Sunday, November 30, 2008

Faithful Dogs


Here is part of an article written by Julie Hill. I felt it was worth printing to help us see into the heart of a loving dog.

All dog lovers appreciate the faithful nature of the dogs we love, however, this is no modern phenomenon.

In the early 13th century, King John of England presented Llewellyn, Prince of Wales with an Irish Wolfhound, Gelert. The dog became a favourite and trusted dog of the Prince. One day however, Gelert was missing from the hunt, and when Llewellyn returned home, he was horrified to find his baby son's cradle overturned and empty, and his faithful hound Gelert next to the cradle covered with blood.

Consumed by grief and rage, Llewellyn drew his sword and killed his dog. It was only then, too late, that he heard his baby son's cries, and moving the cradle aside, he found his offspring lying beneath it. He also saw once he had moved the cradle, the body of a dead wolf. The awful truth was revealed to Llewellyn - the wolf had attacked Llewellyn's son, Gelert had protected the baby saving his life and fatally injuring the wolf.

Gelert was given a stately burial in a place that became known as Bedd Gelert, and a town grew up near it. What is claimed to be Gelert's tomb - a slab and two upright stones, can be found in a meadow there today.

Having happened so long ago, it is difficult to establish the veracity of the story, and there are allegations that it is an urban myth, made popular by local business men to improve business.

However, further back in time than the 1200s, there is evidence that dogs were doing what they do best - looking after their people. In AD 79 Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering and coating Pompeii with lava, killing hundreds. During excavation, the bodies of a dog and a child were found - the dog was standing across the child as if to protect it.

The bond between dogs and humans is undeniably strong. In 1865, apparently just before Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, his dog howled and ran wildly around the White House. Lord Carnarvon who discovered Tutankhamen's tomb, bringing its alleged curse onto himself, died seven weeks after officially opening the tomb, in 1923, and within hours of his death, his dog too died.

Surely though, such epic tales of devotion no longer occur?

Well as recently as 1953, a humble sheepdog, Tip, showed her undying attachment to her shepherd master.

Joseph Tagg and his dog Tip were out on Howden Moors in December 1953 when a blizzard descended. It was not until 15 weeks later, in March 1954, that Joseph's body was discovered, and at his side was his dog Tip, starving but resolute in her devotion. Tip was given a home for the remaining two years of her life, and after her death in 1955 public money paid for a memorial stone to be erected commemorating her faithfulness and this can be found beside Derwent Reservoir, in the UK.

Modern day dogs are every bit as heroic as their historical counterparts -as a quick search through the news reveals. As with Greyfriars Bobby, an owner's death does not deter a dog. In the UK in 2001, in Edinburgh, Sandy a 13 year old Labrador cross stayed with his dead owner for almost a month, and was close to death himself when the two were found. In 2004 a Border Collie, Lizzie, in Bolton stayed by her dead owner's side for 10 days - and even when the emergency services arrived, she insisted on remaining in her favourite position - sitting by her owner's side.

. . . . . .

Linking all the stories of heroism you have heard today is one undeniable fact; not only is the dog man's best friend, he has a long history as such, and hopefully just as long a future.

Friday, November 28, 2008

How to Deal with Jumping Dog


In order to put this problem under control, it is important to understand why dogs jump.
The problem goes back to his weaning process.
As puppies grow, the mother dog begins to feed them standing up so puppies have to stand on their hind legs to feed. As her milk decreases, the puppies jump up to lick at the corner of her mouth, trying to get her to regurgitate her semi-digested meal. When she does, it's the puppies' first introduction to solid food.
As the puppies continue to grow, jumping becomes a form of greeting behaviour, very much like we human shaking hands when we meet.
Because jumping up on people is a friendly gesture, training to modify this behaviour should be done in a positive way.
To find out how to cope with this issue, click on the link below:

Here is an inexpensive book on dog training, one which you will cherish.

A Dog Owner's Guide to Training Your Dog

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Buying a Dog from a Pet Shop?



In general, I have strong feelings against buying ANY pet (dogs or cats) from a store. Nothing can guarantee that the pet you purchase from a store is not the product of a puppy mill or disreputable breeder. Puppy mills are breeding farms where the breeding stock is kept many times, in crowded, unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

Many of the good pet stores try to check on the background of the breeders they buy from, but many more do not or cannot. Animals purchased from stores might have genetic problems that the neophyte pet owner knows nothing of and is financially unable to handle. The best way to prevent cruelty to animals is to prevent the puppy mill from making money by not buying their puppies from stores.

Pet stores are a great place to purchase animal care supplies, food and small animals such as gerbils and goldfish. But puppies should be purchased from someone with intimate knowledge of the breed. Enough said on this subject except for this, if you buy from a pet store, get a written money-back guarantee, and get the pup checked immediately by a vet. But in short please, DON T DO IT!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Aidi Dog Breed Information



This breed is also known as Atlas Sheep Dog as well as Atlas Mountain Hound. It is a canine from Morrocco.

The animal is not a smooth-coated beauty but is a good dog for guarding the home. In other words, it is a protective-natured dog and functions best if it is allowed to be considered an alpha dog. The thick coat of the animal protects him from either the sun or coldness of winter.

It is a medium-sized dog, quite muscular. His nature as well as his expression is that of an alert and decisive animal.

This dog can be of various colors although particular head color markings tend to be common to the breed. The Aidi has a tapered muzzle, usually matching the color of the dog's body.

Aidi is not an apartment dog. They are better outside with enough room to run and a high fence to keep them home. They tend to do well with firm but kind training.

Despite one of the names given to it, Aidi has never been used as a sheepdog.

If given the proper care and enough exercise, the life expectancy of Aidi is around twelve years.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

'Dog Days of Summer" & Other Facts


Did you know...

The tallest dog ever recorded stood at a towering 42 inches at the shoulder. Standing on hind legs, the dog reached 6 foot 9 inches. From nose to tail, he was just under 8 feet. The dog was a Great Dane from Great Britain, who lived from 1975 to 1984.

The smallest dog also hailed from Great Britain. The Yorkshire terrier was just 2.5 inches tall from the shoulder and weighed just 4 ounces. The little dog did not survive to his second birthday; he died in 1945.

The world's oldest dog lived to the ripe old age of 29 years and 5 months. Born in 1910, Bluey, an Australian cattle dog, faithfully herded cattle for more than 20 years before retiring. He died in 1939. (Bluey's longevity is reliably documented; other claims have not been verified.)

The world's strongest dog is reputed to be Lobo, an Alaskan malamute. The 165-pound dog pulled a 10,000-pound truck/trailer 20 feet in the early 1970s.

The most prolific mother award goes to Lena, an American foxhound who gave birth to 23 puppies in June 1944, in Ambler, Pa. The little miracles, black and white spotted puppies, all lived and reached maturity.

The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is admissible in a U.S. court of law.

Two dogs survived the Titanic disaster – a Pomeranian and a Pekingese.

The first commercially available dog food was available in 1870 in Great Britain. The product was called Spratt's Patent Meal Fibrine Dog Cakes.

Each year, Americans spend more on dog food than baby food.

Mutt is short for the word "muttonhead," which was slang for dimwit. Somehow the word was applied to dogs in the 20th century, and then to dogs of mixed breeds.

The phrase "dog days of summer" was originally a reference to the constellations. It refers to the period between July and September, when the "dog star" Sirius rises early with the sun.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Why the Lundehund is an Unusual Dog Breed




He's a cute little guy, isn't he? Those pointed ears make him appear alert. His short-haired coat helps to define the muscles on his little body.

What makes him unusual? Besides the extra joints in the nape of the neck, he has a feature which helps him to climb steep slopes better than many other dogs. Can you see what that feature is in the photo?

If you can't see it too well, I can put up another photo. Do you want to see one which tells you more definitely why the lundehund can climb steep places so well? OK. Here it is.



Now you know, right? It is unusual in that it has six toes on each foot.

Do you know of other dog anomalies to share. Put them here as comments.

Most Popular Dog Breeds


By Scripps Howard News Service

Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular dogs in the United States for the past five years, according to the American Kennel Club:

Most Popular Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever

2 Rottweiler

3. German Shepherd

4. Golden Retriever

5. Beagle

6. Poodle

7. Cocker Spaniel

8. Dachshund

9. Pomeranian

10. Yorkshire Terrier

Rankings are based on the number of purebred dogs registered with the AKC from the 141 breeds it currently recognizes. (Source: American Kennel Club)


How do you feel about this list? Is it in agreement with your preferences? Write a comment to express your thoughts, please.

Does My Dog Really Love Me?




Did Lassie really love Timmy? Or was she only saving him from disaster, time and again, so that he would reward her later with a tasty morsel from the dinner table?
Scientists, veterinarians and dog owners have long questioned the relationship between man and his best friend. Even philosophers have ventured opinions on the idea: Plato described dogs as "lovers of learning" and Voltaire refuted Descartes' theory that dogs were merely unintelligent machines.

The idea that dogs feel emotions, specifically love, is debatable. Though older schools of scientific thought refuted the notion that dogs had human-like feelings, some researchers today believe the subject deserves more attention.

All mammals, including dogs, have a "pleasure center" in their brains that is stimulated by dopamine, the chemical that regulates feelings of happiness. For example, when a dog is playing fetch, dopamine is released in the pleasure center and the dog is "happy." Since humans have similar brain chemistry, can we assume that dogs and humans are much more alike emotionally than previously thought?

According to Fred Metzger, a guest lecturer in animal sciences at Penn State and a State College veterinarian, "Dogs probably don't feel love in the typical way humans do. Dogs make investments in human beings because it works for them. They stand something to gain from putting so-called emotions out there. The more 'cute factor' they give us, the more we feel like they love us. This makes it more likely that we will give them more attention, food treats, outdoor access -- all based on how much of a show they put on for us." Metzger theorized that dogs "love" us as long as we continue to reward their tricks and antics with treats and attention.

In a statement sure to shock dog lovers everywhere, Metzger added, "If we moved our dogs to our neighbor's house and that neighbor gave the dogs as much as we gave them and in the same motivational forms, I believe our dogs would adapt to the new life and would become as loyal to the neighbor as they were to us."

The idea that Fido's love could be easily transferred to the family next door may seem unsettling, considering the amount of time and emotion most people invest in their canine counterparts. However, Leslie Burgard, a certified dog trainer in State College, does not think the subject of puppy love is quite so simple.

"Their loyalty is unconditional -- much like that between a parent and child," Burgard said. "For the most part, our dogs would go to bat for us, even on our worst and most intolerable day. All parents have days when they may not really like their kid that much, but they always love them unconditionally; even parents of troubled or criminal children love them on some level. The love and the loyalty that drives that emotion is instinctual ... I think dogs have a 'love' or connection with their humans that is free of preconceived perceptions."

Susan B. Eirich, a biologist and psychologist and founder of the Earthfire Institute, thinks that primatologist Jane Goodall's research gives us a good indication that animals actually do have emotions. "From a behavioral perspective, it only makes sense that animals would experience emotions ... As Goodall notes, social animals must be able to read other animals in their society and must be able to maintain social bonds."

"When you think about it," explained Eirich, "strong emotion underpins social behavior and connection."

Eirich suggested that emotions underlie intraspecies communication, from barking to growling to the baring of teeth to show anger and aggression. So, are those "puppy dog eyes" signaling true love or a manipulation to get dog biscuits out of you? As long as science remains undecided, the meaning of your dog's "happily" wagging tail is up for interpretation.

Source: Penn State

From an article written by Sarah Etter

Do you agree with the article? Please leave a comment to tell me your views.,

Good reading about dog ownership: click below

What My Dog Has Taught Me About Life