protection dog. These breeds are extremely loyal and become true family members. They can be socialized with children and other pets, as well as other family, friends and neighbors. These dogs should never be trained specially to do what comes naturally to them. They should be bred with special consideration for their natural instinct to protect. These breeds do however, need to be obedience trained and need to know their position in the family. They can be dominant, so it is important to establish your alpha role. Exercise is extremely important if you want to have a well behaved, well adjusted protection dog. These dogs need plenty of activity because they are big, physical animals with lots of energy.

The main distinction between a guard dog and a protection dogs is ultimately in the training. It is always best to seek a professional when you have determined what you need from your working companion.

Finding the right breed for your dog is probably the most important choice you’ll make as a prospective dog owner, as the breed determines nearly everything from temperament to health care. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the different characteristics associated with certain breeds of dogs, as well as what you can do to make sure the dog you choose is the right one for you and your living situation.

The best breeds of dogs for your home and family depend on that structure. If you have a large back yard, for example, you could easily support a dog that requires more physical exercise and outdoor time. If you have small children, you may want to try a collie or shepherd, as they are notoriously good with kids, or a Labrador, which are very playful and good-natured. Some factors to keep in mind are your family status, your amount of outdoor space (this could even include nearby parks), and the amount of expensive or irreplaceable objects in your home (a terrier is less likely to destroy that vase your mother gave you than, say, a Rottweiler).

Keeping in mind the different breeds of dogs you’re considering is important when you visit a shelter or pet shop. Once you’ve decided on a set of qualities you want out of your dog, you can look for those qualities in either the different breeds or specific dogs, and knowing the temperament of a given breed will let you know if the dog is behaving strangely. Remember, you can never judge a dog by the way it acts in the kennel, as some dogs may be stressed, sick, or simply depressed.

Choosing the right dog is important, but what is equally important is preparing your home for the different breeds of dog you might find. For example, knowing how tall a dog is or how easily they can climb onto things like countertops and get into things like garbage cans is an important part of getting your house ready for a dog. Hide valuable or fragile objects out of reach, and put things you do want them to chew, like toys and ropes, on the floor or into an easily dog-accessible bucket. This will keep them from destroying things you don’t want destroyed, and will keep them busy with the things they’re supposed to, allowing you to keep you and your dog happy.

You are a proud owner of a pitbull puppy. Congrats. It could not have been an easy choice for you to get a pitbull with all the negative press they seem to get. At this early stage your pitbull puppy training is absolutely critical.

Once all the excitement of having a new pet at home is over, your new best friend will inevitably misbehave. Do you have a plan in place on how to deal with the misbehavior? Many new dog owners never take the time BEFORE they actually bring their new puppy home to inform themselves about various training methods.

My point is you need to have a well coordinated plan in place when training your pitbull puppy. If not he will chew everything he can get his mouth on from your furniture to shoes to plants. Remember your new best friend is getting adjusted to his new environment and it can be stressful on him too. The key to training your new puppy is patience and consistency.

Pitbull puppy training starts with choosing a training method that works best for you and the puppy. There are several aspects to properly train a pitbull or any dog for that matter. Your method will have to touch on crate training, potty training, obedience training, house training and leash training at a minimum. A slip up in one area can set back progress in other areas. They are interconnected and must be used correctly to have the desired positive outcome.

If you are an expert dog trainer this all makes sense to you but if you are not, it can be overwhelming. It is very simple either you train your dog or he will train you. Whatever you do, do not attempt to train your puppy on your own without help. The results will be nothing short of disastrous.

There are two options available for your pitbull puppy training either hire a professional trainer (can get very expensive but worth it if you have the money) or get one of the better online dog training programs.

I highly recommend The Secrets To Dog Training online if you are looking for a cheaper alternative. You get step by step instructions of the various puppy training tips.  A happy puppy makes for a very happy owner.

It is estimated that around 10% of dogs suffer from an exaggerated negative reaction to being left alone. This fearful response to being left alone is referred to as separation anxiety. We are not entirely sure as to why exactly separation anxiety occurs, but it does seem there is no single cause for it.

Both puppies and older dogs can suffer from separation anxiety. In the case of puppies, it is natural that any young animal should become fearful when left alone, however, in the majority of cases the problem rights itself over time. It is also suggested certain breeds are predisposed to separation anxiety, for example, German Shepherds, Spaniels, and Shih Tzu. Dogs that are separated from their mothers prematurely or rescued dogs,’ are also much more likely to suffer from separation anxiety, as are dogs that have nervous dispositions.

Changes of routine, for example a new job that causes you to be out of the house a lot, a house move, or the dog having a frightening experience when you have been out of the house can also trigger separation anxiety.

A further cause of separation anxiety could be due to species predisposition; dogs are highly social animals that rely on a ‘pack’ system of living, for safety, security, and companionship etc. Wild dogs and wolves for example, use this hierarchical system of living extremely effectively, however, one of the main differences between wild packs of dogs or wolves and our domesticated dogs, is wild packs remain together for more of the time, whereas, the relationship between humans and domestic dogs is being constantly broken and re-established, due to our continuous comings and goings.

I think one of the main intensifiers of separation anxiety is owner behaviour. Often this negative behaviour is reinforced unwittingly, for example, the owner may coddle the dog when it shows signs of distress and anxiety, as the owner prepares to leave the house. Usual behaviours the owner performs before leaving the house, such as putting on shoes and coat and getting the car keys etc, become to act as triggers for anxious or fearful behaviour in the dog.

The types of behaviour your dog displays can tell you right away if he suffers with separation anxiety. They include, barking excessively, crying, whining, or howling. He may follow you closely when you are preparing to leave the house, jumping on you to get your attention. When you have left the house his behaviour will intensify, he may begin salivating, pacing up and down, and bark constantly. In some cases the dog may urinate or defecate around the house, he may also chew or destroy things around the house. In severe cases the dog can become self destructive, for example biting out his fur.

If you have an older dog or puppy who suffers with separation anxiety, he can be helped, however, this may take some, and you will need to take gradual steps when retraining him. You will need to address a number of issues, when helping your dog, so let us take a look at these now.

Your goal here is for you to be able to leave your dog alone at home, and for him to be comfortable with this. So, the first thing you need to do is examine the pack structure in your home. Do you offer your dog strong leadership? Strong and confident leadership is important to your dog, in fact he will quite naturally follow you, and have confidence in what your require of him, if you lead with assurance.

In order to develop your leadership abilities, teach your dog basic obedience exercises, like sit, down, and stay. If your dog has a tendency to follow you around the house or jumps on you demanding constant attention then, put a stop his unwanted behaviour by ignoring it. Be ready with some food treats to reward your dog’s behaviour when he is calm, but only when he is completely calm. What you are trying to do here is to teach your dog that everything he gets from you has to be earned, in this way you communicate to him you are the leader of your pack.

Next, try going into different rooms in the house and closing the door behind you, so your dog cannot follow you. Initially, do this for one or two seconds and build up very gradually. In this way you begin to change your dog’s feelings towards you leaving him alone.

The next thing to tackle will be your leaving routines. To help break the negative associations your dog has built around you getting ready to leave the house. Try putting your shoes on and sitting back down, or picking your keys up and not going anywhere at all, or putting your coat on and wearing it around the house for a while.

When your dog is relaxed with this, it’s time to actually leave the house. Again, initially you will only be going out for seconds and building up gradually. If you drive a car, your dog may have developed the sound of it moving away into a trigger, so turning the engine on, and then of and quickly re-enter the house, again, you can build this up to moving part way up the street, and driving around the block etc.

The key points to remember are before leaving and when re-entering the house act as calm as possible. By showing your dog it’s no big deal to you coming and going, he will begin to react in the same way. Don’t talk or pet your dog before you leave the house, and when re-entering for at least 10 minutes or so. Settle yourself down first, and go about your usual business, and wait for your dog to become completely calm before quietly calling him over and gently petting him. When you call him, if he shows any excited behaviour at all, then ignore him again until he becomes calm, and then try calling him quietly to you again, if he responds peacefully, then pet him, and tell him how much of a good dog he is, but remember do so as coolly as possible.

If you leave your dog alone for long periods when you are still retraining him, this will weaken all the good work you have done, so do try to have someone look after him in the early stages when you are not at home.

Some dogs are more relaxed when they are confined, so a dog or puppy crate may be helpful, but please make sure your dog or puppy has been introduced to it correctly, to be sure it does not cause him further distress. Once he is used to his little den, you can leave him inside it with some chew toys, especially the type you can stuff with food and treats, as this will help keep him occupied when you are out of the house.

Finally, never, punish your dog or puppy for his behaviour, as this is not only totally unfair to him, but will only help to intensify his problems. Be kind, calm, and consistent when helping your dog, and given time, he will overcome his problem of separation anxiety.

Choosing an orthopedic pet bed for your dog or cat can seem difficult with all the choices you have today. But by following a few simple guidelines you can narrow down which ones will fit your pet’s needs.

Orthopedic pet beds have really improved over the last several years. The quality of these beds now rival their human equivalents. Many of the same high quality materials are used like memory foam, orthopedic foam, and heating elements.

Here are 5 tips to help you when choosing an orthopedic pet bed:

1. When buying a pet bed it is important to choose the correct size. Pet beds come in almost any size and buying a bigger bed is always better than buying a bed that is too small. Your pet should be able to fully stretch out on the bed without worrying about falling off of it.

2. Do you want your pet’s bed to be heated? Many orthopedic dog and cat beds now come with heat. Heat is great to have for older pets because it can help to relieve the pain of arthritis.

3. Pet beds today come in many shapes and sizes. If you have limited space getting a square bed that fits into the corner can be a great space saver.

4. One feature you should make sure your pet’s bed has is a removable and washable cover. This is a must because it is nice to take the cover off and put it in the washing machine to remove any smells or built up pet hair.

5. If your dog loves to chew you should look for a bed that is chew resistant. These can be harder to find, but they are out there. These beds, if they are heated, also come with a chew resistant electric cord for safety.

Use these 5 tips to help yourself when choosing an orthopedic pet bed. Price is also a consideration as well. Some expensive dog beds can run several hundreds of dollars or more. Take your time when choosing and find a place that has a large and varied selection.

If you are considering buying a bicycle dog carrier there are some things you must consider before making your purchase. Let’s face it, you want to be sure that your faithful friend is safe and secure and not confused and dazed half a mile back up the road.

• The first thing to consider is the weight of your dog, as most dog carriers on the market today only cater for dogs up to 24 pounds. If you are unsure of your dogs weight there is an easy way to weigh him. Stand on the scales yourself and take note of how many pounds you are, next, lift your dog and get back on the scales and the difference in the two weights is the weight of your dog
• If it is your intention to attach your bicycle dog carrier to the rear carrier rack on your bicycle try to buy one that has reflective tape attached to it. It just helps make you more visible to motorists.
• Try to find a washable dog carrier. Bicycle rides can sometimes leave you caught in a shower of rain and everyone knows what a wet dog smells like. If you and your dog do happen to get wet the carrier will retain the smell of the wet dog so you need to be able to wash it.
• A fleece lined dog carrier will keep your little pet as comfortable as possible. Don’t forget if he is sitting over the top of the back wheel he will feel every bump along the way so that more comfy the carrier the more he will enjoy the ride.

Bicycle dog carriers are especially great for older dogs that might not just be as fit as they once were, but ideally when your dog is young is the best time to introduce it to a dog carrier. Bicycle rides with your dog safely in its carrier are great fun and much safer than having your dog run alongside.

Did you know that almost 80% of dogs have some sort of periodontal disease by the time they are three? This includes gingivitis and in very bad cases, teeth rot. If you don’t take care of your dog’s teeth you could face bad breath, moodiness from pain, and even degradation of the jaw and lack of appetite. Also, dogs in the advanced stages of serious periodontitis face the possibility of absorbing harmful bacteria into their bloodstreams through their broken down gums. This can even result in a life-threatening infection. So obviously keeping your dog’s mouth healthy is very important!

Looking for Signs of Disease

Looking for signs that your dog’s dental health is not good is as easy as opening his mouth and looking inside. There are four stages of dental health: healthy, gingivitis, early periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. If your dog has a healthy mouth his gums will be pink with no swelling and there will be no tartar on his teeth. Signs of gingivitis include swollen gums and tartar buildup. Gingivitis can be reversed. Early periodontitis includes gums breaking down, increased tartar buildup, and bad breath. The gums may also bleed if pressed on. The last stage, advanced periodontitis is obvious because the gum and the tooth visually appear to be separating, leaving ligaments and nerves exposed which can be very painful. This is also the stage where bacteria can enter through the mouth and harm your dog.

What Can I do?

The most important thing you can do is brush your dog’s teeth three times a week. Use a meat flavored dog toothpaste to make the experience more pleasurable. When your dog goes in for his yearly checkup, have the vet do an oral exam and cleaning if necessary. Taking care of your dog’s health includes all parts of him, and he’ll need his teeth in order to continue to live a productive and happy life.